Archive of Our Own

"Whoa! This one's cute!" Ellie held up a dress to her frame, "I bet you'd look amazing in this!"

Sam grimaced, shaking their head, "Mmm...I'm not a fan of dresses. Maybe something less lacy?"

Henry was excited to be off work for once at the same time as two of his best friends. Ellie and Sam were going to another friend's wedding, but they both hadn't been to a formal occasion in years, so they needed to find something they could wear. Henry was just there for the ride, though Ellie had offered to treat him too if he wanted anything.

"Alright. How about..." Ellie rummaged through the racks until she'd procured a white blouse with silver buttons, "This one? It's not as thick as a button up shirt, but it's still plenty dressy enough."

Sam slowly nodded, "Maybe. It does look pretty classy, huh?"

Ellie brushed the shirt down to show Henry, showing off the elbow-length sleeves which were also lined with ruffles, "What do you think, Henry? Pair it with some slacks, and it should be plenty formal enough, yeah?"

Henry put a hand to his chin, "Yeah. I mean, you probably wouldn't even need a tie to go with it. That frilly collar is decoration enough."

"Hey! You're right!" Sam took the garment to drape it over one arm, "Okay, I'll keep this one in mind! What were you thinking for yourself, Ellie?"

"Oh, a dress, for sure." Ellie turned back to the dress rack, "I know I'm gonna outshine the brides if I wear something red, but I also know my hair will be red no matter what, so maybe going full vampire just makes sense."

"You could wear something black." Henry picked a dress from the rack, "Maybe something knee-length? Something modest, without a bunch of straps?"

"Damn, Henry. That's my whole sense of style out the window." Ellie took the short sleeve of the dress he was holding, "This looks like something my eighty-year-old grandma would wear, and that sweetheart neckline? Ugh! No, I am not that sweet!"

Henry disagreed. To him anyway, Ellie was sweet as sugar, and he really liked the sweetheart neckline, but he didn't say so.

She must have still seen something in his eye though, because she smirked as she held the dress up to him, "If you want it Hen, my offer is still open."

Henry bristled, "No, no, I'm fine." he hastily put the dress back on the rack, "I don't want a dress. And besides, it's, uh, not my color."

Ellie raised an eyebrow at his fumbling, but she didn't comment.

"Alright, your loss." Ellie picked another dress, "Damn, what store are we at!? Can I get something that doesn't look like it went to church this morning!?"

"Ellie, we're going to a wedding." Sam passively looked through more black dresses, "You don't have to dress like a gothic cathedral everywhere we go."

"I'm not asking to! I just want something that's...I don't know!" Ellie's eyes brightened when they landed on something longer and silkier, "Like this! Perfect!"

She held it up, and Henry found himself staring. It was a black bodycon dress with a plunging neckline and spaghetti straps that crisscrossed in the back. On Ellie, the hem would stop at just below knee-level, and both the neckline and the bottom hemline were covered in ruffles.

Sam's face went bright red tracing the curve in the dress, "O-oh...you would look..."

"Good, right?" Ellie tucked a blond hair behind Sam's ear, making them squirm and back away, "It's not too conservative, but it's still modest enough to be tasteful! What do you think, Henry?"

Henry hummed, "I like it. The, uh, cleave window seems a bit much, though..."

"That's okay! I'm sure I could pin it up if I need to!" Ellie draped it over her arm, "Now we just need shoes! Oh, and maybe earrings for me that aren't covered in spikes!"

Sam laughed behind their hand. Henry wasn't blind, he could tell that Ellie and Sam were crushing hard on each other, but he wasn't about to get into their business if neither of them were ready for a relationship. He was just happy to be out with people who weren't Charles.

Now, Henry loved Charles with all his demi-bisexual heart, of course he did, but he absolutely hated going shopping with him, unless it was a simple grocery run or something similar. If they went out to get clothes or furniture, Charles was an absolute nightmare to shop with. His ADHD had blessed him with the worst sense of direction of all time, and on top of that, he frequently forgot to take his medication in the morning, so he would end up wandering aimlessly and getting hopelessly lost unless Henry kept a watchful eye on him at all times and/or handcuffed them together so Charles couldn't wander off, and having to put all your energy into babysitting your 30-year-old boyfriend!? At that point, you might as well just not go shopping at all!

