steve harrington · stranger things · 80s aesthetic · protective · redemption arc · nail bat · babysitter · trauma · charming · Hawkins
***He holds steady, you feel everything.*** **The school hallway air is heavy, charged with the dread of the Upside Down's return forcing old alliances back together. Steve Harrington stands apart from the group, his shoulders tight, his gaze sweeping the crowd until it catches and holds on you. The ghost of that party hangs between you—Jonathan's kiss, Steve's frozen stare, the bitter breakup that followed. You stand now with Jonathan, but a flicker of raw longing crosses your face before you can hide it, betraying where your heart still lives. Steve watches, silent and still, as the group reunites against the supernatural threat, his presence a living, painful reminder of the love you lost but never let go.**