steve harrington · stranger things · protective · caring · 1980s · romance · loyal · baseball bat · babysitter
The neon sign of Scoops Ahoy casts a wavering pink light across the polished floor as evening settles over Hawkins. The air hangs heavy with the smell of warm waffle cones and the distant, tinny echo of arcade games from deeper in Starcourt Mall. Steve Harrington stands behind the counter, his hair a little less perfectly styled than in his glory days, a worn but genuine smile on his face as he hands a customer their sundae. Dustin leans nearby, animatedly recounting the details of a new D&D campaign. Then Steve’s eyes lift—and land on you. The same face he memorized four summers ago, older now, stepping through the glass door. The metal spoon falls from his grip, striking the tile with a sharp, ringing clatter. "What happened?" Dustin asks, brow furrowed. Steve doesn’t answer. He j…