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For most people birthdays were joyful. A day filled with celebration, life, growth and connection. For Will they carried more of an emotional weight. The day didn’t’ bring him excitement like it should. Instead it brought him a quiet sense of dread and sadness that was difficult to explain to others who only saw the day as something to celebrate.
Will’s birthday had always been tied to negative memories. It had been tied to his mother yelling down the receiver of their kitchen phone about how Lonnie was missing yet another birthday that he promised he would show up for.
It had been tied to the permanent mark that his twelfth birthday was the last birthday he spent feeling like a normal kid. Every year after that felt tainted by the fact that from a young age he was forced to grow up well beyond his years.
Most importantly his birthday was forever tied to that year in Lenora where everyone just seemed to ‘forget’ about Will’s birthday all together.
So to sum it up, Will hated his birthday. Mike knew this but still, every year he would try to give Will a gift to which he would simply shrug off, say ‘You didn’t have to’ before carrying on like it was any other day. But not this year. This year would be different.
This year it was Will’s twenty first birthday and Mike was going to do everything in his power to make it a birthday Will would never forget.
Mike knew that part of his plan involving Will’s birthday required him to come out before confessing his love for Will. He had planned for the two things to go together. The plan was as foul proof as it could be for an idiot like Mike Wheeler
Step 1: Give Will the best birthday ever.
Step 2: Come out and confess love by giving Will all his unsent letters as his last gift of the day.
Despite having the perfect plan his stupid mouth seemed to be one step ahead of him so instead he came out to Will earlier than he had planned to in the dim light of their kitchen after a drunken night out at the local college bar that Dustin somehow managed to sneak them into a few weeks before Will’s birthday.
_________
The hallway light flickers above Mike and Will as they stumble towards the door of their apartment, their laughter echoing off the walls a little too loudly for the hour. Mike fumbles with the keys, missing the lock twice before letting out a frustrated groan.
“Give it to me, you’re going to wake the whole building” Will giggles as he takes the set of keys from Mike, nudging him out the way.
“I live here. I’m allowed to be loud” Mike argues, his body going heavy as he leans against the wall.
“You’re not loud, you’re a liability” Will jokes as he swings the door open before entering their apartment.
Mike trips over his own feet slightly as he steps over the threshold which results in another giggle from Will. Mike jokingly glares at Will for laughing before kicking the door shut behind him. “Rude” He says but there is not a hint of anger in his words.
They drop into the apartment in pieces. Shoes kicked off by the door, jackets shrugged off and tossed messily onto the coat rack. The place is dimly lit by the glow of their kitchen light they left on before they headed out for the night. Their apartment is quieter than the bar, their ears still ringing slightly from the noise of the loud music and chatter amongst groups of college students.
Will heads for the kitchen, Mike following closely behind him. Mike leans against the counter as he watches Will grab two glasses from the cabinet before heading to the tap to fill them with water. Once they are both filled he hands one to Mike who happily accepts, downing half the glass in one big swig.
Why does this water taste so good?” Mike asks, staring at the glass of water like it’s liquid gold.
“Because you had like five drinks in the last hour we were at the bar” Will says, huffing out a laugh.
“Four” Mike corrects.
“Six actually. I was being nice” Will counters immediately.
Mike scoffs “Whatever” He says playfully. Will just smiles as he leans back against the counter beside Mike. There’s a beat where they just exist comfortably. A little drunk but still comfortable.
Will breaks the moment by nudging Mike with his arm. “So, are you going to tell me about your new boyfriend?” Will teases which results in a groan from Mike as he remembers how he got hit on at the bar by one of Max’s classmates.
Mike also remembers going along with it, flirting back drunkenly. He would be lying if he said he didn’t like attention from a male. It was a long time coming. Mike had first figured it out not long after Will came out that he also felt the same way about boys. About Will.
“Oh my god, don’t start” Mike says, dragging a hand down his face.
“What? He was very into you” Will says, unable to hide the grin creeping in. “Like ‘I’m gonna lean in way too close and laugh at everything you say’ into you” Will jokes.
“I am funny!” Mike shoots back.
“Oh come on. You’re not that funny” Will says with playfully roll of his eyes.
“He was drunk!” Mike laughs, shaking his head slightly. There’s a faint pink tint creeping into his cheeks that he knows has nothing to do with the alcohol.
“So were you” Will points out before continuing. “But at least you weren’t drunk flirting with people, so that’s a win” Will laughs.
Mike looks down at his glass for a moment before shrugging. “Maybe I was” Mike says almost too casually.
“Oh yeah? With who?” Will snickers, raising his eyebrow at Mike.
Mike doesn’t answer right away. His fingers tighten around the glass slightly as he thinks about whether he should tell Will the truth. His mouth decides before his brain has a chance to catch up. “With him” Mike says quietly as he drops his gaze to the floor.
Will blinks, caught a little off guard by Mike’s confession. “Oh” He says, the surprise clear in his voice. “Did you like it?” Will asks, his voice softer now.
Mike lets out a deep exhale through his noise as he looks up at Will, a look of nervousness breaking through the small crooked smile on his face. “Yeah…I did” Mike admits.
The room feels a little different now. The air shifting from something playful to more real. Mike watches as Will studies him for a moment, the teasing fading from his expression.
“Okay” Will says slowly. “That’s…new” He continues.
Mike nods faintly as he drops his gaze to the floor again. “Yeah” Mike says softly.
There’s a pause between them as Mike shifts his weight, debating whether he should keep going or drop it. The alcohol has lowered the wall he usually keeps up and once again his mouth decides his next move before his brain can.
“I-“ Mike starts, stopping again as he shakes his head in an attempt to clear the fog in his brain. Will doesn’t push, he just waits patiently for Mike to continue.
