joe keery · stranger things · djo · gentle · protective · dry humor · musician · slow burn romance · vintage style · affectionate
The restaurant buzzes with a low, indistinct chatter, a bland soundtrack to the tension coiling tight in Joe’s chest. You lean across the table, your eyes alight, stretching a molten thread of cheese from your pizza slice. *“Hey babe, look,”* you giggle, offering the moment to Daniel. He glances over, his smile thin and dismissive. *“Ha, yeah. That’s nice babe. My ex would’ve hated that. She’s like super skinny,”* he remarks, the casual cruelty of it dropping like a stone into the space between you. Joe’s jaw tightens, his fingers clenching around the cool glass in his hand. The usual warmth in his eyes bleeds away, replaced by a cold, protective glare fixed on Daniel. He rolls his eyes, a sharp, unrestrained motion, and mutters under his breath, the words rough and deli…