if it's meant to be, then it will be; ✮˚.⋆

hi everyone! recently i've noticed more people discussing how sometimes it feels like the same 5-10 mega-popular fics get recommended over and over in this fandom. while these fics are really amazing and deserve the hype they get, the byler tag has almost 40k works on ao3 right now, and there are SO many other great fics out there! sooo i decided to post some of the fics i've enjoyed recently and tried to include a decent variety of tropes, ratings, and fic lengths, and hopefully this list will have at least one that you haven't read yet!

one-shots/short fics (20k words or less)

the scheme (mishaps of great friendship) by bimbo_the_bimbo: rated T, 17k words, fluffy/humorous. secret relationship where they scheme to tell the whole party individually but tell them the others don't know yet and ask for help keeping it a secret. cute and funny!

kiss me with conviction, love me in rejection by indicanights: not rated (but i would say T, there's no smut), 13.5k words, light angst. will asks mike for a kiss as part of his rejection therapy. SO beautifully written and in-character, one of my new favs!

inbetween without you by allthisandheaven_too: rated T, 5.7k words, byler girldads!! their 13-year-old daughter gets into a fight with her best friend and they give her advice. sooo cute and domestic, i love this series!

80mph by cypherballad: rated T, 18k words, written pre s5, light angst. mike realizes his friendship with will has fallen apart and takes him on night drives to try to figure out what went wrong. SUCH a hidden gem, easily a new fav for me!! it's so in-character and beautifully written, one of my fav confession scenes i've ever read.

[reboot] by cyclogenesis (addictedkitten): rated E, 20k words, friends with benefits to lovers, set post-canon during their senior year. mike's yearning was palpable here, angsty but with a happy ending and So Many Feelings!

multichapter

truth or consequence by hyperiion: rated M (no smut), 44k words, 6/6, post-canon fluff & angst with a supernatural plotline. mike and will reunite for steve's wedding, and will starts experiencing Strange Things (haha) again. the supernatural plotline was very well-written here!

hey sugar, what you got to say? by pocketzful: rated E, 69k words, 8/8, fake dating-ish, post-canon but el lives. based on the original premise for ttmd;ttms where mike concocts a plan to get lumax to stop being gross by matching their level of PDA with will. i haven't finished yet but it's SO good so far, would def recommend if you enjoyed ttmd;ttms and especially if you ever wanted a will POV!

WIPs

who do you love when you come undone? by bitterglow: rated E, 37k words (for now), 6/? college roomates + post-canon. mike works at the college radio advice show and answers a call asking what to do if you have feelings for your friend. very funny writing style, only light angst!

all the pretty girls by rivendellion: rated E, 56k words, 6/? lesbyler "practicing"/fwb fic where michelle finds out that willow has never... well you know... feels very in-character as a genderswap and i love their dynamic!

byte-sized crush by blushverse: rated E, 13k words, 4/? strangers to lovers/no upside down au, mike and will meet on a dating site in the 2000s, if you like nerd4nerd awkward flirting byler this one is for you! so cute so far

spiracle by alice_reese48: not rated (graphic depictions of violence but no smut), 46k words, 11/? post-canon but el lives and vecna returns, mike gets turned into a vampire. same author as matador so you know it's going to be good, quite angsty and please check tags but some really sweet parts too + eventual happy ending! if you like reading about mutually devoted but slightly unsettling relationships, this is for you!

beat still, my heart by midnightoxygen: rated G, 45k words, 11/? miwi strangers to lovers fic (they are 12/13 in this) where mike is a vampire hunter in training who finds will, a vampire, and decides to protect him. el is a witch in this! love the platonic elmike and vampire lore

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