Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Mike was late.

He was always late; Will wasn’t shocked.

He checked his watch.

8:17. The movie started at 9:00.

It only took twenty-three minutes to get from the Wheeler House to the drive-in, but they’d usually stop by some place to pick up food Mike had called ahead to order, which would add another five minutes — as long as it was on the way — and Mike liked to be there early so they’d get a good spot before the other cars pulled in.

He was cutting it close today. They wouldn’t be getting there until 8:45, and that was only if he pulled up right that second.

It took another three minutes before Mike arrived in Steve’s car as usual.

‘Finally.’ Will thought, ignoring the prickling of goosebumps at his neck as he grabbed his keys, heading out.

He both hated and loved it.

That mixture of excitement and anxiety every time they had a date planned.

‘Not a date.’ He reminded himself.

Still, it was a nice feeling, similar to the one he’d spent years dealing with when Vecna was around, replaced with something better, something Will wanted.

He opened the car door, unimpressed, “You’re late.” He said, climbing in.

He lasted all of .3 seconds before smiling.

That was another thing he hated.

The door shut behind him, and he leaned towards Mike to kiss him, a little habit he’d grown quite fond of.

He’d only just leaned his upper body over the center console when he caught a flicker of movement in his peripheral — Lucas shifting, uncomfortable in the backseat.

He froze. 'What the fuck?’

Mike’s eyebrows dragged down, a little crease forming between them, ‘I’m sorry.’

“Hey,” Mike said, “Uh, Dustin and Lucas wanted to tag along.”

Will nodded, shifting back into his seat, “Right.” He said, pausing just long enough for the word to hang, “Uh, cool. Cool.”

“So what are we watching?” Dustin asked.

Will leaned deeper into his car seat, the prickling shifting from excitement into further anxiety as Mike worked on answering their friends. He reached his hand up, rubbing the back of his neck, willing it away.

A moment later, he felt a hand on his knee. His eyes flickered down and then over to Mike, already driving.

He glanced at Will sideways, eyebrows lifting for a split second. 'You okay?’

Will could practically hear the ‘baby’ in the sentence, a tingling warmth covering him. His nose twitched, head tilting to the side the tiniest bit, ‘Disappointed. I’m fine.’

Maybe after the movie, they’d still find time to sneak away to the barn after leaving them back home.

Will tried his best to concentrate on the movie — Fright Night — but Dustin didn’t like it, an opinion he had no sorrow sharing.

He never liked horror movies as of late. Probably had something to do with Eddie, Will would guess.

He never did, though. A whiff of the name and Dustin would shut down or get angry.

Will settled for leaning against the car door, his legs drawn up, nibbling on the tip of his thumb unconsciously.

“Do you have snacks?” Lucas asked, leaning forward, right into their space. “Concessions too far.”

“Here.” Mike reached towards Will’s side of the car, grabbing the plastic bag that had sat on the floor, shoving it back towards Lucas, annoyance dripping off every jerky movement.

Maybe now they’d be quiet.

“Dude.” Dustin laughed.

Will rolled his eyes, shaking his head, ‘Is it really too much to ask for?’ He wondered.

“Can you guys just shut up, the movie’s playing.” Mike snapped.

‘Thank you.’ He thought as the two in the backseat finally went quiet.

He shifted, getting more comfortable.

A sound much like someone blowing a raspberry echoed through the car a second later, a balloon-like thing zipping from the backseat, landing with a smack against the dashboard, Mike flinching at his side.

“What the hell—“ Mike had started muttering.

Will frowned, ‘Where the fuck did Dustin get a balloon from?’ He huffed, wrinkles forming around his eyes as he squinted, leaning forward, his curiosity getting the better of him.

“Oh my god!” Mike snapped, whipping back, snatching the bag from the two other boys, jerking it out of their hands.

Will paid it no mind. His head tilted to the side in confusion at the shape.

His breath hitched, leaning back, heat clawing up his spine, the blush missing his ears completely, spotting over his face, eyes snapping over to Mike, wide.

Mike shut the glovebox, looking up at Will, his own eyes panicked, like Will had caught him in something he wasn’t supposed to see.

‘That’s a condom. That’s a condom. You have condoms. Why do you have condoms? You brought condoms. Here. With me. You want me. You want to have sex with me. You want- you want to have sex. With me. You want me. You want me.’

He must have looked a little crazed, or something, because Mike’s face shifted into something more like confusion.

He looked away, back at Lucas and Dustin.

Will couldn't manage to tear his eyes away from him, though.

His heart was tight in his chest, and he felt like he couldn’t quite breathe. ‘You want me.’ It kept playing in his head, no doubts about it, no questions — well, one question that was answered by the same words.

“It really does taste like cherry,” Dustin commented.

"Cherry? What tastes like cherr…” he looked towards the condom, stuck to the dashboard, then back towards Mike. His body grew warmer at the thought, ‘Does it?’

“They’re… they’re Steves.” Mike lied, not bothering to look at Will as he said it.

It seemed to work for Lucas and Dustin.

Will forced himself to turn back to the movie, but whatever the plot was had entirely lost his interest, only one thought important enough to hold it: ‘Mike Wheeler wants to have sex with me.’

The rest of the movie passed by in a blur. Will couldn't focus on it if it meant saving his life. How could he when every bone in his body was alight and talking to him.

His dick especially — ‘Kick them out. Just kick them out. Don’t even go home. Don’t go inside. Just let him fuck you here. God fuck me in the car, will you? Or the barn. We could go to the barn. Get me on all fours for you and take me from behind. That could work. Do that.’

Okay, maybe having had so long to fantasize about having sex with Mike Wheeler had its downsides.

There were too many options in his head.

‘He’s gonna break me.’ The more logical part of him thought.

‘Break me, I don’t want to be able to walk tomorrow.’ The other one did.

Dustin got dropped off first, living the furthest away, then Lucas next door to the Wheeler house.

Will barely noticed the time passing, the soft noise of the radio playing some newer single ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ that had just come out a few days earlier.

They sat in the driveway, quiet.

It wasn’t so much that Will was waiting; he just couldn't seem to focus long enough to say anything at all.

He shifted in his seat. Mike was staring out the front window, hands curled tightly on the steering wheel.

Carefully, he reached for the dial, turning it until the music cut out, silence filling the car as he let out a deep breath, sinking back.

“They’re not for El.” Mike said, not turning to face Will, “Just… just in case you’re… wondering.” His voice was broken, like he hadn’t spoken in days.

Will’s eyebrows raised. ‘They’re not for El.’ It rang in his head.

He’d assumed as much.

Actually, the thought of her hadn’t even crossed his mind.

Maybe it should have.

That was the logical reasoning, wasn’t it?

He’d been fighting with that logical part for months now.

Everything Mike did, everything he said.

‘He has a girlfriend. Think of Jane. What about Jane? He’s with Jane.’

It’d been constant — a never-ending loop, a scratched disc, a tape stuck on repeat.

It hadn’t even crossed his mind.

It should have, but it didn’t.

Still, the confirmation did something to him, a small, maybe a little embarrassed, smile slipping onto his face, head ducking a little.

It was horrible of him. He felt proud of it. That he got Mike in a way she didn’t.

She got Mike publicly. She got to date him, hold his hand, and kiss him.

Will got this.

The shy, unsure version of Mike Wheeler.

The one who kissed him in ways he’d never seen him kiss Jane.

The one who he knew didn’t kiss Jane like he kissed him, because if he did, she wouldn’t have once said he was a bad kisser.

The one who touched him reverently, as if he were something sacred.

The one who took him to the drive-in so they could be alone in Steve Harrington's car and planned dinner in an abandoned barn on the outskirts of town.

The one who wanted to have sex, not with his girlfriend but with Will.

Guilt was what he should have felt.

It was what he should’ve been feeling the entire time.

He didn’t, though.

Especially not now.

Maybe it made him a bad person, but there was something thrilling about it — being wanted enough to risk destroying your entire life.

It was a high that even drugs couldn’t offer. He got off on it.

Who cared?

He was going to Hell anyway.

“It’s not that I want to.” Mike finally turned to look at him, his voice soft in that way Will had only just begun to notice it only got with him, “Not that I don’t, either. I do. I do. I mean, someday. Maybe. Sometime. It would be nice. It’s good to- to have stuff, you know? In case- in case it happens. I know- I know we’re not— that you don’t want… I’m not saying we should. I just— I don’t want you to think that’s all… this is.”

Will looked at him, listening to his rambles, his stumbling over his own words. It was endearing, his smile growing.

Mike swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. “You’re not freaked out.” He sounded shocked.

“You want to have sex with me.” The sentence slipped out as if the most natural thing in the world.

A flush crept up Mike’s face, nodding.

Will looked away for a second, fighting back the smile that kept trying to grow on his face.

‘Stop. This is horrible. You’re supposed to act as if you care about what he’s doing to Jane.’

He looked back just as quickly, unable to care, “I- I want— I want to, too.” He admitted, a little nervously.

Mike’s eyes widened, a laugh slipping past his lips, “You do?” Will could hear the surprise behind it.

“Mike, I’ve been telling you for weeks now.”

“I thought you were just… talking dirty.” He admitted in a mumble. “I wasn’t sure. I thought you were going to tell me I was screwing up again.”

Will took a deep breath.

Maybe it’d been a little mean when he’d said Mike had crossed a line. He was just trying to make it clear, though.

“Mike,” Will frowned, shifting closer, his hand dropping on the center console.

Mike’s eyes dropped to it, shifting as well, slipping his hand over Will’s, thumb brushing against his knuckles.

“You’re not screwing anything up.” He assured.

Mike looked back up, meeting Will’s eyes, “I’m about to.” He said quietly.

Will’s smile faltered.

Not completely, just enough for something more careful to slip in beneath it, something a little fearful. “What?”

Mike nodded.

What did that mean?

What was he going to screw up?

His heart thudded in his chest.

‘You just told me you want to have sex with me, don’t take that back.’

What else could he possibly mean?

How else could he screw this up? He was going to end it. Put a stop to it before it went further.

“I’m going to dump El,” Mike said.

Will stared at him. He was certain his heart had stopped.

For a second, it felt like he had everything he’d ever wanted.

Except he couldn’t.

“You don’t have to do that for me, Mike.” It came out, quickly, “This isn’t— we’re not—“

‘Dating. We’re not dating. We can’t date.’

“I know.” Mike cut him off, “I know we’re not… dating or whatever. I know what we are. I know how this works, Will. But I haven’t…”

‘Don’t do this.’ The panicked thought crossed over his face, ‘Don’t make this more difficult. Don’t make it more confusing and complicated. We can’t do this. You know that. This is good. This is safe. This is what's best. For both of us.’

Will felt his hand trembling against his own.

“I think I’ve just been lost for a really long time, and I’m not anymore. Like I’ve been wandering the woods, you know?” Mike finished, staring at their hands.

Will frowned, the words sinking into him.

Mike looked back up at him, his face twisted with something Will couldn’t read. He hated that. The moments like this, when he couldn’t read his mind. He wondered if the same thing happened to Mike, though Mike had always been better at reading him than he had.

So instead of answering, he leaned forward, kissing him hard, pulling his hand away to slip it into his hair, knowing it would ground him.

Mike gasped, freezing for half a second before kissing him back, lifting off his seat, knee shifting, almost hitting the gear shift as he tried to get closer, pressing deeper into Will as Will moved back, tugging him with him.

Will’s mouth parted for him, the gum in Mike’s mouth slipping past his lips and into his mouth, and Will let out a tiny moan as the taste hit his tongue.

Mike pulled back, breathing a little heavy.

Will stared back up at him, his eyes a little teary at the entire thing, “I thought you didn’t like cherry.” He said with a soft laugh, because it was easier than dealing with what was about to happen.

Because Mike breaking up with Jane was the stupidest thing he could possibly do.

“I didn’t.” Mike answered, smiling down at him, “But it reminds me of you now.”

It was things like that that made everything all the more confusing. That made this dangerous.

Why couldn't Mike understand that?

It had been 923 days since Jane had come back to Hawkins, Indiana, and gone into hiding with Hopper due to the military’s presence and their hunt for her.

922 days since Vecna had disappeared.

At first, Jane had not quite minded the solitude.

It had been wonderful to live with the Byers for a year and a half back in Lenora, but she had grown up without siblings, so it had taken a long time to get used to it.

Still, she missed Will and Jonathan’s presence.

It was one of those things you took for granted — having someone around at all hours of the day to talk to, even if sometimes you did not want to talk.

At least she had not lost Joyce entirely.

In the beginning, Mike had snuck over often.

For months, he had been there almost every day, but after a particularly close call with the military while they were out in the woods where they thought it was safe, Hopper had given them a long-winded talking-to.

That was what Joyce called it when Jane had complained after a month of Mike not visiting.

After that, the visits got sparse.

Days turned to weeks, and before long, those weeks into months, and now, almost a year later, finally, he was back in her life.

It was lonely.

She was grateful for Joyce and Hopper's company, but she missed her friends and her boyfriend.

When Mike had gone to see her in December of 1988, she had been struck with relief. Before then, she had not seen him since June.

Then he stopped visiting altogether.

She really had been convinced she had done something wrong, going as far as to talk to Joyce and try to figure it out.

Joyce had been surprised, though she tried her best to hide it — not well enough — explaining to Jane that Mike had probably been shocked, or just nervous, before explaining once again the dangers that could occur.

It was not fair.

Vecna had been gone.

The military was still on her ass.

All she wanted was to see her friends, to be with her boyfriend.

When the crawls began, an attempt at figuring out what it was the military was up to — why they had not left. It could not just be because of Jane, right? Something more must have been going on. — Jane had been hopeful.

She knew her friends.

Knew them well enough to be certain that they would involve themselves.

Knew Mike would involve himself.

It took some time, longer than even she cared to admit. She’d thought it would be quicker.

Still, the crawls worked.

The Military had opened a gate at their base, been traversing into the Upside Down, and Hopper would follow in search of anything that could confirm Vecna’s life or death to them.

