Our LGBTQ+ Home

Thank You

The four of them guided me for a few blocks until we reached my new home. It was two stories, with four windows on the front. There was a rainbow flag hanging in one of the window.

"Here we are," says Rose, throwing her arms out to the sides.

"I have to get your room ready first, so you can hang out with the rest in the living room until it's done," said Alex. "By the way, what is your sexuality?"

"Er– I don't know, I like all genders I guess. Is there a name for that?" I replied, looking down.

"Pansexual maybe? That's the attraction to all genders, including non-binary ones."

"That must be it then," I say, smiling. He smiles at me and goes to fix up my new room.

"Why was he asking what my sexuality was?" I asked the others.

"Oh.. It's a surprise.." says Riku, beaming.

I give them a confused look, but drop the subject. Riku takes my arm and leads me into the living room. Despite them saying they don't have much money, the place is pretty well furnished. A slightly disheveled couch sits in the center of the room with a love seat beside it. The walls are light green, and there is a small tv on top of the mantle above the fireplace. A few paintings hang on the wall, all of various flowers.

"Most of the place was already furnished when we got this place, except for the flag in the window," says Xander with a small smile.

At that moment, Alex walks through the doorframe with a big smile on his face. "It didn't take too long, I just had to do a few things. There was already a bed and desk in there, along with a few accessories. Why don't you follow me so I can show you?"

I follow him through a long hallway until we meet a white door with the name "Dylan" scrawled onto a white board. Alex gestures to the doorknob, and I open it slowly.

The room is painted a medium blue, with a bed in the corner and a desk opposite. There's a closet on the far side of the room on the right, open, with my bag inside it.

But, the best part of the room, was the transgender and pansexual flags hanging on the wall above my bed. I smile in awe.

"So this is why you were asking me what my sexuality was.." I say, going up to my bed to touch the corner of the flag.

Alex smiled. "Do you like it?" he asked.

I nod, grinning from ear to ear. I go to where he is, and hug him tightly. He hugs back.

"Thank you," I say softly.

***

After Alex left my room, I go to my closet and get my bag. I open it and take out the few amounts of clothes that I brought, and hang them up on the rack.

I hear a soft knock at my door, and I walk over to open it. Riku is standing there, a small smile on her face.

"Hi Dylan. I, um, was just wondering if you had a binder?" she asks, looking down.

"Er– no I don't, I use ace bandages."

Riku steps forward suddenly and grabs my shoulders. "No, that's dangerous! They can break your ribs! Let me go get Alex, I'll see if he can give you one of his old binders."

She quickly rushes out of the room, with me standing there. I didn't know ace bandages were dangerous..

She comes back in with a flustered Alex. She explains to Alex what happened and asks him if he has an old binder I could use.

"Yes absolutely! Come back to my room, Dylan, let's get you a real binder," he says, pulling my hand and taking me to his room.

He opens the door, and I see a room painted dark blue room, with the transgender, genderfluid, and bisexual flags hanging above his bed. There are fairy lights lining every wall, with glow in the dark planets and stars on his ceiling. He quickly goes to his closet, rummaging through clothes to find a binder while I stare at his room. I guess you could call this his aesthetic.

"Here, this is one of my old ones. We should be similar sizes, so I hope this fits," he says, handing me a black binder. "Try it on, I'll be outside the door. Just tell me to come in when it's on and I'll see if it fits you."

He leaves the room, and I take off my shirt and bandages and slip the binder on. It's not too tight, and not too loose. I pull my shirt back on and look in Alex's mirror. My chest is completely flat. Perfect.

"Alex? You can come back in now," I saw, opening the door to let him through to his room.

"How does it feel?"

"Good. I feel like I can actually breathe now compared to the ace bandages," I laugh lightly, scratching behind my head.

"Great. Remember not to wear your binder when you're sleeping or exercising, and only to wear it no longer than 8 hours, okay?"

"Got it. Thank you for giving this to me."

He beams. "Don't thank me, it was Riku who told me about you wearing bandages to bind."

That's right, I need to thank Riku. Alex puts his hand on my shoulder and waves me off. I return to my own room feeling lighter. I throw away the bandages in the little trash basket next to my new desk.

I leave my room and walk down the long, narrow hallway to find a door with dragons on it with a familiar white board labeled "Rikuuuu ^~^"

I knock on the door, awaiting an answer.

"Come in," says a quiet voice.

I push the door open and find Riku sitting on her bed, reading a book. Her room is painted a deep purple with a single lamp illuminating the room. Various dragons line the walls, looking like they're hand painted.

"Did you paint these?" I point to the dragons on the walls.

"I did," she blushes.

"They look amazing!"

"Thank you.. It took quite some time to make them perfect."

"You're welcome. Er– I just wanted to thank you for telling Alex and myself about the bandages. I didn't know they were so dangerous for you."

"No problem, Dylan. I'm glad I helped."

I smile once again, and back out of her room, leaving her to her book. I close the door behind me and head back to my room.

I take my binder off, even thought I've only had it on for about 15 minutes. It's nearly 9pm, and I'm exhausted from walking the streets for so long. I'm glad to finally have a real bed to sleep on instead of cement beneath a bridge.

I shut off the light and tuck myself into bed, only wearing boxers.

I smile to myself, wondering how lucky I am to have met these people who gave me a home.

authors potato: hey there! hope you liked the new chapter, please vote and comment (: also, if you're reading this, comment your favorite character so far and why O.O thanks for reading, have a wonderful day!

yours truly,
al <3