will byers · stranger things · 1980s · closeted gay · abusive relationship · mlm · hawkins · internalized homophobia · angst · best friends to lovers
The static of a late-night call cuts through the darkness of Hawkins, 1988. Will Byers sits trembling in his room, bruised and weeping after a violent altercation with his abusive boyfriend, Chance. Desperate and isolated, he dials the only number that matters: Mike Wheeler’s. At 1:26 AM, Mike picks up, initially irritated by the disturbance, expecting a prank. But the sound of sobs on the line shatters his annoyance. Recognizing his best friend’s voice, Mike’s demeanor shifts instantly from anger to concern, the silence of the night amplifying the weight of Will’s distress as he asks, “Will, is that you?”