Jane hoped he was dead.

She had not felt his presence, and though her feelings were nowhere near as strong as Will’s, she was certain she’d know.

Well… as certain as she could be.

Still, she had been training for 923 days.

Hopper was refusing to let her go on the crawls.

That much wasn’t new.

Since they had started, he had been stern on the fact that she was not ready.

It was a ridiculous notion.

How many possible times did she have to prove herself before they started taking her seriously? Before they understood she was what they needed.

If Hopper were down there— if Vecna were alive, without her, he would be as good as dead.

On the third of July, Hopper had gone on a crawl. That night, he had come across something on his way back.

It was not anything tangible, nothing of great importance, nothing that could be concrete proof.

A small, glob-like creature closest resembling a frog.

Tiny, small enough to fit in his hand, in hers.

Barely breathing, as if struggling to connect to its life source.

But it was enough.

So the following day, Jane had taken the tunnels to the WSQK radio station to inform the others of Hopper's discovery. It was the first time in months that Hopper had allowed her out.

Seeing Mike — seeing the Party — had been a welcome surprise.

The idea had not even crossed her mind before it happened, but one moment she was explaining the situation to Steve and Robin, and the next Dustin had barreled into her, hugging her tightly.

Finally, after 834, she’d seen her friends again.

It had been wonderful to catch up with them all, to see Mike again, to talk to him for the first time since that fateful day in December.

Max was still unwell. The coma had not progressed in either direction.

She was unsure if that was a good sign or a bad one.

She wondered if, if Vecna did come back, something about it would stir Max awake, as if maybe their lives were intertwined.

There had to be something else keeping her there inside her head.

The doctors were still unable to figure out how to help her.

She tried getting into her mind.

It did not work.

She searched, and she searched, but it was as if her mind just was not there anymore, like her consciousness had gone and attached itself elsewhere.

It had never been this hard to find someone in the void, even back in the beginning, with little practice.

She should have been able to find her. If she were still there, if she were alive, Jane should have been able to find her.

It pushed her training further.

She focused more on it during the day, trying to strengthen her powers, her stamina, her strength, and speed.

If Vecna were around, if they could just find him, maybe they could find out how to get Max back.

They had to get Max back.

Jane needed her, and Max needed Jane.

Joyce was great, but she was a mother, she was not a friend.

It was not like she and Nancy were friends, not really.

Besides, speaking to her boyfriend’s sister about her problems with him felt like they broke some secret girlfriend-boyfriend rule.

The crawls always happened at night.

After the Fourth of July, Mike had finally started showing up for them.

He did not participate either, but he did get to be with her, and it was nice.

She looked forward to it.

For a few hours a night, she got to feel like every other 18-year-old girl did.

She could dress herself up, tease her hair, put on the lightest bit of makeup Joyce had gifted her, and go see her boyfriend like every other girl her age got to do.

Sure, it was not the movies or dinner or a quick trip to the ice cream parlor, but it was better than nothing.

Mike made her feel normal.

It was strange, though, lately.

He’d been distant.

It was not as if he had ever been very open with her, to be honest.

It was their biggest issue.

They could not communicate, and, according to Joyce, communication was the key to a healthy relationship.

It was fine.

They were fine.

Mike didn’t open up to anyone.

It wasn’t strange.

They were normal.

He kissed her less, but less wasn’t nothing.

Maybe distance did that.

Boyfriends and girlfriends were meant to kiss, she knew that. They used to kiss a lot.

It had to be the distance.

She was sure of it.

After the move to Lenora, when he had gone to visit, it had been similar. Not as dramatic, but still, there were fewer kisses.

Maybe it also came with the growth of a relationship.

Lucas was often around as well. Perhaps he was worried about making him sad about Max.

There was also this girl named Cat.

She and Mike were on the swim team together, and this thing called the student council.

She was not jealous.

It was just odd. Mike was not one to participate in so many activities.

Was he?

No.

He played Dungeons and Dragons, sure, but that was it.

Why would he join the swim team?

Jane was not sure he even liked swimming.

Maybe he enjoyed spending time with this Cat girl.

She wondered if she was pretty.

Cat was able to go to school. She could have friends and a life and maybe a job. She got to see Mike and be around him and the rest of their friends. Maybe she was friends with them as well.

She did not have to hide away because she had powers and was wanted — dead more than alive.

Cat got to be a normal girl.

That was all Jane wanted. To feel normal.

Whatever nerves Mike had felt had disappeared the moment the whistle blew, and he’d landed in the water, the noise from the outside world muffling in his ears, the beat of his heart slowing.

In there, it was easy.

There was just one thing he had to do — win.

He’d told them not to come.

Karen Wheeler never listened, though.

He should’ve expected it.

They’d won the match.

He was still dripping, holding his towel in his hand, patting it against his face to dry it, standing around with the rest of the team.

He shook his head, water splashing out of his hair.

Cat groaned, “Wheeler, you’re not a dog!” She complained even as Sunny laughed.

Mike lifted his head, pushing his hair back, sending her a deadpanned look, “Woof.”

“You did it!” Paul clapped him on the back, Mike flinching in shock, “Look, Wheeler, no disrespect, but I really thought you’d flake out on us.”

“Dude.” Mark hissed, shooting Paul a look.

“Well, one of us had to come in first.” Mike shot back at him.

Mark snorted, nudging Paul with his shoulder, “He’s got you there.”

Paul rolled his eyes, though there was a grin tugging at his mouth, “Yeah, yeah. Beginner’s luck.”

“Beginner’s luck, my ass,” Cat cut in, crossing her arms, still damp hair clinging to her shoulders, “He beat you by over four seconds.”

Mike’s lips twitched, trying not to look pleased with himself. He shrugged, like it hadn’t mattered, like he hadn’t been counting every breath, every stroke. “Guess I’m just naturally gifted.”

“God, I hate him already,” Ash groaned. “I’m heading for the showers. You feel like getting a milkshake?” She asked, looking towards Vi.

Vi lit up like Christmas Day, “Hell yeah.” She said, following Ash for the girls' locker room.

Mark’s brows shot up, and Mike had to stop himself from snorting as he checked her out. “Hey, why- why don’t Paul and I join you two?”

Paul huffed a breath, rolling his eyes, tongue pressing against his cheek.

Vi tilted her head, smiling at him. She gave a shrug, “Don’t be long. We’ll leave without you.” She agreed, turning and hurrying after Ash.

Paul smacked Mark, eyes wide, “I told you I didn’t want to double date again.” He hissed.

“Come on, she’s in a good mood. She always puts out after a match.” Mark argued.

“Yeah, Viv does. Ash just scowls at me the entire time like I’m offending her just for existing. You just want her to do that thing.”

“That thing?” Mike asked. He immediately regretted the question; whatever it was, he was sure he didn’t want to know.

Mark looked over at Mike, pausing for a second. “There’s a rumor."

“Oh my god,” Cat muttered under her breath, rubbing a hand over her face.

He really regretted asking. It felt like a bucket of ice water had splashed over him. “What?”

“See?!” Paul pointed at Mike, “Even he’s weirded out. It’s gay.”

“It’s not gay.” Mark scoffed, “It’s, like, European or something. She’s from like Malaysia or Germany.”

Mike was just glad he didn't explain the rumor. 

Julie stared at them, “Well, one of those is European, the other is a country in Asia, Mark. I— god, you’re such an idiot.”

“That was so cool!” A young voice he recognized as Holly’s squealed, running up to the team, nudging her way into the middle of the circle, staring up at Mike, “You were going so fast! I couldn't believe it! I thought you were going to do horribly! I was so excited to watch it, and then you were actually good!” She was rambling.

Mike couldn't even find it in himself to be upset at what she was saying or at the interruption or even that she was theredespite the fact that he’d told everyone not to come. He was actually thankful to be pulled out of the conversation.

“Holly!” Their mother hissed, coming up to them.

Mike turned, a small smile on his face as his family and the Party approached.

“I told her to wait.” She said, even as she reached up to move his hair out of his face once more, “You did wonderfully. I knew swimming would be good for you.”

“Mom—“ He groaned, pushing her away as he stepped further from the team.

His father nodded, “I mean, it’s not football, but you won.”

His eyes flickered to him. He hated that he accepted the backhanded compliment as something more. He nodded, “Yeah. Yeah.”

“Mike, you’re like actually good at this—“

“Yeah, man, I mean I expected—“

“And did you see that turn—“

“Even Cat couldn’t—“

“Next you’ll be diving—“

Lucas and Dustin were speaking over each other.

Mike didn’t pay them enough attention to make any of it out, though, his gaze lingering on Will.

Will smiled at him, smaller than usual, but a smile nonetheless, “You did… You did well. Great.” He said, quietly.

“Yeah?” Mike murmured, stepping towards him despite the water that dropped from him, his hand twitching at his side, wanting to reach for him.

Will took a deep breath, almost like he could read Mike’s wants on his face, his eyes skimming down Mike’s bare chest and stomach, eyebrows furrowing, “Jane’s here.” He said, stepping off to the side.

Mike’s face dropped as El came into view, having been standing behind Will, head down, hoodie up to hide her face.

He blinked, recovering quickly, inhaling sharply, “El. Hey. How— holy crap.” He sounded a little breathless.

She grinned at him, “Hi. I— I wanted to come see you. Dustin convinced Joyce that there would be enough people that nobody would see me.” She explained, “You were— you were amazing. You look…” her eyes dropped over him, taking in his frame.

Mike swallowed, shoulders stiffening. He knew what he was wearing, but it was as if he’d forgotten just how little that truly was until El started looking at him. Goosebumps prickled on his skin.

Will’s jaw was set in place. He cleared his throat, as if trying to interrupt.

El’s face flushed, head snapping back up. “You did not tell me you were this good!” She said, stepping past Will to hug him.

Mike side-stepped to dodge it, “I— I’m wet.” He said, even as it brought him closer to Will, “I’m like super… soaked.”

El paused mid-step, her arms hovering awkwardly for a second before dropping back to her sides. She tried to recover quickly, offering a small smile instead. “Right. You are… very wet,” she said, like she was trying to make it sound normal.

He nodded. “Yeah. Wet.”

She looked away from him, towards his team, towards two girls, a blonde with short hair who looked like what Mike had described Cat as, with another girl, a little taller with brown hair.

Mike didn’t notice, glancing back at his family, Holly bouncing on her toes, tugging at their father’s sleeve, pointing around.

An elbow pressed into his side, roughly, and he stumbled towards El.

His eyes widened, catching himself with a hand on her shoulder.

She looked up at him, her face lighting up.

“I—“ he looked towards where the elbow had come from.

Will was watching him, head jutted a little forward, ‘Do something.’

Mike frowned, mouth moving wordlessly before he settled his arm around her, eyes glued to Will, his eyebrows pulled together, face twisted, ‘Why’d you push me? Why would you— I told you I’m going to leave her, why…?’

He couldn't make sense of it.

The pool was starting to clear out, the stands emptying.

Mike looked away from Will only long enough to see it happen.

“Hey.” Cat came up to them, Sunny a step behind, giggling as she caught up, her arm draped between Cat's. “We’re getting ice cream if you and Will and…” she looked towards El, head tilting a little in confusion.

El was watching her with narrowed eyes. She stood up a little straighter, puffing her chest out, sinking deeper into Mike’s side, “I am Jane.” She introduced herself, “Mike’s girlfriend.”

Sunny’s grin slipped, “Mike’s… girlfriend?” She asked, eyes flickering between them.

“Oh.” Cat frowned, “I… I didn't know he had a… girlfriend?” It came out as confused as her face.

El nodded, “Yes. He is… he is my boyfriend.”

Sunny elbowed her.

She shook her head quickly, “Uh, well, cool. That’s… cool. You should— you should all come with. I- Will is a friend of mine. We’re in the same art class.”

Mike cleared his throat, “You guys go. I’m just gonna— I need to shower still, you know, and El— Jane needs to get home.” He looked at the stands again, almost empty.

Cat nodded, “Okay. Yeah. Next time, then.”

Sunny lingered half a second longer, eyes flicking from Jane to Mike to Will, then tugged lightly on Cat’s arm.

“C’mon,” she said, softer now. “They’ve got stuff.”

Cat let herself be pulled, though she glanced back once, brows still furrowed, before turning away completely.

El watched the two girls go. She turned to Mike then, grinning, “She likes Will.”

He felt his eye twitch, “What?” He snipped, arm slipping from her.

Lucas looked up at the tone.

Will’s eyes widened.

“The girl. She likes Will. Does she not?”

“No.” He said immediately, face hardening.

El pulled back, frowning at the tone, “I was just—“

“Wrong.” He cut her off, “You were wrong. She doesn’t— Cat doesn’t like— you were wrong. You are wrong. It’s just wrong.”

His eyes stayed on her longer than they had in months, trying to drill it into her head.

“It’s not like that.” Will said, stepping up behind Mike, swallowing, “We just have a class together. Cat’s nice— she’s great, actually, but we’re not… It’s not like that. That’s all Mike’s getting at.”

He ducked his head a little, “Uh, he’s- he’s right, though, you should probably start heading back. The crowds gone. We promised Mom and Hopper.”

El hesitated. Something Mike couldn’t read flickered in her eyes. She looked away from Mike, shaking her head, “Alright. Yeah. I should… I should go.”

“I should go take a shower anyway,” Mike said, stepping away. He looked towards the girls' locker room, Ash, Vi, and Julie heading out.

They always took longer than the other guys on the team did. If they were done, then the boys' locker room would be free as well.

‘Thank god.’ He thought briefly.

It wasn’t horrible.

He’d worked the entire thing up in his head, but in reality, the locker rooms weren’t anywhere near as bad as his fears had made them out to be. As long as he kept his head down, stayed not too close, but not far enough it’d be suspicious, if he added something to whatever it was they were saying, it was fine.

Still, he much preferred it if he didn’t have to shower there, let alone with other people.

Well, he wouldn’t quite mind if it were Will.

