lau

mike wheeler my beloved • be gay make byler canon

[sonofthemoon2]

based on this post from @titforatat, I imagined something like this:

"Mike had his eyes fixed on the paper in Will's hands. His painting.

His ears were ringing, barely registering the muffled sound of his own voice. Will had his painting, the precious gift he had made for Mike.

It didn't matter if the idea to give him a drawing hadn't come from him, if it had just been a commission, if he was only painting for Mike because his sister had asked him to.

That wasn't important to Mike's record, it only mattered that it was something Will had done, something he had worked diligently on. His art.

He had given his art to Mike.

"Will... Will, please give it back to me. " he pleaded, his voice sounding high and brittle, very different. Strange. Even to him. "It's my painting, Will... please."

Mike didn't understand what was going on. He didn't understand how they'd gone from talking about Mike and El's expected breakup to this. To him being a distraught mess and Will being angry.

Disappointed.

What had Mike done? How had he managed to disappoint Will again? Hurt him again? What was wrong with him?

He didn't know. He didn't understand.

He just wanted his painting back.

"Your painting? Yours?!" he bristled, waving the paper in the air. Will looked more than furious. Hurt, tired and disappointed. For Mike. "Do you know how long it took me to do this, for you? Only for you to throw it all away... everything I said, everything I did to get you together, in the trash Mike. My efforts...in the rubbish."

Mike flinched.

He didn't like being yelled at. He especially didn't like being yelled at by Will.

He felt so devastated. They weren't like this before, what had happened to them?

How did they get to this point?

Will started pacing back and forth, ranting on and on about how insensitive and ungrateful he had been.

How had he managed to break his friendship with Will like this? Had he damaged their bond so badly?

When had their bond gone from a safety line to a noose around both their necks?

This was wrong, it shouldn't be like this. It shouldn't feel like this.

But that was something Mike was familiar with. There were a lot of feelings he shouldn't have.

They were wrong. They were out of place.

They made him act bad. Really bad.

"W-Will, please? " he pleaded, reaching out to him. His tears burned in his tear ducts and the lump in his throat pressed harder and harder. He couldn't breathe, couldn't even speak properly. "Please, I-"

"Shut up, Mike. And forget it. " he cut him off, pulling away even further. For a brief second, he looked at Mike's face, but then he looked back at the painting. And he smashed it. He broke it into as many pieces as he could.

Mike felt his own heart break. As if Will had pulled the vital organ out of his own chest and crushed it.

"You don't deserve to have this. You don't deserve my art, my effort, or me."

Mike knew that. He knew it all too well.

He'd never deserved to have a friend like Will, so understanding and kind. Sweet enough to put up with Mike.

But he knew that someday his time would be up, and Will would realize he could do so much better.

Mike was replaceable, and any day he could say that. Any day.

Will stormed out of Mike's room, leaving the pieces of paper scattered on the floor. What had once been a beautiful painting was now just pieces.

What had been his friendship with Will, that irreplaceable relationship was now shattered, cracked and broken because of Mike. Because Mike didn't know how to feel properly, how to explain himself clearly.

Mike had ruined everything.

And now he had lost Will, again. Again.

He dropped to the floor, tears spilling down his cheeks without restraint. It didn't matter if he cried.

He pressed his trembling fingers against his mouth, drowning out as much of the disturbing noises as possible. He didn't want to get his mother's attention, how could he? He didn't want to force her to try to untangle his brain, didn't want her eyes hooded with disappointment.

He had to manage on his own. To fend for himself, after all, what would be different? All his life he had been taught that the way was to be self-sufficient. That he had to take care of himself.

That was the only way.

And he couldn't be a burden. Not now. He didn't want his mother to be angry with him for not feeling bad properly, or for showing more than he should.

It was wrong. It was so wrong.

Mike was so wrong about everything."

and bam, in the end it's a pseudo illusion, like Will's disappearance in the first season, and Vecna takes Mike away for two whole years. ta-da.

[xann-z-the-artsy-enby]

Super long ao3 comments that retell what happened in the work like dissecting what they read fuels my fanfic motivation

[sonofthemoon2]

A little doodle of Mike and Richie (from "You Stayed, and I Went. But We Always Come Home" by @mrhalloween2ficpage)

[afterglowsssss-deactivated20240]

[wibble-wobbegong]

you can’t just “like mike.” you cant just be “kind of a fan.” you either fight for this boy like he’s your newborn child or you die in the war the rest of us will wage

[bylertruther]

mike wheeler + his unspeakable truth that he can’t “grow out of”.

Special thanks to Richard Siken, Heather Havrilesky, Michael Kinnucan, Anne Carson, CJ Hauser, Heather Havrilesky, Unknown, Lyric Hunter, and Fortesa Latifi.

