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A little’s age range isn't an exact thing.
It's definitely helpful, knowing where you normally sit, and what you need to do to have your needs met.
But it doesn't mean you can't go above or below your range.
It's more common to go way below.
Intense emotions, physical distress, being sick, even just being tired. There's many reasons your body and brain will push you into a younger headspace.
It's when you're way older that it's odd.
A few years up or down isn't a big deal, but when you're a toddler/preschool range little like Courtney is, being a pre-teen is fucking weird.
To feel younger than you should, but so similar to yourself is disorienting and uncomfortable.
Fortunately for them, it's a rare occurrence, happening to them only every so often.
Unfortunately for them, today is one of those days.
They've found that when they're older like this, their big emotions bleed over a lot more than usual.
According to Spencer, that's just how it is for him a lot of the time. He's just an angsty, more emotional version of himself.
And that would be fine for Courtney, if Shayne didn't exist.
He just makes their emotions confusing when they're older like this.
They prefer to not think about it, but today they're like 13, Shayne's downstairs, and Courtney wants a Celsius really bad.
.. -.. -.- / .-- .... .- - / - --- / .--. ..- - / .... . .-. .
Shayne's playing ‘Tears of the Kingdom’ on the Switch when he hears footsteps behind him. He smiles and pauses his game.
Courtney had gone down for a nap little, so now it was time for a fun surprise of who was going to come down the stairs. His little one or his wife.
He turns around and discovers that there's apparently a third option as an annoyed looking Courtney walks down the stairs.
They're not dressed in what he's put them down in, instead wearing a large hoodie and a beanie.
He raises an eyebrow at them as they walk past, ignoring him in favor of the fridge.
“Fuzz check?” He calls after them and they ignore him. Walking into the kitchen to grab their drink before returning to the living room.
They crack open the can before answering.
“Thirteen.” They answer, sounding annoyed
He laughs, “That explains the energy drink.” He admits and they roll their eyes.
“I'm going back upstairs” they grumble, walking past him and upstairs, back to their bedroom and closing the door.
Shayne rolls his eyes, going back to his game. It's going to be a long evening.
.. -.. -.- / .-- .... .- - / - --- / .--. ..- - / .... . .-. .
Courtney sits upstairs, deciding to call Arasha.
She's the perfect person to talk to when at this age, always down for just about any conversations Courtney can throw at her.
“Hey girl!” Arasha says excitedly as she answers the phone, waving at the camera
Courtney smiles softly. “Hey ‘Rash, I'm little right now.” they inform her and she raises an eyebrow
“Is it the angst queen?” She questions and Courtney chuckles, rolling their eyes.
“I'm not the queen of anything.” They snark and she smiles at them.
“Whatever you say Court.” They say sarcastically, “This is a social call, and not a need for supervision, right?” She clarifies and they huff.
“I don't need supervision.” They remind her, “and Shayne is home.” they grumble
Arasha laughs, “I love how much you pretend to hate him when you're this age.” she tells them
“I don't hate him” they snap, before quickly apologizing.
“It's complicated.” They murmur
“Do you wanna talk about it? She asks gently, propping her phone on her desk.
Courtney sighs and copies her, propping their own phone up.
“So Shayne's kind of two separate people for me.” They start and Arasha nods along, “He's little Court's papa and big Court’s husband.”
“And normally it's just that easy.” They explain, annoyed, “but when I'm older like this he's still like, supposed to be my papa, but I can feel big Courtney’s love for him and it's gross.”
Arasha nods in understanding. “Have you tried talking to him about it?” She asks gently and they scoff.
“No, it doesn't matter.” they state, “what difference does it make?”
She rolls her eyes. “If you talk about it with him, he can probably help you with the confusion you're feeling about him.” She explains like it's obvious.
Courtney sighs, “I'll think about it.” They promise begrudgingly, and Arasha grins.
“Good,” she says before switching the topic to something more interesting.
.. -.. -.- / .-- .... .- - / - --- / .--. ..- - / .... . .-. .
The two talk for over an hour until Arasha has to go.
“Good to see you, angsty Court,” Arasha says as they end the call.
Courtney sighs, taking the final sip of their drink.
They wanna play COD, and if they asked, Shayne would leave them alone with the old 360 to play.
But they want to spend time with him.
Even if their emotions are confusing, he's ultimately still their best friend and they want to spend time with him.
They pull themself to their feet with a groan and head downstairs to just get it over with.
Shayne looks up at them as they come down the stairs, pausing his game again. He raises an eyebrow as they sit next to him on the couch.
“Are you ok, Court?” He asks and they shrug.
“You make things difficult.” They begin with no preamble.
He makes a surprised sound, “Huh?” He asks unintelligently and they crack a small smile.
“The reason I avoid you when I'm like this.” They explain, “you make things difficult.”
Shayne sits up straighter, and faces them. “It's there anything I can do to make it better for you?” He asks genuinely and they huff.
“It's shit like that.” They explain, annoyed. “Big me is fucking in love with you, and I can feel it, and it's gross cuz you're my caregiver. I'm supposed to be able to separate the two, and usually I can. But I can't, and I hate it, so I hate you.” They ramble.
Shayne holds his hand out to them and they roll their eyes, but take it.
“I love every version of you differently, which means each version of you can love me differently.” He tells them, “If we're just buddies when you're like this, that's fine.”
“When you're regressed I always feel so much paternal love towards you, I just express it differently depending on where you're at.” He explains.
“If teenage Courtney just needs a friend to eat junk food and play FPS with, I'm down. I don't need to be a parental figure or anything”
They drop his hand and bump his shoulder with theirs “Does that mean we can just play ‘Black Ops’ and hangout instead of continuing this emotions shit?” they question and he laughs
“As long as you promise to tell me if you're uncomfortable about anything, yes.” He agrees and they roll their eyes.
“Can we order Thai food for dinner?” they ask hopefully and he rolls his eyes as they both work to set up the Xbox.
“We can do that.” He relents and they smirk at him.
“Can I have a beer?” they try as they both sit on the couch again.
He looks at them incredulously.
“No”