#bylerficrecweek2023

[bylerficrecweek]

BYLER FIC REC WEEK 2023

Calling all Bylers! There are so many talented and amazing creators in our community, and it’s time to show them some love! There are quite a few fics and authors that are very beloved by this fandom, and while they absolutely deserve all the hype they get, there are so many other amazing fics and authors out there waiting to be discovered! We want to help you shine the spotlight on your underrated faves and share the love.

How it works:

Byler Fic Rec Week will last from Friday, 3rd of March to Thursday, 9th of March. Each day will be themed around a different genre of Byler fanfic for you to rec your personal favourites of. Don’t be shy, share as many fics as you want that fit the day’s theme— the more the better! We’ll be reblogging all the recs that get shared to this account as an archive of hidden gems, and using the tag #BylerFicRecWeek2023. The specific genres for each day can be found here.

All you need to do to rec a fic is to share its title, the name of the author, and a link to it (You can embed hyperlinks to the fic and the author’s AO3 profile by highlighting the text, choosing the infinity symbol, and pasting in the URL). If you want to you can also add the AO3 summary, your own description, how it makes you feel, or anything about the fic that you think will make people interested in reading it. If the author has a Tumblr and you know the @ you can also tag them, so they know you like their fic enough to recommend!

You can share your rec lists by:

Posting them to your own blog. Make sure to tag #Byler so more people have a chance to discover your recs! Also use the tag #BylerFicRecWeek2023 so we can definitely find your lists to reblog!

Submitting them to this blog. Don’t feel comfortable making posting a list to your own blog for whatever reason? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Submit a list to us and we can post it for you. Note that posts you submit will include your username.

Sending them in as asks. If you’d prefer to use asks over submissions or you want to remain completely anonymous, feel free to send your recs in to us as asks! You can’t embed hyperlinks into asks, so please include the full URLs of any fics you share like this.

Other ways to get involved:

If you feel extra motivated, you can show your appreciation for your favourite fics with fanart, edits, gifsets, moodboards— however you like! If you tag fancontent for a fic you’re reccing with #BylerFicRecWeek2023 we’ll be sure to reblog it! Make sure to tag the fic’s author when you share your creation, because they’ll definitely want to see it.

Rules/FAQ:

NO NSFW. This blog will not post or reblog any submissions, asks, or posts made with the #BylerFicRecWeek2023 tag that contain NSFW fanfics. if you post a list containing multiple recs and only one of them is NSFW, we will still not share it.

Byler should be the MAIN pairing of any fics you rec for this event. Any side pairings are fine, but the fic needs to be centered on Byler.

There is no hard limit on how popular fanfics you rec for the event can be, but the main purpose of this event is to bring attention to smaller works and their creators. If you can, try to share recs for fics you haven’t seen talked about or that you feel deserve more attention than they get. Well-known writers and their stories are fantastic, but we want to help uplift other authors too.

Fics don't need to be completed for you to rec them! There are a lot of great ongoing stories that deserve to have more people on the hype train for new updates. That being said, please don't rec fics that have been confirmed  to be abandoned, or that haven't been updated since 2020. Anything that's received an update since then is fine to rec, as fics can come off hiatus at unexpected times.

Don't worry if you don't have fics to rec for each genre; you don't need to participate in every day to get involved.

Blog run and moderated by: @apatheticlexicographer , @willelfanpage , @ice-sculptures , @aceoflanterns , @miwism , @super-nova5045

[dinitride-art]

Byler Fic Rec Week Day Two: S5 Speculation. Okay, so I missed day one because I was busy but. I’m gonna do todays! Also, some of these have longer descriptions than others and that is solely because I can figure out how to describe what’s going on with some of these fics more than the others. They’re all fantastic. I’m the problem here lol. (and all of these are byler. I swear. It’s just that sometimes the plot of the story is just as important as Mike and Will.)

1. The Secret to Being Unlucky by  lovetriangled 

So, Will’s POV, cool exploration of powers and plot stuff, angst/Will isn’t okay in the slightest, 13k, established byler, and I have read this fic multiple times. 

