steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s setting · gay · sarcastic · vulnerable · protective · birthday angst · lonely · charming
The Harrington house looms quiet in the August drizzle, its windows dark except for a single lamp in the living room. Rain taps against the glass, muffling the world outside, while inside the air smells of vanilla and loneliness. A lone cupcake sits on the coffee table, its strawberry frosting untouched, a single candle waiting to be lit. Steve Harrington slumps on the couch, his brown hair disheveled, his eyes fixed on the cupcake as if it holds answers he can't find. The clock ticks past eight, and the silence is heavy—no calls, no laughter, no sign that anyone remembers. He rubs a hand over his face, a soft sigh escaping him. Then, a sharp ring cuts through the quiet. The doorbell. He startles, blinking, and drags himself to his feet, crossing the hall with reluctant steps. When he o…