mike runs into severe financial troubles in the late 90s after losing his job. it leaves him without a reliable housing situation. and because of how he grew up - privileged, always guaranteed to have a roof over his head, his dad making six figures a year - he doesn't really know what to do. he's lost. he hasn't talked to will consistently in years but will lives the closest to him and he really needs a place to stay. he shows up at will's door and he lets him in. of course he does.
will, on the other hand, is thriving in the city. he lives in his own apartment that he rents with his own money. he's got a part time job and does freelance artwork. but when mike shows up at his door, he isn't just going to shut it in his face. not when he's standing at eye-level like this, sadness heavy in his eyes and only carrying a duffel bag full of personal belongings with him. will isn't that type of person, even if he knows he should've asked for a lengthy apology long ago.
what was supposed to be one week turns into two. then three. then four. before long mike is basically living with will as he searches for a job. will has a guest room, and that's where mike stays, of course. but sometimes they'll be up late into the night, nursing a couple of beers and talking in hushed voices like they used to do as kids. touching, shoving each other playfully on will's beat-up living room couch. will tells mike about his past relationships, about the queer scene in new york city, the coolest things he's experienced while he's been living there. how he painted a mural on a city building once with some of his art friends. he's so excited explaining it all, too, because he knows mike will listen. he always has.
and maybe mike stares a little too long. glassy-eyed and full of longing for a life he never got. he graduated college but didn't look for a job he liked afterwards. he was working on a novel but he hasn't picked it back up in years. he hasn't had a girlfriend since el but he made out with a guy in college once and it was one of the best and scariest moments of his life. he's broke. he's living in his ex best friend's apartment. he goes to bed alone and the next morning he wakes up to will making the both of them breakfast with his coffee exactly how he likes it. and he notices will's tattoos dotting his upper arms. it's not a sleeve, per se, but maybe his art friends did them for him. he looks good. he looks really good, better than mike ever will.
contrary to popular belief though i don't think they'd kiss or hook up in this situation for a while. there's almost kisses while drunk, feather-light flirty touches but nothing more. they don't talk about it afterwards, anyway, even if they can feel the tension so easily. mike is terrified of what these feelings mean, how strong they are compared to what he felt for el. will picks up on it, the subtle sadness, the things mike is clearly pushing down. he remembers telling his college friends about mike wheeler and what they all agreed upon. he knows, but he's not going to force it, and he's been trying to move on. he has moved on. well - he has moved on until he sees mike walking out of the shower clad in only a towel. or he hears mike ramble about the current plot of his novel. or he notices mike's smile as he listens to will speak.
mike gets a job, but he does not want to leave. he says so. he says he'll pay half the rent. he'll buy groceries, he'll cook dinner every other night. but please, will. please. i want to stay. i don't want to go yet. i'll miss you too much. and i think the first kiss is soft. they both lean in at the same time after the unspoken confession lingers between them for a few seconds. i think they're standing in will's big window overlooking the new york city skyline and the light of the sunset is covering the ratty couch and ugly purple carpet in a pleasant shade of orange.
i think will cries a little, because it's not what he pictured when he fantasized about this as a teenager, but he loves mike all the same. i think mike bumps their foreheads together and sighs out so deeply, so full of relief. he can't make up for all of the time he's lost, not possibly - but he is here now. the love he feels is here now. and he does not leave will's apartment. not that will would let him, anyway.