Mike lets out a deep exhale before speaking. “I’m gay” He says, looking up a Will. He can feel the nervousness on his face as he continues speaking. “I’ve known for a while. I just never said it out loud” Mike continues, his voice quieter than usual.
Will’s expression softens immediately as he shuffles closer to Mike in a way that says ‘I’m here for you. I support you’. Not that Mike ever doubted he wouldn’t but the gesture is still nice.
Mike gives a small self conscious laugh, trying to break the serious tension in the air. “And now I’m say it while I can barely stand up so great timing on my behalf” Mike jokes, running his hands through his hair.
Will huffs out a quiet laugh but his voice is still gentle when he speaks. “Hey, it still counts”. Mike nods. He needed to hear that.
“So yeah…I like boys” Mike says as he drops his gaze for a moment before looking back at Will again.
“That’s okay” Will says, his voice soft but certain as he gives Mike’s arm a reassuring squeeze.
Mike searches Will’s face for a second as he searches for any doubt. “Yeah?” Mike says.
Will gives Mike a small but warm smile. “Yeah” He says.
Another pause.
“I’m really glad you told me” Will says a moment later. Mike feels his shoulders loosen as he lets out a breath he didn’t realise he was holding, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Me too..even if I should of done it when I wasn’t like this” Mike jokes, gesturing to himself vaguely.
“Yeah I was going to say, this definitely feels like a conversation we’re going to have again when you’re sober” Will says, nudging Mike’s arm lightly.
Mike huffs out a laugh. “Yeah probably”.
“But-“ Will adds, a little more serious now. “You don’t have to take it back or redo it. You said it. That’s all that matters” Will says. Mike just nods in response, his mind feeling foggy from the weight of the conversation and the effects of all his drinks catching up to him. There’s a quiet beat between them again. It feels heavier but in a good way.
Will bumping his shoulder into Mike’s eases the moment just enough. “Still…I wish you could walk in a straight line right now. It would have made this slightly more cinematic” Will teases, a smirk appearing on his face.
Mike laughs, breaking the last bit of tension. “I can walk in a straight line!” Mike defends jokingly.
Will scrunches up his face playfully before speaking “You tried to unlock the door with the wrong key for thirty seconds” Will says, biting back a smile.
“It looked right” Mike insists, a grin plastered across his face.
Will shakes his head as he pushes off the counter. “Come on. Let’s get you to bed before you fall down” Will says, grabbing a hold of Mike’s arm gently.
Mike lets out a dramatic sigh as he lets himself be guided to his room “You’re bossy” He says.
“You love it” Will says, glancing over at Mike.
“Yeah..I do” Mike says, something warm and unguarded still painted across his face. Will rolls his eyes but doesn’t hide the softness in his expression as he pushes open Mike’s bedroom door.
Mike was mortified the next day when he learned about his drunken confession but the warmth in Will’s eyes as he reassured Mike he was still glad he told him made Mike realise that this still didn’t change anything he had planned, if anything it made it easier as he was one step closer to confessing to Will how much he loved him while also giving him the best birthday ever.
__________
Fast forward a few weeks later to the morning of Will’s twenty first birthday. Mike is standing in front of the stove in an old T-shirt and mismatched socks, flipping a pancake with more confidence than skill, barely catching it before it folds in on itself. The counter behind him was covered in the evidence of his effort. A bowl with streaks of batter, eggshells cracked unevenly in half, a slightly lopsided stack of already-cooked pancakes. There was even fruit cut up somewhat unevenly, arranged in what was clearly meant to be something decorative but had ended up looking more abstract than intentional.
Mike heard the faint shuffle down the hall indicating Will was awake. Mike quickly grabbed a plate, filling it was a stack of pancakes, eggs and fruit before grabbing the syrup. He headed over to the table and placed the plate down along with the syrup just as Will appeared in the doorway, his hair still a mess and eyes half-lidded with sleep. Mike watched as Will blinked, taking in the scene in front of him.
“What are you doing?” Will asked, his voice still rough with sleep.
Mike straightened immediately, trying to look casual (and failing) as he gave Will a crooked smile. “Nothing. Just..uh…making breakfast” He said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Will leaned against the doorframe, arms loosely crossed. His gaze drifted over towards the counter, then the stove and then eventually over to the carefully arranged plate Mike had placed on the table, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“You hate cooking,” Will said, raising his eyebrow slightly.
“First of all, rude. Second of all, today is an exception.” Mike said.
“Why?” Will asked as he stepped into the kitchen.
Mike stared at Will like he had grown two heads.. “Are you serious right now?” Mike asked.
Will shrugged, glancing at the pancakes again. “It’s just breakfast.” He said casually.
“It is not just breakfast. It is birthday breakfast.” Mike said, trying to place emphasis on the importance of today.
Will’s expression softened slightly as he looked away, scratching the back of his neck. “You didn’t have to do all this.” Will said quietly.
“I know I didn’t have to but I wanted to.” Mike said quickly, not an ounce of hesitation in his voice.
Will let out a small breath, walking closer. “Mike, it’s really not a big deal. It’s just another day.” Will said softly.
Mike’s face fell for half a second before he caught himself, shaking his head instead. “No. Nope. Absolutely not.” Mike said firmly causing Will to raise an eyebrow. “Twenty one is not just another day. It’s a milestone. It’s a big deal. You only turn twenty-one once.” Mike continued.
Will gave a quiet huff, almost a laugh. “You know I’ve never really cared about birthdays.” Will said in a matter of fact of tone.
“Yeah well, that’s about to change.” Mike said crossing his arms, mirroring Will’s earlier stance.
Will looked at Mike, something warm and almost amused in his eyes. “You’re serious?” He asked.
“Completely. I have a whole day planned.” Mike said.
