1 Answers2026-07-13 01:01:27
Oh, the dynamic between Michael Mell and Jeremy Heere from 'Dear Evan Hansen' is such a fascinating space for fanfiction! It's less about canon and more about the incredible potential readers and writers see in their friendship—that mix of chaotic energy, deep loyalty, and unspoken understanding. I've spent a lot of time in that tag, and a few stories really stand out for how they build on that foundation.
One narrative that comes to mind explores a slow shift in their relationship after the events of the musical, focusing on Michael's quiet support during Jeremy's anxiety struggles. It's less a dramatic romance and more a careful study of two people realizing their bond could be something different, something more. The author has a real talent for writing internal monologue, so you feel every hesitant thought and small, hopeful gesture.
Another favorite takes a completely different route with an alternate universe where they're rival gamers who keep getting paired in online tournaments. The banter is sharp and hilarious, full of the specific jargon and intensity of that world, but it gradually reveals a layer of mutual respect and attraction that feels earned. The pacing lets the tension build naturally through their interactions, both in-game and in awkward direct messages.
For something with a bit more established relationship drama, there's a longer, multi-chapter story that deals with the complications of Michael going to college out of state. The physical distance strains their connection in believable ways, forcing them to communicate differently and confront feelings they'd avoided. It captures that particular ache of young adulthood and change.
Finding these usually means digging a bit on both Archive of Our Own and Fanfiction.net, sorting by kudos or bookmarks, and checking the authors' other works. The best ones often come from writers who clearly understand both characters' voices—Michael's wry humor and Jeremy's earnest, overthinking nature—and let that drive the plot. I always get a kick out of seeing how different writers interpret their dynamic, from fluffy coffee shop AUs to angsty post-canon fix-its. It's a tag that rewards a bit of browsing.
2 Answers2026-07-13 13:12:07
Listen, I don't think there's a single platform that consistently hosts the best of anything anymore, especially for a pairing that feels like it peaked in the mid-2010s. The Michael x Jeremy stuff from 'Be More Chill' always had this specific frenetic, neurotic energy that really thrived on Tumblr. That's where the core fandom lived and breathed, crafting those weirdly introspective character studies where they'd dissect the Squip's influence as a metaphor for their own anxiety. You can still find absolute gold in the archives there, but it's a nightmare to search now.
For anything recent, your luck is wildly hit or miss. I've stumbled on a few genuinely sharp crossovers on AO3—one that mashed them up with the 'Dear Evan Hansen' universe was bleak but weirdly insightful—but you have to wade through mountains of stuff where the characters feel like they've been sanded down into generic 'soft bois.' I miss when the writing actually engaged with the musical's jagged, awkward humor instead of smoothing it all out. Honestly, sometimes the best snippets I find are still buried in old Tumblr text posts people never bothered to port anywhere else.
It's a niche within a niche, so the really dedicated stuff tends to be scattered. Discord servers for the musical can sometimes have channels where people share their own work or links to favorite fics, which feels closer to how fandom used to operate. Finding the good Michael/Jeremy crossover material now feels less like using a platform and more like following a trail of breadcrumbs left by the three people who still care.
1 Answers2026-07-13 15:52:51
Finding Michael x Jeremy crossover pairings feels like unearthing a very specific kind of treasure, the sort that requires knowing where to look and having a bit of patience. My first instinct would be to head straight to Archive of Our Own and use their incredibly detailed filtering system. You can tag one fandom, then add the second as an additional tag, and filter by the relationship 'Michael Mell/Jeremy Heere'. The crossover tag function there is robust, so you might find them spliced into worlds like 'The Umbrella Academy' or 'Life is Strange', where the outsider-status and emotional turmoil of those characters resonate with the 'Be More Chill' vibe. Tumblr is another haunt; searching tags like #bmc fanfiction #crossover fic alongside the ship name can sometimes surface older works or rec lists that algorithms on bigger sites might miss. It's a more community-driven, scrappier search, but you can stumble upon gems in the reblogs.
Don't overlook smaller, fandom-specific archives or even Discord servers dedicated to either 'Be More Chill' or the other media you're hoping to crossover with. Sometimes the most niche, lovingly crafted crossovers live in those smaller, curated spaces where writers post links to their work. The key is combining the ship's inherent dynamic—that fragile, anxious-to-supportive friendship tipping into something more—with a new setting that either heightens their isolation or forces them to rely on each other in a fresh way. I once read a hauntingly good one set in the 'The Magnus Archives' universe, where their SQUIP trauma took on a whole new, horrific layer. It’s that kind of creative character adaptation that makes hunting for these crossovers so rewarding when you finally land on a story that clicks.
