Chapter Text
It has been weird ever since they had that argument. Their families meet, but they barely speak to each other.
Mike doesn’t want to ruin this. Not when his sister’s wedding is right around the corner. Specially since he can tell that Nancy notices when there’s a lingering silence between Mike and Will during dinner.
An awkwardness has crept between the two, and Mike wonders if things will go back to how they were before. Talking to Will feels impossible, when Will can’t seem to see a future with him.
Maybe he should’ve comforted him, instead of getting defensive. Yet, Mike always seems to say the wrong thing, and he doesn’t know how to stop it.
Things are a tad strange, because even in this weird stage, Mike still finds himself to do the same things he always does for Will.
He still notices when Will wants to ask for tea, but is too shy to ask for more. Before he can think, Mike already is asking for Will.
Or when Will walks slower than the rest, he instantly gets pulled to the other. Mike only notices once they make eye contact, and immediately looks away before he can walk over.
One time Will laughed at something Holly had said over dinner. Mike was close to joining the conversation, but stopped himself when Will had looked his way.
Will also looked like he wanted to talk to him, because of how many times Mike had caught him look his way.
Mike knows he’s not being entirely fair, that Will has always been more insecure than others, that they should just talk about it.
Even so, Mike decides to ignore it, because his chest tightens when he thinks about that night.
Somehow, neither of them had brought it up when the day of the wedding finally arrived. Although Nancy denies it, Mike could see that she was getting nervous on this day.
Their wedding is small. The couple had decided to not invite many people because they only wanted close relatives and friends to attend.
Some years ago, Mike was sure that Nancy’s wedding was going to be huge, with many guests, endless flowers and enough decorations to be remembered for years.
Instead, the wedding ended up being small.
Not poor by any means, but intimate.
Only relatives and close friends had been invited. At first Mike had been surprised by Nancy’s decision, because she had always liked these sorts of things growing up, but now he thinks it suits her.
The chapel is decorated beautifully. White flowers decorate the front rows and light fabrics had been draped across the walls. The sunlight enters through the windows and lights the room warmly.
Amongst the people that had been invited, Mike lands his eyes on a redhead he handset seen in so long, Lady Holland.
A splinter, a childhood best friend for Nancy, Barbara Holland.
Apparently Barb had been able to make it because she had been staying outside London for the past years with extended family after her aunt had gotten ill, helping with the estate and household. Nancy had written to her as soon as the engagement happened and although she could not stay long, she had made the trip for the ceremony and breakfast. She would leave again the following morning.
Mike finds himself oddly touched by that.
Nancy had always acted like she didn’t care much for maintaining friendships, but she had written enough that Barb came all the way here.
Mike wishes that him and Will had been able to do the same while they were apart from each other.
Mike was sitting right up front, with his family. Right across from him, on the groom’s side, Will. Just a few meters away, and it feels like so much more.
Mike studies Will, who has teary eyes and furrowed eyebrows, but a smile creeps on his face.
The ceremony begins, and Mike pays attention more than he expected.
He thought his mind would drift, that he would spend the whole time thinking about Will, or about their argument, or wondering whether things would ever go back to normal. Instead, he finds himself looking at Nancy.
She doesn’t look nervous anymore.
Actually, now that she is standing there, she looks calmer than she has all week. Mike remembers all the times she used to speak about her future growing up, how she wanted beautiful dresses and a huge wedding and enough flowers for people to remember it for years. She always spoke like she already knew how things would happen, like there was no doubt she would get exactly what she wanted.
Now though, she doesn’t look excited in the way Mike expected.
She looks certain.
The officiant speaks and Mike listens enough to follow along, but most of what is being said blends together. His attention keeps drifting back to Nancy and Johnathan. Nancy keeps looking at him instead of the officiant, and every time she does Johnathan seems to relax a little more. Mike almost laughs because he had never imagined seeing someone become nervous because of his sister.
Eventually they reach the vows.
Johnathan immediately looks uncomfortable and Nancy notices. Her smile grows and she gives his hand a squeeze.
Johnathan lets out a breath and laughs quietly, rubbing his thumb against Nancy’s hand.
“I didn’t think I’d be nervous,” he admits, smiling awkwardly when some people laugh.
He shakes his head lightly before continuing. “I mean, I thought after proposing that would sort of be it. Like somehow that was the difficult part and now I’d just stand here and say whatever people usually say.”
Nancy laughs quietly.
Johnathan looks down for a second, shoulders relaxing slightly.
