Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tommy hated his name, his birth name. Taylor. The name brought so much discomfort. Taylor, can you wash the dishes? Taylor, it's time for dinner! Taylor this, Taylor that. The name made him want to scream. Tommy had known from a young age that he wasn’t what everyone said he should be. Not the quiet little girl that loved pink. Every time he got a gift that was pink he despised it. Tommy knew that pink wasn’t a ‘girl’ color, colors don’t have a gender, but to him that’s how he perceived it. To him, pink was feminine and he never wanted to wear anything pink. He wanted to wear blues, greens, and reds but those were very few and scarce in his overly pink closet.

He’d been sheltered from anything that wasn’t deemed “good” by his parents. Meaning anything revolving around the LGBTQIA+ community. Pink is for girls and blue is for boys. It’d taken him up until his teen years to find out that what he experienced was normal. The way he hated skirts and dresses, the hate towards his feminine name, and especially the way he felt toward his body. The fact that he’d never had any sort of happiness regarding his chest. Looking in the mirror made him uncomfortable, so he’d made sure to turn away whenever he went to the bathroom. Or the way that he hated having long hair, his hair was always kept long because his mother loved to put braids in it. He remembered how once he mentioned he wanted it shorter, maybe up to his shoulders and his mother was appalled.

His parents had noticed how much he leaned towards what they said were ‘boy colors’, blues, greens, reds. So his parents pushed him to wear and do things that were traditionally feminine. Meaning, more skirts and dresses for Taylor and less playing outside with the neighborhood boys. That was the worst thing. Tommy had always enjoyed playing with his friends, specifically Tubbo. Tubbo had two older brothers, Techno and Wilbur. Tommy had looked up to both of them from a young age. He’d always thought that he wanted an older brother, only to realize it was that he wanted to be the older brother.

Tubbo was the first person that Tommy told how he felt. It was easy to tell Tubbo, seeing as they had been friends for years.

The two sat in Tubbo’s basement, playing Mario Kart on the Wii. The game was paused as Tubbo was picking his character. Tommy always went straight for Bowser, while Tubbo would switch between two choices, ultimately choosing Luigi. “Hey Tubbo?”

“Yea Taylor?”

Tommy cringed at the name, this was about the time he’d found what he wanted to be called. Thomas, Tommy for short. The name fit like a glove and whenever he thought about himself with the name it was relieving. Like he’d been wearing his shoes on the wrong feet and finally switched them.

“You know how your name is Toby but you go by Tubbo?” Tubbo nodded. “Well- uh I wanted to tell you that I like Tommy better.”

Tubbo paused, “I’ve never heard of Tommy being a nickname for Taylor, but alright!”

Tommy shook his head. “No I mean like, I’m-”' Tommy stopped, trying to arrange his thoughts and words in the right order. “I don’t like being a girl, I’m a big man and my name is Tommy and my pronouns are he/him.”

Tubbo thought for a moment, “Alright, sounds cool!”

Tommy looked confused. “This isn’t how I thought you’d react.”

Now Tubbo looked confused. “But, you’re my friend? It’s like Ranboo- his name used to be, well no I’m not supposed to say it but their name wasn’t always Ranboo. He came out to me and told me that they like Ranboo and he/they pronouns, so that’s what I use for them. Why would you liking the name Tommy and being a boy change how I felt about you?”

Tommy paused, questioning his prior thoughts. He’d always thought he’d have to run away someday and start a new life as Tommy. Get a job in some far away city and never talk to his parents or friends again. He was glad Tubbo didn’t change, but he was scared of how other people would react.

About a week later, Tommy’s mom was preparing dinner while his dad was sitting at the dinner table while the news played in the background. He’d just returned from the bathroom and was sitting at the table when his father began to speak

“That actress thinks she’s a boy. Get a load of this bullshit. Gender is what you’re born with and you can’t change it. There’s only two genders and people need to understand that. Why would they even put someone who thinks she’s a boy on television?”

Tommy stopped his thoughts. He knew the actress- well actor that his father was referring to. A trans man who had recently come out to the media. Most everyone had been supportive, he’d heard Tubbo’s brother Wilbur talking about it earlier that day.

Tommy’s mother brought in a plate from the kitchen. “Now Taylor, if you ever make friends with any one of these ‘transgendered people’ you better stop talking to that person. They’re wrong for thinking they can change genders, it’s just basic biology.” His mother said. Her tone was sharp so he knew she meant it.

