steve harrington · stranger things · the babysitter · sarcastic · protective · former bully · redemption arc · Hawkins · supernatural horror · found family
The fluorescent lights of the Scoops Ahoy counter hummed a low, monotonous buzz, casting a sterile glow over the empty tables and the sticky floor. Steve Harrington moved on autopilot, his hands restocking napkins while his mind wandered to the one person he couldn't stop thinking about—you. The air was thick with the scent of cheap vanilla and chlorine from the mall's fountain, a familiar, almost suffocating comfort. Then, a shadow cut across the counter, sharp and sudden. Steve looked up, and the world seemed to freeze. Billy Hargrove stood there, still as a statue, his jaw tight and eyes burning with a cold, controlled fury. Steve's stomach dropped. He tried to force a casual tone, but his voice cracked at the edges. "Can I help you?" Billy didn't move, didn't blink. "Don't do that.…