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It was early when Will walked into the Sqauwk’s small kitchen. He grabbed his own bowl from the cupboard, with so many people staying there now they all had assigned dishes, and started to pour himself some cereal before pausing. Folded at the bottom of the bowl was a small note.
Will reached in and unfolded it. Immediately he felt the blood rush to his face. He quickly glanced around to make sure no one had snuck into the kitchen without him noticing.
Looking closer he recognized the handwriting. A familiar pointy scrawl.
Mike.
This was the third note he had found tucked away where only he would find them.
I fell in love with you like climbing into a bathtub
which is to say I know nothing of slowness
-Maria Giesbrecht
Will smiled as he finally got his blush under control. Since getting together it was like they were kids again. Mike was never afraid to hug him or pull him down next to him on the couch or hold his hand as he dragged him wherever they were headed. He still struggled with verbalizing his feelings though, especially crowded as they all were in the radio station. Mike had started leaving these little notes with everything he wanted to say to Will.
Slowly, Will was getting used to them, but the initial rush of affection was as strong as ever. He didn’t think it would ever fade.
“Having some breakfast?” Will jumped as a voice came from the doorway. He looked over to see Mike leaning against the frame, smiling at him. Speak of the devil.
“Yeah, just some cereal,” Will said smiling back at him.
“Cool,” Mike said. He never acknowledged the notes, but he always seemed pleased that Will liked them. Will had never needed Mike to speak to know what he was saying.
“Cool,” said Will. He reached back up into the cupboard to grab Mike’s bowl, filling them both up with cereal and milk. Mike walked over to grab his bowl, resting his other hand on Will’s lower back for a moment.
“Thanks,” he said softly. He didn’t move his hand. Will leaned back into his hold, enjoying the comfort of a shared morning and the soft clinking of their spoons.
--
Sometimes the poems were longer, and sometimes they were shorter. Mike clearly had no shortage of material after all his time spent in the library.
A note slipped into his pocket,
As June runs into warm July
I think of little else but you
-Wendy Cope
Tucked into the lining of his pillow,
In my dreams I come home to you and
You come home to me and
Every hardship I have endured has meaning
-Wolfsena
One memorable time when Will had been full of doubt that they would ever succeed against Vecna, Mike had scribbled something down frantically and pressed the note into his hand.
What I feel for you beats words
It beats worlds
I promise
-Katherine Mansfield
Will loved all of them.
--
Occasionally Mike would leave longer notes, pages of thoughts left just for Will to see. Secrets and confessions they didn’t have time to address but that he still wanted Will to know.
Sometimes in the moments just the two of
us I feel the words coming up my throat
with that familiar nauseous urge
Pressing me to open up just enough but
the fear of disgusting you with the sick
inside of me just as I am with myself holds
me down and I take small sips of you like
water to settle my aching heart
Will carefully placed the last note in his shoebox with the rest, kept safe. He silently plodded back into the crowded bedroom. Mike was curled up on the far side of the bed waiting for him, Jonathan and Nancy already asleep in the makeshift bed a few feet away. Will gently climbed into the bed next to Mike, who immediately turned and cuddled up to him.
“Missed you,” he murmured, rubbing his nose against Will’s.
“Missed you too,” Will whispered back, wrapping an arm around Mike’s back to pull him in tighter. Mike hummed, relaxing into him.
“D’you find the note?” He asked sleepily. He was so cute. Will felt a brief surge of anger at the world that would dare try and hurt his boy.
“I’m glad you told me.” He brushed his lips over Mike’s forehead. “I love you.”
Mike hummed sleepily, grasping onto Will’s shirt to pull him impossibly closer.
“Love you too,” he said quietly. Will carded his hand through Mike’s hair. He was grateful his brother and Nancy were asleep. They’d been nothing but supportive when they found out, but Will would protect this soft sleepy Mike from any teasing no matter how friendly. Mike was his to tease.
“Tell me another?” Will asked. They should probably be sleeping but he wasn’t eager to end this moment.
Mike hummed again, thoughtfully. “I have a postcard mouth. All it ever says is wish you were here.”
Will's face grew hot again. His heart beat faster in his chest.
“Mike,” he whispered softly, unable to think of anything to say. Mike cracked his eyes open at Will’s uneven voice and smiled at his reaction. He leaned up on one arm, hovering inches away from Will.
“In the dream I don’t tell anyone, you put your head on my lap.” His voice is rough from the late hour. Will stares into his eyes like he’s never seen them before, hanging on to every word. Mike’s eyes gleam in the dark, teasing him. His breath is hot as he leans in to brush Will’s lips with his own.
“Would that my lips taste like honey,” he says into Will’s mouth. “So that yours would taste like mine.”
Will breaks, pulling Mike into him with a hand on the back of his neck, pressing their lips together firmly, trapping Mike’s words in their mouths.
Softly they pull away for air, breathing in each other as they settle back down against the pillow. Will holds Mike in his arms.
He wants to wake up with him forever.