2. whispers by  dahlia_04, EmeraldTulip

Mike and Will’s POV’s, plot heavy, Will Byers is very not okay, Mike’s going through it too, 9.7k, and it’s got some neat formatting. I’m weak for anything that explores powers/supernatural/sci-fi stuff and this fic has a bit of that going on.

3. heat the pins and stab them in by  clearskiies

Mike’s POV, 13k, and he’s going through it. Get’s targeted by Vecna. You know how it is. A fair amount of Mike thinking about Will too.

4. moth to a flame (or a lightbulb) by  ApatheticLexicographer

Okay, Mike’s POV and my god does he get hit hard with this one. 7k, lots of character exploration and a fair amount of plot in there too, technically like one scene? But it’s really cool. Oh, also, this ones got some horror elements in it. 

5. These feelings are not my own by  Corvi_dae524

Will’s POV, cool power stuff/mechanics, and a funky little accidental emotional mind meld. 4k.

6. Wrong by  jenlouniverse

Multi-chapter, Mike’s POV, Mike really REALLY goes through it, 21.4k, and basically is about Mike not being able to tell what’s real. Which is like plot stuff, but also interesting to see how it all plays out. 

7. Tough tied and oh so squeamish by  Cocalolhh

The POV flips around a bit, 8k, and it’s two chapters and mostly about exploring selective mutism through Mike. It’s not all s5 speculation, but most of it is in a setting that could technically be s5 speculation. But mostly focused on Mike.

8. you were bigger than the whole sky by  delusionaltogether (Whyyyyy)

Mike’s POV, 28k, has a long time skip but is still directly dealing with s5 problems so I think this counts. There’s a lot of plot with sci-fi and at times almost fantasy elements to it. Mike is struggling a whole lot. And it explores hope, love and grief. 

9. The End of the World by  eagle_ace

Mike’s POV, 8.3k, focused on the Party and everything falling apart after season four. The writing style and formatting is also really neat. 

10. I grieve in stereo by  ferngreen

26.2k 1/2 chapters, Mike’s POV, Mike isn’t having a good time but hey. At least he’s got Will. Also a fair amount of plot with this one too, and mostly uses Stranger Things canon sci-fi elements, but along with an exploration of Mike’s character. 

Alright, those are all the fics (most of them, there’s always more hiding somewhere that I’m probably subscribed too but forgot to bookmark lol) I’ve got for this category!

[notebooknonbinary]

Byler Fic Rec Week - Day 1: Post-Canon

These are all lovely post-canon fics, ranging from just after the hypothetical end of the series, to far off into Byler’s adulthood.

No particular order to be had sorry lol

(if I've mistagged anyone please let me know! I'm sure some of the writers on here that I haven't tagged have tumblrs but i don't know/remember them sorry)

The Tweets of Mr. & Mr Byers - by @mrhalloween2ficpage

The Paladin's Promise - by @starsarefire824

i'll be your first, i'll be your last - by agustplz (shout_out_lou)

dance with me while everybody's watching - by @itsromeowrites

It Takes Two - by Turning_tides

i'd rather lie (tell you i'm in love with you.) - by genevievive

you felt enough - by delusionaltogether (Whyyyyy)

friday (i'm in love) - by fizzseed

it's such a feeling, my love I can't hide - by @strangeswift

cheer up, baby - by @perexcri

Bring Your Roommate(?) to Work Day - by sarah_tonin_on_the_rocks

i just haven't learned to be human as you are yet - by adankrivervalleynearyou

let our walls cave in - by @andiwriteordie and @kidovna

make a move - by @astrobei

[willow-lark]

lark's byler must-reads written pre-s4

day 3 of @bylerficrecweek!!! i was very excited for this day bc i have been in the fandom a LONG time n there are so many classics that i think everyone should read 💕

the sight of a flower in bloom by @angeltrapz (NR, 1/1, 6.7k, 2017/post-s1) - this is a BEAUTIFUL character study of will accepting his sexuality. i think the current byler fandom should take notes on some of the s1-era fics like this one.

you'll forget about your days away by orphan_account (T, 1/1, 14k, 2018/post-s2) - mike's in trouble, so will has to rescue him. i LOVE the fairytale aspect of this fic. miwi lovers this is required reading!!

