Chapter Text
January 17 1987
The smell and sounds of breakfast filled the air this morning. Mrs. Wheeler in her usual motion as she cooks for the circus she now has living in her home. All slowly losing their minds as they learn these tricks of quarantine together. It's already been almost a year.
Holly now calling out it was time to eat, it was her new favorite thing to do, you could hear the house hum to life.
Mr. Wheeler was already at the table ready to be served. Mrs. Byers helping set the plates as Jonathan and Nancy came down the stairs one by one, trying to act like they didn't come from the same place.
Mike in his usual spot this morning. He stands in the kitchen against the wall as El goes on over the phone about this new training course she was doing with Hopper. Mike listening in and out as he scans the room.
Seeing one member missing, Will.
Everything had been different between them since they arrived back in Hawkins. Like a switch went off in Mike's head that he existed again, but Will didn't mind this new attention. He only had to bury his guilt every time he saw his found sister.
"Mike can you help Will bring down those boxes from your room?" Mrs. Wheeler asks as she plates the bacon.
Mike remembers his mom asking Will ten minutes ago to bring down some boxes of old clothes they were going to give to the shelter. "Sure mom." He cuts off El.
"Oh do you have to go? I love-
"Bye, talk soon." Mike slams the phone, the noise getting a frown from his mother as he runs up the stairs.
The scent of breakfast now leaving his nostrils as he opens his bedroom door to see Will in his closet just staring at the huge box on the top shelf.
"Hey." Mike calls out, getting Will's attention immediately.
"Oh, hey." He turns, his hair wasn't in the normal bowl shape. Since they've been back Mrs. Wheeler has been cutting Will's hair, doing him wonders with the girls in class now.
Mike also getting the chop since Will got back into town. His curls now hugging his ears just the way they did when they were kids, just the way Will likes.
"Were you stalling on purpose?" Mike smiles as he stands beside Will, looking up at the box, knowing Will could have easily gotten it down.
"No, I-," Mike leans into Will making his breath hitch - his mind turning to static - stopping his voice. Mike hesitates before their lips could glide together, biting the inside of his cheek instead as their eyes meet again.
"You seem nervous," Mike whispers looking down to see Will's body frozen in place. Mike slowly reaches out towards him, grazing his finger tips against Will's wrist.
"No, um just surprised." Will blinks, trying not to let his eyes wonder.
"I was just trying to see if my lessons worked," Mike smiles as he parts from their breath hitting each others, secretly happy at Will's shy display. They haven't been this close in weeks. It almost felt even more taboo in this closed space. "Meet at the spot tonight."
Will couldn't tell if it was a question or a command. All he could focus on was his breathing, trying not to show how flustered he was at Mike's touch.
"It's getting even colder outside, do you think that's a good idea?" Will says as he remembers the snow from the morning prior.
"There is always a way to stay warm, come tonight," Mike now looking at Will, with that puppy dog look he was famous for. Knowing Will has caves every single time. Mike grabs the box from the top shelf. "You were totally stalling." Mike calls as he made his way back down the stairs, leaving Will to collect his thoughts once again.
It hadn't always been like this. Mike being this bold around him. It started off with accidental touches, shared looks, or brushing their knees together at meals for months. When they were in California, Will would have never thought his dreams would come true - in the worse way possible.
The guilt eating him alive, but he wasn't a saint in it all either.
December 1 1986
It started a couple of weeks ago. December 1st to be exact. Will has been settled into the Wheeler's basement for eight months now. A place that already felt like home for so many years. Where him and Jonathan were supposed to sleep, except there were few nights that actually happened. Jonathan was constantly sneaking up to Nancy's room at night, the floor doing the familiar squeak was Will's cue he could sneak up to Mike's.
It started off as innocent, Will didn't even need to sneak into Mike's room. He just didn't want Jonathan to get the wrong idea. He felt that his brother probably had picked up onto sexuality and his crush on his long time friend. He really didn't want to hear the speech of this wrong, he has a girlfriend, he's not gay. Will knew he couldn't face his feelings, but at least he had his friendship.
Will was helping Mike write a new D&D campaign. They had gotten back into it and it's how they bonded so much again when he moved in. Mike told him so much about Eddie and Hellfire - how much fun they had before it all burned down. Even modeling the shirt they had for the club, it practically put Will into a coma seeing it for the first time, long hair and all.
