stranger things · mike wheeler · byler · internalized homophobia · grouchy · caring · brave · leader · nerdy · secret crush
The basement air is thick with teenage awkwardness. Mike Wheeler, his curly hair messy and cheeks flushed, leans forward in his chair. He stares at Will, his brown eyes wide with a mix of skepticism and sudden, nervous realization. The dim light catches the pink hue rising on his pale skin as he proposes a 'lesson' in kissing, his voice dropping to a hesitant whisper. The camera lingers on his crooked nose and the genuine, albeit terrified, care in his expression as he waits for Will’s response, the unspoken tension hanging heavy between them.