#side pairings

It had been a quiet day at the Byers-Hopper-Home. Well, as quiet as it can get when you almost constantly have multiple teenagers and adults over.

It became a ritual that at least once or twice a week everybody would come around. They all had been through so much and especially Joyce and Steve were absolutely worried and panicking as soon as they hadn't heard from everyone the last few days.

So they would meet up, exchange stories from the last days and check if everyone was doing okay. They would order food or sometimes do a barbecue in the garden - the first time there had been a fire, definetly not including Hopper just wanting to take care of everything with Steve, Dustin and Argyle hovering around him (plus Jonathan trying to get their boyfriend away from the fire).

Today was one of those big check-in-days. Everyone was somewhere in the house or garden, doing things like talking while preparing food (Joyce, Nancy and Steve), checking out some new comics (Max, Lukas and El), nearly breaking something (Dustin, Eddie and Robbin) or making out (Jonathan and Argyle).

"Shouldn't Hopper and Murray be back by now?", Steve asked while checking the clock. "He's probably spotted something else that we 'definetly should try today'", Joyce answered mimiking her husbands voice while contuinuing to cut the pepper.

"I'm not gonna eat another one of those 'new various meat sticks'", Nancy clarified thinking back to the day Hopper had come home with two boxes of those things.

Joyce laughed. "Well, I gave these house ban so don't worry." "That doesn't promise that he won't buy some other new weird thing", Steve clarified. "Yeah", Joyce sighed, "I guess we'll just have to hope."

They contuinued chatting for a bit while finishing the vegetables. And soon they heard a "Come here, you little burglar!" coming from the living room plus laughter.

It was Eddie who just caught Dustin and tried to get his wallet back that the other had snatched from him to look at the photo of Steve that he kept in there.

"Naw, look at that", Dustin showed the photo to Robbin standing next to them and laughing her ass off. "The lightning and everything. He looks like a god. And is that a heart you drew there?", Dustin contuinued while still struggling to get out of Eddie's grasp.

Steve quickly went to end their little fight, not without a small blush at the things Dustin had just screamed technically for the whole house to hear. "Come on Eds, stop suffocating our child."

The hair, as they still jockingly called him, finally managed to sepperate them and directed his boyfriend to the sofa. "Sit down, your wounds are still not fully healed." "Only a few on my stomach", the metal head protested.

"And what about your knee?", Steve began massaging just that and gave him a knowing look at the small hiss. "I just don't want you overstraining and hurt yourself", Steve softly wispers before leaning in to kiss Eddie.

An "Ew" came from Robbin and her best friend shot her the finger before remarking: "As if you're not just hanging at your girlfriend's lips right now."

"Actually not", Nancy said, "She's hanging at my neck right now." "Thanks for defending me, babe", Robin grinned looking up." "Always", the other woman anwered before kissing her.

That was a sign for Steve to have his turn on the "Ew" and both Nancy and Robbin to give him the silent anwer. The other three just laughed at the scene, Joyce shaking her head at the teenagers.

"Man, now I miss Suzie even more", Dustin pouted. "Naw, if you want we can sing the song for you", Steve said grinning getting ready to sing. "Nooo!"

Meanwhile El and Lukas were taking turns at reading the new comic they had just found to Max. El read the dialogue and partly described the scenery while Lukas jumped in at the whoosh's and kapow's making Max laugh every time.

When they were finished El put down the comic and leaned next to Max who had gotten out of her wheelchair to sit on El's bed. Lukas was already sprawled out on the floor looking up at them.

"Sooo El, tell me", Max started, "What's that now with you and Mike?" El was confused for a second. "Me and Mike?" "Yeah, I mean. What happened? Are you in a fight? Did you dump him again, or what?", Max asked excitedly.

"No, we're not and I didn't. We're just not together anymore." "Wait, really?!", Max and Lukas simultaneously gasped. "Yeah", El shrugged, Max feeling the movement on her shoulder. "Okay, why?"

