Chapter Text
It was another, rough night in the Wheeler house. Ted was reading his daily newspaper, Karen was cooking dinner, Nancy is on the phone again, talking to god knows who, and Mike was in the basement, setting up yet another DND game for he and his friends tomorrow night so that he doesn’t have to think about anything tomorrow morning.
He thinks that this specific campaign will be the best one yet, mainly because he and Will planned it.
He wants tomorrow to be perfect, surely nothing will bother them. Right?
Karen called him up for dinner, right before he finished setting up.
“In a second!”
“No Michael, i’ve been calling you for five minutes!”
Mike pretended like he didn’t hear his mom and continued fixing up.
“Michael, now!”
Mike scoffed and angrily went up the stairs, throwing some kind of tantrum Karen was able to catch.
“Michael, don’t give me attitude.”
“Im not.” Mike abled to mumble.
Karen sighed and looked away from Mike, slowly shaking her head.
Mike roughly pulled on his chair and sat down next to Nancy. “Why are you so mad?” Nancy asked, visibly confused.
“Im not! Why is everyone asking me that?” “Because you have that creepy little face on you whenever you’re pissed!”
“Language.” Ted joined in. Mike rolled his eyes.
The table went eerily quiet, obviously making everyone uncomfortable, except Ted. “So..” Karen spoke, filling the awkward silence. “Mike, Nancy..” “Do you.. remember your cousin, Richie?”
Karen looked up at them with a smile, waiting for an answer before announcing something. “Who?” Nancy mumbled. “Richie, he-“ “Richie, the loud one.” Ted whispered. Looking directly at his chicken, with food in his mouth.
Karen gave him a bitter look, smile dropping slowly before continuing what she was saying.
“Mike, you surely remember him, right?”
Mike looked at his mom, raising both his eyebrows, acting clueless. When in reality, he remembers everything about that loud, obnoxious kid. The kid who doesn’t know the meaning of space, the kid who refuses to be quiet for once in his life, the kid who cannot be forced to be serious even if it was a life or death situation.
Richie Tozier.
“Seriously?”
She sighed. Thinking that none of them had remembered their closest cousin.
“Mom, we last saw each other like years ago.” “Four years ago! It’s not that long, Michael.” Mike looked at her in disbelief as she sighed. “But that’s not the point. Im here to announce something!” Karen said with a smile creeping up on her face.
She slowly inhaled, knowing that they wouldn’t be happy about the choice she just made a few hours ago. “Richie’s mom called me, and some.. things are happening in Derry and Richie isn’t.. quite.. safe there.”
Mike and Nancy looked at each other, thinking of the exact same thing. Nancy raised an eyebrow and looked directly at her mom.
“What.. things?”
“Well I- I don’t really know. Maggie- I mean Mrs Tozier didn’t tell me.” Karen tried to keep up her smile, trying not to worry Mike and Nancy.
“She told me that the policemen there are trying to figure it out, some are telling her that Derry isn’t safe anymore. So I.. figured they could stay.. here?” She looked at both Mike and Nancy and could tell that they did not like that idea.
“What? Are you serious?” Mike looked at everyone on the table in disbelief, his jaw dropped.
“Yes Michael, i’m serious.”
“But where is he gonna sleep? Is Mrs Tozier staying with us too?”
“No Nance, only Richie will.”
“He can sleep in the basement! Or in Mike’s room, if he prefers.”
“What?! Why does he have to sleep in MY room?!”
Mike did not like the idea of Richie, an overbearing and irritating kid, who did not know the meaning of boundaries- staying and sleeping in his room, his sanctuary, his home of secrets.
“Because Michael, it would be weird if he stayed in Nancy’s room.”
Nancy visibly smirked at that.
She didn’t mind Richie staying over. As long as he doesn’t sleep in her room and as long as Mrs Tozier wasn’t brought with him. They have some.. problems that couldn’t be mentioned anywhere.
“Also you too were very close back then!” Having brought the sparkle back in her eyes after she remembered how close Richie and Mike were when they were nine. “Nance, didn’t you three get along? Maybe Richie missed you guys as well!” Mike shivered at the thought of seeing Richie again.
He thought of Will.
Will was going to see Richie as well whenever he visits.
Richie was too much for Will. Will is sensitive, Richie is not.
“What? No.” “Why not?” “Cause no.” Mike continued fidgeting with his food, the sound of spoon and forks scratching against plates filled the whole entire room. Along with very very awkward silence.
…
“Well.. Richie is arriving tomorrow. Along with his mom-“ Nancy sharply looked up, raising an eyebrow. “-To drop him off.” Karen raised both her eyebrows, giving Nancy “the look”.
“Tomorrow?! What the hell?! Why are- why are you just telling us now-“
“language.” Mike stared at his father with pure rage, ignoring him.
“You could’ve told me yesterday so that I could have moved the date of our campaign.”
