Work Text:
post time jump
[mike and will sits in mike's basement]
"you know i still don't get it why el broke up with me i even told her i loved her" mike whines
[will is drawing something] he doesn't say anything to mike and lets him keep complain about it.
"isnt it what she wanted. i dont know what i did wrong." [will reamins silent]
"why don't you say something, you're on my side on this right" he wondered
[will finally turned to look at him and mike realized will was busy with something and probably didn't even listened to him]
"mike-" mike cut him before he could say something.
"you weren't even listening were you" mike declared sounding slightly angry.
[will laughed hysterically]
"you know what mike i did. even though that's all you talk about since you two broke up. i still did. you don't even realize how selfish this is. it has been six months mike ,six months. do you realize how stupid this was for me to listen every day for six months. and you want me to take a side. she's my SISTER. what do you expect me to do. be your couple councilor again and somehow make you two up." will finally let himself show some of his emotions. [oh he was angry angry]
[mike is little startled but starts to speak]
" i don't know what i expected. it's not like you would-" cuts himself before ending that sentence.
"will i didn't-" will cuts him
"what mike. it's not like i would what, /understand/right? hahaahha yes how would i understand. (sarcastically) you know that /it's not your fault i don't like girls/ that's what you said right??" will remarked.
"will i didn't mean it that way. i'm sorry please-"
" no mike no need to be sorry. and it's my turn to speak. [takes a deep breath] the world is ending you realize that right and all you think about some teenage relationship that wont last forever. i am sick of hearing it, i cant take it anymore and i am tired mike. tired of acting like i support every decision
of yours, everything that you do or you say. have you ever thought why she broke up with you? mike you couldn't even say i love you to her. you told her that just because you thought it would save her.you weren't even honest to yourself. did you not think she would understand that? you made her feel less of herself. and maybe mike maybe you being not able to say i love you to your girlfriend should mean something for you." [his eyes were tearing up.]
"i dont understand what you are trying to say will. el loves me and i love her too. honestly i wasn't sure untill you showed me the painting that el commisioned. [will scoffs] that painting means a lot to me. it means el thought about me whole year, it means she sees me as the leader, it means she loves me. you told me i make her feel like she's not a mistake and now you're saying i made her feel less of herself. i am not following will." [ mike is oblivious]
" i can't believe you guys didn't talk about the painting. i actually thought that's why you two broke up." will admitted.
"well we umm we didn't actually talk much after everything. [scratches the back of his head] but why would it would break us apart?" mike asked.
" umm well since we are speaking our truth: i umm i lied mike. i'm sorry" [will looked at him. There was something behind his eyes that looked so much like hope but mike was just looking confused]
"i don't understand will what did you lie about?"[ he's such an idiot really mike?]
"i lied about the painting. el didn't commisioned it. in fact she had no idea what i painted"he admitted.
"but why did you lie and everything you said... were they all lies?" [ he was startled hearing all at once hit him harder than puberty]
" i felt like i had to. you were moping all day mike. so yes i lied because i thought it would bring your joy back and i know it was not my place i am sorry i really am. i realized it as soon as i showed you the painting but that was the happiest you have looked since you got there and i didn't want to ruin that. and for the things i said back than well el didn't told them to me but they weren't lies mike... at least not for me." will apologized.
[ he was about to cry. he just hoped that this time maybe this time mike would get what he’s putting. he promised himself at the van that he would put this all behind and he knows he ripped off the bandaid months ago but mike being this oblivious hurts him more than anything]
"what do you mean you lied to make me happy. it was none of your business. i just can't believe you. we used to never lie to each other will what changed huh what ?? What happened to “friends don’t lie” you told me that she needed me, that she loved me. i am such a fool to believe this, to believe you haha. it did made me happy at that moment but didnt you think it would hurt more when i learned the truth, when i learned that you ,my best friend, lied to me. in case you didn't get it it hurts will,it hurts like bitch" mike said slightly yelling.
[will was in tears]
"i am sorry mike. But what happened to “friends care about each other”? Huh you didn’t even called me once for all that time what happened tell me. Just because I lied I am not the only one to blame you made me feel like we weren’t even friends. but just like i thought you didn't understand what i was saying again. but it's okay mike. i'm used to it by now." [ tears were running down his cheek]
"wh- what are you saying?" [mike's confused AGAIN who's surprised]
"you don't understand shit mike that's what i'm saying" will exclaimed “everything that i told you in that van was from ME mike. You used to make me feel like I belonged here that everything would be fine if you were just there with me. but i guess i was a fool to think YOU would feel the same. so dont you dare blame me for your actions.”
