Pietro (Pietro, pietro, Pietro-) took a deep breath, considering running away from the door and hiding somewhere half across the country, making it seem like he was never even here within a second. Come on Pietro, you got this, you're a damn X-men. He sighed, gut churning as he lifted his hand to knock on the dark oak door.
Shifting awkwardly, he got a lump in his throat as his father opened the door, looking confused. " Wanda? Are you alright, it's pretty late." The man asked, a hint of concern in his voice as Pietro blinked at him. Wandawandawandaimnotwandathatsnotmynamedontcallmethat-.
"I uh, I need to talk to you, dad." The younger man mumbled, shuffling inside as Erik put a hand on his shoulder. "Did something happened? Are you hurt?" His dad began, brows furrowed as he subtly tried to check Pietro for any injuries.
He shook his head, tapping his foot at a rapid pace as he chewed on the inside of his cheek. " I'm fine, not hurt, I just uh, need to tell you something." He replied quickly, swallowing down the urge to throw up as his dad's hand brushed against his stupid long hair.
"What is it kleine?" His father asked curiously, raising an eyebrow as Pietro just let out a nervous chuckle instead of arguing about the nickname. "Uhm, well, I know this is weird and stuff, but-" he began, burning holes into the floor as he avoided his dad's face. "I've known this for a while and uhm, I'm not your daughter." He stammered, still fixating on his shoes instead of the man in front of him.
Erik let out a choked noise, before standing up, tone concerned as he spoke. "What? What do you mean? You said you were sure that I'm your father- did something happen?" Pietro looked up, face contorting into a panic as his dad looked at him with confusion and a hint of hurt in his eyes. Hurriedly, he shook his head, internally cursing at himself as he hastily tried to explain.
"No! I mean yes, I am sure you're my dad, i just- I'm trans-..." He yelped, unintentionally flinching back a bit as his dad processed what he'd just said. Erik frowned, tilting his head as he looked at him. "Trans?"
Pietro nodded, swallowing harsly as his hands trembled slightly. "Transgender. I'm uh, I'm a boy, dad..." he tried to keep his voice firm, but it came out like a shaky whisper as he blinked back tears at his dad's silence. He's from the fucking 1940's, what were you thinking Pietro?
"Dad...?" Pietro asked quietly, hesitatingly looking up to see his father's face. "I'm sorry, I shouldn'tve told you-" he continued, barely keeping his voice from breaking as he looked down, ready to either be told to leave or to be scolded.
Neither of those happened however, and soon, Pietro was embraced by his dad, strong arms wrapping around him as Erik spoke softly. "How many times do i have to tell you little one, you can tell me anything" he murmured, kissing the top of Pietro's head. "You had me so worried, i thought you were disowning me. I don't care that you're not a girl, you'll always be my child" the man continued, still hugging him tight as he began to cry into his chest.
Pietro let the tears fall from his eyes without resistance as his dad's shirt soaked them up, clutching onto the back of the man's shirt like a lifeline. "It's okay kleine, it's okay. Do you already have a new name?" Erik asked softly, rubbing circles on his back as Pietro nodded.
"Y-yes- it's P-pietro-" the boy replied through his tears, nuzzling more into his dad's shirt. "Pietro, what a wonderful name mein sohn." Erik hummed, making a reassuring sound as the boy let out a sob. Pietro breathed shakily as he looked up at his dad, who was now holding his face in his hands. The man's thumb brushed over his cheek, smiling at him softly.
Pietro smiled back, wiping his eyes, before taking a step back. "Uh- sorry 'bout your shirt..." he mumbled, slightly embarrassed at the expression of vulnerability. Erik just shrugged, giving him a reassuring hand wave. "It's alright, it's just a shirt."
Pietro just nodded, eyes flicking to the ground. "Could you uhm...help me cut my hair...?" He mumbled hesitantly, fidgeting with his hands nervously. His dad's face somehow softened even more, just looking like a normal father instead of an all-powerful mutant.
"Of course mein Sohn" the man replied, moving a strand of hair from Pietro's face before motioning for him to sit down. He complied, far more relaxed than he'd been the past week as his dad opened a drawer to grab some scissors. Erik sat behind him, gently moving his head as he began to cut Pietro's hair.
They fell into a comfortable silence, Pietro relishing in the fact that his dad was so ready to help him; Erik just enjoying caring for his son as he tried to give the boy a decent haircut. After a while, Pietro spoke up, trying not to move his head too much as he talked. "Thank you." He muttered, leaning into his dad's hand running through his hair.
"Of course my son."