[uselessnbee]

can't wait for Hopper to have a big role in saving Mike next season or something so the whole 'Hopper is mikephobic' thing can finally die out

[tineteenieworld3]

I’ve gotten to the point where I cannot handle seeing Mike hate/Mike getting made fun of.

Like I gives me the most severe eye twitch. Keep my wife’s name out your fucking MOUTH—

[wibble-wobbegong]

boy who is the heart of a world he does not belong in. boy who fights to save a town that literally wants him dead. boy who tries to love which he cant because they need him. boy who is bitchy and protective and wants to be a kid more than anything despite him constantly getting told these things are wrong. boy who has been rejected by every corner of life and every person he cares about but will fight for all of it anyway because he thinks they deserve to live and be happy even if they hate him. boy who is so so special 2 Me 🫶

[wibble-wobbegong]

THIS is successful flirting. turned mike into a pile of goop with his flirty eyes and deep voice and +2 initiative on charm

THIS is an awkward little bitch who doesnt know how to flirt for the life of him but will is just insane and thinks it’s adorable

hope this helps!

[brionysea]

when mike wheeler gets his max mayfield moment of being given a season 5 arc that's SO good that everyone who was previously neutral at best or hostile at worst towards him is suddenly raving about him and calling him the best character on the show and claiming him as their favourite while i sit here being smug but ultimately very happy that he finally got the justice he deserves and other people are finally realising how amazing he is and how silly they were for ever doubting him

[your-friendly-neighbourh00d-fag]

come claim your medals guys

[mrhalloween2ficpage]

I’ve had this imagine in my pocket for Valentine’s Day so

Imagine if you will:

They don’t know when Mike got the bear, but after they realize he has it they see that fluffy bastard everywhere.

Lucas peeks at the light brown stuffed bear, it has buttons for eyes instead of the usual ones. And plaid inserts on its ears.

Mike fucking has it front center on his bed, on a pillow like it’s a distinguished guest.

Where the absolute hell did he get it? Mike wasn’t one to keep stuffed-well okay he does have a Chewie and Yoda plushy but all of them do.

So where did he get a valentines bear? And Lucas thinks it’s a valentines bear, because the thing has a little shift on and the pocket has a heart on it.

It’s downright adorable.

NOW WHO THE FUCK IS MIKE’S VALENTINES?!

——————————————————————-

“You are not using that bear to give me the silent treatment” Max sighed, watching Mike lift the stuffed animal and turn his head. In a talk to the bear fashion. “I don’t even know it’s name! How can I talk to it?”

“His name is Xavier” Mike blankly said, still pissed at her. She ate all of his fruit loops, not even normally she ate them by the handful like they were lucky charms.

“But you can call him Xavi for short” Dustin hummed, and blinked when he was on the receiving end of silence. He looked up form the comic book he was reading to see three betrayed looks. “What? What’d I do?”

“You were introduced to the bear first and didn’t tell us?” El clutched her chest.

“Not cool man” Lucas shook his head.

“For shame Henderson” Max clicked her tongue, she grabbed Xavier from Mike and pointed him at Dustin. “The bear shames you too”

“OKAY NO DONT USE THE BEAR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE THATS JUST MEAN”

——————————————————————-

They see Mike sleeping with it when they come to wake him up for a snowball fight. It’s clutched to his chest and his face is buried in the head.

El sneaks to Nancys room and gets her Polaroid as the rest of them stare.

Will leaned against the doorway and bites his lip to bleeding to hide a smile.

“I return” El whisper cheered, holding the camera. She holds it level and shifts a bit, tell she gets a good angle.

Then she takes the picture and they all flock behind her to see the results.

“The fact he’s wearing plaid to match the damn bear makes him look cute, that’s not fair” Max joked, shaking her head.

“Xavier if you can breathe send us a signal” Dustin whispered-

“Why the fuck are you all stalking me in my own room”

They jumped, all except Will who was shaking lightly from repressed laughter.

Mike lifted his head and gave them a death stare from myth and legends of the repear.

“……..Snowball fight in ten” Lucas laughed nervously, grabbing Max and El by the arms. Dustin trailed behind as they hightailed it out of Mike’s room. “See you there, don’t put rocks in the ammo!”

Mike glared at the slammed shut door, and Will snickered.

Mike’s eyes went to him and softened.

“What were they doing?” He asked, swinging his legs over to hit the floor. Xavier in hand on his lap.

“Taking a picture of you sleeping with Xavi” Will shook his head, moving forward to sit down on tue bed next to him. “Is that my shirt?”

“I plead the fifth” Mike snickered, and squawked when Will’s hand shot out to mess up his already messy bed head. “You attack your boyfriend in front our son?!”

