THE SEVENTH WHEEL.. mike hanlon x pennywise ✔️

iii. the stranger

The next morning, Mike woke up to birds chirping outside his window. As usual, they were flapping their wings on his window, looking for food. He stood up and slammed his hand into the window, scaring them away.

He sighed and went out into the kitchen, where he grabbed a bowl, milk and cereal for breakfast. After he was done, he tossed the dishes in the dishwasher and changed his clothes. It's Saturday, he thought happily. Maybe I'll see Penny again!  And with that thought, he told his grandfather he was leaving and whisked out the door.

He mounted his bike and took off. His house was the furthest from town, as he lived right near his grandpa's farm. From here, Stan's house was the closest. Maybe the Losers want to meet Penny!

So, when he reached Stan's house, he knocked on the door. Stan came to the door, with bedhead and half-asleep eyes. He had a loose t-shirt and- Mike snickered at this- fluffy pajama pants with penguins on them.

"Mike?" he said groggily. He ran a hand through his messy hair. "It's eight o'clock in the morning! And don't laugh at the pants," he scoffed. "My cousin got them for me when I was 10."

"And they still fit you?" Mike said through his laughter. The pants were a pale purple, and the little penguins on them were wearing scarves. There was a rather big hole on the knee of the pants.

Stan nodded, looking annoyed. "Where are we going?" he asked, his eyes flickering to Mike's bicycle.

"I don't know, since it's Saturday, I thought we could get the Losers together. There's someone I want you all to meet."

☾

After Stan got dressed, the two of them were off to Bill's house. Mike listened to the clinking of his chains as they biked. Stan was looking at the houses with a satisfied look on his face. Mike wondered why, but then realized it was probably because they were heading to Bill's.

Another pang of jealousy struck Mike. When Stan and Bill were together with the Losers, they acted like they weren't together. Maybe it was because they didn't want the rest of the Losers to think they were different now since they started dating. Bill and Stan just acted like friends, but if Mike looked over at the right time or place, he could catch Bill absentmindedly running his fingers along Stan's hand as they sat together, or Stan leaning his head on Bill's shoulder when they were watching movies. They weren't like Ben and Bev, who weren't crazy public but did nothing to hide their relationship.

As Mike and Stan approached Bill's house, Stan's face turned pink. He started to fiddle with his hands like he always did when Bill was around. Now, Mike wouldn't ever admit this to either of them, but Bill and Stan were very cute together.

Sure, Richie and Eddie and Bev and Ben were
good couples too, Mike supposed, but he didn't see as much of them as he did Bill and Stan.

Mike's bike skidded to a stop and he asked Stan if he wanted to get Bill. Stan said it didn't matter to him. So Mike walked up to Bill's door and knocked three times.

A little boy came up to the door. Georgie smiled at Mike through the glass and reached up for the handle. The door swung open and Georgie squealed happily. "Hiya, Mike! Are ya lookin' for Billy?"

"Yeah," Mike said. A black cat strode across the Denbrough's hallway. It stopped to look at Mike for a second, but then continued on its way.

"Billy! Your friends are here!" Georgie called. "Come downstairs!"

Bill Denbrough walked down the stairs, with a tired look on his face. "H-Hey, Mi-Mike. What's u-up?"

"Not much. I was wondering if you were able to come with me and Stan--"

At Stan's name, Bill's face brightened a little.

"— to go get the rest of the Losers. There's somebody I want you all to meet."

Bill agreed and changed. When they returned outside, Stan was waiting. As he saw Bill, the corner of his mouth lifted. Then, the three of them were off to Eddie's house.

☾

After Eddie, they picked up Richie. And then Beverly. And then Ben. And then, Mike was determined to find Penny again. So he led them to the bushes where he first found Penny.

"Wait here," he told them. "I'll go find him."

Richie gave Mike a look of pure confusion. "Holy shit, did Mikey find himself a catch after all this time?"

Eddie gave Richie a little shove. "Shut up, Richie. I'm sure whoever Mike met yesterday is great."

Mike walked over to the bush and pulled the branches apart again. But Penny was not there. "Penny?" he called. "It's me, Mike! Where are you?"

And then, there was a little rustle in the bush. A tiny cat popped out from inside the bushes. "Meow," it said.

"You're not Penny," Mike noted, then felt stupid for saying it. And as Mike blinked, the cat slowly materialized into Pennywise.