Will was in charge of drawing out a new board. Mike wanted a bigger and better campaign than they've ever done, so mapping it out took hours of their time. Will was just happy to hear Mike go on while he drew and sculpted. It helped distract them from the world ending at any moment.
Will's eyes kept flickering to the unfinished sketch of Mike as a paladin laying on the other side of the bed. Then to Mike's hand, now seeing he had a band aid on his palm - Mike seemed to notice.
"Should I pose for you?" Mike asked referring to the sketch.
"Yeah strike me," Will said playfully. Mike raised his eyebrow, putting his hand behind his head posing for his new figure. "Got it, perfect." Will not even able to grip the pencil anymore from how much he was laughing.
They settled - Mike getting quiet as he watched Will add more to board.
"Hey. Will can I ask you something?" Mike muttered as he put his back onto the headboard giving Will his space back. Will nodded as he erased a mistake he had made. Mike played with the blankets in front of him, almost distracting him from the question. "Have you ever kissed anyone?" Mike felt like he already knew the answer.
"No. Never." The question made Will's fingers go limb again, he was having trouble putting pressure on the page.
"You never kissed this girl, this girl you liked in Lenora?" Mike almost put too much emphasis on the person being the opposite gender.
"There was never any girl."
"No, girl?"
"No one. There was no one. El was just trying to make me not sound like a complete loser." Will tried to make it sound light hearted, still trying to protect her.
"Mhm, she was good at lying." Mike rolled his eyes, seemingly still upset about it even after everything.
"Hey.." Will trailed off not really sure what to say. They both knew what she was going through, each other knowing not to bring up old wounds. "There was this girl in English that tried flirting with me all the time." He was still trying to think of anything to help Mike see El wasn't trying to lie so much.
"Did you like her?" Mike whispered.
"I mean, no, I was only- maybe El saw that and that's why she wrote it."
The room was silent all except for the ceiling fan chain clanking against it's glass dome. Will could feel his hands getting sweaty, they haven't had an awkward moment since he's been back. He was trying to think of anything to say to fill the silence, but all he could focus on was the breeze making a loose curl of Mike's slightly sway beside his ear.
"I could help you practice," The statement ringed in Will's ears, almost like those words could make him pass out upon hearing. "I mean, we are best friends. I want to help." Mike was the only one trying to make eye contact. Will was still trying to get a gear to even sputter in his brain.
"Will?" The ringing finally stopped as Mike grabbed Will's hand. He turned and they locked eyes. Will looked down at Mike's lips, feeling ashamed, he looked back at eye level.
It made Mike smile, so Will did the same masking him. "I mean yeah, that's nice of you." Will felt lame for his etiquette, but tried to power through still smiling.
"I'll lean in," Mike shifted his body closer to Will. "You just follow my lead. Okay?"
Mike put his hand slowly behind Will's neck, his fingers getting tangled slightly in his hair, with his thumb gliding against his ear.
He looked down at Will's lips, his head moved slightly forward, his eyes lazily close and reopen. Wanting to lean in more, feeling himself study Will's breathing. "Mike. I'm so nervous." Will muttered not able to control his emotions anymore. He was just hoping Mike couldn't hear his heart racing, it drumming through his ears.
Mike pushed his tongue in between his own lips to soften them. They were now facing each other, inches away. "Is this weird?" He whispered, not able to fixate on only one part of Will's face.
"No-no not weird, just surprised." Will was finally able to form a thought.
"Any questions?" Mike asked as he rubbed Will's ear with his thumb. He made circular motions, the sound soothing Will's nerves.
"What if I'm bad at it?" Will struggled to make eye contact. Nothing could fully soothe him from the embarrassment he was feeling.
"It's only practice," Mike already had his eyes closed as he leaned in more. "Just follow my lead." A breathy whisper left his lips once more.
Will now closed his eyes, not able to be so close to Mike's beauty without the little person in his brain hyperventilating. He tried controlling his breath, not waiting to breathe straight onto him, but also noticing Mike wasn't. Mike was breathing onto his lips and it felt almost intimate, their bottom lips slowly glided against one another making Will's breath finally break into Mike's. Mike slightly smiled as he let out another breath.
Will let Mike take the lead, he wanted whatever Mike was willing to give him. Their lips met, both of them stopped, both feeling the tension of the moment. Mike was the first to press gently into Will, the slight wet sound of the first kiss raised goosebumps all over his body.
It began so slow, Mike practically teasing him putting only slight pressure into each tender motion. Mike guided Will's hands to his face, deepening the kiss, their noses welcomely meeting each others cheeks.
