Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

• Being trans in a non-apocalyptic world is terrible - especially when you changed families every week, and had a HUGE misfortune of having Transphobics "Parents".

  In his penultimate family, his half-sister had seen him researching binders on the Internet. she told her parents. And was Jack punished for literally nothing??

His last family? Well... he didn't have time to figure out whether they would accept him or not. When the world was upside down, they were already in ready suitcases leaving him in the city alone and unprotected. 

But who cares about that? He was used to people abandoning him. And Having an entire house along with a tree house had its advantages - He could finally wear a binder, though improvised. And no one would witness him practicing weirdly for his voice to gross. 

It was a wonder! Apart from the monsters... Zombies, the constant fear of dying... Well, Apocalipse has advantages and disadvantages. 

And one of its disadvantages was; no having privacy. Before, the tree house was owned only by him. However, with Dirk, Quint and June. He didn't have as much peace and privacy. 

When only he and Quint lived there, it was easy for Jack to take off and wear his chest bandages -– he expected Quint to fall asleep to remove the tracks. And he would put them back before his friend woke up. 

Now how do him do that... Having 3 people living in the same house? maybe he could wake up at 5:00 AM, enter the neighboring house (which there were no more zombies) and dress there? But at some point they would find him out, and they would ask him questions...

And he hated those kinds of questions. So what did Jack Sullivan do?... To spend more than 8 hours wearing that makeshift binder - it was a cut piece of legging pants tied around the chest. At first it got loose but the idiot came up with the idea of tying something together and squeezing hard. 

Did it work? Yes. His chest was clearly flat, but clearly unhealthy from the excessive hours worn and the way the fabric was tight.  he didn't care at all, the important thing was that he had a straight chest and looked like a totally cisgender guy. 

"Come on guys! Let's hunt more monsters to be discovered!" Jack exclaimed with all his excitement, as if he wasn't forcing everyone to wake up early on a Saturday— As if the day of the week mattered. It was the Apocalypse! Any day could be a Saturday. 

"Ughh... So early? My brain needs 14 hours of sleep." Dirk mumbled disorientedly, his voice full of sleep and refusing to get out of his "bed" 

"For God's sake! The sun hasn't even woken up yet, why do you want to hunt monsters!?" It was June's turn to complain, her hair completely spiky in several directions, worthy of being teased with Jack taking a picture of it and saving to always irritate her. 

But he didn't, it wasn't time for pranks, it was time to hunt monsters! 

Jack rolled his eyes at their complaints, already pulling on his duct-taped sneakers. "Come on, you lazy little slackers! The monsters don't sleep late, do they? No! They're out there, plotting to eat our brains, and you just want to relax?" He grabbed Quint's arm, trying to pull him up by shaking him frequently. 

Quint yawned, rubbing his eyes. "Jack, my brain still isn't working properly. And I don't think I can handle your energy this early." He complained, but he let Jack pull him to his feet anyway. 

Dirk sat up, blinking several times until he regained consciousness from his sleep. "I'm not hunting zombies at... what time is it again?" He fumbled for his watch, squinting at it. "Seriously, Jack? The sun's barely up!" 

"Guys, come on! You know we need to keep our skills sharp if we want to survive out there," Jack said, gesturing vaguely toward the outside world. "Besides, I've heard rumors of a new type of monster lurking around the outskirts of town. We need to check it out before it gets too close to home." 

Jack's words seemed to snap Dirk out of his sleepy daze. He straightened, his eyes widening slightly. "A new kind of monster? What do you mean?" 

Quint's eyes became small black dots, clearly awake at this information, now looking more alert. "And why didn't you tell us before?" He looked at Jack, a mixture of concern and slight irritation in his expression. 

"A new monster? That's not something to keep secret, Jack. We need to know these things." June's voice held a note of disapproval, though she was more irritated by the fact that her hair was a mess, and she couldn't quite fix it right now. 

He smiled, realizing he had their attention now. "I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily. But I've been hearing whispers, you know? Something about something big, something different from the usual zombies we usually deal with." He shrugged, trying to downplay his own excitement. Yet his mind was already racing with visions of glory, of being the one to discover and defeat this new threat. He could already picture it—Jack the hero, the Monster Slayer, the Savior of the City? That sounded pretty good! 

Jack pulled his broken baseball bat from his back, feeling the familiar weight of it in his hands, the smooth wood worn down by countless battles. It was more than just a weapon to him—it had been with him since the beginning, defeating Blark and other monsters. 

And with another of his usual speeches, he led them towards where he last saw the monster, getting into the  big mama—and unfortunately not being able to drive her. They had all forbidden him after his last "accident." 

He had tried to slide into the driver’s seat, but was met with a chorus of protests from his friends.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! No way, Jack!” Quint exclaimed, blocking his path. “Remember what happened the last time you got behind the wheel? We can’t lose our ride because of one of your ‘adventures.’” 

 "Seriously, man. You almost hit three trees and a pole last time. We won't be able to get back to the treehouse if you destroy that pile of junk." Dirk nodded in agreement, arms crossed over his chest, getting an angry 'hey' from quint, for having his invention called a 'pile of junk' 

June just rolled her eyes, pushing Jack aside so she could take the driver’s seat herself. “Get out of the way, smartass. I’ll drive. You can cruise and keep an eye out for monsters.”

Jack pouted for a moment, but then smiled, holding his hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine. June will take the wheel. But don’t blame me if we run out of gas or get attacked by a horde of zombies on the way.” 

With that, the team climbed into the car, Jack taking his place in the passenger seat. As they drove off towards the outskirts of town, Jack couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation and excitement that coursed through him. A new monster meant a new challenge, and his last name was 'I solve challenges!"

