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The sun was starting to set when Mike settled down in his basement, watching the light fade through the small window against the ceiling.
El was pressed on one end of the couch, Max beside her, and Lucas was sprawled out next to Max, leaving absolutely no space. From the comfort of the armchair, Mike was able to sit and watch him bicker with Dustin.
“You don’t need to put your legs up,” he said.
“My legs are tired,” Lucas argued. “Will and I ran two miles this morning before school.”
“That has nothing to do with me,” Dustin said, moving to sit on top of Lucas’s legs. Lucas kicked at him, and the fighting began.
Mike rolled his eyes, shooting El an amused look.
“Lucas, put your legs down,” Will said as he came down the stairs, giving him a firm look as he sighed and made space for Dustin. The basement had never had quite enough seating for all of them, which meant that on movie nights, someone was reduced either to the floor or to trying to squeeze into the couch. But Mike had better plans now.
He gestured for Will to come over, and Will raised his eyebrows, glancing between Mike and the armchair.
“There’s absolutely no way I’m fitting there,” he said dryly.
“Sure you will,” Mike said, gesturing to his lap.
Will flushed, rolling his eyes even as he smiled fondly. “You’re impossible,” he said, but he sat on the edge of the armchair, kicking his legs over Mike’s lap. It made it hard to see the TV, and it was definitely uncomfortable, but Mike wrapped his arm around Will’s waist, fingers fiddling with the hem of his shirt, and leaned up to kiss him.
Music filtered through as the movie started, the situation on the couch apparently worked out, and Mike pulled away from Will with a pout, trying to see the screen without exposing to Will that he couldn’t see it.
“Mike, this isn’t going to work,” Will whispered, careful not to be too loud even though the credits were still rolling. “I can just sit on the floor.”
“No,” Mike whined, wrapping his arm around him tighter. “You should stay with me. It’s fine. I can listen.”
“Okay,” Will laughed. “I have a better idea.”
And Will vanished in his hold. Mike blinked. He was somewhat used to the sensation, after a month or so of Will’s new abilities, but it was still a surprise every time.
He reached for Will, sitting on the arm of the chair, and Will hopped into his hand, where Mike brought him up to his shoulder.
“Much better,” Will said, sitting down and leaning against his neck. Mike’s heart sped up, a sensation he was positive Will could feel, but how could he not? His boyfriend was just so unbelievably adorable.
“We should’ve grabbed popcorn,” Mike sighed, now that the movie was beginning. He didn’t know why the thought hadn’t occurred to him before.
“We still could,” Will offered. “We’ve seen this like twenty times.”
“Awesome,” Mike said, reaching up to cup his hand around Will protectively as he stood. “Be right back,” he told the others, who glanced up at Will on his shoulder and didn’t bat an eye. Will seemed to enjoy being small (or at least, he enjoyed how flustered it made Mike every time he did so), and Mike certainly wasn’t going to complain. By now, the Party was fairly used to the sight.
He kept his hand hovered over Will on his shoulder as he made his way up the stairs, not quite touching, but close enough that he could catch him if he should fall.
“Do you want anything besides popcorn?” he asked.
Will hummed. “Do you have any candy we could toss in there with it?”
Mike fought back the instinct to shrug. Knocking Will from his perch was a surefire way to get Will to shoot back up to his regular height and banish Mike to the floor. “I’d have to check. I think we might still have some Reese’s Pieces from the other day.”
“Then that’s all we need,” Will laughed.
Up in the kitchen, Mike was grateful that his parents weren’t home. Holly was off at her friend’s house, too, which meant he didn’t need to worry about Will getting caught as he gave him a hand down to the counter while he grabbed a packet of popcorn to toss in the microwave.
Will looked so impossibly tiny on the expansive countertop, walking over to the breadbox and leaning against the outlet there.
Mike tensed. “Don’t stand there.”
Will glanced at the outlet behind him, which could easily shock him at any moment. “Mike, this thing has been broken for as long as I can remember.”
