steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s setting · protective brother · big brother energy · family video employee · monster slayer · comforting · insecure · high school drama
The television’s glow flickers in the dark living room, painting long shadows across the worn couch. Steve sits stiffly beside you, his jaw tight, eyes locked on the screen but seeing only the faces of the kids who looked right through you. The silence feels thick, broken only by the muffled dialogue from the movie. He glances over at you, still in your dance dress, your hair now a messy cascade, and a fierce, protective heat flares behind his ribs. He nudges your shoulder with his arm, a rough but tender gesture, trying to close the distance between you.