HimeGore

[himegore]

Byler fanfic ideas 💛💙

Hi everyone!

Ever since the show ended, I’ve been thinking about a lot of Byler fic ideas, so I decided to make a little prompt/masterpost series and share them here.

I have maladaptive daydreaming, so it is much easier for me to visualize stories, scenes, and whole plotlines in my head than to actually sit down and write them as full fics. So don’t think I’ll ever actually write all of these myself, so I thought it could be fun to put them out there in case any fellow Bylers want to use them as inspiration.

Feel free to take any idea, change it, mix it with something else, or interpret it however you like.

A few notes before the prompts: some of these ideas include heavier themes, so I’ll add content warnings where needed. A few also include fem!Will/genderswap themes. Most of them are Will-centered, and they all take place after the finale/epilogue.

Also, I should probably mention that I’m not the biggest fan of Mike in the show, so in a lot of these ideas he might be more on the miserable, regretful, or emotionally messy side. So if you prefer a more Mike-centered or very sympathetic take on him, some of these prompts might not be for you.

Also, these ideas are meant for adult/aged-up Byler. I’ve always imagined these versions of Mike and Will as older.

Some of these ideas could probably turn into longer, more complex stories with other characters having their own arcs too. I personally really enjoy fics where Byler is still the main focus, but the side characters are not just standing around as background decoration.

I also realize that similar fics or prompts may already exist. I just personally haven’t come across them. So if any of these ideas sound close to something someone else has written before, I’m sorry in advance. Copying was never my intention.

I’ll link each idea below. The general premise will be visible in the post, while any heavier content warnings, major spoilers, plot twists, or possible endings will be under the read-more cut:

Mike and Will time travel to the future

Version A: no major TWs, more lighthearted/comfort route, grumpy older Mike, older Mike and Will finding their way back to each other

Version B: darker/angstier route TW: Major Character Death, grief, unresolved conflict

Mike moves to NY after gap year

TW / notes: loser Mike, partying/open-minded Will, Mike feeling left behind, Mike struggling with change, college/New York setting

The Wishing Well

TW / notes: FemWill/genderswap, Mike’s unresolved feelings about El, wishes backfiring, possible identity/body-related themes

Jumanji-inspired AU

TW / notes: FemWill/genderswap, jealous Mike, possible Upside Down/D&D horror elements

Mike and Will as dads

Notes: Mostly fluff, adoption, parenting, domestic Byler

The Party family trip

Notes: No major TWs, fluffy comedy, family reunion, adult Party with kids

Will and the jock

TW / notes: Aged-up/everyone is 18+, Will being involved in cheating, Will secretly hooking up with a jock, toxic/abusive relationship, jealous Mike, angst

Mike is still looking for El

TW / notes: Depression, obsessive search, isolated/lost Mike, Mike struggling to let go of El

Summer camp counselors

Notes: No major TWs, annoying loser Mike, upper-middle-class Mike being useless at basic life skills, summer comedy

Life is Strange-inspired missing girl mystery

TW / notes: Life is Strange-inspired plot, new female character, jealous Mike, Will has powers, Will-centered, missing person, murder mystery, body discovery, kidnapping, possible loss of control/body possession themes

Will is still affected by Mind Flayer

TW / notes: Possible Major Character Death, illness, depression, medical themes, near-death, Will-centered, Wonder Twins bond

The cowboy bonding trip

Notes: No major TWs, crackfic, comedy, Hopper trying to bond with Will, cowboy hats, accidental father-son bonding

Madwise duo

TW / notes: More Madwise-centered, Will being irresponsible with powers, mind reading/mind control, Will's feminine side, obsessive/annoying Mike

Royal fantasy AU

TW / notes: Gore, dark fantasy, big lore, fantasy racism/discrimination, monster violence, arranged marriage, possible Henderhop, Dragon Age/The Witcher-inspired world

These prompts are for fellow Bylers, so feel free to do whatever you want with them. Use them, rewrite them, expand them, make them softer, make them darker — whatever inspires you. And if anyone actually writes something based on one of these ideas, please let me know, because I would genuinely love to read it.

I’ll probably add more prompts in the future, because my brain clearly refuses to stop coming up with them.

[himegore]

Royal fantasy AU

TW / notes: Gore, dark fantasy, big lore, fantasy racism/discrimination, monster violence, arranged marriage, possible Henderhop, Dragon Age/The Witcher-inspired world

This would be a bigger fantasy AU, more inspired by Dragon Age/The Witcher-style dark fantasy than classic D&D. The story starts when the characters are children, around thirteen years old.

