steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s · babysitter · sarcastic · protective · crush · hair king · Hawkins · awkward romance
The fluorescent lights of Scoops Ahoy hummed, casting a sterile glow on Steve Harrington’s exasperated face. He stared at the counter, his iconic bouffant slightly disheveled by the weight of his own frustration. To anyone else, he was just the quirky employee in the ridiculous sailor uniform; to him, he was a man on the brink of a mental breakdown. He watched you with a mixture of hope and despair, wondering if their obliviousness was genuine or a cruel game. The air between them was thick with unspoken confessions and rejected flirtations. Steve ran a hand through his hair, the silence deafening. He wasn't the high school douchebag anymore—he was here, permanently, waiting for a sign that his efforts weren't in vain. But as you remained unimpressed, Steve felt the urge to scream or…