Hey! Welcome to my agere blog :) I use any pronouns, and am a CG-leaning flip with a little of my own đ My big age is 18, and my little age is probably 5-6 but I'm still figuring that out.
PNGs queued once a day!
DNI Endos, Proshippers, Anti-agere, and ANY FORM OF NSFW/KINK BLOG!!! Shoo!! Shoo!!
List of all my tags and links to masterposts of my own content under the cut!
My Stuff
#đ§Chit Chat - Text posts I make.
#đ§Baby Talk - Text posts I make while little.
#đ§My Art - Art I make!
#đ§My Edits - Edits I make! Moodboards, collages, fandom agere edits, all that.
#đ§My Writing - Stuff I write. Short fics or headcanons.
#đ§My PNGs - Transparent images I make- of stuff in my collection or that i find online.
#đFavorites - Posts I reeeeaaally like.
Reblogs
#đď¸Transparent - Transparent images. I'll reblog a lot I use for edits or that I want to use. Or if they're just cute :] I'll also tag them with what they are- specific type of gear, toyline, show graphics... all that!
#đď¸Gear - Little gear! Will tag the type.
#đď¸Edits - Other peoplesâ edits.
#đď¸Art - Other peopleâs art.
#đď¸Writing - Othersâ writing! Includes headcanons.
#đď¸Funnies - Funnies đ
#đď¸Fandom Agere - Fandom agere. Will be tagged with the fandom
#đď¸Toys - Toys, things to do with toys. If itâs part of a line or a big producer I'll tag that too. #Plush is a big sorting tag.
#đď¸TV Nâ Movies - Television and movies. If itâs a franchise I'll tag it.
#đď¸Vintage - I loooove older toys and media, and you will see a lot of it. Again, will tag toylines/media.
#đď¸Resources - resources, tips and tricks, help, advice type posts.
#đď¸Photos - Pictures that don't quite fit any of those other tags. Actual photography.
#đď¸Links - Links to things. Usually shows and such.
#đď¸Videos - Videos! Clips of shows, mostly
#đď¸Positivity - Happy little textposts! Reassurance and cute scenarios.
Two for one special on little Jax moodboards! I think he varies a lot between parts of his regression so I could never cover it in one. First for ages 0-1 and second for 2-4.
or. maybe not, actually! because i got really sick immediately after i posted that. I'll do the ones i was really excited for but they might be out of order or late. sorry folks. let this be a lesson to write your fics during the hyperfixation and not after it because you will very quickly lose the will to do it at all
Written for my agerecember prompts, day 6 (Baby Regression & Hugs and Kisses)
[Sorry this one and the next few are so late- finals week got me baaaad]
Summary: Antoine, being a new parent, hasn't had the time to regress in a while. Bunnie obviously has to spoil him, then.
Read on AO3 here!
âNon! I donât need to!â
âSugah, itâs only a suggestion. Youâve been stressed outta your mind,â Bunnie DâCoolette tuts at her high-strung husband. Itâs been such a long time since heâs regressed and it would always help him when he was feeling like this in the past.
But heâs still not having it. âI donât have to!â
âAll this talk and youâve never said why. Why dâya say that?â Bunnie has a hunch he doesnât have a reason at all. He usually doesnât.
âIâŚ!â he doesnât meet her eyes. âB-but I am a fathaire now! I shouldnât.â
There it is. It makes a lot of sense now that sheâs heard it from him, given the last time sheâd seen him regress was before theyâd learned about the twins. Which means itâs been a long time. They sleep through the night now, which means itâs the perfect time to unpack that. âAw, honey, that donât mean nothinâ. Whereâs all that cominâ from?â
Antoine whines like the sad puppy heâs been trying so hard not to be. âYou already spend all day taking care of ze babies, I shouldnât add to zat.â
Bunnie frowns, nesting her organic hand in his cheek fur. âYou put in just as much work as ah do! You try so hard to take care of me too and itâs real sweet of ya, but I needâya to take care of yourself too. And right now, that looks a lot like lettinâ me take care of you. Whaddya say?â Bunnie holds out her arms, inviting the coyote into her lap.Â
âWell... I suppose.â He crawls into her lap- he could never refuse that offer. âI donât know, ma cherie. I canât.â
Bunnie strokes his hair. âWhyâs that?â
âItâs been a while⌠I donât know. It's hard.â
She tucks his snout over her shoulder and runs a hand down his back. âAw, thereâs no way to do it wrong, sweetpea! Here, letâs talk. What do you feel right now?â
His paws reach around her torso. âAhm. How you say, high-strung? Jealous, some.â
Bunnie wasn't expecting to hear that. âOh? Jealous of what?â
âYou are such a good mama- mother. I, ah. Miss it, sometimes, when you would treat me like zat.â Antoine presses his snout deeper into the junction between Bunnieâs fur and her metal shoulder, as if he could hide there.
