Mikes family life has never been great.
His mother was great and loved him dearly, but on the other hand is father only saw him as a disappointment.
The family were sitting down at the table for dinner when Ted's voice was heard.
"Hey son, maybe you should start working out." Ted pointed his fork at Mike.
Mike snapped his head up at his dad and opened his mouth to speak, but his mom beat him to it.
"Ted! Karen gasped.
"What?! Look at the boy! He's weak! Look how skinny he is! All I'm say is if he wants to keep his girlfriend he should pick up some weights or something!"
"Dad!" Nancy yelled.
Mike tensed at the mention of el and stood up in anger.
"What do you mean?!" Mike asked.
Ted laughed.
"Do you really think that she's gonna keep dating you if you look like that?! Girls want a strong man not a wimpy boy! If you don't pick up a damn weight and build some muscle that slut will find a man who will!" Ted screamed.
Mike froze. Was that true? Would el really leave him for another guy? A guy who was strong?...
"She's not a slut! Don't call her that!" Mike screamed.
"Ted! Jane is a good girl! And that's our son! Don't talk to him like that!" Karen yelled.
"I'll stop yelling at him when he mans up!" Ted pointed a finger at Mike.
"Ted! Stop, now!"
Mike pushed the table roughly and stormed to his bedroom.
"Mike!" Karen called out to him but Mike ignored him.
Mike slammed the door shut and sat on his bed.
His hand ran through his hair as his breathing started to shake.
Mike laid down on his bed as tears started to pour out his eyes.
He's right... I need to start working out.
♥︎
Mike had been working out for a week now, and he gained a little bit of muscle.
But was he happy? Was he satisfied?
No.
The party were at school sitting on a bench talking when max spoke up.
"Oh my god el, look at Anthony!" Max squealed and pointed at a young muscular man on the football field.
"He is so hot!" Max fanned herself.
"Hey! I'm right here!" Lucas gestured to himself.
Max rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. El you agree he's hot right?" Max turned to her best friend.
Mike kept his eye on his lap with a frown painted on his face.
El looked towards Anthony.
"No." She answered honestly.
"She's lying" Mike thought
Mike brought his hands to his cheeks as he slumped down emotionless.
El furrowed her eyebrows as it is not normal for Mike to just ignore those comments that max said and would normally get all jealous and possessive.
Mike jumped as el cupped his cheek.
"Are you okay?" El asked softly.
"Yeah, fine.." Mike mumbled.
El frowned.
He's acting weird.
♥︎
El invited Mike to her house after school. To hang out but also to find out what was going on with her boyfriend.
El was looking through a magazine when she turned a page to reveal a shirtless Tom Cruise.
Mike turned to see her face and noticed her eyes widened.
But what he didn't know was the reason they widened was cause she wasn't expecting it and she was freaked out.
"What do you like him?" Mike asked in a firm voice.
"What? No!" Els eyebrows raised.
"Yeah right..." Mike mumbled.
"Mike, what's going on with you?" El asked softly.
"Nothing! It's okay, you just have a new celebrity crush right?! And maybe tomorrow you'll be with Anthony or someone else at school you're probably crushing on! El, I'm trying so hard to be strong enough for you! I'm trying so hard to gain muscle, why can't it just happen?! I'm disappointing everyone! My dad, my mom, you! I just want to be worthy of your love!" Mike ranted.
"Mike... what? What do you mean?! You are worthy of my love..." el caressed his face.
"Why would you think you're not?" El asked.
"Cause my dad said you were gonna leave me if I didn't get strong..." Mike mumbled with his head down.
"Mike, I would never leave you..." el said truthfully.
"Yeah you would, I'm not good enough." Mike frowned, eyes starting to water.
El cupped his cheeks and brought their foreheads together.
"Mike, I love you more than anything. I would never leave you for anything or anyone I promise. You are more than enough."
"Okay?" El said softly.
"Okay." Mikes voice cracked.
"I love you." El said and pecked her lips.
Mike played with the ends of els hair.
"I love you too."
The truth is Mike wasn't physically strong. Was he a leader and strong mentally? Yes. What mike didn't realize was that he saved el many many many many times. El would be dead without him, or back in the lab. Mike and el are soulmates, they wouldn't be able to survive without each other. They were each others protectors if Mike knew it or not.
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That was my second one shot! I hope you enjoyed it! More one shots coming soon!!!
