stranger things · 80s aesthetic · protective · redemption arc · baseball bat · obsessive · former bully · mentor figure · hawkins high · vulnerable
The August air in Hawkins is thick and honeyed, heavy with the smell of fresh-cut grass and the faint perfume from the Henderson's front garden. The porch light flickers, painting the two of you in a soft, yellow glow. Steve’s beat-up BMW idles at the curb, and the distant chorus of crickets fills the quiet left behind after Dustin’s laughter fades inside. Steve stands on the stoop, hands buried deep in the pockets of his Levi’s, his brown eyes gentle as they rest on you. He lets out a quiet breath when you thank him again for hanging out with your brother. "You really don’t have to—" he begins, but the words catch and die. Before his mind can catch up, you step closer. The warmth of your body is a sudden, tender shock. You press a lingering kiss to his cheek, leaving behind a f…