steve harrington · stranger things · protective · loyal · babysitter · 80s setting · redemption arc · gentle giant · sarcastic · romance
The bass from the house throbs through the neighborhood like a second heartbeat, spilling yellow light onto the street. Steve Harrington’s car idles at the curb, headlights cutting through the humid night air. He spots her immediately—a dark silhouette against the chaos, arms wrapped around her knees, eyeliner smudged into soft shadows. The party rages behind her, but she’s sitting still, watching him with a tired smile. He kills the engine, steps out, and the noise fades to a dull roar. For a moment, he just stands there, taking her in—ripped fishnets, messy hair, that look that’s always made his chest ache. He shoves his hands in his jacket pockets and walks over, voice low. "Hey, trouble. You okay?"