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Troy once again woke in an unfamiliar space. Something that he wasn’t unaccustomed to. Having spent many years and many wild nights in the past with Dallas Kent.
His head felt soft and relaxed. The mattress beneath him, cradling him in all the correct ways.
The door to the hallway opened. A familiar red haired face coming in. Harris walked up to the bed and sat down on the side of it. A hand coming up and lightly petting the side of Troy’s head. “Hey buddy. You up?”
Troy nodded, Leaning into the touch. “Yeah, I’m awake”
Harris stood. “Good. Let’s get you up for breakfast hm?”
Troy who was very content in this nice soft bed, shook his head. “Five more minutes.”
Harris chuckled and turned the lights on. “Alright buddy. I won’t let you sleep in because it will mess up your sleep schedule. But you can keep laying down while I get your clothes out.”
Troy scrunched his nose, but was not awake enough to argue. Harris walked over to the drawer and pulled out a brand new set of teddy bear overalls, and a tan long sleeve shirt to match.
Troy eventually sat up and stretched. His pacifier and puppy falling on the floor next to him. Harris said the clothes on top of the dresser. Turning back to Troy. “What age are you right now?”
“Right now? I’m big. And I’m wondering where I am.”
Harris leaned against the dresser. “We’re still at my apartment. You fell asleep on the couch and I brought you to the guest room. Er- well I guess your room now.”
“You were serious about taking me on as your little?”
Harris laughed. “Are you kidding? You had me wrapped around your little fingers.”
Troy blushed “Sorry. Was I to much?”
Harris softened. “You were perfect.” He said reassuringly. “But since you are in regular headspace. We probably should go over rules and boundaries.”
“I’m not too complicated. You don’t have to worry.”
“I’d rather know what lines not to cross. Then cross them myself.”
Troy nods. “I guess that’s fair. What do you need to know.”
Harris pulls out his phone. “I’ll need to know allergies, hard limits, favorite foods and shows, punishments you’re ok with, and activities you like when regressed.”
“Right to work huh?”
“Part of my charm.” Harris teased.
Troy laid back on the headboard and thought. “I’m not allergic to anything that I know of. I don’t really do sweets but I know that when I’m little I like baked goods. One time little me ate a whole box of cake pops I got for a party. God I was so sick the next day.”
Harris laughed. “Oh my god I would kill to have a photo of that.”
“Their is enough photos of me passed out after a party floating around. I’m sure you can use your imagination.”
“Or I could think about you last night. Full of love and thanksgiving dinner.”
Troy turned his head embarrassed.
“Anyway. Back on subject. Activities? Punishment? Limits?” Harris said typing away at his phone.
“I don’t know really. I’ve never dropped with a caregiver besides yesterday. I mean I like colouring. And watching tv. The facility said I react well to time outs and spankings but I regulate myself pretty well. The only thing that’s a hard no is I don’t want anyone else finding out. No public photos. No telling anyone about this arrangement.”
“That’s all reasonable, but I do have a few rules.”
“You? The big apple scented teddy bear have rules?”
“Yes unfortunately.” He fake sighed dramatically. “I suppose keeping you safe is important.”
Troy gave a cheeky smile at that. “Okay Mr strict, lay it on me.”
“They’re not that bad. I promise, and it only applies when you’re little. I won’t make you do any of these when you’re of sound mind.”
“Go on.”
First, don't leave the apartment by yourself. No cooking or using the stove. Only an hour of screen time a day unless it’s a movie on the tv. And absolutely no ice time. I don’t expect you to drop at the rink but if I see you slipping. You’re off.”
“You can tell?”
“I’ve seen it a lot. I just thought it was anxiety. Even Ilya mentioned it to me a couple of times, but your profile said you were a caregiver.”
“Ilya knows?!”
“I don’t think he knows officially. But he’s very perspective. Like scarily.”
Troy looked nervous.
“Don’t worry, Ilyas loud and boisterous. But he’s sweet. I doubt he’d say anything. He’s a caregiver too you know.”
Seeing that it still wasn’t calming his nerves. Harris picked up the overalls. “Want to drop this morning? We are free till Monday.”
Troy smiled and nodded. Getting up out of the bed and letting Harris change him into day clothes.
“One last rule” Harris said, pulling a shirt over Harris's head. “Communicate your drops. Even if it’s a text, I can always find a spare room somewhere if you just need a few minutes of calm. Understand?”
Troy nods
Harris picked up puppy off the floor and handed it to Troy. “Good. I won’t make you do a drop schedule because this is all so new, but please be honest with me.”
“I will daddy.” Troy said giving puppy a squeeze.
