Chapter Text
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Tommy Innit was a foster kid. He’d been one for years. So of course the boy was bound to pick up coping mechanisms, both good and bad. The problem here wasn’t the fact that he had coping mechanisms, but rather, the ones his brain had picked.
For example, age regression.
Tommy hated the fact that out of all the good, healthy coping mechanisms out there, he just had to have that one.
But so what? It was fine. Just because the urge to feel smaller, lighter, safer, was often tugging at his mind, didn’t mean he had to listen to the urge, or tell others about it.
So what if the glowing stars above his bed made his head all fuzzy sometimes? Or the fact that Wilbur’s soft singing voice made the boy want to toddle over and drop into the older’s lap? It didn’t matter. Tommy was a big man, and he was just fine.
Tommy could hear Wilbur and Phil walking farther away in the store, wandering down the aisle in search of the next item on the shopping list, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the small stuffed animal resting on a shelf next to him.
It was a soft red dragon. Fierce and powerful, but also so very soft and lovely looking. He couldn’t help the overwhelming desire to buy the dragon and bring it home, playing with the soft floppy wings, and cuddling the plush red body.
He had just reached out to grab it when Wilbur’s voice startled him out of his trance.
“Toms? Tommy! There you are! Phil and I hadn’t realized you had wandered off. Why’d you leave?” Wilbur walked towards him and looked towards where Tommy’s arm was outstretched.
Tommy quickly pulled his hand back, shoving it into his jeans pocket.
“No reason, Wilbur. Sorry for leaving you two, I just got distracted.” His ears burned and he nibbled his lip. “You ready to head back to Phil?” He asked, trying to draw attention away from himself.
Wilbur looked at the dragon, and then to Tommy. He paused for a bit, before looking at the two again.
“Were you wanting that?” He asked, tilting his head to the dragon.
“What? Pfft, no! I’m a big man, I don’t want some dumb stuffed animal.” Tommy spluttered.
“You know, it’s okay if you want it.” Wilbur said softly, “I’d buy it for you.”
“No, no.” Tommy said, his heart clenching painfully as he turned down the offer. “Thanks though Wilbur.”
Wilbur eyed Tommy with a disbelieving look, but thankfully dropped the topic.
“If you say so. C’mon, Phil’s this way.” Wilbur turned and started walking, this time with Tommy on his heels.
As they walked, Tommy couldn’t help but cast one last look at the dragon he had already dubbed the name Harold.
Wilbur couldn’t help but notice the look.
Wilbur kept thinking about that little red dragon as he walked by Phil’s side, while also keeping an eye on Tommy, who was lagging behind.
Tommy was so out of it when Wilbur had found him. The boy was star-eyed as he looked at the stuffed animal, and Wilbur didn’t understand why he pretended he didn’t want it. Did Tommy think it was stupid to want a stuffed animal? Did he think he had outgrown stuffies?”
“Come on, Toms! Don’t get too far behind, bud.” Phil called, grabbing the boy's attention.
“Right, sorry.” Tommy picked up the pace, and quickly caught up to the cart Phil was pushing.
“You okay?” Wilbur asked gently.
Tommy nodded, making eye contact for a split second before suddenly becoming very interested in the tile he was walking on.
Wilbur looked at the boy for a bit, squinting as he thought, trying to figure out what was on his mind.
“Aw screw it,” Wilbur thought, grabbing the car keys from Phil, and checking that his wallet was in his pocket. “I’m gonna buy that dragon for him.”
Wilbur quickly walked back to the aisle, grabbed the dragon, bought the dragon, and put it in the car. He locked the car once more, and then walked back to join his family, who were nearly ready to check out.
“You good, mate?” Phil questioned, probably worried Wilbur had been taking a breather in the car in order to calm down or something of the sort.
“Yeah, sorry, Dad. I’m fine! I just had to put something in the car.” Wilbur flashed a smile and returned the keys.
Phil returned the smile and looked down at his list. “We just need to grab a loaf or two of bread, and then we’re off!”
“Sounds good!” Wilbur walked ahead to where Tommy was walking, ruffling his hair.
“Rude!” Tommy stuck out his tongue at the older, as Wilbur chuckled and began to lead the way to the bread.
