Archive of Our Own ^beta

Will Byers’ first pet was a rock.

He named him – because yes, it was a he – Mr. Rocky and took him to school with him in his backpack for months. He was six, and Mr. Rocky was his lovely friend. 

He found him laying on the ground on his way home from school, and made Jonathan stop on his tracks to pick him up. He was the perfect shape and size, and Will knew he couldn't just leave Me Rocky there. Absolutely not. He was a part of the family now.

He had two big eyes and a crooked smile – courtesy of Jonathan, who gave him a face – and Will was really protective of him. A childish thing, you might say. But for Will, Mr Rocky was a serious topic. He didn’t take his role as caretaker lightly.

Mike was the only one – apart from Jonathan and his Mom, of course – allowed to hold him. It's not like Will had any other friends to show. But even if that would have been the case, he probably wouldn't have trusted them as much as Mike. Even if he was clumsy and could get a little overexcited with things sometimes, he was also gentle and thoughtful. So, Will knew he could trust him.

In some ways, Mr. Rocky became both Will and Mike's pet. Something shared between them, that they both cared for. And even if he couldn't feel it, they made sure he was truly loved by their innocent and sweet six-year-old selves.

His next pet, though, was actually alive. A regular pet, you may say.

Chester was a loyal dog. Always so protective of Will. Especially when Lonnie was still around. 

He barked with force when needed, and laid by Joyce's feet by the sofa, curled on the carpet with a calm temper, keeping her company as she ended up falling asleep there, too tired to even make it to the bed. 

He jumped at Jonathan when he came back from work, making sure he was properly welcomed home. 

And, as in for Will… Well, Will loved Chester. He loved taking him on walks with Jonathan. Loved playing with him in the backyard, laughing and running from side to side, tennis ball in hand that Chester used to chase after. He remembers the feeling of  security that came with him, the comfort of him sleeping next to Will's bed after his dad left, as if he knew something was wrong. Mostly, he remembers the joy of looking after him. Of making himself useful. Of loving, and being loved.

So, as the years passed, he grew up by his side. And Chester grew old as Will ran his hand through the fur on his back, praising him with his affection. 

Chester loved Mike, too. Will remembers vividly the first time he came over to his house, after they adopted him. He had been so excited for Mike to meet him. He was always so excited for Mike to know everything about him. Every little detail of his life. A new drawing. A new toy. A new pet.

Mike had always wanted to have a dog. Or a cat. Even a tortoise, given the case. But Mrs Wheeler was clear: no animals allowed in the house. 

So, Mike was extra eager to meet Chester. He was always eager about the things he liked. And Chester was important, because if Mike wasn’t allowed to have a pet of his own, he would always be allowed to play with Chester too.

Mike was a much louder kid than Will. Will, who was shy and unsure. Mike, the brave and bold,  but so gentle. So sweet when it came to the things he cared for. So, of course Will knew Chester wouldn't be any different. Mike loved Will, Will loved Chester. In the end, there was only one possible conclusion: Mike loved Chester too. 

There was a time, long ago, when things used to be as simple as that. A time where Will's life, even with its inevitable darkness that seemed to have been stuck with him since birth, was full of laughter, softness and happiness. Full of love. 

But, like he said, that was a long time ago.

Chester died back when Will was possessed by the Mindflayer. He never got the chance to say goodbye. In the middle of all the screaming, fighting and panicking as they tried to get Will back into himself, Chester got loose and ran away, leaving behind the Byers’ backyard forever. He must have gotten startled by all the noise. Tired of Joyce not feeding him. Scared of Will, probably.

After coming back from the Upside Down, Will knew things were never going to be the same. In the span of a week, everything had become different. For him, for his family, for his friends. For everyone. 

A week used to be such a little time. An infinitesimal part of a year, if you thought about it. An insignificant period of time. And yet, it had been enough for Will's life to never get back to how it was before.

Chester felt it, too. The fear. The guilt. The same. It was as he could smell it on him. As if he could see through Will. Through his lies. Through the nightmares that kept him awake at night.

Joyce found him two days after the exorcism, into the woods. He wasn't far. He had run in there, not really making it to Castle Byers before he died. Natural causes, they presumed. Will never stopped wondering if it had been his fault. That tiny voice in his head, the one that had always been there, since he was little, kept telling him it was. That Chester died because of him. Terrified of what he had become. Of the darkness inside him, growing and growing with every minute that passed, threatening to swallow him whole.

Mike held him – a hand through his shoulders – as they buried him, back where he belonged: in the Byers’ backyard. It was cold, and Will was still exhausted. Throat sore and muscles aching as he stood there, silent tears running down his cheeks as he whispered his last goodbyes. As he buried a key piece of his childhood. Another thing that the Upside Down had taken from him. 

“Chester was great.” Mike had whispered, back into the house as Will buried himself under a blanket, shaking “I'll miss him too.” he confessed, sadly.

Will had only nodded. He couldn't find his voice, no matter how hard he tried. 

“If you ever get sad thinking about him… You can tell me about it, okay?” Mike had spoken again, a hand on Will's knee as he looked into his eyes, softly “And… One day, we can have another dog, when you are ready. Or a cat. A parrot, if you like. Whatever, it's not important.” he spoke as if Chester had not only been Will's dog, but Mike's too. As if they had taken care of him together. And, to a certain level, they had  “Only, we'll have to wait until we are older. My mom still won't let me have a pet.” he offered, a warm smile on his lips in an attempt to make him feel better.

Will had smiled too, for the first time in what felt like ages. Only Mike could accomplish that. Only Mike could make him smile like that, soft and genuine, even when it seemed like there was nothing in the world to smile about.

“Okay.” Will had whispered, eyes locked with Mike's one, sealing a promise that had seemed good enough for both.

Little did he know that, only a few months later, they would both start breaking every single one of their shared promises like it was nothing. Like they had never even made them in the first place. The tenderness, the safety of their mutual agreements, the hope that – one day, when they got older– things would go back in place as if nothing had happened, as if Will had never been taken and his endless nightmare had never started in the first place, it was all gone now. There was only room for anger, for humiliation, for hurt. Will had been so stupid to think otherwise.

What did you think, really? That we were never gonna get girlfriends? 

Can we please come up with another plan? Because I love her, and I can’t lose her again!

Maybe you should have reached out more, I don’t know! Why am I the bad guy?

And us? We’re friends! We’re friends!

Sometimes, when you are different… You feel like a mistake.

So, yeah. El needs you, Mike. And she always will.

I feel like my life started that day we found you in the woods.

He knew this wasn't entirely Mike’s fault. He had lied to him too. He had stopped trying to hear from him, because it hurt too much to know that Mike didn’t care anymore. It hurt too much to love him, knowing that Mike would never feel the same. That, even platonically speaking, he didn’t care as much as Will did. 

After California, Will found himself trapped in Hawkins without warning. Max was in the hospital. Their house in Lenora is destroyed. Hopper was back from the dead. Eleven was wanted by the Government. Hawkins was split in two. 

And Mike was starting to act like his best friend again. 

All because of Will’s stupid lies that were going to fall apart sooner than later, and Will wishes he didn’t have to be around by the time it all went down. 

But then, the military set the town under quarantine, and the Wheelers’ basement became his home for longer than they all had planned. Things slowly started to get going, and soon there was no time to think about lies, relationships or the recurrent pain on his chest every time Mike and Eleven were around. There were more serious matters to take into hand. 

Time did help, though. Looking back, Will could say that, right now, he is in a pretty good moment, the end of the world aside.

