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   you're the closest to heaven (that i’ll ever be) by wisehearts

   Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)  

   • Teen And Up Audiences
   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
   • M/M
   • Work in Progress

   10 Jun 2026

   Tags

   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
   • Will Byers/Mike Wheeler
   • Will Byers
   • Mike Wheeler
   • Jason Carver
   • Alternate Universe
   • Alternate Universe - No Upside Down (Stranger Things)
   • Being gay in the south
   • Religious Guilt
   • Avoidant Will Byers
   • Childhood Trauma
   • lots of music references
   • Mike is kind of cool actually
   • but still annoying and a nerd
   • Sneaking Around
   • Early 00s nostalgia
   • Slow Burn
   • Self-Acceptance
   • Angst
   • Religious Imagery & Symbolism
   • Mike Wheeler just doesn't quit
   • Flirting
   • Jason needs a chill pill
   • Mike is from New York
   • Will is from California
   • Brutal situationship
   • Guitarist Mike Wheeler
   • sharing cigarettes
   • No Smut
   • POV Will Byers
   • Happy Ending

   Summary

   When the sermon begins, it doesn’t take long for Will to feel a breath on his ear. “This is gonna be boring isn’t it?”

   Will scrunches his face and lolls his head to look at Mike. “Why do you act like you’ve never been to church before?”

   “I haven’t.” Mike whispers.

   Somewhere around the border of North and South Carolina in 2008, Will Byers is a member of the local church's youth group. Why? Even he doesn't know. When a new member, Mike Wheeler, comes along, Will starts to wonder.

   or

   Mike Wheeler joins a youth group solely because he has a crush on one of the members.

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   52,749

   Chapters:

   8/15

   Comments:

   354

   Kudos:

   586

   Bookmarks:

   250

   Hits:

   33,385

   Bookmarked by roseateheart

   29 Dec 2025