Work Text:
Sometime in the 90s
Mike pulled into the packed parking lot, his grip on the steering wheel tight enough to turn his knuckles white. The nerves that he'd shed throughout the long drive crept back in at the sight of endless rows of cars and people whisking past with overflowing carts. He knew Will would be fine; he'd been assured of the matter several times before they set off, but there was always that worry that something would happen to cause him unnecessary stress.
However, Mike knew that he couldn't keep him away from the general public forever.
Unfortunately.
The sun blazed overhead as Mike took a deep breath and found a parking space far enough away from the immediate crowd. Luckily, there were a few vacant spots right under a small tree that offered a sprig of shade.
Despite the constant loop playing in his head that everything would be okay, Mike couldn't help but ask one more time. "Are you sure? My mom doesn't need these chairs."
Will rolled his head to the side and offered a gentle squeeze to the hand resting against his jean-clad thigh. "Yes, Mike. I'm good, and I'm sure."
Mike nodded, another puff of air escaping his chest as he urged the nerves away. "Alright, let's go then."
The door hinges creaked thanks to Nancy's refusal to spend money on a newer model, but she was kind enough to lend it to them for the day, so Mike only held it against her a little. Will's hand slipped from his, the absence immediately noticeable as he stepped out.
As soon as they were side by side again, Mike looped his arm around Will's waist and pulled him closer, practically tucking him into his side.
If it were anyone else, it could have been seen as annoying—possessive even—but it only made Will smile and lean some of his weight into Mike.
As they got closer to the entrance, the crowd of people only grew.
Suffocating amounts of customers with large carts and screaming children pushed around them, hardly mindful of anyone's personal space. Mike sent several glares everyone's way, but it did little to rectify the atmosphere.
True to his word, Will seemed perfectly fine. When the heat grew unbearable, they opted to tangle their fingers together instead, offering a little bit of a reprieve from their shared heat.
After showing the woman his mother's membership card, they were allowed into the heavily air-conditioned building. Will's eyes went wide as he scanned the long aisles with huge boxes of various things.
Mike watched him in the same awe.
"Good?" Mike asked, unable to help it.
"Mhm," Will hummed.
Before they got too far, Mike grabbed a cart, knowing that the chairs would be too large to carry around, and he didn't want to limit Will in whatever he was interested in. Especially since he'd been given Ted's credit, with the only stipulation being: don't go crazy.
However, crazy was subjective. In Mike's head, it would have been crazy not to get Will everything he spent more than two seconds looking at and couldn't figure out how to stuff in his pockets.
It shouldn't have taken long to locate the chairs, but Will insisted on trying each piece of furniture, giving his silent opinions that made Mike laugh.
The mattresses sagged under Will's weight as he sprawled out like a starfish, head on one of the fluffed pillows, his shoes dangling off either side.
"This pattern is atrocious," Mike commented as he ran his fingers over the truly horrid pattern that made up the comforter.
Will craned his neck, finding his gaze and raising his eyebrows.
"What?" Mike defended. "I have taste."
Quiet laughter spread between them as Will sat up and reached for the bundled-up blanket behind him, just to feel the soft fabric.
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Before they managed to track down the display of chairs, the cart had managed to quickly fill with a yellow and blue blanket, a package of socks, matching sweaters for the two of them, and a few other things that Mike barely noticed upon entry.
Mike grabbed one of the large boxes, trying to figure out where to situate it. He was so wrapped up in shoving them on the bottom rack of the cart that he hadn't noticed Will wander away until he turned around and nearly jumped out of his skin.
"JESUS CHRIST!" Mike gasped, his hand clutching his chest, because instead of Will standing in front of him, he was met with a stuffed bear taller than either of them.
Will's head popped out from the side, a massive grin taking over his face as he held the bear against his chest proudly. Chuckling as he took in Mike's reaction.
"Where the hell did you find this thing?" Mike laughed as he caught his breath and his heart settled.
