summary: you and Steve go to the beach at night, and he has a surprise up his sleeve.
notes: partially inspired by a song, lemme know if you can guess it.
content: fluff, fem!reader, surprise proposal
The ocean roars before you, salt and spray mixing with the copious amount of hair products you've used. Steve's hair is not much better, battered by the raucous wind. He keeps running his hands through it, muttering under his breath about "Mother Nature having it out for me." He's annoyed. You've told him multiple times that his hair looks amazing.
It's nighttime; constellations litter the sky in unique patterns. The beach is deserted, except for the twin heartbeats lying on the shore.
It was your idea to come to the beach at night. You'd always wanted to listen to the crashing waves and fall asleep under the stars.
Steve was less enthusiastic about it but wanted to keep you happy. And so he let you pack a picnic rug into his beamer, did his hair with even stronger products than usual, and drove you out of Hawkins to a little beach a half hour away.
You were smiling the whole time, telling Steve about your dream to lie underneath the stars and listen to the music of the ocean. He nodded, keeping one hand on the wheel and the other resting on your thigh.
You had worn a yellow sundress, which had almost made Steve drool at the sight of you. He had worn his usual jeans and jacket, opting for comfort. He didn't have to impress you.
Steve manoeuvred an arm and brought you flush against him. He smelt like cedar from his cologne and lavender from his aftershave. You sighed, burying your face deeper into his shirt.
"You okay, baby?" Steve asked, lifting your head with a hand on your cheek.
His dark brownโno...chocolateโeyes were shining against the darkness of the ocean. And he held so much love and devotion in them that you could feel yours welling up with tears.
"This is everything I've dreamed of." You whispered loudly against the quiet of the night.
"Everything?" He chuckled, sitting you up to rummage around in his jacket pocket.
You knit your brows together in confusion, watching him produce a small, blue box with gold lace wrapping the edges.
Steve tugged at the lace with his teeth, pulling until the fabric came loose and bunched in his hand. He looked up at you sheepishly, lifting himself onto one knee with a deep breath.
You gasped, realising what he was about to do.
"YN, baby, my angel. You are the greatest thing to ever happen to me, and I am so glad that you walked into my life..."
If the tears weren't falling before, they definitely fell now.
"I was a stupid kid. I had no purpose. I worked any job I could to survive. Lifeguard, Scoops, The Squawk. That was until you happened. And just like that, I had a purpose."
You sniffled, wiping a tear that had fallen with the back of your hand.
"We've battled monsters, psycho wizards, even senior biology together."
A wet laugh escaped your lips, remembering helping Steve with his biology homework in senior year. He wanted to quit messing around and do his best, and you were his number one cheerleader, hanging around after school with cue cards to help him understand.
"My favourite set of stairs is the one up to your room. And you make me the happiest man alive when I'm with you."
Only Steve Harrington could propose to someone and still be a sex fiend.
"The kids adore you, especially Dustin, who actually encouraged me to quit being a coward and go for it."
You laugh at the image of Dustin giving Steve a pep talk, much like the ones Steve has given the kids in times of need.
"So, I guess what I'm asking is...do you want to spend the rest of your life with me?"
Balanced on one knee, hair a mess, scared smile gracing his pink lips, Steve couldn't have looked more perfect in that moment.
You pounced, grabbing his collar and smashing your lips on his. He chuckled and kissed back just as hungrily, smoothing a hand down the back of your head. He tasted like peppermint and a faint hint of smoke that you guessed was from an anxious cigarette drag somewhere along the way. He had hidden that pretty well, considering he'd told you he'd quit smoking.
Your hands wandered to the back of his neck, where you played with his hair, swallowing a blissful sigh that escaped his lips.
Teeth clashed, and the ring box fell onto the sand beneath you as your bodies collapsed, breathy laughs escaping you both as you pulled back and admired each other.
You ran a hand down the side of his face, grazing his jaw with your fingertips. He pushed some hair out of your face that had fallen in the heat of passion.
"I guess that's a 'yes'?" Steve chewed on his lip, running his other hand down your shoulder.
"That was a goodbye kiss. I'm breaking up with you." You squinted at him, said monotone, and even leant back a bit to make space between you.
His goofy smile fell, instantly replaced by a pout. His hand stilling on your shoulder.
A grin broke your features as you grabbed his face and pulled him closer again.
"Of course it's a 'yes', dingus! I want to spend the rest of my days with you!"
You punctuated your statement with a deep yet soft kiss to his pouting lips.
Steve's hands found the ring box discarded between you and managed to open it and place the gorgeous silver diamond ring on your finger. All while not breaking the kiss.
He really was good with his hands.
Breaking apart, you rested your forehead against his, a gigantic smile gracing your lips. Your eyes admired your new piece of jewellery.
Steve pecked your lips again, once, twice, and spoke, "How do you feel, soon-to-be Mrs Harrington?"
"Like my wish has come true, Mr Harrington."
"Is this everything you've dreamed of?" He joked, earning a playful shove from you.