Mike surrendered his lips for a moment, just to reconnect with an intense feeling of longing from both sides. Their breath now one feeling hot against each other, without parting, Mike climbed on top of Will as they both shifted their bodies melting into each others movements. Not even flinching at all their D&D work hitting the floor with a crash.
The kiss felt overwhelming, tasting each other as the room felt hot. Will finally not able to think about anything but how much more of Mike he wanted. His hands explored his back, making Mike press almost slight moans into his mouth. Mike glided his tongue over his bottom lip startling Will, but not letting himself part from him. They let the moment take them away, both of them realizing the connection they share in this small bedroom they've both been in numerous times.
A knock on the door brings them both back to Earth, still parting slowly as they tried to catch their breath staring at one another. "Yeah." Mike yelled still hovering over Will. He had locked the door prior.
"Breakfast is ready. I've been calling you!" Mrs. Wheeler called from outside of the door.
"Coming," He smiled looking back at Will. "Are sure there wasn't a girl in Lenora?" He teased, giving Will one last slow kiss, both of them almost unable to part again.
Mike shifted over to the edge of the bed. "Don't sneak into my room tonight, I'll come to you." He winked and unlocked the door, stepping into now what felt like a foreign land to Will.
All of the sudden he could finally breath again as the only thing that lingered was Mike's warmth. He grabbed Mike's pillow putting his face into it and rolled around in the bed, so happy he thought he could explode. Then he came to an abrupt halt as one person flashed in his head.
El.
Did they break up? They call each other almost every morning, did I miss a phone call?
He felt sick, reality set in that he might have had his first kiss, with his sister's boyfriend. Who he was also in love with and had been in love with his whole life.
Will picked at his breakfast, still not able to stomach the guilt he felt building. He kept hoping that they had a falling out and Mike would spill about it sooner or later.
Then his mind went to, it was only practice. Mike didn't actually like him, he was just being a good friend, right?
The sound of forks hitting plates and chewing were the only thing that filled the room. Mrs. Byers had already left for the day which only made Will think of El more. She's out there planning to save the world while he is swapping spit with her boyfriend - and worse - he loved every second of it.
Jonathan and Nancy were also gone, probably left for the radio station early today.
Mike's foot gliding past Will's broke him out of his thoughts. It startled him, hitting his knee on the wood underneath making the table shake. "Sorry." Will whispered now embarrassed making everyone left at the table stare at him.
"You okay sweetie? Do you want some cereal instead?" Mrs. Wheeler asked putting her napkin down.
"No, no," Will's voice was shaky, he cleared his throat. "I'm just not so hungry this morning."
Ted Wheeler now sending a slight chuckle into his coffee, it echoing off the mug.
Mr. Wheeler already seemed tired of the extra guests in his house. To him they were more like intruders. With the Byers home unlivable, they had no choice but you stay with someone. Mike and Nancy being the firsts to pitch the idea. Then of course Karen Wheeler being over the moon with people to occupy the space where her marriage lacked. She felt she had a purpose again, protecting.
"So Will," Mr. Wheeler put down his coffee more loudly than usual while Will braced for impact. "You've been sleeping in Mike's room." It sounded more like a statement.
Before Will could form a sentence Mike interjected. "Yeah we've been staying up creating our mockup campaigns."
Ted seemed to lose interest in the subject quickly, rolling his eyes to focus back on his breakfast. Mike's feet hugged Will's ankles under the table making them lock eyes again.
Mike winked, putting his glass of milk up to his lips. Will became nervous all over again looking away.
This wasn't the first time Mr. Wheeler had brought up them sleeping in the same room. One night Ted and Karen were still up in the kitchen while Will was making his way to Mike's room. Ted had asked if it was okay to let Will stay in their son's room alone. Karen being confused to the question asked why. The word queer left Ted's lips, making Will feel cold. He was quieter than usual in Mike's room that night.
The day went by slower than normal. Will couldn't tell if it was from the guilt he was feeling or this mystery meeting he was going to have with Mike later.
The school day was the worst. Dustin still picking at his food at lunch, barely talking. Lucas still going to the hospital after school to see Max.
He didn't have anything to occupy his mind - but Mike - and he acted as if everything was normal, like they didn't make out in his room that morning.
Will was now in bed staring at the basement ceiling. He checked the clock every minute on the dot.
