Chapter Text
When Coriolanus wasn't at their usual table at lunch, Sejanus didn't think much of it. Coryo would often get caught up with an assignment or try to catch a teacher during their lunch period to have a meeting about his grades. Sejanus thought he cared more about his grades than anything in the whole world, even though Coryo was already the smartest person he'd ever met. Which is why he started growing concerned when Coriolanus wasn't in their class following lunch either.
Coriolanus had never missed a day of school since Sejanus had known him, even when he was sick as a dog. He'd say that feeling a bit under the weather was no excuse to slack off. And anyway, Coryo hadn't seemed sick this morning. A little preoccupied maybe. Did something happen to him? Maybe his grandmother had fallen ill. Sejanus hoped that wasn't the case. She was a mostly unpleasant lady but Coriolanus clearly loved her, about as much as he could love anyone.
Sejanus excused himself to go to the bathroom. As he walked down the long hallways he thought about Coryo. He wished that his friend would be more open with him about things he struggled with. His father had told him that there were rumors of the Snows being flat broke, could Coryo's sudden disappearance have to do with that? Sejanus felt a knot forming in his stomach at the idea of Coryo being kicked out of the Academy. If he was gone, Sejanus would have no one to talk to in the whole school. Not to mention how distraught Coriolanus would be that all of his hard work was for nothing.
Sejanus pushed open the bathroom door and was surprised to see Coriolanus standing at the sink.
“Coryo!” he said. When Coriolanus glanced up at him through the mirror, Sejanus could see that his eyes were red-rimmed and puffy as if he'd been crying. “Coryo?”
Coriolanus quickly scrubbed a hand over his face and turned around to face Sejanus. He looked a mess. His uniform shirt was crumpled, dotted with wet spots Sejanus could only assume were from tears; he'd clearly been crying as there were still tracks on his red cheeks even after his attempt at scrubbing them away. His hair was sticking up at odd angles, and he looked so little like his usual self Sejanus unconsciously took a step back.
“O-oh,” Coriolanus stuttered. He never stuttered. “H-hi.”
“Hey Coryo, what's going on, buddy?”
While his body betrayed him, Sejanus's Caregiver nature was screaming at him that this was wrong. That Coriolanus was distressed and he was the one that needed to fix it. He took a step towards his friend, while Coryo tried to take a step back, bumping into the sink.
“It's alright, it's just me,” Sejanus said softly, not moving any closer. “I want to help you. Can you tell me what's wrong?”
Coriolanus looked at him nervously, bringing his hand up to his mouth and biting his thumb nail. He looked so young like that, Sejanus was sure Coryo must be a Little. He'd never shown signs before though, and Sejanus wondered if this was his first drop. It would be a terrible place for it, but it's not like Coryo could help it.
“Buddy,” Sejanus started when it seemed like Coriolanus wouldn't be giving him an answer. “I know this is probably really scary for you, but I can help. How about you just nod yes or no, okay?”
Coriolanus nodded slowly, not moving his hand from his mouth. Sejanus was just fine with that, even though they were in a bathroom.
“Okay, great! Good job, bud. Now I have to ask. Are you Little?”
Coryo's face began to crumple as if he was going to cry. Sejanus did his best to soothe him and asked again. This time Coryo nodded.
“Yeah?” Sejanus smiled. He wanted Coriolanus to know that it was absolutely okay to be Little. It seemed like he wasn't too thrilled about it. “Okay. Good job Coryo. Is this your first time dropping? Being Little?”
Coriolanus shook his head.
“No? Oh! Great, then you have Little gear I can get for you?”
He shook his head again. Sejanus frowned. All classified Littles were supposed to have some supplies kept at the Academy for instances like this. He knew that Clemmie kept a change of clothes and a pacifier in her bag at all times, she liked to be prepared like that. Why wouldn't Coryo have anything there if he already knew he was a Little? Even if his family couldn't afford much, Sejanus knew the Academy offered branded gear to all of their Little students. Just the basics, but it would have been something.
“Okay,” he said, after thinking for a moment. “Why don't we go down to the office and let them know. Then we can get you a change of clothes and maybe- oh!”
Coriolanus had burst into tears at the suggestion. Sejanus quickly moved closer and wrapped his arms around the crying Little. Coryo cried into Sejanus's shoulder, shaking his head.
“You don't want to go to the office?” Coriolanus took a shaky breath and shook his head again, still buried against Sejanus's shoulder. “Why not? Once you get signed up as a Little you can get some really nice gear and then you'll be able to use the Little room. They have lots of toys and the teacher can help you with whatever you need.”
