Chapter Text
“...Now I'm wondering why I've kept this bottled inside, and I'm starting to regret not telling all of it to you. So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know, you're never gonna be alone from this moment on! If you ever feel like letting go, I won't let you fall. You're never gonna be alone, I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone.”
- Nickelback (Never gonna be alone)
Will
Will walked with a spring in his step as he left the room, singing along to the radio that blared from his bedroom.
He nearly had a heart attack, however, when he saw Steve Harrington shuffling through the fridge, wearing nothing on but a pair of socks, gray boxers, and a loose brown sweater that Will vaguely recognized as Jonathan’s.
“STEVE!?”
Steve yelped and automatically straightened, bumping his head inside the fridge. It rattled noisily, some items falling from the door. He fumbled as he tried to catch them but then eventually just gave up and whirled around, staring straight at Will, looking as guilty as Mike did when he returned home after killing Carlton. But there was also a weird embarrassed blush that bloomed on his cheeks and crawled down his neck, that suggested his crimes were a lot less severe than that of murder.
“What are you doing in my house at this hour!?” Will asked in bewilderment.
"Waking up, apparently.”
“Steve!” Will exclaimed. “It's like three in the morning!”
“Ummm…” Steve laughed awkwardly, carding a hand through his hair. “This is awkward. Um. I'm, uh… I'm here with your brother.”
That was when Will noticed the two little hickeys peaking up from the collar of his brother's shirt.
“Jonathan?” Will asked incredulously. “You two hate each other. I mean last time I checked. Right?”
Steve nodded. “Yeah, well… a lot has changed since you were last here.”
“Apparently.”
Steve smiled awkwardly and then turned, picking up the items that had fallen out of the fridge and putting them back in the door.
“So… you and my brother.” Will said, crossing into the kitchen and leaning back against the sink.
Steve sighed, turning to face Will. “No, not really. There's no “me and your brother”, I mean… it's not… you know?” He waved his hand around, the words trailing off as he shrugged meekly.
“Those hickeys on your neck say otherwise.” Will teased him.
“Oh!” Steve closed the fridge and tossed his hands on his hips. “Coming from you, Byers!?”
“What?” Will asked. “I don't have hickeys…” Then he panicked slightly. “Do I?”
“You don't need them!” Steve grinned at him. "Tip for the future, the radio can only cover so much."
Will gasped. "Oh God you heard us!?”
"No, we heard MIKE.” Steve corrected. “Sounds like you were doing a very good job in there."
Will covered his mouth to hide the grin. "I am SO sorry you had to hear that. Do you think anybody else heard?"
"Dude. CHINA heard him."
“Oh God!" Will groaned.
"THAT'S WHAT HE SAIDDD!" Steve shouted.
Will felt like he was going to die of embarrassment. "STEVE PLEASE SHUT UP!"
Steve pointed accusingly at him. "No, your boyfriend disturbed my beauty sleep! I'm never letting you two hear the end of this!"
Will hid behind his hands. "I'm gonna kill myself.”
Steve snorted. "Take Mike with you. Please. And do it far away so we don't hear it."
Steve Harrington was like the annoying other older brother Will never wanted.
"STOPPPUH, OH MY GOD YOU'RE SO EMBARRASSINGGG!" Will grabbed a sponge from the sink and hurled it at Steve.
Steve caught it and threw it back at him. "Really? NOW you're embarrassed?"
"I'm going back to my room!” Will announced, pushing himself off the sink and walking away. He couldn't even remember what he had originally come in the kitchen for in the first place.
Apparently Steve wanted to get one more jab in. "Make sure to put a sock in his mouth if you're going for round two!"
"GO AWAYYY!"
Will was all flustered and embarrassed by the time he returned to the room, but there was still a proud grin stretched across his face despite those emotions.
No matter how embarrassed he was that someone heard them, it wasn't enough to overshadow the joy and pride he was feeling after finally being with Mike.
And making him cum five times in a row, four of them weren't even from the sex itself.
Mike was already asleep by the time Will crawled into bed, his breathing slow and heavy, his face all relaxed and free of the stress of the last couple days.
Will smiled contentedly and slid closer, covering them up with the blankets and pulling Mike into his arms. Mike automatically wrapped around him in his sleep, his face nuzzling against Will's neck.
This was everything Will had ever wanted and never thought he would have.
It was becoming increasingly difficult for him to try and keep the smile off his face.
He was finally safe.
Happy, and safe, and with Mike.
That was more than he could ever hope for.
Mike
Mike awoke to sounds of blaring classic rock and laughter coming from the kitchen, and an empty space beside him where Will should be. He frowned and reached his hand out to Will's side of the bed, clutching onto the corner of his pillow and wishing it was Will's hand.
