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i4bellingham · 1 year

Text

MORE THAN JUST AN INTERLUDE: pedri x reader

SYNOPSIS: in which a relationship thought to be a fleeting moment lasted for more than they'll ever know.

CONTENT: incorporated with a slight social media au! + obsessive hateful fan speaking shit. conversations are in (google translated) spanish and english + gavi being an adorable child + innuendos by pedri :’p / also NOT PROOFREAD please don’t sue me. read part two here

pedri

❤️ 💭 ↗️ 　　　　　 • •

Liked by gavi, alejandrobalde and 1,768,923 others

pedri el más feliz contigo. feliz aniversario mi amor. the happiest with you. happy anniversary my love.

tagged: yourusername

View all 13,901 comments

user1 wait what- one year ???? 😧

user2 y'all been together for one year i-

user3 remembering the days where your fans thought this was just a fling 😭 you guys are celebrating one year with each other now congrats 😭❤️

gavi happy anniversary!

fcbarcelona sending love to you and yourusername ❤️

user4 another month now and you'll break up anyways 😐

user5 shut yo stanky ass

user4 let's bffr here besties they're not gonna last ☺️

user6 user4 and this is why your father left you, your mom hates you, you failed school and you're single meanwhile yourusername is here living the absolute best of life 🤷🏻‍♀️

yourusername

❤️ 💭 ↗️ 　　　　　 • •

Liked by jamalmusiala10, neymar, pedri and 195,986 others

yourusername here's to many more small midnight talks about life with you. happy anniversary bebe ❤️

tagged: pedri

View all 4,679 comments

_rl9 never let the haters ruin such a beautiful relationship!

pedri never

gavi the second picture is when you text him and his focus is not with us anymore :/

yourusername i always tell him to stop texting me when he's out with you guys though ☹️

gavi i know, pedri just doesn't listen because he's annoying like that

yourusername say sorry pedri :/

yourfriend1 happiest anniversary to you both! ❤️❤️

pedri i love you

yourusername i love you more

pedri i love you the most

yourusername i love you more than most

pedri i love you so much that no words could ever describe to which extent

alejandrobalde pedri we get it man 😃 (anyways happy anniversary yourusername)

gavi pedri simp (i don't know if i used that word correct)

Pedri was still high on adrenaline when he was whisked away for an interview just after their game.

His football jersey clung onto his skin in an uncomfortable but familiar hug with grimes and sweat all over his body. If people looked closely, they'd find small specks of dirt on his cheeks from the amount of time he tried intercepting a ball pass from the opposing team. He still looked good nonetheless, not that he needed someone to remind him that as he stood carefree in front of the multiple camera shooting his every angle as he waits for the first question to pop up.

“So... what a game huh?” The reporter chucklesㅡ for what reason, Pedri doesn't know but he simply chuckles alongside him. “How do you think of your performance today Pedri? And how do you think that contributed to the win tonight?”

Pedri scratches his nose bridge, then placing both hands over his waist as he takes a lean back to keep the mic near from his lips.

“I think this is one of the best games that I’ve played entering this season. I think that defensively I’ve gotten a lot of progress and it showed in this game tonightㅡ but I believe there is still room for improvement. I think that I had made a few bad calls during the game as well so I’ll definitely look into that as to not make the same mistakes again but overall, I’m pretty satisfied and happy with how my performance played out tonight and contributed to our team’s win.”

The reporter nods his head behind the camera, seemingly impressed at the response he got from one of Barcelona’s golden boys.

“Any celebrations happening tonight for this big win? For another 3 points on the board?”

Pedri smiles but he shakes his head. “No, the guys will get into that but I will be celebrating something else tonight, this is a special day for me and for my girlfriend after all so I just want to spend this night with her.”

“Speaking of girlfriend...” The reporter trails off, flicking through his card with a teasing glint and smile on his face as he follows through with his statement. “It’s your guys’ anniversary today yes? Made quite a lasting impression on Twitter, this one.”

Pedri nods his head, eyes steering away from the media crew momentarily when his eyes catches a familiar figure walking towards them alongside Gavi.

“Yes, it's our anniversary today so not only do I get to celebrate the win tonight but I also get to celebrate an entire year of love and happiness with my girlfriend.”

Pedri shoots you a smile when you catch his eyes, mouthing ‘wait for me’ as he tends to his media tasks by finishing off the interview with a few more remarks for the game, team improvements and whatnot before he walks over to you and Gavi in brisk steps when he's finally done.

He's a few mere foot away when you immediately open your arms for a hug, not minding that he's still dirtied up from his previous game, all with the sweat and gunk clinging onto him. Pedri immediately falls down into your embrace, and Gavi takes that chance to slip away when he sees the cameras pointing to you both while still airing live.

You plant a kiss each to his cheeks and nose, leaving more than a swift peck to his lips that he returns gratefully and with glee.

“I’m so proud of you, do you know that?” You tell him as he leans his forehead against yours. “You did so well today baby, I’m very very proud of you.”

Pedri wraps both of his arms around your waist, locking you snug against him as you snake your hands around his shoulders.

“You always tell me that, no?” He leans down to whisper in your ear. “But you can always show how proud you are of me yeah?”

You don’t say anything but you do slap his chest when Gavi comes in barreling through your hug, jumping behind your boyfriend while he's got both hands over Pedri’s shoulders.

“Happy Anniversary to the two of you!”

Pedri shakes the younger one off before moving to walk away, pulling you behind him. “Too loud Gavi.”

“But we won! And it's in your anniversary and you guys should all be loud!”

Pedri smiles tight-lipped, another whisper going through your ears before he's leaning back up as if he never just said something to rouse you up.

“Oh you'll definitely be loud tonight, that's for sure.”

Not only did the media capture you lip-locking live with your boyfriend after his post-game interview, the interaction with Gavi and Pedri’s whispered suggestive comments that left you stunned and bothered definitely made it to the trending topics on Twitter for the next days to come.

#☆ i4bellingham writes #☆ pedri #pedri x reader #pedri x you #pedri fanfic #pedri fanfiction #pedri imagine #pedri imagines #pedri one shot #pedri one shots #pedri

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prettyboisteveharrington · 2 years

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Mommy and daddy are fighting!

Steve Harrington x Fem! reader

Summary: Steve, you and Robin are best friends. You are all working in the video store. One day a misunderstanding happens between you and Steve that Makes Steve question your friendship.

Word count: 5.5k words of pure angst, jealousy and pinning

Just a somewhat lighter story after season four with everyone surviving Vecna. With lots of angst, jealousy and pining.

‘I bought lots of snaaaacks!!’ You exclaimed as you entered the living quarters of Steve’s massive house.

Dustin came over to help you.

‘Don’t you think you went a little overboard?’ Steve asks you as he comes over to help you as well

‘Got to have enough food to feed our seven kids’

Steve raised his eyebrows at you

‘Our kids?’ He asked in disbelief as his cheeks reddened a bit.

‘Let’s be real here, you are the pack mom, I’m the pack dad and these are our seven children well teenagers at this point but you catch my drift’ you shrugged amazed by Steve’s reaction

‘Hold on.. why are you the pack dad?’

‘Because fuck gender roles they are toxic also because I’m always looking out for everyone and providing for them’

‘Language y/n’

‘Yes y/n think of the children’ Robin snickered amused from her place on one of Steve’s couches.

‘Also that’s why because you say shit like language when I swear’

Steve gave you a pointed look of disapproval over you swearing

‘Steve they are all teenagers any word I say they will already have heard a million times before’

‘Still couldn’t hurt for you to be on your best behaviour’

‘fine! I’m sorry darling do forgive me wifey’ you said before handing out the snacks to everyone with Steve and Dustin helping you.

Everyone were laughing as Steve’s face turned even more red.

There was popcorn, fizzy drinks, twizzlers, chocolate, crisps and dips.

‘Thank you for helping me Dusty bun’ you said in a teasing manner and ruffled his hair

‘Thank you my Darling you Said and kissed Steve’s cheek. Steve just nodded and went over to sit next to Robin.

Dustin, Eddie, Will, Max, and Lucas were all sitting on pillows and with blankets around Them on the floor. Jonathan and Nancy were talking and holding hands on one couch.

El and Mike were sitting on another couch kissing

Ahh Young love.

you sighed contently. It was Nice to have everyone gathered here being happy. The last few years had been Demodogs, the upside Down and Starcourt mall burning Down and then Vecna. It had been a chaotic few years to say at least. You were just glad everyone had survied. You had almost lost Max and Steve had gotten pretty hurt being bitten by that demobat.

‘Are you going to join us y/n?’ Steve asked as he looked at you and then at the spot on the couch next to him.

You went over and sat down inbetween Steve and Robin.

