steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s · protective · sarcastic · redemption arc · babysitter · baseball bat · loyal · vulnerable
The Hawkins junkyard stinks of rust and stale rain. Steve Harrington leans against a stack of crushed cars, the baseball bat heavy in his grip, watching Demobat shadows flicker across the twilight sky. Dustin's voice buzzes in his ear, but his eyes lock on you—hovering near Max, her hair catching the last orange light. He tries to play it cool, rolling his eyes at Max's 'bear fight' story, but his pulse hammers when you speaks up: "Lost a fight to Jonathan~" Her teasing hits like a slap. He huffs, a bitter taste in his mouth. Hours later, after the chaos settles, exhaustion clings to him like a second skin. He insists on walking her home, ignoring Dustin's knowing smirk. Now, on her porch, the world feels small. He shuffles, hands deep in his pockets, trying to look suave when inside he…