For a moment, Mike worried that Will had come to his senses. Like some post nut clarity or something.
Would he be scared of Mike now that reality was returning to him?
Or would he think they were moving too fast? It would be completely understandable.
Dust bunnies floated in the beaming rays of sunlight from between the curtains and blinds, looking like a thousand glittering sparkles gently floating down onto the dust covered floors of Will's bedroom.
He had nodded off a couple times, but eventually he managed to drag himself out of bed and put some clothes on. His muscles felt stiff and his throat felt oddly raw. There was also a slight pain in his lower back like he had slept wrong. His broken nose was also throbbing slightly, the pain blooming across his cheekbones.
But he knew no matter how sore he felt, Will would be much worse for wear.
Will. He needed to face his fears and check on Will.
He dragged his feet across the floor and out of Will's room, rubbing his eyes as he yawned and walked into the doorway of the kitchen.
At first his groggy, muddled brain couldn't process what he was seeing.
Jonathan and Will were in the kitchen cooking and dancing along to rock music, occasionally screaming the lyrics in each other's faces. There was a smile stretched across Will's face, a renewed sort of twinkle in his eyes.
To Mike's overwhelming relief, it wasn't the face of regret. If anything, Will was positively glowing.
His dancing was more stuff and awkward than Jonathan's due to all of Will's injuries, the fact that he managed to dance at all had floored Mike.
What took Mike by surprise the most was that Jonathan wasn't the one doing any of the cooking, he was merely grabbing ingredients and handing them to Will, and occasionally cleaning behind him as he went.
Steve Harrington sat on the counter laughing and watching them, but Mike wasn't surprised to see his presence there. Steve and Johnathan had been toeing that line for months. They were constantly glued to each other's sides, to the point where you couldn't see one without the other most days.
El and Hopper were at the dining room table laughing and having side conversations, occasionally their eyes would stray to Will.
Joyce was curled up on the couch, aiming her phone at Will and videotaping the whole thing, her eyes glossy, a shaky smile on her face.
Everyone was so happy.
Will was so happy.
Mike wanted to preserve that moment forever, protect Will for the rest of their lives.
Once again, he thought back to last night, and his mind wandered to rings and a bright future.
Slow down, Mike. He told himself. Will is not ready for all that.
At some point Will spun around while dancing, grinning as he made eye contact with Mike as he lingered awkwardly in the doorway.
He waved him over. “I'm making breakfast!”
Suddenly it clicked. That's what Mike’s brain was so confused by.
Will was cooking again.
Mike blinked in astonishment. “You're… breakf… what?”
Oh.
Oh! Will was cooking!
That's why Joyce was videotaping him and crying with a smile on her face.
That's why everyone was happy.
That's why Hopper and El kept looking towards the kitchen.
Will was cooking again!
Mike's hands trembled with excitement, a flurry of hope bustling around in his stomach.
Will was going to be okay!
Mike forced himself to push passed the disbelief and met Will in the kitchen, wrapping his arms around Will and kissing his cheek. “Hey.”
“Hi there.” Will grinned at him and tilted his head up, surprising Mike with a kiss.
The moment was ruined, however, by Steve Harrington.
“GOD YES, WILL!” Steve moaned loudly, causing a chorus of gasps to erupt around them.
Jonathan joined in, mimicking the sounds of the headboard hitting the wall by rhythmically smacking the fridge while Steve moaned theatrically.
Mike pulled away in pure horror, covering his suddenly hot face. “Oh God!”
“THAT'S WHAT HE SAID!” Steve and Johnathan yelled together.
“THAT'S IT!” Will shouted, grabbing the spatula and whirling around to face Steve.
Steve shrieked and jumped off the counter, taking off running.
“COME HERE AND LET ME BEAT YOUR ASS!” Will yelled, chasing him around the dining room table.
“DIDN'T YOU ALREADY BEAT SOME ASS LAST NIGHT?” Jonathan yelled.
“JONATHAN!” Joyce shrieked, horrified.
Will turned on Jonathan then, running after him while Jonathan shrieked and bolted down the hall towards the bedrooms.
Mike was dying of embarrassment. He had to quite literally crawl under the dining room table, which made El burst into laughter.
She slid under the table too, sitting criss-cross applesauce beside Mike.
Mike peeked at her from between his fingers. “What are you doing?”
“You're embarrassed and hiding. I am accompanying you.” She stated, hiding behind her hands and peeking at him from between her fingers like he was doing. “In solidarity.”
Mike grinned behind his hands. “Thank you, El.”
“I would be embarrassed too, if people heard Dustin and I.” She said.
Mike gasped and dropped his hands. “What!?”
“What!?” Hopper echoed.
Her eyes widened and she looked up as he ducked his head under the table. “He better not be—”
“We haven't!” She half-yelled. “It's completely theoretical! Mind your business!”