"We just both came to the conclusion it would be the best. I'm actually not really ready for a relationship since I'm partly still trying to figure out who I am."

"Mhm, understandable. And what did Mike say?", Max contuinued her investigation while Lukas had his eyes closed still laying on the floor but also attentively listening.

"Well, he totaly understood that and said he too had just recently figured something out about himself and not liking girls. It actually was what I kind of assumed and hoped for with him and Will. I mean the way the way they have always looked at each other, it's kind of obvious. So, we decided to stay friends and that's basicly it."

It was quiet for a few seconds before Max started again. "Okay, wait, what do you mean with him and Will, what were you hoping for?"

"Will and Mike like each other. They're together now. That's what I was kind of hoping for because I had noticed how much Will was hurt by seeing us. He's so happy now."

Lukas shot up: "Mike and Will are dating?! How can I not know that two of my best friends are in a relationship?!"

"Oh my god, it really is obvious if you think about it", Max whispered. Then louder to Lukas: "Well, you're really oblivious. Especially with your friends."

"Because I'm trusting them to trust and tell me when something's up", her boyfriend countered.

"Oh, do you think they maybe didn't want other people to know?", El asked concern in her voice. "We'll just ask them", the red head said at that, "Help me get in my wheelchair and then we'll get to Will's room. That's where they are, right?" "I guess so."

After a moment they got out of El's room and went down the floor. But before they got to Will's room they made a stop at Jonathan's.

After knocking shortly they opened the door to find Jonathan and Argyle hanging on each others lips. "Get a room you two." "You are literally in my room. What do you want?", Jonathan said looking at them.

"Did you know that Will and Mike are dating?", Max asked straight up. "Yeah, why?" "We didn't know", Lukas exclaimed. "Well, Will was so happy and releaved and I just came to the conclusion. So I asked him and he said yes. Soo, will you leave now?"

"Alright", El turned but then faced her brother one more time, "Don't you have the three inches rule too?" "Oh, shut up and get out", he said, "And close the door." El just laughed at that and maybe left it open a little bit.

They eventually got to Will's room and knocked again before barking in. Will was sitting on his carpet. Art utensils splattered around him. His sketch book in his lap with a picture he was just working on.

He quickly put his finger to his lips. "Shhh, he's been sleeping for the last thirty minutes", the boy pointed at Mike sound asleep on his bed. He had his raven hair open and a few strands fell in his face while one of his arms dangled of the bed.

"You drew him?", El asked getting closer and looking over her brothers shoulder. "Yeah, he hasn't moved at all and he strated silently snoring too. It's so funny." A small giggle left the boys lips.

"We actually wanted to ask you both something", Max said getting back to the reason they came there. "What is it?"

"Well I kind of told them you were dating-", El started and was cut off by Lukas, "And we want to know if that's true." "And also if it's okay that I told them", El said shooting a small glare at Lukas.

"Oh, yeah, we are. And it's okay you told them", Will answered smiling widely even though there was a small worry of not getting accepted that he quickly brushed off again.

"Why didn't you tell us?", Lukas asked a bit offended. "Well, we figured it would be obvious from time to time and we didn't want to shout it out."

In the meantime the livingroom-group had went upstairs and was now standing behind the three teenagers in Will's doorway.

"Hey, Hopper and Murray should be back any minute and we're finished too", Nancy said. "What's up in here?", Steve asked with suspicion.

Lukas turned to Dustin: "Did you know they were dating?" His friend looked at him confused. "Who?" "Mike and Will", Lukas gestured wildly between the two boys - one still inocently sitting at his carpet with his sister now perched next to him and the other still slightly snoring.

"Whaaaaat? Really?" Dustin wasn't the only one with a surprised look on his face. "Oh that little shit, he didn't tell me", Nancy remarked while Robbin just gave a nod and grin at Will who returned that. Steve got out a confused "What?" just like Dustin.

