Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A new Curse have been going rampant in the Academy. No one knew how it started, who was the perpetrator, or what was the reason for it all. What everyone knew is that it left people as toddlers for 24 hours. Not more, not less. Given that it was not malicious in nature, at least it didn’t seem to be so, the Academy said it is an anomaly virus that will have to run its course.

That is what you all have been told, at least. You thought that the ghouls, just like usual, will be immune to this as well. At least, that was what you thought. Until you stepped into Obscuary’s dorm to get a signature from Lyca on one of the forms. When asked, Rui told you Lyca hadn’t left his room that day left, and feel free to barge in. While uncomfortable with the idea, after several minutes of futile knocking you opened the door. And what welcomed you was a sight you weren’t ready for. Instead of the grown-up Lyca, in the bed was a small child, curled up into a ball.

As you went closer, the boy’s eyes snapped open, turning to face you. A growl left his throat, but it immediately died out when he saw you. He probably retained at least some part of his memories if he recognized you. Or maybe your scent was familiar. Either way, he tilted his head to the side, looking positively like a puppy. Oh, my! That is exactly what he was after all! OH NO! You shook yourself, this is not the time for this! You lifted him up, bundling him into too-big clothes, and ran out. 

“Rui!” When his head appeared at the other end of the stairs you showed him Lyca in your arms. “I don’t think you all are immune to the virus.”

“Clearly not,” he replied letting you pass by. “I don’t think we have anything that would fit him.”

Oh, yeah, you can’t make Lyca go through the day butt naked. Clearly, that would not be wise. But you also couldn’t let him bi in his oversized clothes either. You knew from experience that asking the Academy will do you no good.

“I’ll manage it somehow. I’ll bring him back when he is back to a reasonable age.” You nodded to Rui while walking out of the dorm. While walking through the garden you opened your phone and called the one person you knew will be able to get you onesies in less than an hour. 

“Yes”

“Umm… Not to sound strange… But would you be able to get me onesies for children around…” You looked at Lyca in your arms. “How old are you now?” When the answer was a confused face you let it go. “Two? Maybe three years old of age?”

“The virus?”

“The virus. It turns out you ghouls are not at all immune to it either.” Maybe your voice showed a bit too much of glee as you could hear a long-suffering sigh on the other end of the line.

“How many do you need?”

“Around 21?” 

“Got it. Come pick it up in an hour.”

The phone call ended without any more words exchanged. It was typical, you just shrugged and made your way towards Frostheim. You looked down at Lyca, bouncing him a bit in your arms.

“How about we go see Subaru-kun after we get you some new clothes?”

Lyca’s ears perked up, it seemed like he wasn’t fully able to control his transformation. Whether it was an age thing or the Cursevirus, you didn’t know. He looked up at you, very excited as his tail wagged in a furious rhythm. You would have bet your entire life that Lyca knew who you were talking about.

When you stepped into Frostheim you were greeted by several students tending to small toddlers. They sent you sympathetic looks. At least theirs aren’t ghouls. You are still afraid what will happen with some of the others when they get turned into toddlers. Will Ed become a human again? The virus was too confusing for you, and even Yuri said he knows next to nothing about it. Which clearly hurt his pride to admit.

Well, given the situation, you decided to focus on the task at hand. You walked up to Jin’s room and knocked 5 times as usual. When your phone vibrated, you walked right in, knowing you got permission to enter. Or at least you thought that was what it meant! But clearly not! Jin was half naked, pulling up his shirt. You squeaked and put a hand before the small Lyca’s eyes.

“You should read the message.” Jin drawled, not in a hurry to hide his naked torso. And you felt no shame at looking. Well, one of your arms was holding Lyca, the other covering his eyes. You had no free hand. What were you supposed to do? Turn around? Maybe? Walk out? Possibly. But you didn’t care at all. 

“Where are the onesies?” You looked over the room, looking for a big pile of children’s clothing. You spotted a box next to the bed, nodded towards it. “Is that it?” 

Jin grunted in an affirmative. Finally finishing buttoning up his shirt. “I did not choose them. I take no criticism for them.”

“Got it.” You set down Lyca on the bed and opened up the box, lifting out the nicely folded onesies. They were all animal themed… Hmmm… You looked through them. Some of them, you instantly knew which ghoul should wear when they get infected. Some, you were hesitant about. You fished out the wolf one and helped Lyca into it. A cheesy choice. But he looked so cute! 

Your phone’s folder will be full of cute ghouls! You snapped a quick photo before helping Lyca down from the bed.

“Let’s go surprise Subaru-kun, hmm?” You reached out, and Lyca grabbed onto your hand, pulling you towards the door.

“Go! Let’ go! Let’s go to Suba-kun!”

“I’ll pick up the clothes on my way home.” You called out to Jin as you let Lyca pull you towards the door. He stepped in front of you two, eliciting a growl from Lyca’s throat. 

“I’ll make one of the brats bring it to your dorm. The child might not turn back till much later.” He patted your head then stole a kiss onto your forehead before moving out of the way and letting the kiddified Lyca pull you towards Hotarubi. Clearly following his nose rather than basing anything on his knowledge. Thankfully the onesies came with protective shoes, so you won’t have to carry all the boys around all day.

During your walk you wrote to Subaru to let him know that you are bringing a virus affected Lyca. He wrote back about his willingness to host you both till Lyca got better. You thanked him, telling him you two are on your way. 

When you arrived at the edge of the dorm, where sunny weather turned into everlasting rain, Subaru stood there waiting for you with a spare umbrella. Lyca made uppie hands towards him. Subaru instantly took him into his hands.

