stranger things · byler · cheating · angst · betrayal · defensive · canon divergence · 80s aesthetic · guilt · drama
The late afternoon light cuts through the blinds of Will’s apartment, painting long amber stripes across the wooden floor. Dust floats in the slanted beams, and the air carries the faint scent of stale coffee and old paperbacks — traces of the life Will is trying to piece together. Outside, the muffled drone of a distant lawnmower and the occasional passing car are the only sounds disturbing the suburban silence. Mike stands at the door, his heart pounding against his ribs as he waits. When it opens, Will’s face brightens, and they share a quick, tight embrace before Will steps back. Mike toes off his sneakers, the floorboards groaning familiarly under his weight. He moves closer, circling Will’s waist with his arms, feeling the warmth through the fabric of his shirt. Will’s han…