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Liam was sitting at one of the tables in the back of the school library, surrounded by open textbooks and research notes. He was waiting for his boyfriend, Theo, to come back from his final class of the day. Liam was in a great mood, he passed his history test, and made a couple goals in lacrosse.
Theo had taken a massive test the other day, and today the grades were finally being posted. Liam knew how hard Theo had worked for that class, and how confident he’d been that he was going to pass it with flying colors.
The library doors clicked open, and the sound of uneven footsteps echoed through the quiet stacks.
“Liam? Where are you?” Theo called out. His voice was a little shaky, and Liam's heart instantly dropped. He could tell right away that something was wrong. Theo was always clearheaded and never le his emotions show even when he was sad. So for Theo to be breaking a little bit meant this was bad.
“Back here, corner table!” Liam called back softly, closing his textbook.
He listened to the sound of Theo’s footsteps walking closer. Liam turned around, hoping for the best, but the sight of Theo was worse than he expected. Theo looked absolutely miserable. His eyes were redrimmed, and his nose was flushed from what looked like a long cry on the walk over.
“Oh, baby. Come here,” Liam murmured, immediately standing up and opening his arms wide.
Theo didn’t hesitate. He practically crashed into Liam's chest, burying his face into the crook of Liam's neck.
“I guess it, didn't it go well?” Liam asked softly, wrapping his arms around him and rubbing his back. Theo nodded frantically against his shoulder, his grip tightening until it almost hurt. Liam pressed a reassuring kiss to the side of his head. "Hey, it's okay. How can I help you right now, sweetheart?"
“Can I... can I be little?” Theo mumbled, looking down at the wood floor, his cheeks turning a deep pink.
“Of course you can, baby," Liam said without a second of hesitation. He knew how much courage it took for Theo to ask for that. "Let me just pack up my bag, and then I'm all yours. Let's go home and get you settled, okay?"
Liam kissed Theo’s forehead, keeping one arm securely around his waist while he quickly swept his notebooks into his backpack.
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Once they finally made it back to their shared apartment, Liam guided Theo toward the bedroom. By the time Liam walked back towards the room with a fresh bottle of water, he could see that Theo was already sitting in the middle of the bed, curled up tightly. He was holding onto his favorite little bunny plushie, his lips moving as he mumbled silently to himself.
Liam thought that at least this was better than Theo internally blaming himself for whatever results the test caused because this was clearly caused by the test.
He also knew that this was a defense mechanism against the panic attack Theo had probably been fighting off all afternoon. Seeing him so small and quiet made Liam's protective instincts kick into overdrive.
Liam walked softly into the room, kicking off his shoes before crawling onto the mattress. "Hey, pup," he said, keeping his voice gentle, the exact calming tone he normally used when Theo was little.
Theo peeked up from behind the bunny plushie. He didn't speak, but he shifted over, burying his face right into Liam's side the second Liam got close enough. Liam wrapped his arms around him, holding him tight and letting him compress against his chest for a long, quiet minute.
"Let's get you out of these heavy clothes, okay?" Liam murmured, rubbing Theo’s back. "Get you nice and comfy."
Theo gave a small, hesitant nod against Liam's shoulder. He was still too overwhelmed to help much, so Liam took the lead. He stood up and went over to their dresser, pulling out Theo's favorite pair of oversized, wornout gray sweatpants and one of Liam's own soft, giant lacrosse hoodies that always smelled like clean laundry.
When Liam came back to the bed, he gently eased the bunny out of Theo’s grip, placing it right next to his hip so it was still close. "Arms up for me, pup," Liam coaxed softly.
Theo complied automatically, raising his arms just a bit so Liam could carefully pull his school shirt over his head. Liam tossed it toward the hamper, effectively throwing away the bad day along with it. Next came the stiff denim of Theo’s jeans. Liam unbuttoned them gently and slid them off, replacing them immediately with the soft, warm sweatpants.
Finally, Liam guided Theo's arms into the oversized hoodie. It swallowed Theo up, the sleeves bunching up past his hands, making him look even smaller than he already felt.
Liam rubbed his thumb across Theo’s flushed cheek, watching him closely. Theo was quiet, clinging to the plushie, and letting Liam guide his movements. He had dropped low, but Liam needed to figure out exactly how small his boy was feeling right now so he could take care of him the right way.