“It’s literally just a campaign..” Nancy looked over at Mike like he was an idiot.
“It’s not JUST a campaign.”
Mike kicks Nancy’s leg, getting a grunt out of Nancy. She kicks him back and Mike throws a pea at her.
“What the fuck Mike?” Nancy looked at her mom with furrowed eyebrows like she expected her to defend her. “Nancy, language. Micheal, stop that right now.”
Mike rolled his eyes.
“Or I wont let Will and your friends come over tomorrow.”
Mike tensed up at the threat and immediately behaved. He looked at Nancy and flipped her off under the table, just enough so that Nancy could see it without their parents noticing.
Nancy rolled her eyes.
The night went through surprisingly smoothly, after about 50 fights between Nancy and Mike. And Holly throwing her food around. And Ted saying “Language” after the billionth time. Mike was already overwhelmed with this, he physically can’t imagine adding another person. And that person could not stop talking even if his life depended on it.
- ——————— Next morning … •
Mike got up early today. He wanted to call Will. He wanted to see Will. He decided he’d call Will on his walkie talkie, since it’s way easier and cooler that way.
“Hey Will, it’s Mike, do you copy? Over.” A few seconds of silence followed, until he heard a voice.
“Yeah. Hey mike, it’s Will. I copy. Over.”
Mike was relieved, slowly exhaling.
“So.. you still- uh coming tonight, right? Over.”
“Yeah? Why? I could come over a bit early, if you want- I mean. Over.”
Mike’s shoulders eased, calming down a little.
“Yeah! I mean- yeah, that’s- that’s cool. Over.”
“Should I come over at 12? I mean- since the others are coming at 2, over.”
“Yeah, I’d like that. Sounds good- yeah good.”
“Okay, see you later, Mike. Over and out.”
Mike felt empty after his call with Will ended. He didn’t even realise he forgot to say “over” after the last thing he had said.
The fact that he and Will share this special, tight bond that no one else could understand, warms his heart. The fact that Will is coming over earlier than the others just so that they could spend some alone time, together. Just the two of them-
Ding.
“Huh?”
Ding Ding Ding
“Mike! Get the door!”
Ding Ding Ding Ding
“Michael!”
“I am! Jesus.” Mike quickly walks over to the door, mainly because his mom told him to, but also because he thought it was Will. But realistically speaking, Will doesn’t bike that fast.
Unless his mom drove him?
Mike opened the door at the thought of seeing Will,
But did Mike wish he didn’t open that door.
Because what he had just did, will most definitely ruin his entire winter break.
“Wheeler!” Richie Tozier immediately wrapped an arm around Mike’s shoulder. Looking around the house with a big grin on his face. “Holy shit! I didn’t even remember how fucking bummy this house is!” Richie continues playing with Mike’s hair as they walk down together in the hallway.
“Hey.” Mike had just remembered how loud annoying Richie is. He isn’t surprised that Richie is still the same, even after four years.
“Where’s.. your mom?” He looked at Richie, knowing that he’s about to bust out some stupid and ridiculous joke.
“My mom? She didn’t want to take another step in this filthy house because she said it had a vile fucking smell, and I can definitely agree with that.” Richie had a smirk on his face, waiting for a reaction. “Did you bust in the vents because it smells like wheeler disease.”
Mike looked at Richie with a disgusted face, rolling his eyes. Great. Just great. He just arrived and he’s already making putrid jokes!
“I would’ve snuck back in her car but I wanted to meet my favourite nerdy cousin again! Totally.”
…
“Tough crowd.”
Mike was ignoring Richie the whole time, not noticing how tall Richie actually was.
Mike was surprised with their height difference. He was extremely surprised that Richie Tozier was taller than him. Back when they were nine, Richie was short as hell, Mike even made fun of him.
“Richie why the- why- how the hell are you so tall?” Mike looked at Richie up and down until he could get a good look at him. Since Richie basically jumped on Mike the moment he opened the door, he couldn’t really see Richie.
“Michael, it’s called puberty, my friend. It looks like you haven’t reached it yet, yeah?” Richie fixes his glasses as he completely lets go of Mike, making him stumble a little. Distracted by toys Mike has kept in the living room, Richie immediately ran to it.
“Don’t fucking touch anything Richie!”
Richie rolls his eyes at this. This winter was going to be fun.
Karen had saw a glimpse of Richie through the kitchen, immediately washing her hands and gave Richie a warm, embracing welcome. “Richard! Oh my god look at how tall you’ve gotten!”
“Hey aunt Karen, you didn’t tell me Michael over here was still a miserable, lonely and angry old man stuck in a child’s body?” Richie jokes, getting a laugh from his aunt.
“Are you hungry? Im making cookies in the kitchen, I’m pretty sure they’re done by now.” Richie followed his aunt until they made their way to the kitchen. The house was warm, Richie felt a bit seen. He liked the soft aroma of the house, but he hated the fact that the floorboards were a bit creaky, weird. He saw the tray of cookies and looked at Mike, mouthing “Holy shit”.
