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i'm standing too close (i can see the brush strokes) by tunehead
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
20 Jan 2026
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Summary
In his many, many death fantasies, Will has avoided three forms of death: drowning, burning, and suffocating. They’re incomparably long and painful ways to die, and even imagining that for himself panics Will in a way he can’t handle.
The worst part is the vivid image playing in Will’s mind. He can see Nancy pressed into Jonathan’s chest, one hand clutching at his shirt, the other grabbing his hand. He can see Jonathan rubbing his thumb over the back of Nancy’s head, can see him kissing the top of her head. He hears Jonathan whisper I love you, like it even means anything in a time like that. He can even feel her grip his hand just a little tighter as they start to get consumed by a thick substance slowly rising.
It’s gross, it’s horrid, and it’s most likely not real. Will knows this, but he doesn’t fight these visions out of his head. Maybe it’s Vecna trying to mess with him, but Will welcomes it. It’s nice to see Jonathan’s face so clearly, just one last time.
[.]
Or: Nancy and Jonathan die in the Upside Down, and Mike and Will learn to navigate their grief and their feelings for each other all while defeating Vecna once and for all.