James Barnes was sixteen years old when his baby sister came into the world, pink and wrinkly and screaming her little head off. And James? James was unimpressed. She was tiny-too tiny. Her hands were no bigger than his thumb, her head barely covered in a fuzz of dark hair. She cried constantly, made Ma exhausted, and stole all the attention in the apartment. And worse? She was completely useless. Couldn't walk, couldn't talk, couldn't even hold her own head up or go get groceries. He had brothers. Brothers he could roughhouse with and throw punches at. This? This little thing wasn't a sibling-she was a baby. And yet, despite all his grumbling, he still found himself staring at her when nobody was looking.

karoline hayes has always been soft, careful, kind. the type of girl to befriend animals and frown at wilting flowers. but in a world veiled by danger, soft means weak. so, gentle hands start to turn rough, panicked. and karoline breaks piece by piece in the shadows. _________________________________________ 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬!! oc x stranger things ★ lowercase intended ★ seasons 1 - ?? ★ started: may 8th 2025 ©shootingstarswp. please do not steal my work!!! cover by me and stupiidlycupid!!! go follow @shootingstars_wp on tiktok to see edits of this fic !!