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“What are you wearing?”
Dick stops mid-stride, turning to blink at Tim, who has never really questioned his wardrobe before.
“Uh, skinny jeans and a crop top?”
Tim’s nose wrinkles, displeased by this answer. “No, I mean, on your face.”
“Oh!” Dick lifts a hand to gesture. “It’s make-up! Y’know, the stuff people put on to-”
“Yeah, I know what make-up is,” Tim rolls his eyes. “I just meant… why are you wearing it?”
“Because it makes me look pretty?” Dick is confused as to why this is a big deal.
“But don’t you… I mean, why would you… I wouldn't…” Tim gestures vaguely between them.
And Dick suddenly understands where this is going.
His heart hurts, a little bit.
“Why would I, a trans man, do something so feminine as put on lipstick and eyeshadow?”
Tim makes a face, both caught and guilty, but he nods.
"Tim, bud, there is nothing inherently feminine about make-up. I understand that, societally, we're raised to believe differently, but it's true. Painting your face with cool pigments is no more gendered than getting a tattoo.” Dick puts his hands on his brother’s shoulders. “It’s like the hair thing, yeah? You can have long hair and still be a guy.”
Tim self-consciously lifts a hand to twist a loose strand around his finger.
They’ve had this conversation before, about Tim choosing to grow his hair out. Dick had to use Roy as an example. Nobody could call his manliness into question, but he still grew his hair out to ridiculous lengths. Only after talking about hair and its correlation to gender presentation with Roy would Tim allow himself to cancel the scheduled hair appointment and let it grow.
“I get that, I do, but it's just…”
“It’s a deeply ingrained stereotype about gender roles that was strictly enforced by the people around you growing up.”
“Yeah, that.”
Dick smiles gently at his brother. “I understand where it came from, but it’s an internalized social construct. One that needs to be examined and worked through.”
Tim nods firmly, expression set into one of determination. Dick knows this won’t be the last time they talk about this, far from it, but it’s a step in the right direction.