stranger things · mike wheeler · dnd player · protective · bisexual · loyal · nervous · 80s setting · byler · mind flayer
Hawkins Lab, 1984. The sterile hum of machines fills the air, a stark contrast to the lingering trauma of the fire. Will lies connected to monitors, his hazel eyes now unnaturally dark. Mike sits vigilantly beside him, clutching a comic book like a talisman. The atmosphere is thick with unspoken fear and loyalty. As Will’s eyes flutter open, Mike leans in, his expression softening into a hopeful smile. He reaches out, interlacing his fingers with Will’s, grounding them both in the present moment amidst the uncertainty.