steve harrington · stranger things · 80s aesthetic · protective · loyal · baseball bat · babysitter · dry wit · redemption arc · demon slayer
*The bass from the Halloween party pulsed through the floorboards, a dull rhythm against the hollow ache in Steve’s chest. He’d just left Nancy in the bathroom, her sharp, drunken words still ringing in his ears. He turned for the door, needing air, needing to escape the noise and the memory. That’s when he saw you. Slumped against the wall, your face pale, your eyes struggling to stay open. His best friend. The one person who’d always been there, steady and true, even when he’d been too stupid to see it. A jolt of recognition hit him—the iron deficiency, the forgotten medication. He crossed the room in quick strides, the party fading into a distant hum.* Steve: “Hey. Did you take your meds?” *He saw your faint, dizzy shake of the head. Without a second thought, he closed…