It’s mid July, and it’s been over a year since Lenora, The Lie– as Will decides to call his shitty attempt of confessing that ended in him lying to Mike for the first time in his whole miserable life– and America’s most famous earthquake of the decade. He still sleeps in the Wheelers’ basement – along with Jonathan, who is back to being his roommate like they were when Will was four– and his routine is very much as boring as one might expect. Even worse, with no school now. Sure, there’s the Saving the world from an interdimensional monster plan, but it is not like anyone lets him participate much anyway. 

So, he spends most of his mornings with Lucas, visiting Max at the hospital or playing with Holly. Sometimes, Mike joins them too – in any of those activities– and Will gets to pretend like he is twelve again, back before all of this started, when things were as simple as this. Mike and Will, against everything. 

They are on much better terms than when Will was in Lenora, of course. Mike’s back to being reasonable, and he feels like the Mike he used to know again. Still, they don’t really talk much. About serious stuff, at least. They did their homework together, back when school was still ongoing, watched movies on weekends– Lucas and Dustin joining them from time to time– and even worked on a D&D campaign that they didn’t get the time or energy to play yet. 

Also, Mike acts a little weird sometimes. Especially since he broke up with El – for good, this time it seems– three months and seventeen days ago. Not that Will is counting. Except, this is the longest they’ve ever been broken up, so Will keeps the record just to make sure. 

They haven’t really told the Party yet. Mike only told Will because he noticed something was up with him. Suddenly, he was all over Will again. There wasn’t that much of a difference, really. Not for anyone else, at least. But Will could feel the way Mike looked at him, eyes locked into his for a little longer than before. The way he shifted closer to him when they sat on the couch on movie nights, knees brushing and elbows bumping. He could see the fondness on his smile, a lot purer than it was the year before, when everything between them was tense and pretended. 

“I don’t know. I feel like it is for the best, you know?” Mike had told him, as they both sat on the basement floor that April afternoon, a whole week after El and he had called it quits “I guess… I’ve just been scared to do it. I mean, I knew things weren’t working out. El knew too. We just didn’t… Know how to come back from it. Does that make sense?” he had asked Will, eyebrows furrowed.

Will had forced the words to come out, still too busy thinking about Mike’s first words as his heartbeat thumped against his chest, too fast and uncoordinated.

El and I broke up. It’s done. Forever, this time.

“Yeah.” he had said, breathless “It makes sense. You guys have been together for ages.” 

And man, did he know. It sure did feel like ages for him and his pathetic, broken heart that has been beating for Mike since longer than he could really remember.

Mike had smiled a little, reassured by Will’s understanding “I guess we just… Don’t really need each other that way anymore.” 

As the words had come out of his mouth, Will’s whole body had gone rigid.

So, yeah. El needs you, Mike. And she always will. 

Mike had looked up at him, a soft gaze in his eyes that saw all the way through him. All the way through his lies. And, for a moment, Will could feel it: this was it. Mike had figured it out. The painting, the lies, the truth. 

“Mike, I-” he had felt the need to say, even as his voice had died on his throat, along with his words. 

What could he possibly say now? How could he even begin to fix all of this?

“It’s okay.” Mike had replied, and if Will didn’t know him any better, he could have sworn there was something hidden into his words “We are better off as friends. Way better. We just had to stop being scared of that change.”

And, just like that. they never brought it up again. Mike never really told Lucas or Dustin, and Will became the only one to really know the truth about them. He became important. Special, in some ways. And he didn’t want to ruin that, so he played along with it.

Today, he is comfortably spread on the basement couch, sketchbook in hand and eyebrows pinched in concentration as he tries to get the shape of Max’s nose right. He is making a painting for her, so he can give it to her when she wakes up. Lucas and her are on it, smiling to each other as they hold hands, happy and free. 

Will wants Max to smile like that again soon. So, he figures this is all he can do about it in the meantime. 

It’s pouring outside. The sky is covered in dark clouds, and the lightning bolts strike the ground on the other side of the window, angrily. It reminds him of that summer, back in 83, when it all went down with Billy and the Mindflayer. It reminds him of that afternoon, back in this very same basement. It reminds him of–

It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!

Will has always seen the beauty in the rain. Even though thunder used to scare him as a kid, and the weather was too bad for him to play outside. Still, he liked the sound of the rain hitting the ceiling. The smell of storms. The dark colors in the sky. 

He never liked them the same after the Upside Down. Storms became another thing that Vecna took from him. They freak him out a little now. They look too much like the darkness that surrounds that place. The woods that he ran through, back when he was taken. Those same woods in the real Hawkins, where Castle Byers used to be. It’s all gone now. And Will doesn’t like to be outside when it rains.

The sound of the door makes him look up from his drawing. As someone struggles with the lock, Will’s whole body goes still. They hardly use that door. At least, not since Jonathan and Will started living down here.

His heartbeat goes back to normal when a familiar silhouette emerges behind the door, clothes soaked as he takes off his hoodie.

“Shit. It’s pouring outside.” Mike says, as if Will hadn’t noticed the storm at all.

“Yeah.” Will replies, breathless “I can see that.” he jokes, looking at him as Mike takes his shoes off, leaving them by the door.

“Where’s Jonathan?” Mike asks, and Will could have sworn that he looked a little nervous.

“At WSQK, with Nancy. They were meeting Robin and Steve there. I suppose they decided to stay because of the weather.” he replies, confused “Why?”

Mike looks like a deer caught in the likes for a second “Uh…” he mumbles, and Will looks at him like he just grew a second head “I was just– You know, wondering. No particular reas–”

His rambling gets interrupted by a muffled sound coming from– 

The inside of his jacket? 

What the Hell? 

How did Will not notice the little bump in there, right where Mike’s hands protectively wrap around his chest?

Mike goes visibly still, nervously looking at Will “Woah. I must be super hungry.” he tells him, and Will represses the need to laugh because, seriously? Couldn’t Mike come up with something better than that? There is no way that sound came from his stomach. Not a chance “Anyways. I’m going now–”

As he starts to make his way to the stairs, Will blocks the way, standing in front of him as Mike nervously tries to get away. He might be taller than him, but Will knows he is stronger. He is getting to the bottom of this, no matter if he has to tackle Mike into the ground in the process. 

“Mike.” he tries, softly.

“Yeah?” he replies, a little strangled.

“What’s inside of your jacket?” Will asks, arms crossed.

“My jacket?” Mike says, as if he had no idea of what Will is talking about “I’ve got nothing in my jacket.” 

He is dripping into the carpet, and he should really change into some dry clothes before he catches a cold. He looks ridiculous right now. But, still, Will finds it a little cute. He can’t really help it. Only, he would find it even cuter if Mike stopped acting like an idiot for a second.

“Mike.” Will tells him again, a little impatient “What’s inside of your jacket?”

This time, Mike looks at him for a second too long before he sights, defeated. From where he is standing, Will can feel the nervousness on his hands as he starts carefully unzipping his jacket.

“Look. You can’t tell my mom, alright?” Mike tells him, eyebrows furrowed and eyes worried. For a moment, he looks too much like his twelve-year-old self for Will to bear.

“Okay.” he agrees softly.

Mike looks back at him one last time before a little ball of black fur shows in between his hands, so small that Will can’t really figure out what it is at first.

“I found her a couple blocks from the hospital.” Mike tells him, as an explanation “She’s so little, look.” he says, a soft smile on his lips as he opens his hands a little more, showing him.

“It’s a kitten.” Will whispers, dumbly. 

