16 Bookmarked Items in I rly ought to read
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Will Byers is perfectly content with his adult life: his Manhattan apartment, his roommate who he is definitely no longer in love with, and friends he wouldn't trade for the world. So what difference does it make when his step-sister reappears after disappearing to California as soon as they finished college? Who cares that Dustin might have a thing for her, and Mike is suddenly being a better roommate, and Lucas keeps giving him this look like he knows something no one else does?
Certainly not Will. That's for sure.
OR: a friends x the party sitcom au
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Friends sitcom byler/stranger things fic.
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“You want us to foster a kid?” Mike finally asks, disbelieving. Will is half convinced that El will laugh in their faces, clearing up the misunderstanding with a, “No, silly. I want you to water my plants.”
“It doesn’t have to be forever,” El says. “Just until I can find another home for him. I can’t stand him living in the shelter anymore. Not right now. He needs emotional support. And don’t lie to me— I know you two have been wanting kids. This can be a trial run.”
—
Will and Mike are tasked with fostering an emotionally distant, judgmental, sassy twelve-year-old boy from El’s shelter. As hard as they try to win his heart, they seem to be making no progress. After all, how could two strangers earn the trust of a boy who’s been hurt time and time again?
Series
- Part 1 of Broken Mirror: a collection of us
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 179,861
- Chapters:
- 40/40
- Comments:
- 1,703
- Kudos:
- 4,091
- Bookmarks:
- 933
- Hits:
- 131,234
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Idk twitter bro
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Mike Wheeler is thirty years old, three years married, and incredibly unhappy. After an unexpected AOL Instant Messenger group chat with the Party, Mike reconnects with Will after several years and realizes that maybe his life doesn't have to be so bad.
Or: A 2000s epistolary fic in which Mike falls in love with his childhood best friend and cheats on his wife.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 284,593
- Chapters:
- 10/13
- Comments:
- 4,221
- Kudos:
- 9,871
- Bookmarks:
- 2,426
- Hits:
- 367,030
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Byler god on tt told me to, and they wrote my will is good (i think) so it’s gonna be good.
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"It's for you."
Mike startles, blinking when Will pushes the box even closer to him.
"You got me something?"
Will tries to shrug it off. "Just something small. Early six-month anniversary gift let’s say, or at least part of it. The rest will come later. Now open it."
And he does open it, but it’s not a comic book or action figure like he expects but a collar and a custom one at that. But with how the last few months have gone—pining secretly and determinedly not talking about the puppy thing from Halloween—maybe this is what Mike needs. Maybe what they both need.
Series
- Part 2 of Puppy Mike
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Bated breath waiting for this to complete, I don’t know what to do with myself.
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But it wasn’t a monster that came out of the trees. It was a person. A boy.
Mike froze.
Then he was spotted, and the boy stopped in his tracks; with skillful movements, he quickly slung the rifle off his shoulder and pointed it at Mike’s chest. Mike raised his hands while trying to keep most of his weight on his left leg.
“Whoa. Hey,” Mike said, his eyes wide as he stared at the tip of the rifle. “Just hold on. I’m not—I’m not going to hurt you.”
Or: A crawl gone wrong left Mike stranded in the Upside Down. Hurt and alone, Mike stumbles upon someone everyone told him was dead.
Will Byers was never found Au
Series
- Part 1 of Matador
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 154,503
- Chapters:
- 23/23
- Collections:
- 4
- Comments:
- 4,586
- Kudos:
- 13,820
- Bookmarks:
- 3,003
- Hits:
- 407,713
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Um one of THE byler fics
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I’m in love with you, do you think it shows? by apateangle (dm3rv)
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
09 Jun 2026
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An accident leaves Mike without four years of memories. He wakes up convinced that it's 1989, that Bush is the new President, and that his time at college in Boston has only just begun.
But it's 1994. There's a new President. He lives in New York.
And somehow, he shares an apartment with Will Byers.
Or: An Amnesia AU.
