Apex sighed as he paced around. Seeing as Thorax and Pharynx had connected their rooms to his new one, he had to be quiet so they wouldn’t hear him. Thorax had given him his own room when Night Bloom and Shadow Stalker came, so he wouldn’t be kept awake by them.
Apex liked having his own room, especially since Thorax had promised he could come snuggle with him and Ember whenever he wanted. Pharynx had said the same with him and Tempest, though he’d sworn him to secrecy on that. But right now, being alone was beneficial to the nymph.
“I don’ know wha’ t’do Blizzard.” Apex said, speaking to the worn bear propped up on his bed. “I really don’ wanna keep hiding…”
Yes, Apex still had his speech impediment. He had tried talking normally but he hadn’t grown out of it yet. Thorax assured him that he’d probably have a normal speech pattern when he reached adulthood. Either way, Apex had learned to not mind it. Especially since Thorax told him it didn’t matter anyway, and he thought it made him cute.
Apex sighed as he trotted to his toy chest. He sat down and opened it, smiling at all his toys, then reaching underneath them. He smiled down at the broad rainbow flag in his hooves. He held it close, closing his eyes.
“Blizzard, wha’ am I s’posed to do?” Apex asked, looking at the bear. “I wanna tell Papa Thorax an’ Uncle Pharynx bu’ I don’ know wha’ they’d think… 'm... 'm scared...”
Blizzard merely flopped over onto his side. Apex sighed, but before he could reach for the bear, there was a knock on his door.
“Apex?” Thorax’s voice asked through the door.
“U-Uh, one minu’e Papa Thorax!” Apex said, tossing the rainbow flag into his toy chest and closing it, then igniting his horn and righting Blizzard. He trotted to the door and opened it.
“Heh, hey sweetie.” Thorax nuzzled him. “Pharynx and I were thinking of taking you out for the day, just you and the two of us, like we used to do.”
“Really?” Apex gasped, then hugged him. “Yay! Thank you Papa Thorax!”
“Heh, of course my little hyper sprite.”
Apex smiled and followed Thorax out of the room. As they left, they passed by Tempest and Ember, who were playing with their daughters. However, Apex failed to notice he hadn’t completely shut his door.
As Thorax and Pharynx nuzzled and kissed their mates goodbye, Apex left the room. The alpha and beta joined him shortly after. Once the three left, Ember and Tempest began talking, not noticing Shadow Stalker and Nightfire Bloom wandering away.
The two found their way into Apex’s room due to the slightly opened door. Nightfire Bloom pushed it open and they crawled in.
-------------------------------------------------------------
“Well, that was a great day, wasn’t it?” Thorax asked as they headed back to their rooms.
“Mhm!” Apex giggled, riding on Thorax’s back. He yawned sleepily and leaned his head against Thorax’s neck.
Pharynx chuckled and leaned over to nuzzle him. “Heh, you have fun grub?”
“Yes Uncle Pharynx…” Apex yawned.
The three of them headed into Thorax’s room. Pharynx started to head to the short hall that connected it to his room.
“Pharynx, Thorax!” Ember rushed up to them, Tempest behind her. “Temp and I, we-”
“We can’t find the kids!” Tempest finished
“What?!” the two asked in unison. Thorax levitated Apex off him and laid him on the bed, so as not to disturb the drowsy nymph.
“Where’s the last place you saw them?” Thorax asked
“Near the hallways. We checked Phar and Temp’s room already.”
“Try Apex’s room then.” Pharynx suggested, leading the way. The group headed down the hallway.
“I don’t think they’ll be here Phar, Apex usually keeps his door closed.” Thorax said.
“It’s not closed now.” Tempest gestured to the door. It was ajar slightly.
“He probably left it open by accident.” Pharynx said, pushing the door further open. The giggling of foals could be heard.
“Shadow!”
“Nightfire!”
Tempest and Ember raced in, scooping up their babies. Thorax and Pharynx followed them inside, relieved. Then, as Thorax leaned in to nuzzle Nightfire Bloom, he noticed she had something in her claw.
“What’s this?” Thorax nosed Nightfire gently, until she let go of it. Ember took the object.
“It’s… a piece of fabric?” Ember held it up.
“That’s a pride flag.” Thorax said, recognizing the rainbow pattern.
“It has to be Apex’s, none of us have the gay flag.” Pharynx remarked, and Thorax blinked.
“Come on.” Thorax took the flag and headed out to his room, where Apex was.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apex yawned and briefly opened his eyes as he felt a soft nudging on his shoulder. “Papa Thorax…?”
“Apex, wake up sweetie.” Thorax said
Apex sat up slightly, rubbing his eyes. Thorax was standing before him. Apex smiled at his papa, then noticed the fabric in the older changeling’s hoof. His eyes widened slightly.
“Apex,” Thorax stepped closer and laid the cloth flag on the bed, “Do you know anything about this?”
Apex backed up, then spun around and took off running. He leapt off the bed and hit the ground, racing out of the room. He screwed his eyes shut, not wanting to pay much attention to where he was going. Tears fell down his face as he ran.
Eventually, Apex could smell outside air and slowed down. He looked around, wiping his eyes. He was in a grassy field near the Hive. Apex sighed and hung his head, walking further away from the Hive.
Apex soon stopped and began circling in place, making a small nest. He laid down in it and curled up, closing his eyes. He began to cry again, burying his muzzle in his forelegs. This was it. Thorax wouldn’t love him anymore because of the flag and he wouldn’t want him to live in the Hive, and…
Apex wasn’t sure how long he hid there, going over the many things Thorax would probably do. He heard hoofsteps, and shrank back into the grass. Then, the noise stopped, and pupiless eyes peeked over at him.
