I just think Will would do it by physically controlling Hannibal and putting him into a clearly intimate position just to see what he'll do.

And it isn't, and Mike continues to make excuses instead of saying "sorry." (El's face is so real, that's me)

Sure, we all see that, but I want to give one thought!

Mike has trouble apologizing to others, for example to Lucas in season 1

But there is one person with who he has no problem doing that.

William "it's fine" Byers!!!

Will who's also known for being someone who forgives everyone quickly (whether genuinely, to avoid problems)

Will, who even if he argues with Mike, forgives him without the need for a formal apology (and still he always receives one)

Will Byers, who would forgive his boyfriend with just a kiss

If there's anyone who would forgive Mike without needing a long, revealing explanation an apology, it's Will. Even taking it in a platonic way, is an amazing and beautiful thing that really shows the level of communication and understanding between them.

But it stops being platonic when we come back to Mike and El

We know that El and Will are very similar, in more ways than one but also they are different people, who have a different relationship with Mike.

So I find it curious that Mike projects one of Will's traits onto Eleven. And of course it doesn't work for him, because in the end, however similar they may be, Will and Eleven are different.

Here's a bit more of my interpretation:

I think this is one of the moments where Mike manages to see the differences between El and Will. Logically, we know that Mike knows they're not the same, but I think that internally he was looking to find Will in El

Because remember I the start: