Upon first meeting, he is enamoured almost by her powers and finds himself protecting her against the other two boys.

We also witness multiple incidents with Troy- El naming herself as a monster but Mike is quick to tell her that she is otherwise and comfort her.

But as we see their progression, his dynamic towards her powers becomes complex- morally grey at the mention of Will. (Key Fact: Mike wanted to turn her in until the mention of Will).

Will is verbally introduced to her as a character and we see what the boys think of her. (Dustin calls her a wizard and Luacs comments that she has superpowers but Mike seems to downplay this and why?)

Throughout season three, he struggles with allowing her to overcome independence within her powers which lead to an argument and them breaking up. (+Hopper and him lying to her). He admits that this was out of jealousy and insecurities but a similar thing happens amongst them the following season.

They both lie to each other following the season three finale as they are embarrassed and unable to confide in each other.

Jane is a persona almost but it the 'normal' girl and the one who did not grow up in a lab with a man to call papa. She uses her fists and something about this is unsettling to Mike where he has to make point disregarded her discomfort.

He claims to love her for exactly as she is but almost immediately contradicts himself by calling her his own superhero- which we have already established she does not want to be.

I have ran out of images but this is also a running topic in s5.

He tells her to 'recharge' ans try again when once again discussing Will and his health. Once at the cabin, she has to tell him that this is not 'like one of his campaigns' and he does not 'get to write the story' but he ignores this.

chapters 8 and 9 out now - x.

Mike nudged at his shoulder. “Crazy idea but..”

“..What if we went together?” he shrugs.

Will shakes his head in dismissal, the lockers mirroring the sound of a quiet rattle as his books accidentally hit against them. “..But we're both boys?” he flushes pink.

“Yeah..” he nods. “..I meant- ‘as friends’.. is that okay?”

“..Obviously.” Will smacks himself internally for thinking outright.

Mike raises his eyebrows. “Is that.. a yes?”

Will smiles- depleted. “..It's a yes.”

**

The door closes with a loud slam behind him and his mother urges for their assistance. “Where is your sister?” she questions, her voice spilling from the kitchen.

“Mom,” he groans. “I- we have to go.”

She peaks her head around the doorframe, making her debut. “Yes!” she clicks her fingers with a snap. “You have your flour projects, don't you? I'm sorry.”

He gives her a soft smile. “It's okay.”

**

@mollyollypuddingpolly @thelakesoflmg @rara3swhimsy

“..and Wheeler too.” his name stuck out amidst the crowd.

He never recalled them saying anything about Mike before in relation to him at least that was.

They'd all been called hurtful names but at least in earlier memories Will didn't lay awake at night thinking it was because of something he'd done to warrant such targeting.

Was this because of the flour project?

or wondertwins agnst 🤨🫶🏻

**

Max and Lucas are playing ‘Chicken Fight’ with Eleven and Dustin. He thinks they seem to be having a good enough time, laughing and smiling with one another.

The white cloth sticks to him.

He listens to the illicit tunes blasted on the community speakers, the sounds of ‘Moving in Stereo’ by Fast Cars.

Will's head surfaces from the water, hands planted on either side of the pool. He lifts himself up with a faint grunt, the sunlight reflecting off the left side of his face.

Mike notices the soft freckles plastered across his face.

or mike has thoughts

**

**

i could not find any relatively good quality pictures of max and mike during s5 which is essentially what i want you to imagine since they are weeks out from graduating and during filming most of the cast was 18 and upwards!!

@mollyollypuddingpolly @thelakesoflmg @rara3swhimsy

She grinds her teeth. “..Wheeler.”

Lucas is walking down the hall some time after the lunch bell, making his way to class when he spots Mike through the crowd. “Dude, where have you been?” he questions, following up on the request from Will. “Will has been loo-”

“What the hell, man?” he tuts, being pulled aside harshly by the wrist. Mike blocks himself in behind the taller boy, seemingly hiding from someone. “What are you..” his voice becomes muffled as Mike places a hand over his mouth.

Mike leans in closer, whispering in his ear. “Steve.”

“Wha-” he reaches out, gripping at the under of his fingers and removing himself from his grasp. “Get your nasty ass funyuns smelling hands off me, bro.”

**

@mollyollypuddingpolly @thelakesoflmg @rara3swhimsy

thinking about updating it tmrw instead of saturday since you have all been so kind?? :)

**