11:05pm
11:06pm
11:07pm
He turned over to the side to see an empty couch where Jonathan had already left an hour ago. He wondered if Mike had forgotten or if he was only joking early this morning.
Will put his fingers up to touch his mouth. He wasn't dreaming, this morning happened. He could still feel the motion of Mike's lips on his.
Just as his thoughts tangled together he could hear faint footsteps coming down the stairs. Will pretended he was just waking up to the sound. He turned to see Mike now standing at the basement floor now.
"Hey." Will tried to act smooth, slowly taking the blankets off of his feet to stand.
"Hey," Mike had his backpack on one shoulder. He was wearing a beanie that made his curls less visible, with a coat and extra hat in his hand. "Ready to go?"
Will looked confused as Mike disappeared behind the stairs to grab things to stuff in his bag. He grabbed blankets, a flashlight and a pillow. The pillow not able to fit so the bag couldn't zip all the way towards the top.
"Where exactly are we going?" Will asked as Mike reemerged stuffing the pillow more into his bag.
"Mirkwood." Mike threw the jacket to Will.
The use of his old childhood road scared Will. He could feel his chest tightening.
"Mike you know my mom would kill me if i went back there."
"Come on the gates are sealed," Mike pointed at the jacket in Will's hands, motioning him to hurry up and put it on. "The military is protecting us right?"
"Even you say protecting in a laughing manner." Will tried to sound like he wasn't up for it. In reality he would go anywhere with Mike, but he still was skeptical. The suspense is what kept him drawn in, the kiss still on his lips.
"Listen, we will be fine," Mike walked up to him zipping up Will's jacket. "And no one will find out, we will be back before breakfast."
Mike now put the extra beanie he had brought onto Will's head. Will locked onto his eyes, swallowing hard as Mike fixed the position of it on his head. Mike leaned in, Will feeling there was another kiss coming braced for impact. Mike smiled as he opened the back door Will didn't realize he was close to.
"Come." Mike continued his smirk like he knew he was teasing Will with every close proximity movement.
The boys hopped onto their bikes and made their way to Will's old home. The night was colder than usual, half melted snow left on the sides of the road. Making Will bite the zipper of his jacket, pulling it up to keep his face warm.
Now that they were older the ride didn't take as long. A few short minutes, a few laughs and they were there. It was dark as they made their way down the Byers long driveway. It still felt the same as when the road earned it's name - a place of shadows, evil creatures, and fear - same road from one of their favorite childhood books.
He couldn't understand why this place, out of all of Hawkins, Mike wanted to come here.
Will slammed on breaks as Mike rode over the patch job the military did to the ground. They were at a point where the gates started, right over Mirkwood. The same gates that crossed all the way to town into each other. The massive steel plates drummed making his stomach churn. It was eerie being so close to them, let alone going over them. Felt like he was ringing Vecna's bell to finally come get him.
Mike, now on the other side dropped his bike, running to Will's side. "Are you okay?" Mike put his arm around him, placing his hand on Will's at the handle. Will could only nod, he hated how afraid he was. "I'm with you." Mike whispered still holding him.
They slowly started to roll forward. Will closed his eyes as the wheel touched the metal.
He didn't realize he wasn't breathing until a gust of air came out as he crossed what felt like a finish line. He couldn't help but smile as he looked at Mike.
"Thank you, I'm good." Will nodded fast, struggling to regain his composure.
With Will's shaky balance, they both managed to make it to the old Byers home. Will couldn't believe his eyes. A tree had fallen onto the home, destroying the kitchen and living room area. His mom told him about it but seeing it in person made him emotional. A house with so many memories - good and bad - looking uninhabitable.
The tree had fallen from the backside of the house, crashing through the kitchen all the way to the front door. Probably from the aftermath of the gates opening, shaking the ground unrooting hundreds of trees across Hawkins.
"Mike, why are we here?" Will looked in awe trying not to seem too emotional.
"I have a surprise," Mike rolled his bike up to the porch, placing it behind the branches from the dead old tree. He opened Will's old window, it sliding up perfectly. He threw in his bag first then hopped in like he had done it before. "Well come on." He let out his hand to held Will into the room.
Will climbed in slow, lifting his head to see his room. He was stunned. The fallen debris of the living room didn't break into Will's room from what he could see, Practically keeping his room untouched.
Mike was now lighting the room with battery powered lanterns in each corner. Now seeing there were posters on the wall with some of his old drawings and band posters. There was a mattress in the middle of the room with sheets already hugging them. An old desk with our D&D campaign we have been working on scattered over the wood. He must have brought it over before nightfall.
