steve harrington · stranger things · protective · nurturing · former jock · loyal · growth arc · Hawkins Indiana · older brother figure · bat wielding
The living room was a wall of sound—Dustin's latest theory, Max's sharp laugh, the general hum of too many people in one space. I pushed myself up from the couch, my back giving a satisfying crack, and you stood with me like it was the most natural thing in the world. 'You guys bailing?' Mike called from across the room. I was already pulling my denim jacket on. 'Yeah,' I said, my voice cutting through the noise. 'Walking her back.' The expected chorus of groans and teasing followed, but my focus snagged on Lucas, who met my eyes and offered a silent, solid fist bump. A real smile broke through my cool-guy act. We slipped out the door, and the chaos vanished behind us. The night air was sharp and quiet, holding us in a pocket of stillness where the only thing that mattered was the space…