Disclaimer: I don't own Epic Mickey 1 or 2, any of the Mickey franchise, any of the Oswald franchise, or any other franchises that fit here that I might have missed!
Title: For Example
Summary: Most toons, as a result of having anything below the midsection glossed over, have things below the belt formed by magic rather than the paintbrush. Most turn out right. Some do not. Most asked Yin Sid to change their bodies so they don't have to worry about people tossing them aside for being different from the norm. Some do not, and keep things a secret so they aren't forced to act like what they aren't. Take, for example, Oswald.
Warnings: FemOswald!
Author's Note: No, this would never be canon. Ever. But that's what fanfictions for, right?
Basically, Oswald is a tomboy who, due to hardheadedness and a tinge of embarrassment, didn't change her body to fit the social norm. She also didn't tell anybody about being female, so she didn't have to conform to the other social norm. It isn't a difficult secret to keep. After all, she has the voice and personality of the average male. No one would even take a second glance. 80 years in the future, give or take, though, she still isn't sure how to tell the other toons, even if she knows no one is going to force her to be someone she isn't.
...
The first thing Mickey promised to do when they spoke through the mirror was to visit Wasteland. The second thing he promised was to do so on good terms; he wanted to meet his 'nieces' and 'nephews.'
Oswald, still caught up in the whole oh-my-gosh-Ortensia-is-alive-and-still-loves-me-even-though-I'm-not-the-rabbit-I-used-to-be moment, had stupidly nodded her head with a stupid grin. Later, on the train ride home (Ortensia wanted to see what Wasteland had become during her absence, and they both wanted to be as close to each other as possible as long as possible- so they ditched the projectors in favor of one of her favorite machines of all time), she started to doubt her end of the agreement.
Mickey visiting meant Mickey coming to Wasteland. Mickey coming to Wasteland meant Mickey trying to become better friends with her and Oswald possibly screwing everything up. Again.
Oswald was honestly still a little wary of the whole 'brothers' thing. Too much time alone, she decided, and too much time dedicated to bitterness and resentment, had made her a little rough around the edges, especially around Mickey. The last thing she needed was for her to blow her top over something trivial and destroy the new and fragile bond between them.
"You're thinking. I can hear the wheels turning from here."
Oswald grinned and squeezed her hand. "I'm just glad the wheels aren't too rusty to move."
Ortensia giggled and shook her head. "Mind filling me in?"
So she does. Oswald had always tried to be honest and upfront with Ortensia, even more so than she was with the others. That, and Ortensia probably already knew what she was thinking. Anyone who'd known her more than a few days knew what she was thinking. Ortensia, Gus, The Mad Doctor (once upon a time), they all knew the not-so-subtle tells. Oswald had long given up trying to kick the habit.
"You're thinking too hard." Was her answer. She leaned against her shoulder, Oswald's arm immediately wrapping around her shoulder and pulling her closer. "Oswald, Mickey cares about you. A lot."
"How can ya' tell?"
"Because he's about as subtle as you are." She glanced at her wryly. "He cares, he wants to get closer, and, most importantly, he wants to meet his nieces and nephews. After not knowing you had them for so long, wouldn't you want the same thing?"
"Well, yeah."
"Exactly. Besides, you've always played nice around the kids. If things get too bad, you'll go outside and stomp around for a bit."
"Oh." She paused. Even after all these years, she's still as easy to read as a book. The train thundered on. It was late, and most of Wasteland was rebuilding their homes. Oswald buried her head in Ortensia's shoulder with a weary sigh. "Have I told you I missed you yet?"
"Only a good hundred times or so." She nodded. Ortensia, being a cat, had a habit of purring when she was happy, and even if the noise was a lot quieter than it would've been with a normal cat, Oswald loved the sound. Loved the vibrations.
"Good, 'cause I did. A lot."
"Well, we'll have plenty of time to learn how to stop missing each other like this while we're repairing Wasteland together."
"Mhmm." Oswald nodded and sat up, stretching. Ortensia sat up straight and fiddled with her hands, looking at them rather than meeting her eyes.
"Oswald?"
"Hmm?"
"Does Mickey... Does he know...?"
She sat up straighter and looked away. Her hands squeezed her thighs. "No, he doesn't. Not unless Gus told 'em and forgot to tell me."
Ortensia lightly shook her head. "He wouldn't forget."
"I know."
Oswald's little 'secret' -which probably couldn't even be considered as such, since at least five to seven toons knew by now anyway- wasn't really all that big a deal. It didn't eat at her conscious or fuel her nightmares with pictures of friends and/or family leaving her behind in disappointment and shame. (like she needed any more fuel for her nightmares as it was, right?) It just... was.
Most toons, as a result of the era they were created and/or the fact they spent their careers entertaining kids, didn't discuss their bodies in public. They didn't curse or disrespect their elders without a reason; they didn't brag to random people on the street about their past hook-ups or crashed parties, or the mess that was their decline of popularity, riddled with mistakes and sadness. Those things were to be talked about among friends, not strangers, preferably indoors, where no one else was listening.
And Oswald was no exception to that rule.
