Archive of Our Own

The morning sun dragged itself across Will’s body and the warm one who was passed out next to him. He looked over at the pale back that was exposed to the air, and reached out gently to trace a beauty mark on his back. Slow and steady fingers pressed gently into the body’s skin, shaping to the finger presses of Will. The once hidden face, groggily peered over at Will with a tired yet content look. The figure's face was pale like the rest of him, and he had curly black hair that sat across his forehead in such a perfect way, and his nose had a straight bridge. One that Will found to be perfect whenever he dipped his face into Will’s neck after a long night.

That was Will’s boyfriend of about five months, Cory.

Will had taken in rather slowly, stepping into the world. His world. The first boyfriend he had met outside of Hawkins was at a bar. Odd place for Will to step out of his comfort zone, but he thought if maybe he did it all at once, the harder stuff would come first, followed by the easier. It did, because he was then dumped three months later after too many drinks bought and not enough love received. Will really should’ve been heartbroken. His first boyfriend dumped him.

Yet, they hadn’t really done anything, at least in Will’s eyes. They kissed and held hands behind closed doors. They talked about their likes and dislikes, but Will had never really shown him who he really was – had never told him about the Upside Down, because how could you? How do you tell anyone about that?

Will eventually settled and decided it was probably for the best. He ultimately decided to pursue the one talent that brought him joy. Art. He had saved up money after that time around 1989. After a while, he applied to an art college in Chicago in 1992. SAIC was perfect in his mind. His art skills had been put to the test, and ultimately, it was lovely, so much so that he met this guy, Cory. In his first year, they were friends. Yet as time went on, Robin’s words from all those years ago echoed in his mind. The snowball that became an avalanche. So sometime in his second year, he decided to go for it. He was right ultimately, and it was the most joyous feeling.

It was all so lovely and fine.

On this morning, though, Cory indulged in the extra affection Will seemed to give him in their shared dorm room. Yet, it was all a cover for what Will was hiding. Okay, maybe hiding was too much of a word, but Will was definitely not telling Cory how he was feeling.

Early on the evening before, Will had gotten a phone call from Max inviting him over for a Party get together. The Party would all be there.

“And Mike?” Will asked.

Mike hadn’t been to any of them; he had his head stuck in a typewriter and was working on processing his grief. By now, though, it had been 7 years since that day. Mike and Will had kept in touch, but with busy schedules, it was rare that they had time for anything other than small talk. From what he knew recently, Mike had sent his first draft over to some editors. Yet, that had been a couple of months ago.

“Yeah, he picked up the phone for once,” Max said, and Will could hear the eyeroll from over his Nokia. “He said he would make it. Said something about talking to a publisher, and he might be late.”

Perhaps in that moment, Will’s heart had beat a little faster. In pride and joy. But also the indescribable feeling of dread.

“That’s awesome!” He had replied with the energy of a little kid seeing their favorite superhero. “I should be there, just give me a time.”

Max did, and they proceeded to exchange small talk about some recent developments. Lucas and her had bought a new house together with a fenced-in backyard and porch. It had 3 rooms, two of which would be used as guest rooms for now, she said. It was nice to Will. They deserved it more than anyone.

However, they ultimately were forced back to life. When the call ended, the dread from earlier returned.

Will wanted to see everyone; there was no doubt about it. He missed The Party and the fun they had. Yet, Michael Wheeler always haunted the narrative.

He supposed it was so ironic that the storyteller would haunt his story. That Will would move away from him and still be haunted by him. Mike had said ‘best friends,’ and Will knew that he never really wanted to be just friends. Yet, just friends is what Michael Wheeler gave him, and it was what he had to sit with.

”He was just my Tammy.” That line often resurfaced late at night in his mind. It lingered. Will knew that when he had said it, he thought for sure that Mike was just his Tammy. He thought the feeling was just something passing. Yet, when they had briefly talked about it on the tower, Will’s heart had longed for him to say something else. To say that Will was wrong. Yet, he never did.

