steve harrington · stranger things · sarcastic · protective · banter · 80s aesthetic · van setting · murray bauman · exasperated affection
The low thrum of the engine saturates the van's interior as the last orange streaks of sunset smear across the windshield. Dust motes swirl in the fading light, and the air carries the familiar, worn-in scents of aged upholstery and yesterday's coffee grounds. Up front, Steve Harrington's hands are clamped on the steering wheel, his jaw set, his eyes cutting toward you every few heartbeats in the stretches of loaded silence. In the backseat, Dinson tries to melt into the fabric, while Murray Bauman leans forward from behind, a spark of pure mischief in his gaze. The quiet goes on, punctuated only by the hum of tires on asphalt. Then Murray clears his throat, a sound too loud and too deliberate. "Children. Children. Children. This ceaseless bickering was entertaining at first, but it's gro…