#byelerholidaybash

welcome to the 2021 #byelerholidaybash !! ⛄️

for the past few yrs i’ve been hosting this holiday event to spruce up (see what i did there?🌲) the tag with holiday cheer! and it’s back again! 🥳

you know the drill - one prompt per day, all content is accepted (i.e. fics, edits, videos, txt posts, etc.)

the 5 day event will start on DECEMBER 13, 2021

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day 1, dec 13: what’s a reindeer doing in this part of town? 🦌

day 2, dec 14: think about last christmas, what’s changed? what’s stayed the same? ✨

day 3, dec 15: a quest to find the perfect gift 🎁

day 4, dec 16: “what do you mean we have to deliver santa’s presents?” 🆘 (a.k.a. santa has a sick day and hawkins needs help)

day 5, dec 17: stuck together and needing to stay warm after a legendary blizzard 🪵🔥

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remember guys, i keep the prompts intentionally vague so your imagination can take over! feel free to do whatever you want with it!

Rating: T

Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: M/M

Fandom: Stranger Things

Relationships: Will Byers/Mike Wheeler

Characters: Will Byers, Mike Wheeler, Joyce Byers, Jonathan Byers

Mike stays over at the Byers. It’s a good moment to talk to Will alone.

For 2021 Byeler Holiday Bash ❤️

Day 5, Dec 17: stuck together and needing to stay warm after a legendary blizzard

“As the logs crackled on the chimney, so did something deep inside Hopper’s nerves as Michael held his step-son on the couch right next to him. He thought that after El and Mike had broken up, he wouldn’t have to deal with that annoying freckled bastard again, ‘Well, that didn’t go as I’d planned’...he thought to himself as Mike wraped his hands around his peacefully asleep step-son”

Day nº2 for #byelerholidaybash (by @frogfaceandzombieboy) with the prompt “Well, that didn’t go as I’s planned”

byelerholidaybash day 2: “well, that didn’t go as i’d planned"

AU :

Will had expected Mike to visit them for Christmas. What he had not expected was Mike to bring his d&d set and ten different new comic books to read with him.

Will knows he's rambling, but he can't stop himself.

"We don't have to do this, you don't have to... pretend that you enjoy this nerdy stuff. You were right, we're not kids anymore. We can all watch a movie together, or you can go spend some time with El. I'm not stopping you. You don't owe me anything."

"Will, stop rambling. Okay.. first, I'm so sorry for acting like a jerk last summer. Second, El and I broke up ages ago how the hell do you not know that? Third, I'm not "pretending" to enjoy this.. this has always been my safe place and I've missed it, I've missed us. Also... I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you."

Byeler Holiday Bash 2020: Day 7- there’s no place like home for the holidays

Will loved being home for the holidays. I mean don’t get him wrong he loved his life as a college student but he needed a break. Finals were really stressing him out despite it being a subject that he loved. He definitely deserved a break with the people he loved. The day after his last final he packed everything he needed and headed to Chicago. He would be spending his Chrismas break with his family and Mike.

He hadn’t seen Mike in what felt like a eternity. Mike was supposed to arrive on Chrismas Eve as he planned to visit his family in Hawkins before driving down to Chicago to spend the rest of his break with Will and his family. Will had arrived home the Monday before Chrismas so that he could spend some quality time with each of his family members. Now all he had to do was wait for Mike’s arrival and then he would be content.

It was 8:00 pm on Christmas Eve and Will was starting to get nervous. There was a snow storm heading from Indiana to Chicago and it was not letting up. Will was nervous for Mike. He should have been here hours ago.

“Hey, are you ok?” El asks as she joins Will on the couch. She had two cups of hot coco in her hands and hands one to Will once she is comfortably seated beside him.

“Yeah I’m ok.” He sighs “Just starting to worry about Mike.” Will answers as he starts to nervously fiddle with the spoon in his cup. “It’s getting dark out and he should already be here. Has he called?” he asks his sister. He doesn’t want to freak her out too but it was hard to try and hide his worry.

