Chapter Text
It could be said that Mike was a brave kid.
Whenever his family or friends saw a spider, he'd be the one to pick it up and move it away. He'd be able to do an entire presentation in front of his class and not panic. He would always protect his friends and fight against bullies.
But it was on nights like these that his bravery took no effect. Lighting hitting outside of his window and thunder penetrating his brain not allowing his heartbeat to relax. His blanket couldn't bring any warmth to him and even with eyes closed he couldn't sleep.
It's in moments like these where Mike would like to be saved, to be protected. To have his own superhero that makes the fears go away.
He could hear noise outside, coming from Nancy's room. He slowly stood up and walked into the hallway. Light was still picking through the bottom frame of Nancy's door, so he knocked on it.
"Mom?" Could be heard from the inside of the room.
He opens the door and looks at Nancy.
"Oh, it's you Mike. What are you doing here?" she whispers.
Mike fiddles with the door, still not fully open "There's thunder"
"Mike, it's late. You should go to sleep"
"I can't sleep!" silence lingered, Nancy thinking of what to say "Can I stay with you for a bit?"
"Yea, ok" he enters and closes the door "I was going to read a book" she says patting a spot on the bed next to her.
"Can you read it to me? Like, out loud?"
"One of my books?" she asked surprised "Sure, but it's about romance, and I'm already halfway"
"I don't mind" he said climbing on her bed. He usually would mind, but right now all he wanted was to not spend the night alone. He could sacrifice his science fiction books.
Nancy stood up to grab her book and close the curtain before getting into bed as well.
She put an arm around Mike's shoulders and pulled him closer so that his left ear was pressed against her chest.
She gave him a little bit of context, about two sisters who were fighting over a guy they both liked. She then took a deep breath and started reading.
Mike couldn't follow the story for long, the more she read the more difficult words appeared until, at some point, he gave up.
He decided to focus on Nancy instead. She read with a very calm and soothing voice, she would switch voices for the different characters whenever a dialog appeared. Even if the characters were fighting she would whisper dramatically their lines while making angry faces that would make Mike giggle.
She was also very warm, a complete contrast to the cold radiating through Mike's skin. After some minutes he was finally able to feel his toes as he curled them, giving him that tingly felling he usually got from stepping into a warm room after standing in the cold. He was able to hear her heartbeat through her rib cage putting him on the verge of sleep.
He could smell the scent of mint and cologne on her, it probably came from her toothpaste and mum's cologne.
Nancy got into a habit of using more of mum's stuff lately. She would put on her perfume, her makeup... One time she asked mum if she could give her some heels for a party she was going to.
Mike never understood the point of makeup. She was already beautiful and mum's makeup only made her look worse. She insists that that's not true and that she looked better like that.
He suspects she started because she's been hanging out with Steve and his group of friends, but if they weren't able to see who pretty she already is then she's better off hanging with Barb, she's way cooler either way.
Mike tries to cuddle closer into Nancy, wrapping his arm around her, and close his eyes. The sound of thunder barely noticeable under Nancy's reading voice.
With that peace he was feeling, Mike fell asleep in his hero's arms, his sister's arms.