The two of them sat down on the table, munching on their snack. The cookie was delicious, it was perfectly warm and perfectly baked. Karen used dark chocolate because she still knew that that was what Richie liked.
“Soo mom…”
“Hm?” Karen raised an eyebrow at Mike, waiting for him to say something.
“Will is coming over. Like right now.”
Karen looked over at the time, 11:52.
“Isn’t it a bit early? I thought you were going to meet your friends at 2?”
Richie flinched a bit at this. Mike actually had friends, crazy. The sparkle in his eyes disappeared at the mention of friends.
He missed his friends.
He missed The Losers Club.
The only thing keeping him from coming back was the fact that Eddie had a girlfriend. And the fact that his mom forced him to come here, of course.
Eddie and Richie kept a tight bond. Having something special that none of their other friends could ever understand.
That was… until Eddie got a girlfriend.
Richie was really pissed at this.
Not because Eddie got a girlfriend, but because Eddie didn’t even tell him. His best friend.
They didn’t speak for what, 5 weeks? And suddenly he’s got a girlfriend? But if Richie was actually being real, this wasn’t mainly the reason why he was mad at Eddie and at himself.
He was in love with Eddie.
So fucking in love.
Richie hated the fact that he thought he had a chance. He hated himself because he thought he had a chance at love. Something that’s been refusing him every single day of his pathetic little life.
He thought he and Eddie had something special, and that the feeling was mutual, but nope. They were just best friends.
Eddie was normal. Eddie wasn’t a queer like Richie.
And he will never be.
Richie didn’t want this to become the reason he was miserable. He immediately bursted this bubble and continued eating his cookie, getting back to the real world.
“Yeah but Will is coming over earlier than the others cause- cause we had to.. um do something.. study! We- we have to study.. for.. for a project.” Mike grinned at his mom, trying to convince her.
Richie looked up at him, moving his eyebrows up and down. Mike rolled his eyes.
But even if she said no, Will is already on his way anyways.
Karen sighed and took a sip from her coffee. “Okay Micheal, but you have to promise to let Richie join you and your friends.”
Mike’s jaw dropped in disbelief, looking at Richie, absolutely destroying his 3rd cookie. He made a disgusted face back to his mom as she raised both her eyebrows.
He sighed and wanted to call Will on his walkie, to warn him that someone unbearable and insufferable will be joining them. He got up his chair and started going up the stairs.
“Where you going?” Richie asked with a mouth full of cookies. Mike visibly disgusted by this. “None of your business.”
“Mike! Clean your room! Im going to check it later.” Karen shouts as Mike was halfway up the stairs. He scoffed and marched his way up faster and rougher.
Mike made his way up to his room, noticing that it is a bit messy. He didn’t want Will thinking he was some kind of snake, leaving his clothes around everywhere. Will had always told Mike to clean his room, and Mike listened. Mike imagined Will scolding him and a little smile creeped up at the corner of this mouth.
He started cleaning, throwing stuff in his closet and trying to make everything fit, while also looking for his walkie.
Mike was trying to reach for something under his desk but he couldn’t reach it, he tried to stand up but he ended up bumping his head under the table which made his stack of comic books on the table fall.
“Ow- fuck!”
Mike quickly picked up the comic books and tried to arrange them back.
The doorbell rang, but Mike didn’t hear it. He would’ve, if it was rang more than one time.
“Mike!”
“Micheal!
Karen sighed. “Unbelievable.”
“Richie honey could you get the door?”
“Aye aye aunt Karen!” Richie got up his chair, marching on his way to the door, thinking its just some mail.
Richie opened the door to see a boy.
A boy his age?
“Mike?” The boy in front of him asked.
Richie was silent, for the first time in his life.
This boy in front of him.. Richie could already tell he was different.
“Oh i’m not Mike. Could you not tell? He doesn’t wear this awesome shirt and these seductive glasses that attract all the hot moms.”
He looked confused, but he chuckled a bit. “Huh?”
“Im Mike’s cousin nice to meet you! Ladies and gentlemen it’s the one and only Richie Tozier! at your service.”
Richie replied to him in a fast pace, making the boy laugh.
A real and genuine laugh.
Huh.
“Mike, I know it’s you.” The boy pushes Richie’s glasses playfully, still thinking that it’s Mike.
“Oh no trust me, I’m the cooler, better, and sexier version of Mikey, he just got here first. He’s probably up in his room jerking off or something.” Richie has a wide grin on his face, knowing that the boy in front of him isn’t believing a single word he says. Will laughed a bit at the last part.
“Soo.. what did you say your name was again?”
The boy looked at Richie teasingly, as if he was doing this on purpose.
“Richie. Richie Tozier. You can call me anything,”
Mike came down the stairs to see Richie on the front door, bringing Will’s hand to his face.
