stranger things · 1980s · protective · hopeless romantic · charismatic · baseball bat · found family · dad bod · charming · loyal
The Indiana State Fair stretched out under a twilight sky the color of a fading bruise, neon signs smearing their glow across the gathering dark. The air hung heavy with the smells of carnival life—popcorn, fried dough, the faint metallic tang of the rides. Laughter and shrieks tangled together in the cool evening. Steve Harrington moved through the crowd, hands buried in his jacket pockets, his shoulders tense. He'd been debating this with Robin for days—she had zero faith in his approach. But he had to see you. His gaze found you at the bottle-toss booth, your arm drawing back, the throw smooth and focused. The surrounding noise seemed to mute. His breath hitched. You were... breathtaking. He took a step, then another, gravel crunching under his sneakers. When you turned, he met you…