The Irresistible Force Paradox by @willelbyers (G, completed series, 1.4k, 2019/post-s3) god this pair of drabbles is one of the best things on the face of this earth. a haunting exploration of the rain fight and its aftermath that everyone should read.

Do You Copy by @serendipitous-magic (G, 1/1, 1.8k, 2019/post-s2) - mike dreams of will's death in the exorcism. very angsty but also very sweet! i cannot recommend this fic enough.

black butterflies and déjà vu by ilmostro (G, 1/1, 3.2k, 2017/post-s2) - it takes a long time for will to tell mike how he feels, but he gets there eventually. god, i miss all the post-s2 future fics, things weren't the same after s3 and the byers moved. i love this!!

[buck-yyyy]

*pushes an ao3 link towards you* i’ve plugged this a million times, but! just a reminder that i have a newly completed fic, the artist and the writer!

a normal high school au where the upside down doesn’t exist, TAATW is 14 chapters, and 25,299 words, featuring mike’s journey to recognizing what all the weird, cloudy feelings in his head really mean—and what that means for him and will’s relationship.

“Mm. Explains a lot,” Will commented, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

The gesture made something in Mike’s stomach twist, and he frowned instinctively. What the hell was that?

“What’s up? What’s with the frown?”

He shook his head, hair flipping into his eyes and sticking to the sweat on his forehead.

“Nothing! I don’t know. It’s nothing.” He cleared his throat. “Look, I don’t smell that bad-“

“Friends don’t lie!” Will called out, not even turning around as he made his way back toward the long cinder block building.

anyways, if you’re interested, do enjoy!

[sparks-olivarpente]

day 2: Season 5 speculation

Here's my list of underrated fics for #BylerFicRecWeek2023, day 2: Season 5 speculation

Do You Think I Have Forgotten by borealisaurora: “Um,” Mike said awkwardly, looking up at the ceiling. “What do you think? How would you know if you’re in love?”

captured ghosts by @etchedstars: ghosts from will's past come back to haunt this. literally or metaphorically is up to audience interpretation.

Hold My Hand by @foodiewithdahoodie: Will refuses to let Mike become Vecna bait.

The Son, and The Heir by disaster_energy: Realities are crashing together, one too big, too complex, too unapprehended to fit into theirs without ripping it apart.

Come Away With Me by @starsarefire824: The one in which Mike gets to be Will's knight in shining armor.

a change that i can see by agustplz (shout_out_lou): a sleepless night in mike's room, april 1986

ST S5 E01 – The Painter by @tsugarubecker: “Painting?” “Yeah.” “What... painting?”

The Sun's Embrace by @dinitride-art: They've got a plan to get Max back but it's dangerous. They're travelling into their heads and chancing an encounter with Vecna. They know what to expect, but what happens when their friend isn't telling them everything?

[byierficrecs]

❝ dustin henderson, the scientific method, and homosexuality ❞ author: @crimetimecrow

link: archiveofourown.org/works/39912366

personal blog || submit a story || support me on ko-fi 💐

[apatheticlexicographer]

BYLER FIC REC WEEK 2023 DAY 5: FULL AU recs

breathe (in the air) by clearskiies

mike-centric; no plot. 1970s AU, the party are in their 20s. mike and will’s friend groups meet at a music festival and they spend the whole time attached at the hip. there’s a lot of internalized homophobia angs,tbut mike doesn’t lash out at will over it and their flirting is sweet. elumax are going through their own shit in the background too. multichapter, ongoing

wheeler news by solarhazard

will-centric; some plot. social media fic where mike is a famous musician and will runs a stan twt account for him. his world gets flipped upside down when mike notices him and they start becoming friends. it’s so dumb but so fun. multichapter, hasn't updated in a while but it hasn’t been officially discontinued to my knowledge

