"To get the soul stone, you must sacrifice the person you love. A soul for a soul."
"There has to be another way," Will cried. Mike and Will were on Vormir on the hunt for the infinity stones. The people killed in Thanos's infamous snap will return if they collect all the infinity stones. They would reform from the ashes.
"There is no other way," Mike said. "One of us has to go over the cliff. Will, if we don't do this, half the universe will stay dead. Max, Dustin, El, Lucas, Steve, and billions of other people will be gone forever. I'll do it. You toss me over the edge."
"You can't," Will insisted. "You're the heart. I'll do it."
"Mike, your mom, and Jonathan need you," Mike argued.
"And I need you," Will argued, his voice cracking. "I can't live in a world without Mike Wheeler, especially with your blood on my hands. My mom and Jonathan will be fine. Holly needs to grow up with her big brother."
"Will, baby, you've been through enough," Mike said. "You deserve your happy ending."
"My ending won't be happy without you," Will responded. He took Mike's hands into his own. Will stared deep into Mike's eyes. "You need to let me do this. I love you, and I always have. I've loved you since that day we met on the swings."
Will's eyes pleaded with Mike. "I love you too," Mike whispered. He turned to Red Skull. "Will it be painful?"
Both boys were crying heavily at this point. "I don't know," Red Skull confessed. "No one has ever done it before."
Mike kissed Will's forehead. "I'm sorry," Mike said. For the last five years, they were all they had. Mike leaned on Will so much in those years. He couldn't believe what he had to do.
"One request," Will whispered. "Tell my story."
"I'll engrave your story in stones and read it in a tavern to inspire adventures if that's what you want," Mike whispered. Mike led him to the ledge. Mike kissed Will on the lips passionately. Mike held the back of his neck. Will returned the kiss, burying his hand in Mike's hair. "I love you so much."
Will stood on the edge of the cliff. "Just imagine your pushing me into a swimming pool," Will whispered.
"You hate getting pushed into pools," Mike cried.
"Then I'm being pushed into a pool of soft pillows," Will said. Mike closed his eyes. As gently as possible, Mike pushed Will. Will bit his tongue so he didn't scream, but Mike could tell he wasn't there. Next thing he knew, Mike woke up in a shallow pool, holding the soul stone. Mike let out a loud sob.