An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/?
Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Will Byers/Mike Wheeler
Characters: Mike Wheeler, Will Byers
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Alternate Universe - Zombie Apocalypse, POV Mike Wheeler, Bisexual Mike Wheeler, Alpha Mike Wheeler, Gay Will Byers, POV Will Byers, Omega Will Byers, Unhealthy Relationships, Love at First Sight, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Guns, POV Alternating, Mike Wheeler is Whipped, Buff Will Byers
Series: Part 11 of A World of Stranger Things
You know, an interesting tumblr transformation that's happened gradually, and which I've seen no one talk about: ask-culture has essentially dropped off to nothing.
By which I mean, asks used to be WAY more of the tumblr economy. They used to be more common to send, and receive, and see. They were integral to the collaborative, forum-like behavior of old tumblr communities, not even to speak on the HUGE number of ask-blogs that used to exist to only be interacted with in ask-form.
I'm not saying this in a vying-for-attention way but instead in an observational way: I used to get way way more asks in like 2015, even with a fraction of my follower count. I wonder if it's due to the homogenization of social media sites? There's a lot more of this divide between "content creator" and "consumer" instead of just a bunch of peer blogs who would talk to each other. "Asks" aren't really a thing on twitter, are they? And as I understand it, the closest thing to an "ask" on instagram or tiktok would be a creator screenshotting some comment and responding to it in a new reel or video or whatever those content mediums are. Are asks just too tumblr-specific? Is that aspect of the site culture dying out as more and more people converge to using all their social media sites in the same way?
it's probably from assholes making asks a minefield of trolling/harassment for years with no real blocking ability, which turned people off from allowing asks on their blogs so as a whole the site moved away from it
but now that we do have better blocking, we should try to revive it.
A Gas giant. Beautiful, and with a lot of gravity. Although despite this, there isnât much to tether you. On the first appearance itâs a wonder how you donât drift away and lose yourself completely, but you have a super hot core. A strong will, and heart, that while itâs not visible at first glance, itâs there.
Chapters: 1/?
Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Will Byers/Mike Wheeler, Eleven | Jane Hopper/Dustin Henderson, Maxine "Max" Mayfield/Lucas Sinclair, Jonathan Byers/Steve Harrington
Characters: Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Eleven | Jane Hopper, Will Byers, Maxine "Max" Mayfield, Steve Harrington, Jonathan Byers
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Hawkins (Stranger Things), Stranger Things 4, The Party Friendship (Stranger Things), Will Byers Loves Mike Wheeler, Gay Will Byers, Bisexual Mike Wheeler, Siblings Will Byers & Eleven | Jane Hopper, Minor Eleven | Jane Hopper/Mike Wheeler, Will Byers & Maxine "Max" Mayfield Friendship, Bisexual Steve Harrington, Minor Jonathan Byers/Nancy Wheeler, Steve Harrington Loves Jonathan Byers
Series: Part 8 of A World of Stranger Things
Summary:
Mike watched his two friends still absorbed in their conversation. Something felt⊠off about this whole morning. He couldnât put his finger on it, but there was for sure something wrong. Like the world was just a little off center. Then, he saw it. Well⊠them.
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(Tag list: @critture)
Sitting outside with the rest of their friends, Will held an ice pack to Dustin's face. He had taken the brunt of the beating and needed it much more than Will did.. Dancing together had been pushing it but somewhat accepted. Kissing had been the tipping point, resulting in a fight.
âWill. Here.â
Wincing at the cold sensation suddenly against his own swollen eye, Will turned to see El with a hesitant smile holding an ice pack to his face.
âThanksâŠâ
âWhat were you two thinking? Dancing together and kissing in front of the whole school? Were you trying to get beat up?â Mike ranted, pacing in front of the group.
âIs that really what you care about right now, Wheeler? How about worrying if your two friends are okay?â Max defended them, looking close to starting another fight.
âI am!â
âWhy were they mad? We danced and kissed.â
Everyone went quiet at Elâs question. How do they begin to explain how hateful the world was towards people like Will, who liked people of their own gender? Luckily, they wouldnât have to thanks to Hopper.
~
Sitting on his bed next to his brother, Will tried to think of a way to explain why he was sporting a black eye. He was a bad liar and word would spread around town quickly.
âNancy told me what happened.â
Tensing, Will waited for hateful words. The disgust and disappointment. He felt the betrayal from his best friendâs older sister telling on him. She probably found him disgusting too.
âWill. Did-â Jonathan barely got the words out before Will was crying and apologizing.
âI'm sorry! Please don't hate me but it's true! Everything they say about me is true!â
âHey! HeyâŠâ
Jonathan took him into his arms and rubbed his back, trying to calm him down. It only made him cry harder and cling to his older brother. That night, Will confided in his brother about how he liked boys, how he liked dancing with Dustin along with the kiss they shared, and his feelings for Mike.
It felt nice to finally tell someone. Almost like a weight had been lifted off of his chest. Then, Jonathan told him a secret of his own.
âYouâre like me? But I thought you and Nancy-â
âI thought so, too.âÂ
A knock on the door interrupted their talk, making both boys jump. Sharing a look, they went and answered the door, surprised to see Steve and Dustin. Dustin was all smiles, even with tissues up his nose and a split lip.
âHey, Will.â
âSorry for just dropping by. Henderson was insistent on stopping by before I took him home.âÂ
Steve apologized before whispering something to Jonathan. They shared a look before leaving the two boys alone to talk.Â
âLook what Max lent me.â
Will was surprised to see his friend holding a record. âCyndi Lauper?â
âYeah. The song we danced to before we got interrupted. We could have a do over. I-If you want to.â
âYou want to try it all again?âÂ
Will couldn't believe what he was hearing. Before he agreed to anything, there was something he had to know.
âI thought you liked girls.â
âI do! But the dancing and the kiss⊠I just know I kind of liked it⊠So, what do you say? Want a do over?â
â....Yeah. I'd like that.â
While they had been talking, Steve and Jonathan had moved the furniture in the living room and hung up some lights. Jonathan and Steve had made a makeshift dance floor for the two boys.
This time when they danced, there was no one to interrupt them or beat them up. There was no one to stop them when Will leaned in for a kiss. They would have to deal with the backlash, however, this moment was theirs and was perfect.