"Hey, sweetheart," Liam murmured, keeping his tone entirely warm and safe. "Can you look at me for a second?"
Theo blinked, his gaze locking onto Liam's face.
"You're doing so good," Liam praised softly, running a hand through Theo's messy hair. He leaned in a little closer. "Do you think you need a diaper right now, baby? Do you want to wear one for comfort?"
Theo’s lower lip trembled slightly as he processed the question. A sudden flash of panic crossed his features. His cheeks flushed a deeper red, and he looked down, trying to pull away slightly as if he expected Liam to change his mind.
"Hey, hey," Liam whispered immediately, catching Theo’s chin gently to bring his gaze back up. "Look at me, Theo. None of that. You're completely safe."
Theo swallowed hard, a tiny, watery sniffle escaping him. "Am... am I allowed?" he mumbled, his voice tiny and raw. "Not... not too big?"
"You are never too big, and you are never too much," Liam said fiercely, his voice softening into warmth. He always got heated when theo thought he wasn't allowed certain things just because of his past. He smoothed down Theo's messy hair, letting his hand rest on the nape of his neck to ground him. "If you want a diaper because it makes you feel safe and cozy, then you get one. I love taking care of you, okay? Every single part of you."
Hearing the lack of judgment in Liam's voice made the last of Theo's walls crumble. He let out a shaky breath and gave a small, hesitant nod, letting himself relax fully.
"Okay," Liam smiled softly, kissing the tip of Theo's nose. "You stay right here with bunny. I'll be right back."
Liam walked over to their closet, where they kept a designated basket of little supplies tucked away safely. He grabbed a crinkly tapeon diaper and a pack of sensitive baby wipes. When he returned to the bed, Theo was tracking his movements with wide, slightly nervous eyes, his fingers still tightly knotted into his bunny's ears.
"Alright, sweetheart, let's get you all taken care of," Liam said, his tone casual and completely free of judgment. He set the supplies down on the nightstand and gently helped Theo slide his soft sweatpants back down to his ankles.
Theo whimpered softly, his natural instinct to hide kicking in, but Liam just offered a warm smile. "You're doing great, baby. Lift your hips for me."
Theo obeyed, pushing his hips up off the mattress just enough for Liam to slide the thick padding underneath him. The plastic backing gave a distinct, soft crinkle against the sheets. Liam pulled the front of the diaper up, smoothing the waistband flat against Theo's stomach, and securely fastened the tapes on both sides.
"Perfect fit," Liam cooed, gently patting the front of the diaper. He immediately pulled Theo's oversized sweatpants back up, tucking the thick waistband securely inside the soft fabric.
The change in Theo was almost instant. Now that he was completely changed and secure, the lingering tension in his face washed away. He let out a long, heavy sigh, melting back into the pillows as he felt safe and stopped thinking.
Liam climbed back onto the bed, settling himself against the headboard to open his arms. But as he looked down at his boyfriend, he noticed Theo’s face was buried tightly in his plushie. A rhythmic, quiet sucking sound caught Liam's attention. He leaned closer and noticed Theo was mindlessly chewing on his bunny’s fabric ear, his jaw working as he soaked the soft material to soothe himself.
"Oh, no, pup, let's not chew on bunny," Liam said softly, reaching down. He gently nudged his thumb against Theo's chin, prompting him to let go of the wet fabric. "Bunny's ears aren't for biting. Let's get you something better."
Theo let the plushie drop an inch, looking up at Liam with a slightly dazed, pouty expression, his lips still parted.
Liam reached over to the nightstand, where he kept a clean adultsized pacifier. It had a pastel blue shield that matched Theo's eyes. "Here you go, baby. Take your paci."
Theo didn't hesitate. He parted his lips fully, letting Liam gently slide the silicone nipple into his mouth. The moment his teeth clicked around it and he started to suck contentedly, his eyes fluttered halfshut.
Liam smiled, combing his fingers through Theo’s hair one more time. He knew he wanted to heat up some food for them, but he didn't want Theo to feel lonely or start overthinking again while he was away from the bed. He reached for the TV remote on the nightstand.