Nocturne by lilacline

mike-centric; plot. mike rescues a small brown bat from a weirdly evil plant and nurses it back to health, befriending it in the process. side note: bats aren’t supposed to understand human speech, mike. that’s not normal. that’s not a normal bat you have there, mike. considering it’s tagged as a vampire AU, i’m sure u can see where this is going. mike is a mess (affectionate) and he’s filled with Queer Terror. will has only just appeared as a character (...officially) but he’s already melting all 3 of mike’s braincells. mike is actually the best brother ever to holly and i would die for her. multichapter, ongoing

A New Fight by Tea_For_One_Please, and both of its sequels

alternates between mike-centric and will-centric; plot. a star wars fusion AU where will is a stormtrooper who defects to the rebellion and becomes a member of mike’s crew. el escaped the jedi massacre and teaches him to wield the force. the first fic takes place about a year before episode IV, the second concludes directly before episode IV, and the third is set in the gap between episodes VI and VII. since this is a fusion AU the canon events of the star wars timeline happen as usual, with the party’s story taking place in the background. you could probably read this without having seen star wars, but it wouldn’t make much sense. i was so engrossed that i read all three 30k~ long fics in one sitting. multichapter, all entries complete

with honor, we hound by hiscleric

mike-centric (so far, may have will POV); plot. as of now there’s only been one proper chapter of this, not including the prologue, but i can already tell it’s gonna be sooo good. it’s a fantasy/cleradin AU which is always a win, and the writing is lyrical. will was the youngest prince of the kingdom, who mysteriously vanished one day. mike is a knight and the heir to a noble family, but secretly wished to be a scholar. there’s a prophecy, a quest, and what seems like it’s gonna be a secret identity plot with will. literally what more could you want??? multichapter, ongoing

ground control to major tom (your circuit’s dead, there’s something wrong) by andthentheybow

alternates between mike-centric and will-centric; plot. another star wars AU!!! there’s only one chapter out so far, but it’s the setup for a heist story so i just know it’s gonna slay. this one is set several centuries after episode IX, rather than in tandem with star wars canon. mike is a bounty hunter and will is very… mysterious ;))) i can’t wait to see what comes of it!!! multichapter, ongoing

A Flower That Resembles You by perexcri

will-centric; plot. a byler fantasy AU that’s not cleradin??? gasssp :000 i won’t spoil to much but it’s got childhood friends to strangers to friends to lovers, really pretty depictions of magic, hella quantities of angst and yearning so sweet and tender it makes even my aro heart ache. the mortifying ordeal of allowing yourself to love and be loved… effervescent. multichapter, complete

Ley Lines and Shadows by Aabh

will-centric; plot. fantasy AU! will is a baker who lives in a tiny town. the town was cursed years ago by a now-dead witch. he helps a stray cat after it gets attacked, but as he spends more time around it it becomes clear that it's not a normal animal. the ominous dreams that plague will's sleep only add to the feeling that something is…off. the writing is flowery and fits the fairytale setting nicely. there's a mild sexual content tag on the fic, but i believe that refers to a single paragraph. there's nothing explicit and they're adults. multichapter, complete

another one bites the dust by losingcontrolnow

will-centric; not really plot. high quality zombie apocalypse content!!! i like more hardcore apocalypse stories than the stuff you usually get in s5 speculative fics, so this AU makes me very happy. the contents of the fic itself don't make me happy because, duh, it's a zombie apocalypse AU, but it's soooo good. oneshot, complete

didn't i (blow your mind this time) also by losingcontrolnow

mike-centric; no plot. you know spiderwill, you love spiderwill, but for your humble consideration: spidermike!!! featuring yearning (both), pining (both), oblivious idiots (both), and sudden onset superpowers (just mike). mike is exactly as much of a mess about, well, everything as you would hope and he is so so dear to me. longshot, complete

[starsarefire824]

Byler Fic Recs

Day 2: Season 5 Speculation

drowning on rooftops- by @perexcri

This one has to be one of my favorite byler oneshots ever. it’s beautifully written, sweet, and a little bit sexy. It takes on Mike contemplating the end and what that means while also processing his feelings for Will. The religious themes in it are *chefs kiss*. I think it deserves more attention!

