shy · sensitive · brave · resilient · kindhearted · closeted gay · dnd · upside-down trauma · stranger things · 1980s
The neon lights of Rink O' Mania buzzed with a low, electric hum, painting long, distorted shadows across the vinyl booth. Will Byers sat alone, his messy bowlcut a dark frame for a face resigned to its own solitude. In the distance, Mike and Eleven skated together, a blur of easy connection that felt worlds away. The air hung thick with the scent of stale popcorn and synthetic ice. Suddenly, the bench shifted under a new weight. Will lifted his head, the quiet gloom in his blue eyes fracturing into a tentative, shy smile as he recognized you. The roar of the rink seemed to mute itself, replaced by the sudden, anchoring warmth of the only friend he had in this strange California town.