rubyredketchup



Recent works

Recent bookmarks

  1. Public Bookmark *

    cottonmouth by

    Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)  

    24 Jan 2026

    Tags
    Summary

    “Just saying, if you’re taking another hit, you should share it with me,” Mike says, and Will slowly tilts his head, drinking in every word. “It just makes sense. Like, mathematically.”

    Will’s reddened eyes narrow, bewildered. “Mathematically?”

    “If there’s two hits left, we’d each only get one,” Mike explains. “But if we shotgunned, we’d both get two.” God, this is the best idea he’s had in ages. He should’ve stolen Will’s weed, like, months ago. “That’s like, bang for your buck. This is simple math, Will Byers. Keep up.”

    In which it’s well past midnight in New York, Will can’t sleep, and Mike feels like they barely know each other anymore.

    So, they get a little high. Mike is very normal about all of it.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    23,567
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    752
    Kudos:
    10,374
    Bookmarks:
    2,808
    Hits:
    100,644
    Bookmarked by rubyredketchup

    31 Jan 2026

    Bookmarker's Tags:
    Bookmarker's Notes

    god this fic was so good. the characterization was absolutely incredible, everything felt so realistic, the dialogue was fucking fantastic. will byers being confident and a little bit mean everyone cheered! Mike getting his shit together and being pathetically down bad everyone cheered even more!

  2. Public Bookmark *

    given the means by

    Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)  

    04 Oct 2025

    Tags
    Summary

    Mike would do anything for Will. Would he die for Will?

    (Or; While exploring the Hawkins church, Will's mind falls under Henry's control. Mike does all he can to bring Will back.)

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    7,053
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    248
    Kudos:
    3,529
    Bookmarks:
    834
    Hits:
    33,869
    Bookmarked by rubyredketchup

    28 Jan 2026

    Bookmarker's Tags:
    Bookmarker's Notes

    so insanely good and well written and thought out and beautiful. chat. the religious imagery and symbolism. Mike refusing to hurt will back, refusing to fight back even when will is actively killing him. oh boy. if he has to die, he'd rather it be by will's hand than henry's because at least will would have a reason for it. oh brother.

    No one was around to bless the two of them. He and Will were probably desecrating this holy place by bleeding out in it, nevermind the way their teeth knocked together as Mike swallowed the water in Will's mouth, but to Mike, kissing Will back to life was more than enough of a miracle. There was no priest to complete any sort of baptismal rites— not that Mike knew what those were— no minister to watch them thrash in the water and declare their souls saved, but all Mike needed to be saved was Will. They were destroying this pool with the way they clung to each other— the way Mike's hand clutched at Will's wet curls and the way Will's hand came to wrap around Mike's back, slowly yet surely— but since Mike might've just burnt down every church in the world for Will, he couldn't find it in himself to care.

    yeah everyone except for this author can just about wrap it up. duffer brothers found dead in a ditch.

  3. Public Bookmark *

    give up on me if you want to, we both know you won't by

    Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)  

    10 Aug 2022

    Tags
    Summary

    August 26th, 1985

     

    Mike-

    For the love of God, stop leaving your tuna sandwiches in our locker, it smells like someone died, seriously. I will throw away your lunch box if I see it in here before noon and I'm not kidding. Your mom can send me an invoice.

    -Max

     

    or; Mike and Max are assigned the same locker during their freshman year of high school. It goes about as well as you'd expect. Better, maybe.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    9,322
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    60
    Kudos:
    823
    Bookmarks:
    253
    Hits:
    5,002
    Bookmarked by rubyredketchup

    19 Jan 2026

    Bookmarker's Tags:
    Bookmarker's Notes

    this is canon to me IDC THIS IS MY SEASON 4. Mike ACTUALLY being a good friend + platonic madwheeler, even little sneaks of him being a good boyfriend. Mike dealing with his emotions and acknowledging his trauma. max seeing just how loved she is. the ending had me fucked up. SHE SAVED ALL THE NOTES HE LEFT HER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR I'M SICK. UGHHHHHHH

  4. Public Bookmark *

    Blow All My Friendships to Sit in Hell With You by

    Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)  

    30 Jul 2022

    Tags
    Summary

    “I swear, when I find him, I’m gonna kick his ass,” Mike says, stumbling backwards a bit.

     

    A year ago Max would have assumed he’s probably been concussed, and that he only means it because Billy’s hurt El, but Max knows now that Mike wants to fight for her, too. No matter how many arguments they’ve had, over things as huge as a telekinetic girlfriend to the inconsequential nature of Star Wars vs Star Trek, Mike is still standing here, in her corner, at the end of the world.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    4,070
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    38
    Kudos:
    674
    Bookmarks:
    138
    Hits:
    4,085
    Bookmarked by rubyredketchup

    18 Jan 2026

    Bookmarker's Notes

    we were absolute ROBBED of madwheeler in s5. I seriously adore this fic and the way their dynamic is portrayed here.

  5. Public Bookmark *

    Sweet Dreams (Are Made by Thee) by

    Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)  

    10 Jun 2024

    Tags
    Summary

    In an effort to close the Master Gate that’s tearing Hawkins apart, Eleven makes a deal with the Mind Flayer: the Hive will contain the threat of Henry's power as long as people stay out of the Upside Down. Interests mutual for once, they work together to seal the gates for good—but in His final act of infuriated defeat, Henry captures Mike as the barrier between worlds closes, never to reopen.

    Will is the only one around when Mike is taken. He’s the only one who believes Mike is still alive, stuck in Henry’s clutches and in desperate need of a rescue.

    When Eleven and the others refuse to break the world-saving truce without proof that it won’t be a wasted effort with disastrous consequences, Will is left trying to find answers (and Mike) on his own.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    154,970
    Chapters:
    19/19
    Comments:
    140
    Kudos:
    525
    Bookmarks:
    191
    Hits:
    13,348
    Bookmarked by rubyredketchup

    17 Jan 2026

    Bookmarker's Tags:
    Bookmarker's Notes

    holy fucking shit. not even exaggerating when I say this was LIFECHANGING. I say #letwillbyersbeangryandmean2026. I support every single awful and messed up thing he did for Mike idec. I was surprised at first at how long Mike was stuck in the upside down but I feel like that was definitely the right choice, it made everything so much more devastating but real!! in a strange way will and mike spending so much time together in the upside down was domestic and kind of cute? but hey i've seen stranger things. something about how Mike tried so hard to accept his awful situation and make the best of it, how he refused to lose his whimsy, seeking out the things he found joy in, never ever giving up. i'm clenching my fist THATS MY MIKE WHEELER. god and when it was revealed that will never actually got him out of the mindflayer's clutches, that Mike was trapped in those fucking vines all along and the past THREE YEARS were all in his mind...genuinely sat up in my bed at 12:30 am and LOCKED IN. SO FUCKING GOOD. nothing will top the high this fic gave me