Trans LuPat

This Was Bound To Happen (Noel)

Synopsis: Kogure refers to Noel with they/them pronouns and leaves the three thieves confused over the sudden change

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"Well, I'm sure they have a reason."

There was a long and awkward silence that followed.

"Did... you just use they for Noel?" Kairi was the one to finally break the silence and ask what was on everyone's mind.

Kogure seemed slightly startled at the question. "Oh... well, that... you would have to ask Noel for more details. Ah, I have to go. Apologies."

And then he was gone, leaving the three thieves staring at each other in confusion. What had just happened?

"That was... weird." Umika commented.

"He's hiding something." Tooma stated.

"Do we ask Noel about this or do we just kinda try to forget it happened?"

"Let's ask him." Kairi paused. "Them? I'm so confused..."

"Where even is Noel?" Umika asked.

"Didn't Noel say something about a meeting the police were having? Maybe that's where... they... are?" Tooma answered.

"Guess we gotta wait till that's over then." Kairi said, sitting down in a chair. "I hope it'll be an easy conversation."

...

It was a few hours later, Noel had shown up at the bistro, looking exhausted from whatever had happened at the meeting. They were laying their head down on a table and watching the three moving around the place. They had been offered some coffee and had accepted.

"So... um, can we ask you something?" Umika was the one to brave starting the conversation.

"Sure." Noel replied, sitting back up.

"Well, uh... Kogure-san was talking about you and he... well, he used they to talk about you." Umika awkwardly fumbled to explain. "Is... is there... a reason?"

Noel stared for a while, not seeming to know what to say. They must've not been prepared for that.

"There was bound to be a slip-up at some point." Noel sighed quietly.

"What's up with the pronouns?" Kairi asked. Noel seemed to be somewhat dodging the question.

Noel didn't reply right away. They were fiddling with their hands on the table. They perhaps looks a bit nervous.

"I... I'm nonbinary." Noel finally said, their voice a whisper. "I've been experimenting with they/them pronouns with Kogure..."

"Oh."

There was another awkward silence as everyone took in the news. No one had really known what to expect as an answer to begin with.

"Do you... like those pronouns?" Tooma questioned.

Noel hesitantly nodded. "I think I do."

"Do you want us to start using them then? Since we know and all." Kairi asked.

Noel was silent as they pondered the offer. Everyone waited. Umika opted to take a seat. They were all kind of just hovering over Noel. Maybe that was making them a bit nervous?

"If... you want to try, I wouldn't mind." Noel finally decided on their answer.

"Then we'll try to remember." Umika smiled. "Though, if we use it with the police... they'll start asking you all these questions again, won't they?"

"Right..." Noel sighed. "Maybe I should tell them..."

"You can take your time. We can try to avoid switching pronouns around them."

"You'll eventually mess up. I should just get it over with. I've been putting off this conversation for ages."

"I think our conversation went well." Kairi commented.

"It wasn't that bad." Noel agreed, cracking a small smile.

"If you need help, just let us know then. Maybe we can make it easier somehow?" Tooma offered.

"Thank you all. I'll keep it in mind for when I decide to do it."