It had only been two years since graduation. And three years since Vecna was defeated, the Upside Down sealed, and El sacrificed herself. She'd said Mike would understand her choice one day. So far, that day hadn't come.

Other things had changed, too. Mike and Will had drifted apart after Will moved out of Hawkins with most of the others. It was sad in a way, they'd been thick as thieves for so long. But after Will came out to the group and not-so-subtly hinted at having a crush on Mike, things just fell apart. And not in a "huge blow up fight" fell apart, just a... "everything is now super awkward" fell apart.

But one good thing did come out of it. About a year after Eleven's death and everything being fixed up, you moved to Hawkins. And Mike started crushing hard and fast, something he seems to do a lot honestly. But you were a guy, and Mike Wheeler didn't like guys. Or so he thought.

It took Robin verbally beating some sense into him, but Mike eventually came around to his sexuality and asked you out. And now you two shared an apartment in Hawkins while Mike focused on publishing his book about everything he and his friends went through.

"Evening, handsome," your voice pulled Mike out of his thoughts. He retracted his fingers from the typewriter in favor of wrapping his arms around your waist.

His eyes closed as you removed his wire-frame glasses. He'd begun needing them to read over the past few months, his vision damaged from all the beatings taken in his childhood. They made him look like his father, Ted. He hated that.