a/n: I've been rewatching season one of stranger things and I suddenly had the motivation to write. on the last chapter, somebody requested some mike angst so here's some mike angst with some mileven fluff! this is set after season three and I guess what I write will mostly be set in this time as well.
I'm sorry if this seems a little rusty, I haven't written for this book in a while. anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter and you can check the a/n at the bottom for more information :)
please leave some comments about what you think! I love reading your comments!
Mike just couldn't get himself to understand. It was hard for him to comprehend how so much could change within a couple weeks.
Before the evil from the Upside Down came back larger and more dangerous before, Mike thought everything was perfect. El was back with him, safe, and he spent his time with her.
He finally had the chance to spend time with the one person he missed most. He learned that she loved to watch soaps and eggos remained her favorite food. He learned that she had a music taste that simply consisted of Jim Croce, which prompted him to make her as many new mixtapes as possible.
She would always be the same girl he found in the pouring rain, in his eyes, but it made him happy to know that she had developed into this amazing person. Even more amazing than she could already be with her telekinetic powers and strength.
Mike loved that he could finally spend time with her. He could see her whenever he wanted—well most of the time. Only if Hopper was willing to cooperate.
He could finally hold her and show her the affection he had always felt for her. Mike would never admit this to anyone else, but he was also happy that he could kiss her. Of course he was happy he could connect with her in that way. It was a sensation that was only meant for him and El. Just the two of them, together.
However, suddenly this was all taken away. Mike had thought they were in the clear. They had defeated the shadow monster and they had all returned home to their families.
You can only imagine how scared Mike felt when he learned that the problem was back. He chastised himself for taking the time he had with El for granted. How could he allow her to slip away from his grasp so easily? All because he was scared of her protective father.
He regretted ever lying to her. He should've told the truth and communicated with her. Instead he allowed her to be swept away, while he stupidly pitied himself.
Mike began to believe that things were going back to somewhat normal. He had apologized to El and had, although it be accidentally, told El he loved her.
Then once again the rug was pulled out from under not only him, but everyone else. The Byers, along with El, were moving. They were leaving Hawkins and Mike had somehow avoided teaching himself to accept that.
He figured it would be easier, and better for El, if he didn't show how he truly felt. El was already going through enough and he didn't want her to be worrying about him when what truly mattered was her own well being.
He had never felt more in shock when she had turned around, a stuffed animal held tightly in her arms, and told him that she loved him too. She had also gave him a kiss, a kiss he would always remember
After that he had to watch her leave him, again. It was probably one of the hardest things he had ever had to do. Jumping off a cliff to save his friend's life? Lighting the hub on fire in order to keep El safe?
Nothing was harder than watching El leave.
They tried their best to keep in touch. Mike and El had made sure they called every night, but that didn't guarantee that the sadness would go away. Along with the fact that signal was weak and El no longer had her powers to boost it.
As time went by, El had gotten busier with starting school and the amount of calls started to dwindle. He didn't blame her and he didn't blame himself. It truly was no ones fault and he understood that it was important for El to get as comfortable as she could.
You would assume that Mike could turn to his friends. However, he found himself with nobody to turn to. Will had left along with his family and El, Dustin was spending more time with Steve, and Lucas was doing his best to be there for Max.
They all had their own things to deal with and Mike had never felt so—alone.
Mike waited and waited for Thanksgiving to come, but the months continued to pass by in a slow haze.
He found himself wishing that anything good would come his way. Whether that be one good day he spent with his friends or the chance to see El, he just wanted something good.
Mike felt like the world was against him. Deep down he knew it wasn't true. He knew that many other people had it worse than him but he couldn't help but feel like he was constantly in this loop of nothingness.
What Mike didn't know was that while he was doing his best to keep going, Jonathan had convinced Joyce to let him take the car for the weekend.
Nancy had been struggling to find a new internship and she felt lost without Barb or anyone else to guide her. She had confessed to Jonathan she was feeling this way and he knew that she needed him there.
Of course he couldn't stay forever but at least he could stay for a weekend.
Jonathan decided he would invite El and Will to come along with him. They offered for Joyce to come but she was having a hard time coping with the loss of a man who she only recently realized was so special to her. She left Hawkins for a reason and she didn't see her going back to Hawkins benefiting her in any way.
It would only bring back such horrible memories that she was doing her best to distract herself from.
When the three of them had finally reached Hawkins, they decided they would drop Will off at Dustin's first so El could spend some time alone with Mike.
Mike hadn't specifically told her everything he was feeling because he didn't want to worry her, but El could tell something was wrong. She could hear the sadness in his voice and feel his anxiety through the phone.
