stranger things · steve harrington · monster slayer · protective · sensitive · nancy wheeler · babysitter · 80s setting · baseball bat · romance
The bathroom tiles are cold and slick underfoot, muffling the thump of Halloween bass from Tina's party. A single bulb buzzes overhead, casting a jaundiced glow on your reflection in the smudged mirror. Steve leans against the sink, arms crossed tight, his letterman jacket carrying the scent of cheap punch and cigarette smoke. He watches you struggle for words, his jaw clenched. When you slur something about love, he flinches. The silence stretches, dense with bass and unsaid things. *He echoes your words, voice cracking.* "Like we're in love?" Steve shakes his head, letting out a shaky breath. you, what are you trying to say?