An awkward nod to the end of the aisle led Mike's gaze to the giant box stuffed with the same realistically sized teddy bears.
The price stared at him; it was a little pricey, sure, but it wasn't crazy.
"You want it?" Mike asked, already knowing the answer.
And so they continued through the store with a giant bear taking up almost the entire cart, everything else covering its legs, and the chairs secured at the bottom.
With Mike occupied pushing the cart, Will was free to roam with his hands unobstructed. Mike couldn't say the urge to reach out and pull him closer wasn't there, but he was being good. He loved seeing Will so unbothered by the many people around them.
When someone got a little too close, Will would swerve out of the way and move closer to where Mike stood.
It was a seamless balance, Mike gravitating towards him no matter what and Will refusing to go too far. They were getting better, but some things would never change.
Home appliances shifted into rows of food, starting with the coolers of meat that they easily moved past. No amount of curiosity would bring Will close enough to glance inside.
The smells from the bakery hit them all at once, causing Will to smile and inspect the various breads and pastries; meanwhile, Mike fished out the short list he'd been trusted with.
"Okay, most of this should be pretty easy to find…"
Mike glanced up to find that Will had wandered away once again. He found him easily with his gaze, Will's back to him as he listened to the woman explain the sample she was offering. He pushed the cart over, stopping just in time to be handed a paper cup with a cracker inside.
Will's eyes lit up at all the various foods to try each time they found a new booth. Some of them ended up in Mike's hands for him to finish, but the ones he approved of would somehow turn into a handful of paper cups when Mike knew that they were only supposed to have one.
"Excuse me," one guy said when Will went to take another. "It's one per customer."
Will furrowed his brow, reached out, and took another.
Mike stepped forward. "If it was one per customer, then you should put up a sign."
The man sputtered for a moment before telling them to leave.
Now, Mike could swear that he only turned his back for a single second, but when he caught sight of Will, he was munching on two more of the same samples he had been denied.
"I still don't know how you do it," Mike commented, glancing back at the guy who'd refused to let them have more, bewilderment on his face as he studied his tray with obvious empty spaces.
Will glanced over, tilting his head in a way that said, do what?
"You just… appear with things."
Will shrugged and picked up a box of cereal to inspect.
When they passed the display of chips Will had sampled thoroughly, Mike grabbed a few bags and tossed them in the cart. The bear's head managed to pop back up and block his view, but it easily squished to the side. However, they were quickly running out of space.
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Will held Mike's hand in the checkout line, the crowds starting to wear on him the longer they remained in the store. Especially in the hub of everyone trying to pay and get out as quickly as possible.
They had also been on the road for a while, and Will's exhaustion was evident in the way he leaned on Mike's shoulder while they waited, his eyes slipping shut.
"Almost done," Mike mumbled into his hair. "Are you hungry?"
Will pulled away, finding his gaze, and nodded languidly.
Mike smiled in return. "Good, cause the food here is great. A little greasy, but I think you'll like it."
Will made a face before resting his forehead back on Mike's shoulder while they waited for the line to dwindle.
Finally, when it came time for them to check out, Mike stepped back as Will meticulously lined everything up on the belt in perfect order to make it all fit seamlessly. The bear and the chairs remained in the cart.
Then he moved to the other side and started packing them up in the provided boxes. The worker who was meant to do it for them just watched. Whether it was in awe or irritation, Mike couldn't quite tell. Either way, Will did it far better than anyone else in the store could have.
His little organized neat freak—even if Will refused the title.
Their room at home was proof enough.
Mike used to be able to leave his clothes strewn across the space with little complaint (if being side-eyed and glared at could constitute little complaint), but after a while, Will couldn't take it anymore and told Mike—in much kinder words—to get his shit together.
Safe to say Mike would do just about anything for him, including trying to be a tidier person.
With everything loaded into the cart and their items paid for—the total just under crazy—Will reached for his hand, diverting to the crook of his arm when it became apparent that Mike couldn't hold onto him and push the cart at the same time, much to his dismay.
