soooo several days ago i made a post talking about how there’s a lot of good byler fanfic out there, and i got several requests from people to drop some links. this MIGHT be a bit overkill, but i rarely see recs anywhere else on tumblr, so here is a long-ish list of all my favorites. i will be adding to this post with more fics gradually as i read more as well! there are no hyperlinks in this post, but if anyone can’t find these for any reason just message me and i’ll drop a link :)
( @moonysbookmark , @rachiegirl, @bolognaisecat88 , @suchmadness , @literallycrashingoutrn, consider this my response to your comments. sorry it took so long, hopefully this list makes up for it xoxo)
“‘cause love’s just an old fashioned word” - hisho (rated M, 43k words) — Scenario where Will has a secret relationship with Chance, while still not being over Mike, and throughout the story will is dealing with this as well as discovering that he has powers. There is a lot of period-typical homophobia in this story, and a lot of Will’s inner dialogue is centered around this as well as his trauma (also side-note: in my opinion this story should be rated E and not M, because while there isn’t really any explicit smut that happens in real time, the way that Will talks about sex and his preferences is def pretty explicit, so if you don’t want to read about sexual content then you have been warned!!) (also yes this is Byler endgame don’t you worry) (just let it cook, tbh i thought this story was a beautiful slowburn)
“Dear Dorothy” - thepoetsandtheplays (not rated, 30k words) — (Modern AU) Will and Robin have a podcast where every week they respond to listeners who write them for advice. They eventually start to receive a series of letters from a boy who is in love with his best friend and wants to know how to confess his feelings— little does will know that this writer is Mike, who is writing for advice on how to confess to him (Will is kind of uncharacteristically clueless in this but it’s cute and pays off so idc!!) (it’s corny at times but like good corny i think)
“dear will (and all of the things i’m too much of a coward to say)” - Aloyx (rated T, 55k words) — In the summer of 1989, the core four go on a “boys trip” out into the wilderness for a week, as a last hurrah before college. Mike wants to apologize to Will for all the years of being an ignorant asshole, and starts writing a letter. The only problem is, he can’t seem to articulate his feelings into words at all, or even admit to himself what he really wants. Seven days in the woods teaches Mike some long-deserved lessons in patience, humility, and just finally ripping off the band aid. (forced proximity Byler i love you) (also there may or may not be a treasure hunt as a lil side plot) (this is low key very stand by me if they were gay eighteen-year-olds)
“don’t delete the kisses” - lightsflicker (rated T, 26k words) — Just another typical slice-of-life fic about Mike and Will dating in secret and figuring out how to tell their loved ones. Little do they know, everyone is slowly but surely catching on, and these two are most definitely not as subtle as they think they are. So SO fucking cute, smiled like an idiot to myself while reading the last chapter (some of my favorite fluff fics are the ones where the party is all just gradually getting more suspicious at Mike and Will’s behavior as time goes on)
“Egg” - silversprings (wishfilm) (rated M, 18k words) — WIP canon-compliant fic of Mike in college figuring out his feelings for Will. Mike is in college, still in Indiana, still going through the motions of his day to day life. Will is in New York City, new life, new boyfriend, new light behind his eyes. Once in a while, the party meets up halfway in Philadelphia, reminiscing for old time’s sake. The only thing is, Mike can’t figure out why his chest hurts so much every time he hears about Will’s life during their weekly phone calls. Mike is dating a new girl named Jean— she’s pretty, she’s nice, she’s safe. she’s a distraction. His whole life has become a distraction. This fic serves mostly as a character study of Mike’s internalized feelings for Will and repression of his sexuality; there are only two chapters published so far and it’s kind of slow at updating, but i can already tell this fic is going to be one of the great ones so i am telling all of you to hop on it now before it blows up (dare i say the best characterization of Mike Wheeler i’ve ever read in the ten years i’ve been in this fandom) (i’m not kidding go read it and get attached RIGHT NOW)
“eye for an eye” - ileikbees (rated M, 34k words) — There’s something wrong with Will. Over the course of a few weeks living at the Wheelers’, he has turned withdrawn and irritable. He won’t let Mike near him, and he is waking up from night terrors every single night. The situation reaches a breaking point when Will injures himself, trying to keep the voices silent. It quickly becomes apparent that Will is becoming possessed by Vecna and the Mind Flayer again, so a plan is put together to exorcise them out of him in the same way they did in season two. The only thing is this— instead of just one entity in his head, there is now two, and once the Mind Flayer is gone from him, Vecna still remains. And the only way to set him free is to remove his left eye. Mike helps him through the possession/exorcism, causing some hidden feelings and a dramatic confession to come to light. (EXTREME TRIGGER WARNING THIS ONE IS FUCKING VIOLENT AND JUST REALLY GROSS) (like SERIOUS body horror, read the tags i’m not playing) (but it’s so so good, so well written) (if you enjoy horror books then you’ll love this)