Mike is Prince Michael, heir to the throne. Will is William, the son of the court witch, Joyce. He is also half-elf, though his father is unknown at first. Because of his elven blood, William can use magic without a spellbook or spoken spells. As a child, it is mostly small things: little fireballs, harmless tricks, small bursts of magic he does not fully understand yet.

Lucas is the son of an important noble family and is being trained to become a knight. Dustin is a dwarf who also lives in the castle. His mother could be the head cook of the royal kitchens. The four boys have been friends for years, with Michael and William being especially close.

As children, Michael often defends William from people who mock him for his ears or treat him like an outsider. But the kingdom is becoming more and more dangerous for magical beings and non-human races. There are people who hate elves, dwarves, and other creatures, and someone starts spreading a false rumor that elves and dwarves are planning to murder the royal family and attack the kingdom.

It is not true, but the king uses it as an excuse. He orders all elves and dwarves to leave the kingdom. Anyone who refuses will be killed. But he does not allow Joyce to leave with her son. The court witch is too useful to him.

So William escapes the kingdom with Dustin and Dustin’s mother. Michael is furious with his father, but he is still only a child and has no power to stop it. He promises himself that one day, when he becomes king, he will bring all magical beings and non-human races back into the kingdom.

Years pass. Michael and Lucas are now fully trained knights, and Michael is around twenty. His father decides it is time for him to take the throne, which also means it is time for him to marry.

Jane is a princess from another kingdom and is supposed to become Michael’s wife. But Jane has a secret. At night, she turns into something monstrous, maybe a nightwraith-like creature (from Witcher lore), maybe a werewolf, or something similar. She also has strange healing abilities. She can heal wounds with her touch and bring dead plants back to life. Her powers are almost like miracles.

Her father believes that if she marries a prince and becomes queen, the curse will disappear. He believes true love will break it. Jane’s mother died giving birth to her, taking a huge secret with her to the grave.

The main story begins during the preparations for Michael and Jane’s wedding and Michael’s coronation. Wealthy nobles, merchants, and powerful people from different parts of the world gather in the city for the royal event.

And this is when a certain group of old friends returns. William has grown into a very beautiful and powerful half-elf. He can control his magic much better now. Dustin is a dwarf bard who carries a lyre, but he is also secretly very good with alchemy and explosives. Max is a rogue: excellent with a bow, good with daggers, skilled at stealing, sneaking, and opening locks.

They are not in the city to celebrate the royal wedding. They are there because the wedding has brought a lot of rich people into one place, and that makes it the perfect opportunity to rob them.

Unfortunately, because they stand out too much and the royal guard is more active than usual, they get caught and thrown into the castle dungeons. They immediately start planning an escape.

Michael and Lucas hear that a strange group of thefts (elf, dwarf and red head girl) have been arrested. Michael instantly thinks of William, the dearest friend he lost years ago, and goes with Lucas to see the prisoners. The moment Michael sees William, he orders the guards to release them. Unlike when they were children, Michael now has real power. He is soon to become king.

The reunion is emotional, but complicated. Michael is immediately drawn to William all over again, maybe even more strongly than before. Lucas, meanwhile, notices Max right away. She is completely different from the women he has met at court, and he does not know how to act around her.

Michael invites his old friends to stay in the castle until the wedding and coronation. William, being magical user, quickly senses something strange about Jane. He can feel that she is hiding something, but also that there is something oddly familiar about her magic. He eventually discovers her curse.

Jane tells him that she does not want to marry Michael. She does not want to be a queen. She wants to be free, to travel the world, and to live a life that belongs to her. Her father kept her locked away for years because of the curse. William wants to help her, but he does not know how. He only knows that the magic surrounding Jane feels strangely close to his own.

So one night, William sneaks out with Jane to the forest, or somewhere far enough from the castle that no one will disturb them. He tries to use his magic to break the curse. But the others follow them. Michael, Lucas, Dustin, and Max discover Jane’s secret too.

William tries to help Jane, but instead of breaking the curse, he accidentally connects his magic with hers. Their combined power opens a portal. And from the portal comes Henry. In this world, Henry/Vecna is an ancient elf who was banished by the elven elders long ago because he wanted to take power over the world. He reveals the truth about Jane and William.

They are both his children, born from different mothers. William inherited elven magic more directly because his mother was a witch, but Jane’s magic manifested differently because of the curse around her birth. Her “miracles” and her monstrous transformation are both connected to Henry’s bloodline.

William tries to fight Henry, but he is too weak and eventually collapses. Monsters from the other world come through the portal with Henry, so the rest of the group has to fight them off while trying to protect William and Jane. And Jane despite having different form is fully aware of her doings.

Henry leaves them alive, telling them they will meet again. From there, the story would become a bigger quest. The group has to find Henry, understand what he wants, and figure out how to defeat him before he brings more monsters into their world or takes control of the kingdom.