“But if he—”
“DAD!” El yelled in embarrassment. “He hasn't! He's been very respectful! Go away!”
“He better be!” Hopper straightened up then.
El and Mike glanced at each other, then burst into cackles.
“MOM, DO SOMETHING!” Jonathan's voice faded back into the kitchen as Will and Jonathan came bounding back down the hall. “HE'S BEATING ME WITH A SPOON!”
“YOU STARTED IT!” Will yelled.
“I DID NOT, STEVE DID!”
“HEY!” Steve yelled. “WHAT THE HELL, MAN?”
“That's a good point. COME HERE, STEVE!”
“AHHHHH!”
CRASH. BOOM.
The floorboards shook.
“BOYS!”
El and Mike exchanged concerned looks before scrambling out from under the table.
Apparently, Will had bulldozed Steve. Judging by their awkward position, Will had jumped on his back and they fell.
“Are you okay!?” Mike asked, rushing over as Will groaned and rolled off of Steve.
“I'm fine,” Steve wheezed, rubbing his ribs. “We just—”
“I was talking about Will!” Mike snapped, leaning over and frantically checking Will's injuries. “Are you okay, baby?”
“Oh my God, you two. Get a room.” Steve groaned.
Jonathan snickered as he walked over, helping Steve up. “Wouldn't really help.”
Will glared at them and scrambled to his feet. “I'm going to kill both of you!” He didn't sound angry, his face was bright red and there was an adorable crack in his voice that suggested he was more embarrassed than anything.
Mike walked over and wrapped his arms around Will, kissing his temple. “Will, you're injured. Take it easy.”
Will huffed and turned in Mike's arms, leaning up and giving him a quick kiss on the nose. “I need to get breakfast before it burns.”
“I've got it.” El volunteered, getting up and going into the kitchen. “I'll set the table.”
“I'll help you.” Joyce offered, joining her daughter in the kitchen. “So, Dustin…”
Their voices faded as Mike and Will walked over to the dining room table, joined by Steve and Johnathan.
“So, what's for breakfast?” Mike asked, desperate for a subject that didn't involve Will and Mike's… night business.
“I made Eggos, sunny-side up eggs, hashbrowns, bacon and sausage, toast with blackberry jam, a side salad, and fresh fruit. There's also coffee and orange juice.” Will informed him with a proud smile.
Mike's eyebrows lifted. “Wow. Sounds delicious.”
Will shrugged bashfully. “It's just basic breakfast food, Mike.”
“Hey.” Mike pointed at him. “What seems basic to you is difficult for some.”
“Eggs are not that hard!” Will laughed.
Joyce and El brought over the food. At some point, Hopper had joined in helping them by bringing in the drinks, the butter and syrup, and everything they'd need for the salad. The table was filled with mouthwatering food, they barely had room for their plates.
“Alright, everyone. Dig in, I've got less than an hour before I need to leave for work.” Hopper said.
More jabs about last night were shared around the table as they all ate. Joyce looked mortified, and Hopper just had his face in his hands.
“You guys, that's mean!” El chastised Steve and Jonathan.
“It's okay, El.” Will laughed. “They're just joking around.”
“Well, I find it funny they have jokes considering what we heard over the fireworks on the fourth of July.” El stared, looking pointedly at Jonathan. “That was far more disturbing considering I think of you as another BROTHER!”
Mike turned towards El. “Oh really? What did you hear?”
Her face went bright red. “I don't want to repeat it.”
“NEVER repeat it.” Hopper said, shuddering.
“You know what WE heard last night?” Again, Steve started moaning. “GOD YES, WILL! WILLLL!”
El smacked her hands down on the table. “JUST PUT IT IN, JONATHAN! OH, JONATHANNN!” She mock-moaned, causing the entire table to laugh, other than Hopper and Joyce.
“ELEANOR JANE HOPPER!” Joyce shrieked, covering her ears.
“I'm just repeating what Dustin and I heard!” El defended. “We heard them over FIREWORKS, mom!”
“WOAHHH, HE SAID WHAT!?” Mike scream-laughed.
Will’s face twisted in disgust as he put his fork down on his plate. “I did NOT need to know that.”
“YEAH!” El twisted in her seat and looked at Mike. “Don't let them make fun of you for being heard over the radio! Because they were heard over booms in the sky! One of our neighbors came to check because they thought someone was getting hurt by a faulty rocket! In fact, what I chose to say was the most tame! I also heard—”
“OKAY!” Hopper yelled, swiping out his arms. “No more reliving sex sounds in the house!”
Mike was laughing his ass off. “Oh my God, El!” He wheezed. “You're insane, I love you!” He cackled.
