Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

   "Boyfriend dump you?" Gina glanced over her shoulder towards the source of the voice. The man attached to it was handsome enough, sandy blond hair falling over honey brown eyes and a chiseled jaw. He wore a red and white letterman jacket, making Gina smirk from the nostalgia of high school. His acid wash jeans were perfectly ironed and pristine, making her snort.
   "You look like you fell out of a bad 80's musical." The man laughed, sliding into the seat next to her.
   "Not sure if that's a compliment, but I'll take it as one."
   "It wasn't, but to each their own, I guess."
   "Well, Princess Gloom, you didn't answer my question."
   "I don't believe you asked me one."
   "Did a boyfriend dump you, my sparrow?" Gina scowled at the pet name.
   "Is that your business, Prince Dumbass?" He smirked at her.
   "It is when he left a pretty thing like you to drink alone." Gina flushed, but scowled once more.
   "I didn't get dumped! I just..." She deflated slightly before tensing and turning back to her glass. "I... had a fight with my family a few days ago. Not that it's any of your business. And I turned 21 today, so I just wanted... needed... a drink." The man gave her a sympathetic look.
   "I get it, Scary Poppins." She sneered at him.
   "I'm sure you do, Prince charming." He sighed, leaning into the bar a bit.
   "I came out to my parents as pansexual when I was seventeen years old. They... made it clear that they thought I was making it up. When I turned eighteen, they kicked me out and they told me not to speak to them until I had a girl on my arm." Gina blinked, her hands clenching as she scolded herself for assuming he didn't have any problems of his own.
   "I'm sorry." She said softly. He gave her a sideways glance, smiling gently, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
   "Eh, it's not your fault, kitten. I didn't ask to be pan, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm proud of who I am. Even if it took some soul searching to realise that... that there isn't something wrong with who I am." Gina took a long drink as she thought of what to say.
   "My family..." Her voice cracked and she closed her eyes to try and calm her nerves. "My family is very... conservative. I knew this ever since I was little, but I never shared their views. No matter how much I was punished for thinking different, I never changed. But I always had my brother who was so... cool. And kind." Gina took another long drink. "I looked up to him... trusted him. So when I..." Her small fingers tightened around her glass. "When I started... questioning if I was actually... not female...." She glanced at the stranger to see his reaction. He just looked at her curiously, silently encouraging her to continue. "When I started questioning if I was... transgendered... I went to him for help..." She took a deep breath, her hand shaking slightly as she remembered what happened.

   "Declan... could I... could I talk to you? It's... important." Gina gripped the handle of the door like it was a lifeline. She was terrified. But she needed help. Her brother turned from his computer to face her as she closed the door behind her.
   "Of course, G. What's up?" She took a deep breath, trying to still her trembling form. He noticed, and he looked her over in concern. "Hey, hey, what's wrong? G, it's okay. Whatever you need to say is important, and I will listen. No judging."
  "P-promise?" He smiled, resting his hand on her arm.
   "Promise."

   "He lied to me." Her voice trembled and she clenched her eyes shut tight.

