Work Text:
Trinity just needed a moment— just one moment to breathe, to ground herself. She was quick with her steps, gliding almost unnoticed through a far hallway, sliding into an empty on-call room. She’d found this a while back, stumbling upon it from pure luck.
The room was small, toeing the line between cozy and cramped. Trinity stumbled across to the bed, almost collapsing in her haste to sit down. She tucked her knees up, arms wrapping around her legs and gripping onto her scrub pants.
Her heart was beating fast in her chest, rapid thumping making her breathing shake and stutter as she took an inhale. It felt as though the walls were collapsing inwards, pressing in from all sides— and Trinity suddenly felt so, so small.
No, please not here!
She wasn’t supposed to drop at work. She didn’t drop at work. But the universe had already thrown every fucked up thing it could at her today, so why not this as well? Just her luck.
There was a passing thought to text Dennis her secret code (a black cat emoji— the code something they had come up with for her to let him know when she felt small), but it passed almost immediately. He was working. She was also supposed to be working. Trinity let out a small whimper.
She could’ve gone to the little room— a safe space for staff who unexpectedly dropped, but Trinity had marked herself as neutral on the paperwork for the job. Nobody knew except Dennis. Stepping into that room with its pastel walls and fluffy blankets was the same as walking out into traffic in her mind.
Being a regressor was one thing, but a traumatic involuntary regressor? She might as well just spill all her trauma then and there for everyone to see.
Trinity had been classified as a neutral with babysitting instincts, but that had changed after the new coach started working at her Gymnastics class. In order for someone’s classification to change so drastically, they had to have gone through extensive and repeated trauma— which causes the brain to subvert its previous classification as an extreme measure of self-preservation, a cry for help so plain it was practically drawn directly onto their forehead.
Sarah had lost her title as a regressor, dropping so heavily into the neutral class that she’d become dull— almost numb. To see her friend snuffed out just like that, the light in her eyes dying right in front of her, Trinity prayed she’d never have to witness it ever again.
But Trinity had been slapped with the worst of the worst, practically a ticking time bomb. Involuntary regression could be triggered by almost anything, which made it wildly unpredictable to see it coming. But she’d managed, she had learned her triggers over the years, had known what to look out for.
But today had snuck up on her. The dark fabric of her scrub pants scrunched between her fingers as Trinity gripped at her knees, screwing her eyes shut as she rested her head against them.
The fog was creeping steadily through her mind, turning her thoughts thick, sticky. She still couldn’t catch a full breath, lungs refusing to cooperate— and her heart was still beating like a startled rabbit.
Unbidden, her mind was flooded with flashes of her childhood, and she trembled through it. There were rough hands on her, wandering, thick and suffocating breath across her neck, the harsh wood of his desk digging into her shoulder blades as the motion rocked her—
Her hands moved to her hair, tugging at the strands, desperately searching for anything to ground herself with, to distract from the horrific feelings flushing through her. Distantly, she felt something dripping from her cheeks, tracking down her chin and staining her knees.
Trinity practically jumped completely off the bed as the door suddenly swung open, a startled cry caught in her throat.
Standing there was none other than Dr. Langdon.
Oh, fuck me.
His eyes were wide, blue shining with shock as he stood, frozen in the doorway, and something else. Pity, maybe? Trinity didn’t want his pity.
“Go away!” Her voice was a shrill exclamation, thick with tears and edged with fear. Langdon only shut the door behind him.
Trinity felt something cold settle in her gut. Here she was again— trapped in a room with a man, a man who most likely still hated her.
“Hey, are you—?” He was cut off by another shout from Trinity, her eyes wild, frantic and hazy. “I said t’ go away!”
Langdon took a hesitant step forward, and it was as if he’d lunged at her. She launched herself backwards on the bed, tucking herself in the farthest corner away from him, back against the wall and teeth bared like a wounded dog.
He quickly held his hands up placatingly, voice taking on a gentle tone. “I’m sorry— I won’t come any closer.”
Landon’s assurance made absolutely zero difference to Trinity’s defensive aura radiating off of her, in waves so thick you could almost taste them.
“You’re obviously not doing too hot, can you tell me what’s wrong? Are you hurt?” His stupid caregiver voice was laden with cloying sympathy, and it felt like too-sweet syrup sliding down her throat. Almost like—
“Jus’ leave me alone! Go away.” Trinity’s voice was shaking, the same way her body was wracked with tremors. Her cheeks were flushed from terror and tears, eyes red-rimmed and shiny with them as she hiccuped. She hugged her knees tight to her chest, hiding her chin and only peeking her eyes out to glare at Langdon.
He let out a sigh, slight frustration bleeding into it. Trinity saw it as a threat— a low moaning wail building up from her chest, face scrunched up with fear and despair. “I-I’m sorry— I’m sorry, I didn’ mean to, won’t do it ‘gain, please don’ touch me.” Her voice petered off into almost a whisper at the end, throat closing from the bleeding desperation she felt clawing behind her ribcage.
Suddenly, Dr. Langdon blurred with her coach, she couldn’t tell the difference, and that terrified her. Coach knew about her classification change— hell, he’d hoped for it even. It made it easier to toy with her.
“Shit— Okay, here’s what’s gonna happen kiddo, I’m gonna page Whittaker, alright? I know you guys are close.” Langdon stated, voice strained with a horrifying feeling he felt in his gut.
“…Den?” Trinity perked up almost imperceptibly, a light breaking through the dark fog in her mind. Whittaker, Dennis. He knew what to do when she got like this. She needed him.
Langdon glanced up at her, gaze softening. “Yeah, Den. He’s coming, just sit tight.”
As if she was gonna go anywhere else right now.
