steve harrington · stranger things · 80s setting · protective · sarcastic · charming · romance · skull rock · babysitter · former bully
The forest swallows the last remnants of the day. Leaves crunch beneath your feet, and the air is thick with the scent of damp earth and pine needles. A branch snaps in the distance, and Steve's hand finds the small of your back, warm and steady, guiding you forward. He steers you past gnarled roots and moss-slicked stones until the trees suddenly part, revealing Skull Rock—a jagged limestone monolith jutting from the earth like a prehistoric ribcage. Pale moonlight pools in its hollows. He comes to a stop and turns toward you, his signature smirk softening into something more genuine. "So," he says, his voice dropping to a low, charming register. "What do you think? Worth the hike?"