“Our son has buttons for eyes babe, he ain’t seeing shit” Will laughed, head falling to hit his shoulder. Mike laughed too, pressing a kiss to his hair. “I didn’t realize you slept with him”

“I mean only sometimes” Mike mumbled, blushing. Will lifted his head, a question in his eyes. “Mostly if I have a nightmare, but sometimes when I miss you I just…kind of fall asleep hugging him”

Wills eyes softened and Mike turned away, face violently red.

Wills hands cupped his face and turned it back to look at him. Leaning forwards he kissed him and Mike’s embarrassment melted into the floorboards.

“I kept the flowers you got me” Will confessed, forehead pressed against his boyfriends. Mike’s eyes lit up, a ‘really?’ in them. “I used like very leftover dictionary mom had to press them, so now they’re all in my Tolkien books”

That surprise Valentine’s Day bouquet had made his whole year. Well that and Mike’s reaction to getting Xavier.

‘He has plaid like you, I love him’

Will has blushed hard enough to qualify as a lighthouse.

“Im happy you kept them, next year I’ll get you a bear too so we can match” Mike promised, kissing Will on his warm cheek. Wills lips twitched goofily. “But do you think they’re ever gonna guess who exactly was my bear giving valentine?”

“I don’t know, honestly the plaid? The heart? I thought I was being obvious” Will shrugged.

They had a bet on how long it would take the party to figure out they were dating.

Their one year anniversary is in two months.

At this point Will’s just gonna have to plop a kiss on Mike during movie night and watch the chaos unfold.

[mrhalloween2ficpage]

I just read all of 'You Stayed, and I Went. But We Always Come Back Home' and I can't stop thinking about how The Losers at some point are going to want to take Mike to The Quarry™ and the angst that can lead to???

I need to sink in there, I want someone to please listen and not minimize that event. I need it to live, you don't understand op.

I love everything I read so far. I need more. You write so well- *sob*

👀

(Just wait)

[sonofthemoon2]

Richie is going to go fucking wild, the big brother instinct is going to kick in hard. I just know it

[mrhalloween2ficpage]

Henry kidnaps Mike intending on using him against the party, poor kid tells him they won’t come to save the “asshole” of the group, that they won’t waste time on him.

Henry has no idea why this kid is so insistent that they won’t come save him, why Mike truly believes the party hates him, doesn’t he see the undeniable love they have for him? Or the fact that if he gets hurt from protecting them they go absolutely berserk on the demogorgons?

It…kinda breaks his cold dead heart.

Genius, have a cookie 🍪

Henry: I’ve killed men but……

“Stop it! Stop making me think they actually care. Just kill me it’s a lot less painful then having hope!”

Henry: But I’ve never felt outright mean before

Henry: Do you need resources

[sonofthemoon2]

I need a fic of this so bad and I don't even know why

[sonofthemoon2]

this was necessary? absolutely not. do I care? no... so here ya go

The Powerpuff Girls™

Max as Blossom.

El as Bubbles.

and Mike as Buttercup.

why did I do that? for no reason. actually I don't need a reason, thx

[sonofthemoon2]

Well I had to draw them after reading your hashtags, I don't know if their roles are well chosen but I had fun drawing them, so yeah

They're the same picture actually

[mrhalloween2ficpage]

Imagine if you will:

Mike didn’t mean to come out to the whole party in a Thursday night sleepover at Steve Harringtons.

He doesn’t even particularly remember how the words “Oh no he’s hot” were yawned out-okay no he’s a liar Johnny Depp was on screen.

The silence was comforting for five seconds because Mike hadn’t realized he said that out loud.

“MIKE?!”

Then things got very loud.

———————————————-

“We love and support you” Max emphasized after Lucas quite literally had to sit on Mike to stop him from bolting in terror. “You and your bad taste in men”

“Johnny Depp is not bad taste!” Steve of all peoples voice came through from the kitchen.

“Good hair doesn’t make him hot!” Max shouted back.

“So you like guys” Dustin smiled and Mike nodded hesitatingly. “Okay I can ask the correct questions, you should have told me earlier man, is there a boy you like?”

Wills head snapped to Dustin. Mike just-right now? Well he guesses it’s sweet how Dustin easily jumped to saying boy instead of girl, but light hearted teasing right now-

Mikes, earlier when asked the question would roll his eyes and mumble no.

Mike now went atomic red.

“….There is?” Dustin gasped as Max’s head snapped to the supernova of a blush that was Mike Wheeler.

“Oh my god” Max jumped up and nudged her boyfriend to stop sitting on Mike. Then she had her friends shirt in hand as her eyes went mischievous. “Oh my god WHO IS IT?!”

“I’m not fucking telling you!” Mike hissed back, embarrassed and red as a fire engine.

“But we’re curious! And you know who Dustin likes” El pointed out, not even trying to look at her brother to help.

Dustin laughed awkwardly sliding down in the couch.

