19 Bookmarks by moodycat
List of Bookmarks
-
turning and returning to some secret place inside by vvalentine for moodycat
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
02 Aug 2026
Tags
Summary
“There's my Mike.”
“I wasn't your Mike before?”
“Well.” Will brushes a thumb up and down his cheek as he holds him. “This is what he usually looks like.”
“How do I look?”
“Tired.” Will's face gains color, pink and flourishing. “Beautiful.”
( Graduation day reminds Mike that the normalcy he has always craved is still scary, still uncertain. It is less scary with Will. The post-lasagna fic. )
Series
Bookmarked by moodycat
02 Aug 2026
Bookmarker's Notes
the cutest, most delicious, feet-kicking epilogue byler fic ever!!
-
matryoshka (why do you leave me with watercolor eyes) by vvalentine
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
01 Feb 2026
Tags
Summary
Mike is like a statue across from him, the only sign of life being the slight hitch when he inhales. Will blows the air out of his throat through pursed lips, and his body is starting to malfunction. It always thinks sadness has to be followed up by panic, that's what it has been conditioned to. His heartbeat speeds up fast and he's thinking about car crashes again.
Everything's a ram raid. He's both the car and the storefront. He can't believe he let Mike inside knowing what it would cost him.
(Mike comes to find Will in New York. A ten hour drive, heart offered. Will makes decisions.)
Series
Bookmarked by moodycat
28 Jul 2026
-
Tags
Summary
“I'm trying my best.”
“I know.”
“At everything.”
( The world makes clay out of Will and he doesn't want to be put back together, just held. This time he lets himself have it. )
Series
Bookmarked by moodycat
28 Jul 2026
-
[i will] dislocate my jaw to fit it all in by vvalentine
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
25 Dec 2025
Tags
Summary
"You gotta say it like you believe it." He points out, catching Mike's eyes for a moment. Mike swallows. His throat is dry, burned from nothing.
"I don't believe in anything, I think. I just know that crazy shit happens and we survive it."
"You think it's a weakness." Will says, more for himself than Mike. But his voice is steady and loud enough for both of them to hear. "Believing."
(In all intricacies, Mike learns that his fear is an animal. His anger is an animal. His jealousy is an animal. Spit-soaked teeth, Will at the center.) — a character study.
Series
Bookmarked by moodycat
28 Jul 2026
-
Tags
Summary
He extends a hand towards the sorcerer, long and lined with an exhausted, unnerved shiver. Will’s face changes, first wondrous and now ever-confused, brows downward, lips slightly pursed as if something unjust has occurred and made him the target. Mike swallows a hard breath. Spring is warm and merciful, and yet somehow this room is so cold, warmth carved out of its stomach.
He bores his eyes into Will. Pleads, silently, for him to offer his hand back if he wants to avoid humiliation for the both of them. Nobody denies the Prince. Nobody kneels where they must not.
( The war is over. Mike, always a knight first and prince second, washes up new and is tasked to relearn his role in the kingdom. But wounds are wounds, and some stay open. Some may never close again. )
Series
Bookmarked by moodycat
28 Jul 2026
-
Tags
Summary
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:
- 239,399
- Chapters:
- 9/12
- Comments:
- 3,526
- Kudos:
- 8,625
- Bookmarks:
- 2,205
- Hits:
- 293,159
Bookmarked by moodycat
01 Jul 2026
-
Tags
Summary
“We haven’t done this since middle school,” Will says, voice barely above a whisper.
“Huh,” Mike whispers back. “Yeah, guess not.”
A couple years ago, Mike read a National Geographic article about a phenomenon called the polar night. In the farthest north and south regions of the globe, there are weeks, sometimes months depending on how close you are to the poles, where the sun does not rise above the horizon, plunging the world into a perpetual nighttime. Living in such conditions, the article had explained, can affect one’s circadian rhythm, heighten issues with concentration and energy levels, and cause a spike in depressive symptoms among local populations. Some resort to using light therapy lamps to mimic the daylight.