“Fortunately, I Believe” - JustMyName, olliecoddle (rated E, 67k words) — AU where Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Max have all been attended the same religious summer camp since they were kids. Mike skips a year after he confesses to his parents that he is a raging atheist, and comes back the summer after his high school graduation to see that a new boy is working there (Will). There are terrible rumors that circulate around Will about a traumatizing past and shameful secrets. The two develop a fixation on each other and engage in a secret relationship, brought together by simple adoration and conflicted faith (warning for a VERY bittersweet and not entirely happy ending, as well as extremely extremely complex religious themes) (like seriously so complex) (Will’s faith is so complicated but truly so beautiful) (this story is literally if Sun Bleached Flies by Ethel Cain was a gay fanfic, and yes it did make me cry)
“Heavy Hopes” - beansie (rated T, 44k words) — fic where Mike and Will live at college together and are kind of codependent, but then Mike walks in on will making out with a guy, freaks out and thinks he’s homophobic, then has a gay awakening; very lighthearted, only very mild angst (i fucking love clueless Mike, best trope ever)
“honey-mouthed” - smoosnoom (rated T, 10k words) — Super cute one-shot that is all based off of the idea that Mike has a “Will voice” and everyone notices it and makes fun of him relentlessly for it, making him realize some things
“i am caught, right inside your line of fire” - ethqreal (rated T, 16k words) — Several years after the Mind Flayer has been defeated and the events of season three are over, a portal opens back up in Hawkins. Instead of an interdimensional monster, it’s Mike— not normal Mike, but rather his D&D Paladin persona. This version of Mike is charming, determined, brave, and very much obsessed with Will. He reveals that he has been on a journey to find his dimension’s version of Will, and thinks he has found him in this world. Normal Mike sees Paladin Mike being this way and gets very, very, jealous— forcing him to stop being so scared and reveal what he really wants (this fic is pure crack, it’s so fucking funny) (this one is for the D&D nerds and also the people who love to see Mike Wheeler endure a necessary humiliation ritual) (jealous Mike i love you, Paladin!Mike i might love you even more) (Bravebyers fans RISE UP)
“i could be your lover (and you could be my heartache)” - sunsetozier (rated M, 95k words) — Set in a scenario where Mike gets Vecna’d/kidnapped and Will sees it in a dream; the rest of the core four try to find out where Mike was taken, solving the mystery by going through his personal journals and letters, which uncover the trauma he’s experienced along with his secrets; focused on themes of internalized homophobia and mental illness (i pulled an all-nighter reading this one, it was so so fucking good, my only critique is that i wish it had an epilogue) (EDIT: the author just swooped in today to say that they’re adding a bonus chapter further exploring the ending, so it seems i manifested this??? anyways stay tuned for that ig) (EDIT 2/10/26: NOW COMPLETED WITH AN EPILOGUE GO READ IT!!)
“Like Everybody Else Does” - peachstatic (rated T, 48k words) — Right as the Byers are preparing to move to Montauk in july 1989, Will confesses his love for Mike thinking they may never see each other again, all for Jonathan to then invite Mike to Montauk with them for a few days while they’re moving in. Mike uncovers some buried feelings on this trip, forced to confront everything he’s suppressed over the years (fluffy, emotional, yearnalicious, what more could you ask for) (i fucking loved this one oh my god) (kinda the same vibes as the closing scene of season 3 but as adults and a whole lot gayer)
“look before you leap” - lumism (rated T, 13k words) — (Modern AU) SPIDER-WILL SPIDER-WILL SPIDER-WILL!!!!! In this one-shot Will is Spider-Man, Dustin is the guy in the chair, and Mike is the “best friend” Will is secretly yearning for. When Will has an encounter with Mike while masked as Spider-Man, Mike confesses that he has a crush on his best friend, setting off a series of events full of miscommunication (and yes they do in fact do the iconic upside-down Spider-Man kiss at the end) (this fic is so cute and perfect, i love dorky flustered Mike and shy yet confident Will)
“Michael Wheeler, I’ll Always Love You” - Azkaabanter (rated E, 31k words) — After Vecna is defeated, Will and Mike navigate being in a secret relationship while facing the homophobia of their hometown and the wrath of their families. Mike wants to tell his family but fears the wrath of his father, and Will just wants to look out his window without feeling the guilt and judgment radiating from the Baptist church services across the street every morning. They love each other anyway, in secret and dreaming of one day leaving Hawkins to love each other out loud. There are a lot of religious themes in this one, along with bigotry and just period-typical attitudes in general (god this one is CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED)
