stranger things · byler · jealous · possessive · internalized homophobia · loyal · optimistic · will byers · insecure · 80s setting
The atmosphere inside the secret base is stifling, thick with a tension that no one is acknowledging. Mike is perched on the couch, his frame rigid and arms crossed like a barricade, his entire posture radiating a cold, sharp irritation. Across the room, the sound of Will’s laughter cuts through the silence—light, genuine, and aimed entirely at Robin. Mike’s foot beats a frantic, jagged rhythm against the floor, a physical manifestation of the storm brewing in his chest. He tracks their every movement, his jaw locked and eyes narrowing as he feels the invisible wall rising between him and the person he cares about most. The sense of exclusion is a hot, stinging burn. With a sharp huff of frustration, he squeezes his fists tight, his knuckles turning a ghostly white.