Work Text:
"Goodbye Mike."
Mike sat in the emptying daze he had been trapped in since El had killed herself. Every word he’d ever said to her, every argument, everything - it haunted his every moment. Her final moments replayed in his head. If he had said something different, would she still be alive? He even felt like he’d failed her for not understanding her choice. No matter how many times he thought about it he couldn’t. How could she think he’d be able to explain it to everyone?
Then the hiss of his radio cut his miserable wallowing short.
“Mike, you there?”
Lucas. The others were getting ready for prom. Mike swallowed. He couldn’t go. Just the thought of it made him sick. He thought of El at the Snow Ball - her dress, the curl falling against her head, the purple eyeshadow that made her already beautiful eyes shine even more. The memory hit him.
“Yeah?” he mumbled into the radio.
“You good? You sure you don’t wanna come? Dustin’s gonna make Steve buy us some beer and we heard someone’s planning to spike the punch too.”
“I’m sure,” Mike said quietly. “Have fun. I’m… okay.”
The words were a lie. He wasn’t okay. He didn’t think he would ever be again.
–
He must’ve fallen asleep at some point. When he woke, his mouth tasted like sugar and grease. An empty box of Eggos sat beside him, along with a crumpled, party-size bag of Doritos. Orange dust streaked his fingers, his shirt and his face.
“Mike.”
His mother was shaking him gently.
“Whaat?” he groaned.
“Are you okay, honey?”
He didn’t answer. Just rolled onto his side and groaned again.
"Hopper stopped by,” she said softly. “He wants to talk to you.”
That made his chest tighten. Great. Another lecture. Another adult trying to say the right thing and failing. Maybe that was too harsh, Hopper felt his pain the closest but he was moving along the same. Everyone was moving along, leaving Mike with El’s memory.
“And,” she added, brushing Doritos dust from his shirt, “clean yourself up. He wants to take you somewhere.”
Mike dragged himself into the shower. He smelled awful, and he knew if his mom didn’t comment on it, Hopper definitely would. The hot water stung his skin, but he welcomed it. The pain of the smoldering hot water was nothing to what he felt inside.
He threw on the first clean shirt and jeans he could find and shuffled into the living room.
Hopper didn’t look at him right away. He sat hunched forward, elbows on his knees, hat in his hands.
“You ready kid?” Hopper finally said, voice low, rough.
“Ready for what?” Mike grumbled.
Hopper didn’t answer. He just stood, gave a small, unreadable smile, and headed for the door and Mike followed despite it.
As Hopper started the car, Mike slumped in the passenger seat.
“You gonna take me to a bar or something?”
“No,” Hopper said. “Though I’ve got some beer in the trunk. Don’t think you’ll want it when we get there.”
“Have you always been this cryptic?” Mike asked.
Hopper chuckled. “Pretty much.”
Mike stared out the window as Hawkins slipped behind them. The road stretched on slowly becoming more and more unfamiliar. Music played softly, but Mike barely heard it. His mind raced, trying - and failing - to guess what Hopper was planning. It couldn’t be.
After a long drive, Hopper finally pulled over. They were deep in the woods now, far from town. Hopper got out and motioned for him. “Come on, kid.”
Mike unbuckled his seatbelt slowly. “Are you gonna bury me out here?”
Hopper snorted. “Don’t tempt me.”
They walked for a while, the forest quiet except for crunching leaves and distant birds. Then, tucked between the trees, a small shed came into view. Mike stopped short.
“What is this?” he asked.
Hopper didn’t answer right away. He just stepped forward and opened the door.
—
The ceiling was draped in streamers and banners, a soft purple light washing over everything in the small shed. And in between all the ribbons and paper stars, she stood.
El.
She was adjusting her beautiful long and curly hair, each strand shiny and clear. Two thick curls framed her face. She wore a simple dress- white with silver polka dots- and a yellow satin sash tied neatly at her waist.
Mike blinked.
His heart began to pound.
It’s impossible.
He looked at Hopper. A flash of rage, he'd known and not told him, let him suffer. But the joy - the overwhelming joy- crushed it to a distant memory.
Alive. She was alive.
Mike rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her, holding on like he was afraid she’d vanish. He pressed his face into her shoulder, as if to prove she was real. She was. She had to be. El pulled him even closer and began to stroke his hair. Mike spluttered out attempts at speaking to her but he couldn't, tears were streaking down his face.
“Do you wanna dance?” she whispered to him before going on her tippy toes and looking over Mike’s shoulder to give Hopper a nod.
“Yes,” Mike choked out while nodding furiously.” Dance. Yes.”
Soon the song ‘Every Breath You Take’ had started.
“Like the Snow Ball” she giggled softly putting her hand on his shoulder. “You’re a lot taller now.”
“You’re beautiful, even more beautiful” he managed to weakly splutter out. As they began to sway Mike, tears began to dry. He stared at her in amazement.
What could he say?
“Is school fun?” El asked nervously. Mike went to nod at first before shaking his head.
“When is it ever?” he joked weakly. “Was- are you- have you had fun?” His head raced to think where she went, had Hopper been hidden her like before.
She shook her head “No. But it will be. Soon.”
“The others can they- Do they already-” he said while thinking of Max, Will, Jonathan,Joyce, everyone who knew her. She shook her head again.
“Only Hopper, and you. And only for tonight then I go.”
Mike's eyes widened in fear. She had to go again. He pulled her into a tight hug.
“Where?” he mumbled into her ears, he was beginning to cry again.
“To a place with three waterfalls.”
“It’s real?”
“Yes but only for me.”
“Why? Why can’t I-”
She pulled away from him slightly and cupped his cheeks in her hands.
“For now,” she stared into his eyes “Till everything is more quiet. Then you can come. I promise.”
She leaned him and kissed him. The taste of her lips was sweeter than anything he had ever known.
–
After dancing for what felt like hours, they collapsed onto the lone sofa in the shed. There was a small buffet of various foods, which they picked at.
“How’s Max?” El asked between bites.
“Good. As good as she can be without-” he stopped himself. What use was there to make her sad on what might be their only night for months, years.” She’s going to graduate with the rest of us, she caught up great!”
El smiled. “Wow, she’s so smart.”
“How long have you been back in Hawkins?”
“Not long.” She was looking down avoiding his gaze. “Only today.” She sighed. “How’s Will?”
Over the course of the night he told her how everyone’s life was going. They danced until their feet ached. They kissed like they were each other’s air.
But it had to end. Outside the tiny shed the sun began to rise. The clock had began to tick.
–
On the ride back Hopper gave him a beer to ooze his sorrows but he didn’t need it.
She was alive.
Even if he didn’t see her for months - years- that would keep him going. That thought. The memory of their dance. The idea of her next to three waterfalls, happy, free.
“Mike?” his radio went.
“Yeah?”
“I just wanted to check-”
“I’m great,” Mike said, with a large smile on his face. “Do you guys wanna come over? Play some DnD.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’ve got an idea for a new campaign.”