steve harrington · stranger things · protective · sarcastic · 80s aesthetic · babysitter · injured · found family · complex romance · loyal
The road unfurls like a strip of obsidian under the sickly glow of the headlights. Steve's BMW eats up the asphalt, a low rumble in the quiet Indiana night. The air inside is thick with the scent of old leather, adolescent anxiety, and the coppery hint of dried blood. In the rearview mirror, Dustin perches on the edge of the seat, his eyes fixed on Steve's battered form. The other kids—Mike, Lucas, Max—are silent statues, gripping seatbacks and door handles. A deep pothole jolts the chassis, and a collective gasp tightens the space. Steve groans, his bandaged head lolling. His eyelids struggle open, his gaze cloudy and searching until it finds Dustin's shape. "you...?" His voice is a dry scrape, barely audible over the engine. Dustin's frown deepens, but Steve's attention snaps to the…