"Hey, baby," Liam murmured, catching Theo’s sleepy gaze. "Do you want to watch Bluey while I get things ready? Watch the puppies?"
Theo’s eyes brightened just a little bit at the mention of the show. He gave a slow, enthusiastic nod against the pillow,as he clutched his bunny a little tighter to his chest.
"Alright, Bluey it is," Liam said cheerfully. He clicked the TV on, lowering the volume so it wasn't too loud or jarring, and pulled up the familiar, colorful title screen.
As the cheerful theme music started to play quietly, Theo immediately rolled onto his side, his eyes locking onto the bright screen. He looked completely cozy, tucked safely into Liam's giant hoodie, his fresh diaper crinkling softly as he settled into the blankets.
"I'll be right back, okay? Be a good boy for me," Liam whispered, bending down to press one last kiss to the top of Theo's head.
Liam headed downstairs to the kitchen, where he scooped a large portion of leftovers onto a plate, cutting it up into bitesized, toddlerfriendly pieces so it would be easy to handle. But as he looked around the quiet kitchen, he paused. He didn't really want to leave Theo upstairs alone. It would be much cozier to bring his little puppy down to the couch where they could curl up together.
Leaving the food safely on the counter, Liam jogged back up the stairs and slipped into the bedroom. Bluey was still playing softly on the screen. Theo hadn't moved an inch, completely mesmerized by the cartoon.
"Hey, pup," Liam said gently, walking over to the side of the bed. Theo pulled his gaze from the tv and blinked up at him, a little dazed. "Change of plans. Let's go downstairs so we can eat together, okay? Come here."
Liam leaned down and slid his arms under Theo's arms and knees. Theo didn't protest; he automatically looped his arms around Liam's neck. Theo felt incredibly soft and heavy in his arms, the thick padding of his diaper crinkling noticeably against Liam's torso. Theo let his head drop heavily onto Liam's shoulder, completely trusting his boyfriend to carry his weight.
Liam started to walk away holding Theo but loud whining stopped him. He turned down Theo who looked like he was about to start crying. Liam was concerned and looked confused. Theo made grabby hands at the bed and when Liam checked it was the plushie left on the bed. Liam smiled when he handed Theo the plushie right back and the whining had stopped.
"Good boy," Liam murmured, carefully walking down the stairs, keeping a tight, secure grip on his precious cargo until they reached the living room couch.
Liam settled Theo gently onto the soft cushions, making sure he was propped up comfortably against the armrest, and quickly pulled up Bluey on the downstairs television. Then, he grabbed the plate from the kitchen and sat right next to Theo, pulling his little boy into his lap. Theo melted into the contact immediately, leaning his back against Liam's chest.
"Alright, puppy, time for some dinner," Liam murmured warmly. He gently took the pacifier out of Theo's mouth, placing it safely on the table. Theo pouted slightly at the loss of his paci, but his attention quickly shifted when Liam blew on a small bite of food to cool it down.
"Open up for me, sweet boy," Liam coaxed, bringing the fork close.
Theo complied automatically, parting his lips and taking the bite. The warm comfort food instantly made him hum happily, his shoulders relaxing even further. Liam smiled, wiping a tiny bit of smudge from the corner of Theo's mouth with his thumb before getting the next bite ready.
"So good, right?" Liam whispered, kissing the side of Theo's head as Theo chewed contentedly.
It didn't take long for the warm food and the gentle, colorful puppies on the TV screen to do their work. By the time the plate was empty, Theo’s eyelids were drooping heavily. He let out a long yawn, his head rolling back to rest against Liam's collarbone. Liam set the empty plate on the coffee table and reached for the pacifier, gently sliding it back between Theo’s parted lips. Theo sucked on it immediately, the rhythmic motion soothing him right to the edge of sleep.
"Someone's ready for a nap," Liam teased softly, his voice a low, rumbling vibration against Theo’s back.
Liam shifted them carefully, laying back against the couch cushions and pulling Theo down on top of him. Theo went completely pliable, sprawling his heavy, relaxed limbs over Liam's chest. He tucked his bunny right under his chin, crinkly bulk of his diaper settled securely between Liam's thighs.
Liam reached over the back of the couch and grabbed a soft blanket, draping it over both of them until they were completely cocooned in warmth.
