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afewproblems · 8 months

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Season Two Halloween AU Part Eight

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six Part Seven

Synopsis: What if Eddie had been at Tina's Halloween Party in Season Two? Featuring Steve!Whump, Stancy Breakup, and Eddie just trying to keep up with all these new revelations about who King-Steve actually is...

As always, thank you thank you to the lovely Jess @strangersteddierthings for letting me brainstorm and send spoilers!

***

Eddie pulls gently on the strap of Dustin's safety goggles, trying as much as he can not to snag his curls in the process.

Almost everyone is decked out in their make-shift protective gear, with bandanas over their mouths, swim goggles --hell, even an old diving mask that Lucas found in the Byers basement. Mike won the painters mask, even though it's slightly too big on his little face.

When Eddie asks if all of this is really necessary, Dustin, Lucas, and Mike all glare ferociously at him before shouting over top of one another about how the Upside Down is toxic and that Will had been lucky last year, and to stop being an idiot.

Eddie looks to Max who shrugs and pulls down her own swimming goggles over her eyes.

"Don't look at me, I'm new here remember?" She mutters, walking towards the pile of various items the kids brought with them. She grabs a pair of rubber gloves and tosses them at Eddie who manages to catch one while the other falls limply into the dirt.

"They went in full body suits last year, on oxygen, to save Will," Dustin adds, his voice slightly muffled by the floral scarf wrapped around his face, "as little exposed skin as you can, it isn't safe".

Eddie can't help but picture the last Sci-Fi pulp story he read in a zine with government conspiracies and men in yellow suits investigating supposed 'crash sites' in the desert.

He shivers and pulls his own black bandana from his back pocket to put on.

Steve hasn't moved since they parked and hauled everything out of the van for their descent.

He sits in the sliding side door of the van with his head between his knees and the bat between his hands. Steve had insisted on coming with them, despite the fact that he'd only just managed to stop vomiting about five minutes ago and the nausea is still kicking his ass.

Stubborn idiot.

Eddie shakes his head as he turns back to Dustin to find the kid has wandered closer, standing right beside him now.

"He's dating Nancy," Dustin says quietly, tipping his head towards Steve as surreptitiously as he can.

Eddie freezes at the words and tries to keep his face blank in the way he's seen Steve do, he's not sure he's managed it but the way Dustin rolls his eyes.

Eddie opens his mouth to respond, with what he isn't sure of given the chorus of shitshitshitshitshit playing on a loop in his head.

Dustin beats him to it.

"But Mike told me they've been fighting lately, if it helps?"

Eddie just stares, his mind running a mile a minute, his eyes search Dustin's face for any hint of malice or disgust. But there's nothing.

"You don't…care?" Eddie says slowly, softly, he looks around to the other kids to see if anyone else is listening.

They all continue to argue and bicker over the equipment except for Max who has walked over to Steve to hand him a pair of rubber gloves. She leans down and tilts her head to look at Steve who still hasn't moved from his position in the van door.

Dustin shrugs, "why should I? I know what people say about it, but you protected us, you stayed," he looks at Eddie with fierce blue eyes, "bullies talk a lot of shit about other people for what they like".

"And you're not bad Eddie, you're good, just like everyone here".

Eddie blinks trying to ignore the tightness in his chest at the words and the sting behind his eyes.

'You're a good kid Ed, that's all that matters,' Wayne had told him the day he came out. 'And I'll love you no matter what'.

So that was at least two people who didn't think he was the town 'freak' -- but a stubborn image of Steve's expression that night by the pool comes to mind as he vehemently argued against being scared of Eddie during the now infamous Halloween party.

Three people then.

"If it helps, he wouldn't shut up about Dallas after he and Nance watched the Outsiders last year so," Dustin shrugs again, this time with the slightest teasing grin.

Eddie is overcome with such a strong feeling of fondness for the kid that he reaches out and pulls Dustin into a one armed hug that's really more of a headlock than anything else. Eddie takes off Dustin's hat to ruffle his hair before putting it back on and tugging it down over the kids eyes, he snorts at the squawk that Dustin makes in response.

"Dallas huh?" he says with a grin before clearing his throat, "I've always been more partial to a pretty boy myself".

He laughs as Dustin pushes him off muttering under his breath, "everyone's obsessed with relationships," which only makes Eddie laugh harder.

Maybe it's the hysteria of the situation, maybe it's the exhaustion loosely wrapping itself around his hands, but in this moment Eddie lets himself push away why they are standing in the middle of this field in the pitch dark, and lets himself reach out for what was previously impossible.

He claps Dustin on the back and tips his head towards the rest of the party getting ready.

"How distracting can you be?" Eddie asks in a low conspiratorial voice.

Dustin frowns, his eyes dart from where Max is struggling to pull on a second blue rubber glove after getting the first one on to where Steve is finally managing to sit up in the van, pulling on the gloves Max left him with, and rolls his eyes again.

"Yeah, yeah, you get five minutes," Dustin drops his voice slightly, and if it's an imitation of Eddie barking orders at the kids earlier, it's pretty good actually.

Eddie huffs and sends Dustin a wink before turning on his heel and making his way to the van.

Steve has managed to finally sit up properly and in the moonlight it appears that the green caste to his face is also gone. He looks up as Eddie approaches, and sends him a wane smile.

"How you feeling?" Eddie says softly. He crouches down on the balls of his feet so he and Steve are at eye level and reaches out for his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. It's as though a dam has burst ever since he was able to gather Steve in his arms in the van, he can't stop reaching out for him.

"Like my head has a pulse," Steve answers after a moment, "kinda how it felt after Jon cleaned my clock last year, but worse".

He shrugs and gives Eddie a small smile that stretches his split lip until a small bead of red appears, Steve winces and swipes his hand over the cut, "I'm kinda hoping it doesn't become a yearly thing, you only get so many concussions ya know?"

No Eddie doesn’t know, but he was also never a jock, dodging elbows, or balls, or apparently monsters in the woods on the regular.

He looks back at the kids, only to see Dustin pointing at the watch on his wrist; even in the dark Eddie can read Dustin's expression.

Hurry up.

Eddie swallows roughly and turns back to Steve, who doesn't move his gaze quickly enough to hide his own stare.

The wistful pinch of Steve's brow is still there, plain as day, and it cements Eddie's decision.

He leans closer, close enough that his nose is nearly touching Steve's own.

"I need to tell you something, and I need you to let me get through it because we don't have a lot of time, okay?"

Steve blinks once, his wide hazel eyes search Eddie's face as he slowly nods, his mouth opens but Eddie reaches up and presses his palm to gently cover it.

"You caught me off guard before," he whispers quickly, before Steve can move the hand on his mouth, "when you told me about your Nonna".

He sees Steve's eyes go even wider and feels him freeze under his hand, but he has to keep going.

"And I thought, you couldn't possibly be saying what I thought you'd were saying, I couldn't--"

Eddie forces himself to meet Steve's gaze this time, as though he could simply transfer his thoughts directly, save himself the embarrassment of trying to make the words come.

He takes a deep breath in, releasing it slowly through his nose.

"I couldn't let myself hope, not then".

"But when I thought you were dead on the floor, that Billy had broken you into a million pieces and we would never be able to put you back together again and I realized," Eddie moves his hand now, letting it travel along Steve's jaw, to the back of his head. He swipes his thumb along the crest of Steve's cheekbone and tries not to let the way the other man holds his breath deter him.

"That I might not get another chance to be that person your Nonna told you about, if I didn't tell you how I felt".

Steve blinks again and Eddie halts, letting go of Steve completely as he watches the wide hazel eyes grow shiny in the moonlight.

Oh fuck.

Steve's nose flares slightly with how rapidly he's breathing and his mouth opens and closes in quick succession as he seems to struggle to find the words to respond.

"I--"

"Steve! Eddie!" Mike calls out from behind them, "we are running out of time! Let's go!"

Eddie curses under his breath and whirls around; Mike stands at the edge of the cavern, his hands on his hips in a similar position to one Steve held earlier, the painter's mask pulled up to reveal the irritated frown on his face.

Dustin has his own face in his hand but looks up soon enough to offer Eddie a resigned shrug.

He catches Max watching the exchange with curious eyes, her face tilting between Eddie, Dustin, Mike, and Steve, but he can't think about that now.

Not with Steve pushing himself up from the van on unsteady legs, he brushes past Eddie, reaching up with a shaking hand to pinch his nose.

Eddie darts a hand out to catch Steve's elbow, halting his path.

Steve lets him.

Eddie takes a step closer, wracking his brain, trying to figure out what he could have said to make Steve so upset, had he read him wrong after all, had he overstepped somehow?

"Steve," he says softly, his grip on Steve's elbow is loose but steady as he pulls him closer.

