Work Text:
Companion Piece Pride Week Day 1
“Hey Uncle TK?”
The uncertainty in his favorite nephew’s voice pulls his attention immediately away from the lunch he’s trying to prepare on the stove to look across the counter. Thomas sits on the barstool, tapping the fingers of one hand nervously against the countertop in a pattern that TK thinks is practice scales for the piano.
The nervous gesture is mirrored by the look on Thomas’ face and it’s enough to have TK turning off the stove and giving his full attention to the boy.
“What’s up Thomas?” He asks carefully, keeping his tone neutral and open.
“Have mom and dad always accepted you?”
The question is unusual, and vague enough that TK isn’t really sure the direction Thomas is trying to go with it.
“Sorry Tommy, you’re going to have to be more specific about this one.”
The nickname makes Thomas cringe and TK winces, forgetting momentarily that just last week the little boy he’s known as Tommy for 13 years decided he was too old for a nickname and he wanted to be called Thomas now.
“Sorry Thomas.” TK apologizes immediately, he’s spent enough time with people harassing him about his name that he understands the pain.
“It’s okay TK.”
TK shakes his head swiftly. “It’s not, but I promise to try to do better.”
“Okay then I accept your apology.” Thomas answers in the way that TK knows Judd and Grace have taught their kids about apologies and forgiveness.
TK smiles and reaches across the counter to rustle his hand through the boy's hair.
“Okay now, you feel like sharing what you mean?”
Thomas takes a deep breath, blowing it out heavily on a shaky exhale. “Have mom and dad always accepted that you’re gay?”
The question startles him a bit and sends his brain back in time on a journey of many moments of acceptance and non-acceptance alike. He tries not to get lost in his thoughts now though as he recognizes the need to be there for Thomas in this moment.
“Yes.” TK answers assuredly and it’s not a lie. Grace and Judd have always been accepting of TK and have never made him feel uncomfortable about who he is.
Thomas looks relieved at the answer, but also not quite fully believing. He chews on his bottom lips, clearly thinking through his next words carefully.
“Do you think, that they think being gay is a sin?” He asks after a long pause.
TK’s less sure of how to answer this question. He’s had his own struggles with faith and sexuality, and he knows Carlos has as well, but they’re all very personal and not something he’s actually discussed with Judd or Grace.
“Well Thomas, I think the only people that can answer that question are your mom and dad.” TK pauses, watching as the boy’s face falls, sadness overtaking his expression. “What I do know is that in the end it only matters what we think of ourselves. Unfortunately we can’t control other people’s thoughts and feelings.”
Thomas nods his head, clearly deep in thought.
A long minute passes with nothing else being said, so TK moves back towards the stove turning the burner back on to finish cooking their lunch. Even as he carefully asks the question that’s bothering him.
“Has something happened at school or at church?”
Thomas shakes his head slowly, “No, nothing’s happened.” There is another long pause, “I want to switch groups at church and join the LGBTQ youth group. I just don’t know how to tell mom and dad.”
TK nods his head, more clearly understanding the cause of this conversation now.
“Thomas, have I ever told you about the time your dad talked to me about what he could do to be a better ally?” TK questions.
Thomas predictably shakes his head, but there is a curious look on his face. He sits up straighter and stops thrumming his fingers on the countertop; giving TK his full attention.
“Well I meant what I said when I told you that your parents always fully accepted me, but there is more to being an ally than just acceptance.” TK takes a moment to plate their lunch and motions for Thomas to join him sitting at the table where he thinks they’ll be more comfortable having this particular conversation.
They settle next to each other surrounding one corner of the table and TK takes a sip of his water while he thinks about how best to tell this story. He launches into explaining how Judd approached him one day acknowledging that he and Grace felt like they could be doing more and how TK was happy to share his insights.
“You know what your mom and dad did?” TK asks after he finishes the story.
Thomas shakes his head again, but leans in closer, apprehension and interest warring on his face.
“They went to the church administration and immediately worked out how to form both adult and youth LGBTQ groups within the church community and then, they stepped back and listened to the members of those groups on how to make the space safer for everyone in the community.”
“They did?” Thomas looks astonished and a little but surprised.
