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A whole year had gone by since Ted’s arrest. Mike was now living happily with Steve, Robin and Nancy in Steve’s house.
Well okay, his parents house, but they haven’t come home even once since Mike moved in, so he liked to think of it as Steve’s house.
Living with Nancy, Robin and Steve was definitely different, but in all the best ways. No longer did Mike have to shove things in front of his door out of fear someone would barge in, and he could actually have emotions.
If he was excited about something, he could share that without fear of repercussions. If he had a hard day, he could cry about it and be comforted.
He missed El though. After Hopper died, she, Will and Jonathan moved to California for a chance of pace. A year ago, Mike would’ve really struggled to convey his emotions through letters.
He wouldn’t have sent anything to Will, out of fear of seeming gay. And he wouldn’t have shown El much affection either. Knowing his father, he would’ve looked over whatever Mike wrote and decide if it was too ‘weak’ sounding, whatever the hell that meant.
But now he was free. He told El he loved her at least three times every letter, and he sent mail to Jonathan and Will too.
Holly was growing up well too. And she was a lot more vocal than she used to be, and Mike actually had a lot of fun babysitting her when Nancy and the others would go out.
Like today, the three were out doing the weekly shopping, so Mike had the house to himself, plus Holly of course.
Holly was, to his shock, becoming kind of a little mechanic. Steve loved showing her how to take things apart and put them back together, and now her favorite piece of clothing was this tiny jean jacket.
It made Mike wonder if the reason she used to act so girly was because of their parents. It wouldn’t surprise him.
“Holly, this show has violence, think you can handle it?” Mike asked with a smile. He was collapsed on the couch with his sister.
Holly grinned at him. “Bloodier the better!” She cheered. A quote she’d gotten from Steve he’s sure.
Snorting, Mike hit play and the two began watching the show.
But that’s when someone knocked on the door.
“Wanna bet Robin forgot her wallet?” He smirked, getting up from the couch to unlock the door.
But when he opened it, he was stunned at who he saw.
Karen stood there, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Michael.” She spoke in a whisper.
“M-Mom?” Mike stuttered out in disbelief.
“Mom?” Holly asked in shock.
She didn’t fully understand why she and Mike had left their parents, just that they weren’t very nice people so she shouldn’t waste time missing them.
But now here was their mom, and Holly looked conflicted, as if she wanted to run into her arms but she wasn’t sure she should.
“H-Holly why don’t you go play in Steve’s room? I’ll come get you in a minute.” Mike told her, doing his best to put on a smile.
Holly looked nervous, but hesitantly complied and hopped off the couch, running off to the other room.
“Mom what are you doing here?” Mike hissed quietly. “How did you even know where I lived?”
Karen sighed heavily. “Well, you didn’t make it easy. Friends of mine helped to track you down. I should’ve known you’d be somewhere like this.”
She pushed by him, letting herself inside. Mike instantly felt ashamed for letting her in, but he didn’t know what to say.
“How have you been?” She asked softly, wiping her eyes.
Mike swallowed hard. “Fine…Holly and I are doing great actually.”
Karen grew desperate. “Michael, don’t you think it’s time to stop this? I want you to come home, you and Holly.”
His eyes widened. “M-Mom, you got told by a judge. You’re not legally able to be our guardian.”
“B-But I’ve changed! And your father isn’t there anymore, so it’ll be different!” She protested. “Michael please. I-I miss my kids. I don’t want to miss out on Holly growing up, she’s my baby!”
Mike’s eyes narrowed. “Well maybe you should’ve thought about that back when dad was abusing me.”
“Michael.” She breathed in shock.
“Did you even think once about defending me? About stopping him? Did that thought even cross your mind!?” He exclaimed angrily.
Karen let out a deep breath. “I-I was dealing with Holly, and you know your father, he wouldn’t have listened to me! I just…I didn’t want to rock the boat; I was trying to keep my marriage from falling apart.”
He choked out a chuckle of disbelief. “So you decided it’d be better if I fell apart?”
“That’s not fair and you know it,” She snapped, setting her hands on her hips. “Michael I was doing the best I could. So many times, I nearly cheated on your father, but I didn’t, for the sake of our family! And we would still be a family if you had just learned to keep your mouth shut!” She exclaimed viciously.
Mike felt numb. “You’re saying things would’ve been better if I had just…kept it a secret?”
