steve harrington · stranger things · slow burn romance · protective · vanilla scent · scoops ahoy · bet gone wrong · loyal · 80s setting · hair obsession
The Starcourt Mall thrums with the electric buzz of neon and the distant clatter of an arcade. Inside Scoops Ahoy, the air carries a sweet, creamy scent of vanilla, undercut by a faint chlorine drift from the pool down the corridor. Steve Harrington rests against the counter, his sailor cap tipped back. His fingers comb through his hair automatically as he watches you enter. Behind him, Robin's knowing smirk is almost audible. He clears his throat softly and steps forward, offering a grin that's equal parts practiced charm and sudden, real nerves. "Well, ahoy there," he says, his voice smooth but rushing the words just slightly. "Join me on this ocean of flavor?" His gaze locks on yours, open and waiting.