Mike laughs a little “Yeah.” he breathes, softly.

The kitten looks at Will, green eyes looking into his own as Mike gently strokes her head. She then closes her eyes, burying herself into Mike’s hands with a little noise, so soft that Will wouldn’t have been able to hear it if Mike wasn’t so close to him right now.

“She’s probably like days old.” Mike begins telling him “I heard her cry from behind a trashcan. She was all alone, completely soaked.” he doesn’t take his eyes off the cat as he continues, voice soft in a way that is almost mesmerizing to hear “I couldn’t leave her there.” he whispers, looking back up, eyes locked with Will.

“What are we going to do with her?” Will asks, a hand coming up to caress the kitten, who melts into his touch right away. 

“We can’t just leave her.” Mike says again, protective “We’ll take care of her for now. Until the storm passes, at least.” he offers, eyes hopeful. 

One day, we can have another dog, when you are ready. Or a cat. A parrot, if you like.

Will bites the inside of his cheek as a way to stop himself from spiraling at the implications of Mike’s words. They’ll take care of the kitten. Together. She’ll be their pet. For now, at least. A secret shared between them. A promise.

“Yeah. We can do that.” he finally says, nodding.

Mike smiles, so bright. Will thinks he may have gotten blinded by it. He wishes he could draw him right now: happiness written all over his face as he grins, the corners of his eyes wrinkling a little as his cute freckles go visible under the shitty lights of the basement. 

Oh, what Will wound’t do for this boy.

“You should go change.” Will tells him, when Mike shivers a little “I’ll get her dry and warm in the meantime.” he offers, spreading his hands so that Mike can pass him the kitten.

Despite Mike's visible protectiveness over her, he doesn’t hesitate to put the cat in Will's hands, fully trusting him to take care of her. Just like Will did with Mr Rocky, back when they were kids. Just like he did with Chester too.

“I’ll be quick.” he tells him, and Will laughs a little when Mike races upstairs, eager. 

Will feels a wave of cuteness through his body when the kitten purrs against his chest, as Will holds her in both hands. He smiles, feeling her little breaths against his hands.

“Let’s warm you up, okay?” he whispers sweetly, as he scans the basement in search of a towel he can use.

He has always thought of himself as a dog person. But that may be because he never had a cat before. Because, right now, he can also see himself as a cat person, with this little black kitten that is barely the size of a hank of yarn in between his hands, all soft and adorable. Maybe he’s just an animal person. That’s also a plausible answer.

“I’m back!” Mike announces from the stairs not more than fifteen minutes after, sounding a little too excited about it. Will can’t help but giggle, endeared “I took some milk and tuna from the kitchen.” he tells him, proudly.

His hair is damp from the shower, and his cheeks look a little flushed. He is wearing sweatpants and an outworn shirt. It’s a little cold for a summer afternoon, but Will can feel the warmth that radiates from his body when Mike sits next to him on the couch.

Will looks at the milk and the tuna, placed on the table. He can’t help but find Mike adorable. All eager to take care of the kitten. To feed her.

“That’s nice.” Will says, as the little kitten goes back to Mike’s hands, as if she belonged there “We’ll have to water down the milk a little, though. She is too small to drink it like that.” he explains, as Mike listens, focused.

“Oh,” he whispers after a beat “I didn’t know that. Is it bad for her?” he asks, a little worried.

“I’m not an expert.” Will replies, shrugging “But aren’t cats lactose intolerants or something?”

Mike furrows his eyebrows, thinking hard “I’ve definitely seen cats drinking milk, though.” he says, heart tilted to the side in confusion.

Will looks at him, with the little kitten in his hands, a confused gaze on his eyes and soft strands of hair brushing his forehead and can almost imagine this same scene years later, when they are older. Hawkins left behind. Vecna left behind. Just Mike, Will and a little kitten. Sitting on the sofa, all cozy and domestic. Almost like a little fam–

“Will?” Mike asks, getting him out of his trance.

“Yeah?” Will replies, shifting nervously on the couch.

“I asked about the tuna.” Mike says “Is that alright for her to eat?” 

Will blinks at him, completely lost. He tries to remember about Chester, who is the closest– as close as it can be, given the fact that he was a whole different animal– to a cat that he has ever been in contact with.

“Uhm…” Will mumbles. Chester used to eat practically everything they gave him. Still, he was a dog. Will doesn’t really believe cats are like that “I suppose he’ll be fine for now. But we should buy her cat food real soon. Kittens are very delicate when it comes to food, I think.”

Mike nods in agreement “Yeah. We can go to the store tomorrow. Buy her something to eat.” he offers.

“Sure.” Will replies, smiling.

They both decide to ignore the implications. It seems like the little kitten is staying with them for days, at least. They might as well start making her feel like home.

They start by moving her upstairs, to Mike’s room. Dinnertime is approaching, and Jonathan could arrive in the basement any minute. Mike’s room seems safer for now. 

“Ready?” Mike asks by the basement door, with the little kitten hidden inside of a blanket that he keeps close to his chest. 

It’s not very discreet, if Will thinks about it. But the route upstairs isn’t that long, so he supposes it will do.

“Ready.” Will replies, leading the way as he makes sure there is no one around, Mike following behind.

Mike closes the door behind them with a relieved sight, back pressed to the door as he smiles at Will, both panting a little.

“We made it.” Mike says, smiling.

Will laughs “Yeah. We did.” he confirms.

He hasn’t been in Mike’s room in what feels like ages. Back when they got back from California, Mike had offered Will to stay upstairs with him. It has been Will that said no. They hadn’t been on great terms back then, and with Mike and El still together, he couldn’t give himself any hope by rooming with him. It was all too much. So, he brushed past Mike’s hurt expression and went to sleep in the basement instead.

He studies the pillows on his bed, the books on his desk and the posters on his walls. Star Wars, Superman, D&D stuff. Just Mike. Will smiles at the thought a little. At least, until his eyes find a much more familiar piece:

Hung up on the wall, right above Mike’s bed, is Will’s painting– the one he made for him back in California– staring back at him.

See how you are leading us here? You’re inspiring the whole Party, because that’s what you do.

Will forces the lump down his throat as Mike sits on the bed, making a little fort of pillows for the kitten to lie in. 

He looks up at Will, a big smile on his lips when he tells him “I think she likes it.” 

Will smiles a little too, despite everything “She does.” he replies, softly.

I know it’s sort of on the nose, but… That's what holds this whole Party together. The Heart.

By the time they all sit on the table for dinner, Jonathan is back with Nancy. Which means they made the good choice by taking the kitten upstairs. Before they came down for dinner, she fell asleep on Mike’s bed, curled up into the pillows.

Mike keeps glancing at Will, impatiently. He knows Mike is dying to go back upstairs, and it makes him smile a little. He has, apparently, turned all soft and needy for the little kitten. Will is starting to think he has developed some kind of dependency on her in only a couple hours.

“You coming upstairs, yeah?” Mike asks when they get up from the table, arms brushing as they stand too close.

Will blinks, a little startled at the invitation. Being in Mike’s room twice in the same day? He must be dreaming or something.

“Yeah. Sure.” he replies, after a beat “Let me just go and brush my teeth. I’ll be there in a second.”

Mike nods with a smile “Cool. I’ll wait for you.” he says, and he is gone right after. 

Will stay there for a second, standing on the middle of the Wheeler’s staircase. This is the closest Mike and him have really been in months. In a deeper way, at least. Not just superficial chores or lame conversation. They have a mission now. Together.

