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Jonathan Byers was going to kill him. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow…but probably today.
He just looked ominous. Sunglasses on, paperback in hand, the spine of which was so wrecked, Mike couldn't read the title from where he lay on his towel. The title didn't really matter. What mattered was that Mike knew Jonathan wasn't really reading the book, he was plotting.
Mike reached down, grabbing his warm can of Coke from the side of his towel. Brushing the sand that had accumulated off the rim, he made sure not to take his eyes off the threat. One wrong move and he was ready to sprint.
It had been a rough week. Coming out to his parents had been difficult enough, and he didn't even care what they thought of him. After he had jumped that hurdle, it was time to tell Will's family. He knew Joyce would be happy that he and Will were together. His real worry had been that Hopper and Jonathan might murder, or at least seriously injure him.
Hopper's disdain for him was obvious. It had been hate at first sight, which only was made worse by his disaster of a relationship with El. Why would he be happy that another one of his perfect children had chosen to "slum it" with Mike Wheeler?
Jonathan was a bit more complicated. After Will had been possessed by the Mind Flayer, something in their relationship had shifted. Jonathan had started to seem disappointed in every choice Mike made. It had made him feel like he was failing a test he didn't even know he was taking.
Things really came to a head when he visited the Byers in California. It took a long time for Mike to realize just why Jonathan looked like he had taken a bite of a lemon every time he glanced in his direction. He had been an idiot, and in his idiocy, he had been hurting the person Jonathan loved more than anyone else in the world: Will.
He couldn't blame Jonathan for being angry. Mike was still angry at himself for all the ways he had inadvertently hurt Will. He had pushed him away, ignored the way his heart raced whenever Will smiled at him, and tried to force himself into a version of 'normal' that left both of them miserable. Being in love with Will, being gay, had terrified him. But being with Will was worth facing that fear. So Mike had spent the last year proving it, choosing Will everyday.
Now he was working hard to try and rebuild the relationship him and Jonathan once had. He missed the old days, when Jonathan felt like his cool older brother. Always playing with him and Will, keeping them safe when Lonnie would come around, ruffling his hair and pulling him close. He missed it.
Jonathan had taken their news about as well as Mike could've hoped for. After the initial shock, he'd pulled Will into a tight hug and told him he was happy for him, voice thick. Then, over Will's shoulder, his eyes had locked on Mike across the table. A look that had screamed the two of them would be having a difficult conversation later.
Later still hadn't come, mostly because Mike had done everything he could to avoid him.
Now here he sat, Jonathan barely fifteen feet away from him, waiting for him to strike. He wasn't sure if it was better or worse that this blow would be happening in front of all of his friends, and his sister. Would Jonathan hold back to save face, or would the public humiliation of destroying him in front of everyone he held dear make his revenge that much sweeter?
Maybe he was being a bit dramatic.
In his line of vision, Jonathan finally moved. He closed his book slowly, setting it down on the arm of his chair, and pushed his sunglasses up into his hair.
His eyes, so much like Will’s but sharper, more tired, found Mike instantly.
Mike's stomach dropped
Jonathan stood up, brushing sand off his shorts
“Shit. Shit shit shit-”
His leg twitched with the urge to bolt. He could fake a bathroom run, or maybe pretend he saw a shark. Anything to put distance between himself and whatever lecture-slash-murder-plot Jonathan had been simmering on for the last few days.
A shadow fell over him.
“Jesus Christ!” Mike hissed, nearly spilling the Coke as he jerked upright.
Will dropped down beside him on the towel, sun-bleached hair sticking up in every direction, freckles standing out against his flushed shoulders. He was grinning that soft, slightly crooked smile that still made Mike’s chest do embarrassing things even after months of dating.
“You look like you’re about to fight the Demogorgon again,” Will said, voice low enough that the others couldn’t hear over their own bickering about who would be going on the next snack run.
Mike forced a laugh, but it came out sounding more like a wheeze. “The past few days, your brother and Hopper have been looking at me like I’m the Demogorgon.”
"And why would that be?" Will sighed, exasperated but fond.
"Will, they hate me. They know I'm not good enough for you, and if I don't think of something quick, Jonathan's going to bury me right here in a sandy, shallow grave."
"Oh my God, you're so dramatic." Will laughed knocking their knees together. "Jonathan likes you fine, Mike. He's just…protective. I'll talk to him about it. Besides, all that should matter is that I like you." He bumped him again, eyes warm. "And I love you."
The tension in Mike's chest cracked. "I love you too." He smiled, reaching over to brush a stray hair from Will's forehead. He glanced back over to Jonathan for a moment, before turning back. "Don't think I didn't notice you leaving Hopper out of that little pep talk."
