Chapter Text
Have I ever told anyone Will is so ethereal and the most amazing person I’ve ever met? No, it's not something that usually comes up between best friends. Let alone some you’ve been friends with since kindergarten. I often think about stupid shit like his beautiful smile.maybe holding hands. From a young age till about second grade or so, holding hands, hugging and maybe friendly kisses on the cheek were normal to them. At least it was.
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2nd grade
“Hi Mikey!” Little Will exclaims, that stupid nickname, Mike had told him multiple times not to call him that. Will ran up to him and hugged him in front of Mike's house. Will was much shorter than him, so his head went to his chest. Mike was unsure of what to do so he awkwardly moved his arm to wrap around Will’s back, securely.
Today, Will’s mom dropped him off for a sleepover. Mike was unsure of why the sleepovers were always at his house and why he had sleepovers with him every weekend. But he wasn’t complaining, Will was his favorite person anyway. The longest Will ever stayed was 4 days on Good Friday weekend. “Hi, Will!” Mike greeted him, leading him inside the house and up to his bedroom.
He sat on his bed, patting the space next to him, offering Will to sit. Will followed, kicking off his old torn navy blue sneakers that were passed down from Jonathan. Mike stared down at the floor before speaking. “What do you wanna do?” Mike cautiously asked. Will looked up at him, with an almost saddened expression on his face. He seemed zoned out before Mike had spoken.
”Are you okay?” Mike asked, hesitantly taking Will’s soft cold hand. Will suddenly looked up, like he was snapped out of another trance. Will stuttered before the words came out, “I’m fine…” the words seeming smaller than he initially intended them to be.
Mike turned to Will and smiled, “Y’know…” he said, offering Will a tight squeeze on his hand, before opening his mouth to speak again. “You can always talk to me.” Mike whispered in his signature comforting voice, that always seemed intended for Will. Will slightly smiled and put his other hand on top of mike’s to cover it. Mike blushed at this sudden advance. “I know, that’s why you're my bestest friend.” Will whispered like it was some kind of secret, like if someone else was there to contradict him on that statement. “Not even Lucas?” Mike teased.
Will rolled his eyes at Mike’s comment. But then quickly softened his eyes. Will leaned closer than before saying “yes, more than Lucas.” It seemed like Will’s grin grew wider after that comment. “Be careful if Lucas heard that he would kill you” Mike continued to joke with him. And Mike awkwardly returned the grin.then Will let go of Mike’s hand and he suddenly laid his head on his shoulder. Even though Will was older than Mike, Will always saw him as his protector,of whatever was coming their way.
Mike slightly raised his arm over, reaching over to coax his hand through Will’s hair, but he noticed how Will abruptly flinched to that. Mike then without delay began to profusely apologize profusely to him, “oh geez!” Mike sputtered, “I’m so sorry Will! I didn’t mean to-“ he was cut off from his stuttering mess of an apology by Will placing a hand on his mouth.
“Mmph!” Mike mumblingly protested. “Mike.” Will warned in a very serious voice he’s never heard before. Mike stopped “it's fine, I-I…” Will takes a breath. “My father… hits me at home…so just warn me next time.” Will admits then shivers roll down his spine as he mentions his father.
Mike shuts up and looks at Will sadly. So that’s why Will always has some red marks on his cheeks and bruises on his body when he comes to school. “I’m just… gonna hug you, okay?” Mike tries to warn him. Will smiles and nods.
Even though it feels like he can’t breathe, it doesn’t matter to Will. “ I care a lot about you, Will, I can’t see you hurt,” Mike reassures. “Remember, I’ll always be here, if you need to talk,” Mike continued.
Will smiles and hugs Mike back. “Thanks..” Will mumbles against Mike's shoulder. Mike smiles then gently brings his hand up to Will’s hair and he begins to play with the soft brown strands. “That’s what friends are for? Best friends.” Mike smiles, “yes… best friends” Will smiles at the thought. Mike cups Will’s face and gives him a soft kiss on the cheek. Will is first startled by this, then he softly smiles.
“Well… now do you want to do something?” Mike shyly offers, just to get out of this awkward situation. “DnD?!” Will out of the blue excitedly adds, Will doesn’t usually get to play DnD at home, because of his dad, saying its too childish and he needs to do real man things. (Even though he is only 8).
“But what about Lucas?” Mike asked, then Will playfully smacks him on his shoulder. As a way to remind him of something crucial. “Y’know I don't get to play at home!” Will groans.
Mike pushes Will’s hands away. “Fine! No lucas!” Mike fakes annoyance, but that quickly fades when he sees Will’s excited eager smile. Mike stands up and holds out his hand for Will to take. “Are you ready, sir will?” Mike puts on this funny accent, which he could not place what it even was supposed to be (British or Australian?). Will takes Mike’s hand, “It’s actually Will the Wise, good sir.” Will tries to put on Mike's amazing accent, but he fails miserably.
Mike laughs a bit at Will’s poor attempt at his accent. Mike grabs onto Will’s hand as he rushes him down to his basement. They play about maybe 7 hours of DnD, mike’s pretty glad its the weekend. After their long DnD game they went up the stairs and noticed how everyone was asleep. As it was 1 am.
Will goes up the stairs quietly, while Mike basically runs up the stairs, very not careful to make a sound. Then as they get to Mike's bedroom, he almost slams the door shut. Mike goes to his dresser and throws him some clothes.
“Turn around.” Will commands, Mike turns around obeying the command and giving him some privacy. “But man! I’ve seen you make one once!” Mike groans, Will blushes red at this. “Yeah but you're the one who basically broke in without knocking!” Will shoots back, even if this happened in 1st grade.
“Well it’s my room!” Mike groans but is still turned around. Will just rolls his eyes and continues dressing. He finishes dressing and waits for Mike to get done. Once he does he lays down next to him in his bed, pulling the covers over the both of them.
Mike suddenly moves closer to Will and he protectively grabs him to move him closer and wraps his arms around Will. And they basically sit there embracing each other.
”Goodnight, Will.” Mike smiles and holds him tighter to him.
”Goodnight, Mike.” Will blushes