Coming Out (Thunderblots* and trans (ftm) reader)
Pairing: None, just the found family trope we all so desperately need.
Summary: You just can't "hide" it anymore and you decide to come out the New Avengers.
Warnings: none i guess, just found family trope, bob being a sweetheart, all of them actually, but bob especially
Author's note: I wrote this for catharsis purpose obviously (like most of my fics actually) + first time i'm writing a 'reader' fanfic! (still couldn't help but name the reader though, sorry)
(ignore their face on the picture i just needed one where they were all here)
“Guys?” You ask as everyone was about to leave the briefing room. Everyone paused before you add “I wanna tell you something.”
“Yeah, sure,” Yelena says softly and she sits back in the chair.
“But I’m hungry,” Walker whines before Ava gives him a punch in the ribs with her elbow. John sits back too, holding his side muttering a ‘ouch’.
Bucky and Bob were facing you, the first having his hands on the back of the chair, the other crossing his arms over his chest.
And Alexei was to your right, unsure what was about to happen and looking at everyone as if they knew something he didn’t.
Everyone was quiet and you knew you couldn’t back down anymore. “Ok so, um, this isn’t easy to say, but I’m ready and… Yeah, I just need to let it out, you deserve it.” You nod to yourself.
The room stays quiet, everyone giving you time to process your words. Even though Alexei and John were dying to let something out. One because he hates the silence, the other because he doesn’t have the patience. But even if their legs are bouncing or if their hands are fidgeting, they keep their mouths shut. And you made sure to keep this in your head to thank them later.
Your hands are grabbing the back of the chair in front of you–similar to Bucky–as you take a deep breath before finally letting it out “So, here goes.” You clear your throat before looking down at the table, avoiding everyone’s gaze and admitting: “I’m trans.”
There’s half a second of silence before Alexei asks: “Wait? That’s it?”
You look at him puzzled even though you feel your shoulders losing their tension.
“I—” you start but are too dumbfounded to answer. You were not expecting this.
“What my dad wants to say is… how can I say this?” Yelena looks for help, but nobody says anything. “I guess it doesn’t come as a huge surprise.” And everyone nods.
“Never thought of you as a girl anyway,” Bucky admits, his hand leaving the chair as he crosses his arms over his chest with that gentle smile he seemed to have more and more as the days went by. “But thank you for telling us, that means a lot.”
“I’m so proud of you,” Alexei mumbles, coming near you, and ruffling your hair with his fist, almost breaking your bones with his hug.
“We are so proud of you,” Bob clarifies, his hands in his sleeves and looking away, obviously feeling too exposed for speaking in everyone’s name. You smile at him when your eyes meet for a second, in the hope he knows how much it means to you that he said that.
“So,” Ava says right after, “how do you want us to call you? You know, now that it’s official.” She asks, waving her arms in front of her.
Everyone looks at you and you meet everyone’s eyes. You surely didn’t expect such acceptance and understanding. Every time you’ve had to come out before it was only intrusive questions, people not believing you, saying you were making things up. And now they even ask for your name? This was a bit too much.
“Well, um, I’ve thought of a few,” you start, a hand instinctively reaching your nape, “and nothing is set in stone yet, but hum, I think I like Timothée.”
“I think it’s perfect for you.” Yelena replies honestly without hesitation and when you look at her, it takes everything in you to not start crying. Everyone nods, even Alexei who wipes a tear and sniffles near you, one arm still over your shoulders.
“Walker, you’re awfully quiet. Something’s wrong?” There wasn’t any accusation in Bucky’s voice, but he made sure that if something was wrong, he would get… ‘winter soldier mode’ as Alexei would say.
You personally didn’t mind if he didn’t say anything, you’d rather have that than something you don’t want to hear.
“I’m just a little… lost on the whole thing,” he replies, unsure. “I don’t want to say anything wrong or… hurtful.”
“Well, well, well,” Ava starts, obviously teasing, her hands on her hips, “aren’t you thinking before you speak, now?”
Walker rolls his eyes and Yelena speaks before he can, “Timothée, congrats on making this achievement, you’re the first.”
The comment makes a smile reach your eyes while everyone–except John–laughs gently. And you’re not sure if you’re smiling from the fact that someone has said your real name outloud–and without disdain or disgust–for the first time like it was a natural thing to do, or the fact that, indeed, for once, John thought before speaking. That was quite the achievement indeed. The little bonus to this confession.
Yelena hugs you, whispering that she is again, so proud of you. Alexei hugs you and even lifts you off the ground this time, as you huff in surprise. He shouts “Now, we eat!” throwing a fist in the air as he lets you go and everyone follows out of the room. Walker just nods, clearly not comfortable and genuinely scared to do or say the wrong thing. And Ava and Bucky both nod while putting one hand on each of your shoulders as they go past you.
Bob is the last one to leave the room and it’s kind of obvious he is about to apologize, even though, for you, he didn’t do anything wrong. “I’m sorry I didn’t react much, I just— I’m not a fan of speaking in front of everyone. Obviously.” He chuckles awkwardly, his fingers playing with the end of his sleeves but still looking at you.
“It’s ok Bob, really.” He smiles gently as you reassure him, his eyes looking slightly to the side.
“I’m sorry, um, can we talk?” he asks as he looks at the open door over your shoulder, watching everyone going to the kitchen. “If it’s ok with you of course! Maybe you need time for yourself?”
“I’m ok Bob, thank you.” You sit in the chair in front of you. “We can talk.” He exhales a deep breath and sits in the chair next to you.
You always appreciated having a talk with him. Especially when it felt like he needed it. You liked how he always wanted to clear the air. Even though there was nothing to clear right now. You already had been so lucky with all their reactions. After so many bad and horrible ones, you couldn't hope for more. “I didn’t want you to feel like you were under the radar or something.” Bob explains. “I mean I just hate when everyone looks at me and I don’t know, I feel like, sometimes, you don’t like it either.” You nod, letting him continue. It was weird sometimes, how easy he could see through you. “So I didn’t want to say too much in front of the others. And when I said ‘we’, I meant to say ‘I’. I mean the others are proud of you, that’s for sure, that’s not what I mean.” He chuckles nervously again. “I am so proud of you. And I can’t believe the courage it must have taken you for telling us this. This makes me even prouder–if that’s possible. And thank you for telling us, really.” And he takes the hand that was resting on your lap to give it a small squeeze.
“I kinda owed it to you all, I—”
“What? No!” He interrupts before frowning, realising what you had just said. “Wait, did you feel pressured to say it?”
“No, not at all,” you reassure him immediately, holding his hand a little tighter, his warmth reaching your heart instantly. “It was the right time, I think? I don’t know. But not telling you all felt like cheating somehow, like I was hiding a secret from you or something. I’m glad I was able to say it.” And you let out a loud breath, as if you had been holding it since telling everyone.
“Thank you for telling us,” he repeats, giving your hand a little shake as you smile.
“Thank you for accepting me as I am.”
“Of course! And please let me know if anyone–even me–is intrusive, even in the slightest way. And I’ll make sure they’ll remember their mistake.”
You chuckle softly, not doubting that he indeed would, before whispering a thanks and as Bob gets up you do the same before he opens his arm for a hug which you gladly accept without question as he repeats how proud he is, making your heart flutter and your whole body warmer.