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It was early evening, and Tommy was little. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, nibbling on his fingers as he looked around his room, admiring the way shadows from the sun shining through a tree outside his window danced across his walls and floor.
He was having a quiet day, much too small to be babbling softly to himself as he typically did. He giggled quietly at the shadows, not quite big enough to understand why there were dark spots moving on his floor and on his walls, but enjoying them anyway.
He could hear his family moving around downstairs, probably getting ready for dinner. That was something Tommy was pretty sure he needed to join them for, but he wasn’t really thinking about that. Not when he was too busy finding Wilbur’s voice in the noise!
He squealed happily when he finally heard his brother’s voice. He couldn’t tell what Wilbur was saying, but just the faint sound of blurred words was enough to get the little to clap his hands excitedly.
“‘By, ‘By!” He mumbled around the fingers he had stuck back into his mouth, feeling just old enough to try and say his brother’s name.
He chanted the name over and over, bobbing his head side to side. The name eventually turned into hums and mumbles, as he decided to move from the floor to his bed, slipping under the covers, still sucking on his knuckles and humming quietly.
He quickly decided that the temptations to take a nap were too strong to resist, and his eyes were just fluttering shut, when a series of knocks came from his door.
“Tommy? Come down for dinner!” Techno’s voice called.
Tommy whined quietly, ducking his head under his blankets. He knew nobody was allowed to see him like this, and in the back of his fuzzy mind, he could feel his big self trying to resurface, but Tommy was tired, and he was little, and he didn’t want to go eat dinner. All he wanted to do was lay in the nice dark warmth of his blankets, and take a nap.
Techno knocked again, “Tommy?”
Tommy let out a louder whine, just wanting Techno to go away.
“Tommy, are you okay in there?”
The boy huffed, quickly growing frustrated as his naptime kept being interrupted.
Techno knocked once more and Tommy felt his eyes well with tears, choking out a tired sob and quickly shoving his face into his pillow.
“Tommy, if you don’t come to the door, I’m gonna come in. I can hear you in there, I just wanna help.” Techno’s voice was soft, albeit worried, and Tommy yearned to let his older brother hold him, but he knew how much trouble he would be in if anybody found out that he was small.
He whined, curling deeper into his blankets and pillows and having a mental battle between being little and big. He quickly settled in an age where he could talk, but not well.
As he tucked himself into a smaller ball, crying and babbling, Techno opened the door, quickly walking to his side.
“Tommy? What’s going on, kid?”
“No, no, no.” Tommy shook his head, “go ‘way! Not ‘upposed to be little.”
“Little? You gotta help me out here Toms, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No! Wan’ Wilby.” He stretched the ‘y’, breaking off into a quiet sob
“Wilbur? I can get him for you?”
Tommy shook his head aggressively, pulling himself out of his ball and facing Techno. “No! No, no, no. Not ‘upposed to be little.” He choked on a gasp of air, his sobs getting louder and louder.
“Whoa, whoa! Calm down, Toms. It’s fine, it’s fine! I won’t get Wilbur.” Techno panicked, holding his hands out in a placating motion.
Tommy shook his head again, slower this time as he continued sobbing and hiccuping, “wan’ ‘by. Wan’ Wilby.”
“You want me to get him?”
“No!” He kicked his legs, getting them tangled in his blankets and causing him to panic.
“I ‘uck!” He yelled, kicking his legs harder.
“What’s going on in here?” Wilbur appeared in the doorway, wide eyed, with Phil close behind.
Techno waved his hand behind him, “go back downstairs Wilbur. Dad, you too. I’m not sure what’s wrong with him but he freaks out every time I ask about getting Wil.”
Tommy let out another cry, making grabby hands towards the doorway. “Wilby!”
Techno looked to Wilbur and ushered him closer. Wilbur quickly moved from the doorway to Tommy’s side.
“Hey, Toms.” Wilbur said softly, “what’s going on?”
“‘orry, I sorry.” Tommy hiccupped pitifully
“Sorry for what, bud? I’m sure you did nothing wrong.”
“Not ‘upposed to be ‘ittle!” Tommy kicked his legs again.
“He keeps saying that. I don’t know what to do, Wilbur.” Techno sounded panicky, looking to Wilbur for answers.
“Shh, calm down Toms.” Wilbur reached over to help untangle Tommy’s legs, giving them a soft pat once he was done. “Little? Not supposed to be little?”
