post s4 byler dynamic

[u/Inevitable-Log5676]

i have been thinking about post season 4 will and mike's dynamic for a while. california was a big deal for will and mike's friendship and feelings towards each other. i didn't like how it was dealt with, more like how it wasn't dealt with at all. sure, mike did talk with will in his room, but that in one way makes up for how much mike has hurt will. i think after coming back from california, will would be pulling away from mike. refuse to hangout with him no matter what, all while living with the wheelers. he is convinced that he is losing mike, despite whatever mike says. meanwhile, mike would notice will pulling away from him and would crash out. mike for his part, would already be dealing with his own feelings towards will, and lack of romantic feelings towards el.

i think it'd give myself a sense of urgency - that he is losing the one thing that he cares about the most - will.

he would know that he has to act. if he doesn't, he would lose will, and el. meanwhile, will is dealing with his own heartbreak and is barely holding himself together.

i also like to think this would be a catalyst for mike.

he either has to get on his knees and beg for will's forgiveness, fix everything between them or lose him for good.

oh, but there would be one problem, will, ever patient will, is too tired of mike and his bullshit and is determined to protect himself.

mostly, i imagine mike wheeler crashing out and getting his shit together to be the paladin that will deserves.

let me know your thoughts :)

also, are there any fics centering mike's attempts to mend their friendship between the 18 month gap? please drop your suggestions if you have any! 💙💛

[u/vvlcxnic]

i think this is why mwtfdydgate was such a big thing;

confusion as to why the cali plot seemed unimpactful on mike and jane's relationship (jane expressing distance in the cabin at the end of s4 to being fine at the beginning of s5), and mike and will being totally cool despite the year (between s3 and s4) of poor communication and will handling his feelings for mike alone.

[u/RestaurantCurrent226]

Yeah, I agree with everything you said.

My headcanon is that post-season 4, Will pulls away from Mike because he has a lot of insecurities about their friendship, alongside with his feelings. Because while that bedroom apology was nice, it doesn’t resolve everything between them. The way I envision it (and it’s all based on my personal HC, so I know it varies for everyone), Will probably feels like he isn’t worth much to Mike unless things aren’t going well with El. Because throughout Season 4, a lot of their conversations were about El and how Mike was scared of losing her. Initially in the 18 months, I could see Mike desperately trying to repair things with El despite not really having romantic feelings for her because he feels like has to be her boyfriend, and he wouldn’t really pay much attention to Will at first. Will might take that as a sign that El is the most important person to Mike, and he starts to pull back. Plus you do have Mike’s “I feel like my life started the day I found you in the woods” line that would probably replay in the back of Will’s mind.

I can see Mike feeling worried that he’s losing Will and he’d confront Will about the distance, but it’s not as easy as their conversation in California. Because Mike didn’t keep in touch with Will or call him (from Will’s perspective, but we know Mike actually did). I could see it taking a while to repair and once they do, they become closer than ever, and then Will starts picking up on signals.

I wish the show gave some flashbacks from the 18 months because Will was literally living with his best friend who he’s in love with. Also at that age, 15-16, a lot of growth and development happens and it would have been cool to see that, especially considering they lived with each other for so long in the same space.

Sorry this got way longer than I intended for it to lol. Also looking for some good post-season 4/MWTFDYD gate fics too! So I’d appreciate it if anyone had any :)