“Were are you going?” Jonathan asks when Will is on his way back upstairs, teeth brushed and pajamas on.

Will freezes a little, unsure “Uhm… I’m hanging out with Mike upstairs. For a little.” he says, a little awkward.

Okay, here is the thing: Will never actually told Jonathan that he likes Mike. He has never told anyone, for that matter. But he is sure Jonathan knows. How could he not, after Will’s shitty monologue in Argyle’s van?

Because without Heart, we’d all fall apart.

And Jonathan has never had a problem with Mike. He was like a little brother too. But having his actual little brother crying over Mike Gooddamn Wheeler… That was not cool. Not cool at all. 

And, even if he would never tell Will, he has noticed the death stares then Jonathan gives Mike. The eyerolls he makes when Mike argues with Nancy at dinner. He can tell that Mike is definitely his favourite Wheeler right now. Even Ted might be ranking higher. 

“Oh.” is all that Jonathan says at first. Will can feel the blush rising to his cheeks with every second that passes “Okay. Have fun.” he finally tells him.
Because, even if Mike is not his favourite version in the world, he knows how much he means to Will. He can only pray he doesn’t have to intervene.

Will nods, avoiding his eyes “Will do.” he says simply, brushing past the door and breathing again once he is outside of the basement.

He knocks softly on Mike’s door, his heart beating a little too fast. 

Mike invited you. Stop being weird about it, he tells himself. But, in some ways, he can’t help it. He is not used to being in Mike’s space that much anymore.

“Hey. Come in.” Mike appears on the other side of the door, wearing pajamas too.

Will doesn’t really see him after dinner, and he has already dressed for the day when he comes down for breakfast. So, this sight is new. Will makes sure to take it all in:

Mike’s hair is a little messy, and he looks cozy as he lays on his bed again, the little kitten curling on top of his chest. His pajama pants, now that Will notices, have dorky spaceships all over.

Will sits on the bed, opposite from Mike, and smiles a little “Nice pants.” he says, jokingly.

Mike looks down at himself, and Will swears he sees a little blush on his cheeks “Shut up.” he mumbles, ashamed.

Will laughs softly, watching him as he pets the cat with one hand, his other arm perched under his head. His eyes stay fixated on the curve of his nose. He has always found it fascinating. All of Mike seems fascinating for Will. He can admit he is a little biased.

“We should give her a name.” Mike says, absently.

Will finally takes the liberty to lie on the bed too, keeping enough space on the mattress between them for it not to be weird. Still, he tries not to move much, so that he won’t accidentally touch him.

“You have grown incredibly attached to her in a matter of hours, you know?” he tells him, eyebrows raised.

“Come on, man. Look at her.” Mike says, offended “She’s adorable. And I found her. So yeah, I’m feeling a little paternal over her, alright?” he finishes, too serious for his own good.

Will laughs a little against the pillows in Mike’s bed “You are ridiculous.” he mumbles, softly.

Mike doesn’t seem offended. He smiles, and shifts a little on the bed to face Will, both rolled to their sides as the cat lies in the space between them, looking up at Will as if he could tell everyone of his thoughts. The space doesn’t seem to be an issue for Mike. On the contrary, he might be aiming for no space between them at all.

“How do you feel about naming her Friday?” Mike asks, eyes big and shiny.

Will’s eyebrows shot straight right up “Friday? Why?” he replies, confused.

Mike shrugs “Because today is Friday.” he says, as if it was obvious. And it kind of is, if Will thinks about it. He just can’t believe that’s the name that Mike came up with.

“You–” Will starts, as Mike smiles widely “That’s–”

He looks so beautiful right now, all cozy and soft and happy and–

Oh, God. Will is so in love.

He doesn’t come up with anything better. He wishes he did. But Mike has the incredible ability to make his mind go blank with only a smile, so Will is completely screwed.

“So, Friday.” Mike says, triumphantly.

“That’s an awful name, you know?” Will tells him, as he strokes the cat’s– definitely not Friday– back.

Mike raises an eyebrow, a playful smile on his lips as he shifts closer– if that's even possible. Will pretends not to notice.

“Oh, yeah?” he asks, and Will swears he can feel his breath brushing his nose.

“Yeah.” he whispers, sounding  a little strangled.

“You are doubting my ability for names. Will?” he asks, playfully “Do I have to remind you of Mr. Rocky?”

Will feels his whole face flush pink “I was six, Mike!” he yelps, ashamed.

Mike laughs beside him, soft and sweet. Will can’t stay mad at him. He can only pretend to.

“I’ll change your mind about Friday. You’ll see.” Mike tells him, eyes locking with his again.

“You won’t.” Will replies, making him smile again.

“You wanna bet?” he asks, confident. 

Will is glad they are not standing, because the sound of his voice would have been enough to make his knees go weak. The things Mike can do to his heart– to his brain– are almost unimaginable.

“Meow.”

Not-Friday gets their attention back, breaking the moment and giving Will the chance to breathe again. If he didn’t know any better, he would have sworn Mike was flirting with him. But, again, this is Mike, and Will cannot bring up his own hopes like that. Not again.

“I’m glad you are here.” Mike says after a while, the fading sound of the rain dropping violently against the windows in the background.

He doesn’t elaborate. He doesn't tell him what he means by here.

Here, in Hawkins.

Here, living in Mike’s house.

Here, laying on Mike’s bed.

Will decides not to ask either. He prefers to imagine the answer instead. To choose the one he likes better.

“I’m glad too.” Will whispers back, looking at Mike as he struggles to keep his eyes open.

He doesn’t really mean for it to happen, but he inevitably ends up falling asleep in Mike’s bed, face pressed into the pillow as the lovely smell of Mike wraps him, familiar and relaxing. There are no nightmares tonight. Only the muffled sounds of Mike’s breathing, right from across the bed.

Not-Friday is licking his cheek when he wakes up, a little disoriented as he rubs his eyes.

Mike laughs softly next to him, and it's only then that Will acknowledges where he is.

“Uh… Good morning.” he ends up saying, after clearing his throat.

“Morning.” Mike replies, face soft with sleep and his hair a little messy.

Oh, shit. Will must look like a mess. His own hair must look terrible, and his breath probably stinks. Oh, God. What if he drooled on Mike’s pillow while sleeping?

“The storm is still going.” Mike tells him, as he stretches himself on the bed. His t-shirt rolls up a little, and Will blushes as he forces himself not to look “We do need to go buy Friday some food, though.” he says, and she looks right up at him, as if she knows Mike’s talking about her.

“We do.” Will agrees, getting up “But we are still not naming her Friday.” he tells her, a serious look on his face.

Mike smiles, getting up too “We totally are.” he replies.

“We totally aren’t.” 

In the end, they use a shoe box with no lid as a temporary bed for Friday. They put a towel inside and get her in there, and she looks up at Mike as if saying “What the hell are you doing?”

Mike strokes her head, apologetic “Listen, Will and I are gonna go get you some food, okay? We’ll be back real soon. Try not to make any noise.” he tells her, as if she could understand.

Then, he gets the box on the space under his bed, making sure Friday is comfortable enough in there. 

Will stays silent, looking at him with an endeared smile on his lips from there he stands next to the door. Mike blushes a little at his gaze, ashamed. 

“Alright. Let’s go.” he says. And, with that, they both go off to the supermarket, raincoats on as they ride on their bikes.

Ideally, they would have asked Nancy or Jonathan to drive them so they wouldn’t have to bike in the rain. But, that would have meant telling them about Friday, and neither of them were particularly fond of the idea. It’s not that they don’t trust them. It’s just… Well, don’t wanna risk it.

