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"Age regression." Wally read out loud from the computer sitting on his lap.
"What?" Dick leaned into his field of vision.
The two were relaxing on Dick's bed at the Wayne Manor after much convincing from Alfred for Dick to come home. He had been having somewhat of a difficult time lately, and with encouragement from Wally, they talked to Alfred about the issue. The butler loved Dick like a son, and so- filled with worry- he wanted to keep him close by.
Now, the two of them sat looking for a healthy coping mechanism that they could both participate in. After many failed awkward attempts at some of them- like a fashion show with Dick's clothes- they were running out of ideas.
There was quiet for a moment as Wally read. He hummed in acknowledgment.
"To sum it up:" He began. "A reverting or regression of the mind to a childlike state to cope. The mindset is called 'littlespace,' and regression can be pure or impure. Pure meaning out of happiness, safety, and all that good stuff, and impure meaning regression as a result of bad feelings. It's not sexual and 'littles'- as the age regressor is called- can have caregivers that look after them and set ground rules." Wally finished with a smile and looked up at Dick who uncertainly avoided eye contact.
"I don't know.. playing pretend?"
"It's not like that, Dick..."
Dick sighed.
"Can we try it?"
Dick gave his boyfriend a skeptical glance.
"How do I even get to that childlike mindset?"
"We'll figure it out! Please?" A pause. "For me?" Wally added.
Again, Dick sighed.
"What if I'm a crazy kiddo?"
Wally grinned.
"Baby Dickie can't be so bad."
Oh boy, he was dead wrong.
Dickie- as they decided to call his little self- was a little guy with murderous intent.
Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration. It took a few kids shows and some coaxing from Wally to get Dick to go down, especially since they were just trying it out and didn't really have equipment. Once he was able to be a child again, all the circus love he had deep within displayed itself as he jumped on the bed, to the dresser... and all over in his room.
Wally was starting to feel overwhelmed. First, Dickie wouldn't listen to him. Second, he was very afraid that Dickie would hurt himself on something.
Maybe dealing with kids was not his form of relaxation.
"Dickie, come down this instant." He snapped a finger to the floor in a scolding manner, but the treacherous child giggled and hopped away.
Wally sighed, running a hand down his face as he sat at the edge of the bed, defeated. He was happy to see Dick smiling so much, but it was a little disappointing that he, himself, was not having much enjoyment.
There was a gentle tug on his shirt sleeve that pulled his attention away from his thoughts. Wally moved his hand from his face to see Dickie staring at him with curious eyes.
For a moment, he was unsure of what to say or do.
"Otay?" Dickie squeaked out.
"What?"
"Da-" The little paused and sat back to fidget with his fingers, clearly nervous.
"What is it, Dickie?" Wally leaned forward and used the gentle voice that seemed to work before.
"Daddy otay?" Dickie mumbled.
It took a moment for the words to register, and once they did Wally felt awful. To Dickie, they were just playing a game of tag- or something- but when his daddy- when Wally sat down looking all glum it worried his baby.
"Come here." Wally opened his arms up.
Dickie had no hesitation in burying himself in Wally's comforting arms. Shame washed over the latter as he held Dickie close.
A small giggle erupted from the little bird, who pulled away from the hug and smiled up at Wally. Wally couldn't fight back the grin that overtook his guilty look.
A warm, fuzzy feeling made itself known to him, and he knew then and there that being a caregiver for Dickie was exactly the kind of release he needed.