What if Robin's speech was hinting at something else all along?
So, after days of being sure we were queerbaited, I tried picking myself back up again and noticed something about Robin's speech to Will.
Obviously, we as viewers as well as Robin herself interpreted the whole "I was looking for the answers in somebody else while having them myself" thing as referring to having a crush whose validation you desperately need to feel whole. And yes, this is an important part for Will's self acceptance arc.
However, in Vol 2, Will is already confident of himself. In Vol 1, he seemed at least hopeful of Mike somewhat sending him Signals, especially considering how depressed he was in Season 4 about his crush. And in both Volumes, he goes to Robin, trying to relate to her and her experience, thinking his has to mirror hers — understandably so, since he finally met another queer person. So what if "I had all the answers myself" simply implies Will himself should be certain of Mike's feelings and the bond they share, but outside forces (Robin's first crush gone wrong, Vecna's visions about him being alone) keep throwing him off?
What if the implied thing all along, towards Will and us as viewers, was always: "You already know it – be secure in that"?
That's why Mike was in his tape. Yes, sure, the Duffers confirmed it meant to highlight Will's happy childhood moments, but that isn't mutually exclusive to also meaning he already knows all he needs to know about what is between him and Mike. For a second, he felt hopeful, was confident, and then, Robin told him she came out first, Vecna made him lose all faith in himself and made him feel like a danger to everyone.
Will hasn't found himself, he made himself small, which makes him vulnerable to Vecna, which is probably the exact intent Vecna had all along. And who would be the only one to bring him back, other than the living proof that all that doubt in his head, about Mike, about himself, was actually wrong? Right, Mike, confessing his love.
It's a huge reach and I myself barely believe it but I am trying to somehow allow myself to feel some of the Byler theories buzz we all had after Vol 1 especially lmao.