They think they knew who he liked.

Will was quietly getting a rein on some jealousy right now, she could practically feel it.

“That-that’s different!” Mike protested.

He’s so glad they accept him and still want to tease him like normal-BUT COULD THEY NOT DO IT WHEN THE BOY HE LOVES IS IN THIS VERY ROOM?!

“….I know who it is” Lucas snapped eyes lighting up as several curious, one jealous and one terrified eyes looked at him. “You wouldn’t not tell us unless it was embarrassing-it’s Jonathan isn’t it!”

There was silence, broken by a quiet gasp from the hallway.

Steve poked his head out, eyes wide.

“……..What” Mike squeaked. And that made Max look at him wide eyed.

How did, how did Lucas come to-how can one be so wrong but so close at the same time?

“It’s the hair isn’t it” Lucas kept on, cause Mike was flabbergasted and that means something. “You like his light and flowy hair”

Immediately an image of Will came to mind at that description and automatically he flushed.

That was the smoking gun for them apparently, because everyone started screaming.

“I KNEW IT!” Lucas jumped and pointed at Mikes pink face.

“Not Jonathan, Mike you’re better then being a home wrecker!” Dustin wailed.

“So you like older guys” Max simply nodded.

“My brother?!” El and Will spat out their waters at the exact same time.

El, with shock.

Will with unbelievable simmering jealousy for his own brother, HOW DOES HE KEEP GETTING WHEELERS TO LIKE HIM?! Is it the hair, is it actually the hair?

They have the same hair but Jonathan’s is floppy!

“Your sisters boyfriend?!” Steve was looking scandalized.

“No-No!” Mike shot up to defend himself, but honestly unless he up and told them it was actually Will his casket was sealed and in the mausoleum. “I’m”

Mike flushed more, dropping his head in his hands.

“Awww wait no it’s okay” Max went to comfort, thinking they’d embarrassed him a bit too much. “I can get why, he’s cute and nice. Plus I bet you’ve had a crush on him since you were like tiny so you get a pass for liking your sisters boyfriend thing. You saw him before Nancy”

“Oh my god have you had a crush on him since we were kids?!” Will snapped out of a haze. Eye twitching a bit. Say sike, god please let him say sike right now.

Mikes face went burgundy because that was way too close to Will replacing the him with me.

Cause Will? Oh him he’d liked Will since Mike could explain the word like.

Once again they took his blush as evidence considering they never usually saw it.

“Awwww his first crush was Jonathan?” Dustin made a sappy face.

“Okay that is cute” Lucas laughed a bit, reaching to poke a red cheek. Mike hissed and swatted.

Wills eyes popped out of his head as a memory he’s considered just something in his childhood reared it’s head.

“It’s okay we’ll find you a new older guy whose not your sisters boyfriend, but not too old one year max mister-“

“IS THAT WHY YOU KEPT WINNING JONATHAN THE CLAW MACHINE PRIZES IN THIRD GRADE?!”

Well no Jonathan had just had a rough year in third grade so Mike wanted to help him feel better.

But faced with either dying of embarrassment denying this lie anymore or getting his ass rejected by Will by telling him the truth……

Mike breathed in deeply through his nose.

“Yes”

And sighed his own death warrant.

Unknowingly Jonathan’s as well.

——————————————————

“Oh hey you two how was Steve’s-why are you looking at me like that?” Jonathan backed up a step from the coffee machine as his two siblings just looked at him.

Like they were assessing him, he was just trying to have some coffee.

Will’s eye twitched a bit.

“I don’t get it” he breathed. He threw his arms up as El patted his back. “I don’t get it, he looks like a older version of me, and it’s HIM?!”

God was just mean.

[mrhalloween2ficpage]

“Will” Jonathan breathed out deeply, pinching his nose. “Why are you and El banning me from being within even a foot of Mike?”

Jonathan wasn’t joking, he’d been allowed to talk to Mike once in the span of two weeks. And that time had been because Jonathan had went to the Wheelers house.

But if Mike came here?

No, he’s ushered away like Jonathan had started a blood feud he didn’t know about.

Will paused drinking his coffee, and help him he still can’t believe Will’s old enough to enjoy black coffee. Even Jonathan needs creamer.

“……It’s so I don’t fight you” Will whispered.

“What’d you say I couldn’t hear you?” Will needed to speak up.

“Nothing, you’re imagining things Jonathan. Why would we do that?”

——————————————————

“What about him” Max was pointing at a magazine, a proverbial catalog of celebrities for Mike to replace his supposed crush on Jonathan with. “He’s got the same hair color”

“He’s also thirty” Mike pointed out, tired. So very tired.

“Yeah but like you don’t know him and he plays a character who’s only like nineteen” Max pointed out. She waggled the magazine page that had said character smiling charmingly.

