#isa this considered fluff orangst idk bye!!

[kuumara]

Hey, Lucas

Mike and Lucas are on patrol. They're not far away from the safe house, but that doesn't mean they're safe. Thankfully they've gotten better at defending themselves these past year, and now they can be more useful than just plotting new plans.

They've been walking in silence, too scared to make noise that might attract anything. But Mike's never liked silence, it makes him feel even more anxious.

Mike whispers. "Hey, Lucas-"

"Shh." Lucas shuts him up immediately. Alright, then.

"Damn. When did you turn into such a nag-"

"Shh!" Ugh. Mike rolls his eyes. No one's any fun around here anymore. Except Will. But he's mostly possessed, so Mike doesn't know if he would be like this too if he spent more time with the group. Mike wishes he wouldn't, but he also wishes he wouldn't be possessed anymore. He wishes everything would be back to how it was.

If everything were normal, he could've maybe went to California with Will, or wherever he wanted to go, and they could get an apartment or maybe go to college together. There's colleges that have an art program and a writing program in the same building, right? It's both art, isn't it? He wishes he didn't have to keep his dreams to himself. If he or Will were a girl, he could gush about that all he wants. But neither of them are a girl.

Mike isn't walking with Lucas through cold, heavy air that makes you barely able to breathe. He's on a beach in California, with Will and El, in Lenora. During that spring break.

He and El never started dating again, in this ideal world. They're friends. Like, real friends, not the kind of friends you say you're 'just friends' with. The sun is shining, not too bright and not too dim. There's not a lot of people around them, rare for a beach like this. Will is telling him to come swimming with him. They swim and play in the water for a while. Mike tries to playfully keep Will under the water, but he keeps clutching him and eventually they both give up, exhausted, arms around eachothe-

"Mike!" Lucas waves a hand in front of Mike's face. That, unfortunately, pulls Mike out of his daydreaming. He blinks at Lucas. They're on the porch of the safe house. They still have to stay here for some time, while the others are getting ready to go sleep.

"You wanted to talk before so badly. Now speak,"

Mike contemplates. What if he just- told Lucas about Will? He's probably noticed something's up. He's the 'love expert', after all. Either Lucas accepts him, or doesn't care because they've got more important stuff to handle than Mike's self-discovery. Or, Lucas doesn't accept him and he loses his best friend. Ruins this friendship. He doubts that'll happen, though- Lucas isn't like that. His motto is 'normal is crazy'. He's been called a freak all his life, he's basically Mike's brother, he wouldn't bail on his fellow freak...

"Mik-"

"I'm gay," Mike blurts out. Great, at least now he doesn't have to overthink anymore, it's out there now.

Lucas just stares at him. Mike closes his eyes, he already knows this is going wrong. He closes his eyes, and waits for the punch, or the insult, or the outing to everyone else, or something.

But nothing happens. Well, something happens. Lucas hugs him. Mike still doubts this is positive, and expects him to hiss something awful and humiliating in his ear.

But he doesn't. They just stand there, on the front porch of the barricaded safe house. So, this is a positive reaction after all, isn't it?

"And I- I love Will." Mike's mouth moves faster than his brain yet again. But at least he's saved from the overthinking, I guess-

"I love him so much. Love-love him. Don't tell him," Mike's voice starts to break. Lucas hugs him even tighter, and Mike can't help but cry.

He cries, for what seems like forever, he's surprised no one came to take the other watch shift yet, and he hopes they don't. He doesn't want to be seen like this.

And Lucas is hugging him and holding him close through all of the crying and sniffling and staining his jacket.

Eventually, Mike just stays standing there, Lucas still not letting go, Mike's head on his shoulder. He's tired, yet has never felt more well-rested. He feels understood and he feels safe.

"Thank you, for telling me." Lucas whispers into Mike's hair. His voice is wet, he's been crying as well.

"Look at me, Mike,"

Mike does that. His tired eyes sting in the cold, dry air. Lucas's eyes are red, too.

"Listen. If anyone would hurt you, I would stand up for you, wouldn't I?"

Mike nods.

"And do you think I would hurt you? Despite you knowing I would beat anyone's ass that would even look at you weird?"

Mike laughs. He's happy Lucas is his friend. He's happy he told him.

"I would have to stand up to myself if I'd hurt you." They both laugh. And Lucas hugs Mike some more.

"I'm always here for you." Mike smiles into his shoulder.

"And, about Will. Don't even worry about him, you've got the love master on your side after all-"

"No, Lucas-"

"The wedding bells will ring in no time! Put together your guest list and book your hotels! Pick a theme already! What color will the decorations be? The bridesmaids dresses-"

--

Lucas plans bylers wedding agenda

based (😎) on this post by @merth-or-nothin (finally learned how to embed shit)

#lucas sinclair #platonic wheelclair #wheelclair #gay mike wheeler #mike wheeler #will byers #byler #byler fic #byler ficlet #stranger things #st5 #byler angst #byler fluff #isa this considered fluff orangst idk bye!!