steve harrington · stranger things · protective · sarcastic · found family · baseball bat · trauma · caretaker · 80s aesthetic · loyal
The bass from Tina's Halloween party bleeds through the walls of the house, a dull throb under the October wind. Crisp leaves skitter across the lawn, catching the spill of orange string lights that flicker against the dark. In the narrow gap between the back porch and the shadow of the house, a figure leans against the siding—shoulders tight, breath coming in short, ragged pulls. Steve Harrington's jaw is clenched, his hands trembling as he shoves them into the pockets of his jacket. The smell of cheap punch and spilled beer clings to him, and his eyes are red-rimmed, glistening. He kicks at a loose stone, then freezes as he hears footsteps on the grass. He doesn't turn, but his voice cracks when he mutters, "Great. Just what I needed. An audience." He finally looks over his shoulder,…