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Ren wrinkled up another candy wrapper in his hand and threw it on the floor. He was quite enjoying his alone time. Usually he wouldn’t be up this late or eat this much candy, or be alone in general.
But when he slipped all alone after a long day of work, his regressed brain came up with the best idea. In which, if he didn’t tell anyone and didn’t get caught, he could do whatever he wanted and not get in trouble.
So being up this late, watching not cartoons, but one of those big kid action movies about robots and eating a bunch of candy. He even wanted to have a soda but he just couldn’t figure out how to get it open.
And he didn’t once get scared, nor did he mind he was alone. Everything was perfectly fine.
*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*
Bdubs was flying through the air quite annoyed. He should’ve checked the time, but he didn’t. He was down caving and forget to check the time. Now he had to fly home at night to sleep. And no one else slept yet! Bunch of night owls!
He flew by the Crastle, he could just stop by for the night there. Not like he hasn’t done that before. He decided and glided down gracefully. Upon entering, he went straight towards the living quarters of the king. He’d just sleep in one of the extra rooms.
But sounds coming from somewhere unknown caught his attention. After walking around for a minute, he determined it was coming from the King’s bedroom. He swears if Ren’s pulling another all nighter…
He gently knocked on the door, hearing shuffling on the other side, before Ren opened the door.
-“Bdubs! What brings you here at this hour?”-he looked weird, like when you’re just woken up from sleep, but not exactly.
-“Just… stayed out a bit late, so I’m gonna crash in here tonight, if that’s alright?”
-“Of course, of course. You’re always welcome here, my dude.”
He eyed the man up and down. Hair messy, his eyes looking real exhausted. No crown, no cape, not even sunglasses. Just that one really comfortable knitted sweater, he only ever wears that tho when… oh. Oh!
He was sooo definitely regressed. Now one just has to approach this carefully.
-“You still working or something?”-He tried glancing past him, but Ren quickly repositioned himself that he couldn’t.
-“Yeah, just uhhh… comin up with quests and stuff. Nothin much.”
-“Uh-huh, quests, I see. You okay tho? Looking a little shaken up there.”
Oh. Was it that noticeable?
Now Ren said he was fine, but there was this scene in the movie and that was a bit scary maybe…
Maybe he could ask Bdubs to stay..? Just till the movie ends, so it’s all good. Yeah, that’s not suspicious. Bros have movie nights all the time.
-“I uh, I was actually watching a movie, wanna watch the end with me? You don’t gotta tho, I can watch it on own too.”-He nailed that. Now the other knows that he doesn’t need him there. But he will say yes… right..?
Bdubs glanced at his clock, oh it was getting so so sooo late. But he just can’t leave his friend alone like this.
-“Sure man, what are we watching?”-He pushed past Ren and walked over to the bed, laptop on top, movie paused. He took a moment to take in the scene. Candy wrappers on the floor, unopened soda on the nightstand, but also… some plushes on the bed and he can see the corner of Ren’s blankie sticking out from under the pillow.
He’s so little. Gosh, he has to do this faster. Now, usually you’d need to be slow and careful, you don’t want to upset the little. But it seems the sooner he knows you know is the better. He moved some stuffed animals to the side and sat on the bed.
-“Wow, that’s a bunch of wrappers buddy. You didn’t eat all that now, did you?”
-“I did.. But I can! Cause the king makes the rules and I’m the king!”-he pointed his thumb to his chest.-“And.. I’m not little!”
-“Oh? You’re not?”
-“Nu uh.”
He glanced at the laptop screen. Uh, Transformers is not a little-friendly movie. But that might just help him out here.
-“Well, if you’re not little than we can watch this movie just alright, hm?”
Ren tensed up at that. He really didn’t wanna watch it anymore. He wanted to watch cartoons. He wanted to cuddle up to someone and tell them how scary the fight scene in the movie was. He didn’t want the movie. But he also didn’t want Bdubs to scold him for not telling he’s regressed. He could manage a few more minutes. He could. Right?
-“Yeah, totally fine.”-he sat down on bed and started the movie. The faster it starts, the faster it ends.
So they just sat there and watched the movie for a while. Bdubs kept a watchful eye on the little. He could’ve just said that he sees the other is regressed, but if Ren has to admit it himself, maybe he’ll learn that that’s the right thing to do.
Ren would flinch at every sudden sound. And without realising, he slipped one of his hands under the pillow to keep a hold on his blankie. It was grounding enough that he wouldn’t start crying any second.
It was now about 10 minutes later and Bdubs just couldn’t take it anymore. He paused the movie and closed the laptop. The little looked at him confused.
-“I know you’re little, darling. Come here, puppy.”-he said, opening his arms.
Ren teared up and although his big self was screaming at him to not give in, his little self wanted the comfort. He fell into Bdubs’s arms and sobbed into his chest. The older held him tightly and kept rubbing circles into his back.