You were watching back to the future and stealing glances at Steve. Sometimes your heart longed for more than friendship with Him but with everything that had happened in the last few years you didn’t dare face those desires as your friendship group was finally in a good place and you didn’t want to rock the boat.

As the movie progressed you felt your eyelids becomming heavy and you rested your head on Steve’s shoulder.

‘Is this okay? ‘ you asked exhaustion dripping from your voice.

‘Yes hubby’ Steve said jokingly before he wrapped a blanket around your shoulder

‘Thank you wifey..’ you added before you dosed off.

Once the movie was over Steve let you sleep on his shoulder for a while before putting your head on a pillow and letting you rest up on the couch.

He didn’t have the heart to wake you up as he knew how worn out you must have been. You were always there for everyone else if they needed you but Steve wondered if you were ever truly there for yourself sometimes.

It was funny how Steve had always known who you were when you both went to Hawkins. You hadn’t been popular like him when he had gone to Hawkins you had kept to yourself and focused on your studdies. You had always hid yourself away in bigger clothes and your hair sheilding your face or with your nose in a book.

Steve remembers how he always wanted to talk to you but didn’t have the courage back then which seemed ironic considering how the whole highschool fucking adored him everyone but you probably.

You had started getting involved with the demodogs, the upside down, had helped him in the fight against Billy as you had brought a bat with you to defend yourself because while Steve always put himself into dangerous situations you came into them prepared. He had always admired you for that - god you were always so brave in the face of danger or possible sudden death. When you had tried to save Him and Robin from the Russians but had ended up getting your ass beaten instead you had taken it with a brave face. When Vecna and his curse hit Hawkins you had been around Max to reassure her that you would break his curse. And in the already crowded boat you had tried to reason with Steve before he jumped in the water and but he wouldn’t budge. You had jumped in straight after he had been dragged back down into the water which resulted in him getting hurt by demobats and you never leaving his side in order to watch after him. Imagine Steve’s surprise when he never thought he would get to know you and now here you were sleeping on his couch.

He remembered after the first brush with the upside down how you had gotten stuck in the mines and how it had almost caused you your life - Steve still shudders at that thought as if he thinks about it too long it will cause him to lose his shit.

After your near death experience you had become isolated and stopped hanging around the gang and kept to yourself again and Steve had missed your company deeply so imagine his surprise when you turned out to be working with Robin at Scoops Ahoy. Steve had barely recognized you when he started working there as you had gone through a complete makeover, your hair was short now, coloured and you had a nose piercing, your style had changed as well- you had always been quite nerdy looking when he had seen you at Hawkins but now you were wearing leather jackets, lots of rings and makeup Steve gathered that the brush with death had caused the change in you. Steve just couldn’t believe that you were back into his life and you started to really bond as you were working together in the mall you would bicker and talk about music and life in general and Steve was so happy that you were back in his life. Then the mall burned down and you had gotten badly beaten up by Russians and Steve was scared he would loose his friendship with you again but to his surprise however you had joined him and Robin when you started working in the video store and the three of you were inseparable.

Even now after everything here you were on his couch, in his house and in his life making marriage jokes and feeding ‘your family’. You were here and a permanent fixture in his life and he never wanted that to change.

He wondered if you ever had a peaceful night of sleep with everything you had been through. Steve certainly struggled to sleep sometimes and when he did he was usually woken up by the same fucking nightmare

He heard you move around and went over to the couch to see if you were okay. He sat down in the floor and noticed your eyebrows being furrowed and he reached over and caressed your cheek gently Which caused you to stir and open your eyes a little

‘Shit’ Steve cursed silently

‘I fell asleep again didn’t I?’ you asked quietly

Steve nodded wordlessly as he took in your features. Your eyes were shining in the dim lights of his living room, your lips were slightly parted and you were looking at him silently for a moment.

‘I need to stop falling asleep at group hangouts’ you murmured

Which caused Steve to laugh because you fell asleep at most group hangouts and no one ever had the heart to wake you.

‘Shhh go back to sleep’ Steve said and smiled at you.

‘You too Steve… you need to sleep’ you added in a sleepy voice

‘Don’t worry about that right now’

You rolled over on the couch and made room for Steve on the couch before gesturing for Steve to come lie down next to you.

‘I’m fine y/n just go back to sleep’

‘Stop worrying so much about everyone and start taking care of yourself’ you murmured

Steve was convinced you were completely out of it. With the way you were suggesting that you two share a couch but he was still taken back by what you had just said as it applied much more to you than it did to him.

‘Steve just lie down okay? I won’t bite!’

‘If i lie down will you go back to sleep?’

You nodded and Steve climbed in next to you. Being this close to you made his heart beat fast in his chest and the urge to hold you was strong. He wanted to wrap his arms around you and protect you from the world yet here you were half asleep again and you cuddled into his chest. Steve was sure that if you had been awake enough you would have made a comment about how fast his heart was beating. He leaned in and kissed your forehead before closing his eyes and going to sleep.

As Steve woke up he started to take in what had happened last night. The two of you were cuddling and he had his arms protectively around your waist and his chin was on the top of your head. At some point during the night he had gotten over heated and he had taken off his shirt leaving his chest exposed a decision he regretted now as he didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable when you woke up.

The two of you had never gone beyond friendship and the last thing he wanted to do was to make you feel uncomfortable. He removed his chin from the top of your head and let go of your waist gently. As soon as he let go he had wished he hadn’t as he missed having you in his arms which was a feeling he needed to analyse later when he was on his own. Before he could get up from the couch and find his shirt you had turned around and was now facing Him. Your faces were inches apart and for the first time in a long time Steve wanted to reach his hand out put a strand of hair behind your ear. He wanted to close the distance and kiss you. Fuck. Where had that come from?

He started to panic and had a million thoughts going through his head.

He noticed that you were awake and that you were looking at him. You sensed that he was uncomfortable and gave him a reassuring smile. That seemed to calm him as he looked back at you.

You spent the next while just looking at each other without saying anything. Steve was still freaking out as he was unsure what his current feelings were about.

‘Good morning’ you said and smiled at Steve, the smile lit up your face, your eyes were sparkling and it was very hard for Steve not to reach out and kiss you.

‘Morning ‘ he added politely but avoided your gaze as he looked around the room and noticed the time.

‘fuck! Y/n we overslept! We have to be at work in 15 minutes!’

‘shit!’ You added before getting up and rushing out of the Living room and into the bathroom to fix your hair leaving Steve on his own with his thoughts.

He pushed whatever thoughts he had been having aside and went to put his shirt back on before fixing his hair in the mirror.

‘Should we go?’ You asked As you came out of the bathroom and went over to put on your boots.

Steve nodded and grabbed his keys.

The car ride to the video store was awkward and the tension between you was thick and uncomfortable.

Steve had noticed how you had opened and closed your mouth a few times but had sighed instead.

As you both entered the store Robin could sense something was off with you two but she kept her mouth shut which Steve appreciated. She had however sent both of you worried looks.

Steve realized he was avoiding you at all costs. If you were even slightly near him he would move away from you.

He was unsure of how to act or what to do in your company now as he was sure these feelings meant something.

Sure he had had a crush on you at some point in your friendship but that was a long time ago and he had decided that he didn’t want to make you uncomfortable so he had swallowed his feelings and had stayed by your side as your friend.

Would he have to do the same now?

He had all these questions racing in his head. By the end of his shift you had tried to talk to him and he had avoided you so you had left with a disappointed look on your face. Fuck. Shit. Fuck.

He would usually give you a lift home after work but today you had just left.

Robin came out of the staff room ready to go leave the store.

‘Where’s y/n?’ She asked worriedly

‘She went home’ Steve shrugged before going to get his stuff from the staff room Robin followed him

‘What happened between you two? You were absolutely fine last night! Today you won’t look at her or talk to her! What the hell Steve!’

‘ oh so you just assumed I did something! Some friend you are!’ Steve said in a frustrated tone of voice

‘Y/n is usually a ray of fucking sunshine Steve! She’s always singing along to the newest bops and talking our ears of about something. Today she’s avoidant and won’t talk to me or look at you and you have been avoiding her every time she comes near you. So yeah this must be on you because I’ve never seen her act like such a kicked puppy!’Robin said and crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a look that said ‘you’re an idiot’

‘I’m just going through something right now’ Steve said and crossed his arms over his chest matching Robin’s energy.

‘ look Steve I care about both of you so whatever happened just fix it!’ Robin said before rolling her eyes at her idiot friend before she left the video store.

‘Oh and lock up the store when you leave! I have a date with Vickie to get to’

‘Have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do’

‘Well certainly not with how things are going! I actually like Vickie!’ Robin added with a certain level of snark before closing the door after herself.

Steve was just about get the rest of his stuff when the door opened.

