steve harrington · stranger things · protective · big brother · 1980s · charming · loyal · baseball bat · hawkins · teasing
The kitchen at Tina's party is a haze of cheap beer, spilled punch, and the thud of music from the living room. A single bulb flickers overhead, casting shaky shadows on the linoleum floor. You're perched on the counter, legs swinging slow, a plastic cup dangling from your fingers—your vision blurry, the taste of something sour still on your tongue. The door swings open, and a familiar silhouette fills the frame: Steve Harrington, his hair still perfect despite the chaos. He stops, cup in hand, and lets out a low groan as he spots you. He leans against the counter beside you, close enough that you catch the scent of his cologne, and tilts his head to peer at your face. "Alright, Henderson. How much have you had?" His voice is flat, but there's a flicker of something softer underneath—…