El had chose to surprise Mike. The only person who really knew they were coming back for this short amount of time was Nancy. El was so excited to see the boy she loved. It felt so long to be apart from him, too long for Mike and El.
Jonathan and El had finally reached the Wheeler's house and El was buzzing with excitement. She couldn't help but also be a bit nervous, but she knew that once she saw him, all of those nervous feelings would go away.
They knocked on the door, Nancy opening the door. Nancy immediately pulled Jonathan into a hug. Then pulling El into her for a short but sweet embrace.
El looked up at Nancy with an expectant look. There were so many questions within those eyes and Nancy could read every single one of them.
Is Mike here? Where's Mike? Can I see him?
Without El even muttering a word, Nancy pulled back and said, "He's up in his room. You can head on up."
A soft but slightly embarrassed smile appeared on El's face, realizing that her eagerness wasn't exactly subtle, yet sweetly thanking Nancy without words.
El slipped off her shoes, quietly padding up the stairs in her socks. She still knew her way around the Wheeler home, even if it had been months since she walked these hallways.
She could feel the anticipation building as she moved closer to Mike's room. El took a few final steps before arriving in front of his door. The door was cracked open and with a peek inside, she saw him.
He was sitting at his desk, his face in his hands as he worried over the homework and textbooks placed in front of him. There were small things that were different about him.
She noticed that his hair was a bit shorter, assuming he had gotten a haircut for the new school year. He still had his freckles, a bit more than usual at this time of year after spending so much time in the sun.
He had traded out his summer shorts for his usual corduroy pants and El could feel her heart warm as she took in his appearance. He was wearing a sweater, the weather getting colder as summer left and fall came.
El loved how cute he looked in sweaters.
She realized she had been standing there for a while and decided that it was time she made herself known.
El slowly pushed open the door, a light creaking sound heard with its movement. She had made her way inside of the room and as Mike heard the small noise, he turned his head to face the door.
For a moment he was left speechless. He couldn't believe what was in front of his eyes. El, the love of his life, was standing in front of him. Mike swore she was even more beautiful than when he last saw her and he had to blink his eyes a few times to convince himself she was real.
"El?" he asked, his voice quivering as tears built in his eyes. El let out his name in a small sob, emotion flowing out in her voice as she saw him in person for the first time in months.
Next thing she knew, he was rapidly standing out of his chair. The chair flew back with a rattle of its wheels as Mike rushed to her as fast as he could.
Mike had already been reaching for her when he finally grasped onto her. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, as if he was worried that if he let go she would disappear. He buried his face in her neck, taking her in and feeling the warmth she provided.
As soon as Mike was close enough, El had wrapped her arms around his neck. She slightly rose on her tiptoes, arching herself into him to hold him as close to her as possible. They had both been waiting for this for so long, and they were finally with each other again.
They stayed like this for a while more, wanting to savor the feeling of each other in their arms. When El slightly pulled away, they nuzzled their noses together, Mike's grip on her waist tightening.
Mike just couldn't wait any longer, so he kissed her. He had missed the feeling of her lips against his and a kiss was the only thing that felt right in this moment.
The kiss was eager, yet soft. It started out quite rough, but soon melting into something softer and more passionate. El tenderly moved her lips against his, wanting to show him how much she had missed him, with Mike reciprocating it right back.
When El moved to pull away, she placed her hand on his cheek. They pulled away slowly, a few more soft kisses traded between them before Mike spoke.
"I've missed you so much. So much." he spoke these words as tears rolled down his freckled cheeks.
"I know. I missed you too." she spoke in a soft whisper, slowly wiping the tears from his face.
Eventually they had moved to lay on Mike's bed. They faced each other as Mike gently played with her fingers, their legs tangled together, and a soft smile remained on both of their faces, as they felt genuinely happy.
Mike grasped her fingers in his and El looked up to meet his eyes. His eyes wandered around her face, noticing the gold flecks in her caramel eyes and the slight freckles that remained on her face from summer.
He moved forward, placing his lips to her forehead in a tender kiss. She closed her eyes blissfully as she tightened her hold on his hands. Mike moved to place his nose softly against hers and El grew closer to him as she nuzzled their noses together.
"I love you, El."
"I love you too."
word count: 2027
a/n: I hope you guys liked this chapter! please vote for this chapter and please please please leave requests in comments! I would really appreciate it!
I won't be updating on a schedule like I used to. I want to try to write these longer oneshots when I have the motivation and write the shorter imagines when I'm struggling to find motivation :) thank you for all of the love and support on this book. please leave requests! it provides a better chance for me to update more often. anyways, see you next time!