#just in a story called 'RTC Ficlets'

[l4m3nt]

Equality For All!!

“Mischa? Can I ask you a question?”

Ocean and Mischa were the last two members of the choir left in the room. Mischa because he didn't want to go back to his adoptive ‘parents’ and Ocean because she wanted to stay away from the reek of weed as long as she could. 

“Sure. What is it, orphan a-hole?” Mischa replied, head leaned back while sitting on one of the plastic chairs scattered across the room.

Ocean waited a second before asking. She was curious, but she still wanted to not be insensitive. “You remember how you took off your sweater yesterday at the fair?”

Mischa lifted up his head, a suspicious look on face. “Yeah? And what about it?”

“Your shirt was unbuttoned, which you shouldn’t have had it like that anyway since it’s a violation of dress code, but under it, I saw something that looked like a bra? But you don’t have…” Ocean gestured to her own chest, hoping she wouldn’t have to say it.

“What, tits?” Mischa asked, his expression changing to amused. Ocean nodded. Mischa laughed, “Oh, I have them. What you saw was binder.”

That surprised Ocean. She wasn’t transphobic or anything, Equality for all! But she never expected Mischa to be trans. Especially with his habit of grabbing his crotch.

“Oh. Okay, then.” She said, going to grab her backpack off of the floor.

“What, no yelling?” Ocean was about to argue, but the way Mischa said it made it feel less like he expected her to do it and more like he was basing that expectation on past experiences. 

“Of course not, Equality for all applies to people of LGBTQ+ identities as well. I just say it with Ricky because his disability is what makes people think he shouldn't be in the choir. Everyone knows Noel is gay, but they don’t really exclude him from anything.”

“Huh. Alright. Can I ask you something?” Mischa says. Ocean nods.

“Can I change out of my binder before choir? If you accept me, the other probably will. And wearing binder while singing might be the reason I've been off sometimes.” The almost pleading tone in his voice makes Ocean respond faster than you could say ‘Democracy rocks!’

“Sure. Just make sure to bring a bra or something.”

Mischa laughs again, probably relieved. Sitting up from his chair, he says, “Thanks.”

Ocean smiles, but doesn’t say anything else.

Eventually they both end up outside of the school, ready to head their separate ways. Until Ocean realizes she doesn’t have a ride. She’d usually ride with Constance, but she had to work today and left earlier than she usually would. 

“Yo, you need a ride?” Mischa asks. Ocean gives him a look that she hopes reads as ‘yes, please’ and it seems to, because he makes a motion for her to follow him and starts heading to the parking lot. She has to rush to catch up to him, his long legs carrying him farther.

The two were never really friends, and they don’t get along. They don’t even have the petty rivalry that Ocean and Noel have. But they do both have the maturity to put that aside. And as they’re on the road, switching between American rap songs and pop tunes, they both realize that maybe the other isn’t too bad.