Steve doesn't turn to look at Eddie but he doesn't move away either.

"What the hell is the hold up assholes!" Mike barks out again and Eddie lets himself throw a dirty glare at the kid, which Mike merely rolls his eyes at.

The attitude on these kids.

Mike does eventually turn, pulled by Dustin, back to the rope that Lucas is securing to the nearby fencepost, hopefully distracted for long enough to let Eddie figure this out.

But before he can say anything, Steve is pulling himself away from the grip on his elbow, ��Eddie--”

"Please,” the word falls out of his mouth, desperate, louder than he wants, “please Steve, just, promise me we'll talk”.

Steve turns his face slightly, just enough that Eddie knows he sees him.

His eyes are no longer wet, but still red rimmed, his nose slightly pink, the same way he looked that night at the halloween party sitting on that rock in the dark.

“Okay,” Steve whispers into the night air, quickly and quietly before he presses forward.

Eddie lets him go, his empty hand drops limply at his side as he watches Steve make his way back to the kids. He snatches an unused pair of goggles from the nearly empty pile on the ground and checks the post where Lucas had secured the rope.

Eddie watches from the sidelines as Steve seamlessly moves back into Babysitter mode, and while some part of Eddie is relieved at this, he can’t help but miss the way it felt to hold Steve, to put him back together again.

Even if it was just for a moment.

Part Nine Now Up!

Tag List:

@eriquin @luvinthefreaks @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @goodolefashionedloverboi @ellietheasexylibrarian @bambibiest @sadboislovebeans @howincrediblysapphicofyou @coleys-a-nerd @whycantiuseunderscore @airconditioning123 @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @corrodedbisexual @starman-jpg @ilovecupcakesandtea @yoriposts @clumsiluni @pelinelin @phantomcat94 @lololol-1234 @anaibis @steveshairspray @hellfireone @eddielives1986 @sunswathe @tentativeghost @robin-not-batman @estrellami-1 @manda-panda-monium @tinyplanet95 @perseus-notjackson @queenie-ofthe-void @rainbowsaw @sp0o0kylights @littlebluejane @hi-im-eff @phantypurple @just-ladyme @thoroughlycollected @justrandomfandomstm @swimmingbirdrunningrock @finntheehumaneater @dynamic-powerm@nightmareglitter @genderless-spoon @zaddipax @thebiblesays @pyrohonk @emly03 @geekymagicalpotato @sidebarre @lemon-astra @cipounette @discreetapple @starlitlakes @saphhicwitchbitch @marvel-ous-m @lingeringmirth @honorarybrit81 @bookbinderbitch @finntheehumaneater @lololol-1234 @eddie-munsons-missing-nipple @monsterloverforhire @gaydrieeen @starlight-archer @homosexual-having-tea @devondespresso @rennnnon @my-hyperfixations-hell-blog

And a few people I think may be intersted!

@steddierthings @steddie-there @stevesbipanic @henderdads

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astrobei · 1 year

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you know what i need so bad more than anything actually is a byler moment a la the pride and prejudice (2005) hand scene where mike helps will climb up onto a rock/over a tree branch/up from the ground etc and the camera zooms in on mike’s fingers gripping will’s hand as the music swells softly, thumb brushing over his knuckles, lingering a little too long as will goes to move away, and then will flashes him a shy little smile and is like “hey, thanks,” and mike, a little flustered and caught off-guard is like “yeah, of course,” and then he panics and runs off to join whoever’s up ahead and the camera zooms back in on him flexing his hand in stunned silence

#u guys know the scene #tell me u see the vision #100% people have posted about this before #but i can’t stop thinking it #and will definitely write it eventually mark my words #it’s about the TENDERNESS #the YEARNING #the PINING #the stolen glances the buildup the quiet unspoken moments #tender emotional music etc etc YES ITS ABOJT THE TENDERNESS AND EMOTION #HEAD IN HANDS #byler jane austen au When #/astro posts #byler #mike wheeler #will byers

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byierficrecs · 1 year

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❝ this magic i've been feeling since i met you ❞ author: @andiwriteordie

link: archiveofourown.org/works/42735774

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

#📚#byler #byler fanfiction #byler fic rec #will byers #mike wheeler #stranger things #r // teen #r // one-shot #r // finished #r // 10-15k #t // fantasy #t // royalty #t // au #t // pining #t // sibling bonding #t // will has powers #t // fluff #t // humor

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callico-awts · 9 months

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Coming back with a byler au that's been rotting in my brains for a while

I should post this like last last week?? But y'know shshhshs

📘💙x 🎮💛~~~

Eng Teacher mike and family video employee will( I was thinking a coffee barista?? or something, but I might change this)

Yeah so basically mikes a eng teacher here shshsh

• Even though he's a teacher, he's secretly still teen Mikey who is a nerd and loves DND

• He does write stuff... in secret ofc

•Mike looks dead inside but he's a type of who's sarcastic and also a bit fun to be around..

•He's bi asf and he did overcome his internalized homophobia

•He's around 21 yrs old idk???

• Secretly judges his students writing in their homeworks especially in essays and he does this face:

That's all for his part shsheg

I haven't thought much about wills outfit but it's more like robins hshshs

•20 yrs old?? idk

• If you ask me "why is he a family video employee???" Idk that's my random thoughts, I just want to-

•ik this sounds a bit shook, but he sorta suffering from amnesia due to what happen to vecna and all that, somehow he did remember, his family and the party except for a certain boy tho, He did get vecna'd but he lives (I might change this tho)

• He's working at family video cuz he needs money ofc and also to leave Hawkins.

• Ofc he does art and he sells them heheh

•Sassy asf

That's all for now~~ everything here is still might change shshh

Toodles~~

#stranger things au #stranger things #byler au #byler art #mike x will #byler #byler fanart #i need more pining mike wheeler plss #and then oblivious will #mike wheeler #will byers #📘💙 x 🎮💛

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thefourchimes · 1 year

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the potential of gravity falls and stranger things together...

for the stranger weirder au, imagine the chaos of the group that is the party+co and the mystery crew

from the kids to the teens to the adults, all the groupings just have the potential to be so much

imagine.

here be the some thoughts for them because yes:

star twins immediately vibe with the party <3

more girls' night!!

more dnd campaigns!!

dustin and dipper smart cap buddies

party drifting apart fuels the fear and conflict even more in dipper and mabel vs the future

will and dipper "knows the feeling of being possessed" buddies

mabel and max being essentially taken hostage by the big bads AND are put through illusions bullshit

el would be persuaded by mabel to use her powers for arcade games

dipper would be fascinated and mabel would be in awe of el's powers

el learns so much of the world through the star twins as well <33

lots more competition with arcade games in general with the kids

the kids riding their bikes together!!

still unsure about gideon in general but imagine erica putting him in his place

will hangs around in the shack a lot because jonathan works there, and he's really fascinated by the attractions in the mystery shack

dustin would likely get attached to ford

post redemption pacifica will deck angela in the face <3

max, argyle, and the star twins talking about cali related things with the rest being unable to relate

soos loves hanging out with all his dudes

soos, max, and dustin knowing what it feels like without a father

the teens learn that college isn't the end all be all from the stan twins

jonathan and soos talk a lot as coworkers—and the latter is always able to help the former relax

steve gets a crush on wendy—this is gonna be a deja vu moment for him considering yknow

nancy and stan talk about guilt of past and stupid mistakes

nancy is taught and given advice on how to do illegal things and get away with it (plus gun usage) by stan

robin and wendy bonding over being queer in small towns in unspecified time of late 20th century

robbie gets punched and slightly beat up by one of the st teens (likely nancy or steve) for picking on the kids

robin and robbie is gonna be confusing when said aloud and they both hate it

argyle and soos besties heck yes

joyce and stan having an understanding with one another about protecting their loved ones no matter what

joyce mayhaps putting ford in his place since his head is still up his ass for a while ASHFIUASHf

joyce is always nice to mcgucket and tries to talk to him, but it's a hit or a miss at times

hopper is tired of seeing stan's face (usually to try and arrest him)

also when it gets to that point, hopper and stan have a silent rivalry for being jonathan's father figure (but they work together to beat lonnie up)

once they can kind of put their disagreements aside, stan teaches hopper how to bond with the kids

hopper is also tired of trying to wrangle mcgucket

hopper doesn't know what to think of ford, especially with the fact that stan had so easily slipped in and pretended to be the man for years

murray and stan making deals mayhaps??

mcgucket murray duo omg HAFSUIHAISF

murray's suspicious of ford the first time he meets him ("kgb? government??")

and that's only a few of what our little grp who's building this au has discovered and explored omg 😭

if you wanna know more...don't be shy, go and ask away AHSFUIAHSF 👀

tagging @sunflowersand-bees @itsanotheridiot because they helped me compile and add more in this list, ty guys <3

along with @laurienotteddy @lovefrom-theother-side @willelfanpage @she-wont-miss who are always sending me their thoughts and/or watching me go insane in that thread

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cosmicbrowniefan · 2 years

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mocha with extra you

fandom/ship: stranger things, byler

summary: mike is the barista at a local coffee shop and he’s always had a thing for one of the regulars who comes in and gets his drink and stays at a table doodling. of course, being mike, he only admires from a distance and doesn’t make a move. what happens, however, when this cute regular shows up on mike’s tinder profile?

genre: one-shot, fluff, coffee shop au

warnings: swearing, mentions of tinder/sexual references, aged-up party (18), intentional lowercase

word count: 2,556

“don’t look now, but here comes your favorite customer.”

mike’s head shot up from the coffee grinder he was cleaning to look at the door.

