Chapter Text
1 -
The first time he explored age regression, it was a few weeks after moving in with Derek.
Isaac finally felt safe, protected… loved.
The entire pack surrounded him with nothing but support and comfort and Derek, he sees Derek as a father figure. Someone to protect him, give him shelter and guidance.
Because of all these new emotions and sense of security, Isaac started to let go of that tough shell he had built around himself. He started being more calm, free and childish.
He started to see the world through the eyes of his younger self.
The wonder, the innocence.
He brought himself colouring books made for kids and coloured outside the lines.
He watched U, PG movies and children’s cartoons on his ipad.
He got himself a little wolf sippy cup to drink from and even bright patterned socks to hide underneath his black boots.
It was the little things that mattered.
When he realised his new personality was a bit … kid-ish, he forced himself to just be that way when he was alone. Stuck in his room, doing the things he wished he could all the time without the risk of judgement. Whenever he heard the front door open, he was quick to hide his sippy cup, his ipad and childish toys. He never wanted someone to see this and think he was a freak. He wanted the family he had found to stay, not leave him when finding out he was an oversized toddler at heart.
When Derek found out, Isaac was in his room, headphones on as he was watching spongebob. His sippy cup in his hands, his shark socks out for all to see while his colouring book was opened before him. The colours were splashed everywhere, the pages filled with scribbles and patterns only a child would make. His full attention was on the screen in front of him as he reached up to suck on his left thumb - a new comforting habit he had.
He was so immersed in his show that he didn’t hear Derek opening his bedroom door.
The Alpha did not expect to find his eighteen year old beta on the floor with his thumb in his mouth with his wide eyes glued to a screen playing an episode of Spongebob Squarepants. No, he didn’t expect that at all.
As the Alpha watched for a minute, he noticed how relaxed and calm he seemed. Not distress or worry surrounding his scent or posture.
He looked like a child.
Derek, not wanting to scare him, tapped on the door, just loud enough to get Isaac’s attention.
The blond boy’s head snapped up, fear quick to flow through his scent as he all but threw his sippy cup to the other side of the room and ripping his headphones off of his head like they burned him. His breathing became erratic, pants of panic and Derek quickly flashed his eyes, giving off calming pheromones to give Isaac an indication that he wasn’t mad in any way. It didn’t help though, Isaac hugged his long legs, putting his head in his knees, shaking.
Derek knelt in front of the boy, smelling the tears that were soaking into Isaac’s jeans as he held onto himself.
“Isaac.” He said, voice as soft as he could, “Isaac, It’s okay.”
The boy kept shaking, not answering.
“Isaac.” The Alpha tried again, “Can you look at me, please?”
Hesitantly, Isaac brought his head up and looked at Derek with the most terrified expression Derek had ever seen. It was heart-breaking.
“I’m not mad, Isaac. I would never hurt you.” When Isaac didn’t reply, Derek kept talking, “May I come closer?”
The beta shook his head almost violently.
“Okay. Okay. I’ll stay right here. It’s okay.” Derek sat in front of him, Isaac’s colouring book in between them. The Alpha crossed his legs and just waited for Isaac to collect himself.
It took a moment but Isaac was soon breathing somewhat normally and his eyes didn’t hold that intense panic like they did earlier.
“I’m sorry.” Isaac said, his voice small and quiet.
Derek shook his head, smiling sadly, “No need to be sorry.” Pause. “Do you wanna talk to me about what’s going on here?”
Isaac breathed in and exhaled shakily before saying, “I’m crazy.”
“Crazy? What makes you say that?”
“Because I act like a child.” His head was bowed, ashamed.
Derek shrugged, “I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
Isaac looked at Derek, confused, “W-What?”
“You’re not hurting anyone. And if its helping you or makes you happy then what’s the big deal?”
“It’s not exactly… normal in this world though, is it?”
“Neither is being a werewolf.” Derek sighed, giving Isaac a reassuring smile, “When did this start?”
“A-About two weeks after I moved in with you.”
“You’ve never acted this way before?”
Isaac shook his head, “Dad would’ve killed me… literally… if he saw me like this.”
Derek fought off the urge to growl at those words, not wanting to frighten the boy in front of him even more. He instead nodded and said, “It may be different, Isaac, but we’re all different in some way around here. It’s okay if you wanna act childish sometimes. It’s okay if you want to colour and watch cartoons. It’s okay .”
Isaac’s lower lip wobbled, eyes watering.
“May I come closer now and give you a hug?”
Isaac nodded, letting a single tear fall before being engulfed into Derek’s strong hold. His head in the crook of the Alpha’s neck, taking in the strong scent that was there. It calmed him. It made him feel safe. And as Derek’s muscular arms wrap themselves around him, securing his hold onto him, it gives Isaac that feeling of home that he had desperately seeked for the past eighteen years.
His dad never hugged him like this.
Never hugged him at all, really.
It was nice.