Ally had… Missed thopse nerds. Both of then had reported what their parents were pulling, getting Ally safe. Ally ended the catch up inviting both to visit and meet the family, elated to havbe the pair back. But Byron had pointed something out apologizing for using ‘Allison’ instantly.

“I thought you always were a guy in girlskin. Why thewyt?”

Why they led to aconversation about his – HIS – anxiety about committing and Byron pointing out that it ewas not only imposter syndrome, but in that stupid and brilliant way, he also said hacing it was fine but rediculous. Ally, Lee, whatever he used, was a guy if he felt like one. Ally felt like one. He hadn’t been called Lee in years. A nickname the pair gave him.Ally sighed, staring at the ceiling of the tiny house inawjkward silence, blinking slowly at the p[opcown stuccoas it sank in. He. And moreover, Byron had praised his binders and promptly gave him some older shirts he didn’t wear. His brother too, just to keep them close when not there. Ally had… A lot to discuss with Tor and his mom. Alex would probably want them over to meet and mother over -it huirt that their parents died – and to know the boys who saved their son. Son! Ally had to think of name changes, because Allison hurt as a first name, androgynous or not! Had to tell Tor! Tell Alex! Tell coworkjers! It was a lot and Ally lay on his backl in Byron’s Devil May Cry shirt, one of many. His mind wanfdered to his powered clothing, with a built in binder. Had the magic known? Of course it knew. Ally rose slowly, removing his shirt ands binder before henshining into Afon Wysg, staring at his reflection.

The same short brown hair with the dyed lock.Same eyes. Same latin mix skin. But he felt masculine as he held his branch. Slowly,Afon Wysg took a few uncomfortable combat stances for styaff heavy fightring. No blows, but he did snap stances, one after another. Effoirtless. Feeling. He didnm’t feel different but for the knowledge ‘I am a man’.

I ama man.

It kept ringing.

I am a man.

Afon Stretched his muscles and snapped back to attention, staring at his reflectiuon. Niot perfect, simply there, with a giant branch for a staff. A page. [9i]Still a page.

He exhaled.

“I have got to get strongewwr.” Afon finally gropwled to himself. Jhe needed to do… Something. Anything. Something symbolic, reinvent, he didn’t know. He just wanted it to feel real.

I am a man.

Afon Wysg poowered down and exhaled, pulling on his binder and the Devilk May Cry shirt and stared at himself. He stoil;l needed to talk to Tor and tell them. He still needed to tell his mom she had a son, not some frazzled egg floating aimlessly in the skillet of gender. Tor was confident outside the binary and Ally loved it. But this felt right. He/they if nothing better but…

He had to talk to Tor. He had to tell his mom. He had to tell them he met his old best friends aghain and they had cauight up, and they had made friends and reaffirmed this even now. With old shirts and flat triths, with a moment taken in from cold [Jaren Ckliouds and that same quiet protectiveness they always gave.

“I’m gonna have to buy a lot of pizza.” Ally sighed to himself, and slipped from the spot to find Tor or Alex. He supposed it was time to talk, and the door to the tiny house close behind him.