“Willll,” Cory’s voice had carried across the dorm and dragged him from his in-depth thoughts.

“Sorry,” Will chuckled. “I spaced out.” He dragged his hand across the back of his neck.

“Yeah? You were in another world there for a couple of minutes,” Cory got up and wandered over to him. He settled his hands on Will’s face and brought it up gently. “Are you alright?” Concern etched the contours of his face, and Will felt guilt tug at his gut.

“Yeah…yeah, I’m okay, Cory,…” He sighed and leaned into the bony fingers of his boyfriend, covered in charcoal. “Just tired…” A languid smile crossed his face.

“How about we sleep in your bed tonight?” Cory asked. His voice was soothing and soft. Gosh, how Cory read Will never failed to surprise him. It amazed Will that Cory always seemed to know what he needed.
But he’d never know Will. He’d never know about the Upside Down. He’d never understand why being intimate was so hard for him. He’d never understand why he woke up in cold sweat. He’d never get why Will took the showers after the cold sweat nightmares. It’s because the feeling of being cold and wet made him want to vomit. He’d never understand why November 6 was always this lingering date over Will’s head. Perhaps that gap in their relationship is what left room for the shame.

So all of that settled into this morning, and the gut-wrenching guilt pounded over Will again and again. Even as he leaned down to kiss his boyfriend good morning, it crept into his chest and up his neck.

Unfortunately, Michael Wheeler wasn’t someone you could forget.

Later that night, Will made the drive from Chicago to Hawkins. The feeling of his boyfriend’s lingering touch itched across his skin. He should be happy….so happy.

As he passed the newly installed ‘Welcome to Hawkins’ sign, he tried to breathe. It was so strange to return to Hawkins after being away for so long. He drove through the main town square and pulled into the Radio Shack lot, parking the car.

He stepped out and crossed the street to the middle of it all. The memorial that had been placed not far from the library didn’t look as pristine as it had when it was installed. He sat down on one of the benches and stared out into the town square. The population had certainly increased, and more people were coming to live in the once almost dead town. The curse of Hawkins, Indiana, did keep some people away. Most paid no mind. Yet, it still felt like someone was missing. Always did. Will had tried to believe that Mike had been right about El escaping, but no matter how well Mike wrote it, he never could.

Some days, Will felt guilty about it. He felt like he should’ve done more; stayed by her side more. He should have been a better brother and not tried to entangle himself with his sister’s boyfriend. It had been wrong, and Will often felt the mortification of it. He still felt it.

Will leaned back against the wood of the bench and stared at the library. He never really looked at it the same. He probably never would. He bent forward, rested his elbows on his knees, interlocked his fingers, and let his forehead fall against his knuckles.

God, he was an idiot.

After having sat there for a bit, he got up and tried to shake off the morbid feelings. He walked over to the memorial and placed his hand gently on it, as if it could bring him comfort and shake the grief buried in his soul.

Will turned, walked back to his car, and didn’t look back. He drove down the familiar streets of his childhood town and sighed. It was nostalgic; he passed the Henderson house, and fond memories bubbled up. He sighed and rolled past their house.

He pulled into the driveway of a house with a freshly SOLD sign out front. 3 cars were parked in the driveway. Lucas, Max, and Dustin. Will let out a sigh of relief. He didn’t have to deal with it yet. He put the car in park, turned off the ignition, and pocketed the keys.

There was a curved cement pathway to the front door of Max and Lucas’ shared house, and Will took it diligently with a fluttering feeling in his stomach. He pressed his finger over the doorbell and waited. There were loud sounds that could be heard inside before the front door was tugged open. He was greeted with the familiar faces of his two childhood best friends, Lucas and Dustin.

“BYERS!” They yelled in unison, and it was almost deja vu. Will laughed as he was pulled into the house by the pair and trapped in a tight group hug. He hugged them back with just as much enthusiasm.

When he pulled away, Max stood in the living room area with her arms crossed, but a smile on her lips.