“dipshit!” dustin hissed. “could you possibly make it any more obvious?”

mike blushed, but ignored him. he couldn’t help it.

mike, and one of his best friends, dustin, worked as baristas at a small, independent coffee shop in hawkins, indiana. they had a pretty solid reputation, and, although the drinks were a little pricey, it was generally worth it. mike never felt entirely like he fit in or got the hang of it, and the pressures of morning rushes had gotten to him really badly in his first month there. he had honestly been considering putting his two weeks in- that was, until this adorable stranger turned up one day. the stranger- will was the name he had them put on the cup- was absolutely perfect, in mike’s eyes. he was just about the cutest person mike had ever seen, and was super polite and kind. whenever he came into the shop, he always ordered the same thing- a small, white chocolate mocha with extra whipped cream. will always tended to tip generously, but that wasn’t the only thing that made mike like him so much. every time he came into the shop, will took a seat at a table and drew in a sketchbook for a while. it was clear that he was working on something pretty significant, and mike loved watching will’s adorable face scrunch up with concentration. mike had never seen this specific drawing, but he had seen others. will always did a quick doodle on another piece of paper or a napkin or something and left it at his table before leaving the shop. it was usually an animal with a speech bubble that had some variation of “thank you” on it. no one knew, but mike had a small collection of these drawings at his house. will never gave them to him directly, but mike had taken his order every single time he’d come into the shop, and couldn’t help but feel like the drawings might be for him. all in all, mike was basically a whipped, pining bisexual, lusting after a guy that he had never even held much of a conversation with. not that that ever stopped mike from daydreaming.

“can you finish cleaning this?” mike muttered to dustin, shoving the coffee grinder at him and quickly going to the register before dustin even had a chance to respond. dustin rolled his eyes but took the coffee grinder and continued cleaning it as he watched mike out of the corner of his eye.

mike smiled nervously and waved as will approached the counter. he immediately regretted waving. ugh, that looked so stupid. everything about him looked stupid right now! why didn’t he spend more time on his hair this morning? why did his cheeks have to heat up RIGHT this second? and why did he do that stupid little wave?

will smiled back his cute little smile, the one that always made mike’s heart flutter a little bit and waved back. he had a sketchbook tucked under his arm and looked rather cozy in a blue hoodie and black skinny jeans.

absolutely fucking adorable.

“h-hi!” mike said, a little too eagerly when will came up to the counter. he immediately kicked himself for his excitedness and his stutter, but tried not to let it show on his face. he cleared his throat before continuing on with a question he already knew the answer to. “what can i get you?”

“one small white chocolate mocha with extra whip, please,” will said politely.

“sure thing,” mike said, punching it into the computer. “name?”

will giggled a little.

“i feel like you should know that by now,” he said, smirking and leaning on the counter a bit. mike immediately felt a blush creep onto his cheeks, from the comment, the smirk, the lean, and most of all, the confidence. will seemed so sweet and innocent when you first met him, but he had seen will’s confidence creep out sometimes. and mike wasn’t gonna lie, it was really attractive. “am i just not memorable?”

“what? n-no!” mike said quickly, widening his eyes and shaking his head quickly. “no, not- not at all! i just get a lot of customers, you know? you really are memorable. not in a weird way! you just- i don’t know, you have a really specific face? and your personality is really memorable and cute. wait, n-not cute. not in- not in a weird way!”

mike beat himself up with every word he spoke. what the fuck was he saying? shut the fuck up, mike.

will, however, was watching mike with amusement. he smirked and raised an eyebrow with each comment. how cute was this guy?

“i’m messing with you,” will finally said after a second. mike stopped mid-word and cocked an eyebrow, then let it fall, hid face somehow turning even more scarlet. “it’s will.”

“oh. y- yeah, i know,” mike said quickly, waving it off. “that you were messing with me, that is! not your name! i- i was just- i don’t know. ignore me.”

will smiled.

“anything for you,” he said, taking out his wallet as mike’s heart skipped a beat. stupid, stupid, stupid. it’s just a random comment, people say things like that all the time. “i’m sorry, what’s my total?”

mike smiled nervously and decided to be a bit bolder this time.

“i feel like you should know that by now,” he said. will laughed.

“fair enough,” he admitted. “here, keep the change.”

mike smiled and nodded as will stepped over to the side and got on his phone, waiting for his drink. mike put the money in the cash register and grabbed a cup, scribbling “will” onto it, then began making the drink. as he began, dustin came over to him and set a coffee cup in front of him. it was empty, but had dustin’s handwriting on the outside.

“smooth,” it read. mike sighed and rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he continued to make the drink. after another minute, he was done. he leaned over the counter.

“here you go.” will put his phone in his pocket and took the drink. he smiled and flicked his eyes from mike’s eyes to his lips and back again, a small smirk growing on his face. for some reason, it seemed like something had changed. like he knew something or was thinking something. hm. whatever.

“thanks, mike.”

mike blushed as will went over to a table in the corner and sat down, opening up his sketchbook. he had never said mike’s name before.

“dude, stop staring.”

mike peeled his eyes away from will and looked at dustin, who was watching him with a cocked eyebrow. “at least TRY to be subtle.”

“i’m being perfectly subtlel!” mike hissed defensively. dustin rolled his eyes and turned back to his work. mike did the same, turning back to HIS work- staring at a cute boy while pretending to wipe the counter.

will drew in his sketchbook for about 45 minutes, sipping his drink and making that cute concentrated look that mike had come to adore. finally, after almost an hour, will closed his sketchbook and sighed. he picked up a napkin and made a quick doodle on it, then headed for the door, throwing a small smile and wave back at mike and dustin.

the second he was out of the shop, mike bolted to the table will was sitting at. dustin raised an eyebrow.

“you’re whipped, mike.”

“shut up!”

mike quickly unfolded the napkin and stared at the drawing. it wasn’t the usual animal with a speech bubble that said, “thank you!” nope. that wasn’t it at all.

it was a drawing of a phone with the tinder logo on it. the phone had a little text bubble coming from it, and it read “mike_w- you’ve got some real nice pics, there. maybe we’re a match. -willbyerss”.

mike blinked and read the drawing again. and again. and again. he felt like he was going to faint. trying his best to hide his grin, he took out his phone and quickly opened his tinder app. after two quick swipes left, he saw it: will’s profile. there were a couple cute pictures of him with friends and at the beach, and there was one picture at the end that made mike blush. he scrolled down will’s profile and read through all of his information. if mike thought that picture was a little risqué, it was nothing compared to will’s BIO, which made mike feel faint.

“i don’t go to church, but you can find me on my knees any day of the week ;)” it read. who taught him to be so confident and flirty?

not that mike was complaining. honestly, he didn’t think he’d ever get enough of it.

“mike!”

mike jumped and turned back. dustin looked annoyed.

“let’s go, i need help with these drive-through orders!” he said. “you can obsessively clean your boyfriend’s table later.”

mike blushed and stuffed the napkin in his pocket. he put his phone back into his pocket as he headed over to the counter.

but not before swiping right on will.