   "You're... you're a what?"
   "I'm... I'm not a g-girl, Declan. I'm trans... I think. I just. I needed someone to help me. And I trust you." He retracted his hand from her arm.
   "You're... you think you're one of those? Those... trans things?" She flinched, clutching at her arm and shrinking into herself.
   "Declan... I-"
   "God, Gina. You should've told me sooner. You absolutely need help." She glanced up at him.
   "Yeah? You're not... grossed out?"
   "Gina, of course not. You just need some guidance is all." She let out a breath she'd been holding. He smiled and stood, wrapping his arms around her once he rose from his chair. She shook in his arms, relieved to finally tell someone her secret. To have her brother to help her through this.
   "I-I'm so relieved you don't hate me."
   "I could never hate you, G. You're my sister. You just are a little confused is all."
   "Declan, I'm glad you... wh-what?" He pulled back from the hug.
   "Gina, you need help. I love you so much and I'm glad you came to me. I'll help you tell mom and dad."
   "Confused? I-I'm not confused. And t-tell mom and dad? N-no, I can't. They're g-g-gonna send me away, Declan."
   "To help you! They'll help fix you." Gina felt her temper flare up over her fear.
   "I'm not broken! Conversion therapy isn't helping me! Declan, I'm still me!" She shrunk back from him. "I'm... I'm trans. I don't need fixing."
   "G, just let me help. Let's go tell mom and dad, and they'll call someone to fix this." He reached for her, but she jerked back. Her eyes darted to the door and back to her brother. "Gina, I know what you're thinking. Don't do it. Let me help you. I love you, don't make this harder than it needs to be." His hands reached towards her once more and she tried to calm her breathing as she backed up against the door. He approached her cautiously, like a wild animal that would lash out at any moment.
   "Please don't. I'm not going to conversion therapy." She's heard horror stories about conversion camps. Electric shocks and mental torture until they turn you into the perfect straight child. She shuddered. How could her brother want to send her there?
   "Gina... I know what's best. Please just listen to me." She reached for the handle slowly and twisted it.
   "Declan, I'm serious. I'm not going." She was trembling terribly, considering her options. Fight or flight.
   "You're not thinking straight, G. I'm going to take you to talk to mom and dad. And we'll fix this." He took another step closer and she made her decision. She grabbed the nearest object and threw it at her brother. He yelped in surprise and dodged the flying book. She flung open the door and sprinted out of it, tears falling down her face. She heard her brother shout behind her but she ignored it, almost falling down the stairs in her haste. Her parents, that were sitting in the living room watching tv called out to her in concern but she kept running. She threw open the front door and ran down the path from her house. She ran as fast as she could down the dark street and disappearing into the night.

   Gina waved the bartender down, signaling for another drink as the man watched her, processing her story. She turned to him, her eyes tired and her smile very sad. The man bit his lip, feeling her pain.
   "So you got my sad origin story. Now what?" She slumped further into her seat. The man sighed deeply, his soft spot for the lgbt community caused him to smile at her, motioning to the bar tender to fill her glass again, as well as bring him one.
   "Now, my dear emo, I'll buy you a drink."

Chapter Text

   Virgil groaned as a weight landed suddenly on his chest, waking him up from his slumber. A giggle followed his groan and he threw an arm over his face to block out the invading light.
   "Daaaaadd. Daaad! Wake up! Wake up, wake up, wake up!" He bounced on Virgil's chest in between each word, causing a strangled noise to escape him.
    "Thomaaasss. Five more-" He yawned, his body relaxing as he felt his exhaustion hit him. "Five more... minutes..."
   "Dad! You said that an hour ago! We need to go! Come ooonnnnn dad! You said we could go today!" Virgil's face split into a grin at his child's defeated whine.
   "Go where?" He feigned ignorance, muffling his chuckle when his child whined once more.
   "Dadd! The aquarium! You said we could go to the aquarium! Cause you don't work today!"
   "Did I? Hmm..." He moved his arm to rub dramatically dramatically at his chin. "I don't recall saying that..." Virgil cracked an eye open in time to see his child sigh heavily and flop backwards onto Virgil's bed.
  "Daaad! You promised!" Virgil opened both eyes, smiling gently as he slowly sat up.
   "I know, Thomas. Why don't you go get dressed, kid? And I'll take you to the aquarium. Did you eat breakfast?"
   "Yes! Pat made some! There's some for you too on the table! I'll go get ready!" Virgil smiled as his son hopped off his bed and sprinted out of the room. Virgil yawned, groaning as he looked at the time. 10 am. That's way too early for any human to be awake...
   ...but he did promise Thomas. And he would do anything for his kid.
   With a large yawn he sat up, reaching reaching for his phone to check his notifications.
   He really needed today off. From bitchy old ladies who refuse to accept that their coupons expired yesterday and screaming toddlers that insist on blowing every whistle and squeezing every squeaky toy, he was burned out. He loved his job some days, when he gets a kid to stare wide eyed at him when he gives him a free balloon or frantic mothers who are nearly in tears when Virgil says that they have the right accessories for her kid's favorite toy when no other store has it in stock.
   But the past few days were just horrible. And he was spent. Not to mention that he was way overdue on spending time with Thomas. So when he found Thomas crying a few nights ago because they never spent enough time together, his heart cracked painfully in his chest and he blurted out the first thing to come to mind. A trip to the aquarium on his next day off. He wanted to take it back, cringing at the doubtless hit it will take to his already limited savings. But when his son's face lit up like the sun, Virgil knew the extra hours he'd have to take on were going to be worth it. Just to have his son smile like that.
   When he was ready, he found Thomas standing by the door to the apartment, holding Virgil's keys and wallet and bouncing on his heels as he talked animatedly to Logan, who was smiling gently at him.
   "-and dad said they have clown fish and blue tang like Nemo and Dory! And they have sharks, and sea pancakes, and lion fish! What's a lion fish? It sounds so cool! Does it have a fuzzy mane like a real lion? Or does it just roar!? What if it has a fluffy tail?!" Thomas looked past Logan and spotted his father leaning against a wall, a rare smile on his face. Thomas lit up once more, his smile growing impossibly brighter. "Dad! Dad! Let's go, let's go, let's go!" Virgil laughed.
   "Alright, kid. Let's go." Thomas opened the door and sprinted down the hall. Virgil blanched. "NO RUNNING, THOMAS!" He heard a happy laugh from Thomas and sighed. He went to leave, but Logan grasped his arm. He faced his friend, who gave him a serious look.
   "How are you going to afford this, Virgil?"
   "My savings, Logan." Logan bit his lip.
   "But that's supposed to be for-"
   "I know, Logan. But... he missed me. And he's always wanted to go to the aquarium. He just..." Virgil deflated. "I wanted to give him this. Even if it takes a hit to my house fund. He's been so helpful and amazing. I don't know what I'd do without him. He deserves a day to be a kid, Lo." Logan smiled sadly.
   "I agree." He laughed quietly, pushing Virgil towards the open door. "Now go have an enjoyable day with your son." Virgil nodded, saying goodbye to Logan before chasing after his son, who was waiting impatiently at the bottom of the stairs. Virgil smiled, eager to enjoy a day with his son.

