This leans heavily into a comphet gay Mike hc rather than bisexual Mike hc, but you could still hypothetically put a bi Mike reading into this.
Mike being more comfortable with Will than El, mainly because he doesn't have to perform anything around Will. He doesn't have to fit the mould of a "perfect hetrosexual boyfriend" around Will like he had to with El. That's not to say El FORCED anything, obviously she didn't, but Mike did feel pressure to conform.
Due to Mike feeling more comfortable with Will, he shows parts of himself in the span of a few months that he hasn't shown El at all during their relationship which lasted literal years.
One of the most noticeable traits he shows is his softness. This one is also a trait that takes a while to show itself, but once it has, it comes out at full force.
Mike starts speaking softer, getting angry less, seeking Will's touch more often, and that's not to say his old personality is non-existent or that he's not as protective of Will around others, but it's definitely way less exaggerated than in his teenage years (yes this is adult/epilogue byler).
Because he doesn't feel like he's required to meet any standards anymore. So, it softens. Small signs of this behavior with Will throughout the years (aka the "Will voice" and stuff like that) start to show itself more prominently.
It takes a while for this behavior to shift outside of when he's alone with Will. Even though Mike feels safe with the group, becoming softer around them like he allows himself to be with Will, it feels embarrassing, scary, de-masculinizing.
Even though Will has known Mike longer than anyone else in the party, he's left learning more about him. The fact that he responds well to praise. How quickly he will calm down if you run your hands through his hair. The way he nuzzles into Will's chest and puts a leg over Will's when they're going to sleep.
Will is one of the main ones that helps Mike feel safe to be soft around the group. Mainly by implementing those very things into everyday interactions with them.
Mike is arguing with Max about how she's not stirring the batter good enough for Dustin's birthday cake, so Will ruffles his hair and he becomes annoyed but not angry. Mike jokes about how his handwriting is shit and Will says that it isn't, it's actually better than his own, and Mike looks away to hide a smile.
Initially, Mike is a little defensive, moving Will's hand away from his hair around the party, but eventually, it reaches a point where Mike leans his head on Will's shoulder around the party without thinking about it. Or Mike begins to relax more in public around Will's presence.
That doesn't mean they'd be obvious about dating in the general public, they'd be a gay couple in the 90s at this point, but Mike would still subconsciously soften his voice and feel safer when he senses Will's presence in the room.
Something I find annoying is when I say "transmascs" as a group or when I say I'm transmasc, and people think they're helping by going "you mean trans MEN, transmascs are different".. like yes, transmascs and trans men are different, but I MEANT transmascs when I said transmascs, not just trans men.
I understand that it's TRYING to be inclusive towards transmasc enbies and transmascs who simply don't identify as "transgender man" , but buddy, I meant exactly what I said. It feels like their attempt for nonbinary inclusion is unintentionally adding to the issue they are trying to correct, erasing transmasc enbies from binary leaning transmasculine discussions.
Not everyone who says "transmasc" secretly means "transgender men in the gender binary" and is uninformed that the terms are different, you know? Some people MEAN transmasc when they say transmasc.
It's just annoying to me personally, like I know the difference of the terms, stop correcting me because you automatically believe I'm talking about binary transgender men when I say what I am or the group I'm apart of.
