Work Text:
Mike always had a distaste for Valentine's Day.
In his mind, all it was, was some commercial holiday for couples who dont really care about each other to pretend to put effort in. He had voiced these opinions to Will countless times. Will was stuck over the years listening to the rambling evolve to be more and more harsh on the holiday. 'Do you see these cards? People can't even make handmade cards, they have to buy them.' 'Look at all these mouth-breathers swapping spit, they're going to be broken up in a week'
The thing is, Will didn't disagree, he didn't particularly care for the holiday, but he didn't hold the same disdain towards it. He thought it was cute, and he enjoyed the color scheme. It didn't help that as soon as he and Mike started dating, Mike's supposed loathing for all things overtly romantic got thrown out the window.
"You must treat your lover girl right—" Mike holds the back end of of the spatula to his mouth to mimic a microphone, the radio blasting through their apartment "if you wanna make, lover's rock" He's singing over the song, practically wiggling around to the beat.
Will rolls his eyes fondly from the lounge. He's working on his painting assignment, and he can just see Mike bobbing over his canvas, his voice ringing through their space.
"How many times do i need to tell you that this is not a love song" It was a habit of Mike's, for when a love song came on the radio, which they often did, to sing over them dramatically for Will, giving him his own little performance.
Mike ignores Will, continuing to sing. Will focuses his attention on his canvas, when he feels arms wrapping around him from behind. "Mike-" He gets spun around, their faces impossibly close.
"You must know a place you can kiss" Mike's voice falls seconds behind the song, leaning in with a goofy grin that Will just cant refuse.
Maybe he can allow this, if he gets to have Mike's lips on his from it.
Mike pulls away, keeping his arms looped around Will's waist, Will snakes his arms up and around Mike's neck.
"You're in a good mood" Will giggles when Mike starts to attack his face with kisses. Mike hums placing a particularly long kiss right above his lip.
"It's Valentine's Day tomorrow" Mike pulls away with a loud smacking noise sounding through the room.
If you told anybody now that Mike Wheeler used to be Valentine's Day number one hater, they would never believe you.
"Mm, indeed it is.." Will grins, threading one hand through Mike's hair, which he had grown out since they moved. Will couldn't be more grateful, the length is perfect for him to loop his finger through and twist it around like a high-schooler on the telephone.
Mike all but melts into the motion, his head dropping back into Will's hand so suddenly Will nearly drops him.
"Any particular reason you're bringing that up?" Mike's head comes back forward, hair tugging when Will's fingers get caught in a knot, causing them both to wince.
"Want to know what you want to do" All of Mike's energy from earlier has dissipated in Will's hands.
Will tilts his head, looking away as if he were seriously contemplating. "Isn't it a little late to be making a plan?" Mike rolls his eyes.
"I already have a plan, but i have two so i want to know which one you want to do" Mike says as if Will should have just read his mind. Will snorts, running his fingers through another knot, Mike refused to brush his hair.
Ever since one person told him that his hair got all frizzy and poofy because he was brushing it while dry, and that he should brush it wet, Mike has taken for just not brushing it all. Stating that it makes no difference at all, and its healthier for his hair.
Not that Will minds, he likes the curls, likes that they dont get brushed out anymore. He likes how Mike objectively looks like a mess, yet he pulls it off so well. He likes that he gets to run his hands through his hair and pull the knots apart himself. Will gets this.
"Okay- what do i get to pick from?" Mike's arms tighten around him as he starts to sway them side to side.
"We can either go out.. or we can stay in" Will's eyes narrow, hand stilling for a moment before continuing its motions.
"That's all i get to know?" Mike nods.
It was their first Valentine's Day together out of Hawkins, their second together total. They managed to get their shit together just in time in their senior year, but in Hawkins they couldn't really do much.
And they hadn't told any of their friends yet, so they ended up getting looped into a party hangout. Dustin had forced everybody, including Lucas and Max, to have a movie night at his place. He refused to be alone on the holiday. He was the more romantically driven one of the group.
But now, everyone who mattered knew, and they were far far away from Hawkins. They still couldn't be public about their relationship, they still had to be careful with who they spoke with, with how they referred to their partner. But they had found people like them here. In the right spaces, they got to just be.
"I think i want to stay in, i have classes all day tomorrow and its bound to be crazy" Mike hums in agreement, his eyes closing as Will starts to scratch lightly at his scalp.
