Chapter Text
Comfort was a need not usually met before you had your girlfriend.
It hadn’t been something you understood, or fully knew what it looked like for you, because you’d never been allowed to explore it either way. If you were sad or mad or afraid, you were told to drop the stuffies and suck it up. If you were excited or happy or elated, you were told to tone it down. Suppressed either way, no outlet allowed for release.
So it was nothing short of a surprise when you met Wanda, and the first time those emotions bubbled over, all she met you with WAS comfort, and care.
It’d been so small, but when a lot of small things build up over time, eventually that pile has to tip over. And, oh, did it. You’d been shaking, sobbing, shouting at her in this blinded outburst… and all she did was sit still, in front of you at her same place on the couch, looking at you like all she wanted was to hold you and never let go.
When you had been physically unable to continue speaking, the overwhelm and overstimulation choking your voice in your throat, is when she acted.
She got up slowly, moving in front of you while you gasped and hiccuped, and grabbed both your hands from where they’d been rubbing at your sore and reddened eyes. You’d sniffled messily, brows furrowed as you focused on her again, and for once all other emotions silenced in your brain, replaced now with confusion.
She simply pulled you along, gently, sitting back down and bringing you to sit on her lap sideways and holding you to her so tightly you almost couldn’t breathe again. You froze. You had no idea what to do. How to accept this. What to even say. You just sat there lamely, still sniffling, arms dipped to your sides and crossed over your stomach protectively.
“You don’t have to say anything. Just be with me.” Is all she said.
So, you did. You allowed yourself the comfort she freely offered and tucked yourself more comfortably against her. Making yourself, smaller almost, in her hold.
______
From there, everything changed.
The care didn’t go away, no. If anything, it only amped up. She made every meal from then on. Every. One. Refused to let you in the kitchen too. You’d tried on numerous occasions and each time she caught you she shooed you away, saying she’d call on “her little helper” when she needed you. It never failed to make you blush.
Outfits were different too, it started small with her casually suggesting things you might look cute in that day, like your light blue short-alls or a rainbow colored shirt. Then, each time she saw you poring over your closet, she’d ask which items you were looking at, and when you brought them out, she’d simply pick the outfit she figured you’d like best (which was always correct) and hold it out to you.
Even the tiniest things changed about the way she cared for you, even just simply waking you up in the morning was different. She had always been warm, but goodness did that warmth only grow. Now, each and every morning, you wake up in your usual position on her chest, arm around her stomach and holding her tightly to you. She’d start by stroking along your nose, your cheeks, sometimes right over your eyebrow. When you roused, humming and scrunching up your features from all the attention, she’d let out a little giggle at your face, then speak in soft words to you until you fully woke. “Come on little love, I gotta start your breakfast soon sweet girl.”
It was absolutely lovely. You loved every single bit of new attention she gave you and cherished each new act of care.
One day, after about a solid, consistent month of this routine and care, she approached you while you were on the couch watching TV. It was a comfort show of yours, The Owl House, you loved the characters’ depth and surprisingly compelling story. That and, the bright colors mixed with the silliness of certain characters made you feel better every time.
She came around the side of the couch, and the smell of lunch for today hit you. Your mouth watered, she’d made your favorite soup along with your go-to sandwich on the side. But before you could reach for it after she set it down on the coffee table, she placed her hand over yours, halting your movement.
You looked to her, a bit confused. She always said she loved it when you ate what she made you, that she was proud of you for taking care of yourself even if she was the one bringing it to you.
She smiled softly, adjusting her grip to hold your hand comfortably, thumb softly stroking your skin.
“Love, I’d like to talk with you about something, it’s not bad, and you aren’t in trouble sweetheart.” She started.
Your heart gave a nervous little jump in your chest, and your face froze, but you nodded anyway. You trusted her.
She smiled again, keeping your hand in hers, and then she started.
“I know you must be nervous, I’m sorry this is so sudden, but I want you to know I love you. You haven’t done anything wrong, and I only wanted to discuss the possibility of adding something new to our relationship. Would you be open to discussing this with me, draga?”
