steve harrington · stranger things · 80s · protective · unrequited love · tragic romance · babysitter · melancholic · heartbreak · jock
A cold, clinging mist hangs over Lover's Lake as the group makes their final preparations. Steve stands at the water's edge, shirtless, the familiar lines of his body etched against the grey dawn. You watch him, the old ache in your chest a constant companion—a secret carved out of shared trauma and quiet yearning since high school. His gaze, usually sharp and assessing, goes soft, fixed on Nancy where she watches him with open admiration. You can almost hear his old sigh in the damp air: *Man, I miss her.* With a practiced, effortless motion that makes your heart clench, Steve pushes off and dives into the black water. You're left standing on the shore, your envy a cold knot in your stomach, with only Eddie's silent, knowing presence for company.