Warblers Pride Oneshots

June 4: (s)(t)(he)(y) [Wevid]

Brook took a deep breath, walking over to Wes. They hoped he'd understand, that he'd accept the change.

"Wes?"

"Hm? Oh, hey, Kayden," he greeted them, looking up from his notebook.

They sat across from him, half-wishing they hadn't said anything, that they didn't have to go through that undoubtedly awkward conversation. "Um, I need to talk to you about something. It's about the Warblers, in a way, but it's more personal."

"You can talk to me about anything. Well, unless it's very personal."

They chuckled, his joke giving them the strength to plow forwards. "I go by Brook now. And, um, they or them. I'm nonbinary, I've known for a while but I'm officially coming out now. Um, it means—"

Wes cut them off with a small laugh. "I know what nonbinary means. I can go back and change your name in the records—"

"No, you don't have to do all that," Brook interrupted.

"Then what part is about the Warblers?"

"I was just hoping you could use my new name and pronouns in the meetings."

"Of course, why wouldn't I?" His smile faded as he saw the look on their face, and he got serious. "I will, Brook."

—

"Oh, also, Kayden changed their name to Brook," Wes said at the Council meeting later. "And prefers they/them pronouns."

Thad laughed, flipping through the file. "Yeah, we were there."

Wes paused. "You— What?"

"When they walked up on the coffee table in the commons and announced it." Thad's smile faded as he saw the look on Wes's face. "Wait, were you not there?"

"No. They approached me all nervously in the library and told me they'd changed their name and pronouns. Then they started to explain what nonbinary meant and I said I already knew. They asked if I could use their new name and pronouns in meetings. I guess I figured they were nervous about coming out," they said bitterly.

"Well, when did they tell you? Maybe it was before they told everyone else and they got more confident," David suggested optimistically. "They announced it in the commons a bit before lunch."

Wes sighed. "It was around four in the afternoon when they told me."

"Oh, Wes," he said sympathetically, taking their hand.

"I just wish—"

The door opened and Wes immediately yanked his arm away, looking over. It was a sophomore.

"I wanted to talk to you all," he said, looking nervous.

Thad smiled welcomingly. "Come in. What is it?"

He stood in front of them. "Well, it's not a big thing, really, but I want to be called Jack instead of Jackson now, so I was hoping you could do that in meetings."

David nodded as Thad made a note. "Of course."

There was a pause, and Wes realized the boy was looking at him. "Yes?"

"Just... You still call Nick his full name, I just wanted to..." he said awkwardly.

Wes took a deep breath, willing himself not to explode. "I will call you Jack."

"Thank you. Um, that's all."

He left, and Wes smacked their head down on his desk, not saying anything. David rubbed their back soothingly.