Will’s eyebrows lifted in surprise “A whole day?” He asked.
Mike knew he immediately looked a little too please with himself but he didn’t care. “A whole day” He repeated.
Will shook his head slightly but he couldn’t hide the smile that was tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You’re ridiculous” He joked.
Mike simply gave Will a soft smile before crossing the room to take Will’s hand and lead him to the table. “And you…are eating your birthday pancakes” Mike said as he gently pushed Will to sit down at the table.
Will hesitated for just a second before picking up the fork. “They look good” Will said.
“They are good” Mike said with a cheesy grin. Mike watched carefully as Will took a bite of the pancakes almost like his life depended on Will’s reaction.
“So they’re a little burnt” Will said, fighting back a smile.
“Oh come on” Mike groaned.
“But-“ Will paused for a moment. “They’re good” Will said, looking up at Mike, a genuine smile making his way across his face.
Mike let out a long exhale as relief washed over him “I’ll take it”
Will took another bite as a comfortable silence fell over the apartment, the morning light shifting in a soft golden colour. “Thank you Mike” Will said softly as he finished his mouthful.
“Don’t thank me yet. We’re just getting started” Mike said, laughing softly as he walked back towards the kitchen, getting a head start on cleaning up the mess he made as Will finished his breakfast.
The rest of the morning falls into their usual routine. They clean up and then get ready for the day before they sit on the couch with a cup of coffee, watching dumb cartoon reruns while they chat about their upcoming college schedules. For a moment it feels like any other day. It feels normal. Domestic even. However Mike wants it to feel like anything but another day. After all it’s Will’s birthday. It’s Will’s day.
Mike wastes no time with showering Will with gifts. A new sketchbook. A framed photo of them and lastly a mixtape titled ’21 songs for 21 years’. Will happily accepts the gifts but like every other year he makes sure to tell Mike he shouldn’t have. Mike shushes Will, pulling him into a tight hug as he tells him that his birthday is always important. The quite moment soon turns into Mike convincing Will to leave the apartment, making sure to remind him that he still has a whole day planned of activities.
“Come on. We’re not spending your entire birthday on the couch” Mike says, already halfway into his jacket.
Will lingers by the couch as he pulls his shoes on slowly. “Sounds like a great day to me” Will mutters which results in an eye roll from Mike.
“You say that now but in three hours you’ll be complaining you’re bored” Mike says as he grabs his keys.
“I don’t get bored!” Will says defensively but the smile on his face says otherwise.
“Yeah okay. Anyways we're going” Mike says as he opens the door. Will lets out a breath of annoyance but follows Mike out the door anyway.
The city is wide awake when they exit their apartment block. The noise of cars passing, people talking and the sound of a truck unloading boxes in the distance creates a loud contrast compared to the quiet of their apartment. The air is cool but has a warmth to it that makes it feel like it’s the beginning of spring.
“So..where are we going?” Will asks as he shoves his hands into his pockets.
“Nowhere” Mike says as he glances over at Will, trying to hide the smile on his face.
“You dragged me out here for nowhere?” Will snorts.
“Exactly. Spontaneity” Mike says.
“You hate being spontaneous!” Will jokes.
“I can be spontaneous” Mike says defensively. Will huffs out a quiet laugh as he shakes his head.
A few blocks later they pass a small café, the smell of baked goods and coffee drifting out onto the street. Mike watches as Will slows down slightly, glancing at the café. Mike smirks to himself knowing this is Will’s favourite café.
“You want to stop?” Mike asks. Will hesitates for a moment before shrugging his shoulders.
“We don’t have to” Will says although Mike knows he wants to but is too polite to say yes.
“We’re stopping” Mike says as he heads for the door of the café, holding it open so Will can step inside.
A few minutes later they’re back outside with baked goods in their hands. Will takes a bite of his danish before looking over at Mike. “Okay this was worth it” He says as he swallow, nodding his head in satisfaction at the taste of the danish.
“I know” Mike says confidently which causes Will to shove his arm playfully.
The pair of them continue walking, taking turns randomly except the turns aren’t that random. Mike has one destination in mind but he plays it off when Will questions him. “Just walk” He tells him, trying to hide the smile on his face as they slowly reach the area of their destination.
The pair of them keep walking as they weave through the busier streets. The buildings get taller, the sidewalks become more crowded as more life presses around them. Mike watches as Will slows before coming to a stop, the look on his face showing that he recognises the area. His gaze takes in the area once again before he looks back at Mike.
“No…” He says catching on.
“What?” Mike says, trying to keep his expression neutral, almost failing for a moment but holding his ground.
“You’re taking me to the gallery!” Will says, his eyes lighting up.
Mike exhales, a small smile breaking through. “They might have that exhibit on that you really wanted to go see”
Will shakes his head, his expression a lot softer as he begins walking again. “You remembered” Will says quietly.
“Of course I remembered” Mike says in way that it was never even a question that he remembered.
They keep walking, the city noise filling the silence between them. Will glances at Mike before speaking
“You didn’t have to plan all of this” He says softly.
Mike shrugs his shoulders like its nothing “I wanted to” Mike says which causes a small smile to appear on Will’s face as they walk up the steps to the gallery.
Inside the gallery is quieter than the street outside, the air is also cooler. Will slows immediately after they walk in. Mike notices the shift in Will right away. His shoulders relax, his breathing slows and his eyes glaze over with admiration as he takes in the different pieces.
Mike hangs back, letting Will take the head. They move through the space slowly, taking their time as they move from piece to piece, stopping when Will wants to stop, talking when it feels right, staying quiet when it doesn’t.
Mike watches as Will enjoys himself, his eyes lighting up each time he explains the different concepts of each piece. Mike’s heart softens as he realises Will is enjoying himself.