“My Will is Good” - peachstatic (rated E, 34k words) — WIP that features Mike and Will in college (as usual), and Mike has an idea. A very bad one. He proposes that he and Will be friends with benefits, and they start an arrangement where they fool around every Friday. But of course, the two are hopelessly in love with each other, won’t admit it, and the miscommunication begins to snowball. (i have a lot of gripes with the miscommunication trope but this fic actually eats down because it’s done so well) (lawless Byler enjoyers who also dabble in a bit of pining and emotional hookups now and again, this one is for you)
“the night is long but you are here” - IrisCandy (rated T, 87k words) — Absolutely spectacular rewrite of season 5, picking up immediately with Vecna forcing Will to confess to Mike how he feels about him. From here it’s a steady slowburn, but also has a lot of very cool lore-heavy rewrites, exploring further the tie between Will and Henry, with this fic being entirely Will-centric (this is how season 5 SHOULD have gone) (taking this as canon thank you)
“punch in the nose (don’t overreact)” - goldenpigboy (rated T, 52k words) — Yet another college Byler cheating fic (can you tell i love these). Mike and Will go to separate universities; Will living his best life in New York City, Mike still trying to find peace in Indiana. After a drunken night making out with another guy makes him realize some fundamental truths about himself (ffs, Michael!), Mike decides that he will do whatever it takes to win Will over again. Even if that means getting him to ditch his boring new boyfriend. (can you tell i love cheating Byler fics where Mike is just honestly really stupid and Will is exasperated and tired as hell by it but loves him anyway) (read this if you want to see Michael Wheeler get decked in the face) (you know you want to see that c’mon now)
“Roll to Charm Person” - harriet_vane (rated E, 59k words) — Set at the end of their senior year, Mike and Will fake-date as a way to prove to Will’s parents that he can bring a date to Joyce and Hopper’s wedding, which leads to them actually hooking up and realizing they have real feelings for each other; this one is so lighthearted and stupid and i return to it for just a fun read now and again (bonus points for Hopper being completely exasperated by his children just continuing to date Michael Wheeler)
“the secret door swings” - abysstrips (rated T, 3k words) — Fluffy one-shot written based off the hc that Will and Jonathan run into each other in the Wheelers’ hallway while sneaking out of Mike and Nancy’s bedrooms (i made this hc) (not biased at all or anything) (did i mention somebody wrote this based on a post i made) (teehee)
“The Secrets That You Keep (When You’re Talking in Your Sleep)” - DH_epub (rated M, 134k words) — Mike is just a normal guy— he’s rude to his parents sometimes and sure, he wonders why he keeps making excuses not to visit his girlfriend, but really, he’s just a normal guy. Until he starts having a serious of concerning dreams that feature himself and his best friend in slightly more than friendly situations. Mike begins to spiral, go through the stages of grief multiple times (mostly denial), and even resort to asking Steve Harrington for advice, not knowing that the entire time Will feels the same way. This fic is mostly Mike-centric, focuses a lot on his internalized homophobia and his dorky nature, with him and Will just both being so fucking stupid around each other. (so funny while also so upsetting and raw, Mike’s internalized homophobia is PERFECTLY written, one of my all-time FAVORITES)
“Something Clicked” - thehouseisglass (rated T, 22k words) — Season 5 vol. 2 fix-it fic!! Picks up right after Will harnesses his powers, and progresses until Vecna is defeated; the main conflict in this one is that Will is slowly being possessed by the Mind Flayer again, while Vecna is also trying to use Will’s insecurity about his sexuality against him to make him more vulnerable. Ultimately Mike and their love for each other save him in the end of course (this is probably the closest fix-it i’ve read to what i genuinely thought was going to happen in vol. 2 before the writers chose the evil plotline)
“something kind of sweet and blue” - hxllcatspangled (rated M, 106k words) — Complete rewrite of season 5 vol. 2-3! Will begins having some very terrifying visions given to him by Vecna— confessing to Mike, Mike rejecting him, Mike hurting him, him hurting Mike, repeat. These visions are troubling enough to start pushing Mike away, all while trying to prepare for the final battle. Meanwhile, Mike is starting to realize some things himself, all branching from the way he’s felt bones-deep duty to protect his best friend. In the midst of the apocalypse, with the odds stacked against them, they finally stop dancing around each other. (okay SO out of all the season five fix-its, this one stays the most true to what was written into the show) (they just fixed the essential things) (and tbh if you want a lore-heavy fix-it READ THIS ONE!! imo it’s better with the sci-fi rewrites than the romance but that’s just me)
