Unorthodox Love
Disclamer: I own nada. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS APPRECIATED.
Characters
Annabeth-16 yrs old. Pretends to conform to society's relationship norms; in a faux relationship for show with Piper. is really heterosexual; in secret relationship with Percy
Percy-17 yrs old. In secret relationship with Annabeth; on biblical probation; orphan raised by church.
Malcolm-20 yrs old. Is the older brother of Annabeth; knows of her relationship with Percy; Fiance to Ethan.
Ethan-21 yrs old. Fiance to Malcom; is a government lawyer.
Piper-16 yrs old. In faux relationship with Annabeth; Knows it's for show; knows about Percy.
Chapter 1
It was June 20th, the third Saturday of the month. It would be the last time Annabeth could see her brother, Malcolm, this month until July fourth. Siblings weren't allowed to see each other on any day other that the first or third Saturday of each month. They were then given the day together to hang out and catch up as any communication between the sexes was thought of as scandalous. Annabeth and Malcolm have been subject to that rule since Malcolm reached the age of thirteen.
She was sitting with Malcolm on the edge of the roof, overlooking the city lights in the vast darkness that is night. They loved the site as it was a halcyon reminder of their younger days as children. It was as if they could see the entire world from the high perch. They felt as if they could conquer the confusing world of theirs and mold it into a simpler, more understanding world that was without prejudices, racism, greed, and hate. But she couldn't handle it, it was constricting and forceful. It made her remember her great need of confidence to continue the discussion she had started with her brother.
"I'm telling you this because you won't tell anyone else," Annabeth finally stated as she felt the interim between her revelations to her brother and the pause following start choking her in suspense.
"What makes you so sure?" her brother finally spoke. "What makes you so sure I won't tell anyone else?" his voice sounded both skeptic and slightly amused, effectively easing Annabeth's growing anxiety.
"Because you know what would happen if mom and dad found out. They would disown me and renounce that I was ever related to their golden boy of a son. You know that is how they are, Malcolm. They favored you 'cause you so easily fit in with the system. You could easily change yourself to fit whatever need that had to be met. And look , now you're engaged to a government lawyer, filling our parent with tears of joy each time you are mentioned at home. I was always recalcitrant and uncooperative when they tried to carve and mold me to fit into each cylindrical hole and box they could.
"Our parents believe that we must follow every societal norm down to every last clause. As far as they know, I do as well. But as you now know that isn't the case at all. No, I am not the homosexual girl that I have been forced to ameliorate. I won't have my independence stolen from me. So what? I like men! What's so wrong with that? There isn't anything wrong with loving those who don't resemble your own physique.
"Why must our society frown upon such a development? Would it not make the population grow faster? Would it not give for more integrated and varied activities and events? We should have the right to love whoever we want to. I shouldn't have to hide and sneak out to steal mere glances at him and him, me. We," she said, now indicating herself and her lover. "We shouldn't have to live in fear of ridicule for walking down the street side by side, much less hand in hand." She finished her rant and rave with an indignant huff of her cheeks as she pouted and glared across the city scope.
"Look, I do see where you are coming from and I won't tell... Pinky promise?" he said, holding out his smallest finger.
"Pinky promise," she said in response, clasping his outstretched finger in her own. Her face spread out into a marvelous grin that she knew her brother missed seeing.
"Annie," he starts, calling her his beloved nickname for her. "I can see you feel very strongly for your freedom to love, but you must tell me who made you so sure. I've watched you grow and rebel, but you've always hesitated to state your large demands. You clearly couldn't come to these terms alone. Tell me, dear Annie, who is the boy who has transformed my reckless teen sister into a strong, practically fearless young woman?"
Hearing this drains the color and pride from her face and replaces it with thick, paralyzing horror and fear. She knows that she can't show vulnerability or he would view her just like everyone at school did, as cowardly. Ironically, she is now frightened and fears the backlash that would go with the knowledge of who her male lover was. She furiously tried to figure out ways to back pedal the conversation to change the topic, but failed to come up with plausible topics that would distract her brother completely.
Forgetting his admittance of support, she clams up and refuses to divulge his name.
"You'll just judge us like everyone else," her voice quivers before it rapidly declines in audibility as that of a mere whisper. "I would never do that to him. He's already on biblical probation," her last sentence near inaudible, but her brother still heard.
"It's Percy, isn't it?" asked Malcolm. Annabeth turns to him, braced for an outburst.
"Annie, I don't care if the boy's got a past as long as you are happy," he says after a sigh. "So Pipes knows, right? You didn't just leave the girl hanging did you?"
"Yeah she knows and she's cool with it 'cause she knows how our folks are. She's my best friend and would do anything to help me, regardless of the consequences and I am the same. That's just how we are. We've looked after one another since grade school, Malcolm. You're a witness who can attest that."
...
As the curfew alarm rang, Micah knew it was time to start the trek back to the home he had shared with Annabeth a mere seven years ago. Those seven years felt like such an eternity ago. When he turned thirteen, he had been officially under the gender segregation law. He would have to abide by these rules until his sister gets married or was seen as a truly homosexual, then and only then would they be allowed to "... galvanize and rendezvous however they please without fear for heterosexuality occurring." as decreed by the gender laws passed in 1902 by Congress.
Malcom thought about that law often as he would bring Annabeth home from their visit. He thought about how they may never be able to see each other when they liked after her little confession today. It was uncertain if Annabeth and Piper would be able to keep up their charade for a definite amount of time, and he knew the law was asking too much from his sister. It was asking her to lie about who she loved and force her to be in a long, government ordained relationship with a woman who she could never love in the way that is being demanded from her.
As they neared the corner to turn the last stretch of the block before heading to their parents' home, Annabeth pulls her brother over to the curb for a moment to ask for one last request from him.
"Please tell Ethan about this, but tell him discretely, because even though he is a lawyer...He still works for the government."
"Yes I know, Annie. I am aware of my fiance's occupation," he finishes with a smug grin on his face as he glances down at his kid sister.
"I want him to know because he's a clear thinker. He can maybe propose something that we could try that would allow me and Percy to meet or come up with a proposal that could change the clause in the gender laws that prohibit me from officially being in a relationship with Percy.
"Ethan is an amazing man who I am grateful that you found, Malcolm. He brings out the best in you and makes you smile just at the mention of his name. That is something that I have wanted and hope to have with Percy. I am glad Ethan shall be apart of our family because not only is he an immensely useful asset to have now in my current state, but he also brings in a sense of hope that will truly bring this family back to its former self."
"Those are some wise and carefully thought out words coming from a love saturated 16-year-old." he replied impressed.
"Well, someone's gotta butter Ethan up and odds are it won't be you." she replies starkly. " I love you though. For real. I appreciate you for loving me unconditionally and with all my faults."
"That's what older brothers are for, Annie. That's what family is for."
A/N so yeah that's chapter one. updates are a bit unorthodox(like this love) but i'm sure there will be roughly once a month. Please Read and Review. I know that saying this is cheesy but yeah this is my first fic so i could use the feed back. Don't like the incorporation of the queer community then piss off and don't read. Sorry but i was born and raised in the very liberal city of San Francisco so we don't care who you love as long as you are happy with your lover and yourself.