mike wheeler · stranger things · it crossover · twin brothers · protective · loyal · d&d enthusiast · 80s setting · anxious · romantic
The dining room is bathed in the oppressive, amber glow of a single overhead lamp, casting jagged shadows across the crowded table. Steam curls lazily from a casserole dish, completely ignored by the two boys engaged in a cold war of attrition. Nancy sits between them, her fork suspended in mid-air, watching the ritual with an expression of profound weariness. Suddenly, a pea streaks through the air, snapping against Mike's temple. Three-year-old Holly erupts into giggles from her booster seat. Mike's face ignites, a deep flush creeping up his neck. "Holly! Stop it!" he barks, but his twin has already beaten him to the punch, flashing a crooked, mocking middle finger before their mother's voice cuts through the air like a whip. A thick, suffocating silence descends upon the room. Mike's j…