AN:
This is it, folks. A final check-in. I wanted to just tie up the last few ends so we know where they're at. It's short but sweet. Hope you like it.
There was something tickling El's back, across her shoulder and then to her neck. With a huff she tried to shift away but a warm hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her back, something warm and solid pressing up against the back of her bare skin. Her eyes blinked open sleepily and she felt herself smile softly as she realized they were tickly kisses, the arm squeezing her gently from behind.
Mike.
"Mmmmmnnno," she groaned, hiding her face in her pillow. "I'm sleeping."
"I've been waiting for you to wake up," he murmured into her ear, kissing her messy hair that was tangled everywhere.
She sighed but gave up and rolled over, looking up at his grinning face, his hair looking just as wild as hers, his arm still around her waist. It was Saturday morning and they'd been working extra shifts the past two weeks after their return from Hawkins. Weekends were less of luxury and more of a necessity, the two day break the only thing keeping them from going crazy.
But now, at least, they were tired together… for more than one reason.
"Good morning," he smiled, kissing her forehead.
"Hmph," she grumped. "What time is it?"
"Almost ten. I thought that was enough sleep? But I was hoping we could—"
"Three times last night wasn't enough?" she whined, feeling suddenly exhausted all over.
Mike laughed. "I was going to say I was hoping to take you out for breakfast, El." He kissed her nose. "You deserve something real fancy. Like IHOP."
She stared at him for a second and then she was laughing, slapping his chest and shaking her head at his stupid joke. He was grinning that stupid smug smile and she reached, her fingers tickling his side and wiping the grin right off of his face as he yelped. It turned into an all out tickle fight, both of them laughing and crying and begging the other to stop before El finally managed to pin him down, sitting on his stomach, the sheets completely tangled around them.
They'd already been pretty tangled. Since their reunion in his parent's basement, they'd hardly been able to keep their hands off of each other. El jumped him the second he walked through the door and for a few frantic, sweaty minutes they would forget their exhaustion as they once again reminded each other of their love and devotion.
Being that it had been the weekend, she had surprised him the previous night with that damn maid costume that had started the whole mess and it had turned into more of a marathon than a one and done kind of thing. She wasn't sure where the costume had ended up but she had a feeling it was ripped past repair this time, grinning down at her laughing fiancé as she kept him pinned to the bed.
"So you want to take me to IHOP? Are you tired of me always making you breakfast?" she challenged.
"...Maybe," he conceded, looking embarrassed. "I mean, after all your hard work, I feel like I should be the one treating you for once. And not a shitty, burned breakfast."
She kissed his cheek and climbed off of him, throwing her legs over the side of the bed and then stretching, not minding that she was pretty much naked. One of the cuffs of the costume had somehow managed to stay on her wrist, and she looked down at it and unsnapped it, letting it fall to the floor.
"You're really good at pouring cereal into a bowl," she teased him over her shoulder. "And toasting Eggos. No one makes Eggos better than you."
"Really?"
"Yes."
He sat up too, just as naked as she was, and then scooted himself behind her, pulling her close and kissing her neck, up to her ear. She leaned back against him automatically and let out a long sigh, her eyes fluttering shut at the feeling. Her hand went up, covering his that was resting on her shoulder, and he smiled at the ring that sparkled on her fourth finger. Part of him wanted to wrestle her back on the bed and throw her legs over his shoulders and make her feel good again, but she had sounded generally alarmed at the thought of going another round and he figured she deserved a break.
"Do you just want Eggos then?" he asked as he pulled back.
The spell broke and she stood, walking over to the dresser and pulling out some underwear and putting them on slowly as she contemplated the question. She grabbed a pair of boxers and tossed them to him as she turned back around.
"Going out sounds kind of nice. Maybe that diner around the corner?" She was digging for clothes, finding her favorite pair of denim overall shorts and a yellow and white ringer t-shirt in another drawer. "They have good coffee."
"Better coffee than your shop?"
"Psh, no. But they have better food."
