Archive of Our Own ^beta

The party was in Mike's basement. It was the first time everyone had hung out since the Byers moved to California. It took everything for Will to convince Lucas to leave the hospital for a few hours to hang out. He only agreed if Erica would stay with Max.

Will was attempting to explain D&D to his sister. Eleven really didn't want to play, but felt like she owed it to Will for being a good brother and for trying to help mend her relationship with Mike. But, when they got back to Hawkins, El decided that she and Mike were no longer a good fit for each other. She knew that he only said he loved her because Will told him to.

El wasn't as clueless as she came across. Sure, she grew up in a lab, hooked up to machines and being told what to do. But the longer she was out of that place, the more self aware she became. She really started to understand her surroundings, too. It was pretty obvious, after Will lugged that painting everywhere Mike was, that it was for him. She knew how upset he was after he lied to Mike about the painting. It broke her to see her big brother hurting so much. And, that's when Eleven decided that Will needed Mike more than she did. And to top things off, it was the little things she noticed the previous summer that made her wonder if Mike felt the same way about him. Like, him bursting into song every time she kissed him. Or his soft voice around Will. She especially noticed his ability to apologize to Will without a second thought, or being coached to do so.

Dustin wasn't really in the mood to play, either. He was still so upset about what happened to Eddie. Dustin grew so close to Eddie over that year, that he almost replaced Steve as his best friend. He was a close second, for sure. He knew with all the energy he had left, he was going to use it to make sure everyone in Hawkins knew that Eddie was innocent.

Dustin held back tears, as Will went over the characters for El. The last time Dustin played D&D was with Eddie. Erica won the entire game by rolling a natural 20. It hurt to see the DM book and all of the different dice. But, he held it together. He owed it to Will after refusing to play with him, last summer.

Lucas was noticeably worn out. He hadn't left Max's side in days. Not to shower, or eat. He knew he needed to take a break, but he couldn't. Erica basically forced him to go to Mike's. She swore that she would stay with Max. First, she made him promise to change his clothes and shower and eat. He reluctantly left his girlfriend, after kissing her lifeless body.

Mike was the most annoyed out of everyone. He hadn't spoken to El much, since their breakup. It was awkward for him. The last thing she said to him was, "You need to accept that you have feelings for Will." He did not want to accept it. He wanted to be straight. But, sitting there with the DM book open, staring at Will as he put on his Will the Wise hat, made him wince. He really could stare at that beautiful boy all day. He shook himself out of his homoerotic thoughts, and went back to sulking. He certainly wasn't in the mood to play. It was already hard enough to be in the same room as either of the Byers/Hopper siblings.

As for Will, he was having the time of his life talking about his favorite game. He was so excited to get to share his passion with Eleven.

"Who's ready to start?" Will asked, after he was certain El understood the basics.

"Do, we have to?" Mike groaned.

Dustin swatted his arm. "It will be fun."

Mike rolled his eyes. "I am not in the mood for this. Besides, Will's campaign makes no sense."

Will looked at Mike, visibly upset.

"What about it doesn't make sense?" Lucas asked.

"For starters, Ayana is a witch. She doesn't have a crossbow," Mike started.

"Who, says?" Will asked, hurt. "You don't know her."

"It's not canon," Mike looked right at Will. "And Rogues don't just start out with plus 20 charisma. That's way too high."

"Mike, relax," Lucas put his hand on his back. "It's just a game."

"Yeah, so we should play by the rules," Mike shouted.

"I don't even understand the rules," El chimed in. "So it won't make a bit of difference to me."

Will looked at Mike, his eyes swelling up. "I was just trying to get creative with it."

"Why, even go to all the trouble when you know that no one wants to play?" Mike shouted.

Tears fell down Will's cheeks. His lips were now salty.

"Mike, calm down," Dustin said. "Will wants to play."

"No one else does," Mike spat. "Lucas's girlfriend is in a fucking coma, your best friend is dead. El doesn't even know the rules."

"You guys really don't want to play?" Will looked at his friends.

"It's not our first choice," El said. "But, you were so excited about it. We want to do something you want to do, for once."

"Yeah," Lucas chimed in. "We'll play whatever you want."

"Face it, Eleven. You only agreed to play because of what happened in Nevada," Mike said. "Lucas, you're only here because Erica made you. Dustin can't even look at the dice without thinking about Eddie."

"Okay, but what's your excuse?" Lucas wanted to know. "Why, are you pissed?"

"Will's campaign is stupid," Mike said. "All he ever wants to do anymore is suck all the fun out of everything. He's just jealous, that with the exception of me now, we all have girlfriends and he doesn't."