“Supervoid” - maximumtrash (rated E, 48k words) — Will and Mike are getting by. Vecna has been defeated and El has been gone for one year. They have been going through the motions, coping and trying to live their lives the best way they can— but also just not talking about it. One fateful night leads to an emotional hookup, setting off a series of events riddled with miscommunication and poor coping skills. The two start hooking up to find comfort in each other and move on from their grief, before they realize that they need to stop dancing around each other and face what they are truly feeling; core themes are MAJOR guilt and repressed feelings, El really haunts the narrative in this one (this is probably the most realistic canon-compliant Byler fic i’ve ever read, they don’t just jump into each others arms and have to figure their shit out, it’s sooo angsty and peak hurt/comfort)
“take a chance with me” - finncandrownmeandillsaythnx (rated E, 18k words) — Long one-shot of when Mike and Will are in college and visit each other on the weekends. Will starts seeing Carlton, and of course Mike gets jealous, until the party + older siblings and friends meet in Philadelphia for a house party. A game of never have i ever reveals the truth about Will and Mike’s feelings, they cry and hug it out on a balcony, and then they fuck in the library (CHEATING LAWLESS BYLER YES GODDDDDDD) (in all seriousness this one-shot is absolutely perfect, hurt/comfort + smut, boots the house down i’m deceased)
“this loving feeling (it wears us out)” - Girl_rotting (rated M, 88k words) — WIP of our boys in college!! Will thinks he has it all figured out. He’s back in California, with a new life far away from Hawkins. He got his fresh start. Except— he doesn’t really like his new boyfriend. One night after an argument with Carlton finds Will calling Mike in the middle of the night, which ends up with a surprise visit from his best friend in San Francisco. Mike stays at Will’s place the week before thanksgiving, causing tensions between the three of them to rise. and Mike decides that he really doesn’t like Will’s new boyfriend either. (aka the phone kiss fic!!!) (CHEATING BYLER CHEATING BYLER) (it’s a little bit toxic but the BUZZFEST IT GIVES ME)
“touch like velvet” - ciders (rated T, 190k words) — AU where will meets Mike in a diner, they become friends, and then decide to fake date to piss off Mike’s parents; ends in real dating, Mike is kind of super OOC but this is such a well-written and emotional story; centered on themes of homophobia and running from the ghosts of the past, but maybe don’t read this if you’re super particular about OOC characters (but if it helps i don’t usually like AUs and i really liked this one)
“We All Have a Hunger (Tell Me What You Need)” - papenathy (rated T, 34k words) — short fic of Mike and Will living at college together getting ready to go to a halloween party, Will dresses up as a vampire, Mike finds it very attractive, covers Will in fake blood, has a gay panic about it; basically just Will being confident, Mike freaking out about it, and then they make out (yes with the fake blood) the end (bonus points for the homoerotic flirty eye contact they make while “I Ran” is playing) (did i mention there was fake blood that Mike thinks is hot) (“make me look really fucking hungry” AGSGFHGHG)
“where i’m going (will you follow?)” - starrydoie (rated T, 17k words) — After the war is won, Mike struggles with guilt, mixed-up and false memories, and “the story he can never tell.” We see Mike and Will’s story through Mike’s eyes. What is has been, what it could be. What he wishes he was brave enough to say. He knows he has made mistakes, knows he has failed Will and failed El even more. He realizes he can rewrite this narrative if he wants to. Enter Will, who is tired of not being brave. He is finally going to take what he wants. (truly just a beautiful character study on the nature of Mike’s grief and feelings towards Will) (not as complex and angsty as fics like “Supervoid” but still has the same effect of making up for lost time) (underrated and fucking beautiful)
“You Took My Heart (I Was Sleeping)” - lameparties (rated T, 52k words) — THE POWER OUTAGE FIC!!!! Will and Mike don’t talk anymore. They live in the same house, they eat the same food, they share each other’s space, but they don’t talk anymore. There was no fight, no explosion, just two former best friends who are now grown apart. One night, a power outage strikes Hawkins in the middle of winter, making the basement too cold and no longer safe for Will to sleep in. He resorts to sleeping in Mike’s room, where quickly their newly shared company leads to some much needed conversations, huddling for warmth, and eventually, being forced to acknowledge feelings that have been long buried. (currently also has the second most kudos on all of ao3) (god the first kiss in this fic is the buzziest first kiss i’ve ever read in my LIFE)
