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Okay so, we will start at the very beggining. Or not-so at the beggining tbh.
You probably remember when the boys met El and all of that. And like, it always bugged me that they instanty said "yeah thats a girl" cuz, excuse me, every child is the most androgynous thing ever. And El was no exception. Like, c'mon, that bald head and the clothes didnt help at anything. I remember seeing Stranger Things like at 11 years old and not knowing if El was a girl or a boy (woke alert! that one scene is one of my top "fuck i think im nonbinary" moments cuz hell i wanted to look like El).
But im losing the theme here. In MY version of ST, Mike is constantly having gay panic because one, he didnt understand how anyone could be so androgynous and two, he was obviously attracted to El.
When the gang (minus Will, obvi) gets to Mike's place and we get the classic Henderson "Shes a girl!" line, i would put it in a different light, you could say. Mike would be giving El clothes, and while El was about to put them on, Henderson would scream "nonononono!". AND Mike and Lucas would be like "what is your problem man?". And Dustin would be like "shes a girl!" and Mike and Lucas would be like "wth??? no! hes obviously a dude!". And they would be like discussing wether El is a girl or a guy until Dustin says that until El doesnt talk, they would treat El with the singular they/them. Mike and Lucas would be like... silent. And Dustin would be like "uhhhh the singular they/them?? that people ussed in old english books?? i cant believe you do not know that.... but well, we will use the sibgular they them on them." He would turn to El "unless SHE talks and tells us what does she thinks". El is looking at them like they are witnesing a tenis match. El doesnt say anything so Mike gives them the clothes and conducts them to the bathroom. The scene continues as normal.
I will use "they/them" pronouns for El for now.
So... yeah. There it goes my 1rst headcannon. Oop! Here it comes another. Bisexual Jonathan is my GOAT. The "taking Nancy's picture in the pool" scene turns into "taking pictures of Nancy and Steve playing in the pool and kissing and stuff". If my boy is a freak, make him a REAL 𝓕𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴. Nothing about Jonathan and Steve's relationship changes, nor Jonathan and Nancy's relationship. You can smell the homoerotism in Steve and Jonathan's scenes anyway.
Cut to Mike trying to gaslight himself into seeing El as a girl by putting her into girls clothes. It doesnt work. He just realizes maybe boys dont look so bad in dresses. Oh how i love to torture Mike this way. Tbh this season goes as intended. The only thing that changes is El's pronouns and how Mike acts around them. Lucas still teases him about liking them but it is brushed off instantly after Dustin mentions they might be a boy. Lucas and Mike obviously overreact a little cuz "nooo ewww none of us is a sissy what are you talking about Dustin???" and blah blah blah.
The kiss scene happens as intended, but with a little more panic in Mike's part because. What if El is a boy?
The rest of the season goes normally. And uhh yeah plz tell me if i missed something so i can include it (only the things i think would happen in my re-write/AU, obviously).