It’s after Lazytown’s first Pride parade. Some people have gone home. A few are still in the plaza, chatting or swapping pictures from the day. Trix is showing everyone the new haircut he wants get. Pixel is holding a “she/her” button and looking deep in thought. Stingy is on the phone with their long distance boyfriend. Bessie and Milford packed up their Pan pride flag and left not long ago, escorting a sleepy Ziggy home. He’s still trailing rainbow confetti.
Stephanie sits on a bench apart from everyone else. Sportacus knows he should get to bed soon, 8:08 is long past, but he makes his way over to Stephanie. As he gets closer, he can tell she’s upset. Her over bright eyes are trained up at the stars, mouth in a thin line.
“Did you have fun today?” he asks, sitting beside her. She nods. Gently, he follows up with, “What’s the matter, then?”
“Just,” she gulps. “I never want to leave Lazytown.”
“Because- because we can do things like this.” She gestures to the decorations and signs and booth others are still cleaning up. “It’s so safe here. Out there,” she looks up again, “I knows things are harder. I see Uncle’s newspaper every morning. People are killed or worse for no reason.”
Stephanie turns fully to Sportacus now. She’s shaking and tears are finally dripping down her cheek. “Out there, people would hate me just being with Trix. They’d attack Trix for being Trix.” A hand heavy with pride flag bracelets comes up to whip her face. “I never want to leave. It’s not worth it the risk.”
Sportacus shushes her and pulls her into a hug. Stephanie clings to him automatically. 8 years has honed the reflex.
“Listen to me,” he tells her softly. “The world isn’t always what you read on the front page of the newspaper. I’ve seen a lot of it. There are good people out there, Stephanie. Good people, and people doing good.” He rests his chin on the top of her head and shuts his eyes as faces from memories fly past his mind’s eye. “I have seen people fight for total strangers. I have seen people stand and say ‘not today’. I have seen reasons to hide from the world and reasons to jump in and explore it all.”
Slowly, Stephanie pulls away from him. Her eyes are red, her temporary rainbow tattoos faded somewhat. Sportacus pulls hair back from her tear stained face. “Stephanie, you have to believe in people. You have to believe the world is worth it. Maybe things aren’t great right now. But you have to believe that they will someday be better. Nothing will change if people like us hide in Lazytown forever.”
She sniffs, then smiles. It’s a small smile, but in that moment it lightens Sportacus’ heart. “Thank you, Sportacus.” She shakes her head. “I guess it’s stupid to let a few bad people determine what I can and can’t do.”
“What’s this about bad people?” Robbie marches up to them, a jacket over his arm and one eyebrow raised. “Are you gossiping about me?”
“We don’t mean you, Robbie.” Stephanie jumps up and hugs him. “You’re not that kind of bad.” Before Robbie can ask, Stephanie is skipping away.
Robbie shrugs and hold out the jacket to Sportacus. “Wear this, it’s getting cold.”
“Don’t care. You’re a horrible example to these impressionable teens.”
Rolling his eyes, Sportacus takes the jacket and pulls his husband down for a kiss. “Happy Pride,” he says.
Grinning, Robbie helps Sportacus to his feet. “Happy Pride. Tomorrow, Wrath.”
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