THANK YOU, NIKOLAJ

Trigger warning: misgendering

'Twas the night' before Darcy's art show, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; the children were nestled all snug in their beds...

~

Nat lay asleep with her blanket wrapped snugly around her. She had it covered up to her nose as her nightlight softly cast a gentle glow around her.

~

Meanwhile, at the Peralta's, Luna slept peacefully in her bed as her stuffed giraffe toy was tucked beside her. The room was quiet, except for the occasional sounds outside her window.

~

In the other room, Mac slept comfortably under a warm blanket, his feet were adorned with mismatched colorful socks as he softly snored the night away.

~

Nearby, Tyler lay tucked in her bed, the ticking of her bedside clock filling the quiet room, "So... cat... I..." She murmured in her sleep.

~

Down the road, Gino slept soundly listening to a sleep affirmation tape, "I am adored..." His own voice recording stated.

~

While the others slept, Darcy was wide awake in their room, putting the finishing touches on their painting. They blended colors, mixed shades, and added intricate details. Before finally stepping back to admire their work.

Darcy sighed softly, "There," They declared quietly, pleased with their finished artwork.

~

After grabbing a few hours of sleep, the morning of Darcy's art show finally arrived. They stretched and wandered into the kitchen, where their dad, Charles, was already busy making breakfast in his favorite 'kiss the cook' apron.

As Darcy entered, Charles turned with a warm smile, the lines around his eyes crinkling, "Morning, bud!" He greeted as he flipped pancakes on the stove. "How did you sleep?"

"I slept okay, thanks for asking!" Darcy exclaimed, sounding overly cheerful despite only getting a few hours of sleep. "Though I am like four days past my bedtime," They yawned, taking a seat at the kitchen table.

"That's the spirit, just like Picasso himself!" Charles said as he whisked an egg. "So, I thought I'd whip up a little bit of everything for you this morning—pancakes, eggs, bacon—you name it," He added, gesturing to the food.

Darcy's eyebrows shot up, "What? You didn't need to make me all of this." A bright smile spread across their face. "Dad, I'm a simple creature, I'm okay with plain oatmeal."

Charles chuckled, setting down the whisk. "Oh, but you deserve the works. Today is a big day, you're blazing a trail for the Boyle family! You're the first one in our clan to strut their stuff like this."

Darcy's eyebrows furrowed, "What about your cousin Susan? Wasn't she on a talent show?"

A wave of realization washed over Charles, "Oh, yeah," He recalled. "Susan was the one who didn't realize she could sing until her late forties." He re-jogged his memory.

"Late forties?"

"Yeah, it's such a classic Boyle trait to not recognize talent," Charles replied with a knowing laugh. "You see, Susan always thought she had a terrible voice until she finally tried singing karaoke at a family reunion. Turns out, she's got pipes!"

~

At the family reunion, Charles sat with a plate of appetizers while previous karaoke performances had been, less than good, "Alright, folks, next up is Susan with her rendition of Adele's 'Someone Like You'!" a Boyle in beige announced.

A few Boyle family members groaned and murmured as Susan took the stage. But as the music started, her unexpectedly powerful voice shone. Charles, clearly impressed, "Wow, she's got pipes!"

~

Back in the present day, Darcy took in the story, "That's surprising."

"Yeah, just like you, buddy," Charles said with a proud smile. "Now, let's fuel up. We're meeting Nikolaj there." He gestured to the spread of breakfast he had prepared.

~

As Darcy and Charles ate their breakfast, Tyler, Nat, and Mac descended the steps toward the subway station, "Ugh, I hate this place," Nat grumbled, keeping her hands to herself. "I wanna go to Build-A-Bear," She wished as the three swiped their fare cards and passed through the gates.

Mac bobbed his head, "Oh, totally. There are so many questionable things going on down here. Did you guys see that guy selling loose Tic Tacs out the front?" He pointed over his shoulder.

Nat turned back, scanning the area for the snack, "No. How loose are we talking?" She turned to Mac.

"Loose," Mac emphasized, as he and Nat weighed the questionable purchase but ultimately decided against it.

"I don't mind the subway station," Tyler piped up, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "It's mostly clean, orderly, and I feel secure here—"She began.

"Uh, gross, a guy is pooping in a box over there," Nat interjected, pointing to the man.

Mac's eyes got bigger, "No way, are you serious?" He glanced over, his brows twisting in concern. "That's gotta be a health hazard." His face scrunched as he looked away.

Tyler's expression fell as she looked over, "Oh, my!" She grimaced. "Let's avoid eye contact; we wouldn't want him to interpret our actions as an invitation to join." She took the pair by the hands, quickly ushering them onto the subway.

The three settled into their seats together, their hands remaining intertwined as the subway train thankfully departed from the station.