Tommy nodded.

That night, Tommy knew he needed to make a plan. He couldn’t come out to his parents with what he had learned today. He knew Tubbo’s family had to be accepting. Maybe he could ask Tubbo for help. He’d feel bad for just staying but at least with Tubbo he felt safe. He quickly pulled on a pair of pajamas, avoiding the pink ones laying on top of the drawers, opting for a pair that were baby bluish in color. He checked the clock, it was only 9:15. He planned to wait a bit before heading over to Tubbo’s. He pulled a book off his shelf and by the time he’d finished it was 10:05. He slid on a pair of shoes and opened his window slowly, to avoid any noises and quickly jumped out and closed the window from the outside. 

Tubbo’s house was just across the street and down a few houses. He could easily make it there. Plus, Tubbo’s room was on the bottom floor and had a window so Tommy had an easy way in.

He stood in the driveway, quickly checking for cars before ducking his head and running across the street. He finally got to Tubbo’s house. He silently walked around the edge of the house and finally made it to Tubbo’s room, or at least what he thought was Tubbo’s room. He cupped his hands over his eyes to peer into the window when he was met with a sight that was definitely not Tubbo’s room. Tubbo’s room was green and decorated with video games and bee related paraphernalia. The room he was currently looking into had dark blue walls and a mustard yellow bedspread. Scattered around the room were different things like guitars, a keyboard, and other musical related items. Eyes meet his and he immediately drops to the ground, his heart racing. He couldn’t tell who it was in the short few seconds he saw the person, so he panics thinking he went to the wrong house, although he was sure he’d gone to the correct one. 

Someone opens the window and Tommy ducks down, trying to seem as small as possible to avoid being seen.

“Who’s out there? I saw someone.” Tommy lets out a silent sigh of relief when he recognizes the voice as Wilbur’s, one of Tubbo’s brothers. He slowly gets up and gives Wilbur a sheepish look.

“Taylor?” Wilbur asks curiously. “What are you doing outside my window? It’s past 10 o’clock!”

Tommy winces at the name, “Hey Wilbur, I uh- just wanted to see if good ol’ Tubbs was here but I guess he’s not so I’ll be on my way.” He began to walk away when Wilbur spoke.

“Taylor, why are you outside my window?” Wilbur asked again, seemingly more upset this time. 

Tommy winced again, deciding that if Wilbur was someone who’d seemed positive about the actor who came out then that Tommy would tell Wilbur as well. 

“Well uhm. So you know how you were talking about that actor?” Wilbur nodded. “Yea I’m like him. I don’t want to be a girl anymore and my parents sounded pretty against people being trans so I was going to try and get Tubbo to help me or something.” He anxiously fidgeted with the strings connected to his pants.

Wilbur paused. “Alright then, what are your name and pronouns?”

Tommy stops, he’d never been asked that before. “Oh uh, Tommy, he/him.” A smile tugged at the corner of his lips when he said his new name. It felt perfect. He was finally wearing his shoes on the right feet.

Wilbur nodded. “Give me a minute and I’ll come outside and bring you in. Phil would be pissed if I didn’t.”

Tommy waited a few minutes, and soon Wilbur was in front of him. Yawning and pushing his glasses up his nose. He was brought inside and sat at the dinner table where he’d eaten plenty of times before. He explained to Phil what happened that night and that he was now Tommy and no longer Taylor and Phil had listened.

“Well Tommy, I can’t really take you because that would be illegal, but you’re welcome to stay here if you ever need it.”

Tommy nodded, a dejected look crossing his face. “Thanks Phil.” 

Wilbur looked at his wrist watch. “Tommy, it’s 10:39. You better get home before your parents call the cops.”

Chapter Text

Tommy was sitting in his room. He was sitting at his desk trying to write out a letter to his parents. It seemed like the easier option than having to talk to them face to face. Tommy was so lost in thought that when his father entered the room he didn’t hear him.

“Taylor, it’s time for dinner.” 

Tommy quickly covered up the paper he was writing and nodded to his father when a suspicious look crossed his face. “Taylor, are you trying to hide something from me?” 

