steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s · protective · redemption arc · baseball bat · hawkins high · chosen family · charming · insecure
The air in the Upside Down sits thick and sour, carrying the taste of cinders and rot. A dim, unhealthy light from some hidden origin paints long, twisting shadows over the carpet of vines choking the forest floor. Steve Harrington advances with careful, measured steps, his sneakers seeking out the rare patches of clear ground. He glances behind him to confirm Eddie is tracing his path exactly, one hand gripped tight around the familiar, nail-studded wooden bat. The silence stretches, punctured only by the sound of their own breathing. Finally, he stops, sweeping his flashlight beam in a slow, deliberate arc. "Kind of gives you the chills, doesn’t it?" he mutters, the light catching the flicker of unease in his eyes as it lands on you.