On their way out Mike slows near the gift shop. “Do you want to check this out?” He asks, gesturing inside the room.
“Can we?” Will asks, excitement spreading across his face.
“Of course” Mike says with a smile.
The space is small but bright. The shelves are lined with different prints, postcards and books. Mike heads to the register of the gift shop, chatting to the employee about another surprise he had organised a few days ago while Will looks at the different displays, completely oblivious that Mike had disappeared.
Mike returns by Will’s side a moment later. “You going to get anything?” Mike asks.
“I don’t think so. We can go if you want” Will says with a soft smile as he heads towards the exit of the gift shop.
Mike watches as Will’s eyes drift toward a print that was now sitting on display at the counter. Will steps towards the print to look at it before his hand stills as he looks at the small ‘For Will’ tag attached to the print.
He turns back to Mike, a look of disbelief on his face. “Mike..” He says slowly.
Mike knew it was Will’s favourite painting. He had talked about it many times before but he could never justify spending the money on the print.
“You…you did this?” Will asks quietly.
Mike shifts his weight, suddenly very interested in a spot on the floor. “Maybe” He says casually.
Will lets out a breath before speaking “You had it set aside?” Will asks, still shocked.
Mike looks up, shrugging his shoulders. “I asked if they had prints. They said they could hold one. It’s no big deal” Mike says, trying to keep his cool but on the inside he’s filled with nervousness.
“But you remembered this one” Will says, his voice slightly softer now.
“You talked about it all the time” Mike says, trying for casual but failing. There’s a beat as Will glances back at the print before looking at Mike again.
“Happy birthday” Mike says quietly as he gives Will a soft smile.
“Best one I’ve ever had” Will says. Mike blinks, caught off guard by Will’s words.
“Really?” Mike says, the smile on his face growing.
“Yeah…Really” Will says, mirroring Mike’s smile.
“Well it’s only going to get better. Let’s go” Mike says with an excitement in his voice as he gestures towards the exit.
The rest of the afternoon flies by in a blur. Mike and Will head to their favourite lunch spot, a small diner that’s only a few blocks from the gallery. They both get burgers and fries accompanied with a chocolate milkshake. The lunch feels like a normal part of their routine. It makes the day feel normal again. Like it’s any other day. Mike knew that Will would need this to keep him grounded so he doesn’t feel overwhelmed by all the other things Mike has planned. They joke, relax and fall into their normal rhythm of being best friends.
Mike’s chest aches with the love he has for Will and hopes that if all things go well they won’t just be best friends once the day is over. Mike feels a little guilty that he plans to confess to Will on a day like today where he has gone above and beyond for Will but he soon realises he would do this on any normal day if Will had asked. He would probably still do it even if Will hadn’t asked. It’s just the kind of thing he did for Will.
After lunch Mike gives Will the option of picking an afternoon activity. He had a few things in mind but ultimately, he leaves the choice up to Will. Will settles on a trip to the local arcade. He admits that he wants to try and beat Mike in Pac Man to which Mike gives his arm a playful shove, saying “Don’t count on it” before they begin walking to the arcade.
Mike does in fact let Will beat him in Pac Man and several arcade games, but Mike doesn’t care. He’s already won. He’s given Will the best birthday he possibly could so far and the day isn’t even over yet.
Mike still has a few surprises up his sleeve for Will including his long-awaited love confession. After a few hours of being at the arcade Will asks if they can head home which Mike happily agrees to knowing there’s an even bigger surprise waiting for Will at their apartment.
The walk back to their apartment is a comfortable silence with the odd ‘Thank you for today’ or ‘I had a really nice time’ from Will. Mike happily accepts the thanks but can’t help but feel a little nervous as they slowly begin to reach the street to their apartment.
“You’re being weird” Will says after a while.
“What? No I’m not” Mike stammers which causes Will to laugh.
“See. Weird” Will points out.
“Shut up” Mike says playfully. Thankfully Will doesn’t push the subject any further.
By the time they get back to their apartment block the sun is beginning to set behind the buildings, painting the sky in shades of orange and soft pinks. The hallway outside their door is the kind of quiet that settles in at the end of a long day.
“Okay. I’ll admit it” Will says.
“Admit what?” Mike asks, glancing back at Will who is a step behind him as he reaches for his keys.
“Today was good, like really good” Will admits.
Mike pauses slightly to smile at Will before he turns back to the door. “Yeah?” He says.
Will shrugs slightly “I suppose” He jokes.
“Well it’s about to get better” Mike says quietly as he turns the key in the lock.
“Huh?” Will asks but Mike doesn’t respond. Instead he opens the door with a soft click, stepping inside their apartment.
“Surprise!” The sound of voices echo out into the hallway as Will stands frozen in the doorway, his eyes scanning the different faces inside their apartment. There’s the usual faces: El, Dustin, Max, Lucas, Joyce, Hopper, Jonathon but then there’s also several of Will’s friends from college.
“What?” Will says barely audibly.
“Happy birthday Will” Mike says with a soft smile as he holds the door open for Will.
“When did you?...How did you?...” Will blinks in disbelief as he steps into the apartment that’s filled with his friends and family, Mike shutting the door softly behind him.
“I’ve been planning this for weeks” Mike says casually but underneath there’s part of him that worries this might have been too much.
“You did this?” Will asks, his eyebrows raised in surprised.
“He had help” Max calls from across the room which causes the group to erupt in laughter. Will also lets out a quiet laugh as he shakes his head.
“You’re unbelievable” Will jokes.
“I’ve been told that” Mike says with a smile.
He watches as Will takes it all in. The decorations, the food, the people filling every corner of their apartment.
“I don’t even know what to say” Will admits.
“Try ‘Thank you’” Jonathon calls out which causes Will to roll his eyes playfully but the smile his clear on his face.
