Chapter Text
Tommy sighs, setting down his fork. His gnocchi is suddenly unappetizing as his gut realizes what he’s about to say.
It’s a couple of days after he came out as aro-ace to his best friends, and they’ve slowly helped him work up the courage to come out to his father and brother.
Now, as his dinner sits as a pit in his stomach, Tommy’s not so sure.
“Hey guys,” he says, coughing when his voice cracks. He tries not to be bothered by the slight snicker Wilbur lets off.
“Yes Tom?” Phil asks, his full attention on Tommy.
“I, uh, have something to say.”
Wilbur gestures for him to go ahead.
Anxiety worms around his gut. “Um, do you know what being asexual is?”
Asexuality is the more common of the two. If Tommy’s family is more receptive to that part of him, then telling them he’s aromantic shouldn’t be too difficult as well.
“Oh yeah!” Wilbur pipes up, “one of my coworkers told me she is the other day.”
“I’m not sure, Tommy,” Phil says. “Will you explain?”
“Well it’s not experiencing sexual attraction,” Tommy says, poking his food around his plate. He continues, “it’s a spectrum, though, so it varies on how much and what kind of sexual attraction from person to person.”
Phil nods like he understands. There’s a gentle look on his face that has Tommy relaxing. “You’ve done your research then,” Phil says, smiling softly.
Tommy swallows. “Yeah, ‘cause I’m asexual. Aro-ace, actually,” he says in a fit of courage. At Wilbur and Phil’s confused looks, he expands further. “Aro is short for aromantic which is like asexuality but for love. I say aro-ace ‘cause it’s easier.”
His gnocchi is mighty interesting as he waits for their reactions.
His dad’s voice has him jerking his head up. “That’s wonderful. I’m glad you could trust us enough to tell us.”
“Awww, super proud of you Toms,” Wilbur says with an easy smile.
Tommy’s ears grow hot. He truly had nothing to worry about with his family.
“Tommy!” Tubbo yells, launching himself at the blond the next day.
Tommy drops all of his books to catch Tubbo’s hug, smiling at the warmth it gives him. He opens one arm up to invite Ranboo in, and they gingerly slot themselves into the hug.
“How did it go, bossman?” Tubbo says as all three of them withdraw from the hug. Ranboo helps Tommy pick up his books.
They start walking down the hallway towards Tommy’s locker. He can’t keep his grin off his face.
“It went great,” Tommy says happily, banging on his locker before trying to open it. “They totally got it.”
“We told you,” Ranboo says semi-smugly.
They lean against the locker next to Tommy who pulls out his creative writing notebook. The day’s just starting, afterall.
“I know, I know,” Tommy says. “It’s just all… I dunno, it turned out better than I expected.”
Tubbo nudges Tommy’s shoulder. “Don’t go all sappy on us.”
“For real,” Ranboo says. “I’ll cry.”
“They will.”
Tommy sighs playfully. “I actually hate you guys.”
“Same, big man,” Tubbo says as Tommy slams his locker shut. He snickers when Ranboo jumps in the air.
The three of them walk into the creative writing classroom together, and as Tommy takes his seat next to his best friends, Tommy knows he made the right choice leaving his old school.