Will smirks, using this moment of weakness to take his free hand away and grab his paintbrush that is covered in yellow paint. Slowly, to not be caught, he brings the brush up to Mike's face, then swipes the paint down his nose.
Mike's eyes snap open at the feeling, darting from Will's eyes to the brush in his hand. "You did not" Mike brings a hand up to his nose, looking at his own finger that is now covered in paint.
Will bites down on a grin, watching Mike's mouth open and close, like a fish searching for words. It was one of Will's favorite looks on Mike, when he looked so stunned, trying to process exactly what to do and say. Will had a lot of favorite looks on Mike, but this one was the easiest to inflict.
"Ohh you're going to regret that" Mike's eyes narrow as his face gets taken over by a mischievous grin, and Will knows Mike means his words.
"Wait— wait no im sorry" Will wiggles out of Mike's grasp, rushing over to the kitchen counter.
He expects Mike to chase him, that's what tends to happen. They run around their apartment, that is too small to be running around, until one of them barrels the other over. It was immature, but neither of them minded, they liked feeling like they were normal people who didn't grow up too quickly.
Will watches Mike look towards his pallette, then swipe his finger through the blue paint that was bloped on the corner. That's when it clicks.
"Please Mike, im sorry— i wont do it again" Will clasps his hands together, not making any effort to run any further. That was just part of the game, he always knew what the outcome was going to be.
"Too late for that now!" Mike takes long strides forward, not that thats out of the ordinary, landing right in front of Will in a matter of a few steps.
Will knows he's meant to act scared still, meant to beg for forgiveness for a little longer, draw out the inevitable. But he cant help himself from breaking out into a fit of giggles.
"Hey!" Mike swats his shoulder, with his paint free hand. "I'm meant to be taunting and scary right now" He pouts, which just makes Will giggle harder, throwing his head back.
"I know i know, im sorry.. You're just too cute" Will wipes a tear that had formed from his eye, still grinning when he looks up at Mike.
Mike rolls his eyes, a small smile forming on his face. "I guess i can't be mad at that" No, he couldn't, but he could never really be mad at Will.
That fact nearly made Will mad sometimes. How easily Mike folded, it was so different to when they younger, to how he would push and push until Will would break and Mike would have to beg for forgiveness. Now he pleads guilty almost instantly.
"So, am i forgiven?" Will looks up through his lashes, playing up a puppy eye-d look that Mike was always better than him at.
Mike grins now, lifting his hand in front of Will's face and leaning in. "Nope" He accentuates the popping noise at the end before swiping the paint on Will's cheek. Some of it had already dried on his finger, but he had enough to get a good swipe.
Will yelps at the feeling, swatting Mike's hands away before they both break into a fit of giggles. This was Will's favorite thing about growing up. He was so scared of it, he didn't want the change. But he's finding the idea of growing old, and changing, isn't so bad anymore. Not when he gets to have this.
— —
As expected, the outside world was absolutely insane. Will was starting to really get Mike's disdain towards Valentine's Day, because this was the most excited he's ever been to get home.
And its not even because he knows his boyfriend is waiting for him, but because he just wants to hide away from everyone. Everyone is so loud, and excited, and overwhelming. And Will is tired, and has work he needed to do, and he's hungry, because his favorite bodega was jam packed with people getting last minute snacks for their partners. He would think its sweet, but right now he feels like High-school Mike Wheeler, thinking its last minute and in his way.
Despite his annoyance, on his walk home, he still drops by the little florists that he knew had forget-me-nots, Mike's favorite flower. They weren't the couple to typically get each other flowers, but Will knew that Mike secretly melted whenever he brought any home.
Walking into their apartment, Will isn't surprised when he hears the radio on, Mike was a chronic radio listener, he nearly always had it playing. Will thinks he needs the constant stimulus or he might drive himself insane. And old habits die hard.
What does surprise him, is the smell of food cooking. Mike can cook, Will's known this for years. He tried to hide it, for some reason, but he was genuinely a good cook. But he doesn't cook often. They get tired, and Mike gets too immersed in his writing, Will in his paintings, so they end up microwaving a meal, or getting take-out. Proper, home-cooked meals, aren't common.
"I'm home" Will calls out, closing the door behind him, shrugging his bag off of his shoulder and sliding his shoes off.
