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It was not that Will was a sadist because he really, really wasn't. If anything, he was a masochist. He'd thrived in his eighteen years on the planet on inflicting all sorts of psychological torture purely on himself. Whether he was beating himself up about being gay, or being into D&D, or being taken by Vecna, it didn't really matter.
So explain to him then why he was currently in his house — well, Hopper's house but it was his and his mom's now too now that Hopper and his mom were engaged — with his back against his front door and Mike Wheeler on the other side of it, pounding at it like it was a particularly large drum.
Jane was giggling, her laughter almost infectious. It would definitely have made Will burst into laughter too if it hadn't been for the fact that he was completely torn up as to what to do.
On the one hand, Mike had messed up. He had supposed to have been taking Will on a date to Enzo's but his shift at Scoop's Ahoy had run late by forty five minutes, which wasn't so bad only Will had been looking forward to this date for three weeks and Mike hadn't called to tell him he was going to be late, which was very much a mistake.
On the other hand, Mike was sorry. He was standing outside in the pouring rain, messing up his curls, and talking to Will through the door sounding like a particularly sad dog whining for forgiveness after eating a whole sausage off the table. Plus it wasn't as if this was something Mike did regularly. It was a one off. Will should really forgive him.
The thing was that usually, Mike was the type to start bickering over everything. He was argumentative and headstrong and Will loved that about him. He loved his willingness to debate and his charming stubbornness and his built in protective instinct. He did. Still, having Mike begging for forgiveness wasn't exactly a bad change of pace and Will didn't know whether he'd live to see the day it happened again so maybe he was entitled to milk it a bit.
"You're having fun," Jane said, grinning. She was getting slowly better at using contractions and at recognising other people's emotions. Will wished she wasn't in this instant.
"I'm not," Will replied because half of him was devastated that Mike was upset and the other half was delighted that he was so agreeable for once, so willing to do everything Will said in order to be forgiven. The internal battle was crushing him.
"You are," Jane said. "You want him to come crawling back to you."
Will raised his eyebrows. "Where did you learn that phrase?"
Jane shrugged. "Max. She doesn't like Mike."
Will sighed. Mike and Max's feud had gone on forever. To be fair to Max, Mike had been a bit of a dick to her at first but he'd changed. They were simultaneously best friends and worst enemies now. Will could hear Max say she wanted to kill Mike and would kill anyone who killed Mike in the same sentence and not doubt that either thing was true.
"She doesn't like boys," Will said.
Jane frowned. "She's dating Lucas. I don't think she's gay."
Will huffed fondly. "That's not what I meant. I meant she's a misandrist."
Jane's frown deepened. "A what?"
"Someone who dislikes men," Will said. "Like misogynist but for men, only usually not as bad because misandrists don't tend to go round killing random men like misogynists do to women. I'll explain later."
"Will!" Mike's voice came through. He was nearly shouting, which was impressive. Will would have thought his voice would be hoarse by now. "Come on, sweetheart. I'm sorry!"
"I should let him in," Will said, guilt setting in.
"Max says men deserve to pay for their mistakes like everyone else," Jane pointed out.
"While that's common sense, I feel like Mike's paid for it. He's been out there for fifteen minutes."
Jane rolled her eyes, a habit she'd picked up from Will. It was sweet and made Will feel like the world's most exasperating person at the same time.
"He will never learn if you don't teach him," she said.
Will supposed that was true. He wasn't schooling Mike or anything but the guy needed some serious etiquette lessons at times. He especially had needed them when he was dating Jane given the way he treated her.
But Mike was a good boyfriend to Will. He was endlessly sappy and attentive and he'd come out to their friends just because he wanted to scream from the rooftops (as safely as one could in Indiana) that Will was his boyfriend.
This was one mistake.
"Will!" Mike called.
"I'm letting him in," Will said, resigned.
Jane groaned. "Fine! I'm going to my room so you can kiss and make up."
"Jane!" Will said. Jane smiled and left the room.
"Will, baby," Mike said, his tone gentle and pleading. "I fucked up. I know I fucked up. Please let me prove to you I won't again. Please don't let this be the end of us."
Will rolled his eyes and unlocked the door, swinging it open to reveal a drenched Mike Wheeler with his dark eyes as wide as saucers and his curly hair, which was down to his shoulders now, dripping. He was wearing one of Will's hoodies, which had too short sleeves but too wide shoulders that just about made up for it, and he looked utterly adorable.
"I'm not going to dump you, idiot," Will said first of all because he had priorities.
"Thank fuck," Mike said and he collapsed into Will's arms, flinging his arms around Will's shoulders and hugging the life out of him.
Will couldn't help but smile as he hugged him back, arms wrapping around Mike's waist, bunching up his hoodie. He let himself breathe in the scent of a soaking wet Mike, which was an aftershave and forest smell, and let himself bury his head in Mike's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Mike said, refusing to let go of Will. "I'm really sorry."
"I forgive you," Will said, rubbing a soothing hand up and down Mike's back. "Just call me next time, okay?"
"Yeah, I will. Of course I will. I'm sorry. We can go to Enzo's another time. I'll pay for everything."
They both knew that, when it came down to it, Will would insist on splitting the bill like he did for all their dates but, for now, Will chuckled and said, "You better."
"I swear I will. You're the best. I love you so much, okay? Don't forget that."
In the arms of his ridiculous boyfriend, Will hung on to the hug for just a second longer before pulling away so he could meet Mike's earnest eyes.
"I love you too," he said. Mike's tension visibly eased and it was all Will could do to kiss him about it.
Mike kissed back instantly and eagerly, hands cupping the back of Will's neck, drawing him closer, and Will couldn't believe he'd ever denied Mike anything in his life, even temporarily.