byler tumblr i need your help. i need a cleanse from all the smut fics that are so popular rn, pls recommend me your favorite slow burn hurt/comfort getting together fics with mike and will 🥺🙏
Robin's eyes were bleary as she got into Steve's new car with a half drunk travel mug of coffee in her hand. Well, it wasn't exactly a new car. Mr. Rothensberg had owned three cars, but in his family only he and his wife could drive. They'd been itching to get out of town as soon as the fences came down, and sold off everything they couldn't immediately take with them. The 1975 Dodge Dart became Steve's at nearly a bargain. It wasn't as cleanly kept as the others, being the car that Kent had given the least fucks about, but it'd work with what Steve had saved up.
As soon as the red head with pale skin that left her dark undereyes on clear display was seated, Steve shot her a cat like grin. She buckled herself in, took a sip of her toffee coloured coffee as she blinked heavy, and only then looked at him. "What?"
"I think Mike likes Will back."
It took her another heavy blink before her eyes widened. "What?" She asked again at a far higher volume.
Steve pulled out of her parents driveway as he kept grinning. "Eddie and I took the brats bowling last night." Robin was very aware of this. She'd been busy with Vickie and their makeup Enzo's date. Robin was thankful her parents had gone on a getaway for the weekend now that they were finally free to leave the town limits. Vickie had only just left twenty minutes before Steve pulled up.
"We're all having fun, right? Lucas, El, and I are the only ones actually any good at it, but everyone makes improvements by the end of the game so they should all be proud of that." Steve shakes his head just a little to himself. "Anyway, I'm looking over and I'm seeing knees bumping. I'm seeing long looks when he didn't think Will was looking. And I'm seeing a lot of private little conversations and Wheeler is blushing and laughing. Kid likes him back."
She became more and more alert as she listened. When he was done, she took in a long gaspy inhale "The avalanche."
He nodded, eyes on the road. "The avalanche."
Excerpt from my @stobinminibang fic Despite, or Because of it All
I've been planning a Season 5 rewrite since literally minutes after Vol 2 dropped, however it is highly unlikely I will ever actually write it, so I thought I'd just dump a lot of my ideas for what I would theoretically do here. Disclaimer: Byler is a big part of this! It would be endgame, and is important to the plot, so if you don't like that then please scroll :)
The first major change I would make is that the time skip would be much shorter (probably just a few months), and the story would start with Hawkins in a full blown apocalype. The story would be fast-paced from the beginning, with minimal bulid up, as S4 did that already.
I would ideally make it so that each chapter is one episode, but I'm not sure if that would work considering how much happens in one episode of the show.
The first chapter would be an introduction to where the characters are now, and what has happened since the end of S4. We would see how the group has adapted to the situation and what they are doing to help. Vecna has been absent since the end of S4, but this wouldn't mean that the invasion is put on hold, it would just be much more chaotic, as there is no one to control it. The demo creatures would attack at random, with no clear motive, like in S1, except there's many of them. Hawkins would be dark and cold, slowly undergoing a transformation that brings it closer to looking like the Upside Down than the regular Hawkins.
The first 'episode' would end similarly to the show, with Vecna finally making his move, and taking Mike. He would do this because he knows how improtant Mike is to both El and Will, who are the biggest threats, and, as Will says in S4, he is the heart of the group. Taking him would effect everyone, and fundamentally damage the group dynamic.
We then get Mike and Max in Vecna's mindscape together! Their role in the plot would be to discover Vecna's backstory, and to learn things about him that would help the group beat him. They basically witness the events of The First Shadow, as well as some of Henry's years in the lab with Brenner, and they discover that Henry is not the heartless villain they all thought he was. They realise that most of his actions are the Mind Flayer, not him, and that there is a possibility that they could appeal to his humanity and convince him to fight the Mind Flayer with them. They discover the existance of Patty Newby, and realise that she might just be the tether that they need to get Henry to turn on the Mind Flayer.
They also have to go through Mike's memories, which would show his perspective on everything that has happened, and reveal that he is in love with Will. It would show the audience that he has felt this way the entire time, and that it has not come out of nowhere, which I think would be very important in making Byler canon.
