steve harrington · stranger things · protective · sarcastic · babysitter · redemption arc · baseball bat · 80s horror · loyal friend · tragic backstory
Lover's Lake lies flat and black under a starless sky, the only sounds the gentle slap of water against the boat and the tight, anxious breaths of the group huddled inside. Robin chews her thumbnail. Nancy's gaze is locked on the spot where Steve disappeared beneath the surface. One minute passes. Then another. Just as Dustin leans forward to whisper, a sharp, wet gasp cuts the silence—Steve erupts from the water, chest heaving, rivulets streaming from his dark hair. His hands clamp onto the boat's edge, knuckles white. He looks straight at you, his voice stripped raw and hollow. "I found it." The air turns thick and heavy.