First, I need to thank everyone who reached out to me after my nana died a couple weeks ago. It's amazing to see how many people truly care and it made my heart full. As I'm sure many of you can imagine, it's been a hectic couple of weeks, including the holidays. But, I did really want to get back into writing because I do miss it.
So, I'm going to start puddering away at this next chapter and I hope to have it out soon.
Thank you all again for your kind words, and for your patience as well!
And just a quick note too, there will be some implications of sexual stuff as well, but if you've read my other stories you know I tend to not go overboard on that aspect as well. But, just wanted to put a fair warning out there.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
June 17th, 1993
To say that she's never slept, that, soundly before in her life is an understatement. She can actually remember the peaceful, lulling dreams that she had throughout the night, not one nightmare came forward.
Her whole body is warm and comfortable as she can begin to see the light of day behind her eyelids as she begins to awaken from the realm of sleep.
She settles herself into the overwhelming feeling of calm that surrounds her, and she's pretty sure she is drunk on the sensation.
It's the light tickling she feels on her bare skin that begins to awaken her.
'It must be Veda', she thinks to herself as she mumbles, "That tickles" into the blankets beneath her.
But then the motion of whatever had been tickling her stops, El's eyes then begin to flicker awake.
She begins to pull herself away from the comfort of the blankets beneath her, as her hair cascades messily down around her face.
It's then that she meets a familiar face, and her eyes widen.
Mike is lying as still as he possibly can beneath her, he seems slightly scared as he gives her a half smile, "Uh, yeah, hi El" his voice is still low from him waking, and she wants to drown herself in the sound but as she looks down she can see she has basically intertwined herself with Mike's body.
Her face erupts in flames as she pushes herself away casting out apology after apology behind her.
She's never felt this embarrassed in her life. First, she asks Mike, a guy whom she is still starting to get to know, that she might have a slight crush on to sleep with her. And then she practically jumps him in the middle of the night, she finds herself horrified.
But, it's the feeling of his hand that reaches out to grasp at her wrist that stops her. "No, hey El, it's totally fine" he hurriedly spits out.
She stops her body movements and casts a careful look back to the boy who sits in her bed. His expression is soft and lingering. And there's a light that dances behind his dark irises that tell her that everything is okay. Her body softens in his hold and he gently lets go of her wrist.
El sighs heavily, "I'm sorry Mike. I didn't mean to totally invade you while you slept", there's a slight amusement behind her words
Mike smiles brightly as he chuckles, "El, don't worry about it, it...it was kind of nice" he gives her a curious look, one that El isn't quite sure she understands fully. But she can feel the air becomes heavy between them.
"Really?" she questions looking up at him with her warm eyes
Mike nods, "Yeah, you're really warm", and now it's his turn for his cheeks to be tinged red and El all but melts at the sight.
El giggles, "Well, you're pretty comfy" she returns, enjoying the simple playful banter that flows so easily between the two of them.
They sit there for a moment, just allowing themselves to feel comfortable in each other's presence. El watches as Mike shifts a bit. She can tell he wants to say something, but isn't quite sure how to say it, especially with the way his mouth opens and closes a couple of times before he speaks, "So, did you sleep okay?" he asks hesitantly.
El ponders for a moment, she begins to reminisce about the gentle dream she had. Even though it was somewhat foggy, she remembers pieces of the dream. A hill covered in flowers, a gentle breeze sweeping across her bare arms, a certain shaggy haired man standing beside her as a smile dances across both of their lips.
She hums at the dream as a smile grows on her face, her eyes peek up at him, "You know...that was actually some of the best sleep I've had" she admits honestly, as she searches his face for a reaction.
Mike quirks an eyebrow up at her, "Really?" he asks.
She nods, "Yes, I actually had some really good dreams".
Mike softens, "Well, I'm glad to be of service then" he gives a small laugh.
El can feel her cheeks heat up as she bravely casts out her next words, "Hm, I might have to take up your services again" a teasing smile dances across her lips, because honestly, she wouldn't mind falling asleep in Mike Wheeler's arms every night, but she keeps that thought to herself.
She finds that she has to bite her lip to hold back the laugh that bubbles in the back of her throat as she comically watches as Mike's mouth drops open at her forwardness, "Uh...yeah, anytime" he stutters staring at her with awe.
She drops her head in shyness unknowing why this man makes her feel so strong and forward. But, the moment passes and they both begin to shuffle the sheets away from their bodies, both moving to stand on either side of the bed.
As she stands, she stretches her tight limps, casting her arms up over her head, reveling in the delicious feeling of her body creaking awake, a yawn escapes her.