It would also be about the relationships forming during the journey. Lucas keeps trying to flirt with Max, but she does not understand courtly romance at all and constantly misreads his intentions. Dustin could slowly fall for Jane, creating a softer “princess and dwarf bard/alchemist” love story. Their dynamic could be more fluffy and sweet, with Jane experiencing freedom for the first time and Dustin being completely enchanted by her.

And of course, Michael and William. Michael has responsibilities, a crown waiting for him, a kingdom that expects him to marry Jane, and a father’s legacy he wants to undo. But William is the person he never stopped thinking about. The person he lost as a child. The person he promised himself he would protect, even before he fully understood what that meant.

So Michael’s main conflict would be choosing between the throne he was born to inherit and the love he has for William. The story could have a lot of dark fantasy elements: royal politics, old magic, curses, monsters, bloodlines, betrayal, gore, quests, forbidden love, and a found-family party traveling together to stop an ancient evil.

Basically: Byler, but make it tragic royal fantasy with elves, dwarves, monsters, curses, a runaway princess, a chaotic rogue Max, bard/alchemist Dustin, knight Lucas, half-elf Will, and Prince Michael realizing that becoming king means nothing if he has to lose William again.

[himegore]

Madwise duo

TW / notes: More Madwise-centered, Will being irresponsible with powers, mind reading/mind control, Will's feminine side, obsessive/annoying Mike

This idea would take place during senior year. Will has been spending a lot more time with Max lately, maybe even more than with the rest of the Party.

One day, he discovers that he still has powers after everything that happened with the Upside Down. But they only work through direct physical contact. If Will touches someone, he can read their thoughts. Later, he realizes that he can also give them commands. He only tells Max. Not because he wants to hurt anyone or keep some huge secret, but because he does not want to scare the rest of the Party. He especially does not want Mike to worry about him or compare him to El.

Max convinces him to have a little fun with it. I do not imagine this as Max being evil or manipulating Will into doing bad things (like people accused her of doing in season 3). It would be more like both of them, after years of trauma and horror, wanting to have some fun. So Will and Max start messing around with his powers.

They go shopping and pick out visibly rich, unpleasant people. Maybe corrupt local politicians (like Mayor Larry Kline from season 3), awful businessmen, or just the kind of rich men who clearly deserve to be mildly inconvenienced. And Will makes them hand over money. It is never meant to be anything seriously harmful, more like them getting little carried away.

Then Max and Will use the money to buy clothes, go to the movies, get food, maybe even get haircuts together. Will starts experimenting more with style and his feminine side. They are having fun and being reckless.

Mike, of course, starts wondering where all of this is coming from. He notices Will has new clothes, new things, a new confidence, and he is spending more and more time with Max. Mike gets jealous and suspicious, so he tries to convince Lucas to help him investigate. Dustin thinks Mike is being ridiculous and points out that maybe Mike is just jealous because he is not Will’s number one person right now.

Mike becomes way too obsessive about it and starts invading Will’s privacy. Following him, asking too many questions, trying to figure out what he and Max are hiding.

Eventually, Mike finds out the truth and gets angry. He and Will fight. Mike says Will does not understand how dangerous this is. What if someone finds out? What if the government hears about it? What if they take Will away and lock him up somewhere?

Will does not understand why Mike is reacting so strongly. Also before he had promised himself that he would never use his powers on Mike, never look inside his head. But during the argument, Mike grabs Will’s hand, and Will accidentally reads his thoughts.

That is how Will finds out Mike has feelings for him. Will does not know what to do with this information, because he was never supposed to know. Mike is furious and embarrassed because his privacy was violated, but Will is also angry because Mike has been invading his privacy for days by following him and trying to control what he does.

The story could still stay fun and chaotic overall, but with a more emotional turn near the end. Will and Max have their reckless “crime era,” Mike spirals because he cannot handle not being the center of Will’s world.

[himegore]

The cowboy bonding trip

Notes: No major TWs, crackfic, comedy, Hopper trying to bond with Will, cowboy hats, accidental father-son bonding

This would be more of a silly crackfic/comedy than a serious story. Hopper wants to get closer to Will, since he is dating Joyce and wants to be more involved in Will’s life. The problem is that Hopper does not actually know that much about Will, other than the fact that he likes drawing and dnd. So he asks Mike for advice.

Mike, wanting to mess with him a little, tells Hopper that Will is secretly really interested in cowboys, horses, and rodeos, and that one of his dreams is to go see a real rodeo show. Mike thinks this is just a harmless little joke that will end with Hopper saying something awkward once and then forgetting about it. But Hopper takes it seriously.

