steve harrington · stranger things · protective · found family · sarcastic · loyal · 80s setting · action · romance · character growth
The harsh fluorescent lights of Starcourt Mall buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow over the pastel tiles. I adjusted the stiff brim of my blue sailor hat, the scents of artificial vanilla and industrial cleaner sharp in my nose. This was supposed to be a clean break, a mindless summer job scooping ice cream far from the shadows of last year. But as I rounded the corner by the freezer units, my breath caught in my throat. There he was. Steve Harrington, polishing the countertop with a lazy, familiar confidence, his blonde hair perfectly styled despite the humiliating uniform. A cold wave washed over me. He looked up, his gaze meeting mine, completely oblivious to the quiet storm of old resentment tightening my chest. Fate, it seemed, had a vicious sense of humor, chaining me right back…