...that sounded better in his head. 

He glanced at June as she drove, her eyes focused on the road ahead. “Hey, June,” he said, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Want to make a little bet? Whoever sees the monster first gets to pick the movie for movie night this week.” 

June gave him a sidelong glance, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “You’re in, Sullivan. But don’t think you’re going to win that easily. I’ve got my eye on a classic horror film that I think you’re going to hate.” 

Jack just laughed, leaning back in his seat as they continued on, ready to face whatever new nightmare awaited them. With his friends by his side, he knew they could handle anything. The apocalypse was just another adventure, and he was always up for one. 

As they ventured deeper into the outskirts of the city, Jack's eyes scanned the desolate landscape, searching for any sign of the mysterious creature that supposedly lurked in these parts. "“Pull over, June!” he exclaimed, pointing to a cluster of abandoned warehouses on the outskirts of a long-abandoned industrial park. “I think I see something over there!"

June slowed the car to a stop, her eyes narrowing as she followed Jack's gaze. Quint and Dirk leaned forward, peering out the windows to get a better look. At first, all they could see were the crumbling bricks and rusting metal of the old warehouses, their windows broken and their roofs sagging under the weight of time and other monsters that for some reason "played" with them. 

But as they looked closer, they began to notice strange markings etched into the concrete and asphalt—deep grooves and strange symbols that looked almost... unnatural. She slowed the car to a stop, her eyes narrowing as she looked in the direction Jack had indicated. "Are you sure it wasn't just a trick of the light? Or maybe a monster that escaped from there?"

Jack shook his head, a feral grin spreading across his face. "No way. This was something different. Something... bigger." He turned to his friends, his eyes shining with excitement. "This is it, boys. This is the monster we've been looking for!"

Quint and Dirk exchanged a look, then nodded, picking up their weapons. "We'll take a look," Quint said, "But we need to be careful. We don't know what we're getting into." 

"Ok, “Here’s the plan,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the ominous rumble. “I’m going to sneak in and take a closer look. If things start to go wrong, you guys need to get out of here. Quickly."

Quint and June looked at each other, then back at Jack. “No way, man,” June said, shaking her head. “We’re not going to let you face this thing alone. We’re in this together, remember?” 

Jack hesitated for a moment, torn between his desire to protect his friends and his knowledge that they were all in this together. But in the end, he knew he couldn't ask them to do something he wouldn't do himself. "Okay," he sighed, his plan to keep everyone safe hadn't worked. Even so, he still tried to put on an air of control. "But we stick together, and if I say run, we all run. Got it?" 

With that, Jack kicked open the rusty metal door. He stepped into the darkness, his friends close behind him. The air inside the warehouse was thick and heavy, tinged with an acrid, sulfurous smell that stuck in the back of his throat. 

Behind him, Quint, Dirk, and June followed close behind, their footsteps echoing across the floor. Sunlight from the open door cast long shadows across the cracked concrete floor, the shafts of light illuminating the detritus of a once-thriving industry—rusted machinery, moldy pallets, and broken crates littered the area. 

As they ventured deeper, the growling sound grew louder, more insistent. It seemed to reverberate off the very walls of the warehouse, making everyone nervous. He held up a hand, signaling for his friends to stop, and pointed to a large, dark shape huddled in the far corner of the space. 

The shape was enormous, easily the size of a midsize car, and it seemed to be... pulsating. Jack squinted, trying to make out the details of the creature, but the light was too dim, the shape too indistinct. He could see that it had strange, thick skin, it seemed to be covered in strange, writhing appendages. 

“Wow,” he whispered, a mixture of awe and horror in his voice. “Would you look at this thing? It’s like a cross between a giant slug and a Lovecraftian nightmare. I think I’ll call it the… Blobster. No, wait—the Cthulhu slug. Or maybe… Slugathan?"

June snorted, trying to stifle a nervous laugh. "Seriously, Jack? You're making up monster names now? We're about to fight a giant, pulsating thing... and you're worried about what to name it?" 

"I don't care what it's called. I just want to know how we're going to kill it. Look at the size of that thing—I don't think those grenades are going to do much." Dirk commented to the grenade launcher Quint had made for him— it wasn't even a real grenade launcher. Its ammunition was just jars filled with something Dirk didn't care to know what it was. 

"I don't know about you, but I think we need to aim for the head..." Quint finally commented, taking a few hesitant steps forward. Trying to see more of the creature in front of them. "If it has a brain, that's where it'll be. And if it doesn't... well, we'll come up with a plan B on the spot." 

Suddenly, the creature began to move, its enormous bulk rippling across the ground with a sickening, slithering sound. Jack’s eyes widened as he realized it was heading straight for them, its writhing appendages extending like the tentacles of some eldritch abomination. 

"Ok, change of plans!" Jack shouted, pushing his friends back. "Spread out, find cover, and aim for the center of the mass! If we don't find a head, we'll have to cut it into pieces until it stops moving!" 

With that, he lunged forward, his staff raised high, the blade digging deep into the creature’s leathery hide. A stream of dark, viscous blood spurted from the wound, hissing as it hit the ground. The other two boys followed suit, throwing their weapons at the beast. Quint’s crossbow bolts and Dirk’s makeshift grenades exploded against the creature’s flesh, tearing chunks out of it. June did the same as Jack, with her arm she penetrated the pointed tip against what seemed to be the monster's tail

The creature thrashed and writhed, its growls turning into a deafening, unearthly scream. It was clear they were nearly finished. Their weapons clashed against the creature's thick hide again and again. Slowly, they began to make progress, until finally, the beast fell to the ground, motionless. 