‘Sorry man we are clos-‘ Steve started saying before he spotted Eddie at the opening at the store

‘Where’s y/n?’

‘How would I know?’ Steve added defensively

‘Really Steve? The girl is basically glued to your hip at all times’

This made Steve wonder for a brief moment. Where they always together?

‘I think she might have gone home’ Steve shrugged

‘Thanks!’ Eddie gave him a surprised look before he left the store.

Steve was confused. He was glad it was a Friday evening and that he wouldn’t have to see you before your shift after school the following tuesday as you had lots of after school curriculars to do so you only worked in the store three times a week which was Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, he always missed you when you weren’t working.

Over the next following days he kept thinking about you. How your hair fell into your eyes. How you were always smiling at something or how you were always giving your friends advice or telling them about the latest book you had read.he couldn’t get you out of his head or stop thinking about the fact that he wanted to kiss you.

He was looking at a picture of you, him and Robin. You were standing in the middle with this beautiful smile on your face. It was from one evening after work when you had all gone to the funfair and Jonathan had taken a picture of the three of you. The picture didn’t do you justice at all but you looked so amazing in it.so happy. Steve didn’t want to be the cause of confusion for you and until he figured his feelings out he would keep his distance.

Tuesday rolled around and you came into the store. You were wearing a big baggy jumper over your dungarees. Your hair was tied back in a ponytail and it was obvious you were running on low sleep as you seemed jumpy when you arrived. Eddie was with you and Steve couldn’t make out what you were talking about but Eddie gave him a look of disappointment before he hugged you and he left.

‘See you later y/n’ he said before the door closed behind him.

You avoided his eyes before walking over to him. You stood at least three steps away from him which felt odd to him as you would always stand right next to him.

‘So I just wanted to say that what happened after the movie night wasn’t cool of me and I’m very sorry Steve’

Steve was confused. Why were you apologising? You hadn’t done anything wrong?

‘I would like us to just forget it ever happened okay? I should stop sleeping at other people’s houses during group hangouts anyway… look I’ll give you some space for a while okay’

He looked up at he. He was hurt. Deeply hurt. He didn’t want to forget what happened because nothing did happen.

‘I don’t want anything to come between us. I care so deeply for you… please just say something’ you murmured and looked at him

‘ I need some time to think about it okay? ‘ Steve asked weakly his voice was shaking

‘Take your time’ you added before going over to look through your newest movies.

Robin and you were putting things away as she whispered’ so what’s going on between you two’ she added and gestured not so subtly towards Steve.

‘I’ll explain everything after work at your house okay?’ you added in a shakey voice

Robin looked at Steve and mouthed ‘fix. It. Dingus’ before nodding at you.

On the thursday shift Robin came into the store with Eddie and she looked really pissed off at Steve.

‘You really are a goddamn idiot sometimes!’ She added

Steve looked at her before looking at Eddie who looked a lot more sympathetic than Robin.

‘Hi to you too Robin so lovely to see you ‘ Steve said and sighed in frustration.

‘You still haven’t done anything to fix things! Y/n has been moping around all day’

Steve was tempted to ask why bit he knew it was because of him

‘Haven’t you hurt her enough?’ Robin continued upset

‘What’s that supposed to even mean ‘

‘Wow really Steve?’

‘Told you Robin. He’s absolutely clueless’

‘Well then i’ll tell him’

‘Y/n has asked us not to! We need to respect her wishes’

Robin and Eddie exchanged a look before looking back at Steve.

‘Listen man, if you don’t make a move on her someone else will! Y/n is a catch!’ Eddie stated before leaving the store leaving Steve utterly confused

‘What was that about?’

‘I’m really glad I’m into women’ Robin commented dryly as she went into the staff room and put her stuff down.

The tension between Steve and Robin was so thick that you could cut it with a knife.

You entered the video store tentatively. You were wearing your favourite leather jacket and tight fitted trousers. You had done up your hair nicely. You were wearing makeup and Steve could not stop starting at you. You went over to Robin and smiled your famous smile. You were bouncing up and down and you were asking Robin about her date. Steve saw how your eyes sparkled and it hit him.

He was in love with you. If he was completely honest with himself he probably had been for months. Probably since the time were you swam in after him after he had been pulled back under the water.

He remembers how the two of you had bickered that day.

‘What were you thinking y/n!!’

‘What do you ‘what was i thinking’ ? oh i don’t know Steve! How about the fact that you could have died!’

‘You could have died!’

‘So it’s better if you make the sacrifice play! God Harrington! why do you always throw yourself into danger!’

‘Because! ‘

‘Because is not a reason Steve! It’s a death sentence!’

‘Because if I don’t do it somebody else I care about will do it! Because if I don’t do it I know you will!’ He added pointedly and looked at you. He was shaken up.

The anger you felt melted away

‘Steve..’

‘I can’t risk losing you okay! Life wouldn’t make sense without you’

‘That’s exactly how I would feel if you.. if you died’ your voice trembled

Steve pulled you close to him into a bone crushing hug. He cursed a little as he hugged you against his wound but he didn’t let you go.

‘Shhh’ Steve had said as you had sobbed against his chest.

God Eddie had been right the two of you were always glued together at the hip, he drove you to School, drove your home after work, he came to your DnD games, you came over to his House with home cooked meals to make sure he ate. You would rant to Him about the things you enjoyed and give Him advice. He always let you sleep on his shoulder. When the two of you hugged he never wanted to let you go. The morning after the last group hangout he didn’t want to let you go.

The only problem was that you didn’t feel the same.

The day went on and Steve was pinning after you. He kept looking at you longingly.

What didn’t make it any better was the fact that your former crush came into the store when he was putting videos away. You had told Steve all about Scotty. You had had a crush on Him when you had been 13. Though the Scotty you had described had been nerdy looking, not a jock. Scotty had Black hair and blue eyes and his arms were jacked and his shoulders were wide.

‘Y/n! Is that you!’

‘Scotty?’ You asked and squinted your eyes at Him.

‘It’s me’ Scotty Said proudly

You rushed over to him and hugged him

‘I haven’t seen you in forever! My god you look so different now!’

‘You’re one to talk y/n! You are a total Betty!’

You shoved his shoulder playfully.

‘Stop it! How have you been!’

‘How about i fill you in over dinner tomorrow evening?’ Scotty asked

‘Absolutely! The usual place?’ You asked shyly

‘Yes! I’ll come Pick you up at 6!’

‘See you tomorrow’ you Said and waved at Him as he left the store.

Steve stared at you blankly.

‘What?’ You asked and the happy look that framed your face mere seconds ago was gone and this sad look was there now.

‘Are you really going out with Him?’

‘ is that a problem? Wasn’t it you that said and I quote ‘you really need to get back out there?’

‘No no! Of course not! I just want you to be careful’

You rolled your eyes at him the hurt from the past week still lingered on your face and Steve know he had royally fucked up.

‘I can take care of myself you know. I’m not a child!’ You added angrily and crossed your arms over your chest

‘I know! I just worry’ Steve added he had no idea how he could fix things between the two of you

My love life is none of your concern Steve! Stay out of it!’ You added in a voice that informed Steve that you were over this conversation.

You were about to leave after your shift. You were done with Steve for the moment and you just wanted to leave.

‘Y/n! Wait’

You sighed ‘What Steve?’ You asked already done with this conversation.

Steve jogged over to you and leaned in towards you

‘Don’t go out with Scotty’ Steve said and looked into your eyes. His eyes were boring into yours making you swallow a lump in your throat

‘Why not?’ You added nervously

‘Come on y/n you know why’ Steve said as he felt tongue tied. He was begging you to understand. He really wasn’t good with words.

‘This isn’t fair Steve! You are being mean!’

‘How am i being mean!’ Steve asked in a frustrated tone of voice.

‘ you know why! You are obviously jealous of Scotty! I’m done with this conversation’ You said and opened the door and walked out.

‘That’s not it! Y/n! That’s not what I meant !’ Steve called out after you but you gave no indication that you had heard Him.

Robin came over towards him.

‘I don’t know how to fix it Robin. What if I’ve lost my shot‘ Steve sighed his eyes were glossy.

Steve filled Robin in on his version of the story and Robin pulled Him into a hug.

‘She’ll come around Steve, you just need to give her some space’

Steve really hoped that Robin was right. He couldn’t lose you.

Friday evening everyone was gathered around Steve’s house for another movie night.

‘Kids! Gab your snacks!’ Robin said as she entered Steve’s living room.

‘Where’s Y/n?’ Dustin asked as he went over to grab the bag of popcorn Robin was carrying in her hands.

Robin gave Steve a sympathetic look and waited for him to answer.

‘She’s on a date with Scotty’

‘Why is she not on a date with you ?’ Dustin asked Steve confused

‘Because she doesn’t like me! She likes Scotty and his stupid perfect face! And his stupid perfect jawline and perfect shoulders ! And his perfect everything’ Steve moped and hid his head behind a pillow.