You couldn’t let the little knot of anxiety in your belly go long enough to really speak, so you simply nodded. Wanda understood, she always did, and she never pressured you to speak when your anxiety made your words falter.
“Thank you milyy, I know this is hard for you, I’m proud of you for hearing me out.”
You blushed at that, any praise from her made your toes curl and your belly feel warm inside, it just felt like love and comfort and home.
“To start, I wanted to ask you first how you’ve liked this last month darling? I know I’ve been taking over more, making your meals, helping you with your outfits, reminding you with hygiene and things like that, but I want to know how you feel about it.”
You thought on it for a bit, then worked up the courage for the words you wanted to say.
“Um, it’s good. It’s been amazing actually, I really like the way you care for me.” You admitted.
“I’m so glad to hear that, and you’ll tell me if anything is wrong, I know you will. But love, what I’d like to talk about with you, is maybe adding in another layer of that care. I’ve noticed some things, some things that you may not have, and I think this would benefit both of us, genuinely. I want you to keep in mind we do not have to, and this is all at your pace, we only go as far as you want to draga.”
The confusion mounted again, mixed with a tad more apprehension, but still you nodded.
“Well, I’ve noticed that when I care for you, or when you get overwhelmed, or overstimulated, or even when you’ve just had a long day, you take on certain mannerisms. This isn’t a bad thing, in fact it’s quite the opposite, I think it’s adorable if I’m being frank with you.”
You nodded again, still not following, but still choosing to trust her.
“You seem to, regress a bit, I believe is the correct term from what I’ve read, when these things happen. You like eating comfort meals from your childhood, watching shows that help you feel safe, wearing simpler clothing with bright colors and patterns. None of these things are wrong of you to enjoy, I need you to understand that is not where I’m going with this, I’m happy to help you with it and I actually actively look forward to this side of you when it comes out. But darling, I think it may benefit you, if maybe we talked about adding in more layers of the care I’ve been giving you so far, to better help your state of mind during these moments.”
Uh oh. That knot in your belly was back, and it began to tighten. Memories of old stuffies being ripped from your arms when you begged for comfort started coming to mind, harsh words thrown at you when your childish behavior turned its head. You suddenly wanted to be anywhere BUT having this conversation as shame bubbled beneath your heart and tears sprung to your eyes.
She must have been able to see the trepidation written all over your features, almost like she could read exactly what you were thinking, because her face immediately softened further as she reached for you.
“Oh, come here, draga.”
You practically threw yourself into her arms, allowing her to cradle you in her hold just as she had that first night, silently rocking you back and forth, stroking a hand through your hair or down your back. Simply content to exist with you in this moment as your trembling body calmed down again.
When she felt your stiff muscles loosen again under the care, she pulled your face back from where it was tucked under her chin, just enough to meet your eyes once more.
“Are you alright darling, we don’t have to continue if you don’t want. We can be done with this conversation for now instead if you’d like?” She asked, and your heart melted.
You shook your head, not feeling quite brave enough to speak just yet.
“Alright draga, you’ll tell me if you want to stop?”
You nodded.
“Okay, now, I want to ask you a few questions, educate you on a few things, and then discuss together what this might look like should we decide to go through with it. That sound okay milyy?”
You nodded again, a nervous little “mhm” humming from the back of your throat.
“Good girl sweetheart, I’m so proud of you. You’re being so brave with me love.”
That darn blush was back again, and you resisted the urge to curl further into her hold and hide your face.
“Okay, so during this last month, each time I noticed something, I made sure to write it down. When I had a full list, I did some research, and something I found describes what you do pretty well, and I’d like to ask now, if you’ve ever heard of the term ‘regression’ sweetheart?”
“Mm mm.” You shook your head.
“That’s okay, I hadn’t either. Essentially what I’ve found, is that it’s just something some people have, or do of their own volition and sometimes subconsciously, when life becomes a little too much or when they need the comfort. The full term is ‘age regression’, and it doesn’t mean anything is wrong, or that you need therapy for it. And of course we’ll both still go to each of our regular sessions, but this is not why, the only reason you would need therapy for age regression is if it’s actively interfering with your daily life and functioning, and it isn’t in this case here. Are you following me so far draga?”
