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A few months post Ranboo’s first slipping incident, he didn’t expect it to be an issue when he went to the UK for four months. Honestly, he’d been struggling to regress voluntarily on his own and when it was involuntary he was just really tired and lonely and ended up crying himself to sleep, aching for comfort from another person. It was truly pathetic in his opinion. In that time the only little gear he’d bought himself was a sippy cup, an appropriately sized pacifier, and a paci clip. He felt guilty for the last item as it felt too… extra but he justified it to himself as keeping the paci from falling somewhere he couldn’t reach it if he fell asleep. What if his parents came to wake him up in the morning? (Which was highly unlikely but Ranboo ignored that.)
When packing for the UK, Ranboo couldn’t bear to leave without his meager things. He was already a sad enough little with them at home so he’d rather not risk causing a big fuss and waking Tubbo at some ungodly hour of night. Either way, Ranboo is here now so there’s no going back.
His time quarantining in the Tubbo household went smoothly. He slept soundly (or as soundly as teenage content creators can) each night and hadn’t regressed once. He saw hope for the rest of the trip. That was until Tommy’s trampoline park vlog. Tubbo invited Tommy to stay the night post recording while everyone else went home. Ranboo was glad to have the chance to hang out with his two closest friends without content creation in the way, but then his regression decided to cause problems instead. Ranboo was still the smallest bit shaken from Tommy jokingly pulling his mask down on camera. Obviously he knows his friend would never purposefully upset him or use the footage uncensored, and Tommy often gets caught up in his persona when making content so he’s not mad at him. It’s just a personal thing and it got to him a little bit. Either way, Ranboo did his best not to let that ruin his time with his friends and for the most part it was working. There was something else weighing on him more.
In the comfort of the extension and sitting on the couch with his two best friends all doing their own thing, Ranboo began to feel that familiar fuzzy feeling creep up on him. Yet, there was something different this time… it wasn’t out of loneliness this slip was born, which was something he hadn’t felt in a long time. He felt sort of soft, but not in a fragile way. The thought of telling his friends popped into his head and he found it didn’t immediately make him panic. What if he told them? He could stop worrying about when his next little sadness spiral would be and maybe… have someone to help him when it happened?
In his current cozy state, he couldn’t come up with enough reasons not to say anything so he set down his phone from where it had already shut off in his thinking and turned to his friends. “Hey Tubbo, Tommy? I have something kinda big I wanna tell you.” He wanted to laugh at “something big” because it’s something he definitely won’t be if he doesn’t hurry up and get the words out.
“What’s up king?” Tommy set down his switch as Tubbo also gave Ranboo his full attention. Ranboo pulled his knees to his chest, more out of the need to feel small than hidden. Hmm having his paci sounded pretty good right now…
“So um. Well, there’s this coping mechanism that I found a while back and kinda sorta use called uh…” Ranboo paused, this is the moment he won’t be able to take back, especially with the nervous rambling he can feel building in his throat. “Called age regression. Basically I kinda go back to like the mindset of a child and it helps people destress and deal with trauma. I mean that’s what I’ve heard, I’m usually just really really sad and lonely, but right now I’m with you guys! I’m starting to feel small, uh that means regressed, because you guys make me feel really safe and I’m really tired of being alone and maybe if I tell you about it that feeling could stay and I-I could stop stressing about the thing that ‘sposed to help an-an-'' He is cut off by a soft, “Ranboo, breathe,” and a hand on his own. Tubbo is on the floor in front of where he’s curled on the couch looking at him with a soft expression. “You can slow down buddy, it’s ok” Ranboo fidgets at the pet name. It’s so affectionate and makes his chest feel gooey. “I had my suspicions that you were an age regressor.” Ranboo’s eyes widened, “You... huh?”
Tubbo nods, “Yeah, one time you accidentally answered one of my calls with your camera on and you had a pacifier clipped to your shirt. I didn’t say anything and your camera was off moments later but I couldn’t get it out of my head so I went down an internet rabbit hole starting with ‘why would a teenager use a pacifier’ and eventually ended up in the age regression community. I didn’t want to pressure you into telling me though so I let you take your time.” He finished with a shrug.
He understood! Ranboo smiled wide and lightly shook his hands,”Tank’ you Tubs!”
“Aw, is someone feeling extra little now?” Tubbo playfully asked and Ranboo enthusiastically nodded. “Wait, so what do you- does he do when… regressed?” Tommy asked. He’d been quiet until now, listening and processing everything being said. Tubbo filled in for Ranboo, “It depends on the little what activities or comforts click or don’t. Just gotta treat them the age they’re feeling, you know?”
Ranboo yawned and lightly tugged on Tubbo’s sleeve, “Tubs can I have my paci? Please?” Tubbo wouldn’t dream of saying no to those puppy dog eyes. He didn’t think there was a person in the world that could, and who knows how long Ranboo had been so alone which was even more concerning after his anxious explanation. “Of course Boo. You stay here with Tommy and I’ll go get it ok?” Ranboo nodded and with short directions to his suitcase, Tubbo was gone. Feeling extra fuzzy now, Ranboo turned to Tommy who looked apprehensive. He gave his friend a questioning head tilt.
“Don’t worry bubba, I want to help you but I’m just a little nervous I’ll mess something up.” Tommy attempted to reassure, but it wasn’t necessary. “Tommy won’t mess up! You’re the biggest man alive!” Ranboo smiled.
“I- thank you Boo.” God, Little Ranboo is so adorable.
“Tommy?”
“Yeah little man?”
“Can we cuddle? Even though I’m not short?” And how is Tommy supposed to say no to that? “Yeah, c’mere kiddo. You don’t get excluded from cuddles just because you think you’re too big, ok? We don’t have to be big men all the time.” He said dramatically and Tommy cherished the giggle he received in return.
This is the scene Tubbo came back to; Tommy with his arms around a sleepy Ranboo curled into his chest. His heart melted at the sight but he was quick to bring the requested item and the Michael plush he found sitting on the little's bed. Ranboo was embarrassed for a moment when he was offered his paci, even though he asked for it. What if they really do think he’s weird but don’t want to tell him? This thought is squashed entirely when he receives words of comfort and encouragement at his apprehension so he lets Tubbo give him his paci and sinks back into Tommy’s hold. In his half awake state, Ranboo hears the TV being turned on quietly in the background but doesn’t really care. All that’s on his mind right now is how fuzzy and soft the night is. How loved he feels, finally regressed and happy with his friends. Ranboo fell asleep that night knowing that he was someone that deserved to be treated gently, and with love.