He wasn’t wrong. They had never gotten around to fixing it, which meant it was nothing more than decoration at this point, but Mike wouldn’t put it past the damn thing to start working after ten years just to electrocute the cutest person on planet Earth.
Mike made a sound that hopefully displayed his thoughts on the situation.
Will rolled his eyes, but humored him, sliding over until he was leaning against the wall instead of the outlet.
“Happy now?”
Mike nodded. “Much better. You thirsty?” He grabbed a glass of water for himself, and Will just shook his head.
“I’m fine.”
Mike frowned.
“Mike, really, I am. I promise I drank water today.”
Hmm. He was really way too good at knowing Mike’s intentions. It would be annoying if it didn’t make Mike so giddy every time he was reminded how well Will knew him. And in return, how well Mike knew him.
The microwave beeped, and Mike pulled out a bowl to pour the popcorn into, snatching it out quickly so as not to burn his fingers and replacing it with a second bag. God knows his friends would whine if he didn’t bring some for them as well.
He couldn’t resist stealing a piece of popcorn, which he quickly regretted as he burned his tongue. Will just laughed at him as he washed down the burn with another sip of water.
Mike reached over him to the cabinet where they stored the snacks, pulling out a box of Reese’s Pieces and setting it down beside Will. It was taller than he was, which was adorable.
“The others should be fine without,” Mike said, dumping the Reese’s in with the popcorn and grabbing a second bowl for the others.
“Dustin hates sweet popcorn anyway,” Will pointed out, reaching out. Mike understood immediately, grabbing a single piece of popcorn and handing it to him, after confirming that it wasn’t too hot.
Oh my god. The piece of popcorn, just about an inch in height, looked positively massive in Will’s hands. Mike could feel his heart melting.
“If you keep staring I’m going to jump you,” Will said, a heatless glare on his face.
Mike bent over, placing his elbow on the counter and his head in his palm to stare better.
“You’re too cute,” he told Will. “I can’t help it.”
“Says you,” Will retorted, breaking off the tiniest piece of popcorn to toss in his mouth.
Mike grinned at him as the microwave beeped, leaning over to press the gentlest kiss to his head before dumping the fresh popcorn in a bowl for his friends to share.
“Let’s get back before we miss too much,” Mike said, setting a hand down for Will to hop into. He glanced between Will and the two bowls that would be difficult to carry one-handed, uncertainty warring on his face. He didn’t want to risk Will standing on his shoulder when he didn’t have a hand free to guard him, but he also didn’t want to have to take multiple trips.
“Mike, if you need me to walk, I can,” Will started.
“Absolutely not,” Mike said, setting one bowl of popcorn on top of the other and lifting it in one arm, leaving Will safe and sound in his other hand.
“You’re impossible,” Will joked, but he smiled back when Mike shot him a grin, and seemed content to sit in his palm as Mike hurried back down the stairs before the movie could get too far without them.
El grabbed the bowl on top with a quiet “Thanks” and Mike moved back to his armchair, which had (thankfully) not been stolen during his outing. It wouldn’t be the first time that had happened.
Once he was seated, leaning the chair back enough to be comfortable, he settled his hand on his chest and Will clambered off, relaxing on top of him. The slight weight was comforting, a reminder that Will was here. Not to mention adorable. He was so light it made Mike want to giggle. Cute.
“Get me some candy,” Will whispered, and Mike reached into the bowl to bowl out a piece for Will to hold in both hands.
Like a flash of lightning bursting through him, he realized that he would be happy to spend the rest of his life like this. Here. With Will. He wanted to watch shitty movies alone with him in their house. He wanted to make dinner and help Will with the dishes. He wanted to fall asleep together and wake up side by side. He wanted Will.
It should have been a scary thought. The Future (capital F) had always been something that terrified him. Mike Wheeler was a lot of things, but good at change was not one of them. But sitting here, with Will’s hold on his candy going limp as he fell asleep on Mike’s chest, he wasn’t worried about change at all. He was eager for it.
He had a future, now. With Will. And he couldn’t wait to see what it looked like.