Chapter Text
It was July 16th 1986, everything in Hawkins had been tense lately. Lucas was always going out of his way to visit Max at the hospital, the Byers had been staying at the Wheelers, it was safer if they were all in one spot, so of course Dustin mostly and occasionally Lucas tried to stay over too. For El and Hopper they cleaned up their old cabin with the help of Joyce of course, her and Hopper had been inseparable since Russia.
Today was very different though. Joyce had been working when she saw Military cars and men patrolling Hawkins. After her shift ended she instantly went to Hopper to tell him, plus she needed to drop off the groceries she got him. At 6:47 p.m. Joyce knocked four times, slow fast, fast slow. Hopper opened the door and took the grocery bags from her, helping her inside. “So how was your shift?” He asked gruffly as he put away the food. Joyce had gotten used to his gruff voice, and she couldn’t lie she found it enchanting. “My shift was um good, but I came here for a different reason. I saw some military people checking out the area…” Hopper stopped putting away the supplies and sighed. He wanted a break, but he knew that was a hopeless wish. If the military was back that meant hiding El and training which was nerving. “Well we’ll just have to prepare,” And so they did.
(Five months later)
Today marked the fifth month of training. Eleven had been relentless, Hopper and Joyce had been worried about her over working herself. Today, December 8th, Mike asked Hopper if he could see Eleven, and he agreed mostly just because he wanted Eleven to take a break. Mike knocked on Eleven’s door firmly. When she opened the door Mike hugged her and she hugged him back and let him in her room. “Hey, I haven’t seen you in so long…so how has training been?” Mike didn’t really know what else to ask about. Eleven fidgeted with her watch before she answered, why was she nervous around him…no not nervous uncomfortable. “Training is good, not good but ok, we just are stretching my power and stuff so…” Her voice faded off. After an awkward amount of silence Eleven speaks up. “Mike?” Mike looks up, those chocolate brown eyes, those eyes she used to melt into and love so much now just were admirable and cute to her. “Yeah? What is it, El?” Eleven takes a deep breath before speaking. “I’ve been thinking..I..I don’t want this. I don’t want you. I need to be one hundred percent focused, and this…it’s just a distraction Mike. I..I am breaking up with you.” Mike was taken aback by this. It made sense but Mike didn’t want to let go of her, plus how was he the distraction? He barely did anything in his opinion. “What?! El, come on! We barely talk anymore- PLUS if there are people looking for you, you need me–” This pissed Eleven off the most “Mike I can take care of myself and I have been for months, and yes we never talk anymore. What's the difference if we break up? Nothing, that’s the answer. Maybe Max was right about you.” Eleven stands up and gets ready to leave. Mike scowls and makes his noises, and stands up. “Eleven I didn’t mean it like that!” Mike grabs her wrist pulling her back “You don’t need me I know that but emotionally you need me El, you know it’s true,” Eleven was offended by this. “No Mike, YOU need me, and I don’t need anyone anymore emotionally, I’ve changed and grown without you around.” Mike let go of her wrist and stepped back, his eyes were watery. After a couple long moments he spoke. “You’re right… I..I’m sorry. You’re also right about us breaking up, it wouldn't change anything…so we’re broken up?” Eleven nods “Yeah…we’re broken up…”
After that unsuspected event Mike goes home around 7 p.m. Dinner was done when he got home, Jonathan and Nancy weren’t home, probably with Steve and Robin at that new wsqk place he thought. The only Byer that was at his house was Will, his best friend. After dinner Mike took a shower. Mike came down the basement stairs just in shorts, Will was drawing on his mattress. Mike lays next to Will, their arms against each other. “What are you drawing?” Mike said as he leaned over to see. Will felt his face heat up a bit, why was Mike so close? “U-um just some things...like um us as our d&d characters..I made Dustin and Lucas and I’m working on Max…” Mike watched him for a while, he was spacing out and forgetting to respond causing Will to become even more anxious. “Will…you’re shaking..you ok?” His voice was so gentle and soft, Will thought he’d never stop loving that voice. “Ah- y-yeah I’m good..just kinda nervous for El…” Will groaned internally, he used such a weak excuse and he knew Mike saw through him. Mike locks eyes with Will for a second. “Will, you don’t have to lie to me, also El kinda broke up with me today…” Mike rubbed the back of his neck. Will was shocked and kinda relieved at the same time. “What?! What happened?” Mike chuckles. “Well she said I was distracting her from training and that she didn’t need me…and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t think I love her anymore since this was the first day in months I’ve talked to her…shit..” Will puts his stuff beside him and hugs Mike. “Are you ok?” Mike freezes and his heart skips a beat. “Y-yeah I’m good or well ok…” After a minute too long Mike lets go and stands up. Mike clears his throat. “We should probably sleep..” Will runs his hand through his hair. “Yeah we should..” Mike and Will turn off their lights. Mike lays down and mumbles. “Night Will…” Will’s stomach did a 360, his sleep voice was so addicting. “Night Mike…sweat dreams…” Mike falls asleep within minutes, unlike Will who couldn’t sleep for hours because of his thoughts.
The next day Nancy and Jonathan were still gone. They were at the wsqk like Mike thought. Robin was organizing all of the records, while Nancy helped her put them in alphabetical order. Jonathan was cleaning up as Steve was moving in the furniture. “Uh..Nance? We have a slight problem…” Robin said as she looked at the tape on the boxes. “What’s the problem?” Nancy looks at Robin with a raised eyebrow. “Well we’re missing the next three years..I think they are at my place..could you grab it?” Jonathan perks up and leans against the door frame. “I could go with you Nancy,” Nancy sighs and looks back at Robin. “Ok me and..Jonathan are going to grab the boxes, we’ll be back soon.” Nancy and Jonathan drive in silence. The silence was tense and uncomfortable, which Nancy totally appreciated. “Nancy, are we good?” Nancy makes a couple of noises trying to find the right words, but all that comes out is, “I don’t know Jonathan alright?” Jonathan scoffs. “Talk to me Nance what did I do–” Nancy was so tired of him. “Nothing! You did nothing! Let’s just get the boxes.” They got the three boxes of vinyls. They drove back. The tension was loud when they walked in the wsqk. Nancy finishes putting away and organizing the records. Nancy went out to mess with the tower, when she walked in Steve was in there he was trying to get it to work. “Oh hey, how was getting the boxes?” Nancy sighs and runs a hand through her hair. “It was fine, me and Jonathan just…never mind it’s dumb-” Steve moves closer. “Nance, what is it? Did you guys fight or something?” Nancy nods. “I don’t know anymore, I just don’t love him like I used to, I don't love anyone in that way anymore. Not Jonathan not you it’s just confusing,” Steve was speechless for a second but then nodded. He didn’t say anything, he just hugged her. After that they worked on the breaker in comfortable silence. They got it working and went inside. The wsqk was alive and working.
As the rest of the eighteen months passed Eleven trained and trained working hard with Hopper and Joyce as the military started locking everyone in Hawkins and looking for Eleven.