She can feel her night shirt rising against her stomach as her skin there feels the coolness of the air around her. She begins to move towards the bathroom, nature calling, when she feels the suddenness of the feeling of being watched.
El just barely brushes past Mike as she hears a sound escape him, "Uh.." his voice sounds low, she stops at the door frame and gives the boy a curious look.
"Wha-" she starts, thinking he asked her a question, her hand landing on the frame of the doorway, but then her eyes can't help but trace his body, her eyes landing squarely on his boxers, where she can see a certain thing rising from his midsection. Her gaze immediately moves to his face and she can feel her face flaming. And her body stirs right then and there, a feeling she's never felt before. She can feel it burning in her core.
El can feel her heart pounding in her chest as the thought of Mike finding her attractive, and not just in a 'pretty girl' kind of way, but there's definitely some kind of physical attraction as well, and it causes her to blush all over. She tucks her bottom lip in between her teeth to stop the lingering groan that is building within her.
Mike watches her actions and it's quite humorous to watch him look down in horror to see his body betraying him. He bounds for the nearest pillow and shoves it over his lap.
Their eyes catch one anothers, however, El shys away slightly, trying to not embarrass the boy more.
"Uhhh…" he starts, again.
But before he can speak El can't help but give him a teasing look, "Mike, don't worry about it" she tries to reassure him. Because he can see it in his eyes, the nervousness. She can only think about what's going through his head right now.
So, to calm the man who has treated her with nothing but kindness and respect she tries to calm him with his next words. But, she also puts a little attachment to it as well, that there's something alluring about him to her as well. That she doesn't see him as some creep that is just trying to get in her pants, because she knows that's not Mike at all.
She flashes him a wicked, teasing grin, as she flashes her eyes down to the pillow and then back up into his eyes, which darken wildly after her look.
"It's quite flattering actually" she states, and with a quick wink she enters the bathroom and closes the door.
Her breath caught in her throat as she leaned her back up against the bathroom door. Her heart racing in her chest at the exhilaration of their little exchange. Simple, but flirty and hot in El's opinion.
A dopey grin plastered her face as she finally hears Mike get to his feet as it sounds like he all but races out of her room.
Laughter escapes her as she feels herself relax slightly, but a new stirring sensations stays within her. It's a deep ache that she has never quite felt before and it somewhat scares her.
So, attempting to distract herself she undresses and moves towards the shower, turning the knob to the warmest setting possible. Stepping in, she allows the water to warm her, but then her mind begins to drift slightly.
She begins to think about the adorably handsome boy who was very happy to see her this morning and how her body did that to him. It makes her all bothered as she begins to fantasize just what Mike was probably doing right now to appease himself, and she wonders if he's thinking about her.
Her body warms at the sensation, and she can no longer contain the stirring as she tightens her legs together. So, she figures if that's what Mike's doing, then why doesn't she calm her own.
A dreamy sigh escaped her lips as she dresses for the day and half dries her hair in the bathroom, as she feels very saited.
A thought of what Mike could do to sate her crosses her mind and she blushes furiously at the thought, shaking it away for now.
Her stomach decides to let out a long growl and her mind is then on to the next thing: food.
So, she wanders out into the living room, and sees Veda and Pitch both curled up in his large bed that sits next to the unused fireplace.
El can't help but smile softly at the two as they each slowly lift their heads to follow her movements as she enters the kitchen.
"Morning" she casts over her shoulder.
"Morning" Veda yawns as she stretches from her place and moves towards El. "Did you sleep okay?" the fox asks with timidity.
El nods at her, a warm smile graced her features, "Yeah, I slept really good actually" her voice is a soft whisper as she remembers being cradled in Mike's warm embrace.
"Heh, definitely seemed like Mike did, he's still in the shower" Pitch's voice is full of teasing and a quick quirk of his eyebrow displays a double entendre.
El rolls his eyes at the wolf, turning away to hide her own blushing face, "Yeah well…" she drifts off as she begins to putter around the kitchen.
She opens the fridge and sees a dozen eggs along with a half used package of bacon sitting in the fridge.
She craned her neck over the fridge door, "Hey Pitch?" she asks.
The wolf lazily replies, "Yes?"
"Do you think Mike would mind if I cooked us up some breakfast?" she quips.
Pitch scoffs, "Your kidding me, it's every man's dream to have a woman cook for him" he chuckles low.
El grumbles but reaches into the fridge to grab her supplies.
She then begins to meander around the kitchen finding the pans she's looking for along with cooking utensils as Pitch directs her to the cabinet that contains Mike's collection of spices.
It's not long before she starts to scramble some eggs as the bacon sizzles on another burner.
El smiles as she moves about the kitchen almost as if it were her own. It's something she can't help but feel all warm and tingly about.