Series
- Part 1 of I'm in love with you
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 105,443
- Chapters:
- 15/15
- Comments:
- 1,774
- Kudos:
- 4,270
- Bookmarks:
- 1,126
- Hits:
- 113,773
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I should get on this
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It’s 1995. Mike Wheeler is 24 years old. Everyone has moved on, started lives, careers, futures— and Mike is stuck. Stuck in Hawkins. Stuck in a mess that he isn’t able to crawl out of.
And what’s worse?
He’s in love with Will Byers.
And Will has moved on.
Series
- Part 1 of Love, Michael.
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Ok people, this is my first fanfic so PLS no hate I'm sorry if it feels like I copied anyone, I just love this idea. This is when mike goes on his flight to california to see el and will in s4. mike sees el and hes like 'oh, she looks nice' and THEN he sees will and he has some... thoughts. after that, mike and will get into attraction, arguments, apologies and amusement.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 38,828
- Chapters:
- 21/21
- Comments:
- 347
- Kudos:
- 726
- Bookmarks:
- 109
- Hits:
- 24,446
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This sounds perfect icl,,
I read the first few paragraphs and it made me want to kill myself, unless this story and Micheal really changes their pace then this’ll be a shit show.
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The Prettiest Boy by beebleh
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016), The Turning (2020), The Goldfinch (2019), IT - Stephen King
12 Apr 2026
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Summary
This is a rewrite of my other story, since the plot didn't exactly make much sense, nor was I enjoying where it was going.
The main crew is aged up to 18, and the others (Eddie, Steve, Billy) are around 20-21.
This takes place in Season 5.
Will Byers is a closeted gay 18 year-old in the 80s who never imagined he'd get to be himself, as long as he was in his hometown. What happens when his friends, as well as other guys, start showing romantic interest in him? How will he deal with it? How will they deal with it?
Basically I love Will and I think he deserves all the love in the world so I'm gonna give him a bunch of hot boyfriends who worship him
:P-
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The portion of trying to find the guys fighting for Will and May have found gold or genuine horror stories
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Dating apps aren't Mike's thing, until he finds out Will is using one. He can't let a bunch of trashy guys go after his best friend; he'll just make a fake account to scope out the situation. What could go wrong...or right?
or
Mike creates a fake persona on a dating app to unknowingly flirt with Will.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 69,196
- Chapters:
- 15/15
- Comments:
- 1,571
- Kudos:
- 4,577
- Bookmarks:
- 985
- Hits:
- 106,587
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Idk Carlton’s in it and all it got was a snippet from twt:
Carlton: can you bounce on it tho
What the fuck? What does that even mean? Actually, Mime doesn’t want to know. Also, what kind of name is that? Carlton? This guys parents couldn’t have named him … like Carl? What’s the ton for? Ton of bullshit, that’s what it’s for. Remove.
I saw more of it on twt an it’s hysterical, Mike like intentionally becomes wills online boyfriend to like stop him from finding creeps
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Summary
Mike Wheeler spends years trying to be “normal.”
Normal son, normal friend, normal boyfriend, normal boy.But growing up with Will Byers — through disappearances, monsters, trauma, high school, and finally college — makes “normal” feel less and less like something he actually wants.
This is the long, messy, painfully slow journey of Mike figuring himself out, losing himself, finding himself again, and realizing that the only thing that ever made sense — the only thing that ever felt right — was Will.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 150,461
- Chapters:
- 31/31
- Comments:
- 837
- Kudos:
- 1,628
- Bookmarks:
- 458
- Hits:
- 44,409
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Long as hell, comphet Mike I think I mean have u read the title and absolute yearning maxxing swears he bottoms
Okay so chapters 1-6 is pre season 1, s1/2/3/4
Chapter 7/8/9 Is season 5 rewrite almost entirely
Chapter 10 to 17 has been last yr of school and summer before college, it’s actually so funny seeing Mike deal with his queer realisations like he’s genuinely so amusing. And he’s figured it out (chapter 15-16 I think)Chapter 17/18 college finally
[also chapter 17 - 70k words - half way ish]Chapter 26 - Mike confesses hooray, Jesus that was torture
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Mike is waiting for Will in the basement, a look of suspicious, nervous excitement on his face. He cleared the table and laid out upon it are two card games.
