#mike said 'it's not my fault you don't like girls' and 'did you think /i/ would never get a girlfriend?' and joyce said she was so proud of

[fryeswiththat]

Me every time I watch or read a rendition of a character and the OP has flown with the idea that "this character's lapse in judgement is actually a defining characteristic for their future interactions and defines them rather than being a poor decision the character made"

[love-byers]

mike's weird language when he talks about el and their relationship

part of the equation of stranger things relationships is building the relationship through emotional connection, not physical intimacy and outright saying how you feel. it's a trope in st that the couples refuse to admit their feelings for some time before getting together. "we're just friends", "she's not my girlfriend" etc etc. the denial is super endearing. and even when the couples are finally together, this doesn't change. they're literally just the same duo same friends, but they kiss sometimes. they barely even acknowledge that they're together. it's a great trope in my opinion.

so a couple years ago i was rewatching st and made a list of everytime mike said something weird. meaning, every time mike did not adhere to this formula and stood out from the rest of the couples. i made a tiktok about it too so im basically quoting that in this post. something i stressed in that video was that because we have the other couples as source material, clearly the writers are capable of not doing this. they are capable of writing a good serious relationship, but they're choosing not to with mlvn. so keep in mind, the other couples (besides maybe stancy) do not do this and mike is supposedly, according to his own words, is madly and deeply in love with her throughout all of this and knows it.

Season 3

"Romantic time with my girlfriend."

i'll cut this one some slack, it's just that if you were truly madly in love it would be more like "I'm spending time with el". but thats all he views it as, romantic time with his girlfriend. going to his girlfriends house to make out with her. romantic time with his girlfriend. not bonding with the person he loves.

"Did you think we were never gonna get girlfriends?"

mike is hyperfocused on the word girlfriend. she's not el, the person he loves, she's his girlfriend. he doesn't say "did you think we were never gonna fall in love?" and look i get he's only like 14 here but it's the fact that he later claims he was in love with her the entire time and knew it. he literally claims it was love at first sight.

get girlfriends. he got a girlfriend. he didn't fall in love.

"It's not my fault you don't like girls!"

again the hyperfixation on girls, get a girlfriend, liking girls. mike, why are you more focused on the fact that el is a girl and your girlfriend than the fact that she's el?

"You're the most important thing to me in the world."

finn's delivery of this is so.....

and the fact that el just stares at him blankly afterwards, like she did not buy that lmao

Season 4

"That's because she's my girlfriend, Will!"

it's not "that's because i love her and want to talk to her" or something like that, it's "thats because she's my girlfriend and that's what you're supposed to do when you have a girlfriend" not "because she's el and i love her". that plays into mike's whole charade in lenora, he's just doing things he thinks he's supposed to do when you have a girlfriend.

"You're a superhero!"

that has nothing to do with who el is as a person, especially at that moment because at that time, el didn't have her powers. at the time, everyone believed they were gone, she wouldn't be saving the world anymore. but mike is still saying how incredible she is because she's a superhero.

i hate dr brenner so fucking much, but he did say something i really agree with. el kept going back to the concept monsters and heros, and he says those are things of myth and fairytale. not everything is black and white. this is real life, not a made up story with clear good and evil. and ultimately that helps her accept what happened with 001. he was 100% right there.

then here comes mike talking about monsters and superheros again like WRAP IT UP YA'LL ARE TOO GROWN FOR THIS

"You're the most incredible person in the world!"

again, he says that, but doesn't say why. he just expects her to believe him. it's such a broad statement and doesn't connect to anything about el and her personality/interests/ideas.

"Maybe I should've said something, and if I would've said that thing, maybe she'd want me there with her, wherever she is."

he wishes he'd just said it so she'd be satisfied and want him there and he'd know she's okay, he doesn't wish he'd said it so el would know in her heart that he loves her. "i love you" to mike isn't a geniune confession of his feelings, it's a thing. it's a thing that you say. it's something he thinks he has to say because that's what couples do and it's what el wants. if you fell in love with someone at first sight you do not refer to an expression of your love for them as 'that thing'.

"Maybe I was worrying to much about el. . ."

i really don't know what he meant by this. if she is the most important thing to him in the whole world and is deeply in love with her, why in the mother FUCK would he be apologizing TO WILL for worrying too much about her. there wouldn't be too much worrying when you love someone that much.

"You can fly, you can move mountains I believe that."

she literally can't.

"I love you for exactly who you are. You're my superhero."

the first time i saw this i literally thought "oh thats not..."

because it's.....not. one or the other would've been....fine i guess. but the first preceding the other is just not it. i love you for exactly who you are, and that is my superhero. is that all she is to you, mike? el expresses constant worry of being a monster, a bad person. she's afraid that she's a monster with or without her powers. but dr owens said "I'm willing to bet you're one of the good ones." fucking OWENS said something more reassuring than her boyfriend and supposed love of her life, mike wheeler.

THATS NOT ROMANTIC.

[louloulemons-posts]

I don't know if your requests are open, if not ignore this! But what about Eddie asking reader out at school, but his friends are laughing not so far away so they think it's a joke. They get really upset cause they liked Eddie and it ends up fluffy at the end!

Different Kind Of Chemistry

Eddie X Fem!Reader

Summary : Eddie asks reader out, but it doesn’t go as he planned.

Word Count : 1k

Warnings : Not proofread, 3am writing (again - i’m sorry), toothrotting fluff, minor angst, petnames, miscommunication, stupid teenage boys lmao, minor sad reader, cute mom, supportive hellfire besties.

A/N : Guys we hit 400 followers! Thank you all so much for the love and support it means so much to me, I can never thank you enough 🤍

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

You’d always been the quieter type, keeping to a small and close group of friends. You weren’t cruel to others though, always kind. It made you known, but never popular. People liked you it was that simple.

You had your faults, you didn’t actively make friends, they had to come to you. That was your shyness taking over at times. The newest person trying to break through that was Eddie Munson.

Sitting down in your seat, you pull out your textbook and notes. “Hey Sweetheart,” a voice spoke, you looked up to meet a pair of brown eyes. “Hi Eddie, how are you?”

“Great, but how couldn’t I be? I get to sit next to the most beautiful girl for a whole hour!” he grinned, sliding into his own seat next to you. Rolling your eyes you couldn’t speak again as your teacher stood.

“Settle down, we’re doing some recapping on Organic Chemistry today. Chapter 15,” she said to you, turning to the board behind her to write some things.

Flicking open your book and notes, Eddie spoke again, “Hey Sweetheart.” You slid the book in between you, “Need a pen?”

He nodded and took the one from your hand, “You’re really my favourite person ever.”

“Yeah yeah, whatever you say Munson.”

You couldn’t help but feel your cheeks warm.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Swapping some books between your locker, you shut it behind you and headed out of the school. “Sweetheart!” a voice called from behind you.

Pausing in your place, you turned to find Eddie jogging towards you. “Hey,” he said, once he was in front of you. “Hi, what’s up?” you asked.

“Oh … I um, I wanted to ask you something, if you have a minute?” he spoke. You heard some voices from behind him, his Hellfire friends.

“Yeah go for it,” you smiled, trying to focus on him. You could hear his friends whispering and sniggering from across the hall. “I was just wondering if maybe, and feel free to say no, if maybe you’d want to go on a date some time?”