She answers, in the voice she reserves for small children only, âOh my. Well I guess I just gotta spoil you tonight, donât I? I missed my baby boy just as much as he missed his mama, yâknow?â She leans over to kiss his cheek.
Heâs not quite there yet, but Bunnie can tell heâs well on his way. âYou are so kind, Bunnie. Merci.â His wagging tail thumps against Bunnieâs calf. Itâs one of her favorite sights.
âAw, someoneâs happy! You feelinâ any better, hon?â Antoine just whines and nods into her shoulder. He always gets too small to speak. Sometimes heâll babble, but he's usually a quieter pup. Bunnie loves him either way.
âYou wanna go get ready, honeybun?â she asks, getting an excited coo in response. She shifts Antoine in her lap to lift him comfortably and picks him up like he weighs nothing. He loves that she can do that, it makes him feel so much smaller. She walks him into their bedroom, slightly rocking him on the way over. Finally, shifting him onto her hip, she opens a drawer in his nightstand and empties it of its contents.
Brandishing a striped onesie, Bunnie coos, âLetâs get you dressed.â Antoine squirms excitedly in her grasp while she unbuttons his heavy coat and shrugs it off his shoulders. She begins to pull the onesie over his head and snout, coaxing him to put his arms through the sleeves and tugging it down to cover his torso. She asks him, âOn your tummy, please?â so she can finish the job. The snaps on these are much closer to the back for Mobians, to account for their tails, which she struggles to button around on account of just how excited he is. His tail brushes against her face a few times. He doesn't notice, and she doesn't mind.
Bunnie calls, âYou can roll over now, baby. You're all done.â Antoine clumsily rolls back over and bares his stomach in the adorable way puppies do, and Bunnie simply cannot resist bending over him to pepper his tummy in playful kisses. Her baby loves it, he always has, giggling so fully he borders on losing his breath.
Antoine catches his breath in between soft giggles and reaches towards Bunnie, still leaned over him. She gets the picture immediately. Scooping him back into her arms, she teases, âYouâre just my liâl cuddlebug tonight, ainâtcha?â He responds contentedly by wrapping his paws around her waist. âCourse you are.â Bunnie kisses him on the nose, then brandishes his pacifier, which he eagerly takes.Â
He presses the button of his pacifier to her cheek quickly, before sinking further into her arms. âReal sweet of ya, baby. I sure missed gettinâ to care for you like this.â
Written for my agerecember prompts, day 5 (Playtime & Royalty)
Summary: Sally needs a break from her responsibilities. She spends one playing rough with Sonic and her brother.
Read on AO3 here!
âDo it again, Sonic!!â The young Princess Sally giggles at her caretaker, and he promptly tosses her off the balcony again. She trusts in him and his ability to catch her, and in return she gets to be the reckless little thrill seeker sheâs been since she could walk. Her father tried to keep up the pretense of her âacting like a ladyâ, but asked the general to teach her how to roll out of a fall because he knew he could never actually stop her.
She squeals as she plummets the short distance again, Sonic catching her just before she hits the ground. He holds her tight, taps her nose, and asks, âYou havinâ a good time, Sal?â She nods at him breathlessly. âThere you go. Arenât you glad you had the time to be little today?â Sallyâs responsibilities weigh on her more than she would ever say. As such, she needs a break from it all every so often. And what better break than a break from adulthood? Sonic is wonderfully suited for the task, a kind and playful caretaker whoâs known her since she really was this small.
