#i cant take responsibility for the person i become when i turn on full byler delusion mode

[belovdly]

i've always wondered about this,,, but now, in the wake of noah confirming will's sexuality and romantic feelings for mike (!!!!!) the idea that joyce has had knowledge of her son's feelings (or at the very least, a sense that something was special about mike) is not a totally unreasonable assumption,,, and it makes me ahhh so soft.

maybe she notices some subtle changes in will's demeanor before he leaves for mike's house on campaign days. he looks increasingly more flushed each time he slings on his jacket, fingers tightened anxiously around a sheaf of new drawings to show the Party (to mike). she's amused when, one day, he ducks into the bathroom to fix his hair before hopping on his bike. or perhaps, when she's bringing popcorn refills during movie night, she peeks into the living room and finds mike fast asleep on will's arm; from behind the safety of the corner she watches her son, shoulders hunched in quiet tension, looking down at his friend. there's a look on his face that she's see before, the one she identifies as being reserved for mike. but it's.. it's softer, somehow. almost tender. his cheeks are dusted pink. his hands tremble a bit as he pulls the blanket they're sharing further across mike's chest, tucking it around mike's elbow. joyce covers her smile with the back of her hand and decides that the popcorn can wait.

now this is a bit more speculative, but im so in love with the idea that mike has always felt something more for will, even if he doesn't acknowledge it or realize it himself. especially if he doesn't realize it! (he just believes his behavior is normal. it's will! so maybe his voice pitches a little softer when he talks to will, or he finds himself wrapped up in will's space more often than not. it's will.)

but his mom, karen, is always keeping tabs on her children - so she begins to notice, too, that her son treats this particular friend with a little more intimacy than the rest of the Party.

she notices that mike always seems to drift towards will when the whole party is together, brushing pinkies or hooking ankles under the breakfast table - just to let will know he's there. mike's gaze always seem to linger on will, eyes especially bright and pleased if he can get a laught out of will. once, when she had asked about the drawings on the wall of the basement, mike had gone from spaced out to bright-eyed in a split second, explaining that will had given these to him for their new d&d campain and wasn't he the greatest artist in the whole world?!

he cares for all of his friends dearly, karen knows. but it's always been different with will.

im crying this post really got away from me,, but i've been having so much fun entertaining the idea of karen and joyce just. sharing knowing glances when their boys are off in their little world. they have a deadpan expression they've dubbed the "Mike and Will Anomaly", for when the boys get really immersed in each other's space. they joke about it, but there's always been an unspoken understanding that neither of them would ever say or do anything to make their boys feel invalid, or unloved, if their fond gazes or heated cheeks really did mean something. they just want their boys to be happy :)

[p.s. i know there's not a ton of evidence for this in the show but. i remember how i acted as a child, and in my pre-teen years. i thought i was subtle, but in reality i feel that kids are generally not great at concealing their true feelings or motivations behind their actions, especially if they're doing or feeling these things unconsciously. and both joyce and karen know and love their children so much - i just think it would be neat if they were attuned to the singular and affectionate nature of mike and will's relationship.]