“Hey Apex.” a small voice said
Apex looked up. “V-Viorel?”
The lavender nymph nodded, sitting by him. “What’re you doing out here?”
“W-Well, wha’re you doin’ ou’ here?”
“Picking flowers.” Viorel held up a basket. “I’m making a bouquet for Oleander. Why are you out here?”
Apex buried his muzzle back into his forelegs. “P-Papa Thorax foun’ my gay flag…”
Viorel blinked. “And?”
“H-He’s no’ gonna love me an’more…”
“Says who?” Viorel nosed Apex gently, making him look up. “Apex, being gay isn’t a bad thing.”
“B-Bu’ my whole fam’ly ‘s straigh’… wha’ if they don’ like tha’ ‘m no'...? A-An' disown me...?”
“Just because they’re straight it doesn’t mean they won’t like it.” Viorel said, sitting down. "Besides, it sounds like you're being paranoid."
“Then how come they didn’ follow me when I ran...?”
“They’re probably trying to give you space or something.” Viorel responded, shrugging.
“S’ill… they won’ ge’ i’… they’re all straigh’…”
“Actually, Pharynx isn’t straight. Or Thorax for that matter.”
“Wh-Wha’ d’you mean? Uncle Pharynx loves Tempy… a-an’ Papa Thorax loves Emmie…”
“Yeah, but they aren’t straight. Pharynx is Bi and Thorax… I think he’s… pan-something? I know the sexuality, I just don’t know the name.” Viorel shook his head. “Anyway, they’re not straight. And I thought Meta was gay.”
“Well, yeah, bu' he doesn' spend 'nough to coun'. An’ Papa Thorax an' Uncle Pharynx have female ma’es…”
“That’s just because they happened to fall in love with girls.”
“Bu’ still…”
“Look, Apex…” Viorel smiled at him. “You know I’m gay, right?”
“Yeah…?”
“And does anyone-not including Parquel-ever call me out for it?”
“No…”
“Exactly. Especially not Papa Thorax.”
“B-Bu’ your no’ his son…”
“No, but he still loves us all. Father of the Hive, remember?” Viorel nuzzled Apex. “He takes care of us all, and that means he loves us all.”
Apex looked away. “V-Viorel…?”
“Yeah?”
“H-How’d you tell your fam’ly?”
“Well… I introduced them to Oleander.” Viorel shrugged. “They didn’t mind.”
Apex sighed. “I-I jus’ wanna u’do the way they foun’ ou’…”
Viorel thought for a minute. “Maybe… there is a way.”
“How?”
“They only saw the flag, right?”
“Yeah…?”
“Then there’s still time for you to properly explain.”
“I-I dunno…”
Viorel stood up. “How about I walk you back to the Hive? We can go together, and if Papa Thorax reacts badly, which he won’t, then you can come to me.”
“O-Okay… thanks Viorel…”
“What’re friends for?” Viorel smiled at him, then grabbed his flower basket. “Come on, let’s go.”
Apex slowly followed Viorel back to the Hive, helping the lavender nymph to pick more flowers along the way. It was a nice distraction. But soon, they had reached the entrance, and Viorel ushered the younger nymph to the royal’s rooms. Apex noticed a light was on in Thorax and Ember’s room, and there were voices coming from inside. Apex gulped nervously.
“It’s okay Apex. Go on.” Viorel urged
Apex nodded and krept towards the door. Viorel smiled at him softly, then trotted away with the flowers. Apex reached and slowly opened the door. He took a breath and walked in.
He was immediately scooped up into a hug and attacked with nuzzles by Thorax. Apex squeaked in surprise but burrowed into Thorax instinctively.
“Oh Apex, sweetie, I was so worried.” Thorax said, nuzzling him. “Where did you go sweetie?”
Apex looked away. “O-Ou’side…”
“Told you we should’ve checked the fields.” Ember said
“And I told you to give him some space.” Pharynx retorted. Ember shrugged, unable to argue.
“So Apex…” Thorax set Apex down and nuzzled him. “Do you have something to say to us?”
Apex nodded and lowered his head slightly. Thorax waited for him to continue.
“P-Papa Thorax… Uncle Pharynx, I…” Apex took a breath. “I… I like boys… ‘m… gay…”
There was silence for a minute, then, Thorax lifted Apex up. He looked up at Thorax, eyes wide. He was smiling.
“I still love you Apex.”
Apex gasped softly and hugged Thorax tightly. Pharynx chuckled, trotting over with the gay flag.
“And I think this belongs to you, grub.” Pharynx laid the flag over Apex like a blanket, though it barely covered him. Thorax and Apex giggled, smiling.
“U-Uncle Pharynx… y-you an’ Papa Thorax don’ care?”
“Of course not grub.” Pharynx smiled softly. “We love you, no matter what.”
Apex beamed, pressing against Thorax, who cradled him lovingly. Apex closed his eyes, pulling the flag close.
“Heheh, okay, bedtime my little hyper sprite.”
“O’ay Papa Thorax…” Apex yawned, snuggling close.
Apex felt Thorax carrying him down the hall, and into his room. The alpha changeling laid him down on his bed, pulling the blankets over the nymph. Apex smiled as he snuggled under the sheets, feeling Thorax set Blizzard down in his hooves.
“Lo’ you Papa Thorax…”
“Love you too, my baby boy.” Thorax kissed Apex’s forehead gently.
An overwhelming but comforting sense of home washed over Apex. He smiled, nuzzling into the pillows, hugging Blizzard and the flag close. He was right where he belonged. And his sexuality wouldn’t change that.