“What don’t I get a hug?” She asked, being a smartass. Will laughed and made his way forward to her. They joined in an embrace, and Max pulled away, and kept her hands on his shoulders. “Guess what?”

Will tilted his head, curious. “What?”

Max pulled her hand back and held the back of it to his face. On her ring finger sat an engagement ring. “Surprise,” Max says smugly.

Will let out a gasp. “What? When?!” He took her hand gently to take a closer look. “Why didn't you tell me?!” He looked up at her with a look of feigned offense.

“Well, I did say surprise,” Max commented with sass. “It happened a couple of days ago.”

Will just shook his head and pulled her in for another hug. “This is awesome, you guys. Congrats.”

Lucas stood smug in the corner, with a look of ‘yeah, I did that’. “Pretty awesome ring, right?” He asked, wanting to be praised for his efforts.

“Dude, it's perfect. Must have cost more than half your bills,” Dustin remarked.

Lucas bit his teeth and nodded with wide eyes. Will and Max turned to one another and laughed.

They all settled down in the living room eventually after Max grabbed the beers and wine bottles.

Conversation flowed from topic to topic. From financial problems and politics to jobs and their plans, it settled on their love lives.

“So how are you and uh…what was his name…” Lucas scratched his head as his lack of good memory hit him. “Er Cody?” He said, unsure as he directed his gaze to Will.

Will let out a genuine laugh at Lucas and his awkwardness. “No…No, it's Cory,” he laughed between breaths and relaxed. “But we're good. We hit 6 months in 3 weeks,” Will smiled and took another drink.

Dustin spoke up. “So he treats you well and everything?” He tilted his head.

Will put the beer down on the coffee table and smiled. “Yeah, he actually..” He paused and leaned back into the couch. “He gets me in a way I never really thought….anyone else could do…again.” Will looked down at his hands

“You haven't told him anything?” Max asked, already knowing the answer.

A tired sigh slips from Will’s lips. “No…and how are you supposed to, you know? How do you even tell someone?” Will brought his head back against the couch. “He'll never get it…and he treats me so well…he just…” Will trailed off.

“He just what?” Lucas asked.

He's just not Mike.

“He just wasn't there,” He said instead. “He'll never really know me. I guess it just puts this invisible rift between us that I know is there, but he doesn't.” Will sighed.

“Yeah, I kinda get that,” Dustin piped up. “I'm sure it's got to be harder for you, considering you went through so much more than we all did. But to a degree, I get it.” Dustin tilted the bottle back and pulled it from his lips with a suck in of air. “Dating is hard when they ask the deeper questions and ask you to explain your childhood. ‘I chased interdimensional monsters and watched people I love get hurt and killed’. I'd look like a nutcase.” Dustin laughed.

Everyone else couldn't help but chuckle because, on the outside, that's really what they would sound like.

“Yeah, but other than that, everything is good, and Cory is great. He makes me feel like a new person. I guess that's what I was looking for, honestly. Getting away from Hawkins and separating myself.” Will pushed his palm out to the side as if to showcase the separation.

“I think I'd feel too lost going anywhere else,” Max commented. “The thought of going back to California is nice, y'know." She swirled her wine glass. “It used to be home. I've just found better here.” Her gaze crossed the room to lock with Lucas's.

Will can't help but smile. It was so nice to know they were happy. It was so obvious because you could see it in their eyes how much they loved each other. It's always been there, really, even at the snowball dance when they were young, and it was nothing but a silly middle school relationship. It had grown so mature. Will almost envied it.

A knock sounded through the newly bought home.

“Oh, did he finally show?” Dustin remarked with a playful smile.

“It's either that or the pizza I didn't order,” Max laughed.

Lucas was the one who got up and marched his way over to the door. The door swung open to reveal none other than Michael Wheeler.

Will’s heart jumped and took a simultaneous drop to his stomach. He had never regretted going somewhere so much in his life as he had right now.

