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Hunter had been living with Darius for just under a year. It had been…complicated but ultimately they were able to trust each other. And Darius realized just how much this kid had come to trust him when he let himself regress around him for the first time. Darius knew about Hunter’s age regression, Camila had told him (with permission of course), but he’d never seen it himself. The closest was seeing him fight it long enough to go to his own room. So this…this was special. Hunter tugged at his sleeve, eyes shining and smile wide.
“What is it, little wolf?” Hunter looked around, suddenly seeming shy. He had yet to actually try to communicate with Darius even though he had been regressed for nearly an hour. He hadn’t even responded to Darius asking how old he was, even after Darius made it clear he was allowed to sign. According to Camila, though, he tended to regress young, almost never more than four years old.
‘Dad?’ Hunter signed, looking at Darius hopefully. Any ice that might have still been around his heart melted instantly.
“Yes!” he replied with no hesitation, trying to pretend he wasn’t tearing up. Hunter’s grin widened further and he jumped in excitement. He flapped his arms in pure happiness, nudging his head against Darius affectionately. Darius chuckled, ruffling the kid’s hair. Hunter…Hunter had never called him ‘Dad’. He’d never even indicated that he saw him that way. Darius hoped he wasn’t betraying the kid’s trust somehow with this. What if Hunter only saw him as a father figure now and once he was no longer regressed he would reject the idea of having Darius for a parent? According to Camila, Hunter remembered what happened when regressed but it often took him a moment–usually because he fell asleep small and woke up big.
‘Daddy!’ Hunter signed and Darius felt those concerns melt away, at least for the time being. He could worry about all that later, for now his son needed to be looked after.
“Do you want something, little wolf?” Darius asked gently. Hunter rubbed his knuckle under his chin, his eyebrows scrunching in concentration. He was a lot more expressive little.
‘Snack?’ he asked, looking somewhat nervous.
“Of course,” Darius replied with a smile. He headed into the kitchen, Hunter following close behind him with a fist bunched in the back of Darius’ shirt. “What would you like to eat?” he asked once they had reached the kitchen. He opened the fridge to show the boy his options, but that only seemed to overwhelm him. He stood several steps away, nervously fidgeting with the hem of his shirt and chewing at his lip. “You can have anything you want,” Darius assured. “Well, except the apple blood,” he added with a chuckle-there was only the alcoholic variety in his fridge. Hunter didn’t react. Darius bit back a sigh. Knowing Hunter’s taste in food was…difficult. He rarely commented on food and when he did it was usually a shrug or a generic ‘yeah it’s pretty good.’ All Darius knew for sure was that the kid adored vanilla ice cream and despised apple blood–he was going to assume it was the non-alcoholic variety and no one had given a teenager hard cider until proven otherwise.
“How about a simple grilled cheese?” he asked and the kid nodded. His expression didn’t indicate whether he liked the idea or was just okay with it. Darius supposed that would have to be enough for now. Hunter hovered near him as he set to cooking, staring at the pan with more interest than was necessary for a two-ingredient meal. “How old are you now, little wolf?” Darius asked for the second time that day.
This time he actually got an answer, in the form of Hunter putting up four fingers. Okay, Darius thought to himself. I don’t need to ask Camila for her gear. He already had a couple sippy cups and toys at the ready but didn’t have the bottles or pacifiers for if Hunter regressed all the way to one.
“That’s good to know,” Darius said pleasantly. He hovered a hand over Hunter’s head and when the kid moved closer, ruffled his hair. The boy leaned into the touch eagerly, happy giggles escaping him. “You’re so cute,” Darius muttered unconsciously.
Hunter shook his head in disagreement as his cheeks flushed in embarrassment. He stuck his tongue out and Darius couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Convincing argument, little wolf,” he teased. Hunter blew another raspberry. “You are a riot, little one.” Hunter tilted his head at that, then pointed to the stove, where the sandwiches were almost burning. “Oh!” Darius exclaimed as he turned the burner off. He transfers them to plates and ruffles Hunter’s hair. “Thank you, little one.” Hunter keened under the praise, his face lighting up adorably. In that respect, little Hunter wasn’t too different from big Hunter. “What do you want to drink?” Darius asked as he set the plates on the table.
‘Apple juice’, Hunter replied, apparently feeling a bit bolder.
“Apple- ohhh juice,” Darius processed out loud. Apple juice had been introduced by the human-Luz, her name was Luz. Apparently Hunter was significantly more fond of it than apple blood. He poured the boy a glass and set it down in front of him.
‘Thank you!’ Hunter signed enthusiastically, kicking his legs. Darius grabbed the bottle of sparkling water he’d been nursing since that morning and took the seat across from his son. Wide eyes stared up at him, hesitation clear. He didn’t move to touch his plate.
