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The front door opens before Stiles can even knock. Mr. Argent nods. “Stiles, thanks for getting here so quickly.”
“How’s she doing?” he asks, stepping into the apartment. “What happened?”
“My ex-wife happened,” Mr. Argent says with a grimace. “She refused to use Allison’s chosen name and pronouns. There was a fight, she said some horrible things about me and my parenting, and caused a scene that made Allie extremely uncomfortable.”
“Fuck,” Stiles says, closing his eyes and counting to ten silently. When he opens them, his impulse to go find Victoria Argent and kill her is under control. Somewhat. Seeing the expression on Mr. Argent’s face, he thinks he’ll help hide the body.
“Allison was quiet the entire drive back home, and she went into her room when we got here.” Mr. Argent looks down the hall. “When I heard her crying, I called you.”
“You know that my dad’s a sheriff back in my hometown,” he says, giving Mr. Argent a wide smile. “I grew up learning how to avoid being caught. If your ex-wife hurts Allie again…” He let’s the threat stay unspoken.
“You’re a good kid, Stiles,” Mr. Argent says, squeezing his shoulder. “I happen to run an arms company. Just saying.”
“Glad we’re on the same page, Mr. Argent,” he says firmly. If he hadn’t met Allison during freshman orientation and knew within an hour that she was special, he could have easily fallen for her dad, instead. “I’m going to go check on my girl now.”
“I’ve told you for two years now to call me Chris,” Mr. Argent reminds him. “Let her know that I’m ordering us Thai since our lunch was ruined.”
“Will do, Daddy-o,” he says, shooting finger guns before walking down the hall to her room. He reaches her door and knocks. “Hey, Allie. Can I come in?”
There’s a sniffle and then movement before the door opens. Her face is splotchy and her eyes are red from crying. “What are you doing here, Stiles? I thought you had that biochem study group today.”
“I’m rocking a high A in that class, so I can miss study group occasionally,” he says, reaching over to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Your dad told me you needed me, so I came right over.”
“I’m a mess,” she mutters, making a face. “It’s so stupid, too.”
“You’re always beautiful,” he says honestly. “And nothing that hurts you is stupid.”
“I know my mother is a horrid bitch,” Allison says, stepping aside so he can enter her bedroom. “She’s always trying to be some Perfect Christian because her new husband is a conservative asswipe, but I didn’t think she was so brainwashed that she’d turn on me.”
“Some people use religion as a way to validate their hate and intolerance of anyone different from them,” he says, sitting down on her bed and spreading his legs.
“I was five when I first realized that I was a girl, and she didn’t understand it, but she let me wear her shoes and play with her make-up,” Allison says, moving to the spot he made for her and curling up against his chest. She sighs when he starts brushing her hair with his fingers. “She’s grown to hate me now, though. The things she called Dad were so spiteful and mean. I don’t want to see her again.”
“Then you don’t have to,” he promises. “She’s out of your life from here forward. She helped create a beautiful miracle that she’s not worthy of knowing.”
“Will it be that easy?” Allison looks at him. “I cut her out of my life and I stop wanting her to love me as I truly am instead of this distorted vision she has of what I should be?”
“We get to choose our families, baby,” he says softly, stroking her cheek. “You’ve got your dad and me. Your aunt turned against your grandparents to support you and your dad. You’ve got my dad and all our friends. That’s the family that matters.”
“Aunt Kate has always hated my mom,” she says, smiling wryly. “Didn’t think she really loved my dad and was only doing it for the merger my grandpa was planning between their companies.”
“Aunt Kate is an aggressive and somewhat unstable woman, but she’s also pretty damn smart,” he says. “And she loves you.”
Allison is quiet for a moment. “Mom doesn’t want me to transition,” she admits in a whisper. “She said terrible things about the medical treatment I’m receiving, and she said I’m an abomination for perverting God’s plan for me.”
“Allie, she’s a hateful bigot,” he says bluntly. “You’re twenty years old, and you’ve known who you really are for three-fourths of your life. You know I love you no matter what physical package you present to the world, but you’ve chosen a plan that feels right for you. Don’t let that woman’s hate make you doubt yourself.”
“My face is changing,” she tells him softly. “My body is, too, and it’s only been a year. When I look in the mirror, I see me more and more every day. Alexander isn’t here anymore at all. It’s just Allison now, and I think that’s why Mom got so hateful. Seeing my like I am now after ignoring me for years just drove home the point that I’ve changed.”
“I never knew Alexander, so he’s been gone way longer than just a year,” he says gently. “Your mom will realize one day when she’s old and alone that she made the wrong choice, but it’ll be too late.”
“I think it is already too late for her,” she says. “The things she said, I can’t imagine ever forgiving. Not only the things about me but about Dad. You know how much his support during all of this has meant to me, to my sanity.”
“Allie, babe, fuck her and her hate filled, small minded bigotry,” he says. “Your dad is ordering us Thai for a late lunch, and I’m not planning on leaving you today.”
Allison blinks away fresh tears before she kisses him. “I love you,” she says, “and I’m not sure what I did to deserve someone like you, but I’m going to keep doing it.”
“Hey, no more tears, baby,” he says, kissing the tip of her nose. “If you cry, then I"ll cry ─ and that won’t be fun for anyone because I am an ugly crier.”
“You’re not an ugly anything,” she says, pressing her cheek against his. “You always know how to make me feel like I’m brave and invincible.”
“Nah, you’re both of those things and way more,” he murmurs, stroking her back. “I just have to remind you sometimes.”
“Sorry I got snot and tears on your shirt,” she says, her fingers dancing across his chest. “You might wanna take it off.”
“Are you trying to seduce me, Allie?” he asks in mock surprise. She giggles against his neck. “Because, I have to be honest, all you’ve got to do is ask. I’m yours for as long as you want me.”
She presses a chaste kiss against his neck, her fingernails lightly scratching at the stubble covering his chin. “Forever then,” she says.
“Sounds good to me, babe,” he says, kissing her ear. “I’ll take forever.”