They end up buying food, special milk for kittens and a little yellow mouse toy for Friday to play with. Mike had spent at least ten minutes deciding between the mouse and a little purple fish. Finally, he had decided he likes the mouse better. Will had just stayed  there, a mocking smile on his lips as Mike went through his internal crisis about which one to buy.

“You are totally behaving like a dad right now.” Will had teased Mike, as they paid for all the stuff.

Mike had looked at him with a proud smile on his face “Well, William. We are cat-dads now, remember?” he had answered, and Will had simply looked away, blushing.

They make another stop at Family Video to rent a movie for tonight. Will waits outside as Mike makes his secret pick, admiring the rain. It’s not pouring as hard as yesterday– not for now, at least– but it still rains pretty hard. He thinks about Friday, all tiny and cold under the storm. All scared and vulnerable. 

He is glad that Mike found her. And he teases him for it, but he feels himself melt at the thought of him being all soft and gentle, taking care of a little kitten like that. Not wanting to let go of her. Taking care of her the best he can.

Mike won’t tell him what film he picked for tonight. He refuses to, the tape buried on the inside pocket of his raincoat as they bike home again. Will asks at least four times during the ride, but Mike won't bulge. He can be awfully stubborn sometimes.

“You boys went out in this weather?” Mrs Wheeler asks from the kitchen when they enter the house, dripping into the carpet.

“Sorry, mom!” Mike replies, getting rid of his coat and shoes “We needed to get a movie for tonight!” he tells her, as they go past the kitchen.

“What are you boys watching?” she asks. She is cutting some vegetables for lunch as she looks up, interested.

“Mike won’t let me know.” Will replies with a shrug.

“It’s a surprise!” Mike says, running upstairs, shopping bag in hand. Will is glad he mentioned the movie, or else that would definitely have been suspicious.

Mrs Wheeler looks at Will with a knowing smile on her lips, a shared joke between them at the expense of Mike’s impatience.

“You go change, okay? We don’t want you getting sick.” she tells him, motherly.

Will nods “Yeah.” he agrees, heading to the basement “Sorry about the carpet.” he adds, a little shy. 

The water droplets angrily fall at his feet, right into the floor. Will feels bad for Mrs Wheeler. She’s always been great to him. And he tries to show her how grateful he is for that every change he gets. But she never lets him help enough with the house chores. Sure, he washes the dishes sometimes. But she does so much for them, and Will wishes he could be a little more useful sometimes.

The day passes in kind of a blur. 

They give Friday her food, play with her a little and drown her with affection until she scoffs at them, too overwhelmed with their excitement. So, they let her be as they get into doing other things instead: Mike reads, and Will draws. As simply as that. 

They stay in Mike’s room, though. Mike is laying on his bed, and Will sits by his desk. There’s a comfortable silence between them, but Will still feels a little nervous– being in Mike’s space at all.

“Is that… The drawing you are making for Max?” Mike asks after a while. His book, apparently, isn’t that interesting anymore.

Will looks up at him, nodding “Yeah. I wanted to make her something. You know, for when she wakes up.” he explains softly.

“Can I see?” Mike asks, hopeful. Will nods after a beat, and Mike gets up from the bedroom and comes up to him. 

Friday is sleeping in her box, and Mike places himself behind Will, hoovering over him. His eyes trace the lines on the paper, studying them. He has barely started with the coloring, so the drawing looks a little funny. 

“This is amazing.” he says after a while, smiling.

Will brushes the complement away, awkwardly “I haven’t finished yet.” he says, suddenly overwhelmed with how close Mike is.

“It doesn’t matter. You just– You are amazing.” Mike pauses, as if looking for the right words “Everything you draw is amazing. I’m just– So glad I get to see your works again.” he says, and Will looks up at him, finding Mike’s brown eyes when he whispers “They mean the world to me.”

What’s that?

Nothing. It’s just this painting I’ve been working on.

“Oh.” Will whispers dumbly, and he could swear Mike’s gaze goes down at his lips, leaning a little closer as if tasting the waters “Yeah?” he asks, hopeful.

Will is painting a lot. I think there is someone he likes.

“Yeah.” Mike breathes out “Especially because they are from you.” he states, sincerely.

El commissioned it, basically. She told me what to draw.

Mike is so close right now. And as Will looks up at him from where he is sitting, he imagines how easy would it be for Mike to bend down just a little more– the tiniest bit, because they are already very close– and then Will would meet him in the middle and…

“Mike! Mom asks for you!” Nancy's voice startles them, and they jump apart with red cheeks as Will's heartbeat pounds desperately inside of his chest.

“Mike!” Nancy calls again, and they both hear her steps getting closer to the door.

“Shit! Friday!” Mike mumbles, and runs to get the kitten back into her box, pushing it under the bed before Nancy gets to his room.

Friday makes a muffled sound from her place, and Will tries his best to cover it with a fake cough just in time for Nancy to open the door.

“Are you deaf or what?” Nancy tells Mike, right before her eyes find Will, eyebrows shooting up either surprise “Oh. Hi, Will.” he greets, less annoyed than she is at Mike.

“Hey.” Will answers from the desk, still a little worked up from before.

“Mom needs you downstairs.” Nancy simply tells Mike, a little suspicious.

Mike coughs, not really meeting Nancy’s eyes “Cool. I'll be down in a second.” he replies, hoping for it to come out smooth.

Nancy looks between them one last time, not convinced. They can both tell she knows something is up. Finally, she lets it be and disappears down the hallway a moment later, as Mike presses his back against the door, sighting in relief.

“That was close.” he tells Will. 

What was close, exactly? Is he talking about Nancy? Because Will– who hasn't had a shred of hope in Michael Wheeler liking him in forever– is pretty sure that Mike was going to kiss him, back before Nancy interrumped them. 

Will doesn’t answer. What is there to say, anyways?

“Sorry, Friday.” Mike tells the kitten as he takes out from the box again, completely oblivious to Will's spiraling.

“Meow.” she replies, in what seems like anger.

“I know, I know.” Mike says, apologetic. Will can't really believe he is talking to the cat right now. Still, he doesn't comment “I’ll make it up to you, alright?” he promises, stroking her head affectionately.

“Your other dad is crazy.” Will tells Friday after Mike leaves to help Karen with whatever it is that was so extremely important, leaving him alone in his room as he sits on the floor, by the bed.

Friday looks up at him “Yeah. No shit.” he can almost hear her answering.

Crazy together.

After dinner, Jonathan goes up to Nancy's room, and Mike and Will get the basement for their movie night. Mike insists on having Friday with them– as risky as that is– so he goes and takes her down from her room while Will makes the popcorn.

“Are you gonna tell me now what we are watching tonight?” Will asks once Mike is back, Friday hidden on a blanket in between his arms.

He is wearing those spaceship-pajamas again, and Will is suddenly hit with the urge to do something. Just– he doesn't know. He can't take his eyes off of him. He is pretty sure he is losing his mind at this point.

Mike smiles, getting the tape on as Friday places herself on Will's lap, comfortably curling against his thighs.

“To honor our daughters’ name…” Mike starts, as he takes his seat next to Will, popcorn bowl in hands as their thighs brush “We are watching Friday the 13th.” he finishes, proudly.

Our daughter. 

Almost as if–

“For the last time, Mike. We are not calling her Friday!” Will tells him, laughing.

He can’t believe this. This is ridiculous. Mike is ridiculous. Still, he shouldn’t find it as charming as he does.