He looked over at Will, nodding once towards the locker rooms.

He needed to talk to him, to ask what the fuck that shove was for.

“Uh, see you, El.” He offered her a half smile, hurrying off for the locker rooms.

On his way there, crossing the wet ground, he didn’t look back. He knew Will would follow; he trusted him to.

Turning into the locker room, he jumped, almost running into Mark, “Shit— sorry.”

“You’re good.” He assured, looking past him, “Uh, that's your girl out there, right?”

Mike swallowed, nodding tightly, “Yeah. Yeah, that’s- that’s her.”

He nodded, “She’s pretty.”

“Yeah, yeah, she is. She’s... pretty. Are you- are you the last one, or…?” He asked, pointing in.

“All yours, Wheeler.” He said, “Good match today.”

Mark left, Mike looking back as he did, his eyes drifting down before he could catch himself.

The place felt bigger without the noise.

Eerily quiet.

All that was left was the soft, rhythmic drip of the shower that hadn’t been shut off properly.

Drip, drip, drip, drip

He let his towel drop onto the bench. A moment later, he heard footsteps walking into the locker room.

He turned, eyebrows raising as Will came into view just as expected.

Will crossed the room, stopping just a few inches from Mike, not even bothering to pretend to be looking him in the eyes, instead looking down his torso.

“You pushed me,” Mike whispered, even though they were the only ones in the room.

Will’s lips pressed together, “Yeah.”

“Why?” He asked, not mad, just confused.

“She’s your girlfriend.”

“Will, I told you I’m gonna dump her. I didn’t- I didn’t know she was coming. I didn’t know any of you were.”

He didn’t respond

Mike huffed, reaching for him, taking his hands in his own, “I mean, what do you want, Will? You want me to put my arm around her? To- to hold her? To kiss her?”

“Yes!” Will snapped, looking up at him.

His breath caught, taken aback not by the tone but by the answer.

He didn’t drop his hands — not fully — but they slipped a little in his, just until the tips of his fingers were there. “Yes?”

Will’s face slipped, like he’d said something he hadn’t quite meant to.

He swallowed, looking away, a flush creeping up his face. “Yes. I- I want you to. I want you to put your arm around her and hold her in front of everyone. I want you to kiss her. And it’s selfish of me, it’s selfish, Mike. I want you to act like her boyfriend.”

Mike stared at him, trying to understand what Will was saying.

If he was confused before, he was even more confused now.

“I want you to kiss her, because you run to me after and you kiss me like you lo…” his mouth parted, a breath stuck in his chest, eyes a little lidded, stepping closer, head tilting up, “kiss me, Mike. Kiss me like you mean it. Kiss me like you don’t kiss her.”

Mike’s eyes dropped to his lips, so close to his own. They parted without question.

“You like it.” He whispered, breathless, the realization dawning on him.

“Knowing you’re mine?” Will asked, as if the question were ridiculous, “Of course I do.”

“That’s ridiculous. I am yours. You know that. I don’t need to be all over El to prove it.”

“It’s nice though.” He argued, “You could be out there with her, but you choose to be here with me!” A laugh slipped past.

Mike’s lips crashed down onto Will’s at the words. He didn’t rush it, pressing his mouth to Will’s, deep and slow, his lips moving against his, trying to answer him, to let every thought and feeling spill from his mouth. He didn’t need El to prove how much he wanted Will; he just needed Will.

Will melted into it, his arms raising, draping over Mike’s shoulders, tugging him down and closer.

Mike didn’t waste any time, backing him into a locker, Will gasping as his back hit the metal with a clang that rattled through his bones.

“Say it again.” He said against his lips, nipping at his bottom one.

“You’re mine?” Will asked.

Mike’s eyes darkened, and he was on him, body pressed flush to his, the chlorinated water clinging to his body forgotten, soaking through Will’s striped shirt, through his khaki pants.

“You’re mine,” Will repeated, more certain that time, one hand curling in the hair at his nape, the other dragging down Mike’s chest, head tilting to deepen the kiss.

Mike pressed impossibly closer as Will’s hand drifted over his stomach.

Will wanted to know Mike was his, and who was Mike to deny him?

Will made a little noise, displeased against his lips, “You shaved.” He mumbled when Mike pulled back slightly.

Mike huffed a laugh, feeling Will’s fingers trail from his naval, where he’d usually have a fine trail of hair that disappeared into his boxers, or, in the case, his swim briefs. “Coach said.” He explained, “You like it?” He asked, and he was only half teasing, kissing the corner of his mouth.

“No.” He admitted honestly, kissing Mike harder, hand slipping the rest of the way, grasping him over his swim briefs, his palm dragging.

Mike gasped into his mouth, kiss dying.

Will dragged his palm, “She kept looking at you.”

Mike forced his eyes open, blinking at Will, “W— what?”

“She kept looking at you like you were- like she could just—“ Will let go, grasping the waistband on Mike’s briefs, tugging the spandex down. Mike’s hardening cock sprang free, Will’s eyes dropping to it, licking his lips, “She doesn’t get to see you.”

“You’re the only one who gets to see me. All of me.” Mike assured, quietly, kissing him softly.

It was true. He didn’t only mean naked, or in bed, or anything of the sort. Will saw him for who he truly was — what he truly was.

Will knew him inside and out. He had gone and buried himself in Mike’s bones. There was no Mike Wheeler without Will Byers.

His hand wrapped firmly around him, a soft groan leaving Mike, hips pressing forward, “They see you. The guys on your team.”

“They don’t look.”

“You do.” Will looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes, the kind he always did when he was trying to get something he wanted. “Saw you on my way in.”

Mike blinked. Okay… not his smartest move. “You put it in my head.”

“You agree then?”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re the only one I wanna touch.”

Will’s hand twisted around him, “Just touch?” He asked, with a little pout.

Mike’s cock twitched, and, honestly, it wasn’t fair. He couldn't even pretend to play along. He squeezed Will’s bicep, working his hand down the length of his arm, thumb brushing on the way, until he had his wrist in hand. He tugged his hand away, much to Will’s whiny dismay.

Without warning, he turned him, pressing his front towards the lockers, Will’s hands darting out to stop himself from falling flush against them.

He stepped up behind him, grasping his own cock, lazily stroking himself, groaning softly against his ear, “Touch.” He repeated, “Fuck.”

Will groaned, eyes rolling back in his head, head dropping forward as well, pressing his forehead to the cool metal of the lockers.

Mike’s lips twitched, “Is that what you want?” He wondered, his free hand squeezing Will’s ass, “Want me to fuck you, Will?”

“Y—“ He couldn’t finish his answer, Mike’s hand skirting to his front, popping the button of his khakis, tugging the zipper.

“What if someone comes in?” Mike asked, brows tightening, feigning worry.

They were fine, it was safe. There wouldn't be anyone else coming in, the team had already gone, having showered, coach never came in — not after matches, not this long after.

He kissed his neck, dragging his pants down, pressing his hand to the tenting front, “What if- what if someone hears you? Whole fucking crowd outside.”

He bit down, Will’s cock twitching violently against his palm, sucking in a breath as Mike sucked his skin into his mouth, desperate to mark him as his, to bruise his neck and leave no room for confusion as to who he belonged to.

He pulled back, licking against the growing bruise, “Can you be quiet for me, Will? Be quiet for me, baby.”

Will nodded, “Yeah. Yes. Please. Just— just fuck me, Mike.”

Mike grinned into the crook of his neck, yanking his boxers down, “That what this cute little thing wants?” He teased, grasping his cock, stroking it. Will’s hips bucked into his hand, his legs stepping apart.

Mike’s hand — the one he’d had on himself — came down against his bare ass.

Will jumped, “God— Mike.” He scowled.

“Close your legs.” Mike said, his voice dropping in tone, stepping closer, his cock pressing against Will’s ass, “‘m not fucking you.”

“Jesus Christ, Michael, I swear to God—“ Will started.

Mike’s lips twitched, hand twisting around Will, spitting into his other, grasping his cock. He angled himself, pressing in just under Will’s ass, slipping between his thighs.

Will’s protests died down.

“Don’t got lube.” Mike explained, “Not gonna hurt you.” He gave a thrust, Will’s legs tightening around him, his hand working Will’s cock in time.

'Yeah. Yeah, this’ll work.’ He thought to himself, breathing deeply against Will’s neck.

Will’s head dropped forward, forehead pressing into the cool metal as Mike started moving, fucking his thighs from behind.

Soft, little moans left him as Mike jerked him off, his hips smacking against his ass, the sound echoing in the empty locker room, loud and obscene, their breaths quick and heavy.

“Fuck, Will, feel so good, can’t wait to be inside you.” He panted, and Will moaned, “Gonna fuck you so good you won’t be able to keep quiet.”

He was barely holding on as it was, every few moans a little louder than the rest.

“Good.” Will groaned, jerking forward into his hand, “Want everyone to hear how good you fuck me.”

A high little noise slipped past Mike’s lips at the words, losing all rhythm.

Will reached a hand back, slipping it in Mike’s hair, pulling him impossibly closer, “Gonna feel you for days, yeah? Promise me? Wanna feel how good you fucked me tomorrow and the day after. Want to touch— fuck, Mike — touch myself and feel how good you made me feel.”

He pulled back, grasping his cock so tight it was almost painful, desperate not to cum. Will turned, Mike’s lips crashing into his once more, hot and desperate, spit mingling, lips wet, pressing against him, his cock sliding against Will’s own smaller one.

Will whined into Mike’s mouth, tugging at his hair, his legs almost giving out under him as Mike started grinding against his front.

Every drag, every twitch, they could feel exactly how the other was responding, not a stitch of clothing between them.

Mike’s cock dragged hard and fast, his hands slipping down Will’s sides, to the small of his back, grabbing and squeezing his ass, pulling him closer.

They were barely kissing, a mess of spit and moans and whimpers and a shared breath between them.

Will whimpered, shifting where he was pressed between Mike and the locker, squirming in place, his hips bucking, “M- Mike, fuck, Mike I’m gonna cum, I’m gonna c—“

“I know, I know.” Mike panted into his mouth, “Cum. Come on, just cum. We’ll shower. Wanna shower? We can shower, fuck, Will—“ his hips stuttered as he came, cum shooting between them, not stopping until Will was cumming too.

He kissed him deeply, moaning in his mouth as he slowed, squeezing and pulling him closer.

Will hummed into him, kissing him back, gasping for air when Mike pulled away, “Shower?” He asked.

Mike grinned, “Yeah, let me clean you up.”

In art, they were working separately on self-portraits. It was a tedious assignment they received every year, except this time aroun,d Miss Geraldine had changed the parameters of the assignment.

It had to be a self-portrait; that much stayed the same, but it didn’t have to actually look like them. A symbol, an expression, something abstract.

They’d been working on it all week.

“Okay,” Cat sighed, dropping into the seat next to Will’s, a bag of Doritos in hand, “I wasn’t going to ask, and then I was, and then I wasn’t, and then Sunny and I were talking about it— since when does Wheeler have a girlfriend?”

Will glanced at her, his paintbrush working the red deeper into the easel. “Like six or seven years.” He shrugged.

“Six or seven—“ she shook her head, laughing breathlessly.

Sighing, Will dropped his paintbrush into his cup of water, spinning in his chair to face the blonde girl, “What’s going on, Cat?”

“I have been spending almost all of my free time with Mike Wheeler for three months now, Will. Do you know how many times he’s mentioned a girlfriend?” She asked, leaning closer, “A grand total of zero.”

Will’s head tilted to the side, “He doesn’t like to talk about her.” He explained, “He’s not a very emotional person.”

Correction — he wasn’t supposed to talk about her. It was too dangerous.

Now, Will had known Catherine Kennedy since they were in elementary school. He didn’t quite think her mother worked in the military base that had overtaken Hawkins or that her father was secretly Vecna. He was rather certain, in fact, that if that were the case, he’d have heard of it by now.

Still, talking about Jane wasn’t something they were meant to do with anyone.

“Uh huh.” She sounded unconvinced, “You know how many times he’s mentioned you?”

Will shook his head, turning away.

“I don’t. I lost count somewhere after our third swim practice.” She announced.

“Look, Cat,” He picked up his paintbrush once more, “If you wanted to go out with Mike—“

“Go out with Mike?” She laughed, “You’re ridiculous. You remember I tried asking you out, right? Before he started barking at me.”

He hummed, pressing a dollop right into his right eye, the paint spreading out around it, dripping down from the excess water.

Cat leaned to the side, looking at the painting, “Jesus, Will.” She hissed.

Will hummed again, “What?”

“Morbid much?”

He leaned back, looking at his work.

It was himself as he was now, except paler, the skin under his eyes thin and sunken in, one eye white as if his pupils had blown into the back of his head, the other a dripping, bloody mess. His head was bludgeoned in at one side, skull broken. There were streaks of red and white muscle or vine-like structures crossing over his face, overtaking it, binding his body, choking his throat; his mouth was open, though you could barely tell what with the rod stuffed in it and down his extended throat.

Behind him was cushioned green fabric, wood panels along the edges — a coffin — and next to his body a singular yellow rose.

“It’s me.” He said, simply, “She said it could be abstract.”

“It’s cool just… creepy. At least you’re done.” She pushed herself up from her seat, looking down at Will. She frowned, grabbed a napkin from his table, placing it on the back of his neck.

Will flinched, yanking away, “What the fuck?!”

Cat jumped back, “I was— Jesus, Will, you’ve got paint, I was getting it for you.”

He swallowed, reaching his paint-coated fingers towards the back of his neck, rubbing them against the skin. “Sorry. Just... sensitive.” He murmured, eyes still glued to his painting. He turned the paintbrush in his hand until the back end was facing the painting. He thrust it into the easel, just below his drawn neck. He dropped it, looking at the hole.

“There. Now I’m done.”

Mike got back from the station late that night.

He was supposed to have gone on the crawl, but he just couldn’t do it. He was still trying to figure out how he was going to dump El.

