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“Okay look, Captain Bow, we need to talk,” Crossbow said.
“What about? You were committing crimes, and I caught you red-handed.” Bow kept an arrow nocked.
Crossbow scratched his head. “Well, you see, I kinda sorta might be dating your dad.”
Bow stared at him in shock. “What the heck? How do you even know this?”
“Well, I was trying to discover your secret identity, normal supervillain stuff, you know, as you do, but then I saw your last name, and I remembered Lance talking about how proud he was about his youngest and I just, I figured we had to talk.”
Bow gulped. “Lance knows? I thought I was able to keep this from him. I don’t want him to worry.”
“He never outright said anything explicit but I think he knows. He worries, but he’s also very proud of you. He wants you to feel free to be yourself, and he thinks that wanting to protect others is a very noble reason to choose a career,” Crossbow said.
“Wait, why were you trying to figure out who I was? Were you going to try and hurt me, or Lance?” Bow said.
“I’m an old fashioned supervillain. I was taught that supervillains and superheroes - especially for archnemeses - even though we might be enemies we should make sure we’re doing well. Saving the day doesn’t exactly pay the bills after all. I never expected you to reciprocate, but it was the right thing to do,” Crossbow said.
Bow was flabbergasted. What was he supposed to say to that?
Lance was standing outside his door. Bow just knew this was going to be an uncomfortable conversation. Had Lance found his binders?
“Bow, we need to talk,” Lance said.
“Uh, sure Dad, what about?” Bow was really nervous. No good conversation started like that.
“Well - ” Lance wringed his hands “- I’ve started seeing another man. I know you might not be comfortable with me seeing someone else after your father died -”
Bow cut Lance off with a hug. “I know about George, I ran into him at university, and he introduced himself. I’m glad you’ve managed to find someone else, Dad, I really am. You deserve to be happy too.”
Lance looked down at Bow, somewhat surprised, but he didn’t question the story. Bow and George had come up with it, really not wanting to have to explain to Lance that they were really long-time archnemeses, at least, not right away.
As the months passed, Bow began to feel more and more comfortable with George. They talked from time to time, outside of superheroing and within, and Bow began to realize he had a lot in common with George. They had started having lunch together once a week, ‘to help build a bond with your youngest,’ or so they told Lance.
“I just, I’m afraid to tell him the truth. What if he’s angry with me? What if he’s upset?” Bow said over lunch one week.
George smiled. “Bow, I’m sure Lance will be proud of you and who you are. Just be careful with what you’re doing, and there won’t be any issues.”
Bow and George kept fighting, but knowing what he did now about him, Bow’s words were a little less barbed, and more friendly.
“Captain Bow, what is that?” George said. ” Hey guys, could you give us a minute? Captain Bow and I need some privacy.”
George’s goons left the room, and Bow gestured to Adora and Glimmer to leave. They gave him funny looks, but went along with what he had asked.
“Bow, what the hell are you doing? Binding your chest with bandages?” George said.
“I - sorry, what?” said Bow.
“Using bandages to bind your chest is one of the worst things you can possibly do! I support you, Bow, but there are safer ways to combat your gender dysphoria! As I understand it, sports bras and compression wear are the safest options. Do you lack the money to pay for those? I can buy you some discreetly.”
“How - how do you know all this?” Bow asked.
“Well, when you told me that you were trans, I did some research so I could better support you. I care about you Bow, and I want to help you be you. I know that gender dysphoria can be awful to deal with, one of my coworkers is transfeminine. I want to help,” George said.
Bow embraced George, weeping. He knew Adora and Glimmer were probably watching in a corner, Glimmer having teleported them in, but he could explain this later.
“Lance, I need to tell you something,” Bow said.
“Well hopefully it’s not you getting cold feet about George, the wedding’s in an hour,” Lance joked.
“It’s not about George, it’s about me.”
Lance’s smile dropped from his face and he turned to Bow. “You know I’ll support you no matter what, Bow.”
“I’m, I’m trans, Dad. I’m not your daughter, I’m your son,” Bow said, feeling a weight lifted off his chest as he said it.
“Okay, son.” Lance smiled.
“Can I get one of my binders and one of my suits before the wedding? I want you and George to remember me at this wedding, the real me.”
“Go on ahead, we’d love that,” said Lance.