Tommy sighed. “No actually, there’s something I want to talk to you about. I was writing it on this paper, it’s not finished yet but I guess you can read it now.” He handed the paper over and awaited anxiously as his father’s facial expression distorted from his usual neutral expression to a cold hard stare. Tommy could tell this was going to go south, fast .

“Is this a fucking joke? Are you fucking kidding me Taylor?”

About an hour and a half later, Tommy found himself with some bruises and standing on the doorstep of his neighbors. He had a duffel bag slung over his shoulder, carrying what little belongings he'd stashed in there before being kicked out. His stuffed cow Henry, a blanket his grandmother had made him, the compass he’d received from his grandfather when he was seven, a few clothing items, his school laptop, and a few hundred dollars that he’d saved up. He hesitated to knock on the door, building up the courage to ring the doorbell. He heard heavy footsteps approaching and a tall man with long pink hair in an outfit you’d find in a Victorian magazine opened the door.

“Taylor? What are you doing here? And what’s with that shiner you’ve got on your face?”

Tommy waved it off, “I need to speak to Wilbur, or Phil.” He began to fidget with the strap slung over his shoulder. He’d never really had a one-on-one conversation with Technoblade, quite frankly because he was scared. Well, Tommy wasn’t scared of Techno, Techno was just much larger and more intimidating than most.

Techno paused for a moment before calling down the hallway to his father and brother. Both joined Techno at the front door, with Tubbo following, despite his name not being called. A worried look crossed Tubbo’s face, he hadn’t expected to see his best friend on his doorstep with a black eye and a few bruises elsewhere. 

Phil had sent everyone to their rooms while Tommy and Phil sat at the dining room table where Tommy had sat a few weeks ago telling his story, only this time there was more. Tommy had been kicked out by his parents, who wanted nothing to do with their broken daughter. Tommy fought back tears as he talked, trying to be the big man he told himself he was. Phil listened and offered a hug to the boy. Tommy’s vision blurred and his breath picked up as he let himself cry in the arms of Phil. Crying about how his parents didn’t want him, crying about how much he hated his body, crying about how much he just wished he was born a boy.

Tommy woke up, he didn’t recognize where he was. The green walls and bee related items were only slightly familiar until Tommy recognized that he was in Tubbo’s room. He was curled into the softness of the blanket his grandmother had made him. He remembered sitting on the floor by her rocking chair playing with his dad’s old train set and watching her crochet the blue and green yarn together. Tommy was very fond of that memory, and had taken the blanket everywhere in his childhood. It was never a surprise when he came out of his room, dragging the blanket behind him and Henry the cow held tightly in his arms.

He recalled the events of last night. How he came out to his parents, his father yelled and managed to land a few hits on the boy. His father yelled about how his only daughter was a freak, she was lying to herself. Only thinking that she was a boy for attention. Trying to ruin her parents' lives for attention. His mother sobbed about how they had raised Taylor in a way so that she would be the perfect girl and how it was all her fault that their daughter was broken. Tommy had cried himself to sleep that night. His parents’ words had hurt, more deeply than any gender dysphoria ever had. He wanted to crawl into a hole and sob for hours. But he couldn’t, Phil had promised him a place to stay and now Tommy just needed to figure out how to get onto his feet. Phil had told them there was no rush, but Tommy knew that at any moment they could kick him out if they wanted.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Tubbo. 

“Hey, Toms. Phil wanted me to come get you because breakfast is ready. He let you sleep in ‘cause he said you had a long night.”

Tommy nodded, he sat up in bed before hunching his shoulders. He’d fallen asleep in a hoodie which probably wasn’t the best idea considering how much he sweat, but at least it aided in the constant battle against gender dysphoria. He’d borrowed a pair of sweatpants from Wilbur, mostly because that Tubbo’s would be too short and that Techno didn’t own any. The outfit was very warm but at least he felt safe.

He got up and stepped into the bathroom, avoiding the mirror as per his usual routine. He brushed his teeth and quickly brushed his hair (he spent the least amount of time on his hair, it was too long and messing with it made him uncomfortable.) He exited the bathroom and walked into the kitchen where he could smell eggs, pancakes, and bacon.

Chapter Text

It had been almost a year and a half since Tommy’s birth parents had kicked him to the curb. It was hard seeing them do their own thing from across the street, unable to ever see them again because of how much they did not want him. To them, he was broken, confused, and unfixable. But to his new family, he was none of those things. Phil had adopted him after a very short custody battle (his parents didn’t want him, and Phil had gone through two adoption processes before, one for Techno and Wilbur and the other for Tubbo.) The adoption had been finalized very quickly according to Wilbur, who had said his and Techno’s had taken almost a year to finalize.