Henry would never forget the argument where he said to Charles, "Every shirt you own is full of holes! You need new ones! Just go shopping yourself!" only for Charles to come home with 15 new shirts that were all the same color, all just slightly too big. "I could not fuckin' care less what I wear, Henry. Leave me and my identical shirts alone."

Just once, Henry wished he could dress Charles up without suffering a stroke, but at least he had his more fashionable friends he could go shopping with in the meantime.

Ellie settled on a pair of black wedge-heeled booties with a zipper along the inner side of each, and Sam, once finding a good pair of shapeless slacks, picked out a pair of shiny black loafers. They needed to exchange a few things to make sure they had the right sizes, but Sam sure looked dashing in the blouse and slacks, and Ellie was stunning in that tight-fitted dress.

When they were in the checkout line, Henry glanced over his shoulder at the swimsuits on display. His gaze lingered on the mannequins in bikinis, and for some reason, he felt his heart ache. He fiddled with the sleeves on his hoodie. He never wanted to wear anything revealing, and it was entirely due to his self-harm scars, all the way from wrist to elbow. The thought of anyone seeing them in public made his stomach turn. That was the reason, right? The reason he wanted to keep his body covered?

There wasn't another reason. He pushed that issue to the back of his mind. He didn't want to think about it.

They made it to checkout, and the cashier began to scan their items, "Hey, young man. Got dragged out here by these ladies?"

Henry felt his heart constrict. He couldn't breathe.

No. Don't do this. It's fine. It's not a big deal.

"Um, excuse me?" Ellie crossed her arms, "Henry is not a man, and Sam is not a lady. See what happens when you assume?"

Henry glanced over at Sam, and was shocked to find them fidgeting, their face tinted green, looking just as sick as he felt. Sam tried to subtly adjust their binder under their shirt, but Henry caught the way their breath hitched with their distress. He was just glad Ellie had the bravery to correct people on others' behalf, because when he was misgendered, all he wanted to do was hide.

The cashier just shook her head, "Whatever. Cash or credit?"

"My friend here is literally wearing a pin that says 'they/them' on it in the nonbinary colors. Did you even bother to look at us before you assigned us a gender?"

"Look, snowflake, I'm just here for a paycheck. This person with the white hair doesn't look like they wanna be here, so I thought you two dragged them here against their will. I meant no offense."

Ellie's face reddened in anger as she tried to argue back, but Sam touched her arm first, "Ellie, please. It's fine."

Ellie looked at them before her breath left her in a long sigh, "Credit. No receipt."

Henry knew the cashier was trying to take a jab at him, but for some reason, being referred to with they/them pronouns made him feel...better? It was so odd. Why did he suddenly feel like this? Even referring to himself with his usual pronouns in his head was making him feel...wrong.

Henry glanced back at the women's section in the swimsuit aisle, and something in him ached again, making him stuff his hands in his pockets.

Even when I cover up, people still assume I'm a man.

Why did that thought hurt so much more than it used to?

"Henry?"

Henry tore his gaze from the swimsuits. He tried to reply to Ellie, but his throat had closed up.

"Are you okay?"

Henry managed a breath into shuddering lungs, "Y-yeah. Fine. Come on, let's get home."

***

Henry looked up as Sam struggled in their binder, trying to shift it in a way that took pressure off their ribcage. He was sitting on his bed in the barracks, and Sam was trying to readjust everything in a way that made it easier to breathe while still keeping their chest flat.

Ellie intervened with a hand on each of their sides, "Sam, how long have you been binding?"

Sam's lips drew into a hard line, "Um...s-since this morning...?"

"What!? Sam, that was almost twelve hours ago!"

"But Ellie!" they wined, "I'm so flat!"

"I know, but it's not good for you to bind for so long." Ellie replied gently, "Don't worry, your surgery is in like a month, remember? Soon, you won't need this old thing at all!"

Sam sighed sadly, "Alright...but uh...I don't know what to..."

Henry reached for one of his hoodies, "Here. Wear this. I find it's pretty good at hiding your figure."

