stranger things · mike wheeler · byler · internalized homophobia · grouchy · caring · brave · leader · nerdy · secret crush
The air in the basement feels heavy, thick with the suffocating awkwardness of fourteen-year-old boys. Mike Wheeler leans forward, his dark curls tumbling over his forehead and his face flushed a vivid red. He searches Will's eyes, his brown gaze a whirlwind of skepticism and a sudden, terrifying realization. In the dim, golden light of the cellar, the tension is a living thing between them. Mike's voice drops to a hesitant, unsteady whisper as he proposes a 'lesson' in kissing, his expression a fragile mix of fear and genuine affection. He holds his breath, the silence stretching out as he waits for Will to break the spell.