"Close your eyes, puppy," Liam whispered, arms wrapped tightly around Theo's waist, his fingers tracing slow, soothing circles over the fabric of the giant hoodie. "I've got you. You can sleep now."
Theo let out one final sigh through his nose, his little fingers loosely curled into Liam’s shirt. Surrounded by the scent of his caretaker, the soft music of his favorite show, and the absolute safety of their living room, Theo finally drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.
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The living room was quiet, bathed in the soft afternoon light filtering through the curtains, when Theo finally began to stir.
He woke up feeling cozy, small, and deeply warm. He could hear the rhythm of Liam’s heartbeat right beneath his cheek, and the big, comforting hand resting on his back was still tracing slow, soothing circles over his oversized hoodie.
Theo shifted slightly, the thick, padded bulk of his diaper crinkling softly against the couch cushions. The crinkle, combined with the heavy blanket cocooned around them, kept him in a floaty feeling.
He slowly let his pacifier drop from his lips, letting it dangle loosely from his mouth. He looked up, his big, shiny eyes blinking away the remnants of sleep as he met Liam's gaze. Liam was already awake, looking down at him with an incredibly fond, sleepy smile.
"Morning, pup," Liam whispered, his voice a rumble against Theo's chest. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the tip of Theo's nose. "Did you have a good sleep?"
Instead of nodding or shrugging it off like his big self would have, Theo tucked his chin into the collar of the giant hoodie, his bottom lip starting to tremble. Now that his mind was rested, the heavy, confusing sadness from earlier was trying to bubble back up, he didn't know how to explain it without feeling bad. He just felt small, frustrated, and hurt.
He reached a tiny, sleevecovered hand out from the hoodie, loosely grabbing the fabric of Liam's shirt.
"Li'..." Theo whimpered, his voice incredibly small and raw. A fresh tear welled up in his eye and spilled over his flushed cheek.
"Oh, hey, what's wrong, baby?" Liam's instincts kicked right back in. He shifted slightly, pulling Theo tighter against his chest and wrapping his arms securely around his waist, anchoring him. "Tell me what's making you sad. I've got you."
Theo squeezed his bunny plushie tightly against his ribs, burying his face right into Liam's neck. "The... the paper," he whispered, he was trying to process how to put it into words over the exam. "Bad paper. Tried so hard, Li'. So hard. I didn't do so good. Am I... am I a bad boy?"
The question broke Liam's heart, but it also made him fiercely grateful that Theo felt safe enough to ask it in this headspace. He knew Theo's parent trauma always made him fear that failing meant being thrown away or unloved.
"No, no, absolutely not," Liam said fiercely, his voice soft but truthful. He cupped the back of Theo's head, running his fingers through his soft hair. "Look at me, puppy. Look at me."
Theo pulled back just an inch, his big, watery eyes locked onto Liam's face, his pacifier forgotten on the blanket beside them.
"You are the best boy," Liam told him, wiping the tear away with his thumb. "A silly paper grade doesn't change that. I am so, so proud of you for trying your hardest. You worked so hard, and you did your best, and that is all that matters. You hear me?"
Theo sniffled, his little chest hitching as he soaked in the unconditional praise. "Not mad?"
"Never mad," Liam smiled warmly, leaning forward to press his forehead against Theo's. "I love you when you get an A, and I love you when you get an F. I love you when you're big, and I love you right now when you're my sweet, tiny puppy. Nothing will ever change that."
Hearing the reassurance in his little headspace was exactly what Theo's brain needed to finally let go of the pressure. The last of his underlying anxiety melted away into total, relief. He let out a long, happy sigh, his shoulders dropping as he crawled back into Liam's lap, curling up into a tight ball against his chest.
"Love you, Li'," Theo mumbled, his eyes fluttering shut as the emotional exhaustion caught up to him again.
"Love you more, baby," Liam whispered, pulling the heavy blanket back up over them and tucking the corners around Theo's shoulders. He reached over and slid the pacifier back into Theo's mouth, smiling as Theo took it contentedly, the rhythmic sound filling the quiet room.
As Bluey continued to play silently on the screen, Liam held his little boy close, keeping him safe from the rest of the world for as long as he needed.