Work Text:
Today is fairly quiet, which Nora very much appreciates. Being around so many people all the time is more than a little exhausting, and they need time to recharge before they’re ready to face the crowd downstairs again.
They got back from the Christmas market late the night before, so everyone slept in and they’ve all been lazing around the house since they finally got up. Erik, the angel, went out to get cinnamon rolls from the bakery down the street for breakfast, so they haven’t even had to cook.
Nora is awake though now, so she’s taking the opportunity to wrap her presents while everyone is busy, especially since June and Pez are out getting groceries and picking up a couple more presents.
That’s why they’re surprised when someone knocks on their door.
June and Pez definitely aren’t back yet, so it isn’t them, but she doesn’t know who else it could be. As far as she knows, everyone else is back in their rooms or hanging out in the living room watching Rudolph.
When they open the door, Wilhelm is standing on the other side, looking nervous. “Hey, Nora. Can I, um, come in?”
“Sure, kiddo. What do you need?” They ask. “Excuse the mess, I’ve been wrapping gifts.”
Truly, the room is a disaster. There are presents piled on the floor and wrapping paper scraps all over the bed, not to mention the overflowing box of wrapping and card-making supplies.
She expects him to ask for help with wrapping gifts, or finding a gift for his Secret Santa, so his question comes entirely unexpected.
He sits down in one of the chairs by the window and looks out of it, unable to meet her gaze. “How did you know you were non-binary?”
Nora’s breath catches a little, if she’s honest. Wilhelm has already been through a lot in a very short amount of time, and they’re pretty sure he didn’t even know he was interested in boys until this year.
She must wait too long to answer, because he pulls his long legs up, tucking them into his chest, making himself smaller.
Immediately, they sink down into the chair across from him.
“I didn’t know for a long time. I was comfortable with being a girl, with people using feminine terms, with my parents calling me their daughter. But after Alex and Henry got outed and I started dating Pez, I started spending a lot of time at the LGBTQ shelters they were building. And I met kids who used they/them pronouns, or he/they pronouns, or neopronouns, and I realized that just because I was comfortable with being a girl didn’t mean I really was a girl.”
Wilhelm is silent, looking out the window still.
When he finally speaks, a few moments later, Nora has to strain to hear him.
“I’m not sure I’m a boy either,” He whispers.
“You don’t have to figure it out right away,” She tells him gently. “It’s okay to take your time, especially with something like this.”
Wilhelm finally looks at her. “Before I was sent to Hillerska, I went to public school. I begged my Mamma to let me go, and she finally gave in because Erik argued on my behalf. One of the stipulations was that I couldn’t join any clubs. But the GSA met in a pretty secluded area during lunch, so I would sit under the window and listen in, and if anyone walked by I’d pretend I was on the phone.”
Nora almost laughs. It’s such a closeted-kid thing to do, and she knows the fear of anyone else finding out that maybe they aren’t cis and straight.
He continues. “I ran off to the public library one afternoon so I could do research without anyone in the palace finding out. I always knew I wasn’t…normal, but after that day, I finally had words for it. Still, I didn’t intend on acting on it, since I’m a prince and family expectation and shit, but then I met Simon. And suddenly, all those things I had hidden from myself were bubbling back up.”
They’re listening intently, painfully aware of the fact that she’s the first person Wilhelm has told about all of this.
“I guess I wanted confirmation. That what I was feeling made sense. That someone else felt the same way.” Wilhelm shrugs. “How…how did June and Pez take it? When you came out?”
“They were both very supportive. Everyone was really. But if you’re asking whether our relationship changed, it didn’t. And if you’re worried about telling Simon, I wouldn’t be. He worships the ground you walk on.”
“I just…he’s gay. Explicitly. He likes boys. And if I’m not a boy…” He trails off.
She gets what he’s saying.
“Sexuality is fluid, first of all. I mean, look at Alex - he thought he was straight until he met Henry. But also, Simon is already in love with you. I don’t think that love will disappear just because you aren’t a boy, but if it does, then you’re better off without him. Don’t force yourself to stay in the closet just because you think he’ll break up with you if you come out.”
Wilhelm hums in response.
“I really love him,” He says eventually. “I don’t want to lose him.”
“I get it.”
They don’t have anything else to add. Wilhelm has already used up all of her wisdom for the day.
He nods like he’s decided something and stands up.
“Thank you, Nora,” Wilhelm says. “Can I hug you?”
When they nod their assent, he pulls her in tightly, burying his head in her neck despite being taller. He thanks her again as he lets go, and then disappears out the door, shutting it silently behind himself.
Nora sits back on the bed once he’s gone, reeling a little bit at the conversation she’s just had.
Wilhelm is a sweet kid, and he deserves to be happy. They hope he finds it with Simon, but they also know he’ll be okay in the end if it isn’t. Either way, he’ll be happiest as himself, whatever form that takes.