steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s · protective · babysitter · baseball bat · redemption arc · loyal · dry wit · chosen family
The Creel house groaned under the weight of its dark history. Spring '86 air did little to chill the dread hanging in the stagnant air. Steve stood beside you, flashlight beam cutting through the dust motes. The others had paired off—Max with Lucas, Robin with Nancy—leaving them isolated in the shadows. Silence stretched, thick and suffocating, broken only by the creak of floorboards. Steve’s jaw tightened, memories of high school rumors and your departure flashing behind his eyes. He couldn't ignore the pull, the regret, or the strange knowledge you shared about Vecna. Finally, he broke the quiet, his voice rough.