#soft touch

Pairing: Steve Harrington x female reader

Summary: You are being bullied by Steve’s former friends and he is NOT having it.

Words: 3.370

Warnings: bullying. sexual topics mentioned. dating Steve Harrington. blood. found family vibes.

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The Harrington House has always been somewhat intimidating. But tonight it was extra scary.

Today was Steve’s birthday and he had only invited a handful of people, at least he had planned to. Your grip on the plate becomes tighter as you hear the loud humming music from inside the house. Colourful flashing lights shimmered through the many windows and you could see how people celebrated exuberant inside.

You gather all your courage and go up the last steps to the door to ring the bell. Your pulse fastened automatically, like every time you were about to see Steve, only this time the unplanned party right behind the door made your nervousness even louder.

The door was torn open before you could decide to flee spontaneously and Robin stood in front of you. Thank God! A familiar face, you thought.

„Robin!“ 

She greeted you with a quick hug and quickly pulled you into the house. Her look was a mixture of annoyance and despair. „Finally. Thank God you’re here... I can’t take it any longer with these meatheads. They don’t even know who Bowie is!”

You gasp in shock. „This a crime against the law.“

„Absolutely,“ Robin laughed. „What’s that?“

A mischievous smile crept onto your lips. “A cake for Steve. It’s dark chocolate, his favourite.”

Robin lifted the hood and was about to put her finger in the frosting, but you quickly pull the plate away. „Hey, at least wait until he’s seen it once, after that you can have as much as you want.“

At first she pout, but when the prospect of more cake was opened to her, she grinned in victory. „Dingus should be lucky that you like him.“

„He does indeed”, said the birthday boy and stepped up to you. „I can consider myself more than lucky to have a girlfriend who is not only pretty, but also puts up with me.“

He stood behind you and pulled you into a loving embrace. Your back sank against his chest and immediately a large part of your nervousness fell from your shoulders. His warmth took you in, while his thumb drew soothing circles on your hip. Steve leaned down to you and pressed a gentle kiss on your cheek that made you blush.

„What do you mean put up with you? I asked you out, Steve,“ you chuckle and look up at him. „You just took too long to do it yourself!”

Steve chuckled. “Can you blame me? After I saw how you can throw a punch with the crowbar, I thought I wouldn’t see the next day if I did something stupid!“

You gently poke your elbow into his stomach. „Careful, Harrington. Or I may think you’re afraid of me.” Your tone had become flirty because you just couldn’t help it.

He raised his eyebrows, his voice lowered, teasing. „Oh, I’m terrified.“

„Okay, that’s it,“ Robin interrupted your flirtation. „I’m not going to stand here any longer and watch your mating ritual. I’m too single and not drunk enough for that.” She escaped towards the living room, pushing past several dancing teenagers.

Steve huffed in amusement and looked down at you again. His gaze warm and gentle. His mouth tilted into a small smile. „Hi.“

Then he lowered his head and kissed you. He still held you tight to him, holding your hips in a firm grip. The kiss was slow, intimate like you had all the time in the world and as if you were not standing in the entrance of his house, where apparently the party of the year was celebrated.

You hear glass shattering and winced.

Steve sighed annoyed. “Come on, let’s go to the kitchen. I really need a piece of this cake right now.” He pointed to the plate you’re still holding before he put a hand on your lower back and led you away from the crowd.

„What happened to the little intimate celebration you had planned?” you ask. It wasn’t that you did not agree with the way your boyfriend spent his birthday, but if you were being honest, if it wasn’t for him, you would leave the house in an instant.

Arriving in the kitchen, Steve signalled you to put the cake on the counter. You push some used cups and empty beer bottles aside.