"Now, I know you’ll resist," Mike blurts out, stepping toward him. "But I think this will be good. For both of us! For when we... you know,” Mike trails off, “When we get partners.”
Will scoffs, stepping closer to inspect the titles.
Spill or Sip and Truth, Dare, or Strip.
Or: Mike suggests a spicy card game to help Will loosen up before college. It works a little too well, and suddenly they’re gambling with unresolved feelings, and clothes, that were meant to stay in place.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 189,725
- Chapters:
- 25/25
- Comments:
- 6,820
- Kudos:
- 20,550
- Bookmarks:
- 3,823
- Hits:
- 760,472
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Idk twt again ig
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Summary
Best friends since childhood, Will Byers has carried a quiet, aching love for Mike Wheeler for years. When he visits him in the city of Chicago, he finds Mike radiant, confident, and completely at ease in his own skin. The sight of him, the way he moves, laughs, and glows under the city lights, makes Will’s chest ache with a longing he can no longer ignore.
Amid sparkling lights and the closeness they have always shared, years of unspoken desire finally surface. Every glance, every touch, every whispered laugh feels electric, drawing them impossibly close. For the first time, Will and Mike step beyond the line between friendship and something more, discovering what they have both wanted and needed for far too long.
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"Will could do nothing but stare at him. He quickly looked away, as Chance started kissing his lips, and Will started kissing back. But he couldn't help but open his eyes.
To find Mike staring right at him.
With a woman on his lips.
His hand around her waist.
Her hand around his face.
But his eyes were on Wills'.
And Wills' eyes were on Mikes.It was like they were the only two people in the world. Most people were crouching down, lowering down to the song. They were the only two fully standing up. Looking from afar. Two sides of the room suddenly felt like two sides of the world. "
Or
What if the party had gone to that party after all?
Will has stuffed his feelings down for mike for years. But I guess it's never really over.-
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The Secrets That You Keep (When You're Talking in Your Sleep) by DH_epub
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
04 May 2026
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Summary
Mike thinks it all started the day the Byers moved into their house.
Having sold their house in Hawkins a year and a half prior and moved to California, when they came back, and the town got put in lockdown, they didn’t have a place to go.
Mike had kindly offered up their place during dinner.
~
The 18-month gap between s4 and s5 told from Mike's POV with minor other POV's as the story progresses. The gap has been lengthened to encapsulate more time passing. They start at 16, but by chapter 6 they're 17 1/2 with them turning 18 chapter 32/34.
Also known as the answer to Mikewhatthefuckdidyoudo gate
Steve Harrington is to Mike what Robin is to Will
Season 5 Rewrite to follow WHILE THIS IS A COMPLETE WORK, THE SEASON 5 REWRITE IS A WIP
Everything is tagged appropriately. If you choose to read, that is your prerogative. No smut occurs until chapter 36.
Series
- Part 1 of Do You Want to Know a Secret?
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 328,129
- Chapters:
- 45/45
- Comments:
- 10,004
- Kudos:
- 22,295
- Bookmarks:
- 4,808
- Hits:
- 1,028,226
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@glitter7654: “So you gotta lock me and Will alone in a hot room. FOR SCIENCE”
2 recs for this apparently it’s rly good.
ALMOST COMPLETED
When I tell u twitter keeps giving me more reasons to read this, it better finish soon I genuinely can’t wait.
Twitter keeps giving me more reasons to read this
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deep blue, but you painted me golden by andiwriteordie, kidovna
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
18 Dec 2025
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Summary
Will’s voice trails off, and he runs a hand over his face. Mike waits a few moments to see if he’ll say anything else, but when Will doesn’t, he takes a shaky breath and tries to find his own courage.
“And you thought, what?” Mike whispers. “That - that it wouldn’t mean as much to me if it came from you?”
Will flinches. He’s still turned away from Mike, and there’s a desperation in his voice when he whispers back, “Mike, please…”
Or:
After returning to the Wheeler house, Mike finds out the truth about Will’s painting.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 7,096
- Chapters:
- 2/2
- Comments:
- 154
- Kudos:
- 6,147
- Bookmarks:
- 1,180
- Hits:
- 61,134
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