“Go on Eds!” One of the boys spoke from behind him, making the others cackle. Eddie waved his hand as to shush them, but was unable to hide his own smile.

How could they be so mean? This was something you’d imagine Jason Carver and his friends did, not Eddie.

“Why are you being so cruel?” you asked.

“Sweetheart wha-” you didn’t let him finish. “You think it’s funny? To ask girls out? Embarrass them? I thought we were friends,” you scolded him, eyes watering.

“No, no you’ve got the wrong idea,” he tried to explained, but you were gone. Turning around and pushing through the door. “Shit,” he said to himself.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Woah man what happened?” Gareth asked. “I just blew my only chance with her,” Eddie spoke, rubbing his face with his palm.

“What do you mean?” Jeff questioned.

“She thought I was kidding.”

“We didn’t mean to make it come across that way man,” Gareth spoke.

“I know, but she didn’t. God, I messed up.”

Dustin tried to comfort him next, “Don’t worry man, we’ll fix this!”

“How?”

“Romantic gesture?”

“Oh yeah cause all of us have so much romantic knowledge.”

“Hey me and Mike have girlfriends!”

“She’s not like them,” Eddie wined.

“We’ll fix this man, let’s make plan,” Jeff offered, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Lay on your bed you sighed for the millionth time in the past minute. How could he be so cruel to you? What was the point of being your friend? Was it a bet?

You sat up, suddenly furious, were you a bet? How much were you worth? $15? $10? $1? You screamed in frustration.

“Honey! There’s someone here for you!”

“Coming!” You sighed, pushing yourself up off the bed and stomping your way out of your room.

“Have fun,” your mom said winking at you, walking past. You scrunched your brows in confusion, who could be here? Pulling the door open you were surprised who was stood there.

“Hi Sweetheart-“ you grabbed his hand and dragged him away from door. Stopping in front of his van, you inhaled deeply, “I pulled you away from the door because I don’t want my mom to see me mad.”

You inhaled again and then snapped, “What are you doing here? Embarrassing me in front of your friends isn’t enough?”

“Hey, first of all I’m sorry okay, but I’d love to explain if you’d let me.”

You hummed, nodding your head stiffly. “These are for you,” he said, handing you a bouquet. “Tulips,” you said softly.

“You said about them being your favourites, since you went to Amsterdam.” It’d been a passing comment, your Chem teacher had had a bouquet on her desk.

“You remembered?”

“I remember a lot of things you say. Anyways, I’m really sorry about my friends they were just teasing me. They didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“Right.”

“They know how much I like you and have not let me live down how much I’ve been pining over you.”

“I see.”

“Yeah, they walk me to Chem when they can, just so they can tease me from the door.”

“Oh,” you said gently.

“I’m really sorry we embarrassed you, we’re idiots. But I really hope I haven’t messed up completely, Sweetheart would you maybe considering going out on a date with me?”

“I’d love to.”

“I get if you don’t want to- What?”

“I’d really love to go on a date with you Eddie.”

He couldn’t contain his grin, which you matched. “Cool,” he said.

“Cool.”

“Well um … I’ll call you about it.”

“Great,” you said, standing on your tiptoes, pressing your lips to his cheek.

“Goodnight Eddie.”

“N-night Sweetheart.” You walked up your path and to the door, turning round you waved to him. He raised his own hand, seeming a bit stunned.

“So, he’s cute,” your mom said.

“Mom! Were you snooping?”

“Me? No! Pretty flowers honey,” she kissed your forehead and walked away smiling.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

A/N : Thank you for requesting! I hope you enjoyed it 🤍

Also I had another request and have had to leave it, I don’t really feel qualified to write about topics (eg SA) as I don’t feel like I have enough understanding and experience with it to write about it in a sensitive and proper way.

Thank you so much for reading! Please leave any requests 🤍

[starbylers]

It’s so telling that Mike and Will are the only friends in the entire show who fight about their friendship itself. Mike and Lucas fight about El in s1, Dustin and Lucas (kind of) fight over Max in s2. But Mike and Will are the only ones who've repeatedly had arguments about the nature of their relationship—the way it’s changing and how deeply it affects them both. That’s the root cause both times they fight. You will never catch any other friendship on the show throwing around lines like:

Did you think we were never gonna get girlfriends?

We're friends! We're friends!

You’re mad that I didn’t talk to you?

We're not kids anymore.

You called maybe a couple times meanwhile El has like a book of letters from you!

It's not my fault you don't like girls!

We used to be best friends.

It’s such a suspicious dynamic to set up between two supposedly platonic besties. Like why are you the only friends on the entire show who have immense difficulty functioning as friends when one of you is in a relationship?

And yes, part of it is Will’s feelings but it’s important to keep in mind: both times Will gets angry/upset at Mike it is solely and justifiably related to Mike’s inability to be a good friend to him when El is in the picture. Will’s issue has always, always been Mike treating him badly as a friend. Yeah, he also gets jealous, and we see that in his longing stares and emotional breakdowns. But he never expresses that towards Mike directly, or ‘expects to be treated like a girlfriend’ as I’ve seen some people say. He just rightfully wants to be treated with respect and not be ignored (yeah he’s obviously more upset than he would be if not for his romantic feelings, but both times the actual accusations he makes to Mike’s face are completely reasonable friendship complaints), and the second he expresses that to Mike? Boom it’s omg Will we’re just friends!! Why would I send you letters WE’RE FRIENDS I have a GIRLFRIEND! Did you actually think we’d play DnD in my basement forever with no girls?? We’re not kids! *Proceeds to join Hellfire the second El leaves* and you realise it’s actually Mike who crosses the line and turns these arguments into bitter fights about how growing up and girlfriends means their friendship has to change. This is further proved by the fact Mike is always the one to apologise first—Will seems to initiate their fights (justifiably, as I said) by expressing his unhappiness whereas Mike escalates their fights into something different and he acknowledges that.

This is slightly incoherent but my point is there’s a reason Mike and Will’s relationship is portrayed so dramatically and emotionally in comparison to every single other friendship in ST! (Hint: it’s because they’re not just friends 🫢).

[judasofsuburbia]

it's a bad idea, right?

steddie toxic exes au. based off olivia rodrigo's new song.

“Shut it off,” Eddie whines groggily into Steve's ear. 

Steve's eyes open up to the incessant ringing of his phone. He reaches over to pick it up off the nightstand, effectively getting out of Eddie's grasp. Eddie makes a disgruntled noise but doesn't protest further. 

It's Robin.

“Oh shit,” Steve grumbles as he sits up completely and answers it.

“Dingus! You're up, oh my god, finally. The girls and I are ready for the museum thing whenever you are. Though, I suggest that we go like right now because the lines are gonna get ridiculous and we're most definitely going to hit traffic going into the city and who knows if the teens have eaten anything so we might have to stop at McDonald's too. I have enough to get a bunch of sausage biscuits, could you cover the coffees? Maybe El is responsible and has money but I don't trust that Erica and Max do. I'll make sure they don't get any fancy frappes or anything—”

Robin continues at a mile a minute and Steve's brain is trying desperately to catch up. He rubs a hand over his tired eyes and sighs. 

“I can probably bus to your house if that would be easier.”

That gets Steve's attention. His eyes shoot open as he says, ��No, no Robin. I'll come get you. Don't even worry about it.”

“Oh, okay,” Robin agrees easily. “You good dude? Sleep like the dead last night?”

