Beyond the Canvas || BYLER || ⚠️ INCOMPLETE ⚠️

1.

In this timeline, the gang emerged victorious, defeating Vecna and putting an end to the supernatural horrors that had plagued their town. The Upside Down was no more, and with it, the demogorgans, kidnappings, and gates. But their victory came at a steep price. Unfortunately, a sacrifice had to be made to kill Vecna - Eleven had maximized her power and strength, putting her life at risk, all so she could take Vecna down, which ultimately led to her own demise. Hopper was devastated by Eleven's death, grieving uncontrollably - just as he had when he lost his daughter, Sara. Now, he had lost another loved one, and the pain was overwhelming. He couldn't shake the guilt, blaming himself for not being able to save her. Joyce was his anchor, constantly reassuring him that it wasn't his fault, that Eleven's sacrifice was a testament to her bravery, and that she would want him to be proud of her. The rest of the group had also wept over Eleven's death, but it was Mike who grieved the most. The love of his life, or so he thought, had died right before his eyes, leaving him speechless and unable to process what had happened. It was too much to take in, he couldn't even shed a single tear. He just stood there, frozen, eyes wide open, and everything around him became distorted. He had never been more heartbroken - at one point, he wished he was the one who had died, not Eleven.

As the months went by, Mike's friends, especially Will, had been a constant presence, comforting him as he grieved over Eleven's death. While his friends started visiting less often, Will remained steadfast, staying by Mike's side no matter how depressed he felt. Even when Mike barely talked, and his motivation dwindled to just staying in his room and eating takeout pizza, Will continued to show up. Will felt hopeless, thinking Mike would never move on from Eleven's death, but despite the obstacles, he never gave up on helping Mike. Over time, as more months passed, Mike started to feel better and showed more emotions. Except these emotions weren't just any regular emotions - they were feelings he felt towards Will. Mike began to heal and rediscovered his sense of self, eventually getting over Eleven's death.

It's now been 9 months since Vecna's defeat and the passing of Eleven. Mike is in a much better state as he's currently learning how to paint. Will sits on a couch positioned behind Mike, observing him paint a breathtaking mountain scenery. "Oh- hold on.." Will interjected, lifting his arm to point at a spot Mike was painting. "You- forgot to blend in that side part." Will mentioned as he let out a soft chuckle. Mike's eyebrows raised as he realised he did miss a spot and went on to repaint over it. "Heh, thanks for the reminder." Mike beamed, letting out a chuckle as well. "I guess I wasn't really paying attention. I mean- Honest? I'm kinda rushing it." Mike hedged, knowing the reason why he wasn't paying attention. Will paused for a moment before speaking, "Oh, you shouldn't rush. Take your time, Mike. Art takes time, y'know?" Will reassured him, "And I see you're improving your painting skills. I'm proud of you, Mike." Will stated as Mike stops painting for a moment before turning his head back to look at Will, "You really think so?" Mike asked, gazing at Will with a longing glance, his eyes silently pleading for approval. Will let out a comforting smile, "Yeah." He replied, slightly nodding his head. "And maybe one day, you'll become better than me." Will added, aiming to motivate Mike. Mike averted his gaze, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle. "No way, dude! You're such a great painter. I don't think I'll ever be better than you," he exclaimed, his eyes flicking back to Will. His voice dropped to a murmur, "Besides, you were my inspiration to paint." As Mike spoke, Will's eyes sparkled, his smile broadening in response. Will averted his gaze, his demeanor suddenly becoming uneasy. He fidgeted with his arms, finally settling them on his legs as he struggled to articulate his thoughts. A nervous chuckle escaped his lips before he spoke, "I- well- chuckles I really appreciate that, Mike. A lot." Will's eyes met Mike's again, his expression sincere. Mike responded with a nod of encouragement, then turned his attention back to his canvas, continuing to paint.

After a while, Mike finally puts the finishing touches on his painting and turns around to show Will - who was nodding off, lulled by the hours of watching and admiring Mike paint. "Will!" Mike burst out, chuckling at Will's exhaustion as he's barely awake. Will rubbed his eyes, yawning, "W-Woah.." He stood up, trying to shake off the haze. "That's amazing- No-, beautiful, Mike." Will's eyes widened as he took in the artwork, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Thank you," Mike said, his voice warm. "You know, someday, I wish to go here, the mountains. Experience the view for real." He paused, his expression softening. "With you, Will." Will turned to his right, his eyes locking onto Mike's. His face lit up with excitement. "R-really? With me?" he asked, his voice laced with wonder. Mike nodded, his smile never wavering. "Yeah. With you." He chuckled, reassuring him. Will's gaze drifted away as he couldn't help but smile like an idiot in love. The tension between them was palpable, hanging thick in the air. Mike's eyes remained fixed on Will, his gaze unwavering. Will, on the other hand, couldn't seem to settle, his eyes flickering between the floor and the painting, his face still flushed with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. "Welp- Anyways, I'm really glad you came by to watch me paint even if it took hours. I'm glad you're my friend, Will. I don't know what I would do without you." Mike's voice was laced with sincerity, his eyes searching Will's face. "You were there for me all these months while I was trying to get over El- and- I've been nothing but a dick to you and the rest. I'm glad you still stayed by my side. You helped bring me back to my senses. So I decided to try painting, because I know you love to paint." Mike's smile was genuine, his words touching Will's heart. Will's eyes welled up with emotion as he listened to Mike's words. "I- It's okay, Mike. You weren't a dick- You were just going through- a lot- and it's totally fine! And, I'm glad you started painting." Will's voice cracked slightly, his smile trembling. The air was thick with emotion as they shared a heartfelt moment. Eventually, Will began to pack up his things, preparing to head home. Mike watched him, his eyes lingering on Will's face. As Will turned to leave, Mike's gaze drifted back to his artwork, a soft smile on his face. As Mike stood there admiring his painting, his gaze drifted, and it was then that he realized, in that moment, these emotions he had for Will, his feelings were starting to become clear.