Mike wheeler one-shots

Tears and Happiness

All credits to  orphan_account

Where El hates tears and thinks that touching them is disgusting. But when Mike cries in front of her, she doesn't hesitate to wipe them away and kiss his cheeks dry.
No TW

El Hopper hated tears. It's not that the act of crying grossed her out - she'd cried enough tears to know that it was necessary to let go of certain emotions - but the tears themselves gave her the shivers. The first time El touched somebody else's tears was when Jim Hopper took her in as his own. She had cried a lot that day. And so had he. But the feeling of his tears on her cheek was enough to startle her backwards and lock herself in her new room. Later, she apologised and explained to him that tears grossed her out. And like a supportive father, Hopper had simply smiled and ruffled her hair in understanding.

El made sure she stayed away from tears after that. She kept her distance from Joyce and Will during that dreadful week every November. The week Will Byers had gone missing. It still haunted them all. And she didn't comfort Max for Billy anymore - when she explained, Max understood. El also stayed away from Dustin during allergy season. She couldn't help it, honestly. But she did learn that she was fortunate to have the world's best friends because no one mocked her for this. No one made fun of her. She was lucky indeed.

And then the incident happened.

It was a cold and windy day. Autumn leaves dance circles on the ground when El decides to pay a visit to her boyfriend, Mike. Like a good girlfriend, she had even asked him by radio if she was allowed to come over. And Mike immediately agreed.

It still surprised her sometimes. How could he not hate her? She had taken so much from him, yet he still gave.

After Vecna's demise, El felt her world change. After his death, she came back to her senses. Vecna's death had removed the curtain over her eyes, and she could see things for what they were. For example, she could see how Dustin was limp now, that Will was more alert, that Max had become quieter, or that Lucas had lost his passion for basketball.

And, of course, how Mike's demeanour had changed entirely. Her boyfriend was a ghost of his former self. He barely talked, ate or laughed. His smile was never wide, and he refused to meet her eyes when she spoke to him. She was worried.

She missed him.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, El walked up the steps to the Wheeler's house. They looked freshly paved, which Mrs Wheeler or Nancy must have fixed by hand since the 'earthquake' had destroyed them.

El knocked on the door, a rush of fear and excitement filling her. She was excited to see Mike again but fearful that he would not feel the same way about seeing her.

The door clicked open, and there stood Mike Wheeler. His hair looked wavier today, curling up at his neck. And was that a new sweater?

Mike smiled dully. "Hey, El."

"Hey," she said, heart beating wildly. "Should we go?"

Mike wasted no time getting his shoes on and pocketing his wallet. Next, they would take the new bike Mrs Wheeler bought and ride around Hawkins. Then they would stop by Lovers Lake for a relaxing walk. This would be the first time they were spending time together, alone, after defeating Vecna.