"Mike.. how? We didn't leave anything when we left."
"A lot of bike rides.. and Steve." Mike was embarrassed to say, he scratched the back of his head for comfort.
"You asked Steve?" Will laughed.
"Steve doesn't ask too many questions, perfect person," Mike laughed. "Don't ask me how I got the mattress in here, my back still feels that one."
Will looked at his small window and the full mattress, still wondering how he managed.
"I even cleaned up the place, I only had to patch up one wall," Mike showed his hands. Will now seeing the sloppy band aid job Mike had done on his palms from earlier. He had covered the patched up wall with a David Bowie poster. Which surprised Will - he didn't realize Mike liked him - or maybe he put it up for Will. "Think of it as an early Christmas present."
"You did this.. for me?" Will walked around the room taking in everything Mike had decorated with.
"Listen," Mike followed him, stepping lightly around the room. "This house feels special to me too," Will turned to face him after his admittance. "I wanted a place where the both of us could be ourselves, there is just too much going on at my- our house."
'Both of us could be ourselves' rung in Will's ears. Only Mike Wheeler could kiss you and still make you have a pit of doubt in your stomach.
"When did you do all of this? I feel like we have been so busy planning at the radio station, the crawls."
"Remember when I would leave the station early to hang out with El?" Mike was now unpacking his bag unable to make eye contact with Will. "I was doing this, only a little lie, I'm sorry."
El's name was once again making Will sick all over again.
"No, no, it's okay." Will was struggling to get his mind in order once more. He always felt guilty for having a crush on Mike, but now everything was boiling over with him still thinking of Mike's lesson this morning. "I love it."
Mike slightly smiled almost blushing, feeling his hard work had paid off.
"It's late tonight so let's get some sleep. I just couldn't keep it a secret anymore." Mike shut the window cutting off the chill from outside. He had already unpacked the two blankets and pillow. Only one pillow. Will wondered if he was supposed to grab one before leaving.
Mike started to undress in front of Will, making Will's face hot. He had only taken off his jacket and shirt still leaving a white under shirt, but he started to undo his belt making Will turn his head.
Will did the same. Taking off all the outer clothes - now realizing he was already wearing his bottom pajamas - he then crawled into the bed. Making sure to leave plenty of room for Mike.
"Sorry we have to share a pillow tonight." Mike said as he got under his blanket, Will seeing he kept his jeans on but threw his belt to the side.
"That's okay." Will was surprised, but also struggled to keep the smile forming on his face.
Mike put the pillow in the middle and opened his blanket for Will to get it, Will hesitated.
"I won't bite and it's cold tonight," Mike grabbed the other blanket putting it over his, doubling it for the warmth. Will turned the other way putting his head on the pillow as Mike shifted behind him. Mike placed his hand on Will's waist. "Is this okay?" Mike asked, he had felt Will's body stiffen.
Will could only nod, his mind was only focused on Mike's hand. How close they were together.
Mike slowly moving his leg in between Will's. "How about this?" Mike whispers in a low tone, making Will have goosebumps raise.
"Yes." Will whispers, wanting to feel his skin on Mike's. Clothing was the only thing keeping them apart now.
Minutes went by. Will felt warm under the blankets already, counting Mike's breaths as his chest hit is back.
"Are we going to talk about today?" Will was hoping Mike was still awake. He was trying to build the courage to speak for what felt like hours now.
Mike's hand crept up Will's shirt gliding his fingers on his chest. "Talk about what?" He whispered in his ear, making Will unstiffen his back muscles, just melting into his touch. Mike's fingertips made circles on his chest in a slow lazy motion.
"About.. about," Will couldn't find the words. Mike's hand continued to explore, now coming out of his collar grabbing Will's jaw, making him turn towards him.
"Sshh," Mike's lips met his, they were as tender as he remembered just a few hours before. Will's mind instantly went blank, he felt like he was floating from the bed. Mike breathed in deep from the kiss, parting shortly after. "Get some sleep." He breathed out, gliding his hand back down Will's shirt pulling them even closer together.
Will has slept in his room since childhood. This is where he admitted to himself that he likes boys, that he loved Mike Wheeler. Then here he was, in the same room, but this time it was molded by the boy he fell for.
Will couldn't help but feel selfish because part of him wasn't thinking about El.
How could he.