In truth, Eleven was almost . . . ashamed of how she had handled things with Mike. They had been through so much together, and she thought they were ‘trauma-bonded’ (a term she had overheard Jonathon use about his relationship with Nancy before it had turned sour). She thought that they were supposed to be together because they found the best in each other, but it seemed that Mike had only wanted to show her off to his friends and fellow students.

So when Eddie essentially showed pride in her for what she had done, the brunette blinked, confusion pulling over the rest of her emotions as she stared at him. It made sense, if she was honest with herself, but she almost held a sense of pride about how she and Mike had known each other for so long, and had gone through so much together, and had still come out on top.

Until they didn’t.

No, Mike saw her as a trophy, just like Brenner had, and as she started to go back through how their relationship had truly been, she started to see all the reminders of ‘Papa’ in her (ex) boyfriend. The way he had always insisted on being somewhere if she was there. The way he had secluded her from the others when they had first started dating. The way his favorite thing about her was what she could use her abilities for.

“Eddie . . . What do you like about Demona?” Her voice was quieter, but as she rested her chin on her knees, her hands wrapping around her ankles, she looked to him for an example of what he was talking about. Maybe, just maybe, if she knew what his answer should have been, she would have a better chance of understanding just why it had hurt so much.