Mike spins around, the back of his wooden spoon pointed towards his face, and Will knows he's about to get a performance again. The chorus starts to the song, and Will realizes, that it's Automatic, by the pointer sisters, one of Mike's favorites to serenade Will with.
"No way to control it! It's totally automatic!" Mike does a full 360 spin, wobbling as he tries to re-stabilize. Will has been attempting to get him to the doctors for his blood pressure issues, but he refuses.
"Mike! You're going to burn whatever it is your cooking!" Will laughs, pointing at the stove, causing Mike's eyes to widen, as he quickly turns back to the stove to turn down the temp.
"My fault for wanting to welcome my boyfriend home" Mike grumbles, shaking his head around.
Will giggles into his hand, walking over and sliding an arm around Mike's waist from behind before placing a kiss on his cheek. "It was wonderful, thank you" Another kiss for good measure, and Mike is grinning like he's won the lottery.
"Are those for me?" Mike spots the flower's in Will's hands.
Will detaches, holding the flowers up. "Happy Valentine's Day" Mike bites down on his lip, a flush rushing to his cheeks as he takes the flowers from Will's hands.
"Thank you.. How was your day" Mike walks to the other end of the counter, grabbing a small glass jar to fill with water.
Will sighs, flopping himself down on the seat on the edge of the kitchen. They didn't really have room for a proper a table to eat at, not without taking room from their lounge. So they have a small square table, with room for two seats, that sits right at the edge of their kitchen,
"Horrible. I mean— Everyone was just so loud today" Will rests his elbows on the table, leaning his head on his hands.
Mike hums, returning to the pot once he's put the flowers in the jar of water. "It tends to be like that"
"I know, it just seemed worse than normal? I guess im used to Hawkins, there isn't as many people to get so excitablethere, while here?" Will gestures with his hands, trying to get across what he means. Mike hums and nods, perfectly understanding what he's saying.
"The big city, is in fact, big" Mike stirs the pot, turning down the radio so it stays as background noise.
Will sighs. "That isn't even the worst part— i had three different girls try to ask me out today" Mike snickers as Will groans.
"Only three? That can't be right" Will really want's to know what Mike's cooking, but figures if he hasn't said it already, it must be a secret.
"Mike.." Will deadpans, making Mike laugh harder.
"I'm just saying, You used to get at least five girls ask you out, and that's only the ones you noticed. There was always like ten more" Will hide's his face in his hands.
He denies it being true, he really wishes it wasn't true, but unfortunately, it was. Will always had girls flirting with him, asking for his number, asking him out on a date, anything. He always had to try and find a way to let them down easy without outing himself.
One time, after he and Mike had gotten together, he said he had a girlfriend. But all that lead to was people wanting to know who his girlfriend was, then thinking he had some sort of imaginary girlfriend.
"It was not ten, you're being insane" Mike simply rolls his eyes in response.
"I'm just glad i didn't have to see it all today" Will pulls his face out his hands, smirking.
It was a known fact, that Mike could be very jealous. He enjoyed joking, like this, he liked the fact that Will was seen as attractive by people, liked the idea that people wanted Will, but he got him. Will understood that well. But in action, when he had to watch someone actively flirt with Will, or shoot their shot, it always looked like a blood vessel was going to pop.
"I remember when you nearly outed us at Stacey's party" Mike's face turns pink almost instantly.
"I did not!" He doesn't look at Will, his focus purely on the food he's making.
"You told Jennifer, and her friends, that I was taken, when they weren't even doing anything" Will had been pulled away at some point during the night, he doesn't know why. But suddenly the group of them had been talking to him about art, and colleges, and how he might be doing art as a career.
It was awkward, Will didn't particularly like talking to them. They previously acted like they were too good to be around him, and they even called him Zombie boy at some point during the night. But he liked talking about his art, and he felt rude just walking away. That was until, Mike yanked him away from them, grumbling out that he was taken.
"Yeah— well, you were. And they didn't even click on to what i meant, they were too drunk" Will shrugs, but agrees. They fully reeked of alcohol, which just made the whole interaction worse. "Besides, you get jealous too"
Mike points the spoon in Will's direction, tilting his head at him. "I never said i didn't" Will grins, watching Mike move through the kitchen.
Will didn't have the same show's that Mike did with his jealousy, it was subtle, in a way that usually only Mike noticed. Max started to notice it more recently, and has taken to constantly telling Jane whenever she does.
