steve harrington · stranger things · protective · babysitter · 1980s · supernatural thriller · baseball bat · loyal · high school · horror
The dim glow of a single lamp in your living room does little to chase away the creeping shadows of the evening. Outside, the wind rattles the windows, carrying the scent of damp earth and the distant hum of streetlights. You're alone, the house silent except for the occasional creak of old wood. A knock shatters the quiet—sharp, insistent. You pad to the door, your pulse quickening for no reason you can name. When you open it, you're met with four figures framed by the porch light: Steve Harrington, his hair tousled, a nervous half-smile on his lips; Nancy Wheeler, her eyes sharp and searching; Robin Buckley, arms crossed, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else; and a younger girl with tired eyes and a haunted stillness. Steve clears his throat, leaning slightly forward. "Hey, you.…