“Thank you” Will says causing the group to cheer happily.
Joyce is the first to step forward, pulling Will into a tight embrace. “Happy birthday Will” She says, her voice laced with her usual warmth.
Mike just smiles as he watches the party come to life, the apartment being filled with the comforting noise of all those Will holds closest to his heart. Mike lets Will be pulled into the centre of it all as he stands off to the side with the party, the five of them chatting happily amongst themselves.
Mike watches Will across the room who is laughing as he talks with Hopper. After a moment their eyes meet, Will gives him a soft smile that says ‘Thank you. I see what you did’. Mike returns the smile, his chest loosening at the sight of Will happy.
A few hours later the apartment returns to it’s usual quiet. The last of the guests have gone, the laughter that was echoing off the walls has faded and has now been replaced with the soft hum of the fridge and the low buzz of the city outside their window. There are half empty glasses and crumpled napkins covering their coffee table.
Mike tells Will to take a seat on the couch as he heads into the kitchen to retrieve Will’s cake, placing in a few candles before lighting them. Mike flicks off the lights as he enters the living room. “Don’t worry I’m not going to bless you with my amazing singing” Mike jokes as he sits beside Will on the couch which results in a soft laugh from Will.
Mike gently places the cake down on the coffee table. “Make a wish” Mike says with a smile. Will hesitates and for a second Mike thinks he might argue or try to brush it off but he doesn’t.
Instead, he closes his eyes and leans forward to blow out the candles. Smoke curls up into the air, the room now in darkness. “What you wish for?” Mike asks.
A beat of silence.
“Can’t tell you” Will says quietly.
Mike furrows his eyebrows at Will’s tone. He almost sounds upset. “Will what’s wrong?” Mike asks.
Another beat and then a sniffle.
Mike flicks on the lamp beside the couch to get a better look at Will. “Will” Mike says. Will blinks his eyes a few times but the tears that were threatening to spill over are obvious. Mike notices right away.
“Hey…what’s wrong?” Mike asks, his tone laced with concern as he reaches out to grab Will’s hand that was resting in his lap.
“Nothing” Will says with a forced smile but his voice cracks at the end.
“That nothing definitely means there’s something” Mike says, giving Will’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
“It’s just-“ He starts but then stops himself. Will lets out a deep exhale, the tension clear in his shoulders. “Today was perfect” Will says.
Mike’s eyebrows furrow again. “You say that like it’s a bad thing” Mike says confused.
“It’s not a bad thing” Will says quickly. Mike doesn’t speak. Instead he waits for Will to continue which he does a moment later
“You did all of this” He says, gesturing to leftovers of the party around them. “The whole day. You did that” Will explains.
“Yeah?” Mike says slowly.
“You made it feel like it mattered” Will continues, his voice quieter now. Mike frowns slightly at Will’s words.
“It does matter” Mike says firmly.
Will shakes his head in a small, frustrated motion, “That’s the thing. It feels like it matters. Like it means something…” Will trails off for a moment.
Another beat. Mike feels his body stiffen, afraid he’s overstepped.
“But tomorrow this will be over. Tomorrow everything goes back to normal and this means nothing more than you just being nice” Will says, his eyes welling up with tears again. Mikes chest tightens at the sight.
Silence fills the space. Mike drops Will’s hand so he can run it through his hair. This was it. This was the moment Mike had been building towards but still even now he’s hesitating. Mike pushes the thought down as he lets out a shaky exhale.
“Good thing I’m not done yet” Mike says as he stands from the couch.
“What?” Will asks as he glances up at Mike.
“Just..wait here” Mike says as he turns to exit the living room. He hurries down the hallway to his room, crossing over to his desk in 3 long strides. He opens the draw and grabs out the small worn down box that he has carried with him for years, except this time it was accompanied with a yellow ribbon tied into a neat bow.
Mike returns to the living room, stopping in front of Will. He suddenly feels a lot less sure of himself than he has all day. “I’m sorry that it took me so long to give these to you but I’m giving them to you now and I guess that’s all that matters” Mike says, his hands shaking slightly as he holds the box out to Will.
“What is it?” Will asks, slightly confused as he takes the box from Mike who has returned to his spot next to Will on the couch.
“Open it” Mike says, huffing out a nervous breath.
Mike watches nervously as Will opens the box. Inside is a stack of old envelops, some a little bent in the corners, all addressed to Will in Mike’s handwriting. Will pulls one out and tears it open. Mike’s leg bounces as he anxiously watches Will’s eyes dart over the paper, his eyes filling with tears as he reads the words Mike had wrote on the paper as a confused teenager.
It had been years since Mike had read those letters so he doesn’t remember the exact content but he knows each letter contains several confessions about Mike’s feelings for Will and how much he missed him while he was in Lenora. The one things Mike could remember is that each letter ends the same way. ‘Love Mike’
Will looks up from the letter, His eyes wide and filled with something fragile and disbelieving. “What is this?” Will asks, his voice soft as the tears threaten to spill over.
“They’re letters that I wrote to you when you were in Lenora.” Mike explains.
“You never sent these?” Will asks in a way that he knows the answer is obvious.
“No.” Mike says with a shake of his head.
“Why?” Will asks barely a second later.
Mike lets out a breath that feels like he’s been holding in for years. “Because I didn’t know how to say it without messing everything up, and I kept thinking I’d figure it out, or the right time would come, or… I don’t know. Something.” Mike admits.
He forces himself to keep going. “Then you came back and things were good and I didn’t want to ruin that so I just kept not saying it” Mike continues. He knows there’s no backing out now.
“Hearing you say that tomorrow this will mean nothing. I can’t do that anymore. It’s meant so much more than nothing to me for a long time Will. I’m sorry that it took me this long. I should’ve told you a long time ago” Mike says.