***

mike was in his room. he had been staring at will’s profile for a solid hour and a half. he was just SO cute. and his profile was perfect. it wasn’t so basic and incomplete that he didn’t learn anything, but it wasn’t so full that it was annoying to read. mike couldn’t stop swiping through the photos and feeling his face get hot.

he wanted more than anything for will to message him. but knew that that was probably out of the question. will had put the ball in mike’s court, and he was very respectful, so if mike didn’t reach out, will would take that as a “no, thank you”, and move on.

sighing, mike opened his messages and stared at the blank page. he typed out several messages, but all of them sounded wrong. finally, he settled on one.

mike_w: how about that, looks like we matched after all

after typing it out, mike clicked his phone off and slammed it down. he vowed to himself that he would get to bed early and not look at any more notifications tonight.

a moment later, mike’s phone buzzed. he immediately picked it up and his heart leapt when he saw that the notification was from tinder.

yeah, okay. he’s breaking that vow. not even going to try and kid himself into thinking that he can wait.

willbyerss: well, well, well, look who it is

willbyerss: glad to see you got my doodle, was hoping your coworker didn’t pick it up

mike_w: i typically clean the tables and i especially do when you’re there

mike_w: i love your doodles

mike_w: although i would REALLY love to see what you’re working on in the big sketchbook every time you come in

willbyerss: well to tell you the truth i’ve been working on something for a while now

mike_w: which is?

willbyerss: i take a lot of inspiration from everything around me

willbyerss: so it’s a portrait of a really cute barista who works at my favorite coffee shop that i’ve had a little crush on for a while

mike_w: is that so?

willbyerss: mhmm

mike_w: well i bet this barista would probably want to see that drawing

mike_w: probably thinks your art is really great

willbyerss: that’s very sweet of him

willbyerss: although honestly i’d rather know how he feels about me instead of my art

mike_w: i’m willing to bet that he probably has felt the same way about you for a while

mike_w: probably noticed you the first time you came in and thought you were adorable and has convinced his coworkers to let him take your order every time you’re there

mike_w: hypothetically, of course

willbyerss: ah yes, all hypothetical

willbyerss: you know i’m actually messaging with this guy right now

mike_w: yeah?

willbyerss: oh yeah

mike_w: how’s that going

willbyerss: great, although he’s kinda surprising me a bit

mike_w: how so?

willbyerss: well he’s acting super confident and flirty but in person he’s a nervous wreck and the cutest dork i’ve ever seen

mike_w: there’s probably a good chance that he’s still acting like that right now and is smiling like a middle schooler who just had their first kiss

mike_w: just one of those situations where he can make himself look put together over text, you know?

willbyerss: makes sense. and warms my heart tbh, i always thought those mannerisms were super endearing

mike_w: well that’s good, i bet that those mannerisms have no chance at leaving any time soon

willbyerss: glad to hear it

willbyerss: so you say he’s probably smiling like a middle schooler who just had their first kiss?

mike_w: i’m willing to bet that, yes

willbyerss: damn, wish i was there, that sounds like the cutest thing i could possibly witness

willbyerss: wish i was there for a couple of reasons tbh

mike_w: he probably wishes you were there too, and he’s probably freaking out about your confident and shameless flirting right now

willbyerss: maybe i’ll just have to act this way in person so i can see it happen in real time

willbyerss: i mean i want to make him blush like a middle schooler who just got their first kiss

willbyerss: wonder if he’d react like that if i kissed him

mike_w: hmmm yes probably i could see that happening

willbyerss: perfect

willbyerss: maybe the next time i see him and we get a moment alone i’ll push him up against a wall and give him the best kiss of his life just so he knows how perfect he is

mike_w: will i can’t do this oh my god i’m fucking combusting

mike_w: fuck i’m so red right now

willbyerss: cutie pie

willbyerss: i’m gonna take that as a good thing and say that i’m probably allowed to do that the next chance i get

mike_w: hope you’re taking that as i’m BEGGING you to do that the next chance you get

willbyerss: anything for you lovely

willbyerss: when are you in next

mike_w: tomorrow morning

willbyerss: see you then handsome

mike_w: afsdhjk <3

willbyerss: so fucking adorable

mike clicked his phone off and let it drop on his chest. he closed his eyes, a huge grin spreading across his face, then squealed and kicked his feet in the air.

for once, he couldn’t be more excited for an 8am shift.

***

mike grinned as the bell on the door rang and his favorite face came in. he felt some nervous energy, but not in a bad way like he usually did. now, it was more excited tension. will grinned back and came right up to the counter.

“don’t tell me,” said mike. “a small white chocolate mocha with extra whip, for will, and you’re gonna give me a $3 tip on an already too expensive drink?”

will smiled, gazing into mike’s eyes with a flirty expression. he hummed happily.

“look who’s learning,” he said. “guess i just had to make myself more memorable, huh?”

mike blushed and smiled.

“guess so.”

#stranger things #stranger things au #stranger things fanfic #stranger things fic #coffee shop au #stranger things coffee shop au #byler #byler au #byler coffee shop au #byler fanfic #byler one shot #byler fic #mike wheeler #will byers #mike wheeler i know what you are #soft mike wheeler #pining mike wheeler

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kuumara · 1 year

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Carnival boy

Mike never wanted to go to this thing. He still doesn't, but he has no choice really, which is unfair. He has no choice because if he doesn't get in the car, Max and Dustin won't stop shouting at him to "get in already" and "stop being such a boring vermin" until his brain explodes and he dies and they finally drive off.

So, here he is, in El's car with unbrushed teeth, a damned D&D logo shirt on and barely conscious, for he literally just woke up (Lucas was carrying him to the car).

He really doesn't know if the group keeps him around because they actually like him, or because he's fun to laugh at.

But, soon enough he's singing "Call Me" by Blondie, along with Lucas. El would've be singing as well if she weren't driving. She loves driving, because when she drives it's "like the only thing that exists is me and the road", as she told him herself.

It was a short ride, but they had to stop like five times because Dustin isn't great with motion sickness. In the end it was worth it. Relatively clean walkways, a lot of shade, blue skies, cheap ice cream and, for once, enough sun screen for all of them.

They found a parking spot and started walking around to see if they find anything fun. Of course, they did- Lucas volunteered to sit in the thing where you have to hit a target to dunk the person sitting in the chair. Mike hit the target immediately, which was very funny to the kids watching them.

Then, they went on the rollercoasters. Dustin couldn't handle it, and he literally passed out for a moment while on there. So, Mike waited with him while the others were on the rides. He didn't like rollercoasters that much, anyway.

The crowd got thicker the moment the skies started to tint purple. And of course, he lost Dustin. He tried to wait for a moment in one spot, to look for him, but the constant flow of people pushed him into one of the stalls. He figured it's probably not that big of a deal, so he stood in a random stall and looked around the crowd to possibly spot Dustin.

"Uhm- you need help?"

Mike jumped. Turned around. There was a guy- a pretty guy standing there. He's never used 'pretty' to describe guys, and he preferred 'handsome', but this guy- he was pretty alright. Even with his dumbass neon-colored vest.

Pretty guy was now coming closer to him, he's been quiet for too long. He reached his arm out, and Mike's heartbeat skyrocketed.

"Hel-"

"Oh! I'm sorry, I lost my friend and there's too much people there, I couldn't find him, I can go," Mike finally got his tongue back, and was already one foot out the stall, when

"Oh, no, you can stay then- I mean, going back out there and constantly moving would just make it harder to find your friend, wouldn't it?" Pretty guy chuckled.

"You really don't have to do that, heh, but very sweet of you," Mike said, out of politeness. He actually didn't want to go, of course, but he would rather leave a good impression than come off as clingy and desperate, or something.

"No, really! You need to find your friend, and I could use some company. I mean- my brother has been handling the business for, like, an hour now, and I've got nothing to do," Pretty guy cringed at what he's said, perhaps knowing Mike sensed the desperation in his voice. But Mike just smiled, he liked that pretty guy wanted him to stay.

"Alright, then. Thank you- I'm Mike. By the way. Michael- But Mike. Y'know."

Pretty guy smiled. Mike stared.

"Hey, Mike. I'm Will. William," Now it was Mike's turn to smile. He offered out a hand, cuz he's a gentleman like that, and Will shook it. Will looked down at Mike's chest, and smiled even more brightly.

"Haha! You know D&D?" He asked. Mike felt embarrassed- maybe Will wasn't such a great guy after all...

Will must've noticed the change in expression from Mike, and hurried to add, "I love D&D! Well, I would love it even more if I had anyone to play my campaigns with. I wanted to teach my mom or my brother to play, but nothing came out of it. They think it's 'alright'. 'Alright'!"

Never mind. This is getting better and better! This guy is literally the guy of his dreams. And he's had no one to play D&D with? A chance with him literally handed on a plate-

"THERE HE IS" "MIKE WHEELER!" He heard in the distance. His friends.

They all rushed to the stall Will and Mike were in.

"You left us-" "Didn't even come looking for me!" They all started talking at once. Will found it entertaining, so Mike let them, trying his best to cover up his smile.

"Who's your new friend?" El asked. Mike couldn't tell if she was teasing him.

"Hey- I'm Will, hi," He smiled nervously. The others stared at him for a while, before all smiling back and reaching out to shake his hand.

"I'm Lucas-" "I love your vest!" "Can you give us free stuff?" "Do you have popcorn," et cetera et cetera. Will just nodded and smiled.

Max cut in. "Guys! Stop. Let's go play the game, look!"

It was a balloon game- the one where you have to aim balloons to hopefully get a prize. They all agreed and stepped in front of the stall, while Will got everything set up.