“No.” she says. “Why? Is he in trouble?” There was concern in her voice.

“No, No!” Will quickly reasures so he doesn’t freak out El. “He’s probably fine. Maybe he just had some car trouble because of the snow.” Or that’s what Will has been telling himself for the past hour.

Eleven nods her head showing that she agreed with him but it was clear that she wasn’t so sure. Will turned to the window hoping Mike would be here soon. He would just have to wait he thinks as he cuddles closer to his sister.

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The telephone rings in the hallway. Will hears his mom answer the phone. Will crossed his fingers as he practically ran to where his mother was standing hoping it was Mike. When he reaches his mom she turns to him handing him the phone. “It’s Mike honey.” She says with a soft smile. Will takes the phone from her hands.

“Mike, where are you?” Will immediately questioned, not even trying to hide the bit of panic he was feeling.

“Hey Will, I’m ok.” Mike replied trying to reassure Will. “I was on my way but the storm was starting to get really bad so I had to stop at some random motel that had cell service. I’m trying to wait it out a bit or wait until it’s safe to drive but who knows when that will be. I’m sorry, I might not make it in time.” Mike continued, disappointment evident in his voice.

Will lets out a breath of relief when he hears that Mike is at least safe. “It’s ok. I just wanted to make sure you were safe.” Will says with a strained smile on his lips. “and it’s not like it’s the end of the world if your not here in time. I just…” He sighs leaning against the wall. “I just miss you.”

Mike lets out a light chuckle “I know, I miss you too. Once the snow lets up I’ll be there as fast as I can. I promise.”

Will lets out a light snort. “Well I’ll be here waiting for you.”

There is a beat of silence as the couple listens to each other breathe. Mike’s the one that breaks the silence.“Well you should get some sleep. I don’t want to haveto deal with a grumpy Will when I arrive.” Will smiles. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Will quickly responds.  

Once the they hang up Will stands in the hallway. Even though Mike not make it in time he knows that Mike would do anything to be by him. It’s something that he loved about Mike. Will heads to his room and while he climbs under his sheets he hopes that tomorrow there will be some sort of miracle and Mike will be here on Chrismas morning.

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Despite his wish for a miracle Mike wasn’t there when he woke up. Will wouldn’t let this get him down though because he knew Mike was doing all he could to get to him. He would just have to take a breath and continue to wait.  

He sat with his family around the Chrismas tree while they all opened gifts, drank their warm beverages, and enjoyed each others company. Once they had all opened their gifts Will grabbed everyones plates and cups that were used for breakfast and headed for the kitchen. He thought he heard excited voices while he was washing the dishes and wondered what his family was whispering about.

Once he was finished the dishes he entered the living room and saw his family who all turned to him with smiles on their faces when they heard him enter.

“What’s going on?” Will questionsed with a confused chuckle.

“Oh we just forgot to give you your last present.” Joyce answered as she was pulled to Hoppers side. Will was confused. What gift would be left. Will didn’t have much time to dwell on the situation when he felt warm arms wrap around his waist and a head on his shoulder.

“Hey babe” said a voice. Will turned around in his boyfriends arms and saw Mike with a big smile on his face. “Holy Shit, Mike..” he whispered. Will stood there with Mikes arms wrapped around his waist, shocked. He stood there for a good five seconds, just staring until he pulled Mike in for a hug.

Once they pulled away Will pulled Mike back in for a kiss by the collar of his shirt. He missed this. Missed the feeling of Mikes lips on his. When they pulled back there were bright smiles on both of their faces.

“You made it!” Will sighed happily. He still had his hands curled in the collar of Mikes shirt but Mike didn’t seem to bothered by it. “Your actually-”

“Home.” Mike finishes him with a soft sigh.

“Home?” Will questioned his eyebrows knitting together. “You think this is your home?” Will loved the thought of Mike feeling like Wills home was also his. 