Richie kissed Will’s hand.
Will was flabbergasted. He knew this wasn’t Mike. This wasn’t Mike at all.
He liked it, though.
He saw Mike behind this other Mike, jaw dropped.
Mike marched his way to the both of them and slapped Richie’s hand off of Will’s.
“Dude what the hell?!”
Mike looked like he was about to explode.
“What? Can I not introduce myself to your sexy friend over here?”
Richie looked at Mike, then at Will, then at Mike again.
“Wait, don’t tell me he’s your-“
“He’s my friend, Richie. He’s my best friend.”
Richie smirked at what Mike had just said.
He turned his body to look at Will, completely ignoring Mike’s threatening gaze.
“I never got your name.”
“Will. Will Byers.”
Richie smiled at Will, not letting his eyes go off him.
“Mikey you didn’t tell me you had a cool fucking friend.”
“You just met him! I mean- he is cool but you just can’t assume things like that!”
“What? Im just surprised your friend here isn’t a fucking grumpy old man like you. Good thing he hasn’t caught your ‘stick up my ass’ disease yet!”
Will laughed again. A loud one this time.
“Will that was barely even funny.”
“Sorry- it’s just so funny because Richie looks exactly like you.”
“Yeah but you can agree that i’m the cooler one right? Right willy?” Richie held onto Will’s wrist, wanting him to agree with him.
Will rolled his eyes.
Mike grabbed Will’s other wrist and gently tugged him inside. “Come on, I’ll show you what I set up.”
Richie watched as Mike pulled Will inside.
He blinked once.
Twice
Richie.. felt something. Something different. When he saw Will, his stomach flipped. But not the bad kind.
“Fuck.”
Richie had followed behind them, catching his breath and trying to think of an awful joke.
He caught up to Will and immediately wrapped an arm around his shoulder. Will looked at Richie with his peripheral vision and slowly inhaled. He wasn’t used to this much affection, but he didn’t really mind it since Richie wasn’t just a random person.
Mike turned his head to look at Will, only to see Richie wrapped around him.
Mike felt his heart drop a bit and furrowed his eyebrows. “Hey.” He said, pushing Richie’s hands off of Will.
“What the fucking hell is wrong with you dude? Can I not show affection to my friend Willy over here?”
Will looked at Mike, then at Richie. Richie had a smirk on his face while looking at Mike, and Mike had the opposite.
“What’s wrong?”
Mike looked down at Will with a soft look, lowering his voice.
“Nothing, Will. Lets just go down to the basement-“
“Mike! Could you wash?”
He looked at his mom behind him and exhaled, loudly. Like his mom was making him do all of the chores in the house.
“It’s just five plates, Micheal.”
He looked back at Will, then at Richie. He got closer to Richie and whispered something, trying to make sure that Will wont hear any of it.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Richie. And definitely not with Will.” Mike looked at Richie up and down with a grumpy expression before leaving the two alone.
Richie looked at Will, trying not to laugh.
“Well fucking hell does he have a fork up his ass or something?”
This comment made Will chuckle a little. He looked up at Richie thinking of something to say.
“You’re really funny, Richie.” Will says with what Richie thinks is the prettiest smile he’s ever seen.
“Not used to humour, aren’t you, Byers?” Richie sat down on the floor and patted the free spot next to him, telling Will to sit down.
“Mike is funny, but not your level of funny.” He sat down next to Richie. Bringing his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around his legs.
Richie smiled at this, he absolutely loves it when people tell him he’s funny. Because he likes the idea of having a personality.
“Was that a compliment?” He asks as he nudges Will.
“Maybe.”
The tension was holding Richie back, his mind was racing. Did Will really just…
“Is Hawkins fun?” Richie asked, wanting to break the silence. He moved his head to try and get a look at Will, only to find out Will was staring at him the whole entire time.
“Liking what you see?”
Will chuckled.
“Oh sorry- it’s just that you look exactly like Mike and it’s messing me up.” He looked away from Richie, shaking his head and covering his face with his hands.
Hm. Will was really cute.
“Also yeah, Hawkins is fun. There’s an arcade around the corner, if you’re interested? I mean, there’s really nothing else not-boring in this place but the park. And maybe the new mall that’s currently being built.”
“Holy shit an arcade? This place is way better than I thought! Do you play?”
Will noticed that Richie’s eyes lit up at the mention of arcades.
Mike’s cousin is weird.
But so am I.
“Yeah- I mean I play Dig Dug.” Richie looked at Will in disbelief.
“Dig Dug? Seriously?” He chuckled
“It’s a fun game! I mean, what do you play?” He looks at Richie, genuinely curious.
“Obviously there is only one answer to this amazing question of yours.” He inhaled before answering- “Street fighter!”
Will giggled at this and hit Richie on the arm. “Street fighter? That game is for weirdos.”
Richie looked at Will, his smile slowly fading. “Wait no- Richie, that’s a good thing, a really good thing.” Richie had tilted his head at what Will just said.
