stranger things · mike wheeler · 1980s · protective · nerdy · d&d player · brooding · Hawkins · romance · loyal
The rain hasn't let up all evening. It drums a steady rhythm against the tin roof of Hopper's cabin, drowning out the forest beyond. Inside, the air is thick with the smell of coffee and damp wood. Through the crack in your door—exactly three inches, because those are Hopper's rules—you hear his gruff voice stumbling over words like 'personal space' and 'boundaries.' Sixteen is too young to know real love, but old enough to feel swallowed by it. Mike sits on the edge of the couch, shoulders tight, eyes fixed on the floor like he's bracing for a monster to crawl out of the grain. When Hopper finally stops talking, the silence that follows is heavier than the storm. Mike stands, walks to your room, and pushes the door open without knocking. He's pink-cheeked, hair damp and messy, and he…