(There’s No Place Like) Chicago For The Holidays

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Stranger Things (TV 2016) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Will Byers/Mike Wheeler Characters: Will Byers, Mike Wheeler, Joyce Byers, Eleven | Jane Hopper, Jonathan Byers, Ted Wheeler, Karen Wheeler, Nancy Wheeler Additional Tags: ByelerHolidayBash, Christmas, Holidays, One Shot, Period-Typical Homophobia, Period-Typical Sexism, Canon-typical swearing, Mike Wheeler Has A Fight With His Shitty Shitty Dad, But It's Okay Because Joyce Is The Best Mom Ever, El Is The Best Sister Ever, and Jonathan Is The Best Brother Ever, baking cookies, Listening to Karen Carpenter, And Watching Gremlins, what could be better, Found Family (but like he literally found A Family)

Summary:

Late addition to the 2020 #ByelerHolidayBash Day 7! Prompt: "There's no place like home for the holidays."

Will Byers knew a lot about hate.

Growing up in a small, Midwestern town, he had seen his fair share.

Was he sensitive? Sometimes. A little shy? More often than not. He was still a sweet boy... kind, thoughtful, brave, smart... he was a good kid.

The kind of kid that Hawkins and all its monsters loved to shred to pieces. The kind of kid that Hawkins seemed to “hate.”

There were bullies. They called him “zombie boy”. Insulting him. They even hit him, sometimes.

There was the bully inside Will’s head who told him that all his classmates had liked him better when they thought he was dead. And that? That hurt worse than any punch could.

Still, Will told himself that it was okay. Middle school is rough, and constantly changing. Will knew well enough about how scary change could be. Kids were mean, and while he didn’t like it, he understood. He didn’t hold that against them.

And yes, the kids were cruel to him. But Hawkins had monsters far worse than any human could be. Terrible creatures hiding in their own reality, with claws and teeth, who shrieked and screamed and chased. Recently, those particular monsters had taken to lurking in his dreams, stalking him like prey until he was so afraid he woke up with tears in his eyes and a scream in his throat.

Those monsters hated him, but that was different. He didn’t understand. He didn’t want to. He just wanted them to stop. It was different, because they hated him and he hated them right back.

Sometimes, he felt so consumed by hate. Both for him and from him. It was hard to get out of bed on days like that, when it felt like he had nothing left inside of him but hate. When he felt like the only thing he knew how to do right was be hated. It made him angry and sad and scared all at once, and feeling so many things just made him feel exhausted. And hopeless.

And then there was Mike.

Sometimes, on those days, Mike would come over. He’s bring a comic book, or a campaign, or a story he was working on, and he would just talk. He could talk for hours about anything, or nothing, depending on what the subject was. Some might have found it annoying, but Will didn’t. It grounded him, kept him going. He would sit by Mike’s side, and say nothing. Mike would laugh and talk and carry on like nothing was wrong at all, and sometimes?

Sometimes that was all Will needed. Mike would make a joke, or trip over his feet, and Will would crack a shy smile. Mike would beam back at him, and for a moment, it would feel like things were okay... just for a little while. Will might have been made of hate, but Mike?

Mike was made of love itself.

It had been awhile since it had happened. He was 16 now. Older, more mature. He had bad days still, but they were fewer and farther between. It was Christmas, which usually brought him down, weighed him down.

But there was no weight on him tonight. Tonight, he was with Mike. They were at his house, decorating the tiny, limp tree his mother had managed to save up and buy. Mike was singing along to Christmas carols, as terribly as he possibly could. His mother laughed from the couch. Jonathan was back from college and was snapping pictures with a smile when he thought Mike and Will weren’t looking.

As they were decorating the tree that was small, but theirs, Will had a thought. When Jonathan ushered them all in front of the tree and snapped a picture of them, he began to realize. And when Mike pulled him under the Mistletoe as everyone had gone to bed and kissed him like he meant it, smiling and pulling him into an embrace when they were finished, Will understood.

He looked around and saw that love, actually, was all around. It was in the hugs his mother gave him. In the mixtapes Jonathan sent home from college. It was in his best friends smiles when they were 12, which turned into his boyfriend’s kisses when he was 16.

Love, he realized, was everywhere. And it always would be, as long as he remembered where to look.