So one day, Hopper proudly shows Will tickets to a rodeo event and is very clearly excited about this “bonding trip” he planned for them. Will, being Will, is too polite and kind to crush him, so he agrees to go along with it.

Then Mike finds out that not only is the trip actually happening, but he is also going with them. And somehow Ted Wheeler is coming too. This becomes a ridiculous “guys’ trip” where Hopper and Ted both fully commit to the cowboy theme. They wear cowboy hats the entire time. Will and Mike also get their own hats, whether they want them or not.

Ted, unexpectedly, seems to unlock a completely different version of himself. He is genuinely excited. He is shocked that Mike apparently suggested something like this, but also touched because he thinks his son wanted to spend time with him. So now Mike is trapped in the consequences of his own joke, stuck on a cowboy bonding trip with Will, Hopper, and cowboy-era Ted Wheeler.

There could also be a scene where they run into Dustin and Claudia at the rodeo, because for some reason Claudia absolutely feels like someone who would be at that kind of event.

The whole fic would be full of stupid jokes, awkward bonding, cowboy themes, Mike suffering, Will trying not to laugh, Hopper taking everything too seriously, Ted having the time of his life, and maybe a few Brokeback Mountain references.

Recommended writing soundtrack: Cotton Eye Joe, Pink Pony Club, My Barn my Rules

[himegore]

Will is still affected by Mind Flayer

TW / notes: Possible Major Character Death, illness, depression, medical themes, near-death, Will-centered, Wonder Twins bond

This idea would be connected to the fact that Will did not really seem to feel anything when the Mind Flayer died. Nothing major happened to him when it was destroyed, and in this story, there is a reason for that.

El is alive in this version, and everyone gets a happy ending after Vecna death. The Byers family moves into Hopper’s cabin, and for a little while, things finally seem peaceful.

But about a month after Mind Flayer death, Will starts feeling strange. He gets tired more easily. Sometimes he faints. His nose starts bleeding. At first, he tries to ignore it and explain everything away as exhaustion after everything they went through.

After a few incidents where Will passes out, Joyce takes him to the hospital for tests. The doctors discover that his immune system is extremely weak, but they cannot figure out why.

Will keeps getting worse with each passing day. At first, he hides it from the Party and tells everyone he is just tired. Joyce and Hopper eventually contact Dr. Owens, and they discover that Will still has something inside him, similar to the particles/connection he had in season 2. Whatever the Mind Flayer left behind is slowly killing him.

Will has no idea how to tell his friends, especially Mike. He also wants to confess his feelings before it is too late, because he does not know how much time he has left but he loves El too much and he doesn't want to ruin things for them. What he does not know is that Mike and El broke up a while ago.

This would be a very heavy angst story about illness, fear, unfinished feelings, and everyone slowly realizing that Will might actually die after surviving everything else.

When Will is almost gone, maybe even when his heart stops, El saves him at the very last moment. She uses all of her power to pull him back and destroy whatever is still inside him. After that, she loses her powers completely. But El is happy about it. For the first time, she feels truly free.

This story could also be a really good chance to explore the bond between El and Will, the Wonder Twins dynamic. El saves Will not because she has to be the superhero again, but because she loves him, understands him, and chooses him. And in saving him, she also finally gets to choose a normal life for herself.

So the fic would be painful and emotional, but not hopeless. It would be about Will almost losing the future he never thought he could have, Mike being forced to confront his feelings before it is too late and El giving up her powers not as a sacrifice that destroys her, but as something that finally sets her free.

[himegore]

Life is Strange-inspired missing girl mystery

TW / notes: Life is Strange-inspired plot, new female character, jealous Mike, Will has powers, Will-centered, missing person, murder mystery, body discovery, kidnapping, possible loss of control/body possession themes

This story would take place after the events of season 5. Another young girl has gone missing in Hawkins. Will notices a girl putting up missing person posters around town. She could be a Chloe Price-inspired character: rebellious, angry, loud, and desperate to find her missing friend.

The parents of the missing girl are not really interested in looking for her, and the police are not taking the case seriously either. They assume she probably ran away with some boy. Will accidentally touches the girl’s hand or arm during a confrontation, and for a brief moment, he reads her thoughts. He realizes that the two girls were very close, maybe secretly in love, and that the “running away with a boy” theory makes no sense. He believes her when she says something bad must have happened. And obviously "Chloe" can't tell anyone that her friend couldn't ran away with a boy.

So Will and this girl start working together to find out the truth. At the same time, Will discovers that his connection to the Hive Mind is gone, but something else stayed behind. His powers now only work through direct physical contact. If he touches someone, he can read their thoughts. Later, he also realizes that he can temporarily take control of someone’s body, but while doing it, his own body becomes unconscious.

