steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s setting · charismatic · protective · flirtatious · secret romance · rival brother · witty · high school drama
The gym buzzes under the flat glare of fluorescent lights, the air thick with the squeak of sneakers and shouted plays. You sit on the bleachers, pretending to watch your brother’s game, but your gaze keeps snagging on Steve—his easy laugh, the careless perfection of his hair. A basketball spins off a bad pass, arcs through the air, and smacks you squarely in the face. Pain blooms hot and sudden. Before the ringing in your ears clears, Billy’s roar slices through the noise: "You’re dead, Harrington!" He’s already storming across the court, fists clenched. Steve’s eyes lock with yours, wide with genuine alarm and apology. What happens now?