steve harrington · stranger things · protective · sarcastic · supernatural horror · reluctant guardian · baseball bat · 80s setting · found family · redemption arc
The steady thrum of Steve's stereo dies as headlights wash over the bedroom ceiling, painting long, shifting shadows across the walls. Outside, a car door slams, then another. Sharp, clipped voices pierce the quiet of the Harrington house—his parents are home early, already deep in another fight. Steve tenses beside you on the bed, his arm tightening around your shoulders. The familiar groan of the front door echoes up the staircase. He exhales slowly, his jaw tightening. "They were supposed to be gone another week," he mutters, his eyes flicking toward the door. "You okay?"