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Valentino picks up a regressed Vox up into his arms. It’s fairly early in the morning, so they’re both still tired, but once Vox is up, it’s rare that he falls back asleep, even if Valentino wished he would.
Valentino yawns, settling the little on his hip. Vox’s head rests on Valentino’s shoulder. Vox fusses, his thumb finding its way to his mouth. Valentino has a feeling this is going to be a long morning.
“I know you’re tired, bud. It’s okay,” Valentino murmurs softly. Though really, he isn’t sure why Vox wouldn’t just go back to sleep if he was tired, but Vox was in the mindset of a toddler- a very young toddler at that- and toddlers rarely made sense nor were rational.
Vox normally regresses fairly young- but not usually this young unless something was wrong. Valentino knew he had regressed involuntarily- Vox only regressed voluntarily with himself or Velvette, and Valentino had woken up to Vox crying. Valentino was willing to bet Vox was overwhelmed and overtired- he’d been working far too much lately, in Valentino’s opinion.
But that was neither here nor there, and right now Valentino had to focus on the effect rather than the cause.
Valentino lets out another yawn, and Vox soon follows with a yawn of his own. Valentino smiles softly, kissing Vox’s head. While the little might drive him up the walls occasionally, he’d do anything for him.
“D’you want to eat breakfast, or do you just want a bottle?” Valentino asks- sometimes Vox would be willing to eat solid food when he was this young, though occasionally Vox would refuse to take anything but a bottle.
Vox tapped once on Valentino’s shoulder for the first option, having figured out ways to communicate even though his words weren’t coming to him.
“Alright, baby. We can get you breakfast,” Valentino murmurs, carrying Vox to the kitchen.
Valentino walks to the freezer, opening the door and grabbing a few frozen, pre-made plain pancakes- he sets down the bag near the microwave, taking a few steps in another direction, and then he sets Vox down on the edge of the counter, not thinking about the fact that Vox’s coordination isn’t exactly there, to put it nicely.
Valentino swears that he only looked away for a few moments, but those few moments were enough for things to go wrong, which is how it normally goes with toddlers.
Valentino is reheating the pancakes when Vox overbalances and ends up tipping forward, and before Valentino can even have a chance to react, poor Vox has entirely faceplanted onto the kitchen tiles.
Valentino’s heart drops into his stomach, and he rushes over, eyes wide with worry and alarm. He quickly kneels down to Vox, two arms already halfway reaching out to the little.
Vox has pushed himself to sit mostly upright now. Vox is covering part of the damage with his hand, the little beginning to tremble. There’s only a few moments of him staring into space with shock until his lower lip trembles, his visible eye beginning to well up with tears.
“Hey, hey- let me see, baby..” Valentino coaxes, his brows furrowed.
He gently moves Vox’s hand away so he can see how much damage there is, and that’s when Vox wails, reaching for Valentino. The entire left side of his screen is shattered, and Valentino wouldn’t really know, but it at least looks immensely painful, and if the way Vox was reacting was anything to show for it, it probably was painful.
Valentino tries not to show the panic on his face, knowing that if he panicked it would make Vox’s already present panic worse. The poor little is sobbing so hard he can hardly get a breath in, and it breaks Valentino’s heart.
Valentino is quick to scoop Vox up into his arms, gently rubbing his back. There was nothing they could do besides let it heal on it’s own- it was more difficult to replace when he was regressed, and Vox hesitated to change his screen unless he was upd\grading or the entire screen was shattered.
Vox wails, burying his face in Valentino’s shoulder. His breath is coming in gasps in between sobs, and he seems to be in a lot of pain and distress. Valentino feels guilty, but really doesn’t know what to do in this situation.
“I’m sorry, baby…you’re safe, I’ve got you now…” Valentino murmurs, gently patting Vox’s back.
Vox’s hands are tightly gripping Valentino’s clothing, and his chest is rising and falling rapidly. His tears haven’t started to slow down yet, let alone stopped.
Valentino is sure that Vox has regressed younger at this point, and he really can’t blame him for it. “Just try to breathe,” Valentino says gently, trying to keep his grimace internal when Vox takes another gasp of air.
Valentino paces the kitchen with Vox in his arms. He knows it’s unlikely Vox would want to eat after injuring himself like that, so he abandons the food for now. Sometimes walking with him in his arms soothed him when he was upset, but Valentino truly didn’t know if Vox would be able to calm down anytime soon.
Vox fusses hard, his thumb finding his way into his mouth as a way to self soothe. His sobs are becoming quieter now, though he doesn’t seem to be feeling any better.
Valentino lets out a shaky sigh, still on edge from Vox’s fall. He walks with Vox over to the couch, sitting down with him in his arms. “I know, baby. I know.” Valentino murmurs. “It’s going to be okay. I know it hurts, just try and relax…”
Vox is beginning to catch his breath now, tears beginning to dry on his face. His eyes are half lidded now, growing tired from the events.
“That’s it. Just rest. I’ve got you,” Valentino murmurs, kissing Vox’s head gently.
Vox’s grip slowly loosens until his arms go entirely limp as he fully falls asleep, his screen fading to black.
Valentino stands up, making sure Vox is secure in his arms before walking to the nursery, gently laying Vox down into his crib. He had no idea if Vox would be feeling any better later, but for both of their sakes, he hoped he would.