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It’s mid-afternoon on a lazy day in the Bureau of Balance. Everyone, without even discussing it, seems to have made a group decision that today is the day of nothing. No work. No drama. No life changing epiphanies. In everyone’s mind, it was more than time for the workers of the bureau to get a break. Even the Director seemed to allow herself rest – nobody had seen her leave her room. People could only presume that she was catching up on the five years of sleep she must have missed running this place.
Taako sits on his bed with a blanket wrapped around himself comfortably, levitating a book in front of his face and using his free hands to paint his nails the prettiest shade of pink he has. He could easily use spells to do this, but it’s therapeutic in a way. The repetitive motion and the normality of it all is a nice contrast in comparison to the constant abnormal bullshit that has become his day-to-day life. Plus, it’s a goddamn pretty colour, it matches his skirt and he’s seeing his boyfriend later. It’s a treat yo’ self day.
He makes the page flip and continues to read as he blows on his nails, looking at them with a sense of satisfaction. It feels nice that he has someone else to dress up for. Himself, obviously – Taako is good at that anyway. But it’s nice to dress up for Kravitz. Tall, dark and handsome personified and dating him, which is pretty damn neat, if Taako does say so himself.
Just as Taako moves on to paint his nails on his left hand, his train of thought is interrupted with three loud, rapid knocks on his door. The sudden noise makes him jump and, sadly, paint pink nail polish all across his pinky finger.
“Oh my fuck.” Taako curses to himself, looking at his ruined artistry. “Whoever it is, I better like you, or I will burn a fucking spell slot on you for ruining my nails!”
“Oh, uh, sorry sir!” The voice from behind the door shouts back.
It’s Angus.
Of course it is.
Taako sighs because he knows that whatever it is the curly haired kid wants, he’s practically got it already, date preparation be damned. Though Taako would never admit to it aloud and try as he might to keep it as lowkey as possible, Angus has Taako wrapped around his finger.
“Can I come in?” Angus shouts, an edge of hopefulness evident in his voice.
“Ugh,” Taako sighs. He allows his book to drop onto his bed and puts the nail polish aside before answering. “Fine.”
Taako flops back on his bed, sprawling across it and not even glancing at Angus as he walks in. Angus is no stranger to visiting Taako in his room by now – it’s a mix between a classroom and a safehaven for him. He’s still polite, of course, because it’s Angus, but he is comfortable enough to hop up onto Taako’s bed and shuffle over to sit beside him. Taako pushes back a smirk as the redhead enters his line of sight, big brown eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses blinking at him expectantly.
“Sup, kiddo?” Taako asks, shifting slightly to look at Angus. “Don’t tell me you’re here to ask for more lessons. We practiced yesterday, and I had to let your baby ass nap on my couch.”
“You could have moved me, sir! But, uh – that’s not the point. I wanted to ask you some for some advice?”
Taako raises an eyebrow. Admittedly, that is not a sentence he hears often. “Go on…”
Angus lets out a huff of breath then in a small sigh of relief. He fiddles with his hands nervously, his thumbs twiddling as he thinks out his next words. Taako smiles to himself at the sight.
“So, uh. Um. Y’know how everyone calls me the world’s greatest boy detective?” He asks tentatively. His voice is small and lacks the confidence it’s been full of in recent weeks.
“Well,” Taako teases. “Not everyone. But some people, if they’re trying to suck up to you.”
Offence flashes on Angus’ face for a moment and the kid practically pouts before Taako nudges him lightly, signalling for him to continue speaking. Angus fiddles some more. Pauses. Goes to speak a few times and pauses, thinking again. Taako is patient enough to surprise everyone, including himself, by how patient he is throughout.
“Uh. So, I think I’m still definitely the world’s greatest detective!” He says cheerfully before an air of seriousness and doubt makes its way into his tone. “But I’m not so sure about the boy part of it.”
Taako chuckles, raising both eyebrows and smirking at the boy before him. “Oh, is that what this is? You think you’re a man now, hotshot? Angus McDonald: Certified Dude.”
Angus looks a little disheartened at that, bringing Taako to stop laughing and sit up, mirroring Angus’ crossed legged position while facing him. “Ango?”
“I… It’s not that, Taako. I don’t think I’m a dude. Or a boy. Or a man. Or… anything, really?” He says. He stares down at his purple and blue striped socks – a present from Magnus – and swallows, not daring to glance up.
