Chapter Text
Mike wakes up slowly, the honeysoft sun only just peeking through the curtains, as if reluctant to let go of their borrowed days. The weight of Will is curled against him and their legs tangle comfortably. For a second, Mike forgets the world outside the cabin exists. It’s just them, cocooned in the quiet, the night still buzzing faintly on his skin.
“Guys,” Dustin says, rubbing his eyes as he sits up in his bed, “Sharing a bed again?”
Will blinks awake at the sound. Mike reflexively tightens his arm around him.
Lucas is already sitting on the end of his bed, tying his shoe laces and looking amused, “Yup.” He flicks an eye Mike’s way, as if taking in the scene - the shared blanket, Mike’s mussed shirt, Will blinking sleep from his eyes - and raises one eyebrow.
There’s a beat where Mike thinks about lying, panicking, flailing - but something in him is different this morning. Braver, maybe. Settled. He meets Lucas’s gaze, deadpan, “Yeah. What about it?”
Will goes pink. Dustin’s face splits into a grin so dramatic it could power a small town.
“Ohhh,” He says, like he’s discovered a rare species, “We’re doing this. You guys have figured your shit out?”
Lucas snorts and moves toward his duffel at the end of the room, “Don’t encourage them, Dustin. They’re gonna be all gross and couple-y.”
Dustin just laughs, flopping back down in bed. They keep up chatter but Mike’s not listening. His eyes are trained on Will who’s sitting up and tugging his shirt down from where it’s ridden up. Mike swallows. He could get used to waking up like this.
“Breakfast smells like heaven,” Dustin declares, finally getting out of bed, “Also Maggie said she’s making the pancakes ‘obscenely large’ because it’s our last day so we should get there fast.”
“Last day,” Lucas muses, finishing his shoes and standing up, “Weird, right? Feels like we just got here.”
Dustin is scrambling to pull on jeans, “Yeah. I thought this place would suck. But it didn’t. It was… kinda great. Even the chores. Even the chickens,” He shudders a little, “Mostly.”
Lucas grins, “Trauma builds character.”
Dustin finally finishes getting ready, leaving his shoelaces untied on his feet, “Okay. Group pact: we’re coming back here next year. All of us. Same time, same place. Redemption arc summer.”
Lucas gives him a look, “Redemption from what?”
“I don’t know! Life?”
Will laughs, soft and sleepy. Mike feels the sound right in the center of him.
“Yeah,” Lucas finally says. “I’d come back.”
“Obviously,” Dustin adds, “Now, breakfast!”
They make for the door and the room feels quiet once the door clicks closed. Will glances at Mike, their knees brushing under the blanket. Mike nudges him gently, a promise more than a question.
They move slowly as they get up, like they’re afraid any sudden movement will break whatever fragile magic the night left behind. Mike brushes a strand of hair from Will’s forehead. Will smiles at him like he’s still catching up to the fact that last night was real.
“Breakfast?” Will asks.
Mike nods, leaning in just enough that Will’s breath mixes with his, “Yeah,” he murmurs. “But stay close to me today?”
Will’s cheeks flush, “Obviously.” And he steals one last kiss - sweet and homely.
Breakfast goes by quickly. It feels odd to be saying goodbye to the people they’ve been around every day for the past two weeks. Maggie does her rounds, giving out seconds of pancakes and taking a moment to speak to everyone and make sure they enjoyed their stay. Jack’s more quiet, sitting with his coffee as he surveys the room. Mike meets his eye and he gives him a nod, somehow it means more to him than Maggie’s praise and well wishes. An unspoken thing.
By the time the bus rumbles up the gravel driveway, they’re all standing out in the blearing sun, bags in hand. There’s a huddle of other campers also leaving via the bus and their chatter fills the air along with the hum of cicadas and someone playing music from a staticky boombox.
Jude appears from the barn carrying something wrapped in brown paper with Nate at her side. Her smile is wide, “Before you all go gallivanting off, I’ve got something for you, Will.”
Will blinks as Jude presses the bundle into his arms, “Is this-?”
“The painting,” Jude finishes, giving it a pat, “Thanks for helping with it. I couldn’t have finished it without you so it’s yours. To remind you all of your stay here.”
Will hugs the painting close, appreciative. Nate goes to Lucas, Dustin and Max to give his goodbyes while Jude bustles off to talk to El. Mike watches them exchanging numbers and frantic last hugs. Will must be watching too because he hums happily. Once Lucas, Dustin and Max are boarding the bus, Nate comes back. Mike finds himself hanging back, especially when Nate pulls Will into a quick hug, making Mike’s stomach clench.
Will gives a little wave and starts for the bus as well. Mike goes to follow but he feels a hang tug his wrist. He turns and Nate’s eyeing him, beaming, “So. You and Byers?” Mike finds himself relaxing, giving the slightest, reluctant smile back. Nate looks pleased, releasing his wrist, “Don’t mess it up, Indiana.”
“I’m gonna try really hard not to,” Mike tells him, glancing over his shoulder at Will waiting by the bus door with an inquisitive look. When he looks back, Nate shrugs like his answer is enough.
He bumps his shoulder against Mike’s once, friendly, “Good luck out there.”
“You too,” Mike says. And he means it.
El’s the last on the bus, still hugging Jude so hard they both sway while Max and Lucas wolf-whistle from the bus window. They’re still talking, holding each other's faces tenderly until the bus driver gives an impatient honk. El grabs her bags and rushes to her seat next to Max, breathless.
As the bus door closes and the road starts to move beneath them, Mike glances around the bus to make sure everyone is occupied. When he’s satisfied, he leans into Will and presses a small kiss to his cheek.
Will turns to him, smiling, “What was that for?”
Mike shrugs, pretending he’s cooler than he is and not like his heart rate is soaring, “I just wanted to.”
Will bumps their shoulders as the bus makes it out of the driveway, onto the main road, “Good. You can keep doing that.”
The farm shrinks behind them - the barns, fields, chickens that no longer terrorize Dustin, all fading into a warm, echoing memory. Mike looks to Will, who’s already looking at him. Will’s fingers find his. And even as the trees swallow the view of the ridge, even as the dusty road leads them home, even as the world waits, Mike knows the truth with a quiet, steady certainty.
This isn’t an ending. It’s the beginning of everything he’d once been too scared to hope for.