Jack, his clothes already stained with dirt, grime, and the creature's dark blood, felt the fabric growing heavier and tattered with each passing minute. His once red baseball jersey was now a stained mess of crimson and black, the white stripes barely visible beneath the layers of grime and congealed blood. His blue pants fared no better, the jeans torn and splattered with the same disgusting mixture. 

Quint, Dirk and June were in a similar state, their once clean clothes now as dirty as his. Quint's shirt was torn at the sleeve, exposing his arm, covered in scratches and bruises from the creature's writhing appendages. Dirk's jacket was torn in several places, the fabric hanging in tattered strips. June's sweatshirt and jeans were just as filthy as the others, splattered with the same dark, viscous fluid that seemed to be everywhere. 

Panting and exhausted, Jack pulled out his blade, the creature's dark blood dripping from the baseball bat. He turned to his friends, a smile on his face. "I think... I think we got it." 

"But man, look at us. We're a mess." Quint looked down at his ragged, stained clothes and laughed, a sound of relief and exhaustion. "I don't know about you guys, but I think it's time for a change of clothes. And maybe a long shower. I feel like I need to scrape this gunk off me." 

Dirk nodded in agreement, pulling a piece of the creature's skin from his shirt. "I agree. I can't go back to the Pizza Joe like this. The others will think we rolled in a dumpster or something." 

June just shook her head, a wry smile on her face. "Come on, let's get out of here. I don't want to stick around to see if this thing has any friends."  

With Quint's engineering, they managed to break into Jack's family's house. Dirk was the first to push the boy and enter the house. "I'll take a shower first!" 

"Hey, wait your turn, man!" he shouted behind him, grumbling as he picked himself up from the ground. Jack and June just laughed at the situation. Entering the abandoned house— Well... not so abandoned. The furniture was still looking great. 

As Dirk turned on the shower, Jack stepped into his old room, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. It was exactly as he had left it, frozen in time. — A pile of boxes left on the floor, a bed with a sheet that he thought was ridiculous... the truth was that he didn't even have time to decorate his "own room" before all this happened. He threw himself onto the bed, his face pressed against the pillow, a moment of peace came over him before it was interrupted by a Dirk in just shorts entering the room. 

""Man, I can't remember the last time I had an amazing shower like this! I swear, I feel like a new person!" Dirk commented, looking around the other boy's room before asking, "Where's your parents' room? I don't think your nerd clothes will fit me." 

Jack sat up in bed, blinking away the sudden intrusion into his moment of nostalgia. He glanced at Dirk, taking in his bare chest and damp shorts, and rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Dirk? Couldn't you have put a towel on or something?" 

"And what's the problem with seeing me shirtless? We're both boys." He retorted, crossing his arms with an arched eyebrow. Jake just stayed silent, rolling his eyes as he left the room and went to his adoptive "parents" room. 

Jack walked over to the closet, opening the doors to reveal a row of hanging clothes. He flipped through them, his fingers brushing the fabric of shirts and pants. “Here,” he said, tossing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt to Dirk. “Try these on. They should fit you better.” "

Dirk picked up the clothes, held them up, and examined them critically. "Cool, thanks, man. I owe you one."

Just then, Quint poked his head into the room, a mischievous grin on his face. "Hey, look," he said, holding up a dusty old video game console. "Looks like someone left a Nintendo 64 behind. And look - it's got Super Smash Bros.! Want to play a quick game before we head back to the treehouse?" 

Jack's eyes widened, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Man, yeah! It's been forever since I played that game. But you're on it - and don't think I'm going to go easy on you!" With that, the two boys headed downstairs, flopping down on the couch to play for hours.

They actually didn't manage to spend 10 minutes playing. June had already finished her shower, her hair dry from finding a hairdryer in the laundry room. She had picked up a red jacket and black pants from the laundry room; she thought they were clean. 

As she entered the living room, she narrowed her eyes at Jack—still in his rotting clothes, and not realizing how much he smelled bad.

"Jack," she said, her voice sharp and stern. "Seriously? You're still wearing those filthy, rotten rags? You stink worse than the monster we just killed. Go take a shower, now." 

Jack looked up from the TV screen, a shy smile spreading across his face. "Oh come on June, we were about to start a new game! Can't you wait a little longer?" 

"No, Jack, I can't wait any longer. You smell like a rotting corpse, and I'm not going to sit here and choke on the stench of monster guts all day."

"Okay, okay," he grumbled, getting up from the couch. "I'm going. Happy now?" 

June rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Of course. Now, hurry up. And we might need to burn all these clothes. I don't know if the washing machine still works." 

"Burn the clothes? Just use a pressure washer on them and they'll be clean!" Dirk replied with all the certainty in the world that he was saying something intelligent, June rolled her eyes and decided to keep quiet. 

With that, Jack went upstairs, entering the bathroom last. He took off his filthy clothes, covered in the monster's blood. "Ugh, it's going to be a lot of work to get these stains out..." he sighed, taking off his pants and shoes. He was ready to take his first shower since the Apocalypse began. 

Except... for a small garment that he refused to take off, he couldn't even look at himself in that dirty mirror, but his chest hurt more often from the forced squeeze, and today's struggle only made it worse. His hand went to his chest, he knew he was alone in the bathroom. That no one would see him if he was completely naked. 

With a deep, shaky breath, he reached out and slowly pulled out the binder, his skin red and raw from the prolonged constriction. When it fell to the floor with a soft thud, he finally allowed himself to look at his reflection in the mirror. 