Tommy felt indebted to Phil, and he hated to owe people things. Phil had done so much for Tommy. Taking him in, giving him a place to stay, adopting him. Sometimes it was too much for Tommy. He did his best to earn his keep, although Phil refused to let him think of it like that. Everyone helped out around the house, and no one had to earn their place to stay. 

A week into his stay with the Watsons, Tommy had been taken by Wilbur to a barber shop to get a haircut. Wilbur brought along references after discussing with Tommy. Tommy was ecstatic with the haircut, no longer long and annoying, but shorter and more to his liking. When Tommy’s hair was long (as his mother had done it, saying the long hair made Taylor pretty) it was stick straight, but now that it was shorter it curled in the front and Tommy liked to run his fingers through the curls.

Two weeks later, a package arrived at the door with Phil’s name on it. Phil never ordered anything online, Wilbur, Techno, and Tubbo all had said that. Tommy was now extra curious about what was in the package, so he brought it down to Phil’s office.

“Oh, Tommy, that's for you. I was wondering when it would arrive.”

Tommy opened the box quickly, his curiosity rising. Inside the box was a binder. A grin took over Tommy’s face as tears pricked at his eyes. Phil smiled at the boy and waved him away to go try it on. Tommy ran to the bathroom and quickly put on the skin colored material. It was perfect. He looked in the mirror with pride. His hair was perfect, his chest was flat, this was all Tommy ever wanted. 

Tubbo had introduced Tommy to Ranboo, and the three immediately became an inseparable duo. 

They were sitting in the basement playing Mario Kart (Bowser for Tommy, Luigi for Tubbo, and Waluigi from Ranboo.) The round had finished, the trio had played teams and came in first to the other npcs. Phil had shuffled down the stairs to check on the trio. He looked at Tommy.

“Tommy, when did you put your binder on?”

Tommy glanced at his watch. “8, I think?”

Phil gave Tommy a disapproving look. Tommy sighed, tossing his controller down and running up the stairs. That was the worst part of binding, having to take it off after 8 hours. It felt like Tommy was admitting to defeat. He took the binder off and tossed it on his bed, grabbing a hoodie from his closet and a sports bra from his drawers (wearing a sports bra also felt like he was admitting defeat, but at least it was better than nothing) and quickly throwing them on. No matter how comfortable he got around anyone, his chest was always something he would hide. He quickly ran back down the stairs, waving a quick hello to Wilbur and Techno who were sitting on the couch watching a movie.

Tommy was sitting at the dining room table. Phil had wanted to talk to him. Internally, Tommy was freaking out. The day had finally come, Tommy was being kicked out. Phil had always said he never needed to worry but here they were. Tommy’s leg was bouncing and his fingers tapped against his thigh. He could hear Phil’s footsteps walking from his office to the kitchen. His anxiety heightened. 

Phil sat down at the table, quickly noticing how anxious the boy was. (Despite what Tommy thought, hiding his emotions wasn't a strong suit of his.)

“Tommy, I’m not kicking you out.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure! I adopted three other kids, why would I kick out a fourth one? I don’t have a reason to. You’re part of the family now.”

Tommy took a deep breath. Phil was right. Tommy never thought rationally when he let his anxiety get the best of him.

“Tommy, how would you feel about getting your name legally changed?”

Tommy’s thoughts stopped. “But, I don’t have the money.”

“I didn’t ask if you had the money, I asked if you wanted to change your name.”

Tears stung Tommy's eyes as he quickly rubbed them away. “But Phil, I already owe you so much! I can pay for it myself in a few years, you don’t have to!”

Phil shook his head. “Tommy, you're my son now. Nothing can change that.”

Chapter Text

“Toms, make sure to take your binder off before dinner, it's almost been eight hours.”

“But Phil!” Tommy whined, dragging out his adoptive father’s name. “I don’t want to take it off.” He frowned.

Phil gave him a disapproving look. “Then I guess you’re just begging to break a rib then.”

Tommy rolled his eyes. “Ok fine old man. I’ll take it off.”

“Thank you. Also, your red hoodie is in the laundry room.”

