Chapter Text
(Did anyone notice that I’m changing perspective every chapter? No? I just really love writing mikes pov, as a writer writing a writer, I can make his entire thoughts be really poetic., if you couldn't tell him chapter is mikes pov, as was chapter 2, it goes back and fourth)
The sun poured in through the creaked curtains of the sqwk basement Station window, The world around the two boys did not exist. They did not bother with the not so subtle voices of Steve or Robin, they did not care for the soft whisper of Vickie’s voice. The only thing that mattered was their gentle embrace, wrapped up in each other's warmth on a couch that was far too small for two people laying down. Mike decided then and there, this is how he wanted to wake up every morning for the rest of his life, in the arms of William Byers, His long lasting best friend of 10 years. The boy with a crush on him. The boy that didn’t know just yet that his love was requited.
The hum of the radio station buzzed around them, Robin's words filled the upstairs, blended In with the sound of Steve messing around with the sound machine, Mike realized that the two were likely doing the morning broadcast. He Finally opened his eyes, light poured through, casting the brown haired boy in front of him in a perfect amber glow. It was perfect, Mike's hand was faster than his thoughts, brushing the hair out of Will's face. Perfect, the word rang in his head. He was asleep, Miles reminded himself. He would not remember, he would not know. Not until Mike was ready. Mike grazed Will's temple with a gentle kiss, his lips lingered there, wanting to savour any lasting reminisce of Him.
It was unexpected to Mike when Will's eyes fluttered open and gazed up at Mike, who was still leaning over him. Fear spread over Mike like a plague, but it was washed away quickly when Will raised a hand to gently hold Mike's face. They shared a look, something that both wished would last a lifetime. A lifetime of shared looks, quick hand grabs and simple smiles. Will's hand dropped down, a weakness clearly settling over his body, his lips turned upwards, into a small smile.
“You look pretty, so pretty” the words shocked Mike, it was the first time Will has spoken so clearly since he fell ill, the clearness in His voice was used to tell Mike that he was pretty, so pretty. Mike felt, for the first time, what the books always described as love, but he didn't feel it for a girl. No, he felt it for his best friend. His best friend that thought he was pretty.
“Your perfect” Mike Finally managed to choke out, rubbing his hand over Will's arm, a smile spread quickly over his face, he was unable to control it now. Maybe, he thought, it was okay to be a sinner, When that sin included William Byers in it. He was fine with hell, as long as he could hold Will's hand. Will didn’t know it yet, but Mike had already decided his future. It always had a space for Him. His eyes kept on Will’s face. That lit up like a star filled sky when Mike had uttered the word “perfect”, Mike wanted to see that scattered light in Will's eyes more often.
Drowned in amber light, Mike realized something. Something a younger him had already known, something he hadn’t considered to be true until he was standing face to face with it. Something he knew, but refused to confront. He was now laying beside it. He was Gay. Gay, and in love with his best friend. And he had been, for as long as he could remember, every memory with Will was tainted with a yellow glow, Mike had always assumed love would be red, or purple, like the girl he thought he was supposed to love. But it was yellow, like sunflowers reaching for the sky. Like perfect golden hours that dawned the earth in a perfect golden flame, love was a boy that would have painted his room every colour of the rainbow if he had the money for it. Love was as beautiful as the sky in the morning, as warm as the sun that lit the land up and warned his skin it was beautiful, easy and warm. It was purely and entirely William Byers. There was no hiding from it. From his truth, he couldn’t run any longer, he had to face it. For himself, for Will. He couldn’t stop his hand from gliding up Will's arm, laying gently on his shoulder, as their eyes met. an unspoken promise lingered on Mike's tongue, an alligator ready to snap its jaws, it gnawed at his heart, it was something he had to vocalize at one point or another. But not now, He knew Will was sick, he did not want his first proper Move on him, to be when Will was bed ridden. It had to be perfect, as perfect as the boy with the adorable bowl cut that was slowly drifting back into a sleep that was well deserved. Mike's hand lingered on Will's arm until he pulled himself from the couch and replaced the cold towel that was laid on Will's forehead the night prior. Again with a Soft Kiss pressed to the cloth, just in barely inches between their skin. A gentle thumb grazed Wills cheek, as nearly closed Eyes Met Mikes, it was something he wouldn’t bear to lose. Not this time, never again. Wills eyes closed, Mike watched, The mental ocean in his body twisted the ship he would call his heart, stunning, beautiful, gorgeous, perfect, precious, magnificent, Mike could have sworn there was no right word he could have used to describe the way Will looked when he was in a peaceful sleep.