"You guys know how to play?" Will's brother asked. They nodded, and Lucas started throwing the mini arrows. He popped 9 out of 12 balloons, got a rabbit plushie with terrifying eyes staring at him.

Next was Max, hitting 5 out of 12, which Mike laughed at. After she threw an arrow at him, it was El's turn, and she got 2 out of 12. Everyone cheered. Dustin got 11, impressively. Then, Mike's turn.

"Good luck, Mike," Will said sweetly, and smiled from under his long lashes. He hasn't said that to anyone else. Mike's heartbeat skyrocketed again.

Alright, he has to impress him, now. No going back. If only he can unfocus from Will's flirty- flirty? Definitely flirty- gaze.

He had to hurry, to not become suspicious to his friends and them teasing him about this for at least two weeks.

He threw the arrow, completely missed. Another one, missed. So on and so on. His friends booed him every time. Until eventually, he hit one of the moving ones, and everyone cheered. Will, too- which is really all that mattered.

He is staring directly at him. Mike held eye contact. Kids are screaming. The group is laughing. The carnival lights shining everywhere. People whooping on the rollercoaster not too far away. Everything, yet only them.

Lucas shook him by the shoulders.

He whispered. "Dude." Will walked to the back of the stall. The moment was over, so Mike scowled at Lucas.

"What do you wa-"

"Ask for his number. Like, right now,"

Mike was confused.

"What- Do you like him?" He asked, a little bit hurt. He doesn't want to compete for Will's affections, especially not with Lucas. He would never get a chance if that happened.

"No, dumbass! I'm not gonna steal your man, who d'you think I am!"

Oh, alright. That makes more sense- Except Mike's never been good at directly hitting on someone. But it's too late, Max and El are already saying goodbye to Will's brother-

Lucas pushes him to the back of the stall. There's way less people here, now. He figures the kids have gone home, thankfully. He hates screeching, crying, sneezing little babies. He doesn't understand how people even-

"Hey, Mike," a soft voice says. Mike spots him. Will, finally with him again. He remembers what he's here to ask.

"Oh- hey, Will!" Oh, God, why can't he ever control his voice. He definitely sounds clingy and desperate. Fortunately, Will smiles fondly, and all Mike can do is smile back goofily.

Will laughs. "You need anything?"

"Ah- no- well, yes. Your number. Well- I mean-" He sighs. "Can I... get your number? You- mentioned you don't have anyone to play D&D with, and since we both wanna play it, why not play it together, y'know? My friends are also kind of nerds about it,"

Will beams. "Really? I don't, like, wanna be a burden or anything..."

"No! No! You would never be a burden- Just don't worry, they've all told me they want you to come to our next meeting. They like you." Mike assures him.

"And I do, too- We all do! I'll give you my number, and you can think about it. Incase you would feel anxious, because they're new people, or something. That happens to me all the time, so I get it- Well, in case that happens, you should still, uh, call me and we could- have a one-on-one session, would be fun. Yeah,"

Will giggles. His charms must've worked on him, then.

"Alright. But, I think we should have a one-on-one session in any case."

He's flirting? He is. Alright, Mike, be smooth now. And stop staring at his lips, goddamnit.

"Anytime you want,"

Good enough. Will's blushing, now. Mike is enjoying this, he wants to make Will blush all the time, actually.

Mike writes down his number and gives the paper to Will. Their fingers brush, Mike feels like a firework.

"Thank you, Mike,"

"No- thank you! And, uh. Call me."

Will laughs, smiles at him through his lashes again. Mike's gonna go crazy if he does this on their one-on-one session.

"Alright. Goodnight, then,"

"Sleep tight."

And if Mike was looking like a zombie the next day at work because of his lack of sleep... You couldn't resist Will Byers asking you to stay on the phone a little bit longer either, could you?

---

im getting good at this hoyl shit

inspired by this guy

my babygirl

#will byers #mike wheeler #miwi #byler #byler au #byler fic #byler ficlet #byler fluff #getting together #pining #strangers to friends etc etc etc

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soniccrazygal · 10 months

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Midnight Conversations

Nothing like some hot chocolate in the middle of the night to discuss the different kinds of crazy your lives are.

So guess who was rereading Pitfalls... man I had so much fun writing it and I'm still so happy with how it turned out. The Michael on the left is from @pixlokita's Into the Ballpit AU

#mike pines au #into the ballpit au #fnaf #pitfalls #pixlokita #five nights at freddy's #michael afton

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ttrkhb · 1 year

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byler au where post-canon, they attend the same college but Will goes abroad for a semester. Mike gets another chance at writing letters and realizes that, while Will is away, maybe -just maybe- their relationship is more romantic than he’d previously thought…

#featuring lumax as the begrudging friends that aid Mike in his realizations #also featuring needlessly jealous mike. cringefail loser pining mike. confident will and more!#yeah. yeah okay. writing this immediately.#byler #byler au #will byers #mike wheeler #stranger things #byler fanfic #byler fic #\\ m musings

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shadowjokerao3 · 7 months

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Is it too late for Halloween stuff??? Nah, never too late! An idea I like to call “The Bad End Boys” came into my head and… well… y’all can see where that went.

First is the one who inspired this to begin with, the fashionable bad ending to the Mike Pines AU by @soniccrazygal

Next is a bad ending to my boy FoxTrap.

After that I had to take some creative liberties for Plush Mike by @kiramorganpotatoqueen, based them off of a Freddle from FNAF 4.

More creative liberties for Into the Pit Mike from @pixlokita, took some inspiration from Shattered Glamrock Freddy from the RUIN DLC.

And then Lolbit Mike from @inkspottie Laughing at Tragedy wasn’t that had. First time for me drawing them not in their Rockstar design.

Anyway yeah. Multiversal Therapy can’t do much for them like this.

#no judgement please #bad at art #digital art #fnaf au #fanfic art #6 feet under au #michael afton #fnaf #mike pines au #into the pit au #into the ballpit au #laughing at tragedy #plush mike au #is this considered fanart?#bad ending #i tried my best

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morganski-19 · 9 months

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With a Comma After Dearest Part 2

part 1

Dear Robin,

I think that writing these like old letters is so funny. It’s like the letters they would read during the documentaries they show in history class. But a lot less serious since we’re not talking about our husbands being away at war or something.

But anyway, I’m sorry you haven’t been able to sleep that well. I remember the first time around, not being able to get through a night without seeing the demogorgon’s face. Or just mouth I guess. I would keep replaying that moment in Jonathan’s house over and over again, it always ending in one of us dying. And then there was something else I would dream a lot too. It’s hard for me to even write it, but I think that was the worst of my nightmares.

I know this isn’t your first upside-down encounter, but the second I think is always the worst. The first one isn’t exactly easier, but at least then you can convince yourself it is over and it’s not coming back. When it’s the second, there’s no telling if there’s going to be a third, or fourth. So the nightmares just keep coming because you’re scared that there’s going to be a next time.

Anyway, I’m sorry for this being so sad. I didn’t mean it to be. I guess you’re just easy to talk to or write to I guess. Ever since me and Jonathan broke up, it’s kind of been hard. I lost the person I talked to the most about this, and I don’t really have a lot of other friends. It’ll be nice to have someone like that again. If you want to, be friends.

Not to say that we’re not right now. I guess I just don’t really know that much about you. We only really spent that one week together and the only thing I can remember you saying about yourself is that you took six months longer to walk than all of the other babies.

We’ll have to hang out soon. I’m pretty busy with school right now, I have like three tests in a row starting on Monday. But I might be able to hang out on the weekend. I’ll let you know. And I’ll call you if I get the chance.

From,

Nancy

Robin pulls out her notebook and starts to write a response, careful not to get any of the food from her lunch on the paper. She doesn’t exactly know what to say, or at least how to crop down what she wants to say instead of just rambling on in the letter. It doesn’t necessarily have to be short, Nancy’s was a full page this time. But she feels like she has so much to say that it could fill up multiple pages, or not even enough to fill one page.

Because she doesn’t want to go into the depths of her nightmares. Doesn’t want to go in deep about how Nancy’s right. The first time is better because you think it’s over, the second is worse because you know it can happen again. This time though, it’s worse because Robin feels like she didn’t do enough. That if she had thrown herself in more danger like the first time, maybe Max wouldn’t have been in the hospital for so long, and maybe Eddie wouldn’t have almost died.

Deep down she knows that’s not true. She knows that no matter what she did, it would have still happened. It’s not like she’s the strongest or most coordinated in the bunch. Taking down monsters with her bare hands or shooting guns isn’t her specialty. Sure, she has just the right amount to throw a flaming bottle of alcohol toward an other-dimensional demon that weakens them enough for another person to deal the final blow. But if she could only do more.

