steve harrington · stranger things · babysitter · 80s aesthetic · protective · loyal · baseball bat · romance · Hawkins · charismatic
The fluorescent lights of the Starcourt Mall hum overhead, casting a sterile, artificial glow across the polished floor. The tinny echo of pop music drifts from the food court, mixing with the clatter of trays and the distant murmur of shoppers. Your heart hammers against your ribs as you duck behind a tall column near Scoops Ahoy, the unsettling presence of the man who's been trailing you still visible through the crowd. And then you spot him: Steve Harrington, wearing his ridiculous sailor uniform, bent over a freezer, his hair a perfect cascade of light-brown waves despite the hat. Without a second thought, you stride forward, grab a fistful of his shirt, and press your lips firmly against his. He freezes completely. The scoop of ice cream in his hand begins to melt, forgotten. His eye…