‘Wow you are a child! You really do need to be told everything don’t you’ Dustin said to Steve before turning around to Eddie

‘I love the guy but he’s an idiot’ Dustin said and gestured over towards Steve

‘Told you’ Eddie confirmed

‘Gee thanks for the support Dustin!’ Steve said and shot daggers with his eyes at Dustin and Eddie.

‘Wait a minute the Scotty? As in the first guy she ever liked?’ Argyle said in disbelief.

‘Yeah that’s the one!!!‘ Steve said and threw his hands up in frustration.

‘Sorry man that’s rough’ Jonathan commented sincerely while they weren’t exactly friends they accepted that they were part of the same friend group.

‘To be fair it’s entirely his own fault’ Robin stated and Steve glared at her.

‘Dude the girl has had heart eyes around you for months Steve!’ Dustin said in a disappointed tone of voice as if he was scolding a child.

‘She has not! I would have noticed ‘

‘Just like how you noticed i was into girls before you expressed that you liked me?’ Robin laughed with the rest of the gang joining her.

‘Low blow Robin’

‘I told Him to talk to her all week!’ Robin continued

‘I realized i liked her when it was too late. I shot my shot. She wasn’t interested’

‘Actually Steve you didn’t outright say ‘i like you’ to her though did you?‘ Eddie commented

‘ i implied it’ Steve shrugged

‘Unless you actually said that you liked her how would she know Steve? She’s not a mind reader!’ Nancy said and rolled her eyes.

‘As much as i just love this conversation. Can we watch the movie now?’ Steve said and sulked

Everyone was in the middle of watching Ferris buller’s day off when you walked into the room.

Everyone looked at you. You were completely soaked as it had been raining heavily outside. Steve looked at you and you looked at Him.

‘Can we talk? Outside?’ You asked vibrating with nerves.

Steve nodded and got up from the couch and followed you outside near Steve’s pool. Everyone was watching the two of you from the Windows.

‘When i left yesterday you said That’s not it! Y/n! That’s not what I meant… What did you mean?’ You were looking at him intensely trying to search his eyes for the answer

‘I didn’t want you to go out with Scotty because i wanted you to go out with me’

You looked at Him in disbelief

‘I don’t believe you. Last week when we were cuddling you looked at me as if i had grown two heads!’ You started pacing around his pool.

‘Careful please. I don’t want you to fall in the pool.’ Steve joked trying to lighten the mood

You gave Him a look of disbelief before shaking your head

‘I’m so goddamn stupid. I shouldn’t have come’ you said as you stopped pacing and prepared to leave him.

Steve closed the distance between you ‘wait please?’ He pleaded giving you a vunerable look that made you stop in your tracks.

‘ after last movie night i woke up wanting to kiss you’

‘Then why did you look at like the thought repulsed you?. Why did you avoid me for days!’

‘Because I didn’t know what it meant! I couldn’t understand my feelings for you and they were confusing me!’

You stayed silent so he continued

‘I’m clearly not very good at this’ Steve said honestly before reaching out and squeezing your hand and closing the distance

‘And I’m clearly an idiot because I only realised yesterday when you came in looking like an actual ray of sunshine that I’ve liked you for months’

The answer caught you off guard.

‘ wait why are you not on your date?’

‘Because i couldn’t stop thinking about what you said. And i needed to know if i was overthinking things or if you could actually like me the way i like you’

‘Oh so you like me huh? Steve asked and he smiled for the first time in days

You leaned in and kissed him, your fingers were in his hair and his hands were around your waist.

‘I missed you ‘ Steve said after you finished kissing.

You pulled him into a hug and hugged him tightly.

‘I missed you too. I really fell apart without you’

‘It’s okay I’m here now and i don’t plan on going anywhere’ he reminded you.

‘Promise ‘ you asked nervously

‘I promise’ Steve said and kissed your forehead.

You both went back inside and everyone seemed relieved

‘It’s okay kids! Daddy’s back home!’ you added in a joking manner.

You cuddled up on the couch with Steve and you both fell asleep watching the rest of the movie.

In the morning you woke up cuddled up with Steve, he was holding you protectively. He stirred a bit before he opened his eyes.

‘Morning’ he said in a croaky tone of voice

‘Morning. I really need to stop falling asleep during group hangouts’

‘You can fall asleep here anytime you like’ Steve said and pecked you on the lips

‘I’m hungryyy’ Dustin complained and looked at you expectantly

everyone had stayed over last night they had slept on the couches, some in the empty beds and others on mattresses on the floor.

You groaned and buried your head into Steve’s bare chest

‘In the mornings he is your son’ you groaned

‘He knows were things are and can help himself. I’m busy with my girlfriend at the moment’ Steve said dismissively and Dustin groaned

‘Girlfriend huh?’ You asked and smiled at Steve

‘Unless you don’t want to be’ Steve added slightly nervous

He couldn’t believe he actually Got to have this.

Someone who genuinely loved him.

‘Of course I do dingus ‘ You caressed his cheek lovingly and Steve gave you a wide smile

‘You two are gross’ Dustin commented as he walked off

‘Sorry what was that Dusty bun? I’m busy cuddling my Boyfriend ‘

You looked up at Steve and started to make out with him.

Dustin groaned causing both you and Steve to laugh for a minute before you continued to make out once again

#steve harrington #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington x you #stranger things #steve harrington x reader #stranger things steve #steve and robin #Steve and Robin stranger things #stranger things season 4 #Steve is the packs mother #we all know this

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howtobecomeadragon · 2 years

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Just saw this article. They are so close to getting it.

One of the coolest characters in Stranger Things season 1 is Mike Wheeler. One of the original four Hawkins sons, nevertheless, also poses a problem.

Since Stranger Things’ first season, Mike Wheeler has been one of the show’s most significant characters, but he has also grown to be one of its major issues. Along with his buddies Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, and Will Byers, the character, who is portrayed by Finn Wolfhard, is one of the main characters in season 1. One of the highlights of the first season was his friendship with Eleven, but Mike has subsequently caused problems for the Stranger Things screenplay staff.

Mike, played by Finn Wolfhard, rapidly forms a close friendship with Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), who is probably the season’s secondary major character. As the seasons go, Mike and Eleven become great friends. At the conclusion of season 2, it is revealed that she is still alive and residing with Jim Hopper. In Stranger Things season three, Mike ignores his friends, particularly Will Byers, to spend time with Eleven. However, in season four, when Mike admits how distant he has been, the group come together.

Mike Wheeler has not had as much to do in Stranger Things’ most recent seasons as his buddies have. While he plays a crucial role in Stranger Things season 1’s narrative, his connection with Eleven interferes with his relationships with Will, Dustin, and Lucas as well as his character development.

While Will Byers suffers with his terrible experience in the Upside Down and may potentially be going through a deeper personal arc, as Stranger Things indicates Will is gay, Lucas becomes a jock and Dustin becomes good friends with bully-turned-babysitter Steve Harrington. Mike is the least fascinating of the four original Hawkins brothers because he hasn’t had such an arc, and this has to be changed going forward.

As Stranger Things’ seasons have progressed, Mike’s character journey has rapidly lost appeal as he now mostly serves to enhance Eleven’s story, in contrast to Nancy Wheeler, who takes a more active part (Natalia Dyer). His character arc, which has focused on his love for Eleven from season 1 of Stranger Things, came to a head at the conclusion of season 4 when he gave her the strength to resist Henry Creel / 001 / Vecna’s shackles and save Max Mayfield. Season 5 needs to tackle the problem that Mike’s friendship with Eleven has become his only personality attribute.

Will Byers will apparently receive a lot of attention in Season 5, but Mike Wheeler must once again take center stage. Mike requires a narrative arc that does not depend on his relationship with Eleven and enables him to restore the leadership position he had in season 1, when he was aggressively looking into the Upside Down, a parallel dimension. In Stranger Things season 5, Vecna is on the prowl for Hawkins, and if Mike’s narrative is to be remembered as gratifying, he must play a significant role in Vecna’s defeat.

What's that? Mike should take center stage in s5 with Will, reconnect with his friends who he previously ignored, especially Will, be the heart, move away from El in order to show character development, have a satisfying arc? Agreed. Also, I enjoy how the article continually referred to Mike and El's relationship as a friendship.