Will grinned. "Well, I want to make you feel better, but I'm not going to lie to you."
Mike pounced on him, digging his fingers into Will's sides, ticking him mercilessly. Will squealed with laughter, squirming on the towel as he tried (and failed) to fight him off.
"Yo! Cool it!" Lucas scolded them with a smirk. "There are children present!"
Will laughed breathlessly. "We're the only people here!"
Lucas leaned back onto his elbows. "Well, I for one am young at heart."
"Oh yeah? Then Max should be arrested for what I saw her doing to you at the bonfire last night." Mike said, rolling his eyes.
Max sat up from where her and El were sunbathing to flick him hard in the forehead. "Shut the hell up, Wheeler. Don't think we forgot about you two leaving to "pee" in the woods for 30 minutes."
Mike rubbed the spot, then stole another quick glance toward Jonathan.
He was now talking to Steve, thank God. Hopefully he’d missed this whole conversation. Mike’s stomach twisted with nerves. He needed to get back in Jonathan’s good graces.
Today was the perfect chance. The whole group had come to the beach to meet up with Jonathan, Nancy, Robin, and Steve, all home from college for the summer. Mike’s mission was simple: be the most respectful, thoughtful boyfriend possible. He couldn't afford another screw up.
Speaking of Steve, he had just finished laying out the last of the older group's towels. In one smooth motion he pulled his shirt off and started driving the beach umbrella into the sand with firm, rhythmic thuds.
Mike’s eyes lingered for a second. Damn. He caught himself and shook his head sharply. What the hell was that?
A quick scan of the group confirmed he wasn’t the only one appreciating the view. Max and El had both lowered their sunglasses, openly staring.
Mike shared an incredulous look with Dustin and Lucas.
“Oh my God.” Lucas muttered, scowling. “Can you believe these girls are drooling over Steve? We're right fucking here.”
Dustin’s eyes narrowed. “What's so great about him anyway?" He turned. "Are you seeing this Will?”
The three boys looked over, only to find Will doing the exact same thing, practically mesmerized, lips slightly parted, eyes tracking every flex of Steve's body as he pounded the umbrella deeper into the sand.
"Huh?" Will asked vacantly, still staring, before realizing what he was doing. He whipped his head around, cheeks burning bright red.
Lucas threw up his hands. "Oh, come on! Even you?"
"Judas, right in our midst." Dustin shook his head in betrayal.
Mike sat up, staring at Will in exaggerated annoyance. "And what do you have to say for yourself, mister?"
Will looked at Mike, flustered. "I, uh…don't know what you're talking about…"
"Are you sure about that?" Mike leaned in, grinning. "You've got some drool right-"
"Oh you looked too, Mike!" Will shot back, his face still flushed. "I only even looked that way because I caught you staring!"
Mike opened his mouth to argue, but Dustin suddenly sat up straighter, cutting in.
"Wait…Oh my God, how have I never thought to ask you guys this? You're like my cheat code into the female mind!" He gestured to himself excitedly. "Am I hot?"
Mike and Will exchanged an annoyed glance, Will's eyebrows raised in disbelief.
“Dude, gross." Mike wrinkled his nose in disgust. "I don't know man, you're really not my type."
Dustin looked deeply offended, clutching his chest like he'd been shot through the heart. “Oh, so because I’m not some pretty boy with doe eyes and a fat ass, you don’t know if I’m attractive?” Dustin questioned, voice dripping with sarcasm. “That’s bullshit, Mike, and you know it!”
“Don't talk about Will’s ass!” Mike hissed, pointing his finger in Dustin's face. A surge of possessive jealousy hit him hard. Mine, his brain snarled internally.
"Why are you talking about my brother's ass?"
Jonathan stood a few feet away, arms crossed, looking thoroughly pissed off. He had clearly only caught the tail end of Mike's sentence.
Mike froze. Oh, shit, how was he going to fix this?
"I-I wasn't talking about it!" He stuttered out. "I…well, I mean, I was…but only because Dustin was talking about it first!"
Jonathan furrowed his brow in confusion. "Dustin was talking about Will's ass?"
At this point, Will had cycled through about six different shades of red. Mike looked at Dustin, trying to communicate through a series of complex eyebrow movements that he needed to help save his ass.
Dustin's eyes widened before he schooled his face and shot Mike an exaggerated wink.
Oh, for fucks sake.
"Yeah, I was." Dustin shrugged, unbothered. "I was just trying to make a point."
Jonathan stared at him. "And what exactly would that point be?