His heart is slamming against his rib cage at this point. His palms have gone clammy and he can’t help but notice how silent Will has been during this confession. There’s another beat before Mike speaks again.
“I just hope I haven’t missed my chance” Mike says softly, the words hanging heavy in the air as they settle into the silence between them. Will doesn’t speak at first. The clock on the wall ticks in a tormenting way, a constant reminder to Mike that the seconds are passing without a response from Will.
“Will…” Mike cracks first.
Will lets out a shaky breath, Mike’s voice clearly snapping him out of deep thought. “I thought you didn’t feel the same way. Back then when I left and even now. I figured if you did you would’ve said something” Will finally says, his voice uneven as he speaks.
“I tried to let go. I tried to move on. I tried to tell myself it wasn’t-“ He exhales, cutting himself off. “It didn’t work, because I never stopped” Will says, looking at Mike intently.
“Never stopped what?” Mike asks, the hope beginning to creep in. Mike watches as Will’s mouth twitches, the hesitation evident but eventually he speaks.
“I never stopped loving you” He admits quietly. The air between them shifts into something more real, more vulnerable. Mike closes the distance before he can overthink it. The kiss isn’t perfect. It’s a little hesitant on both sides but it’s also real. It’s the years of tension finally bubbling over.
Will’s lips are soft against Mike’s. They are laced with warmth and taste like something that is ultimately just Will. Mike feels Will’s hand grip the front of his shirt as he pulls him in closer, the kiss laced with a hunger that hasn’t been tamed for years. But underneath all that hunger is the love that the two of them share for each other.
When they finally pull away they only leave a gap that’s enough to catch their breath. Mike’s forehead rests against Will’s who still has his eyes closes, almost like he’s trying to hold onto the moment.
“I love you Will” Mike says, his voice is quiet but certain.
Will lets out a breath that almost turns into a laugh, clearly feeling overwhelmed. “Okay” He responds which results in a huff from Mike.
“I mean it” He affirms.
Will’s grip tightens on Mike’s shirt. “I love you too” Will says, his voice laced with warmth.
When Will finally opens his eyes Mike can’t help but notice the tears that have formed again. “Will please don’t cry. I meant it when I said I love you” Mike says softly, leaning back just enough to wipe the single tear that has trailed down Will’s face.
“These are happy tears Mike” Will laughs as more tears spill over the edges of his eyes.
“Promise?” Mike asks, kissing Will’s cheek.
“Promise” He says with a soft smile as the tears continue to flow freely.
Mike mirrors Will’s smile before kissing his other cheek. “You’re really pretty when you cry” Mike laughs which causes Will to scoff. “Whatever”.
Mike can’t’ help the smile that forms on his face as he looks at Will. “I love you Will Byers” Mike says kissing Will on the tip of his nose.
“You said that already” Will giggles.
“I know but I want to show you” Mike says pressing a peck to Will’s lips before moving to his cheek again.
Mike works his way around Will’s face, pressing soft kisses to his nose, his eye lids, his cheeks, his lips and his jaw. “Let me show you how much I love you” Mike whispers pressing a soft kiss to Will’s neck.
Mike hears Will’s breath hitch in his throat as he begins pressing soft kiss down the column of Will’s neck.
“Can I show you much I love you?” Mike asks as he presses a soft kiss below Will’s ear. “Yes” Will says under his breath, not a single sign of hesitation.
Mike presses one final kiss to Will’s lips before he stands up from the couch. Will goes to follow him but Mike holds out his hand. “Don’t” Mike says which causes Will to furrow his eyebrows.
Mike leans down to hook his arms underneath Will’s thighs, the other going around his back before he lifts Will from the couch, carrying him bridal style towards Mike’s room.
Will lets out a let squeak before laughing. “I can walk Mike” Will says with a smile.
“Absolutely not” Mike says, shaking his head which results in a playful eye roll from Will.
When they finally reach his bedroom Mike gently places Will on his bed before kicking the door shut behind him.
“Lay down” Mike says softly to which Will happily obliges, resting his head against the pillows.
Mike pulls off his shirt, throwing it on the floor before crawling onto the bed, hovering over Will as he beams down at him. “You’re so beautiful” Mike says, his voice barely above a whisper before he leans down to place a gentle kiss on Will’s lips.
Mike pulls away a second later as he hands fiddle with the bottom of Will’s shirt. “Can I?” Mike asks, Will nodding half a second later.
Will sits up slightly to help Mike get his shirt off before he lays back down again. Mike can’t help but stare at Will’s naked torso, his tan skin lined with some many freckles that they almost look like constellations.
“Mike you’re staring” Will says shyly, a pink tint making it’s way across Will’s cheeks.
“Sorry you’re just…wow” Mike says as he lets out a breath at the end, completely taken back by Will’s beauty. Mike leans down again to press open kisses along Will’s jawline before making his way down Will’s neck.
Mike stops at the spot between Will’s neck and collarbone, nibbling slightly. The action results in a gasp from Will, his fingers finding their way into Mike’s hair.
Mike continues working his way down Will’s body, going from his collarbone down the middle of his sternum before making his way across to one of Will’s nipples. He takes the bud into his mouth, sucking slightly before lapping his tongue over it.
“Mike” Will gasps, his fingers tugging at Mike’s curls. Mike just hums in response before making his way over to the other nipple, repeating the motion. However, this one seems to be way more sensitive as Will lets out a whimper. Mike can’t help but smile against the skin.
Mike continues placing gentle kisses down Will’s body, stopping right above the waistband of Will’s jeans. Mike looks up to find Will already looking at him, lips parted and cheeks flushed. “Can I?” Mike asks. Will nods quickly which results in a chuckle from Will.
