Chapter Text
“Richie, shut the fuck up!” Mike yelled across the basement. Everyone was laughing at a joke he’d just blurted out. Something about Mike’s mom (his aunt by the way) and the spare bedroom in the Wheeler house. Richie had been staying with the Wheelers for a few weeks now, he was meant to be heading off to live in Chicago, only stopping in Hawkins for a few days on the way, but the sale on his apartment fell through, so Mrs. Wheeler kindly offered for him to live with them for a while.
Mike wasn’t best pleased about this, he didn’t really like Richie that much, and he especially didn’t like how everyone else in the party loved Richie and thought he was absolutely hilarious. Will was the only person who hadn’t really made friends with him. The only reason being, because he didn’t want Mike to be mad at him. He’d always done this to himself. Forced himself to have the exact same opinions as Mike just to maybe get himself that one bit higher in his expectations.
Richie just laughed from the other side of the room. Will was observing everyone, watching Mikes face contort into a jealous and angry smile as he tried to join back in with the conversation. He noticed how similar him and Richie were, in pretty much every way. They looked almost identical, only Richie wore glasses that made his eyes look huge and his hair was a bit longer and messier than Mikes. Richie was also a lot less uptight than Mike. He was funny and reckless and immature, he still acted like a 13 year old even though he was the same age as the rest of them, which was refreshing for the whole party, since their young teenage years were so intense. Will did not want to admit that he actually quite liked Richie and was really curious about possibly being better friends with him. He’d spent so much of his life being worried about what everyone thought of him, and the mind flayer, and his sexuality and the upside down and basically everything ever, he knew he deserved to live a little now his friends knew his sexuality (not including Richie) and the upside down is gone forever.
“How about we get something to drink?” Richie suggests. “No, absolutely not” Mike replied. “Oh c’mon Wheeler lighten up a bit” Max snapped back with a joking sternness in her voice “Yeah Wheeler, Lighten up a bit” Richie smirked, knowing Mike would completely crumble under the slightest bit of peer pressure. He groaned as he got up to go and raid his Dad’s liquor cabinet.
Mike came walking back down the stairs holding two bottles of vodka under one arm and a bottle of wine along with some lemonade under the other. Will didn’t really like drinking when they first started at about sixteen, but he quickly got into it and now, he loves getting wasted. It helps him forget everything that ever went wrong for him. However he is always flushed with a wave of guilt when he feels his head pounding the morning after a drinking session, it reminded him of Lonnie.
The party had hidden a secret stash of shot glasses and and cups inside a chest in a dark corner under the stairs in the basement. They all crowded round the chest grabbing their cups. Will went down to grab his when felt who he thought was Mike come up behind him, but it wasn’t Mike, it was Richie. Will turned around, Richie smiled at him warm, but mischievous. There was one cup for each of them. Except Richie. “Oh shit, Richie you’re gonna have to share with someone” Lucas said as he picked the last cup up out of the chest. “That’s okay, I’ll share with Will” he said, still smiling. Will felt his eyes widen and his stomach flip, and not in a good way. He’s barely even talked to Richie and now they have to share a cup? Will nodded at him, trying his best to act comfortable with the situation as he walked over to Mike who was pouring everyone wine. Mike poured enough for two into Will’s cup. He was glaring at Richie whilst doing so, who was readjusting his glasses, Will noticed he seemed to do that when he was nervous or sensed some kind of unspoken tension. It reminded him of few of Mike’s habits that he did when he was nervous, like pacing or touching his face.
They were all sat round the basement, Mike was sat on the sofa next to Lucas, all the rest of the party sitting on the floor creating a circle. Will and Richie were sat together, since they were sharing a drink.
Once they were all starting to feel rather tipsy, Dustin came up with an idea “We should play a game!” he suggested. They all looked around waiting for someone to come up with one to play. Finally El suggested truth or dare. “No, please No” Richie said with zero hesitation, looking genuinely scared at the concept. “Oh c’mon Tozier, you’re not a pussy are you?” Mike said shooting him a joking glare, that wasn’t really that joking. “No, no…” Richie replied, clearly nervous, Mike set him up perfectly for a sex joke but he didn’t take the opportunity, which was extremely out of character. He moved his glasses on his face again before saying “how about you go first Wheeler? Truth or dare?” Everyone looked towards Mike.
