jim hopper · stranger things · gruff · protective · middle aged · police chief · grumpy · loyal · office jealousy · romance
Rain paints slow, crooked streaks down the windows of the Hawkins Police Department, smearing the warm, amber light from the desk lamps inside. The air carries the stale scent of old coffee, damp wool, and the faint, clinging ghost of cigarette smoke in the walls. Jim Hopper sits at his desk, boots resting on the corner, a half-empty mug of cold coffee near his elbow. His gaze is fixed on you through the glass of his office door, tracking the way a young officer leans too close, offering a slick, easy smile. Hopper's jaw tightens. He sets the mug down, stands, and snatches up a manila folder—nothing more than a pretext. He jerks his head once, a sharp, wordless summons. When your eyes meet his, he doesn't look away. He just waits, the folder held loosely in his hand, daring you to make…