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“No.”
“But Mom, I-”
“Enough.” Magne is cut off, her words dying in her throat and left to knot up her vocal cords. “End of discussion, son. Now go put on your suit. Our guests will be here any minute. You can’t be looking like that when they arrive.”
She wants to argue back, she wants to stand her ground, but her resolve flickers out and falls away with the oppressing gaze of her mother falling on her shoulders. “Yes ma’am.”
Magne pulls on the sides of the cardigan she’s wearing, trying to hug it close to her before she has to hide away. She whispers to herself as she walks up the giant staircase of the cold, empty house, “I’m not you son.”
She was so close…
“Magne, what do you think of this one?”
Mag shakes her head, pushing the memory she spaced out to. Toga steps out of the dressing room in a pastel blue dress decorated with sunflower petals.
Mag smiles brightly. “Himi- that dress looks stunning on you. Makes me think we could go for a picnic in the rolling hills.”
A blush glows upon Toga’s face. Giggling, she beams at Magne, “Big Sis, that’s a wonderful idea! We could all go and have fun.” Toga twirls in the dress, the skirt fluttering out and around.
She suddenly stops, gasping. “Oh my-” Toga runs off before returning a moment later, holding a very large pastel orange cardigan. “This looks like your size Magne! Try it on!” Toga shoves the article of clothing into Magne’s arms before pushing her to the dressing room.
Only once the curtains swish closed is it that Mag processes what just happened. She looks down at the cardigan, rubbing her thumb over the tightly-knit rows. She smiles, using the back of her hand to push her shades up to wipe away any tears beginning to bubble.
~
“No son, you have to let this go.”
“Dad, please-” a sob rips through Magne’s throat as she pulls at the scarf hiding her long hair, “don’t cut it-”
“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have indulged you in these games. You can’t keep it. This party with the other upper class families is important; the Americans have high expectations. You have to practice what I’ve always taught you. Your mother’s career depends on us keeping up obedient, tamed appearances.” Magne’s father steps closer, reaching to touch her wrists. “We have to serve well or disgrace will fall upon our family.”
Tears drip from Magne’s eyelashes, her wrists now magnetized to the armrests of the chair. Intense emotions turn numb as she watches her locks of hair fall to the floor.
Magne jolts, gasping as she wakes up in a cold sweat. As the dream is processing once more before it’s shuffled away and forced back to resented memories, her hands fly to her hair and-
It’s there- it’s all here. Magne relaxes as she lets go of her braid to look out the window. The sky is waking up, but the sun is still out of sight. Toeing for her slippers, she stretches until she hears the loud crack travel up her spine.
Sighing, she makes her way downstairs to the kitchen. The aroma of coffee and tea mix and blend- dancing through the air. Magne hums dreamily. Caramel coffee and vanilla green tea. “Sako and Kurogiri are already up,” Mag whispers to herself before stretching once more.
The two men are sitting at the table, quietly chatting as they sip their drinks. Magne smiles as she gives them both a soft hug. “Good morning. How’d you two sleep?” Magne moves to start making herself a cup of tea.
Sako smiles in his cup. “Like a lamb, my dear. Like a lamb.”
“I slept a restful six hours.” Two dark portals open in front of Magne, out of one appears the honey, and from the other the sugar cubes.
“Thank you Papagiri.”
“You are most welcome, Young Magne.”
A comfortable silence settles softly over them as they listen to the morning birds sing and watch the sunlight paint golden rays across the gentle blue of the morn.
After a few minutes, Sako turns to Magne. “My dear, would you like me to brush your hair out?”
The question takes a moment to process; but when it does, the woman smiles and nods, grabbing a chair to sit close to Sako.
Sako places his mug down to turn his chair towards Magne. “Kurogiri, if you would be so kind- Ah,” Sako catches the brush that Kurogiri gently rolls out from a portal, “thank you.”
The mist around the younger man just wafts calmly as he hums, sipping his tea.
Magne relaxes against the back of the chair, the sweet flavour of the tea warming her up. Sako hums a few songs as he undoes Magne’s braid, gently brushing out the locks of hair. The rest of the early morning is quietly shared between the three of them. Magne etches this moment into her memory, adding it to the growing pile of ones she will cherish.
~
“So you want to be a girl.”
Magne sighs heavily, trying to build her will power one more time. “I don’t want to be a girl, I am a girl.”
“But you’re not even trying to pass.”
Com’on Mag, you can do this. He’s just ignorant. “I’ve been experimenting for a long time, brother. I’ve been doing years of research. I can be comfortable with my appearance as long as my correct name and pronouns are used. It’s usually referred to as social dysphoria. As long as I am referred to as a girl, my dysphoria can be dealt with.”
“Wouldn’t it just be easier to do all that medication and surgery stuff?”
“I-” Magne brings herself back in, don’t explode, one more time. “Again, I’m comfortable enough when my gender is acknowledged and respected. Medically transitioning is how most transgender people lessen their dysphoria, but not all transgender people have to do so. For some, it’s just not in their cards to be able to do so. And for others- like me, they are comfortable presenting how they wish as long as they are respected.”
“But most people would probably use your correct pronouns if you-”
Magne slams her hand on the table. “If I what? ‘Pass’? Brother, I am comfortable with how I look and I am comfortable with my gender identity being female. I’m never going to wake up one day and ~magically~ be cis. I’ve accepted that. I don’t mind being muscular and having a little body hair. Women are allowed to challenge society’s gender conformity by being bodybuilders and wearing what they want and growing their body hair out if they wish. Just because I’m a trans woman doesn’t mean I have to conform to femininity. I’m no one’s dainty little doll.”
