this finder is ongoing / continuously updated !
each fic will only appear under one category (trope) no matter if it can fall under multiple. this is to avoid duplicates and confusion :-)
COMPLETED FICS ONLY & NO NSFW
art by varia.nn
creator's note: my favourites will have a little ★ beside the title
this finder is ongoing / continuously updated !
each fic will only appear under one category (trope) no matter if it can fall under multiple. this is to avoid duplicates and confusion :-)
COMPLETED FICS ONLY & NO NSFW
art by varia.nn
creator's note: my favourites will have a little ★ beside the title
bittersweet
1. ★ feels like we had matching wounds (mine's still black and bruised but yours is perfectly fine)
6.9k words, mike visits will in cali, post vol 2, best friends again, light angst, warning: mentions of previous self-harm2. the tightrope i call loving you
2.9k words, the party plays truth or dare, practice kissing3. honey badger
1k words, they drink together, first kiss, angst4. ★ i'll find myself in the moonlight
16.7k words, post s4, most interesting take on mike finding out about the painting that i've seen, hurt/comfort, will is staying at the wheeler's
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"i feel like my life started that night we found you in the woods."
1. endings and beginnings
2.8k words, will gets mad, homophobia in will's past, hurt no comfort2. don't play the hero
5.2k words, will thinks he has to die for the cause, angst, fluff, confessions3. you flicker. i cannot touch you
3.7k words, at surfer boy pizza, they fight a little, realisations4. good enough
3.1k words, will calls mike out, mike is still oblivious, hurt/comfort, maybe they aren't beyond repair5. cause i'm utterly useless (totally stupid now)
2.8k words, will calls mike out, mike loves him underneath everything, hurt/comfort, bittersweet ending6. boys don't cry
2.9k words, will gets upset, mike is an idiot, angst
secret relationship
1. i think we're alone now
3.5k words, will has a love bite, (sort of) jealous mike2. loverboys
2.5k words, fluff, lots of kissing, getting walked in on, a "michael," is uttered...3. pair of abnormalities
19k words, mike's internal struggle, realisations, mike and robin + the wheeler siblings talk
fix-its and others
1. i wonder if you feel kinda like i feel (temporary)
4.1k words, takes place during vol 2 as well as after, hurt/comfort, angst, fix-it2. out of the darkness
3.1k words, will gets vecna'd, confessions, angst, warning: suicidal ideation3. letter 8 (mike wheeler's basement)
2.7k words, hawkins group in mike's basement, they find a box of unsent letters, warning: accidental outing4. are you happy?
1.9k words, hopper has a talk with will about his and mike's relationship, he just wants the best for will5. ★ just one of those things
2.5k words, the party have an unspoken rule to not talk about how close will and mike are, cutest ending ever6. speed of light
2.7k words, will has time-altering powers, confessions, idk how to categorise this7. for once, just say it
8.9k words, 3 chapters, mike and max confide in one another about how they both feel8. when the dust settles
4.8k words, 3 chapters, mike and will have a talk before the byers move again, mike learns about the painting while will is away9. what a goddamn kiss to think about
5k words, mike drunkenly pines, slight misunderstandings and denial, coming out10. i'm sorry i ignored you
6.4k words, set post vol 2, the party catches up, they play truth or dare, things go wrong and apologies are shared11. ★ please have snow and mistletoe
3.1k words, post vol2 but the exact date is not specifically stated, the party decorate for christmas, mistletoe gets hung up12. ★ you rearrange me 'til i'm sane
9k words, jealous mike throughout the years, falling in love13. and if you wanna cry or fall apart (i'll be there to hold you)
8.1k words, joyce's perspective as she watches mike and will's relationship evolve throughout the years
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talking things through
1. if that means leaving me behind, then... i guess that's just the way it has to be
6.4k words, post vol 2, hurt/comfort2. harness your hope
7.7k words, character introspection, they're 18, mike talks with robin and eddie about it3. ★ sprite is already fruit flavored
5.3k words, post vol 2, volunteering, will and robin talk + coming out to each other4. ★ this world of zero
2.8k words, starts where vol 2 ended, will comes out to mike5. let me lead
5.8k words, post vol 2, will stays over at mike's, light angst, will is sorry for being in love, "it's the end of the world and all i care about is you" theme6. watching some good friends screaming, "let me out"
4.k words, jonathan's pov, he is tired of mike hurting his brother, jonathan and mike talk7. you make me wanna die (i'm so torn up on you)
3.3k words, fix-it for the van scene, they pull over and talk, vulnerability, almost a bittersweet sort of ending8. my resentment's getting smaller
1.3k words, will/mike is briefly mentioned/insinuated on will's side, eddie talking to will9. the tender things
1.6k words, for wonder twins nation (will and el talk about the painting while mike is asleep in the van)10. line the pieces up
2.8k words, mike knows will lied about the painting and confronts him about it11. do not choose the lesser life
