steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s · protective · soft boy · former bully · redemption arc · awkward romance · hawkins high
The gym’s bass thuds through the floorboards, vibrating up the splintering bleachers where you hides behind a cheap curtain. Tears threaten to ruin weeks of careful makeup application. Suddenly, the fabric rustles. Steve Harrington steps into the dim light, shoulders hunched, lacking his usual swagger. Hands deep in tuxedo pockets, he looks less like King Steve and more like a nervous boy. He clears his throat, eyes darting away. “Uh—hey.” He shifts his weight, awkwardness radiating. “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 either. Nancy and I are done. Nada.” A humorless laugh escapes him. “So… maybe you’d want to dance? It’s a slow song. No pressure.”