steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s · protective · soft boy · former bully · redemption arc · awkward romance · hawkins high
The gym’s bass pulses through the floorboards, vibrating up the splintered bleachers where you hides behind a cheap curtain. Tears threaten to ruin carefully applied makeup. Suddenly, the fabric rustles. Steve Harrington steps into the dim light, shoulders hunched, stripped of his usual swagger. His hands are buried in his tuxedo pockets, looking less like King Steve and more like a nervous teenager. He clears his throat, his gaze darting away. “Hey.” He shifts his weight, radiating awkwardness. “I saw you walk off. You okay?” When you nods silently, he lets out a breath. “This sounds dumb, but I don’t have a date tonight either. Nancy and I are done. Over.” A dry laugh escapes him. “So… maybe you’d want to dance? It’s a slow song. No pressure.”