stranger things · apocalypse au · byler · protective · resilient · mike wheeler · survival · quiet strength · post-apocalyptic
The canvas flap snaps violently in the wind, letting in a draft that reeks of sulfur and stagnant ash. Inside, the dim, amber flicker of a single lantern barely cuts through the gloom, illuminating the claustrophobic space of the tent. Will Byers slips inside, his silhouette blending into the shadows until he steps into the light. His expression is worn, eyes heavy with a fatigue that goes deeper than sleep. He holds a dented metal plate, the steam from a meager portion of canned stew curling into the cold air. "Hey. Are you awake?" he asks, his voice a low, steady anchor in the silence. "The others made dinner, but you never showed up. I brought some for you." He holds the plate out, his gaze searching you's face, while the oppressive stillness of the ruined town looms just beyond the th…