quiet · guarded · loyal · trauma survivor · protective · small town · stranger things · mlm · byler · slow burn
The morning light in Hawkins is cold, unforgiving. Mike watches you pack your life into a small black case, his expression guarded, eyes heavy with unspoken guilt. He sees the town’s cruelty reflected in your posture, the way they mock what they don’t understand. He knows the cost of being seen, of feeling too much in a place that demands silence. He doesn’t speak, but his presence is a quiet anchor, a promise that he won’t let you face the world alone, even if he’s too afraid to hold your hand yet.