Authors note: Welcome one and all and Happy Pride Month. So, this is my first Stranger Things fanfic and it is a one shot featuring Will. It takes place after the third season after Will and his family are relocated. There have been rumors and speculations regarding Will's sexual orientation and this fanfic is for those who believe those rumors, please do not take offense by this as it is merely fan interpretation. To be fair I just recently got into this series and watched all the way up to the break, so, I'll be ready for volume 2 next month. Either way this is another contribution for this month apart from my non one shot I am working on.
Stranger Things: Dear Mike
Will sat in his bedroom, alone, his thoughts his own. Honestly since his family wound up moving out here, it felt...lonely. Mike, Dustin, Lucas...they were all back in Hawkins. The late night D&D over at Mike's seemed like ages ago. Will however felt that somehow his friends were moving on without him. Letters with Mike were becoming sparse and each day he got mail he noticed how Jane was getting the greatest amount of mail from home, apart from his brother, though even those appeared less as Nancy got busy back home.
Will wore a short sleeve shirt, something he wasn't used to wearing in Hawkins considering the chilly weather at times. He still recalled all those Halloweens where he and his friends would wear some sort of costume with long sleeves.
Heaving a sigh he looks over at a painting he had been working on, a work in progress, but one that meant the world to him. Thankfully his brother wasn't pestering him much these days as he was stoned out of his mind. His mother was adjusting to working at home at a job she really enjoyed doing and there was the fact that he had a sister now.
Jane or more like eleven had been adopted into their family so she could maintain some normalcy and the two of them would be attending school together. Will reached for a piece of paper as he had been debating about writing Mike for a bit now. The two of them had only exchanged a few mail and he didn't just want to be there when Mike needed him.
"Screw it...I am writing this letter now no matter what," He placed the pen to the paper but found himself hesitating.
Why was this so hard? Why couldn't he express his feelings like he wanted to? Mike, the very first friend he had ever made...the friend who had brought him into a world of expression and kindness. Mike, who, for better or worse kept him sane and who looked for him in the dark. Mike...who even now was writing letters to Jane instead of…
"Augh, this is getting me nowhere fast. Mike is my friend and I should just tell him how it is, straight up, no bullshit." He began to write hoping that whatever thoughts were in his head would just flow the moment the pen hit the paper.
Dear Mike,
Hi first and foremost, wait, does anyone even say that?
Anyway, how have you been? Life here in Lenora Hills, California,
yeah it is something else. I haven't found anyone to play D&D with...but…
honestly nobody even compares to you guys. I really miss our late night campaigns.
So just beating around the bush here but...there is something I've been meaning
to tell you and just never had the nerve to do so...till now. I know it seems informal,
given it is in a letter...but...no time like the present right?
Anyway I don't wish to take up too much of your time so here it is...I'm…
Will doesn't seem to be able to finish that line of thought, that feeling that was driving such tension in his body he was certain he'd burst at any second. It was a feeling that had been with him since he was young in Hawkins but refused to admit aloud.
"Should I even write this in a letter? I mean I won't even see his reaction and if he is weirded out by it I won't receive a return and then I will think he has shared it with the others and then my entire existence will be treated like...like I was missing."
He tore up the letter and brushed it into his trash. This was stupid...he should just write a normal letter, nothing hidden behind anything he said. Ok this next one will do the trick for sure.
Dear Mike,
It is your best friend Will, you know, we slayed demons together?
Anyway just soaking up the sun here in California. How is everyone back home?
I know you are probably wondering about Jane, Eleven that is, and she is good.
Listen Mike, I get that you have been busy of late, but,
is it wrong of me to suspect something is up? I just feel like our letters are
getting further and further apart...did I do something to offend you?
Please let me know and if it is something I can fix by saying
I am sorry then I will. Your friendship mean the world to me and-
Will stared at the letter not even sure where he was going with that. Honestly the harder he fought to keep his thoughts in check...the more he was lying to himself.
"Dammit. This won't do at all." Will took the letter and ripped it up as he made it join the previous letter.
No matter how many letters he wrote...none would never make it to Hawkins and even if they did, would they even matter? El was in her bedroom right now and likely working on a school project considering they had been tasked with something big like, reading most likely.
Will should be working on his school stuff or at least pretending to but...ever since the thought of Mike came to him he sat himself down to write down his feelings. A diary might be far more befitting but not like Mike would ever see it and if his mother or his brother got hold of it his life would be over and perhaps much of his past suffering would come back to haunt him.
Why was it so important then to let Mike know? He had a girlfriend and he didn't need complicated right now in his life. Screw it, he just won't write the letter...and...he'll just be happy for Mike and El and bury whatever piss feelings he has...forever...it only was right right?"
Will walked over to his window and opened it up as he looked out at their driveway. He spots a familiar van parked down there, no doubt it was where his brother was getting stoned. Will didn't like the idea of his brother doing such things to his body, but, of late his brother had been conflicted and dealing with his own personal struggles.
Will shut his window as he looked back at his desk where he had several other pieces of paper to write on. Maybe one more time and he'd just lay his feelings out on the paper, maybe he wouldn't even send it. Will seemed to recall something about writing one's feelings down was cathargic or some shit like that, honestly it wouldn't hurt.
"Ok, one last attempt...and then I never speak of it again. Plus pretty sure Mike would never accept what he saw and this is for all the marbles."
Dear Mike,
It is me...Will Byers, your best friend who moved away.
I need you to know something, and, before you tell me you
already know what it is, I need to stop you there. The truth is
well, I have been hiding something from you and the guys.
I have felt this way for a while now but have kept it hidden
in fear of what you say, what others may say if they found out.
Here it is, the truth, and, if you wish to stop being friends with
me after learning, I wouldn't hold it against you...but…
I would hope after all this time you'd at least be open to it.
I would sigh, but, not sure you can do that in a letter.
Mike...I'm Gay...and all this time
I have had feelings for someone, someone I know.
If you have made it this far, wow, I mean thanks. Oh right,
so here in letter you will learn that the boy or guy I've been
crushing on for sometime now is-
Will stared at the paper, his pen held poised to touch down but it never makes it. Why couldn't he finish it? It was all there, his truth...and yet...putting his name down wouldn't solve anything.
"He is never going to find out, so, maybe it is better I never write down his name." Will tore up the paper and as he rose up he stretched his arms and felt like he was a bit lighter on his feet. The weight of what he said and what he wrote...it would never leave this room. He'd put it off long as he could but as he looked over at his painting, he began to debate ripping that up too.
Will held out a hand but as a last minute decision moves to open the door to his room and steps out into the hall. He'd finish it soon and maybe then he'd have his answer. As the door closes he thinks of the letter he was writing to Mike, unaware that lying somewhere in his room the words 'I'm Gay' happen to lie there.
THE END
Authors note: I didn't write his name but pretty sure anyone who watches the show has a feeling who it is he has a crush on. Even so I may have let loose hints to paint a visual. There are only two episodes left in season 4 so no telling what plans will be in store for Will but that painting of his may hold all the answers. I have no idea to formulate a clear thought so your guess is as good as mine.
