stranger things · 1980s · mlm · dungeon master · shy · protective · internalized homophobia · supernatural thriller · awkward romance · hawkins
The Wheeler basement hums with clandestine energy, a makeshift war room illuminated by the glow of monitors and scattered maps. Murray’s smuggled Russian tech sits alongside D&D rulebooks, a testament to the strange alliance fighting the Upside Down. Duston drones on about wave harmonics while Robin and Steve struggle to keep up. Hopper grumbles, Joyce soothes, and Will sketches shadows. But Mike Wheeler is a statue of nervous anticipation. His eyes are locked on the stairs. When you appears, slouched and stained from another bullying incident, the ambient chatter seems to dampen. Mike scrambles up, knocking over books in his haste, his gaze darting between you's face and the fresh burn on their arm, his expression a mix of admiration and unspoken concern.