Telling her he’d been cheating with her brother didn’t seem like the best way of going about it.

Right now, his goal was to not see her, to keep himself from messing up and just blurting it all out to her.

After school, he’d gone to his stupid student council meeting where they planned the school dance and then work, and finally he got to come home.

Home to Will.

He dropped his backpack by the shoe rack, crossing into the living room.

Will was asleep on the couch, lying on his side, closer to his stomach, one hand holding the remote control, the other dangling off the couch, by Holly, who was asleep on the floor, back against the couch, snoring lightly.

Mike smiled to himself, a warmth seeping under his skin at the sight.

He kicked his shoes off, climbing onto the couch, settling just behind Will, closest to the back of the couch. His legs dangled awkwardly off the couch armrest, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to care as he dropped his head down onto Will’s hip, wrapping his arms around Will’s leg, letting out a long-held breath, eyes closing.

Will kept his eyes closed, grunting, “Get your face outta my ass.” He mumbled, half asleep.

“Not what you said the other day,” Mike muttered back, and he shifted his head, biting his ass through his pants just to make a point before settling back, using him as his pillow.

“Fine.” Will gave in without more protest, “Behave.”

A few moments passed, not nearly enough for the day Mike had had, when Will’s hand lifted, coming down to Mike’s head, curling in his hair.

“We should move.” It was mumbled, words blurring together, “Someone might— they might see. Weird.”

“Mom’s probably drunk. Dad’s… I don’t know. We’re fine.”

“Holly’s here.”

Mike sighed, running his fingers over the inside of Will’s thighs.

Will squirmed, “Mike. Sensitive.”

“I know.” He mumbled, dragging his fingers up and down, up and down, “Love that ‘bout you. Love… it.”

A soft, quiet, barely there whine slipped from Will.

“You know… I’ve been thinking, and there’s- there’s this dance…”

“The one that’s been keeping you from me?” Will asked, “I’ve heard of it.”

“Was wondering if you’d go with me.” He mumbled, “No Dustin. No Lucas. Not... not like last year. Or, I guess, yeah, they’d come, too, but I don’t know we can like wear matching ties or something stupid.”

Will let out a long breath, his body relaxing under Mike, “Matching ties.” He mumbled, smiling to himself.

He nodded, “Like black or blue or something normal. No one will know.”

“Okay. Matching ties.” Will smiled.

Mike paused, opening his eyes, looking down at his sleeping little sister. “Wanna sleep in mine tonight?”

Will cracked an eye open, “Sleep, or?”

His lips twitched, and he turned his head to hide it. “Sleep.”

“Tease.” He muttered, huffing in annoyance.

“Haven’t done anything.”

“Tell me you wanna fuck me and then don’t fuck me. What would you call it?”

“Anticipation?”

Holly snored loudly from below them.

There was a beat of silence before they both laughed.

Will’s knees were pulled up, arms wrapped around his legs, face pressed into them, eyes scanning the television in front of them.

Mike had spent the entire movie glancing over at him, trying not to laugh.

He could handle a lot. Monsters, sure. Zombies, hell yeah. That gay ass movie they’d accidentally rented, apparently.

Will liked gore.

Will enjoyed the thrill, the rush of adrenaline.

Apparently, Jaws was where he drew the line.

They’d just revealed the pair of kids who were pretending to be a shark, and Mike laughed.

“Shut up,” Will whined.

“You flinched.”

“It’s scary!” He argued. A gasp escaped him as a guy was knocked over in his rowboat, the shark eating him instantly. He flinched again, this time towards Mike, hiding his face against his shoulder.

The humor slipped from Mike’s face, “Hey, hey, wait, come here.” He said, voice quieting like it only ever did for Will. His arm slipped around him, tugging him closer. He wrapped his arms around his waist as Will crawled onto his lap, hiding his face in the crook of Mike’s neck.

“Do you want to stop the movie?” He asked, running his fingers up and down Will’s back, over his shirt.

Will shook his head, “No. No, it’s fine. I’m fine.” He said.

Mike hummed, pulling him closer. He kept his hands running, feeling Will shiver under him.

The movie droned on, Mike watching over Will’s shoulder.

“I think I’m going to die in a shark attack,” Will muttered.

Mike’s eyebrows raised, “In Hawkins?”

“Wouldn’t be the craziest thing to happen. Maybe there are sharks in the Upside Down.”

Mike hissed at the following shark attack, his fingers dipping lower, sneaking up under the hem of Will’s shirt that time, feeling the heat of his skin against his fingertips. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to save you. Swim you to safety or whatever.”

It started slow, so slow, in fact, Mike wasn’t entirely sure it was happening.

Will’s face was still hidden in the crook of his neck, but his breathing was a little deeper, now, soft, breathy noises slipping. At first, Mike had thought maybe it was fear, or anxiety, the music of the movie too loud to ignore.

His hips had started rocking, pressing down against Mike. Mike’s attention kept drifting from the movie to Will.

By the time he realized what was happening, Will was too far gone.

“Mike.” Will gasped, his cock twitching as he dragged it up Mike’s stomach.

Mike grasped the remote, clicking the television off, “Okay, I can’t do this with sharks— what are you doing?” He huffed breathlessly, leaning back, forcing Will’s face out of its hiding spot.

Will looked up at him, his eyes wide, pupils blown, a soft flush on his cheeks, bottom lip pulled between his teeth.

His dick twitched in his pants at the sight, “What, sharks do it for you know?” He asked, teasing.

Will whined at the question, “No.”

“No?” Mike murmured, kissing his cheek. “Then what's got you going?”

“Was trying to distract myself.” He explained, a little embarrassed. “Your hands felt really good.”

Mike splayed his hands on Will’s back, pulling him impossibly closer, “You wanted a distraction, you could have just asked.” He said, kissing him softly. “Want me to—“

“Wanna blow you.” Will cut him off, draping his arms over his shoulders, hands fisting in his hair. “Can I blow you?” He asked, still grinding down against him, the sweetest little noises slipping past his lips.

Mike groaned as Will kissed him again, “If I can finger you.” He said against his lips.

Will groaned, pulling back, nodding, “You wanna?”

Mike nodded, “Yeah. My cock will keep your mouth nice and quiet.” He breathed inches from his mouth.

Will pressed his lips together, hands darting down between them, fumbling with the stupid knot on Mike’s pajama pants, pushing himself onto his knees so Mike could lift and slip them off.

Mike’s hands lowered to Will’s ass, squeezing as he helped him off.

He slid his pants down, looking towards Will as he settled down next to him, brows furrowed. His lips twitched at the look on his face, “What’s the face for?” He asked, taking his cock in hand.

Will shook his head, lowering himself on the couch rather than the floor, lying on his stomach, “Tell me what to do.” He said, looking up at Mike.

Mike swallowed, his free hand dropping into Will’s hair, leaning back, watching the way he waited for instructions. “Lick it.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. Mike watched as Will moved closer, head tilting, tongue pressing flat as he licked up his length.

He sucked in a breath at the feeling, “Take… take me in your mouth. Just the- just the tip.”

Will licked up his length again, the sight obscene, precum beading on his cock as he wrapped his lips around his tip, eyes fluttering.

He could feel Will’s tongue as it pressed against him, flat on top, tasting him. “Jesus, Will.” His hand curled in his hair tighter, “That’s it, just take me. Much as you can.”

Will hummed around him, taking him further in his mouth, a hand snaking up to grasp what he couldn't.

Mike pressed his lips together tightly, breathing out through his nose, nodding, “Y- yeah. Yeah, that… Jesus, Will, I’m never letting you off my cock.”

Will moaned at the words, his hips rolling down into the couch cushion.

Eyes flickering towards it, Mike groaned, hips rolling up before he forced them back down. He let go of Will’s hair, reaching his arm over, grabbing his ass.

He groaned softly as Will pulled off, lapping at him. He tugged at his waistband, Will’s hips lifting instantly, letting Mike push them down, squeezing his ass again once it was free.

Breathing heavily, he brought his hand back to Will’s face, “Suck.” He said.

Will pulled away, taking Mike’s fingers in his mouth, tongue circling the long digits.

Mike’s breath hitched, pressing the pads of his fingers to Will’s tongue, “Fuck, baby, that’s- that’s good. Nice and wet, you got it. Suck me now. Can you do that? Suck me with that pretty mouth so I can get you ready for me?” He pulled his hand free.

“Yeah, yeah, I can— fuck, Mike, I want you so bad.” He was back at his cock, licking long strips, saliva cooling against him.

Mike bit his tongue, reaching back.

It was difficult, trying to figure out where he wanted to look — at Will, mouth on his cock, or his fat ass, he couldn't get enough of.

“Oh god.” He moaned as the heat of Will’s mouth encompassed him once more, deeper than before. He closed his eyes, trying to focus on not bucking his hips and fucking Will’s mouth, spreading Will, his middle finger finding the twitching ring of muscle. He pressed against it, Will’s body accepting the intrusion immediately.

Will froze, gasping against Mike’s cock. He let himself slide further down as Mike’s finger pressed deeper into him.

“So tight, baby.” Mike moaned, his free hand taking Will’s hair into his grasp, pulling his finger out almost entirely before pressing it further in, “Sucking me in so perfectly.”

Will whined around him, hips twitching, pressing himself against the couch.

A second finger slipped in beside the first, pressing both deeper until he was knuckles deep inside him, stretching him open as he went, searching for that bundle of nerves that made him feel so—

Will moaned around him, sinking his head down until Mike hit the back of his throat, causing him to gag.

Mike gasped, hand tightening in Will’s hair, hips bucking, Will’s throat gagging around him.

“Sorry. Sorry. I’m sorry. You just feel so good, baby, can’t help mysel— fuck, angle your head for me, baby, you can take more, can’t you? You can take more. I know it.” He used the hand in Will’s hair to angle his head, pressing him further down his shaft, pressing his fingers against his prostate the entire time to distract him.

Will let him lead him, breathy little whimpers slipping out the deeper he took him, spit spilling out his mouth, coating his chin.

Mike pulled out, grunting as he thrusted just barely into his mouth, squeezing his ass, “Can I… shit, Will, can I…”

Will pulled off, panting, “Fuck my mouth. Just- just fuck my mouth.” He said, kissing the tip of his cock, “Please. Please, Mike.”

His head rolled back, groaning, “Shit, Will, can I spank you? Please let me spank you.

Will jerked against the couch at the question, rhythm erratic, “Please.” He kissed his cock again, “Please.” Another, “Please.” He took him in his mouth, moaning around him.

“Jesus—“ Mike’s hand landed on his ass, his hips thrusting up.

Will’s eyes snapped open, gasping around him.

Mike’s hand tightened in Will’s hair.

He wanted him to fuck his mouth; he could fuck his mouth. He pushed him further down, thrusting into his mouth, forcing Will to take him as deep as he could, “So good. You feel so— you like this? You like me fucking your— you look so pretty like this.” He smacked his ass again, cock hitting the back of Will’s mouth.

Will was gagging around him each time he hit the back of his mouth, but through it all, he wouldn’t stop pressing back into Mike’s hand each time it came down on his ass, his skin lighting up a brilliant shade of pink that was going to drive Mike mad for the next sixty years of his life.

He looked back at Will’s face, his eyes widening at the tears rolling down his face, cock twitching in Will’s mouth.

No, he was wrong.

This was going to drive him mad for the next sixty years. The whole thing.

Except, as hot as it was, the anxiety managed to sneak its way in.

“I- I’m hurting you. Shit— stop— we can- we can st—“

Will shook his head — well, as best as he could with his mouth full — forcing himself to take him deeper, past the back of his mouth, down his throat, his eyes watering.

Maybe he’d just have to die, because apparently, he was just going to go crazy because of Will Byers; he could see the way his cock protruded through his throat.

“You like- you like it— okay, fuck, you like it. You look— god, you should cry more, Will, you look gorgeous when you cry.” He babbled, thrusting into his mouth, his hand alternating between squeezing and smacking his ass, unable to make up his mind.

He needed more hands or something.

He slipped his fingers back inside Will, stretching him further, using the rest of his hand to squeeze it.

He grunted, watching Will hump the couch, his own hips picking up pace as he tried to match his.

“Oh god, oh god, Will, Will, fuck, Will, fuck.” He grasped his hair, forcing his head down, his throat working around him, “Breathe. Breathe, I got you— I got— shit, I’m coming— swallow. Swallow.” He didn’t let up, hips bucking, fingers twitching inside Will until they found his prostate, pressing insistently against it.

His head dropped back, moaning, “Will, please, Will, I l- I need you. I want you. I’m yours. Fuck, Will, swallow. Swallow.” He held him down, filling his mouth.

He opened his eyes, half lidded, watching Will’s eyes roll to the back of his head, his hand falling from his hair.

Will pulled back a second too soon, Mike’s cum coating his lips and chin

Mike groaned, hips rocking helplessly. He reached down, cupping his face, brushing his thumb through his cum, wiping his face clean, “You’re a mess.” He breathed out, pressing his thumb against Will’s lips.

“Your fault,” Will mumbled.

Mike’s lips twitched, “Good. Open.” He pressed his thumb into Will’s mouth, Will lapping it clean, sucking as he couldn't quite get enough of it.

Will whimpered around his finger, pulling back, “M— mike. I—“ he couldn't finish his sentence, clenching around Mike’s fingers, whining, “T- too m-m- much. Too much. Came.”

“Oh. Oh! Sorry.” He laughed softly, fingers slipping out of Will. “Hey.” He smiled, pulling him into a kiss, “Did so good, baby. So good.”

Will preened at it, “Yeah?” He asked with his mouth.

“So perfect.”

He’d gone over it a hundred times — a thousand.

This time, he was going to get it right.

It wasn’t going to be easy; he’d accepted that much, but he was ready for it this time around.

The last few months hadn’t been easy either. He couldn't keep doing this — keep lying to her, to himself.

Mike stopped at the cabin door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open.

Hopper would be off, Steve had assured him as much. He wanted to do it alone, without a crowd, without anyone.

