Countryhumans Oneshots

The Funky Gender of the Northern Carolina

Request by an Anon on my oneshot request form.

For those unaware, this is not my only oneshot book! I also have one for my British Michigan AU oneshots, and one for my Steven Universe x Countryhumans oneshots. Links in the comments for those interested.

North Carolina has always known she wasn't a girl. She didn't know what she was, but it definitely wasn't female.

His gender was confusing to him. He didn't mind using she/her pronouns, but being called a girl never sat right with him. He liked all pronouns; he didn't mind that, but assigning a specific gender to himself never felt right.

They never told anyone. Even when Australia and South Carolina came out as transgender, North Carolina never told anyone. They never got the courage, too, because if they were going to tell everyone they weren't a girl, then they should know who they are.

So she waited, and she waited, and she waited.

California came out as non-binary, but that label didn't fit North Carolina, so she still stayed silent. When Lousiana came out as genderfluid, North Carolina thought that she had finally figured out the gender that fit her. But that didn't either. Her gender never changed. It was never anything that she could easily label.

So North Carolina waited some more.

He should have realized he wouldn't have been able to hide it from his twin forever.

"Are you trans?" South Carolina sprung on him one day, causing North Carolina to let out a startled laugh.

"What? What makes you think that?" North Carolina asked, unable to stop anxiety from pitching their voice upwards.

"You act really uncomfortable with being called a girl like I was with being called a man. I...it's fine if you aren't, but I noticed that and wanted you to know that you can tell me anything," South Carolina said. North Carolina laughed somewhat nervously and nodded.

"Thanks, little sister, that means a lot," they said.

"Hey! Just cause I'm South Carolina doesn't mean I'm younger. Mama and Uncle James said we're the same age and that we were born at the same time when Carolina split!" South Carolina protested, crossing her arms, worry still in her eyes. North Carolina cracked a small grin, hoping that his sister had been distracted enough as not to question her anymore.

He wasn't so lucky.

"Seriously, though, is something bothering you?" South Carolina asked.

"No, I'm fine," North Carolina answered a bit too quickly, based on the raised eyebrow their sister directed their way.

"Are you? I won't tell anyone if you just need someone to talk to about it. I can keep a secret, and Oz will back me on that," South Carolina said. North Carolina said.

"You aren't going to leave me alone about this, are you?" they asked.

"I can leave you alone! But...I just want you to know I'm aware something's up, and I'm willing to talk if you need it," South Carolina said before turning to walk away.

"What if I wasn't a girl? But not a guy or like Cali or Ana? Just...not female, but unsure of what I was. Hypothetically," North Carolina asked. South Carolina paused before sitting down beside her twin.

"Well, I'd say that's pretty cool. Ask you what you want to be called, and tell you that the word for that is genderqueer," South Carolina said. North Carolina's head snapped over to look at his sister.

"There's a word for that?" he exclaimed before blushing and looking away, realizing he had given up any semblance of a ruse.

"Yeah, there is like queer, but specifically for people who don't know what gender they really are. You don't have to have a word for it to know you aren't a girl. I've known I wasn't a man for years, but I never had words like transgender when I was younger. That never meant I knew it any less," South Carolina said.

"I didn't think...I didn't want people to think I was just confused because I didn't have a word for it. I felt...felt I would need something to validate it before it would be believed," North Carolina explained.

"I do believe you. Do you...do you have a preference for pronouns? Should I not use she/her?" South Carolina asked. NorthCarolina sighed.

"No, she is fine. I'm okay with them all. I just hate being called a woman or girl or sister or anything like that," they explained. South Carolina nodded.

"Understood, Northie. Want to tell the others?" she asked.

"No, not yet. I think...I just...don't feel comfortable enough with it yet," North Carolina said. South Carolina nodded, understanding in her eyes.

"I get that. Thank you for telling me. I'm glad I could help you find a word for yourself. Or at least, one that fits better than most," she said. North Carolina smiled.

"Thank you for that."

"Anything for my favorite sibling."

Sibling. That felt nice.