Taako’s ears prick up at Angus’ words and he lets out a quiet “oh,” realising just how much of a huge thing this is. Not that Angus is more than likely not cisgender, but the fact that Angus is choosing to tell Taako. The fact that Angus trusts Taako with this, and wants Taako’s support and approval. It feels like a punch in the heart. In a good way.
“Can you explain what you mean some more, pumpkin? I know I’m talented as shit but I’m not a mind reader.” Taako says. He speaks much more softly without even thinking to and lifts Angus’ head up gently. Realises he’s acting like a parent. Realises he likes it, if it’s looking after Angus. Experiences heart punch number two.
“Okay, sir, I’ll try. It’s… pretty confusing. I don’t think I’m a boy. But I don’t think I’m a girl, either. And I know all about the gender spectrum and stuff! Like, there’s people who change how they feel and stuff. But, uh… is it okay if I don’t feel like anything?” Angus asks. Before Taako can answer, Angus speaks again.
“This… doesn’t make me weird, or wrong, does it?”
Heart punch in the bad way.
Taako shakes his head quickly, tutting slightly and pushing Angus’ glasses up on his nose. “No. Not at all, dummy. You’re the world’s greatest detective! Kiddo, you don’t need a gender to kick ass. Fuck gender! And… Hey, you remember me telling you about Roswell? They weren’t a dude or a gal any of the time. That’s why they used they/them pronouns. You get them, right?”
Angus nods, a hint of a smile growing on his face. Taako beams back at him and feels a pride wash over him greater than any he’s ever felt. He thought cooking for crowds made him feel good – he realises that the pride he felt for his show was nothing, not even close to the pride he feels at watching Angus discover himself.
“Alright, my dude – wait. Are you okay with that?” He pauses, only continuing when Angus nods in confirmation. “Okay, cool, cool. Listen – I think we should talk about this shit. Like, figure out a label if you wanna. Pronouns if you wanna. Shit, a new name if you wanna-“
“I’m… not sure about pronouns. But I like Angus.” He cuts in, slightly timid. “I can still be Angus, right?”
“Kid,” Taako says, with full sincerity. He puts one of his hands on the Angus’ cheeks. “Look, you know I don’t do this serious shit much – no thank you madam, I don’t like that crap. So gimmie a break if this goes to shit in a… uh, whatever that phrase is. But seriously – this is all about you, Ango. What you want. What feels right for you. If you wanna keep something, keep it. You wanna change it? Do that shit! And if you change your mind? That’s cool too. This is all about you, okay? And, no kidding, I will get Magnus to kill anyone who talks shit about you.”
Angus’ face lights up so much so that Taako feels as though he should be wearing goddamn sunglasses. But he takes it as a good sign when Angus keeps smiling and nodding enthusiastically. Taako pats his cheek lightly before standing up.
“Give me a minute, pumpkin.” He says, grabbing his Stone of Farspeech before walking further away. Almost instantly, he’s talking to Kravitz.
“Hey, babe - kinda bad news? I gotta cancel on date night. Something’s came up.”
“Is everything alright, Taako? Are you in danger?” Kravitz asks, worry evident in his voice. Taako snorts.
“Nah, nah, we cool. I… Gotta talk to Ango about some shit tonight. I’ll explain later if he lets me?”
He hears Kravitz laugh and almost hates the butterflies it leaves in his stomach. Almost. “Is this the Angus that annoys you so much, dear?”
“My dude, shut up. Stop being a smartass. I’m just a great guy.” Taako replies, all bark and no bite.
“Sure you are, honey. I’ll make sure to visit soon. Good luck with the child you supposedly hate.” Kravitz chuckles again, amusement lacing his tone.
“I will magic missile your ass. Don’t go telling people I feel things. It’ll ruin the whole cool guy show I got going for me.” Taako smirks, contemplating ending the connection but hesitating and deciding to say one last thing. “Miss you though, Krav. See you soon.”
He ends the connection with a smile and glances back at Angus, who remains sat on his bed. He does try to keep the whole cool guy act. He does try to act like he doesn’t love Angus as much as Angus clearly and unconditionally loves him. But, hey, when the kid is on his bed looking like an excitable puppy, try has to be the key word.