#byler #mike wheeler

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bitofanupsidedowner · 1 year

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people who want will to get a boyfriend who isn't mike make zero sense to me ngl... i get that mike is kind of a jerk but i just don't feel like it makes a lick of sense tbh, and i also just think anything bad thing mike’s done is best justified/made sympathetic and solved by the conclusion he’s been struggling with his feelings towards will.

mike is in no way this unredeemable person and i think it’s pretty extreme to treat it like he is. he isn’t perfect, but he’s shown that he does care about will much more often than he’s hurt him. just the facts.

like. yeah sure byler has been built up since season one and mike has been written in a way that made it literally impossible for will TO get a separate love interest. despite mike having a literal girlfriend, his jealousy and protectiveness over will didn’t leave any empty space. we all saw his weird reaction to the painting at the airport and how when dustin and lucas wanted to help will on halloween he yelled at them and shoved them away.

but like... yeah, let's throw him with some random guy we have no time to get invested in so mike and el can keep being a dysfunctional mess with no chemistry or shared interests even though it would make no sense, have no emotional payout and is not in any way what mike or will need for a satisfying conclusion to their character arcs (or el! it negatively affects all three.)

separating the two would be the only opportunity possible to give will someone new. it would’ve been tricky to make it believable, but it was their only chance after mike’s emphasis in will’s storyline. that in itself is suspicious, but they essentially told us with mike’s little ‘oh shit’ closet moment that they would not be doing that.

instead, they kept doubling down on mike and will. they even made the cali plotline sort of agonize over it, with mike and will pulling in the most heart-to-hearts of any duo in any one season afaik. the emphasis on their relationship has been too integral to the show. having had wills sexuality in mind from season one, making mike as big an element in that storyline to begin with is not without consequence. they wrote it in a way that made it almost impossible to reasonably go in another direction.

they spent a lot of time especially in season 4 showing us how mike and will’s relationship comes naturally to them, has a good foundation of mutual love and respect, and just generally functions better than mike and el and can repair itself without that much effort. even when mike and el are in their ‘good’ phases, they have less going for them than mike and will in their ‘bad’ phases.

will’s feelings for mike are directly contrasted with el’s. mike makes will feel better for being different. he makes EL feel like a monster. with el, she begged him to say it and he denied her, implying he didn’t ‘know what to say’ and agreeing when will said ‘what if they don’t like the truth?’ he denied her what she wanted until will told him to say it. the text is very directly comparing el and will’s dynamics with mike for a reason.

you never say it > i say it

oh, i didn’t say it. > you didn’t have to.

it doesn't make sense to set this up and then retreat back into a relationship that is mutually destructive, that hinders all three characters growth and self worth, and goes directly against their character arcs. it makes no sense to make will in love with mike at all if it was going to end up with a new guy shoehorned in last minute.

there’s a reason it’s mike and not lucas or dustin that will fell for. there’s a reason that the majority of people are ecstatic about lumax, jopper, jancy and duzie but find milkvan tedious and forced.

it's filling the same place in my brain rn as when people want will to have a villain arc. it just does not make any sense to me to actively desire conclusions to arcs that would undo character progress or just completely misshape the character profile permanently.

it isn’t JUST a romantic relationship will wants. he doesn’t just have a hankering for a boyfriend. it’s not just about having SOMEONE. it’s specifically mike’s love. it is specifically spending his life with mike that has been explicitly stated over and over again as what he truly wants.

i feel like it’s fairly rare for characters to both know and state plainly what they want, but will does, which i think is honestly so admirable. he admits it when he is at his most vulnerable (rain fight) when it would be more beneficial for him to just pretend. but he doesn’t. he’s hurt, but he doesn’t hide from it.

the fact he doesn’t even surprises mike, who was expecting for will to agree that changing drastically and obsessing about girlfriends was the natural progression they were supposed to take. after his wish is put into the open and seemingly rejected, he destroys castle byers.

mike is insecure about wanting this, but we know he wants that too, we just dont have the explicit confirmation if it’s romantic yet.

the point being that the emphasis has already been placed on not only who/what will wants, but how confident he is in that never changing. he wants it deeply and forever.

it isn’t just a boyfriend he wants, it’s mike.

that’s the person he has the deepest connection to, that’s the guy who saved him, who pulled him out of the upside down, fought the hardest for him, stayed by his side when he needed him, befriended him when he was five years old because he thought, ‘he’s like me.’ mike gets a lot of criticism, but none of that is how will himself feels. to him, that’s the guy who makes him brave enough to accept his sexuality. it’s mike, it's always been mike, and it doesn’t make sense narratively for him to be with anyone else.

‘what if you want to join another party? > not possible.

#anti villain will byers #anti milkvan #anti melvin #byler #will byers #i edited it a bit idk i have some many thoughts on them

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campbyler · 10 months

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this is part of a longer ask and we didn’t want this response to get lost in the sauce, so here’s a separate post about it! brought to you once again by thea who is the only #gamer #girl 😵‍💫

mike: mike is Such a nintendo fanboy to me and a big fan of the legend of zelda series! his favorite entries are breath of the wild, tears of the kingdom, and twilight princess. he also is a big fan of the story of skyward sword! i don’t know if we will ever mention it in acswy, but he is in the middle of his totk playthrough as the fic is progressing, so he does spend a lot of his free time with his switch! i think he also plays mario games and a firm metroid enjoyer!

will: animal crossing mostly! he likes to watch other people play video games more than he likes playing them himself, especially horror games. i think he has also dabbled in pikmin, kirby, and yoshi games, but gets stressed out easily as the player, so he doesn’t play them a lot!

max: biiiig big fan of the last of us entries and red dead 2 but also like. all the bratz games. duality of woman

el: Any Farming Sim. loves stardew and story of seasons the most! and sims 4. i also think she likes puzzle games like unpacking and a little to the left! and 2 me she is a surprisingly formidable smash opponent.

lucas: final fantasy and kingdom hearts for sure! and the spiderman entries for ps4/5. i also think he played tekken and timesplitter as a kid. if he’s playing nintendo it’s mario or yoshi! mike begs pleads cries and throws up for lucas to play zelda but atp he won’t budge just to annoy mike 💙 he will watch mike play tho and look up a walkthrough for him if he needs it!

dustin: i think dustin loves classic platformers like crash bandicoot and spyro and is a big fan of the fire emblem series bc it’s very strategy oriented. he’s definitely more into pc games than the rest of the party as well! i’m not a huge pc gamer myself so i’m not gonna throw out any specific titles other than obviously minecraft LOL he also strikes me as a banjo and kazooie and jak and daxter fan. also chibi robo bot!

#asks #acswy reference #<- not sure why you would need a reference for this but just in case.

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mlchaelwheeler · 2 years

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Byler fanfic recs (bc we need it)

A Dream Always the Same - @sevensided

Complete || 99k

If you're on byler tumblr, and you haven't read this fic, this is a requirement. So well written, and gives us a perfect characterization of Mike (looking at you, vol 2).

Can't Hold Out Forever - scorchstorm

Complete || 18k

The fics that go through the years of Mike and Will knowing each other since kindergarten just hit different, ok? This one's no exception.

Crazy Together - imyoursandthatsitwhatever

Incomplete || 18k

A S2-era fic about Mike and Will sharing emotions, having sleepovers, and overcoming trauma. What's not to love?

Darling, You Got to Let Me Know (Should I Stay Or Should I Go?) - andiwriteordie

Complete || 11k

Mike gets vecna'd. Need I say more?

Filling the Gaps - nfna118

Complete || 119k

A series of works about Mike and Will starting in kindergarten and going through the seasons. From multiple povs. This is one of my favorite works ever; the characterizations are spot on!

Geography Notes and Doodles - midnighteverlark

Complete || 4k

Mike accidentally takes home Will's sketchbook instead of his geography notes. This one is so adorable omg.

I Never Find Out 'Til I'm Head Over Heels - orphan_account

Complete || 12k

Mike asks Will to the school dance every year, but Will thinks he's just being nice. Mike is trying so hard but he's not quite there yet.

I Want to Know What Love Is (I Want You to Show Me) - reitvelds

Complete || 2k

The snowball, where Mike and Will finally get their slow dance. S2 my beloved <3

In The Haze of Hesitation - sylvianightshade

Incomplete || 39k

Byler and elmax, ft. an oblivious Dustin and Lucas. Set post-S3 and currently in progress.

It's Dangerous to Go Alone! - @byeler

Complete || 12k

Will has trouble sleeping, so of course Mike sleeps over. Late night talks and movie watching, it's adorable.

Jealousy (Turning Saints Into the Sea) - wasabi8000

Complete || 11k

Set post vol 1, Mike is jealous when a cute guy hits on Will at a gas station. Mike pretends he isn't jealous, but his excuses are getting out of hand. This is hands down the funniest fic I've ever read, it will have you smiling the whole time.

Laughing Matters - empressoftears

Complete || 5k

Will gets his wisdom teeth out, and the medicine causes him to say some things to Mike he normally wouldn't. This one is hilarious, I'm never not thinking about "how am I supposed to kiss Mike if I don't have any lips?!"