Not even two minutes later Dennis barged in, eyes wide with anxiety. He stuttered for half a step as he processed the scene in front of him— Langdon standing frozen slightly off to the side, something wounded in his expression, and Trinity backed against the wall on the mattress, face streaked with tears.
“Oh, Trin.” He breathed, voice cracking with sorrow.
Trinity immediately burst into tears again.
Dennis rushed forward, catching her as she practically flew off of the bed towards him. They met in the middle, her arms locking around his waist as she tucked her head into his neck. Dennis’ hands came up to cradle her head, and the other rubbed along her back as she sobbed into his shoulder.
“Trin, what happened? Talk to me sweetheart.” Trinity stuttered through watery hiccups, eyes scrunched with sadness. “E-Everythin’ was jus’ so loud ‘n there was a case with a little girl an’—“ She sucked in a deep, rattling breath, leaning back to gaze at him.
“I didn’ mean to drop, swear. I never ever have here, not allowed.” Dennis let out a soft, sad noise, thumb brushing under her eye. “I know, Trin. Why didn’t you text me—? you know our code, I would’ve come.”
Trinity looked down, guilt crossing her features. “You were busy. Workin’. ‘m not suppos’ta be small here.”
Dennis shook his head, ducking to meet her gaze. “Hun, that doesn’t matter to me. You know I would drop everything to come help you.”
She flushed, biting her lip with a canine as she twisted the fabric of his scrub top, fidgeting unconsciously.
“…Help now?” Trinity asked, hopeful. Dennis gave her a warm smile, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Of course, silly goose.”
They pulled away from the embrace reluctantly, and Dennis caught as Trinity froze again. He followed her eyes, turning to see Dr. Langdon still standing off to the side, awkwardly staring at the ceiling.
“Shit— uhm.” Dennis floundered, grimacing. The cat was out of the bag. He winced in sympathy for big Trinity, she would have to deal with the obvious reporting that Langdon would make to Robby.
Dennis didn’t feel angry with him, he knew himself it was protocol to report any unsanctioned drops with people who didn’t have a regressor classification.
“Swear.” Trinity mumbled behind him.
Langdon’s mouth twitched with the ghost of a smile at her small quip. “You obviously know I have to report this, sorry guys. But—“ he held his hands up, “I’ll be discreet. I’ll only tell Dr. Robby, I swear.”
Dennis felt himself relax a bit, sending him a relieved nod. “Thanks. We’ll just be a second.”
The door shut behind Langdon with a quiet click as he left, Dennis turning back to Trinity, who’d started to gnaw on her fingers absently.
Now that she’d calmed down a bit in the presence of Dennis, she felt a bit steadier. Her heart was no longer attempting to run a surprise marathon in her chest, and her tears had dried on her cheeks, eyes now slightly glazed over from her headspace.
Dennis gave her a soft smile, rubbing a comforting hand over her arm. “You feelin’ a bit better sweetheart?” He asked, voice soothing. Trinity nodded, appreciation shining in her gaze.
“You think you can get big again? Or are you stuck now?” Stuck. That was their word for when Trinity dropped so suddenly that she wouldn’t be able to bring herself out of it— and she usually just had to ride it out.
She looked to the ground, shuffling a bit guilty. “Stuck.” Dennis cooed at her, thumb brushing gently over her shoulder.
“That’s okay honey. But that probably means we have to go to the little room.” Trinity’s eyes widened, anxiety squeezing in her chest.
She shook her head, swallowing. “N-no I don’ wanna—“
They were cut off by the door opening again, Dana poking her head in with a soft grin. “Hey darlin’. Heard from a little birdie you were feeling a bit small?”
Trinity and Dennis shared a startled look, but Trinity allowed Dana a hesitant nod. The nurse stepped fully into the room, closing the door behind her with her foot. In her hands was a juice carton— apple. Her favorite.
“Don’t worry— Langdon didn’t tell me. I just happen to have ears everywhere.” Dana assured her, as if she’d read Trinity’s mind.
Trinity took the juice from her, still standing close to Dennis who kept a steady hand on her shoulder. Everything about Dana was warm, comforting in a way that spoke without words of her steady caregiver status.
“Now, why don’t we get ya all settled in the little room, yeah? I think Mel’s in there as well.” Trinity gnawed on the straw of the juice, glancing back at Dennis who gave her a supportive nod.
“…Kay.” She said after a moment, Dana grinning proudly at her. “That’s a strong girl. C’mon now, I know a way around to get there without being spotted.” Dana winked at her, making Trinity giggle.
With Dennis’ comforting hand on her back, and Dana leading the way in front, Trinity suddenly felt a wave of gratitude for the both of them wash over her. She knew Mel was probably going to be very shocked to see her, but honestly Trinity could care less— she knew Mel could keep a secret if she needed to.
But… after today, would it even be a secret anymore? Robby would know, and she was sure word would spread around quickly after that. It made something squirm in her stomach— a feeling of weakness making her skin crawl.
Trinity hated feeling vulnerable, and if everyone knew she regressed.. well. Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad, based on how Langdon and Dana had reacted. Langdon had just been shocked (understandably so) but respectful, and Dana had been extremely kind so far. Maybe it wouldn’t be all bad.
Besides, everyone knew Mel was a regressor, and none of them treated her any differently. If anything, it made people think of her as even stronger. And she could take breaks whenever she needed, which would be a nice bonus.
As Dana led them into the little room, Trinity had to stop herself from grinning as Mel’s mouth dropped, her hand stilling where she’d been coloring a butterfly with purple and pink colored pencils.
“Trinity?!”
Yeah, this wouldn’t be all bad she supposed.