What he saw made his heart race. His chest was a mess of bruises and red lines, a clear consequence of overuse. He reached out a tentative hand, fingers brushing the inflamed skin, and winced at the sensitivity. The fight with the creature had only exacerbated the damage, his overworked muscles screaming in protest. Jack knew he should be kinder to himself, give his body a chance to heal, but old habits die hard. 

With a heavy sigh, Jack turned away from the mirror, unable to bear the sight of his own reflection any longer. He stepped into the shower, the hot water cascading over his bruised body, and let out a shaky breath as the steam filled the air. He let the water wash over him, trying to scrub away the dirt, blood, and lingering shame that clung to his skin like a second skin, scrubbing his skin until he was sure no gunk was left on it. When he finished his shower he dried himself off with a towel, he wouldn't be able to wear his chest bandage right now: Firstly his chest hurt like hell, it was terrible to breathe even without it. And secondly the garment was disgusting, he would need to wash it in secret later. 

Obviously he wasn't happy about it. He couldn't just go down to his friends and let them see the truth beneath his body, he put on a loose sweatshirt. The clothes hid his chest very well as it wasn't exactly his size, taking a deep breath he left the bathroom. 

As he walked down the stairs, the sound of laughter and the clacking of video game controllers grew louder. Jack stopped at the bottom of the stairs, watching June and Quint playing a racing game.

"Hey, it's about time!" Quint yelled, not taking his eyes off the TV screen. "You were in the bathroom so long we thought you were dead!"

Jack forced a smile, trying to act casual. "Sorry guys, it was hell getting the dirt off me." 

June paused the game, turning to look at Jack with a critical eye. Her brow furrowed slightly as she took in his appearance, the loose sweatshirt hanging off his body despite the warm weather. "What's with the sweatshirt? It's a killer sun. Are you feeling okay?"

Jack felt his cheeks flush, a wave of panic rising in his chest. "Uh, yeah. I just... found it in the closet. It's just an old shirt from my adoptive dad.. And the bathroom was really cold, I didn't want to catch a cold." he stammered, rubbing his arms for emphasis, he knew it was a pretty strange reason. And if it weren't for him telling her this, he wouldn't believe this story either.

Her eyes lingered on him for a few more seconds, and he thought she had figured out his lie—not that it was hard, it was written all over his face. "Whatever, just don't pass out from heatstroke in the middle of the game," she said, her fingers flying over the controller. "I'm not going to let you win just because you're being a weirdo and wearing a hoodie in the summer." 

Jack let out a sigh of relief, feeling the tension drain from his shoulders. He had dodged that bullet, but he knew he would have to be more careful in the future. He couldn't let his guard down. With that thought in mind, Jack threw himself onto the couch next to Quint, grabbing a controller of his own. "Alright, watch out, I'm about to kick both of your asses!" he said, trying to sound confident and carefree

Chapter Text

2 days later.

"Ugh...not again." June sighed in exhaustion. The day had barely started but she knew it would be a huge headache. The pain in her stomach and the red stain on her pants showed it. She walked to the balcony of the tree house, observing the various houses around it, it took all her self-control not to scream in anger. Having your period in the Apocalypse meant risking your life for a mere object that you would have to throw away again. She wished she could cut her uterus out with a knife every time it happened.

 Unfortunately, she couldn't. 

She knew she couldn't go alone, not with the hordes of zombies and monsters roaming the streets. But who among her friends could she trust to accompany her on this delicate mission? Dirk would look at her with a confused face and say "I don't get involved in women's things." Quint, though loyal, would probably blush and stutter his way out of the conversation, pretending he was working on a new project and needed to concentrate. 

And then there was Jack... but June quickly pushed that thought from her mind. She didn't have the patience to deal with his ego and his constant need to be the center of attention. With a sigh of resignation, she had no choice – She would have to go alone. This time she would carry a huge backpack, throwing in all the pads she could find along the way. So as not to go through that stress again. 

As she walked down the stairs. Just as she was about to leave, Jack suddenly appeared jumping over the fence with his faithful pet monster Rover. "Hey June, where are you going?" 

"Oh, Hi Jack", she said, trying to sound casual. "I was just about to... uh, take a walk. Yeah, a walk. To find some supplies we need." 

Jack raised an eyebrow. He noticed the backpack slung over her shoulder. What supplies did they need? 4 days ago he and Dirk had gone to look for what was missing. "A walk, huh? You're not going alone, are you?" 

June hesitated, not wanting to admit the truth, but she knew there was no point in lying—Jack was too curious. He would definitely want to go with her. "I need to find some supplies, and I can't exactly send one of you on this mission. It's... too personal." 

Jack's brow furrowed, concern etched on his face as he watched June's uncomfortable behavior. Rover, panting with his tongue hanging out, tilted his head to the side at the two humans.  As if he didn't fully believe her, he insisted again, getting off Rover's back and walking towards the girl. ""Hey, come on June. You know you can talk to me about anything, right?" Jack said, his voice softening. "If there's something bothering you, I want to help. That's what friends are for." 

"It's girl stuff," she admitted reluctantly, already expecting him to make some joke about her condition. "But seriously. You don't have to go with me." 

Jack's eyes widened slightly in understanding, "Oh. Oh!" He paused for a moment, then straightened his shoulders, he was up the stairs in a matter of seconds. Leaving June standing there, confused. 

A moment later, he came running back, holding a box of 8 menstrual pads in his hands. He tossed them to June, who caught them with a surprised look on her face. “I found these in the closet, leftovers from when my mom used to stay over,” Jack said, trying to sound casual. “I figured you might need them more than she does right now.” It was a lie, of course. He couldn't exactly tell June the truth,that he used them. 