Tommy nodded to Phil before walking down the hallway to his bedroom. It had been two years since he wound up at the Watson’s house, after the first month they’d moved him into Phil’s old office after they’d shifted some things around and bought some bedroom items. His parents hadn’t let him take much from their house. They’d said to him “they owned it and if he wanted his stuff they wanted their daughter.” Phil said that was a load of bullshit. Phil also said some words that Tommy’s parents would never even think of, but Phil had said them. Lots of cursing while his sons thought the exact same things. Tommy was proud of his brothers. Wilbur, Techno, and Tubbo, they’d taken him in and become his brothers less than a week into his stay.

Now, with one person with gender problems there was bound to be another. Techno began to think that he was the other person. No, not ‘he.’ Techno wasn’t sure what to refer to himself as. He/him didn’t feel right and neither did she/her. It was a dilemma that Technoblade was stuck in. Techno had always been a boy that used he/him pronouns, but now he was wondering.

Techno found himself knocking on his brother’s door. 

“Yea come in.”

Techno opened the door, Tommy was sitting on his bed with his phone in hands, talking to someone on the phone. “Sorry big men, gotta mute real quick.” Tommy looked up towards Technoblade. “What’s up?”

“Tommy, how did you know you were trans?”

The younger boy paused. “Uh, well when I was about ten I met Tubbo who told me he didn’t like being called Toby. I didn’t like being called my birth name either. I did a lot of googling in the school library and after a few years I finally figured it out.”

Techno nodded, processing the information. “Thanks Toms.”

Tommy nodded to Techno before unmuting himself and going back to talking to his friends.

Techno made his way back to his own room. He sat down on his bed and pulled out his laptop, quickly typing into the search bar ‘why don’t I feel like a boy or a girl?’

The screen stared back at him as google loaded.

Anyone whose gender identity or experience can't be exclusively captured by using the terms “man” or “woman” can identify as nonbinary.

Techno opened a new tab and typed in ‘non-binary’

Non-binary or genderqueer is an umbrella term for gender identities that are neither male nor female—identities that are outside the gender binary. 

Things were beginning to make sense. Techno continued his research and found a list of labels. Transgender, genderfluid, genderqueer, non-binary, and agender. The last label he found interested him the most.

Agender - denoting or relating to a person who does not identify themselves as having a particular gender.

Techno liked that label. He wasn’t male nor female. He was just Technoblade. But if he wasn’t male, then what were his pronouns.

Someone who's agender might use they/them/their pronouns, but they could also use she/her/hers or he/him/his pronouns. They could even use a mix of pronouns or neopronouns. 

Techno grabbed the notepad that sat on his nightstand and began to write. 

My name is Technoblade Watson, I’m agender and my pronouns are they/them.

Techno smiled at the paper. They finally felt comfortable in their own skin.

A knock sounded at Techno’s door. “Come in?”

Wilbur stuck his head in with a grin. “Techie, it’s time for dinner.”

Techno rolled their eyes at the nickname. They shut their laptop and left the notepad on their bed. They ripped the page they’d written on and shoved it into their pocket. 

“What’s the paper for Techie?” Wilbur asked curiously.

“I’ll tell you later.”

They shuffled down the stairs while they could hear Wilbur in Tommy’s room scolding him for wearing his binder for too long.

Phil smiled at his sons as everyone began to file into the dining room for dinner. Tubbo, Wilbur, and Tommy quickly came down stairs after Techno, who had already taken a seat at the table. The family of five began to eat and talk about their days.

After dinner, Phil and Techno were left at the table. Techno still had a bit of food left on their plate, which they were pushing around, trying to figure out how to bring their identity up to their father.

“Phil.”

“Yea mate?”

“I think I might be like Tommy. Not like, I want to be a girl but like-” Techno pulled out the crumpled piece of paper from their pocket and slid it over to Phil. 

Phil picked up the paper and read it. He nodded. “Alright. Do you want anything for your appearance? Tommy’s got binders and a haircut, although you don't really need a binder. We could get you a haircut if you want.”

Techno shook his head. “No thanks, I like my hair just fine.”

Phil nodded. “When are you going to tell your brothers?”

“I planned to tell them at dinner, I just got too nervous.”

Phil gave a warm smile. “Well, you’re still my kid, and if you ever had doubts of me kicking you out that would never happen.” He got up and wrapped his arms around his oldest child. “You’re my kid and nothing can change that.”