There is A Season- by ghostlin

Speaking of favorite fics. As I said I am the queen of opening and not finishing fics. This one I read in such a whirlwind I feel like I want to read it again just to enjoy the plot. It’s really beautifully written. The author has a unique way of creating atmosphere that makes it stand out in your head. An eerie nightmare with Will comes to mind, and one particularly funny scene with Dustin and Will as Mike is trying to express his feelings about El, or one beautiful scene where Will is laying under an oak tree with his drawings. It’s tagged “mike is dragged kicking and screaming into character development” and it doesn’t disappoint. It explores his coming to terms with his bisexuality and feelings for El and Will with wonderful depth and grace. Anyway, I just made myself want to go reread it and you should too!

closeface- by miketozier (smallcuts)

Some great Robin and Will interaction, Mike hounding Will about the painting, and some Mike jealousy. It skips around in the timeline and I enjoyed it!

kiss me dumb- by @endlesslytea

sometimes you just need a good fight and a kiss in an attic, amirite?

*if any of the authors mentioned are on tumblr and not tagged let me know!

[pearyaoki]

byler fic rec week 2023 (day seven: free day)

A Darker Timeline: egg98 (T, 33k, incomplete)

canon divergent, slow burn/build (heed tags!)

☆one of my absolute personal favorite on-going fics, a raw look into Will's mental health after being left in the Upside Down

Love, Mike: nfna118 (T, 12.7k, complete)

internalized homophobia, pre-relationship

☆this fic does include age-appropriate discussion of masturbation/sex

What will you do now, Will the Wise?: RainbowNixie (G, 11.5k, complete)

fluff, post s4-v2

conversations we had in hell while the world was ending: iry (T, 11.5k, incomplete)

s5 speculation, post s4-v2

☆a biased recc but my personal favorite cin fic, everything i could possibly want in a s5 speculation fic

the darkest hour: AmberEyedFox (T, 44k, complete)

slow burn, angst with a happy ending

Only A Dream: Chaser_Of_Stars (M, 86k, complete)

psychological horror, aged-up characters

i hit my peak at seven: blackdeathmamba (T, 77k, incomplete)

fix-it fic, canon rewrite

Little Glances: DragonBoy7 (T, 9.1k, complete)

character study, internalized/externalized homophobia

☆Karen 3rd person perspective, deals very heavily with homophobia

pink & black: queer_we_are (G, 1.1k, complete)

implied/hinted byler, queer community & mentorship

☆a fantastic fic where byler is not the main focus, and instead a mentor-like relationship between Eddie & Will

yesterFriday: nbfutureboy (T, 19.2k, complete)

time loop, psychological horror

☆a very early byler fic. the first byler fic i ever read, i HAD to include it!

i know, i know, i know: aude_sapere (T, 33k, complete)

alternate universe - canon divergence, fix-it fic

see, I've already waited too long (and all my hope is gone): Leodine (T, 12k, complete)

will has powers, light angst

what if our dnd characters got married (and we did too): joyfullyrissa (T, 14k, complete)

modern setting, fluff

☆my fic, shameless self promo: a fun dnd adventure fic

[evil-ontheinside]

S5 speculation byler fic recs!

stars by the pocketful by @thesapphicbard

Whatever it is, it’s okay, he tells himself. It’s just Will. It’s just Will, and it’s just them, laying down in Mike’s childhood bed, face-to-face, and Will knows him better than anyone, Will loves him–

He’s safe, here. Even with the storm brewing outside and the very obvious end-of-days knocking on their proverbial doorstep, he’s safe.

It’s just one innocent, small touch.

So why does it feel like leaping off of a waterfall?

