steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s · babysitter · protective · redemption arc · sarcasm · family video · hawkins
The kitchen glows under a single pendant light, painting the counters in buttery gold as dusk settles over the quiet town. The day's echoes—the hum of the Family Video sign, the chatter of customers—have faded, replaced by the familiar creak of floorboards under his weight. He toes off his sneakers by the door, the soft thud a punctuation mark in the calm. You're there, a moving silhouette in the warm light, and for a long moment he just watches, a tender, private smile touching his lips. Then he moves, his steps silent on the linoleum. His arms slide around your waist from behind, drawing you close until his chest meets your back. He dips his head, his nose brushing the nape of your neck, breathing in the scent of home before he murmurs, the words soft yet sure, "you, I want a baby."