„Believe me, I really have nothing to do with it. Apparently Tommy H. and Carol remembered my birthday and they dragged all those people into my house when I was at work.” He’s looking for two plates from one of the top shelves, while you get two forks from a drawer. „So I show up here, still in my shorts from Scoops Ahoi and burst into my own party, which by the way was already in full swing.“

You lean your hip against the edge of the counter and watch Steve cut two pieces of the cake to fill your plates. “Shall we call Max and Dustin? I bet they manage to make everyone go home crying as soon as they realise how annoyed you are.“

Steve chuckled. “They were waiting til I was done with my shift to come here but I sent the kids home when I saw how drunk these idiots from the basketball team are. There’s no way they’ll get close to Dustin and the others.”

His care for the kids was really touching. It was clear how much he loved every single one of this crazy little family, even if he constantly scolded about how annoying they were. You step closer to Steve and take his hand in yours. Your fingers instinctively intertwine with each other, which still caused butterflies in your stomach even after the hundredth time.

„You’re a damn good babysitter, Steve Harrington.” You stand on your tiptoes and kiss him. „Happy Birthday.“

Steve placed his free hand on the side of your neck and gently stroked your cheek. „Happy Birthday to me indeed,“ he whispered before his lips met yours again.

„Ohhh there we have the future Mrs. Harrington!“ Carol’s mocking voice cut through the air like cursed ice and made you count to ten in your thoughts. „Stevie, what are taking you so long? Your guests are waiting for the man of the evening.”

She stepped into the kitchen, paying much attention to give her hips a extra swing with every step. Your blood began to boil, but you had promised yourself not to allow unfounded jealousy. Not even when this ... person looked at your boyfriend as if she was undressing him in her mind.

Needless to say, it cost you a lot of self-control.

„Don’t call me that, Carol. I’m trying to have a private moment with my girlfriend right now, alright? The party is going pretty well without me.” Steve’s words were clear from the message, even if he remained polite in terms of tone.

„I’ll tell Tommy you’re here, then maybe he can get the stick out of your ass, Harrington,“ she laughed, fake, turning to the open door. „TOMMY! Get your ass in here.”

Sighing, you lower your forehead against Steve’s chest and count to ten again.

„Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Tommy. I had enough,“ Steve whispered, slowly running one hand up and down your back.

Guilt made you look at him. „Please don’t throw them out because of me. These are your friends and if you want them here, that’s okay with me.”

Steve frowned. “Those were my friends. They think they know me. They think I’m still King Steve or whatever.” His mockery made you smile. „Believe me, I want nothing more than to watch movies with you, Robin and the kids.“

Before you could answer, Steve was unkindly pulled away from you.

„Harrington! What am I hearing? You want to prove you can outdrink all of us?” Tommy H. roared exuberantly and put his arm around Steve. „King Steve is back!“

Your boyfriend stiffened and started talking to his former best friend. „No, Tommy. I think it’s about time for you to go home, actually all of you need to leave.”

You couldn’t hear the answer anymore, because suddenly Carol was in front of you. „Aw how sweet is that? Did you bake a cake especially for Stevie?”

„He told you not to call him that, Carol. Do you have problems with your ears?” you ask annoyed. Stay cool, she just wants to get on your nerves.

Carol lifted her chin defiantly. „It’s just a joke. Stevie and I are always making such jokes. That’s called insiders, you loser.”

Breathe, you tell yourself.

„Oh,“ Carol slapped her hand in front of her mouth in fake shock. “Sorry, was that offensive, weirdo?” Her laughter was shrill, almost screaming for attention. Your gaze glided to Steve just for a second, who was still busy kindly persuading Tommy to leave his house.

„I don’t care. If you enjoy it, then call me whatever you want, but please just leave me alone.”

Carol skilfully overheard you. “Baking a cake for someone older than 5 is pretty childish, don’t you think? And it’s also quite pathetic when you consider how you throw yourself at him like that.” She looked at you with a condescending look and wrinkled her nose in disgust.

Graphical fantasies of violence washed through your mind. „Of course I’ll throw myself at him, Carol,“ her name only came over your lips through clenched teeth. „He’s my boyfriend, after all. I’m sorry if your little ego can’t handle it.“

Okay, that was mean, but you didn’t really feel sorry either.