He gasped and slapped his hands over his mouth the second he registered what he'd said, hoping to God this wouldn't cause any tension between him and El, or worse… him and Will.
There was a pause as everyone turned to El. Mike immediately wanted to die.
He meant it platonically, obviously. But there was definitely trauma between them with that unsaid phrase.
It shouldn't have been so easy for him to say it now, when everyone at this table probably knew he meant it platonically. He should have said it back then, he half-expected her to be offended that he was only able to say it now, when they weren't together anymore and had both moved on. Him with her brother.
If she took it as a slap in the face, he would have understood. Maybe even spent the next several weeks profusely apologizing and overexplaining.
He waited for her to be upset… instead she just smiled and perked up in her seat. “Love you too, Mike. Like a brother.”
He let out a long, shaky sigh of relief and collapsed back in his seat. “Yes, exactly! Like a sister.”
He was suddenly very grateful for Dustin, and her relationship with him. They refused to admit that's what it was, thinking they were good at keeping it secret. But Dustin routinely told El he loved her, and El smiled every time. She'd say it back a moment later, after soaking it in for a minute.
She has everything she'd ever wanted, and she had it with Dustin.
Mike knew they were just worried how he'd react. Mike was just waiting for Dustin to finally say something to him. He'd be happy for them, and he'd tell Dustin the same thing. They made each other happy, and Mike couldn't think of anyone more perfect for the other. Dustin needed a win after everything he'd been through, and El deserved someone who loved her the way she wanted to be loved.
She turned and pointed her fork at Jonathan and Steve. “Make fun of Mike and Will again. I dare you.”
Steve held up his hands in a show of surrender. Jonathan frantically shook his head no and sank down a little in his seat, his entire face bright red.
Mike let out another sigh of relief at the change in subject, then peeked at Will to check his reaction.
He was looking at Mike and El, and smiling.
Good. Okay, good. Everything was good.
Good.
Mike returned the smile, reaching out and playing with Will's hair. “How are you feeling?”
“I'm happy.” Will smiled at him. “Very happy.”
“Yeah, you are.” Steve snickered.
“OH JONATHAN, RIGHT THERE!” El yelled.
“OKAY, OKAY! YOU WIN!” Steve yelled, lifting the collar of his sweater and hiding behind it.
The dining room was filled with the sounds of laughter and forks scraping against plates. After breakfast was over, everyone got up and started putting their dishes in the sink. Shortly after, they all returned to the dining room and sat at the table again. Not to eat, just to be a family and spend time together before Hopper went to work.
Mike lingered by the kitchen sink to clean up, since he'd taken up space in their house despite having his own apartment.
He just didn't want to leave Will's side. Not after everything that happened.
Halfway through washing dishes, the front door burst open, and chaos broke out across the house.
“UH-UH! NO! YOU GET YOUR ASS OUT OF HERE!” Hopper's voice bellowed from the living room.
Mike spun to see what the commotion was.
Lonnie had apparently let himself in.
Will bolted around the dining room table, diving to the chair now empty by Jonathan as Hopper immediately jumped to his feet.
“Shhh, it's okay.” Jonathan reassured him, wrapping a protective arm around Will and sending a scathing glare in their father's direction.
Joyce jumped up and ran over, putting her hand on Hopper's chest and backing him up a couple steps. “Hopper, you need to stay calm.” She turned to Lonnie. “What are you doing here?”
“I saw the news.” Lonnie slammed the front door closed. Joyce, Jonathan, and Will all jumped in response. “I've come to check on my son.”
Will's breaths started to hitch, and Mike abandoned the sink. He immediately walked over and sat on the other side of Will, keeping his gaze locked on him. He reached under the table, squeezing Will's hand.
“I'm not your son.” Will said curtly. “You lost the right to call me your son a long time ago. I don't want you here.”
“You heard him.” Hopper said gruffly, visibly vibrating. Mike was positive that Joyce’s hand on his chest was the only reason he wasn't lunging at Lonnie.
Lonnie walked over to the table. Joyce's gaze darkened as she watched him cross into the dining room, and she removed her hand from Hopper's chest… taking a step back with her hands up. Her eyes darted to Hopper. “Not unless he gets physical. We can't afford you losing your job.”
Then she walked around the table, standing protectively behind Will.
Lonnie sat down with a casualty that made Mike want to jump over the table and strangle him.
But he wouldn't. Not in front of Will, anyways.
The last thing Will needed to see was more violence, especially of the choking kind.
“What happened to you?” Lonnie asked, his eyes sweeping over Will's injuries.
Will tilted his chin defiantly. “What's the matter, Lonnie? Only you're allowed to hit me?”
Lonnie’s eyes narrowed. “You boyfriend do that to you?”
“That's none of your business!” Will snapped at him.