Mike smiled and pulled Lucas in for a hug that was instantly returned. Dustin almost tripped on his way to get over to them and piled into the embrace.

Will, at some point, stood up and was now just standing in the living room.

When Mike's eyes met his, it was like he was 15 all over again. It was his birthday, and he stood waiting at the airport as Mike walked in with that hideous shade of yellow on.

Now he was wearing a brown denim jacket, with a simple black tee underneath, and his jeans for once didn't hug his bony legs so tightly.

Will swallowed whatever he was certain was going to come up.

Mike smiled at him, bright, happy, and Will wished he could've just disappeared. “Will!” Mike's voice made that thought more expressive.

So instead, Will grabbed the bottle of beer he had set down and chugged in a panic. Max's eyes widened and settled as she realized. Mike laughed, and Dustin joined, but Lucas only let out the laughter of someone who knew more.

“Jeez, Will. The adult world hit you that hard, huh?” Mike walked over and opened his arms.

And Will…oh, poor, poor William was done for. He tossed the empty bottle to the couch and let himself be engulfed in the lanky arms of Mike Wheeler.

It was like he was back home again. The scent of the all too familiar laundry detergent mixed with cologne. William Byers was so fucked.

The second Mike pulled away, he immediately mourned the touch more than he realized he ever missed it.

“Dude, you got taller,” Mike remarked. “Still not taller than me though.” The recognizable grin crossed his face, and Will still could see the younger version of the black-haired boy.

“I don't think anyone can be taller than you,” Will quipped back.

“Exactly because it just gives me room for more greatness,” Mike said and held his chin higher.

“More like more bullshit,” Max chided.

Mike just rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Mayfield.”

“Soon to be Sinclair, actually,” Max rebutted by standing up and almost stabbing Mike's eye out with the ring when she whipped her hand up.

“No way…I gotta deal with you forever now?” Mike asked, but the grin on his face showed the joy that was really there.

“Of course, what do I look like an idiot?” Lucas laughed as he swung himself around Max and wrapped his arms around her waist. A kiss to her head and then her face. “She'd have killed me if I put it off any longer.”

Max nodded, “Accurate.”

Mike chuckled. “I'm happy for you both, congrats.”

Lucas beamed more and kissed Max's head again.

“Thanks, Wheeler,” said Max.

Dustin then swung his arm around Mike's shoulder. “So, apart from that big news, we heard you talked to some publishers. Any updates?”

Mike's face lit up, “Yeah, actually! I actually just signed with them!”

Everyone's eyes widened.

“Dude, that's fantastic!” Lucas exclaimed.

“Guess you're not a complete loser now, huh?” Max teased.

“You know what this calls for?” Dustin asked with a look that meant shenanigans were about to ensue. “A celebratory drinking card game.”

“Oh, you are speaking my language!” Max pulled herself from Lucas's arms and moved towards the kitchen, where she kept her shot glasses. Lucas followed like the good fiancé he was.

Dustin moved to clear the dining room table and go raid the game cabinet.

That left Will and Mike in the living room.

Will sucked in a breath and looked up at Mike. He was already looking at Will.

“Uhm…good job by the way,” Will said. “You're a good storyteller, and I'm proud of you.”

Mike smiled. “Thank you…I uh… I put a lot of personal reflection into it. It took forever to actually get it done.”

“Yeah, well, don't get a big head if you become famous,” Will commented. “I might have to put you back in your place and remind you where you came from, Dungeon Master.”

“Yeah, well, it will be hard to forget when the book is based on where I came from, Will the Wise,” Mike shot back with equal playfulness.

“Wait, is it actually? Wait, what is the story plotline? Haven't you been trying to get this signed to a publisher forever now?” A rapid set of questions fell from Will’s mouth.

Mike laughed as the light lit up in his childhood best friend's eyes. “It follows the story of a paladin and his search for something he lost that he now believes is unattainable. And yes, I have. I've had so many editors work on it. And so many publishers turn it down.”

“Did you ever find out why?” Will asked curiously.