"Alright, let's get something to eat, then we can head home, and you can sleep on the way."
Will nodded, his eyes heavy, but there was slightly more pep in his step with the promise of food and a conclusion to their shopping venture.
Luckily, there weren't too many people in line ahead of them, which gave them just enough time to get their order together before anyone would expect it.
After some silent negotiation on Will's part, they landed on a Caesar salad (sans chicken), a slice of cheese pizza, and soft serve ice cream to share—the one with strawberries, but the strawberries on the side in case the sugar made them too slimy.
The person behind the counter wasn't thrilled with the additional work Mike made him do to accommodate them, but he didn't put up too much of a fuss.
Will took the tray filled with their choices and wove around the maze of people in search of an open table, Mike trailing closely behind with their over-slowing cart, the wheels protesting.
Mike tucked the cart off to the side and quickly gathered some napkins to soak up the grease pooling on top of the cheese pizza. He knew if Will looked at it for too long, he'd lose his appetite and most likely not want to try any of it.
He'd been so much better with food in the years since the Upside Down, but Mike would always make sure everything was as good as it could be to avoid making him feel uncomfortable or bringing back memories that should only be delved into during his weekly therapy visits.
Will pushed the hair out of his face; it was a little longer than he'd been keeping it, which Mike secretly loved—especially when he tucked it behind his ears.
"Okay, start with this," Mike said, pushing the salad closer.
Will spent some time crafting his perfect bite before giving it a go—making sure the ratio between dressing, lettuce, and croutons was up to par. Meanwhile, Mike tapped off the rest of the grease and bit into the pizza. Immediately, he sucked in a breath, trying to cool down his burning tongue.
Will stopped mid-bite to laugh at him, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he pushed the cup of ice water closer.
"It's not funny!" Mike protested dramatically—maybe a little over the top, but Will's smile was worth it. "It's hot!"
Will only rolled his eyes and chewed his salad with a satisfied gleam as Mike chugged half the water.
When his tongue stopped sizzling, the pizza clattered back onto the paper plate, displacing the napkins he'd been using. "Good?" he asked around the bite.
Will nodded, taking a sip from the water with a content hum.
Mike had forgotten the water bottle in the car, but it seemed that Costco water was acceptable, so he didn't fret too much over running back to get it.
"Here, try this; it shouldn't be too hot anymore."
Will accepted the slice, eyeing it wearily. There was only one pizza place near their house that was acceptable because the crust was thick enough to keep the sauce from being overwhelming.
Mike watched as Will took a bite, chewed it slowly, and then swallowed.
"No?"
Will shook his head, pushing it closer to Mike.
"That's okay, you can have the salad."
Will found his gaze a clear question written across his face.
"Yes," Mike laughed. "I'm sure. I actually prefer the pizza anyway. I just figured you would like that one more."
Will nodded, happy with the answer. He went back to work coating the lettuce in a truly atrocious amount of dressing, but Mike didn't say a thing—never one to question what Will liked as long as he was eating.
He knew all too well that they couldn't take the good days for granted.
Mike passed him a napkin as they ate quietly. Comfortable.
By the end, Will looked like he was about a second from falling asleep. The sun was doing them no favors as it beat down, covering them in strong rays of heat. He could feel the sweat under his legs as the metal pressed into his bare skin where his shorts had ridden up.
When they were both full, Mike cleaned up their mess and discarded the garbage, tucking the tray away with the rest on the counter before returning to Will, who had his head resting on the crook of his arm, eyes closed.
"Ready?" Mike asked, his fingers threading through Will's hair as he peered up at him.
With a slight nod, Will started to stand, stretching slightly.
It took a lot of self-restraint not to reach out and poke his side, but the sleepy look about his boyfriend was enough to have him refrain.
"Do you want to wait in the shade while I get the car?"
Will looked around the lot, at the people.
"It's not far; you should be able to see me the whole time."
