Work Text:
Sapnap bounced him lovingly as he held a bottle up to Karl’s lips. He refused it and sobbed more. Sighing in defeat, he set it down. Karl hadn’t drank or ate anything in the past 6 hours and he was beginning to get concerned. He knew the reason, however.
Today was the day they had to get shots. They had to leave in just a couple of minutes and he really didn’t want Karl getting sick on the way there. Sapnap shushed him more and walked upstairs. He tried his best to get Karl washed, cleaned, and dressed, all while he was crying.
“Karl, baby, do you need to go potty? We’re about to leave.” Sapnap asked, rubbing his sides.
Karl, who was trying to collect his thoughts on the ground, nodded his head. Sapnap held his hand and went to the bathroom. He pulled his pants and diaper off and sat him on the toilet. After he pee’d, he took him off and put his bottoms back on.
“I don’t want to get dem, Dada.” Karl informed as he washed his hands. “Scawy!”
Sapnap sighed. “I know but the shots your getting will keep you healthy.” He picked Karl up and kissed his cheek. Karl rested his head on the other’s shoulder. They put their shoes on and got settled in the car, beginning to drive.
A mucky silence coated the car. It felt uncomfortable and awkward, as they were both hesitant to start a conversation. Usually, Karl always had something interesting to say but with the terrifying event that was about to take place, he didn’t want to say a word.He counted down every second in his head until Sapnap pulled up into the underground parking, watching as the light that shone through his window gradually faded into black, eerie darkness. He really didn’t like underground parking. Sapnap made quick work of unbuckling he and his little and rushing up the stairs, knowing that the underground made Karl uneasy.
“Remember, just a little pinch.” He reminded as he led him to the office. As he got them checked in, Karl explored the room.
It looked like any other office with the white walls and tiled floors, only it was much louder. As in babies crying and kids screaming. It only horrified him more and he held Daddy’s hand as he made clicking sounds with his tongue. Daddy discreetly squeezed his hand, rubbing his thumb over Karl’s knuckles to comfort him.
“Ok, thank you. If you could take a seat that would be much appreciated. Please wait until we call your names.” A nurse politely instructed.
Sapnap hummed in gratitude and went to the waiting room, sitting down comfortably. Karl, however, wriggled in his seat and kicked his feet. He peered at the people who strolled past him, some carrying clipboards and other’s holding baskets of whatnot.
A high pitched shrill suddenly broke the classic “doctor silence” and caught Karl by surprise. His eyes filled with tears and his lip quivered.
“Ssshh, ohh it’s ok, Karl.” Sapnap soothed, pulling him in for a hug. “It’s ok, baby, sshh. Daddy’s here, I know I know.”
Karl cried into his chest. Gosh he hated the doctors. And if it couldn’t get any worse, a nurse walked in the room.
“Sapnap and Karl Jacobs?” She called.
Karl cried harder as he flapped his hands. “No no! Don’ yike! No no!”
Sapnap picked him up, rocking him as they walked into the room. He sat down on the bed, shushing the brunet.
“Age regressor?” She asked, rubbing Karl’s arm.
“Yeah. Terrified of shots.” Sapnap answered, grateful that she was accepting. “Took a long time just to get him here.”
”Oh, poor thing.” She washed her hands and put on the periwinkle colored gloves. “We only have 3 today. They’ll all be quick and easy.” She tried to comfort as she prepared the vaccines.
“Did you hear that. They’ll all be fast.” He told the little, who was still heavily sobbing into his shirt.
Karl finally looked up. “T-tans we gets ice cweam?” He asked, hope twinkling in his eyes.
Sapnap ran his fingers through his hair, nodding. “Of course, love. We can get it afterwards. I pinky promise!”
“Daddy stay?”
“Yeah, baby, I’ll be right here.” He reassured as he lifted him onto his lap. “I’ll be right here.”