He stepped in, closing the door behind him.

He hadn’t told Will, or Nancy, or even Holly.

He crossed the living room, stopping at El’s bedroom door.

The only one who knew was Steve.

It felt oddly fitting in a way that he had helped start this with Will and was now helping him end it with El.

If Steve didn’t hear from him in an hour, he was supposed to come over and ensure he was still alive.

“El?” He asked, knocking on the door.

He wasn’t an idiot, he knew what he’d done — what he’d been doing — was wrong.

Maybe it was stupider not to tell her the whole truth, but he rather liked his life currently and was hoping to keep it.

The door opened, El standing there. Her face was twisted, confused at the unexpected arrival, but still she smiled, “What are you doing here?” She laughed, hugging him, kissing his cheek.

He wondered if she’d realized he’d been dodging her kisses, if that was why she didn’t even try.

“I thought we were seeing each other later for the crawl.” She said when she pulled away.

Mike nodded, looking her over.

Six years of history sat between them, and here she was, unaware he was about to ruin it.

“Can we talk?” He asked quietly, grabbing her hand.

El nodded, stepping back into the room with Mike, “Is everything alright?” She wondered.

He turned from her for a moment, closing the door all but three inches. he looked back, “No.” He admitted.

He dropped her hand, taking a deep breath and letting it out as he sank onto the edge of the bed.

Rubbing a hand over his face, he dropped it back to his lap, trying to focus.

“Mike, what has happened?” She asked, sitting down next to him, “Is somebody… has somebody… is it Max?”

Mike frowned.

‘Max? What does Max have to do with—‘

His eyes widened, “No. No, she’s- she’s fine. She’s— everyone is okay. Alive. Healthy. It’s not… El, I lo…”

Why was talking to her always so hard?

“I’ve been thinking a lot, recently.” He said, reaching for her hand, trying to find the best way he could do this, “We’ve spent a lot of time together, El, and a lot of time apart. I keep thinking back to Lenora. Back to- back to…”

‘To when everything went to hell. When you and Will left, and suddenly nothing made sense anymore. Nothing made sense.’

El’s face had fallen. She shook her head, “Mike, I know, it has been difficult. I miss you every day. I know you miss me. This is almost over. It almost… it will be over soon. I am sure of it. We are finding more stuff as of late. It is not looking like Vecna is around. We will be free of it all soon.”

Mike’s face screwed up, wrinkles forming around the center of his face. He could hear what she wasn’t saying.

They could do this.

They could make it through this.

The distance didn’t matter, the time apart didn’t matter. She loved him, and they could work through this.

He could hear it, but it wasn’t enough, no matter how much he’d fought for it to be.

“Eleven, you dumped me in Lenora.” He said, breath shaking, tears prickling at his eyes. Not because he was upset at ending things, at what it would mean to finally let go of the one thing still holding him in place, but because he knew he was hurting her, he knew the truth that was there, hidden beneath it. “You dumped me, because I wasn’t able to love you the way you wanted me to— the way you deserve to be loved.”

“That- that was two years ago— almost three.” She shook her head, grasping his hand tighter, “We have grown. We have changed. You love me. Mike, I know you love me. You have told me you love me.”

“But I can’t love you how you deserve to be loved, Eleven.” He emphasized.

“Stop calling me that!” She snapped, tears forming in her own eyes, and he could barely look at her. “Stop— just stop. Stop, Mike. You are not—“

“I wanted to.” He cut her off, “Badly. I wanted to love you how you should be loved, but I can’t.”

“Because we have been apart.”

“That… that’s part of it, I guess. It’s not— it’s because of me. It’s my fault. It’s my problem. Being apart… it just- it let me see it. It didn’t cause it, but it let me understand it. Understand me. Understand why I can’t give you what you want.”

He knew the answer was simple. The explanation — ‘I’m gay. I like men. I can’t love you because you’re not right for me.’

“Is it Cat?”

He blinked, “Cat?”

“Yes. You are dumping me. Is it because of— because of Cat.”

“No. No, there’s no one…” That was a lie, “There’s no other girl, El. Especially not Cat. I can- I can barely stand her. It’s just… this doesn’t work.”

El pulled her hands away from Mike’s, standing back up. “Get out.”

“Eleven.”

“Get the fuck out of my house, Mike!” She snapped.

Mike stood up from the bed. He hesitated, reaching for her, everything in him telling him to try and fix it, to make it better.

Though, for a moment, he realized that may be the worst thing he could do then.

He let his arms fall to his side, “I really am sorry I couldn’t love you how you deserve to be loved, El.” He whispered, voice cracking a little, “I tried. I really, really tried.”

She didn’t look at him as he left.

Mike had walked the entire way back from Hopper’s cabin after leaving El. He’d taken the tunnels until the WSQK just to let Steve know it was all fine, that she hadn’t murdered him. He didn’t stay, though, leaving and walking despite Steve’s efforts to drive him.

He needed the time, the fresh air.

He was free.

Six years dating her, and yeah, it hadn’t all been bad; he’d be a shitty guy to think it had, but it was over.

Just like that.

It had been that easy.

That simple.

He didn’t have to keep pretending. He didn’t have to keep lying to himself.

He didn’t have to feel guilty anymore for kissing Will and being unable to kiss her.

The relief hadn’t hit him all at once. It came in small waves.

No more dodging kisses.

No more failed I love yous.

No more “I care for you”.

He didn’t know what would happen.

Dustin and Lucas would probably be confused; they wouldn’t understand, not right away. As far as they knew, they were in love after all.

El would be upset with him for a while; he knew that going into it. She would probably be mad as well.

He couldn't blame her.

He tried to explain, as best as he could.

It wasn’t great; he probably could have done better, but he’d done his best.

One day, he liked to think he’d be able to tell her the full truth. Maybe not the cheating part of it, or, well, who knew, maybe she’d understand that too, but the part where the reason he was incapable of loving her was that she wasn’t a man.

He unlocked the front door to his house, stepping inside. “I’m home!” He called out, toeing off his shoes.

There was no response. He sighed, walking to the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of water.

He wondered how long it would take before they could be friends again. Though they never really were.

They skipped friends altogether, honestly. Outside of making out, which they hadn’t even been doing, he wasn’t totally sure just how much they had in common.

He closed the fridge, drinking from his glass. There, on a sticky note, was a message from his mother.

‘Hairdresser. Took Holly. Back at 8.’

He hummed, setting his glass down. Nancy and Jonathan were at the WSQK. He’d spotted them on his way out, and his dad would be at work

“Will?” He called, leaving the kitchen, turning into the basement, taking the steps down two at a time, “Baby?” He reached the bottom, looking around.

He frowned, finding the room empty.

‘Maybe he’s out with the Party.’ He thought to himself, heading back upstairs. He’d walkie them to ask.

Well, at least he had the house to himself. No one would be around to distract him. He was a little behind on homework.

He was about to open his door when he heard a long whine from inside.

He stopped, hand on the handle. His brows furrowed, and he leaned his ear to the door.

“Mmm, Mike, ahh, Mike—“ Breathy gasps continued.

The blood from Mike’s head rushed down to his cock. He swallowed, his throat dry, the image already painted in his mind of Will in his bed, alone, hand wrapped around his cock.

“Will, baby, are you…” He cleared his throat, a grin spreading over his face, “Uh, if you keep sounding like that, I’m gonna cum in my pants, so what do you think I just come in and maybe help you out?”

“Mike,” Will moaned from inside, “Mike, please, please, I need you. I need you, Mike.”

He had the door open in a second, stepping in. His eyes widened, jaw dropping at the sight.

Will was lying on his bed in nothing but Mike’s hellfire shirt, sweaty, his hair sticking out in unnatural positions, face flushed, a pillow — Mike’s pillow — between his trembling legs.

Even at Mike’s intrusion, Will didn’t stop thrusting up into it.

Mike stared for a moment longer than necessary, engraving the sight in his mind. He reached for the hem of his shirt, tugging it off in one swoop, throwing it to the side, undoing his pants as he crossed the room, climbing onto the bed.

“You do this often?” He asked as he pulled his pants and boxers off, crawling his way over Will. He grasped his hands, dragging them up to the pillow his head rested on, pinning them on either side of his head as he lowered himself, pressing down on the pillow with a groan he muffled, kissing him.

Will’s hips bucked up at the added pressure, chasing it, “Just today.”

“Ah.” Mike breathed, kissing the mole above his lip, “What's so special about today?”

“Missed you,” Will answered, twisting his head to steal another kiss.

Mike rolled his hips down in response, “If this is what I get to come home too I might need you to miss me more.”

Will gasped into his mouth, eyes fluttering closed, “Thought maybe- maybe if I— thought maybe you’d fuck me.”

His cock twitched hard against the pillow between them, and he ground down forcefully.

“M- Mike!” He squirmed under him.

Mike hummed, “You been at this a while?” He asked, pulling back just enough to view his face.

Will bit his lip, nodding, his face flushing an insatiable shade of red.

Mike’s face lit up, “You cum yet?”

“No.” He was looking up at him with wide doe eyes Mike was quickly finding to be a problem.

“Why not?” He wondered, kissing his chin.

Will tilted his head back, giving him access to his neck, “Wanted to cum on your cock.”

Mike’s hips rutted down without permission. He growled to himself, pushing up away, much to Will’s dismay. “Yeah? You wanna cum for me? Only me?” He asked, slowly lowering himself once more, kissing him, “That can be arranged.”

He didn’t move his hips, then, just let himself press down, let Will feel the pressure he could have.

He kissed him until he needed air, and then a moment longer because he couldn't get enough. He kissed him until Will was squirming under him, trying to get more.

Mike pulled back, kissing his neck, sucking a mark onto it, “My horny, horny Cleric.” He murmured against his skin.

Will’s breath hitched at the title, or maybe the adjective, Mike wasn’t too sure other than the fact that he felt it under his lips.

He groaned, sucking again before pulling back, “Couldn't wait, could you? Just had to sneak up here and hump my pillow. Is that what you did, baby? You humped my pillow because you couldn't help yourself?”

Will turned his face, trying to hide it in the pillow, “Mike.” He mumbled.

Mike hummed, licking a long strip up his neck, “Use your words, Will. I know you know how. Use them for all your pretty spells.”

“Yes. Yes, I was— I had to. You were gone for so long, my Paladin.”

Mike’s lips stretched into a grin, teeth pressing into the skin of Will’s neck.

Will whined, “No, I don’t like that. Wait, I’ll figure it out, don’t stop.” He complained, the word too mouthy.

He huffed a laugh, kissing his neck, “Alright, my Cleric. I want you to show me. Show me how you humped the pillow.” He pressed down to ensure the idea got across.

Will lifted his face, breathing heavily, “Yes, sir.”

Mike lifted his head, pupils blown so wide he was certain someone would accuse him of being on drugs. “Sir.” He repeated, testing the word. His cock seemed to like it the way precum dripped, messing his pillow.

“Less mouthy,” Will explained, still blushing brilliantly.

Mike nodded, “Okay.” He breathed, pressing his lips to Will’s.

It started slow, Will’s hips rising, fucking up into the pillow between them, but he must’ve been going for longer than Mike assumed because his rhythm gained momentum quickly.

It was an odd feeling, the pillow between them. The friction was there, though lessened, much like when they grinded with pants, most of the stimulation coming from the added weight more than anything.

Mike deserved a medal, he thought, for lasting as long as he did, for allowing Will to use the pillow to get off.

His lips were still attached to Will’s, tongue pressing against his, hips rolling every so often to try and alleviate some of his own pressure.

He let go of one of Will’s hands, reaching down between them, pulling the pillow out, and tossing it to the side.

Will whimpered as he thrust up into nothing, his cock just barely brushing against Mike’s.

Mike pulled back, kissing his neck, his chest, “I got you.” He dropped his other hand, grasping Will’s leg, dragging it up, bent at the knee, “I got you.” He repeated, making his way down, biting and sucking as he moved.

He lowered himself onto the bed the further down he moved Will’s body until his mouth was hovering just over his leaking cock. He rolled his own hips down against the mattress, letting his breath, hot and heavy, hit the sensitive head of Will’s cock.

“Mike, come on!” Will cried, hips bucking.

Mike made a displeased noise in the back of his throat, pressing his hands to Will’s hips, pushing them down onto the bed, “Now is that any way to treat your Paladin?” He wondered, pulling back, kissing the inside of his thigh instead.

He dragged one hand off of Will’s hip, fingertips running up his skin, causing him to squirm and whine as he pressed his lips against it again and again. He dragged his leg over his shoulder, biting down into the fat, pulling back to kiss the bite marks before repeating.

A bite, a kiss, a lick, again and again.

Will’s leg trembled where it rested over Mike’s shoulder, “You’re- you’re doing this on purp— Mike, please, just— ‘m hard, come on.” He begged.

Mike hummed, sucking on the skin, dragging his tongue over it when he pulled back, “I know, baby, I know. And I’m gonna make you feel so good, but I don’t know, think you should be punished a little first.”

He bit his lip, precum spilling from his cock.

Mike’s brows lifted, licking his lips, “You like that?”

Will nudged him with the leg over his shoulder, “Please, Mike. Sir Michael. Please. I’ll be good. Don’t punish me.”

“Who am I to deny my Cleric?” Mike shook his head, “What do you want?”

“I want…” Will paused, brows furrowing in concentration. His face lit up a second later, and Mike had to laugh. “I want you to sheath your sword inside me, sir.”

Mike realized two things in that moment. Firstly, he was going to have a really hard time dragging this out, and secondly, he was never going to be able to play D&D without a boner again.

“Jesus, Will.” He breathed, face bright red, dropping his eyes for once.

Will swallowed, “Too- too much? Shit— I didn’t—“

Mike took him in his mouth in one go, all the way down his shaft until his nose pressed into the bundle of hair.

Will’s worries slipped away, eyes rolling into the back of his head, going white, hands grasping the bedsheets below him, hips bucking uselessly into the wet heat that was Mike’s mouth.