Lonnie sighed and leaned back in his seat. “See what happens?”
Mike gasped wildly, remembering a time when those exact words were said to him.
When Will was missing, and Mike was worried, and his own father couldn't keep his fucking mouth shut.
“What the fuck did you just say!?” Mike asked incredulously, the anger already spiking his blood pressure.
His hands trembled, his legs locking in preparation to jump.
Will panicked and reached under the table, grabbing Mike's thigh and squeezing it. A silent signal not to do anything.
“That was a weird thing to say,” El said, looking at Will. “Was that homophobia?”
Will sighed and looked at her. “Yeah…”
Lonnie rolled his eyes. “It's not homophobia, it's objective truth.”
“That's just not true!” Mike said.
“Don't worry about him, Will.” Jonathan murmured. “Lonnie’s just projecting. As usual.”
Will gasped and then covered his mouth, stifling a laugh.
Lonnie jumped to his feet and rushed forward, roughly grabbing Jonathan's arm and dragging him from his seat with so much force that the chair knocked backwards. “What did you say to me, boy?”
“LONNIE!” Joyce screamed.
Mike jumped to his feet. “You better get your hand off my brother-in-law before I GIVE YOU a reason to fear the gays!” The words blurted out of him before he could even stop himself.
“Brother-in-law!?” Will echoed, but Mike was already moving to do something to Lonnie. What, he wasn't sure yet. He just knew that he wasn't going to let him get away with talking to Will like that, and he sure as hell wasn't going to let him abuse his brother in front of him either.
“Alright.” Mike glanced over, watching as Steve pounded the rest of a cold beer he'd gotten earlier. Then he stood up, wiped some stray drops off his mouth, and walked down the hall.
Mike turned his attention back to Lonnie, trembling. “I'm going to give you three seconds to get your hand off him before I remove it myself.”
Lonnie barked out a laugh. “You?”
Hopper took a step back. “I'd listen to him, Lonnie.” He warned.
Lonnie scoffed. “Wheeler, I remember when you were in diapers. What are you gonna do?”
“Kill you.” Mike growled.
“Mike!” Hopper said sharply, but Mike wasn't listening.
He didn't care. He'd let Hopper bear witness, and willingly go to prison. If he was ready to go to prison for Carlton, then of course he'd go to prison over Lonnie. He had it coming years ago.
Lonnie grinned at him, and Mike could already tell he was gearing up to say something shitty.
He got pre annoyed and lunged forward, only to be held back by Hopper. “Mike, don't start something right in front of me, are you crazy!?”
“I'LL SHOW YOU CRAZY! LET GO OF ME!” Mike shrieked, struggling in his arms. “LET ME AT HIM! I WILL BASH HIS FUCKING FACE INTO THE GROUND! DON'T YOU EVER SPEAK TO WILL AGAIN! I’LL KILL YOU! I'LL BEAT YOUR FUCKING ASS INTO THE GROUND!”
Before he had a chance to break free, however, Steve came barrelling back down the hall with a bat. “GET YOUR HAND OFF MY BOYFRIEND!”
Mike yelped as Hopper scrambled back with Mike in his arms and yanked him out of the way. “Jesus Christ, STEVE!” Hopper yelled.
Lonnie jumped away from Jonathan, diving out of the way of the bat and narrowly missing getting his head bashed in. Then he took off, bolting to the kitchen while Steve chased him.
“STEVE, HE WILL PRESS CHARGES!” Hopper shouted. “LET ME THROW HIM OUT!”
“HE CAN'T PRESS CHARGES IF HE'S DEAD!” Steve bellowed.
When Steve thought he had him cornered in the kitchen, he swung and missed by a second. Lonnie dodged at the last second and the bat clipped the wall, leaving a permanent dent in it.
Lonnie took off running, Steve chasing him out of the kitchen.
Lonnie threw open the front door and dove down the porch steps.
Steve still didn't let up. There were distant screams in the background as the door was left open.
Mike calmed down only when Lonnie was out of his sights.
He stilled in Hopper's arms, trembling violently from head to toe. “If I let you go right now, are you gonna be stupid and try joining Steve?”
“Yes.” Mike growled.
Hopper sighed, tightening his hold. “Least’ you're honest.”
Mike glared at the open doorway, just waiting until Hopper got comfortable and thought it was safe. Then he planned to make a run for it.
Joyce and Jonathan sat down beside Will. El stayed rooted to her seat across from them, looking with wide eyes at the doorway. From where she was sitting, she might have even been able to see what was happening.
“Did… did your boyfriend just call me his brother-in-law?” Jonathan asked, still slightly shaken but slowly coming back down to earth.
Mike swivelled his head in Jonathan's direction. “What?”
He didn't say that. Did he?
