Chapter Text
"My name is Virgil Picani." Virgil spoke to his reflection for the sixth time that morning, this time voice strong and not shaking, "And I'm the hardest and toughest guy you'll ever meet."
"Alana Picani!" An exasperated voice cut Virgil from his thoughts, and he clapped his hands over his mouth as he screeched, the voice continuing on, "Young lady, your father is going to be late unless you get your ass down here now!"
Virgil flushed red as he tucked his hair into his beanie, regarding his reflection one more time with a soft, "You've got this, man." Before he grabbed his backpack and ran down the stairs, skipping several steps at a time in his haste to reach the first floor.
His dads were in the kitchen, Remy looking slightly frustrated as Emile handed him a mug of coffee, which Virgil promptly snatched, taking a quick sip before handing it back to his dad, who was looking more exasperated by the second.
"It's your first day of high school and you're going to be late." Remy chided Virgil, "Lana, you can't make this a habit."
Virgil struggled not to wince at how wrong his old name sounded to him, "I won't, I won't, I was just making sure I was prepared. Pens, pencils, notebook, hand saw, textbooks, chewing gum. I'm prepared."
"... Wait, what was that middle one?"
Emile kissed his husband on the cheek, "Thomas didn't have one for his art class to use, and he couldn't get out to the store last night, so I told him Alana would bring him ours." He explained.
"... You two are actually going to kill me someday, you know that, right?" Remy asked as he leaned against the counter, sipping his coffee before he leaned in to give
Emile a fast, parting kiss on the lips, "Now run along, you're going to be late, and while she maybe able to get away with it, I doubt they'll let the school guidance counselor off so easily."
Virgil stuck his tongue out at Remy, then zipped up his hoodie, "Come on, let's go already!"
Emile couldn't help it as he chuckled, "Alright, let me grab my bag."
Virgil dashed out to the car before Emile even got his bag, getting into the passenger side, anxiously picking at his cuticles as he took a steadying breath, speaking quietly even though he was the only one in the car, "I'm Virgil Picani, and no matter what anyone else says, I'm just as much of a guy as any of the guys at my school."
He could do this. The first day was the hardest after all, right? One day of introducing himself as Virgil, and the rest of the semester would be a breeze.
---
As it turned out, Virgil was wrong.
He'd planned and hyped himself up to use his name and pronouns, but the moment he'd been called Alana, he'd shut his mouth and bit back any response, suddenly too afraid of the eyes on him to say anything, even as Remus gave him a questioning look, since Virgil had been over his plan with both Remus and Declan for weeks, but Virgil just gave a small shake of his head, and Remus frowned, nodding once in understanding.
As he got to his Spanish class, he was already done with that day, but silently found a seat in back with Declan and Remus, silently resting his head on Remus's shoulder.
"I'm still down to murder people if they misgender you." Remus reminded Virgil softly, "I know there's no Netflix in prison, but you and Declan would write me."
Declan didn't look up from his phone, "No I wouldn't."
"But prison would be so boring." Remus groaned, "What would I do without your endearing words filled with spite and your witty comebacks??"
"God, you're just as dramatic as your brother." Declan grumbled softly, biting back a grin with a small shake of his head, "I'd sneak a file in for you, but letters are too sentimental."
"But you loooove me." Remus giggled, "You and Virgil both."
Virgil felt himself smile a little, and sighed softly, "Even if you make us work for it."
"Love is work, and you're both so emotionally constipated it's like talking to brick walls." Remus sighed dramatically, "I guess I'll have to find a source of affection somewhere else."
Declan looked up from his phone, face blank as he watched Remus, "You're well aware that we're high schoolers, right? In two years we'll be driving, probably have jobs?"
"I'm gay, therefore, I can't drive." Remus said proudly, "So you'll have to take me everywhere!"
"Ditto to that, dude." Virgil smirked, "Looks like you're stuck with us."
Declan rolled his eyes with a shake of his head, "We're all gay. What makes you think I can drive better than you two?"
"He's got the attention span of a goldfish, and I have anxiety." Virgil teased.
"And what have I got?" Declan questioned.
"Dumb bitch disease." Remus answered happily.
All three burst into laughter, ignoring the way people stared as they entered the class, perfectly content in their little bubble designated just for them and their friendship with one another. They all quieted as Remus's brother entered, however, and Remus quirked a brow at Virgil, "Ooh, speaking of gay..."
"You're not setting me up with your brother." Virgil shook his head, thankful as he saw Roman sit among his friends instead of joining Virgil, Remus, and Declan, "Just because his last two boyfriends were emo doesn't mean I'm the next logical choice. Why not toss Declan this one?"
Remus gasped, obviously exaggerating as he wrapped his arms around Declan, "No. He's mine. All mine."
Declan flushed slightly, and Virgil aimed a teasing look at him, only resulting in a deeper flush and the baring of teeth in warning, which Virgil took with a roll of his eyes, settling back in his seat.
"So what are we doing on Sunday?" Virgil changed the subject, "Because my dads are doing a date thing, and I don't want to get in the way."
"We could destroy capitalism." Remus offered, "I can make us friendship bracelets for it!"
"The way you did the week you decided to destroy gender?" Declan drawled, attention back on his phone now that Remus had released him.
"Gender is a scam and we all know it!" Remus objected.
"Mhm, course, dear." Declan nodded along, "Whatever you say."
The three boys quickly quieted as the teacher moved to the front of the class, and Virgil once again braced for a miserable hour of misgendering.