These abilities could help them find the killer, but they also come with risks. Maybe Will starts getting stuck inside other people’s minds. Maybe he loses control. Maybe using the powers too much has physical or emotional consequences.

Mike, meanwhile, becomes jealous of Will’s new friend. At first, Will does not want to involve the rest of the Party because he thinks everyone is tired after everything they went through during the past few years. He especially does not want to drag Mike into it.

But Mike notices that Will is hiding something and starts his own little investigation. He follows Will and the "Chloe", eventually discovering the truth. At first he is angry that Will kept this from him, but that anger quickly turns into fear when he realizes how dangerous the situation is and how much Will is risking.

The story could have similar mystery elements to Life is Strange. Will and the girl finding the missing girl’s body buried somewhere in the woods or at a junkyard. A killer still walking around Hawkins. Will and the girl getting kidnapped. Mike panicking because Will keeps putting himself in danger. The Party slowly getting involved as the case becomes more serious.

But unlike Life is Strange, this would not be about Will choosing between Mike and Hawkins. The emotional parallel would be different. The relationship between the "Chloe" and "Amber" would become a warning for Mike and Will. A reminder that if they keep hiding, avoiding, and pretending, one day it might be too late to say what they really feel.

It could also lead to scenes where Mike is terrified for Will’s safety. For example, Will gets trapped inside someone else’s mind and cannot return to his own body. His body is unconscious, no one knows what to do, and Mike, desperate and panicking, kisses him in an attempt to bring him back...

The main idea is a darker mystery fic with Will at the center: Will investigating a disappearance, discovering new powers, trying to protect everyone by handling it alone, while Mike slowly realizes that his fear of losing Will is much deeper than he wants to admit.

Bonus poins if the killer was Mr. Clarke… just bc his actor hates byler.

[himegore]

Summer camp counselors

Notes: No major TWs, annoying loser Mike, upper-middle-class Mike being useless at basic life skills, summer comedy

This idea would take place during the summer before senior year. Will and Max want to earn some money and also do something that would look good on their college applications. They see an announcement at school looking for students to work as counselors at a summer camp for kids. Extra cash, free food, a summer by the lake.

Will could lead art/drawing activities for the kids, while Max could help with sports. Or they could just be a general camp counselor. Lucas and Mike decide to apply too. Lucas because he does not want to spend the whole summer without Max, and Mike because he does not want to spend the whole summer without Will. Max and Will are not exactly thrilled about this.

The story would be more of a comedy than anything heavy. Mike, being Mike, is not very good at handling actual responsibilities. He grew up pretty comfortably, his mom did a lot of things for him, and unlike Will and Max, he does not really need the money. So once he actually has to work, take care of kids, follow a schedule, solve problems, and be patient, he is completely out of his depth.

He argues with children. He gets overwhelmed by basic tasks. He takes things too personally. He probably tries to explain everything by D&D rules to kids who absolutely do not care. He thinks he is helping and somehow makes everything worse.

Lucas is also struggling a little, but not nearly as badly as Mike. He at least understands that this is a real job. Mike is just dramatically suffering through the consequences of his own decision to follow Will to summer camp.

The fic would be light, funny, and low-stakes. Mostly summer camp chaos, Max and Will being annoyed but secretly amused, Lucas trying to survive, Mike being useless and jealous and ridiculous, and maybe Will slowly realizing that Mike really did choose to spend the summer there because he could not stand the idea of being away from him.

[himegore]

Mike is still looking for El

TW / notes: Depression, obsessive search, isolated/lost Mike, Mike struggling to let go of El

After El disappears, Mike becomes convinced that he can find her. Deep down, he still believes in the story he created about the three waterfalls, and he turns it into something almost like a personal mission.

Over time, Mike starts pulling away from everyone else. He barely talks to people anymore and spends years trying to find any information about El. He writes letters to Owens, tries to convince Murray to help him, and keeps pushing Hopper, the Party, and anyone else who might know something. At first, people try to be patient with him, but after years of this, most of them are exhausted and do not know how to help him anymore.

Mike basically lets his whole life revolve around finding El. One day he visits the Byers family in Montauk. Will happens to be there too, visiting his family. Mike mainly comes because he is still bothering Jim Hopper about El, still looking for answers, still unable to let it go.

Then Mike finds letters from El in Hopper’s things. It turns out that she is alive. Mike is furious. He feels betrayed by Hopper and immediately starts spiraling, wondering who else knew. He even accuses Will of knowing and hiding it from him, even though Will genuinely had no idea.

Will is worried about Mike and decides to go with him to visit El. The most interesting setting would probably be Europe, but it could be any country. So Mike and Will end up traveling together while slowly being forced to spend real time with each other again after years of distance and unresolved feelings.

