Work Text:
excitement was in the air, for 2 narrow gauge engines, sir handel and peter sam, they had recieved the news that duke, their granpuff was back.
sir handel and peter sam saw the brown small england engine sleeping peacefully in the sheds, they both gasped softly
"he's here!" sir handel grinned
"sshhhh, don't be too loud otherwise you'll wa-"
"you woke me up!"
its duke, who seemed very half-awake
"where's the respect from you both, do i have to remind you that in my young days, engines wer-"
"seen but not heard granpuff we know" peter sam sarcastically said
"sorry, granpuff...." sir handel said sheepishly
duke then just burst with laughter
"i was only messing with you both, i'm happy to see you both again." duke looked fondly at the two
however, duke did notice smth different, the engine who is now peter sam, she.... no... they looked different the last time they saw each other on the mid sodor
"scarlett, can i ask you something?"
"its peter sam but of course granpuff, anything"
"you look different the last time we saw each other.."
"oh, are you talking about my special funnel? yes i got this after i had a-"
"no no, i don't mean that though i will ask about that later.... you sound different. your voice seems to have..... deepened."
peter sam looks at his granpuff and pauses and remembers......
"did they tell you?"
"tell me what?"
"that im no longer.... a girl" peter sam looked to sir handel
"im pretty sure i did request them to tell granpuff that info but i was shunting as they were preparing to head to the arlesdale railway so they probably didn't hear me..."
duke looked very confused
"what do you mean your no longer a girl, peter sam?"
"granpuff, im trans."
duke didn't understand that word, but he did hear the concept of something similar during the 1920s, the concept felt straight of science fiction. but it was real, and it just so happened that one of his mentees was one.
"what he's saying is that he's a boy now. he's not a girl anymore." sir handel chimed in
"i see......." duke said
"is something wrong duke?" the green saddle tank asked nervously
"no.... im confused of that would work...... but..... i wont let this change the fact that you are one of my grandchildren......."
peter sam grinned, "does this mean?"
"i don't care if you are a boy now peter sam, i only care about seeing you both happy and knowing that you are safe....... and at the end of the day, you are still useful no matter what you really are."
peter sam looked at duke
"t-thank you granpuff. that means so much to me."
"good, id rather you both be your authentic selves. even if i need some education on this whole "trans" stuff." duke chuckled a little
"gladly, peter sam and i are more than happy to tell you about this" said sir handel
"now then, with that out the way, we're glad you come home now granpuff. we can keep you in order now." smirked peter sam
duke laughed, "keep me in order?? be with you! impudent scallywags."
the two small engines went off, dukes old eyes twinkled, he did have a lot to think about. but in the end, they were happy and their granpuff couldnt have it any other way.