Chapter Text
One autumns evening in 1979 in the basement of the wheeler house, 2 boys laid reading a comic.
The black haired boy read out loud while the brown haired boy sat listening to him talk, watching.
"Mike come up here a minute" Karen Wheeler called from the top of the stairs leading down to the basement
Mike looked over to Will, who looked terrified at the thought of Mike leaving
"Don't worry Will, I'll be back straight away. You keep reading ahead."
He checked Wills face to see if this was okay with him and when he knew it was he raced up the stairs to see what his mother wanted.
"What mom, I'm reading with Will"
"I'm just letting you know we're having lasagna for dinner. I'm assuming Wills staying?"
Will stayed at the Wheelers almost every day.
"yes Mom, of course Wills staying"
"make sure you don't put any carrots in Wills, he hates them"
Mrs Wheeler gave Mike a look as if to say "how...", because she had never once heard Will speak. As far as she was concerned, he couldn't.
Mike sprinted down the stairs and saw will saying on the couch, comic in hand, peacefully reading.
The sight brought a sense of relief over Mike.
"Hey Will!, your staying for dinner, we're having lasagna but don't worry, my Moms gonna make it how you like it"
Will smiled back at Mike.
After finishing their comic, Will started drawing on a random piece of paper he found on the table while Mike rambled on about DnD, some new action figures he wanted and school.
Will listened as he drew.
Mike peered over his shoulder to see what he was drawing. Will had created a picture of the two boys as their DnD personas holding hands.
Coloured in the two most used colours from his crayon box. Blue and yellow.
"WILL, oh wow that is amazing". Mike beamed at him.
Mike loved everything will drew, he had a collection of Will's drawings in his room and even more displayed on his wall. He was so proud to tell everyone "my best friend drew those"
Will went red and looked down at the page before drawing a little heart on the page and handing it to Mike without looking at him.
Mike hugged him and told him "I love it Will, thank you"
Will, still clinging on to Mike, glanced up to him and smiled.
There was a bang on the door of the basement. Will flinched and Mike grabbed his hand.
"It's okay, dinners ready, let's go"
In the kitchen the rest of the family were already seated at the table. Baby Holly in her high chair, Ted who barely glanced up over his newspaper, huffed as the two boys entered. Mike sat down next to Nancy and Will sat in between Mike and Holly. Mrs Wheeler handed out their plates of food. Will gave her a shy little smile when given his. Mrs Wheeler smiled back.
The family was lightly chatting while eating their dinner. Every question directed at Will, Mike answered them for him as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
Ted was over this so he decided to speak up.
"Micheal, let the boy answer for himself. Jesus Christ this must be why he doesn't talk"
Will sunk down into his chair with tears in his eyes. Refusing to look up and let anyone see.
Mike was furious at his father for speaking that way towards Will.
"SHUT UP DAD" he yells at his father.
"Of course he talks, maybe he just doesn't want to speak to you!"
Mike had never noticed Will doesn't talk because Will didn't need to talk for them to communicate perfectly. Mike had always been able to understand Will so he couldn't comprehend why others couldn't.
Ted was absolutely not having that.
"Karen, call Williams mother to pick him up right now. You will not shout at me like that Micheal."
"No mom don't. Will has to stay here tonight. He can't go
home."
Ted was not about to give in. "See this is his problem Micheal. You are to stop babying him like this. In fact, I will have no more of you two sleeping in the same bed under my roof. Sleepovers are forbidden"
Now Mike was crying too, out of anger.
"Mom" he pleaded through his tears. "Please you don't understand, he can't go home"
The first time Mike was at Wills, they were in Wills room. Will was drawing them both while Mike watched like they always did. Lonnie burst into the room, screaming and shouting at Will. "What are you doing with this boy in here, I will not have my child being a little fag."
Will jumped off his bed from Mikes side, trying to hold in his tears and failing.
Mike did not know what that word meant, but he knew from Lonnies tone and Wills reaction to it, that it was not a good thing.
They stopped playing at Wills after that.
And from that moment on, Mike decided he would never let anyone hurt Will again.
So he couldn't let him go home.
Karen could see how much this meant to her son, but she also knew the final decision was not up to her.
"Micheal you have to listen to your father"
She turned to will.
"Go get your things, I'll call your mother to come get you."
Will now had tears streaming down his face. The Wheelers house always felt like a way to escape and Mike made him feel safe. But now, now he had nowhere.
He glanced up to mike who took his hand again and stormed down to the basement.
"Will, don't listen to him. He's just an old looser"
Mikes voice broke as he spoke
"He'll forget about this by tomorrow and you can stay over again"
Will nodded but he didn't believe him
Mikes heart broke for him. He knew how bad things were at home. He knew Will didn't have any other friends, any other place to go.
Mike felt so guilty.
He had promised himself he would never let anyone hurt Will ever again.
And he broke that promise.
Will was hurt and it happened in Mikes house.
Due to his family.
Due to him. And his actions
Will of course didn't blame Mike. He couldn't possibly think badly of Mike if he tried.
But Mike didn't know that.
But he did know he would do everything in his power to make sure it never happened again.