Sam offered a smile as they caught it, "Thanks, Henry!"

Sam disappeared into the bathroom before Henry's brain caught up with the situation and his stomach dropped. Henry. His name. His name, right? Why did he suddenly dislike it? What was going on with him?

Was he going crazy?

"Hey, guys!" Charles walked in just as Sam emerged, their binder loose in one fist, wearing Henry's blue hoodie, "Oh hey, I thought you were Henry for a second."

Sam brushed a hand through their hair with a wink, "Tax evasion."

Ellie snorted, "A spitting image!"

Henry laughed a little to himself, too. Sam didn't actually look much like him, but his hoodie was shapeless enough that Sam's figure almost resembled his own, just slightly more narrow.

"Yes, Henry Stickmin?" Ellie mimed holding a microphone, "What inspired you to be a raging homosexual?"

Sam replied, "Men."

Henry snickered behind his hand.

"Alright, that's enough, you two." Charles guided Sam towards the door, "See ya!"

"I'm getting top surgery!"

"I know! Congrats!"

Once they were gone, Henry's expression fell. Sam looked so happy to be wearing something that hid their figure, but Henry almost felt trapped by the same thing. Sure, Sam needed a binder to not be dysphoric without a shirt, but at least they didn't have to wear oversized hoodies every day just to feel normal.

No, don't think about it. It'll pass, it always does.

"Henry?"

Henry stood a little too fast, making Charles stumble backwards.

There it was again. His name, his fucking name. Where was this feeling coming from, and why was it getting so much harder to ignore!?

Henry didn't realize he was glowering until he looked up and his gaze made Charles flinch. Charles hesitated before reaching out, but upon Henry wrapping both arms around himself, he backed off.

"Hen?"

Henry deflated upon hearing the nickname, "S-sorry, I just..." he rubbed his arms, "...don't really feel like myself today."

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." Charles held his hand out, palm-up, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Henry bit his lip as he attempted to hold back a smile, "Kiss me?"

Charles laughed, wrapping an arm around Henry's shoulders with a hand on his cheek.

Don't think about it.

So Henry thought about Charles instead.

***

"Shit! Did you see that, Hen!?"

Henry landed harshly on his knees. Ouch. That would bruise, he was sure.

He tapped Ellie on the shoulder to sign to her, "I saw alright. What were they thinking? The whole building could collapse!"

The four soldiers were chasing a group of smugglers to their hideout in New Mexico, where a huge abandoned building was being demolished literally under their feet. Sam usually didn't go on field missions, but they made exceptions every once in awhile.

"Guys! The floor is falling!" Sam's panicked voice came through Henry's earpiece, "I'm going to fall!"

"Charles!" Ellie grabbed Henry's hand and bolted, "Where's Sam!?"

"I'll get them! I see the window!" Charles' voice came back, "You guys just focus on getting out of there! Sam, do you see the big window by the stairs!? Jump out! I promise I'll catch you!"

The stairs on Henry and Ellie's floor were blocked off as the ceiling caved in, and suddenly, they were trapped. The windows shattered, throwing glass out at them, and both agents grabbed each other in a hug to protect the other from the flying shards.

They heard Sam's scream from the higher floor, and Ellie hit her earpiece, "Charles!?"

"I got 'em, don't worry!" Charles replied, "Where are you guys!? Your signal isn't showing up on my radar!"

Henry trembled as he considered what would happen if they didn't get out in time. His mind easily dipped into scenarios of being crushed by the stone and metal support beams, cut up by all the glass until his bones were broken, his heart and lungs spilling blood over everything-!

"Hen! Focus!" Ellie lightly shook him, "I know how to get out of here! Fuse with me!"

Fuse? Henry considered it. He knew Ellie was capable of fusion, but he'd never actually tried fusing with her before. Still, it didn't give him that world-ending feeling, so he figured it was worth a shot.

Henry nodded, clasping his hand in hers, and the building shifted again as it continued to fall.

"Okay! Ready!?" Ellie stood with him, "Just focus on me! It's gonna be okay!"

"Guys!? What's going on in there!?"