June looked down at the box in her hands, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "Oh. Wow, thanks Jack. I... I didn't know you had this. That's very thoughtful of you," she said, still processing the unexpected gesture. 

Jack smiled, wrapping a arm around June's neck and pulling her close to him. "Relax, buddy! I'm prepared for anything," he said, trying to keep the mood light. "Extra caution never hurts, right?" 

"Alright, let's go then. And thanks again, Jack. I really appreciate you supporting me on this," she said, smiling at him. Although she couldn't quite believe his explanation. It was quite unusual for a boy to have tampons. Even if it was their mother's. 

[Later the same day.] 

June had noticed some differences in Jack's behavior, first was the loose clothing even in the scorching heat, second: the pads. Why would Jack, of all people, have a hidden stash of feminine hygiene products? It wasn't like him to be so prepared for such a personal and intimate need.  considering he doesn't even take a bath... And the way he always seemed to be rubbing his chest in pain was quite suspicious. 

With that. She watched him closely as they made their way through the abandoned houses, searching for supplies. Jack moved with a slight stoop, as if trying to protect himself from some unseen threat. Whenever he thought she wasn’t looking, he would stop and press a hand to his chest, his face contorting briefly in discomfort.  June knew Jack well enough to know that he wouldn’t come right out and tell her what was wrong, even if she asked him directly. His pride and fear of vulnerability always got in the way. But she also knew that she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing if something was really bothering him. 

As they paused in the shade of a crumbling porch, she decided to break the silence between them. “Jack,” June said, her voice soft yet firm, “what’s wrong with you? You’ve been acting strange all day.” 

Jack looked at her, a flash of panic in his eyes before he quickly masked it with a smile. "What? No! I'm fine. Why do you ask?" 

June rolled her eyes, not believing his act for a second. "Don't give me that. You've been wearing those weird, baggy clothes all day, even in this heat. And I saw you rubbing your chest like it hurt. Come on, what's wrong with you?" 

Jack tensed a little, suddenly finding the ground beneath them very interesting to stare at. "I don't know what you're talking about, June. I'm fine, really. Just a little sore from yesterday's fight, that's all." 

June paused for a moment, staring at him with an arched eyebrow, looking at his face in profile and his body. "Hm..... did you hurt your chest? Is that it?" She tried to guess, it made sense that he would be hurt from the fight. But why hide it from her? 

"No, no, it's not that," Jack said, his voice strained as he tried to keep the tremor from her. "I just... I'm fine, really. You don't have to worry about me."

He couldn’t convince her. She stepped closer to him, her eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down, taking in the way his sweatshirt hung loosely on his body, the way he kept his arms crossed protectively over his chest. 

"Jack", she said, getting more serious. Even though she knew she shouldn't do this, the more pressured he felt. The more he tried to change the subject, or he ran. "I know something is wrong. I've seen the way you've been acting all day, and I'm not going to stop asking until you tell me the truth." 

He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. "June, seriously, it's nothing. You're making a big deal out of this," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. 

June's expression turned to a mix of concern and frustration. "I'm not an idiot, Jack. I know something's wrong, and I know you're not telling me the truth." She reached out, her hand hovering near his chest before she seemed to think better of touching him directly. "But okay, if you don't want to tell me I won't force you." With that she stood up, grabbing her backpack. "Come on, we have to stop at a supermaket for more food."

Jack let out a sigh of relief as June stepped back, grabbing her backpack. For a moment, he thought she might actually touch him, and the idea filled him with a terror he couldn't quite explain. But as she moved away, he felt the tension in his shoulders ease slightly.

"Yeah, okay. Let's go to the supermarket," Jack said, his voice still strained. He straightened up, trying to act as if everything was normal, but he kept his arms crossed protectively over his chest.

As they walked, Jack couldn’t shake the feeling that June was still watching him, studying him critically. He knew she didn’t accept his apology, and the thought of her discovering his secret filled him with dread. But he also knew he couldn’t tell her the truth, not yet. He wasn’t ready for her to see this side of him, to know the real Jack hidden beneath the bravado and the jokes. 

So he walked in silence, his mind racing with thoughts of what might happen if June put the pieces together. Would she still look at him the same way if she knew the truth? Would their friendship survive the revelation of his deepest secret? Jack didn’t know, and he wasn’t willing to take that risk. Not now, maybe never. 

As they walked toward the grocery store, June couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that settled in the pit of her stomach. She knew Jack was hiding something from her. Part of her wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him until he told her the truth. Another part of her wanted to pull him into a tight hug and promise that whatever it was, they would face it together. But June knew Jack well enough to know that neither approach would work. He was too stubborn, too proud, too afraid of vulnerability to open up to her willingly. 

So she walked beside him in tense silence, her mind racing with the possibilities of what could be wrong. Was it something serious? Something life-threatening? The thought made her heart clench in fear. She couldn't lose Jack, not now, not when they needed each other so much to survive in this post-apocalyptic world.

They entered a supermarket, apparently there were no monsters sleeping there, or walking around. June placed a hand on her hip, still examining the place to make sure there were no threats. "I'm going after... my items, you can take whatever you want." 

"Sounds good. I'll go find some more snacks and drinks for the tree house," already moving towards the junk food aisles. As he picked up a bag of chips, he felt June looking at him, her brow furrowed in some thought. 

 He quickly looked away, not wanting her to see the guilt and fear he knew must be written all over his face. He had to be more careful, had to find a way to hide his secret better. The last thing he wanted was for June to find out the truth and look at him with pity or, worse yet, disgust.