1 Answers2026-07-13 10:13:23
In fanworks centered on Michael and Jeremy, emotional growth often unfolds through the lens of two childhood friends navigating the immense awkwardness and pressure of late adolescence. A prevalent theme involves using their established, sometimes goofy, history as a safe harbor from which each character can tentatively explore vulnerability. Stories might begin with Michael masking his anxieties behind sarcasm and pop culture references, while Jeremy grapples with the social minefield of high school, his confidence shaky. The growth happens in the quiet moments between the loud ones—a hesitant admission of fear after a nightmare, a defensive argument that dissolves into an apology, or one covering for the other’s social misstep not out of obligation, but understanding.
The mechanics of their connection serve as a perfect catalyst for this. Jeremy’s more overt struggles with self-esteem and social navigation allow Michael to step out of his designated 'funny friend' role, revealing a protective and surprisingly patient side. Conversely, Michael’s own fears of being left behind or perceived as immature push Jeremy into a position of quiet reassurance, strengthening his own sense of agency. This reciprocal dynamic prevents the growth from feeling one-sided; they essentially coach each other through their respective hang-ups, using their shared language of video games, movie quotes, and inside jokes as both a comfort blanket and a bridge to more serious conversations.
I’ve seen this handled beautifully in fics that stretch timelines, showing how their support evolves from coordinating Halloween costumes to navigating college applications, family issues, or first-time romantic jealousies that aren’t even about other people, but about the fear of changing their own dyad. The emotional payoff isn’t always a dramatic confession; it’s often the simple, solid realization that their friendship is the one constant they can actively choose to nurture and deepen, which in itself is a mature step beyond taking it for granted. The growth feels earned because it’s built on a foundation of believable, sometimes messy, teenage sincerity.
2 Answers2026-07-13 02:59:43
Well, the 'Be More Chill' fandom really latched onto the Michael/Melissa-to-Jeremy pipeline, and themes tend to follow that awkward, tech-infused high school energy. A massive chunk of the stories are pre-canon or canon-divergent, exploring the 'what if the SQUIP never worked' or 'what if Michael got one too' scenario. That anxiety about losing your best friend to popularity is super fertile ground. You get a lot of mutual pining masked as normal bro-hangouts, with Michael trying to hide his crush while helping Jeremy navigate his social disasters. The 'Jeremy is a disaster bi and Michael is a patient goth' dynamic is practically fandom law. Post-canon 'fix-its' are huge too—dealing with the SQUIP’s aftermath, the emotional fallout, and two messed-up kids slowly figuring out how to be more than friends. It’s less about grand romantic gestures and more about shared trauma bonding over Mountain Dew Red and bad horror movies.
There’s also a fun subset that leans into the sci-fi elements harder. I’ve seen crossovers where the SQUIP tech goes full rogue AI, or Michael reverse-engineers it to protect Jeremy, which turns into a weird sort of cyberpunk bodyguard romance. The 'shy tech genius Michael' trope gets amplified there. On the fluffier side, you’ve got your classic 'confessions in the back of a convenience store' or 'holding hands under the table during a scary movie' moments. The fandom loves playing with their shared playlist as a love language—making mixtapes for each other is basically foreplay. It’s all very sweet and angsty, which fits the source material’s vibe perfectly. Honestly, sometimes I just want to read about them being soft dorks together after all that SQUIP nonsense.
1 Answers2026-07-13 14:54:37
A fascinating tension I've noticed in fanworks around this pairing often starts with their dynamic in 'Be More Chill'. Their relationship is inherently imbalanced—Michael’s the loyal, grounded friend watching Jeremy spiral into social anxiety and technological fixes. One central conflict explores resentment: Jeremy’s pursuit of popularity and reliance on the Squip can feel like a betrayal of their shared history and Michael’s unwavering support. Writers dig into Michael’s perspective, his hurt simmering beneath the sarcasm as he feels left behind, crafting scenarios where he must decide if their friendship can survive Jeremy’s transformation.
Another recurring theme tackles the aftermath of the Squip’s removal. The emotional fallout is rich ground for conflict. Jeremy might grapple with shame and regret over his actions while under its influence, struggling to apologize or even articulate what happened. Michael, despite his relief, could wrestle with lingering trust issues, wondering if he’s forgiving Jeremy or the person Jeremy was forced to be. This leads to angsty, slow-repair narratives where every interaction is charged with unsaid words and the ghost of the Squip between them.
Then there’s the classic 'pining while oblivious' setup, which is huge for this ship. Michael’s secret crush on his supposedly-straight best friend clashes with Jeremy’s newfound, confused heterosexuality post-Squip. The conflict here is internal and excruciatingly sweet: Michael’s fear of ruining their friendship versus his desire for something more, while Jeremy, socially adrift, might misinterpret his own feelings for Michael as just a need for stability. This miscommunication fuels countless 'get-together' fics.
Finally, some conflicts explore a reversed power dynamic. What if Michael, tired of being the emotional anchor, has his own crisis or withdraws? Stories where Jeremy must step up and prove he can be the reliable one introduce a wonderful role reversal. It tests their bond from the other side, questioning whether their friendship is conditional on Michael always being the stable one. I love seeing Jeremy fumble through earning back that trust, making those moments of connection feel hard-won and deeply satisfying.