She pops some bread in the toaster and turns back to the stove, a song she and Kali used to rock out to comes to her mind. And she haphazardly begins to bop her head to the beat and hum out the song.
But, as she finishes up the first round of eggs, she turns around to grab some more, only to be scared half to death by coming face to face with Mike.
His feet have probably never moved so quickly in his life as he scrambles into his room. The door slamming behind him as he all but throws himself into his shower as he cranks the knob of the shower to the coldest possible setting. His breath caught in his throat as the numbing cold of the freezing water trickles down his bare scorching skin.
He casts out his arms and braces himself against the tiles of his shower his head hanging loosely between his shoulders as his unruly hair begins to slowly cascade down around his face as the water weighs it down.
Closing his eyes he tries to take in slow, steadying breaths, willing himself to calm down.
But, he finds that closing his eyes isn't the best idea since it's El's face that swims to the forefront of his mind.
His eyes spring open as his breath quickens. He fumbles with the temperature knob turning it in the opposite direction, hoping maybe the heat will instead cause his problem to go away.
However, the longer he stands there, the more the burn in his stomach rages. El's lean figure and what she was wearing float through his mind as her implications only push him further into despair.
He lets out a guttural groan as he feels himself harden even more so. And it's then he finally gives in to his primal urges. Unable to keep the desire in him any longer, he relieves himself, and afterwards, even though satiated, he feels like a total creep. For, the only image he had in his head was the girl who was only two walls away from him.
The ache is finally gone as he leans against the cool tiles of his shower, the water spraying him in the face as he tries to catch his breath. He tightens his eyes at the prospect of what he just did. And it takes a lot of self reasoning with himself that this was a one time deal, that he wouldn't allow that primal stirring to take him over again, at least not with El.
Feeling better about his situation, Mike finally gets himself cleaned up and ready for the day. He pulls a plain green t-shirt over his head as he moves towards his bedroom door and grasps the cool handle in his grip. He takes a deep breath and steps out into his living room.
He's immediately met with the sound of someone humming and a sizzling noise coming from the kitchen.
His nose picks up the familiar scent of bacon as he pads slowly into the kitchen, his eyes widen at the sight, not expecting what he finds.
There's El, her hair still slightly damp, and starting to curl a bit as it cascades down her back. She's wearing another dark t-shirt and a pair of torn up navy jeans. Her hips are moving rhythmically to some song that she is humming to herself. And even though she is emitting just a light hum, the sound is melotic, hypnotizing. The sound pulls him in. It's a sight and sound he cannot break his attention from.
The moment is broken though when she turns around and her eyes immediately settle onto his, both of them startle.
"Oh!" she cries, but a smile sneaks onto her face as her cheeks redden slightly. She places a hand on her chest, "You scared me, I thought you were still getting ready" she nods towards his bedroom door.
Mike can only shake his head, unable to form words as he finally settles himself on one of the stools in his kitchen.
El gives him a curious look, "You okay? How long were you watching?" a giggle escapes her mouth as her eyes search his face.
Mike can feel his cheeks reddening at her question, "Oh, uhm...not long you...you just surprised me is all", he shrugs his shoulders, trying to not meet her eyes.
But he sees the teasingness look in her gaze, and something in him stirs, he speaks before he even thinks, "You've got good dance moves though".
At his words El's mouth drops open in shock, and Mike is immediately worried that he said something that was way out of line, but then El's mouth turns into a wide grin. She reaches over and smacks his hands that are resting on his island table.
"Thought you said you weren't watching long? Hope I don't seem like a bad dancer" she jokes.
Mike laughs awkwardly, feeling slightly relieved that she didn't smack his face instead, "No, you seem to be pretty good, even though there was no music playing, you've got a nice voice too" his voice is low.
El casts him a shy glance, "Really? I was just humming"
He nods slowly, "Yeah, I mean, it sounded really nice" he breathes.
She gives him a look but then turns back to the stove, picking up a pair of tongs as she goes.
Mike peeks up over, but he can already smell the salty bacon cooking and his mouth begins to water.
"Hope you don't mind" El says over her shoulder. "You've been so good to me, and…" she falters slightly, "I just wanted to repay you is all. I found some bacon and eggs in your fridge, I was trying to surprise you" she says as she finishes turning over the bacon and turns back to him with a timid expression.
Mike raises his eyebrows, his lips pull up, "You've got nothing to be sorry for, I think any guy dreams of a girl making him breakfast".
He mentally slaps himself, and he grimaces out loud, which causes El to break out into a fit of laughter.
Mike rubs his hands against his face roughly, "Ugh, just, let the earth swallow me whole" he groans.
