Team8s and Counting

151. Don't Embarrass Me Dad!

Thread was confused. "Why not? It's just for fun!"

Dimey shook his head. "It's just...kinda weird for other people to see you in a princess dress Dad."

Coiny's expression softened. "Oh." he muttered. "Okay then, I guess."

Dimey smiled, as he sprinted up the stairs. "Thanks Dad!"

At this point, Thread was heading upstairs, presumably to get some of her homework done. Meanwhile, Coiny was sitting on the couch, still in the princess dress, looking rather bothered by what Dimey had said to him. Needle quickly noticed this and sat down next to him.

"I'm sure he didn't mean it like that, Coiny." Needle put a hand on his shoulder. "He's just a six year old boy."

Coiny, however, was still very much disturbed by what his own son said to him. He tried to keep it together, convincing himself that he didn't mean it the way it came out of his mouth, but it was obvious that this was starting to really get to him.

Needle gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You know Dimey loves playing with you. I think he's just starting to figure out how to fit in, especially with his friends. Kids his age are all about what's 'cool' and what's not."

Coiny tried to keep it together, but he just couldn't. He knew that Dimey wasn't trying to be rude, but he just wishes Dimey could have maybe talked to him about it. He didn't want his own son to think he was embarrassing, but at the same time...he wanted to feel like he could express himself.

Needle noticed that Coiny started to quiver, tears flowing down his cheeks. She realized that telling him it wasn't a big deal clearly was only making him feel worse. Her expression softened, and she knew that he needed some extra support. "Hey, it's okay. Let's go upstairs and see what Pin's doing, okay?"

Coiny nodded, trying not to break down. He got up, and he and Needle went upstairs to their room. When they got in, they just found Pin laying on her bed on her computer, organizing some files. Pin took one look at Coiny, and instantly knew that something was off.

"Coiny?" Pin whispered, turning her head towards Needle. "Is...everything okay with him?"

Coiny couldn't hold it in anymore. Quickly, he ran and gave Pin a hug, and started sobbing into her chest. Pin was shocked to see him so upset, but tried to comfort him as best she could.

"It's okay, Coiny." She rubbed his back, trying to calm him down. Her eyes quickly turned back to Needle. "What the heck happened down there?"

Needle sighed, knowing she had to tell her. "Him and Thread were just playing princess. Dimey is having a friend over tomorrow and he didn't want him to 'embarrass him' in front of her by wearing the dress. I tried to tell him it wasn't a big deal, but...clearly it got to him in a way I wouldn't have thought."

Pin's eyes softened with understanding. "Oh, Coiny," she whispered, holding him tighter as he trembled against her. "I'm so sorry. That must have really hurt."

Coiny tried to talk, his words muffled. "I thought I didn't have to worry about being myself in this house."

"I know," Pin whispered, stroking his back. "You shouldn't have to. This is your home. You've always been able to be who you are here, and that's not going to change."

Coiny still couldn't keep it together, the words that Dimey said to him playing in his head over and over again. "I didn't think it would be Dimey of all people who wouldn't accept me for who I am. Match and Pencil was one thing but Dimey...our little Dimey?"

Needle went over and took a seat next to her partners. "It's not that he doesn't accept you for who you are, Coiny. He's just... figuring out how he feels about himself in front of his friends, and sometimes that means pushing away things he doesn't fully understand yet. You know how kids can be."