When they finally find El, Mike discovers that she has already built a life for herself. She has a husband/wife, maybe children, a home, and she is happy. She is free in her own terms.

The story would focus less on a dramatic reunion with El and more on Mike being forced to face the truth: life has been passing him by for years while he was chasing an idea of El that no longer exists, or maybe never existed the way he imagined it.

At the same time, the trip becomes a chance for Mike and Will to rebuild their bond. Will is there to witness Mike falling apart, but also slowly coming back to himself. Mike has to accept that El did not need to be saved by him, that she chose her own life, and that loving someone does not mean keeping them trapped in the version of them you needed. El would not be the villain here. She is simply happy, alive, and free. And Mike has to finally learn how to let her go.

[himegore]

Will and the jock

TW / notes: Aged-up/everyone is 18+, Will being involved in cheating, Will secretly hooking up with a jock, toxic/abusive relationship, jealous Mike, angst

This idea would take place during senior year, with everyone aged up/adult.

Mike starts noticing that Will has been disappearing more and more often. He is suddenly busy, he does not always have time for the Party, and sometimes Mike catches him looking over at the jocks in a way that makes him suspicious.

At first, Mike tries to ask him what is going on, but Will keeps brushing him off. He says it is nothing, or that Mike is overthinking it. But Will has clearly not been himself lately. He is quieter, more distracted, and seems emotionally exhausted. Then Mike notices bruises on Will’s wrists.

After a while, Mike eventually discovers that Will has been secretly seeing one of the popular jocks. The guy has a girlfriend, so Will is not only being kept a secret because he is a boy, but also because he is part of the guy’s cheating. Will begs Mike not to tell anyone.

Mike is furious. Not only because he is jealous (though he definitely is) but also because he cannot understand why Will would let someone treat him like this. He is angry that Will is allowing himself to be hidden, used, and hurt by someone who will never openly choose him.

The story would be heavy angst, focused on Will being caught between wanting to be wanted and knowing deep down that the situation is hurting him. Mike, meanwhile, has to deal with jealousy, fear, and the realization that his feelings for Will are not as simple as he has been pretending.

It could get darker if Will eventually tries to end things and the situation escalates. The exact outcome would be up to the writer, but the main emotional core would be Mike finding out, trying to protect Will, and both of them being forced into a painful, honest confrontation about what Will thinks he deserves and why Mike reacts so strongly to seeing someone else have him.

[himegore]

The Party family trip

Notes: No major TWs, fluffy comedy, family reunion, adult Party with kids

This would be a fluffy comedy fic set in the 2000s, when everyone is older and has their own family. The Party decides to have a proper reunion and plan a long trip together. Maybe for a week, maybe somewhere in Europe, or just some kind of big family vacation where everyone brings their kids.

In this version, Mike and Will are married and have their adopted daughter. Dustin is a dad to twin boys, with his wife being either an original character or just Suzie. Max and Lucas have a bigger family: an oldest son, then a daughter around the same age as Mike and Will’s daughter, and a very little son who is still barely walking.

There would not really be any huge drama here. The main point would be the comedy and chaos of the Party trying to function as parents on a trip.

It could be full of small funny family moments. Will talking with Max while she complains about the kids. Max casually revealing that she is pregnant again and Will being completely shocked. One of the kids asking Will if giving birth to his daughter hurt. Mike being awkward and trying to explain it, while Will is trying not to laugh.

I see this more as a warm family comedy than a plot-heavy story. Just a chance to explore the Party’s adult dynamics, their children, their relationships, and the funny, messy, sweet reality of all of them still being connected years later.

[himegore]

Mike and Will as dads

Notes: Mostly fluff, adoption, parenting, domestic Byler

This one is probably not the most original idea, and I am sure similar fics already exist, but I still love the concept.

Mike and Will are older, already married, and living together. They have a stable life, but the topic of children has never really been seriously discussed between them.

One day, Mike notices how naturally Will takes care of Lucas and Max’s kids. Will is gentle with them, patient, playful, and clearly happy whenever he gets to spend time with them. Mike starts realizing that maybe this is something Will wants, but has never allowed himself to ask for.

So one day, Mike asks him if he would ever want to have a child. And of course, Will admits that it has always been one of his biggest dreams.

The story would be about Mike and Will going through the adoption process together. Preparing a room for their future child, reading parenting books, asking everyone for advice, panicking over tiny details, and slowly realizing that they are really about to become dads.