[ will stormed out of basement. it takes a few seconds to mike to follow him]
"will where are you going it's raining ( s3 hehe) at least wait till it stops"
[will thanked to rain for pouring faster than his tears. so mike wouldn't see him crying like that. he hopped on his bike and went to hop's cabin. he tried to sleep. only if it was possible. after a while someone knocked his door. he wiped away the tears ]
"come in"
"hey will i was gonna ask- wait were you crying" el asked. [ she seemed worried to see her brother like that]
"oh nothing, i was listening to bowie you know how emotional they can be." will lied.
[ he tried to smile to make his story believable but of course el realized that he was lying. god she was impossible to lie to]
"will i know you're lying. you know i'm only asking cause i'm worried but you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. just know that i care for you." el smiled.
[ will was feeling guilty for everything, for putting her between mike and him. she was the kindest person he ever met. thats what he loved about her.( willel my babies) before el left the room he decided to tell her.]
"el" el turned to him
" i am gonna tell you but i need you to tell me you wont hate me" will asked.
" of course will. nothing could change that."
[el was confused but her words were full of truth. will knew that by heart]
"i actually umm i had a fight with mike [ will sounded really sad and el realized it] i know you two break up but he's my best friend you know. we don't often fight and this one was pretty big. i'm worried that he won't want to talk to me again."
"why did you fight though? " el wondered.
" i um well i lied to him. kind of a big one. you know how much he cares about lies"
" well its not like he always tells the truth. he doesn't have a right to be so harsh on you." el commented [ they hugged each other (best siblings fr) will knew how much el cared about him so he decided to admit it to her]
"el umm we fought because i told him you commisoned a painting that i did of umm mike" he admitted.
"i know i shouldn't have got into your relationship. but he needed to hear some things and i shouldn't have done it. i am sorry el"
"no will it's okay. it just shows that you care about him and you are a good friend. i dont understand why he got mad but i know for sure that you two are gonna make up. don't beat yourself up. maybe not right this second but give it a moment. Miles a little dense but he cares about you too much." [ she was right. will knew it in the back of his head and he felt relieved hearing it from her]
" thanks el you really are the best, love you so much"
" and before i forget have you seen the glue i came here to ask for it ." el asked
"oh it's on the table right there"
" and before i leave if mike keeps this up i will haunt him don’t you worry" [ she winked at him before leaving the room. will was really lucky to have el as friend and a sister. she was a very loving and a caring person.] [ he felt a lot better after talking with her. he slowly drifted to sleep this time actually listening to Bowie ]
it has been a couple days after the fight. the couple last days were difficult and different for will. not talking to his best friend was far more difficult than he expected. he kind of hoped mike would call him or even better come to his house and apologize but none of it happened. he felt so delusional. he was sad but also somehow relieved if it makes sense. He poured his heart out, it was making him feel free. But the possibility of Mike understanding wills feelings and feeling disgusted by him was killing him. This thought left him torn. He couldn’t help but missed his best friend. Mike was probably relieved that he has gotten rid of will let alone missing him. Still all he wanted was to just talk to mike hoping everything could go back to normal. Ever since he was taken to upside down he was slowly losing mike. He hated the idea of losing him entirely at least (hopefully) mike still cared enough to be mad at him.(one day he won’t even hate me) will thought. but little did he know mike was nothing better than him since will stormed out of his house.
