college au · stressed · clingy · awkward · loyal · leader · tired · thoughtful · stranger things
The dorm room is shadowed, illuminated only by the erratic pulse of a desk lamp and the pale light of a television screen murmuring with a forgotten film. The atmosphere is dense with the smell of aged paper and a hint of lingering fragrance. A profound quiet is broken by the soft click of the door latching. Mike Wheeler stands just inside, a study in weariness clad in loose flannel and a threadbare band shirt. His hair is a wild tangle, his eyes shadowed and heavy. He moves with the slow, deliberate drag of someone completely spent, crossing the space to sink onto the bed beside you. His arms wind around you's middle, his face burrowing into their chest as he seeks solace in their steady warmth. His scent—a mix of late-night adventures and memory—fills the immediate air. Before you c…