Henry focused on Ellie with every ounce of brainpower he had. He feared it wouldn't work, but eventually, he felt his brain fogging as new thoughts entered his head. Thoughts he didn't recognize as his own.

One blue eye and one red eye opened. A red mohawk that scraped the ceiling, an outfit that was half Ellie's black biker jacket and half Henry's blue hoodie. Half black leggings and half blue jeans. One simple brown shoe and one steel-toed combat boot.

The fusion remembered what they were doing, and all at once, the scene snapped back into focus.

As the ceiling fell, their arms flew up to catch it and toss the rubble aside. The floor caved underneath it, and they ran to jump down to the next floor. They found the nearest windowsill before climbing up to it and leaping to the ground, landing on bent knees.

"Whoa!" Charles landed the helicopter and was out of the vehicle in a flash, "What happened!?"

Sam landed on the ground beside him, "Oh, thank god! We lost you for a second! Are you okay?"

The fusion looked themself up and down, brushing the debris from their pants, "I think so."

Hearing the sound of their own voice stirred something within them, and just as the building finally collapsed behind them, they separated so Henry and Ellie fell to the ground.

"Ouch!" Ellie touched her cheek, which was bleeding from the way she landed, "Fuck! That stings!"

"Are you okay!?" Sam helped her to her feet, "Nothing broken?"

"I think so. You?"

"I'm fine."

Charles helped Henry to his feet next, "You okay, Hen? That was a pretty sudden defusion!"

Henry bit the inside of his cheek hard enough to draw blood. He'd felt something in there, something that was eerily familiar.

Ellie moved towards him, "Hen. What happened just now?"

Henry knew how fusions worked, so he knew that surface-level thoughts were easily shared by both consciousnesses, even though for the most part, deeper subconscious thought was still controlled by each individual. Ellie must have caught a glimpse of his inner turmoil as their minds separated too much to stay fused.

No! No turmoil exists! It's fine! Nothing's wrong!

But the more he tried to hold it back, the more it threatened to explode inside him.

He didn't even realize he was crying until Charles gasped in alarm.

"Henry?" Charles tried to wipe a tear away, "Henry, are you ok-!"

"SHUT UP!"

The tension in his chest snapped, and before he could stop it, tears streamed down his face until they blinded him.

"STOP CALLING ME HENRY! I HATE IT! I DON'T WANT TO BE HENRY ANYMORE! I'M NOT A MAN! I DON'T WANT TO BE CALLED ONE! EVERYONE ASSUMES I'M A MAN ALL THE TIME AND I HATE IT AND I WANT IT TO STOP!"

He hit both sides of his head as he cried. Why did this feel so wrong? He didn't really feel that way. He felt manly sometimes, and it made him feel good, but now the same idea made his stomach twist like a crushed soda can. It hurt, and he had no idea why.

Charles started to say something, stopped himself, and then said instead, "Hey. Listen to me, Love."

Henry looked up, but he couldn't see through the blurriness as the tears fell and fell with no signs of stopping.

"I don't know what's wrong with me." Henry lamented as Charles cupped his cheek in one hand, "It comes and goes. Sometimes I feel great in my own skin, but sometimes it feels like my heart is being ripped out. I don't know why it changes! It feels like I'm going crazy!"

"Hey, hey, baby." Charles held his head to bump their foreheads together, "Baby. Hush. It's okay. Just cry. It's okay."

Henry wrapped both arms around him to cry into his shoulder. Sam and Ellie just stood by, frozen in disbelief even as reinforcements arrived and inspected the damage, trying to weed out any possible survivors.

Charles kissed Henry's ear as he pulled away, "Hey. Listen to me, okay? It's gonna be okay. If you calm down, I'll explain what you're probably feeling."

That got Henry's attention, big blue eyes wide open, "What?"

Charles smiled as he wiped another tear away, "Baby...you know gender identities are not always static, right?"

Sam filled in for him when he didn't elaborate, "Some people are genderfluid, meaning their gender identity changes completely, and some people are genderflux, meaning their gender identity changes only in intensity. There are others, but those are the two I always remember."

Henry's heart filled with so much hope, it actually hurt, and his tears began anew.

"Wh-what...?" his eyes darted back and forth between his three friends, "It...it can change?"