Then, after they adopt their daughter, the story would follow their first moments as parents. Like Mike being a little clumsy and accidentally dressing their daughter in a pajama top before taking her to kindergarten. Or Will completely panicking because she starts coughing and he immediately assumes the worst. Mike trying to act calm but secretly being just as scared. Also it would be cute if there were scenes where Mike falls asleep while reading their daughter bedtime story. Will playing tea party with her. Their visit to a zoo.

Mostly, this would just be a sweet story about Mike and Will building the family they always wanted, learning how to be fathers, making mistakes, and loving their daughter more than anything. Very soft, domestic, fluffy fic.

[himegore]

Jumanji-inspired AU

TW / notes: FemWill/genderswap, jealous Mike, possible Upside Down/D&D horror elements

This idea would take place during senior year. The Party finds Jumanji-style board game but make it Stranger Things/DnD theme. It would be funny if Dustin was the one who brought it from some suspicious little store, thinking it looked cool and weird enough to be interesting.

They start playing, and at first they do not realize that once the game begins, they have to finish it. Just like in Jumanji, every player has their turn, and the game keeps changing reality around them.

It could either be a more direct Jumanji AU, or a Stranger Things version of it, where the game is mixed with the Upside Down and D&D. So instead of jungle chaos, Hawkins slowly starts turning into Upside Down. Maybe demodogs start appearing, the temperature drops, the town gets covered in black veins.

At some point, Will skips his turn. But i can see it more like Mike tells him to do that bc his mom is calling him or something. They don't realise then that there are consequences for breaking rules. But instead Will turning into a monkey (like in the movie) he is turned into a girl.

Mike immediately thinks they need to keep playing and finish the game as soon as possible. But Will does not want to rush it. For once, he wants to see what it feels like to exist this way. Maybe Max encourages him to take advantage of it and go to a party with her. Will agrees because he wants to experience being seen differently, being treated differently, maybe even being able to flirt or dance with boys without feeling like he has to hide.

Mike is obviously against the idea, insisting that they have to finish the game, but it is also clear that he is jealous and uncomfortable for reasons he does not fully want to admit.

This leads to a fight between Mike and Will. Will says they can finish the game later, but right now he wants to enjoy the fact that he is a girl, even if it is temporary. After the fight, Will chooses to go out and party instead of helping them continue the game.

The problem is that the game is still active. Hawkins keeps getting worse. The Party cannot fully move forward without Will, because everyone has to take their turn. So while Will is trying to enjoy this strange new version of himself, the others are stuck dealing with the consequences: monsters, cold, chaos, and the town slowly becoming more dangerous.

Eventually, Will agrees to come back and finish the game. The whole situation could lead to a very honest conversation between Mike and Will. About jealousy, fear, identity, and why Mike reacted so strongly to seeing Will as a girl and being desired by other boys.

[himegore]

The Wishing Well

TW / notes: FemWill/genderswap, Mike’s unresolved feelings about El, wishes backfiring, possible identity/body-related themes

This idea would take place during senior year or maybe during the summer before senior year. Mike and Will, or maybe the whole Party, find some kind of object that grants wishes. A wishing well, a wishing tree, a “one wish” object, or anything similar.

The basic idea is that the wishes seem harmless or tempting at first, but all of them end up becoming something the characters regret.

Will wishes to be a girl. He thinks that maybe, if he could experience life that way, he would finally know what it feels like to be asked out, to be desired openly, or maybe even to have Mike return his feelings. At first, he is happy with the change. He likes the attention he gets from boys, and there is something exciting about being seen differently. But then the reality of it starts to hit him. As a girl, he has no identity, no legal existence, nowhere to go, and no way to explain who he is.

Mike wishes for El to come back (she could be dead or just gone, it's up to you). At first, Mike thinks this is what he wants. He thinks having El back will fix something in him and make everything feel right again. But El is not happy about it. She tells him that he is still forcing her into his own fantasies about who she is and what she means to him. The scene in the void was only in Mike’s head, and El never actually felt that Mike understood her better than anyone else. She wanted to be free, and now Mike has pulled her back into a life she did not choose. It also creates real danger for everyone, because El cannot just stay with them. The government is still after her, and Mike’s wish has put her and the rest of the Party at risk.

Dustin and Lucas could also make wishes, depending on the version. Maybe Dustin wishes to be popular with girls, only to realize that constant attention is overwhelming and makes his life worse. Maybe Lucas wishes to be a famous athlete, but ends up crushed by fame, pressure, expectations, and paparazzi watching him all the time.

There is a lot of room to take this in different directions, so I would leave the exact resolution up to the writer. It could be funny at first, then slowly become more emotional and uncomfortable as every wish starts revealing the characters deeper fears and desires. Also there is a room for other character's arcs.