The sound of the stove being turned off pulls Will attention, watching Mike reach up to grab two bowls.
"Do you need any help?" Mike shakes his head instantly, starting to dish up. Will wasn't able to get a good look at what he was putting in the bowl from this angle.
"Now— i know its simple, and i could have done something more, but i just thought-"
"Mike" Will cuts him off, laughing lightly. "Whatever it is, it's perfect"
Mike rolls his eyes playfully, walking over and placing a bowl in front of Will before sitting down himself. Now Will can see, that Mike really was telling the truth, it really was simple. Macaroni and cheese. It was simple, and it was perfect.
It was Will's favorite meal, even now, even when he should have a more refined, adult, palate. It brought a sense of comfort, it was never something he had often, nor could his stomach handle that. But it was always his favorite when he did.
"See? I told you, perfect" Will smiles at Mike, taking a bite.
Mike looks away flushed, still getting shy at the compliments Will refuses to let up. "So, you prefer this over some fancy restaurant dinner you could be having?"
"Absolutely— besides, i dont think we would even be able to get a table anywhere tonight, you wanna see how busy outside was" Will sighs, the memories causing his shoulders to tense up. "Why? Do you not?"
Mike chuckles, finishing his mouthful before replying, something thats only become normal recently. "No, i prefer this.. You know why i prefer it?"
Will tilts his head at him, watching Mike's questioning expression for a tell. Mike then, leans forward slightly, bringing his hand onto the table, reaching out to grab Will's and interlacing them together.
"This. I prefer that we can do this" Mike squeezes Will's hand a little tighter, pulling it across the table so they sit comfortably in the middle of the table. On top of the table.
Will nearly wants to cry at the gesture. It's not the first time they've held hands, not even close. It's not the first time they've held hands on top of their own table. But this moment feels more intimate, as if they were really out for dinner together and were able to do this. Didn't have to settle for the firmness of ankles pushed together if the table cloth went low enough for prying eyes to not spot them.
"I prefer this too" Will manages out, squeezing Mike's hand back.
They settle into quiet comfortable conversation, pockets of silence as they eat. Mike eggs on more of Will's stories from his classes, sending him on rants. Always backing him up that he was the one in the right. The radio hums in the background, an onslaught of love songs after love songs, lifting the mood.
"Ladies and gentlemen, happy Valentine's Day—" the quiet crackle of the radio host can be heard. "-we're playing a request from— Jenny! Hey Jenny, hope you're having a lovely Valentine's Day. Anyways, Jenny's asking that we play Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen—" Will's ears perk up at this, and clearly Mike's do too.
They both straighten up at the same time, turning to look at the radio sitting on the counter. "Well Jenny… I think we can do that for you, everybody! Dancing in the Dark, Bruce Springsteen" The song starts to play, and Will feels himself start to laugh at the chances of it all.
"There's no way" Will mutters out, as Mike gets up from his chair, turning the radio up.
"Well, we have to" Mike's reaching his hand out to Will, and Will knows exactly what he wants.
"I guess we do" Will takes his hand, getting pulled up into a loose embrace as they start to sway around.
The thing with Mike's chronic radio addiction, was when Will and Mike shared their proper first kiss in Mike's bedroom, the radio was playing. And the song that just happened to be playing, was on right now.
Now Mike said whenever Dancing in the Dark played, that they had to dance together, that it was their song. And Will couldn't refuse.
"You know" Will murmurs, leaning his forehead onto Mike's shoulder, tilting to look up at him. Mike hums back, looking down at him, their hands interlacing as they sway. "I think, this might be the best Valentine's Day ever"
Mike chuckles, and Will can feel it reverberate through him into his skull. "Even with how annoying everybody was?" Will hums, eyes closing.
"Yeah, cause i got to come home to you" Will opens an eye, watching Mike's expression closely.
Mike's face is soft, his eyes spilling out every love confession he's ever said. His mouth tilts up in a soft, small smile. This close, Will can count every one of his freckles.
"Well, its only our first, proper one. Many more to come" Will closes his eyes again, allowing himself to melt against Mike's warmth, to soak in the comfort.
"Gonna be hard to beat" Mike leans down to place a kiss onto the side of Will's head, squeezing his hands tighter.
"I'll find a way" And Will believes him. Because he always did.