„If I were you, I’d be careful, nerd. Stevie doesn’t usually stay long with a girl. Certainly not with someone like you,“ she hissed and stepped close to you in threat. „You’re just a little fun time for him. A gap filler. Just good enough to fuck but not good enough to enjoy it.”

Her mockery washed like biting acid over your short thread of patience and almost made it tear. You defend yourself with all your power against the hurtful words so that they did not hit the sore point of your own insecurity.

You knew Steve liked you, but at the same time you could never completely bury your doubts when it came to whether or not you were good enough for him. Good enough for King Steve.

„Listen, Carol,“ you swallow hard. “I don’t want to argue with you. So if you could please leave me alone and finally go home...”

Carol laughed sly. „Pah! Little Miss Perfect doesn’t dare to fight for her boyfriend. I knew you were just a little sad slut who got excited about the fact that Stevie fucked her out of pity.”

Tears came into your eyes, you quickly blink them away. „Fuck you, Carol. Go to hell.”

Just as you were about to turn away, she grabbed the cake next to you on the counter. She got a handful of the soft mass and slapped it in your face. Even if you manage to keep your hands protectively in front of you, a large piece land on your cheek and fall on the tile floor with a slapping sound.

Carol laughed spitefully. „Oh no, how fitting. Shit for the shitface.

Your fist clenched and collided with her nose. It was not your intention, rather a short-circuit reaction. Well, maybe it was a bit of a intention.

The room around you became quiet, only the humming music from the living room could still be heard. Tommy was quickly at Carol’s side and held a cloth under her bleeding nose. The remaining unknown party guests stared at you with wide eyes. Robin applauded.

And Steve narrowed his eyes. „Out.“

You couldn’t hear what the others were saying, their desperate attempts to speak louder than the truth bounced off you.

„Get. The fuck. Out of my house.” His voice was now angry and loud and left the others no more opportunity to discuss.

Your gaze lingered rigidly on the floor in front of you, where a few drops of Carol’s blood had gathered, while everything around you became quieter.

“Hey,” Steve took your face in his hands and gently pushed your chin up so you had to look at him. „Are you okay?“

„I hit her,“ you whisper.

Steve tilted his head and searched your face for something you didn’t know what it was. „I saw it. Bull’s-eye.”

That jerked you out of your trance back to reality. “That’s not funny, Steve. I punched her straight in the face. I didn’t want that, I swear.”

„I know,“ he breathed, pressing a kiss on your forehead.

You close your eyes at his gentle touch and allow yourself to let go. Your body suddenly felt very heavy and with a choked sound you let yourself sink to his chest. „I’m sorry. I ruined your birthday.”

„No, you didn’t,“ Steve said, stroking your head and through your hair. He leaned towards you and you could feel his warm breath brushing your neck. “The party had nothing to do with my birthday and certainly not these idiots. I’m glad they’re gone, because now I can celebrate the day with my favourite person.”

You lean back to look at him. „I love you, Steve.“

He smiles warmly. That very special smile that was only meant for you. That he only showed when the two of you were alone. “I love you too.” He kissed you and even though the doubts still gnawn at you, his lips calmed your cracked heart.

„Come let me clean this up,“ he said after a while in which your lips had spoken for you. He took a towel and held it under running water, then he signalled you to sit on the table so he could wash the cake scraps off your face. You couldn’t look him in the face, Carol’s words were still too heavy in your thoughts.

Loser. Childish. Slut. Pathetic. Pity. It would be a lie to say that you didn’t already think of some of these things about yourself.

„Why are you crying, sweetheart?” Steve sounded alarmed and tapped your chin up with a gentle touch to look for your gaze. „Are you hurt?“

„Just my ego,“ you huffed. „It’s nothing, don’t worry.“

Steve put the cloth aside and took your face in both hands. „No way. I want to know what’s going on so I can fix it. Please tell me what’s wrong, love.”

