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A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)
Physically? Very affectionate. Likes having a hand on you at all times, either it be on your waist, in your back pocket.. Teasingly snaking two fingers under the waistband of your pants. He just likes the feel of his skin on yours. But.. Emotionally? It depends. S3 and before he has a hard time with being open and vulnerable with another person. The same goes for his understanding of his partner's emotions. Coming down from his rich-boy high, he realizes that he has no idea how to truly cater to his partner's feelings. End s3 and onwards he definitely has a better grasp on things, finding himself playing group therapist more often than not.
B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)
Take his friendship with Robin and Dustin as an example. He’d always be willing to lend an ear, but he would be the type of guy to give it to you straight. Also the type of dude to be super protective, I can imagine he would invite himself on a date with you and your (soon to be or already) significant other. Deadass sitting at an alternate table, peeking over a menu. “Bring them home by 9!” Ahh.. He can’t help being fatherly to all of his friends. — It also depends on which stage of his life that you meet him in. S1 it could be by accident or not at all, he’s too much of a douche to make friends with those who aren’t on his level of popularity. S2 he’s more willing, if you’re involved with the main group then he’d probably end up being friends with you. S3 he meets you at the mall or at work (Scoops). S4+S5 he’s most open to new people (because the world's ending, obviously that means making new friends and trauma bonding), saves you in some way and it goes on from there.
C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)
He loves cuddling. Like.. a lot. You can’t lay next to him without him pulling you close. Typically he likes to sling a leg over yours, arm tight around your waist. He doesn’t exactly sleep in one place, so however he falls asleep is definitely not how he’s going to look in the morning. Will unfortunately drag you along with him, one morning you two woke up on the ground because he fell and pulled you with him. Sometimes he’ll straight up crush you as well, he’s not too mindful about his weight as he falls slack atop you— Additionally, he’s the big spoon for sure. He likes to protect people, so he curls himself around you like a shield. On days where he’s more upset, he will go for the little spoon though.
D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)
Yes. A million times yes. He’d love to find a quiet spot to settle down with you, I imagine he’d prefer your home to be out of Indiana though. I can see him moving north just a little, Wisconsin seems up his alley (if he can forfeit warmer weather Indiana sometimes brings). He can cook really well for some reason, gets overly competitive at thanksgiving. Also really tidy. Doesn’t freak out if things are messy, but gets mildly uncomfortable and antsy. If it hasn’t been cleaned in 3 days he’ll start to go a bit crazy and frantically clean it because it was getting on his nerves.
E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)
Young Steve found a new girl, S2 Steve still likes Nancy, S3 Steve stressed with his job and trauma from the Russian soldiers, S4+S5 Steve wanting to keep you safe. All combined with general insecurities about himself and his life, I’d imagine the later versions of himself would do it in person (S1 Steve would just stop talking to you, and you’d see him with a new girl randomly). He’d be real quiet, shoulders hunched, hand scratching at the back of his neck as he fights to find the right words to say. If anything, he’d break up with you because he believes you deserve more and that this life isn’t for you (the life that includes interdimensional monsters). Totally tries to convince you to move during the breakup for your safety.
F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)
Despite him being with tons of girls, he was weirdly loyal to all of them? If that makes sense? Nancy made him really rethink his playboy era. After her, any relationship he wanted was one he wanted to last. Eventually after the second Nancy breakup and finding out Robin was for the girls, he kind of stopped trying. He wants to commit, but gets scared after that. He will try to push you away, and it’s in your best interest to not let him. He self-sabotages enough— Marriage? Give it 2 years. He was planning on marrying Nancy after high school. He wants to settle, have kids, marrying young is what’s expected in his family.
G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)
Super gentle physically for sure. You have to tell him you aren’t made of glass or else he will barely touch you. When he does it’s delicate, and always a bit hesitant. He gets more confident with rougher touches later on in the relationship. Emotionally? It’s a 50/50. He tries to be, but he has a horrible tendency to bottle his emotions. So when they come out, they’re a bit aggressive.
H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)
Very much. He likes giving them more than receiving them though. He’s a sucker for hugs from behind, it makes him feel giddy and he does it way too much. Walking up behind you, curling his arms around your waist and resting his head on your shoulder— That’s the ideal for him.
I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)
Younger him says it quick, though he’s kind of sarcastic with it. Later on he’s more reserved with it until he actually says it. It’s either a dire moment or a time where he thinks you can’t hear it when he first says “I love you”.
J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)
Surprisingly not very jealous. He’s a little too vain for that. If people are being touchy physically then maybe he gets a bit heated. He’ll come up next to you, drop hints that you two are dating, if they still don’t get it he’ll lean in for a steamy kiss to scare them off. Either way, he’s confident you won’t cheat (though he wouldn’t blame you if you did. I mean, did you watch how he acted with Nancy when she cheated on him? All he wanted— not an apology —was for her to tell him that she loved him. Even later he just says “it’s okay Nance. It’s okay.”)
K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)
Slow and languid, he likes to savor the moment. Unless he’s angry, then the kisses get a bit rough. He likes your lips, forehead kisses are nice too. Though if he didn’t have to choose, he’d say everywhere. He’s not that picky. On the other hand, Steve’s too shy to admit he likes it when you kiss his beauty marks. It turns him to jelly when you do, and it doesn’t help that his body is covered in them. The ones on his cheek and neck get him flustered the most.
L = Little ones (How are they around children?)
I think the show speaks for itself. He’s great with kids. Gentle, attentive— Built to be a dad honestly.
M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)
He takes his time if he wakes up first. He’ll run a hand through your hair or caress your cheek, but he rarely leaves the bed before you wake up too. When you’re both up he’ll press a lazy kiss to your lips, whisper sweet nothings, and groan when you tell him you want to get up and out of bed.
