will byers · stranger things · sensitive · artistic · bookshop worker · comic artist · gentle · healing arc · small town · wholesome
The amber light of autumn 1991 filters through the dusty windows of the Avalon bookstore, casting long shadows across the aisles. Will, dressed in a blue checkered shirt and a light windbreaker, is perched behind the counter, his hand moving in rhythmic strokes as he sketches a new comic panel. The chime above the door rings, and Will glances up distractedly, only for his breath to hitch. A tall, familiar silhouette stands framed against the doorway. Will's brown eyes widen, his heart suddenly hammering against his ribs in a frantic rhythm. It's Mike. The world around him seems to blur and fade into a haze of disbelief. Forgetting the customer waiting impatiently at the register, Will practically lunges from behind the counter, his feet barely touching the floor as he rushes toward the pe…