“…..Admittedly he’s cute” Mike grumbled, as Max cheered. “But…Max I have”

Mike sighed, head lolling to hit the couch.

They were in the basement and it was actually just them two. Lucas had to go home real quick, he’d be back in maybe twenty minutes.

But that meant he was alone with a friend for the first time in two weeks, since this whole misunderstanding had started.

He could tell her the truth.

“I know you’ve had this crush for like eleven years, it’s not-

“It’s not Jonathan” Mike cut her off, face blushing as Max’s eyes popped to him. “It’s….the other Byers brother actually”

It took, at most, five seconds for that information to sink into Max’s brain.

He knew the moment it did because she dropped the magazine and made a silent scream.

“WILL MAKES SO MUCH MORE SENSE”

Oh thank god someone finally knew he wasn’t crushing on the guy he wanted to be his brother in law.

—————————————————

“Max why the fuck are you dragging me shopping?!”

“Plan get you your man starts here” Max cackled quietly.

When she thought it was Jonathan she couldn’t help him, well aside from helping him get over the older boy.

But Will? Will who looks at Mike like he was the original version of the angels in the Sistine chapel?

Oh she can work with this.

Step one, Will seems to blush a lot when Mike wears anything oversized.

They need Large sweaters, then she’s gonna take a pen to some jeans and draw stars and crescent moons on his pants so Will gets jealous about someone drawing on his clothes.

Max recited the plan excitedly to Mike as they entered the clothing store. His face went peachy.

He didn’t think it was going to work, Will didn’t like him like that…..

But he had to admit as he looked himself over in the mirror later.

She’s a god damn genius at making him look something close to nice.

[mrhalloween2ficpage]

because theres too much angst with the party rn how about some mike love

what about mike getting deaged or time traveled from back in That Hell Week (the week without will... :< ) so its like. so i did die ?? where the hell am i ??? so i guess thats what happens when u step of a quarry -- WILL?????? (oh my god how did he get even more attractive)

otoh like... pre-upside down mike is also so cute... minus like 3/4 of The Trauma. even max is reluctantly charmed. everyone is charmed. he was so sweet (he still is so sweet, its just more hidden nowadays)

anyway i just. baby mike.... !!!!

im torn if i want older mike to be there, or after getting aged up he remembers everything

Thank you for the fluff, ngl was in my feelings with the angst 🍪

I love the idea of him aging up and remembering everything. Will come back to that in reblog

————————

“Oh my god he’s so small” Eddie gasped, hands cupped around his face.

“He got tinier, I met him before he shot up and he got tinier?” Robin asked, shaking Steve.

“Yeah thats how being twelve works-you two are too enamored, he’s still able to verbally destroy people he’s just adorable again” Steve groaned.

Smaller Mike, as they’ve all taken to calling the twelve year old version of their friend who’d replaced the fifteen one, blinked. Eyes widening.

“You know he can hear you, right?” Jonathan laughed, stepping past them to ruffle Mikes bowl of hair. Him and Will sort of matched back then. “Hey buddy”

“Jonathan help im in a hallucination, Steve Harrington is hanging out with a band geek and a metal head and he called me adorable” Mike whispered, hiding behind Jonathan’s leg. Jonathan let him, holding back a wobbling laugh. That was too fucking cute.

“Band geek?” Robin huffed. He was right but how’d he clock her so fast.

“Im okay with my descriptor” Eddie cackled.

“God I hope he doesn’t remember this” Steve laughed nervously. He will never live it down.

“I got you buddy, you’re not hallucinating Steve just learned how to make real friends” Jonathan smiled.

Wide black eyes blinked up at him.

“……Good friends? He’s not the asshole dating my sister anymore?” Mike peeked back at the trio.

“Well still an asshole but a lovable one now” Robin joked, poking Steve. He squeaked and she smiled.

“And also not dating your sister now” Eddie added.

Mike’s eyes lit up-

“Jonathan is” Steve smiled.

They quickly lost light as Mike whirled behind him.

“JONATHAN?!”

“Oh fuck you Harrington” Jonathan whined.

“My sister?” Mike looked to tears. “Jonathan no”

“Look ok im sorry Mikey but we love-“

“You can do so much better!”

Steve howled as Eddie and Robin started screaming.

——————————————————————

When the rest of the party came back and saw Mike tiny……..

“Why do I want to squish his cheeks?” Max whispered, as Will and Lucas and Dustin lost their minds. Tiny Mike was pin balling between the three as they circled him like gophers.

“They’re squishier then I remember” El blinked.

“Hes so small!” Lucas was beaming, his hands went out to lift automatically.

“No im not-PUT ME DOWN!” Mike yelped, kicking his feet as Lucas lifted him. “YOU ASSHOLE, IM GONNA KICK YOU IN THE FACE!”