If she looked at him like that, it would definitely be the end of times. His heart wouldn't be able to handle such cruelty. .

When he turned around, he noticed that June was still in the feminine hygiene aisle, probably gathering the supplies she needed. He was a little hesitant to go over there and help her, after all if he showed that he had knowledge in this...it would raise more suspicion, right?

Still, he couldn't help but go over and help her. Walking up to her, he forced a casual smile. "So? Did you get everything you needed?" 

June looked up as Jack approached, a hint of surprise in her eyes. She was so lost in thought, trying to decipher the enigma of Jack's behavior, that she didn't hear him approaching behind her. "Yes, I got what I needed. Thank you for asking," she said, her voice softening a little. She quickly stuffed a few more items into her backpack before zipping it up. 

"That's good. I have enough snacks and soda to last me a while," he gestured to the bag in his hand. 

He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should say anything else. A part of him wanted to be able to explain his situation to her, why he seemed so uncomfortable when she questioned him, and to explain in simple terms what he really was. But another part of him, the part that was afraid of being exposed, held him back. 

"Então, uh... Are you okay?" He asked finally, though his voice grew more uncertain. "I mean, with everything? You know, if you need to talk or something..." The more he spoke, the quieter his voice got, as if he was immediately regretting opening his mouth. 

He then stopped talking, realizing how awkward and clumsy his attempt at empathy sounded. He silently cursed himself, knowing he had probably only raised more suspicion with his poorly worded question. 

June looked at him, her head tilted slightly to the side. "I'm fine, Jack. Why do you ask?" she snapped, her suspicions activated again. 

Jack felt his face flush and quickly looked away. "No reason. I just... I don't know. I guess I just wanted to make sure you were okay," he shrugged, really feeling like an idiot. "Anyway, we should probably get going. It's not safe to stay in one place for too long," 

  "Yeah, you're right. Let's go back," slinging her bag over her shoulder and following him toward the exit. 

As they climbed the ladder to the treehouse, his chest began to ache more intensely, a dull throb that made it hard to concentrate on anything else. He gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the pain, but a small gasp escaped before he could stop it. 

June stopped on the stairs, looking at him with concern written all over her face. "Are you okay?"

Jack recovered quickly, forcing a smile onto his face. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... just a little sore from earlier," he said, hoping she'd accept his lame excuse. 

She rolled her eyes, but climbed the rest of the ladder and entered the treehouse, her eyes narrowing as she took in Jack's tense posture, before she could speak. Quint interrupted her: 

"Ei, You two came back early. Did you find everything you needed?" 

"Yeah, the supermarket was clean. We picked up a lot of stuff," he said, trying to sound casual. 

June shrugged, walking over to her side of the treehouse and sitting on the edge of the bed. She picked up a small stone and a sharpening rod, carefully honing the blade of her knife. “Yeah, we got everything on the list,” she said absently, more focused on the task at hand than the conversation. Talking right now wasn’t going to help anyway... Jack was proof of that. 

Quint looked between the two people, noticing the tension that hung in the air. He could sense something was wrong, but he wasn't sure what. "Are you two okay?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern. "You two seem... i dont know, Weirds..."

 "Yeah, we're fine. Just tired from the walk back," Jack replied with a dismissive gesture, throwing himself down on the purple cushion. 

 "Well, if you say so. Just... be careful, okay? I don't want any of you to get hurt," Quint muttered awkwardly. Thinking of a way to end this awkward atmosphere. 

Jack watched June retreat to her corner of the tree house, her mind clearly preoccupied. He could see the way she held her knife and stone, her fingers working as she sharpened the blade, it was obvious she was doing this as a way to soothe her worries and stress. 

He looked away, trying to focus his attention on his best friend. But he could see the way her brow furrowed as she worked, the way her jaw clenched slightly. She was thinking about something, and he had a feeling it might have something to do with him... 

"Hey, look at this!” Quint quickly picked up a strange contraption along with a paper with his ideas drawn on it. “I’ve been working on this idea for a while now, and I think it could really help us in an emergency.” 

Jack tried to listen, he really did. But his mind kept going back to her, to the way she was looking at him. He could feel the pain in his chest growing stronger, a throbbing that made it hard to focus on anything else. 

Quint, oblivious to Jack's distraction, continued interacting in a failed attempt to calm things down. "It's a new type of trap, see? It uses a combination of sound waves and a special type of glue to immobilize any monster that gets too close. I call it 'Monster Muzzle'!" he said, smiling proudly. 

Jack forced a smile, nodding as Quint explained his plans. “Yeah, that sounds great, Quint. Really impressive.” He hoped his friend didn’t notice the lack of enthusiasm in his voice. Even as he listened to the other boy talk about his latest invention, his mind raced with worst-case scenarios—Was it some kind of reaction to the binder, his body rebelling against the constant restraint? Or was it something more dire, a sign of some dire medical condition he’d never known about?!

Desperate to distract himself and take his mind off his own worries, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Hey, Quint, maybe we should do another patrol around the neighborhood. Make sure there aren't any monsters lurking around," he chuckled awkwardly, trying to figure out a way to get his friends to leave the treehouse.

He looked up, surprised by the sudden suggestion. "Oh, uh, sure. I guess we could do that," putting his strange contraptions away on the table. "But shouldn't we wait until later, when it's darker? Monsters are more active at night, right?" 

"Nah, better safe than sorry. Besides, I'm feeling a little cooped up here," Jack shook his head, trying to sound casual. "We have to explore the city! It sucks being inside all day." He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms to emphasize his proposal. 

