unedited

——

after the movie, the two boys had gone to the grocery store. neither of them had anything to do for the rest of the day, so they'd decided they were going to try baking. ben had finally worked up the courage to ask beverly on a date, so he was taking her out to dinner, meaning the two boys were alone,

"i can't believe richie was the one who got scared,"
mike exclaimed, "i was expecting eddie."
"m-me too. whenever eddie and i w-watch movies get refuses t-to watch horror."
"the invisible man wasn't really horror though, it was thriller."
"i th-think an abusive ex-h-husband, in an invisible suit k-killing your sister in front of you and th-then proceeding to ruin y-your life is s-something straight from a h-horror."
"i guess we'll just have to agree to disagree."
"i guess w-we will."

mike shut the door as bill put the shopping back on the counter. the kitchen wasn't anything special, after all, it was in a college room dorm, but it was good enough for them to use.

"can i choose the music?" mike asked, turning on his bluetooth speaker.
"sure, but if you p-put on bon jovi, i s-swear to god, i w-will leave," bill smiled.
"please?" mike pouted.

bill laughed softly and turned away, grabbing the brownie mix out of the shopping bag. mike didn't care what bill said, he was going to play bon jovi anyway.

bill began searching for a bowl in the cupboards and immediately froze when lay your hands on me by bon jovi began playing. he grabbed out a bowl and put it on the counter. he turned to see mike holding the phone connected to the speaker with a childish smile.

lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me

"wow."

lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me

"you love it."
"unfortunately."

come on

bill walked over to the sink and began washing his hands. he stopped for a moment and turned when he heard mike singing to the song.

"if you're ready, i'm willing and able. help me lay my cards out on the table."

he watched in awe and mike tapped his fingers on the counter in time with the music.

"you're mine and i'm yours for the taking, right now, the rules we've made are meant for breaking."
"you're an idiot."

bill turned around and turned off the tap: mike hugged bill's waist from behind and rested his chin down on his shoulder. he kissed his neck and bill laughed.

what you get ain't always what you see, but satisfaction is guaranteed

bill wiped his wet hands on mike's cheek and he jumped backwards.

"ew!"
"it's j-just water," bill laughed.

they say what you give is always what you need, woah, woah, if you want to lay your hands on me

mike ran over to the tap and got water on his hand. he flicked it at bill and when he backed away he ran over and wiped it on his nose.

"mike!"
"what!"

lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me

mike grabbed bill's hand and placed his other hand on his hip. he began to joking dance to the music. bill laughed and tangoed with him.

all you gotta do is, lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me

"and spin!" mike lifted his hand above bills head and span him.

bill laughed louder and stumbled a bit, but mike caught him.

now listen up, i'm a fighter, i'm a poet, i'm a preacher

he pulled him close and they looked into each other's eyes. they stood like that for a bit.

i've been to school and baby i've been the teacher

mike grinned and dipped bill backwards. he erupted into laughter again and let mike pull him back up.

"you're an ass!"

if you show me how to get up off the ground, i can show you how to fly and never ever come back down

"no, you love my ass."
"ew!"
"dance with me!"

they began dancing again. bill admired mike's optimism. he was always happy and never failed to make him smile. in this moment, all of bill's worries faded away. all he could focus on was mike and the song playing in the background.

"everything you want is what i need, sing with me! your satisfaction is uh," he turned his head and then dramatically turned back to bill, "guaranteed."
"but the ride don't ever come for free, no oh oh, if you want to lay your hands on me," he joined in.

they both sang to the song as they dance around the kitchen in mike's dorm.

lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me, all you gotta do is, lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me

mike spun bill out to the side. when he pulled him back in, he was hugging him from behind. he closed his eyes as he rested his chin down on bill's shoulder. bill's arms were crossed around his own torso, as mike was still holding his hands. he smiled as mike made they continue to sway to the song.

now now now, baby, don't you know I only aim to please, if you want me to lay my hands on you, woah woah woah

they both hummed softly as they swayed around the room.

"i love you, bill denbrough."
"i love you, mike hanlon."