~

As Nat, Mac, and Tyler made their way to the event, at the art gallery groups of people gathered, chatting amongst themselves. Artists arrived, carrying carefully wrapped canvases and sculptures, preparing to drop off their creations before the event began.

"Alright, everyone, say cheese!" Charles called out, aiming his camera at Darcy, Luna, and Gino. With a quick click, he captured them. "That's a keeper." He said, squinting at the screen.

"Oh, can I get a solo shot?" Gino requested.

"Wow, you're a little bit obsessed with yourself, huh?" Luna chimed in.

Gino shrugged casually, "Well, someone needs to be,"

As Luna responded with an eyebrow raised and a knowing look to Darcy, Nikolaj approached the group, "Hey, here you guys are," He greeted with a bright grin, walking up with a cone of fluffy pink cotton candy in hand. His expression softened with relief as he found them. "I've been looking everywhere."

Darcy's face shined at the sight of their older brother, "Nicky!" They beamed, rushing forward to give him a quick hug.

"Hey, buddy, good to see you," Nikolaj grinned as he ruffled Darcy's hair before turning to his dad, who stood nearby, visibly overjoyed at the family reunion. "Pops, good to see you too,"

Charles nodded eagerly, his smile stretching from ear to ear, "So glad you could make it!" He grinned. "How was the flight?"

"It was smooth," Nikolaj replied. "Clear skies the whole way, no turbulence. Sat next to this guy who wouldn't stop talking about his pet parrot. Pretty entertaining, actually," He recalled before turning to Darcy's friends with a grin. "Hey, who are these guys?" He gestured between them.

"I'm Gino," Gino greeted with confidence.

Nikolaj nodded in acknowledgment, "Hey, nice to meet you, I'm Niko," He introduced himself.

Luna stepped forward with a friendly smile, "Hi, I'm Luna," She extended a hand.

"Nikolaj," He replied, shaking Luna's hand in return.

"Nice to meet you, Nikolaj,"

"Nikolaj," He corrected gently.

"Nikolaj."

"No, Nikolaj."

"Nikolaj."

"It's, Nikolaj."

"Nikolaj."

"Okay, let's just head in," Nikolaj suggested, signaling to the door. He felt defeated that Luna couldn't quite pronounce his name correctly, even though she repeated it sounding exactly the same as him.

~

Now, inside the art gallery, the walls displayed a diverse array of artworks that captivated visitors. There were paintings ranging from abstract compositions to detailed portraits.

Darcy and their friends strolled through the gallery, their footsteps muted against the polished floors. They moved with quiet awe, absorbing the colors and forms that adorned the walls. As they rounded a corner, Darcy's eyes widened, "There it is," They whispered, pointing to their artwork.

The painting prominently showed a young Darcy with tousled hair and bright, curious eyes. The painting had gentle brushstrokes, which captured Darcy's playful laughter from childhood.

Over at the painting, Luna tilted her head, studying the artwork with a soft smile, "Darcy, this is amazing." She chimed.

Charles nodded in agreement, "Wow, I'm so proud, this is beautiful!" He held his hand to his chest. "Oh, here comes the waterworks." His eyes started to water.

Nikolaj stepped closer, leaning in. "I can almost hear you laughing in this," He murmured before shifting his attention to the 'about the artist' plaque. "'This painting, a childhood portrait of Darcy Boyle, reflects her'--" He began reading aloud.

"'Her'?" Darcy interjected, their face falling as they realized they had been misgendered.

~

Meanwhile , back with Nat, Mac, and Tyler, they were still on the subway, "Great, we're already late, and this train is moving slower than ever." Nat sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. She turned to Mac and Tyler, who were making out, oblivious to everything around them.

Nat's jaw tightened as she glanced away, "I wish I bought that loose Tic Tac." She said under her breath. She couldn't help but steal glances at Tyler and just as she was about to say something, a foul smell wafted from Mac's bag, causing both Tyler and Nat to grimace in unison.

Tyler wrinkled her nose, "What is that?" She asked, scanning the area around her.

Nat wrinkled her nose too, "Something stinks."

"I can't smell anything." Mac examined the spare seats around him.

"The smell is definitely emanating from your backpack, Mac," Tyler stated firmly as she held her nose.

Mac chuckled nervously as he pulled out a pair of wrapped sandwiches from his backpack. The unmistakable aroma of tuna and egg filled the air, "Dude, that is disgusting." Nat grimaced.

"Oh..." Tyler recoiled slightly.

"What? I think it smells great," Mac defended with a grin. "My mom packed it—it's her famous pan bagnat sandwich." He elaborated.

Tyler's brows knitted together, "Mac, all of your mom's culinary creations stink. Why would she combine egg and tuna?" She asked.

"No one else seems to mind?" Mac replied as he shrugged off Tyler's critique.

"Oh, we mind," a nearby passenger interjected. "We really, really mind. Can you just throw it out?"

