BATIM Oneshots

You Disrespect Them, You Disrespect Me

Requested by DarkNadia
[Platonic]
Parent! Henry & Non-binary! Boris
Disclaimer: I haven't written a lot of nb content before so if I slip up on something about it please correct me. I'm cis but I've tried my hardest to do whatever research I can.
Warning: Political topics (really just a mention of conservative stereotype)
—

Henry had always been a father at heart. This means that naturally, when the toons came to be around the studio, he practically adopted them right on the spot. He'd made these toons and watched them grow in the stories he created, so of course he already thought of them as his own.

That's why he always made sure to try and be the best father figure he could be despite his clear lack of experience. He made sure to try and help teach them right from wrong and make sure they felt loved and safe enough to tell him anything that could possibly be on their minds.

So, it's easy to assume that he was just as kind and loving whenever Boris, his oldest, came out to him that they were non-binary. In fact, Henry practically lit up whenever Boris opened up to him, since Boris was usually the least likely to open up compared to some of the other kids. Then on, Henry made sure to do everything in his power to help Boris feel comfortable. He let everyone in the studio know so that the workers could get used to the pronouns, he helped Boris find a shirt to wear with their overalls if they ever felt the need to, he even got Boris a pride pin that upcoming June. Boris nearly cried when they saw how happy their father was, and seemed to grow a lot more open themselves because of it.

However, sadly not everyone accepted this news right away.

There was Brandon, a very religious intern who already didn't appreciate the demon symbolism in the show. Boris had been his favorite character just because he wasn't a demon or a villain, and the two had become friends when he first started working there. After Boris came out though, he seemed to just try and avoid everyone, focusing on his work instead.

There was also Janet, who was a sophisticated cello player in the band. She was a nasty woman from the beginning and openly extremely conservative. Many of the workers were surprised she hadn't been fired after coming into work the first day of June and immediately going directly to Joey Drew, demanding that the flags around the office be taken down. That just led to embarrassment for her however, since Joey was openly gay and wearing a rainbow tie when she walked in.

The worst though, was whenever the two would come together. That's where this special event begins.

The day was going normally, just like any other day. On this day, Boris was set to have a recording session in the band hall with their younger sister, Alice. Today, Boris chose to wear a pale pink sweater that Susie had sewn for them as a gift and their pride pin, much to the disgust of a certain intern and cello player.

Within a couple hours they get most of the recording done, so Boris decides to meet up with Henry in the break room for lunch. They go in and grab a can of soup and bowl from the cabinet, pouring the soup and putting it into the microwave. While he waits, Janet and Brandon enter the break room. Janet gives a quiet scoff then the two head to a table. Boris glances back at them with a confused look, tilting their head. Since they were mute, they held up their hands and started signing towards them.

"Is everything okay, Ms. Janet?"

Janet glances at the wolf, rolling her eyes. "Use your words, wolf boy..."

Boris' head droops a little. They pull out a notepad from their pocket and write out a phrase, showing it to her.

'I can't talk, so I have to use this. Also, I am not a boy, I am non binary, please respect my pronouns. You seemed upset when you walked in and I wanted to know if you were okay is all.'

Janet reads the page, rolling her eyes again. "That doesn't exist, wolf boy. Stop trying to be some kind of special snowflake."

Brandon pipes up as well. "Put on some actual clothes too, you're a man, men shouldn't wear pink fuzzy sweaters unless their visiting their grandma that made it for them."

Boris tenses a little at their remarks, scribbling on their notepad.

'Sir, I am not a man. I've never felt like a man or a woman. Why can't you respect that?'

Brandon takes the notepad from Boris, ripping the pages out. "Speak to me like a man instead of hiding behind that notepad, boy."

Boris tenses more, quickly leaving the break room, their soup left abandoned in the microwave. A couple minutes later, Henry Stein himself walks into the break room. He notices the soup in the microwave, the can left on the counter, and the torn notepad on the floor. He glances to Janet and Brandon, raising an eyebrow as he picks up the notepad.

"Was Boris in here? I thought they wanted to sit with me for lunch?" Henry asked them.

Janet scoffs. "So the boy even has his own father wrapped up in his scheming..."

Henry holds back a glare. "Uh... excuse me?"

Brandon sips his coffee. "She's right, you know. You do realize that your son is, in fact, a man right?"

Henry clenches his lunch bag a little tighter. "Not my son. My child. You should respect them as such, considering I am the assistant CEO and what you're saying could be considered discriminatory. You disrespect them, you disrespect me."

Janet laughs. "Discrimination?! Really... we're suddenly being discriminatory because we won't put up with your kids bullshit?"

Henry allows himself to glare, pocketing the notepad. "It's not bullshit, it's who they are. You two are being unreasonably mean to them. I'll be reporting you to Mr. Drew. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go find my child and have lunch with them!" He grabs the soup from the microwave and a spoon then storms out.

Henry's able to find Boris within about five minutes, seeing as they didn't go too far. He finds them hiding out in one of Wally's closets, holding their pin in their hands with a sad expression. Henry's heart hurts seeing his child so upset. He sits down in front of them, setting their soup beside them. He gives a warm smile.

"Hey, kiddo... you doin' okay? I just had a little confrontation with Ms. Janet and Mr. Brandon in the break room. I'm guessing they hurt your feelings pretty bad, huh?"

Boris looks up at him with a sad nod, holding up their hands.

'They ripped up my notepad...'

Henry nods, pulling it out of his pocket. "I know... it was cheap though, I'll get you a new one..." He smiles, looking down at the pin. "Hey, why'd you take it off?"

Boris looks at it, shrugging. Henry gently takes it from them, pinning it back onto their overalls.

"Look, there's mean people everywhere... I've had people criticize me too for being bi. For being an artist instead of having a 'man's job'," he makes air quotes, "For pretty much everything about me. It happens to everyone one point or another, but that's okay." He takes Boris' hands in his own. "The best thing we can do is stand tall and be proud of who we are. Show them that their words can't effect us. Plus, of course, put in a complaint to Mr. Drew for their awful behavior." Henry gives a playful smile. Boris smiles as well, giving the silent motions of laughter. They hug each other then enjoy their lunch.

Janet ended up quitting about a week later. Brandon about a month later. They should've known that a good father will always stick up for his children no matter what.