N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)
Quiet, kind of sad? The night is where all the deeper thoughts he doesn’t like thinking seep into his head after a long day of avoiding them. Extra cuddly when he starts thinking too much, into bed super early but wide awake for the next few hours,
O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)
Depending when you meet him he’s more inclined to be open if it’s end S2(ish) and S3 ‘n onward. That at version of him his more in tune with himself, and more at peace with his situation in life. He drops hints, but there’s a big moment where he sits you down and he just lays it all out. Pre those seasons? He probably lets things slip while he’s high or drunk out of his mind. You don’t have the heart to tell him what you’ve heard afterwards given the fact that most of it is incredibly personal and he doesn’t want you knowing that much early on.
P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)
S1+S2 Steve thrives off that anger, especially S1. He uses it to fight for good in S2, but S1 is to let out his frustrations. Steve was never taught how to manage that anger, his father likely told him that it was natural and “manly” (the anger issues come from both his parents, but his father encourages it). S3 and onwards he kind of mellows out. He rarely gets angry enough to want to punch things, now he just gets mildly annoyed at things. The last thing to make him seriously angry was Billy, he doesn’t regret that rage.
Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)
Steve remembers a surprising amount, and most of it he picks up subconsciously. He’s a giver, a people person- That stuff comes natural to him. Steve accommodates to changes fairly easy, and is quick to change things if they don’t suit you. Sometimes he actually notices before you notice that you’re unhappy, it’s sweet but slightly creepy. Ultra specific is a given, mundane things he has trouble keeping in and he’s not exactly ashamed. He’ll ask you time and time again about something because he’s determined to get it right.
R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)
Moments away from the chaos of life are his favorites. The odd months where nothing strange is happening, where he finally thinks that it’s all over— The gentle times between you both. And trust me, after all that he’s sure to make sure you and him have ample rest time together.
S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)
Very, very protective. After babysitting the kids for a while it started rubbing off on friends his age. Protective of you physically and emotionally, it gets a bit overwhelming around end of S2 and S4+S5. He doesn’t want to be protected back because he’s too stubborn. You have to yell at him numerous times after he puts his life on the line for you and the kids.
T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)
He’s cheesy and cliché, he puts a lot of effort despite it being kind of corny. Roses, boxes of chocolates, expensive dinner dates— All up his alley. He wants his significant other to get the love he never got, so he likes to go all out.
U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)
Distancing himself and self-sabotaging. Tries to break up with you multiple times before you refuse and get let back into his life every time. As the relationship goes on as well he gets increasingly more insecure, even attempted to set you up with another guy because of these insecurities. Gentle, constant reassure that he’s the one you want is what he needs.
V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)
So, incredibly.. Vain. He loves his hair, his body (before S3 and S4), he checks himself out in the mirror regularly. Will take being late if that means being able to fix something on his outfit or his hair. It’s a product of being raised to be picture perfect for his parents, but it’s developed past that and it’s kind of his own thing now.
W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)
Yes, but he could accept it. Steve has always been searching for that missing piece. Someone to heal his wounded heart. Eventually without you or someone he’d grow into a husk of himself. I don’t think it would drive him to death, but I think that he has considered it. He wants to experience something real before he dies,
X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them— You will get multiple because I want to share 🥹✌️also I posted them on tiktok a while back and never got around to posting them on here)
He has poor eyesight. Similar to Joe, I recall reading that he has glasses/needs them, and when he doesn't wear them he's not wearing contacts? So I'm passing that onto Steve. Steve has poorish eyesight but he's too scared to put contacts in, and he thinks glasses look bad on him (they don't). Additionally then, he's always squinting.
He was unplanned. He knows that because they told him that to his face. His parents were successful, happy- Never intending to have a kid. There's a picture on the wall of them when they were younger, smiling at one another. The next is a picture of them holding Steve, frowning. They look perpetually disappointed and unamused in every photo since, except the ones where Steve is winning awards.
Only started smoking to look cool but then he got addicted by accident- Tommy started him on it, telling him about all the girls he'd impress. After he lost his fame and friends Steve tried to drop the habit, especially after stumbling into his friendship with Dustin. Claims he "didn't want to give the kids second hand smoke" but it's most nearly because he wants to set a good impression for them.
Can actually fight really well, but that depends who's he's up against. If it's someone he knows, he subconsciously holds himself back. The fight with Jonathan? He lowkey let himself get his ass beat, but he'd rather get tortured by the Russians again than admit it. Demogorgon, Russian Soldier, and Billy were the times he really went all out but some of the fight was just adrenaline talking (and a bit of self-sacrifice. The demogorgon fight he was definitely willing to die there for Nancy.)
Got really good at driving because whenever his parents would fight he would always aim to leave the house- When they fought you could hear them clear as day no matter the room you were in, almost no where was enough to block the yelling out. So he started driving early. When his parents would go out of town he'd take the car out and go for drives, practicing so by 16 he could get his license right away.
Lean, swimmers body— He doesn't have a lot of muscle really, but he's toned enough. Good endurance and can run the mile without breaking a sweat. After high school he kind of let that physique slip a little (he blames it on the ice cream)
Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)
For lack of a better term- A gold digger. The rich girl personality, or really popular girls. He’d prefer someone down to earn and intelligent (It’s what he says he likes about Nancy). He doesn’t like snobby personality traits, he’d like for someone who’s simply just a nice person.
Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)
Snores, totally. It’s not too loud, but it’s noticeable. He also sleeps like a rock. It takes a little bit to actually wake him up for real, even after he’s up he’s still groggy and prone to falling back asleep