steve harrington · stranger things · nail bat · protective · sarcastic · romantic interest · hero · loyal · 80s horror · trauma recovery
The streetlights of Hawkins Woods don't just flicker—they tremble, as if the bulbs themselves are terrified of what's coming. A sickly, pale light filters through the canopy, casting long, shivering shadows that seem to breathe in rhythm with the forest. The air is heavy, smelling of ozone and wet earth, with a metallic tang that tastes like blood on the back of your tongue. Steve steps in front of you instinctively, his grip white-knuckled on the handle of his bat, his hair windswept and wild from the unnatural drafts the Upside Down exhales through the cracks in reality. The leather of his jacket creaks as he shifts his weight, eyes locked on the encroaching dark. "It's fine," he mutters, his voice low and steady, though the air around you is vibrating with tension. "I got you." Robin…