----

   As soon as he opened the door Thomas was staring around with wide eyes. The walls were a deep blue, with murals of the ocean covering them. Plastic models of sting rays and turtles hung from the ceiling. A giant cylinder tank was positioned in the middle of the room, all different types of colorful fish swimming in it. Thomas ran up to it, looking utterly fascinated. Virgil spotted the admittance counter and approached, purchasing a day pass for him and Thomas.
   When he turned around, he had a heart attack when his son was nowhere to be seen. "Thomas!? Where are you!?" Virgil heard a giggle and his son poked his head out from behind the tank. Virgil rolled his eyes, his heartrate slowing down when he saw his son.
   "I'm okay, dad!"
   "Stay by me, okay? I don't want you getting lost."
   "Ok!" Virgil followed his son further into the aquarium, a fond smile on his face as Thomas raved about which fish was the coolest and why. Even Virgil was in awe at some of the exhibits, so he could hardly blame Thomas for being so enraptured.
   "Hey, dad?" Virgil hummed, glancing down at his son. "Can we get ice cream after this?" Virgil bit his lip, and Thomas deflated slightly. "It's okay if we can't afford it." Virgil's heart broke and he knelt down in front of his son.
   "Thomas. Let me worry about our money, okay? You... you worry about being a kid." Thomas hesitated, but nodded. "We can go get ice cream. If I remember right, there is an ice cream place in here. How about we go find that and go eat ice cream while we look around some more?" Thomas nodded, smiling once more.
   Virgil's phone buzzed suddenly and he pulled it out, seeing a message from Patton.

   What did you eat for breakfast? <3

   Virgil winced, remembering the plate of breakfast he forgot to eat back at the apartment.

   I wasn't hungry. I promise I'll eat lunch. Okay?

   Virgil, you need to eat more, kiddo.

   Patton, I'm fine. Just drop it.

   He sighed heavily, locking his phone and sliding it back into his pocket. He glanced up at Thomas only to freeze. He felt his breathing pick up dramatically as he looked around frantically. The buzz of Pattons response wasn't even registered as he gripped at his hair and pulled.
   Where was his son?! He was just here! He swore Thomas was here only a minute ago. He run ahead a bit, looking around. When he was faced with an intersection, he took a right, getting irritated looks from people he pushed past. But he didn't care. His son couldn't be missing. Not when he only took his eyes off him for a minute. It had to be his paranoia playing tricks on him.
   "Thomas!? Thomas where are you?!" At the lack of response, he yelled for his son. "THOMAS?!" Virgil's heart stopped as he realized it wasn't just his anxiety.
   Thomas was gone.