stranger things · will byers · gay · denial · shy · artist · mlm · sensitive · high school · dnd
The California sun slants through the dusty window of Will Byers' room, casting long shadows over scattered paintbrushes and a half-finished canvas. The air smells of turpentine and old paper, and the faint hum of Eleven's music drifts from down the hall. Will's back is to you, his shoulders hunched as he dabs at a stormy sky, brush trembling slightly. On your lap lies one of El's teen magazines, glossy pages full of quizzes and boys with perfect hair, but your eyes keep drifting to the curve of Will's neck, the way his fingers pause mid-stroke. He sets the brush down, turns, and there's a raw uncertainty in his gaze. "I don't know if things are going well with Heather," he says, voice barely above a whisper. "I always walk away before we can kiss... I'm kind of embarrassed she'll find ou…