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Punzo sighed as he stared up at his ceiling. He was alone, well not actually alone, George was home, he thought. He knew Dream was at a doctor’s appointment, and Sapnap and Karl were having their own day by themselves. Punzo could go to George’s room, maybe he would understand that Punzo needed comfort. It was worth a shot.
Punzo pushed the covers off of himself and trudged over to George’s room, knocking softly on the door.
“Come in”, the British boy called. Punzo opened the door quietly and stood in the doorway. “Hey, Luke.” Punzo frowned slightly. He wasn’t Luke at the moment, he was Punzo, small Punzo. George must’ve caught the look on the Little’s face. “Are you feeling small?” Punzo nodded. “If you’re looking for your Papa, he’s not here, I’m the only one here.” Punzo nodded.
He didn’t wait for a formal invitation to crawl up onto George’s bed. George moved his laptop from his lap onto the table next to his bed.
“What’s up, Punzo?”, George asked. The Little huffed. He couldn’t tell George what was up with him. He had a case of the meanie brain, or, in non-Little terms, his depression was acting up. It kept telling him things that definitely weren’t true. Punzo always went non-verbal when he had a depressive episode, but usually he had his Papa, and his Papa always understood him so Punzo didn’t have to actually speak words.
“Punzo?”, George asked, softly. “Are you okay?” Punzo shook his head. George gestured for Punzo to come closer to him, which the Little did. Punzo pointed to George’s chest. “Do you want to cuddle, hon?” Punzo nodded. “Okay then, what are you waiting for?” Punzo immediately cuddled up to George’s chest, melting against the feel.
“Punzo, is your meanie brain acting up again?”, George asked. Punzo nodded slowly. George mentally kicked himself for not recognizing the signs when Punzo first entered his room. “When’s the last time you ate something, sweetheart?” Punzo shrugged. “Could we go downstairs and make something to eat?” Punzo gripped George’s hoodie. “I said ‘we’, Punzo. Don’t worry.” Punzo relaxed back against George.
Everything in Punz’s mind was telling him that he shouldn’t be taking George’s affection and that George shouldn’t have even been giving Punz the affection in the first place. The thoughts couldn’t help bring a couple of tears to his eyes and he sniffled.
“Punzo? Let’s go get something in your tummy, yeah?”, George suggested. He stood up and held his hand out. “Is it okay if you walk?” Punzo nodded and got off of George’s bed, grabbing George’s hand.
“How about we fix you up so toast?”, George asked. “That seems simple, and there's less of a chance of it burning.” Punz nodded and put his head down on the counter. George put a couple pieces of bread in the toaster and sighed. He took his phone out of his pocket and turned on some cartoons, setting the phone in front of Punzo. The blonde looked up and picked up the phone. It was his favorite show.
“You like that show, huh”, George said. Punzo nodded softly, his fingers creeping up to his mouth. “Punzo? Buddy, please don’t suck on your fingers, I could get your pacifier if you’d like.” Punzo nodded. George nodded and went upstairs. Punzo watched him go, gripping the phone tightly and trying to distract himself with his show. That lasted for a couple seconds before Punz broke down crying, falling out of his seat at the counter, making him sob more. George rushed down the stairs.
“Punzo?”, George asked, falling to his knees next to the regressed Little and wrapping his arms around him. “Shh, Punzo, it’s okay. Are you hurt?” Punzo shook his head and continued to cry against George’s shoulder. “It just scared you, didn’t it?” Punzo nodded. “I understand, little one.”
“I think your toast is done, so let’s get that in you, would you like some milk?”, George asked. Punzo sniffled then nodded. “Good choice.” George got Punzo back up into his seat and went over to the toaster. “Punzo, do you want butter on your toast?” Punzo nodded. “Peanut butter?” Punzo shook his head. “Just butter?” Punzo nodded.
George put the butter on the toast and poured a glass of milk, then set it in front of the Little. Punzo looked up at him with a sincere look on his face, like he was telling George ‘thank you’ with his eyes.
George sat down next to Punzo and watched him eat, making sure the boy took small bites and actually swallowed them. Punzo ended up eating a piece of toast and picked at the other one, and drank half of the glass of milk.
“Punzo, you think you’re ready for a nap?”, George asked, cleaning up the toast and glass of milk. Punzo rubbed his eyes. “I’ll take that as a yes.” George helped him off of the stool and the two made their way upstairs before Punz tugged on George’s shoulder, then pointed to George’s room. “You want to nap in my room.” Punzo nodded.
George led Punzo to his room and got him comfortable, then the British boy went into Punzo’s room and grabbed his stuffed bee plushie and a pacifier.
“Open your mouth, honey”, George urged, gently putting the pacifier in Punzo’s mouth as the regressed Little made grabby hands for the stuffed bee, which George handed to him. Punzo was asleep in minutes, allowing George to slip downstairs just in time for Dream to come home.
“I live another day”, he announced, going into the kitchen where George was, fixing himself a sandwich. “Hey.”
“Hi”, George replied. He cut his sandwich and turned around to face Dream.
“What’s wrong?”, Dream asked, immediately going into Caregiver mode just by the tired and overwhelmed look on George’s face. George sniffled.
“Luke h-had a depressive epis-sode a-and came to me”, he tried to explain. “I-I tried to help but he was non-verbal so it was hard. I-I just got him down for a n-nap.” Dream put a comforting hand on George’s shoulder.
“You did so good, honey”, Dream said. “You’re free to regress now, Georgie.” George shook his head. “No?”
“I’m okay”, George replied. “I’m just relieved to see you.” Dream wrapped his arms around George.
“Why don’t you go in the living room and relax, okay?”, Dream suggested. George nodded and took his sandwich into the living room.
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A couple hours later, Punzo walked down the stairs, seemingly Big and feeling much better, and went to look for George. He found the British boy at the counter in the kitchen. Without a warning, Punz walked over to George and wrapped his arms around him.
“Thank you”, Punz whispered. George smiled softly.
“You’re so welcome, Luke”, he replied. “I will help you anytime, I know you’d do the same for me.”