“Something like that,” Steve grumbles. “Look I'm gonna need like half an hour to get ready. I'll text you when I'm near your apartment.”

“It's just a Wonder Woman exhibit. Don't get fussy with your outfit.”

“Uh huh, okay,” Steve replies. He starts to roll out of bed but Eddie catches him, yanking him closer. 

“Where do you think you're going?” Eddie rasps, sending shivers down Steve's spine. He couldn't get wrapped up in that too long though because all he hears is Robin's responding gasp through the receiver. 

“Half an hour, love you, bye!” Steve shouts, hanging up hurriedly. 

Eddie chuckles into Steve's neck, successful in pulling Steve back into his hold. Steve's weak to do anything but sink into it. 

“You haven't told them, have you?” Eddie asks, pressing a kiss to the back of Steve's neck.

“There's nothing to tell,” Steve argues.

Eddie laughs again, dragging Steve's ear lobe with his teeth. “You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.”

Steve does manage to get out of Eddie's apartment and back home in time to slip on some clean clothes, spritz himself in cologne, and get out of the door. Thank fuck for fall because the turtleneck he grabs covers the number Eddie did on his neck. He wishes he could get the phantom press of his lips and teeth out of his head. 

He picks up the teenagers first. They're easy because they all were spending the night at the Sinclairs. He thought he could put off his death a little bit longer. He was wrong. 

The girls are giggling as they clamor into the backseat and Steve is immediately on edge. 

“You're so fucking dead, dude,” Max declares as Steve backs out of the driveway.

Steve smiles tightly at her through the rearview mirror. “And who said anything to you?”

The girls are giggling again. It grates every nerve in Steve's body. 

“Mike overheard Nancy and Robin on the phone. He texted us. It probably wasn't very nice,” El says, at least sounding a little bit guilty. Steve shoots her a sympathetic look.

It's not her fault he fucked up, again.

“Great,” Steve grits. “That's fucking fantastic.”

Steve pulls up to Robin's apartment, tense and seconds away from wincing when he sees her stomp out the front door. She plops into the front seat and the whole car goes quiet. 

“You look nice,” Steve tries. 

“Breakfast is on you,” Robin replies. 

“Yeah, I figured,” Steve mumbles. 

Everyone is happily sipping their fancy frappes. Everyone except Robin of course who has managed to not dig into him in front of the teens but he knows it's coming. Like a storm about to brew. 

Steve tries not to think about how Eddie tasted like caramel as they made out because he's quit smoking and sucks on candies instead. He's torturing himself with the caramel frappe in his hand but he can't help it. He craves it more than he should. 

They get their tickets and the teens run ahead of them, checking out all the cool displays. Steve starts to walk in front of Robin but he gets yanked back. 

“Did you just...trip and fall into his bed? Or is this a repeat offense?” Robin asks with a cool, casual tone.

“I...” Steve stutters, taking a sip of his drink that's long gone to buy him time. All it buys him is a loud empty slurping sound. 

“You said you were falling asleep early last night,” Robin states.

“And I did! I was asleep just...not in my bed.”

Robin scoffs. “What was it this time? Eddie looking to reconnect?”

Steve's lips turn into a frown. As much as Steve likes to believe he's above Eddie's words and affection, it truly does not take much to break him. He and Eddie dated casually for about a year. Steve wanted to be serious but Eddie's band was about to take off and he didn't want any strings tying him to Chicago. Steve painfully decided to end it, decided he needed more than “I promise you're the only one I'm sleeping with”. Eddie's band did kind of take off. But not enough to get Eddie out of Chicago. And out of Steve's brain, apparently. 

“I only see him as a friend,” Steve lies through his teeth.

“Do I look stupid to you?” Robin asks with a tilt of her head, eyebrows raised. 

“No,” Steve emphasizes. “But we...we're not back together or anything.”

“I don't think you were ever together to begin with.”

“Okay. Ouch.”

“I'm serious, dingus. You were not good after that breakup, or whatever you want to call it. I just don't want to see you get hurt again.”

Steve lets out a long sigh, tossing his frappe into the trash, and leaning up against the wall. He watches as fans of Wonder Woman roam the museum, some of them dressed up for the occasion. He's happy he's here, happy he got to take the girls here, but he knows he'd rather be somewhere else. He feels guilty for that. 

“I fucked up, okay?” Steve admits defeatedly.

Robin leans her head on his shoulder. “I know you did. I know you know you did. Question is: is this going to be repeated?”

“No,” Steve says. He doesn't believe it and he can tell by Robin's huff that she doesn't either. 

“Gimme your phone,” Robin says.

“What? Why?”

“Just hand it over.”

Steve holds his phone to his chest. Looks at Robin seriously. “Don't tell him off or something. Don't read our texts!”

“Ew, I don't want to read your texts,” Robin sneers as she takes the phone from his hands. “I'm just gonna change his contact name.”

Steve looks over her shoulder and sees her typing “DONT PICK UP IGNORE IGNORE IGNORE” is now Eddie's contact name. 

“Surprised you didn't just delete it,” Steve mumbles, wincing because maybe he shouldn't have given her that idea. 

“Because I know you have it memorized. No use blocking his number either because he has your socials. But take this as a reminder that you deserve better than him.”

Steve's mouth opens and closes, an argument dying on his tongue. It's not that Eddie is a bad person, necessarily. He's a little much sometimes but deep down, he is rather sweet. Very nerdy, very animated. Very thoughtful. It's like he could make the perfect boyfriend if he just let go of his inability to commit to anything that's not his music. But Robin's right. Steve is monogamous at heart and deserves more. 

So tell him why he’s standing outside of Eddie’s door not even three days later?

Eddie answers with a shining smile that has Steve clenching his fists. 

“Next time, you’re coming to my place,” Steve states as Eddie pushes him up against the door. Eddie drags his tongue up Steve’s neck, causing his knees threatening to buckle. 

“Whatever you say, sweetheart,” Eddie answers.

Steve doesn’t hear anything else beyond moans and incoherent ramblings. It’s like the second Eddie gets his hands on him his brain goes “Blah, blah, blah.” 

[tinidor-theodore]

"If he'd let me, I'd kiss every mole and freckle on his skin."

Pairing: Michael Afton X Male Reader Tws: Smoking weed, homophobia, and parental abuse. Tropes: Kissing while high, childhood best friends, situationship, sneaking in at night, and homophbic parents on Michael's part. AN: either before bite of 83 or in an au where it didnt happen. either way, you and mike are teens here. You and Michael have had a thing for each other for a while, and both of you are terrible at hiding it so both of you know, but michael is a lot more scared than you are and tries to content himself with what he convinces himself is still friendship. Btw i wrote this while listening to Bad Idea by Girl in Red so i highly suggest you listen to it while reading this

Blue eyes followed my fingers as they danced across the strings, the sound of my voice singing a peaceful lullaby made him feel as if weights were being placed on his eyes.

I gently placed my guitar on it's stand, lighting another joint with one hand and ruffling Michael's auburn curls with the other. My eyes meet his as they try to resist drooping.

We were both higher than a kite, the smoke and smell filling the air in his room. My fingers slipped from his hair, tracing his features like he's made of porcelain.

My thumb lingered on his lip, tracing around a fresh wound. "Where'd you get this one?" I'd asked, frowning, despite the feeling that I already knew.

