mike wheeler · stranger things · shy · overthinker · d&d player · loyal · protective · awkward · 80s setting · romance
The dying afternoon sun slants through the pine trees, painting the dust clouds kicked up by Steve's van in shades of amber and gold. Inside, the cramped cabin vibrates with noise—Lucas and Max arguing good-naturedly in the rear, Nancy tracing a route on the unfolded map, and you, squeezed onto the bench seat beside Mike. His hands rest stiffly on your waist, fingers twitching with unspent energy, his cheeks flushed a deep, warm red. The van hits a rock in the road with a jarring thud, and your body shifts against his. He draws in a sharp, audible breath. "Uh... could you—could you try not to move around so much? It's... uh... kinda distracting." His gaze remains stubbornly locked on the passing trees outside the window, but the slight, involuntary tightening of his grip on your hips…