Friday looks up from Will's lap to Mike, walking up to his arms instead and placing herself there, waiting for Mike to hold her.

“See! She likes it!” Mike says, triumphant “Don't you, Friday?” he asks, holding her in his arms. Friday licks his finger as an answer, enthusiastically.

“Traitor.” Will mumbles, in disbelief. Mike chuckles as a reply, as happy as he can be. And, if the victory makes him smile that wide, then Will supposes that losing is not that bad.

They don't really watch horror movies often. Will supposes there is enough horror already in their lives as they are. But, contrary to popular belief, he mostly enjoys them. Sure, there are some that creep him out a little. Some monsters bring back unpleasant memories. But, most times, he can get through them just fine. 

He has always thought of Mike as braver than him. He was always the one standing up from both of them. The one that never got scared to face the bullies. Will had always been too scared for that. So, when it comes to movies, Will is not surprised to see that he is just as he thought he would be: brave and unbothered.

“If I was them, I would have gotten the hell out of there already.” Mike tells him, as he grabs a handful of popcorn from the bowl. Their fingers brush briefly, and Will tries not to freak out about it.

Jesus. He needs to get a hold of himself.

Will smiles a little “No, you wouldn't have.” he says, looking up at him “You love to play the hero. You would have stayed.” he mocks him, playfully.

“That’s not true.” Mike tells him offended. Although, the smile forming on the corner of his lips is enough for Will to know that he isn't mad at all.

“Sure, Mike the Brave.” Will replies, giggling. 

Mike scoffs, and his pointy finger goes to Will's chest, shoving him “Screw you, Will the Wise.” he attacks back.

They look at each other for a second, and Mike causally drops his hand at the back of the sofa, right behind Will's shoulders. He can feel his arm brushing past them, and he tries not to read much into it as Mike shifts impossibly closer.

“You know… I'm glad things are okay again.” Mike starts, a little unsure “I just… I missed you, you know? Back when you were in Lenora. And I was an asshole about it. I started being an asshole way before,  even. And I just… I don't know. I'm sorry.” he tells him, sincerely.

Will traces his face with his eyes. His sweet eyes. His pink cheeks. The soft curve of his nose.

It's Hawkins. It's not the same without you.

“I'm sorry, too.” Will replies, voice barely a whisper.

I'm sorry I lied, he wants to add. But he isn't brave enough for that.

“There is nothing for you to be sorry about.” Mike says, eyebrows furrowed “I pushed you away. Made you feel like I didn't care about you.” he explains, guilt written all over his face “And I'm really sorry about it, okay? I am. So I'm glad we are good again. I just… Need you, you know?” he adds, a little shy.

So, yeah. El needs you, Mike. And she always will.

“I need you, too.” Will says, barely a whisper.

Mike smiles, biting his lip a little as to prevent the smile from going wider.

“Cool.” he finally says, gaze going down at Will's lips.

“Cool.” Will replies, looking at Mike's lips too.

Mike tilts his head a little, and Will is already hearing wedding bells. He leans forward a little, and his nose is almost brushing Mike's when–

“Meow!”

Friday jumps into the almost empty bowl of popcorn in Mike's lap, startling them both.

“Holy shit!” Mike yelps, as Friday starts scratching the bowl in an attempt to get out “No, no, no! Easy, Friday. I've got you.” he tells her, as he gets her in his hands, out of the bowl.

Will giggles a little, taking the bowl from Mike's lap and putting it on the table. The movie is already over, and Jonathan will get to the basement any minute now.

“She's just as clumsy as you are.” Will tells Mike, as he wraps her back in the blanket to take her upstairs.

“She’s also as grumpy as you are.” Mike shoots back, a teasing smile on his lips.

“I'm so not grumpy!” Will tells him, offended.

Mike just smiles “Sure. You are not.” he says, as he starts to walk towards the stairs. When he notices that Will isn't behind him, he looks back, confused “You’re not coming?” he asks, as if it was the most natural thing in the world “Friday needs both of his dads so she can sleep.”

Will blushes before he can even register it. Mike wants him to sleep in his room. On his bed. Again. Intentionally this time. 

Something tells him that Friday doesn’t really have anything to do with it. Still, it is a safer bet than just admitting he wants Will to sleep with him again. So, Will supposes he’ll take it. No questions asked.

“Oh.” Will mumbles, frozen in place. 

Mike looks at him with those brown eyes that Will adores, looking so cozy and sweet as he holds Friday in his arms and–

Well, does he really have a choice? As if Will could ever just say no to Mike.

Mike's bed is soft, and they actually sleep under the covers this time. Will curls into himself to leave Mike as much space as possible, and Friday sleeps on top of Mike's chest like she owns the place, purring as Mike strokes her back, gently.

“Will?” Mike asks, right after he turns off the lights.

“Yeah, Mike?” Will replies, cheek pressed into the pillow.

“Goodnight.” Mike simply says, smiling a little.

“Night, Mike.” Will replies, smiling too.

He tries to ignore the butterflies on his stomach as he lays there, with Mike sleeping next him on his bed. He thinks about today. About the movie, about their trip to the store, about–

Mike tried to kiss him twice today. Will is pretty sure he did. Not that he would really know, since he has never kissed anyone, but he kind of knows in theory. And, both times, Mike was too close for it to be accidental.

Will's been dreaming of this moment since forever. Since he met Mike, probably. But now, it feels as surreal as ever. Even if it was as close as it might have been, too. 

What the hell is going on with Mike these days? Why does he suddenly act like this?, he asks himself as buries himself deep into the pillows, too confused for his own good.

Don't go there. You know it's not fair, his internal voice whispers. He can't keep dreaming about Mike. It only hurts him. He's probably just feeling lonely after El.

He rolls on his back and looks away from Mike, with his back to him as he closes his eyes again, forcing himself to fall asleep as fast as he can.

It does work, eventually. Until he wakes up in the morning, at least. Friday is licking his face– again– and Will starts wondering if she just straight up hates him.

He tries to shift a little on the bed, but he instantly notices that there is something keeping him from moving.

Or, more accurately speaking, someone. Because his legs are tangled up with Mike's, who is holding him by the waist as their bodies press together. He can feel Mike’s soft breathing on his nape, ticking his sensitive skin every time he exhales.

“Shit.” he whispers under his breath, panicking a little. 

How the hell did they end up like this? Will made sure to leave some space between them last night. A lot more space than this, to be precise. 

He tries to free himself from Mike's arms, but as he shifts away from his body, Mike holds him with more force, mumbling something into his neck that Will can't quite decipher.

Okay. This is what Will knows for now: Mike and him are cuddling. Full-on cuddling. On Mike' s bed. After sleeping here for the second night in a row. Because Mike asked him to. After they almost kissed. Two times. 

“This is all your fault.” Will whispers directly at Friday, who is looking up at him with her big green eyes as her tiny self stretches into the mattress.

“Don't blame this on me. You are the one who's in love with this idiot.” her face seems to reply.

Mike shifts a little besides him, and Will goes still. He holds his breath as Mike slowly starts waking up, confused.

“Morning.” he says into the crook of Will's neck, voice low and raspy with sleep.

“Hey.” Will forced himself to reply.

Mike slowly detangles himself from Will's body, but stays pressed against him, too close for Will to be able to regulate his breathing.

Mike smiles a little when Friday walks through the pillow– all the way to his head– and pressed herself into his forehead, as if greeting him.

“Morning to you too, Friday.” he says, softly.

“She was licking my face again when I woke up.” Will says casually, in an attempt to behave as if nothing had happened.