"That Mike's always staring at Will's ass instead of mine!" He shouted, throwing his hands up. "Doesn't anyone want to look at my ass for once? I mean, I've done squats before, but how the hell am I supposed to compete with that thing? You could bounce a damn quarter off it!"
Mike buried his face in his hands . "Jesus Christ, Dustin, stop talking!"
Jonathan was starting to look equal parts pissed off and confused.
Before things could escalate, Steve wandered over, towel slung low on his hips. He smoothly stepped between Dustin and Jonathan, clapping a hand on the older boy's shoulder.
"Hey man, they're just being idiots, you know how they get." Steve said, flashing his most charming grin. At the same time, he discreetly smacked Dustin on the back of the head.
"Hey! What the hell did I do?" Dustin protested, rubbing his head. "Mike's the one defiling Will's as-"
Mike lunged at him.
Steve ignored the scuffle and steered a visibly steaming Jonathan a few steps away, already working on talking him down.
"You guys are all assholes." Will muttered, cheeks still glowing. He turned and headed towards the water, notably with his hands clasped behind his back, partially covering his butt.
Mike threw his hands up, starting towards where Will had just headed. "Oh for fuck's sake. Thanks for that, asshole. Now I have to look at your ass. I'll probably never see his again!"
"Tough titty!" Dustin called after him. "My ass is off limits now. I have dignity, you know!"
"Oh that's funny, I've never seen you with any!" Mike called back. He jogged down to the water, stomach twisting with guilt. Will was shy by nature, and if that conversation had embarrassed Mike, he couldn't imagine how Will was feeling. On top of all that, Mike was pretty sure Jonathan was going to hate him forever now. Perfect.
He wadded out until the cool water reached his chest. Will was waiting for him, and without a word he climbed onto Mike's back, arms wrapping around his shoulders and ankles hooking around his waist. Mike adjusted his grip on Will's thighs, holding him close as he floated gently in the shallow waves.
"I'm sorry about all of that." Mike said quietly. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable in front of everyone."
Will rested his chin on Mike's shoulder, warm breath tickling his ear. "Oh, don't worry about it. That was all Dustin." He paused, then added softly, "I'm pretty sure he only brought all that up because he likes El. He sounded pretty put out when he saw him staring at Steve earlier. That's why he's being weird about it."
"Well, I don't forgive him." Mike grumbled. "He fucked me over, and he's obviously been staring at your ass, which pisses me off. The only silver lining here is that if he and El get together, maybe Jonathan will hate him more than me now."
Will huffed a quiet laugh.
"Also," Mike added, "don't think I forgot you were also looking at Steve. I might have glanced, but you looked pretty mesmerized. You know my ego is bruised too, and I didn't make it anyone else's problem.
"Okay, fine." Will admitted, amused. "He might be slightly dreamy. But if you had been paying attention instead of staring in fear at my brother, you would have known I've been staring like that at you all morning."
Mike's wading faltered for a second. "Oh my God. That's probably why he was giving off all those murderous vibes." He grinned. "You've gotta keep it in your pants, Will."
Will leaned in closer, voice teasing. "You seemed pretty happy to have me out of my pants this morning…I'll remember that."
Mike smirked, before suddenly ducking under the water, dunking them both. Will came up sputtering and laughing, clinging tighter to his back.
"Okay, but seriously." Will asked, still giggling. "Do I really have too big of a butt?"
Mike let out a laugh in disbelief. "Holy shit, is my steak too juicy? Does my bank account have too much money? Your ass is perfect. The only thing I want to change about it right now is it's location. I'd relocate it to my fa-"
A loud throat clearing cut him off. Mike turned and his stomach dropped straight into his ass. Jonathan was standing there in the water, just a few feet behind them.
"Well….I was coming over to apologize for overreacting…" Jonathan started, grimacing awkwardly.
Mike was frozen, eyes widened in panic.
Jonathan stared at them for a long, painful moment. "I'm going to walk away now."
Will buried his face in Mike's shoulder, shaking with laughter as Jonathan turned and headed back to the group on shore.
"Jesus. He really is going to hate me forever." Mike whispered, horrified.
"Oh, no he won't." Will said, still laughing softly against his neck.
On the shore, Jonathan was now talking to Nancy. He glanced back at Mike, slowly raised two fingers to his own eyes, then pointed them directly at him in the universal 'I'm watching you' gesture.
Will winced. "…Um…I'll talk to him." Then, with a sly little smile, he added, "This isn't going to stop you from climbing in my window tonight, right?"
Mike groaned. "Ugh. He's going to end up shooting me……but it's going to be worth it."