"Well I knew that mini-Byers had something for mini-Wheeler", Eddie said leaning on his boyfriend, "I just didn't know they were actually dating."

"They're what?!", echoed from behind them. Everybody equally scared for a second turned around to see Hopper, Joyce and Murray standing there. It was Hopper who had just screamed.

Will was the first one to turn away because his boyfriend had been startled by the loud exclamation and now satup halfway, a confused sleepy look on his face. "What?", he asked his eyes squinting and trying to figure out, why everyone was standing in one room.

"Noo", Will whined, "Why did you have to wake him up. Not even my sketch was finished." That got a second "What?" from Mike that Will just waved off with a small blush.

Hopper turned to his wife standing next to him. "Did you know that?" "Of course I knew. I'm his mother. He didn't even have to tell me for me to know."

"And why didn't you tell me?", he asked her. "Because I knew that you would want to strangle Mike." The boy instinctively sild back a bit at the mention of that.

Murray just stood there. He had by far probably known the longest that the two boys had feelings for each other and if they wouldn't have managed to sort it out themselves he would have Murray'ed them soon.

"Yeah, no shit", Hopper said now before turning back to Mike, "Why always my kids, Wheeler?!" Mike looked at him with big eyes, his still half asleep brain trying to comprehend what was happening. "U-uh, sorry", he muttered out.

Meanwhile El and Will were sitting on the floor trying to surpress their laughter before bursting into giggles at the situation happening.

Mike being sulky said "Thanks for your back-up" to his boyfriend. "I'm s-sorr-rry", Will got out through his giggles, "It's just-" That's when another wave of laughter hit them and the two siblings dubbled over again.

"Did y- did you see-he-he his face-", El got out before bursting once more and Will actually fell over, happy that his carpet was so big.

Mike looked away at the others: "I feel slightly insulted right now." "Oh, you should feel more than slightly insulted", Hopper said pointing at him. Joyce just calmly put a hand on his arm. "Come on leave the boy alone. We have a barbecue to do."

One after one left the room. Their friends kind of gratulated Will and Mike while Will still laughed. But that eventually died down too. El whiped the tears from her eyes before standing up. "I'm gonna leave you two now too. Bye." She even closed the door fully behind her.

Mike got up from the bed and went over to his boyfriend still laying on the floor. "Have you laughed enough about me now?", Mike tried to stay insulted but the grin on Will's face made him forget everything.

He sat down and then grabbed the other's hands to pull him into a sitting position too. "You're happy", he remarked whiping some of the laughing tears from his boyfriend's beautiful face.

His hands stayed on Will's slowly blushing cheeks. "Is that bad?", he asked slightly nuzzling into Mike's palm. "No it's great. You're great." Will smiled wholeheartedly at him before gripping his shirt and yanking him forward.

Their lips met in a soft kiss and it felt like little fireworks exploded in their stomach's making the boys giddy. One of Will's hands went up to grip into the dark strands and he let out a small moan at the feeling of Mike's tongue.

After another moment they parted slowly and leaned their foreheads together slightly panting.

"I love you, William Byers."

"I love you, Michael Wheeler."

"Why did you go ahead and eat breakfast if we were meeting up here?" Kara wondered.

“Oliver likes to fix me breakfast in bed,” Felicity said.

"You trained him well," Lena smirked and Felicity laughed.

“Ollie, you cook now?” Sara grinned.

“I dabble,” Oliver said as the waitress arrived at their table.

Felicity snorted, earning looks from everyone and a smile from Oliver.

The waitress took everyone’s orders, Oliver and Felicity ordering just coffee for themselves.

“I have a hard time believing Oliver Queen can cook,” Barry grinned. “Didn’t you grow up with a housekeeper or something?”

“Raisa,” Oliver said.

"Why do you assume just because someone has money they can't cook?" Lena questioned.