He joined her, pulling on a short sleeve striped polo shirt and some khakis, turning and looking at their destroyed bedroom and wondering where his keys and wallet had ended up. Probably by the front door with his pants… where'd jumped her after she'd sashayed out of the hallway in the cheap looking getup. That hot as fuck getup. She definitely knew how get him going now that he was no longer holding himself back and he grinned as he looked over at her while she finished changing.
She caught sight of her hair in the mirror on the back of their door and shuddered. He reached up and felt his own hair, realizing that he probably didn't look any better. She sighed.
"We're showering the second we get back."
"Together?"
"If you really want."
"Is that a promise?" He grinned and she smacked him again playfully. "What? It saves water!"
Instead of answering she rolled her eyes and headed for the bathroom, grabbing a ponytail holder and handing him a brush. After a few more minutes they were ready to be seen in public, Mike walking out into the living room area and searching for his pants. They'd made it onto the back of the couch, the rest of their clothing strewn about. The whole apartment was kind of a mess, the tablecloth askew, everything on the kitchen counter shoved to the side, a rumpled blanket on the floor. No place had been safe; tables, chairs, sofas, counters, even the floor, where he'd accidentally given her rugburn on her elbows and knees. He supposed they could clean it when the got back, maybe disinfect all of the surfaces too…
It kind of felt like when they'd first moved in and had broken in every single piece of furniture by screwing each other senseless on top of it. Only now it was less of a challenge and more of a need, the months of abstinence making both of them insatiable. There was no fear of cheating or disinterest anymore. Not even close.
"You ready?"
"Yes," she told him, "let's go."
They left the apartment, locking it behind him, and she slid her hand into his, playfully pulling him along towards the elevator. She was walking backwards, smiling at him, and she rounded the corner without looking first.
"Oof!"
Her back hit something solid and she tripped over her own feet, falling backwards. Strong hands caught her and lifted her before she hit the floor and she turned around in surprise, ready to thank her savior and apologize for not paying attention.
It was James.
"Oh, uh…" she blinked at him, her face suddenly hot with embarrassment. "Thanks?"
"Sure," he shrugged, looking behind her at Mike. "This doesn't count, man. I was helping her out. No harm done."
El looked back too, confused, glancing between the two men and noticing there was a definite tension. The last thing she wanted was another fight and she reached for Mike's hand again, tugging him down the hall a bit. He was staring at James with narrowed eyes, looking clearly aggrieved by the whole encounter.
"Mike, come on, it's fine," she pleaded. "He just caught me. It was my fault."
She was totally embarrassed by the situation, but also a bit angry. James was just… she knew she'd started it, at that party, but he'd taken advantage of her in some way and she could feel his hands on her again when she looked at him. Stupid stupid stupid.
"Listen to your girlfriend, she's actually pretty smart," James countered, backing away, clearly in no more mood for a fight than she was.
"My fianceé, actually," Mike corrected, allowing himself to look smug.
He'd received the impression that James wouldn't have minded them breaking up, more than ready to make a move on El if that happened. But wasn't happening. It never would. She was his more than ever before, and happily so.
El held up her hand shyly to confirm the words, a pleased smile lighting up her face any time she got to show off the ring that sparkled on her hand. James's eyes landed on it and he seemed surprised but nodded amiably.
"Congrats," he said flatly. "I hope you two are happy."
"Yes, we are," El said firmly, tugging Mike's hand again, succeeding in pulling him away this time. "Thanks. Bye."
"See you."
James disappeared around the corner and she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Mike was still tense next to her, stopping as she hit the elevator button, and letting out his own long breath. He shook his head.
"Sorry, I just… that guy pisses me off."
"What did he mean by 'This doesn't count'?" she frowned and Mike flushed.
"Oh, well, uh, when you left I ran into him and kind of told him if he ever touched you again I would kill him—"
"Mike!"
"I'm not sorry, El, he's the fucking worst. To be fair he said if I ever punched him again he would throw me off the roof. It's a truce, honestly, but I don't know, technically he did touch you so that means—"
"Nothing," she shook her head. "It means nothing. I don't like him touching me either. It was an accident."