Mac's head cocked back, "No, I'm not tossing out Mom's sandwich masterpiece!" He objected, sounding offended as he shoved the sandwiches back into his bag.

The nearby passenger sighed heavily, clearly exasperated. They got up from their seat and moved to another part of the subway car, muttering under their breath about the lingering smell of tuna and egg.

~

Back at the art show, Darcy's smile faded as they re-read the plaque, "'This painting, a childhood portrait of Darcy Boyle, reflects her'... it's they/them," They corrected softly, the sparkle in their eyes dimming.

Nikolaj's brows furrowed together apologetically, "Oh, Darce, I'm so sorry, how about we go to the staff members and get this sorted?" He suggested.

Darcy hesitated, "Okay." They agreed reluctantly.

As the pair wandered off to find the information desk, Charles, Luna, and Gino watched them go. Charles shook his head in disbelief, "Wow, I am so proud. Daddy raised them both to be quitters, avoid confrontation, and to be insecure adults." A smile spread across his face. "Look at them now, they're defying all odds."

"Whole triple threats," Gino added, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Luna glanced at Gino, then back at Charles, "Did you just call yourself 'daddy'?" She raised an eyebrow.

~

Nikolaj and Darcy approached the information desk, where staff members were bustling about, attending to other guests or focused on their computer screens.

Nikolaj cleared his throat politely to catch their attention, "Hey there, excuse me," Nikolaj began. "We noticed a little hiccup on the 'about the artist' plaque for Darcy's artwork. It's using 'she/ her' instead of 'they/them' pronouns."

The staff member looked up, her expression faltering, "I'm sorry about that, it wasn't intentional," She replied, slightly flustered. "I assumed... you know, since Darcy is wearing a skirt..." Her voice trailed off, her apology tinged with defensiveness.

Nikolaj nodded sympathetically, "I see, but here's the thing: Darcy goes by 'they/them' pronouns, no matter what they're wearing. Can we update the plaque to reflect that?"

The staff member hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Sure, my apologies for the mistake," She replied impatiently as she quickly made the adjustments on her computer.

Darcy managed a polite smile, though a hint of disappointment flashed in their eyes, "Thanks," They said quietly.

As the staff member finished editing the plaque, she handed it over with a quick, mechanical smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "Here you go," Her voice was lacking warmth.

"Thank you," Nikolaj smiled gratefully, taking the changed plaque. As they walked off he noticed Darcy's changed expression, "Hey, you okay?"

Darcy's smile was tight, their voice cracking, "I'm fine. Let's just go change the plaque," They mumbled before walking away, their steps dragging.

~

As the pair returned to their artwork, outside, Mac and Tyler arrived at the city art center. They walked hand in hand, with Nat trailing behind them, "Here it is," Mac announced as he pointed to the building.

Nat shielded her eyes with one hand, squinting up at the building, "Whoa, it's way bigger than I thought," She marveled as the three walked up the stairs to the entrance.

"Tite of your sex tape." Mac couldn't help but quip.

Nat's eyes widened, and she let out a snorted laugh, she could barely contain her amusement, "Dude..."

"Dude..." Mac echoed, nodding in agreement, clearly pleased with his wit. Then he paused, a realization dawning on him. "That was your laugh?" He chuckled, making fun of her.

"Shut up!" Nat's checks turned red with embarrassment as the three approached the entrance.

"Wait a moment," Tyler interjected, halting the pair before the door. "'No drinks, food, fireworks, large bags, or skateboards'," She read aloud before turning sharply to face them. "Empty your bags," She requested, knowingly.

Tyler's directive hung in the air, prompting a moment of hesitation from Mac and Nat. With reluctant sighs, the pair reached into their bags.

"Goodbye, tuna and egg sandwiches," Mac muttered dramatically, tossing the snack into the trash. He then grabbed the water bottle, took a quick swig, and finished with an exaggerated gulp. "Ah!" He breathed, noticing Tyler's grimacing expression.

Nat followed, pulling out her pack of gummy bears, "Whoops forgot I had these," She said with a small laugh before tossing the old snack into the trash. She then rummaged back into her bag and pulled out an axe.

"You have an axe?" Tyler asked.

Nat's face scrunched up as she chuckled at Tyler's question, "Yeah, what kind of woman doesn't have an axe?"

Mac's eyes widened, "Damn, I take back what I said about your laugh..."

~

With Nat and Mac finished unpacking their bags, the three eagerly entered the art show, scanning the crowd for Darcy as Nat spotted a familiar artwork and nudged Tyler, "Hey, check out that Mark Rothko piece," She pointed as the two made their way over.

"Now, where is everyone?" Mac trailed off, scanning the distance.

Tyler's eyes lit up slightly as she paused to admire the detailed artwork. A wave of realization washed over her, "Wait a moment," Her brows knitted, turning to Nat. "So, you did watch 'The Mystery of Mark Rothko'?"