“I like weirdos. Richie, it’s a compliment.” Richie lit up at what he said.
“Oh yeah- definitely. No shit. I knew that, I’m not that stupid!” Will rolled his eyes. “Sure you aren’t.”
A few seconds of silence followed, Will waiting for Richie to respond.
“Do you.. want to go to the arcade tomorrow? With Mike and the party?”
“The party? Yikes. Is that what you guys call your nerd group?” He says while he fixes his glasses.
“Answer my question before I change my mind.” Will chuckled.
“Oh- yeah of course! I wouldn’t want to miss the chance of getting to know this hawkins arcade. I mean- you love it, so maybe I will as well.”
Richie and Will looked at each other for a second, embracing the silence they had.
“But it’s probably butt shit.”
“Shut up Richie.” They both laughed.
“This mouth has never learned peace, trust me. I tried being silent once, worst decision of my life.”
Will let out a soft laugh, making Richie’s shoulder loosen a bit.
“You know.. Will, I didn’t think someone as fucking cool as you could be Wheeler’s friend. Best friend at that.” He laughed dryly.
Will looked at Richie, staring directly at his eyes. “Whys that?”
“Well first of all, he walks around the house like the weight of the world is on his shoulders. Like relax, man, you’re twelve.” He scoffed with a smirk. “He dresses like the concept of homework and also because he’s a huge.big.fat.fucking.nerd.”
This actually made Will laugh loudly. For the first time in his life, he couldn’t stop smiling. “Im a nerd too, Richie. So what are you trying to say?”
This made Richie silent for a bit, and then he chuckled. “You know what I mean, Byers.”
They both laughed together, protecting each other with a comfort they didn’t know they needed.
…
“You know..” Richie said, breaking the silence. Will looked at him, giving Richie all his attention. Will made a “hm” sound, making Richie flutter.
Is he actually interested in what Im about to say?
“My friends, back in Derry, they wouldn’t tell me to shut up.”
Will looked at him as if he didn’t believe a word he just said, raising an eyebrow and smirking.
“-Directly. Instead, they would say ‘beep beep’ just to give me the memo.” He inhaled a bit and looked at Will. “I don’t like people telling me to shut up, I kind of get offended by it. Saying beep beep is much better, and cooler.”
Richie lied. That wasn’t the actual reason why ‘beep beep’ made him shut up. But it worked, so he decided suggesting it to Will whenever he gets overwhelmed by him, just in case.
Will looked at him with care. Nodding, completely understanding. “Oh yeah, I get it. I mean, it’s also kind of cool.”
Richie didn’t expect Will to respond to him. He’s surprised someone listened to him babble about a fact that has nothing to do with Will, or anything at that. No one ever actually listened to Richie whenever he talks about himself that’s not just a joke.
Richie didn’t even realise he stopped talking. In his mind, he had just said a million words to Will right now.
“Your glasses got bigger from the last time I saw you in pictures Mike showed me, you look like a bug-“
“Yeah and that’s what your mom told me last night when I banged her on your bed-“
“Beep beep Richie.”
Silence.
…
“I guess it works” Will laughed, making Richie smile. Will made him feel seen and appreciated. Something he’s not really used to since his friendship with Eddie ‘ended’? He doesn’t really know. But that’s what it feels like to him.
Mike looked behind him while washing the dishes. He saw Richie and Will sitting together on the floor, talking. Laughing.
Will was laughing with Richie.
He furrowed his eyebrows and scrubbed the plates faster, not taking his eyes off the both of them. Watching Richie make these stupid movements with his hands to make Will laugh was stupid.
Stupid Stupid Stupid.
Why was Will laughing at this? Is he forcing the laugh to make it less awkward? That has to be it. Will would never find someone like Richie funny. There’s just no way.
Karen noticed Mike looking at Richie and Will, he was cleaning an already clean plate. “Micheal, focus on the dishes, please? After this, I’ll leave you alone with Will and Richie. I promise.”
Mike scoffed and shook his head, trying to get the image of Will and Richie together out of his head, putting all his attention on the dishes.
Mike could hear them laughing. Will has never laughed this hard before. Not even with the party. He could hear everything Richie is telling Will, and it’s insufferable.
Will wasn’t laughing this hard to Mike’s jokes. Not even close. Did Mike need to step up his game?
No.
He shouldn’t let this mindset take over him. This will be over soon and Will will just forget Richie the second he goes back to Derry.
…
Mike had just finished doing the dishes and immediately went to Will and Richie. Not bothered enough to wipe his hands dry. He stood in front of them, hands dripping with water and dish soap bubbles.
Richie noticed this and smirked.
“Careful there, Houdini! One more step and you’ll flood the entire living room. Genius move, really.”
He looked at Will, pointing at Mike’s hands.
Will chuckled at this. And Mike noticed.