Mike got up 30 minutes ago, he was riding his bike to a convenience store with a few bucks he got from Steve. His heart longed for the boy that was still bed ridden on a basement couch nearly 2 miles away from him now. Every store he reached was out of the medicine Vickie needed, the hospital wouldn’t give him any. Called him a junkie, told him to get lost. So now he rides, silently praying that he finds what he needs. He scrounged up nearly 20 extra bucks to buy Will some proper chicken soup, Mike had remembered that Will hadn’t eaten anything since the morning of yesterday. The rain stopped before either of the boys woke up, but everything was still slightly damp, but the sun shined through, coating everything in a warm gold flame that reminded Mike of every interaction with Will. One day, Mike thought to himself, He would write about this story, from his perspective. To tell every turn and twist in his own mind, leading up to the moment he finally said it. To say he was in love with the one that showed him what it meant to be loved. His best friend.
Pushing his bike up against the wall of the convenience store brick wall, he felt his fingers along the grout, Damp. He took a deep breath and dragged himself inside the store, pushing open the door with a thud. His thoughts raced inside his head, was Will okay back at the sqwk? Sure he was with Vickie, Steve.. Robin… but Mike's thoughts didn’t pause to consider the people that were obviously going to be caring for Will at the moment. The Store had a Distinct smell, medicine that had been in cold cabinets for far too long, stale chips and freshly mopped tile floor. It gave Mike a headache, with a hand through his hair, he pulled himself through the isles, shelves packed with items, each more useless to him than the last. He pulled up his Hood, laying low was required after their incident from the military only a few days ago. A target was still on their backs, he was Finally fully aware of the fact, the danger, it was that soldiers crawled everywhere in this god forsaken town, he would get out of here. He would take Will with him, maybe Lucas, Dustin, El, Holly. They would have their happy ending, but for now, he needed to buy medicine. He counted his money, 30 dollars, more than enough he hoped. He searched through the end isles, they had the medicine. He whispered as he searched, reading out loud always helped him comprehend things quicker.
“Tylenol… Advil… Arthritis Cream…. Hem- oh.” He laughed slightly as he pushed himself away from that side of the shelf, moving on.
“Cold and sinus medicine… is that it?” He pulls the bottle from the shelf and started to read the label further, Nope, he realized, placing the bottle back on the shelf, he rang a and finger along the metal plate collecting a few particles of dust, rubbing his thumb and finger together for a moment he brushed it off in his pants.
Searching the shelves again, he pulled two bottles off the shelf.
“Flu and cold…. Quick Cold Relief” with a hum of acceptance he decides this will do, he left that side of the store, finding the counter, looking in the little freezer right by it, they had it, chicken soup, no noodles. His luck had come early. One more reason for it to not run dry, one more reason to tell Him sooner. Mike pulled the frozen soup container out of the freezer, pushing all three items onto the counter, the cashier tossed him a glance. He didn’t return it. The cashier rang up the items. And with a tired voice she told the total. Mike didn’t mind the girl's voice, working right now would suck, especially after a storm, a lot of people were likely sick with a cold or the flu.
“9.45 dollars, kid.”
“Right, thanks.”
Mike pulled 10 dollars from his buck and pushed it onto the counter. She took it, looked at it, and put it in the register, when she was grabbing the change, Mike made his escape, quickly taking the items and leaving the store. Grabbing his bike from off the side wall and riding as quickly back to the sqwk as his legs would let him. He always hated the awkward moment of “no, no keep the change” or panicking and just taking it anyways, even after you said they could keep it. leaving was more effective.
He made it back to the sqwk and pushed through the door, his boy was begging for a rest, Any sort of. He practically raced all the way there. He looked around, the upper Level was empty, not even Robin doing her radio duties to be seen. The silence dragged on forever. It made his heart race, what could be the reason? Was someone in danger? Was Will okay? He felt time slow down around him, even if it wasn’t really happening. He ran towards the lower level as fast as possible for himself. His feet missed more steps then he actually stepped on, sliding slightly along the floor. His sudden presence is met with a familiar sound, not the one he was hoping for, but not one he would have hated to hear. Lucas. His eyes flicked up, it made sense, Lucas and Erica had showed up, Erica brought.. soup, already. Mike didn't need to buy any. He suddenly felt stupid. His gaze tapped around the room as he pulled himself up fully, reaching Vickie and he handed the medicine to her.
“Thank you! Mike!”
Vickie’s voice was always slightly frantic, but everyone had learned to just ignore it, it was just the way she was. His gaze turned away from her. His true focus was much more Boy shaped, a sorcerer of sorts.
But no matter how hard he looked, Steve and Will were missing, and Robin was giving him a Look he certainly didn’t like. His eyes met Lucas’s. That look, that god damn look, what did it mean? What had happened where he was gone, why were they even there? Where was Will and Steve? He looked back at Vickie, who was giving him a similar look, except hers was much less worried, if the nurse wasn’t worried, maybe it wasn’t as bad as he thought? Or maybe it was just hard to read her. He much preferred the first option. He looked back to the crowd in front of him, pulling his confidence from the depths, hiding his fear behind a Character he created years ago with a boy that was always in his mind.