"Oh, absolutely." Nat shrugged, her eyes softening as she looked at Tyler. "I take all your recommendations seriously. I want to know why you like stuff." She then turned her attention back to the art.

Tyler's eyes softened as she looked at Nat, her expression subtly shifting to one of genuine appreciation. No one had ever taken her recommendations quite so seriously before. "I—" She began, but Mac's interruption cut her off.

"Found them!" Mac called out, grabbing their attention. "They're the blurry blobs over there," He said, pointing and squinting.

~

As Mac, Nat, and Tyler approached the blurry blobs, the figures came into focus and revealed Charles, Luna, Gino, Darcy, and Nikolaj, "Hey, sorry we're late, Darce!" Mac said apologetically as Darcy offered a smile that didn't quite reach their eyes, clearly preoccupied with something else.

"Yikes, Mac, there's no need to apologize," Gino chimed in. "Next time you're late, just walk in like God sent you personally. That way, being late is basically irrelevant." He suggested.

"Noted."

"Alright, here we go." Nikolaj piped up, switching out the plaque for the correct one. "And... here it is!" He stepped aside to unveil Darcy's artwork.

Nat's eyes sparkled, "Damn, Darcy, this is solid work!" She smiled, clearly in awe.

Tyler studied the artwork, "Remarkable," She commented.

Mac took in the artwork with wide eyes, "Whoa, Darcy, this is amazing!"

"Thanks," Darcy replied quietly.

Charles wiped his nose with a tissue, "I'm so proud! I think my heart just grew a size or two." He muttered, his eyes red and puffy.

"Alright, let's try this again." Nikolaj leaned in and read from the corrected plaque. "' This painting, a childhood portrait of Darcy Boyle, reflects their early years. It captures a young Darcy with remarkable detail and emotion, conveying nostalgia and innocence. Each brushstroke brings their childhood to life, revealing their personality and the warmth of their early experiences...'"

As Nikolaj finished reading the correct plaque, the group clapped softly for Darcy. But unbeknownst to them, Darcy's mind was somewhere else.

~

As the art show concluded, the group went their separate ways: Tyler, Mac, Luna, and Nat took the subway; Gino was picked up; and Nikolaj, Darcy, and Charles headed back to the car.

Darcy lagged behind, and Nikolaj glanced over his shoulder, "We'll catch up with you, Pops," He said, giving Charles a pat on the shoulder before turning to walk alongside Darcy. "Hey, you okay?"

Darcy sighed in hesitation, their shoulders slumping slightly, "It's like... it never stops," They began.

Nikolaj's eyebrows twist, "What never stops?"

"Being misgendered." Darcy's head shot up. "Every time someone says 'she' or 'him' instead of 'they' and 'them', it's like a little jab." They exhaled deeply.

Nikolaj's expression fell as he listened.

Darcy continued, "I'm trying to be true to myself here, and it feels like I'm constantly having to explain, yet still not really being seen. Using the right pronouns isn't just about being polite—it's about being seen for who I am." They spoke up, relieved to get it off their chest.

Nikolaj paused for a moment, processing their words, "I get it," He started, but as Darcy narrowed their eyes at him, he quickly corrected himself. "--That I don't get it. I can't fully understand what you're going through. But hey, you know I've got your back, right?"

"I know." Darcy gazed down. "It just sucks that I have to deal with it all the time." Their jaw tightened. "I wish people just understood."

"Even if people don't understand, you know who you are, and that's what counts." Nikolaj pointed out, gently placing a hand on Darcy's shoulder. "You don't need anyone's approval to be yourself. Your identity is valid, and the people who truly care about you will respect that. It's okay to feel hurt but don't let their ignorance define you, Darce."

Darcy shuffled their feet, eyes fixed on the floor, "Hmm, I guess so."

"Yeah." Nikolaj offered a supportive smile. "I'm sorry that this keeps on happening, but if you ever need to talk or just need someone to listen, I'm always here whether I get it or not, okay?" He added, his gaze unwavering.

Darcy looked up, a small smile breaking through their earlier tension. They stepped forward and pulled Nikolaj into a tight hug. Nikolaj's arms wrapped around them, holding on for a moment longer than usual, "I love you, kid," He said like the true Boyle he is.

Darcy's smile widened, their shoulders relaxing, "I love you too, Nicky!" He pulled back.

Nikolaj nudged Darcy, "Now, let's catch up with Pops."

As they walked after Charles, Nikolaj's arm rested on Darcy's shoulder. The earlier tension lifted as Darcy looked up at him, feeling more at ease.

~

If I've misunderstood or misrepresented any aspect of being non-binary, I appreciate any corrections or feedback.

You're loved!! 🤍🤍

-jas

10/8/24