“Uh... no, not a clue,” Mike responded with a shake of his head. Yet, the way his eyebrows furrowed upwards told Will he was lying, that, and the tightness in his body language and voice.

“That’s gotta be a bummer,” Will said instead of pointing out the obvious. “I hope uh…I hope you get that all figured out.”

Mike nodded, his lips pressed together. “Yeah, yeah, me too, me too.” His eyes found their way to Will’s and locked there.

Will felt that feeling he had back in the summer of 1987 come bubbling back up. When he had stayed at the Wheelers’ House at the end of that suburban cul-de-sac. Will looked back at it often with a feeling of disdain. He hated that he had ever thought he had a chance with him. That he ever thought later on that the ‘signals’ were actually there.

What a stupid thing William Byers had hoped for.

“Hey lovebirds, c’mon,” Lucas called them over.

Both of them swiveled their heads to look at Lucas so fast it was like whiplash was imminent. Mike’s face had contorted as if he wanted to respond, but fell short. The other group of 3 had settled down at the dining room table, and Dustin was dealing the UNO cards. Max poured the shots into shot glasses and placed them around the round table.

Mike and Will awkwardly scooted away from one another and found themselves seated across from each other at the table.

The eye tag battle that had lasted over a decade resumed again, and Max, Dustin, and Lucas would fall victim to it once more.

“Alright, so, easy rules,” Dustin piped up as he finished dealing. He started to shuffle through the cards again. “Normal UNO, but every time you have to draw, or you have been skipped, you take a shot. Whoever comes out on top picks a person and can assign them several shots, no more than 4.” He lays the stockpile down in the middle of the table and flips the top card over. A blue 9. “Simple enough?”

“Stacking?” Will asked.

“Nahhh, I don’t want to get that deep in,” Lucas said.

The others nodded, and the game started.

Oh, and it was one heck of a game. Dustin was reaching drunk after the 3rd game, after pulling nearly 10 cards in a singular round before pulling another 7 his next turn. Max sat upon her throne of highest alcohol tolerance, and Lucas was basically snuggled up to her like a personal pet as her clingy, drunk fiancé.

Will was doing alright; he had his fair share of bars, so he was only a bit tipsy.

But Mike? Oh, Mike was a mess.

His ears were red and his face flushed with alcohol. He was ranting about his book. “It was hard to starrrttt. Like you guys call me this amazing storyteller, and it’s like damn now I gotta make something worth money,” He babbled and slurred. “So I thought, why not tell the story of a paladin losing his cleric to the world because he was a selfish, spineless coward.”

Will looked over at Mike with a confused look. Hadn’t he said the story was personal?

Mike looked up at Will with slow blinking eyes. “The paladin was never brave. Certainly not enough for a divinely powered cleric. Blinded by the stone of the mage,” Mike tilted his head. “But the cleric had chosen him at some point. Made the paladin believe he was brave,” Mike tripped over this sentence repeatedly.

He leaned back and downed another shot without breaking eye contact with Will. “Does Will the Wise still choose his paladin?” A look of jealousy crosses his face. “Or did he find a class that better complemented him?”

“Alright, that is enough for you, Wheeler.” Max snatched the bottle of alcohol and the shot glass from Mike.

“Hey! What the hell!?” Mike explained with drunken stupor.

“You are not doing this drunk,” Max snipped back.

Will was still looking at Mike with a confused look.

Mike was angered. “I'll do whatever I want, thank you. You never change, always telling everyone what to do.”

“Hey, don't talk about my soon-to-be wife like that, Wheeler,” Lucas squinted with what he thought was an intimidating look.

“Mike, what do you mean by another class?” Will asked, still hooked and confused. Why was Mike dragging his DnD character through this?

“What's his name? Cory?” Mike slurred and stood up to lean over the table. “Does he even have a class? Is he the heart now? Did you make him something to tell him that, too?” Mike frowned.

Will’s eyes widened. The painting…did he…did Michael Wheeler finally put that together?