The first time was almost built to her strong suits. Foreign language translation and puzzles that were easy for her to solve. Secret Russian bases where it was easy for her to place herself between the danger and the kids. So what if it gave her trauma that will affect her for life, she at least saved them. This time she couldn’t do anything.

It’s gotten so bad that she’s starting to sound a bit like Steve. He’s normally the first one to start self-doubting, wondering if there was something else he could have done to make it easier for someone else. It’s him that the barrier between danger and everyone else lies. He’s the one to jump into a lake to check if there’s a mystical portal to another dimension. He’s the one to climb into said portal again to make a softer landing even though he still has open wounds on his sides. He’s the one to put himself in last place at the hospital if it means everyone else will be looked at faster.

She tells him that he needs to look after himself more. Needs to start putting himself first sometimes and stop being so hard on himself. Though now that she’s been doing the same thing, she understands how easy it is. It’s easy to blame everything on yourself when the world flips upside down. That can’t be controlled, but the way you react to it can.

Even now, Robin looks at the note Nancy wrote and can’t help but feel like she failed. Nancy and Jonathan broke up and she didn’t even know about it. Not that Nancy has to tell her everything, they’re not nearly close enough for that. But still, she wishes that she were there for her. She could have brought the ice cream and they could scream and cry at cheesy romcoms because they’re stupid and love isn’t real.

But maybe that’s the point of all this. Robin could get to know Nancy more and then she could be there for those moments. And maybe Robin could tell Nancy about herself, and then Nancy could be there for her too.

. . .

Dear Nancy,

I have o go and watch some of those documentaries just so I can find some new ways to start these letters because the “dear” and “from” are getting old and there are better options. Like, we could have so much fun creating new ones too.

It’s nice to know that I’m not alone in the way I‘m dealing with all of this. And I don’t mind you talking about it. It’s not as big of a mood damper if it’s already been all you can think about. I just hate that it’s so different this time. Like, last summer was hard. I’m not saying that it wasn’t. But I could at least go over to Steve’s and sleep knowing that he was alive right next to me. It’s different now that we’re in school and I have to get up every morning and pretend like nothing’s wrong.

Also, I’m sorry to hear that you and Jonathan broke up. I thought that once he was here, you guys would talk and figure everything out. It seemed like you guys were good at doing that. Not to say that you weren’t in the end. But I guess I was rooting for you, a bit. But hey, you have me to talk to now. That’s something, I guess.

I guess it’s true that we don’t know each other that well. I’m trying to think of all the basic shit that people would talk about in the first day of class introductions. You know, just speed run this getting-to-know process. My favorite color is green, I used to play soccer but I don’t anymore, I play trumpet in the band. I guess my fun fact would be that I’m fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, and Pig Latin. Though that isn’t really a real language, just one that I can mess with people. I can also speak a little Russian because of last summer, but I don’t bring that one up as much.

That’s all I can think of right now. But I guess we don’t need to know that much to be friends. Trauma bonding kinda of gets us there halfway. It’s how me and Steve became best friends, so it can happen with us too.

I also have a few tests next week too so don’t worry about it. But I’m pretty much always available for a call so feel free to do that.

From (better outro pending),

Robin

Nancy laughs at the last line, Robin’s voice reading the words in her head. She might have not talked to Robin much since spring break, but something about her voice just stuck in her head. Hard not to when Robin can talk a mile a minute without even taking a break. It’s not that annoying when you get used to it, kind of endearing actually. And her ability to make up arguments on the spot is impressive, Nancy almost wants to convince her to join debate.

Not like that would matter now, the school year is almost over and they’re about to graduate. Weird how time moved so fast this year. Almost like she was just running toward a finish line so she could finally end this one, terrible chapter in her life, hoping that when she turned the next page, it wouldn’t be as bad.

That’s why these last few tests are so important. Even though she’s already been accepted into Emerson, finishing the school year without a dip in her GPA means that she made it. That out of everything that happened, there’s still a part of Nancy that hasn’t been forever changed. It’s just something to prove to herself that she can still do it. Still be able to get an A on a test and get into the college of her dreams. Even if the idea of leaving Hawkins now grows a pit in her stomach.

Robin’s right though, they don’t really know that much about each other. Nancy makes a list in her head of everything that she knows about Robin, and while that list isn’t exactly short, she does feel like it could be longer. In the letter, Robin listed off things that Nancy wouldn’t have even thought of asking, or even thought were that necessary to know about someone in order to be their friend. But even those small details made Robin more interesting to her. She finds herself wanting to know every last small detail of Robin.

Nancy doesn’t know what it is about Robin that draws her in. It could be how easy it is to talk to her or her warm personality, even if it is hidden behind sarcastic remarks and a tough exterior. Or maybe it’s how smart she is. Nancy would have someone else to talk to about her classes. Maybe have someone to go to the library with her again and they wouldn’t just preoccupy themselves by doing something else.

It’s hard to think about doing things like that with someone else again, in the way she used to do it with someone else. But maybe that’s what makes Robin so interesting to her. Because deep down, Nancy can draw the parallels and make the connections, filling in the role of someone else she lost. Even though she knows it would never happen like that. Robin’s different, but a good different. She’s not going to replace what’s gone, just bring something new to the table.

She feels a bit guilty by finding someone else to do those things with her. Have the sleepovers and the talks that were reserved for that one person and no one else. Not that she and Robin have done any of that yet, but she wants to. It would be good for her to have a friend again, a best friend again.

That used to be Jonathan, but then that got complicated. Breaking up with him was hard, even though she knew it was coming. The separation was too much for them and they both resorted back to their old ways. They both closed each other off to how they were truly feeling. The Byers are staying for a week and then going back to finish out the school year in California. So it’s not like they couldn’t have made it work for a few more months, it would have just been too hard.

Especially now. Jonathan wasn’t here this time, they didn’t have the same experience to talk each other through. He was driving across the country while she was walking through the upside down. It was different, too different. In the end, she was glad that he wasn’t there so he could look after Mike and El, and be with his brother who was always his first priority. Not that there was anything wrong with that.

It was just too hard for her this time. There was something about their relationship that was gone, dissolved over the distance. She tried to ignore it, try to rebuild it in her mind. But after talking with him about it, he felt the same way, somewhat. They both wanted different lives, their paths were in different directions. They would always be there for each other but as friends. At least she hopes.

She’s kind of just alone right now. Except she isn’t, because Robin is there. And maybe she could reach out to Steve or Eddie if she really needed it. They went through the same things, they would know where she’s coming from. But even then, it’s still a bit weird.

It’s not weird with Robin. Or complicated. Or anything at all. It’s just normal. Like talking to a friend you’ve known your whole life. It’s something that’s natural and easy.

. . .

Greetings Robin,

Kind of hate that but I couldn’t think of anything else.

I guess I never really thought about how much I know about you. I haven’t made a friend outside of upside-down experiences in so long, that I might have forgotten how to do it. But you know, I don’t really care. I think that being friends with someone is more than just knowing what your favorite color is.

Not that I’m mad at you for telling me, it’s nice to know. Also, you speak three, four if we’re including pig-Latin, languages. Holy shit! I can only speak the little bit of Spanish that they teach in school, but I’m sure there is so much more that they don’t cover.

Some things about me I guess is my favorite color is blue, even if my room is covered in pink. I like them both but blue is definitely my favorite. I have never played an instrument in my life, no musical ability here. I’ve always really liked writing, that’s why I like journalism so much, and English is my favorite subject. My fun fact you already kind of know, but I have a really good aim. Without even trying really. I just kind of picked up a gun one time and shot it perfectly. You could ask Jonathan if you want proof, he was there.

That’s all I can think of right now. But if you want to know anything specific, go ahead and ask. I’m not afraid to share anything with you. You kind of have that effect, I can’t tell why.

Also, I will definitely call if I have the time. It’ll be nice to hear your voice for once instead of just reading your letters. Not that I want to stop doing this, it’s really fun.

Sincerely,

Nancy

(P.S. Look, I signed the letter more old-timey)

Robin rereads the letters under the glow of her bedside lamp. She doesn’t exactly know why, it’s just comforting. Knowing that someone’s been there before, laying in their bed just wishing they could fall asleep, but knowing that when they do, it won’t be for long.

She debates calling Nancy, she really does. It’s basically an open invitation, but one she can’t seem to accept. There’s something about Nancy’s words, something about the way she writes that makes Robin confused. Well not exactly how she writes, but what she writes.

I’m not afraid to share anything with you. You kind of have that effect, I can’t tell why.

Robin can’t tell why either. It’s odd, like the feeling she had with Steve after they escaped the Russian bunker. That feeling of trust where you can just tell anyone anything about you, and they would just listen without judgment. It’s a scary feeling to have, especially for Robin. But this time it’s a different kind of scary. She just can’t figure out why.