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. El pulled him into the small space, towards her, holding both of his hands and looking up at him. Her heart fluttered as she traced his face with her eyes, the bags beneath his eyes starting to fade, his chin and cheeks smooth and stubble-free. He looked less messed up every day and it made her feel better, knowing he wasn't struggling with so many burdens like before.
Neither had hit a floor button but the doors closed and it was just the two of them there, a tiny piece of the world that belonged to just them in the moment. She held up her hand, so he could see what adorned it.
"No one is taking me from you, Mike. I won't let them. I don't want them," she looked down at the shining ring. "I want this and I want you. So don't get yourself thrown off of roofs for me, okay? I'd like to marry you before that happens."
He softened. "I know. It's just him… because he did already touch you. I wish I could hit him hard enough to give him amnesia so he would forget."
"Mike," she warned.
"Okay, fine. No fighting. Or dying. We have too much to do before that happens, and marrying you is definitely at the top of the list."
She smiled and pulled him down for a kiss, her lips opening up and inviting him in, the heat bursting into flame. He lifted her, pressing her against the wall of the elevator, his hands sliding up under her shirt as she moaned into his mouth, her legs wrapping around his legs. They were all passion and fire, burning trails across each other.
The elevator jolted as it was summoned to a floor and they pulled away from each other with a gasp, realizing the doors could open any second. Mike set her down and the both quickly readjusted their clothing and hair, turning red. He was grinning down at her and she tried not to smile back but failed as they ended up on the ground level. It opened and they scurried out as some old lady got inside. The second the doors closed, El burst into giggles.
"I feel like that should be on some sort of to do list," Mike told her as he took her hand and they headed for the door of the building. "Banging in the elevator before we move out."
"Maybe it if was late enough…" she considered then shook her head. "No, bad idea. We're not doing that."
"Aw, come on, El. It would be an adventure."
"Nope. In the apartment is fine… I'm not getting evicted for elevator sex," she insisted.
They walked hand in hand down the sidewalk, intermingling with the other people, smiling at each other as Mike tried to convince her why it would be a good—or at the very least, fun—idea. By the time they made it to the diner, he was winning, citing that they could do it the night they moved out or something. That made a bit more sense, and she figured maybe taking a risk now and then would be kind of interesting.
"Maybe," she finally conceded. "But that's not a promise."
"Hmph. No fun, you are," he grumped teasingly. "So much for an adventure."
She stopped him before they went inside and right there, in the middle of the busy sidewalk, pulled him down to her lips and kissed him so passionately that people passing by glanced at them. When she let him go, she smiled up at him, feeling so full of love and happiness she was sure she could explode.
"Mike, you are my adventure." Her hand cupped his cheek, the cold metal band on her finger brushing his skin. "Forever."
"Forever," he repeated softly.
Their lips met again and she sighed happily, smiling against him.
Forever.
AN:
A bit cheesy, I know, but I like cheesy sometimes.
Thank you all for your amazing reviews and comments and support and encouragement. I don't deserve a single one of you but I'm grateful all the same. I'm glad I could make you happy (or in this case sad) with what I write. That's what I love to do, honestly, make people happy. So thank you all for being that source of validation and encouragement.
I'm busy, honestly, but I recently had another idea for a story that's in the same vein as this one but less angsty. Something about an older, broken-up Mike and El being in some friends' wedding together or something and dealing with those kinds of resurfacing emotions that they thought they'd left in the past. I have zero written down for it yet, so it could take several weeks before anything is posted for that one, as I like to try and get stories at least halfway written before I start updating. Keep your notifications on if that's something your interested in reading later on.
Until then, I might have a one-shot or two but I'll be on the quieter side. Life is shitty when your job isn't just writing and you have to make time for it. That's all I want to do.
If you want to talk about things, feel free to PM me. I'm a slow responder but I do like meeting people. I won't give out plots or anything for my stories but I'll try and get back to anyone who wants to talk!
Thank you all again. I love you, I think.
~Wyn