Autism
Remus looked over at his boyfriend who was biting their thumb as they read the book in front of them. "Are you autistic?"
Severus looked up in shock, partially just because he was being talked to. "What?"
"Are you autistic?" Remus repeated.
"Um, no?"
"You tested negative?"
"No....I haven't been tested."
"Then, you might be autistic." Remus pointed out.
"But, I don't have any of the traits."
Remus laughed. "Yes, you do."
Severus made a 'what the fuck are you talking about' face. "Like what?"
"You either make no eye contact or aggressive contact, you've told me that you didn't play imaginative games when you were little, you like to line up and organize stuff based on colors, size, and the alphabet, you tend to repeat phrases a lot, you don't like change, you stim, your interest in some things seems more like a special interest than just a general interest, you have sensory issues, you have 'abnormal' sleeping habits, and you really like routine. That's not all either. But, I don't exactly have a list of symptoms in front of me now to compare you to."
"Well....Maybe, but someone would have realized already." Severus rationalized.
"Not necessarily. It isn't always diagnosed young. Especially, since you're afab." Remus reasoned.
"What does my assigned gender have to do with anything?"
"Well, autism is more associated with amabs than afabs. Also, afabs tend to be better at masking, hiding their autism, for some reason. Also, since it's more associated with amabs when an amab child shows signs teachers report it, but when afabs do it's just put up to them being naughty."
"You know a lot about this."
"My brother Nicholas and sister Kayla are autistic."
"Oh? I didn't know that. But....I still don't think I am. I would know. I would feel different from everyone else." Severus decided.
"And you don't?" Remus raised his eyebrow.
"Well, maybe a little, but...."
"Why are you so anti being autistic? There's nothing wrong with it."
"I know! It's just....I'm already queer, do I really need to give people another reason to mock and dislike me?"
"Oh, so you're scared of ableism?"
"I mean, yeah. If people found out I was more different than I already am....Well, I'm already not everyone's favorite person."
"Yeah." Remus agreed. "But, those kinds of people don't matter. Besides, you'll get needed accommodations. That would make your life so much more manageable. And you won't lose everyone, not me."
"I don't need any accommodations."
"What about when you get overwhelmed? Being allowed to wear your headphones would help. When you get under stimulated you could use a fidget toy. They would have to let you use lidded cups as you've been complaining about needing for years. I know how bad of an experience you get from the fabric of the uniform, they could do something about that. You do have accommodations you need, you're just used to them being ignored."
"But, I don't want to look weird. And I definitely would if I was allowed to do those things. People would stare."
"Maybe, but they would get used to it. And, like I said before, they don't matter. Your comfort is more important."
Severus sighed. "Maybe."