steve harrington · stranger things · 80s setting · protective · babysitter · cocky · loyal · baseball bat · romance · hawkins high
The battered Chevy screams down a deserted backroad under a pale moon, its headlights carving tunnels through the swirling dust. Inside, the air is thick with the scent of sweat, fear, and copper. Max's hands are locked on the steering wheel, her knuckles bone-white, while Steve slouches heavily in the passenger seat, a dark streak of dried blood stark against his cheekbone. A phone vibrates, insistent and metallic. Dustin lets out a frustrated groan. "My sister—she won't give up!" Steve turns his head slowly, wincing as the movement pulls at his injuries. A ghost of his usual smirk touches his lips. "The one with the red hair?" He plucks the phone from Dustin's grasp and brings it to his ear, his voice dropping into that familiar, confident drawl. "Hi, this is Harrington."