Neither Of Us Ready to Let Go - dirtyvalentines

Complete || 4k

A different take on the S3 fight in the rain, filled with angst, fluff, and lotr references.

Over a Bridge Of Time - @sevensided

Complete || 23k

The amazing sequel to "A dream always the same." So cute (that ending though!), and I am constantly thinking about the picture of Mike and Will hanging on the Byers' wall of family pictures. So adorable <3

The Red Envelope - midnighteverlark

Complete || 45k

Another classic for byler tumblr--if you haven't read this, where have you been? Will writes down his feelings for Mike in a letter, which Mike accidentally takes home with him. Cue angst.

Thirteen - arlathahn

Complete || 21k

Mike and Will through the seasons, if El left to be with Kali after S2. Also, Will has powers.

Together Forever - orphan_account

Incomplete || 17k

From kindergarten onwards; Mike and Will's development in their feelings for each other. They're kids and maybe don't understand everything quite yet.

Undertow - @byeler

Complete || 11k

Yet another classic fic for byler tumblr. In which Will hasn't had his first kiss yet and Mike offers to help him practice. Featuring Max as the best guide to sorting out feelings ever <3

#after whatever vol 2 was. here's some happiness <3 thank me later #byler #fanfic rec #mike wheeler #will byers #sarah.txt #save #fanfic

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purpleangelsele · 2 months

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Shipping Mileven is Delusional?

Sometimes I see some people say that Mileveners are delusional and I’m just confused.

Delusional: characterized by or holding false beliefs or judgments about external reality that are held despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, typically as a symptom of a mental condition (Dictionary).

Looking at the definition…shipping Mileven can’t be delusional.

First: Mike and El are a canon ship. People acknowledge their existence and importance in the show.

Second: There have been conflicts between them or focused on them, that directly affects the story.

Mike and Max get into interpersonal conflict because of El and their differences of approach to her overextending herself.

Mike and Els relationship gets affected by External forces like Hopper, who actively separated them

Max demonstrates that breaking up with someone will be okay as she and Lucas keep getting back together. She even assures El that Mike will come running back after she dumped him

Their relationship also affects the way the party functions as Mike has to juggle spending time with El and the party. Which can cause some conflict but it’s inevitably going to happen

Mike leaving the note that El left in the trash, helped move the story along. If he didn’t, the government wouldn’t have found El and tried to kill her and we wouldn’t have El, be carried out of the bunker. It would have messed everything up cause then how would the show progress?

Mike’s monologue is a major plot point that actively gave her strength to keep going. To know she is loved more than she knows. The love of her friends, her mom, her family, and her boyfriend propels her to face Vecna. Romantic love can be a strength and not a weakness

I could go on but that’s enough of that.

Third: There is no evidence provided by the show, nor actors, that Mileven won’t be a thing in season 5.

Four: They have been dating since the end of season 2, I think it’s natural to ship and safe to assume that it will be endgame

Five: They have more certainty around their relationship now after the monologue. They are not in an active love triangle. Neither El or Mike expressed clear romantic chemistry with anyone else but eachother. If there was a triangle, it would be more obvious like Nancy, Jonathan, and Steve.

Six: I may be biased but the milevens that I know are incredibly intelligent and use facts and logical reasoning. They are also so unwavering against hate for loving Mileven and believing in them. I’m proud of us for still being here despite so many thinking we’re ‘delusional’.

Seven: At least Mileven doesn’t need fanfics to feasibly exist. Fanfics for Mileven is to work with seasons worth of material and to expand what’s not been shown as much.

I rest my case.

-Sel💜

#mileven #mike wheeler #el hopper #mike x el #pro mileven #pro mileveners #look how easy it is to not mention a ship you don’t ship by name #wow so cool #also very easy not to tag it huh

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gayofthefae · 3 months

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My surprise at the I love you speech was mostly sourced at my first watch casual interpretation of Byler.

Why is Mike behaving this way towards Will? Oh, he reciprocates and is being defensive about it. That would make since. The one thing is how are they gonna break down is relationship with El?...................

oh. like that.

So I really thought it was a done deal I was like "I can't see where this is going but of the two, who has a shittier arc if Mike doesn't have feelings for them. That's who he ends up with" and then was like ok that's the what I just don't know the "how" and then the next episode they GAVE ME THE HOW. So my huge confusion was that the ily speech essentially TOOK AWAY THE HOW???

The thing about that is taking away the "how" doesn't contradict the "what". I knew Byler was endgame when I believed Mike could tell El he loved her in 4x02 just as much as I did at the end of 4x09.

But it's funny because since 4x02, my thought has never been "wow, guess they aren't doing Byler!" It was "wow, guess they're taking a different route to Byler than I expected!"

It makes sense though in retrospect. In simple terms, the pieces were falling into place too early and they need to get together in season 5. (I also didn't know there was a season 5 + past seasons have never had cliff hangers so that adds to it I guess lol). I was taken aback because I understood the destination with my only apprehension being - honestly just curiosity about the path. Then they laid down a path. Then they were like "haha lol that path was unrelated! Psych!" and I was left curious "what's the path then?" with the additional question "what was that for?"

And then I remembered Cyrano and the rest is history but the POINT IS. Since believing in it, aside from occasional queerbait fear, I have never had Byler doubt based on ANYTHING in the story. Nothing in Netflix's "Stranger Things" has given me Byler doubt. I was only surprised to be wrong at how they were getting together.

I thought they were doing the "Mike notices Will overenthusiastically correcting his self-deprecation" romance trope when they were doing Cyrano so I was confused. But as I always say, they were only failing at a goal they didn't have. Was that a failure to execute that romance trope? Yes! Because they were never trying to! I may consider it doubt, actually, during the confession, but then because nothing else resolved in the season either I was like "Oh...that wasn't supposed to be it oh ok that makes more sense"

Anyway, now I know that and this is a long winded way of saying the only incorrect predictions I ever had in regards to Byler were how they would get together. From the second Byler was introduced to me as a viable option of an ending, Milkvan felt entirely illogical as an option and only proved to be moreso as the season progressed. Byler is endgame. Sometimes I'm wrong about how, but that isn't Byler doubt. It's an adjustment and then we are back, baby. The biggest proof against Byler is what I interpreted on my watch (once I realized there would be a season 5) as "a different direction to Byler than I originally thought".

#byler #stranger things #first watch

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isitisitearlymichael · 1 year

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I’ve been thinking about Mike and El’s argument scene today, and I really don’t like the way Mike ends up looking like the bad guy by the end of it.

Mike went into that conversation hoping to have an open conversation with El. He wanted to listen to her, and understand why she had been lying to him for months. He wanted to know how she ended up in that situation with Angela and didn’t let him help her.

Instead of a proper explanation and conversation, it was turned around on him and El accused him of not loving her anymore. And while his reaction to that wasn’t the best, it seemed unfair that suddenly their relationship issues were being blamed entirely on him.

He wasn’t even looking for an apology, even though I think he deserved one. He just wanted to try to relate to her, to listen to her. But when he tried to reason with her and mentioned the bullying he had experienced throughout school, El shut him down.

What bothers me about this is that the argument leads to Mike essentially going on this mission all season to save their relationship. It’s left in his hands to tell her he loves her and therefore “fix” everything. He even says “sorry” to her. But the “love” issue wasn’t even what that argument was about in the first place.

El is the one who hasn’t been communicating with Mike and needs to fix their relationship, if it has a future at all. By the end of the season, there’s still been no progress from her side as she doesn’t even tell him what happened with Max and hides away in her room.

By pushing Mike away in this way, it also really adds to the feeling that Mike doesn’t know her well at all, and makes his love confession fall flat. It feels like we know so much more about her than he does.

I don’t want this post to come across like I hate El or something. I know she’s been through a lot of trauma and it’s been especially difficult for her to open up verbally up to now. But at this point, they’ve supposed to have been a couple for at least 15 months and yet still haven’t found time to actually talk to each other properly. And I just don’t like how their relationship issues ultimately got framed as being Mike’s fault.

#byler #I know I don’t mention Byler here but this is why Mike and Will work together so much better #they actually talk #and while Will is still hiding his feelings #we still know much more about how he feels than we know about El

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hamliet · 11 months

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Never Have I Ever... Been So Grateful For a Show

Well, NHIE finished strong after the fourth season got off to a rocky start. The first three episodes were... messy, honestly, but then the story picked up steam. By the time we got to the final two episodes I was bawling pretty much the full way through.

NHIE also continued to flex its mature understanding of nuance, its appreciation for cultural differences, and its determination to keep its characters flawed and realistic. And including a game of Never Have I Ever in the finale? Fab.

All in all, it's a great ending to a great show. I loved it.