“Mike, you're being ridiculous, man,” Dustin commented, looking done for.

“What Dustin said,” Lucas said as he snuggled into Max's arm more.

“Tch, whatever,” Mike scoffed and turned away from the table.

“Mike, where are you going?” Max snapped at him.

“Home,” he snipped back.

“No, you're not. You're gonna get a DUI, dumbass.”

“Fuck off!”

“No!”

“Wheeler,” Max warned.

“Mayfield,” Mike mocked back.

“Mike, stop it!” Will snapped. “You're staying here until tomorrow, we all are.”

Mike and Max's heads whipped to him. Max's face relaxed into a pleased look, and Mike looked even more fed up. “Whatever, I'm going to the back porch.”

The two watched as he stumbled through the house towards the back door.

Will sat down with a faraway look and poured a shot.

“Will…” Max said calmly.

“This is so fucked,” Will said and downed the shot before pouring another. “Why…why…why do this now?” He ran a hand through his hair. He sent back the next. He took a brief look at the bottle before deciding just to keep it open. He grabbed the neck of the bottle and tipped it back. “I need to call Cory…”

Dustin, Lucas, and Max all watched Will with slightly concerned faces as he drank straight from the bottle while dialing his boyfriend's number.

“Stupid painting…stupid Mike,” he muttered.

The cellular device rang a few times before it was picked up. “Mmm, who is this?” An unfamiliar male voice came through.

Will looked down at his phone, puzzled. He double checked that this was his boyfriend’s number. It was. “Who are you?”

“I’m uh…I’m Cory’s roommate.” The guy's voice stuttered over a bit.

“Baby, is that my phone? Who is it?” Cory’s voice was groggy and…strained.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Will’s voice was soft with disbelief. “The one night I leave and go back to my hometown…you decided to screw someone else…” Will doesn't even know what to say.

There’s a lot of shuffling noise from the other side. “Will-”

“What the hell…is actually wrong with you…” He muttered into the phone.

“Will, I didn't- We didn't-” Cory’s voice was guilt-ridden as he stumbled along.

“Whatever…this is bullshit…” Will said.

“Bullshit? You don't mean that, Will,” Cory remarked.

“It is…it's all bullshit,” Will said again and clicked the end call button. He tossed the phone lightly onto the table and looked up to meet the concerned eyes of Lucas.

“Guess Cody kinda sucked, huh?” Lucas asked with a slur and tilt of his head.

Will blinked a few times before he started to laugh softly. It eventually bubbled into a fit of giggles, and Dustin joined while Lucas followed soon after. He nursed the rum bottle to his chest.

He tried to push it away and push it down. The guilt that came with the joy. He should not be happy that he just ended that.

His brain slowly fogged over the situation as the liquor hit his system. He got up from the table and made his way to the hall that led to the back porch.

“Will?” Max called out to him from her spot at the table.

“Max?” Will turned his head to look at her as he was already halfway towards the hall.

“Where are you going, Byers?” Max raised a brow.

“To find my best friend,” Will smiled and giggled a bit.

“Are you sure? He's kinda drunk.” Max commented with a concerned face.

Will just shrugged. “I’m kinda drunk, and it could be worse. Goodbyeeee.” He smiled and waved as he walked down the hall towards the back door.

He opened up the slider door, and the cool night breeze hit him, sobering him up just a bit.

“Mikkee,” he called.

Mike looked up from his sulking spot on the porch, where he was leaning against the railing. “Will? What are you doing out here? I thought you were playing cards with the others?”

“Out of rum,” said Will simply, and closed the slider door behind him.

Mike nodded slowly. They stood there in the silence for a good moment.

“Listen, I'm sorry for being an ass…” Mike swallowed. “I was acting like a total idiot…”

Will chuckled and reached to pat Mike's shoulder, missing it a bit. “Can't be worse than the guy who just cheated on me.”

Mike's eyebrows shot up. Concerned? Happy? Upset? “Cory? Seriously? How do you know?”