Whilst Max and Mike and in the mindscape, the rest of the group would be focussed on finding Mike, the same way they were with fiding Holly in S5. We would get to see how his dissapearence effects each of the characters, especially Nancy, Will, El, Dustin, and Lucas, as they are the closest to him. We would get a lot of interactions between Will and El, as I think their dynamic is one that definitely should have been explored more.
I'm honestly not sure on many details as to what exactly would happen outside of the midscape, as there a lot of different character arcs happening simultaniously, so that would be something I'd have to figure out as I wrote. I know that I would try my best to keep the dynamics between Robin and Will, and Dustin and Steve as similar as possible to in S5, as I thought those were some of the only genuinely good things in the season.
I would hopefully end 'Vol 1' similarly to Sorcerer, with Will unlocking his powers through self acceptance, but it would happen in a very differnt situation to S5, and I would probably change how his powers work a bit, as I don't think they made a whole lot of sense.
'Vol 2' would then have Max and Mike escaping the mindscape around half way through the volume. Mike then has to escape the Upside Down/Dimension X (I'm not sure where he would be yet), with some of the group rescuing him, and Max would relay everything they discovered about Henry.
Vol 2 would end with the group defeating Vecna. Now, I'm not entirely sure how they would do this, and I go back and forth on it a lot, as I have a lot of thoughts about Henry and Patty and TFS, so I'm not going to go into all the details of how I think that would go down, but I like the idea of Vecna not being the final battle. Vecna/Henry would die, and the group are left with the realisation that he was not the main villain all along, he was a puppet of the Mind Flayer, and all they have done is kill its most powerful soldier. Vol 2 would end with this, leaving the audience with the realisation that nothing is as it seemed.
The finale would then be all about defeating the Mind Flayer. The battle would be long and gruling, and would take up the majority of the finale. Now, this is actually my favorite part, as I really like my idea for how the final battle would go, and I think it ties things up pretty well and would make for an epic final show down.
It would start with the demo creatures. The Mind Flayer sends a huge swarm of them (all of them) after the group, hoping to overwhelm them. Now, I'm not entirely sure to what extent I would want to get the millitary involved, but it's safe to say they would be there. This would look very similar to the MAC-Z battle in Sorcerer, with swarms of demo creatures taking out the military, who at this point realise they are in way over their heads. The group is losing, and everything seems hopeless, but then Will tapps into the hive mind and somehow manages to tip the scales. This might look like him turning them all against each other, or just killing enough of them to make it plausible that they could be defeated. Anyway, however it happens, the group manages to defeat all the demo creatures. They start to think that maybe that was it, maybe they've won, but then the lights start to flash. The demo creatures, all start to writhe and cunvulse, and the group realise what is happening. Every single creature that they killed melts and starts to form into a huge version of the Mind Flayer from S3, very similar to the one in the actual finale, except this time it's in Hawkins, and we DO NOT have the stupid Netflix lighting, and it's dark, so we can't even see the whole thing.
Now, for this to work I need to go on a little tangent and explain my reasoning. In S4, when Joyce and Hopper are in Russia, they encounter a contanier of Mind Flayer particles. When they return to the prison, they find that the particles are gone, and someone (I can't remember who) tells them that the particles went INTO the demodogs. So, from this we can assume that the hive mind aspect is due to the Mind Flayer physically attaching itself to the creatures, meaning that the Shadow Monster that we saw in S2 is INSIDE the creatures. And, if there are enough creatures, the Shadow would be much smaller, as it's used up all it's particles possessing them. I get that this is a huge stretch as the Shadow is literally huge and probably has infinite particles, but for the sake of making its defeat feasible, bear with me. So Joyce and Hopper at some point have made this connection and explained it to the rest of the group (and the audience), so once we get to the final battle, we know that the Shadow Monster is inside this huge flesh monster that has just formed.
And so, they burn it. Don't ask me how, I'd figure that out when I got to it, but SOMEHOW they defeat this thing and burn the corpse, with all the particles inside. They think they have won. But before the corpse is fully burned, a cloud of particles rise up from it. The Shadow Monster is now much smaller, as they have burned most of the particles, but it is still a huge threat. In a last ditch attempt to survive, it attacks the group and tries to possess them, and this is when El gets her epic 'scream at the monster whilst using her powers' moment, as she holds the Shadow off long enough for the others to burn it.
