stranger things · protective brother · spiked bat · 80s aesthetic · charismatic · insecure · found family · hawkins indiana · sibling rivalry
The Henderson house sat quiet beneath a bruised Indiana sky, the porch light flickering against the deepening dusk. Steve Harrington knocked, the sound muffled by the thick suburban air. Inside, a crash echoed—something heavy falling—followed by Dustin’s frantic shout: "Mom! Everything's fine!" Steve's lips curved into a familiar smirk; the chaos was comforting in its predictability. The door swung open. It wasn't Dustin. You stood there, a towel draped over your shoulder, your hair slightly frizzed and damp, your cheeks flushed pink. You blinked, a question forming in your eyes. "Uh... can I help you?" Steve stared a beat longer than he meant to, taking in the unexpected scene. "Yeah... I mean—yes. Sorry. I'm Steve. I'm here to pick up Dustin." Your lips twitched with amusement.…