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“Let’s hope that this plan works– otherwise we’re all goners, “ says Nancy with a pensive glare. She clutches tightly onto her gun and begins leading the way.
As they’re walking, Mike can’t help but continue looking at Will with contemplation– as if he wants to say something but is holding back. He gulps and keeps a small distance between them. He doesn’t understand why he does it, but it works on instinct. Nothing about his glares seem nonsensical.
Will notices him and meets his eyes.
What’s his problem? Will thinks to himself.
They reach the stairs of the colossal tower and look up– the group is too big and they must split into pairs.
Mike and Will end up together, as per usual.
Will scoffs and wants to say something so he can get paired with someone else, but his selfless and kindhearted side surfaces up and stops him.
Mike doesn’t seem fazed– he just looks dumbfounded.
They begin to climb the rusty stairs, careful of their every step. Can’t risk falling- that’d be a shame especially before the big battle.They reach a platform where they decide to take a short break.
Mike pulls his water bottle out and takes a swig before offering it to Will.
The air is eerily silent as the metal grate creaks beneath them.
Will snatches it from him and practically ignores him for a good few moments before deciding to say something about what happened at the Squawk.
Back then, he was looking at Mike while stammering over words he never knew he could utter:
I know he’s not like me. He was just a crush.
He had hope still- hope that Mike would piece it together and acknowledge Will’s strong, undeniable feelings for him. It was never a fucking crush, he just said it because he felt the need to downplay his love for Mike.
He wants to know, he wants full closure.
Mike never makes his emotions clear- his looks can’t be analyzed. The only way to know for sure is to ask him.
“So.. about the Squawk. Do you think we could still be friends?” it’s a subtle way of putting it, but Will desperately wants to know if Mike clocked it.
Mike looks back at him. He looks like a kid trying to decide what colour the sun should be.
“Friends? No thanks,” he says without hesitation. He looks proud of saying this- like it’s the smartest thing he could think of. Totally not cruel after Will has made it crystal clear that he still harbours feelings for him.
The pause seems to last forever. Will’s heart races, nearly bursting open.
Does he like me back or something?
“ We're Bestfriends!” Mike’s bitchass finally exclaims.
Will immediately frowns; Did he just bait the hell out of me?
His hands grip tightly onto the platform’s railing, he looks intently at Mike.
“Are you serious, Micheal?!”
Mike’s expression goes from looking satisfied to appearing confused. His eyebrows scrunch up as he bluntly says, “ Will, what’s wrong? We’re BEST FRIENDS aren’t we?”
Will scoffs as he fights the urge to spit in his face. Maybe that’ll knock some sense into him.
“Yea Mike, that’s been established since we were fucking FIVE. I literally came out to you and everyone else a couple of hours ago– you know that I was talking about you and this is the stupidest shit I’ve ever heard from you. Do you think I was joking?”
Will fights his tears back.
Mike adjusts his beanie( maybe he should adjust his brain while he’s at it) and responds in his ‘Will voice’.
“Oh right, yea I’m sorry I was being a total idiot.”
Instead of cracking up like he usually does, Will nods his head abruptly in agreement. “Yea Mike, you are a goddamn idiot. Instead of making your feelings clear you keep circling the table with no clear landing.”
He lets out a deep breath and continues, “ You know what? I’ve had enough of this bullshit Micheal. For 10 years, I’ve been hinting at you. Spending countless hours painting for you, shutting down my love for you and Eleven?- hell you still can’t say three simple words to her. I don’t give a rat’s ass if you're a repressed queer- I’m not tolerating this nonsense anymore.”
Before Mike has the opportunity to react and take in Will’s words, Will starts walking towards him. Careful, but also with desperacy.
He lunges at him and knocks him over. Mike stumbles and attempts to grasp onto any piece of surface to steady himself- but ultimately fails. Just like he failed at understanding Will.
Mike somehow manages to hold the edge of the platform, his palms turning red from the pressure. “Will! Don’t do this please. We’re supposed to go crazy together, remember?!”
Will breaks into a fit of laughter and says, “ You’re the only crazy one here- don’t drag me into this.” before kicking him off.
Mike falls to his demise and attempts to scream a bit too late. He can’t even react in a life or death situation properly.
Will makes his way up the tower and in a short time, meets everyone else there. They wonder where Mike is, and Will tells them he tripped over and fell.
They all look down as Will directs them.
“Damn that’s a tragic ass fall,” Steve mutters before they continue on with their mission– without Mike’s useless ass hanging behind.