Is this final battle perfect? No. Does it probably have a million plot holes? Yup. But I sill feel like it's infinitely better than that ridiculous 10 minute flop that we got in S5.
I'm not sure how the Upside Down would be dealt with, but I guess closing the gates would be sufficient once the Mind Flayer and the demo creatures were dead.
The military plot line would be closed by most of them dying in the Final Battle, and then Dr Owens turning up to handle the rest at the end.
I haven't metioned deaths, but there would definitely be a few. I go back and forth a lot on who though, so I'm not sure. I do know who I WOULDN'T kill though. I wouldn't kill any of the Party (Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, El, Max), or Robin or Joyce. Those guys are safe. The rest however... hehe.
The only person I know I'd kill for sure is Ted.
I'm also not sure if I would want to bring Kali back into it or not. She could be good, but we really do not need more characters, it just complicates things. If she was useful for the plot I would, but I wouldn't bring her back just for the sake of it.
I would probably get Holly and Karen involved briefly and then send them off to go stay with family outside of Hawkins or something. Again, there shouldn't be any more characters than stricktly necessary, and I also think that it's ridiculous that Nancy saw a vision of her entire family dying and didn't do anything to protect them?? Why has nobody considered just getting them out of Hawkins?????
I am also still struggling with what I would do with the Upside Down/Dimension X lore, so that's why I haven't metioned much about that.
ALSO I did mention Byler briefly but I'm now realising I didn't go into any detail on how that would play out except for Mike being in his memories. The reason for that is that I have so many ideas for it, and I just can't decide on which ones I would want to use, and how it would fit into the rest of the plot. But just know that it WOULD be very important and a big part of the story, and the painting would be addressed, and I would write much better coming out scenes than the bullshit we got in S5.
Now I'm thinking about it I'm realising that there is so much more I could add to this, but it's so insanely long already, I really need to stop. If you got this far, you must be as insane as me, thank you for reading my ramble lmao.
Here are my top 3 favorite Stranger Things 5 rewrites, all ongoing. The first two are canon-based; the third is a complete rewrite. Highly recommended!
If there is one thing this life has taught Mike Wheeler it is to never, ever look between the cracks in the mirror.
OR:
My attempts at understanding what is going on in this guy's head...
ch1 🌀 ch2 🌀 ch3 🌀 ch4 🌀 ch5 🌀 ch6 🌀
❀ WIP | mike character study (feat. vecna) | 12.8k words | teen & up
wooo vecna possession fic!!!! i've been working on outlining and drafting this for two months at this point 😭😭 but i finally have a complete enough vision to post the first chapter! yay!! if you read and enjoy this please let me know <3
Summary: When Mike apologizes to Will on the tower, Vecna jumps at the opportunity to get into his head. Will then has to use a combination of his powers and The Cure's Just Like Heaven to bring Mike back out of the trance.
A/N: So I needed to write my own fix-it for that scene of Mike and Will on the tower. Crazy to think we wouldn't have even gotten the crumbs of that scene if Noah hadn't insisted. Anyways, this is my first time writing for Byler so I hope it's okay!
Will panted as he reached the platform where Mike was already standing, drinking from the water bottle.
“You want some?” He offered, extending the bottle to him.
“Yeah,” Will took a swig, his body clearly thankful for the hydration after climbing for who knew how long already. Careful not to drink too much so there would still be more for Mike, he handed back the bottle, and gazed out over the foggy Upside Down, still trying to catch his breath.
“Hey, um… what you said earlier… at the Squawk?” Mike started, delicately. “I’m sorry.”
Will looked at him confused.
“I mean, not sorry about what you said. That came out wrong.” Mike backtracked. Suddenly he realized his use of words on the subject. “Or, not came out wrong– f– Jesus Christ–” Mike stumbled. He knew if he was going to bring it up to Will, it'd require tact. Truthfully, he still didn't feel ready to talk about it with him yet, but he also didn't feel time was giving him much choice to wait. But maybe if he'd had more time to plan his words he wouldn't be failing so miserably right now.
Will chuckled. “It's okay.”
The sound of his laugh softened some of the anxiety Mike felt bubbling inside him. Will was good at making people feel better. But often at the cost of himself.