You were, even though this topic was still making you nervous, you wanted her to continue, so you nodded once more.
“Perfect. Well sweetheart, all this to say, I believe that that’s what you’re doing. All the signs match, and the behaviors add up. So, what I’d like to do, is just explore that with you. Safely, all at a pace you’re comfortable with, and no expectations beyond you telling me if at any time you feel uncomfortable.”
You felt a little eased at that, and gave a quiet “mhm” to voice your ascent again.
“Now what I’d like to discuss next, is HOW we’ll be putting this into place with us, and making it a dynamic that’s safe and comfortable for both parties. We’ll have rules when you’re feeling like that, or in that ‘headspace’, get you some items to help with it, and I’ll be right behind you every step of the way to care for you and keep you safe. Does that sound like something you’d be open to exploring with me love?”
You thought on it, really thought about it, and decided that you were. You really were open to this, and so far even though you didn’t know much, you knew that there was not a better person to discover this new dynamic with.
“Yeah, it sounds like it will help, I want to.” You said.
Her face lit up, like your words were worth a thousand and more.
“Thank you so much draga, I know that wasn’t easy to admit. Now, the terms between you and me specifically will all be drawn up later when we’re both a little more emotionally centered, because I know this was a hard conversation to have and I want you as clear headed as possible when we draw up our rules. But first, I got you something last week to prep for this, and I’d like to give it to you now if you’d like?”
There was one thing you had a question about first.
“Um, this isn’t, like, you know…” You trailed off, your face scrunching a little in disgust and immediately she clocked what you were trying to ask.
“NO! No. Absolutely not, it is nothing like a dynamic between dom and sub. That is not what this is, all this is, is care and support for when you feel regressed, or as a lot of people call it, for when you’re feeling ‘little’. It will have zero kink involved at ANY time, I swear to you.”
That knot finally, fully loosened in your chest as your mind began running with the idea of receiving this new kind of support from Wanda. You liked it, and if you were a little honest with yourself, you were a little excited to get started.
“What did you have for me?” You asked.
“Oh! Yes, let me grab it, I kept it right here in my pocket just in case.”
She wiggled a bit while trying to grab it with you on her lap still, and the way she bit her lip and scrunched her brows made you giggle a little, to which she smiled at.
Finally, she brought and held out with one hand, a single, light blue pacifier.
You froze, that familiar nervousness wanting to crawl back up, but not in fear this time. You were nervous, because you didn’t know how to let yourself want it, and oh, you really did.
“It’s alright Solnyshko, only if you want it.”
The patience, the support, the complete and utter acceptance of you, it bubbled over. It gave you courage to want this, to allow that for yourself, and to steel your muscles into action just enough to grab the pacifier. Taking a deep breath once it was actually in your hand, you slowly, tentatively, placed the rubber soother into your mouth.
You gave the tiniest suckle, just a miniscule allowance of this form of comfort, and looked to Wanda.
She was looking down at you with the most warm smile you had ever seen from her, her hand came up to cradle your cheek, and her eyes had this shine in them you’d never seen from her before. Her smile was practically blinding you, and the rocking motion from before picked up again.
It all bubbled over.
The attention, her smile, the comfort from the soother in your mouth, and all the whirlwind emotions from the day spilled out and your throat hiccuped around the smallest little sob. She immediately acted.
Gathering you up more firmly in her hold, placing your head in the crook of her elbow and her other arm wrapping around you in the most perfect hug you’d ever had, she drew you into this space that consisted only of the two of you, and this wonderfully new form of care.
“Oh draga, it’s alright, I know. Come here little love, you’re safe.”
You were still softly crying, suckling a bit more confidently, curling into her hold and letting your body melt into her frame… but you felt at home.
Slowly your breathing settled again, the suckling slowed, and your body slackened.
But Wanda never stopped.
She kept rocking you gently as you settled, never stopping her calming strokes through your hair, keeping you tucked safely against her chest. When she felt you slump, she pulled back to see you now asleep against her, pacifier still bobbing softly, she smiled and whispered,
“That’s it milyy, that’s my little girl.”