William doesn’t have a typical “resting bitch face.” His default expression is worse—resting smug bitch face. That man has one (1) face and It’s smug, sinister, and stupidly hot.
His neutral looks like: One brow slightly raised, mouth just faintly crooked, eyes half-lidded as if he’s silently going “oh? That’s cute.”
The worst part? He’s not trying. That face is just… stuck.
You’ll ask him something dead serious and he’ll look at you like he’s already calculated the entire outcome and decided not to tell you. He probably has.
It makes people doubt themselves. Constantly. Even when he says something nice, you’re not sure if he’s mocking you or flirting. Or both.
HR hates him. But can never prove anything.
Has the “I Know Something You Don’t” Look (The Afton Classic™): He’ll be silent in a meeting for 30 minutes straight then glance at someone once and they’ll immediately stutter over their words.
It’s not just the eyes or the smirk, it’s the whole posture. Hands neatly folded, head tilted ever so slightly. Like a predator watching the room get comfortable before he strikes.
Occasionally, he smiles with his eyes only. And it’s terrifying.
Combine this look with him speaking in a soft tone and the effect is bone-deep. You feel like he’s reading your mind. Judging you. Probably both.
AND the cursed legacy of Michael inheriting it without wanting to.
Michael doesn’t notice it at first so.
But people keep reacting weirdly when he stares too long. Keep asking, “Why are you smirking?” when he’s just... standing there.
The first time he catches his reflection and sees his dad’s face looking back at him: same fuckass brows, same fuckass eyes, same fuckass expression; one time it's make he almost punches a mirror. That moment is seared into him forever.
He raises one eyebrow unconsciously whenever someone says something dumb.
It’s not on purpose. It just happens.
The smirk? God help him. He hates it. He tries not to. But when someone flirts with him or accuses him of something stupid, it creeps in.
Michael’s version of “resting smug bitch face” is a little softer, more tired, more broken but it’s still there. That same faint arrogance in his bones.
People who knew William often freeze when they see Michael for the first time. Some swear it’s like seeing a ghost.
He loathes so much how easily people mistake him for his father. Starts trying to unlearn the expressions keeps furrowing his brow, flattening his mouth, anything to not look like him.
But when he’s distracted? When he’s not guarding himself?
“You’ve got your father’s look.” someone once said, Michael didn’t speak for the rest of the days.