Work Text:
Ian's relationship with his little self and the internet is different from the rest of the current Smosh Cast.
He started YouTube back in 2005, having no idea where it was going and how big it would become.
Because of this, he was very open about being little, even being little in old ‘Ian is Bored’ and ‘Lunchtime with Smosh’ videos.
This continued when they sold to Defy, with the original Smosh Games crew also being really open about their classifications and occasionally making little gaming videos.
But when the Smosh Squad were hired, they were hesitant and Anthony put his foot down.
He was a caregiver, Ian's caregiver actually even though that wasn't public knowledge, and he refused to let them be uncomfortable.
From then on none of the new cast were little on camera, most of them didn't even talk about classification much at all, and Ian was fine with that.
He had been thinking of slowly phasing it out as well, but then Anthony left, and he just stopped.
He would mention it occasionally or pretend to be little as a bit, but he wasn't little on camera.
Then Anthony came back.
When he’d left, on top of losing his best friend and business partner, he’d also lost his daddy. A name he’d picked because 17 year old him thought it was funny, but eventually stuck. Losing that relationship had been the hardest part for him, but as time went on he realized it needed to happen and healed from it.
After they were reintroduced and started hanging out again, it took a while until his little self was brought up and that relationship was slowly reformed as well.
Neither of them had found another caregiver/little since then and they slowly clicked back into each other, with tears on both sides.
Today however, Ian was in a pitch meeting with Anthony and the higher ups in production about upcoming Ian and Anthony projects, including the newly revived ‘Lunchtime with Smosh’.
“What if,” Ian suggests hesitantly, “We do a little video, like we used to, for some extra nostalgia?”
Anthony looks at him surprised, “I thought we didn’t do that anymore.” he states seriously, but Ian shrugs.
“It’s not a rule,” he reminds him cheekily, “The rule is that you don’t have to, not that you can’t. It’s just that nobody has in like, 5 years,”
He sighs, turning to face Ian, temporarily ignoring the rest of the staff. “Are you suggesting this because you think it will do well, or because you want to?” he asks seriously
Ian smiles softly at him, appreciating the concern, “I want to and I think it’ll do well.” he says firmly, “But I want to.”
He nods, turning back to everyone else, “I’m in if he is, what does everyone else think?”
-.-. --- -- . -.. -.-- / .-. --- --- - . -.. / .. -. / ..-. .-. .. . -. -.. ... .... .. .--.
The idea was approved, meaning the two had to brainstorm ideas for the video to get them approved as well.
Old ‘Lunchtime with Smosh’ videos were around ten minutes, but now they had an hour to fill.
Ian is building a train track around Anthony’s living room as they talk, deciding that if he’s gonna be little in the video, he should brainstorm while little too. Anthony shakes his head and goes with it, knowing it’s just easier that way.
“Just play for an hour?” he suggests with a lisp and Anthony laughs,
“That sounds like fun buddy, but I don’t think that’s good content.” he responds, placing his own track down.
Ian pouts, “Get Happy Meals?” he tries, picking up part of Anthony’s track to use for his own.
“That’s a good food idea, and we can definitely play for part of it, but we need a conversation topic.” he tells the little, connecting his part of the track to Ian’s.
“We could talk about us” he states innocently and Anthony freezes, pulling the boy from the train set and into his lap.
He looks at him confused, “You ok, Ant?” he asks sweetly, dropping his track piece on the floor.
Despite the two reinstating their caregiver relationship, Ian had been calling Anthony ‘Ant’ instead of his old nickname for him, not feeling ready yet.
Anthony sighs, running his hand down the little’s back. “Are you sure that’s something you want in the open, bud?” he questions carefully, “Once it’s out we can’t take it back.”
Ian hums, resting his head on his caregiver’s shoulder. “They know.” he says
“I know they think it, but that doesn’t mean they know.” he reminds him gently, “This would make it real.”
“Is that bad?” the little asks genuinely and Anthony pauses.
Everyone on the internet had assumed he was Ian’s caregiver, even back in 2005, they just never confirmed anything. They knew he was a caregiver and Ian was a little, they knew they were best friends, what difference does him being his caregiver make?
The comments were quiet compared to before he left, because neither of them had talked about it since he returned, the new fans didn’t know he was a caregiver or even that Ian was a little.
He takes a deep breath, “If you’re up for it, we can do that. Maybe we can help someone out there.” he states with a small smile.
“Yay! Work done, now trains!” the little cheers, climbing out of his lap and laying more tracks down.
Anthony laughs, tossing a track at the little, “Add another split so Ant can play too”
-.-. --- -- . -.. -.-- / .-. --- --- - . -.. / .. -. / ..-. .-. .. . -. -.. ... .... .. .--.
The duo sit close to each other on the Games couch, the table having three little’s Happy Meals on it.
Erin comes and sits on the other side. “Are we sure about this?” she double checks, and they both nod.
Despite the cast being little fairly regularly at work, Ian wasn’t. Not because of being uncomfortable, he really didn't care, just because he had other work to do. So this was a bit of a novelty for the newer staff.
“Hi Erin,” Ian says overly sweet, pronouncing it ‘Ewin’
She rolls her eyes, “I know you’re not that cute dude, I’ve seen you little before” the neutral reminds him.
He pouts, flipping her off and Anthony laughs, “That’s my boy,” he cheers, high-fiving the little.
“You’re a terrible influence.” Erin snarks sarcastically, turning to Ian, “There’s the kid I know.”
She reaches behind her and grabs a shirt and a pack of hot wheels, handing them to the boys. “Gifts from art,” she tells them as they look at them.
Ian grins at the shirt, it’s a t-shirt version of a car mat, covered in roads and buildings.
“Put it on! Put it on!” he cheers excitedly, “Thank you art!”
Erin laughs with a small smile, “You can play with the cars while you two talk,” she explains, gesturing to the camera.
With his new shirt on, he looks over at the director of the episode, “We’re ready, right bud?” he says and Ian nods.
-.-. --- -- . -.. -.-- / .-. --- --- - . -.. / .. -. / ..-. .-. .. . -. -.. ... .... .. .--.
After quickly explaining the premise of the video the trio focus on their food, eating their lunch while talking a little bit about Ian and being little. They take a break from talking to open the happy meal toys before they jump into the main topic of the video.
“You can open your cars now, Ian” Erin tells him and he cheers, ripping it open and using Anthony’s body as a road system.
“Why did we add this to the video?” asks Anthony with faux annoyance
“So he doesn’t get bored,” she answers, “And because it’s funny”
He sighs, tapping Ian’s forehead to grab his attention. “Do you wanna tell the camera our big secret?” he whispers loudly for the mic.
Ian grins, looking into the camera. “Ant’s been my caregiver since Smosh started.” he says proudly, mindlessly driving the cars around Anthony’s torso.
“Well, not when he left.” he adds with a pout, “But he was and is and no one knew and now you do” he rambles.
“Surprise!”