Chapter Text
Mike’s leg bounced expectantly as he nervously stared down the clock in his room, counting down the minutes until the Byers family would arrive.
Twelve minutes.
For some context, if you haven’t already heard, Hawkins had recently been, for a lack of a better term, torn a new one. Leaving many displaced and the government both wary and worried. So much so, that new strict guidelines had been implemented. No one was to come in or leave Hawkins without official governmentally issued authorization. What a nightmare.
Five minutes.
It really wasn’t that much of a nightmare for the Wheeler family, as they didn’t leave town very often, only to visit relatives and the sort, and Mike wasn’t even particularly fond of his family anyway so, a small win if we’re being honest.
Three minutes.
Now, why was Mike Wheeler of all people up at 10AM on a Saturday looking uneasy and paler than he usually did? This can all be attributed to one boy, his best friend, Will Byers.
It’s been a while since Will has even stepped foot into Mike’s house, let alone Mike’s room, and Mike has done some serious revamping in here, he’s nervous about what Will might think about it. After all, he is the more creative of the two. Mike turns his head to gaze at the painting Will had gifted him not too long ago, despite it being commissioned by El, it’s important to him nonetheless. Though sometimes,
He kind of wished it was all from Will.
But that’s not odd at all, not out of the ordinary, no not one bit. The dark haired boy tucked some wandering strands of hair behind his ear, he gazed at the clock one final time before, and as if on cue.
The doorbell rang.
He quickly rose from his bed, rushing out the door and almost slipping past the stairwell, thankfully puberty did one thing right by him, using his right, lanky arm to grab onto the railing, Mike used the beautiful force that is momentum and physics to swing himself down the staircase. Almost diving headfirst towards the front door, he looks around after landing a not so graceful touchdown, and he seems to be the first to arrive at the door. Shrugging, he takes on the duty of allowing the Byers family in. Met with quite the chaotic scene, despite there only being three of them in total Mike quickly attempted to make his presence known amidst the mayhem.
“Hi Ms. Byers!” He announced, trying to sound as nonchalant as he could, as soon as she noticed Mike’s presence, Joyce quickly quit her mucking and worrying for her boys and greeted Mike back.
“Mike! It’s so nice to see you, Gosh I keep forgetting how big you boys are getting.” She says, smiling wide, eerily similar to Will’s. Speaking of which, Joyce stepped aside to reveal Will, skin tanned golden with sweat trickling down his neck. He wore a t-shirt that wrapped generously around his biceps, Mike gulped.
“hEyy Will..” His sad attempt to lower his voice was met with a frightening mixture of both a voice crack and croak. Despite Mike making a fool of himself, Will smiled his signature smirk, it held no malice or judgement, and made Mike feel wanted. His stomach did a weird flip as Will licked his lips before offering a response. Not that he was staring at his lips or anything.
“Hey Mike!” His eyes were bright and full of excitement and all of Mike’s worries just washed away. How was he even nervous earlier, when an angel was coming to LIVE with him for the next god knows how long? It’s weird, how Will Byers seems to live unaffected by the world around him. Despite having probably the roughest childhood out of The Party, he still held on to that childlike sense of wonder and joy that Mike feared was slipping through his fingers, like a running tap under a pruned pair of hands, too tired to grab and yet he tries nonetheless. But when he was with Will, he
wasn’t afraid the feeling was gone, Will carried it within him and spread it to others, to Mike. With Will, he felt like himself, like the leader he once was, fearless and brave, yet understanding and compassionate. The boy brings out the best in him, and was the best thing that he’s ever done, and so Mike can’t help but gawk and goggle as the Byers family stared back at the awestruck boy, waiting for him to invite them in.
It was only when Jonathan cleared his throat, in an almost theatrical manner, that Mike snapped out of his daydream, feeling his face grow hot that he invited them in.
“Mike, what took you so long to invite the Byers in?--” Karen Wheeler questioned, though she quickly moved on as soon as she spotted her close friend. “JOYCE! Oh it’s been too long, hasn’t it. Please come sit, let me get you something to drink.” Karen was glowing as she led Joyce towards the kitchen island. Yes, she was married with a husband and three kids, but she still felt lonely, Mike can only imagine the relief she must be feeling, finally getting to just hang out with a friend. Though, Mike doesn’t have to imagine for long because a playful bump of the shoulder reels him back into the reality that currently is his life. Will Byers is going to be staying here, in his house. Will Byers is the face Mike is going to be seeing every single day for an indefinite amount of time. Will Byers, who is his best friend!
So why did he feel so very royally fucked?
“So, you have any idea what the sleeping arrangements are going to look like?” Will questioned, wiggling his eyebrows humorously. Mike knows it was all in good nature but god was his heart pounding out of his chest as soon as he realized the implications of the query. What if Mike and Will had to share a room? Not that it was a problem, at least for Will, but Mike on the other hand was currently going through a midlife-midlife crisis and didn’t think his heart could handle sleeping in the same room as Will Byers.
