Archive of Our Own ^beta

The sounds of obnoxious rain hitting Mike’s window echoed throughout his room, trickling down the glass panes, creating a small water puddle on the outside of his window frame. Mike and Will had been used to it though, as almost everyday now, thunder storms were pouring down in Hawkins.

Since the Byers’ returned from California with Argyle and Mike tagging along, Will had been sleeping in Mike’s room on the floor. It was uncomfortable, sure, however, it was better than sleeping in the basement, as he didn’t have to sleep next to Argyle, who was sleeping on the couch and smelled of marijuana.

Will was sitting on his makeshift bed that Mike had made with stacks of blankets, drawing in a sketchbook he had bought for himself. The pages were filled with many illustrations, drawings, and sketches of the party as their D&D characters, mainly Mike. He loved to draw all of his curls, his dimples when he smiled, his freckles on his nose, and his protective nature. He didn’t show anyone his drawings, and frankly, he didn’t want to. These sketches were an escape from their current horrendous world to a fantasy world that Will wanted so desperately to live in.

Will had mostly accepted the fact that the love of his life would never love him. It would be unrealistic, and latching onto a childhood crush might destroy him from the inside. However, it didn’t feel just like a childhood crush, it felt more personal, more real.

His eyes were shaking as tears ran down his face, dripping onto the pages. Quickly closing the book to prevent further spill, he wiped the rest of his tears away, shortly before the boy he had just thought about entered the room, his face distressed and angry. Mike had scraps and forming bruises lining his cheek, catching Will’s attention.

“Mike? What happened?” He asked, standing up, only for Mike to sit down on the edge of his bed. Mike hung his head low, only turning towards the other once Will sat down beside him.

“Those fucking jocks are what happened.” Mike replied coldly, his hair blocking his face, making it hard to read his expression. The front of Will’s eyebrows turned upwards as he leaned slightly towards Mike, trying to look at his injuries.

“Did they punch you? That bruise looks like knuckles.” Will spoke as he briefly grazed Mike’s cheek on accident after trying to point at it.

Embarrassed, Will turned his head slightly away from him, however, when Will turned back, Mike’s gaze never turned. Looking at Will with pure pining and true emotion.

However, once he started to speak again, he looked down and softly rubbed his knuckles on his left hand, feeling painful shocks from impact before.

“They were saying some pretty fucked up things about…you. And I lost it. Pretty pathetic, right?” Mike chuckled sarcastically, looking back at Will, whose face was concerned, and not a fraction of a smile was on his face. Tears began to form in his eyes, shining his brown irises, Will’s hand rested on his shoulder as his voice drew Mike into his words.

“Mike, if they were saying what I think they were saying, then it’s fine. I’m used to being bullied because of…well that, I'm used to being called-”

“You shouldn’t have to be! They don’t see what I see! They don’t see what an amazing person you are, I mean, they’ve barely met you and they are already shitting on you! At this point they are gunna be worse than fucking Troy in sixth grade!” Mike exclaimed, turning to face Will directly, swinging his leg to be on the bed. His voice was cracked and broken as tears streamed down his cheeks. His attempt to wipe them away failed as they kept flowing out of his eyes.

“You matter…so much to me Will. And I’m not letting some pieces of shit pick on you again, and I don’t care how many times I have to say it to get it into your head, okay?” Mike softly proclaimed, grabbing Will’s hand, bringing it up between the two of them and cupped his hand with both of his own.

Will had been frozen, his state was unresponsive, as he sat there, looking at Mike with such admiration and comfort, with just the two of them alone, it felt more comfortable, no pressure, no expectations, no conflict. It was just them, sitting on Mike’s bed as he held Will’s hand in the most adorable way.

Suddenly, Mike’s lips curved into a small smile, however, Will could tell that pain lingered beneath it.

“Will…If I tell you something, will you promise to keep it a secret?” He spoke, catching Will a bit off guard. However, Will’s fragile and small voice of “Yes.” reassured that maybe everything would be okay.

“I…really like you. Not like a friend, but more than that. And I know that you don’t like me like that at all, but I just wanted to say it because I can’t lie to you. I don’t think I’ve ever lied to you, and I’m not planning to break that promise.”

Will was even more frozen if it was possible. His face flushed and he had removed his hand from Mike’s grasp without thinking. Mike’s smile disappeared as he began to get up from the bed.

“Wait!” Will spoke, raising his voice slightly, catching the other’s attention. Mike’s brown eyes looked at Will’s hazels, Will’s hand had grabbed at Mike’s wrist as he gently pulled him back onto the bed. Will cupped Mike’s cheek, brushing the tears away as Mike leaned on his hand.

“Mike…” Will spoke under his breath. He smiled softly, rubbing his cheek with his thumb, telling Mike how he felt without words, but with an endearing look that would send anyone into a blushful state, which is exactly what it did, as Mike’s face turned a soft pink, a smile returning as he raised his hand to Will’s cheek, caressing the other boy’s beauty, dotting his moles on the side of his eye.

“Mike-”

Closing the gap, Mike connected the two, pressing their lips together with such yearning and passion that Will started to lean back from Mike’s kiss, almost falling on the bed before the black-haired boy separated.

“Shit I’m sorry, I should’ve asked-”

“Pfff-HAHAHA!” Will laughed as he laid his head on Mike’s shoulder, triggering for him to entangle his fingers in his hair as Will’s arms wrapped around his waist.

“Why are you laughing?” Mike chuckled, as his other hand rested on Will’s back, softly rubbing it as the boy he had just kissed was laughing into his neck.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to kiss you, and I just can’t believe that it actually happened!” Muffled Will’s voice as he scooched closer to him, almost in his lap and they laughed together, tensions had been lifted, destroyed as they giggled in each other’s arms.

“Can I ask you something Will?” Mike spoke as Will’s head lifted to see Mike’s eyes, to also be met with a subtle smile.

“Yeah?” Will replied mid-laugh. Mike cupped Will’s cheeks and rested their foreheads together as he closed his eyes and softly asked;

“Can I kiss you again?”

Instead of an answer, Will met their lips, melting into the kiss as he grasped at Mike’s hips, securing themselves to make sure they won’t almost fall over again. This time, the kiss felt more connected, more intimate, more personal, as they were closer together, not just emotionally, but physically.

Soon they parted, but kept their foreheads pressed together as they laced their hands together. Mike’s left hand was resting on Will’s jaw as the two of them sat there in mutual and comfortable silence.

“Mike, can I show you something?” Will whispered, as Mike softly nodded his head, parting the two of them from their connection. Will leaned down and grabbed the sketchbook beside his bed, flipping through the pages, eventually reaching a page with a drawing of Mike as a paladin, wielding a sword with his chest plate bearing a heart. His curls spilled over his forehead and his eyes shined through his hair.

“Holy shit! Did you draw this?” Mike asked, already knowing the answer. Will nodded as Mike continued to flip through the pages with Will’s permission, observing and admiring the pure talent that he had. Mike’s face was flushed as he looked at sketches of himself, smiling, being happy. However, as he continued to look at the beautiful art that Will had drawn, he realized that wasn’t the reality anymore.

Suddenly, tears spilled on the pages, causing Mike to close the book. Will could hear Mike softly choking on his own tears as he grabbed a blanket from his bed and wrapped it around the crying boy, cradling him as he cried.

Mike’s arms barely grasped Will’s shoulders, slipping slightly as they hugged. Mike rested his head under Will’s chin, sobbing into his shirt as Will softly rocked him with love.

“It’s gonna be okay. I promise, okay?” Will whispered, planting a kiss on his head, causing Mike to mumble in Will’s neck;

“I know, because you’re here.”