He pressed his lips together and thinned his eyes. “Dare” he replied. “I dare you to take three shots of straight vodka” Richie replied, a devious grin on his face. Mike’s brow furrowed as he stood up. He poured himself three shots into separate glasses and lined them up on the coffee table. Everyone started chanting. “We like to drink with Micheal cuz’ Micheal is our friend, and when we drink with Micheal he gets it down in eight!” he took the first shot “Seven!” he squinted at the next one. “Six!” He picked it up. “Five!” “Four!” “Three!” He threw it back. “Two!” “One!” He threw back the third and final shot, trying not to cough or make a face at the disgusting taste. Everyone cheered. “Let’s all do shots!” El yelled after Mike was finished. Max whooped behind her and walked over to the coffee table from where she was sat. Soon everyone was crowded round pouring themselves shots and downing them.
“Trashmouth!” Mike slurred after another two shots. “Truth or dare?” Richie’s face was unreadable as he realised he hadn’t got out of it. “Truth” he said, coughing awkwardly at the end. Mike furrowed his brows again, trying to think of a question, when Max piped up. “You a virgin?” she asked. Will looked over at Richie who was sat right next to him, his face getting slowly redder from the bottom as he contemplated whether he was going to answer or not.
“Erm, No, obviously not” He said rolling his eyes defensively. Everyone laughed. “You are so a virgin” Dustin giggled. Richie looked extremely embarrassed before defending himself “how about you change that for me then” and Dustin immediately shut up.
After a few more truths, dares and shots, everyone split off from the circle. There was low music playing from Mikes cassette player and a faint smell of alcohol lingered heavy in the air. Max and El were giggling about something in a corner while occasionally glancing over at Mike, Lucas and Dustin who were pulling faces back at them as if they were still thirteen. Who knows what they were talking about. That left Richie and Will together, sat on the sofa in the corner of Mikes basement, staring down at their shoes awkwardly.
“I’ve not really spoken to you yet” Richie broke the silence. Will’s head snapped up from the floor to meet Richie’s gaze. “Erm Yeah, uh-“ He cleared his throat awkwardly. “I’ve heard a lot about you though” Richie replied smiling. “Yeah?” Will questioned, still accidentally holding the awkward tension between them. “Yeah, Mike always used to tell me about you when we’d have family reunions and shit like that” Will smiled at Richie’s fond memories. “He always used to be like- ‘ooh you neeed to meet Will at some point he’s my best friend!’” Richie impersonated. Will giggled at his quite accurate impression of Mike. “Really?” he replied with a slightly embarrassed laugh. “Yeah, literally every time I saw him, he never even mentioned Dustin, Lucas or Max, Or even El who’s…his girlfriend?” Richie questioned. “Oh no no, not anymore, they broke up nearly two years ago now” Will looked over to Mike who was laughing with Lucas and Dustin. “Oh really? that’s not surprising.” Richie said, averting his gaze away from Will. “What?” He questioned, sensing the thoughts gliding around in Richie’s mind. He laughed, hoping Will would’ve been intrigued. “Well, the thing is…” He started. “What?” Will repeated, smiling now. “Well…” Richie was smirking as if he was about to say one of his dirty jokes. “Oh c’mon just tell me” Will protested, sitting up to face Richie laughing now. Richie leaned into Will’s ear, covering his mouth with his hand and whispered “I kind of always thought he had a thing for you” He giggled at the end. “Oh my god” Will replied, in a pretend disgusted tone, leaning back from Richie as if he’d just said something extremely vulgar. Richie didn’t need to know about his sexuality or his ten year long crush on Mike. It’s not the first time someone has said this about them though, people always used to say it when they were younger, calling both of them (but mostly Will) dirty queers and other derogatory names of a similar nature. But Will knew that Mike was straight and that was that. He had no chance at all. All he could ever do was pine over a boy who could never be his.
Richie noticed the small wince in Will’s face when Mike was mentioned, the one he had got so good at hiding while sober. He squinted at Will, taking in all of his expression before thinking about changing the subject. Richie grabbed the cup out Will’s hand and took a large sip before passing it back, unintentionally brushing the back of his hand slightly.
Before either of them could get another word out, a very drunk Mike Wheeler stumbled over to them with Lucas and Dustin following close behind.
