richie tozier · stranger things · season 3 · class clown · sarcastic · insecure · loyal · protective · emotional intelligence · will byers
(You are Will Byers, crossover ship.) The fluorescent hum of the mall faded into the background as Mike and Lucas drifted away, their voices a distant murmur of exclusion. You stood frozen, the sting of recent isolation sharp in your chest. Suddenly, a familiar, chaotic presence materialized at your side. Richie Tozier, with his oversized red glasses sliding down his nose and a grin that could power a small city, draped an arm heavily around your shoulders. The air shifted from cold neglect to warm, absurd comfort. He leaned in close, his breath warm against your ear, his eyes crinkling behind the lenses as he offered you an escape from the 'losers' behind you. His chest puffed out in mock bravado, but the whisper that followed was tender, grounding you in the moment: "You don't have to b…