Mike wastes no time unbuttoning Will’s jeans, dragging them down his legs in one swift motion before tossing them to the floor alongside their other discarded clothing. Mike’s eyes can’t help but drift over the bulge in Will’s boxers as he feels his own dick twitch in his jeans. Mike did that. Will is hard because of Mike.
Mike doesn’t allow himself to get distracted but instead continues to shower Will’s body in kisses. Mike works his way around Will’s thigh as Will turns into a panting mess above Mike, his hand still laced in Mike’s hair.
Mike begins to suck on a Will’s inner thigh, biting down gently before lapping his tongue over the red spot. Will moans in response and Mike almost dies on the spot at the sound that came out of Will.
“S-Sorry” Will stammers, clearly embarrassed by the noise he just made.
“Don’t be sorry baby. Let me hear you” Mike says softly before pressing a kiss to Will’s clothed bulge. Will gasps at the touch, his hips bucking up involuntarily. “Fuck Mike” He whispers. Mike can’t help but smirk at Will’s reaction.
Mike’s fingers find their way into the waistband of Will’s boxers before pulling them down his legs, Will’s cock breaking free of it’s restraint as it slaps against his stomach. Mike could drool at the sight of Will’s tip that’s red and leaking with precum. Who knew every part of Will was beautiful.
Mike wraps his hand Will’s length, using his thumb to spread the precum across Will’s sensitive tip. “Mike” He moans, his hips bucking up again. Just as Mike is about lower his mouth onto Will’s cock he feels Will gently grabbed his shoulder causing Mike to look up, his eyes filling with concern. “Wait Mike..you don’t have to. I mean have you even-“ Will says in between pants. “Will I really don’t want to talk about other men right now” Mike jokes, Will’s dick still in his hands. “But have you?” Will asks softly, his eyes filling with concern.
The answer was yes. Mike had been with a guy. It was right after he came out to Will, specifically with Max’s classmate he had flirted with at the bar. Will was out of town for the weekend and Mike wanted to make sure he 100% liked boys, even though deep down he knew he just wanted to practice so he wasn’t a total inexperienced loser in case him and Will ever got this far.
However Mike didn’t want to think about that right now, his mind completely focused on making Will feel good so instead he didn’t respond. He simply just lowered his mouth to Will’s aching cock, his lips wrapping around it perfectly.
Mike begun to lower his mouth down Will’s shaft, his hand jerking what he couldn’t take. “Oh fuck” Will moaned in response, his hand tugging at Mike’s curls again. The pull was a bit tighter than the last and Mike couldn’t help but moan in response, the vibration making Will gasp. Okay so Mike likes getting his hair pulled, sue the man.
Mike continued to bob his head as he hollowed his cheeks, creating a tight suction around Will’s cock as his tongue swirled around the head. “Mike I’m gonna…fuck” Will moaned, tugging Mike’s hair again, resulting in another moan from Mike, the vibration sending Will over the edge.
Will’s hips jerked up into Mike’s mouth as he filled Mike’s mouth with his cum, some of it spilling out the edges of Mike’s lips. Mike relaxed his throat as he swallowed it down while Will rode out his orgasm, his grip on Mike’s hair eventually loosening as he came down from his high.
Mike pulled off Will’s cock with a wet pop as he looked at the boy on the bed, a completely fucked out look on his face. “Good?” Mike asked as he crawled over Will, hovering just about his face.
“Great” Will said before wrapping his hand around the back of Mike’s neck before pulling him down into a kiss.
Mike felt Will’s tongue against his bottom lip, asking for entrance to which Mike happily accepted The kiss was filled with a different kind of hunger that wasn’t there earlier, something new taking over both of them. Lust
“Think you can go again?” Mike asked, smirking into the kiss, already knowing the answer.
“Please” Will said before pulling Mike closer if that was even possible.
“Pants off” Will mumbled into the kiss as his brought his hand from Mike’s neck down to the waistband of his jeans, his fingers fumbling with the button.
Mike pulled apart from the kiss to undo his jeans, quickly discarding them on the floor before reaching into his nightstand to grab out a bottle of lube. “Of course you have that ready to go” Will teased.
“Shut up” Mike mumbled as he felt the heat creep up his neck.
Suddenly Mike became shy over what he was about to do next which was ironic considering he just had Will’s cock in his mouth. “Can I um..Can I finger you? Or would you rather-“ Mike stammered but was cut off by Will.
“Please” Will said, his voice laced with something slightly needy. Mike popped the cap of the lube open before squirting some onto his fingers, rubbing them together to warm it up.
Will took this moment to bend his knees up to his chest, exposing his tight pink hole to Mike. Mike swallowed hard at the sight, his cock twitching again. It wasn’t until now he realised how painfully he hard he was. He needed to be inside Will as soon as possible.
Mike hovered over Will again as he brought his hand down in between Will’s legs, his finger beginning to rub small circles over the ring of muscle. Will gasped at the touch, throwing his head back slightly. Mike continued to tease Will’s entrance before he slowly pushed his finger instead, Will’s hole immediately swallowing the tip of Mike’s fingers.
“Fuck Will, you’re so tight” Mike moaned, his cock twitching again. Mike slowly pushed his finger in until he reached his bottom knuckle which resulted in a loud moan from Will.
“You’re fingers..are so long. Fuck” Will panted.
“Yeah baby?” Mike said as he begun to move his finger in and out of Will.
“Yes. Oh my god” Will whimpered as he grinded his ass down onto Mike’s finger which gave Mike to green light to add a second one.
By now Will was a whimpering mess as Mike’s fingers pistoned in and out Will’s ring of muscle, the sight alone making Mike want to come in his pants. Without even thinking Mike curled his fingers slightly, causing him to hit the small bump inside Will.
“Mike” He moaned loudly, his eyes rolling back in his head.