He placed his rough palms over my hand, wrapping long and slender fingers around mine. "Father," he replied curtly, and I didn't bother asking further.

"I missed you," he said fondly, pressing his lips to my palm.

"I wish you'd kiss me somewhere else" nearly slipped through my teeth, substituted hastily with "I missed you too."

A stupid grin formed on his face as Michael placed more kisses on my hands. Mike knew what he was doing when he placed one on my wrist. He could settle for this but I couldn't.

I'd grabbed his collar, I pressed my lips against his, the cold metal of my piercings sending shivers down his spine. I tangled my hands in his hair while his hands busied themselves with sitting up and pulling me onto his lap.

We weren't supposed to kiss. I knew I had crossed the line when I felt chapped lips and tasted his blood.

I knew we'd regret it, but can you blame me? The way his eyes looked, glazed over and relaxed as he watched my every move. The desperation was evident in his eyes, but I could see fear, shame, and restraint.

I'd never been one for patience, or self control. He could stop himself all he wants, but he couldn't stop me.

Neither of us could get enough. We held onto each other like the world would end if we didn't.

I couldn't let go, I wish I didn't.

Footsteps hit hard against the floor of the hallway outside his room, the hinges screamed as the door slammed open for his father.

He covers the little amount of light pouring in from outside, instead filling the room with a sense of fear.

Michael had pushed me off, and I could see the sinking feeling on his face, shaking like a leaf.

His voice waivered, trying to ignore the tears forming in his eyes. "I think you should leave."

I did as I was told, two pairs of eyes staring holes into me as I softly shut the door behind me.

That was the last time we spoke. I saw him at school the next day, a face full of bruises and a slap mark. He wore a hoodie I let him borrow once, bandages concealed under sleeves. He avoided me every time I tried to talk to him, scared into distancing himself from me.

I don't think he told anyone, god knows what would happen if anyone found out the son of William Afton was kissing boys.

"I wish I never kissed him," is what I tell myself every night, but with each passing day I start to wonder if it was our faults or if we're really that bad. If only they saw the way he smiles at me, the way he intently listens to every song I show him, and the way he blushes at the slight brush of my hand.

It didn't take long for me to start wondering why he's scared of liking me. Is there something wrong with me? Is it how I act? Or is he scared of how others will act? Why should it matter? We don't need them, we shouldn't care what they think. They can say what they want, and do what they "must" but the stars watching our every move will dance together the way I wish we would.

[imsuperhungry]

4 𝙖𝙢

entry 000

(yandere until dawn)

WARNINGS: Bullying, Mild Cussing, Death

WORD COUNT: 990

(9:37 ᴘᴍ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʙɪɴ)

The cabin was warm, the fire gently melting away the cold, raw chill and replacing it with a sense of coziness and comfort.

The storm was intense, making it nearly impossible to see even a little ahead, with snow falling heavily all around.

Josh was slumped at the countertop, his head resting on his folded arms as he slept, an empty beer bottle loosely held in his limp hand. I sat beside him, scrolling through my phone, occasionally glancing over to make sure he was still breathing.

I was giggling at his snoring, while Mike, Jess, Emily, and the others stood around me in a circle. Jess had her head resting on my back, her arms wrapped around my belly.

They were talking about the prank they were about to pull, planning to fool Hannah into believing that Mike liked her, fully aware of her big crush on him.

"Oh my god, I can't believe you did this!" Emily whispered excitedly to Jess. She had been the most eager for this moment, especially since she was Mike's girlfriend and had a reputation for being petty.

"Don't you guys think this is a bit cruel?" Sam asked, clearly not too keen on the idea. It made sense, given that she and Hannah had been friends for a while.

"Oh come on, she deserves it." Jess said from behind me, I could basically hear her rolling her eyes.

"Its not her fault he has a huge crush on Mike-" Sam said trying to defend Hannah

"Hannah's been making moves on him, I'm just looking out for my girl Em." Jess said before directing her attention towards me. "Besides, (y/n) says it'll be okay, right?" She asks, causing me to hesitate.

Sure, it might be somewhat funny, but I've known Hannah, Beth, and Josh for five years now, and I don’t want to hurt any of them.

Still, my opinion didn’t seem to matter, as Jess pulled me up and walked me out of the kitchen and into the living room without waiting for my response.

Emily then starts skipping after us, following us into the room while still talking to Sam. "Just because he's class Prez doesn't mean he belongs to everyone... Mike is my man," she said with a grin.

Mike, trailing behind us, chimed in, "Hey, Em. I'm not anybody's man..." This made Emily giggle as she sang back, "Whatever you say, Darling~!"

We all ascended the creaky staircase and entered the spare bedroom, the scene of everything that was about to happen. Some of us crouched behind the door, while others squeezed into closets. Jess and Emily pulled me under the bed with them, both of them giggling. I could only sit there, hoping this wouldn’t hurt Hannah as much as I was imagining.

“Oh… she’s here! Shh!” Emily whispered as we heard footsteps approaching the room. Then everything went silent when they stopped.

Eventually, the door swung open, and we heard her voice. "Mike?" she said, peeking into the room and scanning the surroundings before spotting the person she was looking for. "It's Hannah," she added as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

"Hey, Hannah." he replied, staring intensely at her.

"I got your note," she said, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other, clearly uneasy about being in the room with him. She had always been a bit of a nervous girl.

"I'm glad you could make it." Mike said, grinning, although we all knew he wasn't smiling in Hannah's favor.

It was quiet for a moment; all I could hear was Emily and Jess's breathing on either side of me. Then Mike spoke up again, "Maybe we should start with a little, you know, making out, and see where it goes from there."

Hannah nodded, then began to untie her shirt, prompting Mike to exclaim, "Ohhhh hell yeah."

“Oh my God! She’s taking her shirt off!” Jess squealed, shaking me by the shoulders.

Hannah immediately started covering herself up and looked around, confused. "What!? Oh my God!". She heard Jess's voice.

Everybody then started coming out of there hiding spots, Hannah calls out again. "Matt? What are you doing here!?"

Matt was recording on his phone and everybody was staring at her. I remained under the bed, feeling too bad for Hannah to look at her.

Mike then attempted to apologize to Hannah and explain everything, but Sam opened the door and walked over to Hannah, trying to comfort her. "Hannah, hey, honey... Don’t... It’s just a..." But Hannah ignored her and stormed out of the room.

Sam then turns her attention to everybody else in the room. "You guys are jerks. You know that?" she says, "You even dragged (y/n) into this, knowing she and Hannah were close!" then she swings the door open and calls out Hannah's name, chasing after her.

An uncomfortable silence hung in the room, but eventually, everyone bolted out to chase after Sam and Hannah, leaving me still under the bed.

I tried to steady my breathing, but I was too worried about Hannah to think clearly. Gathering my composure, I crawled out from under the bed and followed the voices of the others, finding them all outside the cabin.

"What happened?" I asked Emily, noticing a figure running away from the cabin, unsure of who it was.

She informed me that Hannah had run into the woods, and then Beth followed her, trying to find her sister. I looked in the direction they had gone, but the thick snow made it impossible to see anything but trees and white.

I kept staring, hoping and praying that Hannah would be okay, even though I knew deep down that it was unlikely.

Mike then nudges my shoulder and asks me "Should we go after her?" 