Techno nodded, “You think you could call everyone down? I think I’m ready to tell everyone.”

Phil nodded, leaving his oldest at the dinner table and walking upstairs to get his three other children. All four returned back to the table and sat together. All three of the boys looked anxious. Tommy had a look in his eyes that swayed between nervousness and a possible outburst. Tubbo was wringing his hands, a nervous habit he’d picked up when he was much younger. Wilbur had a curl of his brown hair wrapped around his finger, twisting and twirling it.

“Techno, do you want to go ahead?”

Phil slid the piece of paper over to Techno who picked it up and began to read the sentence they had written less than an hour earlier.

“My name is Technoblade Watson, I’m agender and my pronouns are they/them.”

Wilbur jumped up from his seat and wrapped his arms around his twin. “Oh thank god. I thought you were leaving us or something.”

“Oh yea, that reminds me.” Tubbo hesitated before continuing his sentence. “I’m a demiboy, he/they. Yea.” He gave a toothy grin. 

“Fuck yea!” Tommy shouted excitedly. “Two more trans people in the family!”

Phil smiled at his children, “Come on kiddos, let's make some hot chocolate and watch a movie.”

Chapter Text

Phil was panicking. He couldn’t find his second oldest son and had checked everywhere. Where on earth was Wilbur? He’d called the boy multiple times only to be sent to voicemail. Phil had sent various worried text messages to both Wilbur and his three other children. No one had any idea where Wilbur was. He dialed Wilbur’s number again, the call connected after three rings. 

“Jesus Christ, Wil! You can’t just not answer me! You scared the shit outta me mate. Are you safe? Are you hurt?” Phil started asking all kinds of questions. His kids called it ‘bird brained’, Phil called it parenting.

“Yes, I’m safe. No, I'm not hurt.” A nervous laugh came from Wilbur. “ Sorry for worrying you, Dad. I’m at the store and left my phone on one of the shelves when reading a label.”

Phil laughed. “You really are my son, so forgetful.”

Wilbur cringed at the term. Son . That's what Wilbur had been for years, Phil’s son. That just didn’t feel right. What would feel right is ‘kid’. Wilbur Soot Watson was non-binary. How did he come to this conclusion? Funny story actually.

Wilbur knocked on their sibling’s door, a grocery bag in hand. “Techno? I need some help.”

A groan came from the pinkette. It hopped out of bed and opened the door. “What do you need, Wilbur?”

Wilbur held up the bag, Techno nodded and grabbed their phone. The pair of twins walked to the shared bathroom at the end of the hall. Techno emptied the bag onto the counter, examining the contents. A box of hair dye, a pair of gloves, and a hair dye applicator.

Techno rolled their eyes. “Seriously Wil? Box dye?”

Wilbur just laughed. “I don’t have a job, Tech. What do you expect?”

“We both know Phil would buy it for you.”

“Too much work.” Wilbur sighed.

“It’s too much work to ask Phil for hair dye? He would literally give you the world if you asked.”

“Yea but y’know.” Wilbur trailed off, tapping the sides of his temples. Techno nodded while putting on the gloves.

“Have you been taking your anxiety meds?”

Wilbur nodded. “Mhm.”

“Consistently?” Techno was given silence as a response. “Your silence speaks volume Wilbur Soot Watson.”

“Oh shut it Techno, have you been taking yours consistently?”

No answer.

“That’s what I thought.”

The two continued bickering for a few minutes before Techno realized they’d need a bowl and Wilbur needed to change. Wilbur walked back to his bedroom to grab an old t-shirt and Techno shuffled down the stairs, bumping into a confused Tommy.

“Why are you two fighting in the bathroom? Did something happen?” Tommy asked worriedly. As much as he tried to hide it, the teenage boy was very anxious.

“Nah, don’t worry about it Toms. Just touching up Wilbur’s roots.”

Tommy nodded. “I’m gonna use that bathroom before you do his hair.”

“Alright.” The parted ways. Techno to the kitchen for a paper bowl and Tommy to the bathroom.

Tommy walked into the bathroom, a pair of blue gloves laid on the counter. An idea entered the blond’s head and he quickly grabbed them and put them on. He smiled at the mirror.

“I'm gonna be the best fucking doctor.”

