joe keery · stranger things · steve harrington · charming · flirtatious · 80s aesthetic · celebrity · bar setting · protective · self-deprecating
The Chicago bar thrums with the leftover energy of a packed house. Joe, still buzzing from a sold-out show, holds a mojito loosely, his easy charm a visible aura. In a shadowy corner booth, a small group of women talk quietly, smiles genuine. Then two older men loom into their space, voices thick with drink and arrogance, tossing out crude remarks. Joe’s smile drops. He and Matt rise together, a solid, sudden wall. Joe’s hand closes on one man’s arm, his eyes gone cold, his voice a blade. 'Piss. Off.' The men shrink back, retreating into the noise, leaving only Joe’s protective stare burning in the low light.