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Ollie didn’t blame Marshal John. Really.
He’d sworn it to Marshal John and he’d sworn it to Chip and he’d sworn it to Miss Jay, and he’d stick by it. He didn’t blame Marshal John. At all.
But. Well. He hadn’t been expecting the ship to take off.
He’d had a stupid fight with his mum, and in the heat of the moment, he’d packed his things and run away in the middle of the night, full of anger and indignation. But wandering through the streets of Zero, it hadn’t taken him long to cool off and think things over, admitting to himself that maybe he’d been a bit rash. But it was far too late to find his way back and he was so tired, that he decided to just take a short nap before heading home.
Ollie was by the docks by then, by pure chance. He didn’t often go to the docks anymore, because of the Navy. Like most of the children along his street, he’d been cautioned against wandering too close to where the Navy had set up base.
But he was so sleepy, and the closest place was an unguarded ship, and before he knew it, he was sneaking on board and finding a nice warm corner of the ship to curl up in. He’d find his mum in the morning and apologise. Just after a short nap.
Ollie hadn’t been expecting the ship to take off, captained by one Marshal John. He hadn’t been expecting to be swept up into a world of pirates and sea-faring adventures.
The good news was that he’d packed his binder. And his TRT pills. If his mum wasn’t probably upset at him running away, she’d be so proud of him for remembering.
The bad news was that he was almost out of his pills. And he hadn’t told any of his crew that he was trans.
He didn’t blame Marshal John. Except maybe a tiny bit.
“Young Oliver, what ails you so?”
Ollie did his best to look normal. “W-what do you mean? Nothing! I’m completely fine!”
Gillion squinted down at him. “No, you look miserable and especially small. Like a sad baby guppy.”
Ollie pouted. He did not look like a sad baby guppy.
“Speak candidly,” Gillion commanded him. “Why are you so miserable?”
Ollie sighed. There was no getting around it really. He’d have to tell them if he wanted them to stop at an island and maybe help him buy some T. That didn’t make it any easier.
“I’ve run out of my meds,” he admitted glumly, arms crossed.
Gillion’s eyes widened. “You are unwell? Why didn’t you speak up earlier? Here, let me heal whatever ails you.”
Ollie swatted a glowing hand away. “No, Gillion- Gill! It’s not something you can just heal with magic.”
Gillion looked deeply confused for a few moments and Ollie felt nervous. Gillion was a fish – did he even have stuff like testosterone? Did he know what being trans meant? Ollie took a deep breath and prepared himself to explain but-
“I will go get Jay and she can heal you,” Gillion decided, and he was off in a blur of movement.
Ollie blinked. Within seconds, he could hear voices outside in the hallway, arguing. And then Gillion was bursting back into the room, closely followed by Jay and Chip.
“Young Oliver is sickly and weak,” Gillion was explaining earnestly. “Jay, you must help heal him.”
Ollie’s jaw dropped. “Hey! I’m not weak!”
Chip grinned at him and ruffled his hair. “’Course not, kid. But do you know what Gill’s on about?”
Ollie huffed, glaring at Gillion’s legs. “No.”
Stupid fish. Stupid TRT. Stupid Marshal John.
Jay looked concerned. “Have you been hiding an injury, Ollie?”
“No!”
Ollie glared at Gillion once more before gritting his teeth. “I just- I need to go onshore somewhere. To get my meds.”
Some of the confusion seemed to clear from Jay’s face, but she was still frowning. “We’re still a few days off the nearest city. Is it something that’s pretty easy to find?”
Ollie’s face fell. Dammit! He should’ve mentioned it days ago when he first started getting low on T. But he’d chickened out and now he’d have to deal with the stupid mood swings and tiredness that came with his mistake. It was his own fault.
“Hey, Gill, Jay? Would you mind leaving us alone for a bit?”
Ollie was glad when they did it without argument, because he was ready to cry. Chip seemed to sense that, crouching down to his level. “Hey Ollie, what’s going on?”
Ollie stared at the floor, determined not to cry. It took him a good few moments to furiously blink back the tears.
“Can I ask about the medication you need?”
Ollie sighed deeply, cursing Gillion Tidestrider’s name in his mind. “It’s T,” he hedged. “I- I’m trans.”
He didn’t dare look up at Chip, but the captain was so close anyway, he could see the surprise on his face for just a second, before it morphed into a grin.
“Yeah? Me too.”
Ollie’s jaw dropped, head shooting up to meet Chip’s eyes. “No fucking way!”
“Hey! Language!”
Ollie hit him on the arm in excitement. “No fucking way! Are you serious?”
Of course he was serious! Chip wouldn’t- Chip wouldn’t joke about something like that. Right?
“Of course,” Chip laughed.
“This is so fucking cool!” Ollie was bouncing up and down.