Karen bit her lip, looking away from him. “I’m just saying things would’ve been different if you had. I would still have my marriage and Holly would still have her parents. But if you think your comfort is more important than the people around you, well I guess there’s nothing I can do about that.”
He didn’t get a chance to reply, not that he really had one.
Because she was right. It was his fault. He thought about that fact all the time.
But Nancy, Steve and Robin insisted that he did the right thing, that it wasn’t as black and white as that, that their marriage would’ve been doomed anyway and that Holly wouldn’t have grown up happy.
Still, hearing his mom outright say it…was something entirely new.
The door opened and a frazzled Robin barged in with Nancy and Steve. “Sorry we took so long Mike, I forgot my wallet so we had to put a few things back-“ She froze when she saw Karen.
Nancy gasped. “Mom?” She asked in disbelief.
“Nancy-“ Karen started.
“Get out!” Robin exclaimed, cutting her off.
Karen gasped. “E-Excuse me?”
“GET. OUT!” Robin hissed angrily, storming over to face her.
“Who do you think you are?” Karen sneered. “You don’t get to talk to me that way! These are my children and you have no right-“
Robin smacked her across the way, making her stumble.
Mike’s eyes widened in horror, he choked out a gasp. Steve grabbed him and tugged him into his chest, so he wouldn’t have to see.
“I already know, Nancy and Mike? They wouldn’t do something like that, because you are their mother. And Steve’s a boy, he’d never hit a woman,” Robin glared at her. “But I am neither and I suggest you get the hell out of our apartment before I call the police.”
Tears filled Karen’s eyes. “They are my kids! Michael, you don’t want me to leave, right?” She looked over at him.
Steve held onto him tighter. “You don’t have to answer her.” He mumbled. “She has no power over you anymore.”
But despite this, Mike hesitantly removed himself from Steve and looked at his mother, trembling. “I-I want you to leave…” He mumbled.
“What?” Karen asked in shock.
“I SAID GET OUT!” He all but screamed at her as tears built up in his eyes. “COMING HERE UNINVITED AND BLAMING ME FOR YOUR CRAPPY MARRIAGE? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?”
He’s fought a lot of monsters over the years from the Upside Down, and yet his mother was worse than all of them.
“You said that?” Nancy asked in horror.
Karen swallowed hard. “Well it’s the truth! Because of him, I don’t have my children, I don’t have my marriage, I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING!” She sobbed. “HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!? YOU WORTHLESS LITTLE BRAT!” She exclaimed viciously before she could help it.
But she seemed to realize what she said after the fact, and let out a gasp, covering her mouth.
Mike stared at her as tears rolled down his cheeks.
“If you say another word I’m calling the police. Get the hell out of our house.” Robin told her calmly, pointing to the door.
Karen looked like she wanted to protest, but Robin was already grabbing the phone and dialing a number.
She took one last look at Mike, before reluctantly leaving the house.
Robin waited for the phone to ring, and smiled when the person picked up. “Hey El, um…listen could you talk to Mike? His mom showed up and…yeah, he’s right here.”
Robin handed Mike the phone. He hiccupped as he spoke. “El it’s my fault, I ruined- yeah I know- I know but- but they were happy- you don’t know-“
As he talked, he wondered off to the kitchen for some privacy as the young adults looked at each other.
“What was it like to hit her?” Nancy asked the second Mike was out of sight.
Robin’s eyes widened. “W-What?”
“Well I can’t hit her, she’s my mom. But man that looked satisfying.” Nancy sighed almost longingly.
Steve burst into laughter. “Good work Robin, you went total mother hen mode.”
“I feel like I’m gonna vomit. I-I hit her and I yelled- can I go puke now?” Robin asked with wide eyes, beginning to hyperventilate.
Nancy shook her head with a smile. “Robin, you did good. You protected Mike, and he’s kind of like your little brother now too.”
“I-I guess he is…” Robin took a deep breath.
Steve patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll make us all some tea, and check on him while I’m at it. Someone check on Holly?”
“I will.” Nancy went off to find her little sister as Steve headed to the kitchen.
But he paused at the entry way. He found Mike leaning against the wall with the phone, his tears almost completely gone as he grinned.
“Yeah, I-I miss you too, El. Hey is Will there? I wanna talk to him too. Uh-huh, okay, I love you.”
Steve felt something warm in his chest. El was like a superhero, despite her powers not returning. She always knew what to say to make everything better for Mike, and he knew Mike did the same for her.
God, he loves these kids.