Chapter Text
Lucas looked back at them, impatience flickering across his face. “C’mon, guys. We gotta go.”
Will took a step forward.
“Will, wait.”
He kept walking.
“Will, can we talk?”
Still walking.
“Will!”
Mike grabbed his arm.
“Was it just a crush?”
That did it.
Will stopped so abruptly Mike nearly ran into him. Slowly, he turned around. Mike didn’t let go.
“You said,” Mike rushed on, words tumbling over each other, “that he was just your crush, and—I mean—are you over him?”
“Mike…” Will’s voice wavered. “What are you—”
“And how can you be sure he doesn’t feel the same?” Mike interrupted, his grip tightening without meaning to. “You never… asked him. Did you?”
Will’s heart was pounding so loudly he was sure Mike could hear it. The world felt very small, very quiet, like everything else had pulled away just to listen.
“So,” Mike said, voice cracking now, “just tell me I’m not crazy for thinking it’s me. And that I’m not—” He swallowed hard. “Too late.”
“You’re not.”
The words barely made it past Will’s throat, but they landed anyway.
“You’re not too late,” he said again, stronger this time. “And you’re not crazy.” His breath shook. “But how— I thought—”
They were impossibly close now. Will could feel Mike’s breath, warm and uneven, brushing his lips. Mike’s eyes shone as he lifted a hand, wiping hastily at his cheeks.
“You were wrong,” Mike whispered. “And I was terrified.”
A soft, broken laugh escaped Will, tears blurring his vision. “Apparently.”
Mike’s hand trembled as it came up to cup Will’s cheek, thumb brushing just under his eye. Then he leaned in and kissed him.
The world exploded.
Will gasped softly against Mike’s mouth before kissing him back, fingers fisting in the front of Mike’s shirt, pulling him closer like he was afraid Mike might disappear if he didn’t. The kiss was clumsy and desperate and perfect.
When they finally pulled apart, neither of them moved far. Their foreheads rested together, breaths still unsteady.
“When this is over,” Mike murmured, a small smile breaking through, “I’m taking you on a date. Okay?”
Will smiled so hard it almost hurt. He kissed Mike again, quick and sure this time.
“Okay,” he whispered, voice thick with everything he didn’t know how to say yet.
Mike laced their fingers together, squeezing gently, and pressed a soft kiss to Will’s forehead. He was smiling — really smiling — like he hadn’t done it in a long time.
“Hey, guys,” Lucas said, clearing his throat. “Uh, sorry to ruin the moment, but we seriously have to go.”
Mike and Will jumped, both of them having completely forgotten Lucas was still there.
Mike’s ears turned bright red. “Sorry.”
Lucas rolled his eyes, but there was a grin tugging at his mouth as he turned away. “Yeah. Sure.”
They didn’t let go of each other’s hands the entire walk. Even when the air grew colder, even when the shadows stretched too long, Mike’s thumb kept tracing small, steady circles against Will’s knuckles, like a promise.
They met up with Robin, Vickie, and Max near the entrance.
Robin took one look at their joined hands, then at Will’s face — soft, flushed, unmistakably happy — and lifted her eyebrows slowly. The look she gave him said You are telling me absolutely everything once this nightmare is over.
Will snorted and gave her a quick thumbs-up.
When it was time, Mike cupped Will’s face and kissed him once. Then again. And again. And again.
“I’ll be fine,” Mike said quietly, forehead pressed to Will’s. “I promise. It’s all gonna be okay.”
Will nodded, even though his chest felt tight. He watched as Mike turned toward the abyss, darkness yawning open in front of him.
Before Mike stepped through, Will caught Robin’s eye and shot her a look that clearly said, Don’t you dare.
Robin shrugged and raised her eyebrows at him.
Mike didn’t let go of Will the entire time they were in the abyss.
Sometimes it was an arm slung firmly around his shoulders, pulling him close when the ground shook. Sometimes it was just their hands intertwined, Mike’s grip tightening whenever the air felt wrong, whenever Will’s breath hitched. Either way, Mike was always there — solid, real.
Will didn’t mind. Not even a little.
When Vecna finally began to fall apart, when the air filled with that awful, echoing sound, Will turned his face away. He couldn’t watch. He didn’t need to.
Mike noticed instantly.
He wrapped both arms around Will, drawing him in, one hand coming up to cradle the back of his head. His fingers threaded gently through Will’s hair, slow and grounding, like he was anchoring Will to the moment.
“It’s okay,” Mike murmured, barely audible. “I’ve got you.”
Vecna took his last breath.
The silence that followed felt unreal — heavy, then suddenly light, like something poisonous had finally drained from the world.
Will’s knees nearly gave out. A sob tore from his chest, but this time it wasn’t fear — it was relief. Joy. Freedom.
Happy tears streamed down his face as he pulled back just enough to kiss Mike, smiling into it, breathless and laughing softly at the same time.
Robin clapped in the backround, but he didn't care.
It was over.
He pressed his forehead to Mike’s, heart pounding, and let himself believe it.
Vecna was gone.
He would never hurt them again.