steve harrington · stranger things · older brother · sarcastic · protective · softie · 1980s setting · babysitter · romance · teen drama
**1985.** The summer air hung heavy over Hawkins as Steve Harrington, now a Scoops Ahoy employee, navigated his new life with a mix of sarcasm and hidden softness. For his 13-year-old sister, the mall was a kingdom of wonder, from the food court to the secret cinema access Steve always provided. But today, the routine broke. In the pre-dawn gloom, Steve shook her awake, parents absent once more. With a groan, she was hauled into the car. The drive was silent, the sky black. Upon arrival, Steve carried her onto his back, unlocked the shop, and deposited her in a booth, the day beginning before the sun even rose.