there was a moment of silence.
just will, and mike, and the odd tension fluttering around them both.
the others had just left, and with the sound of the door shutting, the two boys just glanced around, desperately searching for something to occupy the quiet.
they ended up just staring at each other.
their eyes locked, and they didn't know what was considered 'too long' of a look, but they were both doing it,
so who was there to be ashamed?
mike was the first to break the stillness, clearing his throat,
"so... i uh, like your new cut."
"my what?"
"your haircut, it's nice," mike awkwardly laughed, already regretting speaking.
"oh yeah, thanks.
i figured i had the bowl-cut too long so i um... yeah."
will looked down, picking at the skin on his fingers,
trying to find anything to do besides continue practically gazing at the latter.
mike nodded, taking a shaky breath in,
"me and el broke up."
will all but perked up, "what? didn't you come to cali to.. i don't know, heal your relationship?"
he nodded again.
"well, yes, but i came here for you too will,"
the other boy just sheepishly looked down.
"but anyway, no we um.. talked and decided since everything with vecna and dr. brenner, she wanted to take time to focus on herself."
"oh.. i'm sorry mike- i'm sure you guys will get back together soon, i mean, you were the one who gave her that courage to fight back to vecna so.."
mike rubbed his neck, glancing away, "well, in some weird, fucked up way, i kind of wanted it to happen? me and eleven haven't been doing the best recently anyway, and i.. have someone else i'm interested in."
will bit his lip, trying to scarf down whatever hope had slowly begun to build in him,
"oh. well i'm um, happy for you mike, i hope everything goes good for you and the girl you like."
"who said it was a girl?"
the original silence came back, and mike wished he could go back in time and just say thanks.
"you like a.. boy?"
he wished he could lift his gaze off the ground, look straight at will and tell him the truth, confess everything.
"mike?"
he let out a shaky breath, slowly looking upwards at will and once again locking eyes with him.
it was like he understood everything perfectly just with a single glance.
mike swallowed, hoping his assumptions that maybe will shared his feelings, or would be willing to reciprocate were correct, before lunging towards him and connecting their lips.
time froze for a second, just the two of them existing with nothing else but the warm feeling in their stomach.
it felt like minutes before will reluctantly pulled away, "this isn't- isn't a dream, right? i'm not under vecna's curse or-"
mike laughed, genuinely, for the first time in a while, face still hovering so closely to will's that he could feel their shaky breath on his skin.
"no, no this is real."
will smiled, mumbling a 'good' before resuming their kiss, grabbing onto mike's shoulders, afraid to lose this feeling of what it's like to be in such close proximity to the boy he's been pining over for so many years.
they'd both been pining, really, hiding under the false reality that they were too busy with will's newfound painting passion, and mike with eleven, but there's only so many secrets you can hide from your best friend that you've known your entire life.
mike was the second to pull away, leaning his forehead against will's,
"i.. like a boy. and he's everything i've been searching for this entire time."
will tried not to let his emotions get the best of him, but many tears decided to fall anyway as he choked out a laugh, "do i know him?"
mike smiled,
"yeah. very well."
