9 Bookmarks by strangeswift
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Summary
Will's footsteps are silent as he creeps into view of the group. They don't spot him at first, half of them prodding at the dead Children on the floor, checking for life, while the others stare terrified at the girl, tears staining their cheeks as they breathe shakily.
The girl looks from the dead Child at her feet to the burly man in front of her. She opens her mouth to answer, but Will seizes her chance.
"Found you." He snarls, a smirk spreading across his face.
or the one where will byers was never found, a giant crack just opened between the upside down and hawkins, and he has one task: find the girl.
title from 'one way or another' by blondie
CHECK WARNINGS: MCD
Bookmarked by strangeswift
11 Jan 2026
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"It’s his own fault, too. Not just for – for being like that. Mike blames himself because he wasn’t able to keep his damn mouth shut. He never has been, so he’s learned to pick out the strained smiles and glassy eyes that worm their way onto others’ faces when Mike is being too much. He felt it from other kids at school, from teachers, and from his own family.
Fuck the people who say they miss the bubbly, vivacious little kid he used to be.
All they ever wanted was less of him, and Mike delivered on that. He made sure to shove bits of himself in drawers, under beds, and behind closet doors. Sometimes it was the trash can, the side of the road, or among the embers of a roaring fireplace.
He realized his mistake too late – everyone hated the parts that he’d kept, but he had no way of going backwards. The damage had been done, utterly irreversible."
Or: Mike runs into some trouble at home and has to find the comfort he needs somewhere else. Luckily, Joyce Byers is ready with open arms.
Series
- Part 1 of here began all my dreams
Bookmarked by strangeswift
08 Nov 2025
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'cause if we don't leave this town by castlebyer (loverslakes)
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
05 Oct 2023
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The thing is, Will hasn’t really had time to form an opinion about where he and Mike live because he’s been too distracted by the fact that he lives with Mike in the first place. After so many years of dating, hours of long-distance phone calls, miles and miles on highways and planes — they finally share a bed every single night. Will’s belongings finally have permanent residence in the drawers beside Mike’s.
The thing is, Will would go anywhere with Mike.
It’s 1993, and Will, Max, Mike, and Lucas go on a road-trip. Absolutely nothing goes wrong! (A story about friendship and growing up loved)
Series
- Part 2 of it feels good to be known so well
Bookmarked by strangeswift
31 Aug 2025
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"It's fine," Will reassures them with a dismissive hand as he pulls back, "We don't have to ignore the fact that it's, like, ten days into the semester, and I'm already visiting."
"Can we also not ignore how it looks like you've been crying?"
"Jesus Christ, Lucas," Mike's voice carries through the apartment from his room, bursting back into the living room after setting Will's bags down. "He's been here for, like, four minutes."
It’s 1993, and Will is having a hard time. Mike loves Will, according to Lucas.
Series
- Part 1 of it feels good to be known so well
Bookmarked by strangeswift
30 Aug 2025
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Summary
Mike's life is split in three categories; the life he should have, the life he wants to have, and the life he has to have. Currently, he's living in limbo between all three; he'll never have that white-picket fence and suburban wife, not when the only girl he could try to love has left him, and while he's finding it harder to live the life he has to have— the life where he hides himself so deep, not even the people he loves know who he is— he'll never get the life he wants, either.
Limbo sucks, to put it simply. He's so close to what he wants (which is Will, no matter how hard he tries to shove it down) but he just can't push past that barrier and talk to Will, not when everything he does always feels wrong.
But, maybe, Mike might come to learn that what he wants isn’t so bad, after all.
(Or; Mike's struggle with his internalized homophobia— among other things, including the concept of free will, Robin Buckley's mildly terrifying presence, and wanting things Mike's sure he doesn't deserve— structured around the five stages of grief. You can mourn a life you'll never live, and you can mourn someone you haven't actually lost.)
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"I'm sorry."
His voice came out croaky and wobbly. He couldn't stand the sound of his own voice. He couldn't stand to hear the desperation and shame and guilt seeping from his words.
This time, it was Mike whose features tugged into a frown, his other hand situating itself on Will's free cheek as he shook his head. "Don't. Don't be. Will, hey, look at me, baby. You have nothing to be sorry for, okay? Nothing at all."
Will stared into Mike's imploring eyes and chose, for once, not to believe him.
- Or, 5 times Will sought comfort from his friends, and one time he didn't need to go looking.
Bookmarked by strangeswift
12 Aug 2025
Bookmarker's Notes
maybe my favorite dustin characterization in a byler fic. very sweet established byler.
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there's glitter on the floor after the party by embarrassedwithapicketsign
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
24 Jul 2024
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Summary
"Will wants to just let himself have it. He wants to just accept that Mike is probably in love with him, for some unknown reason, and he wants to just let Mike love him. He wants it to be simple. It’s what Mike deserves—it’s what Will deserves, if he’s being honest. After being wounded so deeply by his previous partners, he deserves the gentle and stable love that Mike can offer him, that Mike is offering him on a fucking silver platter.
It’s hard to just give in, though. Even so, Will can tell that it’s getting a bit easier for him every day, and that he’s that much closer to swinging that door open and letting Mike all the way in."
Bookmarked by strangeswift
18 Oct 2024
Bookmarker's Notes
situationship byler but will is the one with commitment issues this time.
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And At Every Table, I'll Save You A Seat by LondonDziban
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
18 Aug 2023
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Mike caps the cup and slides it across the pickup counter to Will, following it up with a wrapped straw and his wrapped lemon loaf immediately after. “Medium iced chai with oat milk and brown sugar syrup, and a lemon loaf for yellow flannel guy!”
Will grabs his straw, shooting a disapproving look at Mike as he carefully unwraps it. “Remind me to never wear this flannel in public again.” He grabs his drink, slipping his straw into it with steady hands.
“Nah, it looks nice on you. Don’t let me stop you, Just Will.” Mike is grinning so hard his face hurts. He’s more awake than he was previously, most of his exhaustion washing away throughout this interaction.
Will sighs, his cheeks going slightly red at Mike’s compliment, bringing his straw to his pink lips and taking a small sip. Mike watches Will’s gaze travel down to Mike’s chest, his eyes stopping on his name tag for only a second before they dip slightly lower. His lips quirk up into a small smile as he swallows his sip of chai. “I like your pin, by the way.”
Or
Mike works at the on-campus coffee shop and Will really likes iced chais.
- Language:
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Bookmarked by strangeswift
18 Aug 2023
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Mike grabs Will’s hands and tangles them with his own, blinking up at him through his long, dark lashes. His eyes are endless. Solid black, like the night above them. So shiny that Will can see himself, tipsy and happy, in the reflection. “I want to be stuck with you,” Mike whispers, like it’s a secret. “I don’t ever want to leave.”
Will sucks in a sharp breath, squeezing his hands. “Then don’t,” he whispers back, punched-out and honest. “Stay.”
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Senior year in Hawkins. Will and Mike figure some things out.