“Uhh, yeah no not really man. I mean, I have some ideas but, Mom’s in charge so we’ll see what she decides on. Nancy wanted to be the one to set it all up, and Mom almost let her, but she realized Jonathan would also be coming over, and immediately revoked her privilege.” Mike smirked at the connotation. He felt as though he were on
cloud 9 and met Jesus himself for a moment as he listened to Will giggle, it sounded like an angel’s chorus.
“Yeah, Mom wasn’t going to let Jonathan anywhere near Nancy’s room without the door being, at minimum, three inches open. Said something about Hopper telling her that you can never trust teenagers. She went on about how distance makes the heart grow fonder and that puts them at more risk.. She was ranting.”
Mike rolled his eyes. “Yeah, where have I heard that before? Hop is reusing his tactics that didn’t even work in the first place.”
“And how would you know that?” Will pouted, like actually pouted. And Mike thinks he felt his knees go weak for a moment, though he tried his best to make himself at least appear composed.
“Well ya’know, back when El and I were…” Mike trailed off for a moment. Does Will know that he and El broke up? Why does Will’s knowledge of whether the two of them are still a pair bother him so much?
Will’s eyebrows scrunched up and he gave Mike his signature confused look, yet he was still pouting. “Back when you guys were what?” He folded his arms, it was kind of intimidating Mike.
There was a pregnant pause before Mike decided to speak up again, but not before gulping down the lump in his throat. Seriously, what was up with him today? “...Dating..” He mumbled.
“YOU GUYS BROKE UP?!” Will shouted, so loudly in fact that the Russians on the other side of the planet that mannapped Hopper probably heard. All the ruckus and chaos that once consumed the Wheeler home quickly came to a halt, and all that could be heard was the scurrying of Holly’s feet as she speedily moved from place to place, a habit she may or may not have picked up from Mike. Mike’s heart has dropped to his pelvic floor at this point, as the house is still as silent as a statue. Though he did not have to spend long worrying about the silence, as the ecosystem that is the
Wheelers and Byers living under the same roof moves on, quickly. Everyone returned to what they had originally been doing and Mike felt himself let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He wasn’t yet out of the water, he felt himself get snatched and dragged by Will, towards the end of the staircase. He pulled Mike’s head towards his mouth and Mike thought that if he died right then in there, he’d probably be totally fine with it.
He brought Mike’s ear to his lips as he whisperscreamed what he said before,
“YOU AND EL BROKE UP??” His lips briefly tickled Mike’s ear and the taller of the two couldn’t help but flinch and move back. Will’s hands leaving his shoulders left him feeling colder than usual.
“Y-yeah man, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner..” He gazed off to the side, embarrassed and ashamed. Will was his BEST FRIEND, he should’ve been the first to know, yet for some odd reason, telling him felt different to telling Dustin or Lucas, both of which simply said they ‘called it’ and moved on, not even letting Mike wallow or marinate with the breakup. The idea of informing Will of the breakup feels weighted.. But, the cat’s out of the bag now so, what can you do?
“No, don’t be sorry about it, Mike. I guess I’m just kinda shocked neither of you told me about it..” He trailed off for a moment, deep in thought as he picked his next words wisely. Will was insightful like that, and it was something that Mike had always admired about him. He was always one to consider all the variables of a situation, including the emotional ones. Meanwhile Mike, on the other hand, was one to take everything at face value. At times it was a useful skill to have, but it often made him come off as apathetic. “I’m sorry to hear about that. But you’re both more than your relationship status. And you both have people who value you..” He paused again, seemingly trying to gather the courage to do something bold. “Who need you.”
Oh.
Will’s gaze refused to meet Mike’s. And honestly? Mike was a little grateful. If Will were to give him a bashful look after dropping a bomb like that, Mike would have to violently fight back the urge to kiss him square on the lips right then and there and–
Woah.
Woah.
WOAHWOAHWOAHWOAHWOAHWOAH!!!
Since when did he want to kiss Will? When did he start feeling this way? Mike doesn’t feel any different about Will though. Has he always felt this way? If he were being honest, if this is what loving Will felt like then it was as easy as breathing. If this is what loving Will meant then Mike was pretty sure that loving Will is something his very essence requires to keep functioning. Because he has loved Will for as long as he’s been able to form thoughts, and he can’t see a future where that isn’t the case. Will and Mike, Mike and Will. Their story is one that’s been seen, told, and experienced a million times over. Perhaps the first telling of their story being one adjacent to two unicellular organisms combining to become a beautiful symbiotic being. Nonetheless, it is one that will continue to develop and evolve. Both ever-changing and everlasting.
Love prevails, always.