He couldn't remember anything passed seeing Lonnie's hand on Jonathan's arm.
Jonathan ignored him, firing questions at Will… whose reaction did not make sense in Mike's head. He had sank down almost all the way in his seat, hiding a grin behind his hands, his face tomato red.
“Are you two married?” Jonathan continued, flabbergasted. “When did you even have the time to do that?” Then he gasped. “WAIT A MINUTE, DID STEVE JUST CALL ME HIS BOYFRIEND? ARE WE BOYFRIENDS NOW? IS IT OFFICIAL? ARE YOU AND MIKE MARRIED? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?”
Will giggled behind his hands, doing breathing exercises at the dining room table. Mike was perplexed. What was Will so happy for? He was glad he was, at least. But shouldn't he be freaking out right now?
“Jonathan, please!” Joyce exhaled shakily. She squeezed Will's shoulder, her concerned eyes darting between her sons. “Will, honey. Are you okay?”
The distant screams outside suddenly spiked in pitch, accompanied by the sound of physical blows.
“Mike just called me his husband!” Will squealed happily, stomping his feet under the table and doing little kicks, wincing every once in a while when he stomped too hard, but he did so with a grin on his face.
Oh. So Mike actually had said it.
Fuck.
Joyce breathed a sigh of relief and grinned. “Yes he did.” She confirmed, peeking at Jonathan. “What about you? Are you okay?”
Jonathan grinned at her. “Steve called me his boyfriend.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Okay, as long as you two are okay, then I'm okay.”
“AND STAY GONE!” Steve screamed from outside. “OR I WON'T GO SO EASY ON YOU NEXT TIME! BITCH!”
“Hopper, let me go.” Mike sighed.
“Why?” He asked suspiciously.
Mike pointed. “Want Will.”
“Oh okay.”
Hopper released him, and for a moment Mike briefly considered running outside to get his own hits in while he still had the chance, mentally calculating his possibility of escape.
“Mike…” Hopper warned, already hovering his hands over his shoulders.
“Yeah, yeah!” Mike huffed, walking over and sitting next to El, looking across the table at Will.
Will grinned widely when they locked gazes.
“I think I need to go lie down.” Jonathan said, sounding dazed as he stood up and made his way over to the couch.
Several minutes passed, and his snores filled the space. The whole time, Will was staring down at the table with a beet red face with his hands over his mouth.
Mike wondered what Will was thinking. Not knowing what plagued his mind right now felt like pure torture, and he wanted to ask. But he didn't want to put Will on the spot in front of everyone either.
Will
He called me his husband. He called me his husband. He called me his husband.
He called me his husband.
He called me his husband.
He called me his husband.
He called me his husband.
He called me his husband.
He called me his husband.
Inadvertently. But still. By calling Jonathan his brother-in-law, Mike called me his husband.
He called me his husband!
“Will…” Mike said warily. “Are you okay?”
He called me his husband.
Will nodded frantically. “Yes.”
He called me his husband.
“Because if you need to talk about what just happened… I'm here for you.” Mike said.
What just happened is you called me your husband.
Let's talk about that, Mike.
You called me your husband.
“Me too.” El said, reaching across the table. She offered Will her hand to take.
He called me his husband.
Will took her hand. “Thanks.”
He called me his husband.
He called me his husband.
He called me his husband.
There was the distant sound of a car window shattering, accompanied by the immediate sound of a car alarm blaring.
He called me his husbandddd! Mike called me his husband!
He called me his husband!
“STEVE!” Hopper shouted in the background, running out of the house. “BAD! NO! LET HIM LEAVE!”
He called me his husband.
He called me his husband.
He called me his husband.
What does this mean? Does Mike want to get married?
Is it too soon?
Oh, what the hell. I've been in love with him since we were twelve years old. I've waited long enough.
Are we going to get married?
Is Mike already thinking of proposing?
Are we going to speed right past the awkward dating phase, and move straight into marriage?
Dating was for strangers to get to know each other, right? It was for people who were looking.
Will already knew Mike. And he certainly wasn't looking.
Mike was the only person on this entire planet that Will could see.
Besides, married people can still go on dates.
He called me his husband.
Hopper came back dragging a disgruntled Steve, and slammed the door behind him. “You should have let me throw him out.”
He called me his husband.
“You were already holding Mike back!” Steve defended weakly as they made their way back to the dining room table.
He called me his husband.
“I would have let him go!” Hopper said. “I told you I would!”
He called me his husband.
“Yeah, and then Mike would have gotten him, and you would have had to hold us BOTH back.” Steve reasoned with him.
He called me his husband.
Mike snorted. “Truth.”
He called me his husband.
“Besides, Lonnie’s had it coming for years.” Steve added. “Jonathan's told me everything.”
He called me his husband.