The little was sure he’s gonna get in so much trouble now. He didn’t tell anyone and broke the rules. He was the worst little!
His thoughts are only making him cry more. And through it all he didn’t even notice something was pressing against his cheek.
-“Don’t you want your blankie, pup? You can have, I know you need it.”
He suddenly felt the fabric against his face. He reached up and gripped the baby blanket, rubbing it on his cheek.
-“Good job, prince. Let’s take some deep breaths together, okay?”-the caregiver said, and gently guided one of the little’s hands onto his chest, so he could feel his breathing. He was taking deep breaths in, holding it for a few, then slowly exhaling. It took a few tries, but eventually the little was following along.
-“No mad?”
-“I’m not mad buddy, but you still shouldn’t do something like this. It wasn’t a really good plan.”
-“Im sorry..”
-“I forgive you, bud. I think you learned that it’s not good to lie about our headspace or break the rules. Right, pup?”
The other nodded into his chest, as his face was deeply buried there still.
-“And you will get a few minutes in the corner for it.-he added. The little whined, no one liked getting punishments.
-“But not today, bub. Tomorrow only, tonight it’s cuddles and sleep.”-he could’ve just put him in the corner now, but Ren was in no headspace to understand it. Instead he just pulled him down with him, so that they were both laying comfortably on the bed. Pulling the covers up, he made sure that the little was comfortable in his arms.
His sleeve was being tugged on.
-“Yes, puppy?”
-“No gonna ta’e anyfin?”
-“I’m not gonna take anything. That wouldn’t be nice. You can keep your things. I promise.”-he sighed, trauma was hard to outrun.
-“No hit? No ou’side?”
-“Nope. None of that”-he pulled the little closer. -“You’re not there anymore Ren. You’re right here with me. You’re okay and nobody will ever hurt you again.”
-“P’omise?”
-“I promise, my darling.”
They stayed like that all night. Ren snuggled up in Bdubs’s arms, blankie in his hand, corner of it in his mouth. Cuddled close together, they slept soundly.
*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*
-“Honey, I told you, today you’re getting corner time.”
Ren whined at that for the hundredth time. He was a bit older than yesterday, about 5-ish. And he did not want corner time. It wasn’t fun and he’d be alone.
-“Go on over there mister. 10 minutes. Facing the wall.”
He did like he was told to. Plopped down into the corner, facing the wall.
-“Okay bud, 10 minutes from now. Don’t worry, I’ll stay right here in the room with you.”
Bdubs was such a good caregiver. He always knew exactly what to say. He always stayed with him and let him have his blankie, even at corner times. He was so nice. Ren loved all his caregivers and babysitters. But Bdubs was very special in his own way. (He’d probably say the same about everyone else, too, tho.)
He really shouldn’t’ve lied about his headspace. He should’ve called Bdubs or Doc, or anyone for that mater. It really wasn’t a good plan.
-“Bubba..”-he turned around.
-“4 more minutes darling.”-It really hurt his heart. He wanted to just scoop him up into a hug, but he needed to do this. He needed to go through with things.
The little turns back around and Bdubs swears his heart almost broke when he heard him whimper. Longest 3 minutes 46 seconds of his life this will be.
When the 4 minutes ended, the older sat next to the little on floor and gently patted his shoulder.
-“Time’s up now, bub”-he could barely finish his sentence before he had an armful of sobbing little. Oh he was just so sensitive and so so little.
He pulled Ren into his lap, not caring how funny it must’ve looked, due to their height difference. Gently wiping away the tears with his thumb, he guided the regressors head to look at him.
-“Buddy, can you tell me why were you in timeout?”
-“Cuz didn tell I was little… an lied..”
-“Yes, that’s true. Do you know why that wasn’t a good idea?”
-“Cuz could get hurt.. or some’in bad happens. Need to tell you or dad..”
-“Good job, bud. We won’t be doing this again, right?”
-“Nu uh! Was scary too..”
-“I can imagine puppy. Thank you for listening to me, that was really good.”
The little just nodded against his shoulder, no longer sobbing just sniffling a bit.
-“If you want to do something, you can just ask, angel. You don’t need to go do it secretly, all alone. If you wanted to watch the movie, you could’ve just asked.”-he explained as he continued to pet the little’s head.-“I know it’s really hard, but you gotta try telling me darling. I promise we’ll never be mad at you. No matter what it is you ask for. Alright?”
Ren just nodded. This isn’t the first time they’re having this conversation. He learned so long ago that asking for things wasn’t worth it, he’d just get in trouble. So when he’s regressed, it’s hard to remind himself that it’s okay to ask. But he is trying.
-“Bubba?”
-“Yes buddy?”
-“Can we watch ca’toons?”
-“Of course, we can. Good job for asking, love “