The concept of Mike and El breaking up post season 2 and pre season 3 and staying Just Friends and Fully Platonic
Oh platonic mileven you are SO dear to me
Like I feel like Mike would be an even BIGGER menace to Hopper as El's friend rather than her boyfriend. When they tell everyone they broke up Hopper tries to be all "well I guess you don't have to see her nearly as much anymore" and Mike throws a FIT. A fit that ends with Mike sneaking El out and back to his basement just to piss Hopper off
Platonic mileven where Mike has an "El voice" the same way he has a "Will voice", but it's different. He's sweet and happy and it's almost like a customer service voice but without the fake politeness.
Platonic mileven where Mike is much more openly affectionate with El now that he doesn't have the pressure of being her boyfriend. He throws arms around her shoulder, lays up against her back, ruffles her hair, etc. and in turn El learns the difference between platonic and romantic affection alongside slowly being more open with the rest of the boys.
Platonic mileven where El eventually comes to realize that her feelings for Dustin are much different from those for Lucas or Will or Mike, but they also don't feel the same as when she and Mike were dating. And she talks it through with Mike because she's actually scared and unfortunately Mike can't help her cause he can't tell the difference either (exhibit A; their entire romantic relationship) so they take it to Max.
Mike who helps El get ready for her first date with Dustin, doing her hair in cute little ribbons the way he would for Holly. He's bickering and bitchy with Max one moment and is soft and sweet with El the next. He lets Max take over for makeup, cause this is a little more complicated than chapstick and blush.
El who panics after her first kiss with Dustin and runs to Mike about it because they've kissed!! But Mike is sheepish to admit that she's the only experience he has also so he doesn't know if it was actually any good or not and now they're both panicking about not being good kissers.
Mike who spends even MORE time at the cabin than before, much to Hopper's annoyance. But instead of being cooped up in El's room the entire time they're out and about in the living room and a kitchen. It gets to the point that Hopper is actually sick of seeing them.
Mike and El who spend more time at the Byers' together than at Mike's or the cabin. Sleepovers in the living room with Will as a trio, Joyce finding them the next morning all passed out on the couch together, Jonathan waking them up on his way out.
El who insists on spending more time with Will one on one and complaining about Mike hogging him.
Lucas and Dustin who drag El away from Mike and Max to make camp in Dustin's bedroom and go through EVERYTHING he has; comic books, music, DND manuals. By the end of it they've made her a character sheet and have introduced her to Wonder Woman and Spider-Man. She talks Hopper's ear off at dinner that night.
El who starts high school with everyone and gets more than just hand-me-down flannels and overalls. Max, Steve, and Nancy take her out with Joyce and get her nearly everything she wants. (Steve pays for most of it.) She goes into highschool with new dresses and skirts and hair bows/clips and so much purple.
Mike who grows his hair out cause he idolizes Eddie so much, but then doesn't know what to really do with it, so he lets El play with it. Mike going to school with matching hair clips and little braids in his hair.
El being there when Mike tells her, through tears and in hushed whispers, that he doesn't think he's normal. That he likes Will more than he should. More than a best friend should. El hugging him and admitting she doesn't get it, but she understands not feeling normal. Feeling wrong.
El telling Mike how finally getting to find herself after years of not knowing what that meant helped her feel the most normal she ever has. How allowing herself to want things, to feel things, to simply Be, is why she's so happy now. Even if that Wrong Thing is still there, it's okay because it's just a part of her.
El being the first person Mike tells after finally telling Will. After weeks of silent support and hype, it's once again told through tears and hushed whispers, but with a breathy excitement and shy smile rather than a scared wheeze and trembling lips. El hugs him. Tells him she's proud. Tells him she understands, and is happy he does as well. She is happy he found himself.
(Jonathan is the first person Will tells, by the way. Through similarly choked tears and shaky whiskers, but with the biggest grin Jonathan has seen in a long, long time. He's so proud of his baby brother. He's also proud of Mike; knows just how complicated and hard it had to have been. Has seen it all for years. He's proud he's found himself.)