“Oh god he’s like a grumpy cat” Dustin awwwed, ruffling Mike’s hair. Mikes face was going ruddy in embarrassment. “You’re so cute”

“Stop calling me that, why is everyone calling me that!” Mike whined, and turned his head to plead. “Will help me”

“Give me tiny Mike” Will held his arms out, Lucas gasped and Dustin laughed.

Strangely Mike did not make that much of a fuss when it was Will lifting him.

“You got tall” Mike blinked, Dustin snickered at how he stopped prickling when Will had him at arms lengths.

Mike’s s ears went pink when Will gave him a lopsided smile.

He got cuter too, how is that possible?

“Nah, you’re still ahead of me in that. You just got small Mike” Will chuckled, letting him down. Lucas booed him. “I’ve missed the bowl cut”

“Youre the only one!” Nancy called from across the room.

Mike flipped her off, at least she hasn’t changed much.

A hand ruffled his hair and Mike stared up through his bangs.

Will laughed, a dimple popping up.

How does present him not die flustered everyday of his life?!

——————————————————————

“…….Oh god thats the version of him that wanted me dead” Hopper whined as Joyce approached tiny Mike happily.

“Mikey” Joyce smiled, oh goodness he hadn’t been short in a long time.

“Hi Mrs.Byers” Mike smiled at her, and laughed happily when she swooped down and hugged him. “You haven’t changed a bit”

She hasn’t, seriously does she age?

“Oh you little charmer” She snickered, pulling back and pressing a kiss against his hair. “Look at you, im gonna cry”

Immediately Mike went worried, hands shooting out to hold her arms by the sweater.

“Wait no dont cry!”

Max put her hand over her heart and looked shocked when she realized she’d done it.

——————————————————————

“So we’re friends?” Mike asked the red haired girl he didn’t recognize. She nodded. “Okay, have I shown you my action figures yet?”

He showed El them, and she was a new friend.

“…..No but id like to see them” Max coughed, and Mike shot up. He grabbed her by the hand for fucks sake and dragged her up the stairs.

“I probably haven’t shown you them yet, because by the time I met you I probably thought I was too old to play with them” Mike commented, opening his door and blinking. “….When did I become a rat?!”

Max laughed as tiny Mike panicked a bit at his messy room.

He found the box of action fugues after ten minutes of searching he volunteered her to help with.

“Okay so after I show you the gang, we clean” Mike nodded, and then brought out each action figure carefully. “Have you watched Star Wars?”

He thinks if they’re friends the answer will be a yes.

“Yeah I have” Max nodded and picked up Han Solo. “Han is my favorite”

“Good choice! I like him too but Luke is my favorite” Mike brought out the protagonist.

“He looks like Will” Max smiled a bit mischievously, not expecting Mike to beam.

“I know, I told Will that! But he doesn’t see it” Mike looked excited. “He’s brave like Will too and smart so he’s basically already Will. Finally someone agrees with me!”

Max had to bite her cheek hard to not hug-

“Here you be Yoda, since you’re wise”

Okay fuck it she hugged him, and she was shocked when he didn’t bite her but look up at her curiously.

He found something on her face.

Cause he hugged back.

——————————————————————

“What…am I looking at?” Hopper rubbed an eye and Jonathan blinked.

“Thanks Axe” Mike nodded, as she followed him with her own basket of laundry. “I don’t know how I walked in there, hit me when im bigger if I do it again”

“I don’t think I’ll have the heart to do that anymore” Max sighed whistfully. And when Hopper and Jonathan looked at her she just shook her head.

Tiny Mike was a god damn sweetheart, what the hell happened between the time Will got taken and when she met him?

“Oh my god he’s doing laundry” Nancy whispered as they tracked to the laundry room.

“You need help?” Steve asked, not waiting for an answer and taking the laundry basket form Mike. “Here, Max you give me yours too”

Mike stared at him.

And stared.

And stared until Steve had to tilt his head.

“…..I don’t like how the niceness has made you look like Prince Charming now” Mike grumbled, a frustrated blush going to his face.

He stomped off as Steve gaped and Max quietly screamed.

Nearby Lucas and Will spat out their sodas, Dustin was currently in shock.

“Not another Wheeler” Robin cackled, bending at her stomach. “Steve, what’s with your track record?!”

Steve’s mouth dropped open. And Eddie was falling off the couch.

“Oh goodness” Joyce giggled, but stopped when Mike wound up next to her and Hopper and Jonathan. “Hey sweetheart”

“You done giving Steve a heart attack kid?” Hopper asked, raising an eyebrow.

Mike glared.

“What’s he doing here?” Mike pouted at Joyce. “Did….did he find Will?”

The air around the trio went a bit cold at the memory of that week, which had just been a day ago for this Mike.

But….

But Joyce smiled, and crouched a bit.