"Statistics," Eva interjected.

“Oliver is an excellent cook. He gets any better and I’m gonna need a new wardrobe.” Felicity reached out, taking his hand. “It’s better than some restaurants.”

“I don’t believe it,” said Ava. “Sara can’t cook to save her life. I doubt Oliver could.”

“Hey, I can cook,” Sara protested.

“Microwaving doesn’t count,” Oliver stated, earning a half-hearted glare from Sara.

"Kara can cook," Lena offered. "I have no need for room service."

Kara smiled over at Lena. "You would like anything I would make full you even if it tastes awful."

"True," Lena smiled over at her girlfriend, reaching out to brush Kara's hair over her shoulder.

“Barry’s a great cook,” Iris smiled over at Barry.

“Who's better though?” Sara smirked. “I’m really not that bad myself.”

“Not bad?” Ava interjected. “Not bad. You can do a lot of things but cooking isn’t one of them.”

“Really?” Sara shot her a look in disbelief and Ava leaned forward kissing her in apology.

Felicity smiled. “Oliver is basically a five-star chef, I don’t see anyone at this table being a better cook than him.”

Oliver smiled at Felicity’s praise, he tugged her to his side and kissed her neck.

“I’m gonna have to disagree, Barry, is an unbelievable cook and he had a great teacher in my dad,” Iris said.

“Oh,” Barry leaned forward. “Why don’t we find out who is the better cook? Me or Oliver?”

Oliver leaned forward. “Prepare to lose, Barry.”

“I’m gonna prove to all that I can be just as good as anyone at this table,” Sara said, sending a smirk everyone’s way.

"I'm in," Said Kara eagerly. "This sounds like this could be fun."

“Where is the challenge going to take place?” Felicity questioned. “And when?”

“Tomorrow,” said Iris, sending Barry a look of encouragement. “We’ll meet at noon with the prepared dishes and we’ll hold a tasting to see who wins, with Ava, Felicity, Lena, and I acting as the judges.”

Everyone agreed and enjoyed their meals.

After leaving the cafe, Oliver dragged Felicity around to the market with the best fresh vegetables and fruits.

It took hours before Oliver was satisfied, throughout the day Felicity pestered him about what he was going to make but he insisted on not telling her until tomorrow.

They returned back to their suite. Felicity settled onto the counter as Oliver put everything away.

Their suite at their hotel was very much like an apartment with a full kitchen, bedroom, and living room.  

“You know you could always find out what Barry, Kara, and Sara plan on cooking,” Oliver suggested putting away the last of the groceries.

“Isn’t that cheating?” Felicity asked, sending him a sharp look.

“Don’t look at it as cheating,” Oliver moved over to her, moving in between her legs and tugging her to the edge of the counter, wrapping his arms around her. “Look at it as being prepared.”

“And I’m supposed to help you with this?” Felicity fisted her hand in his shirt.

“Yes, your Felicity, the one person I rely on more than anyone,”

“Stop, trying to sweet-talk me,” Felicity slid her hand up his chest and curled around his neck and tugged him down, till they were breathing the same air. “If you’re trying to persuade me you should kiss me.”

Oliver’s eyes smoldered. She never had to tell him to kiss her.

His mouth closed the last remaining distance between them.

Felicity matched his every move as the kiss grew deeper, their passion being felt through every nerve ending.

Felicity and Oliver forgot everything but their desire for one another.

                                                 ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Oliver was up first thing in the morning but Felicity absolutely refused to get out of bed so early when she was still exhausted from their activities the night before.

Not even the smell of fresh coffee in the morning was enough to get her up.

She fell back asleep, her muscles relaxing into the mattress.

However later she woke up to the pleasant feeling of Oliver, kissing up her naked back, his hands smoothing over her arms.

She let out a low hum. “What time is it?”

“Time for you to get up.” Oliver placed a kiss behind her ear.