“What are you talking about?” Mike slurred out as he sat himself down in between the two of them. The sofa was barely big enough for two, let alone three people. Mike’s thighs were pressed up tight against Richie and Will’s, arms and shoulders the same.
“Your Mom and how hot she is” Richie responded, quick and easy with a slight smile on the side, catching Will off guard. Mike gave Richie a glare of disgust and moved closer to Will subconsciously. “You do know she’s your aunt, right? And Will would not be calling any woman hot” Mike quipped back, completely clueless about what he’d just said. Richie furrowed his brows slightly. Dustin and Lucas shared a shocked and worried look as Will turned a very dark shade of red. “Seriously Mike?” Dustin said, a disappointed tone showing. “What?” Mike shrugged. “Oh shit-“ he sighed as he realised what he’d said. “Sorry Will” he muttered. Richie just looked plain confused.
“I’m gonna go out for a smoke” Richie announced standing up and brushing his hands on his trousers. “Will, you wanna come?” he asked nodding towards the exit. “Uhh- okay” Will said standing up too. He didn’t realise quite how drunk he was until he stood up and the room started to spin around him. It seemed Richie had the same feeling as he stood up. They both stumbled over to the stairs, taking their time to get up them so they didn’t fall. Will saw Mike glance up at him as he walked, but he ignored it, thinking to himself, ‘he’s done enough to piss me off, now it’s my turn’ not only referring to what he’d just said. He followed Richie out the front door where they stood on the grass outside the Wheeler home. The night air was thick and humid, and smelt like freshly cut fields. They both knew if Mr. Wheeler caught either of them standing on the grass they’d be getting a severe telling off, but they were too intoxicated to give it any thought.
Richie pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket and shook one out. He offered Will the packet, to which Will just shook his head, which didn’t help the dizziness he was feeling from the shots. Richie brought the cigarette up to his mouth, placed it inside and lit it. The lighter created an orangey-gold glow onto his face, reflecting off his glasses in the darkness of the night. The only other sources of light coming from a dim street lamp further down the road and the beaming full moon. There was also a faint light coming from inside the Wheeler house. A small lamp Mrs. Wheeler had left on for anyone who needed to go home in the dark.
Richie took a long drag of his cigarette while staring across the street. He blew out the smoke in a ring and started laughing. “That’s pretty impressive” Will laughed. Richie nodded, clearly pleased Will was impressed by his party trick.
Silence hung in the air for a moment before Richie ripped it in half with a very daunting question.
“Have you ever had a crush?” He asked, not making eye contact with Will. Will’s face very obviously became panicked, but something happened to him when it was just him and Richie, alone. He felt very calm, and at peace with himself, almost accepted? He answered.
“Yeah..” He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “Oh yeah?” Richie teased with a smirk, looking over to Will now, holding his cigarette up to his mouth. Will smiled back. “What’s his name?” Richie asked, smile not wavering once. Will’s entire face dropped and his eyes widened, he’d really hoped Richie didn’t pick up on what Mike had said, but clearly he did.
“W-what?” Will replied, voice wobbling slightly from nerves. He picked his hands up out of his pockets and started fiddling with the hem of his t-shirt. “Wait wait wait, lemme guess” Richie giggled, now fully facing Will, one hand animating his words and the other still holding his half burnt down cigarette. “Does his name start with and M and end in ike Wheeler?” Richie laughed at himself. Will didn’t know what to say, he stood there staring at Richie completely frozen. After he didn’t say anything, Richie’s smile dropped and his expression softened. “Woah, wait I didn’t mean to offend you or anything” he apologised, placing the hand that had his cigarette in onto Will’s shoulder. A small bit of ash dropped off the end of it, onto Will’s t-shirt. It burned a small hole in the front of his shirt, he jumped back slightly at the small amount of pain. “Oh shit, sorry” Richie apologised again, bringing up his hand that wasn’t on Will’s shoulder to brush off the excess ash. “Fuck, I can’t do anything right can I?” Richie laughed again. Will let out a nervous smile in response.