Ben and Devi

I've seen people complaining that the end relationship was predictable, or that Devi should be single, and kindly: no. <3

It fit Devi's character to end up in romantic love with someone, because the entire show has been about love for her. Love for her family, love for those who have died, love for her friends, love for her mentors, and yes, romantic love in all the aspects that entails (physical, intellectual, emotional).

The other thing that I think is beautiful about their relationship is that they both push each other in all these ways--physical (obviously), emotionally (Ben's final realization in New York was chef's kiss), and intellectual. They both get to go to their dream schools in part because of each other. Not only have they been pushing each other to excel since before the show started, but Devi helps Ben finish his schoolwork, and Ben encourages Devi to write that final letter to get into Princeton.

Ben's early acceptance to Columbia, which seemed a given given, well, his father and nepotism (I appreciated the show behind upfront about this), ultimately still almost gets sabotaged by his own repressing of other aspects of his life (which parallels Paxton, Blair Quan, and more, and isn't exactly new--see Ben's physical issues last season). This contrasts him with Devi, whose self-sabotage is always doing too much too suddenly. She's been trying so hard all along, but sometimes you need a final cheer to push you over the finish line.

Ben and Devi, Ethan and Margot

Ethan is dark!Ben. Margot is dark!Devi. On paper it's great.

Except... Margot was really, really annoying. I'm sorry, I found nothing remotely redeeming about her. Ethan at least served a purpose. The reason I think the first three episodes are so rough is that they focus on Margot but seem to not know what to do with her. But more about that later on.

Ben's speech about why he chooses to be with Margot in the first episode is well done and shows how much growth he still has to do. Because an essential part of love--of a mature kind of love and relationship--is that you are challenged to become a better version of yourself. Ben and Trent, in episode 2, shy away from this. Trent breaks up with Eleanor because he's afraid she'll break up with him, and he wants to do it first. Ben stays with Margot because she offers him superficial challenges, but nothing substantial in terms of his flaws.

That said, Devi making peace with Margot (numerous times) was narratively necessary because, of course, Margot's kind of a literary shadow (just not really well done). It also showed how much Devi's grown.

Trent + Eleanor

Trent's character is also really well done. That's how you deepen a comedic character. (Ethan was also dark!Trent in some ways; hence, Eleanor's crush on him.) Yeah, Trent's a stoner and not so bright. But, he loves Eleanor. He adores her, and he wholeheartedly believes in her. It's heartwarming to see.

I wasn't surprised they broke up early on, but was relieved they got back together. I think it was a funny inversion of what you'd expect, because El moving on to bigger and better things seemed like a natural progression. Yet, as the scene with El's mom showed... that's not what bigger and better is for Eleanor.

Yes, Eleanor still wants to grow. Yes, she still wants to be an actress and a director, and she's good at it.

But she doesn't want to leave her family and loved ones behind.

Eleanor knows what it's like to be left behind. And obviously it's not the same to leave a teenage boyfriend as to leave your own child like her mom. But, Eleanor ending up back with Trent was, frankly, narratively perfect for both their characters. Because Trent was helping her in her growth, and always had been from Season 3.

I also think they handled Eleanor's dreams and her complicated mother relationship well. The dream itself, even if it is far-fetched, even if it is unlikely to happen, is not bad. Pursuing it also is, in fact, positive (they paralleled this with Devi's dreams of Princeton). But, one of the best parts of dreams? Is the people you meet along the way, the people who cheer you on. It's a metaphor for life.

Paxton (and Lindsay)

Paxton's arc I think is one of the best in the series. I loved his journey from boy who was considered "hot guy" who sucked at school to the point where it was comic becoming a teacher. The episode where he helped Eric join the swim team was actually really powerful.

And, I didn't even roll my eyes when Devi told him he was an even better friend than boyfriend. On paper it's a cliche line, but it totally works within the characters' arcs (and of course the actors' portrayals!). Lindsay also seemed like much more than just a consolation prize to the guy who ends up outside the triangle--their relationship paralleled his with Devi, and quickly got me invested.

His final advice to Devi: "don't reinvent anything" also fits really well, because when Paxton at first refused to be Devi's boyfriend it was because Devi's image wasn't acceptable after the two-timing thing. Then, Devi's anxiety during their public relationship, the anxiety that actually ruined their romance, was because she didn't think she fit with Paxton or "made any sense" with him. But, she does fit with him. As a friend, and as herself.

Blair Quan + College

Blair Quan was also dark!Paxton--someone who lost themselves because they were always the Best in high school. The best student, the most popular. And then at college, everyone was the Best. And suddenly you're nothing.

The situation with Blair Quan was really realistic for how college can be for people, and in how the show (admittedly briefly) addressed the fundamental unfairness of college admissions. I work in higher ed, and... it's not fair. Nothing about it is fair. Professor Warner telling Devi outright that she "should have" gotten into all the Ivies actually meant a lot to me, because it's true.

For any readers of this who are applying to schools, there's a degree to which your merit matters, and there's a degree to which it's up to sheer luck. If they reject you, it's almost certainly not because you're not on par with other applicants. Hard work does not get you into prestigious schools. That's a lie. It gets you to a point, but it also gets a lot of other people to that same point, and then there is nothing at all you can do. It's up to luck.

Fab (and Addison. Kind of).

Fab's arc was interesting, but I feel like it peaked in season 2. I did like her conflict this season though, particularly with messing up about lying to Devi. The scene where she and Devi reconcile was beautiful, and the show handled it really well--giving empathy for Fab as for why she kept it a secret, while also pointing out that the lying was the fact greater problem than the initial applying.

The negative is that... I like Addison, but I wanted more. It kind of sucks that the queer character is the one whose romance doesn't come with two complex characters getting development. And sure, Fab isn't as important as Devi, Ben, or Paxton, but the fact that they wrote a compelling romance between Trent and Eleanor and gave Trent some damn deep character development despite him being a comedic character shows they were more than capable of writing a complex character romance for Fab. Addison is really just... kinda there, and we get no development for them at all. Which sucks because I would like to have learned more about them! They had potential, especially as a parallel to Trent!

Nalini and Andres

Nalini and Andres were a little more out of left field... that said, Nalini clearly has a type! She likes guys whom she argues with first. I still preferred the hot doctor from Season 2, but that had less to do with Andres and more to do with the fact that I found Margot so irredeemably annoying. Still, I appreciated Andres' growth in realizing that he'd been spoiling Margot by catering to her every whim. This was itself a nice contrast to Nalini, who hurts Devi by being too hard on her.

That was especially a flaw in the early seasons, but Season 4 really showed how much Nalini has grown. She does mess up with her response to the college debacle, so her flaws are still there, but she's so much better than in Season 1. For example, Devi lashing out at her mom after she got deferred was irrational; Nalini really didn't deserve any of that, and yet Nalini still met Devi where she was at: with a chip salad, addressing her fears. It was heartwarming.

Even when Nalini then does mess up with the "stupid" comment, we know she didn't mean it in the same way Devi fears she did (that that's all she can be, rather than that yes, Devi did a dumb thing). When she comes to help Devi pack, it's genuinely heartwarming. I honestly think Nalini and Devi's relationship is one of the best in the show, if not the beating heart at the center of it.

Pati and Len

Now, Pati. Pati and Lens' relationship parallels Kamala's romantic drama--not just with Manish in Season 3, but also with Steve in Season 1. Pati is also very clearly where Devi gets her drama from, and I stan.

I also liked the parallels between Len and Pati and Ben and Devi. They are both Indian-Jewish couples, and Pati and Len's wedding of course marks a grand romance for them... and a grand romantic gesture for Ben, who arrives to tell Devi he loves her.

Kamala (and Manish)

Kamala's arc this season was good as well; I just wish we had seen more Manish than just in the finale. Still, at least Manish did have an arc in the previous season. Though, it was a nice twist to have Kamala's arc be not about romance, but about her career.

Where Art Thou?

I also missed some other side characters, like Rebecca Hall-Yoshida and Jonah.

Margot & Aneesa

The overall show was filled with callbacks to past seasons that were really well utilized, in that they showed the character's growth. Unfortunately, in one instance, this came back for the worse when they repeated one of their biggest writing mistakes from Season 2.

Devi is, simply put, absolutely not morally responsible for reporting Margot to have lied about her alibi for vandalism. Yeah, Margot ultimately didn't do it--but Devi didn't do anything wrong by reporting that. In fact, the principal should have actually done her job and checked the alibi with the teacher; it's like 101 common sense.

Clearly this is a callback to Aneesa (the episode even has Devi reclaiming the nickname "crazy Devi," which started there). However, the shame is that the writers didn't learn from how they bungled the Aneesa plotline, and they did. Here again they hold Devi responsible for something she frankly is not morally in the wrong for. The show also mentions the Aneesa incident and calls Devi "a liar and a bully" for it, but she objectively didn't lie? And frankly Aneesa bullied Devi more than Devi bullied her and was never called out for it.