Mike hummed around him, fingers digging into his thigh as he started bobbing his throat. He tugged Will’s leg as he moved, up and down, taking him all the way each time, breathing through his nose, moaning around him.

He pulled all the way off, leaving just his tip in his mouth, tasting him. His nails dug into Will’s skin, looking up at him, eyes lidded, squeezing his hand tighter.

‘Fuck my mouth, Will, fuck my mouth.’

Will looked down at him, chest rising and falling quickly. He nodded, reaching down, grasping and tugging at Mike’s hair.

Mike moaned around him, grinding against the mattress, head bobbing a little as he nodded.

Will’s fingers tightened, grabbing tufts of Mike’s hair, and then his hips were bucking up, dragging Mike’s head in tandem as he fucked his mouth with careless abandon.

Mike was breathing heavy, spit slipping past his lips, he kept his eyes looking up at Will as his mouth got fucked stupid.

“Oh god- oh god- Mike— Mike— Mike!” He moaned, grasping his hair as tight as possible, dragging him all the way down his cock, his thighs trembling around Mike’s head, squeezing around him as he came, filling his mouth.

Mike’s throat worked around him, swallowing his load down, his hands running over Will’s thighs again and again and again, comforting, working him through it.

He waited until Will was done, growing soft in his mouth. He dragged himself off, pulling Will’s legs apart, kissing his thigh, the one he hadn’t yet touched.

“You did so good, baby.” He murmured, his voice a little hoarse, “So perfect for me. Taste so good.”

Will moaned softly, running his fingers through Mike’s hair, “Mike, I want you. In my want— please fuck me. You wanna fuck me?”

“So badly, baby.” Mike agreed, sucking hickies onto his pale thigh, “So badly. Is all I can think about.” He said between kisses.

He kept going until Will’s thigh was all marked up, claimed, and his. He turned his attention back to Will’s dick, half hard from the attention Mike was still giving him, kissing it.

“God, Mike, you’re going to kill me.” Will laughed.

Mike grinned, licking his tip before pulling back, “Turn around.” He whispered, “I’m gonna open you up.” He reached down, stroking himself with soft moans.

Will's lips parted, watching Mike touch himself in awe, his hand working over his cock, long, slow strokes, ignoring the head almost completely, every few strokes ending with a quick swipe of his thumb.

“Eat me out?” He asked as he turned over, pulling a pillow closer to help prop himself up.

“God, I’m starving.” Mike let go of himself, reaching out, grasping Will’s ass. He groaned, spreading him apart. He pressed his thumb to his hole, settling back down, pressing his mouth to him, laying his tongue flat, lapping at him,

Will gasped, burying his face in the pillow, moans spilling from his lips as Mike worked his tongue into him.

“Mike- Mike, god, Mike— please— ah- ah— much- too much— oh- oh—“ Will was blabbering out between gasps and moans, Mike’s hands kneading his ass.

Mike moaned in response, reaching his hand up, pressing a finger into his twitching hole.

Will bit the pillow, moaning loudly as Mike pressed into him, thrusting in and out, finger curling it until he found his prostate.

“Mike!” He cried, squirming.

Mike grinned against him, pressing closer, pushing his finger more incessantly against his prostate, running it against it in small circular motions.

Will’s mouth was open, the pillow below his face wet with tears and spit. The sounds falling out of him were barely human; his eyes rolled into the back of his head fully. He squirmed both back into the touch and away, his cock hard once more, trapped under him.

“Oh- oh- oh- oh Mike- Mike- Mike.” His hips jutted down, and he cried out, cum spurting out of his cock.

Mike hummed, pleased with the reaction, pulling back, slipping his finger out of Will, biting his ass cheek, “You okay?” He murmured, climbing up, lowering himself on top of Will, kissing the back of his neck.

Will lied under him, unmoving.

“Will? Baby?” He asked, pressing another kiss, “I’m gonna need you to answer me, baby. You with me?”

Will forced his head up from the pillow, “I’m here. I’m- I’m here. ‘M good. I’m—“ he laughed, “Fuck, Mike, baby, I’m good. I’m so fucking good. I’m so— fuck me, Mike. Please, fuck me, Mike. I want- I want— why won't you fuck me? You said you wanted to fuck me. Fuck me.”

He was sniffling as he begged, and Mike leaned over his shoulder, trying to get a look at his face. He had tears in his eyes and rolling down his cheeks, flushed and fucked — he looked fucked. His eyes were glossy, barely there.

“I want more. I want you. I want more. I need more. I need you.” He said, twisting to look over his shoulder properly.

Mike kissed him softly, “God, you look so pretty when you beg me, baby.” He whispered, rolling his hips, grinding his cock down against his ass.

Will whined, kissing him, “Please, Mike.”

Mike shushed him, pulling back, looking down between them as he grinded against him, “No.”

“Why?” Will dropped his head with a whiny cry.

He grasped his cock, angling it as he slid it between Will’s ass cheeks, inhaling sharply. He didn’t push in; he didn’t even pretend to, just let himself slide in-between like he belonged there.

Will clenched around him, Mike’s mouth parting, eyes fluttering. He pressed his chest down onto Will’s back, mouth close to his ear as he started thrusting.

“I’m not- I’m not gonna fuck you, Will.” He gasped against his ear, trying to focus on the new sensation and what he was saying, “I can’t. I want to. It’s all I can think about.”

He grunted, hips speeding up, “I lay here in my bed with my hand around my cock, imagining what it would feel like to sink into you. Oh god— you feel so good already, Will, you’re going to kill me when I finally do fuck you, and I’m goingto fuck you.”

Will’s breath hitched, and he clenched around Mike as he forced him down into the mattress, his cock sensitive, “W- wait— Mike, I can’t— god I- I’m sen— its too— too much-“

“You can take it.” Mike grunted, “C’mon, you’re magic, aren’t you? Can’t take a good fucking? Too much for your cock?”

“No,” Will shook his head, “no, I can- I can take it. I can do it.”

“Can you?” Mike bit his lip, “C’mon then, ‘m close, and I wanna get one more outta you. Hump the bed, baby. Fuck my mattress. Can you do that for me, my cleric?”

Will shook his head like he was going to say no, but his body disagreed, whimpering as he pressed down into the mattress in time with Mike’s thrusts between his cheeks. If he closed his eyes, if he let himself imagine it, it was almost like Mike was fucking him.

“You want to know why— shit, Will, why I won't fuck you?” He asked, hips smacking against his ass, “I want to take my time with you, Will. I’m gonna—“ he cut himself off, moaning as he hid his face in his neck, “I’m gonna take you out for dinner first. Something n- nice. Wine and dine you. And I’m not fucking you somewhere where someone could find us. I’ll make that barn real nice for us, okay? Lots of blankets, lots of candles. I’m going to make it as good for you as I possibly can.”

Will panted, listening to Mike talk, explain his side.

Mike gasped, his hips stuttering. He pushed himself up, thrusting faster, watching his cock appear and disappear between his cheeks, “Will, Will, fuck, I’m going to fuck you so good, I promise, just not today. Not today. Gonna fuck you stupid. Will. Will, baby.” He moaned, cum sputtering out of him.

Will gasped, feeling it drip between him as Mike pulled back. He reached his hand back without quite thinking, moaning as he found Mike's cum. Mike watched in a daze as Will ran his finger through it before pressing it into himself, moaning at the intrusion of his own finger - of Mike's cum - his cock sputtering under him with one final orgasm. 

He leaned down, kissing his back over and over and over again, “You’re amazing. You’re so amazing, Will, you gotta know how much I want you.” He panted as he crawled off of Will, dropping next to him. He turned towards him, tugging him into his arms.

Will let himself be pulled, snuggling into Mike’s arms, his eyes closing.

Mike ran his hand over his back, soothing him, “You okay, baby?”

He nodded, “Good. So good. So… thank you. Even if you didn’t fuck me.”

Mike laughed, resting his chin on the top of his head. He tilted his face, hiding it in Will’s hair, breathing him in, “I broke up with El today.”

Will stiffened in his arms.

Mike closed his eyes, trying not to let it get to him, trying to focus on the man in his arms and not the fact that he tensed like he’d announced Vecna’s arrival.

“You broke up with her.” He said quietly.

He nodded, “Yeah. Yeah. It went… It’s over.”

Will sank deeper into Mike’s arms, “You realize how stupid this is, don’t you?” He asked, and Mike could feel his tears against his chest. “If people- if people ask you questions—“

“You don’t have a girlfriend.” Mike cut him off, “No one ever asks you questions.”

Will snorted, “People have been calling me names since I was a kid, Mike. I don’t need a girlfriend, they’re going to think it no matter what.”

Mike burrowed further into Will’s hair, his own eyes watering, “We’ll be careful. No one will find out. No one will… this is good, Will. This is good.”

“Just hold me, Mike.” Will whispered, “Please. I just… I need you right now.”

Nodding, he tightened his hold around Will.

Mike walked into the living room, dropping onto the couch between Will and Holly, arms draping over both, later that night.

“Hey!” Holly complained.

Will had tensed a little under his arm, “What's up?”

“I was thinking,” Mike said, “I want to take my two favorite people out to ice cream and the movies tomorrow.” He looked at Will as he said it.

Will’s eyes widened a little, nodding softly, “Oh.”

He nodded back, grinning, “Yeah. It’s, uh, it’s An Innocent Man. Or Lexi — you know Lexi, right? — She works at the theater, she’s on the student council, well, whatever, she said her manager, Clarke, always gets the movies early and lets them see them. Halloween Five comes out Friday, we might be able to see it tomorrow instead.”

“Halloween five?” Holly asked.

“It’s a scary movie.” Will said, looking around Mike towards the girl, “You haven’t seen the first four.”

Holly frowned, looking at them both, “So why would I watch the fifth?”

Mike rolled his eyes, turning towards her, “Because,” he lowered his voice, brows raising, “Will likes those movies.”

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.” She said, dragging the word out as if having a religious revelation.

Mike’s face flushed, “Shut up.” He hissed.

Will blinked, “Oh?” He asked, “What do you- what does oh mean?”

“Nothing.” Mike flipped back towards Will, swallowing, “She means— she’s a kid. She thinks everything means something. Holly, go play.”

Huffing, Holly got up from the couch, groaning dramatically, sulking out of the room.

Mike waited, just to be safe, “I just want to take you to the movies, to see a movie I know you’ll like, and ice cream after to buy you a cone.”

His lips parted, staring at Mike with wide eyes, “You want to take… me?”

He nodded, “With Holly. Because if we take Holly we’re babysitting, you know. We’re… we’re babysitting. No one will look at us and think… I heard you yesterday. I heard what you had to say. I understood it. I understand it, Will. I know why we can’t… date.” The word caused a wave of anxiety to overflow him, “I know. I do. I’m not stupid.”

He dropped his head, scoffing, “Everyone thinks I’m so fucking stupid all the time.” He muttered to himself.

“Hey,” Will shook his head, reaching for Mike’s hand, hesitating a second before taking it, “I don’t. I don’t think you’re stupid. I think you’re- you’re smart. You’re smart, and you’re- you’re brave and… and yes.”

Mike looked up, “Yes?”

Will nodded, “Yes, I’ll— we should go. We should- should go. Together. With Holly. I want to— yes. Yes, Mike. Yes.”

“Yes. Yes.” Mike laughed, grasping his face, kissing him. He pulled back just as fast, a grin on his face, “I… you’re… you’re amazing.”

“You’re not gonna get scared?” Mike asked, bent down to look at Holly at eye level as they waited in line to pick up their tickets.

Holly nodded, bouncing on her toes, “I’m ten. I can handle a scary movie. Can you?”

Will snorted, looking away from the two.

“Can—“ he scoffed, glancing back at Will for a second, “Can I handle it? I can handle a scary movie, Holly. I’m not a kid.”

“So you’re not going to hold Will’s hand?” She asked, smirking to herself.

Mike’s jaw dropped, staring at his little sister, “I- what?!” His voice cracked, standing to full height.

The theater wasn’t too busy that afternoon, it was a Friday, but they’d been let out of school early, and they were taking advantage of it.

Still, he turned red with embarrassment, lowering his voice, “Holly.”

Will was laughing, “You do get a little scared.” He said, nudging him. “If you have told hold my hand, I won't mind.”

Mike turned towards him, face softening in comparison to how he’d been looking at Holly. The blush refused to leave, though, “I mean… I- I do get a little scared.”

“Ah.” Will clicked his tongue, “Then my hand will be free for when you need it.”

The older couple in front of them finished, and he pressed Holly forward, following behind her up to the window.

“Three tickets, please!” Holly said, smiling at the pretty girl.

Mike sighed, rolling his eyes, “Hey, Lexi.”

Lexi, the girl he’d told Will about, was behind the glass, smiling down at Holly, “Hey, Mike. You got a free day today?”

He nodded, “Finally, right?” He huffed a quiet laugh.

“So what do you want to see?” She asked.

“Well, we were wondering if you could sneak us into seeing Halloween Five early, but if you can’t, we’ll do An Innocent Man.”

Will stood at his side, looking from one to the other, taking in the flashy smile Mike was giving.

Lexi leaned forward, humming, “Well, Clarke did just leave.” She said quietly.

“Now? It’s the middle of the day.”

“Yeah. Clarke leaves all the time. You get used to it.” She rolled her eyes, “Basically means I can get you three tickets.”

“That’s great.” Will said before Mike could respond or Lexi could talk further, his hand twitching as he rested it on the counter, slipping his pinkie through Mike’s belt loop, tugging him closer, “We’ll take them. How much?”

Mike stumbled an inch closer, clearing his throat, shooting him a look.

Lexi smiled at Will, completely ignorant, “Can’t charge you for a movie we’re not showing. Just buy some concessions. Room three.”

“Great! Thanks.” Will nodded, tugging Mike as he stepped away.

“Uh, bye, Lexi!” He called, stumbling after Will, trying to look casual and not like Will was dragging him by the leash.