“We did, he helped me fight some monsters and we got him back Mike. We all did” Joyce palmed his cheek. “He’s okay”

Mikes posture relaxed, he knew realistically that if older Will was here then Will came out okay. Came back home, but…

But he was glad to hear it from someone he trusted the most, from Mrs.Byers.

Mike turned to look at Hopper, genuine gratitude across his whole face.

Hopper’s eyes narrowed a bit in defense of the brightness.

Wha-

“Thank you” Mike said quietly. “Thank you for saving my best friend Mr.Hopper”

Oh.

Oh.

Oh Mike Wheeler has charmed him, again. The last time had been when the kid had been so happy to see him back from Russia…..

It is a hundred times worse when Mike is tiny, tiny and honest. Hopper had forgotten how frank the kid was at this age.

“No problem kid, I’ll do it anytime” Hopper smiled.

Joyce shot him a warm look and leaned down to kiss his head.

Mike’s eyes widened.

Oh fuck the kid didn’t know he was dating Joy this twelve year old is gonna kill him-

“…..You’re dating?” Mike smiled small, and Jonathan’s eyes widened at the starch difference in reaction. “Thats good! For you, I mean Mrs.Byers is great. She’s really nice and talks to you a lot if you feel upset. And she’s fun too, once she let us all make a fort in her kitchen-”

Mike went on to wax the virtues of Joyce to her boyfriend. Who found himself actively resisting ruffling his hair.

Joyce’s lips wobbled.

Mike has always been the sweetest kid when he felt safe enough to show you it.

[mrhalloween2ficpage]

I like this fluff, im gonna keep at it cause the angst has had its turn tonight 😂 Im glad you like it!

—————————————————————-

“Stop evolving like Mario when he gets a mushroom!” Mike huffed, covering his face and slinking away from Steve after the older boy had asked if he wanted some spaghetti.

“What does that mean??” Steve asks Robin who looked seconds from falling into laughter and never getting up.

“I think” Robin coughed, bending over the counter laughing. “I think the only thing that stood in the way of him having a crush on you when he was twelve was that you weren’t nice”

Mikes type was apparently nice brunettes.

“WHAT?!” Steve and Will who’d popped into the kitchen yelled in perfect unison.

—————————————————————-

“His hair got fluffier Axe, how does he do it?” Mike whined into his taller friends side. She ran a hand over his bowl cut and smothered laughter.

“From what Dustin told me? A lot of hairspray” Max nodded. “You think hes cute?”

Mike stiffened a bit, looking around. It was only Max and El and Eddie in here.

El thought society rules were weird and Eddie had a rainbow pin on the inside of his jacket so….

“A little” Mike admitted, hoping she wouldn’t sneer or walk away from him. Or look at him like the times his parents did when he had the party over. “He’s-he’s no Will, but”

Max’s eyes popped a bit, at both the confession and the fact that Will was the bar Mike held all other cute boys too.

Her eyes popped at the fact he trusted her.

El stopped herself from awwing with her own hands, Eddie bit at his knuckles.

“Well not everyone can be William Byers” she said, Mike nodded after his shoulders sagged in relief. He agreed. “You’re holding him to impossible standards here Mike”

Mike blinked, then he furrowed his brows.

He looked so serious to be so tiny.

“You’re right, I am” Mike’s face was scrunched in thought. “Nice Steve is cute”

“Amen little man” Eddie whistled, and Mike stared wide eyed. Eddie had good hearing after the bats gnawed on him a little. “Steve is indeed a cute one”

Jonathan, who’d walked into the room, almost fell over.

—————————————————————

“Nope” Jonathan said later, picking Mike up when Steve wondered over with a bowl of food. He hefted Mike over one shoulder and grabbed the food in the other hand. The rest if the room looked confused. Well except for laughing a Eddie and Max and El. “I’ll take that too, thanks Steve”

“Jonathan why!” Mike asked as the older boy carried him away from the confused Harrington.

Mike waved sadly.

“Look this is my job, you’re basically my other brother” Jonathan said, Mike deflated in defeat.

Also maybe cause he was touched.

“I don’t get to be dramatic when you’re older so like let me have this” Jonathan laughed.

He didnt get to because quite frankly Mike and Will were dancing around each other and Jonathan couldn’t just pick up Mike and take him from Will.

Not only because Will was his brother, because Mike was tall at fifteen, and because older Mike would huff till he put him down.

But also cause Will would go for his ankles if Jonathan tried.

[mrhalloween2ficpage]

She realizes that every Mike is annoying, its not much if a difference to her cause she never really stopped seeing him as a tiny twelve year old.

But heartbreakingly, she realized this version of him…..

Mike didnt know she’d fight for him, if push came to shove she’d put a gun against a monsters face for him.

