Mike wheeler one-shots

Code purple

All credits to BewitchingNotes

The party has 'code purple' for when their household becomes unsafe. They just never thought they'd hear Mike use it.

TW:CHILD ABUSE

When code purple was first created, it was because Will still lived in the same house as Lonnie.

It wasn't often, but there was times Lonnie got aggressive after a few drinks and would start throwing things, though thanks to Johnathan, Will only got hit maybe twice.

Whenever he felt like his house wasn't safe, he would whisper a code purple into the walkie, and the boys would come escort him from his house to one of their own and let him stay the night.

Code purple was just as scary as code red for them. Because it meant someone had already been hurt, or was about to be hurt.

After Lonnie finally moved out, they thought they'd never hear another code purple.

But then they met Max, and code purples became more common.

It scared them at first, but after the third code, they'd grown used to it. It became routine to get the ice and cocoa and blanket and other comfort things ready for her.

They knew how to help Max, they knew exactly what she needed and how to make her feel better.

But even with all of that, hearing someone else announce a code purple, would send heavy chills down their spines.

So when Mike's voice picked up on the walkies, muttering out a code purple, waiting to see who would respond, Will was almost convinced he'd miss hear.

"C-Can you repeat that?" Will breathed, too scared to be right.

He heard Mike suck in a breath, before speaking out weakly. "Code...purple..."

Wil was trembling as he rushed to get his shoes on. "Stay outside your house, we're on our way."

El felt like her heart could burst, and not in a good way.

She knew what it was like to be hurt. Growing up in the lab hurt her in so many ways, she couldn't even comprehend.

But she could take it. She was made of steel. She had powers to protect her now.

Mike didn't.

Before she could help herself, she was running into Will's house without even bothering to knock on the front door. She stumbled in with tearful eyes, terrified of what she'd see.

And there he was, changed into a white t-shirt she was fairly certain belonged to Johnathan by the way it was too big on him.

The two made eye contact and El couldn't stop herself from covering her mouth in horror when she saw the sight of her boyfriend.

Mike smiled weakly, to the best of his abilities with a split lip, black eye and terrible bruising around his neck. "It's not as bad as it looks..." He insisted in a hoarse voice.

She ran to hug him, which he welcomed gratefully. Part of her felt guilty for crying, it's not like she was the one who was hurt after all.

But she was. Because Mike, her precious, beloved Mike, was standing here all bruised up and there wasn't a thing she could do to fix it.

She didn't notice when the others arrived at first, only realizing when she heard Dustin breath out a, "Holy shit."

"What- What happened?" Max asked in disbelief.

El broke the hug to look at Mike with worry. He was refusing to make eye contact with anyone, including her. "Mike..." She whispered pleadingly.

"...I dunno." He admitted softly. "I just...Holly, she knocked over my dad's beer and broke it and he just...lost it. He tried to hit her and...my body just moved."