The nurse smiled kindly, grabbing a cotton ball and a blueish liquid. “Deep breath for me, sweetie. I’m just going to have to rub this cotton ball on your arm.”
Sapnap rubbed his back as he helped Karl take deep, shaky breaths. She spread the liquid on his arm and got the injection ready. Karl watched her with fear as she lifted it up. He looked back at Daddy, whimpering.
“Don’t look at it, it’s alright.” He shushed. “Daddy’s got you. Shhh, shhh.”
Tears sparked his eyes and he squeezed Daddy’s hand. Finally, she pushed it into his arm. She hastily took it out and put a band-aid on it. Karl felt the sharp but surprisingly quick pain of the needle before it was soothed by the bandage. “There we go! First one done. Are you ready for the next?” She remarked as she got next one out of a drawer. Karl sniffled, watching as she did.
He screwed his eyes shut and braced himself. Again, she pushed into his arm. This time, he yelped in pain. The little cried more while she stamped a bandage where the hurt was.
“Oh it’s ok, sweetheart. It’s all done now.” Daddy rubbed Karl’s back as he cried. “You’re doing so good, such a good job.”
Karl opened his lidded eyes which were blurry with tears. He saw something drip down in his arms, horrified to find out what was dripping down in his arm.
Blood.
His sight got fuzzy and his breath quickened. Noises and voices faded out, only being able to pay attention to the red river steadily flowing down. It replayed in his head over and over, like a broken record player on loop. He felt like he was suffocating and he choked out a sob.
A hand suddenly came into a view and soft voice breaking through the pale silence. It sounded familiar and Karl turned his head in the direction of the source. “Baby, let’s take some deep breaths together.” It said as he felt a hand rest on his stomach. “Karl’s alright. He’s alright.”
The voice instructed him gently, with the little trying his best to follow, until he felt like he could get some air in his lungs. Karl, who could now focus his eyes, saw Sapnap now talking to the nurses. He trembled, feeling anxious and another emotion which could’ve been embarrassed. He didn’t like all the nurses in the room. He wished Daddy was his only doctor.
However, one of the nurses, who realized Karl had recovered from his panic attack, crouched down next to him. She smiled warmly. “I bet that was scary, huh?” She asked him. He nodded, cuddling into Sapnap’s side. “Shots can be scary sometimes, especially when it bleeds or hurts, but we’re always here to help, alright?”
Karl whined in annoyance. He wanted to leave already, and he wanted to make that clear. But having a tantrum wasn’t nice nor was screaming or stomping. He couldn’t voice out a word, and it made him frustrated. In response, he scratched at his ears roughly.
Daddy pulled them away. “Don’t do that.” He scolded gently. Karl pouted, starting to tear up. He felt ignored. Sapnap shushed him and picked him up. “I know, I know. Let’s do something else.” He dug into the diaper bag and handed him a teether. Karl accepted it and chewed intently.
Before he knew it, another needle was being prepared. He hid his face, whining from behind the toy. Daddy rocked him as he rubbed his chest. “This one needs to go in his leg.” She informed directly while she put on some gloves. Sapnap stood up so he could pull his pants down halfway. He firmly held his hand as she got ready.
She pressed it into his leg and pulled it out almost immediately, putting a bandage over it. Karl gasped as he felt the sting but breathed out a sigh when she took it out. Daddy pulled his pants back up and hugged him. “You did it! I’m so proud of you, did you know that?” He praised, kissing his cheeks. He was rewarded with a bright smile.
After what seemed like hours, they said their thank you’s and goodbye’s and left the room. Karl yawned almost inaudibly as he was walked to the car, tired from the events earlier. A paci was fitted into his mouth and he was laid in the reclined car seat. Daddy kissed him on the temple before he got in the car.
The sunlight, along with the movement of the car shaking, soothed him and he fell into a well-needed restful sleep. It didn’t matter where he went or how they got there, he was just glad he was away from the needles and with one of the people whom he loved most.