Chapter Text
Deciding to move in with Will Byers for college was the easiest thing Mike had ever done. They’d spent the last thirteen years of their life practically inseparable. They’d faced monsters from another dimension and made it to see the other side of seventeen. They’d literally been to hell and back together, Mike was sure they could manage sharing an apartment.
Originally, he had proposed the idea of getting a spot with Dustin and Lucas too. Mike thought if he wished it hard enough he could keep the whole party together. But things were different, nothing could last forever. Lucas ultimately chose to move in with Max, and Dustin transferred to Suzie’s school after freshman year. That left Will and Mike, which was nothing new.
During the bad years, this was how Mike referred to the time between Will’s disappearance and the final closure of the Upsidedown, there had definitely been a shift in their friendship that neither of them had ever directly addressed. At the time he figured it mostly had to do with his being busy dating El. But in the midst of the war, a teary, brave Will came out to the party. Before the words left his mouth Will had looked nervous but the moment he’d finished speaking everyone had piled into a group hug every member telling him how much they loved him, how proud of him they were.
Mike felt something else in that moment. Beneath the pride was the faintest twist of guilt. While each of them played some role in saving the world, Will arguably took the brunt of the work. To learn that he had been fighting an internal battle at the same time, and that he hadn’t gone to Mike about it, made him feel sick. What kind of best friend doesn’t notice that? In Lenora he’d told Will that he wanted to be a team, but he still hadn’t been able to see all that Will was facing. Although it was a deeply personal conflict, Mike hated that he hadn’t known, that he hadn’t helped somehow. They were best friends and that’s what Mike did for his best friends, he helped.
That first year of college went by fast. Against all odds, the whole party was together and for the first time in years Mike felt like he could breathe again. He knew he wasn’t the only one, Lucas and Max were all shy grins and stolen kisses. Will was laughing and his panic attacks were few and far between. Even Dustin, clearly missing his girlfriend, was more himself than he had been in ages. They all missed El but she called often and was happy with Hopper and Joyce in Hawkins. To Mike, everything was perfect. But summer came and naturally, change came with it.
At least he still had Will.
And they were close again. Whatever invisible wall had been put up during their early teenage years was decidedly not up anymore. Mike was prepared to do everything in his power to keep it that way.
The first few weeks of sophomore year they survived off toast and take out but slowly the boys began to introduce cooking to their routine. This was largely due to the fact that Max and Lucas were so genuinely concerned about their health that they initiated mandatory weekly dinners at their place. Mike hadn’t known that Lucas was so skilled in the kitchen and the realization granted him a new found motivation to improve his own cooking abilities. While he and Will had always fit easily into each other's lives, learning to navigate the mundane sides of living together reinforced how Mike had always felt about their dynamic; they just worked.
Cooking dinner together often served as a reminder of this. As Mike prepped the food, Will floated through the kitchen passing him ingredients without having to be asked. He would start the dishes while Mike manned the stove so by the time the meal was ready their space was still relatively clean and organized. Mike loved that part of the day. He loved coming home to the familiarity– the comfort of his best friend. He loved how they could say so much without saying a single word. He loved that he was the one who knew Will best, that he was the one who got to see him unguarded.
He loved that he was the one that Will came home to.
As the semester went on Mike held onto their evenings in the apartment. Cooking and eating together felt sacred. Between classes, studying, and his social life, Will kept busy. As much as Mike tried to ignore it, he often found himself longing for the days to close, waiting for the familiar sound of the front door opening and Will sliding off his shoes.
Will had always been friendly but since moving out of Hawkins and into college the confidence and charm that had previously been reserved for their D&D Party seemed to be on display for everyone. While Mike had managed the first year of university, Will had flourished. He thrived in his classes, made friends easily, and even got involved with the college radio station (making both Robin and Jonathon prouder than ever before). That’s how they'd gotten the invitation for the function that night. The station was throwing a Fall mixer, an annual party for the radio hosts and their friends to drink and talk and bond.
Mike still hadn’t met any of Will’s new friends beyond brief ‘hello’s and he wasn’t dying to spend a night bonding with near strangers but Will had been so excited about the whole thing that Mike hadn’t really had an option.
Who was he to deny Will of his enjoyment? Who was he to deny Will of anything?
“Mike, are you ready? I told them we’d be there by nine!” Lucas and Max had made the last minute decision that they were too busy to go to this party but Mike had promised Will that he’d be there. He stared at himself in the mirror a bit longer before deciding his layered t-shirt and jeans would have to do. He left his room and met Will in the kitchen.
“Yeah, ready” Will looked up and Mike’s anxieties started to decline almost immediately– Will had that effect on him. He handed Mike a drink and raised his own in a cheers. They emptied the cups, choking down the nauseating mixture of whatever Will had found in the apartment before heading out the door and into the night ahead.