“I don’t wanna. Too tired.” Felicity rolled onto her back and her eyes immediately took in Oliver's naked chest. She tugged him closer, her hands sliding over his abs and lower to the waist of his pants, her hands starting to push at them.

“I thought you were tired,” he tugged at the sheet covering her, pulling away from her body.

“I’m never too tired for you.” Felicity arched up, pressing her body against him, encouraging him to touch her, be with her.

Oliver pressed his mouth against hers, surrendering to their desires.

                                                   ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Felicity hurried and pulled on a sundress as Oliver went to get the door. They had just gotten out of the shower when the bell ranged.

She quickly ran a brush through her hair and pulled it up into her signature high ponytail. She slipped on her glasses before leaving the room to join Oliver at the door to greet their guest.

Oliver was closing the door behind Ava, Sara, Lena, Kara, Barry, and Iris.

“Morning.” Felicity greeted. “Who wants coffee?”

Everyone but Sara and Oliver raised their hands.

“Okay, I will get on that.” Felicity moved toward the kitchen, leaving Oliver to entertain their guest.

“I’ll help.” Iris squeezed Barry's hand before following her into the kitchen.

“Do you know how Ava, Lena, or Kara like their coffee?” Felicity wondered as she found four coffee mugs in the cabinet.

“No, but I would just keep it simple,” Iris replied. “Did we come too early?”

“No, why do you ask?” Felicity asked as she poured four cups of coffee and slid them down the counter toward Iris for sugar and cream.

“Your hair is still wet from the shower.” Iris shrugged. “Plus, your dress is inside out.”

Felicity looked down at her dress quickly and to her embarrassment Iris was right. “Frack, okay, yes, we were just getting out of the shower when you guys got here,”

“We,” Iris repeated, smirking.

“Get your head out of the gutter West.” Felicity wagged her finger at her.

Iris laughed. “Why don’t you fix your dress and I will finish up the coffees.”

“Thanks.” Felicity smiled. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

                                                ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

When Felicity rejoined them Oliver and Barry were already trash-talking one another. Ava looked slightly annoyed and Sara was smiling in amusement. Iris sipped at her coffee, scrolling through her phone, Kara and Lena were whispering to one another with sweet smiles.

Felicity took the seat on the arm of the chair Oliver was sitting in. “What have I missed?”

“Oliver and Barry arguing about who's going to win.” Iris looked up from her phone. “All the ingredients Barry and Sara are gonna need for their dishes was already brought in and the competition will be underway in an hour.”

Felicity let out a yelp as Oliver tugged her onto his lap without warning. He handed her coffee to her without once stopping his immature back in forth with Barry. “Barry, you are going to learn I can cook with the best of them.”

“We’ll see, Mr. I grew up with a Russian housemaid.” Barry snarked.

“She has a name. Raisa and she’s family.” Oliver defended with a scowl but his eyes gave away his amusement.

“Is this going to go on the entire hour?” Ava asked, pulling Sara’s hand in her lap and interlacing their fingers.

“Yes,” Sara answered. “It’s entertaining to watch. Like a ping pong match.”

"Reminds me of Alex and me when we were younger," Kara smiled.

"They do have that big brother, little brother vibe going," Lena commented.

Felicity settled back against Oliver, sipping at her coffee.

Oliver’s arm tightened around her, settling on her hip, his thumb brushing against her skin.

The hour passed in the same fashion. Barry and Oliver argued. Sara and Felicity got to talking about Detective Lance and Ava, Lena, Kara, and Iris started talking about work.

The women all decided to leave Barry and Oliver to their childish arguing.

                                                 ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Felicity growled as the smell of food filled the air.

“Mmm,” Iris hummed. “Whatever their cooking smells good.”

“They shouldn’t all be preparing their dishes at the same time,” Ava said in disapproval. “It’s a disaster waiting to happen. Something’s bound to go wrong.”

