title tbd (not in ref to the episode i just dk what to call this rn)
Notes
LOLLL not me switching from bad boy dog demon to a nonbinary paintbrush thatd prolly be best frienemies w dog boy
annnnyyywayyyyy enjoy
bro this is so short
paintys not havin a good time rn :(((
Paintbrush couldn’t take it anymore.
“He,” “She,” “Girl,” “Boy,” none of those were Paintbrush. None.
At least Lightbulb understood. She understood there was a C.
But Paintbrush couldn’t figure out if anyone else did. Paintbrush… well, they didn’t know if they themself should bother making everyone believe there was a C. Maybe it’d be easier if they just bore the pain of being called something they weren’t.
Paintbrush, in theirs and Fan’s hotel room, was on the brink of tears. It was all just too much for them, they didn’t feel like they belonged in the competition.
It was just…
“Paintbrush?”
Paintbrush heard the sound of Fan’s voice, he must have come into the room within the last minute or two. They looked over at him. “Yeah?”
“You look kinda down. Are you okay? I may not be the best at, y’know, comforting others,” Fan chuckled a little, “but I can listen if you’re, well, wanting to talk.”
Paintbrush sighed. “I’m… not feeling the best if I’m being totally honest.” They looked down at what of the bed they were sitting on that they could see behind the curled-up position of their arms and legs.
Fan hopped up onto the bed that was next to Paintbrushes’. “What’s bothering you? You can tell me. If you want to.” Fan’s eyes darted away from Paintbrush for a moment, seemingly wanting to listen to them vent but also not wanting to pry.
Paintbrush didn’t know how to word what they were feeling. “Well, it’s-” they started, but stopped, because how do you explain to someone who probably can only comprehend being one or the other that when you’re the secret third option you’re nonexistent? Paintbrush hesitated, noticing Fan intently listening yet not interrupting, and said, “It’s… no one seems to understand that maybe there’s a reason that everyone can’t figure out if I’m… a boy or a girl. Because I’m…” They paused for a moment in hesitation, “I’m neither.”
The room was silent for a few too many too long moments. Paintbrush was, to say the least, worried about what Fan would think.
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” Paintbrush blurted out.
“Nonono! Sorry, I tend not to respond until I’m sure of what to say,” Fan told them, “but… I get what you mean.”
Paintbrushes’ eyes lit up, “You do?”
“Not on a personal level, but I think I understand. I’m guessing you don’t go by he or she, correct?”
“Yeah,” Paintbrush smiled slightly, “I’d like it if you used they/them for me.” They couldn’t believe it. Fan actually understood what Paintbrush meant? Actually?
“Alright!” Fan did a hand motion that said he was presenting something while saying, “Here’s Paintbrush, the Inanimate Insanity contestant whose hair catches on fire when they’re angry!” He and Paintbrush bursted out with laughter.
When their laughter slowed, Paintbrush said, “Thank you, Fan. I mean it, thank you. I didn’t think anyone would understand that I’m, well, nonbinary.”
“Of course! What are friends for? Even a friend who posts on a blog and who met an alien species because he abducted an egg of theirs without realizing!” Fan and Paintbrush laughed again.
Paintbrush was grateful. They were… happy that someone saw them for who they were and not what they looked like.
“So are you gonna tell anyone else?” Fan inquired.
“I think… when the topic gets brought up, I will,” Paintbrush states.
Fan clapped. “Yayyy!”
“Just… use they/them passively. I’m sure they’ll catch on and start, too.”
“Alrighty!” Fan gave them a thumbs-up.
From then on, Paintbrush was sure that they’d be seen as Paintbrush and not the one who might be a boy or a girl. They knew they’d be seen for who they were. They knew it.