“Yeah, alright.” Hopper relented. “Will, are you alright?”
Will grinned at Hopper. “Mike called me his husband.”
Mike groaned and hid behind his hands. “I'm so sorry! It was the heat of the moment, Will. I swear.”
Will looked at him. “So you aren't thinking about marriage?”
You know you are. You called me your husband.
“I… well, I…”
“You did call Jonathan your brother-in-law.” El chimed in.
“Thank you, El.” Will said.
“Yes, thank you, El!” Mike huffed in annoyance.
She smiled, unbothered. “You're both welcome!”
Mike sighed and leaned back in his seat, tapping his finger against the table. “Alright, I did. But that's just because I thought about our future and stuff…”
Will grinned at him again. His face hurt from smiling so much. “You've thought about our future?”
“Yeah…” Mike admitted, smiling meekly.
“I should've filmed his face.” Steve muttered, clearly in a different headspace than Will was.
Will looked at him. “How bad is it?”
“Bad.” Steve laughed. “He's gonna need stitches in several places, and he for sure has a concussion.”
“Good.” Mike retorted. “Hope he drives his vehicle straight into oncoming traffic because of his concussion.”
“I should have killed him for putting his hands on Jonathan.” Steve muttered darkly.
“You know…” Mike started slowly.
“No!” Hopper said immediately.
Mike started genuinely tweaking out at the table. “But whyyyy!?” He whined, shaking his hands around in frustration.
“Mike,” Will laughed. “You can't just kill everyone who's got issues with me.”
Mike's eyes narrowed, his face darkening in ways that had Will squirming in his seat… and not from fear, but something else entirely. “Mike. It's not smart to go killing Lonnie just because he said something homophobic.”
“I don't give a fuck if it's a bad idea to kill Lonnie for talking about you like that!” Mike argued. “He should know better than to let ME hear it.”
“I think you're forgetting that not everyone knows what you did.” Will said flatly.
“Will!” Hopper sighed in exasperation, scrubbing his hands over his face.
El shared a look with Will. “What did Mike do?”
“Don't worry about it.” Will said, then cupped his hand around his mouth so only she could see. ‘I'll tell you later.’ He mouthed silently.
She smiled and straightened, crossing one leg over the other. “Okay.”
“I'm just saying!” Mike continued. “I could make it look like an accident. I'll fucking kill him, I have no problem doing it.”
Steve leaned forward conspiratorially. “You need help disposing of the body?”
“GUYS!” Hopper sighed, dropping his hands from his face. “It's seven AM!”
Jonathan sat up from the couch, groggy from sleep. “Wait a minute, are we killing Lonnie?”
“Yes.” Mike said.
“No, we are not!” Hopper said firmly.
“WHO'S WE?” Mike shouted, visibly upset. “He deserves it!”
Will couldn't help letting his eyes sweep Mike's frame, committing it to memory.
He wanted to draw an angry Mike later, when his wrist healed.
And then he'd lock it away and never let anyone see it. It probably wouldn't be PG.
It would be for Will's eyes only.
“DO ME A FAVOR AND PUT HIM IN THE TRUNK OF HIS CAR!” Jonathan yelled from the living room. “Matter of fact, lemme put on my shoes! I'm coming with you and I'm putting his ass there myself!”
“NOBODY IS KILLING ANYONE!” Hopper yelled.
“Oooh! We should do it via poison!” Jonathan said as he made his way to the shoe rack. “After all the homophobic shit he's said over the years, and everything he's done while drunk, it would be poetic. You know, put in his drink. Full circle kind of thing.”
“It's like talking to a wall.” Hopper said to Will's mother, who giggled with El. “I could say anything right now and get away with it because they aren't paying attention. I wear women's underwear!”
Will watched as his mother laughed at Hopper. “Oh, Hop!”
Mike nodded along to Jonathan. “Theres actually a bunch of ways to obtain and create poison toxic enough to kill a man.”
“Great. You get the stuff, I'll do the deed. He's my father, I call dibs on actually killing him. We'll have to wait a while for his wounds to heal, so it won't look suspicious.”
Steve turned to Hopper then, raising a brow. "Is what you said earlier true? Actually, nevermind. I don't want to know."
Mike pouted adorably at Jonathan. Will smiled, resting his chin in his hands as he watched his psycho boyfriend. “Aww… okay, well. I'll lend you my playlist.”
“Playlist?” Will questioned.
Mike pulled his phone out of his jeans and fiddled with his phone for a bit, then slid it across the table.
Will grabbed the phone, and then audibly gasped when he saw it.
Totally not a murder playlist. It was titled.
