Red, White & Royal Blue Stories

• Coming Out • Alex § Henry § Romeo •

𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐
• ———— •

"I can do this"

"You can do this"

"I can do this"

"You can definitely do this"

"...I can't do this"

"Oh god-"

"Anya, I can't" Romeo spun to face his best friend, dragging a hand through his ragged, short hair. "Not only will they kill me for cutting my own hair-"

"Technically I cut it"

"But they'll also kill me for not telling them sooner!" He exasperated, worriedly chewing his nail, unforgiving to the stinging pain erupting through the tips of his fingers.

"No, they won't" Anya deadpanned, walking away from Romeo's bed and running a hand through his dirty blond hair, squinting her eyes at her handy work. She had cut her own hair from time to time and she must admit, it wasn't half bad. Especially considering she's never attempted a 'boy' cut before.

"What if they're transphobic?" he finally said, brown eyes almost tearing up at the thought. Anya groaned.

"Henry's best friend is non-binary!"

"So? He may not have wanted his daughter to turn-... to turn into a boy, I don't know" he covered his face, imaging all of their possible reactions, and only a handful of them were positive.

Anya sighed again, "you have... such an inferiority complex"

"Anya!"

"I mean it" she pushed his shoulder lightly, "dude, c'mon, they're not gonna fucking hate you. If you want parents to hate you, come out to mine" she tossed her hand into the air, raising her eyebrows. Romeo stared at her from a moment, frowning deeply.

"At least you're straight"

She snorted, "it's a blessing"

"Shut up" he scoffed, "you're the default"

"I didn't take you for the kind of guy to be heterophobic" she replied mockingly, Romeo groaned and walked away from her as she laughed, holding an arm across her stomach.

Anya was sweet when she wanted to be, and has been since the day he first came out to her, but at this point he could recognise his own worries were getting a bit ridiculous. His parents weren't transphobic, he knew deep down when he does come out to them they'll embrace him with open arms - but as soon as he does it'll start the journey he was terrified to begin. Taking hormone blockers, talking about surgery, visiting gender therapists and starting testosterone.

It sounded incredible but terrifying all the same. And what happens when it starts to become noticeable? Not only will he have to come out to his family, he'll eventually have to come out to the whole world if he didn't want to be misgendered and dead named in the news everyday.

It was all scary. He wanted to take it slow, grow more accustomed to his gender identity and body before anything.

Maybe they'll be understanding. Maybe they'll go crying to Pez for help. He didn't know which he'd prefer.

"I'm going to tell them in a fucking minute" Anya spoke up, breaking Romeo's silence.

"Stop" he murmured, scratching behind his ear. "I... just need a moment, will you stay in here while-"

The door abruptly rushed open and Nora poked her head in, smile dropping when her eyes landed on Romeo. He tensed, instinctively reaching to grab Anya's hand. She took a small step halfway in front of him.