But Sam replies for me "Y'know I kinda think you're the LAST person she wants to see right now, Mike.", she's obviously annoyed.

They continued to chat among themselves, but I turned away from them and focused on Josh's figure, still sleeping on the countertop.

[starsarefire824]

i heard that Finn was supposed to say “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls yet”, but the “yet” isn’t there in the Final Cut. Idk if it changes your views but what do you think about that?

because i feel like it could make sense that Mike would notice that will hasn’t been interested in anyone yet if he had said “yet” but because he didn’t, idk, I feel it’s weird, so that’s probably why I lean more towards projection.

But I understand your views and tbh, you make a lot of sense too.

I have heard that too. I think they changed that to imply to the audience that Will was never going to like girls. It's not a "yet" thing for him. It's a never did, never will thing for him. I am glad they left the yet out. I think it's better writing.

Idk. I still am a bi mike truther so I always look at this as Mike almost being angry with Will for not "liking girls" I don't see it as a full on projection on his part because he, in fact, has liked El for quite some time at this point. He's rubbing that fact in Will's face throughout the entirety of season 3. And I do think Mike meant it when he said she was pretty. I think he loves her. I just think, in the end, he is not in love with her. He is in love with Will, and that's why he's so obsessed with being with El. If he's with her--he's not with Will. It's safe and it's not like he doesn't like it right? He likes girls. El is pretty, she's a superhero, she likes to kiss him and read comic books etc. Why would he need Will if he has all that? (He's delusional, obviously.)

But yeah. I see this more as a lashing out, it's supposed to hit Will where it hurts, rub the fact that that's not happening for him in just a little bit more because Will is calling him out for treating him like shit, and he's letting his jealousy of El plainly show.

It's to double down, subconsciously i think, in an effort to make Will feel Other. It's him shoving his own (not fully realized imo), feelings he has for Will down deep. It's essentially a projection in the fact that yes, it is a representation of Mike's repression and an attack on Will to shine the light away from himself and his feelings/inclinations and spotlight Will's instead. It's cruel in a way only a best friend/lover can be cruel.

So again, he is partially projecting here, I just think it's so much more complicated than that, and I get a little sad this scene has been boiled down by a lot of bylers as simply "mike is projecting cause he's gayyyy" thing. when in reality, there's 1,000 more layers that are equally interesting to explore!

[hnbka]

BYLER and SUBSTITUTING

like this:

Because, I mean, without you, we'd all fall apart. Even me. Especially me. These past few months, I've been so lost without you. It's just, I'm so different from other people, and……when you're…when you're different, sometimes……I feel like a mistake. But you make me feel like I'm not a mistake at all.

which is the most OBVIOUS substitution in byler history because it is clear the audience is meant to pick up on it. it's not subtle. but-- mike does this too.

“It's not my fault I don't like girls. I'm not trying to be a jerk. Okay? But we're not kids anymore. I mean, what did I think, really? That we were never gonna get girlfriends? We were just gonna sit in my basement all day and play games for the rest of our lives?”

the difference is mike is projecting onto will rather than a side speaker. and you might think this isn't supposed to be used as a substitution for himself. but will is not the odd one out here. dustin wanted to play games and he had a girlfriend. like, logically, its two v two because they knew dustin would also want to play dnd. (and i'm not assuming, they say it in the fight.)

another important line here: we're not kids anymore.

okay, michael wheeler, let's look at byler speeches from when you guys were kids.

Do you remember the first day that we met? It was... It was the first day of kindergarten. I knew nobody. I had no friends and... I just felt so alone and so scared, but... I saw you on the swings and you were alone, too. You were just swinging by yourself. And I just walked up to you and... I asked. I asked if you wanted to be my friend. And you said yes. You said yes. It was the best thing I've ever done.

nothing's in red. nothing's crossed out or changed. because mike said exactly what he meant here (hoorah!). back when they were kids when they could actually tell each other their emotions and feelings because it didn't have to masquerade a romantic love. that love was normal to them until it was ostracized through internalized and externalized homophobia.

and what is stranger things at its heart??

a sci-fi show with villains and superpowers and lore YES BUT BEYOND THAT AND INTO THE CHARACTER ARCS

it's a show about kids growing up (and also jopper).

so? so, the change in their substitution says a lot. it says how hard they are hiding their feelings from each other, how it increases as they get older. which leads us back to their true feelings, aka season 2 ish, where they were pretty openly in love, in my opinion. holding hands, comforting each other, making freaking love confessions as seen above.

and juxtapose that with season 4, with all its red and changes in meaning?? we as viewers should understand that nothing the boys say is what they mean. they are hiding!!!

aka byler endgame

[givehimthemedicine]

i read the Lumax analysis and ngl i feel the same about Byler. why is Will practically doing all the work. Mike just ignores him, then Will speaks up, gets shut down. no apology to his face. then Mike has the gall to pull the "b-but you won’t abandon me, right 🥺?" card seconds before they move to Cali and Will eats it up.

Mike was scribbling his next letter to send to El, while Will was making a painting as a gift for him. when they reunite at the airport, Will is so giddy, and happy even when he spots Mike wearing the Minion suit. he is going in for a hug, fully expecting he’ll get one. despite the lack of phone calls he believes that Mike is gonna match his energy. he doesn’t. he is ignored. again. when Mike realizes he is losing him he swoops in to apologize. what do we get for rest of season? it’s just Will comforting, reassuring Mike and listening to his problems. he notices Mike being upset as they are burying the corpse and talks to him, he notices Mike moping as he reads El’s letter, etc. then the grand culmination - van scene.

i give Mike a pass for not noticing Will sobbing as hes muffling his cries with his hand and turned around. but what about before? when he was giving the van speech at times Will looked and sounded like he was 2 seconds away from bursting into tears. how did Mike not notice something was wrong when he was obviously paying attention to him. and if he did that’s even worse.

Jonathan being there isn’t an excuse. he could have said something, anything, subtly to check up on him or comfort him. he didn’t do that. "you make her feel like she’s not a mistake at all. like she’s better for being different" ok so why are the Duffers so allergic to showing us that. when was the last time that happened. season 2? when Mike said it’s not his fault Will doesn’t like girls, that they are not kids anymore, him wanting to play DnD, which led to Will having a breakdown and destroying Castle Byers, his safe place and cry as he ripped up their photos and called himself stupid - was he feeling better for being different? or worse? did he feel uplifted by Mike shoving in his face how normal he is unlike Will? that he’ll never be like them? that they are moving on, being grown ups and Will is stuck? could some bully at school outright calling him a slur be as hurtful as the things his best friend, someone he trusted and loved said to him then? that he never received a proper apology for.

Mike gets free therapy sessions. Will gets a few crumbs of attention and affection when Mike gets forcibly separated from El.

Mike and Will aren't characters I pay particular attention to, so the townsfolk will please forgive my newborn take.

I absolutely see your point and agree Mike has had terrible PR with Will on many occasions. but while he's often an asshat when it comes to Will's feelings, I'll say at least Mike is regularly shown to be concerned for Will's welfare in the life-and-death-plot way, and is actively involved in making plans and taking actions that save him. (Mike's the one to rally the party to go out and search for Will. to insist he's alive somehow after they all saw his dead body. to build "hey let's make sure we don't also kill Will" into the MF-killing plans. etc)

that's where I think a comparison to lumax isn't so tight because I can't think of anything Max has ever done for Lucas's welfare on either a plot or feelings level. (the writing has never really given her an occasion to save or help Lucas the way he is for her.)

and for all his shit, we have also seen Mike be really good to Will on the feelings level (mostly thinking about his incredible loyalty in season 2 and the swings speech. his commitment to Will in the front half of the show is on par with that of Joyce and that's saying something). it sure would be nicer if that was more recent/consistent, but it has happened, which I can't honestly say for Max. the nicest thing Max has done for Lucas so far is allow him to be nice to her.

