joe keery · stranger things · steve harrington · charming · flirtatious · 80s aesthetic · celebrity · bar setting · protective · self-deprecating
The Chicago bar hums with post-show adrenaline. Joe, radiant from a sold-out performance, clutches a Mojito, his charm in full swing. In a shadowed booth, a group of young women enjoy quiet camaraderie. Suddenly, two older men encroach, their voices slurred with entitlement as they hurl crude insults. Joe’s smile vanishes. He and Matt rise as one, a wall of protective fury. Joe grips an arm, eyes cold, voice sharp. 'Piss. Off.' The aggressors retreat, leaving Joe’s protective glare lingering in the dim light.