This Mike didn’t know that, and Nancy felt regret every tike she saw him when she realized that.

——————————————————————

And as for that second part.

Dustin realizes that, and frankly he refuses to let Mike go for a solid ten minutes.

“Engrave this into your brain for when you’re tall again” Dustin huffed, head pressed against black hair. “Cause I refuse to believe you wont remember this at least subconsciously-what do we not do?”

“…….Im not saying it” Tiny Mike pouted, leaning into the hug. “I did it to protect you”

“And i cant take that back, that you had to do that. Mike im so touched you care about me and wanted me safe but I want you safe too” Dustin whispered, because they’d made a promise about that day and he was gonna keep it. “I just want to know you wont do it again”

“But what if-” Mike started but stopped as Dustin shook his head.

“You’re important too, you’re important to me” Dustin hugged him tighter, water blurred hai vision for half a second. “To everyone, so don’t sacrifice yourself. They were just baby teeth, i could have lost something that meant a lot more to me”

Freckled hands gripped at his hoodie.

“I could have lost my best friend” Dustin finished, tears dropping into the shiny bowlcut Mike used to have. A small sniffle followed from maybe both of them.

“…..We don’t jump off cliffs” A wobbly voice said eventually.

“Yes thank you” Dustin hiccuped, squeezing him in a bear hug that was returned in strength.

He’s praying it sticks, somewhere in Mike’s head when he’s tall again.

He prays it sticks.

[mrhalloween2ficpage]

I’ve been going off of deaged but if were doing time travel 👀

Mike would be on top of everything, Will is back home a good few days before schedule (does not effect timeline stuff because of Doctor Who Logic) and everyone is okay. Hopper didnt believe him at first until Mike told Joyce a story from when him and Will were six.

But after that Mike kicks ass with Hop and Joyce and Nancy and Jonathan (its so weird not seeing them not so obviously doe eyed over each other)

After they wrap up the hell week, everyone is fascinated by tall Mike.

Mike is barely resisting the urge to hug everyone. He fails when tiny Will opens his eyes and smiles up at him in confusion.

“You’re Mike? Our Mike but just….really long?”

Mike’s mouth wobbles and he nods, wiping at his face.

He sits in the chair next to Will’s bed and leans over and hugs him.

“Yeah its me” Mike hugged tiny Will. “And I promise, you’re gonna be okay one day”

Shaking hands hug him back, and Mike closes his eyes when he feels water on his shoulder.

Wherever Tiny Mike is at, he hopes he’s okay.

He’s got Tiny Will and all their Tiny Party waiting for him.

——————————————————————

Now fluff hehehe

“You got so tall” Joyce was henning over him, Mike rubbed at the back of his neck at the kitchen table. “But you’re so thin honey, let me make some hot -“

“Nope” Mike shook his head, getting up and shooing her to go sit down in the living room. “No I remember the week you’ve had Joyce, go lay down with Will and watch tv and I’ll make the cocoa”

Joyce paused, eyes widening.

“You know how to make my cocoa now?” She asked, watching him get out all the right things.

“Yeah, we made it together after….” Mike pursed his lips, its been after Will got possessed. After Bob. “After Halloween, you taught me how. Will do you want some cocoa!”

Mike yelled out that last bit so the exhausted twelve year old could hear it from the couch.

Jonathan watched his brother try and hide a blush under his pillow.

“Y-yeah! Thanks Mike” Will was simply flustered. Flustered, help.

Mike was, it wasnt his Mike exactly but- he grew into his hair! It’s curly now and it poked at his cheekbones and he was somehow prettier.

How was he prettier, how is that legal?!

“With cinnamon or marshmallows?” Mike called out again. “And Jonathan do you want some?”

“Im good, thanks though Mike” Jonathan was drinking a water and unlike his brother actually watching the nature discovery.

“Um cinnamon” Will called and shrunk behind the couch again when Mike popped out of the doorway with a tilted head.

Too cute.

“Okay, the Garfield mug?”

“He knows all the secrets now, mom taught him the code” Jonathan snickered quietly.

“Yeah Garfield is fine” Will was barely visible, only his bowlcut and pink ears poking out. “Thank you Mikey”

A warm look passed over Mike’s face, and-

And he took a second to lean through to the couch and ruffle Wills hair.

“No problem cleric” Mike smiled, and went back into the kitchen. Passing Joyce and once again shooing her into the living room. “Sit please”

“You get better at the pouting as you get older that shouldn’t be possible” Joyce laughed but threw her hands up.

She sat down at the end of the couch, pulling Will’s feet to rest in her lap so her youngest wouldn’t have to curl up. Well he was curling his pillow over his face but she thinks he’s just a bit embarrassed Mike is taking care of them.

But tall Mike had won, the Byers were going to relax.

Mike quietly punched the air in the kitchen.