Will stood up and nudged Mike’s hand. “Mike, wipe your hands off first before you show me the campaign.” He looked back at Will, then at his hand. “It’ll dry soon, it’s not that big of a deal-“
“Please?” Will looked up at Mike with his eyes while holding onto Mike’s pinky finger. “You know, dirt and germs can get on your hand faster because of moisture.”
“You wouldn’t want that, right?” He gave a small smile that Mike found impossibly beautiful.
“I mean- No- okay.” He inhaled.
Mike went in the kitchen to wipe his hands. He didn’t realise it but everytime Will does that, he can’t help but fold like paper.
Richie saw everything that happened and stood up in shock. “Holy shit.” He looked over at Will who wasn’t quite confused as him.
“Yeah?”
“Okay, so I wasn’t gonna say anything, but now I am.” His eyes wide open, clearly not used to what he had just saw. He’s never seen that side of Mike before. Usually he’s just a dick, but now he’s the opposite.
“How the fuck did you actually get him to listen? Did you give him a pill that turns him into a submissive little shit when I wasn’t looking? Did you plan that or was that just a normal occurrence for you two? Cause there’s just no way.”
Will tilted his head. Not sure what Richie was so fussed about. He made a little “huh” sound, slowly pulling together his eyebrows.
“Seriously? In fact, Will, you could tell him to kill me and he would fucking listen! Use your power, dude.” He teased, looking at Will and nudging his arm.
Will laughed with a small, genuine smile.
Mike walked back to Will, showing off his obviously dry hands, asking for approval.
Will smiled, and something in Mike’s chest tightened, he was certain it was the loveliest smile he had ever seen.
Mike gently tugged at Will’s wrist and brought him down to the basement, completely ignoring Richie.
Will moved his head to look back at Richie, then at Mike.
Will softly pulled his hand to catch Mike’s attention, waiting to ask something.
Mike looked back at Will as they were on their way down to the basement. Nearly halfway in, just slightly in the door.
“Yeah?” Mike looked at Will with a soft look on his face.
Will inhaled, expecting a positive answer. “Can Richie come?” Mike looked at Will and gave him a weird face.
“What- no—but why??” Mike asked with genuine confusion.
Did Will actually like Richie’s company?
“Please Mike, just this once! He just got here and surely he’s got no friends with nothing to do.” He desperately looked at Mike, obviously wanting Richie to join them.
But even though Mike clearly hated that idea, he hated seeing Will sad so he agreed just this once to keep Will happy.
He looked at Will, then at Richie, having second thoughts about his choice.
“Fine.” He gave Richie a side eye, hoping he took the hint and rejected the offer.
Richie saw Mike, realising what he was trying to do.
Is Richie actually going to listen?
“Ah yes, Will, my good sir, I accept your most generous invitation to the prestigious Wheeler Basement!” Richie says with the fakest British accent he could have ever uttered out of his mouth. Will smiled at this.
Nope.
No way in hell.
Mike found himself ridiculous for even thinking that. Why would Richie even listen to him?
Richie immediately grinned and followed them down. Whispering something to Mike, loud enough so that Will could hear it, slightly.
“Bold of you to assume I’d listen, Michael.” He smirked, looking at Will who was already looking at him.
“What?-“ Will looked at Richie with a confused face, only to be cut by Mike pulling Will down, distracting him away from what Richie just said. “It’s nothing, Will lets go.”
The three of them continued to go down to the basement, Richie not letting his eyes go off Will.
He takes a deep breath before overthinking.
Is he different?
He immediately shrugs off this thought because he doesn’t want to repeat what happened with Eddie.
Eddie. Eddie. Eddie.
Fuck. Richie misses Eddie.
How could he not?
…
The three of them make it down the basement. Mike hissed to himself, realising he forgot something in his room.
He looked at Richie in the eye, “I forgot something in my room.” Mike inhaled, thinking he was about to hear some stupid shit from Richie.
Richie didn’t even look at Mike, he was staring at the floor the whole entire time.
“Hello?? Earth to Richie?”
…
Still nothing.
Will noticed this.
Mike gave Richie an annoyed look, nudging him with his finger. He looked at Will and pointed his fingers up at the top of the stairs.
“Im gonna go get something.” He says.
Will nods.
“Do you.. uh- wanna come?” He lowers his voice as he talks to Will.
Will shakes his head, holding onto Mike’s pinky finger. “I’ll just- stay with Richie. You can go look for it now.”
His smile faded, slowly nodding in confusion.
“I mean are- are you sure? Richie is thirteen and I’m pretty sure he can watch over himself.” Mike replies, trying to convince Will into coming with him.
Mike’s mind was racing. This is basically the first time Will has ever rejected his offer of coming with him.
“No, it’s fine, Mike, I need to get to know Richie better, anyway.” He gave Mike a smile, reassuring him that it’s fine.
Mike nodded in disbelief, letting go of Will’s wrist. He got up the stairs with a mind filled with negative thoughts.
