Work Text:
October 25th, 1990
Mike was preparing the basement for movie night (the Party had decided to hang out as much as possible, given the fact that Vecna might strike again any minute) when suddenly,
"Michael! Maxine is here!"
Mike frowned. Max? What the- abandoning his task, Mike rushed upstairs, where he found the redhead sitting on the sofa, tapping her fingers on the head of her white cane, her wheelchair folded in a corner.
"Hey. I'm fixing the basement. You want to come with?" Mike asked, and Max shrugged.
"I doubt I can help but eh, what the hell. Let's go."
Mike and Max were sitting on the couch next to each other, not knowing what to do.
"So... How are you these days?" Mike began in an attempt to make small talk.
Max snorted. "As fine as someone who lost their f*cking sight can be. Where are the others, by the way?"
"Well, Nancy took El along in a girls' day out and won't be back in an hour, and the rest is still at Family Video, looking for something good to watch."
Max hummed. "I see. I'm sorry, by the way." Mike looked at his companion in confusion. "For what, exactly?"
"For being such a jackass to you since we've met."
"There's nothing to apologize for. If anything, it's supposed to be me who's apologizing. I've been constantly antagonizing you ever since we've met you. It's unfair to you." Mike insisted. Silence.
"Do you know why I'm like this? Why I'm being such a misandrist?" Max said a few moments later.
"Why?" Mike asked, curious.
"I never told anyone this, not even Lucas. You know that Billy was a violent asshole, right?"
Mike's face darkened. "Yeah. And I wouldn't forget it anytime soon."
Max sighed. "He was also abusive. And not only verbal."
"He hit you, didn't he." Mike said quietly.
"Mmm-hmm. When he's drunk enough, he'll throw these tantrums. And sometimes he'll grab me. My hand, my arm, my shoulders and shove me. He even..." Max's voice shook, "he even choked me once."
Mike whirled. "What?"
"Yep. For a full minute. Thought I was gonna die right there and then. Hell, I even passed out. And you know what? No apologies. He acted like it never happened. Like it was nothing." Max's voice ended in a strangled rasp. Out of instinct Mike put a hand on top of Max's.
"I'm so sorry."
"You couldn't have possibly known." Max reassured Mike.
"Why are you telling me this? I mean, you could have told this to El or even Nancy. Why me?" Mike said after another silent break.
"Like I said, I want you to understand. I want you to know that my hatred is not unfounded. And that's why I generalized you guys. All my life I've been abused. Me and my mom. Me by Billy, and my mom by my stepfather. Imagine an older Billy, but way worse. So, there. I hope you can forgive me. "
" There's nothing to forgive. I was in the wrong as much as you claim you are." Mike replied.
"Thanks. Now what are we going to do?"