It was only after the Byers moved away, all those years ago, that Mike began to understand what the prolonged absence of the sun can do to a person.
The Upside Down is gone, and everyone has made it out unscathed. In the aftermath of the not-so-end of the world, snowballs turn into avalanches. Sometimes it just takes time.
or: Mike gets into Brown, Will gets into RISD, and the friends-to-???-to-lovers slowburn that ensues.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 160,586
- Chapters:
- 12/12
- Comments:
- 308
- Kudos:
- 723
- Bookmarks:
- 259
- Hits:
- 23,871
Bookmarked by moodycat
17 Jun 2026
-
Tags
Summary
The screen was a pain to stare at. It was bright and his glasses did little to help protect his weak eyes, but the real perpetrator causing him this pain was the post it bore.
Will Byers is getting married, and he had to find out through Facebook.
—
Or; Will doesn't invite Mike to his wedding, so Mike decides to cross states and object at it.
Bookmarked by moodycat
01 Jun 2026
-
Tags
Summary
He broke the kiss, placing a hand on Mike’s chest to hold him back. “El.”
At that moment, Mike’s grip on his waist tightened. It hurt, like a bear trap had attached itself to his skin.
“What?” Mike asked dumbly.
Will shook his head, “El, Mike. We can’t—”
“Stop talking.”
“No, think of her.”
“I said stop talking.”
—
Or; One time Mike slept in Will’s bed in Lenora, and one time Will slept in Mike’s bed in Hawkins.
Bookmarked by moodycat
28 May 2026
-
Tags
Summary
“Just saying, if you’re taking another hit, you should share it with me,” Mike says, and Will slowly tilts his head, drinking in every word. “It just makes sense. Like, mathematically.”
Will’s reddened eyes narrow, bewildered. “Mathematically?”
“If there’s two hits left, we’d each only get one,” Mike explains. “But if we shotgunned, we’d both get two.” God, this is the best idea he’s had in ages. He should’ve stolen Will’s weed, like, months ago. “That’s like, bang for your buck. This is simple math, Will Byers. Keep up.”
In which it’s well past midnight in New York, Will can’t sleep, and Mike feels like they barely know each other anymore.
So, they get a little high. Mike is very normal about all of it.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 23,570
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Comments:
- 906
- Kudos:
- 14,338
- Bookmarks:
- 3,888
- Hits:
- 164,909
Bookmarked by moodycat
26 May 2026
-
dear will, (and all the things I'm too much of a coward to say) by Aloyx
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
01 Mar 2026
Tags
Summary
Summer of 1989. Before the group splits up for college, they plan one final camping trip in the woods.
Trapped in a tent with Will, Mike is writing an apology letter that gradually turns into a heartfelt confession as he comes to terms with his true feelings. He has one week to find the right words, or he'll lose the love of his life forever.
Or: after s5, Mike Wheeler writes a love confession he’s absolutely not ready for.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 55,344
- Chapters:
- 9/9
- Comments:
- 451
- Kudos:
- 1,884
- Bookmarks:
- 604
- Hits:
- 47,480
Bookmarked by moodycat
26 Apr 2026
-
Tags
Summary
At first, Mike was unsure how to approach him when he got like this. But they’ve been living together for months now, never further than five feet apart in their dorm beds, so Mike’s learned what works and what doesn’t.
It works when he wakes Will like this, with gentle hands and words, telling him he’s safe. It works when he climbs into Will’s warm bed, turning him on his side and curling up against his back, an arm over his waist and his cheek pressed against his shoulder. They lie together like that until Will’s hiccupping gasps soften into steady breaths, until Mike feels him go limp in his arms and he knows he’s fallen back asleep. It always works.
or: Will has nightmares and Mike is the only one who can console him. Not even Will's boyfriend can. Mike takes great pride in this fact.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 8,126
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Comments:
- 700
- Kudos:
- 26,277
- Bookmarks:
- 4,375
- Hits:
- 218,263
Bookmarked by moodycat
09 Apr 2026
-
Tags
Summary
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:
- 6,740
- Kudos:
- 20,268
- Bookmarks:
- 3,795
- Hits:
- 746,987
Bookmarked by moodycat
07 Apr 2026
-
Tags
Summary
Love is a fickle thing.
