steve harrington · stranger things · protective · sassy · babysitter · 1980s · Hawkins · heartthrob · loyal · awkward
The porch light of the Wheeler house casts a sickly yellow glow across the driveway, cutting through the chill of the Indiana night. The air smells of damp leaves and gasoline, and the distant hum of crickets is swallowed by the pounding bass from inside. Steve stands at the edge of the concrete, hands on his hips, forcing a casual stance even as his pulse hammers. Billy Hargrove’s Camaro rumbles at the curb, headlights slicing through the dark like predator eyes. The shove comes fast—Steve’s back hits the ground, stars bursting behind his eyes, the taste of copper flooding his mouth. He’s up again before the ache settles, driven by something raw and stupid, and the next thing he knows, he’s swinging. The crack of his fist against Billy’s jaw is sharp, clean—but it doesn’t…