While I think it's a flaw, it COULD theoretically work from a psychoanalytic theory in that really all that Devi can control is herself. She can't force others to do what she wants, even if it's unfair. And that's part of maturing is realizing that (and it's not the same thing as selfish focus). You can't control the world, even when it's unfair and even when other people are frankly wrong.

I did like more or less how Margot was resolved in the end; namely, that she was not there among Devi's friends at the end. I also liked that Aneesa did defend Devi in the final episode from someone mocking her about the Clean Sweep. It just would've matter more if Aneesa's actions had ever been addressed.

The Principal + Professor Warner

Also, while in general the show is great in its portrayal of teachers and satire of other teachers, the principal sucks and she's not actually funny. She acts like another teenager, but unlike some of the other teachers/adults who are framed well, she's framed as being more or less fine instead of with the critical lens of the others. And she isn't.

Professor Warner stands in stark contrast, because she is wise even though flawed. The principal is just... awful. I'd never liked her, but this season made me hate her.

The Therapist + Grief

Now that I've gotten my salt out of the way, let's end with a positive and a theme.

The therapist's final session with Devi in the penultimate episode--I bawled.

“When I first met you, you were a closed-off, angry little thing... But look at you. Look how far you’ve come. You faced your trauma, and you came out on the other side.”

They used this to emphasize the show's main theme: grief. Despite how this quote makes it sound, the show doesn't actually frame grief as something to move on from. Instead, it's something that accompanies you.

Grief is like chasing a dream. Grief is part of life. It is love itself, but a painful part of it, and grief never, ever stops. You never "get over" someone's loss. You never stop loving them.

But, you learn to see them around you, and in you. In the dreams you planted together, like Devi's dad telling her about Princeton. In the loved ones you shared, like how Devi yells at her imagination of her father that he's not here, but then Nalini arrives to help her pack.

Just because someone's gone doesn't mean they stop influencing you, or stop being a part of your life.

There will always be moments of pain, like Devi in the final episode with the imagination of her dad. But, there will also be moments of feeling them again.

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canonicallyobserving911 · 5 months

Text

“I’m still in love with you but... I needed to learn how to love myself too!”

Fanonwriter2023 on AO3

Where CANON and FANON collide!

Season 7 FANON Speculation: Buddie Multi-Chapter Fanfic - Hiatus Reading: “I’m still in love with you but... I needed to learn how to love myself too!”

Chapter 16 is now available on AO3.

This is an EPIC LOVE STORY!

“I’m still in love with you but... I needed to learn how to love myself too!”

Currently 16 chapters completed: 549.4K Words; Rated: Mature

One chapter will be posted at a time.

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Here's a romantically fluffy snippet from Chapter 16 from one of Buck's and Eddie's conversations.

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“I love you!” Eddie emphatically admits.

Buck wipes Eddie’s tears away with his thumb. “I love you too, so much”. After he composes himself, he says, “The settlement money is for our family, so don’t worry, ok?”

Eddie slowly nods. “Ok but only if you’re sure this is what you want to do.”

“I am. I’m in love with you and you mean the world to me Eddie so… let’s do all the things you said we were going to do.” They’re still holding hands and he gently rubs his thumb on top of Eddie’s. “Let’s make love in Venice, we’ll not only eat pizza in Naples but let’s learn how to prepare it and let’s go shopping in Florence. My love… I can’t wait to do it all with you.”

Eddie gasps and bites his bottom lip in an effort to blink back his tears then says, “And I can’t wait to do it with you too because… you’re my heart, you’re my soul, you’re my everything”.

When are Buck, Eddie and Chris going to Italy and England?

Also, what exactly are they going to be doing while they're there? 👀

___________

This is an EPIC LOVE STORY!

Fic Summary: Months after Buck and Eddie were hit by the same lightning strike; they’re still struggling with the aftermath of it. But before they make their love confessions, they’ll spend time getting to know themselves as individuals first. Eddie learns to enjoy the simple things in life as he participates in activities on his own and with new friends while Buck learns the rest of the 31-year-old deep dark family secret about his conception and birth. Their journey to forever is still a work in progress but once they finally admit they’re in love with each other, everything that follows their love confessions will be cataclysmic.

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Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1 - Eddie makes a new friend while Buck receives devastating news regarding the sperm donation he made for Connor and Kameron.

Chapter 2 - Buck does a lot of research to learn more about the abnormalities found in his red blood cells and Eddie starts a new therapy journey that’s all about him and not the traumas he’s experienced.

Chapter 3 - After more than a month, Buck and Eddie finally spend time together outside of work but it doesn’t end well and they part with a lot of uncertainty regarding their places in each other’s lives.

Chapter 4 - Eddie has a few realizations about his life which causes him to consider moving back to El Paso, TX while Buck continues to be reminded of his past which causes him to take an impromptu road trip across America.

Chapter 5 - Both Buck and Eddie have difficult conversations with their parents and Buck finally learns the truth behind the reason why his mother despised him while Eddie finally tells his mother about the way she tries to control him.

Chapter 6 - More than two weeks after Buck pushed Eddie away after suggesting they needed a break; Eddie decides to try again. Eddie’s there for Buck when he’s at his worst just like Buck was there for him when he was at his worst and he won’t let Buck give up.

Chapter 7 - After Buck’s mental breakdown, Eddie has his back the same way Buck had his when he had his own breakdown more than a year ago. They share several vulnerable and emotionally intimate moments with one another and they begin to realize their small, sweet and caring gestures matter just as much if not more than any grand gesture ever could because these are the foundations of a long-lasting love relationship.

Chapter 8 - Buck, Eddie and Chris all have their own therapists and during their sessions, they reflect on their pasts while they’re in the present so they can prepare for their future together as a family.

Chapter 9 - Buck and Eddie are there for each other when Buck has to testify as a witness during the trial. But by the end of it, they’ll both realize their individual and shared traumas are going to keep resurfacing until they talk about them, deal with the fact that they’re in love with one another and face the fact that they can’t live without each other.

Chapter 10 - As Buck and Eddie finally begin to confront their past traumas, they realize how much they need each other to fill in the gaps of their memories. Additionally, the universe screams at them for what appears to be the one hundredth time so Buck can realize he doesn’t have to ‘find it’ because he already ‘made it’ and Eddie’s reminded tomorrow isn’t promised and he doesn’t have to die alone if he doesn’t want to.

Chapter 11 - A “virga” or dry thunderstorm is in the forecast but once the rain starts, the thunderstorm happening outside won’t be able to match the storm brewing inside between Buck and Eddie. It’s the universe’s final scream and when the tumultuous winds begin to blow, they’ll have one last chance to hold onto everything they’ve built over the last six years or they’ll lose it all forever.

Chapter 12 - Buck and Eddie have always shared a deep physical attraction and an emotional intimacy that’s unmatched but now that they’re in a relationship, they’re learning how to navigate the romantic intimacy they’ve been waiting for six years to explore. The love they have for each other is a once in a lifetime, soulmate, love of their lives type of love that transcends space and time.

Chapter 13 - While navigating the newness of their romantic relationship, Buck and Eddie take advantage of every moment they spend together. As their individual lives, people from their pasts, time constraints and the possibility of losing each other again make attempts to interrupt and interfere with their journey to forever, they love, care for, support and hold onto each other even tighter to withstand it all.

Chapter 14 - Buck and Eddie can see the lights at the end of the tunnels regarding the results of Buck’s Cancer Screening along with everything else they’re dealing with. But are the lights they see exits to the tunnels or are they headlights on different runaway trains that are speeding towards them in an effort to interrupt their forever?

Chapter 15 - Buck and Eddie have known they were exactly who the other one wanted in a partner since they met six years ago when they agreed to have each other’s backs. They’re in a romantic relationship, they’re both preparing to ask the other one to spend forever with them and by the end of the seventh week into their relationship, together they will plan their most important and greatest adventure for their future.

Chapter 16 - As Buck and Eddie begin to prepare for their marriage ceremony that will take place in Rome, Italy in December 2023, they start planning their first international adventure as a romantic couple. Even though Chris is still the only person they’ve told about their relationship, several people who know them have already witnessed the love they share and as the days continue, others will witness it too.

Chapter 17 - Will be posted soon.

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Read chapters 1-16 are available on AO3.

Continue reading on AO3

#buddie #eddie diaz #evan buckley #christopher diaz #the buckley diaz family #buckley diaz family #911 on abc #911 abc #buddie fanfic #ao3 fanfic #911 fanfic #Fanonwriter2023 on AO3 #Hiatus Reading #buddie wip #“I'm still in love with you but... I needed to learn how to love myself too!”#Chapter 16 is now available on AO3

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