“Ah, let me hold the umbrella so you won’t get wet.” You took the umbrella and put it over them. While you got a little wet, at least the small Lyca got through the rain without a speck of raindrop. All the while he was talking off Subaru’s ear about all the things with the enthusiasm only small children have.

As you walked into the room, Haku threw a towel on your shoulder, scolding you for not taking care of yourself better. You let him and Zenji fuss over you, keeping an eye on Lyca, who seemed to be an energetic child, who liked to talk off Subaru’s ear. He totally had favourite persons. He didn’t even spare a glance at Haku, but pulled you closer so you all could listen to his tales about chasing squirrels in the forest. Whether these were such fond memories that they stayed with him, or if they got clearer due to the virus, you didn’t know. It was certainly cute.

What made your day perhaps was the way Haku got a carton box out of nowhere, and put the small Lyca into it, who immediately claimed it as his new den. And if Haku tried to go even an inch closer that Lyca deemed safe, his ears would perk up, a growl leaving him. But then he would look at Subaru, waiting to be chastised and he would take out his best puppy eyes to look pitiful.

Your phone’s gallery held new pictures, a folder dedicated to smol ghouls now. You were looking forward to gathering more.

Chapter Text

The second day of the virus’s apparent decision to make your life harder than it already was started with a request from Haru. Nothing hard or untoward, just a request to help out at the farm for the day and look after the house. He needed to run some errands, and well, Ren was less than happy about being left in charge. Thus, prepared with the onesies in a bag, because you already knew your luck, you set out to Jabberwock.

Not even halfway to the dorm, your phone rang. You weren’t even surprised. The caller ID told you it was none other than Romeo. Already having a bad feeling, you answered the phone.

“Yeah?”

“BB, you have five minutes to arrive and get this BTH out of my closet! He is tearing my place apart! NAKED! My products are in danger!!!!!”

Without waiting for an answer, he had already disconnected the call. You sighed but obediently turned to take the detour. Of course, it had to be Taiga next. And while on a work call for Jabberwock as well. It couldn’t have been a worse timing if Taiga somehow had any influence on the matter. Bringing in a tiny carnivore to the farm animals? Not the way you imagined your day going. 

Nevertheless, this was how your day was going. Nothing better than hearing Romeo’s screeching voice as he tried to wrangle with a literal toddler who was trying to bite into one of his face-cremes. Based on Taiga’s face, he completely knew what he was doing. 

“Don’t just stand there!! Catch him and get him out of here! It will be all your fault that I get wrinkles!”

Knowing better than to try and use force on the toddler, you planted yourself on the floor. Without even looking at him, you started pulling the onesies out of your bag. Humming to yourself all the while. It didn’t take two minutes for Taiga, the toddler, to get curious about what you were doing. 

He ran over, watched you for a while before snatching one of the onesies on the floor and mightily declared “Mine”. You weren’t about to argue. 

“What are you going to do with it?” 

“Mine.” He clutched it closer to himself, as if you attempted to take it away from him. 

“Why don’t you put it on then?”

“Hmph.” He bit into the fabric.

“Well, I will be going to Haru for the day.”

“Harry?” It instantly got Taiga’s attention. 

“But you can’t come.”

“Why? I am going.” Still a little tyrant, wasn’t he?

“No one can come without clothes.”

Aside from a growl, the only answer you got was the sound of a toddler dressing. As successfully as he could manage. 

“Now, we go.” He stomped his little leg.

You nodded at him, straightening his clothes and lifting him into your arms for easier transportation. It wasn’t a fussless action, but Taiga could be easily bribed with the idea of a shorter wait. 

And thus, leaving behind a bewildered Romeo, you and a tiny Taiga in a tiger onesie walked to Jabberwock dorm. Where the ghouls were divided by the appearance of a tiny carnivore in their midst. 

Haru, by all means, thought him to be cute. After all, the second Taiga spotted him, he ran over to bother him. Ren immediately sighed about having one more animal to take care of now. And Towa, well, it was a great thing that they were inside the safety of the house. Taiga might have been killed otherwise. No one should face Towa’s wrath.

But, all things considered, Haru seemed okay with being the designated babysitter while you helped Ren out around the farm. Many of the animals were already used to you and didn’t make much of a fuss at being taken care of by you. 

The river of time flowed without issue towards night, when, around 5, you heard the shriek of Haru from inside the house. You ran inside without thinking, forgetting that Haru and Towa were stronger than you by leaps and bounds for sure. And thus, more equipped to deal with any problems arising. 

“No, don’t bite Peekaboo! Taiga! NO!” was what welcomed you as you rushed in through the door, Ren but a step behind you. 

And for sure, Taiga was clutching a Peekaboo not much smaller than his current form and trying to bite into his ears, while Haru was trying, futilely so far, to get him to let go. It was a comedic sight, if only it didn’t involve a chance of bodily harm to, well, many of the present people. 

It all ended more anticlimatically than expected. Peekaboo, less frightened by a toddler Taiga than the normal-sized counterpart had enough of being manhandled and threatened. He puffed his cheeks and chomped down on the hand holding him. 

Taiga cried out in pain and let go of Peekaboo immediately. Then tears gathered in his eyes, and he stomped towards you, hands out, outright sobbing by the time he arrived at your legs. You picked him up, soothing him, it was one in a million sight to see Taiga cry, but in his current toddler form, you couldn’t bring yourself to scold him. It wouldn’t stick either way; you knew him well enough to know this. 

Thus, your day ended with a small Taiga in your arms, a smug Peekaboo looking on and with a resigned wish that may Taiga be the last of the Ghouls catching the virus.