“What is it, dear? Why aren’t you eating?” Darius asked gently. Hunter’s mouth formed into a thin line as he glanced between Darius and both of their plates. “Ohhh,” the older man breathed. “Dear, you don’t need my permission. You are free to eat whenever you want.” Hunter’s eyes widened again, though fear still clouded his expression. He took a cautious bite out of his sandwich, staring at Darius the whole time. Darius picked up his own sandwich and began eating, not nearly as slow as his son. The fear dissipated from Hunter’s expression as he finished his first bite. “How is it, little wolf?” Darius asked. Hunter’s cheeks and ears turned red at the compliment.
‘Good!’ the kid replied, holding his meal in one hand. His eating was less cautious after that and fortunately he finished his sandwich. Hunter had a…complex relationship with food.
“Are you full now?” Darius asked. “It’s okay if you want more to eat.” Hunter seemed to be considering it, but ultimately shook his head. Oh well, one day he would get the kid to be okay with having seconds occasionally.
‘I’m good! Thank you!’ Little Hunter was certainly enthusiastic, in a way big Hunter only was when infodumping. It was adorable . Darius gathered up the empty plates, noticing Hunter’s now vice-like grip on his cup.
“Sweetheart, I’m not going to take something you’re still using, I promise.” Hunter didn’t relax at all. Darius sighed, making his way to the sink. He made his way back to the table, standing a respectful distance away from the kid. “Did you want to finish that here or do you want to bring it to another room?” he asked, pointing to the cup. Hunter glanced between Darius and the cup a few times, fear in his eyes, before responding.
‘Here?’ he signed, clearly uncertain.
“All right little wolf, that’s completely fine,” Darius said with a smile. “Do you want me to sit with you?” The enthusiastic nod Hunter gave in response nearly melted Darius’ heart. He sat back down where he had been, smiling at his son. “What do you want to do after this?” he asked as Hunter chugged the rest of his drink. He slammed the sippy cup onto the table, gasping because of how fast he had been drinking. “Wow,” Darius commented with knitted eyebrows, “maybe slow down next time? Wouldn’t want you getting hurt.” Hunter brow furrowed in concentration, as if he hadn’t even heard Darius. Maybe he hadn’t. If Darius knew his son, he was probably thinking way too hard about the question he’d been asked.
‘Read?’ the kid asked eventually.
“Sounds good, little wolf!” Darius replied with a smile. He picked up Hunter’s sippy cup and rinsed it in the sink before guiding the kid out of his chair. “Couch or bed?”
The kid glanced around for a second, apparently pondering the question really hard.
‘Bed’, he replied eventually. ‘Yours.’
“All right, kiddo,” Darius replied with a nod, before taking his son’s hand and leading him up the stairs. Once they reached Darius’ bedroom, Hunter wasted absolutely no time in making himself comfortable on the bed, nestling into the blankets and hugging a plushie that Darius definitely didn’t keep in his room for Hunter’s harder nights. Darius smiled, always glad the kid saw his room as a safe space. He pulled out his meager collection of children’s books, chuckling affectionately when Hunter’s eyes grew wide.
“Which would you like to read, little wolf?” the older witch asked gently. Hunter’s eyebrows furrowed in concentration, humming as if deep in thought. After nearly a solid minute of thinking, he grabbed one of the books from the collection, holding it towards Darius. Darius took it, glancing at the cover. He recognized it as a book he’d gotten from Camila, a copy of little Hunter’s favorite book from the Human Realm. It was a simple story about finding a lost pet. Darius cracked open the book as Hunter snuggled into his father’s chest, gripping his plushie tight. Darius held the book so Hunter could see the pictures as he read, not caring how much it strained his neck.
Hunter listened with rapt attention through the first book but his eyes were fluttering closed by the second. Soon enough he was fast asleep on Darius’ chest. Darius dare not move for fear of waking the boy.
Sometime later, Hunter blinked awake. Huh? When had he fallen asleep? And why was he using Darius as a pillow? As he flinched away in embarrassment, the events of the day came flooding back to him. He hadn’t meant to regress in front of Darius!
“Good morning, little wolf,” the older witch said calmly.
“Oh Titan,” Hunter mumbled. “I’m sorry I-“
Darius held up a hand.
“It’s okay, Hunter,” he said, his voice gentler than usual. “I don’t mind.”
Hunter blushed with embarrassment, shifting awkwardly.
“Still,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. Darius ghosted a hand over the teen’s head, waiting for a nod of consent before ruffling his hair.
“It really is okay,” the witch insisted. “I’m glad this is something you trust me with, honestly.”
Hunter’s face practically burned, but he was smiling a bit.
“Thanks, Da-Darius,” he muttered, his voice still quiet. Darius tapped him lightly on the nose.
“Of course, little wolf,” he said easily. Hunter’s face broke into a large grin, grateful Darius had reacted so well.