He knew that had done it.

Will stood up, angrily. "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

Everyone was shocked. Will just started swearing recently, but he's never dropped the F bomb.

"No one wants to play, today," Mike responded.

"NO," Will screamed again. "What is your problem? You've been treating me like shit since El came back last year. You used to be nice to me. But, you are just so hateful, now. You didn't even want to spend time with Dustin when he got back from camp, let alone me after I was possessed! You practically bullied Lucas for joining basketball, when you know he has it way worse with bullies than ANY of us. But, you wouldn't know anything about that, would you? The only thing you wanted to do, was give my sister a tongue bath! You couldn't even hug me at the goddamn airport, or see me sobbing my eyes out in the van after I gave you that painting. You said that the best day of your life was when I went missing? And for what? So you could fix your stupid relationship that had already fallen apart because you treated her like garbage, all summer? I'm so glad she dumped you, again! You know, I overlooked what happened the last time I asked you to play D&D, because I thought we moved past it. But, you screaming at me saying it wasn't your fault that I don't like girls, fucking hurt. That was the most hurt I have ever been in my entire life. I never thought that my best friend would say something so vile to me. And let's face it. We both know I don't like girls. So, why you chose to say that to me, instead of calling me a pussy or a baby or anything else will always stick with me. El wasn't even in the painting. So the fact that you believed what I said about her commissioning it, baffles me. I take back what I said, Mike, about you being the heart of the group. You're the ass. I regret saying yes to being your friend. It was the worst decision I ever made. Maybe, if I said no, I would be straight and my dad wouldn't have abused me for being gay. I never want to see you again!"

Will ran out of the basement. He hated himself. He hated Mike. He hated that even saying the truth, about how Mike treated him, didn't stop him from loving him.

Mike didn't need a pep talk to know what he needed to do. His eyes were finally open. Will was jealous of El. His heart hurt when Mike didn't want to be around him, as much. He thought he was a mistake for being gay. And it was all because Will was hopelessly in love with him.

"WILL!" Mike screamed, running after him.

For the first time, Mike knew that his actions had consequences. He couldn't lose Will. Not again. Not, because of him.

Will was pushing off his bike, into the pouring rain.

Mike ran up to him and stopped him from leaving. Both of them, soaked.

"GET OFF OF ME," Will screamed.

But, Mike just kissed him. He knew it was right. Nothing felt more perfect.

Will was shocked, at first. But, eventually settled into the kiss. It was all he ever wanted. He knew Mike was sorry. He understood that Mike was fighting his own demons, and that liking boys scared him.

Mike pulled Will off his bike and kissed him harder. He deepened the kiss, and squeezed his face. Will was holding Mike's waist. Nothing had ever been more perfect for either of them.

They stayed like that for several minutes, before the party ran out and saw them.

"FINALLY!" Dustin cheered.

El and Lucas were clapping and wooing.

Mike smirked, as they broke the kiss.

They looked at them and giggled before kissing some more. It was what they both needed. Talking only made things more complicated. Mike could apologize a thousand times over, and it still wouldn't mean as much to Will as this moment.

Mike pulled away and started running his hands through Will's hair, smiling at the boy. "I love you, Will Byers. And, I am so sorry for everything I put you through."

Will smiled. It was the first smile Mike had seen since they left Lenora.

Will just hugged Mike, tight. He didn't need to verbally accept Mike's apology for him to know that he wasn't mad, anymore.

Mike pulled Will's head up, and kissed him again. Will giggled into Mike's lips. Nothing in the world would make him happier.

Just then, Karen ran out to the backdoor where the party was watching their two best friends passionately kiss in the pouring rain. "You guys are going to track mud through the-," she stopped talking when she saw her son. It was the happiest she had ever seen him.

El gave Karen a side hug. Dustin and Lucas continued to watch their friends, grinning like crazy. They had been petitioning for them to get together since Will's dad left. It was very obvious to them that their friends were in love, and to finally see them express it, made their hearts full.

"Tell those two to take their clothes off before they come inside," Karen said. "I'll bring towels."

"Oh, I don't think they'll have any problem with that," Lucas joked, still in awe of the beauty he was witnessing.

Will pulled away from Mike, and intertwined their hands. "Let's go somewhere, and just be together. We can talk about everything."

"I'd like that," Mike smiled.

"You can start your life long mission of making it up to me," Will teased.

"Do kisses help?" Mike smirked.

"It's a start," Will said, kissing him again.

Mike hopped on the back of Will's bike, resting his head on Will's back.

"I love you, Mike Wheeler," Will breathed, taking off.