Holly turned back, frowning, “Hey, wait!” She called, hurrying after them.

Will stopped walking, far enough away from the window and Lexi.

Mike almost walked into him. His eyes were wide, looking down at Will, around to make sure no one was watching them weirdly, “You- what- Will.” He breathed, head tilting, a pleased smile on his face.

Maybe he should’ve been upset at the dragging, but he found himself oddly fond of it.

“That was nice of her. We should get in before the movie starts.” Will said.

Mike’s lips twitched.

“Don’t laugh at me.”

“I’m not,” Mike assured, fighting every urge in his body to lean forward and close the space, to kiss the stupid fake look off of Will’s handsome face. He did, however, let his hand wander, reaching for Will’s own belt loop, tugging him an inch closer, ‘I’m yours.’

Holly groaned, rolling her eyes. She let out a long-winded breath, circling the pair in annoyance, “Can we get snacks? I want popcorn and M&M’s.”

Mike hummed, not looking away from Will, “Yeah, yeah. Uh… get Skittles. You want- you like Skittles.”

“I like Skittles.” Will agreed.

Holly skidded to a halt, staring at them, “Money. I’m ten.”

“Here.” Will sighed.

Mike frowned, “Wait, no, you don’t have to—“ he went to stop Will from reaching for his wallet, but the argument died as Will reached into his back pocket instead.

Not long enough to raise any suspicions, but enough for Mike’s pupils to grow in size.

Will pulled the wallet out, stepping back, “C’mon, Hols.”

Holly grinned, reaching for Will’s free hand, letting him lead her away.

“Wheeler?”

Mike’s eyes widened, turning around towards the hall that led to the auditoriums.

“Mark, hey.” He nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets as he came up. A second later, Paul, Vi, and Ash. He nodded at them, too. “What- where are you guys coming from?”

He tried not to cringe at the stupid question.

Ash smiled nonetheless, “We just saw An Innocent Man.” She explained.

Vi nodded animatedly, “Have you seen it yet, Mike? God, Tom Selleck is just…”

Paul rolled his eyes, “Isn’t he a little old?” He asked, crossing his arms over his chest, annoyance radiating off his body.

“Still hot.” Ash agreed with Vi, “You should watch it, Mike.”

Mike laughed softly, “Don’t think he’s my type, to be honest.”

Mark snorted, “Obviously. It was pretty good, though. You here with your girlfriend? What was her name again? Janet?”

“Uh, Jane, and no.” He shook his head, glancing back to the concession stand.

Holly was bouncing on her tiptoes, pointing at the signs with the options for snacks. Will was standing a little behind her, half bent to whisper to her and point as well.

“Byers?” Paul asked.

Mike’s head snapped back, he paled slightly, mouth opening as he searched for an answer. “Yeah. Yeah, we’re— my sister. Holly. She’s ten. My mom’s making us babysit.”

That was the point of having Holly there, wasn’t it? She allowed them a safety net, a buyable excuse.

It wasn’t odd for them to hang out alone; if Mike were being honest, there was nothing exactly suspicious about it. They’d been friends forever; people expected them together.

Still, the fear was there, deep inside him.

One wrong move, a wrong word, and suspicions would arise.

“You have another sister?” Ash asked, grinning widely, “I thought it was just Nancy.”

“No, yeah, Holly too.”

“Mike, will put the M&M’s in the popcorn!” Holly called, hurrying over with the large bucket, showing it off as if it were the most marvelous thing in the world.

Mike smiled down at her, pushing her head down playfully, “Yeah? Salty and sweet.”

Paul grunted, drawing his attention back to the group, “Well, we should leave you to your movie, man. Wouldn’t want to keep that cute little thing waiting.” He gave Holly a look as if trying to be appealing.

Mike nodded, maybe a little too interested in the idea, “Yeah, cool, for sure. I’ll see you at practice on Sunday.”

“That was so cool!” Holly cheered as they left the theater.

Will laughed, following close behind her, his shoulder bumping against Mike’s as they walked, dumping the now-empty popcorn bucket in the trash. “Yeah? You know it’s Friday the 13th.”

Holly spun, her dress going with. She didn’t stop walking, though, as they flowed towards the ice cream parlor. “So?”

“So?” Will asked, voice jumping as if the very idea of her not understanding the importance of the day, “It’s like the dayfor horror movies!”

“Will.” Mike hissed, grasping his elbow, tugging him closer, a smile flickering on his face, “Stop, she’s going to get ideas.”

It was too late.

Her eyes were wide, and she was jumping. “Why?” She asked, enthralled.

Will looked at Mike for a second, head tilting in apology, he clearly did not mean. “Well,” he pulled away, catching up with Holly. “It’s unlucky. The French used to say Fridays were unlucky and that the number 13 was unlucky, so when you combine them…”

“The unluckiest day.”

“Exactly!” He agreed, opening the ice cream shop door for her. She curtsied for added effect before walking in, “I think it has something to do with religion, too.”

Mike rolled his eyes following them into the cold ice cream parlor, squeezing Holly’s shoulders as they neared the counter, “C’mon, whatcha want?”

“Cookies and cream.”

“No strawberry?”

“Just cookies and cream.” She agreed, “In a—“

“Cone, we know.” They both said, shaking their heads.

Mike ordered their respective ice creams, grabbing a shit load of napkins for when Holly inevitably made a mess, holding the door open for the both.

“Home?” He asked Holly specifically.

Holly nodded, “Yeah. I wanna see what scary movies we have.”

“Oh god you’ve broken her.” He groaned to Will, letting go of the door.

Holly took off in front of them, a little faster. Mike didn’t rush to catch up, walking leisurely next to Will, arms brushing as they did.

“Towards the theater, Holly.” Will called, “Shortcut.”

“Don’t go too far. It’s dark already.” Mike added. It wasn’t that late, four-ish. Still, this fall was darker than most. The fog that had started coming in hadn’t stopped; it was getting thicker, and the vines they had started finding out closer to the woods had taken to making Hawkins' home again.

The military was on top of it, for once, getting rid of them as fast as they could, but they were growing faster than they could keep up with.

Holly nodded, rushing ahead.

Still, they didn’t hurry.

Mike grabbed some of his ice cream with his spoon, taking his time. He could feel his nerves on fire.

It’d been a good day — a really good day. The movie wasn’t bad, not one of the best, but not bad. They sat in the back, Holly ahead of them, and he’d gotten to hold Will’s hand in the dark. At one point, Will had dropped his head onto his shoulder. It’d been for a minute, maybe two, but it was something.

It was a good day.

He looked down at his cup, goosebumps prickling his skin. “Did you have fun?” He asked, hating the question.

Will smiled, “Always have fun with you.” He said, elbowing him lightly.

“Even with Holly?”

“Especially with Holly.” Will whispered like it were some big secret, “She got you to hold my hand. I think she likes me with you.”

Mike’s eyes widened, huffing a laugh, “Uh—“

“Relax. I’m kidding. She’s ten. She doesn’t know.”

‘She does.’ Mike thought, ‘She knows all about it. About us. She’s seen us kissing.’

He could tell him. Just spit it out. Maybe it’d be fine.

Maybe he wouldn’t freak out.

It was just Holly, after all.

“I’ve been thinking about yesterday.” He blurted instead.

Will’s eyebrows jumped, a flush quickly seeping onto his cheeks.

Mike looked over, his own face flushing red, “I— no. No! Not—“ he laughed, the image now in his head, “I mean, yeah, that was… fuck, Will, I wasn’t talking about, uh… I was thinking maybe- maybe we can drop Holly off at home and then… go to the barn?” He offered, slowing to a stop.

Will stopper, turning to him, the air punched out of him. His eyes were wide, unbelieving. He swallowed, Adams's apple bobbing, “The barn?” He asked, and maybe Mike was imagining it, but there was something hopeful in his voice.

He nodded, “Tonight. Or... this weekend, maybe. We could… we’d be alone.”

Will looked away for a second, glancing around the mostly empty street before stepping closer to Mike, “I could make the- the time for… that.”

Mike smiled, a little shy and hidden, “Cool.” He murmured.

Holly had turned back at some point, dragging her way back to the two, “What’s a fag?”

His smile dropped, Will’s face paling, both turning to the girl.

“What?” Mike asked, the word quiet and small, unlike Holly’s question.

Holly’s face flickered, as if even though she didn’t understand the word, she realized she’d said something bad. Her eyes flicked away, towards the street she had come back from.

“Where-“ Will swallowed, “Where did you hear that?” He asked.

She opened her mouth, looking back up at Mike.

He felt his heart drop. “Holly.” He whispered.

“I didn’t hear it.” She mumbled, and her eyes flicked away again.

His ears were ringing, his body was heavy, chest tight. He looked towards Will.

Will didn’t look back.

His feet started walking without consulting his mind, walking down the street, crossing towards the one that led to the movie theater.

“M- Mike.” Will found his voice, following after.

Mike slowed to a stop in front of the theater.

The ringing intensified; his heart had given out altogether. There, in front of him, in red paint on the sign that listed the movies for the day, ‘Mike Wheeler is a fag’ stood out.

There were people around — still not many, but enough to witness his public humiliation. The murmurs around him were too loud, drowning him, pulling him under.

“No.” He whispered, tears fogging his vision, “No. No, no, no, no, no.” He hissed, but his brain wasn’t of any use. He didn’t know what to do, how to stop it, how to keep people from seeing it, from talking about it.

Who did it didn’t cross his mind.

Why or how didn’t either.

He was frozen on the spot.

‘Do something. Anything.’

He couldn't move.

“Mike,” Will’s voice was quiet, soft, coming up to him, “Mike?”

He couldn't look away from it.

His father would see.

His mother would see — her hair salon wasn’t far, she’d pass by the theater. 

The kids at school, their friends. Lucas and Dustin would see

Will didn’t touch him; maybe that was a gift. “I’m gonna call Jonathan.” He whispered.

Mike didn’t respond; his mind too muddled with what would come.

He’d spent five hours outside the movie theater unmoving.

Will had tried, Holly had tried.

Jonathan got there in record time to see the mess, Nancy dragged along with him.

He didn’t see their reactions; he didn’t see anything other than the red dripping letters, his truth written in blood.

‘Mike Wheeler is a fag.’

Jonathan had gone inside, taken a ladder from the workers, and a bucket of water.

Nancy stood with Mike; he didn’t remember much of it, but he remembered the warmth and tightness of her hand on his bicep, trying to pull him back into reality.

She hadn’t asked questions, settling for telling him it would all be alright.

“It’s stupid. It’s stupid, Mike. No one’s going to believe it.”

How could she honestly believe that?

Rumor spread in Hawkins like running water, especially the sinful kind.

It’d been years, and Will was still called Zombie Boy. In what world would this not stick?

“The same thing happened to me. Okay? Steve’s friends. They- they called me a slut. They wrote it on the— that’s probably where the idea came from. It didn’t stick, though. It wasn’t tru,e and it didn’t stick.”

Hadn’t it?

Enough that six years later, someone had been able to recall Nancy’s debacle well enough to copy it for him?

‘Starring Nancy The Slut Wheeler’

At least that one had a pun.

Mike’s was just a sentence.

A death sentence.

‘Mike Wheeler is a fag’

He didn’t know when exactly Will had left, just that Jonathan had snapped at him to go home and take Holly.

By the time Steve showed up, the sun had almost fully set, and Mike couldn't feel his legs anymore, but he couldn't feel much of anything.

“Why didn’t you call me sooner?!”

“We’ve been a little busy.”

The trio had fought in front of him, about him, almost like he wasn’t there.

‘Mike Wheeler is a fag’

“Mike. Mike, come on, man. Talk to me.” Steve had shaken him, though it barely moved him.

He should talk to Steve.

Steve understood his mind better than any of the others did.

Steve had been there through it all.

Steve had helped him accept himself.

He was mad at Steve.

If he’d just let him stay quiet, not do anything, this wouldn’t be happening.

“He’s gone. He’s not— Nancy, he’s not here!”

“He’s- he’ll be fine. No one will believe it. Barely anyone has seen it. We’ll have it off before morning.”

“No one will believe— it’s true, Nancy, he knows it, that’s enough!”

‘Mike Wheeler is a fag.’

‘Mike Wheeler is a fag’

'Mike Wheeler is a fag’

It repeated over and over and over in his mind.

Every kiss with Will, how he left him feeling. Ever kiss with El — El. He’d gone and dumped her, and this happened. — and how he didn’t feel anything for it.

The way Will touched him and it lit his soul.

The way he touched Will as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

‘Mike Wheeler is a fag’

Five hours before the paint had been stripped, and Mike would still swear up and down he could see the outline of the words.

If he could manage to find his voice long enough to say anything.

He wasn’t sure how he’d gotten home; Nancy must have driven, or Jonathan. He blearily remembered Steve’s insistence that it might be best for them to leave Mike with him, to take him to the WSQK or something.

He sat now at dinner with his family and the Byers and Holly’s two friends.

He didn’t eat.

He didn’t look at his parents.

He didn’t speak.

They hadn’t said anything yet. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad.

If they didn’t know yet, they would by tomorrow.

If they knew, they just weren’t speaking about it.

The thought had crossed his mind. Just looking up and announcing it, saving them all the horrors, ‘I’m a big fucking faggot, mom and dad. Proud yet?’

“Thank you for having us, Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler,” Holly’s friend Mary said as she finished her dinner.

His mother smiled, “Of course, dear. Did you boys not like your dinner?”

Mike looked over at Will’s plate, pushed around more than eaten.

“It’s- it’s good, sorry, just not hungry,” Will said quietly.

“Can we sleep in the basement?” Holly asked. “It’s bigger, and we can watch the movies without dad getting mad.”

“Holly, Will and Jonathan—“

“Will can sleep in my room,” Mike said, looking at his mother. His eyes were red-rimmed.

His mother hesitated.

He wasn’t sure why he offered. Maybe to see if she’d react. If either of them would.

