Chapter Text
“I miss Ashlyn.” Aiden sighed loudly and exhausted. He was regressed, not alone and cooped up in his room as he used to be. He had become more open with his regression—only among his friends of course— ever since Ashlyn was open about her’s.
Taylor and Logan insisted on making the group lunch. Some sort of 20 minute soup recipe they’d been workshopping together for a while, but since they were in the Clark kitchen, the layout was a bit unfamiliar to them and Ben had fully left to help after the third time they came back and asked where something was.
So, it was just Aiden and Tyler. Plus, Ashlyn, who was asleep on the second couch.
Tyler put his phone down, looked at Aiden stupidly. It took his all to not call Aiden something mean. Later, when Aiden wasn’t regressed, Tyler will absolutely be insulting him.
“She’s right behind you man, just taking a nap.” He tried his best to lighten his tone, but seriously, she was right behind Aiden. If he looked a litttle to his left, she’d be right in his view again.
“I know that. But I miss her still.” Aiden smacked his head into the couch cushion, upset and restless.
Tyler hurried at this, always stressed whenever Aiden did something like that. Even if it was just falling into a pillow, Aiden’s hate for his own wellbeing always showed with bruises. He pushed Aiden’s forehead off of the couch, sort of inspecting for no bloody nose— because God, was Aiden a magnet for those.
“Then— make something for her? Like a card, or something.”
“That’s stupid, she’s right behind me.”
Tyler’s hand flexed. He was turned around by the response completely.
Absolutely annoyed, but in the lightest way he can be with someone he knows is not in their usual mindset.
“I think you’re tired. You should try to sleep too,” Perfect solution. His tone was a bit shaky to keep it from sounding too aggressive, but it worked well enough.
Aiden’s thoughts on wether that “solution” was perfect or not defintely differed from Tyler’s.
What a horrible idea.
Then he truly thought about it.
If Aiden slept, then it was basically like time traveling until Ashlyn was awake.
“Alright,” He said simply, turning around back to the open area of the living room and to Ashlyn.
Tyler got a little nervous at that. It cannot be that easy, can it?
Aiden repeatedly tapped Ashlyn’s shoulder until she grumpily woke up enough to grouch an acknowledgement. Tyler would’ve gotten furtherly nervous at this if he didn’t know that Ashlyn would not put up with Aiden’s shenanigans if she was trying to sleep.
“Ash, floor please.” Aiden scooted away enough for her to easily just crawl off the couch, which she did so in a careful manner (though, what she did was more-so deliberate falling). Tyler watched, curious.
Aiden got a blanket— stole a blanket, the one Tyler was using. He did not protest, but was a bit shocked at the gall. He watched Aiden throw it over Ashlyn, who was already falling back into sleep.
Aiden then laid somewhat near her, sprawling into an obnoxious starfish pose where he was absolutely asking to be stepped on and crossing their ankles together.
“Lunch’s ready!” Taylor excitedly announced, walking into the living room with a steaming bowl.
Tyler loudly shushed her, dampening her mood but it was still clear she was happy about the food she and Logan had made.
“Aiden’s asleep and I don’t want him to wake up.”
“But we’ll have to wake them up to eat eventually…”
“Do that later, we can let them sleep.” Logan interjected, handing one of the two bowls he held to Tyler.