At least, that’s what Mike’s dad had always told him. So Mike assumes his love for his best friend will fade away and disappear into the deep recesses of his mind until he ultimately forgets it ever existed. Except it doesn’t, and it won’t.
Love is a fickle thing.
Just not for Mike.
or
After a thoughtful talk and subsequent breakup with El, Mike has to renavigate his friendship with Will and the overwhelming feelings that come with it.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 68,051
- Chapters:
- 4/4
- Comments:
- 293
- Kudos:
- 4,716
- Bookmarks:
- 1,160
- Hits:
- 98,364
Bookmarked by moodycat
18 Mar 2026
-
Tags
Summary
“Is this weird?”
Will frowns. “What?”
“I don’t know, I’m just— every time we—” he stops when Will pulls his hand away by his wrist and resumes dabbing his lip. He doesn’t think twice when he brings the tissue to his mouth to make use of his own saliva, and Mike doesn’t question him either. “I can’t be normal around you anymore.”
Will delicately cleans him up, eyes calm and steady, voice comfortably quiet. “I’m not asking you to be.”
Or: In the November morning light, everything has changed. Mike and Will try to figure out who they really are, what they really want, and how much they really need each other before they lose their minds—but, if they’re honest, that might just be the fun part.
Series
- Part 2 of we all have a hunger
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 41,029
- Chapters:
- 4/4
- Comments:
- 526
- Kudos:
- 2,326
- Bookmarks:
- 661
- Hits:
- 63,681
Bookmarked by moodycat
17 Mar 2026
-
we all have a hunger (tell me what you need) by papenathy
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
03 Jun 2025
Tags
Summary
“Looks like I bit you.” Will tilts his head to get a better look. All Mike can do is stare at him. His fluffy hair at the front, clumped pieces at the back where he’d slid his fingers in a mere few minutes before. His pretty green eyes that look hazel or even brown in this light, the dark circles he gets when he drinks framing them like intricate paintings. A satisfied, bloody smile.
Mike isn’t satisfied. He swallows thickly, choking down the words 'don’t you want more?'
Or: Will dresses as a vampire for a college halloween party, but Mike thinks his costume isn’t bloody enough. Will lets him fix it. Mike goes into a crisis.
Series
- Part 1 of we all have a hunger
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 34,403
- Chapters:
- 3/3
- Comments:
- 1,360
- Kudos:
- 35,808
- Bookmarks:
- 7,825
- Hits:
- 588,481
Bookmarked by moodycat
17 Mar 2026
-
Tags
Summary
It was easy for Will Byers to fall in love with Mike Wheeler.
The trouble came when he had to pretend it wasn't real.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 189,454
- Chapters:
- 24/24
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 1,675
- Kudos:
- 21,566
- Bookmarks:
- 4,687
- Hits:
- 766,089
Bookmarked by moodycat
17 Mar 2026
-
Tags
Summary
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:
- 4,540
- Kudos:
- 13,408
- Bookmarks:
- 2,932
- Hits:
- 394,316
Bookmarked by moodycat
05 Mar 2026
-
talk to me dirty; talk to me sweet by thesweetestdream
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
02 Aug 2026
Tags
Summary
Will and Mike accidentally overhear a couple talking dirty over the walkie, and start repeating some of the filthy phrases to each other for shits and giggles. What starts as a joke, soon turns into something they can't stop doing – and can’t tell anyone about.
Or:
Mike and Will start talking dirty to each other for fun. What they don't consider is that it would accidentally turn them on.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 140,845
- Chapters:
- 17/17
- Comments:
- 24,723
- Kudos:
- 101,847
- Bookmarks:
- 12,994
- Hits:
- 2,888,764
Bookmarked by moodycat
23 Feb 2026