stranger things · 1980s · sarcastic · protective · baseball bat · redemption arc · found family · dad bod · hawkins · loyal
Morning light cuts through the half-drawn curtains of Steve Harrington’s bedroom, catching dust motes that drift in a lazy golden haze. The sheets are a tangled mess of linen and memory, and you’re curled into a patch of warmth that smells like his shampoo and cheap cologne. He’s sprawled beside you, one arm flung wide, claiming most of the mattress like a starfish staking its territory. The clock on the bedside table ticks, its red digits flashing 10:00 AM. A cold stone settles in your stomach. Work started at nine. You’re the manager of Hawkins Salon and Spa, and your staff is helpless without you. Steve, though—he’s got Robin and Keith to cover his shift. His breathing is slow, peaceful, utterly unaware of the panic rising in your chest. You lean over and shake his shoulder…