"Absolutely it can!" Charles replied, "Poor love. I wish I'd known sooner. Now I feel awful."

"No, but I..." Henry twiddled his thumbs, "...I-I already went through all of this! I know what I am! I'm not a girl or a boy, but I like being H-Hen-!"

He couldn't finish. He tried again.

"I like being your Hen." he got out, "I like my name most of the time, I like being masculine, I like being your boyfriend! All of that is still true!"

"Hey, it's alright."

"How is it alright!?"

"Because not everybody figures it out on the first try." Charles took his face in a tighter grip, threading gentle fingers through wispy white hair, "Hush. It's okay to not understand everything. It's okay to change your name and pronouns as many times as it takes before you find what you like. Just because all three of us figured it out immediately as kids doesn't mean that's how it needs to be or always is. It's okay to change your mind!"

Henry rubbed his soggy eyes, "It is...?"

"Yes!" Charles kissed Henry's cheek, "Okay, so...if you don't like the name Henry right now, should we call you something else?"

Henry pursed his lips, "Maybe I can have a nickname...?"

Charles nodded thoughtfully, "But not Hen?"

Henry shook his head, "I want that one to be special."

"Hey, I know!" Ellie gently hit Henry's shoulder with the back of her hand, "How 'bout we call you Min?"

Henry blinked, "'Min'?"

"Yeah, like Stickmin, but just Min." she stretched her arms over her head, "You can tell me if you don't like it, though. I promise I won't be offended."

"What? No, I like it!" he replied cheerily, "I mean...I can change it again later if I change my mind, right?"

"Of course!" Charles took both his hands, "Okay, let's test it out..."

Charles nuzzled into his cheek and whispered;

"I love you, Min."

Henry...no, Min shivered at the quiet declaration. A bright smile and enthusiastic nod was all it took to confirm.

"You wanna switch pronouns too?" Sam said, "I'd prefer to just not have any, but they/them makes me pretty happy too!"

Min found themself nodding, "Yeah. Yeah! Oh my gosh, I didn't think..."

They were going to cry again. They blinked before releasing a choked sob from deep within their chest.

Charles just wordlessly pulled them into another hug, and they melted against him, "I'm not crazy..."

Sam looked out over the rubble in the desert, "Why would you think you are? Even if you didn't know gender can be fluid, I'm surprised you wouldn't at least ask."

"Hen grew up in a cult, remember?" Charles drew calming circles into Min's back, "They've told me before that trying to fix someone was the norm, whether it was dictating what people wore and how they expressed themselves, deciding who they're allowed to live and associate with, to even how long their hair was allowed to be. All of it was controlled."

Min pushed back enough to sign through their sobs, "I think I got used to the idea that you can't change someone's gender identity through force, and didn't consider the idea that maybe it can change on its own. I can't stop the voice of my mother in my head that tells me I can't know who I am, because the church was supposed to decide that for me, so having it change like this basically confirmed that I didn't really know..."

"But that's okay, Hen!" Charles kissed their forehead, "It's okay to not know! You don't have to know who you are to reject what other people assign to you! Your mother can't possibly know you better than you know yourself, right?"

Min just huddled back into Charles' neck, finally calming from their emotional explosion.

Sam's head turned automatically when Ellie winced, "Oh my gosh! That cut is really bleeding!"

"What?" Ellie touched her face, and it came off bloody. Her whole cheek was covered in red.

"Shit!" Sam ducked into the helicopter for the first aid kit, "Hold on, I'd better dress that!"

"No no, I'm fine, Sam, it's just a scratch."

"It's clearly not!" Sam filled a rag with antiseptic, "Hold still. I'll make it quick."

Ellie jumped back as the rag hit her cut, "Ow!"

"Sorry." Sam wiped it clean, "Close your eyes if it helps."

As Sam brushed Ellie's hair behind her ear to get a better look at the cut, their hand slowed over her industrial piercing, then over her three lobe piercings, all spiked. Their expression was unreadable under their growing blush, but after that, they tried to bandage the cut as fast as they could while still being careful.

"There." Sam stepped back to inspect their work, "Good as new. Does it hurt too much?"

