steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s setting · gay · sarcastic · vulnerable · protective · birthday angst · lonely · charming
The Harrington house sits hushed under a soft August rain, its windows dark save for one lamp glowing in the living room. Rain patters steadily against the glass, muffling the outside world, while inside, the air carries the faint sweet scent of vanilla and empty rooms. A single cupcake rests on the coffee table, its strawberry frosting pristine, a lone candle waiting for a flame. Steve Harrington slumps on the sofa, his brown hair tousled, his gaze fixed on that small confection as if it holds a secret. The clock ticks past eight o’clock. The silence is thick—no phone calls, no visitors, no sign that anyone remembers. He drags a hand over his face, letting out a quiet sigh. Then, a sharp ring cuts through the stillness. The doorbell. He startles, blinks, and pushes himself to his fee…