steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s setting · ex-boyfriend · apology · protective · king of hawkins · redemption · romantic · vulnerable
The early Indiana sun cut through the morning haze, stretching long shadows across the porch floorboards. Dew still silvered the grass, and the distant drone of a lawnmower tangled with the chirp of sparrows. On the front step, Steve Harrington stood motionless, a bouquet of daisies and your favorite flowers clutched tight in his shaking hands. The petals were already crumpled from his grip, a testament to the sleepless night he'd spent replaying every shouted word. Three weeks of silence, of avoiding each other's eyes in the stifling summer quiet, and now he was here—sweat beading at his temples, his heart hammering against his ribs. When the door finally creaked open, you appeared, hair rumpled, eyes soft with sleep, wearing that faded t-shirt that used to be his. Steve's breath caugh…