“No it's– it's not.” Mike corrected. If nothing else, he at least had to say this. It might be the only thing he was ready to admit, but he had been a shit friend and he needed to acknowledge that and apologize.
“I should've been there for you, and I wasn't. And, I guess I was just so self absorbed that I– I couldn't see it. I just I– I feel like an idiot and I'm–”
He thought back to how complicated things had felt, especially when Will and El had moved. How he'd been so focused on his own tangled mess of feelings, he hadn't really considered how it could have affected Will.
“I'm sorry.”
“You don't have to be sorry. And you're not an idiot.” Will encouraged. “You're not. It's just…" Will sighed. “I didn't even understand it myself for the longest time. I just… I think it needed to happen the way it happened. I needed to find my own way.”
Mike tried to process. He didn't need him. Will didn't need Mike to come to terms with his own feelings that he'd gotten so used to pushing away. He had said that his crush was ‘just his Tammy’ – whoever that was – and if Mike was right in thinking the crush was him, maybe he'd blown the whole thing out of proportion.
“But what matters is that, you're still here. And you, still think we can be friends.”
“Friends? No thanks…” Mike said. This was it, this was the time to say it. If ever there was. The pause felt so long for him as he began to panic.
“Best friends.” He quickly added with a smile.
Will smiled back at him.
Shit. No, this is fine. This is safe. This kept everything the same.
“All right, come on, we have a planet to catch.” Mike added, wanting to move on and hoping he looked as nonchalant as he imagined he should.
“Really? So, that's it?” Will said, still standing on the platform. “You're going to keep lying to me? To yourself? Even in the face of death?”
“What?” Mike climbed back down in disbelief at what he heard Will saying. Did he know? Could he see his panic? Did he know he wanted to be boyfriends, but he could barely even think it, let alone say it?
“You're too afraid, aren't you?”
Mike just stared in shock.
“You really think things can go back to how they were, but you have to realize they can't. You thought I could actually forgive you for how you've treated me? For leading me on? Lying to me? Lying to yourself?”
Mike swallowed hard. “No… no you can't mean that…” he hesitated before realization hit. “It's Vecna! He must have you again!”
“You're smart Mike… but not self aware.” The image of Will turned to dust as Vecna spoke only in his own voice now. It was like he was everywhere. Like his voice was the air. The wind began to blow against the tower as his all encompassing presence enveloped Mike.
“Even your dear sister was honest in the face of certain death. But you, Mike, are a coward. You're still lying to yourself. To your friends. To Will. But you can't lie to me.”
“Mike?!! MIKE?!!!” Will held Mike's shoulders, instinctively trying to shake him out of the trance. Mike's eyes were rolled back, he stood frozen next to the ladder as Vecna made his attack in his mind.
“How did it feel? To listen to his honesty? To hear him say everything you've never been brave enough to even admit in your mind?”
The wind blew violently and it all felt so overwhelming, almost like everything was spinning around Mike.
“I'm not scared of you!” Mike yelled back in defiance.
“You're more than scared.” Vecna’s deep voice echoed. “You're–”
“Terrified.” Suddenly Vecna's voice had turned into his own mother's. She stood on the tower in front of him, where Will had once been. The wind seemed to blow around them, but Karen Wheeler’s fluffy permed locks remained untouched as yet another sign of the unrealistic dream world.
He turned and realized his father was behind him on the other side of the tower’s platform, walking toward her.
“Every mother is terrified for the safety of their babies.” Her face was full of fear and emotion. “Mike… you know that there's a difference,” his mother spoke softly, cupping his cheek in her hand, “between being the kind of different that spends hours in the basement playing silly make believe games and–”
“Being a dirty fag.” His father finished. “It's only those kind of people that are getting the disease.”
Karen's hand snapped back, covering her mouth as she began to sob, Ted haphazardly put his arm around her waist.
Mike blinked.
“Not my little boy.” She wept.
When Mike blinked, he realized his mother was suddenly dressed in all black. They weren't on the tower anymore. They were at the cemetery. It was a funeral. His… funeral.
He watched as the very small crowd began covering the casket with dirt.
“If only he'd stuck it out with you, hey kid?” Hopper said to Eleven, as he walked away from the open grave.
El whimpered with tears, looking down at the casket. “You never loved me.”
