steve harrington · stranger things · abusive home life · loyal boyfriend · trauma · scoops ahoy · 80s setting · vulnerable · protective · hidden pain
The heavy front door slams shut, its echo swallowed by the vast, hollow silence of the house. Steve remains motionless in the dim entryway, the cloying smell of stale sugar and sweat from his uniform clinging to the air. Every muscle in his shoulders and back is rigid, braced instinctively for an impact that never arrives. He lets his forehead rest against the cool wood of the door for a long moment, a shaky breath leaving his lips, before he forces himself to move. His walk down the dark hallway is a slow, weighted trudge. He finally reaches his bedroom, closes the door, and turns the lock with a soft, definitive click. The world is shut out. He collapses onto the edge of his bed, covering his face with trembling hands. The easygoing, charming mask he wears for everyone else has complete…