Most toons went to Yen Sid when they were drawn like she was, in the era she was drawn in. He'd 'fix' them up, and they'd leave, and no one would speak of it ever again, as though it never happened. Oswald had never felt the need to change. No, she wasn't the norm during that era, and, no, she wasn't going to have herself 'fixed.' Let her be the tomboy she was in peace, please.
And that was the main reason she'd never told anyone, actually. The era she was drawn in didn't typically have tomboys. Had Walt (or, later, Mintz) known, she'd feared they'd have been horrified, scrambled to take her toons off-air to be redrawn, and forced her into being either a background character or become the norm. Oswald hadn't been raised as most girls had been back then- frilly and girly and 'helpless' (ha!)-and the mere idea of acting as such bothered her. Sure, things were a heck of a lot different now, but... it was a little late to change things, wasn't it?"
"Oswald?"
"Huh?" She glanced up from her lap. Right, focus. She'd just gotten her honeybunch back after ages of assuming her to be dead; would it kill her to get her act together for a few minutes and give her the attention she deserved?
"It, uh... It might not be a bad idea, you know." She twisted her hands together. "To tell him."
Oswald blinked and sat back in her seat. "Why?"
"Well, for one thing, he is your brother."
"Yeah, so?"
"So, he's the only family you've got left besides me and the kids. For another thing; isn't about time toons started finding out the truth?"
Oswald's jaw dropped. "Ortensia, are you okay?"
Ortensia looked confused. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, it's just..." She swallowed. "We've never really talked about this, is all." And they'd certainly never discussed going public.
Gus, as horrible as it may sound, was the first to find out. It was his prompting that finally gave her the courage to tell Ortensia.
Ortensia had been.. surprised. And confused. The bunny children had been drawn to life for them, so they'd never bothered with some of the more... adult activities married couples did, but they'd both been hoping to keep the option open. With both of them being female, that left a whole new list of uncertainties and such.
Ortensia didn't mention it prior to her being a statue. Gus wouldn't stop bringing it up. Oswald wasn't sure which bothered her more.
Sometimes, just sometimes, Oswald felt guilty for telling her in the first place. Things would've been so much simpler all the way around had she kept her mouth shut, but it was too late to change things now.
Ortensia's ears fell. "I'm sorry, Oswald."
"Sorry? For what?" She scooched closer and pulled her into a hug. Part of her wanted to sink into the warmth of Ortensia's fur and never let go, but she resisted the urge. There was more important things out there than her lack of the healthy amount of toon contact. Specifically, Ortensia, and her random apology. "You haven't done anything wrong."
"I tried to ignore it. Ignore you." Ortensia shook her head. A shaky hand grabbed Oswald's. "And that just wasn't right of me."
"Hey, it's no big deal. I promise. I ignore it myself a lot." Probably a little too much, but she'd worry about that later.
"I know." A pause. "Oswald?"
"Yeah?"
Her hand grabbed the fur of her arm and tightened. "I hope that someday you'll be able to tell them."
Oswald went slightly ridged. Call it corny, but she preferred keeping her secrets, no matter how small or stupid, where they belonged. Secret. "Honeybunch, I'm not sure I can-"
"Not today, Oswald. Not even in a hundred years if you aren't comfortable with it." She swore, looking into her eyes with a watery grin. She looked on the verge of tears, and Oswald, for the life of her, couldn't figure out why. "Right now, let's just focus on fixing Wasteland, alright?"
She slowly nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
Ortensia leaned into her shoulder. "Have I told you I missed this?"
"Missed what?"
"Being here. Anywhere. With you."
Oswald grinned. "Only a hundred times or so." She quipped. "But... I'm glad."
"Hmm... me too." She nuzzled her chin. "After we round up the kids, let's cook a huge dinner for them, with all their favorites. Then we can talk about school or life or pranks or whatever they want to talk about." She paused. "I miss them."
"So do I. But we'll be there soon, and then they can help us terrorize the train conductor and burn the castle to the ground."
She chuckled. "They haven't changed a bit, huh?"
"That's what I hear." Oswald paused, suddenly feeling guilty for things she really couldn't control. "It... hurt. Being so close to them, but not really being able to visit. I couldn't have 'em up on the mountain either, just in case they managed to find something that'd lead them to the jug or toss each other off a cliff or something..." She sighed. "They probably hate me by now. And I don't blame them."
"Oh, hush. They'd never stop loving you, especially since they knew you had a reason."
"Ortensa, I... I was... really bitter, after you left. I wasn't really the best 'dad' out there, even when I did get to visit. Even if they don't hate me, they have to resent me by now. Honestly, it's only recently I've managed to round a few of those rougher edges."
"Mickey?"
"Mickey."
"Ah." She grabbed her hand, turning to stare out the window and watch the world pass by. "Oswald?"
"Yeah?"
"Tell me about what happened while I was gone."
She startled. "Honeybunch, I already told-"
"Not what happened to Wasteland. What happened. To you. To your heart. Tell me... from your perspective."
So she did.
No flames! Don't like don't read! Review!
So... what do you think? This is honestly my first go at fem anything. Does it work? Is someone out of character?