“El! That's not true!” Mike interjected, feeling himself getting wholly wrapped up in the vision.
“You never said it.” She stated.
“Yes I did!” He argued.
Her gaze shot up from the grave and now glared into Mike.
“You never. Said it. Not in a letter. Not to my face. And not in the same way I meant it. And I hate you for it.”
“What?” Mike breathed, feeling as though the air in his lungs were being sucked out.
“You know I do. You know that's why I don't believe any of the bullshit you've been saying. Your three waterfalls. You can't even begin to picture a realistic life with me because you can't. You can't love me. You're not capable. You're–”
“Broken.” The word now came from Lucas, and Mike spun around to see him and Dustin behind him. They stared at him with such disgust it made his skin crawl.
“No–” Mike, tried to fight it, “no you– you don't think that. Will–”
“Isn't a liar.” Dustin said.
“Friends don't lie.” El joined next to them.
“And he never would have knowingly hurt anyone in the party, not like you did to him.” Lucas said.
“I– I didn’t know!” Mike defended, breathless. “I didn’t know…”
“You did. Some part of you always did.” Dustin said.
“GUYS! MIKE HAS BEEN TAKEN!” Will yelled into the walkie, one hand on the radio, the other hand still on Mike’s shoulder.
“What?!” Murray yelled back into the walkie in shock.
Robin, who had been just above Mike on the ladder, quickly climbed down, though there wasn't much room for the three of them on the same platform.
“Music! We need music!” She said, grabbing the walkie from his hand. “Vickie, go into the sound booth and get some music to play over the radio!” Robin instructed.
Back at the Squawk Vickie pushed Max into the soundbooth with her. “Uh— okay, w-what does he like???” Vickie scrambled in panic.
“No, no it's not the music. At least not really.” Max said to Vickie.
“Well, then what is it?” She asked.
Max paused. “Connection.”
Back on the tower, Jonathan, Nancy and Dustin have stopped climbing and are hanging above at one of the platforms as they process this new information over the walkie.
“He doesn't need him, I mean it's not like the sacrifices. He's probably just showing him something, like you, right?” Jonathan suggested to Nancy, hoping to help ease her worry about her brother's chances of survival.
But Nancy's expression didn't change.
“Max said it was me that she needed, not the music!” Lucas called to Nancy, now directly across from her and Jonathan on the other platform with Steve.
“Yeah, well I'm not taking any chances!” Nancy called back. “That bastard isn't getting any closer to either of my siblings.” She said to herself and took the walkie from Dustin's backpack to instruct Vickie. “Try something by that British group.”
“What, the Beatles?” Vickie asked, frantically searching through tapes.
“No, no– ah, what are they called?” Nancy tried to remember, knowing she was always hearing it through the walls lately. “The fix? The… antidote??”
“The Cure!” Said several of the others.
“Do you think, um, you can maybe see what's going on in there?” Robin asked Will, still standing above on the ladder.
“I… I don't know…” Will said, looking in fear at Mike in the trance.
“Honey, he needs you.” Joyce encouraged, also on the ladder. She'd been coming up just below them but couldn’t continue now that they were taking up the whole platform.
Will nodded. “I… I can try…”
“After everything, do you think we'd really want to be friends with a liar?” A voice came from the group of friends. Will stepped through the group. “Do you really think I actually want you as my friend anymore? After everything you did to me?”
Flashes of memories appeared before Mike as he recalled the many times he'd hurt Will. The fight in the rain. The airport. The rink. A part of him knew for a long time that his friendship with Will was different and more than friends were supposed to be. When he was younger he thought that was just how really special best friends were. But as he got older, and as things happened with El, he became more and more aware that the things he was supposed to feel with her, he felt with him. And the way he acted with him, he wasn't supposed to. So he tried several times to put distance between them. But it always hurt both of them too much. So he just decided to ignore it and go back to thinking it's just how best friends are. That was just how it had to be.
“You'll never be happy Mike. Not with El, and not with me.” Vecna said as Will.
“You– you don't think we could be happy?” Mike asked softly.
“As your fake idea of friends? Sorry, ‘best friends’?” He mocked. “Or as the fantasy you've been too scared to ever even fully look at.”
The scene in front of him suddenly changed to his basement. For a brief second, Mike felt relief in such a familiar, comfortable environment. But his heart dropped into his stomach as he saw himself with Will. Sprawled across the couch kissing passionately.