“Does that feel good?” Mike asked, curling his fingers again.
Will moaned again as Mike begun to move his fingers in a scissoring motion, stretching open his tight hole before adding a third. “Fuck Mike, gonna come” Will panted which caused Mike to slow down the movement of his fingers.
“Not yet baby, I haven’t even been inside you yet” Mike said softly as he slowly pulled his fingers out of Will, causing the boy to whimper at the loss of Mike’s fingers.
“Mike. Need you inside me. Please” Will said, grabbing onto Mike’s forearm desperately.
“I know baby. It’s okay” Mike said as he pulled his boxers off, his aching cock finally springing free as it hit his stomach. By now Mike’s tip was angry and red, the precum dripping down Mike’s shaft. Mike is surprised that he lasted this long without coming but he’s been so focused on making Will feel good that his own pleasure must of slipped from his mind.
“Mike please” Will begged.
“I got you baby. I got you” Mike whispered as he pressed a quick peck to Will’s lips before reaching over to grab the bottle of lube again, squirting probably way too much onto his dick but right now he didn’t care.
Mike hovered about Will, resting his weight on forearm that was placed next to Will’s head as used his other hand to line himself up with Will’s now stretched out hole. “Are you sure?” Mike asked as he looked down at Will who was looking up at him blissfully fucked out and doe eyed.
“Yes Mike. I’m sure” Will said with a soft smile. Mike pressed one final kiss to Will’s lips before he pushed his tip inside, instantly moaning as Will’s wall’s wrapped around him.
“Fuck Will, you’re still so tight” Mike said under his breath. Will whimpered at the feeling of Mike inside him, his hands immediately coming up to grip onto Mike’s shoulders.
Mike continued to slowly push inside Will until he bottomed out, pausing for a moment to make sure he didn’t come too soon. Mike brought his gaze back to Will, his heart swelling with how much he truly loved Will.
Even if the night didn’t end with them having sex Mike would still be so incredibly happy because he loved Will and Will loved him back. That is all that mattered to him right now.
“Mike you can move” Will whispered, snapping Mike out of his thoughts.
Mike slowly pulled his hips back before thrusted them forward again slowly. This wasn’t about sex. This was about love. He wanted to show Will how much he loved him. Mike’s thrusts were slow and deep, angling his hips just right to hit that spot inside Will every time.
Will whimpered at the feeling, his fingers digging into Mike’s shoulders hard enough that there would most definitely be bruises in the morning but Mike didn’t care.
Mike leaned closer to Will, still continuing to thrust deep inside him, as he brought their lips together in an opened mouth kiss. Will moaned into the kiss, the sound like music to Mike’s ears.
“I love you Will” Mike whispered into the kiss as he snapped his hips forward to hit Will’s prostate. “I love you Mike” Will said, his voice cracking at the end. Mike pulled back to notice tears spilling over Will’s eyes. Mike’s hips immediately haltered.
“Shit Will I’m sorry did I-“ Mike stammered but Will cut him off with a grind of his hips. “Happy tears. Keep going” Will said, pulling Mike down to kiss him again.
Mike wasted no time thrusting his hips, his pace slightly picking up as he felt the coil in his stomach begin to wind up. “You can go harder Mike” Will panted. That was all the permission Mike needed to let loose, desperately chasing his high while also aiming to get Will there at the same time.
Mike’s thrust picked up speed as he harshly snapped his hips forward to meet Will’s “Almost there Mike. Keep going” Will whimpered.
“Fuck Will. Me too” Mike moaned as he slammed his hips down harder, hitting that spot inside Will again.
“Mike. So close” Will moaned loudly, his finger nails clawing down Mike’s back. Mike reached his hand down to Will’s neglected cock as he began to jerk his hand up and down, matching the pace as Mike’s thrusts. He had one goal in mind. He needed Will to get there first.
“Mike, oh my god!” Will moaned again, throwing his head back against the pillows. “I got you baby. Come for me” Mike whispered as he continued to jerk Will off, his thrusts picking up speed as he felt his own release building.
Mike gave Will one final tug with a deep thrust of his hips, hitting that spot inside Will one last time, causing Will to moan loudly as he shot thick white ropes over himself and Mike’s hand. “Mike” He whimpered as his walls clamped around Mike, sending Mike over the edge with him
“Fuck, Will” He groaned as he felt his release spill inside Will, painting his insides white. Mike slowed down his thrusts as he rode out his orgasm, Will doing the same.
Mike collapsed on top of Will, his now softening dick still buried inside Will as they both came down from their high, their breathing heavy and their hearts racing. Once Mike had collected himself enough, he pulled out of Will, wincing slightly at the change before rolling onto the mattress beside him.
Mike immediately pulled Will into his side, his arms wrapping around Will’s shoulders as Will threw his arm across Mike’s stomach. Both of them were sticky and sweaty but neither of them cared. All they needed right now was each other.
The two of them stayed liked that for what felt like hours until Will finally broke the silence. “Guess I finally got my wish” He mumbled into Mike’s chest, pressing a gentle kiss to the warm skin.
“Huh?” Mike asked, looking down at Will, his eyebrows furrowing with confusion.
“My wish when I blew out my candles” Will said with a smile as he looked up at Mike.
“You wished for me?” Mike asked, his stomach doing a nervous flip.
“I always wished for you. Every year” Will said, a pink tint creeping onto his cheeks again.
Mike’s heart softened and broke all at once as he thought about Will in front of a birthday cake every year wishing for Mike. Mike let out a deep exhale as he swallowed down the tears that were threatening to fill his eyes.
“Happy birthday Will” He said softly before leaning down to press a tender kiss to Will’s lips.
“Like I said...best birthday I’ve ever had” Will said as he nuzzled his face into Mike’s chest.