The walk from their apartment was quick, most of the students lived in the same neighborhood. Mike watched as Will pulled at his sleeves, adjusting his jacket repeatedly throughout the walk. He went to readjust again and Mike touched his hand reflexively.
“Sorry– Thanks” Will looked at Mike and stopped messing with his outfit. Mike smiled and nodded, calming Will was second nature at this point.
“Look Mike, this group– This party, I’ve just heard things and–”
“Will, it’s a radio mixer not a frat party, I think I’ll survive” Will frowned,
“Still, if it’s weird or– if anything happens–”
“Are we about to get hazed? What have you heard about these music nerds?” Mike laughed. He was hoping he came off as relaxed and supportive but the worry on Will’s face was throwing him off. 'I thought he was excited about this?' They walked the rest of the way in silence. As they neared the end of the block Will pointed to a two-story house on the corner,
“It’s uh, here.” Mike nodded and gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile. Will returned it and knocked.
“Williaaaaaam!” A girl Mike didn't recognize squealed as she opened the door and pulled Will into a suffocating hug. Mike stood quietly. When the girl finally released Will he began the introductions,
“Mike, this is Stacy, our station president. Stacy, Mike” Mike gave an awkward wave as the girl, Stacy, looked him up and down.
“Hello Mike.” She looked to Will, “Where have you been hiding him?” Will’s eyes widened and he shoved her playfully,
“Stacy.” They stared at each other for a moment and Mike watched as something passed silently between them. Stacy broke first,
“What kind of host am I? Come on in– and what are you two drinking?” They followed her into the house.
As soon as they passed the threshold they were engulfed by the party. Bodies were pressed into every corner of the room, Mike had to walk at an angle to maneuver the crowd. The strobe lights and music didn’t help either, he started to feel like he shouldn’t have joked about frats and hazing. He breathed in deeply, blinking hard against the lights when he felt a slight nudge. He didn’t have to look to know it was Will’s elbow brushing his. He looked anyway. When he met Will’s eyes they seemed to ask ‘you okay?’ Mike nodded in return and Will’s concerned expression dissolved. It had been over a decade of friendship but their ability to communicate without words still amazed Mike sometimes.
Stacy returned with two red cups which the boys accepted gratefully,
“Enjoy!” She trilled disappearing back into the crowd. Mike downed his drink in one go and watched as Will nursed his own much slower. The party raged on around them and there was something grounding in having his world narrowed down to the bob of Will's throat as he swallowed each mouthful. With the rest of the environment being so unfamiliar Mike found comfort in what he always did, examining the details of Will Byers.
Will finished his drink and Mike snagged the cup from his hand,
“Refill?” He asked. Will nodded, grinning and they made their way towards the makeshift bar.
“I’m glad you came out tonight,” Will started, Mike smiled, listening as he poured him a fresh drink from the bowl of hot-orange punch.
“It sucks that Max and Lucas flaked and I know you don’t really know these people but it means a lot that you’re here with me.”
“Dude, of course!” Mike replied. He turned to hand Will the solo cup, now filled to the brim. Will reached for the cup at the same time, bumping Mike’s hand and splashing the neon liquid onto his own shirt. After months of sharing the same space the two of them were usually in perfect sync. Something about this night, this party was making their energy feel different.
“Fuck sorry–” Mike sputtered searching for towel or something to clean the mess with.
“No that was my fault–” Will replied, holding the dripping cup slightly away from his body. Mike settled for using his own shirt to help with the mess. He stepped close to Will and used the bottom half of his tee to wipe at the sticky liquid now saturating Will’s front.
“Is that any better?” He asked, his hand swiping uselessly at Will’s chest and stomach. “Yeah,” Will replied with his eyes cast on the floor,
“Much better.” He then looked up at Mike with an unreadable expression, almost like a challenge. Or a question. The issue was, Mike couldn’t tell what was being asked.
“Can I get a sip of that?” He nodded to the drink.
Will nodded yes in return. Holding his gaze, he took a deep sip from the solo cup before offering it towards Mike. They were so close, nearly chest to chest. So it took little effort for Mike to close the gap between his mouth and the edge of the cup. Will tipped it slightly, letting the drink pour onto Mike’s tongue. He felt his mouth fill with the fruity sweet liquid, swallowing hard when it became too much. Will watched him intensely. Mike never broke eye contact. After he swallowed, Will blinked and took a half step back.
“Come on, I wanna get some air.” He grabbed Mike by the forearm and started towards the sliding door that led to the backyard. Mike wondered absently if the blush he felt forming was a result of the alcohol.