Turning to her phone, she dials the number so familiar she can do it with her eyes closed.

“Harrington residence,” Steve mutters through the phone.

“That’s formal for a midnight caller.”

“You’d be surprised how many people call this house in the middle of the night. What’s up, Rob.”

She rolls over onto her back. “Can’t sleep.”

“Welcome to the club. What’s it this time?”

“The normal, I guess. Preparing to have another nightmare.”

“We can talk about something random, help get your mind off of it.”

Robin sighs, already feeling her eyes start to droop. “That might work.”

“Ok. Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask but have you talked to Vickie more? You two seemed to get along at the charity drive.”

“Oh uh, yeah we did. A few times. We hung out once but I don’t really think we’re going to do it that often. It’s weird. I really liked her before all of this and now, I don’t know. It kind of just faded. And we’re like really similar, but in the kind of way that you want your best friend to be but not in the way you want your girlfriend to be. I don’t know. The spark, or whatever, just wasn’t there. And we almost kissed, but it just felt wrong so I stopped it before it happened.”

“Shit, I’m sorry, Rob.”

“Yeah well, what can you do? I’ll just be hopelessly alone forever.”

“Don’t say that, Rob. You’ll find somebody.”

Robin rolls her eyes. “Says the guy who has been on a million dates.”

“But, has yet to find someone I actually have a connection to.”

“Whatever. How’s Eddie been?”

Steve pauses. “Ok, I guess. I don’t know. He’s, he’s really guarded with some stuff, especially with what happened when we weren’t with him. I’ve been trying to get him to open up, but he won’t. And there’s something else that’s bothering him, I can tell. I just, we’re becoming friends but it still seems like he can’t trust me.”

“Give him time,” she yawns. “I’m sure he’ll come around, I did.”

“Yeah well, that was different.”

Robin hums through the receiver, rolling over and letting her eyes shut.

“I’ll still be on the line if you need it, but try and get some sleep. Ok.”

“Yeah, ok,” Robin whispers before she falls asleep.

. . .

Mike knocks on Nancy’s door, causing her to look up from her notecards. “Hey, uh. Just wanted to let you know that Will’s coming over. Jonathan’s dropping him off, but he probably won’t come to the door.”

Nancy nods her head. “Ok.”

“You know, so you don’t have to see him.”

“Yeah, I got that. Thank you.” Nancy eyes the box hiding in her closet as Mike starts to shut the door. “Wait, could you let me know when he’s here? I have some stuff I should probably give back to him.”

Mike gives her a look. “How do you still have some of his stuff after he moved to California? Didn’t you give it all back then?”

“It’s complicated,” she supplies.

“Whatever,” he rolls his eyes, leaving her door cracked when he leaves.

It wasn’t exactly that complicated. Some things are just better left unexplained, at least to those who might not care to listen. Mike might care about knowing, she just thinks he might think it’s stupid. But it helped, so it wasn’t stupid to her.

There was this jacket that Jonathan always wore a lot that reminded her of him. When he left, she asked to keep it, just to have something of him, anything. They had plenty of pictures, memories, and mixtapes. But that wasn’t the same as having the person there beside you. Having a picture didn’t comfort you during a tough night.

She would wrap the jacket around her at night when she would miss him. When the nights felt lonely and her mind was tired of keeping the thoughts buried away, so they came back. The doubt seeped in and the nightmares came. He wasn’t there with her to help, so she relied on his jacket. Except that jacket doesn’t hold that purpose anymore, it won’t help anymore. Doesn’t help anymore.

Other things lie in that box too. A mixtape or two that she didn’t need anymore. A tape that he left in her car. Some random things that she didn’t need, that it didn’t feel right to keep.

Mike yelled upstairs when they pulled up. Nancy braces herself with a deep breath before picking up the box and heading out the front door.

Jonathan spots her, sighing while putting the car in park and getting out. He leans on the door, crossing his arms and avoiding looking at her.

“Hi,” she says, not quite knowing what else to say. What do you say to someone’s heart you broke?

“I’m guessing that’s mine.”

Nancy looks down at the box in her arms, feeling guilty that there’s so much. Mike was right, she already gave most of it back. “Yeah, just some stuff I thought you’d want.”

He looks at her, finally, taking the box from her and putting it in the back seat. “Thanks.”

“So. How’ve you been?”

“Can we not do this, Nancy,” he says, slamming the door, making her jump.

She looks down at her shoes. “Sorry.”

“I want to get to a place where we can be friends again. But I’m going to need some time. Can you just give me some space?”

“Yeah, yeah I can do that. Just let me know when, if you want to talk again.”

He gets into the car without another word. Only muttering, “Goodbye, Nancy,” before driving off.

She couldn’t help but feel guilty, but it was coming to an end, they both knew that. Maybe she just knew it more than him. If she just gave it a bit more time, maybe it would have worked. It would have, she knew it, but she just hated hurting him. Even more hurting herself.

When she gets back to her room, she sits on her bed, knowing that she won’t be able to study for a little while. She has the urge to call Robin, just talk to someone about this with, but can't seem to do it. The words are too hard to say. Instead, she takes out a piece of notebook paper and writes, then rewrites. She compiled all of what she had to say into one page, afraid of writing too much. mike wheel

Once it’s finished, she slides it into her backpack, planning on sliding it between her locker Monday morning.

#ronance #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #steve harrington #mike wheeler #jonathan byers #ronance fic #with a comma after dearest fic #part 2 #stranger things #stranger things fic #fanfic #getting together #note passing au #pining #angst #friends to lovers

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afewproblems · 9 months

Text

Season Two Halloween AU Part Six

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five

As always, thank you thank you to the lovely Jess @strangersteddierthings for letting me inundate you with spoilers and general Stranger Things/Steddie screaming!

[CW: Period Typical Homophobia from the antagonist, violence, gore, bodily injury, Billy Hargrove is his own warning.]

***

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

Eddie takes a step closer to Steve, but Dustin is faster.

He pulls on the jacket sleeve, taking Steve to the window and Eddie can't even find the words to say to make him stop.

He wants to tell Dustin to give them a second, he wants to press pause on this whole horrible night and ask Steve to explain.

Because in what world did this make sense?

There is no possible way Steve is gay, and even if is, the guy is fresh off of being dumped by his girlfriend just days before.

On top of that, they're all running on fumes from a day searching for Dart, fortifying an old school bus, laying the Demodog trap in the junkyard, and finally coming back to the Byers to make their plan.

Eddie's stomach growls at the sudden thought and he realizes just how hungry he actually is after all the adrenalin and running around they've done.

If Eddie is this tired and hungry, he can't imagine Steve is faring much better, he's not thinking straight.

He can't be.

Because if he was, if he had meant it, and Eddie just--

"Oh shit," Steve says lowly from the edge of the intact window. He presses against the wall, keeping himself out of sight as much as he can, "what the fuck is Hargrove doing here?"

"That's what I'm saying," Dustin hisses, his eyes wide, he sticks close to Steve's side, away from the window and turns to Max, "what the hell is your brother doing here".

Max shoots Dustin a look and for a second Eddie thinks she's going to tell Dustin off before her face suddenly pales.

"He can't know I'm here, he'll kill me".

Lucas shifts closer to Max, knocking his shoulder into hers before turning his attention back to Steve, "he almost ran us over once, we were on our bikes".

Their bikes…Jesus.

It hits Eddie suddenly that they're just kids, all of thirteen years old, with an unpredictable asshole standing just outside their door.

Steve sighs suddenly and squares his shoulders, his big hazel eyes move from Max, to Lucas, to Dustin, and Mike, before finally landing on Eddie. His brow pinches in the middle as his expression shifts into the same determined one from the day before.

But this time there is no nail bat in his hands.

Shit.

"Steve, dont," Eddie says, darting across the room towards him, but Steve is too quick for him.

He reaches for the door and unlatches the bolt, "stay out of sight, all of you, I'll be right back".

It's a promise Eddie isn't sure Steve can make.

The kids immediately move towards the edge of the window before Eddie whispers out a sharp, "Go to the boarded one shitheads, he's going to see you".

Eddie shakes his head at the four identical eye rolls, but the kids do as he says and make their way to the far window he and Steve just closed up.

There are enough gaps between the wood slats that they can see Steve make his way to the path as Billy steps around his car.

"Am I dreaming or is that you Harrington?"

The cherry of his cigarette glows in the dark as Billy takes a long drag before flicking it into the street.

"Yeah it's me, don't cream your pants," Steve's voice is steady, the smooth lilt of his 'King' voice takes over and it's so different from what Eddie has come to realize is Steve's normal speaking voice that it throws him for a bit of a loop.

Just how much has Steve been pretending all this time.

