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"Oh, Grantors of Dark Disgrace, you need not wake me again."
...
Getting severe injuries from using Corruption is no stranger to Chuuya Nakahara. Small sacrifices and whatnot. But it was different this time. It took longer for Osamu to nullify his ability. This was a particularly rough battle.
Had it been any longer, Chuuya thinks he could've died. Everything hurts. Corruption always hurts excruciatingly, but this is the worst it's ever been. His vision is hazy. He can't move. Even breathing feels like a hindrance.
Chuuya can hear a voice wailing. It's his own. He's always significantly weak after using Corruption, but never has he cried. Not like this. It hurts to do, which just makes him cry harder.
He's terrified.
Osamu wastes no time in picking him up and trying to carry him back to Chuuya's flat. Osamu is incredibly worried. Chuuya's never EVER this distressed.
The second Osamu makes it to Chuuya's flat, (conveniently owning a spare key that he definitely did not steal) he lays him down on the first soft surface he could find.
"Chuuya... Chuuya, it's okay. It's going to hurt worse if you cry so hard." Osamu gently tries to reassure. He doesn't wanna speak too loud since he knows the splitting headache Corruption gives Chuuya.
But Chuuya is inconsolable. He just keeps crying and crying and crying. Osamu hugs him gently. "Hey... hey, hey... shhh...." He whispers, rubbing Chuuya's back. "It's okay... I know it hurts, but it's okay now..."
Chuuya is still crying, but he's beginning to hiccup as he tries to stop. He can't speak. His tongue feels like lead. He manages to let something out in an uncharacteristically tiny voice: "scared."
"Shhh... I know... I know you're scared, I know. You don't need to worry anymore. I've got you."
Afters what felt like hours, Osamu managed to calm Chuuya down. Chuuya immediately fell asleep.
Neither Osamu nor Chuuya thought much of this event. It was after Corruption, and Chuuya nearly died. It's only natural he'd get so scared.
It had been about 3 or 4 weeks later. Chuuya had been out of work the whole time. Osamu insisted he rest and recover no matter how much Chuuya tried to protest saying work still needed to be done. That boy doesn't know how to make time for himself...
Chuuya used this time to sleep. A lot. But usually when he woke up, Osamu was there.
This time, he wasn't.
Despite needing to rest, Chuuya began to (literally) tumble around the flat looking for Osamu. Chuuya isn't sure why he feels so... afraid. Sad. And strangely smaller.
All he knows is that Osamu isn't here. Where is Osamu?
...
Osamu came back from working, only to find that Chuuya wasn't in his bed.
"...Chuuya?" He called out. "Where are you? What are you doing? It's not safe for you to be moving around just yet, you stubborn ass."
Chuuya could hear Osamu, but for some reason his legs felt heavy. The world felt giant. The sound around him sounded constricting and squeezing. His tongue felt like lead. Once again. So he just sat where he was. Crying.
Chuuya doesn't cry so much. And he doesn't feel so strange those rare times he does. Has Corruption actually changed something in my brain? The thought makes Chuuya spiral harder.
Osamu followed the cries and small sniffles to... a storage closet? In which Chuuya had locked himself in, curled up into his own chest, and seemed to be hugging himself while he cried and pouted.
"Oh my god- Chuuya?! What happened?!" Osamu's eyebrows furrowed in concern and worry.
Chuuya wants to speak and tell Osamu he missed him, but all he can manage to say is "mmm". He immediately becomes frustrated and hits his fists on his legs rather childishly and just making more distressed "mmm!" noises.
...Of course!
Osamu has seen this before... Not necessarily in Chuuya, but in general. Now he knows what's going on....
"...Oh Chuuya."
Osamu gently picks him up and carries him back to his bed and tucks him in.
"hmmmm..."
"Hey, it's alright. You don't have to speak, okay?" Osamu says gently.
Chuuya nods.
"One for yes, two for no, okay?" Osamu holds up his fingers.
Chuuya nods.
"Okay... are you still hurting?"
"Mm-mm.."
"Okay... good."
Osamu isn't sure what to say. He's seen regression before, but never in Chuuya. And he's certainly never taken care of someone that's regressed.
His thoughts are interrupted by Chuuya tugging on his sleeve. Chuuya is reaching up at Osamu and doing that little grabby hand thing that kids do. It's actually really cute.
Osamu giggles. "What is it, Chuuya?"
"hmm...mm!" Chuuya tries to show Osamu what he wants by throwing his arms around himself.
Hugging himself.
"Does Chuuya want snuggles?" Osamu asks.
Chuuya nods enthusiastcally but immediately whines since he forgot about the headache. Osamu wastes no time in pulling the smaller boy into his arms and gently running his hands through his hair as if it could soothe the headache.
Chuuya attempts words. "S-'samu. Soft."
Osamu feels like melting. So that's why people make such a big deal out of babies saying first words. Chuuya is absent-mindedly playing with the collar on Osamu's shirt. Just babbling his name over and over.
Osamu decides to put on a random cartoon to entertain Chuuya. It seems to be working since he's laughing occasionally and clapping his little hands. Osamu makes sure he soothes Chuuya completely to sleep. He already knows Chuuya is going to deny being little once he comes out of headspace.
He gives Chuuya a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"Good night, little one..."