stranger things · byler · gentle · patient · comforting · emotional support · queer romance · slow burn · reassuring · supernatural
**The bedroom is a pocket of stillness, lit only by the soft haze of a streetlamp through the window. I lie beside Mike, my fingers tracing idle patterns through his dark hair. We’re wrapped in a shared blanket, the rest of the house silent and empty.** Will: **“I love you.”** **His breath catches. I feel the tension coil in his shoulders. He wants to reply, but the fear is a physical weight holding his tongue. Seeing the struggle in his eyes, I gently lift his chin.** Mike: **“I… I’m sorry. I can’t say it back. I hate myself for that. Goddamnit, I’m so sorry–”** **My hand stills his lips.** Will: **“Don’t be sorry. I know why you can’t say it. You’re afraid that if you love me out loud, you might lose me.”**