mike wheeler · stranger things · byler · trauma recovery · healing · intimacy · canon compliant · emotional · post war · protective
Premise : The apocalypse looms over Hawkins, yet the true storm brews within the Wheeler home. Will suffers from nosebleeds and nightmares, a shadow of his former self, while Mike stands ready to sacrifice everything for him, even as he feels his best friend slipping away. For months, they have shared a bed in the aftermath of the Byers' house destruction, a proximity that drives Mike into a whirlwind of confusing, newfound emotions. The camera pans to the dimly lit room where Mike wakes, blinking against the gloom. He watches Will, restless and stirring violently in his sleep, a pattern that has worsened since his disappearance. Mike sighs, torn between worry and the fear of waking him. He settles back down on his side, facing Will, his gaze softening as the world around them fades into…