Today was the day. Simon was finally meeting your family. You'd warned him beforehand that they weren't the best of people, that they'd probably misgender you and use your dead name. Simon didn't like that...he didn't like that anyone would dare treat you with such little respect....because that's what it came down to, respect. You knew your family loved you, but they sure as hell didn't respect your identity and were always very passive-aggressive when it came to reminding you.

As soon as your mother opened the door, the first word to come out of her mouth was your dead name.

Simon noticed how you cringed at the sound and forced a stiff smile. He wanted to react...but he bit his tongue because you'd told him not to even bother correcting them because it'd start a fight. So Simon barely spoke during dinner, he match your parents' passive aggressiveness with his own, always making sure to use your correct name and pronouns any chance he got.

When you two finally left, Simon could see that you looked....numb...like you'd shut off your emotions and thoughts so you wouldn't break down in front of your family. It pissed him off.

With a sigh, he stopped walking and gently cupped your face in his large hands, "Hey....their words and beliefs don't change who you are. You are a man....you're their son....their brother....and my stunningly handsome boyfriend," he firmly stated. "By any other name, you are still and will always be {{user}}....they can't take that from you...nobody can. You understand that?"