“I called him after you came back here. Someone else answered the phone and…” Will sighed and looked up at the moon. “Pretty sure they slept together.”

Mike's jaw clenched as he listened to Will. “What an idiot,” was all that he uttered.

Will nodded. “Yeah…” he looked at Mike. In the eyes, where he never usually could keep his sight for long. A couple of beats passed. “Why'd you care so much?”

“What do you mean?” Mike asked as he shifted from one foot to another.

“You made a whole big deal about Cory earlier for no reason.” Will frowned.

Mike dragged his hand down his face. He was not getting out of this, sober or not. He looked back down at Will, meeting his eyes like he always did. “You- I- I didn't want someone else to be your heart…” he swallowed. “I don't- I don't want to find another cleric,” Mike sniffled. “We're supposed to be crazy together…and we're crazy…but we're certainly not together.” Mike's eyes were dilated, and Will was sure it was from the alcohol.

“Mike...” Will took a shaking step forward. “The painting did you…”

“It was never about her, was it? I mean, I- I knew it wasn't…Well, not knew- felt. You know I- I felt like- like it was never commissioned by her…It was never- it was never meant to be about her. It was never meant to be about her,” Mike stumbled, trying to explain his very scattered thoughts. “I don't ever want to lose you. I don't want to rip off the band-aid or whatever you said back when we were 15…because we've already started drifting and I hate it. I hate it.”

Will was in shock that Mike remembered that conversation, and had realized about the painting. Will couldn't believe it. Mike was well…Mike.

“The paladin, the quest he's on — the search for the unattainable — was his cleric… I lost my cleric… So I put you in that book…I wrote about us and the journey…and that's why I can't get it published,” Mike's eyes darted away from him with each pause.

Will's mind just imploded. “What- Mike,” he paused. “What does that have to do with it not getting published?” Tears that Will didn't even realize were there blurred his vision.

“Cuz the…the cleric was his…his lost lover…” Mike still couldn't keep his eyes on him. He was terrified. “I put your name on the dedication page…because I don't…I don't care if no one reads the book. I just want it published,” he blurted out the last bit. “You were always the quest. Even when we were younger, I was always looking for you.”

“But Mike, we're not…” tears shed down the face of poor William Byers. He prayed that this was not some sick joke.

Mike moved closer to him. “I don't want to only be near you on the pages of my book,” he swallowed. “I thought…I thought about it…for years after you said I was just your Tammy. Because I- I don't know who the fuck Tammy is, but I'm definitely not her. Definitely not her.”

Will laughed. “Mike…Mike is this…real or is it the alcohol?”

Mike's eyes darted down to Will’s lips. “Can't it be both? Drunk words are sober thoughts or something stupid like that? Liquid courage?”

Will's chest met Mike's. “You're a lot more honest when you're drunk…I'm scared…”

“I am too…I don't even know if anything I'm saying is making sense… Will I-” he paused. He stood there before his hands moved up to Will’s collar and hesitated. “Please…”

Will looked at Mike, his heart pounding away as he tried to remember how to breathe. He leaned in, and Mike met him before he could barely lean an inch forward.

Their noses fit perfectly beside one another. Mike's hands moved up Will’s neck at a slow pace, erupting goosebumps beneath his fingertips. Mike pressed his thumb into Will’s jawline and moved his face at a better angle.

Will's lips were soft, and they felt plush against Mike's. Will was melted on the inside, and the scent of his childhood best friend burned his nostrils. His lungs were filled with Mike and his cologne which smelled like a woodland forest. His hands had found purchase on the inside of Mike's jacket. The palms of his hands pressed against the smooth cotton of the black shirt.

Quiet noises came from both of them as Will moved to press Mike back against the railing. “Mike…” he uttered against the freckled boy's thin lips.

Mike only dropped one hand to wrap an arm around Will’s waist and tug him closer. “Please…don't run from me,” Mike begged with a ragged breath, still not pulling himself off Will.

