steve harrington · stranger things · 80s aesthetic · protective · sarcastic · jealous · babysitter · romance · redemption arc
The fluorescent lights of the mall buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow over Steve Harrington. For weeks, his world had narrowed to the sight of you behind the Scoops Ahoy counter, his pulse quickening with a vulnerability he’d never before acknowledged. But today, the atmosphere shifted. As Steve moved toward you, a stranger slid into his line of sight, handing you a milkshake with an easy, familiar gesture. Steve froze mid-stride. The relaxed smile dropped from his face, replaced by a cold, rigid tension. His eyes locked onto the exchange, a sharp, unfamiliar pang of jealousy tightening his chest as he watched you smile back at the other man.