[will80sbyers]

Hey, I have a question. When Mike says "It's not my fault you don't like girls," he didn't know Will was gay, right? So he was talking about himself? Like internalized homophobia? If he was talking about himself unconsciously, it doesn't make sense that he's bi since the phrase would apply to him right?

Anyway, it's just a question that came to me out of nowhere. I'd be happy if you could answer it :)

Bisexual boys often have internalized homophobia too and that's something defensive that a bisexual boy would 100% say if he was trying to repress the gay feelings he was having so the writers could have written that phrase also for that reason

In Mike's case I don't think he was consciously talking about himself in that instance, I think he spat out a phrase without thinking about the implications and then remembered that Will was called gay all the time growing up and felt bad that he fucked up and hurt him without meaning to

especially because Mike continues to try to explain himself here immediately after he sees that Will is hurt by his words, he says this earnestly and you can see he's not lying from his tone, he didn't mean to call Will gay and it wasn't his intention when he said the previous phrase

He continues to try to explain himself and this is the moment he's starting to project what he actually wants for himself

He believes he has to grow up and this means he has to let go of things he loves like DND because grown ups with girlfriends don't do that

I mean what did you think really?

He believes it's normal that when you get a girlfriend you have to let go of "childish" things like DND

But really he wants to sit in the basement all day to play games with his friends and Will in particular

Will is the one that makes him feel like his REAL self will still be loved and it starts all from this moment

Then it continues... At the end of season 3 Mike has started to come back to himself a little and ends up asking Will to still play DND with him

Then once again Mike tries to look cooler for his girlfriend because it's the only way he thinks she will keep liking him because she isn't telling him that she likes his real self (because they aren't compatible)

And then Will is the one that brings him back to himself again by fighting with him and then we have real sweetie pie Mike again after all of that, I believe he was 100% honest in all the conversations he has with Will and believes all that he said to him

And then Will with the painting tells him that actually El loves him as he does, loves the real Mike... The nerd... When it's actually a lie lol

and Mike can tell her ily only after Will made him believe that because before he wasn't feeling loved enough to want to open up his heart to her and fully trust her...

Mike doesn't know he's bisexual, he has feelings for Will that he's repressing at the same time, trying to convince himself of this:

[depressed-cherry11]

Will and Mike’s Rain Fight S3-E3: Google Translated Version

Original Version

Google Translate Version

Basically I put the rain fight through a ton of languages on google translate and then back to english.

Mike: Will, come on! 

Mike: SI Blog, Establishment of 'Je'el!

Mike: you can’t leave, it’s raining!

Mike: You can't go, it's raining!

Mike: Listen, I said I was sorry, alright?

Mike: boring, sorry, ma'alob?

Mike: It’s a cool campaign, it’s really cool!

Mike: very beautiful, beautiful flower!

Mike: We’re just not in the mood right now…

Mike: Now scratch that out of our heads…

Will: Yeah, that’s the problem, Mike!

Will: Yeah, that’s the problem, Mike!

Will: You guys are never in the mood anymore!

Will: you are not willing!

Will: You’re ruining our party!

Will: You ruined our happiness!

Mike: That’s not true!

Mike: ¡That's not true!

Will: Really? Where’s Dustin right now?

Will: TRUE? Keystroke

Will: See, you don’t know and you don’t even care and obviously he doesn’t either and I don’t blame him!

Will: Look, you know and you don’t care, maybe they don’t either!

Will: You’re ruining everything, and for what? So you can swap spit with some stupid girl?!

Will: Do they want to lose everything and why? And can you leave a trail behind?

Mike: El’s not stupid! It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!

Mike: He's not evil! It’s not my fault I don’t like women!

Mike: I’m not trying to be a jerk, okay?

Mike: I'm not trying to be rude, am I?

Mike: I mean what did you think, really? That we were never going to get girlfriends?

Mike: So what exactly does that mean? Don't you want to see these kids again?

Mike: That we were just going to sit in my basement all day and play games for the rest of our lives?

Mike: Are we going to sit in a room all day and play games our whole lives?

Will: Yeah, I guess I did. I really did.

Will: Oh, maybe we will. Yes, there is.

Mike: Will! WILL! Will, COME ON!

Mike: to do it! It happens all the time! Come if you want!

[love-byers]

so as hard as it may be to believe, i was a mileven shipper right up until just before vol 2 of s4 came out. not hardcore twitter mileven, but a shipper nonetheless. i did love will and mike's relationship, maybe even more than mileven, but i never clocked it as romantic. i vividly remember thinking "aww, will and mike would be so cute together but they would never let that happen." and never thought about it again. even when i saw the rain fight and heard "it's not my fault you don't like girls" i was like "ohh wow so will is probably gay" and didn't even think he was in love with mike. i didn't believe that until the s4 trailer said "i think there is someone he likes" and of course, this was because of my own heteronormativity. i dismissed everything i saw and didn't even look for hints because the idea that the writers would allow a gay relationship between two main characters was not even a thought in my head. once i dropped that and started to trust that the writers actually cared and did want queer characters/storylines, everything made sense.

so i went into s4 thinking mileven were gonna be fine and that will was sad and hopelessly in love with mike. i mean fully believing it. so im mindlessly watching s4 e2 and thinking "aww poor will mike is so in love with el he can't pay attention to will" no questions asked.

then the fight happened. when mike blew up and said "you were! you were! you were rolling your eyes, you were moping, you were barely talking you basically sabotaged the whole day" i was like " how do you know that" but still, i dismissed it and barely thought about it.

then it happened. "we're friends! we're. friends." all the alarm bells went off. red flags flew up. my eyebrows furrowed. "ummm what mike? he didn't say you were more than friends. why is he viewing this romantically and why is he being so defensive???"

i was so deep into believing the writers would never let the gay romance happen, but that just couldn't get past me. there's no other way that line can be interpreted. that's a trope that means one thing and one thing only.

my next thought was "ok, this is gonna be like the rain fight. will is gonna be really hurt by this and go silent."

but nope, will claps back with "well we used to be best friends!" and i was stunned. utterly stunned. what is going on here? what is this dynamic? and why is mike more worried about this than finding el? why did he care enough to completely stop walking so he couple blow up at will for not talking?? but still, i was somehow able to let this go. because the writers just wouldn't do that. would they?

the mileven fight happens and i've never wanted to backhand a teenager more in my entire life. i'm reminded of stancy and their whole "i love you" thing

then THIS happened, and i was thinking more and more that mike doesn't love el romantically. look at his face when will says "whatever you didn't say you can say it to her then". will starts talking but the camera stays focused on mike and will remains blurred. we're supposed to be taking in mikes reaction. he says yes, but frowns and blinks rapidly. will was trying to reassure him, but mike has not been reassured. i don't know how to describe the emotion on his face. it's like you just had a chance to clear up your lie, but you still didn't, and now you're back to thinking about the moment your lie will blow up in your face. it's like his face is saying, "no, i can't just say it to her then because i don't want to."

the scene where they talk on top of the car is what started to make me think mike doesn't love el romantically. his reaction to will saying "it's scary, to say how you really feel. especially to people you care about the most. because..what if they don't like the truth?" he nodded. he felt seen. i remember thinking "ooooh. he doesn't love her and he knows she won't like that" everything made sense. if we apply mike's monologue logic to this, it makes no sense. whatever it is that mike is feeling, he thinks el won't like it. then he supposedly decides that the moment to tell her that is when she's dying?

mike is lying. he was holding back saying how he feels because he knows el won't like it. then when she's dying, he suddenly thinks his feelings are what she wants enough that it'll save her life? whatever he was feeling on top of the car and what he tells her in the monologue are not the same. you don't tell someone something they won't like when they're dying.

and 2 years ago i came to this conclusion without an ounce me believing byler could be canon.

