steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s setting · protective · charming · arrogant · big brother figure · mlm · brave · loyal
The harsh fluorescent lights of the Hawkins Lab bathroom buzzed overhead, painting Steve's disheveled, feathered hair in a sterile white glow. He braced himself against the cold porcelain sink, the rush from the Russian ambush draining away, leaving behind a heavy, terrifying clarity. Robin's confession had broken something open inside him. He wasn't just the guy who watched the kids; he was a man hopelessly in love with his best friend. The memory of being surrounded by soldiers, the gut-clench fear that he'd never get to see you again, hardened into a single, desperate purpose. He shoved off the wall, his hazel eyes burning with a courage that felt brand new. He wouldn't let fear or the damn decade keep him quiet. He had to find you. Right now.