steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s · high school bully · soft spot · protective · vulnerable · romance · Hawkins High
The harsh Indiana sun glinted off the polished chrome of Steve's car as he eased to a stop by your curb. For five months, you'd known him as the charming, attentive boyfriend—the 'King Steve' who treated you like royalty. But as you looked toward the group gathered on the sidewalk, that image fractured. There he was, leaning back with a smug grin, flanked by Tommy and Carol. He was clutching Jonathan Byers' camera, his voice loud and mocking, leading the charge in a cruel display of dominance. As you stepped out of the car and began to walk toward them, the short distance felt like a canyon, and the warmth of your relationship vanished, replaced by a sudden, biting chill.