Mike doesn't seem startled, though. For him, it's like waking up cuddling his best friend didn't have any implications at all. Which, in some ways, is a little funny– given that he is the one who's allegedly straight and all.

It's not my fault you don't like girls!

And us? We’re friends! We’re friends!

“That’s because she loves you.” Mike tells him “And she thinks you have a very lickable face.” he adds, teasingly.

“Does she?” Will asks, eyebrows raised “Or do you?” he teases, in a moment of bravery.

“You do know what they say…” Mike shrugs, before locking his eyes with Will's hazel ones “Like father, like daughter.” he tells him, boldly.

Will's face goes bright pink at the statement. 

God, how is he surviving this at all?

How can he go back to like how things were after this is over? He knows they can keep up with Friday like this forever. They'll have to do something about her soon. The storm is already clearing, and Will doesn't want to let go. Not yet.

He knows Mike has grown even more attached to Friday than he has, and he isn't going to be easy about leaving her. Still, Will can't afford to fool himself about this: it is a matter of time that someone in the house finds out about Friday and, with that, this little bubble that has gotten built up surrounding him and Mike will be gone. Mike and him are gonna become strangers again. And Will should have known. He shouldn't have let himself be tricked into the comfort of Mike's arms. Should have never crossed the door into his space. Because he is way too happy in there to go back now.

Mike doesn't try to kiss him again.

He still stands awfully close, looks at him with those beautiful brown eyes in ways that make Will's insides burn. But, they don’t kiss. 

Sometimes, Will wishes he had been brave enough to be the one to pull Mike in. Still, he also feels like this is for the best. If he had gotten to kiss make and then just had to forget about it, he knows he would not have been able to do it. That kiss would have haunted him forever.

So, they just stay the same as this past they. Pretend nothing happened as Mike plays with Friday, stroking her head gently and smiling as she jumps, trying to catch the toy from his hand. Will stays there, sitting on Mike’s bed as he sketches, the lines of his pencil looking suspiciously like Mike, a little kitten on his arms as he smiles widely.

“You should add yourself too.” Mike tells him, on Friday’s fourth day at home with them. The storm has mostly passed, although it still rains a little sometimes.

“You think so?” Will asks, a little embarrassed that Mike knows he is drawing him. Al least, having Friday in the picture makes it a little less obvious. He feels less guilty about it.

“Yeah.” Mike replies, voice soft “A family portrait.” he says, blushing a little.

“Oh.” Will breathes out, blushing too.

It’s the little things like this, the way they’ve been dancing around the lines of friendship– and a little more– lately, that drive Will completely insane. Is all of this in his head? Could it be Vecna, playing tricks on him?

It doesn’t look like Vecna, though. It doesn¡t feel like him. It just feels… Like Mike. His Mike. The one he has known since they were four. The little kid on the swingsets, asking to be his friend.

It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

“You really are like a cat too, you know?” Will tells Mike as they both lie on the bed, facing the wall. Will’s painting stares back at him again. He profusely ignores it.

“What?” Mike asks, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Friday is on the floor of Mike’s room, playing with her little mouse as the small rays of sun– the first ones in days– caress Mike’s face, angelically.

Will smiles a little. His shoulder brushes Mike’s one when he shrugs. 

“I’m just saying… I don’t know. You have the temper of a cat. You don’t show affection in conventional ways. You act like everything bothers you, but deep down you care so much about everyone. About the people you love.” Will trails off. As much as he wishes he could avoid Mike’s gaze right now, his eyes are too mesmerizing for Will not to look back at them.

Mike shifts a little closer, cheeks pink “Yeah?” he asks, softly. He looks a little intrigued by Will’s words, as if trying to figure out something he can’t quite name.

“Yeah.” Will replies “You are very caring. And loyal. But you can have a hard time letting people in sometimes.” he says, and he really hopes Mike won’t be bothered about the statement.

He doesn’t seem to be, though, as he smiles a little “Like when Max joined the Party?” he asks.

Will giggles “Like when Max joined the Party.” he confirms, as they both laugh "But that's not everything. There is one more thing that’s totally cat-like.” he tells him, a serious look on his face.

Mike looks a little disoriented “What is it?” he asks, as if Will is going to tell him the biggest secret he can think of.

“You totally love having your hair played with.” 

Mike’s face goes bright pink at the statement, shyness written all over his face “You– That’s bullshit! Not true at all!” he yelps, voice high pitched.

Will laughs, cheeks hurting with how wide his smile is “It is! You so love it!” he argues.

Mike’s face goes serious again “Prove it.” he tells him, confident.

Will raises an eyebrow “What?” he asks, thinking he might have heard him wrong.

There’s no way Mike just asked him to–

“Prove it. Come on.” Mike says again.

They look at each other, both laying on the bed as Mike raises his eyebrows, waiting.

“Okay.” Will finally says, not really believing what is going on right now.

He raises his hand slowly, as if giving Mike the time to back out. There’s no one home right now. Nancy and Jonathan are out, Ted at work and Holly and Karen are running errands in town. And, in this moment, with Will hand burying itself onto Mike’s dark hair, the silence of the house is almost overwhelming. He prays that Mike can’t hear how fast his heart is beating right now.

Will traces his fingers over Mike’s scalp, still looking into his eyes. Instantly, Mike melts into his touch, encouraging Will to go on. He curls against his hand like a little kitten, so Friday-like, and Will smiles softly.

“See? Just like a cat.” he barely whispers, not wanting to raise his voice too much, as if it would ruin the moment.

Mike smiles a little, sweet eyes looking at him when he tells him “It’s because it’s you.” he says, too sure about it “I like it because it’s you.” 

Will’s breath catches, his heart pounding inside of his chest.

He can’t really find his words, and it doesn’t really seem to matter when Mike breaks the silence again:

“I love you.” he says, simply. As if it was the easiest thing in the world for him.

He knows Mike doesn’t mean it that way. Still, this is Mike. And Will can’t help it but swoon a little over it. His heart skips a beat and his eyes scan Mike’s face– the beautiful sight of his freckles and the high lines on his cheekbones– and it is too easy to pretend, for a second, that Mike might ever feel as in love as Will does right now. That his heart might be beating for him, too.

Will’s throat is dry, and he feels the blush creeping on his face when he replies:

“I– I love you, too.”

Mike smiles, impossibly close. Their noses are brushing again, just like that night in the basement and– 

Holy shit, Mike is getting up a little, body pressing a little closer. 

Okay, things are getting weird. Is this actually happening or did Will just get possessed again? Is the touch of Mike’s fingers tracing his arm real or is his whole body on fire because of Vecna?

Mike looks at him one last time and– before Will can even blink– his lips are on his.

Okay. He most definitely did not imagine that.

It’s barely a peck. A press of lips. Tempting. Careful. It lasts only a few seconds, and Will is too caught up in his own thoughts– full on panicking in the best way he can possibly think of– to even fully register it before Mike is gone from his lips.

Mike looks at him from above, as if waiting for Will to react. He is completely frozen in place, blinking at him with confusion written all over his face.

“Did you– Uhm… You just kissed me.” Will forces out, and he can almost feel the soft brush of Mike’s nose against his still.