“Alright.” She nodded, “If that’s okay with Will, of course. And Jonathan…”

“I can stay with my mom,” Jonathan assured.

Mike’s head turned towards Will, his face a little screwed up. He waited. For once, he was the one waiting on Will.

Will met his eyes. They were sad, hurt in a way Mike couldn’t quite understand.

It wasn’t like it was his name on the sign. It wasn’t like anyone said anything about him.

He pulled his eyes away from Mike, to Mrs. Wheeler, “Yeah, that’s fine. Fun. Good.”

Mike nodded once, looking back down at his plate.

Mike sat in his bed, hands on his knees, eyes closed, breathing deeply, head tilted forward, too heavy to hold up properly.

He was fresh from the shower, hair still a little wet, sticking to him. His hands trembled, unable to keep still, no matter how much he forced them to try.

‘You’ll figure this out. It’ll be fine. It’ll be fine.’ He kept telling himself, trying to stay calm, not spiral.

He swallowed the growing lump in his throat, ‘Nancy knows, Holly knows, Jonathan knows, Steve knows. That’s a lot of people already. They’re fine with it. They don’t care. This is going to be fine.’

He just had to make it through the night. He’d know how bad it was in the morning or at school on Monday.

The door to his room opened, and he lifted his head, smiling softly, trying to appear at ease, “Hey, Holly kick you out already?”

Will closed the door behind him. He was dressed in a pair of old grey sweat pants and a white t-shirt. It was a little odd. He’d been wearing Mike’s clothes to bed so often now that seeing him in his own didn’t feel right.

“Yeah, she was really excited.” He answered, not quite meeting his eyes. He crossed the room, hesitating at the edge of the bed, weighing his choices, flipping a coin.

Mike frowned to himself, reaching out for him.

Will grabbed a pillow from the bed, stepping away.

His hand fell back to his lap. “What are you doing?” He asked, watching as Will set it on the floor by the bed, walking to the closet.

He pulled out the stack of blankets Mike kept in the corner, carrying them to where he’d placed the pillow, starting to set them out.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He huffed, standing, head shaking. “You’re not sleeping on the floor.”

“It’s fine,” Will said quietly, smoothing out the one he laid to sleep on top of.

‘It’s fine. This is how it should be. This is how it always should have been.’ He told himself.

Mike frowned, watching him meticulously work, “Will, come on. Did I do something?”

Will huffed, “You broke up with Jane.”

That was the problem.

That was always going to be the problem.

Mike blinked at him.

What did El have to do with anything?

He hadn’t thought about her all day, hadn’t said anything about her.

“I did.”

“I told you not to. I warned you what could happen. What would happen.” He tried to keep his head steady and level. He’d told Mike. He’d gone over it a hundred times. He thought it was obvious; he thought he’d understand. How could he not understand?

“What, you think she did this?” He scoffed, “Will, El doesn’t know that we’re… doing this.”

Will turned to him, scoffing, “Jane, Mike. Jane. Her name is Jane. She went by Jane for a year and a half. You’ve been her boyfriend for six years, Mike, call her by her name instead of that fucking number, okay? Maybe then- maybe then you’d realize why this whole thing is fucked up. Why what we’ve done to her is fucked up.”

His shoulders shook, trying to catch his breath.

“It’s fucked up, but if you wanted to keep doing this, you should’ve stayed with her. If you had just stayed with her, none of this would be happening. You weren’t supposed to leave her. You were never supposed to leave her! This isn’t anything. This was never supposed to be anything.”

His hands flailed as he spoke, eyes red-rimmed and watery as if he’d been crying. It wasn’t fair to put all the blame on Mike; Will knew that, it was as much his fault, if not more. Mike was with Jane. Mike loved Jane. He’d just stepped in the way and fucked it all up for them. For all of them. And for what? For what? It didn’t matter.

Nothing would ever matter.

They could do what they did when he was with her because it was stability, it was a life people accepted, it was safe.

“Will, please,” Mike’s voice cracked, the desperation seeping through. “I need you right now. Okay? I don’t- I need you. This is- it’s insane, Will. What's happened, it’s insane and I… please. I just want to hold you and fall asleep next to you. I want to fall asleep next to you like I’ve been doing. We can- we can talk about this in the morning.” It was the last thing either of them wanted. They didn’t want to have this discussion, to talk about what happened that day, to talk about the mistakes they’d gone and made that could have led to it.

“No, Mike.” Will whispered, begging him to understand, “This doesn’t work. It doesn’t happen. We don’t get to date. Not if you’re with Jane. Not if you’re not with her. We just don’t get to date. That’s not what we do. What happens. Not for us. Not for me. I don’t get that. I don’t get- I don’t get you. I don’t get to have you.”

He looked away, a sob escaping his lips. He wiped his face quickly, trying to get the tears off before Mike could see.

He needed him to understand. He needed it. He didn’t get to have Mike; that wasn’t how the world worked, not for men like Will. Mike was lucky, Mike got to have both. He liked both. It wasn’t fair, not really. He could fuck Will all he wanted, he could kiss him all he wanted, but he wouldn’t love him. Not when he could have someone like Jane. Not when he could have a chance at a normal life.

Maybe once he had loved him, Will had seen the letters, but he didn’t love him now. Or not enough. It would never be enough.

Mike shook his head, walking towards him, “Stop, stop, hey.” He whispered, grasping his hands, moving his head to try and get a look at his face, “I’m yours. Despite everything, Will, I’m yours. You do. You get to have me. I’m yours.” He’d repeat it as many times as he had to for it to stick.

He was Will’s, and nothing would change that. He could deal with this; he could make it through this. He just needed Will.

It always came down to the two of them. They had handled monsters and death; they could handle this.

Will pulled his hands away, stepping back, “You’re not. You can’t be. Mike, this is what happens. You’re not.”

‘You’re not.’

Not what?

It didn’t make sense to Mike. None of it did. Not his? He was, though.

“Someone’s fucking with me.” Mike said, trying to understand or maybe salvage something, “They don’t know- whoever it was, they don’t know about this. It was just my name there. If they- if they knew, yours would- yours would be there too. They would’ve done something else. Something— it’s just me. You’re fine. You’re safe. No one- no one knows.”

If it had been Will on that sign, Mike wouldn’t have been able to live with himself. But it wasn’t. It was him. He could do that. He could deal with it. No one knew about Will; Will could hide who he was. If anything, this could help Will. Hecould help Will.

If someone knew the truth, the whole truth of it, they wouldn’t have said ‘Mike Wheeler is a fag’; it would’ve said something about them both.

Something far more condemning.

He wondered where he’d messed up. Maybe he said something on the radio and didn’t realize, or maybe he hadn’t been convincing enough in the locker rooms.

Maybe it really was just written on his face as he’d feared.

“Will, just get in bed. Just get in- get in bed so I can hold you. We’ll figure this out. We always do. We’ll do it together. We’ll... we’ll figure it out.”

He could go back to her, to El— Jane, whatever the fuck her name was.

Or maybe talk to Cat. She liked Will, right? She could go out with Will for a while; he’d put the jealousy aside, protect him. Maybe she could put in a good word with Sunny or something, get Mike a date, too. Whatever it took until this whole thing blew past.

“I can’t sleep next to you, Mike. It’s not my place. I’m not… allowed next to you. This isn’t right. It’s not normal.”

Panic rose inside his chest listening to Will pull away, hearing him say it wasn’t normal.

How could he say that when he was the one who’d finally managed to convince him it was?

That this was fine, that it could work.

His throat felt tight, face screwed up as he spat the poison out, “So you can have my dick in your mouth, but sleeping next to me is too much to ask for?” 

‘How can you pretend this doesn’t mean anything? That you don’t want me as badly as I want you? Why can’t you understand why I need you on my side right now?’

It was too harsh, he knew it the second he said it. He did that when something started to hurt, he reached for the mean thing, the one that would turn the tables onto his side.

Will blinked at Mike, another tear falling, a breath catching on its way in. His eyes flickered between each of Mike’s own.

‘Yes.’ He thought.

Yes, it was too much to ask for.

Mike had gone and proven exactly why.

Because he didn’t ask, “You can kiss me, but you can’t sleep next to me?”

He didn’t say “I just took you out on a date and you wont lay with me.”

There was no mention of the way he planned the drive-ins not to make out with him in, but because he wanted a date. How he took the time to get them takeout dinners and set up that cold barn to be warm and inviting so they’d be able to go out without worrying about what people would say about them.

There was nothing about the late nights falling asleep in each other's arms or the early morning waking up in the same position.

Not a mug they’d passed between one another for thirty months or a plate of eggs they shared, eating with the same fork, draped over one another, breathing each other like air. No lazy kisses, no goodbye kisses, no good morning kisses, nothing. It was nothing. There was nothing.

Because Will knew, Will knew Mike would never love him. Not the way he wanted. Not the way he dreamed and wished for.

To Mike, all Will was was a good time. He was sex. He was something quick and easy. A fun experiment when he found out he thought guys were hot.

Mike was the kind of man who would spend a couple years fucking around with some guys until he eventually got bored and realized it was time to settle down with a wife and kids and a fucking dog.

Will was just something to reach for because Jane wasn’t there.

Will could want as much as humanly possible, but it was never his — Mike was never his, no matter how much he liked to say he was. Lying next to him now, in this moment, with what had happened, it would be doing more harm than good. Mike needed to remember what was normal. He needed to remember he wasn’t his, even if Mike would always be Will’s.

The floor was punishment for what Will had caused, but it was salvation, too.

The anger, the fear, the truth… it all bubbled within Will, and when Mike said it, when he degraded down the last ten months into nothing more than a blowjob, the bubble burst.

“It’s not my fault you can’t get it up without a guy sweet-talking you.” He snapped at Mike.

He was hoping to hit him somewhere that would hurt, even if it wasn’t true. The same rawness Will was feeling.

The words sounded like a canon.

Mike’s face untwisted, his shoulders dropped.

He stared at Will, trembling with anger and finally saying what he really thought.

He stared at Will, and he realized he’d lost his best friend.

It was true.

That was the worst part.

He couldn't.

He’d tried.

He’d wanted nothing more in life than for it to be enough.

He’d tried so hard, he’d gone and proven the very thing he least wanted.

That it hadn’t been confusion.

That Steve Harrington hadn’t been looking too deeply into things and seeing something that didn’t exist.

Because it was the exact moment that proved to him he wasn’t just confused, he was broken, and Will had gone and just hit Mike in his deepest shame.

He could've said it a hundred different times, different ways, he didn’t have to, though, Mike heard them all.

'You’re broken, you’re disgusting, you’re pathetic, you’re perverse, you’re a queer, you’re a fag.'

Will had said it the same way it was written on that board, so plainly it may as well have been on his birth certificate.

Mike Wheeler is a fag.

Mike didn’t speak. He didn’t rush to fill the silence or defend himself.

There was no defense for what he was and what he had caused.

He was guilty, and the worst part was that he wanted to be.

He wanted to be guilty and wrong because it meant having Will.

Because Will was like him.

‘It’s not my fault you can’t get it up without a guy sweet-talking you.’

No, he wasn’t.

It dawned on him.

If Will were gay, he wouldn’t say that, not because it was untrue, but because he wouldn’t be able to either.

So why…

'I don’t care about— about that. About you—'
'Being a fucking pervert?'

Will hadn’t disagreed with it.

'I like… I was trying to help.'

Right.

Will didn’t like him. Will didn’t want him. Will wanted to help. He gave himself over to help.

He hadn’t realized he’d been clenching his teeth or that his eyelashes were wet with tears that had started falling without permission. hadn’t realized he was no longer looking at his best friend.

He swallowed, forcing his teeth apart. Slowly, he dragged his eyes back to him. Back to Will.

“… take the bed.” He whispered, voice hoarse with sobs that had yet to leave. He shook his head, “Or don’t.” His voice cracked, thick with the shame of what he’d done, the sin of what he was.

“If you think I do… whatever you think I do in there—“ he cut himself off, because it didn’t matter what Will might think he did. Will knew what he did. Just yesterday, he’d had Will laid there naked and used him. “Do whatever you want, Will, I’m— I’m going to Lucas’.” 

He had to get out of the house. Away from Will, not for himself, but for him.

How could he ask Will to trust him enough to be in the same house as him when he’d taken so much?

When he’d taken everything.

Or not everything, but he almost did. He could have. He wanted to.

Will’s face dropped, his eyes widening, “What?”

What did Mike mean he was going to Lucas’s? What did he mean he was leaving? It was his house, his room. They were fighting, sure, but he didn’t have to leave.

Mike shook his head, stepping back even though Will didn’t step forward. “It’s fine. You’re not… it’s not like we’re…”

‘Dating. Boyfriends.’

He ran a hand over his mouth, “Fuck, Will, I’m not even sure we’re friends anymore.” It was the final nail pinning him to the cross.

Because if Will thought he was some creep, why would he want to still be friends with him?

He closed his eyes. He couldn’t go to Lucas’ either. He wasn’t sure where he could go.

He couldn't ask Lucas to let him sleep over. If he’d done this to Will— ruined the only thing he was ever sure of, how was he supposed to believe anyone else would want him around when they knew the truth?

A truth that had just been written out. A truth he couldn't hide from anymore. A truth he had to face alone.

He wasn’t brave enough for that.

He turned, hand trembling as he reached for the door handle. He paused, just enough that Will thought he might say something.

He tried. His mouth moved, but nothing would come out.

He turned away, opening the bedroom door, closing it behind him as he left.

He didn’t stop to tell his parents he was leaving or explain it to Nanc,y and maybe have her talk him out of it. He stumbled down the stairs to his garage, grabbed his bike, and hopped on.

He smacked his hand against the button on the wall, the door rising, and he ducked as soon as it was high enough he could peddle out, his feet moving as fast as they could, tears blurring his vision more than the rain that was teetering down, his shoulders shaking, his hands trembling.

He felt it then, as he peddled away, unsure where he was going. A dum, dum, dum, dum, in his chest, like the ticking of a clock.