Straight or gay? Yes.

he makes it weird in season three by hyperfixating on his relationship to the point he's a shitty friend. he makes it weird by actively pushing will away. he makes it super weird with "it's not my fault you don't like girls." he is the first one to speak out loud about a version of their relationship where they have forever to do what they want, implying at the same time that the reason they can't is because he's obligated to grow up. he makes it weird by being so devastated when will admits he did want that, because mike wanted that, too.

he makes it weird by not writing letters. he makes it weird by not hugging will at the airport and getting jealous of the painting. he makes it weird by acting up at the rink, paying all his attention to will while pretending to ignore him. he makes it weird with "that's because she's my girlfriend, will!" and then doubles down on that weirdness with "we're friends! we're friends."

and it isn't just their friendship he makes weird, it's the entire dynamic of the party, it's his relationship with el, with hopper, with his parents to an extent, because he isn't acting like himself.

will, despite his canon romantic interest in mike, was not the one to choose to interpret their friendship through a romantic lens and that is so fucking fascinating. mike did that even though he's totally unaware of will's feelings.

mike is the one who cannot appropriately contextualize their relationship and struggles to behave appropriately. mike's the one who missed will so much he called and called and whined to dustin when will didn't pick up. mike's the one who refused to let dustin use the phone when will DID pick up.

HE SET HIM STRAIGHT

Oh wait.

AND DONT FORGET ABOUT THIS

if you romance hans:

and this is if you don't romance hans:

Henry: “What’s wrong with Capon?”

Radzig: “After talking with Hanush here, im wondering what is right with Capon, if anything.”

Henry: “well, at least he has stopped chasing wenches.”

Hanush: “ Humm, that is true; I haven't had any irate fathers demanding alimony for weeks. Your son might be a faggot, Radzig, but his out-of-the-box thinking is saving the Rattay coffers so much that in a month or two, we could take on Sigismund ourselves.”

"C'mere, Blacksmith Boy!" 🫳

I hope you enjoyed!