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mike & el
El took a good look around her, at the house that she had been staying in for the past few months. She couldn't really say that she'd miss it all that much, but some important things had happened in that house, memories that she would always cherish. She couldn't help but feel a little heartbroken that she would never step foot in it again.
With one last glance, she walked out of the house, joining everyone else outside in the front yard. She passed off the box that she had carried out to Jonathan, immediately going over to Mike, where he now stood leaning against Joyce's car.
She wanted to spend as much time with him as she possibly could, even though it was probably a little late for that, seeing as they were quite literally about to leave.
She'd take even a single minute if that's all she had left with him, though.
El truly didn't know how she was going to handle being so far away from him, not getting to see his smiling face every day, not getting to hug him or kiss him, not getting to hear him sing to her, not getting to cuddle with him or rest her head on his shoulder, like she was doing now.
Despite the dread looming over her that was she was about to leave him, it was still so comforting, leaning her head against his shoulder, while his arm snuck around her waist.
God, she really didn't want to leave him.
After all that had happened just a few short months ago— losing Hopper, losing her powers, losing the sense of normalcy that had finally taken over her life, she was now having to leave the one person she couldn't imagine being without.
She loved Mike, she needed Mike. How was she supposed to even breathe without him by her side?
Life was simply not fair.
"Alright kids, that's everything. Time to go." Joyce regretfully told them, knowing how hard this was going to be.
For El, this was truly one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do, to hug the people who had become her family one last time. Of course, she knew that it wasn't forever, but it sure felt like it.
So, she hugged each of her friends as tight as she possibly could, said her goodbyes, then went right back to Mike.
She'd hugged him so many times already, but it seemed as if no amount of hugs would ever be enough for her. It couldn't possibly be enough to prepare her for the many days she was going to have to go without them.
Mike was quick to wrap his arms around her, holding her so close to him, like it would somehow keep her from going away. El held him just as close, placing one hand at the back of his neck as he leaned further into her.
They soon pulled out of their embrace, Mike leaning down and resting his forehead against hers. It being their last moment together, they took comfort in the other's presence, remaining close as El brought her hand up to rest on his cheek.
"I don't wanna say goodbye to you... I can't." Mike choked out, as more tears escaped him.
El shook her head, while brushing her thumb across his cheek, wiping the tears away. "Then don't say it."
"I'm gonna miss you so much." He nearly whispered, fearing that if he tried to speak up any further he would lose it. "I don't know how I'm gonna get through my days without you here."
Not knowing how to respond without completely breaking down herself, El pulled him in for yet another hug. She rested her head against his chest, her eyes falling shut as she basked in the feeling of being in his arms.
"I love you, Mike."
The words were spoken softly, but based on the way his body had suddenly gone still within her hold, she knew he had heard her.
El leaned back to look up at him, finding his expression exactly as it had been the first time she told him she loved him.
"I love you." She repeated, this time looking nowhere but into those dark eyes of his, so he would know that she truly meant it.
Mike's wide eyes softened, as he finally smiled back at her, the sight instantly warming her heart.
"I love you too, El."
Her breathing hitched, hearing him say those words to her for the first time truly making her feel incredible inside. She already knew that he loved her, but him telling her he loved her just didn't feel real.
It was very much real though, and she couldn't possibly stop the grin from spreading across her face, it shining as bright as his own.
She nearly leapt up into his arms, pouring every bit of her love into the kiss she had so eagerly planted on his lips. Mike was quick to respond, his lips fusing with hers, until they had no choice but to come up for air, the two left just as flustered as they'd been when she'd first admitted her feelings to him.
"I'll see you soon, Mike." El muttered against his lips, not having enough strength to move even the slightest bit further away from him yet.
"Yeah, soon."
Just as Mike had gotten those two words out, El was kissing him again. This time it was slower, her lips brushing his ever so softly, as she was savoring the feeling, the feeling that they would both miss so much.
The second El had broken the kiss, Mike had to walk away from her or he knew he would never be able to let her go. It was already taking everything in him to not get down on his knees and beg for Joyce to let her stay.
He would only make a fool of himself doing that, but a part of him didn't care at all. He just wanted El to stay there with him. It's all he ever wanted since the moment he first met her. He wanted to be with her, forever.
The forever he envisioned was not coming anytime soon, though.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, she was hopping up in that moving truck, giving him one last weak smile before she disappeared from his view. Then, the cars were heading off down the driveway and he couldn't stop his tears from falling, truly not believing that he was being separated from her again.
Tears began to stain El's face too, more and more clouding her vision as she stared out the window, the road leading them further and further away from the only home she'd ever known, the only person she had ever truly loved.
Despite how painfully difficult this was for them, how many nights El knew they would cry themselves to sleep, she also knew that they would get through it, no matter how much distance was put between them.
They loved each other and that was enough for her to be certain that they would be okay.
Everything would be okay.