After a moment of contemplation, Will nodded.
Mike left him in a pleasant spot where he could rest against a tree, the canopy offering a nice reprieve. The cart was close by, his giant teddy bear sticking out awkwardly since it had been crammed in with all the boxes.
He was quick to cross the lot, moving faster without the burden of the cart. His anxiety spiked when Will fell from his sight, but it was far better than it might have been just a year ago. He knew that nothing was going to happen in the short time he was away.
In the off chance that something did, Mike also knew that Will was more than capable of taking care of himself—Mike just thought that he shouldn't have to. Not anymore.
The locks released, the door slipped open. The leather pinched his exposed thighs, the space feeling more like a sauna than anything comfortable, but he made quick work of twisting the key and blasting the A/C.
He waited for the people mozying along behind the car like they had all the time in the world. With an irritated huff, Mike took the first opening that allowed him to back out without hitting anyone.
If a man had to quickly skirt out of his way, then that was on the guy moving like a snail and not him.
Nana walked faster than that.
Finally, he was able to get away from the crowd and return to where he'd left Will. He saw the tree first, then the cart, but to his absolute horror, there was no Will.
He narrowed his vision, searching. However, the base was empty. The grass was free from the weight of the person that Mike knew he left there.
With haste, Mike pulled the car off to the side and hopped out, his heart hammering in his chest.
"Will?" he called. Not loud enough to draw unwanted attention.
He walked around the tree, the car humming where he'd forgotten to turn it off.
"Will, where did you go?"
Obviously, he wasn't going to freak out.
"Will? Seriously, I'm kind of freaking out here."
Finally, Mike caught the boy a little further down the slope, crouched down, his back facing him.
"Will!" Mike huffed as he crossed the space, not caring one bit about the fact that he'd ditched his running vehicle. Someone could steal it for all he cared.
"What are you doing? Are you okay?" Mike asked quickly when he approached.
Will turned his head, a smile—somewhat guilty—crossing his face.
Mike had to move closer to finally see what he was doing, more so, what he was holding. The mass of voices that carried through the still air faded into the background.
"Is that a bunny?" Mike asked, his voice softening even more as the panic eased.
"He's hurt," Will said.
Mike pushed some of the crowding bush out of the way to sit beside him.
"What's wrong?"
"I think it's his leg. He was hopping around all weird."
"And so you just picked him up?"
"He jumped into my lap."
Mike reached over tentatively, making sure not to scare the creature. He couldn't help but think that it was with the same veracity that he used to touch Will. Back when he was scared of the mere idea of being close to someone.
The rabbit's ears twitched as Mike stroked the top of his head. Soft fur met the pads of his fingers, a smile gracing his lips that matched Will's.
"Can we keep him?" Will asked, eyes wide with hope.
Mike chewed on his lip for a moment. "Where would we put him?"
"Our room?" he responded like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Or the basement so he has more room to hop around. We could even set up a pen in the backyard for some fresh air."
"I don't think he would appreciate being cooped up."
Will scowled, still not willing to truly hear out Mike's qualms. "That's what the fresh air would be for. Besides, it would just be till he's better."
"Oh, would it?" Mike asked, knowing full well that once Will became attached, that small critter wasn't going anywhere.
"Mhm."
Mike sighed like he actually had to think about it. "I guess we'll have to stop at the pet store on the way home."
Will's smile widened. "Really?"
"Of course."
🛒🧸🍕
It took all of five minutes in the car for both adorable creatures to be fast asleep.
The dash was covered in the various trinkets that Will managed to squirrel away in his pockets. A yellow plastic duck from the register, several small spoons from the samples, a fluffy moose keychain that he was pretty sure he saw on someone's purse, and an unopened package of trail mix.
The hum of the air conditioning filled the small space as the quiet music droned on. Mike watched at every red light, stole glances at the stop signs, and peeked over when traffic was slow.
It didn't matter how much time had passed—every time he saw Will, he couldn't believe that he got to live this life with him.