Chapter Text
JC watched Nicole from the corner of their eye as the clock ticked closer and closer to closing time and closer to when they had to have the conversation. They had kept to themself all day, telling the others that they just had a nightmare that messed them up and needed to just process it. Bob insisted they go home, but they told her they were fine.
They swept the back as Drek finished up the last bit of dishes while the rest of the crew cleaned the front and they picked at their fingernails as they thought about how to explain it to Nicole. What if she stopped loving them? What if she left, or worse, what if she told everyone they knew and ruined their life? They would have to skip town and-
“Jennifer Charles.” Bob said softly, holding onto the broom as they looked up at her. “Go home, don’t keep Nicole waiting.”
They opened their mouth to object, but no words came out.
Bob placed a hand on their shoulder. “I don’t know what’s on your mind, but whatever you need to tell Nicole, you have to know that she will understand.”
“What if she doesn’t? What if she just thinks I’m a freak?” They said.
“Then you aren’t meant to be together. If you need to talk to me, I’ll be here.” She said, then she took the broom from their hand. “You got this.”
“Thanks, see you tomorrow!” They said, slipping out of the back and Nicole stood up as they walked towards the front door. She quickly grabbed their hand as they walked out the front door.
“Do you want to wait until we get to your apartment or talk in the car?” She asked, unlocking her car and JC climbed into the passenger seat.
They stared down at their feet, listening as she started the car and they pulled out their phone. “Just a second.” They mumbled and texted Erik: “Hey, I’m about to tell Nicole about the regression thing. I’ll let you know how it goes later.”
Erik quickly replied with a thumbs up followed by: “I got released today so if shit hits fan call me.”
They looked at Nicole, fear churning in their chest. “Do you know what age regression is?”
“No.” She replied.
“It’s basically when your mind goes back to when you were a kid, kinda like the whole kid logic I guess. It’s not a kink and it’s what people do to deal with trauma and anxiety.”
“Ah.” She said, looking at JC. “Do you regress?”
“Yeah. I used to cope with everything, it ended up helping me a lot to avoid getting high and Erik would watch me cause toddler brain.” They laughed nervously. “You probably think I’m weird-”
“I don’t.” Nicole quickly said, grabbing their hand while keeping her eyes on the road. “Your brain is coping with extreme trauma in a safe way, it's not weird at all.” She paused. “You said used to, why are you bringing it up now?”
“Cause after Erik nearly died my brain took it as a sign to start doing it again. I been regressing at night for the past two days and the stress is killing me.”
“Do you want to see Erik again?”
“I dunno.” They said, leaning their head against the window. Their brain felt heavy, and they squeezed Nicole’s hand to remind themself that they weren’t alone.
“Do you want to regress?”
“I dunno.” They mumbled, curling their knees up to their chest and they shoved their shirt collar into their mouth. They looked at Nicole, waiting for that disgusted scowl, instead they were met with a soft expression.
“Are you regressed right now?”
They shrugged their shoulders.
“Ok, when we get to your place do you want me to make something for you?”
They shrugged again and started zoning out, their brain felt like it was floating in jello. Finally they arrived at their place and they held Nicole’s hand as they walked up to their apartment and once inside they shed their clothes and went to their bedroom to put on their pajamas. They looked around the bedroom, spotting Roar on the bed and quickly grabbed the stuffed animal before returning to the living room where Pinky and Fuzz were sitting on the floor next to the blocks they had played with last night.
Nicole was in the kitchen, the smell of cheese wafting from the stove and they went over to her and placed their head on her shoulder. “I’m making grilled cheese and I’ll heat up some tomato soup. Do you want to play while I cook?”
They nodded and sat down by their blocks and stuffed animals and began continuing playing as Bob at the cafe. Pinky was the current Karen, whipping his head around dramatically while they babbled. Dragon Bob cursed the karen and JC threw him out of the store before Fuzz walked in and started ordering like normal.
Nicole sat on the floor next to them, a plate of grilled cheeses in one hand and a large bowl of tomato soup in the other. “I made dinner.” She said, taking a sandwich and dipping into the soup. “Eat some.”
JC carefully took a sandwich and dipped it in the soup before taking a big bite out of it. The flavor seeped into the tongue and they made popping noises with their mouth and Nicole nodded.
“So whose this?” She asked, pointing at Fuzz.
They made more popping noises and held up the stuffed calico cat. Suddenly Fuzz’s tail fell into the soup and they let out a screech.
“It’s ok.” Nicole quickly said. “We can clean him.”
JC sniffled, handing Fuzz over to Nicole. “Ba.”
“Is this Ba?” She asked, lifting Fuzz up.
They shook their head and pointed to their jacket. “Ba.”
Nicole gave them a confused look, but went over to their jacket and pulled out their phone. “Is Ba Erik?”
They nodded and pointed at the phone. “Ba!”
Nicole nodded and they listened as the phone rang before hearing Ba’s voice on the other end. “JC?”
“Hey Erik, it’s Nicole. JC is regressed right now and requested you.” She explained before putting the phone next to JC. “I’m going to clean the stuffie and I’ll be right back.”
“Ba!” They screamed, gripping the phone.
“Hey bud, I’m proud of telling her. What’s going on?”
JC blabbered out a response and Erik chuckled.
“Yeah, yeah. I got released from the hospital today. Doctor said I just need a lot of rest but I’ll be all better soon.” He said.
They giggled and watched as Nicole sat down next to them with Fuzz in hand. “And here’s the cat.” She said, handing them Fuzz. They quickly grabbed the stuffed cat and Nicole took the phone before it hit the floor.
“Did they get Fuzz dirty again?”
“Is that the cat’s name?”
“Yep.” Erik said. “Fuzz the cat, Pinky the flamingo, and Roar the dragon.”
“Ah, is there anything else I should know?” She asked, but JC quickly lost interest and began playing cafe again.
Nicole focused on her call with Erik, drumming her fingers together. “So anything else I should know about regressed JC?” She asked.
“Eh, they’re pretty quiet and really like to chew on things, so they may chew through their shirt.” He said before shouting to someone. “Sorry, gotta go.”
“See you.” She said, hanging and watching JC play with their stuffed animals. It would be ok, she was going to make sure they stayed safe and happy regressed or not.