“But now everyone is looking and suddenly it feels important to say the right thing, and I don’t think I have the right thing to say.”
He lets out another awkward laugh and looks back at her.
“I don’t know. I don’t think I’m very good at saying things.” People smile. Johnathan notices and immediately corrects himself. “Actually, I think I’m bad at realizing things.”
Nancy’s expression softens.
Johnathan shrugs lightly.
“I usually don’t know what I feel until later. Things sort of happen and then months after I realize I cared more than I thought.”
Nancy squeezes Johnathan’s hands, encouraging him to continue.
“But then we weren’t speaking,” Johnathan tilts his head, “and suddenly everything got annoying. And I realized, that life is easier when I’m with you.”
Nancy’s eyes squint lightly, and Mike can tell that she’s trying to not tear up. From the way Johnathan smiles, Mike knows he noticed too.
Mike looks at Will, and they catch each others’ attention. Wills’s eyes widen at the sudden eye contact, and Mike doesn’t look away.
It was just a second probably, but it felt longer. Mike felt familiar buzz in his stomach, accompanied by a sting that he couldn’t shake.
Mike turns away the moment Johnathan continues his vows, ignoring what had just happened.
“Nancy.” Johnathan says firmly, with a new found confidence, “I may not know much. In fact, I think you know more things than I do.”
Nancy chuckles, and Johnathan’s slightly crooked smile grows wide, “I’ll gladly listen every morning and every afternoon, for as long as you let me, because I want to get to know all of you.”
Her smile falters, as her face heats up. She bites her lips before starting, “Johnathan.”
They lock eyes, and it’s like they have a conversation between the two that no one else can understand.
“I had already accepted my life as it was.” She says bluntly, “I never thought I would be able to find someone who understood me.”
Johnathan’s thumb caresses Nancy’s hand, “I am stubborn, and I never thought I’d meet anyone the same as me.”
Her eyes fall to their joint hands, “Until I met you.”
She looks up, her gaze calm looking into Johnathan’s awaiting gaze, “You, who even in our worst time was always there. You, who kept coming back. You, who knows more about me than anyone.”
“Johnathan Byers, it took us so long to get here, but I would do it all over again to be with you. I love you.”
Johnathan’s expression softens, his eyes watering, “I love you too Nancy Wheeler.”
The officiant continues speaking, but Mike only catches pieces of it. Most of his attention stays on Nancy and Johnathan.
They stand close together, hands joined, smiling every time the other speaks. Johnathan looks embarrassed by the attention, while Nancy looks entirely too pleased about it.
A year ago Mike would’ve laughed if someone had told him those two would end up here.
Now it feels obvious.
The officiant eventually asks for their answers.
Nancy doesn’t hesitate, “I do.”
“I do.” Johnathan’s answer follows almost immediately.
The smile on Nancy’s face grows impossibly wider when the officiant declares them husband and wife.
Then she kisses him.
Everyone starts applauding, but Mike finds himself looking at his sister.
Now Lady Byers.
Nancy.
Somehow it had happened.
Somewhere between childhood arguments and family dinners and years of watching her act like she knew everything, she had grown up.
Mike had always known this day would come. He just hadn’t expected to miss her before she had even left.
During the breakfast wedding, the families of the groom and bride are sat together. Meaning Will and him are sitting right next to each other.
Both of them aren’t adding anything. To the conversation the table is having. Usually Mike may have said a thing or two during the time, and when the both of them were alone Will would make some comments on different parts of what had been said.
Mike can feel Will’s gaze on him every once in a while, but he doesn’t let himself look Will’s way. He knows the instant he sees Will’s apologetic look he would fold immediately.
Then, Ted directs a comment to Mike, “You know you need to marry now, right?”
Mike almost startles, confused, “What does that even mean?”
“I’m just saying” Ted says defensively, “Usually men in the family marry before, and you are the one who would carry on the family name.”
Mike clenches his jaw, closing his eyes to calm himself down. Even though he is out of sight, Mike can feel Will’s gaze disappear, and a tense air is created in the room between them.
Mike moves his leg to touch Will’s. He tells himself it’s to reassure Will, but the truth is he doesn’t know who needs reassurance more.
“Maybe there are more important things for me than that.” Mike snaps, “Maybe I want different things.”
Ted looks to the side, clearly annoyed, “Do whatever you want.”
Mike turns to his food, still avoiding the returning gaze of Will Byers. Their legs still touch, even when the couple leaves, they remain as so.