“You know your mom, when she sets her mind to something she’ll make sure it gets done.” TK confirms.
His words get a laugh out of the boy in front of him who suddenly looks much smaller than his almost 14 year old self. He looks happier too though, more certain and when he looks up at TK there is excitement in his eyes.
“I like a boy at school.” Thomas says proudly.
TK smiles brightly, but before he can say anything in response Thomas blows out a loud breath.
“It feels so good to say that out loud.” Thomas laughs and TK is relieved to know that he can be the safe haven for this boy. He knows whenever Thomas feels ready to tell his parents that Grace and Judd will accept all of him with open arms as they have always done for TK himself, but he knows that parents are often the hardest people to talk to.
“Thank you for trusting me with your truth.” he answers sincerely before pulling the boy into a tight hug, rustling his hair again in a repeat of the fond gesture he has constantly shown this kid his whole life.
When he pulls back he wiggles his eyebrows playfully and asks, “so tell me more about this boy?”
A blush creeps up Thomas’ neck and he groans a little like a typical teenager would, but he also smiles and launches into an excited speech about all things Juan.
He’s still going strong twenty minutes later when Carlos walks through the door, just getting home from a shift.TK and Thomas are finishing up washing the dishes in the sink, but Thomas abandons the job to run and greet his arguably, favorite Uncle. Although TK would never admit that to Carlos himself.
“Thomas! How’s my favorite nephew doing?” Carlos exclaims as he greets the boy with a hug before moving into the kitchen to greet TK with a kiss.
Thomas is practically bouncing on his feet as he responds. “I’m awesome, Tio Carlos. I was just telling TK about Juan.”
Carlos’ eyes flash up to TK’s for a second in question, to which TK just shrugs.
“Oh, who’s Juan?” Carlos asks Thomas.
Thomas ducks his head a bit more bashful now, but he answers happily, “The boy at school that I like.”
Then Thomas is relating all of the information he just shared with TK about Juan, while TK and Carlos share discrete looks across the kitchen. When Grace comes to pick up Thomas a couple of hours later TK gives him an extra tight hug, whispering so only Thomas can hear him that he’s proud of him and that he’ll always be there for him.
TK is just finishing reading his daughter her bedtime story when he feels his phone vibrate in his pocket. He opens it up as he makes his way to the living room to find his husband seated on the couch smiling down at his own phone.
“Did you get a text from Grace too?” TK asks as he snuggles into Carlos’ side, tucking his feet up underneath him.
“Mhmmm” Carlos hums, placing a gentle kiss on TK's forehead. “Seems like Thomas told them at dinner.”
TK nods, “I’m a little surprised, he seemed pretty nervous when he was here, but I’m glad we could be there for him.”
“It’s harder when it’s your parents.” Carlos says softly, and TK knows he’s lost in his own memories of sharing truths with parents when you’re unsure of being accepted. “I’m glad he felt comfortable enough to tell us too.”
“I hope our kids always feel comfortable telling us things.” TK says as he runs his fingertips across Carlos’ chest gently.
Carlos laughs, “You mean like the way Mila absolutely didn’t tell us she was struggling with Algebra.”
TK laughs also, shrugging a little bit, “Eh, I meant about the important things.”
“Algebra is important, TK.”
“I rest my case on the fact that we carry google and a calculator with us everywhere we go. Plus 99% of jobs requiring algebra use computers.”
It’s a debate they’ve repeated since the day they discovered that their oldest daughter was struggling in Algebra and decided to lie to them about it instead of asking for help.
“Firefighters don’t use computers and I’m pretty sure knowing the best fulcrum distance for lifting an object off of a trapped person would come in handy to have memorized.”
TK laughs loudly, fully amused at the lengths his husband is willing to go to win this particular battle, but he just waves his hand, “Eh that’s physics, not algebra.”
Carlos just sighs and covers his eyes with one hand. TK takes advantage of this to shift and press his lips softly to the space just under Carlos’ ear, whispering. “We won’t need algebra for what I have planned tonight.” This earns him a chuckle and an incredulous look as Carlos peaks out at him from beneath his hand. TK just stands pulling Carlos up with him and leads him quietly down the hallways to their bedroom, where they definitely forget about needing algebra.