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Despite how they came across, Mike and Max did care about each other.
Sure, it wasn’t obvious, and they had a bit of a rough start when they first met, but over the years, and especially after everything that went down with Mike’s living situation, they really did become close.
Max had reported Billy’s behavior to the chief (back when he was still alive), and Billy had been sent to juvie for his crimes.
After that, Neil had left on his own before Max could even consider reporting him as well. Honestly Neil never really hurt her, not like Billy did, so she never saw a point.
And now he’s left on his own, so it was fine.
…Well, fine might be a bit of a strong word.
She and her mother lived in a trailer park, and her mother worked two jobs just to keep them off the streets. Course maybe they’d have a bit more if her mother didn’t blow half her paychecks on booze but…
The point is, things were better than they were.
But that didn’t mean there weren’t…bad days.
Really bad days.
“Mom it’s me!” Max sobbed desperately by the door of the trailer park.
Susan stumbled around, waving the bottle in her hand as she sneered at Max. “GET OUT OF MY TRAILER YOU WHORE! YOU FUCKING WHORE!”
Max covered her head as Susan threw the bottle by her head, making it shatter on the wall.
Some pieces of the glass hit her face and left minor scratches, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle.
Max left the trailer and decided she’d come back tomorrow, when her mother would be passed out from the hangover.
Until then, she’d wait it out.
She always did.
Mike knew something was wrong.
Which didn’t exactly make him special, everyone was able to tell something weird was going on with Max.
But…Mike knew the signs. He knew when somebody was covering up their pain.
In the past, Max would come to them and they’d help patch her up after Billy’s assaults. But now that they’re older, she doesn’t do that anymore.
And Mike can’t help feeling like it’s his fault.
Because his situation got better, he stopped going to them for help like that. Max’s situation changed, but it was hard to say if it truly got better or not.
Mike contemplated saying something to her. Letting her know she didn’t have to be alone. But lately, Max had been going out of her way to avoid them, and always seemed to have her headphones on to block out the world.
Though he’d probably never admit it out loud, he kind of missed her.
“What the hell?” Mike muttered as he saw something up ahead on his walk back home. He’d stayed late at the D&D club with the guys and wasn’t getting home until way past sunset.
And up ahead, appeared to be asleep on the bench, was Max.
As Mike approached, he saw she only had a thin hoodie on to protect her from the chilly weather, and her headphones set over her ears.
She also had dried blood on her face from small cuts.
“Max?” Mike called softly, hoping not to startle her.
But she had her music blaring and was asleep, no chance of hearing him.
Realizing he had no choice, Mike shook her by her shoulder gently. “Max? Max, wake up. Max-“
Max’s eyebrows furrowed as she began to stir. Soft grunts forced there way from her mouth and began to morph into screams. “Nngh..Ngh- No- NO! NO!”
“MAX, IT’S ME!” Mike panicked, letting go of his hold in an instant.
Max jolted up into a sitting position, looking around with wide eyes as her headphones slid to around her neck. “God, Mike.” She snapped, shutting her music off. “Scared the shit out of me.”
“Sorry.” He muttered awkwardly. “Um…what are you doing here? It’s almost eleven.”
Max instantly went on guard. “I was tired. Just meant to rest my eyes and I guess I fell asleep.” She got up and tried to hurry away.
“W-Wait a sec!” Mike called, making her pause. “Your face it…you’re hurt.” He trailed off worriedly.
“It’s nothing.”
“How is it nothing? You have multiple cuts. What happened?”
“I fell.”
Mike’s eyes narrowed. “You fell? Fell on what?”
“Are you an interrogator now, Wheeler?”
“I just want to help.”
Max scoffed. “Well don’t. Just leave me alone, alright?” She snapped at him and tried to walk away again.
But Mike couldn’t let it go. “Did she hurt you?”
Max froze in her step, but refused to turn and look at him.
Mike continued on softly. “Your mom…did she do that to you?”
A tense silence followed for a few moments, before Max turned to glare at him. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really?” Mike raised an eyebrow. “You think I don’t know what cuts from glass look like?”
Max went quiet at that, looking down at her shoes. “Are we done here?”
“I want to help.” Mike repeated. “Let me help.”
“I don’t need your help.”
Mike grew frustrated as Max moved yet again to try and leave. “You used to come to us all the time when you were hurt, why not now!?”
“Because it’s not the same.” Max bit out reluctantly.
“Why?” Mike pressed.
Max gnawed on her bottom lip anxiously as she look at him. “Because this is my mother, Mike. Who I love.”
Mike frowned.
Swallowing hard, Max continued, not making eye contact. “I mean, it was easy before. Billy and Neil, they weren’t…they weren’t my family.”
“So what?” Mike snapped. “My dad hurt me but I still came to you guys. How is this any different!?”
“BECAUSE MY MOTHER LOVES ME, MIKE!” Max exclaimed in a moment of frustration. “Which is something you would never understand.” She told him coldly.
Mike froze at those words, shoulders drooping a bit in defeat.
Max realized what she said and let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t mean…to hurt you, I just…” She sighed sadly. “Please, just, leave it alone. Okay?”
“You should come back to my house.”
Max’s eyes widened. “What?”
Now it was Mike’s turn to find his shoes fascinating. “Even if they’re small, you don’t want those cuts to get infected. Besides, you can’t sleep on a bench all night, it’s freezing.”
“I don’t need your pity-“ She protested.
“I’m not pitying you. But if you freeze to death I’ll have to hear about it from Lucas.” Mike teased lightly, a hint of sincerity in his tone.
Max couldn’t help smiling slightly at the mention of Lucas. Even though she’d broken up with him, she knew how much he still cared about her.
If only she could deserve his affections.
Mike removed his jacket and threw it over Max’s shoulders, and the duo headed back towards Steve’s house.
By the time they got to Steve’s, everyone else was already asleep, which made it easy to sneak in.
Mike grabbed some disinfectant and bandaids and sat Max down on the catch before getting to work.
“Ow.” Max grunted as he rubbed one of the cuts.
“Sorry.” Mike smiled sheepishly.
A tense silence fell over the two as Mike set a bandaid over one of the cuts and started working on the next.
Max spoke hesitantly. “I’m sorry…for what I said.”
Mike gave a small nod. “Don’t worry about it. I get it.”
“In more ways than one.” Max stated softly.
That made Mike pause. “…Yeah.”
Another silence.
“You know I was thinking…there’s plenty of room here. I’m sure Steve, Nancy and Robin wouldn’t mind if you stayed for a while.” Mike explained innocently.
Max smiled slightly. “Trying to play superhero, Wheeler?”
“I just…” Mike sighed. “I just want to help.” What more could he say?
“I’m not moving in here.” She told him simply.
Mike gave a weak nod. He already figured that’d be her answer.
“But…maybe I could stay for a night or two.” Max smirked slightly. “What do you say, Wheeler? Ever have a slumber party with a girl before?”
“I hid El in my basement for a week.” Mike joked.
Max snorted. “Not quite the same, but good enough.”
Mike finished putting on the last bandaid. “So…wanna watch a movie?”
“Only if I get to pick.”
“Please no chick flicks.”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?”
And that’s how Mike and Max ended up having an all-night movie marathon of every tape Steve owned.
To say he, Nancy and Robin were confused to come downstairs the next morning and find the two asleep on the couch, sharing a blanket, would be an understatement.