He’d never- Zero was such a small community. There was maybe like one other trans person in the town, and they were like old enough that Ollie was scared to interact with them. Back in Zero, he’d been the only person like him in their school that he knew about. He definitely didn’t have any friends who he could talk about it to.
But here was Chip! One of the coolest people Ollie had ever met! The freaking captain of the Riptide Pirates! And he was just like Ollie!
“Holy shit!” Ollie almost shouted at him.
Chip laughed at him again, but it was affectionate, and it was like he couldn’t help but go in for a hug. Ollie smashed into him just as enthusiastically, hugging him as tightly as he could.
“This is so fucking cool,” he mumbled again, into Chip’s shoulder.
When Ollie finally detached himself, Chip’s smile was brilliant and his eyes looked a little watery as he ruffled Ollie’s hair again.
“Well, good news is that I can probably help you out with your T issue until we both stock up next city. You get the pills, right?”
Ollie had almost forgotten why they were here, but at Chip’s words he brightened. “Yeah!”
“Alright, what’s your dosage?”
Ollie told him. Could barely keep himself from bouncing up and down when Chip said he could definitely make it work.
“I’m sorry that Gill made it so you had to come out to me,” Chip apologised gently. “He and Jay both know I’m trans. Gill is actually weirdly clued-up about this stuff. Apparently it’s like super common with fish. He’s not as familiar with how us humans do it, but he never would’ve put you in a position like that if he’d known.”
Ollie honestly wasn’t that mad. Gillion hadn’t forced him to come out. He’d been trying to help, in his own way. And Ollie’d known he was going to have to tell someone soon anyway.
“It’s okay!” he chirped. “He didn’t know.”
The excitement was buzzing, under his skin, he couldn’t keep still. This was the best day ever. He’d never- He hadn’t expected- God, he had so many fucking questions. And now he had someone he could ask them to.
Chip was still looking at him that same way, expression unreservedly fond, and blinking back the tears that Ollie had been fighting earlier. And Ollie couldn’t help barrelling back into his arms again, squeezing him like a vice. Chip let out a grunt but returned the hug with a chuckle.
“This is the best fucking day ever,” Ollie declared, and Chip let out a choked-up sound before releasing him, a hand swiping at his eyes quickly.
“You’ve been binding safely, right?”
Ollie rolled his eyes. “Duh. My mom would kill me if I wasn’t. It’s been kind of annoying washing my binder myself though.”
“Do you only have one?” Chip asked curiously.
Ollie pulled a face. “Yeah.”
Chip smiled. “You know, we’re not too far away from an island I know – this seamstress there makes the best fucking binders I’ve ever tried. I’m sure the others won’t mind a quick stop there.”
“Really??”
“Really.”
Ollie was going to fucking explode with happiness. The best fucking day ever, holy shit. He couldn’t wait to tell his mom.
“Are you alright with Jay and Gill knowing?” Chip asked after a moment. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to – I can make something up for them.”
Ollie knew that sometimes Chip wasn’t the smartest guy. He’d definitely heard stories about the last time Chip had lied to Gillion – a fight to the death in an ice arena, if Old Man Earl was telling the truth, or a squabble between two fucking idiots, if Miss Jay was to be believed.
Valiantly, he shook his head. “No, it’s okay! You said they’re cool with you, right?”
“Yeah, for sure.”
“Then, I don’t mind.”
Even if Chip was one of the coolest fucking captains ever, Ollie would heroically save him from getting his ass kicked by Gillion for lying to him again. And privately, he really didn’t mind. Gillion and Jay had been really nice to him so far, and they clearly didn’t have an issue with Chip being trans, so he didn’t have to worry about them being transphobic.
Chip grinned. “Alright. I’ll go grab them.”
It only took a moment for Chip to stick his head out the door and holler for Jay and Gillion, before the two were re-entering the room, Gillion’s brow still furrowed in worry. Jay looked a little concerned too, until she caught sight of Ollie and seemed to relax at the sight of his beaming smile.
“Is everything alright?” Jay asked.
Chip shot Ollie a questioning look, and at his firm nod, smiled at Jay. “Yeah, we’re all good. Just need to pick up some extra T at the next city.”
“Chip’s gonna help me get a new binder!” Ollie chimed in exuberantly, needing to share his elation with someone.
Jay smiled at him. “That’s fantastic!”
The confusion faded from Gillion’s expression and he placed a hand on Ollie’s shoulder. “Ah, I understand now. That sounds like wonderful news, Ollie. I am very glad to know you are uninjured.”
Ollie beamed up at him. “Thanks, Gill!”
Gillion’s support made him feel warmer than he expected, and Jay’s expression was softer than he’d ever seen it – that same affection that Chip kept exhibiting, and Chip was smiling at him proudly – someone just like him, who was going to help him get T and binders and-
Wow.
It was more than he’d ever dared to hope for.
Maybe Ollie owed Marshal John a thank you after all.