Mike had many habits, most of them good, and some of them bad. From eating eggs with syrup on top of them, to counting every single tile of all the bathrooms he was ever been to. But the one that stand out the most, and the one he likes the best, is constantly caressingEl's cheeks and hair whilst humming the song "can't help falling in love with you."
He loved the song, since it reminded him of El and it described his endless love for the girl.
It all started when they were in the lake, swimming in the cold water due to the very hot temperature and warmth covering the town of Hawkins. Mike took El to the lake because he knew how much El despised the hot weather, and he, being the caring boyfriend he was, decided on having fun with her, and showing her his swimming skills.
"Stop it, Mike!" She giggled as the boy tickled her with his large fingers.
"Not until you kiss me." He declared. Sticking her tongue out, she began to move around the water, dancing like crazy as the radio played an up-beat song. Mike had brought his radio to the lake with him.
The song was changed by a much slower one, one that was very old, and it reminded Mike of his parents' love which had faded away with the pass of the years. Ever since Mike began to analyze the lyrics of the song, he came to the conclusion that the song described him and El.
"Come and dance with me, El." He demanded, motioning her to come closer to him, which she obeyed.
When they were close enough, El placed her legs around Mike's torso as he swayed along the slow song. He loved having her close, and the distance was so short that he could smell her wet hair with the hint of vanilla shampoo she used.
El smiled as she put her head on his shoulder, kissing his cheek and letting her lips linger on his cheek for a while. Mike started drawing relaxing circles on her back, knowing she was a sucker for a good relaxing massage. Mike smiled softly when he realized she was sleepy, so he decided to rock her back in forth, soothing her almost instantly.
When El had fallen asleep, Mike began to plant soft kisses on her head and whispering soft murmurs to her ear. He was usually the sweet boyfriend, but today, he felt like he loved her a lot more, and he just wanted to protect her from anything that tried to hurt her. Even if he had always been like that, today he felt extra caring.
He didn't know what it was, maybe because he had been pacing on the living room, worried that she would drown or get hurt, or maybe because after teaching her how to swim, she sat on his lap and began muttering something Mike couldn't quite get.
Well, whatever it was, it made Mike crazy. He whispered and whispered until El woke up, making Mike melt when her eyes met his, and when she just decided to lean in, and softly peck his lips, leading them to a loving exchange of kisses.
Mike ran his fingers through her hair. He always loved doing that, the cause must be because her hair was soft and nice, and he could spend all of his life caressing her hair.
He continued to give her a eskimo kiss, rubbing his nose against her's in the cutest way ever. He tended to poke her nose and kiss it whenever he was sad or gloomy, but he liked to do it in general, but eskimo kisses were his second favorite type of kiss, kissing her lips was totally in the first place.
He stopped rubbing their noses together, just leaving them there, touching with no purpose but to satisfy Mike's needs of being closer to El.
"I love you so much." He whispered, bringing the bright smile he loved to see, on her face.
"I love you the most." She returned the I love you, leaving Mike with a tingly sensation, and with his swelling up.
So maybe, the reason he had acquired the habit that day, was because he loved her.
