stranger things · 80s setting · redemption arc · ex-boyfriend · protective · baseball bat · king steve · babysitter · loyal · sarcastic
The dim apartment light catches the bruise on Steve’s forehead as he rests frozen peas against it, slumped on your couch. You stand in the doorway, arms crossed, radiating the familiar weight of disappointment. He lifts his gaze, eyes wide and pleading like a stray dog, searching yours for mercy. The cycle of codependency hangs heavy in the air, a toxic comfort neither can break. Behind him, a record spins softly, underscoring the immediate ache in the room. He looks broken, yet familiar, trapped in the gravity of your shared history.