//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Coming Out // Story: Fang Gang: Special Operations // by MlpHero //------------------------------// “Hey Mant?” Mantis looked over, noticing Dagger sheepishly standing in the doorway, holding his crossbow, which was broken. “Again? Dude…” “I’m sorry Mant! I just… tripped… a lot…” Dagger set the broken crossbow down on Mantis’ table. Mantis sighed, grabbing his tools and getting to work on Dagger’s crossbow. He had been coming in almost weekly with his broken crossbow. This was practically a routine. Dagger sat on Mantis’ bed, watching as he fixed the weapon. He smiled at the changeling. Mantis had been helping him get back into dating. His first attempt was… awful. It involved a lot of thorn plucking from Dagger’s body. “Done.” Mantis said, placing Dagger’s crossbow to the side. Dagger sighed and looked at Mantis, who was busy fixing a new attachment to his own crossbow. “Something wrong?” Mantis asked. “I dunno... I’ve tried my luck with girls, but it always goes wrong...” Dagger said. Mantis looked over. “Aren’t you bi?” he asked, referring to the coming our Dagger had done a few days earlier. “Why haven’t you tried boys?” “I... uh...” Dagger blushed. “I hadn’t thought of that...” Mantis facehoofed. “Really?” “S-Shut up man...” “Dude, I’m pretty sure if you tried using the other side of your sexuality, you’ll have better results.” Dagger chuckled a bit. “Heheh, thanks Mant. You’re the best.” “Yeah, I know I am,” he said, holding his head high. “It helps to have common sense.” Dagger pouted. “Hmph. Whatever...” A Few Days Later Soon, Dagger found a boy, a griffon, he thought he could settle down with. The griffon’s name was Bronze, and he and Dagger were quite similar in personality. Soon, about after a week, Bronze invited Dagger over to his house. “Woah. Nice place,” Dagger said walking in. “Heh, thanks,” Bronze said, showing him around. Dagger chuckled, grabbing an apple from a fruit bowl. “Heh, I gotta say, I seriously thought you’d be one of those ‘mating is the most important thing in a relationship’ griffons. I guess I was— Hey?! What the heck?!” Dagger kicked out his hind hoof, kicking Bronze back. He glared at the griffon. “What’s wrong with you?!” “What?” “Don’t act all oblivious, you had your claws around my flank!” Dagger snapped. “That’s why you came here!” The changeling tilted his head. “What do you mean?” “My letter.” Dagger pulled out the letter and reread it. “Dude, the metaphors are so bleak, you may as well have sent it to a five year old. Like, ‘let’s have fun’? That could mean literally anything.” “Whatever. I wanted to get laid, and that’s what I’m gonna get!” Bronze then tackled and pinned Dagger to the ground. “Ack! Hey! Get off of me!” “Nope! I’m claiming what’s mi—” CRACK! Dagger blinked, watching as Bronze fell off of him. There stood Mantis holding a pool cue. He kicked Bronze into what appeared to be a closet or another room. “What are you doing with that pool cue?” Bronze asked. Mantis flipped his goggles down. “Don’t worry about it.” Dagger then heard Bronze scream: “Ahh! You told me not to worry about it! I should’ve been worried the whole time!” Mantis stepped out and locked the door. He chuckled and trotted over to Dagger. “Come on buddy, let’s get you outta here.” Dagger nodded and grabbed onto Mantis, who helped him up. Together, the two friends left. After that fiasco, Mantis began noticing a slight pattern with this. Dagger was either abused, turned down, or something detrimental to his physical and mental health. And it sure didn’t help that Dagger had a morphine addiction. Mantis stared at Dagger’s door. “Um... Dag? You okay? You’ve been crying for half an hour now.” “Go away, Mant!” Mantis sighed and picked the lock, walking in to see Dagger curled up in his blanket, sobbing. Mantis sighed and walked over. “Dagger? Are you... crying?” “Yes!” “Probably a stupid question, but why?” “I just want someone to love! I’ve always been the shipper, but I’ve never been shipped!” He started wailing, burying his head in the pillow. Mantis blinked a bit, before blushing and looking away. Dagger looked up with tear filled eyes. “I-I’m gonna die alo—” Mantis pressed his lips against Dagger’s. The changeling’s eyes widened as he watched his friend kiss him. Mantis pulled away and smiled, before laying on top of Dagger. “Heheh, you are so my boyfriend, shortstack...” Dagger blushed. “M-Mantis…” Mantis put a hoof over Dagger’s mouth. “Shh... don’t ruin this moment...” Dagger smiled, rubbing Mantis’ head, pulling him close. Soon, the two were fast asleep. Now, a few days later, they had to come out to the gang. It was no secret that Dagger was Bisexual. However, Mantis was Gay, and hadn’t came out. So, he had his worries. “Don’t worry Mant. They were fine with me, so I don’t see any reason they wouldn’t accept you,” Dagger reassured. Mantis smiled a bit. “Okay…” The two walked towards the gang. Mantis stayed back a bit. Dagger smiled and grabbed his hoof. “C’mon Manty.” Mantis nodded. “Heheh… okay Dagger.” The two continued walking, heading towards the Fangs. “Hey fellas,” Dagger greeted. They smiled and looked over. “Hey Dag, hey Mant,” Broken waved. Dagger trotted over. “Hey… so uh… me and Mant have something to say…” The Fangs listened closer. “Hm?” Mantis blushed, stepping back. Dagger pushed him up. “Go on, Mant.” “O-Okay…” Mantis stepped up. “I uh…” he blushed harder. Dagger rubbed his back. “I’m here buddy.” Mantis smiled and nodded. “Heh… uh… I’m… I’m Gay…” he looked away, blushing furiously. The Fangs exchanged glances. “Okay, and that’s wrong because…?” Kydra asked. Mantis looked over. “Y-You guys don’t hate me?” “Of course not!” Zenex chirped, buzzing his wings and smiling. “Yeah! You’re a Fang and forever will be!” Stinger replied. Mantis smiled and nodded. “Heh… thanks guys.” They smiled and nodded as well. Dagger chuckled. “There’s more news.” “Oooh.” The Fangs listened eagerly. They nodded. The two blushed, then said, “we’re in a relationship!” in unison. Silence… ...then cheers. The Fangs smiled. Then, Zenex called out, “Snuggle Fangs!” The gang piled up on top of the two, nuzzling them. Mantis and Dagger smiled, finally feeling free, and no longer scared to express themselves.