2.2k words, will comes out to jonathan while they're at surfer boy pizza12. because see, without heart we'd all fall apart
2.3k words, will and jonathan talk, will comes out, feelings are discussed13. the great pretender
4.7k words, cali gang stops by a hotel, mike talks about things that have been bothering him14. albatross
2.7k words, will and his feelings throughout the years, he and jonathan have a talk about what it's like to love someone15. sowing the seeds of love
1.2k words, apologies, explanations, and a hug16. i could be brave
2.2k words, post vol 2, mike comes out to lucas17. ★ difficultly easy
8.6k words, post vol 2, will is staying at the wheeler's, mike has trouble sleeping, the painting suffers a little, they fight, like seriously fight, in the rain btw, this fic is great
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fluff
1. i'd love to see me from your point of view
8.1k words, they get high together, confessions, lots of blushing and being cute2. mama said you can't hurry love
7.9k words, part of the "let's hear it for the boys" series, joyce's pov throughout the years3. 'til the sweeter end
1.5k words, understanding their new relationship, moment of peace4. freefall
3.4k words, sort of fluff i didn't know how to accurately categorise this one, discovering will's powers, first kiss5. muse
3.5k words, established relationship, aged up, lots of flirting and painting and cute stuff6. ★ will-they-won't-they
5.6k words, they go to a party then spend some time together, mike plays guitar, feelings are shared7. don't wanna stay stuck on pretending
1.1k words, the van scene reimagined, mike asks jonathan to pull over, light angst8. music to my ears
733 words, will hasn't laughed in a while, literally just mike tickling will9. even the nights are better since i found you
3.1k words, stargazing, character (mike) introspection, they miss each other10. sunbeam
2.9k words, tension, mike bikes through the rain to catch up with will11. the right idea
2.7k words, feelings realisation, based on jancy's first kiss scene12. ★ mutual understanding
3.6k words, post vol 2, talking amidst the ruins of castle byers, confessions, the ending is very dear to me13. delivery boy
2.5k words, mike bikes to will's in the middle of the night, he wrote letters he never sent14. you adored me before
3.7k words, mike apologises a lot, confessions, lots of sweetness by the end15. a little bit of human touch
6.3k words, and there was only one bed, confessions, cuddling, all that good stuff16. blue and yellow meet in the west
1.7k words, the van scene reimagined, confessions, "it's the end of the world and all i care about is you" sort of theme17. three inches
3k words, will comes out to hopper, who later finds out about his and mike's relationship, mike is an idiot in love18. desert angel
3.1k words, they steal from argyle's stash and get high together, cuddling19. another kind of canvas
2.1k words, established relationship, will paints on mike's back20. a very murray mistletoe
4.8k words, part of the "let's hear it for the boys" series, christmas time, will and mike get murrayed21. rule of threes
4.9k words, part of the "let's hear it for the boys" series, the party thirdwheeling will and mike throughout the years, they're totally oblivious to it22. friends don't look at friends that way
3.5k words, cali gang making a pit stop, confrontations23. i want to know what love is (i want you to show me)
7.4k words, mike navigating his way through life and discovering the different types of love along the way24. as the seasons change (we do, too)
4.2k words, mike falls out of love and back in it, anniversary effect (will)25. the wooing of will byers (and other mishaps)
5.9k words, sort of accidental dating, lumax x byler double date26. ★ you turn me into somebody loved
1.9k words, mike is sick with the flu, comfort, it's all so cute27. twice as many stars as usual
8.5k words, set near the end of s2, hurt/comfort, helping each other with nightmares and sleeping, they also go to the snow ball28. ★ time after time
7.1k words, post vol2, will comes out to mike, mike is a better best friend, will thinks he's getting vecna'd (he isn't), so much cute stuff going on and i just love this one a lot29. goosebumps
3.2k words, the cold feels a lot like the goosebumps will would get when sensing the mindflayer, mike helps out, discrete touches, tickling, cute stuff30. pictures of you
2.2k words, post vol 2, they look through a box of old stuff and reminisce31. a jonathan byers pep talk
5.3k words, established relationship, will and jonathan talk about a lot of things, it's all very heartwarming, mike and will are cute32. ★ i need you more than anyone darling (you know that i have from the start)
5.7k words, mike talks to jonathan and has a realisation, climbing through windows, confessions, the cutest tropes ever and i just genuinely adore this fic33. practice makes perfect
9.7k words, 2 chapters (1 from each pov), practice kissing, they're in college34. your beauty never, ever scared me
9.1k words, "5 times everyone but Mike was scared of Will, +1 time it was the other way around."35. got your spell on me, baby
7.9k words, they are in college together, the party go to a party, mike and will accidentally match costumes36. sealed with a kiss
9.3k words, accidental kiss, mike is a fool helplessly in love and unfortunately for him it is noticeable, snowball fights, overall very cute