[himegore]

Mike moves to NY after gap year

TW / notes: loser Mike, partying/open-minded Will, Mike feeling left behind, Mike struggling with change, college/New York setting

About a year after the end of high school, after taking a gap year, Mike finally decides to go to college. He still has a good relationship with Will. They write to each other, call each other, and keep in touch. Mike decides to move to New York for school. It also happens that a room has just opened up in the apartment Will is living in, so Mike ends up moving in with him.

Mike has not seen Will in person for a whole year, and when he arrives, he is surprised by how different Will looks. New clothes, a new haircut and ofc that famous earring. Mike still has this image of Will in his head as the quiet, shy boy he used to know, but it becomes obvious very quickly that Will has changed a lot.

After living together for a while, Mike starts noticing just how much Will has grown into himself. He has a lot of friends, he goes out, he parties, he brings boys home, and he seems much more confident and open-minded than Mike expected.

Meanwhile, Mike is still trying to recreate the version of their friendship he remembers. He wants to play board games, read comics, and do the same things they used to do when they were younger. Will agrees sometimes, partly out of affection and politeness, but it is clear that those things are not really his world anymore.

Mike is quietly devastated by this. He starts feeling like life is moving forward without him, like everyone else has changed and grown while he stayed the same. He feels awkward, insecure, and painfully aware that he does not really know who he is yet.

The story would be about Mike slowly realizing that he cannot keep clinging to the past forever. Will helps him open up, try new things, meet new people, and become less afraid of changing. At the same time, Mike has to learn how to love this new version of Will instead of trying to pull him back into who he used to be.

[himegore]

Mike and Will time travel to the future

Mike and Will somehow get transported to Hawkins in the late 2000s/early 2010s, where they meet an older version of Mike - almost forty, living alone in the Wheeler house.

There are two different routes this idea could take, but in both cases older Mike is a teacher and has slowly turned into someone who looks and acts a little too much like Ted. He lives alone, barely talks to anyone, and doesn’t really do anything with the house. He just moves through the same few rooms every day and never really uses the rest of it.

Version A: no major TWs, more lighthearted/comfort route, grumpy older Mike, older Mike and Will finding their way back to each other

This version would be more fun and comforting overall. Young Mike and Will are fascinated by the future, while older Mike is just grumpy and tired and does not know what to do with these two teenagers suddenly appearing in his house.

At first, they have no idea how to get back to their own timeline, but they are not too worried about it yet because they are more curious about how Hawkins has changed. They drag older Mike around town, make him show them stores, newer technology, random places, and basically force him to interact with the world again against his will.

The tone would be more funny and pleasant in the beginning, with young Mike and Will being excited and chaotic, and older Mike being annoyed, awkward, and very done with everything.

But after the initial excitement fades, they start asking him about the rest of the Party. That is when they realize that older Mike has not been in contact with any of them for years, especially with Will. They had a big fight while both of them were in college and never spoke again.

So young Mike and Will decide to fix that. They start trying to secretly reconnect him with the others, maybe by calling older Will first, or possibly someone else from the Party, like Dustin, and tricking older Mike into seeing them again. From there, it could slowly turn into a story about older Mike and Will finding their way back to each other.

At the same time, young Mike and Will are forced to see what could happen if they let distance, silence, and unresolved feelings grow between them. Seeing older Mike’s life makes them realize that they cannot afford to lose each other.

Version B: darker/angstier route TW: Major Character Death, grief, unresolved conflict

In this version, Mike and Will are transported to the future right after a serious fight. Their last argument was bad enough that they are barely speaking to each other, but once they realize they are stuck in another timeline, they have no choice but to work together if they want to get back home.

They meet older Mike, but this version would focus less on young Mike and Will being excited about the future, and more on young Mike being forced to look at the person he might become.

Mike and Will could split up at times and explore the new Hawkins separately, both slowly realizing how much things have changed. After they fail to figure out how to return to their own timeline, they start asking older Mike about the rest of the Party. Maybe they try to find Dustin’s number, hoping he could help them understand what happened and how to get back.

That is when they slowly discover the truth.

In this timeline, after a huge fight with Mike, Will decided to leave for New York earlier than he originally planned. He died in an accident before they ever got the chance to fix things.

So the story becomes much darker and more emotional. It is not just about time travel anymore, but about grief, guilt, trauma, and all the things that were never said. Older Mike gets a chance to have one last conversation with Will, even if it is not really his Will. He can finally explain himself, apologize, and maybe get some kind of closure.

At the same time, young Mike and Will are forced to confront their own conflict before it becomes something they can never take back. They eventually reconcile, and because of that, Will never leaves early and the accident never happens in their original timeline.

So this route would be much sadder than Version A, but it could also be healing in a painful way, a story about breaking the cycle before it is too late.