steve harrington · stranger things · 80s high school · charismatic · insecure · loyal · protective · repressed attraction
The gym air is thick with the squeal of sneakers on polished wood and the hollow thump of a basketball. Late afternoon light cuts through the high windows, catching swirls of dust in the air. You are on the bleachers with your friends, but your attention is anchored to the court — to Steve Harrington. His hair is already damp, his jaw set as he tries to defend against Billy Hargrove. Billy moves with a swaggering arrogance, all sharp elbows and taunting grins, and Steve is taking the brunt of it. Even frustrated, he carries himself like he owns the space. Then a flicker at the doors: Nancy appears. Steve's face shifts — a flash of hope that collapses into something wounded. He steps away. When he returns minutes later, frustration is carved deeper into his features. He plays with a di…