In which Mike is cringe, per usual, and Will could care less.

moth to a flame (or a lightbulb) by @apatheticlexicographer

It was a memory, Mike realized, his fingers smoothing over the arm of his basement couch. Probably a pretty old one, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on which. Was it before that November, or after? His eyes were heavy, the room around him fogged up like an unfocused camera lens and washed to sepia. He couldn’t make out enough detail to date it past the nebulous timestamp of sometime, ages ago. It felt like home regardless.

“Will?” a voice whispered into the umber gloom.

Or; Mike has a dream.

The Hospital, Nancy and My Mom's Cardigan: All That's Left of My Family by @dinitride-art

They don’t tell you what to do when someone you love might lose someone. They don’t tell you about the distant look in their eyes, and the broken voice that you’ve never heard before. About how you had to help carry his sister's body and drag him to the car. A car you barely know how to drive. But you have to get her to a hospital.

Even though they left someone behind. And he’s crying, breaths coming out like they’re cutting out his throat.

But Will has to fucking drive.

To Hell and Back Again by @perexcri

After Mike unwittingly stumbles into a series of interpersonal bombshells, he immediately sets out to find Will so he can find out what, exactly, that painting meant, and why Will lied about it. Unfortunately, Mike is obsessively obstinate and relentless to a fault, and he'll go to the literal ends of the earth to get the answers he needs.

Or: Mike and Will's Apocalypse Romcom Spectacular

outlined in guilt, my portrait stares (in a gallery where the walls lie bare) by @catboy-cabin

Though Mike hasn't seen many of Will's paintings – not recent ones, at least, and especially nothing like this – there isn't a doubt in his mind that this is one of them. It has all the hallmarks of Will’s style, in the depth of emotion displayed by the eyes alone; in the way Mike's freckles are much more visible than they have any business being; in the dark lighting and drab colors that Will always uses to depict the landscape of his trauma, when he just needs to get all the horrific images immortalized by his brain out.

(It hurts, to find himself rendered like some monstrous thing straight out of the Upside Down.

Mike probably deserves it.)

or: vecna has a tempting offer for mike.

Meet Me At the End of The World by @likegoldintheair

Will reaches out, places his left hand on Mike’s neck and says, here, breathe with me. His right hand gently pries one of Mike’s hands open from the grip he has on Will’s arm, and he laces their fingers together, placing both of their hands on his own chest.

Breathe with me.

So, Mike does. He closes his eyes as he feels Will’s chest move beneath his palm, feels him breathe in and out; the soft flow of it, the calmness, the familiarity of it all. He tries to match it, tries to slow down, tries to let the air stay in his lungs a little bit longer. Tries to breathe out.

@bylerficrecweek

[bylerficrecweek]

The themes are out! As a reminder, the event will be running from the 3rd of March to the 9th of March, so you have plenty of time to get lists together or go searching for that one fic you forgot to bookmark. Since the titles are a little vague, there's an in-depth explanation of each below the cut.

Detailed explanations of each theme

Day 1: Post-canon

Fics set after the hypothetical events of S5, where the canon plot has already been resolved. Examples include stories about their late highschool years post-Vecna, their college experience, and their lives in the current day.

Day 2: Season 5 speculation

Fics that follow on from the end of s4, where the canon plot has not yet been resolved. They can pick up directly after the final scene of s4 or be set after a timeskip. Examples include apocalypse Byler fics, some gate fics, and Vecnafication fics set after s4. The focus doesn't need to be on wrapping up the Vecna plot, as long as it's part of the setting.

Day 3: Written pre-season 4

Fairly self-explanatory. Since the popularity boom Byler experienced when S4 released, most of the fandom's older fics have been buried beneath all the new content and can be quite difficult to find. The plotlines and backstories they show won't necessarily match up well with the current canon, but that doesn't devalue them as stories. Examples include any fics that began before Volume 1 released. Longfics that started before S4 but are still ongoing count for this category.

