Chapter Text
Minhos was not sure when hyunjin called everyone round, but just as he was finishing his brownie everyone was coming through the door. He glared at Hyunjin momentarily before running a hand over his face, awaiting the worried members.
“Hey hyunjin, why'd you call us all here- oh my, minho hyung! What's wrong, what happened?!” jisung ran over to minho only to step back when he received a glare.
“Im fine sungie, calm yourself” he patted Jisungs shoulder in an attempt to calm him.
“If everyone would sit on or around the sofa and i'll explain okay?” Hyunjin herded everyone into the living room, Minho following behind slowly.
Once they'd all sat down, Minho took a seat at the very end of the sofa next to jisung, he could run back to his room if he needed.
“Okay so!Minho hyung has something he wants to share but as I'm sure you can see by the tear marks he's not in much of a state to talk about it-” minho kicks Hyunjin lightly in his side “ow hyung! Anyway, recently , as in about five minutes ago, Minho hyung came to the realisation that he may not identify as male. The family skit we did today gave hyung some feels. And so i said we'd all help with his gender identity crisis”
Everyone looked at Hyunjin a bit shocked before turning to look at minho. Minho curled into himself at the attention, whipping his cheek before another round of tears could fall.
“Of course we'll help you hyung! It's okay to not identify male, I had a gender crisis a few years ago, it's okay!” Felix spoke up from the opposite end of the sofa.
Once felix had spoken everyone asle spoke up as well, all saying something along the lines of what felix had said. Minho does end up shedding a new batch of tears. Jisung pulls him into a hug, rubbing his shoulders slightly to help calm him down.
“Thank you” Minho says it barely loud enough to be heard, but the others hear it.
“So what are we thinking? If not male then what? Sorry, I'm not very knowledgeable in the gender department." Changbin looks a bit sheepish as he talks.
“Well , during hyungs breakdown we talked a bit about it. He knows male is wrong for him now, but female doesn't sound right either” hyunjin moves to sit down next to minho on the end of the couch after speaking.
“Personally, I believe instead of trying to figure out Minho's gender we should focus on what we can do to make him comfortable. I mean, should we still be using he/him pronouns? Are there any clothing items we can get for minho that may help? Does he have any gender dysphoria we should be trying to help with?” Chan looked at Minho as he spoke, indicating he would like answers.
“I-i not sure. I've never had any issues with being called a he but no ones ever called me anything else so i'm not sure. I've never had any issues with my body, but thinking about it I've always been happier when the stylist put me in more.. feminine clothing. I told hyunjin that being called hyung has always been weird to me but i thought -and still believe- that's because i was always the maknae. I'm not sure what any of you can do, but I'm happy you're all willing to help." Minho smiled up at everyone.
Minho truly meant that. It feels like his whole world has been turned on its head, and here his group is to help turn it back. They are so willing to help his face hurt with how big his smile is. He doesn't know what they can do to help, but he has no doubt that they will help in one way or another.
Everyone looked back at Minho with either smiles or fond looks. All happy to be able to help him.
Later that night, Minho sat in bed smiling up at the ceiling when his door is cracked open.
“Hyung?” as, so it's jeongin.
“Yes innie?”
“Can I sleep with you tonight?”
Minho lifts his arms up in a welcoming motion. Jeongin closing the door before climbing into Minho's bed as well as his arms. Minho starts running his fingers through jeongin's hair. It's not unusual for stray kids members to share beds and cuddle, but jeongin didn't cuddle with members much. And if he does he is dragged into it by Felix or hyunjin.
“What's wrong baby bread, what's got you coming to cuddle me”
“It's nothing really, kinds stupid actually”
“Try me jeongin”
“I didn't want you to be lonely. I've listened to hyunjin and felix talk about their gender crises and they sounded scary. I mean, I can't imagine what it feels like to not know who you are, what you want to be referred to or even what your name is!”
Minho stroked jeongin's hair in a calming motion before speaking,
“It isn't stupid innie, it's sweet. You're right I was feeling a little lonely, a bit lost. But i've got an amazing group looking after me so i know it's going to be okay”
Minho placed a kiss on the top of jeongins head before pulling him closer and telling him to sleep. Yeah, Minho was going to be just fine.