“Nuh uh,” Coriolanus said, sniffing as he leaned back away from Sejanus. “Can't.”
“Why can't you?” Sejanus wanted to help Coryo, really he did, but beyond both of them skipping the rest of their classes and taking him home, he didn't know what to do without involving the school.
“G-Grandma'am said. S-secret.”
“Your grandma said your classification should be a secret?” Coryo nodded. Sejanus couldn't believe it. Littles weren't meant to be kept secret. They were meant to be celebrated and taken care of. He knew that Coryo's grandma had a backwards way of thinking sometimes, but to hurt her grandson this way, her LITTLE grandson, it was too much.
“That's wrong, Coryo. It shouldn't be a secret.” Sejanus placed a hand on either side of Coriolanus's face, making him look him in the eye. “Please let me help you.”
Coryo nodded, just as the bell rang and the halls were filled with a sea of red uniforms.
Sejanus lifted his eyes to the ceiling and sighed. He decided it wasn't worth it to take Coryo into the crowd where he could get overwhelmed. And clearly, Coriolanus wasn't ready for the whole school to know of his classification, and even though Sejanus didn't agree with it, he should at least try to give his friend a chance to tell people as he saw fit.
He tugged a little on Coriolanus’s arm and took him into the large stall at the end of the row, hoping no one would come their way during the passing period. He took the time to straighten Coryo’s shirt and jacket; he'd clearly used his collar to wipe his nose and it was still askew. Once he was satisfied, he did his best fixing Coryo's hair. Coryo must be a magician to tame the unruly blond curls every day.
A few people made use of the other stalls, and Sejanus was counting down the minutes until the bell rang. Not that it mattered much. Coriolanus was being a very good boy, letting Sejanus fuss with him and staying quiet. Sejanus wanted nothing less than to try to explain why he and Coriolanus Snow were in a bathroom stall together.
Soon enough the bell did ring, Sejanus even gave it a few extra minutes before they ventured out. Most of the tardy stragglers would be out of the hallway by then. He took Coryo's hand and led him to the office.
“How old are you, buddy?” he asked. Coryo shrugged, his thumb fully in his mouth now. “Would your grandma know? Or Tigris? I think they need to put it on your paperwork.”
Sejanus didn't get a response. Coriolanus had stopped abruptly, staring into an open classroom. His eyes were wide and Sejanus couldn't help but smile.
“This is the Little room. See all the toys? Once we get your paperwork done I'll bring you back here and you can play with anything you want. Sound good?”
Coryo nodded, keeping his eyes on the room even as Sejanus gently pulled him away. He tried to ask him about being Little, what he liked to play with and if he had a Caregiver, trying to stay away from things that might make Coryo uncomfortable like diapers and pacifiers, but he didn't get an answer to anything. Just shrugs.
They arrived at the office and Sejanus asked to speak with the counselor. He took Coryo over to sit in an old chair to wait. After a few minutes, they were called back. Sejanus took Coryo's hand again and led him to the counselor's office. She gestured for them to sit with a smile.
“Good afternoon boys!” she said brightly. “What's going on, today?”
Sejanus glanced at Coryo before telling her exactly how he'd found him. She frowned in sympathy.
“Aw, I'm sorry Coriolanus. I'm sure this has been so stressful for you! Let me just put you in our system and give a call to our Classification Specialist and we'll get you all set to rights.”
She asked when he'd been classified which, of course, Sejanus didn't know. He didn't even know Coryo was a Little until 15 minutes ago. Some friend he was. Even if Coryo didn't want to tell him, surely he should have been able to tell. He was a Caregiver for crying out loud!
The counselor kept going, asking about his age range.
“I'm not really sure of that either. I'd say 2-4, maybe? Really young. He doesn't talk much and he sucks his thumb.”
Coryo seemed to blush at this. Sejanus put a hand on his shoulder, giving it a quick squeeze. While the counselor made her phone call, Sejanus leaned over to talk quietly to Coriolanus.
“It's alright, Coryo. Just part of being Little, yeah? No one thinks it's strange.”
Coryo shrugged, his hand twitching to move towards his mouth, but eventually staying put.
“Alright boys!” The counselor said, clapping once and startling Coriolanus. “They're expecting you down in the Little room. Mr. Plinth, feel free to go back to class, I can take Coriolanus down.”
Sejanus saw Coryo's eyes widen, his feet freeze where they had just been bouncing anxiously.
“Oh, that's alright,” Sejanus insisted. “I told him I would take him.”
She smiled and let them go. Sejanus took Coryo's hand again and helped him up. He thanked the counselor and led Coryo out, wondering how exactly he was going to get his friend to stay in the Little room without him.