OH BUT IMPORTANT TO NOTE! this is not a full AU, it would still follow the cannon timeline this would be like their senior year in hs but like flowery in every sense of the word lol

& like what it would mean to show his artwork in a gallery. but hes just collecting it for now IDK LIKE IT SOUNDS SAD BUT IT WOULDNT BE im thinking artist Will & art collector mike but the whole fic is using illusions to Van Gogh painting and impressionism IDK like just poetics and gay people ig

idk this has just been cooking in my brain all day? should i write a one shot LOL LMK

lowkey im really not into homophobia as a main plot line but the angst???? Mike too scared to come out to his gay bsf b/c of all the internalized (AND EXTERNALIZED IG) homophobia. keeping a secret until its literally forcing its way out to finally be met with the love he was so scared to lose?

and we get sort of end that like i cant promise to not struggle, but i will love you enough for you if you love me enough for me. and its like soft and tender

BUT LOL IDK????

and Will is looking at Mike, the boy he has been in love with his whole life, and is like no boy that brave, that kind, that beautiful could ever have been made wrong, could ever be anything other than perfect.

and Mike finally is like "please dont feel that way' kind of begging 'because somebody loves you... Will I love you" and then he completely breaks down and it will's turn to be like 'Oh.'

and will is like 'mike what are you saying'. And Mike, who is still crying, is like "dont hate me like that too." and will is shocked but also having butterflies as his own childhood crush is obvi reciprocating his feelings.

but was so afraid to tell anyone and like every time will was grappling with his own internalized homophobia mike was growing scared that if will saw himself as a freak for being gay then hed see mike the same, and even be disgusted by Mike's secret feelings for him.

and Mike kinda shakes his head before finally whispering.

"Well, I think I'm like that too."

mike cant meet wills eyes but hes starting to shake and tears are slowly rolling off his cheeks, as its revealed that mike is gay too,

'do you really truly believe that being gay means something's wrong with you and no one will ever love you."

and will be like 'what does it matter? it feels that way.'

and mike is like 'oh.'

Will is so lost and asks 'Mike why are you crying?

And he's confused and upset but before he can ask why, Mike weakly grabs his arm and with a watery voice is like 'do you really believe that.'

and will is so lost "believe what' and mike

and for the first time Mike doesn't respond. and will looks up through his own tears and sees Mike, kneeling before him, shoulders slumped. Mike is looking down and his hair is partially obscuring his face, but Will can see that tears are starting to stream down Mike's face.

but its really really not working this time, and will is just continuing to cry and scream and be frustrated and ashamed until finally hes like 'im messed up and no one will every love me."

just full heart wrenching shame crash out. and mike, his strong party leader is as usual just supporting him being like 'its ok, we have always been different' 'this is who you are' etc.

but then one day they are together idk where but sitting alone together and something happened that day maybe will was bullied and he is crashing out to mike. Saying 'this is wrong', 'why am i always the freak', 'why couldnt i just be normal for once in my life' 'something is wrong with me' etc.

anywaysssss because mike is his best friend and took his initial confession really really well Will starts slowly talking to him about these feelings and like mike is really understanding and is constantly reassuring him and its wholesome and good. this goes on for a few weeks

like he accepts that hes gay but truly just feels like a freak and outcast. and after everything else he's been through and has to accept why is he like this too.