What did Richie have that I dont?
Mike gave Richie a “look”, basically telling him not to do anything stupid.
…
The door was sealed shut, followed by loud but uncomfortable silence. Usually, Richie would have been cracking awful jokes by now, but he isn’t. Which made Will wonder,
What’s wrong with Richie?
He inhaled, getting a mouthful of air.
Walking closer to Richie, he noticed that he was staring blankly at the floor. Very obvious that he’s overthinking about something Will isn’t so sure about.
“Richie.. are you- are you okay?” Will stood in front of Richie, trying to catch his attention.
Pictures of Eddie and his girlfriend filled Richie’s mind.
His girlfriend is kind, beautiful, intelligent, perfect, all kinds of better than Richie. Eddie wouldn’t leave her for him.
Honestly, Eddie’s girlfriend is full on the opposite of Richie.
Why would Eddie be attracted to someone that’s the opposite of his type?
Shit, why can’t I find myself to move on?
Richie’s mind was full of questions, blaming himself for not being good enough for Eddie. If he were a girl, would Eddie have liked him more?
Eddie. Eddie. Eddie. Eddie. It’s endless.
…
“Richie?”
“Richie!”
Richie snapped back from reality, his mind endlessly racing.
His shoulders were tense, heart basically beating faster than the time he was getting chased by an evil killer clown.
He looked in front of him and saw Will.
Will noticed that Richie looked tense. He was quiet, which was unusual.
“Are..are you okay?” Will asked, softening his voice, not wanting to overwhelm Richie.
He held Richie’s wrist, basically telling Richie that he’s there for him.
Richie blinked once.
Twice.
Will cares.
Will cares about me?
Richie was never used to this kind of treatment, mainly because other people just see him as “the funny friend” and the fact they could never take him seriously.
He was never the type to express his emotions to other people but himself, which is why it was hard for him to speak the truth about what he truly feels.
“Oh shit, uh- hey.” He replied. Holding onto Will to keep him from falling.
Will looked at him with confusion. “Are- are you good? You seem, different.”
Richie inhaled.
Exhaled.
“Of course mate! Never felt betta’ Willy!” He tried to avoid eye contact with Will but failed miserably, his forced smile twitching as he went on.
“Seriously though, Im fine.” Richie put up a huge grin on his face, trying to reassure Will.
Seems like Richie is fine, but Will doesn’t fully buy it.
Will taps lightly against Richie’s glasses, smiling in that quiet way Richie never seems to get tired of.
Richie, who is trying desperately to hide his smile, immediately changed the topic. Grinning awkwardly at Will.
“So wheres grumpy Mikey?”
Will raised an eyebrow at Richie, clearly half-disappointed.
“He left earlier to get something from his room, he’ll come back soon.” Will planted a smirk on his face.
“Why? Do you miss him already?”
Richie and Will exchanged a look that no one else could ever physically describe. It was different, something new.
It was something only the two of them share.
Richie smirked, aware that his influence had already begun to show in Will.
“He actually told you earlier that he was going to get something, but you kind of ignored him.” He smiled softly, a playful edge in his expression.
“So he quite literally stormed out of the basement.”
“No way dude, he did?” Richie laughed at himself, proud that he pissed Mike off without even having to say or do anything.
To Richie, it’s an accomplishment.
Will had placed his backpack down on the floor, on his usual spot where he always sat down whenever he and the party hung out.
He started looking for something in his bag, completely taking his eyes off of Richie.
Bad mistake.
Richie was left unattended, and he decided to snoop a bit on the hidden secrets of this gross and icky stink bomb of a basement.
He came across a box that was slightly open, he noticed it was filled with paper.
Knowing his own intentions, he looked back at Will to check if he was looking at him.
When he wasn’t, he snuck closer to the box and quietly opened it, chuckling to himself as he does so.
Will was clueless. He just thought that Richie was standing behind him, or sitting down on the couch. He continued looking for something in his bag.
When Richie opened the small box, he was met by a surprisingly lovely stack of drawings.
He was amazed with the art on the sheets of paper, thinking that the person who made them must be so talented.
“Hey Willy, did Mikey make these? Cause if he did, which he totally didn’t, I wouldn’t even believe it cause there’s no way.” He called Will, nudging him softly on the shoulder, not taking his eyes off the drawings.
Will looked at Richie, then at the drawings that Richie is currently holding. His eyes widen and immediately took them out of Richie’s hands.
“HEY- excuse you? I was emotionally bonding with those.”
Richie noticed the faint color blooming across Will’s cheeks and felt something warm flicker in his chest.
Richie found his expression oddly cute.
“Where- where’d you get these?”
Will blinked once until he stared directly at Richie, not planning to break their eye contact.
Richie pulled his eyebrows together in a soft furrow, wondering why Will is so pressed about it.
