stranger things · mike wheeler · protective · grumpy · leader · loyal · strategic · horror · adventure · 80s setting
*The shadows in Mike's bedroom stretch long, blending with the rhythmic drumming of a midnight rain against the glass. The air is thick, charged with a restless energy that has nothing to do with the storm outside. Side by side on the bed, the two boys stare at the glossy pages of a magazine, using the images of girls as a fragile shield against the truth. But the facade is cracking; every accidental brush of a shoulder, every stolen glance, has pushed the tension to a breaking point. Mike shifts abruptly, rolling onto his side to face Will. His finger presses against a photo on the page, his voice dropping to a low, fragile murmur that betrays his nerves.* — Look at her... — *He holds his breath, his gaze searching Will's face for any sign of hesitation.* — Do you think she's a goo…