[angelsanarchy]

Fever Dreams: Mike x Y/N One Shot Series PRT 18

Tagging: @icarus-star @chainsawgvtsfvck @romanroyapoligist @liquidsmoothdomme @madamemaximoff06 @drazenka @blacksoul-27 @444rockstargf @kappasbbgirl @luzclarita57 @tempt-ress @starry-eyed-wild-child

Sicky rubbed the back of his neck as Y/n looked at him sternly. He knew the jig was up and if he wanted to keep his balls, he would have to come clean.

"Look it's not the kids fault. Leff and I were messing with him-"

"Messing with him how?" She kept her arms crossed firmly against her chest trying to calm herself down.

"I was ribbing him a little because I saw you guys were chatting it up and Leff might have said a few...unsavory things." Sicky knew she was going to lose it.

"Sick...what did he say?" She pressed fuming.

"He said that you made your rounds with the lot of us. He may have also said you were an escort and not a stripper." Sicky watched her eyes turn dark.

Y/n felt her body vibrating with anger as she grabbed her coat from behind the bar and stormed out. Sicky chased after her.

"Come on love, it's not that bad. He was just messing with him." Sicky tried for defend.

"Yeah at my expense. I don't get you guys. I worked my ass off for him and this is how I'm treated? For fucks sake." Y/n hissed.

"It's not like that. He's just messing around-"

"What is the problem if I do like Mike? Why is that such a bad thing? Am I so horrible? What have I done to either of you that would warrant the disrespect I'm being met with, not even to my face like either of you have a set." She spat at him.

"Have you actually been messing around with him? I thought you were just teasing him." Sicky asked grabbing her arm to stop her.

"If I was, it's none of your business or Leff's. He's a grown ass man and I'm a grown ass woman. What we do with one another doesn't concern anyone!" She pressed and Sicky sighed.

"I'm sorry love. I didn't know you actually liked him." Sicky was sincere. She shook her head at him.

"You're still on my shitlist." She got in her car and headed towards Leff and Mike's place to find the front door was actually unlocked. She opened the door and found the girl from the bar straddling Mike's lap.

"Y/n...what...what are you-" Mike started to stutter but as her anger boiled over, she crossed the room quickly, watching as the girl rolled off of him. He put his hands up like he was trying to get her to calm down but she threw a punch into his right eye so hard, he fell to the floor next to the bed.

"SERIOUSLY?! You thought I fucked Leff and Sicky?! How could you possibly be so fucking stupid." Y/n yelled.

"I thought-" He groaned from the floor, holding his eye.

"You thought wrong! You should have just asked me instead of letting those assholes get into your head. I can't believe you would stoop this low." She gestured to the girl who had the sheet wrapped around her.

"I didn't know what to think! You keep turning me down when I ask you out for a real date! You only hook up with me so I figured maybe they were trying to tell me you didn't do relationships." Mike defended.

"So you hope into bed with the first bitch who eye fucks you into thinking she's not going to rob you blind." Y/n pointed at the girl who was clutching her purse.

"What? She's not-" Y/n snatched the girls purse and dumped it on the floor, Mike's cellphone, wallet, flask and a bag of his weed scattered out.

"BITCH!" The girl shoved Y/n and she glared like she had no problem punching a hole into the girls face.

"Get out!" She yelled at her and she grabbed her purse and ran out still clutching his sheets. Mike sat up against the cabinet and sighed.

"Y/n...I made a mistake." Mike kept a hand on his eye as it throbbed.

"Yeah you did. Hope it was worth it." She turned on her heel and ran into Sicky as he came to a halt at the door to see the scene that had unfolded.

"You didn't kill the boy did you?" He saw Mike on the floor holding his eye. Y/n put her hands up letting him know not to touch her. She was ready to implode which meant she needed to get away as soon as possible before she ended up arrested. Sicky looked down at Mike as he brought his knees up to his chest. He took his hand away from his face and Sicky made a face.

"Jesus fuck...that's gonna leave a mark." Sicky walked over to his fridge and tossed him a bag of frozen corn that Mike had gotten for this very purpose because of a fight he had gotten into with Leff when he first moved in. He slapped the bag of corn on his face and hissed in pain.

"It'll be okay. She'll work it out but you've got a lot of ass kissing to do." Sicky clapped a hand on his shoulder. Mike looked at him annoyed but appreciative that he wasn't alone to deal with this.

Sicky was right though. He was going to have to pull out all the stops just to get her to talk to him again. He felt like an idiot. Not only did he let Leff and Sicky get into his head but he let himself get distracted enough to almost get robbed. He needed to get his shit together.

[gayofthefae]

There's a certain way about the way the character description of Mike says he's never like a girl before like Will. The solidarity of their characters from the beginning of their relationship, mutual understanding. And the phrasing "you're destroying everything and for what? so you can swap spit with some stupid girl?" The incredulousness of it. The offense taken. Almost a subtext of "I thought we were on the same page about this, like everything. I wasn't leaving for a girl and you weren't leaving me behind in that." Not even to be together, just to say "Lucas and Dustin will like girls, will date girls, and I'll be happy for them. That was always the plan. And we would be happy for them together. And we would sit back and be us. And now you're leaving me too."

And that's why everything Mike says hurts so much. Not because he means it bad. "It's not my fault you don't like girls" doesn't hurt because he believes Mike is homophobic, it hurts because it isolates him. You don't. Unlike me. Feelings aside, this is one of the first things they haven't done together. To quote Nancy this season, as the "Bylers" always parallel each other, "Maybe we just don't understand each other anymore." Mike says "It's not my fault I moved on and you didn't". Then he says "What did you think, really?" And that, talking about it like it was always inevitable, is what hurts too. Will didn't think they were gonna play games in Mike's basement for the rest of their lives. He repeats it because it's a fun idea if really accessible, but Mike was the one to say that the first time. He spits "I really did" back at him. In a way, "How dare you not." Will standing his ground is him saying "I'm not the stupid one here. I didn't think we were never gonna grow up. But sorry for thinking that as we grew up you wouldn't leave me behind."