~
Harris took Troy’s hand and walked him to the rug. Sitting him down chris-cross on the floor. Troy sitting puppy on his lap. Harris kneeled down in front of him. “Okay kiddo, what are we thinking for breakfast?”
Troy held up puppy to his ear for a few seconds and nodded. “Good idea, puppy said he wants pancakes.” He held puppy to his ear again. Then looked back to Troy. “With chocolate chips”
“Hmm.. I don’t know if we should be taking food advice from dogs. I’ve seen Chiron eat out of the garbage before.”
Troy gasped and held puppy tight. “Daddy! Puppy is not a dog! He is my best friend! And his op- op-“ He struggled to say the word.
“Opinion?”
“Yes! His oh-pin-on matters!”
Harris pats the stuffed animals head. “Oh I’m sorry puppy. Troy’s right.”
Troy had a big toothy grin. “Pancakes?”
“Yes baby, pancakes for puppy, and pancakes for my puppy.” He said ruffling Troy’s raven hair.”
~
Troy zoomed a car across the carpet. Holding puppy tight in his arms as he glides the car across the floor. Harris watched him from the kitchen. Working away at the pancakes.
Troy got up and brought his plastic car to the kitchen. Running it along the counter. Dodging it around the boxes of flour and sugar. “Daddy! I’m speed racer! He said lifting the car to show Harris.”
Harris picked up Troy from under his arms and set him on the counter. Cleaning up around him. “Oh yeah? Well, is speed racer ready for pancakes?”
“Yeah!” Troy said excitedly. “And puppy is too!”
“Are you and puppy gonna share pancakes?”
“Yes daddy. I’m real good at sharing. I even shared my cars with puppy.”
Harris picks up Troy again and brings him to the table. Setting a hockey theme plastic plate with 3 chocolate chip pancakes in front of him. “Apple juice or orange juice?”
“I want ‘pple juice! Like from daddy’s farm!”
“You want some of the juice from the orchard?” Harris looked in the fridge to make sure he had some. “Sure buddy. Bottle or sippy cup?”
“Sippy! With the dinosaurs on it!” Troy said bouncing excited on his chair. Pointing to the plastic sippy cup on the counter.
Harris scrunched his nose in amusement at his boys antics. He grabbed the cup from the counter and poured in some cider. Adding some water from the sink to dilute the strong sweet taste.
Troy clapped his hands as he set the cup down in front of him. Troy grabbing the cup and taking a big gulp of it. Then tilted the cup to give some to puppy.
Harris saw the big brown stain all over the stuffed animals mouth. He knew the stain wouldn’t be that hard to get out, but getting the toy away from Troy long enough was a challenge on its own.
Troy picked up one of the pancakes with his bare hands and chewed on the side of it. Syrup getting all over his cheeks and chin. Harris pulled out his phone and took a photo. Putting it in a hidden folder for safety reasons.
~
By the time breakfast was finished, Troy was completely covered in syrup. Harris noted that in the future if they were ever to do pancakes again to not change Troy out of his pajamas until after they have finished.
Harris put the dishes in the sink to wash later. “Ok buddy. Time for a bath and then a movie.”
“Boat toy daddy?”
“Yes buddy we have boat toys.”
“Boat toy!” Troy squealed and ran to the bathroom. Harris was too in love to scold him for running in the house.
Harris followed behind him into the bathroom. Turning on the water and testing the temperature. “The bath toys are in that bag.” He said pointing to a shopping bag with the logo of the little store on it. “Can you be a big boy and pick out a few to play with?”
Troy nodded. “Yes daddy. I can be the biggest boy and pick out the toys.”
Harrison let the water run and added some bubbles to the water. When Troy came back with a handful of toys, he helped his boy placed them in the water.
“What adventures are your boats going to go on?” Harris asked as he got the sticky clothes off of Troy.
“They’re gonna go to the island and fight the pirates! The pirates stole all of their candy and gold.”
Harris helped Troy into the tub. Sitting him down and using a cup to wet him down. Scrubbing him down with his apple scented soap so he can smell like his daddy.
“Oh? The pirates stole the candy and gold? That’s not very nice of them.”
“That’s why the boats have to get it back daddy!”
Harris listened as Troy went on about his complicated plot. Trying his best to get all of the syrup out of Troy‘s hair. Don’t get him wrong he loved being a Canadian. But my God was syrup the bane of his existence to clean.
After the bath, Harris wrapped Troy in a towel that had a duck hood of it. His little boy grinning as he looked at himself in the mirror.
“I look like a quack quack daddy!” Troy said hugging the towel around himself.
Harris couldn’t resist. He took out his phone and took another photo of his happy boy. Wanting to save this moment, and hopefully all of their future moments together.