(This may or may not be inspired by a fic I HAVEN'T FINISHED reading. It's called 'boys in bars' by Zannolin on AO3.)

1990 New York City November 6, 1997. 10 years after everything that happened in Hawkins.

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It's been 10 years. 10 whole years since everything with Vecna, the ending of it all. But... it's been 9 years... since he realized his feelings for William Byers, his best friend for another 9 years, since they were 6 years old in kindergarten. He didn't know before, he was too caught up in Eleven. But then he realized... he only loved her as a friend. She was the first girl to actually like him and he thought he felt something more. But he didn't... that's why he was so hesitant to say 'I love you' to her. He actually loved Will.

But, Will has moved on, Mike heard. That Will has been in New York, drawing for comic books and living his best life there. But, that's what he's heard from other people. He hasn't talked to Will in... let's see... 6 years? Maybe more. He cut all contact with family because, well... he came out to his parents. Karen, of course, didn't mind it. Mike is still her son after all. But his dad... Ted did not like that. He told him, "No f*gs allowed in this house!" and kicked him out. That's fine. He had money and found a nice apartment in NYC, far away from Indiana and his friends. Only Max bothers him now.

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After finding out he was bisexual, he started going to these gay bars, where he'd sit in the corner booth and write. That was his space, his little comfort zone. Sure, some guy would try to talk to him, try to convince him to get them both in the bedroom (which, he'd refuse), but other than that, he felt comfortable there. And seen.

Little did he know, that little safe space, was also Will's safe space. Yeah, William Byers, the guy he's had a crush on 9 whole years, has been going to the same bar as him without even knowing, without even noticing each other. But today, they notice each other.

Mike, sitting at his usual spot, stops to take a break from his writing. His wrist aches and he needs to socialize a little, breathe deeply and remind himself that he's actually here and not in his little world in his head. But as his eyes sweep the crowded bar, they stop on a familiar face about 15 yards across from him. That familiar face is Will, sitting at the bar, sipping a drink, and chatting with some guy. His boyfriend? No, they don't look like they're together, just strangers talking. But that doesn't matter. Mike's more focused on the fact that Will is here. Sure, it's a gay bar, and Will is gay, but Mike completely forgot that the guy also lives in New York City.

The stranger Will talks to walks away with the small call that he's going to use the bathroom. Left alone, the man looks around his surroundings, his hazel eyes glancing at every face that passes by. He takes another sip of his drink, only to almost choke on it when he notices Mike Wheeler sitting in the corner booth, staring at him as well. Mike is the least expected person to be in a gay bar, so obviously it catches him off guard. But that doesn't mean he doesn't feel at least a little bit of excitement. They haven't talked to each other in forever, and they need to catch up.

Nobody makes the first move though. They just stare intensely and almost awkwardly, like they're waiting for the other to do something. Will they do something? Or will they decide to forget even seeing the other man and continue on with their life? Decisions, decisions...