Work Text:
Phoenix was amazed at what could be found online.
He had heard of Etsy before, but hadn’t browsed it until he realized he had nothing to wear for the pride festival. Lo and behold, the site offered countless pride pins, shirts, accessories, and even flags.
Edgeworth picked out three buttons, Phoenix two bracelets, and Trucy just wanted a handheld flag.
All of their pride items shared one flag, however: the transgender flag.
Phoenix looked at his own trans flag bracelet, sitting above his bisexual flag bracelet, then saw Edgeworth afix the last of his three buttons to his shirt, the trans flag beneath the asexual and rainbow pride flags.
He smiled, fondly remembering the commonality he and Edgeworth had shared since childhood.
Phoenix had known he was a boy since he could talk, at least that was as far back as he could remember it. His parents accepted this, let him dress how he want, and called him their son. His mother even asked him if he had wanted to change his name.
No, Phoenix decided. He liked it.
Phoenix had always known he was different, that there were very few people like him. So, it came as a pleasant surprise to learn his new friend was also like him.
“Father helped me pick my name,” Edgeworth explained to him one day. “I’m glad he lets me wear boy clothes. Girl clothes don’t feel right.”
He’s just like me , they both thought in secret when looking at each other. He’s just like me .
Edgeworth caught Phoenix’s gaze, smiled warmly at him. Phoenix returned his smile.
They were both so fortunate to have been able to transition; Phoenix scratched at the stubble he was grateful for; just a few years prior, shortly before getting disbarred, he had finally gotten top surgery, Edgeworth a year before.
And Phoenix vowed he would give Trucy the same opportunities.
“I’m ready, Daddy!” she called, skipping down the hall to Phoenix’s bedroom door.
Phoenix turned to her, saw her dressed in her magician’s clothes, her transgender flag in her hand.
He smiled. It was also a pleasant surprise to learn that the girl he had adopted was like him. It was destiny, it seemed.
And what better family to have than one that all understood each other.
“We’re ready too, right Edgeworth?”
Edgeworth nodded. “Yes.”
“Nervous?” Phoenix asked, approaching Edgeworth.
Edgeworth swallowed, nodded. “It’s my first pride.”
“Mine too,” Phoenix admitted. “I think Trucy is the only one who has been to one of these before.”
“My old Daddy took me once,” she explained. “They’re lots of fun, Daddy Edgeworth! So much music and lots of rainbows and happy people everywhere!”
Edgeworth smiled at her. Phoenix placed a hand on his shoulder.
“We’re a family of trans people,” he said. “It will be great for all of us.”
Edgeworth nodded. “I know. I’m glad I’m going with all of you.”
Trucy yanked at Phoenix’s hand.
“Let’s go, Daddy!” she cheered.
Phoenix grabbed Edgeworth’s hand. “Let’s go.”
Edgeworth held his hand back, and the two of them let Trucy lead them out the door.
The trio arrived at a crowded street, people bearing all sorts of flags, children in wagons, dogs with pride bandanas around their necks.
They found a spot in the shade.
“I want up, Daddy!” Trucy implored.
Phoenix laughed. “Alright.”
He lifted Trucy, who giggled all the way up, and sat her on his shoulders.
“Happy Pride!” Trucy cheered, waving her flag.
“She’s awfully excited,” Edgeworth chuckled.
Phoenix grinned. “It’s a little contagious isn’t it?”
Edgeworth nodded.
Soon the parade started, people in cars adorned in rainbow flags honking their horns. The crowd erupted in cheers. Phoenix could feel Trucy waving her flag wildly.
Phoenix looked around, noticed many couples arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand, kissing. He reached for Edgeworth’s hand, and they both held each other. Phoenix glanced at Edgeworth, saw he was smiling at him, his cheeks red.
“There’s no better place to show my love for you than here,” Phoenix said.
Edgeworth smiled wider. “Or for all three of us to be ourselves.”
The parade continued, sponsors of the event, specific LGBT communities, all carrying banners and marching proudly. When the transgender community came carrying a banner, Trucy practically screamed in joy.
“Look Daddy!” she cried, patting Phoenix’s beenie, “they’re all just like us!”
Phoenix nodded. “I know, Truce. Isn’t it great?”
He felt Edgeworth stand closer to him, so they were shoulder-to-shoulder.
“When we were kids, I thought I was the only one in the universe like me,” he said. “Then I met you, and I felt so much less alone in the world. Now with Trucy, and seeing all these people,” He gestured to the parade, at the group of people carrying a large transgender flag, “it’s such a good feeling.”
Phoenix gripped his partner’s hand. “It gives you a sense of community, doesn’t it?”
Edgeworth nodded. “It does.”
They held each other’s gazes, then leaned into a soft kiss.
“I love you,” Phoenix said.
Edgeworth blushed harder. “I love you too.”
“Daddies, you’re missing the parade!” Trucy shouted, patting Phoenix’s beenie again.
They both laughed, turned their attention back to the parade.
A sense of community, Phoenix pondered. Seeing all the transgender people march, in all sorts of shapes and colours, he vowed to give his daughter the happiest life.
It was no secret that transgender people faced violence and hatred; he remembered the hard time he had from teachers and administration as a child, not being allowed to go in his preferred bathroom, the hateful stares from his peers and extended family. He knew all of this would be inevitable for Trucy, and the thought made his stomach ache.
Still, life had been far from easy for him and Edgeworth, Edgeworth especially, and the both of them had made happy lives for themselves as transgender men. He would make sure Trucy would have access to puberty blockers and hormones if that was what she wanted, he would advocate for her right to be addressed as a girl, to use her preferred bathroom, he would deflect all the hate she would get to the best of his ability, he would be the best father he possibly could be to a transgender daughter.
For a moment he looked away from the parade, at Edgeworth, who wore all of his flags with pride, pride that wasn’t easy for him to come by; up at his daughter, who was a brave child being true to herself just as he and his partner once were, and he was overcome with gratitude. How did he get so lucky to find not only a partner, but a daughter who were both LGBT?
He felt the gratitude turn to joy, felt it rise like bubbles in his chest. He turned back to the rainbow covered paradise that was the pride festival, and enjoyed the festival with his wonderful family.