Mike and Will were the last two to not like girls. That's what that fight is about. Will hadn't been truly alone in that way since he was five because of Mike. And because of that order, Mike was the only one with the capacity to leave him alone in this. But for years, he didn't. And the natural assumption would be that he wouldn't. Not even because he assumed Mike way gay, just because...it's almost a values thing. Like "I thought we were on the same page about this". Like maybe Mike would like a girl. But he would stay. That instinctive trust that you don't really think through hard enough to put into words that might sound a little illogical if said out loud in the way that Mike throws them back at him. But like Will retorted, "Well, I'm sorry for trusting you." And I'm sure it hurt, too, to watch Mike and Lucas bond like this over having girlfriends. And then Dustin had one too and he was happy for him. He didn't seem to mind too much, even when Mike was late to their movies, he didn't say a thing. Because Mike was still showing up. But then Mike and Lucas formed their own little alliance of "guys with girlfriends" and forgot about him. Not just leaving Will behind in their solidarity but finding someone new to share it with. Of course Lucas is their friend but to form this new duo without Will - it hurts.

That fight wasn't just about Mike leaving Will for El when he had feelings for him. It was about Mike leaving him behind. For a girl. It was about an unspoken promise being broken. And Mike making Will doubt that it was ever even there. Making him feel "Stupid. So stupid" for ever believing it was.

And that's why the resolution is good too, as simple as it may have been. Because "What if you wanna join a new party?" is Mike saying "I don't wanna let go of you", and Will saying "not possible" is him promising "I didn't let go when I thought you did". And season 3 is important, too, in how Mike takes that adjustment to "El is now a part of our party" instead of "I'm leaving you for El".

[the-demons-within]

*insert rain scene*

There is swearing, btw,

Will

"It's not my fault you don't like girls!!" Those words fell onto Will's shoulders, stiffening his entire body.

"... really... really, Mike?" Will's tears began falling, mingling with the rain pelting his face.

"Will.. I didn't mean -" Mike was cut off by Will, who wasn't listening.

"That's the problem, Mike.. you don't understand! Not at all!" Will borderline yell. He hated the ever falling tears running running his face down to his chin. He watched as Mike kept eyeing him and the drops of water.

"Understand?? Understand what?!"Mike called .

reluctance tainted Will's voice as he spoke, voice faint. "It kinda is your fault," a certain type of distain filled his eyes as he stared at Mike. His legs told him to get the hell out of there. But a morbid curiosity prohibited his escape, leaving him to lament an outcome that hadn't come about yet.

Mike: "My fault you.. what?...don't like girls..?" It was as if Wil could see Mike putting the pieces in place as it happened. Just the thought that Mike now knew made him wanna vomit. He couldn't just stand here in silence.

Will: "Just forget it!" His voice cracked as he sobbed slightly, talking his bike under him and finally leaving. He heard a faint "WILL!" Through the rain. But he couldn't turn back. He couldn't even look back, not after that.

Mike

Mike cursed under his breath as Will rode off into the rain, scrabling with his own bike. He leapt off chasing the boys bath back to the byers residence - a place he knew the way to better than his own home.

He knew he fucked up, he knew he did and my god did he contemplate jumping off that damn cliff again because of it. He hated that he said that, what kind of thing to say is that!? The tight nit guilt in his chest make his question his loyalty to Will, his very best friend.

He finally arrived at his house, Will's bike was out of sight. Worried, he frantically knocked on the door, haping for a responce. He didn't care who Joyce, Jonathan, anyone

No one answered.

Worries swirled through his mind. Did they hate him? Had Will told them already, shit, shit,

"SHIT"

he pushed his bike onto the ground as he sat on the soaked step. Head in his hands, he paused. With the cracking of a heard exterior, tears began to fall to the ground. And again, the cracking of... something. Mike, blurry eyed, lifed his head to the sound. It was behind the byers' house.

Castle byers.

He got up from his sorrow and ran to the yard, stumbling and slipping through the cursed muddy ground. There at the edge of the house, directly in front of his eyes, was a broken, destroyed castle byers. But more importantly, to the side was the boy he was looking for.

(Feel good Inc really just started playing, bruh)

"Will?..." he quivered. Will turned towards him.

"Christ Mike!? What Is Your Problem!???" He yelled over the rain.

"Look, Will, I'm sorry!" He stepped forward."I- I didn't mean that I just... it was a horrible thing that came to my head, and I didn't filter it before saying it, I didn't think about what was actually coming out of my mouth!" Mike looked at Will, eyes pleading for forgiveness, for his best friend to realise how much he hated what he had said.

"Bullshit." Will whispered.

"What"

"Like I said, you should just forget I ever said anything" Will spat.

"No, Will I was being a total douche!" Mike called, gradually stepping closer to Will. As Mike arrived at Will he glanced down at the slightly shorter boy. Will's features were sharper than usual, his lighthearted expression turned a mix of dispare and hate. The boy had closed himself off, and Mike hoped to open him back up.

He pleaded with Will to understand he didn't mean it, but, it failed. "Please... please Will I never meant to even think that, I just- I don't even know where it came from." Now close to Will, he spoke at a mere whisper. He gained no responce though. "What you said" Mike began, gaining Will's attention "what exactly did you mean?" The word *exactly* was painfully exaggerated.

"Really??" Will demanded."You still don't understand!?" Mike stuttered under the pressure of Will's words. "God Damnit! Mike, I'm in fucking love with you!" A broken Will stood in front of Mike, breathing heavy, his eyes puffy with tears.

A brief silence ensued.

"Just- just leave it" Will cried, his anger gone leaving a Sobbing mess to walk away from Mike.

Mike grabbed Will's wrist. "Wait- Will i..."

"You what?" He said, turning to the taller. At a loss for words Mike did the only thing running through his mind.

...

He kissed Will.

He pulled away near instantly in a panic. "Fuck- will I'm sorry" he tried to clamber together a string of words into a failed sentence excusing himself for kissing Will when he was interrupted by a pair of lips on his own. He looked down to see Will, the gorgeous boy that had filled his mind for the past months finally embrasing him in a kiss. His hand slid to fill Will's as his eyes fell into rest, falling into the others open arms.

When the two had to pull away they stayed in each others arms. Mike broke into a bashful grin as he looked at Will. "So.. you said you loved me?" He beckoned.

"Well.. yeah" Will's face ,puffy from his tear now had an extra layer of red. Mike's eyes softened into Will's gaze.

"I think I love you too... I have for a while now." He chuckled slightly. Will smiled.

"It's pouring out here, we should head inside"

"Is Joyce home?" Mike enquired

"I don't think so, let's just-" will paused to jump out of Mike's arms slightly.

"Boys!? What are you doing out there in the rain?? Get inside!!" Joyce yelled from the back door.

The two ran inside, attempting to fabricate a believable stoy as to why they were in the rain, soaked, red-faced, and why some of castle byers was broken...

Joyce

Joyce at down at the dinner table with Jonathan while Mike and Will were getting dressed.

"Really, mom? You just didn't tell them you say ALL of that?"

"Hush Jonathan!" She whispered "I didn't wanna spoil the moment or anything!-"

"Just tell them you saw them" Jonathan's eyes shot up to the lounge room. Joyce shot a glance at Jonathan as Will and Mike entered the room. As he walked past to the sink he whispered his last words to her before coming back to sit down.

"You gotta tell them eventually-"

"Yeah yeah, maybe at their marriage ceremony" Joyce laughed.

And as Jonathan sat down next to his mother, he caught a glimpse of his brothers hand being closely held by Mike's and in the end... maybe he doesn't have to interrupted EVERY romantic moment they have....

Just most.

(Sorry, this is kinda cringe. lol, I wrote it at 5 am with no sleep)