""I don't really feel like walking again," June commented, pausing to sharpen her blade. "You guys go first, though." 

Jack felt a twinge of irritation at her dismissive attitude. Didn't she realize how much he needed a distraction right now? How much he needed her to stop thinking about his strange behavior and just act normal for a while?  He opened his mouth to say something, however, a sudden, sharp pain shot through his chest. He gasped, doubling over slightly as he grabbed the wall for support. He couldn't help but let out a low groan, his face contorting in agony. 

"Jack?! Are you okay?" Quint asked with concern, starting to get up from his seat. 

June's head snapped up at the sound of Jack's pained groan, her eyes widening in alarm. She was at his side in an instant, one hand gripping his shoulder. "Jack!! What is it?!" 

 "I'm fine, really. Just... just a little cramp, that's all." Jack tried to hide it, straightening up and giving a weak smile, even though his face had gone pale and he was starting to sweat. He tried to straighten up, pretend the pain was nothing. But the pain in his chest was too intense, and he knew he couldn't hide it anymore, not with the way his body was. 

Taking a deep breath, shuddering, trying to find the words to explain. But before he could say anything, a wave of dizziness washed over him. The room spun, and Jack felt his knees give way beneath him. 

As he collapsed to the floor of the treehouse, he heard June scream. "Quint, help me put him to bed!" 

He couldn't respond, couldn't do anything but close his heavy eyes, his body growing limp by the second. He could barely hear the desperate sounds of his friends. 

And then, everything went black. 

Quint rushed over, his face pale and eyes wide with fear. Together, they managed to lift Jack onto the bed, June gently supporting his head in her lap. brushed the sweat-dampened hair from his forehead.

"What do we do?" she asked, looking at Quint desperately. "How can we help him? "

He swallowed hard, his mind racing as he tried to think of a solution. He was smart when it came to machines and devices, but when it came to matters of the body... he only knew the basics from school.  “I… I don’t know,” he stammered, his eyes darting nervously between Jack’s face and June’s panicked expression. “Maybe we should try to cool him down? Get a damp cloth or something?” 

With that, June was on her feet, grabbing a clean cloth and dipping it into the basin of water they kept by the door. She wrung it out and pressed it gently to Jack’s forehead.  "I'll check for injuries," she commented, her hands touching his scalp. "Look for Dirk outside, three heads are better than two." 

As Quint climbed down, June turned her attention to Jack. She gently ran her hands over his scalp, checking for any lumps or sores, finding none. Then she carefully examined his neck and shoulders, feeling for any signs of injury or strain. 

Her hands slid lower, hovering over his chest. She hesitated for a moment, uncertainty in her eyes, should she touch him? Would he be hurt when he found out… However, the memory of Jack's agonized expression surfaced in her mind, and she pressed her palm against his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart. 

"Stay calm June..." she repeated to herself, breathing along as her hands grabbed Jack's sweatshirt, and slowly lifted the fabric. "I'm just doing this to see the wounds..." Even though a part of her couldn't help but feel embarrassed by the act. 

"What the hell..." she muttered, her brow furrowed in confusion. She had never seen anything like it before, and she couldn't even begin to guess what the purpose of it could be. 

.

Quint ran back to the treehouse, Dirk right behind him. "I didn't see anything out there," Dirk said breathlessly, his eyes immediately darting to Jack's prostrate form on the bed. "What's going on? Is Jack okay?" 

"No, he's not okay." She sighed, putting his sweatshirt back on. "He... He's wearing something weird against his torso. And I think maybe that's the problem...?" She tried to guess, confusion all over her. 

"You mean... you think Jack might be... trans?" Quint asked, trying to make sense of the situation with June's explanation. 

Dirk's eyes widened as the implications sank in. "Wow... I never would have guessed. Jack always seemed so... I don't know, normal. Like, a totally normal guy, you know?" he said, scratching his head, not realizing how problematic his phrase could be. "Wait a minute. Are you saying Jack is hurting himself on purpose? Like, on purpose?" 

June nodded. "Yeah. He's all red and bruised from that stupid binder." 

"But why wouldn't he just tell us? We're his friends, aren't we?" Quint questioned, swallowing hard at the sight of his best friend passed out on the bed... Didn't Jack think they were best friends? The thought hurt his heart, feeling a little betrayed. 

"I don't know, Quint. Maybe he was scared. Maybe he thought we wouldn't understand. Or maybe... " She paused, understanding dawning on her mind. "Maybe he was afraid of how we would react. What we might think of him, stop liking him." 

She stared at Jack's still form, her heart aching with a mixture of sadness and anger. Sadness for the pain he had endured alone, and anger at the thought that he thought they would look at him with disgust. 

"We need to help him, no matter what he's going through... he's still our friend. And we need to be there for him." 

"Hmm...and how would we do that?" Dirk asked, still not understanding much of the situation. "None of us know what to do with him," 

Quint frowned, trying to think through the situation logically. "Okay, first things first, we need to get Jack out of that... binder thing. Obviously that thing is the root of the problem." 

"I can take it from him, I think it's best if it's me, since... well, you know." She trailed off, a blush rising to her cheeks. "Sure, I'll just let him turn his back to me, and close my eyes." 

"Okay, that makes sense. You should be the one to take it off, for... privacy reasons, Dirk and I are going to go outside and look for something that will help"

> Three days had passed since Jack's collapse, he had been vague about the cause of his collapse, only saying that it was a "personal matter" and that he want to discuss it. The others respected his privacy. Even though they already knew the real reason. 

