A/N: Okay, this one is really long. Like, long enough to be a short multi chapter fic. So I'm posting this one in two or three parts. Just letting you know in advance. Enjoy!

Reminders:

Gay: Race, Davey, Romeo, Elmer

Bi: Jack, Spot, Specs, Sarah

Pan: Katherine, Albert

Ace-spec/aro-spec: Katherine (demisexual), Crutchie (ace)

Trans: Sarah (genderfluid AFAB), Romeo (FTM), Elmer (non-binary)

Straight allies: Henry, Finch


Love is All That Matters Part 1

Modern AU (the gang goes to a pride parade)

"You ready to go to Kat's house, Zach?" Jack asked his friend, straightening the pink bowtie around his own neck. Him and all his friends were going to their first pride parade, and they'd all agreed to wear the colours of their flags.

"Sort of. But I'm… scared." Zachary said, picking his crutches up from where they rested on the sofa. "My grandfather's leading the protest that's going to be at the parade. I'm not out to him."

"Screw that old man, Zack." Jack sighed, picking up their backpack that sat by the door. "Who gives a damn about what he says? All that matters at this pride parade is that we prove that man wrong."

Zachary smiled as the two made their way to Jack's car. "You're right. Screw him and his queerphobia. Now let's motor. We got a parade to get ready for and be at."

They arrived at Katherine's house and were welcomed in by Nicholas. The button-up he was wearing was open, showing the binder that flattened his chest. He had the transgender flag pinned to his shoulders like a cape and a speaker strapped to his belt that was currently blasting 'Girls/Girls/Boys'.

"You've been here a while, huh?" Jack commented, setting the bag down on the couch.

"Shut up, Cowboy. Looking dapper, might I say so myself." Nicholas chuckled, pointing to Jack and Zachary's bow ties as he shut the door and turned his speaker off.

"It's a queer fashion statement, idiot." Zachary sighed. "Where's Kat?"

"There you two are!" Katherine exclaimed. Her chestnut hair was up in a bun, exposing the gauges in her ears, the pattern of the demisexual flag adorning them. A white and purple tank top hugged her torso, a black mini skirt doing the same for her legs. Grey ballet flats tied the look together.

"Who else is here?" Zachary asked. "How many are we meeting there?"

"Sean, Anthony, Finley, Elmer, Albert and Henry are meeting us there. Everyone else is here." Katherine explained.

"Hello!" Sam smiled at the boys. A pin on their chest had an arrow that was pointed to 'They/Them'. Their bleach-blonde hair had been sprayed blue, and they were wearing a purple-and-white vest shirt and pink-and-black shorts. White Converse were laced up their ankles.

Their brother Davey was sat next to them, painting the genderfluid pride flag onto their shoulder. He was wearing a simple white shirt with a pastel rainbow flag and the words 'Kiss whoever the hell you want' on it. His jeans were cuffed at the knees, and an array of bracelets covered his left arm. A rainbow flag decorated his left cheek, and the soles of his shoes were rainbow as well.

"Hey, Davey. Sam. You ready?" Zachary asked.

"Just about. And you're getting the hang of it, aren't you?" Sam smiled, standing up and going to chat with Katherine. They had legally changed their name a few months back, and everyone was finally getting used to calling them Sam instead of Sarah.

"Where's Spencer?" Jack asked, tying a blue ribbon around his wrist. "If Sam, Dave, Kat, Zack, Nick and I are here, and Sean, Anthony, Finley, Albert, Elmer and Henry are meeting us there, that means Spencer must be here too."

"Surprise!" Spencer jumped out from behind the couch, confetti exploding everywhere. He had gotten his hands on a party popper. Nicholas shook his head at his boyfriend.

"Why the hell did I decide to date you, Spence?" Nick laughed. Spencer, in response, walked over and gave him a kiss and said coyly, "Because you love me, silly. Even before you came out."

"Okay, point made." Nick shrugged, sitting down where Sam had been. Even though Jack took art classes, Davey was the designated painter, considering he knew the flags needed for them all.

"So…" Davey said, "Any protesters we need to deal with later? Because we can just have Spence and Nick kiss to piss them off."

"Probably. There's protesters at every damn Pride, why are you even asking?" Sam groaned. "I wish they could all just go and die on Mars." Everyone burst out laughing in agreement,

Zack stiffened a bit, but relaxed a few seconds later. Jack noticed this, but decided that as long as he wasn't stressing out it would be fine.

"Okay, we're good." Davey said, putting the face paints away. "Let's motor. We have a parade to go to."

"Not until we clean up! My dad would kill me if he found the confetti on the floor." Katherine gave Spencer the side eye as she said it.

"I'll get the vacuum, Kitty. Love you." Sam smiled sweetly, kissing their girlfriend on the cheek.

After cleaning up the mess that had been made in Katherine's living room, they all piled into Jack and Katherine's cars and took the forty-five-minute drive to the parade venue. This event was certainly going to go down an interesting route.