“Oh well just over here in this mysterious box Wheeler has been hiding that just screams ‘open me’. Why?” He grinned, staring at a very obviously flushed Will.
Will looked away, trying to cover his face. “Well put it back.” He reached out his arm to hand Richie the drawings without even looking at him.
He stared at the floor for a few seconds before flicking a glance at Richie, who seemed to read Will’s expression and body language with painful ease.
Richie immediately connected the dots, finally realising who made those drawings that he was full on admiring just a few seconds ago.
“Holy shit Will, did- did you make these?” He grabs Will’s hand, not even having a second thought.
Will flinched at Richie’s sudden touch. He wasn’t used to being handled so casually, most people treated him like something fragile, something that might break.
Richie made him feel like less of an outcast, less of a freak.
Richie made Will feel normal.
Will nods slowly, his eyes still focused on the dirty floor of the Wheeler basement.
Richie stared at Will. He could have made tons of obnoxious jokes right now but he didn’t.
He didn’t want to.
Will shrugged, shoulders curling in on themselves. “I guess. I mean… yeah.”
Richie shook his head slowly, like he was trying to process something huge. “Okay. So. New information, apparently you are secretly talented and have been hiding it from me, which feels rude.”
Will’s ears burned hotter. “They’re not that good.”
Richie looked at Will in disbelief, gently taking the drawings from Will. “Bowlcut, if I could do half of this, I would never shut up about it.”
Will rested his arm, eyes finally flicking up just long enough to see Richie smiling at him. Not joking, Just… impressed.
“I kind of just.. draw.” He gave Richie a sincere look, still feeling a bit awkward.
Richie’s voice dropped, sincere in a way that made Will’s stomach flip. “Yeah. And you’re really damn good at it.”
This made Will smile with genuine happiness. He didn’t realise how much he liked it when people complimented his sense of art.
Richie looked down at Will, admiring him in a way he never thought he would. He knew that this boy in front of him was different.
Special, almost.
No, not almost. What was Richie thinking? Will is special. Filled to the brim.
Richie wanted to keep talking to Will, trying to figure out what to say. Richie opened his mouth to say something absurd until Will cut him off.
“Do you want to see more?” He looked at Richie, then at his bag.
“See more what? Be specific, Byers. Cause Im starting to think you’re going to show me pictures of Mike in his underwear.” He said impulsively.
Will let out a soft laugh, exposing his bunny teeth that Richie only noticed now.
Will has always been insecure of his teeth. Every time he laughs or smiles, he always tries desperately to hide them.
Richie thought it was cute.
“God, I don’t even know how you thought of that,” He chuckled quietly. “Also, I was actually talking about my drawings.”
He knelt down, slowly unzipping his bag. He reached for something inside, revealing a sketchbook— a big enough sketchbook for Will to draw in.
“I can show you more? I mean- if you want to, of course.”
Richie’s eyes brightened at the thought of seeing more of Will’s drawings. And the best part? He didn’t have to steal them this time! Or in easier words; he got consent.
“Fuck yeah! How could I possibly say no to that, Willy?” Richie grinned, eyes lighting up. “Come on, show me.”
Without another word, he flopped onto the couch, patting the spot beside him. “C’mon, sit. Right here. Don’t make me drag you over.”
Will playfully rolled his eyes and grabbed his sketchbook, sitting next to Richie with his eyes focused on the drawings.
Will was explaining every single detail of a page, describing how even the way a flower was drawn mattered a lot to him.
He constantly complained about how it took him too long to think of the concept of this specific page, babbled about how messed up the background is, and the fact that the colours didn’t match each other in any way. Still, he didn’t throw the drawing away and still bothered to show Richie, even though he disliked it.
He knew that Richie wouldn’t judge it, no matter how obnoxious he might be.
“Dude, are you fucking kidding me? This shit is awesome! Whoever tells you otherwise is actually just jealous, heartless, and pathetic.”
Will looked at Richie, both of his eyebrows slightly raised with a soft smile.
“You know, if you get rich and famous for your exquisite work one day, don’t forget me.”
Will bursts into a small laugh, catching the attention of Richie.
He couldn’t describe this feeling to anyone even if he actually tried. He loved making Will laugh.
Will specifically.
Mike was at his room, looking for some kind of binder.
He checked everywhere.
The closet, under the bed, his desk, and his shelves.
He was getting pissed. He knew that the longer he took looking for this binder, the more Will and Richie get closer to each other.
Mike hated that idea.
He despised the idea of losing his best.. friend.
…
Yeah. Best friend.
Lucas and Dustin were also his best friends, but Will is different. He is different.
The two of them shared a bond no one could ever understand.
He still defended Will from their bullies, even though he was getting accused of being a queer.
He didn’t care.
He hated the fact that Will goes through shit like that alone whenever Mike isn’t with him.
To Mike, he needs to protect Will.
He wants to protect Will.
But Will doesn’t need to be protected.
He surely doesn’t think so.