“I won't…”

“Good…”

“Just promise me you won’t run either,” said Will.

Mike pulled away a bit more. “I'll make a Paladin's Sacred Oath to you,” his breath hit Will’s face. It felt warm to him compared the cool night air.

The stutter of Will’s heart could probably be felt through the fabric of his stripped shirt. The Sacred Oath in the game tied a paladin to a personal code of conduct, and it's where they got their divine power from. They could not lie or cheat. “Yeah?” His voice cracked.

“Yeah…I'll draw my divine power from this. From us. It’ll be an oath of… love,” Mike whispered the last word.

Will pulled back so he could get a good look at Mike. Will's eyes were glassy, and Mike immediately panicked.

“No, wait, I won't. I won't, I'm sorry! I don't-! WE don't have to!” Mike grabbed Will's face.

“Stop,” Will said, just before pulling him back in for another kiss.

Mike's erratically beating heart sped up more as he leaned into Will. His hands fell from the shorter one's face and once again found their way around his waist. He cherished every touch in that moment and prayed that the light of day would not bring him to be forgetful.

Mike pulled away this time. “If I don't remember this tomorrow you can hit me, okay? Then tell me. I'm…I'm scared I drank too much and won't remember.”

Will smiled softly. “You don't go drinking often enough.”

Mike frowned, and the puppy dog eyes flitted down to Will's face. “I do…occasionally…”

“Sure. Like what? Every 3 years?” Will teased him.

“No! I only do it every two months!” Mike blurted and then quickly shut his mouth. “Screw you,” he mumbled.

Laughter bubbled up from Will as he leaned back into Mike, pressing a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth. Mike was quick to return it with a lingering one to Will’s beauty mark.

It took forever for either of them to ever untangle themselves and go back inside. Mike stayed relying on Will to walk so he didn’t trip over the non existent bumps in the carpet.

“Hey Mayfieldddd,” he called in a sing song voice.

The two rounded the corner and Max was already looking that way with puzzled expression. “What do you want Wheeler?”

“You said you had a guest room when we were talking earlier, right?” Will tilted his head.

Max’s eyebrows raised up and a small smile crossed her lips. “Yeah, upstairs, first door on the right.”

Will nodded.

That night would go down with them stumbling up those stairs and passing out into the bed only after kicking their shoes off, but before they could take their shirts off. Yet, they would stay wrapped in each other’s warmth for the rest of the night.

Will would proceed to wake up the next morning to Mike poking him awake with his cold nose. He huffed. “What?”

He could feel the grin from Mike against his skin. “There’s the morning snappiness….your phone has been ringing non stop.”

Will’s eyes fluttered open and he lazily reached into the pocket of his pants to pull out the phone.

There were 10+ missed calls from Cory. He sighed and called him back.

“Will, baby, I’m sorry. Listen, nothing happened last night, okay? Please believe me, it was just a friend-” Will zoned out and yawned as Cory rambled on. “Cmon, say something please.”

Will glanced over at Mike, who wore a look of jealousy. “What do you want me to say?” He spoke into the phone speaker. He reached up to pull Mike’s face closer.

Mike happily leaned further in then Will had pulled him and pressed a kiss to his cheek, right next to the speaker. Cory paused his ramblings. “Will…Are you with someone?”

“Mhm,” his moved his hand up so his thumb could trace an astray freckle on Mike’s face.

“What the hell? You’re cheating on me?”

Will paused his movements. “If you still think we’re together I guess, since you seemed so interested in your other ‘baby’ last night. But if you still think we’re together then yeah. I am. But here I’ll make it clear now, we’re done, change dorms or I’ll file a stupid complaint or something.” Will was done.

Cory started to argue back and Will groaned before ending the call and flipping the phone shut.

“Damn, Byers, didn’t know you had it in you,” a kiss on his cheek.

“You talk too much in the morning,” Will grumbled and shoved his face away.

Mike only smiled, and settled himself back against Will.