Mike’s face breaks, eyes hurt “Shit. Sorry. I shouldn’t have. I thought–” he rambles, panicking. He starts detangling himself from Will, his voice breaking a little “I just– With the painting and all– I mean, I thought it had to mean something, right? But then you started to drift apart from me and I got really confused because I thought you might like me and– This past days, with Friday and all, I thought we–”

“Mike.” Will cuts him off, holding him by his shoulder “Slow down, okay. I’m just– Sorry. I don’t really get it. I’m not mad. Just– I don’t really understand this. I didn’t think you’d–” he tells him, a little anxious. He is so incredibly confused, scared and a little ashamed too right now, but he also–

Did Mike just imply he likes him? For God’s sake, he just kissed him. On the mouth. Mike Wheeler just kissed him on the mouth.

“I know the painting was from you.” Mike begins to say, and Will’s face crumbles in fear “I’ve known for a while. Since El and I broke up. I guess I was just… trying to wrap my head around it.” he tells him. They are both sitting on the bed now, knees brushing as Mike continues talking “I couldn’t make it work out with El, because– Because she wasn’t what I needed. What I wanted.” he says. He is blushing, and the sunlight goes over his head like a hallo “You are what I want, Will.”

Will just stays there, looking at him with the words stuck on his throat, frozen. Mike Wheeler, the boy he has been in love with for as long as he can remember, just told him he loves him. Will is still trying to wrap his head around it. Around the fact that this is real. That he is not dreaming anymore.

Come on. Do something!, he wants to yell at himself as he stays there, eyes wide and cheeks pink, still completely lost in his thoughts.

“Will? Can you say something?” Mike asks, panicking a little.

He comes back into his senses with a little mortifying sound from the back of his throat and, for a second, he is almost embarrassingly sure that he is gonna cry any minute now.

“I’m in love with you.” he ends up saying instead, which is equally embarrassing “I have been for ages.” he adds, as if to prove his point.

Mike smiles brightly, overwhelmed tears in his eyes “Me too.” he whispers.

All this time, was it really this simple? Could he have just told Mike the truth about his feelings? Could they just be doing– this the whole time? Will is starting to believe that, maybe, that’s the secret about love: it’s messy, complicated and scary, but also so easy. And, when it comes to Mike, it is so worth the wait.

They fall back on the bed when Mike kisses him again, more desperate this time. He cups his face with both hands as one of his knees slides in-between Will’s own, balancing himself on the bed as Will traces the lines of his shoulders with one hand, the other buried into Mike’s hair.

He makes a high pitched sound that muffles itself against Mike’s mouth, and everything is even better than he could possibly have imagined. He gets it now, the appeal of kissing. He gets why everyone is so crazy about it. Even if he doesn’t have the slightest idea of what to do next.

Because Mike guides him as their mouths find each other again and again and again and it feels like there are fireworks all around when Mike’s nose brushes against his cheeks as his lips part, and suddenly all he can feel is Mike, Mike, Mik–

“Wait.” Will tells him, suddenly. Realization hits his face as Mike raises an eyebrow, intrigued. His whole face is blushed, and his lips are pink and swollen. Will probably looks like a mess himself. Still, he can’t find another word to define Mike’s current state that isn’t– Well, beautiful “So, these past days, you’ve been trying to…?” he trails off, unsure.

Mike laughs a little “Make a move on you? Totally.” he tells him, and he doesn’t let the opportunity to tease him pass “You didn’t seem too collaborative, though.”

“I didn’t know you liked me!” Will half-yells, embarrassed.

“Will.” Mike says, a teasing smirk on his lips “I referred to Friday as our daughter. Told you to draw as a family portrait. I even cuddled  you, for fucks sake!” he laughs, boyish.

“I thought you were just being– I don’t know! You get weird like that sometimes!” Will argues, visibly flustered.

“Weird?” Mike asks, offended. Although, the smile on his lips is very telling “You–”

The sound of Karen yelling makes them jump apart, flustered. Luckily for them, it comes from downstairs. Now, that would have been frankly horrible. If she just found them like that: tangled into each other, almost fully making up in Mike’s bed like–

God, would she even be cool about it? Will doesn’t know. Doesn’t want to know. He just wants to live in this little bubble of happiness a little more. The boy he loves just told him he loves him back, and Will thinks his heart might explode of joy right now.

“Michael! Get down here right now!”

They both share a confused look as they get up from the bed. Will consciously runs a hair through his hair as they both get to the stairs, intrigued.

“Care to explain this?” Karen asks, hands on her hips as she looks at Friday, who is curled up in the stairs, comfortably.

“Shit.” Mike mumbles under his breath. 

They forgot to close the door, and she must have gone outside while they were… Uhm. Busy.

“And? Are you gonna say something?” Karen tries again, impatiently.

Mike takes Friday into his hands, and she seems awfully happy to see him. She has no idea of what a mess he just got them into. And, if she does, she could not care less.

“This is Friday." Mike offers, gently holding her “Will and I have been taking care of her. She was left outside, in the storm. I– We couldn’t leave her there, Mom” he tells her, eyes soft and a little sad as she looks at her. 

He is nowhere ready to let go of Friday. And neither is Will. It suddenly hits him as the anxiety fills up his veins.

“She barely causes any trouble, Mrs Wheeler.” Will steps up, a little unsure “You wont even know she is here.”

Mike looks up at him, gratefully. Will smiles, encouragingly.

“Will and I will take care of her, Mom. Promise.” Mike says, hopeful.

Karen looks at both of them, silent for a minute before she sights, defeated.

“This is your responsibility.” she says, her pointy finger in the air “Are we clear?”

Will and Mike look at each other, smiling brightly as they nod.

“Yeah. Totally.”

“Of course, Mrs Wheeler.”

Okay… That was surprisingly easy. More than they could have ever imagined it would be. But, with the end of the world and all, Will supposed Mrs Wheeler might have gotten a little soft.

Karen smiles fondly, looking at Friday with a little something in her eyes, already starting to feel maternal over her “Well… She is kind of cute, isn’t she?” she says, a little moved.

“Meow!” Friday looks up from Mike’s hands, and Will strokes her head as his finger brushes Mike’s ones.

“She is.” he whispers, and Mike smiles as he draws a little closer to him.

“What a beautiful daughter we have.” Mike whispers jokingly, just for him. Karen is long forgotten, already getting to the kitchen as they stay there, standing on the staircase, pressed up next to each other.

Will laughs happily, looking at him with affection written all over his face “Looks just like his dad.” he jokes back, cheeks hurting with joy.

The next time Will works on their family portrait, Mike is sitting by his side, a hand wrapped around his shoulders as he kisses Will’s forehead. Friday is laying by their side on the basement couch, and she already looks bigger than she did last week. It’s barely been days since she became official to the family, since Mike and Will became official– not to the family, though. That’s a secret they want to keep for a little longer– but he already has a hard time trying to remember a life before this.

“I wish she stayed a baby forever.” Mike says, pouting.

Will smiles, brushing a strand of Mike’s hair away from his eyes “We’ll, you will always have our family portrait to remember.” he says, half joking.

Mike smiles “Yeah.” he says, pressing a peck to Will’s cheek “Our little family, isn’t it?” he asks, voice sweet.

Let’s start a new Party, you and me.

“Our little family.” Will agrees.

Mike and Will. Friday too. 

A little coincidence that drew them close as they can be. A shared promise from their childhood that now became real.

And, as Friday jumps into their laps, Will knows everything will be alright now. The Upside Down can wait. Vecna can wait. Everything, aside from them, can wait. Because Will is as happy as he has ever been, despite all. 

One day, we can have another dog, when you are ready. Or a cat. A parrot, if you like. 

I think… Things will just be better if we are a team.

Because Mike is right by his side, just like Will always dreamed he’d be. They have each other.

And, for now on, that is really all that matters.