His brown eyes darted across your face in search of answers. Your heart was pounding like crazy in your chest and your cheeks burned with shame.

„I feel so stupid. Carol ... she knew exactly what she had to say to make me angry.“

Steve looked at the ceiling as if to ask the heavenly forces for patience and now his hands leaned on both sides next to your legs on the table, so that you were almost at the same level of sight. „What did she say?“

„She said I was a loser and it was childish for you to bake a cake, but that wasn’t so bad. Worse was that she claimed I was pathetic and that you only spend time with me out of pity. I know she just wanted to get under my skin, really! But then...“, a sob broke out of you. Steve looked tormented and seeing you like this made a part of him break into a thousand pieces.

„She said I was just a gap filler for you and a slut. Good enough to fuck, but not good enough to enjoy it,“ you repeat her exact words.

Steve became very quiet. For a few seconds, the only thing you could hear was your pounding heartbeat and the quiet ticking of the clock above the kitchen door.

„They’re dead to me. Jesus Christ, what the fuck? You can’t believe anything she told you, do you hear me?”

You hesitate.

„Love, tell me you don’t really believe this bullshit.”

You shrug your shoulders weakly. „I don’t want to, but I’m afraid it might be partly true. After all, I’m really childish sometimes.”

“Yeah, and that’s what I love about you! You’re real. If you love something, then with all your heart and all that you are. There is nothing wrong with that. I love how you don’t lose yourself even if everything goes completely shit. And I’m supposed to feel sorry? Have pity? Please. Do you know how long I’ve been looking for the perfect moment to ask you out? Years, damn it!”

His words came emphatically, he put his whole damn heart into them, but he didn’t raise his voice for a moment. Not with you, never.

“And as for the sex? Love I enjoy it more than you might think. God, I don’t even know why you’re dealing with me. I love every single second with you. Every moment we spend together is irreplaceable for me. It doesn’t matter if you visit me at work so I can just look at you or when your legs are wrapped around me and I’m so deep inside you that I feel like I’m in heaven. No matter when or where. You are the most important thing to me. Always.“

Your tears long dried before he had finished speaking. Instead, a cautious smile had crept on your lips. „Steve Harrington, you really know how to handle words.“

Steve chuckled. „Duh, if I can do one thing, it’s talk.“ He put his fingers under your knees and pulled you a little further to him, so that you were now sitting on the edge of the table. „But honestly; don’t believe anything others say. If you have any doubts, no matter what, come to me. I always tell you the truth. And I meant every word.”

You put your arms around his neck and as if by themselves your hands found his soft hair. „Okay.“

He kissed you on the tip of your nose. „Good. And now I would really like to try this cake.” He pointed to the half-destroyed sad thing.

„Hopefully the evil witch of the West didn’t throw too much,“ said Robin, who just put her head in the door at that moment. „You said I can have as much as I want!“

Steve and you laughed at Robin’s perfect timing.

„Yes, there’s still enough.“

„Oh, and by the way,“ Robin added before she disappeared again. „The others are also back, so please keep everything that comes from now on g-rated!“

You exchange a confused look with Steve, but when you two enter the living room, all unspoken questions were answered.

The floor was still a mess; paper cups and confetti were lying around everywhere, but that hadn’t been the reason for the wide grin on Robin’s face.

Eddie, Jonathan and Nancy were sitting on the sofa, and around them Max, El, Mike, Will, Lucas and Dustin were swaving around like a wild group of puppies.

Robin let herself fall on the cushions next to Eddie. „Happy Birthday, Dingus.“

The others joined in and repeated her words. Steve grinned so wide that his cheeks began to hurt. He pressed a kiss on your hair and squeezed your hand affectionately. „Man am i a lucky guy.“

———

Steve Harrington Masterlist

all i want tonight is skin to skin, the scent of you against my nose, and silence loud enough to hear your heartbeat