Day 4: Friends & family

Fics with a strong focus on the party, the Byers' family, the Wheeler family, or any other platonic relationships. Other ships still can't be a central focus, but it's okay if Byler takes a backseat in fics that fall under this category so long as it's there in some capacity. Examples include coming out fics, outsider POV fics, and sibling bonding fics.

Day 5: Full AU

Fics that place the characters in a completely different setting to canon, rather than adding AU elements to the canonverse. Their setting s and storylines are either completely original or follow the format of another piece of media. Examples include fantasy AUs, SpiderWill AUs, and historical AUs.

Day 6: Canon divergence

Fics that follow canon up to a point, before splitting. Examples of this could include S4 rewrites, fics based on popular theories and gates, Will/Mike gets Vecnaed fics... Fics that include an element of AU while still following the structure of canon, such as soulmate AUs or time travel fics, also fall under this genre.

Day 7: Free day, post anything you haven't already or self promote

Anything goes. Any fics that you want to rec but didn't think matched any of the other categories can go here. Alternatively, if there's anything you meant to rec on a previous day but forgot, then now is your chance. If you're a writer yourself, this is also the day to post your own works and have them shared by the blog.

Exceptions

There are plenty of stories out there that could fit the criteria for multiple categories. If there's a story you want to rec that fits the criteria for more than one day, just use your best judgement about what category it's the most like. For example: a full AU fic written pre-s4 is going to be much more focused on the AU elements than the time that it was written, so it's best to rec it on day 5. If you just can't make up you mind about what day you should rec a fic, either rec it on day 7 or shoot us an ask for advice.

[fizzseed]

byler fic rec week: DAY 2!

theme: season 5 speculation

the secret to being unlucky by lovetriangled [13.7k]

it's the end of the world, and will has to help fix it. mike loves him no matter what.

i had a dream (i got everything i wanted) by andiwriteordie (@andiwriteordie) [11.3k]

vecna shows mike what he thinks he wants. then, he shows him what he, deep down, knows he wants.

i'll find myself in the moonlight by beansie (@byeler) [16.7k]

you'd think, in the middle of the apocalype, that a painting wouldn't be so important.

baby, we're perfect by bookinit (@bookinit02) [16.7k]

"senior year in hawkins. will and mike figure some things out."

i'm not going anywhere by vissers [5.9k]

will and lucas have a conversation in max's hospital room, and realize that they aren't as alone as they might have thought.

on the other side by bbbeets [4.4k]

mike gets hurt and will takes care of him. in the upside down.

[notebooknonbinary]

Byler Fic Rec Week - Day 2: Season 5 Speculation

Some wonderful wonderful fics set during Season 5! The Byler community is filled with so many talented writers!! I'm excited to see what everyone else is reccing for this day!

As these are Season 5 speculation fics (which is likely going to be very violent), beware of potential triggering subjects--some of these are rated M. So please remember to read the tags!

Is Hell Cold - by @buck-yyyy

why you are always alone - by @willow-lark

crazier together - by transmascwillbyers

can you see me? im waiting for the right time - by wayward_sherlock

Letter to Will(y) - by DarkestNight84

haven't change my perception, i haven't lost my protection - by tobtea

The Hospital, Nancy and My Mom's Cardigan: All That's Left of My Family - by lookinghotwiththosewings

and all at once (you're all I want) - by Mayverix

it's like i'm frozen but the world still turns - by toes-ier (snowglobegay)

yesterday, we were just children - by @andiwriteordie

broken hearts can always mend - by sarol3

when everything's made to be broken (i just want you to know who i am) - by @hoteadepresso

Take care of Will - by getsalami

stars by the pocketful - by thesapphicbard

no proof, not much (but you saw enough) - by drabbish

Monday - by vanderloo

[microwavedmetal]

Day 1: post-canon rec list

Mike-And-Will hangouts by Ahhhhhhh_iMsTuCkoNtHeUsErNaMe

After everything, Mike just wants Will's friendship back the way they used to have it.