“Probably but if Oliver can salvage my horrible cooking he can salvage any disaster in the kitchen that comes his way,” Felicity said confidently.

“You’re serious about him being a chef-level cook?” Iris asked in surprise. “I thought you were just saying that for Oliver.”

“Nope, Oliver is an amazing cook,” Felicity said. “You’ll see. Wait, does that mean you were just praising Barry’s cooking for his benefit.”

“I mean, he’s good but not restaurant good,” Iris said.

"What about Kara?" Ava wondered looking at Lena. "Can she cook or do you encouraged her to protect her feelings.

"I don't need to protect Kara's feelings," said Lena. "There really is nothing she's not good at. She's perfect."

“That's sweet." Felicity complimented. "What about Sara?” Felicity turned to Ava. “What is Sara’s cooking really like?”

“She’s passable,” Ava admitted. “But out of the two of us, I would prefer to handle the cooking.”

Iris and Felicity smiled and nodded along.

“Sara’s lucky then,” said Iris. “I can’t cook. Everything I cook tastes bad.”

“At least it’s edible,” said Felicity. “My cooking is likely to poison someone.”

The women laugh, sharing amusement in their shared failures in the kitchen, well Iris and Felicity’s case.

                                              ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

“Sara, what are you doing?” Oliver asked dumbfounded. “You don’t put pineapple in omelets.”

Sara shot him a glare. “Do I tell you how to cook? No, I don’t and it’s a Hawaiian omelet. Now shut up and make your plain old pancakes.”

“They are not plain. Their banana and chocolate chip and Felicity loves them.” Oliver defended.

Sara rolled her eyes.

“Would you two stop bickering? I’m trying to make grill cheese over here.” Barry complained, nudging them out of his way.

“Anyone can make grilled cheese.” Sara scoffed.

“Not Felicity,” Oliver muttered, his eyes shooting to the doorway making sure she didn’t hear.

“Hey, don’t mock my grill cheese.” Barry whirled around. “Like pancakes and omelets are so much better?”

"Keeping it simple isn't a bad thing," Kara interjected.

"Says the woman who is just making french toast," Oliver replies, staring at her toast with distaste, always a food critic.

Their arguments escalated slowly, voices growing.

                                                 ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Iris, Ava, Lena, and Felicity could hear their voice growing louder as they bickered like children but stayed out of it until suddenly the smell of burnt food filled the air and the smoke detector started blaring loudly.

Felicity rushed into the kitchen to see Sara waving her hands frantically through smoke from the stove. Barry grabbed for the smoke detector and Oliver soaked a sizzling pan in the sink. Kara was setting burnt dishes on the counter, her nose crinkled at the smell.

“What happened?”

Iris, Lena, and Ava burst into the room behind Felicity.

“It was Sara’s fault!” Barry and Oliver accused.

“Me? You're the two who couldn’t stop bickering with your constant need to best the other!” Sara defended. "And what about Kara?"

"I didn't do anything?" Kara protested.

Felicity walked further in the room, taking notice of the burnt food dishes on the counter. She scrunched up her nose. “If I didn’t know better I would think I was the one who has been in the kitchen cooking breakfast.”

“Very funny,” Oliver said but he couldn’t help but smile at her.

Felicity tugged on his shirt, bringing him closer to her. “Oliver?”

“Hmm?” Oliver was suddenly distracted by her close proximity, he could hear Iris telling Barry to leave the smoke detector alone and Ava complaining about the smoke, Lena complained about the smell of burnt food, but it all faded away with Felicity pressed against him, looking up at him sweetly.

“You have failed this challenge,” Felicity told him, her eyes shining with laughter.

Oliver opened and closed his mouth before burying his face in her neck laughing.

Their friends and their failed cooking challenge were forgotten, he pulled back and kissed her soundly.

A/N: I hope this was enjoyable.I am struggling to write through some writer's block but I'm trying to get through it.

Tags: @rennywilson @mariestark @omglovechrissie