Moonlight casts shadows over half of Billy's face but it doesn't hide the way his lip pulls over his teeth or the dark glint in his eye as he pulls off his jacket and tosses it through the open window of his Camaro.

"I'm looking for my step sister, little birdy told me she was here," Billy says, a sneer pulling at his mouth as his eyes scan the house before landing on Steve again, "which would already be weird enough, and now I find you here".

"I'm doing a favour for Mrs. Wheeler and Byers, babysitting, I don't think I've seen your step sister, what's she look like?"

Eddie can't see Steve's face from this angle but the words come out smoothly, no stumbles with the lie.

But Billy stares just a little too long for it to have properly landed.

"You do favours for people like that huh," Billy laughs, ignoring the question entirely as he takes another step closer. He and Steve are similar heights but Billy has a good twenty to thirty pounds of muscle on Steve and Eddie begins to sweat at the manic look on Billy's face.

"You're something else Harrington, I don't think I'd be able to stick around if my girl fucked someone else--"

"Your sister's Not Here," Steve bites out through gritted teeth. He steps into Billy's space, his shoulders high with tension and anger, "leave".

Billy laughs, a low dangerous sound, "you know, this whole night's been giving me a weird fucking feeling Harrington".

Billy tips his head back and leaves it there for just a moment and Eddie watches as Steve relaxes for just a second too long, tilting his head in confusion.

"And I think you're lying to me".

Billy punctuates the words by slamming his hands into Steve's shoulders, knocking him clean off his feet.

Steve hits the concrete hard, managing to roll enough for his shoulder to connect with the ground first rather than his head. He manages to sit up slightly, looking at Billy now with a mixture of surprise and fear in his wide eyes as he shifts to look back at the house.

Billy smirks and leans over Steve, "I'm just going to see for myself, told you to plant your feet pretty boy".

He stands up to his full height again and kicks Steve in the ribs. Hard.

Eddie curses quietly as Steve curls in on himself and makes a horrible retching sound, but there isn't time to worry about Steve as Billy comes lumbering up the front path towards the Byers front door.

Which is unlocked.

Eddie hadn't even thought to latch it.

"Hide. Now!" Eddie hisses at Max, she opens her mouth to argue but Lucas gives her a push to the shoulder and looks at her with pleading eyes.

"Just go okay?" Lucas whispers, pushing her again towards the kitchen.

She shoots Lucas a fierce glare over her shoulder and disappears around the corner.

Eddie steps back towards the kids, putting himself between them and the door, just in time for it to crash open.

Billy looks around the room, frowning slightly at the boarded up window and all of the drawings covering nearly every inch of the place like vines, before his gaze lands on Eddie and the kids behind him.

"Well, well, well, this is quite the party here huh boys," Billy sneers, kicking the door closed behind him.

"A private one," Eddie manages to keep his tone even as he takes a step closer, drawing Billy's eye away from the kids, "what do you want Hargrove".

Billy scoffs and tries to step around Eddie, yelling at the top of his voice as he moves, "Maxine! You got three seconds to get you skinny ass out here before I bring you out myself".

Eddie mirrors his path, blocking his movement.

"Who the fuck are you talking to man, I guess thats what happens when you take too many balls to face huh?" Eddie says with a mocking laugh in his voice, he lets the corner of his lip rise in a cold sneer.

Billy glares, "that's rich coming from a queer like you," he lifts his hand to shove Eddie's shoulder roughly, but Eddie's dealt with assholes like Billy time and time again and he’s expecting the push.

He stays standing, keeping himself between Billy and the kids.

Billy shakes his head, "I don't know why you're involved in this, are you revenge for Byers or something? I ain't here for you or your little boyfriend out there, freak".

"Just leave us alone!" Dustin shouts, drawing Billy's eye for the first time.

"Yeah fuck off!" Mike screams as Lucas stands up, glaring venomously at Billy. He has his wrist rocket raised, armed with a piece of jagged wood from the broken window.

"Sinclair," Billy's eyes narrow as they land on Lucas, "if I find out Maxine is here because of you--"

"You'll what?" Eddie growls, he hears a door open softly behind them but keeps his eyes on Billy, not taking any chances.

Billy seems to hesitate, his eyes dropping down to Eddie's fisted hands before rising again to meet his gaze, "Max already knows what happens when people don't listen, but I guess I'll have to show you the hard way Munson".

Billy moves like a viper, his fist rears back and swings forward so quickly that Eddie barely has time to react, catching the punch in the jaw as he tries to move out of the way.

"Sonovabitch," Eddie hisses, cradling his face. His vision swims as Billy reaches for his shirt collar, but the second blow never comes.

Billy's hand falls as Steve appears, barreling into Billy, shoulder first like a linebacker, sending them both crashing into the floor. Billy's head smacks into the linoleum, forcing a low groan out of him.

Steve recovers quicker, rolling off the other teen before rising to his knees. He’s breathing hard and holding his ribs with one hand while the other braces on the coffee table as he stands up.

"Holy shit," Dustin laughs out breathlessly as Steve limps closer, moving into Eddie's space.

"You guys okay?" Steve asks softly, he lifts his hand up towards Eddie's aching jaw but stops just shy of touching him. He blinks once and moves away again before turning to the kids.

They all freeze at the sound of a wild laugh behind them.

Billy runs a shaking hand through his mullet, slowly sitting up, scoffing when his fingers come away red.

"Finally!" Billy crows, "the King Steve I've been hearing about shows his face, where was he when I gave you that black eye yesterday huh?"

Billy wipes the blood from the side of his head on his jeans and laughs again, a horrible cackle that seems to echo around the small space of the living room. He paws at something on the floor as he manages to roll over onto his knees, breathing hard.

"Let me give you some advice Harrington,” Billy says through gritted teeth, bracing one hand on the coffee table while the other remains strangely hidden behind his back.

Steve says nothing, moving himself to stand in front of Eddie and the kids. Billy stumbles slightly and shakes his head as he manages to get his feet back under himself.

"If you're gonna hit someone, make sure they don't get back up".

By the time Eddie sees what Billy has clenched in his hand it's too late.

Billy swings his hand out and catches Steve in the temple with an ashtray, the ceramic shatters on impact sending pieces of pottery in all directions and embedding several into Billy’s hand.

Eddie's heart nearly stops at the wet crunch it makes as Steve's head whips back at the impact. He crumples limply to the floor, his head bouncing once against the linoleum before Steve lays still on the living room floor.

Eddie feels like he's underwater. Like time has slowed down and he's sinking.

He doesn't realize he's moving until he's in front of Billy, until he's gripping the edges of Billy's shirt in his hands, until he's shaking him like a ragdoll.

Eddie's never felt such overwhelming rage and fear, its coursing through him, burning him up from the inside out.

Steve isn't moving.

There's only coherent thought playing on a loop in his head.

He's dead, he's dead, he's dead.

"Billy!" A small voice cuts through Eddie's yelling, when had he started yelling, from the kitchen door.

Billy's face tips towards it, his dazed eyes widen slightly and his lip curls back in a feral smile.

"I fucking knew it," Billy slurs out as Eddie throws him to the floor.

He laughs again and again, his head bleeding freely now, red lines drip down his face.

Max takes a shaky step into the living room; she ignores Lucas yelling at her to run and continues forward, Will's second dose of sedative clutched in her left hand.

Max pushes past Eddie, drops to her knees and plunges the needle into Billy's neck with a roar. Eddie watches as Billy flinches at the impact and lifts his hands to frantically rip the needle out.

"What the fuck?!" He whispers, trying to sit up but his shaking arms only drop him back to the floor, "what did you do?"

"Made it so you can't hurt my friends," Max says lowly, she trembles as Eddie helps her stand and directs her towards the boys who immediately fold her into a hug between the three of them.

Eddie keeps his eyes on Billy until his breathing smooths out and his unfocused eyes finally close before he’s on his feet. He crosses the room in two strides and drops to his knees in front of Steve, letting his uncle's voice run through everything he ever taught him about first aid.

Don't move them, keep them talking, keep them warm.

Eddie's hands shake as he reaches out for Steve's neck and feels for a pulse, trying not to look at the blood coating Steve's face or the shards of ceramic in his hair.

"Is he…" Dustin says beside Eddie, startling him. The whole house has gone eerily silent as the kids finally make their way towards them, they don't crowd him the way Dustin has though.

Eddie swallows and moves his fingers slightly until he finds it, a thin reedy pulse.

He's alive.

Eddie feels his eyes sting and a wet hysterical laugh falls from his mouth. Steve is nowhere near okay, but he's alive.

He's alive.

Part Seven!

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and for some peeps that I think may be interested! @steddierthings @steddie-there @steves-strapcollection @henderdads @stevesbipanic @spooky-brakers

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