Sleepyhead by FoodieHoodie

Tired from college classes, Mike takes frequent naps on the couch, but can't understand why he wakes up always in his bed until one day he finds out

Only You by NightOwlFury

“I can’t leave you,” Mike finally spoke, his hand coming up to tug at his hair. Will’s heart did a somersault. “What do you mean?” Mike’s hands turned into fists on his lap. “You– I can’t. I can’t leave you. Not again,” is all he could manage, lacing his fingers together tightly until they turned white. Will’s head spun. Did Mike feel guilty? Why? His hand reached out to Mike’s clasped ones. “The Upside Down is gone, Mike. I’m okay, we’re all okay.” He decided to leave out the various physical and mental scars everyone had accumulated, trying to unclench Mike’s fingers. “You almost died, and it’s my fault, it’s all my fault. Everything’s–“ Mike choked on his words and tears quickly started to build up in his eyes. “Everything’s my fault.”

Or: after the Upside Down is finally defeated, Mike won’t leave Will alone.

[morganee]

Byler Fic Rec Week - Day 1: Post-canon

stare at pictures of you 'til i'm blind by agustplz (shout_out_lou) (@wheelerstrange) (14k, complete)

Mike gets into the habit of pulling his hair up. And it drives Will crazy. It opens up an entirely new perspective on a face he thought he had memorized, softening his profile and placing his features in new angles that Will had never considered. He looks pretty. He’s never thought about it before, but once he starts putting his hair up, Will can’t think of him in any other way. He looks soft and open and inviting, all of which is a dangerous combination for a boy with a hopeless crush. Even worse, it makes him want to sketch him constantly. He keeps a sketchbook under one of his floorboards just for portraits of Mike. He tries not to do it often, but sometimes his want threatens to overtake him and he has to put it somewhere. Soon enough, the sketchbook has every angle imaginable of Mike he can recall without having him model for him. It’s possible that the sketching has greatly improved Will’s skills in a short time; they might even be his best work. But he can’t be sure since there’s no way they can ever see the light of day. If he’s going to lose his mind over Mike for what is apparently going to be the rest of his life, the least he can do is keep that insanity to himself.

so why don't we go (somewhere only we know) by sterrenhemel (3k, complete)

“Look,” Will says again, showing Mike the table he crafted to go in Castle Byers. “Oh! Cool,” Mike answers, although Will can tell his mind is elsewhere. “You alr—" "Who is "M"?" Mike suddenly asks, interrupting him. Will’s eyebrows shoot up, confusion written all over his face. "Huh?" Turning around, he realizes that Mike is holding something. A piece of wood in an odd shape. He steps a little closer, squinting his eyes. The capitalized M + W, bluntly carved in the wood, is impossible to miss.  And Will's heart drops to his stomach. Because he knows that piece of wood. Of course he knows it, he goddamn carved that himself years ago.  "Uh, I—," Will says.  Or, the fic where Will and Mike rebuild Castle Byers and Mike figures something out (but it takes him a while, obviously.)

wish you were here by sheriffandsteel (5k, complete)

"You promised you'd write!" Will snaps, jumping to his feet and nearly slipping in the snow. Mike grabs his elbow to steady him and can't hide his flinch when Will shakes him off. "It's just like California all over again. You know you get mad when people break their promises but you break promises all the time!" "I didn't break my promise!" Mike defends himself before he can think better of it. "You never even wrote me one letter!" "No," Mike shakes his head and sets his shoulders back. His heart is beating as fast as a hummingbird's as he forces the words past his dry throat. "I never sent one letter."

i get drunk but it's not enough by delusionaltogether (Whyyyyy) (5k, complete)

Mike gets drunk at a party and Will takes care of him against his better judgement.

will-they-won't-they by orphan_account (5k, complete)

Mike ignores the bilious feeling that swims in his gut as he scoops fruit punch into their cups, his mind tortuously replaying that girl’s hand sliding over Will’s shoulder while he does. He shoves the mental image away.  Steve’s words ricochet in his mind. Carpe diem. Seize the fucking day. So stupid.  Then again… (Or: Mike and Will have always walked the thin line between friendship and something more. A little encouragement goes a long way.)