mike's pov
after the fight mike was confused and angry but deep down he knew will was right to be mad at him. he acted like a jerk to his best friend. why you might ask and mike couldn’t give you an answer. knowing that it was selfish but after will stormed out of the basement mike expected him to come back and apologize or at least just come back. when they were young they would never fight will was the easiest person to get along with. but these fights weren’t wills fault it was mike. growing up mike forgot how to be a good friend. when will left for Lenora mike was expecting will to have changed but it was mike who was different. mike knew it deep down but he didn’t know the reason. he missed will, when he was in Lenora he called him all the time but the line was never available. will never returned his calls so mike wrote him letters. Even though he never sent those he kept them in his closet. So when will left mike was left alone with everything that will just said to him. he got up from the sofa and found the painting. He hung the painting on the wall for a few months. But later there was an uneasy feeling. every time he looked at it he felt different, he couldn’t name what it was but he couldn’t dare to look at it. So he put the painting in a box with all the other paintings will have done for him. And he locked those feelings in a far away part of his brain. He didn’t realize that his eyes were welled up. He let those tears to fall this time. He promised himself that he was gonna win his friend back. He can’t lose him, not again. He is about to leave the basement when he realizes will has forgotten his sketchbook on the table. The last painting being mike dressed as venkman on halloween. And will remembered all the little details in mikes outfit. Maybe because they have made their costumes together. Saying together is an overreaching will did all the work obviously mike was just happy to be there. or maybe will had a picture of him the thought made his heart skip a beat. He took the book and left the basement before he could understand the reason. he thanks will for leaving the book so he has en excuse for visiting will.
It took four days for mike to gather his courage to apologize. When someone is clearly in the wrong they can never find the right words. he stood in front of his closet he couldn’t choose what to wear. Maybe he was trying to find excuses to not go. He put on a blue sweater and jeans. Got on his bike and left the house before he can chicken out. He bought wills favorite candy, Reese’s pieces. Before he realizes he’s in front of hops cabin. (He rings the doorbell there isn’t anything for a while he’s about to turn home the door opens) “mike” there’s a sleepy voice calling for him. “Hey” “why are you here?” he looks so cozy like he just got out of bed and he still looks like he’s just about to sleep. He wants to just hug him, no mike put those thoughts in that box that you are not allowed to look into. Mike is entranced will is just looking at him so he realizes he hasn’t answered him. “I- umm you forgot you book i thought it would be better to give it back””oh thanks” will looks defeated actually like he was expecting something else mike feels like hes broken him all over again. “I saw your painting- your painting of me” hes scratching his head while will is objectively blushing. “ i know I shouldn’t have looked but umm i couldnt help myself i love your drawings.” He hands the book their fingers touch thats a lingering touch. Mike feels like warmth is radiating from will. “ thank you i- you can keep the painting if you want, after i finish i mean theres still a lot to do I haven’t even drawn your freckles yet-“ now its mikes turn to blush but he hands a huge grin. Hes smiling like he hasnt fir days. “ well also i want to talk if you let me. Can i come in?” Mike is unsure waiting for rejection, but its will hes always kind and forgiving so he lets him in. “ where’s everyone” mike wonders. “ they left for shopping, they’ll be back soon i guess.”” I uh i brought you something as an apology uh reeses i remembered theyre your favorite or at least was.” Mike hasnt seen will smile like that to him for a long time. He’s relieved hes not gonna lose him. “ no wayy! I kinda was craving them lately but couldn’t find them anywhere. Thanks mike. Also theyre still my favorite candy” of course it is as we said before will instead the person who is changed it is mike. “ im sorry will, I don’t know how to properly apologize but im sorry.” Of course he is speaking in his will voice softly almost scared of scaring him away. “ i have been a selfish jerk to you for months I should have realized before things got serious. You have every right to be mad and to hate me you don’t even have to forgive me will. I just want you to know that I am sorry for treating you like that. I miss you will.” He admits before even realizing. Well at the same time will is surprised when he woke up to the doorbell the last thing he expected was to see mike let alone mike giving him a heartfelt apology. Hes just looking at mike like he can’t believe he is saying those things and that will is not dreaming or is he dreaming he has yo check. Well he pinches himself and its definitely real it’s definitely happening right now. “What are you doing?” Mike has seen that hasnt he. “ i needed to check what ive been hearing is real, sorry” he was blushing and mike laughing at this was not helping. It definitely was not helping beacuse hes been missing this seeing mike smile, seeing that happiness reaching his eyes. Being the reason for this was what hes been missing for months. And seeing him smiling all sweetly was definitely changing his heartbeat. “Come on mike let’s eat those chocolates and listen to bowies last album you are gonna love it.” The day kept on going with mike listening wills albums and will drawing mike. He realized that this was missing from his life. He feels happy in that moment and wants that moment to last forever. Or more realistically till the whole world turns upside down again. He wants to be by wills side no matter what and that is the first time he lets his brain and heart be filled with will without locking them away. Maybe one day he can open that box for good. But for now he’s happy with what he has now.