Laugh
The first time Mike heard Eleven laugh, he paused, caught off guard by the tiny sound of joy. Her smiles were small, a subtle curl of the corners of her lips, always reaching her expressive eyes – a Mona Lisa smile as some would say. Her laugh was no different – soft and kept to herself but always reaching her eyes. Her laugh became Mike's favorite sound besides her saying his name.
Photograph
Jonathan put his new camera to good use. It was awkward being a subject of his art, but after a few times, Mike just ignored the lens pointed his way and let Jonathan practice his skills. Mike had barely seen any of the older boy's work, a few photos here and there that Will shared with their inner circle.
One day, Will handed Mike a photo that surprised him - a candid moment between him and El frozen in black and white. They were on the couch, just the two of them, El curled up against Mike's side with her head on his shoulder. His arm rested on her legs, and Mike couldn't remember laying his arm there.
They looked so comfortable sitting there together. El's face was peaceful, gazing forward, her trust in him the most natural thing Mike had ever seen. Their physical contact was second nature now. It just happened without either of them thinking about it – the innocent touches, the comfort of being beside one another. That was them, and the photograph had captured their relationship perfectly.
Will said he could keep the picture. Mike set it on his nightstand to keep close; close like he kept El in his heart.
Night Terrors
Mike had insisted on El having a real bed, but the blanket fort was where she felt safe. She had night terrors after returning from the Upside Down. The ash-ridden place held her captive, and her screams would shake the house.
His parents were concerned the entire structure would implode, and after a couple incidents were seriously considering finding her a more secure place to live. Just the mention of El being out of his reach again frightened Mike more than he could say.
"I'll take care of it," he reassured. His parents didn't seem convinced that he could solve the problem of the girl with superhero powers, but with everything that had happened to him, they gave their son a chance.
"I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to be sorry about," he soothed. "I'll stay with you until all the nightmares go away, okay?"
That's how he started sleeping in the blanket fort.
"Mike, I don't want to go back."
"You won't." Mike laid his hand atop her hand that rested between them. "I promise."
El nodded, accepting his promise without any doubt. He'd always taken care of her, gentle and patient, the only person to recognize her needs and truly see her.
El slept in peace after he joined her, his presence the balm that she needed.