Tommy nodded silently.
“What does that mean?” Techno asked.
Wilbur scrunched up his nose, “I’m not sure.”
Turning to address Tommy, he kept his voice low and soothing. “Can you tell us what you mean by ‘little’?”
Tommy kicked his legs, eyes welling up with fresh tears. “‘Mall! Too ‘mall.”
“Too small?” Techno asked, slightly exasperated.
Tommy nodded pitifully, “baby.”
“OH!” Wilbur exclaimed loudly, quickly feeling guilty as Tommy flinched and eyed him wearily.
“Sorry! I’m sorry, Toms. I just understand you now. I understand, kiddo. You're just a sweet little thing right now, aren't you?”
Tommy nodded smiling slightly as he was finally understood, reaching his arms out to Wilbur, who sat down on the edge of the bed and scooped up the boy.
“Is he alright?” Techno asked.
“Yeah, he’ll be okay. Will you do me a favour, Tech? In my room, on my desk, is a grocery bag with a small stuffed animal in it. Could you bring that to me?”
Techno hesitated, “Sure..?”
“Thank you!”
While Techno was gone, Wilbur rocked Tommy gently.
“Just a little baby, aren’t you? I’m so sorry I didn’t realize earlier. My sweet Toms.” Wilbur spoke quietly, watching as Tommy finally started to calm down, relaxing in Wilbur’s hold.
“Do you want me to let Techno stay when he comes back?”
Tommy nodded, eyes half lidded. “Wan’ Techie.”
Wilbur felt his heart clench with adoration. “Alright bud, I’ll tell him to stay.”
They sat in silence for a second before Wilbur’s phone buzzed, revealing a concerned text from Phil.
“Whoops! I forgot to tell dad that you’re okay.” Wilbur spoke mostly to himself, quickly typing a response.
“Dada?” Tommy asked, looking to the phone.
“Yeah kiddo, Dada. He’s gonna love spending time with you. Maybe not tonight though, I don’t wanna overwhelm you.”
Tommy nodded, clearly not understanding anything as he tucked his face into Wilbur’s sweatshirt.
They sat together for a bit before Techno walked back into the room, carrying a bag.
“This it?”
“Yup! Perfect!” Wilbur shifted Tommy into one arm, and took the bag. “Look, kiddo! Look what I have for you!” He pulled the dragon from the bag, wiggling it in front of Tommy, who squealed in delight.
“Ha’old!” He exclaimed, clapping his hands. “‘Wilby! Ha'old!”
Wilbur chuckled, “I see!”
“Techie! H’old!” Tommy twisted around in Wilbur’s arms so that he could see Techno, who was smiling, despite the confused look on his face.
“Toms? Sweet thing? Do you think I can lay you down so I can talk to Techie for a minute?” Wilbur asked sweetly, already trying to set the little back into his bed.
To both their surprise, Techno and Wilbur watched Tommy nod sleepily, allowing Wilbur to set him down and tuck him under the covers.
Wilbur placed a kiss on Tommy’s forehead and led Techno across the room.
“What’s going on?” Techno asked right away.
“Do you remember when I first started playing music for him at night?”
“Yeah?”
“Well that first night, he was all distressed, and fell asleep with his thumb right next to his mouth, like he was planning on sucking it and stopped himself. Then the other day, he was totally freaking out about that stuffed dragon, but not in his normal way. It was like he was embarrassed over it, you know? Like he was all quiet and shy after I caught him looking at it.”
“Where are you going with this, Wil?”
“He’s an age regressor. That’s where I’m going with this.”
“Age regressor?”
“Yeah, his mind reverts back to a younger age to deal with things. It makes total sense given his foster care background. I’m not really surprised, just sad that he’s clearly been panicking over hiding it from us.”
“I mean, I would probably hide that sort of stuff too. I’d imagine he’s been pretty stressed out over making sure he’s accepted here. How do we help him?”
“I’m not sure.. Just treat him like you would treat a child his mental age? I know about the topic, but I’m not positive on what to do here.”
“‘By! ‘Echie!” Tommy called from the bed, fingers in his mouth. “Come?”
“Well that was adorable.” Techno muttered, a fond smile on his mouth as the two walked over to happily give Tommy all the love and attention he desired.
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