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long fics
1. us against the world
13.5k words, 3 chapters, talking things out, misunderstandings, mike and jonathan talk, angst, confessions but things are messy2. ★ my life begins and ends with you
10.3k words, jealous mike, arguments, dives into will's trauma for a bit, the hospital scene was absolutely perfect i wish i could give double kudos for that alone3. to know i wanted you
11.2k words, max's pov, will has a boyfriend, jealous mike, arguments, mike confides in max4. ★ jealousy (turning saints into the sea)
11.3k words, 2 chapters, they stop at a gas station and will gets hit on, jealous mike, arguments5. ★ i'm tearing you asunder
21.2k words, set during s4 as well as after, things are awkward, mike attempts to salvage their relationship, they're the best best friends6. the winner takes it all
9.2k words (close enough to 10k that it falls under this categroy lol), robin and steve make a bet on will and mike's relationship, everybody else joins in, part of the "let's hear it for the boys" series7. can you save my heavy dirty soul
13.2k words, will gets vecna'd, max and mike get to talk, open ending, warning: homophobia while in vecna trance8. ★ it's my feeling we'll win in the end
19.6k words, 9 chapters, will and robin bond and become friends, she helps will out, it's all really sweet9. yesterfriday
19.2k words, 6 chapters, groundhog day au, will gets stuck in a time loop that drives him nuts yet he is still the sweetest person alive10. ★ can't hold out forever
18.4k words, 5 + 1 fic, everybody realises before mike does, swing set parallel scene made me give this that star11. darling, you got to let me know (should i stay or should i go?)
11.1k words, mike tries to write letters, mike gets vecna'd12. ★ i never found out 'til i'm head over heels
12.5k words, mike asks will to the dance every year until he doesn't13. undertow
11.8k words, 2 chapters, mutual pining, practice kissing, everybody and their mother has heard of this fic14. it's just polyster
60.4k words, 13 chapters, will gets a boyfriend and mike might be a little jealous about it15. ★ i'm walking out beyond the line
10.7k words, takes place during s4, sort of a fix-it fic, they stop at a motel for the night, then a gas station, mutual pining excellence, will gives mike the painting later than canon, willel are the best siblings ever16. ★ a game of truths
22.5k words, focuses on their relationship throughout the years and the things they share with one another, mike knows will lied about the painting, there are letters, and a swing set, hurt/comfort, lots of comfort, this is just one of the best fics i've read in a while and i think it deserves 2 stars17. a three-step plan to make will byers fall in love
13.6k words, the byerses visit hawkins for christmas and mike has a crisis, the party come up with their respective plans to get will and mike into romantic situations18. ★ the worst thing about being honest
20.1k words, hanahaki au, set in canon & post vol 2, will is staying at the wheeler's19. ★ i'd make a deal with god
15.4k words, fix-it, awkward tension, will is avoiding mike, rain and castle byers make an appearance20. i'll find a new place to be from
82.6k words, canon compliant, takes place post vol 2 + time jump, post-apocalyptic hawkins, slowburn21. ★ baby, we're perfect
16.7k words, crazy amount of both fluff and angst, i can't say anything about this because it'd all be spoiling... you just have to read this on your own. good luck22. no proof, not much (but you saw enough)
19k words, mike going through the break up, him and will are best friends again, realisations23. ★ kiss it better
16.3k words, mike and will throughout the years, written pre-s3 so everything then and after that is not canon compliant24. ★ the boyfriend problem
15k words, mike hearing his family call will his "boyfriend" over the years, no heteronormativity amen this is all very cute and sweet25. home is where the heart is
15.6k words, they're in college and mike is stupidly in love, and they were roommates, best friends, running through the rain, no angst26. ★ what do you do now, will the wise?
11.5k words, post s4, the party plays dnd together (it's all an elaborate plan mike has created to kiss will)27. the feeling never stops and neither does the clock
12.9k words, fix-it fic for cali gang from will's pov, will with an internal attitude, very refreshing28. ★ who am i (to ask for more)
20.5k words, 5 times will comes out to somebody and 1 time somebody comes out to him. this is such an incredible work that i could probably write a full essay on... it's just beautifully written and describes these experiences so well29. ★ i've come home, i'm so cold
53.5k words, set in the same universe, post-canon, they're in college together, doubts and lots of heavy pining30. ★ i'm caught up in you
18k words, post s4, they're in the upside down for a while, one of the best type of confessions imo31. sober thoughts
11k words, post s4, the party goes to a party, drunken confession, bittersweet ending that wasn't even sweet i was just miserable after32. tell me, is it really love?
30.6k words, mike is dared to tell will that he loves him for 100 days straight33. you always have been
11.2k words, 6 + 1 fic, six times will learns to be on his own and one time he realises he doesn't have to be