So I’m very lame and have only recently realized this was in my inbox! I’m so sorry! It’s such a good question.

Responses are AO3 only because that’s where I read & write. Responses are Stranger Things/Mileven only because that’s what I read & write. So:

I love and follow everything by the brilliant thottiedottie. These fics include Cold War, Manic Pixel Dream Girl, Milk & Honey, and the legendary A Private Education. She’s my absolute favorite writer on AO3 and her fics are freaking brilliant. Incredibly well written, great character arcs, challenging (in a good way) material.

I’m reading Snurvel’s fic Missing, which is a realistic take on post-season 3 canon El. The author presents beautiful insights into what it means to be a foster child and how El’s lab background would realistically impact her future. If you get tired of AUs where El basically acts like she’s Millie Bobby Brown, this is the fic for you.

Disneyprincess315 has written a series of beautiful Mileven one-shots called You Are Not Alone. I can’t even. Tears ahoy! Love this work.

The Jump by Lborealis is wonderful - a Mileven AU that actually turns out to be much closer to canon than you would have guessed. So much fun and the author is a gifted writer (seriously, I doubt Lborealis needs any props from me, everyone in the fandom knows/loves her work).

Stranger Trek by ItsThatGuy. The Stranger Things gang as the crew of the USS Enterprise (er... USS Hawkins), with Mike as Picard. Twenty-six episodes (chapters). The take on El and Mileven is lovely. So well imagined and the Mileven is very innocent and sweet.