Before he even had a chance to take it in, he was alerted to footsteps approaching the basement door and down the stairs.
A horrified gasp. “What are you doing?????!” Karen came running down the stairs and pulled the two apart. Ted wasn't long after her.
“I told you Karen! Lonnie's queer has infected our son!” Ted yelled from the staircase before returning up the stairs, too disgusted to look back. “I'll call the church! Get him to one of those camps!”
Karen pushed Will back toward the wall. “Get out of my house. Now.” Karen said to Will. “You will never see him again, do you hear me?!”
“No!” Real Mike yelled out as the Mike in the vision was then dragged out by Karen. As his gaze followed them to the stairs, his attention was brought to the opposite side of the basement. Almost like through a portal, he viewed another version of himself. He was alone in his room, writing something. He looked older and wore glasses like his father. The painting from Will was still hung on the wall. Mike watched as this other version of himself looked at what he'd been writing, then at the painting. He reached for the phone, but put it down. It was clear he was still thinking of Will, but knew he couldn't talk to him.
“See Mike?” Vecna said, through the body of Will, who was still with him in the basement. “You're alone either way. Your parents could never love that version of you. And it's too late for Will to truly forgive you even as a friend. He will never love you. He will forget you. Because you don't deserve him.”
Mike stared at the basement floor in shame. He couldn't hold the tears back any longer and they slowly rolled down his cheeks.
“NO!!!!” Suddenly, Will looked stiff, and strained.
Mike glanced up in confusion.
“Mike! C–can you hear me???!”
“W–Will??” Mike hesitated, beginning to remember the reality of all of this. And was that… music? In the distance?
“Mike!!! Don't– listen to him– it's not– true!” Will strained with his powers.
Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick
The one that makes me scream she said
“But… you said I'm your Tammy, and although I'm not entirely sure who that is, I mean,” Mike sniffed, “I could tell it meant nothing. Just like a crush is nothing. If you even meant that it was me you had a crush on.” He groaned in embarrassment.
And I promise you, I promise that
I'll run away with you, I'll run away with you
“Such a stupid, thought. Crazy actually.” Mike said, humiliated.
“Mike–” Will paused, using all his strength to fight control from Vecna and control the vision himself. He took a step closer to Mike in the imaginary world. He reached his hand out to squeeze Mike's arm. “crazy– together.”
Mike looked deep into Will's eyes, knowing that he was really there looking back at him. Without thinking, he pulled him into a hug. The illusion disappeared, and Mike found himself back on the tower platform, still hugging Will.
Spinning on that dizzy edge
Kissed her face and kissed her head
“You've never been just a crush. I just thought it'd be easier if you were.” Will admitted, teary, still holding Mike in his arms.
Mike nodded, taking a shaky breath “It would. But I hate that.”
They both chuckled through the tears and pulled away just enough that they could see each other.
Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you
That I'm in love with you
They looked longingly at each other’s lips, something that had become an all too familiar frequent pastime for both over the years. But this time was different. This wasn’t just another quiet moment together, or staring while the other didn't notice. For all intents and purposes, Mike thought, Will essentially just saved him from Vecna for the second time now. The first time with the demogorgon, Mike was so blown away and overjoyed for Will and his powers. But even amongst all the emotions, he managed to continue to restrain himself. But now… fuck it.
Whether it was meant as part of his apology, a thank you, or just his own impulses finally getting the better of him, Mike closed the space between them, taking Will’s face in his hands and colliding his lips against his.
You
Soft and only
Mike’s soft lips pressed hard against Will’s. He feared that if he didn’t take this at a running leap, it’d be a kiss forever waiting on his lips. Because of this, Will was so taken aback, his eyes didn’t even close at first.
You
Lost and lonely
Never in a million years did he ever expect his best friend to actually return his feelings, let alone act on them in such a way. It only took a second though for Will to catch up, part his lips and kiss back in spite of his surprise and inexperience. This was all he’d ever wanted and dreamed of forever, actually happening. Holy shit! How was this happening?
Will’s arms wrapped tighter around Mike’s waist, pulling him closer. He feared his heart might explode and that Mike must be able to feel how hard it beat against his own chest through their clothes. Unable to contain his elation, Will lifted him – with ease – spun them around and set Mike’s feet back down on the platform.