1. Must've been the wind (Alec Benjamin)
2. Goodbye, Earl! (Dixie Chicks)
3. This Means War (Nickelback)
4. Flat on the floor (Nickelback)
5. My room (Insane Clown Posse)
6. If I killed someone for you (Alec Benjamin)
7. Psycho Killer (Talking Heads)
8. (Don't Fear) The Reaper (Blue Öyster Cult)
9. Insane in the Brain (Cypress Hill)
10. Cherry Bomb (The Runaways)
11. One way or another (Blondie)
12. Imma Kill U (Insane Clown Posse)
13. I can't decide (Scissor Sisters)
14. Never again (Nickelback)
15. Side of a bullet (Nickelback)
16. I Love You Like An Alcoholic (The Taxpayers)
17. Stalker’s Tango (Autoheart)
18. An Unhealthy Obsession (The Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra)
19. The Zombie Song (Stephanie Mabey)
20. The Red Means I Love You! (Madda Buckley)
21. Macavity (London Theatre Orchestra & Cast)
22. Follow you home (Nickelback)
23. Choke - acoustic (I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME)
24. Meant to be yours - Heathers the musical (Michelle Duffy, Barrett Wilbert Weed & Ryan McCartan)
25. Next Contestant (Nickelback)
26. Lay all your love on me - Mama Mia! The movie soundtrack (Dominic Cooper, Amanda Seyfried)
27. Bernadette (IAMX)
28. Paparazzi (Lady Gaga)
29. He's my man (Luvcat)
30. Andrew in drag (The Magnet Fields)
31. Gunpowder N' Led (Miranda Lambert)
32. Another one bites the dust (Queen)
33. I see red (Everyone loves an outlaw)
34. Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson)
35. Murder on my mind (YNW Melly)
36. Can you keep a secret? (Ellise)
37. Control (Halsey)
38. Secret (The Pierces)
39. The Room Where It Happens (Leslie Odom Jr. and Lin-Manuel Miranda)
40. Hold them down (Ayron Alexander, Cast of EPIC: The Musical, and Jorge Rivera-Herrans)
41. Cell Block Tango (Catherine Zeta-Jones)
42. no body, no crime (Taylor Swift)
43. You Lie (The Band Perry)
44. Better Dig Two (The Band Perry)
45. Just for (Nickelback)
46. Nothing's gonna hurt you baby (Cigarettes after sex)
Will had a wide grin stretched across his face by the time he was done reading. “This is your murder playlist, Mike?”
Mike shrugged. “What about it?”
“You are such a nerd!” Will laughed at him. “There's so many musicals on this!”
“Oh! OH!” Mike gasped wildly, feigning offense. “Says YOU, Will!”
“Also, Nickelback? Really, Mike?” Will retorted.
Jonathan pulled a face. “Ugh, Nickelback?”
“Hey, they have a lot of good songs!” Mike defended himself. “You people are just uncultured.”
“It's buttrock.” Will said.
Mike started wiggling his fingers at Will. “I'm gonna get you.”
“No!” Will jumped up, the chair clattering behind him as Mike chased him into the living room.
“I'M GOING TO TICKLE YOU UNTIL YOU TAKE THAT BACK!”
“NEVERRRR!” Will cackled and Mike carefully tackled him into the couch, making sure Will landed on his right side, and then hovering over him.
Will turned onto his back and grinned up at Mike. “I said what I said.”
Mike grinned down at him. “Fine.”
Will screamed and laughed as Mike started tickling his sides.
“MIIIKE!”
“ADMIT NICKELBACK IS GOOD!”
“I'D RATHER DIE!”
“THEN DIE OF LAUGHTER!”
“MIKE!” Will scream-laughed, squirming under him and kicking his feet. “MERCY! MERCY!”
“NO MERCY FOR YOU!”
“MIIIIIKE!” Will yelled, laughing so hard he thought he was going to pee. “MIKE, I CAN'T—AHAHAHAHA—I CAN'T BREATHE! PLEASE!”
Mike grabbed Will's wrists and pinned them above his head, giving him a few minutes to catch his breath.
“Hmmm… wasn't it you that said breathing was for the weak?” Mike teased him, running the tip of his nose along Will’s.
Will sobered up from his laughter real quick, his breath hitching as Mike closed the distance and kissed him.
Butterflies exploded in his stomach, his heart racing in his chest as he kissed him back.
He was so afraid to let himself be happy, but he also needed it.
Will needed it more than he needed air to breathe.
They pulled away for air, and Will looked up at him, getting lost in the endless depths of deep brown for a moment.
He needed to be alone with Mike. Right now.
Completely alone.
“Get your car keys.” Will exhaled shakily.
“Yep. Okay.” Mike scrambled off of him, tripping over himself on his way to the coat rack by the door.
Will followed behind him, picking the forgotten phone up off the table on his way out.
That playlist was going to come in handy real soon.