Magne inhales, reigning herself back in from her outburst. She pauses when she sees the condescendingly cynical look in her brother’s eyes. She sharpens her gaze as she hisses, “What?”
“No one’s ever going to respect your pronouns with that attitude. You’ll just agitate them.”
“I’m done here.”
And with that, she leaves, slamming the door shut behind her.
Magne is snapped back to her present when the front door slams open. Standing in the doorway is a very pissed off Tomura. “Lil bro, what’s wrong?”
Spinner comes running in behind him. “Someone said that if trans guys wear skirts, they aren’t valid anymore.”
“Magne, you and Sako are in charge of wardrobe for our next mission.” Tomura speeds over to her. “Help me figure out what colours compliment pastel pink best.” Shigaraki plops down next to her, being adorably angry. “No one’s gonna invalidate me to my face and not get publicly humiliated. And I’ll do it in the best skirt there is.”
She bites back any laughter that dares bubble up. “Spinner, go ask every one what they’d be most comfortable wearing and give the list to Sako.” Magne settles in next to Tomura. He snuggles into her side as he begins browsing through outfits on his phone. “You got the dude’s name?”
“Already sent to Giran.”
“Beautiful.” As Magne scrolls through skirts with Tomura, she feels a sense of pride and overwhelming happiness flourish through her.
~
“Mister Hikiishi!”
“Young Sir-”
“My boy, look at how you’ve grown.”
“Yessir,”
“I’d like you to meet my son.”
“Sir,”
“Brother,”
“Mister-”
“Lad,”
“Boy,”
“Son,”
Magne locks the door to the bathroom behind her. “Com’on Mag, just fiv-”
Magne cuts herself off when she looks up into the mirror. Her sadness turns to numbness. She studies how much darker the circles under her eyes are. How void of life her expression has become. When was the last time she was happy? Respected?
Then it hits her-
Her numbness turns to anger and resentment. None of them actually care about her. None of them actually love her. Just the image of who they want her to be. They just want her in chains, to doll her up to be an obedient son. And not just her family, but society. The looks she’s given when she corrects someone with her name or pronouns-
Fuck this. I’m bound to none of them. I’d rather die than be chained.
Magne punches the mirror that reflects the image of what they want her to be. Blood drips from her knuckles onto the counter.
Stepping out the bathroom, she grabs an ornate, expensive vase that decorates the hallway. Once she reaches the grand staircase leading down to her house’s ballroom, she stills at the top. She searches the crowd until her eyes lock with her mother’s. Something in her cheers and joys over the colour that drains from that woman’s face, as if silently pleading with Magne.
Magne just smirks as she slams the vase down to the next landing, the attention of the entire ballroom turning to her. Light hearted chatter and sweet talk of serpent’s tongues alike fall silent in the wake of Magne.
The woman clears her throat. “No longer will I be your doll.” Her eyes glide and sweep the room of people as she makes her way down the giant staircase. “No longer will I be caged.” She feels more and more happiness and freedom flood through her with every word she says. “No longer will I be chained for anyone.” Her eyes lock with her mother once more, relishing in the feeling she’s swimming in. “No longer am I your son.”
Reaching the bottom, the sea of people part to make way for her, and she doesn’t care if it’s out of shock or out of fear. No one is ever going to stop her.
Kneeling, Magne pants. The battle almost over- but not yet.
“You will submit to me.”
The woman stands, staring at her opponent with such intensity, they flinch unwillingly.
“I submit to no one!” Magne uses her quirk to bring the other to her, delivering a powerful blow to their head. She smirks, looking down at the unconscious body below her. “Never forget that.”
“Magne!”
The woman lifts her head to see the league running across the battlefield to her, Toga being the one who called out.
“Big Sis! Are you okay? That shit looked like it hurt!” Twice rushes up behind her, teary eyed and latching on with a hug.
She chuckles. “I’m okay Jin.”
Magne catches a flying Toga with one arm. Lil Sis latching onto her just as much as Jin.
Kurogiri is the next one to arrive to the woman, resting a hand on her shoulder. The man of few words is about to speak, but is interrupted by Sako running in and yelling in glory. Poor Kurogiri just happened to be in between the illusionist and her. He is forced into a hug, but makes absolutely no attempt to get away.
Spinner shuffles at her nearby her free arm awkwardly. Magne grins before pulling him in. The heteromorph immediately melts into the contact, happily returning the hug.
Dabi’s grin is small, and almost non-existent, but it’s there. He walks up behind Spinner to join the group hug.
Magne swears she can feel herself tearing up- this is the first time Dabi is initiating a hug publicly! She’s so fuckin’ proud of him.
“You did good, Big Sis.”
Yep. If she wasn’t crying before she is now.
Magne looks away from Dabi, realizing she can’t wipe her tears because her arms are full-
No… Not quite.
Magne blinks to clear her vision. Once she does, he’s standing there with the softest smile she’s ever seen on that kid.
“Tomu…”
“Magne,” Tomura looks casually to his hands as he slips on artist’s gloves. “I respect you and admire you.” He steps closer to the league; all still either attached to the woman or being held tightly in her arms. His eyes are soft, but still hold the intensity of the young man that is Shigaraki Tomura. “Thank you for making me see your worth by shining as brightly as you do.” Tomura’s voice quiets and softens as he joins in, wrapping his arms around Sako and Dabi. “It would be a crime against yourself for you to ever let anyone stand above you.”
“Tomu…”
Magne sobs as she holds her family close. Never, not in a million years, did she ever think she would have this.
Respect,
Validation,
and Love. And now, never in a million years will she ever settle for anything less.