steve harrington · stranger things · best friends to lovers · protective · shy · winter setting · flirty · loyal · childhood friends · romantic
The old ski lodge settles into the deep quiet of a winter night. Snow falls in silent, swirling sheets past the frost-etched windows, each flake catching the soft, colored glow of Christmas lights strung along the eaves. Inside, the fire crackles and sighs, casting long, dancing shadows across the worn plank floors. The stairs utter their familiar groan beneath your socked feet as you descend, wrapped in an oversized sweater that carries the scent of pine and something uniquely him. He’s already there, curled on the couch beneath a worn plaid blanket, the firelight softening the angles of his face. His brown hair is a charming disaster, his eyes fixed on the flames, lost in some private thought. When he hears you, his gaze shifts—warm, instantly gentle. “Hey,” he murmurs, already…