ᴛᴏᴍᴏʀʀᴏᴡ ɪꜱ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴅᴀy ᴀɴᴅ yᴏᴜ ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴅᴇ ᴀᴡᴀy

[thefreak]

x tfln overflow, psls, etc.
x any canon point; au's and crosscanon friendly!

Comments

for hairsprayed

[thefreak]

x

[ Well that was the most anticlimactic response and yet probably the best he could have ever hoped for! ]

Yes, genius. [ and then a minute later: ] That's...not going to be a problem, is it?

[hairsprayed]

Robin's gay.

[ Shit... Is he allowed to tell gay people about each other? Shit shit shit. ]

And my best friend. So not a problem. At all.

[thefreak]

[ Steve's lucky that Eddie clocked that one in already -- he and Robin already had The Talk™️ so he can rest easy knowing he didn't fuck this up. ]

Yeah, it's just. Sometimes it's different with guys, when people find out? So. Thank you, for not freaking out on me.

[hairsprayed]

Yep, no freaking out here.

[ He's totally freaking out, but more about what to say rather than the fact that Eddie is gay. Maybe a little about that, but he's trying not to dwell on it. ]

People get weird when they think you can be into them, right? Something like that? I mean, you're not gonna like every guy just because you're gay. I don't like everyone I meet. Actually I can't stand any of the chicks that've been flirting with me lately.

[thefreak]

Yeah, that's exactly it. Like, just because I like other guys doesn't mean I like you, man, don't flatter yourself.

[ A moment later, he realizes that maybe he should have been a bit more clear on this - ]

Not. I'm not talking to you in this hypothetical situation...that's not making it any better is it

[hairsprayed]

Hey, I wasn't gonna say anything! But I'm also not assuming you like me like that. Definitely not your type. Not like that would change me being ok with you being gay, just so you know.

[thefreak]

Well...I wouldn't say you're not not my type.

But thank you, people like you are few and far between around here. So it's nice to know you've got my back.

[hairsprayed]

Really? Not to boring or straightedge or whatever.

Well I mean... everyone thinks about shit like that, right?

[thefreak]

Stevie. I've seen you take on a bunch of demobats, you are *definitely* not boring.

I don't know about everyone. Why, have you been thinking about shit like that?

[hairsprayed]

I hope none of you forget about that otherwise I'm going back to being called mom and I like this a lot more.

No, I'm pretty sure everyone can see how attractive someone is, even if they're both guys or girls. Like, people are hot, you might want to smooch them, no big deal.

[thefreak]

Yeah, well, the kids have taken to calling me dad, so.

Yes, I think it's normal to be able to appreciate someone's looks regardless of your sexual orientation, but that's kind of the thing. I've never had thoughts of smooching a girl, so...

[hairsprayed]

Why do you get to be dad and I'm mom?!

Oh... But... I mean, I like girls a lot, so I can't be gay.

[thefreak]

Because, that's just the way it is. Sorry, pretty boy.

Welcome to the wonderful world of bisexuality, Stevie.

[hairsprayed]

What the fuck is bisexuality?

[thefreak]

It's when you're attracted to more than one sex or gender, so both men and women in your case.

[hairsprayed]

... You can do that?

[thefreak]

Wow, yes you can. You've heard of David Bowie, right?

[hairsprayed]

Yeah but it's not like I know the guy's sex life.

So... Wait, can I ask you something?

[thefreak]

Fair, him coming out as bisexual was a pretty big deal in the queer community.

What's up, buttercup?

[hairsprayed]

Robin's the only gay person I know. Knew. She was the only one before you. I mean no one's really been around to tell me hot queer news.

How did you know it wasn't just, like, curiosity? Or more than general appreciation? Like what if I think guys can be hot, whatever, that doesn't mean I'm gay-- bisexual-- but how'd you know it was more than that?

[thefreak]

...you make a good point.

Well, it was kind of easy for me, I knew I wasn't looking at girls the way the rest of the guys around me were. And let's just say the locker room was an eye opening experience.

Like, okay, take one of those guys you think are hot, can you close your eyes and picture yourself fooling around with them? Because that was a pretty big tell on my part.

[hairsprayed]

[ The reply comes at a longer delay than all the other messages Steve has sent. ]

Fuck. Yeah, locker rooms are a thing. And yeah... yeah I can.

[thefreak]

Take it from someone who has been through all of this. It's going to suck, you're going to feel ashamed just for being who you are, but it's so worth knowing this part of you exists. And you've got me and Robin to help you through this. And Steve?

Thanks for trusting me with all of this.

[ It doesn't occur to Eddie until after he presses send that this is perhaps the first time he's called Steve by his actual name ]

[hairsprayed]

I can't imagine not being able to ask people about shit like this. But also, if I get annoying about it, tell me to shut the fuck up, alright?

Yeah I mean, thanks for being so cool about me... literally figuring it out just now. Wow. Also thanks for trusting me with your stuff too. Obviously I'm not going to blurt it out like I did with Robin earlier.

[thefreak]

Hey, no, you're not going to get annoying, that's what I'm here for. We'll, one of the things I'm here for anyway. I was in your shoes once, young grasshopper, I would have killed to have a queer sensei.

I know you won't. And I won't, either. Especially around the kids. Like they'd be cool about it, I'm sure, but also they don't know how to keep a secret for shit.