 As the sun began to set and paint the sky in shades of orange and pink, June found herself sitting next to Jack near the crashed plane where they had gotten the Research Zombie, watching him try to turn on the Tablet that sat on the seats. While she was trying to think of a way to bring up the elephant in the room without making him uncomfortable.

"Hey," she said softly, moving a little closer to him. "Can I ask you something?" 

“Sure, I guess,” he replied, a hint of caution in his voice.

June took a deep breath, choosing her next words carefully. “Why… why didn’t you tell us, Jack? About… well, about you being trans?” She felt her cheeks flush slightly as she said the words out loud. 

Jack froze for a moment, his fingers tightening on the tablet as June’s words sank in. He’d been dreading this conversation, knowing it was inevitable but hoping to put it off as long as possible. Now, faced with June’s gentle question, he felt a wave of panic rising in his chest. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, his voice harsher than he’d intended. He stood abruptly, moving toward the front of the plane to put some distance between them. “I found the wires Quint wanted, by the way. They’re all tangled up in here, but I think I can work them out.” 

"Jack, please,” June said softly, standing up and taking a step towards him. “You don’t have to avoid the question. I know, okay? I know about the binder, and why you were in so much pain.” It was clear he was uncomfortable with the direction their conversation had taken. But she had to keep going, a part of her that cared deeply for Jack knew she couldn’t just pretend everything was normal. 

Jack’s hands stilled, and for a moment, he was silent. Then, slowly, he turned to face June, his expression wary and cautious. “Why?” he asked, his voice steady. “What’s the point? You already know, don’t you? You all know. So why keep questioning it?” 

"And we do. We accept you, Jack. No matter what. But... I want to understand. I want to be here for you, in a way that really matters. And I can't do that if you won't let me help you." She reached out, gently placing a hand on his arm. 

His eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, she thought he might be angry. But instead, he just sighed, a sound of deep exhaustion. “I… I don’t know. I was just… scared. Afraid of what you might think of me. Afraid of losing your… friendship. I thought… I thought if I could hide it long enough, maybe it would go away. Maybe I could be normal.” 

"Jack,Listen to me,” she began, tapping his shoulder to get him to stop fiddling with the now-dead tablet. “You are not defined by your body. You are defined by who you are, here.” She tapped her own chest, right over her heart. “And who you are is someone who has been there for us, time and time again. Someone who is brave, kind, loyal, and so much more.” 

He listened to her words, feeling a lump form in his throat. , "I... I don't know what to say," Blinking rapidly, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. No one had ever said something like that to him before. No one had ever accepted him. "I thought... I thought you didn't want to be my friend anymore. That you might think I was disgusting or weird or something..." 

Her hand moved from his shoulder, to his cheeks and lifted his face. Making him look at her and her gentle words. "You could never lose us, Jack. We chose you, just as you chose us. And nothing about who you are, inside or out, could change that. We are family. And your family accepts you despite everything." 

As the sun sank lower, casting a warm glow over the crashed plane, June leaned in a little closer, taking a deep breath for about 3 seconds. Before she gathered the courage to continue. "I want you to know... I would never think any less of you because of this. If anything, it just makes me admire your strength and courage even more."

She paused, her cheeks flushing a pink as she searched for the right words. "And I... I don't want to lose you either. You mean...so much to me, Jack. More than you could possibly know." she reached out, gently taking his hand in hers. "We're in this together, no matter what. You and me, we... we're a team. Always." The lovestruck look on her face was clearer than day, the goofy smile on her lips. 

Jack's breath caught in the middle of his throat. Were his ears really working? I mean... Was he really hearing those words coming from her mouth? He had imagined this moment in his dreams over and over again. Tossing and turning in bed and laughing to himself. Wishing he could finally be with his dream goddess. 

This wasn't a dream, this was really happening.... He felt his heart racing, the words stuck in his mouth as all that came out of him was a shaky, stuttering, incomprehensible sound. He didn't know what to say, all the words he had practiced alone months ago. They had disappeared from his mind. 

"“I… I don’t know what to say, June,” he managed to stutter. He could hardly believe this was happening—that the girl he had always admired was holding his hand, expressing such sincere love to him, it was… incredible. “I never thought… I mean, I always hoped that maybe, someday, you might feel the same way. But I never dared to dream that it could be a reality.”  He took a deep breath, as nervous and anxious as he was right now, he had to control himself. He knew he had to be brave now, just like she had been brave in confessing her feelings for him. 

"When I first realized I was trans, I was so scared and confused. I didn't know how anyone would react, especially someone as amazing as you." He took a deep breath, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand. "But you've just proven me wrong for doubting you. Your kindness, your compassion, your unwavering acceptance... it means the world to me, June." ""I feel the same way about you, June,"

he confessed, raising his eyes to meet hers. "You're the person I admire most in this world. Your strength, your intelligence, your beauty, the way you can be extremely scary when you want to be..." he chuckled a little, his shoulders moving. His free hand went to touch her soft cheek. "I... find it fascinating. I want to be with you, in every way possible."  With that, Jack closed the remaining distance between them, pressing his lips gently against June's in a gentle, soft 

When they finally broke apart, Her cheeks were flushed a pretty pink. "Wow," she breathed, a giddy smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "That was... wow. I never thought... I mean, I always hoped, but..." She trailed off, not knowing what to say.

"I know, I can't believe this is real. That you feel the same way. I was so scared to tell you, so afraid of losing you... but now I know that I never had to be afraid." he said softly, leaning his forehead against hers. "I know we have a lot to talk about, a lot of things to figure out. But I want you to know... I want to figure it all out with you. I want to face everything that comes our way, I promise not to be as careless as I was three days ago."