“Where’s-“ he didn’t even get to finish his sentence before Lucas Butted in, cutting him off and answering the question without even hearing the rest.
“Washroom, with Steve.” When Lucas finished his sentence he leaned back into the couch, a weird tense filled the room.
“Why?” Mike found himself asking, his voice sounding worried even to his own ears. Considering this was Will they were talking about, he didn't mind being heard as worried. Everyone else in that room exchanged a look, acting as if it was an inside joke he wasn’t in on.
His questions were answered by the presence of both the missing boys entering the area. Steve was helping Will walk, an arm slung over his shoulders. Despite his current state, Mike could have sworn to Hell and heaven alike that the boy before him was the most outstandingly beautiful person he’d laid his very eyes on. With the catch in his throat, he snapped out of it, realizing that Will seemed to be in pain, his feet moved before his brain, already by Will's side aiding Steve. Will struck a look with Mike, the world slowed down around them, for the second time that day for Mike, once for fear, once for love. One for one didn’t seem so bad, as long as love kept winning. Will made a poor attempt at a smile, Mike returned it with a Smile bright enough to show his own heart.
Steve and Mike laid Will on the couch, both boys stepped away and conversations sprouted around them. Will fell asleep only moments after Mike laid a new cold compress to his forehead. Minutes passed and Mike found himself approaching Steve, to ask a question that had been burned into Mike's mind since he entered the swqk that late afternoon.
“Steve!” He called out, a half-assed smile on his face, standing before Steve.
“Mike.” Steve smiled, much more genuine.
“So what was that whole thing about? What happened to Will?” Mike's voice was drowning in Concern and worry, he didn’t mind. Steve could know that Mike was drowning in concern, it was Steve for Christ sakes. He would be the same way if it was dustin, or or Nancy, maybe even Max or Lucas! Steve sighed, clearly already knowing Mike would have asked this question. Maybe even so that he was expecting him to ask sooner.
“After you left, he woke up and started asking where you were, we told him, and then Erica showed up with soup, he tried to eat it but for some reason he suddenly remembered that you, hated pea soup, and he said that, yeah, and then he ran to the washroom and we can all see how that went, and for some god sake reason, they made ME! Help him. Why not Lucas? Those two KNOW eachother better!”
Oh, Mike knew now, made sense, he did hate pea soup.
“Lucas can't handle vomit.” Mike muttered as he sat down right next to Will, who curled up in his sleep and laid his head on Mike's lap. Mike looked up at Steve. Then at everyone else in the room. Who’s eyes were all on him and Will. Having Steve know he was so worried about Will was one thing, Having that boy actively sleeping on his lap in front of people is another. His mind flashed with ideas of what everyone could think, the comments, anything could go wrong. But again, he remembers, they all supported Will when he came out. It’s not like they are kissing, Will is sick and asleep, he most likely is just seeking comfort at the moment. The moment is tense, it felt longer than it was.
“Is he asleep?” Blurted someone, Mike looked back up and found the source of the noise, it was Erica.
“Yeah. He’s alseep.” Mike let out a small sigh as his hand laid gently on Will's head, running his fingers through the boy's hair.
“Well don’t wake him up” added Lucas in a tone Mike had never heard before, it sent a slight chill down his back, it reminded him of when his mother would get upset at his father. Mike nodded in response to Lucas.
Mike had fallen asleep on the couch with Will, but he didn’t even notice Will waking up halfway through, and immediately being questioned by Vickie.
“Good, you're awake! Right, uhm, How are you feeling? Is everything okay? I.. are you hurt?” She was pouring a dose of the medicine Mike bought into a small cup she likely just found in a cabinet.
“Mhm. I'm okay…” Will's voice was dragged out, tired, slightly raspy due to the sickness. Deep. It shocked Vickie.
“Oh! Is that-“
“It’s normal.”
“Right.” A pause came from her as she handed the cup to Will; her gaze flicked back and forth between the bottle and him. He just chugged it without complaint.
“Do you want me to turn off the lights and let you two boys sleep?”
Will nodded and pushed the cup back on the desk, making a slight and quick scratching sound. Will tensed for the moment before relaxing back into the couch, his tired eyes moved to see the Raven haired boy that had fallen asleep sitting up, curling himself up and grabbing onto Will's waist. Too tired to actually care, he just laid down and let his body relax, his gaze turned to the ceiling, watching it intently.
Mike's hands spiraled around Will's waist, clutching it tightly, on top of Will as he slept. The weight wasn’t unbearable, Will let his arms rest gently on Mike as he fell back to sleep, the medicine was working, sending him into a strange feverish sleep.
The two slept on that couch for a second night, the others in the building had left to their houses or slept in one of the side rooms. It was peaceful, Vickie had turned off the lights. The building was colder at night, so a gentle embrace kept the two boys warm again.