You
Strange as angels
Dancing in the deepest oceans
Twisting in the water
As if Will actually spinning them wasn’t enough, Mike felt dizzy between his racing thoughts and increasing desire. He tugged needily at Will’s bottom lip and was instantly granted further access to his mouth. Moving one hand from cupping Will’s cheek, to the back of his neck, Mike deepened the kiss. His hand then combed through his hair, noting how soft and smooth it felt on his fingertips. It’s not that he’d never known what Will’s hair felt like – Mike even thought back to a time when they were small, playing outside, and Will had gotten a bunch of leaves caught in his hair so Mike ruffled them out for him as they laughed about it – he always knew his hair was so soft, but he didn’t often get the luxury of running his hands through it like he finally did now. He wanted to ask if it was okay, but the noise that got caught in Will’s throat as he relished Mike’s hand in his hair seemed to answer for him.
You're just like a dream
You're just like a dream
Will felt like putty in Mike’s hands. His touch was electric and could ask anything of him and he’d happily oblige.
Short breathy gasps filled the space between each kiss as their mouths moved together with such coordination you’d think this wasn’t their first time kissing each other. It was almost like they already knew each other so deeply, that coming together was as natural as breathing.
Daylight licked me into shape
I must've been asleep for days
The music began to fade and Mike suddenly became aware the song couldn't just be playing in his head anymore. His gaze followed the sound over to Robin who was just above them on the ladder. Just Like Heaven continued to play through the speaker of the walkie while it looked like she was in the process of trying to get far enough away that they'd have a bit of privacy.
“Oh– god…” Mike stared at her in dread.
“Is it working??” Vickie asked, her voice nearly drowned out by the music.
“Uh, yeah! Like a charm.” Robin replied, smiling at the boys now and seeming slightly teary herself.
“Guess it didn't have to be connection like you thought.” Vickie said to Max, the two of them still in the sound booth.
“Or I guess Mike just really loves The Cure.” Max suggested.
“If you could maybe, not say–” Mike started to say to Robin but was interrupted at the same time as Will began to speak to her too.
“I guess this makes us even.” He joked, and Robin giggled, with a nod.
“What?” Mike asked, looking between the two of them.
Will gave Robin a look, knowing it was her choice to explain to Mike or not.
“Will saw me and Vickie making out.” She shared. “And, I'm also the one that told him about my crush on Tammy Thompson.”
Mike's eyebrows shot up as he glanced between them and made the connections.
“Oh!”
“Yeah, we're not alone.” Will said, happy to use the word ‘we’.
“So… you knew, before?” Mike asked Robin.
“Yeah,” she confirmed, even though Will hadn't said it to her in so many words.
“And you knew?” Mike asked Will, referring to Robin, who both nodded. “But nobody else?”
“Well, Steve too.” Robin added.
“Wait, Steve's gay too?! I thought he was in love with my sister?!” Mike exclaimed in total shock.
“No, no– I mean, at least not that he's said, although I wouldn't be–” Robin quickly cut her rambling off before she found herself saying too much like she so often did. “Never mind. I just meant I told Steve. About me.”
“Oh. Okay.” Mike said.
“Right?” Will said. “It's actually not as bad as it seems.”
“How's it going up there?!!” Joyce called from the platform below them.
“She was getting tired hanging on to the ladder so she went back down one.” Robin explained.
“Thank god,” Will said, “I would've died if my mom watched my first kiss.”
Mike and Will laughed.
“All good!” Robin called down to her, giving her a thumbs up.
“So… um… like… what does this mean?” Will dared to ask. He was afraid to know but he couldn't leave the question hanging.
“I… don't know.” Mike admitted. “Let's just get through today first, okay?”
Will nodded. “Yeah, right now things are kind of crazy.”
“But… crazy together?” Mike asked, meaning whatever crazy they would face, between Vecna, the end of the world, friends, family, whatever came up they'd handle it together.
I was scrolling through ao3 the other day and found a season 5 fix-it where Mike got taken instead of holly, and I didn’t save the fic. I don’t remember any of the tags but it was a byler fic, this was like 2 days ago for context, if anyone find anything similar please please let me know.