Charles and Min both held their breath as Sam lost their train of thought with a long exhale. Ellie brushed their hair off their forehead to cup their cheek, and Sam's breath hitched, completely frozen in shock.

Finally, Ellie took their hand, and that's what snapped them out of it.

"Um, I'm sorry Ellie, I..." Sam chewed on their lip, "I...I can't do this. I like you, I really really like you, but I can't do this, I..."

"Whoa, Sam..." Ellie took their shoulders, "What's wrong?"

"I'm not a girl, Ellie." Sam whimpered sadly, "I don't want to be with someone who is only..."

They covered their face with both hands, their lip quivering as they sniffled with pent-up tears, and Ellie gently smiled as she took both hands from their face.

"Sam...sweetheart..." Ellie shook her head, one eyebrow raised, "Did you think I was a lesbian?"

Min snorted, though they tried their best to hide it.

Sam's brows flew up, "Wh-wha...are you not?"

"No! I'm bisexual!" Ellie laughed, "Sure, I'm mostly attracted to women, but I'm also attracted to men, and yes, some nonbinary people too."

Sam didn't react, just staring mouth-agape, so Ellie elaborated.

"Because of my bisexuality, I find different genders attractive for different reasons." Ellie trailed her fingertips up Sam's arms to rest her arms around their neck, "And trust me, I'm not attracted to you in the same way I'm attracted to women."

Sam deflated in relief, shivering as Ellie drew them closer, "Holy shit...whoa, hold on...hold on a second, I-I..."

Min waved their arm to get their attention, "See what happens when you assume?"

Sam chuckled at the jab, but then their smile fell as Ellie leaned in just a little bit closer.

"I..." Sam hesitantly rested both hands on Ellie's hips, "I didn't think I had a chance..."

Ellie traced Sam's lip with her thumb, "I'm glad you finally told me how you feel. Have I ever told you how gorgeous you are?"

With a surge of bravery, Sam pulled Ellie in for a kiss, and Ellie chuckled against their lips, twirling a lock of blond hair around one finger.

Charles and Min glanced at each other as they backed away to give them some space, and once they broke away from each other, Min gave them a few more moments before they cleared their throat to get their attention.

"Um...hey, Ellie?" they gestured towards her, "Is, uh, your offer to buy me something still open? I...I think I do want a dress."

Ellie beamed, "Of course, Min! We'll go first thing tomorrow!"

***

Sam turned around and around in front of the mirror, wearing nothing but a pair of swim trunks. The scars on their chest were still pretty raw, but they had healed over enough that they could go without scar cream or tape for the time being.

Meanwhile, Min had been on estrogen long enough that their breast tissue had begun to grow just a bit, and they'd started to gain weight around their hips and thighs. They were wearing a two-piece swimsuit, their stomach sticking out through the middle with sleeves that went halfway down their upper arms and bottoms that went halfway down their thighs. They were still trying to cover up their scars, but today was the day they hoped to be able to let them show without being ashamed.

Sam turned to face them as they bunched their hoodie up to cover their arms, "Min, come here."

Min startled, but they stood up to join their friend by the mirror.

Min looked them up and down, "You look great."

"Thanks! You too!" Sam straightened Min's sleeves, "Are you ready? I haven't been to the beach since I was in high school!"

Min swallowed, "Um...I dunno. I'm really nervous."

"That's understandable. You feel better, though? Less dysphoric?"

Min touched their chest again through their hoodie as they looked at their reflection in the mirror.

Sam took the hoodie in a gentle grip to tug it away, and gradually, Min allowed the fabric to fall from their arms.

The two stood side by side as they looked in the mirror, and Min couldn't help but turn to admire what they saw. They had curves! They ran their hands over their sides, admiring the softness of their frame and the way it made them feel.

"I think..." Min smiled at Sam's reflection, "I think I'm okay with being Henry. I just don't like people assuming I'm a guy. Maybe, if I use my nickname more often and seriously use both he and they, I think I'll be happy. I really do like being a guy sometimes."

"I'm glad you're feeling better!" Sam took both their hands, "Charles is gonna flip when he sees you! Come on! Let's go!"