El is still laughing, and he hears it get closer until he feels two warm hands against his own. El gently tugs his hands away from his face. Her expression is warm and serene, he practically melts at the look.
"Mike" she whispers, her voice pulling his eyes to hers, "I know what you were trying to say, you don't have to be so embarrassed all the time".
He lets out a long sigh, "I'm sorry. I just...I've never been around a girl who wasn't a relative, or Max, and...it's new" he shrugs his shoulders heavily.
"I don't want you to ever feel uncomfortable is all" he admits. His eyes searched her face, and he can feel his face heating as he contemplates his next words. "Uhm...especially after, uh...you know" he shrugs his shoulders lamely, now unable to look El in the eyes.
A beat passes, but the feel of El's hands tightening against his own caused him to look up.
She has her face contorted in a way that Mike's not sure how to read, she seems slightly annoyed, but also amused.
"Mike" she shakes her head slowly. She lets out a nervous laugh as her eyes move about, but finally landed on his. "I get it, I really do" she says softly.
"I don't feel uncomfortable around you at all..." she pauses her mouth still open, as the corner of her lips pull up, "Actually, it's quite the opposite" she breathes.
Mike gives her a confused look, "Really?" he asks, not sure if what she's saying is true.
But the sincerity that graces her features, and the glow of her eyes tell Mike that she is being honest. He feels himself relax as his shoulders slump.
"Really" El nods her head. "I've lived with other males before I get that, that stuff happens, and...like I said, it's quite flattering actually" and she gives him this coy look that she flashed him as she disappeared into the bathroom this morning.
And she practically does the same things as she gently removes hers hands from his and moves back to the stove leaving Mike completely gobsmacked.
'Holy shit, she really didn't mind!', his mind does a silent happy scream as Mike revels in the feeling of something new that seems to have grown between the two of them in the short time of their knowing one another. And he silently likes it more than he cares to admit.
El tries and fails miserably to hide the blush that she's convinced is permanently stained across her cheeks as she finishes up their breakfast.
When she turns around she and Mike can't help but share shy glances at one another as they dig into their meals as a casual conversation finally begins between the two of them.
"Wow El, you're a really good cook" Mike says as he chews and swallows his last bite of eggs.
She smiles warmly at him, "Thanks. We had a camp stove in the hideout, and I tended to do most of the cooking. Had to get creative with meals sometimes" her voice falters slightly as her mind drifts to thoughts about her sister.
It must show on her face because it's only when Mike is calling out to her that she shakes herself out of her mind.
"You okay?" he asks concern lacing his voice.
El quickly flashes him a smile, "Oh, yeah sorry, just got thinking is all" she tries to brush him off.
"About your sister?" he questions and as she looks up at Mike he can see his eyes widen.
"Shit. I didn't mean to bring that all up...I just-" he raises his hands in defense, but El quickly shakes her head, "No, Mike don't worry, I mean, it is something that we have to figure out".
A silence falls before them and El ducks her head, not wanting to meet Mike's gaze.
She hears him sigh heavily as he shifts on his bar stool, she slowly peeks up.
Mike is collecting her plate, "Thanks for breakfast El. It was great! No one other than my mom has ever cooked for me".
El flushes at his words as Mike begins to reach for her plate, "Oh, I was going to clean up" she reaches for the plate as well and they both grab onto it, each refusing to let go.
"Uh-uh, you cooked, I cleaned" he gives her a winning smile. El can't help but grin and rolled her eyes as she continues to keep her hand on the plate held between them, "I didn't help when you cooked" she reminded him.
Mike laughs, "And that's okay, a lot went on after that" he states as he continues to try to pry the plate away from her.
El sighs, "How about I at least help out?" she gives him pleading eyes.
Mike finally chuckles, "Alright, I clean, you dry?"
El nods, "Deal" she smiles as she finally allows Mike to take the plate as they move towards the kitchen sink where they begin to silently clean the dishes together. Shared with shy glances and blushing faces.
Alright, a little shorter than normal, I hope it's not too repetitive, it's not my most favorite chapter, kind of a filler. Just took me a lot of effort to even get this chapter out and work on it. I do know where I will be going with this story. Next will be getting the Party back together and figuring out their next steps to rescuing Kali and that's when the story should really begin.
Let me know what you guys think, I hope you are all still out there and didn't hate this chapter and are still following along. A huge thanks to all of you who have stuck with this story, as I truly appreciate it. I'm not a fancy writer and just kind of go with the flow of things that I think make sense, so that's why I think I sometimes have trouble with the consistency of keeping a story going.
Also, I just really like writing Mileven fluff and love as well.
Thank you for your patience, you all are awesome. Let me know how you liked this chapter with a REVIEW if you please, they always fill me with joy 3
