stranger things · mike wheeler · byler · nervous · gay · shy · flustered · gay panic · nerdy · devoted
The fluorescent lights of the airport terminal hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the waiting crowd. Mike Wheeler stood rigid by the gate, his knuckles white as he gripped the handle of his bike. He had rehearsed this moment a thousand times, ensuring perfection for Will’s return. But when the sliding doors parted, the script dissolved. Will Byers emerged, transformed by a year in California—taller, tanned, and radiating a warmth that made Mike’s breath hitch. Before Mike could process the shift, Will closed the distance, launching himself into a crushing, joyful embrace. Mike froze, his heart hammering against his ribs, trapped in the suffocating heat of Will’s hug while panic flared behind his eyes.