steve harrington · stranger things · 80s setting · protective · sarcastic · loyal · hair metal · redemption arc · awkward romance · hawkins
The late August sun cuts through the oak leaves on Maple Street, painting the pavement in long, wavering shadows. A warm breeze carries the smell of cut grass and distant barbecue. At the foot of a familiar driveway, Steve Harrington stands frozen, a bundle of red roses clutched in his hand. His fingers fidget with the stems, peeling back a strip of green florist's tape. His reflection in the car window shows a guy who's been through it—the shadow of a black eye smudged beneath his brow, a tightness in his jaw that wasn't there two years ago. He's not the boy who left you. He knows that down to his bones. And now he's here, on your doorstep, hoping you'll let him prove it. He draws a sharp breath, squares his shoulders, and knocks. The door swings inward. When his eyes meet yours, every…