An awkward silence hung over them for a second before Richie said “So… am I right?” hand still on Will’s shoulder. Will didn’t admit anything yet. he looked down towards their shoes then decided, what has he got to lose? Everyone else already knows he’s gay, he might as well tell Richie too. The only difference with this was no one else knew he liked Mike. “Uh, y-yeah” Will stuttered. “How did you know?” he asked, looking back up to meet Richie’s drunken gaze. Richie let out a deep sigh and flicked his cigarette onto the floor, stomping it out. He walked over to the edge of the Wheeler’s front garden. Will followed. “B-because I get it” he said, looking away from Will again. Will didn’t know what to think. What did he mean? Was Richie… like Will?
“You get it?” Will asked, looking over to Richie who was holding his gaze across the street. Richie was slightly taller than Will, but not as tall as Mike. Will had noticed as soon as he got here that he looked almost exactly like Mike. Same side profile, same smile, same freckles (not as many as Mike had though) same toned face shape, except Richie seemed to be smooth in every way Mike was sharp, and sharp in every way Mike was so smooth. And not to mention the difference in humour.
“Yeah…” “I get it” Richie repeated back to Will, almost like he just needed to hear the words again for himself. “What do you mean?” Will asked, he needed to clarify his thoughts were correct. “Will…” Richie said, with a ‘c’mon you know what I mean’ tone in his voice. He glanced at Will for less than a second before looking down at his shoes and kicking a small stone that was lying on the floor next to his foot. Will’s face softened from confused to relieved. “I-i’ve never met-“ Will started “Me neither” Richie met Will’s eyes again. He felt the need to break the emotion in the air and nudged Will’s shoulder with his own. “Look at us” he said laughing. “Why are we both so scared?” he joked. Will let out a small laugh as well. “You ever kissed anyone?” Richie asked. Will shook his head. “Have you?” He asked. “Oh yeah, so many people, literally everyone and their Mom” He joked. Will’s face dropped slightly. “I’m only fuckin’ with you” he laughed “i’ve been close before but I stopped it before it went any further” he admitted. “Was it…with a girl?” Will asked, putting two and two together about how Richie had also never met someone else the same as him before. “Mhm” Richie nodded. “I tried to convince myself I liked her, but I most definitely did not” he laughed again. “I don’t think she even liked me that much to be honest, I think she was just desperate” he followed up. “She leaned in and I dipped out the way and ran off” he admitted with an embarrassed expression. “Oh my god” Will said in a jokingly disapproving tone.
“Hey at least I’ve been close” Richie quipped back, nudging Will’s shoulder again. “Does anyone else know?” Will asked. “What? About me running away from a girl or me liking dick?” He joked. “You know what I mean” Will laughed.
“No… You’re the only one” Richie smiled. “What about you?”
“No, I- um I was kind of forced into telling everyone” Will was going to explain why but then remembered that he can’t just casually say his mind was taken over by some kind of psycho mutant alien thing that they all referred to as Vecna. Thankfully, Richie just nodded and moved on.
They heard the front door open behind them, Lucas, Dustin, Max and El all piling out. They didn’t even notice Richie and Will stood on the pavement outside. They all wondered off in the direction of their houses except El, who followed Max in the general direction of her house. Will laughed at them all stumbling off into the night.
“You gotta walk home?” Richie asked. “Yeah” Will replied.
“Let me walk you” Richie suggested. Will smiled at his gesture. “Mike wouldn’t be pleased about that…” he replied. “It’s fine, just go tell him i’ve gone out and that you’re going home alone, I’ll wait round the corner” he suggested. Will felt himself get excited for a second before he realised what he was about to do. He was about to go and lie to Mike Wheeler. “I don’t know…” he said creasing his brows. “Oh c’mon he won’t know it’ll be fine” Richie encouraged, turning Will around by the shoulders and patting his back. “Pip Pip and tally hoe” he mocked a British accent. Will let out a laugh and quickly covered his mouth. “Okay fine. wait round the corner over there” he pointed.
Will took a deep breath before opening the door to Mike’s basement.
“Oh, Will… you haven’t left yet” Mike said as he saw Will walk down the stairs. “No i’ve just come to say goodbye.”
“Cool, where’s my trashmouth cousin?” he asked. “Oh he went out somewhere i’m not sure to be honest” Will lied smoothly, letting out a small breath of relief at the end. “Ugh, good riddance, see you tomorrow” Mike said, looking down at his shoes awkwardly. Will knew he was hiding something, he could tell there was something that Mike wanted address with him, but he didn’t ask any questions. He said his goodbyes and left.