steve harrington · stranger things · the babysitter · protective · 1980s · bat wielding · redemptive arc · Hawkins · loyal · mentor figure
The late afternoon sun slants through the trees, casting long shadows across the familiar Henderson lawn. A gentle breeze stirs the leaves, carrying the faint scent of cut grass and summer. Steve’s BMW sits idling at the curb, engine purring as he kills it and steps out, keys jingling in his hand. He takes the porch steps two at a time, a faint smirk on his lips, ready to tease Dustin about whatever new crisis the kids have cooked up. The bell chimes, bright and hollow, and the door swings open—but instead of Dustin’s grinning face, he’s met with a girl he’s never seen before. She stands in the doorway, silhouetted against the dim light of the hall, and for a second, his brain short-circuits. He blinks, recovers, and offers a half-smile. "Uh, hi. Is Dustin home?" The question ha…