Wilbur entered the room at that moment, a laugh escaping his throat. He regained composure and looked at Tommy.

“Tommy, stop, we need those. I don’t think Techno wants his hands stained brown.”

“Shut the fuck up, Wil-bitch I will literally doctorise you with my knives.” An impish grin found itself on Tommy’s face.

Techno entered the bathroom with the paper bowl.

“Tommy, hand over the gloves.”

“Fine Techno.” Tommy handed the gloves to Techno and left the room, most likely on his way to bother Tubbo.

Wilbur leaned over the tub, his elbows resting uncomfortable on the rim as Techno began to apply the brown mixture to his roots. The room was filled with silence, it made Wilbur uncomfortable.

“Tech?” Wilbur asked hesitantly.

“Yea?” The teen was rubbing the hair dye into the pink parts of Wilbur’s scalp.

“How did you know you were agender?”

Techno stopped. Wilbur panicked, did he hit a bad spot?

“Oh uh, google I guess? When Tommy came to us with his he/him pronouns it kinda hit me that being trans can happen to anyone. Also the fact that when we were younger I got bullied for my long hair and whatnot. And how much gender norms pissed me off. Like, who cares if Dad paints my nails? Who cares if some guy wants to wear a skirt? It’s literally not your problem if my nails are blue or bright pink.”

Wilbur nodded. He almost always agreed with his twin, especially right now.

“Do you think-” Wilbur paused. “Do you think you could try different pronouns for me?”

“Yea, which ones?”

“Uhm, they/them?”

“Sure. This is my sibling, Wilbur. They’re really cool. They make music. Wilbur plays guitar with the band they made with their friends.” Techno continued to rub the dye into Wilbur’s hair, putting extra stress on the different pronouns in the sentence.

A grin took over Wilbur’s face. “Wow, that was nice.”

“Wilbur? Are you still there?”

Wilbur shook their head and brought them back into the real world. “Yea sorry Dad, just forgot something.”

“That’s alright, while you’re at the store do you think you could pick up some tea?”

“Yea sure, the usual?”

“Yep, thanks Wil.”

“No problem Dad. I’ll be home in like 20 minutes.”

“Alright, love you.”

“Love you too Dad.”

Wilbur walked down the aisle, grabbing a container of tea bags and dropping it into their basket. They waltzed up to the self checkout. Scanning the food dye, cake mix, frosting, and tea bags that they had wanted to purchase. Wilbur’s plan was to make a cake with the color of the non-binary flag and present it to the family.

The next day, everyone was out of the house except Wilbur. Techno had fencing practice, Phil was working late, and Tommy and Tubbo were at Ranboo’s house. This was the perfect time for Wilbur to bake their cake.

They dumped the vanilla cake mix into the bowl, adding oil, eggs, and water into the mix. They were glad they were alone. With Tommy and Tubbo in the house those two would have eaten all the frosting and gone into a sugar high before Wilbur would have time to put the cake in the oven. Techno would’ve been helpful, but it was a terrible cook. Phil, well Phil was the one they were trying to surprise.

Wilbur’s phone buzzed on the counter. A message from Phil popped up on the screen.

Dadza messaged the sleepy bois

Bringing home McDonald’s for dinner, everyone want their usuals?

Wilbur responded with a yes please and returned back mixing the frosting for the cake. 

After less than an hour, Wilbur could hear the unmistakable double honk of their dad’s car, signaling that the rest of the family was home. The cake was in the fridge and Wilbur was anxiously waiting on the couch.

The family of five sat down at the table, discussing their days and other things. Once everyone had finished, Wilbur cleared their throat.

“So uh, I made a cake for desert.”

Tommy and Tubbo’s eyes gleamed, the clear look of a sugar rush waiting to happen was present in their eyes. 

Wilbur brought the cake out from the freezer. The cake was topped with the non-binary flag in frosting: bright yellow, white, royal purple, and black. ‘They/them’ was written on the line of white.

“Yea so.” Wilbru trailed off nervously. “You know, non-binary. That’s me.”

Tommy jumped up from his seat and tackled his sibling. “Wilby, you are so cool.”

Wilbur laughed. “Did you just call me Wilby?”

Fake anger overtook Tommy’s grin. “No, I called you Wilbur because that is the name of a massive bitch.”

The rest of the family joined the hug, laughter filling the air. It was a happy day in the Watson household.