Min still took their hoodie to cover their arms as they left, self-conscious about how much skin was showing, but they hadn't been swimming...well, ever, not since they were very young at least, and they didn't want their emotional baggage to get in the way of learning.

Charles was wearing a big t-shirt over his whole body, so Min didn't get to see him in his swim trunks until they actually got there and he yanked the shirt off over his head. Min felt their stomach twisting into knots as Charles pulled his hair tie loose so his curls fell out around his face, the sun perfectly hitting the lighter patches over his sun-kissed skin. Charles combed his hair back to tie it up again, shooting Min a wink, which made them weak in the knees.

"Hi, Min." Charles locked their lips in a simple hello kiss, "It's okay. There aren't many people here. They won't see your scars."

Charles took the hoodie in a loose grip, and Min held onto it tighter.

"Hey." Charles said softer, "It's okay. I bet you most people won't even notice."

Min took a long, slow breath to calm themself down before allowing Charles to take the hoodie to expose their arms. It felt so wrong to let their scars hit the breeze outside, warm from the sunlight, but Charles took their hands after discarding the hoodie, and they knew they could fight through it. Charles made everything easier.

They shuffled their feet in the sand, "And if someone asks...?"

Charles clasped Min's hands together, "Then I'll help you through it."

Charles pressed their bodies together, and Min squeaked as their slight breasts were squished against his pecs, only separated by the thin swimsuit top that Min was wearing.

Min met his eye, a nervous chuckle escaping them as Charles moved his hands to their back.

"If you need more time to collect yourself though, feel free to stay here." Charles broke off from them to wave as he retreated, "Join me whenever!"

Sam hit Min's shoulder as they passed by, and Ellie took their hand to walk down to the water together, dressed in a strappy black one piece swimsuit of course, her rose tattoos on full display. Min tried not to stare at her, but Ellie teasingly stuck her tongue out at them when she noticed, and Min stuck their tongue out in turn.

They glanced over their shoulder at the car, their favorite hoodie in the seat inside, before heading off over the rocks to join Charles on the beach. He was gazing over the shells and plants that had washed up on the shoreline, tiny crabs running back into the water to burrow beneath the sand. Min poked one with their foot, and it scuttled off as the tide came back in.

Charles gently got their attention again with a hand on their cheek, "How do you feel?"

Min bit their lip, "Weird. I'm a little out of my comfort zone."

"But you feel okay? Not too dysphoric?"

"Well...a little, but it's better." Min offered a smile, and Charles gave their hands a squeeze in response.

"I'm glad."

Min glanced around him at the beach, but luckily, there weren't many people there.

"Oh! But before we try going in the water...I have a gift for you!"

Min blinked as Charles procured a small box. Min reached for it, hesitated, then took the lid off. Inside were three woven friendship bracelets, two in soft shades of blue while the last was in vibrant shades of yellow. Charles took one of the blue ones out and handed over the box with the remaining two inside.

"To celebrate." Charles explained with a patient smile, "And to make sure we don't have to guess. If you want to use he/him, wear the blue bracelet, and if you want they/them, wear the yellow one. If you're okay with either, wear both. Hopefully it'll help you out a little bit in case we can't tell just by looking at you."

Min took the yellow bracelet out of the box to slip it onto their wrist, pulling it tight to ensure it didn't fall off.

"Sorry they're a little sloppy." Charles slid the first blue bracelet onto his own wrist, "I made one for myself too, see? I'm not really good at this thing? I needed a lot of help to figure it out, but I hope you like them anywa-!"

Min lurched forward to kiss Charles on the lips, crushing their bodies together as they kissed and kissed and kissed, nibbling on the corner of his mouth before leaving more kisses along his jawline, lingering on his earlobe just above his piercing.

Charles giggled cheerfully as Min broke away, "I'll take that as a yes?"

Min beamed wide enough to make their cheeks hurt.

The tide came up to hit their ankles, and Min shivered at the sudden rush of cold water.

Charles wrapped an arm around Min's shoulders, "Ready?"

Min eyed the ocean warily, but after taking Charles hand to give it a squeeze, they nodded.

"Great." Charles gently guided them through the wet sand, "Then let's go."

***