Mar 26, 2025
Swoon (1992) dir. Tom Kalin
seen from Germany
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Swoon (1992) dir. Tom Kalin
embers between us
Pairing: Steve Harrington x female reader
Summary: You don‘t know how to flirt properly, so Steve happily volunteers to be your test subject.
Warnings: heavy flirting. bonfire vibes. teasing. yearning. Steve has a crush on you. no use of y/n.
———————
The bonfire crackles loud enough to hide your nervous laughter.
Music is playing from someone’s car, the air smells like smoke and cheap soda. The younger kids are daring each other to jump over embers.
Earlier Steve had leaned in close and said something stupidly smooth like -
„Are you cold? I wouldn’t mind if you want to steal my jacket.“ And then he smiled this very particular smile, that makes you forget your own name.
So naturally, you panicked. Which is how you ended up next to Nancy near the snack table.
„He was flirting with me,“ you whisper.
Nancy doesn’t even look surprised. „Yes. He’s been doing that for almost an hour now. You catch on fast.“
„What do I do?“
Nancy finally turn to you. „Flirt back. God damn it,“ she says deadpan.
You wave your hands around in a hopeless gesture. „How?!“
Nancy blinks once. „You’re kidding.“
„I don’t know how to do that.“
She sighs like a general disappointed in her troops. „Smile. Tease him. Stand close. Steve is not subtle, you’ll be fine.“
That’s not very helpful, but it’s something. Later when the bonfire as burned lower and most people are distracted, you see a chance to test your new flirting skills.
Steve is sitting on a log, elbows on is knees, staring into the flames like he’s thinking about something deep and poetic. (He’s not. He’s thinking about you.)
You approach. Okay - smile, tease and stand close. Eeeeasy.
Steve looks up as soon as you stop in front of him and he immediately smiles. God. So unfair.
„Hey,“ he says.
„Hey.“ Silence follows and your cheeks get warmer by the second.
Flirt back! God damn it!
„So,“ you step a little closer, trying to act casual. „You always threaten girls with hypothermia, or was that special?“
His eyebrows lift. „Are you - … are you flirting with me?“
You freeze for half a second, then your honesty slips out. „I’m trying. I have no idea what I’m doing.“
A pause follows, then Steve laughs. Not at you, it’s softly and fond. Because this is the exact moment where Steve realises he falls for you. Hard. He’s so gone.
„That’s what you came up with?“
„I panicked!“
„That’s adorable,“ he says with that low voice, that makes your stomach flip.
You narrow your eyes. „See? That. That’s what you do. You say things like that.“
He leans back slightly, studying you. „Okay,“ he says slowly. „Let’s see it.“
„See what?“
„Your best shot.“
Oh. Oh it’s on. You step closer, close enough that your knees almost brush his. Steve’s posture shifts automatically into something more attentive and less joking.
You tilt your head. „You’re staring again.“
He stands up and suddenly he towers over you, looking down with a knowing smirk. Oh he’s very aware what his proximity does to you. Because it has the same effect on him.
„Am I?“
„Yes.“
„At what?“
You swallow. Nancy said tease. So you say, „Me.“
There’s that shift again, the playful glint softens into something warmer. „Maybe I am,“ he admits.
Your heart is pounding so loud you are convinced he can hear it. „Maybe I don’t mind.“
Steve inhales slowly. „You don’t?“
You shrug, trying to look braver than you feel. „Depends. You gonna keep doing it?“
He leans in closer, his eyes flick down to your lips, just for a heartbeat. Firelight flickers over his features, gold and shadow.
„I could,“ he says quietly. „Or I can do something different.“
Your breath catches. This is new territory. He reaches up - slow enough to give you time to back away - and brushes a tiny bit of ash off your cheek. His fingers linger just a second too long.
„You’re doing fine, by the way,“ he murmurs.
„With the flirting?“
„With me.“
Your stomach flips violently. A nervous laugh escapes your mouth. „Good. Because I am absolutely wining this.“
„I can tell.“
„Steve, I-…“
„I like it.“
Suddenly the world feels smaller, quieter. His eyes drop to your lips once again. You notice and he notices your noticing.
Oh no. Oh yes. He leans in, careful and slow. Your chin lifts to close the distance, breath stutters …
„STEVE!“
Dustins voice slices through the moment like a blade. Both of you jerk apart like you’ve been electrocuted. Dustin comes barreling toward you, waving a marshmallow stick.
„You promised you’d help me with the fire situation! It’s a structural disaster!“
Steve closes is eyes for a second. Of course that had to happen just now. You’re trying not to laugh at his mortified face.
Dustin squints between you two. „Were you about to …“
„Nope,“ Steve says quickly.
„Absolutely not,“ you add with a grin.
Dustin narrows his eyes suspiciously. „Huh,“ He shrugs. „Whatever. Lover boy, I need you.“
Steve shoots you an apologetic look, but you just smile softly. „Go.“
He leans closer one last time - just enough that only you could hear him. „We’re not done here.“
Your heart does something dangerous. „I know.“
He jogs off after Dustin and left you standing there by the fire, cheeks warm for reasons that have nothing to do with actual flames.
Okay. Maybe you do know how to flirt properly. At least with him.
———————
Thank you very much for reading reading! All interactions are highly appreciated 💙
STEVE HARRINGTON MASTERLIST
Swoon (1992) // dir. Tom Kalin
whispers softly *I got you* ~🦋🩵✨
What a man 😍