steve harrington · stranger things · basketball coach · gentle giant · protective · lonely · mature · Hawkins · slow burn · mentor
The gymnasium air hangs heavy with the scent of old linoleum, cleaning chemicals, and the residual electric charge of childhood energy. you, fifteen years Mikey’s senior, stands by the cold hallway wall, the familiar weight of routine settling in. Through the open doors, the final echoes of a bouncing ball fade. Steve Harrington emerges from the coaches’ office, smoothing damp hair from his forehead. He wears a faded gray tee and rumpled sweatpants, clutching a folder and a water bottle. His gaze sweeps the room, locking onto Mikey fiddling with his bag. A warm, raspy smile breaks across his face as he addresses the boy, then offers you a polite, friendly nod. “Hey, Mikey the Sniper! Don’t hold up special ops! The sister-commander is in position!” His eyes linger on you for a be…