Just as he dangles Sally over the edge again, none other than King Acorn enters the room. Sonic skids to a halt and reels her back onto the ground, trying to look as normal and non-suspicious as possible. Sally curls into his chest at the prospect of being seen like this. Itâs not easy to hide, though, given the way sheâs dressed. Sonic awkwardly croaks, âHeeeyyy⌠Eli!â
Elias doesnât even bat an eye. He shakes his head in familiarity at their reckless behavior, but remains entirely unbothered. âJust donât drop her. Youâre very capable, but I donât want to have to handle an international incident.â He ascends the stairs, followed by two pairs of wide eyes, and ruffles Sallyâs hair. âYou having fun, sunshine?â
Sonic looks at him, puzzled. âHowâd you know?â
Elias shrugs. âI canât say I understand everything, but it seems like itâs helping so I support it. She needed a break.â Saying that almost feels redundant to him. He took a role he didnât want or feel ready for specifically to give Sally that break. Of course, heâs grown into it more now. He cares about her so immensely that itâs hard not to overcompensate for the decade-and-change that he wasnât able to be a part of her life.
Sally ends her silent streak with a little, âthank you,â and Elias smiles at her warmly.
âCan I take her?â Sonic passes the little princess into her brotherâs waiting arms, and he holds her like it comes naturally. He strokes her hair and coos, âHello! You seem quite chipper, donât you?â Sally giggles at him and reaches up at him. He lets her clumsily palm his cheek fur even though her paws are much bigger than a childâs would be.
Sonic notices and comments, âYouâre really good at this.â
âOf course I am,â Elias laughs, âIâm the father of a two year old. I have plenty of experience. Besides, I love her. Caring for her is the easiest thing in the world.â He strokes her cheek fur with the softest gaze Sonic has ever seen. âMind if I join you two?
Sonic answers, âSure!â and Sally squeals in pure unfiltered excitement. She is then kidnapped from Eliasâs arms and sped away across the courtyard.
Elias gasps in mock offense. âSally! Stand back you foul, malintentioned beast!â He pulls out a very real sword. Nobody is bothered by this. He knows how to use it. He and Sonic chase each other around and clash for a while, Elias at a clear disadvantage, until Sonic finally allows himself to be cornered.Â
âFine, you got me. Heeere you go,â He hands over the princess, defeated. She wraps herself around her brother in triumph, and he kisses the top of her head.
âThere we are. Safe and sound.â Sally smiles up at him so trustingly. âYou know? I think I needed this too.â
Written for my agerecember prompts, day 4 (Playdate & Shy)
Summary: Owen needs a friend his own age. Simon has someone in mind.
Read on AO3 here!
For far from the first time, Simon Blackquill watches Owen play. He seems content, a far cry from how he was when theyâd met, but Simon knows better. He knows thereâs a disconnect between them, quite simply because Owen is uncomfortable around adults in a way that will never stop. Heâs had the feeling that Owen has been avoiding asking something, and after some investigation heâs almost certain he knows whatâs been going on.
Owen needs a playmate. Simon knows heâd never ask for one, so that leaves him to bring up the topic himself.
âWould you be interested in meeting someone your own age?â Well, not exactly his own age. Bodily, Owen is almost thirty.Â
He knows that, too. Itâs the first thing he brings up. âB-but Iâm not-â heâs quite worked up, as someone as easily worried as him tends to be. âAnd I-I-Iâm, um. Too sensitive.â He stumbles over the last word. Itâs very cute, but that does nothing to distract from how bleak that statement is.Â
âNo such thing, sprout. You have nothing to worry about.â Owen looks up at him. âYes. I know youâre worried about the body youâre in, but youâre not alone in that. Some singlets experience something similar, and I already have someone like that in mind. And sheâs just as sensitive as you are.âÂ
Owen is starry-eyed, barely holding back a barrage of questions.
âThey do? Why?â
âItâs called age regression. Some other people are little, like you, but only sometimes.â
âReally? Howâd you know that?â
âA fair few of my friends do it, and Iâve cared for them before. Most of them are a bit too energetic for you, I think.â
âBut this oneâs not?â
âExactly. Iâve known her for a very long time. Sheâs actually more sensitive than you are when sheâs small. I think you two could get along.â
âWhen can I meet her?â
âWell, I have to ask her, too.â
Owen sits back and flaps his hands a bit. âOkay!â
Simon ruffles his hair. âSomeoneâs excited.â
The next time he sees Athena, he takes the chance to ask her if sheâd even be interested in this arrangement. âDo you remember Owen? From that blasted noodle case last year.â Thatâs unnecessarily reductive, given Uendo is one of his best friends, but Athena hasnât spoken to him often so this probably rings more bells for her.
She seems a bit taken aback, but responds, âyeah, why?â
âIâve been caring for him in the absence of⌠his previous caregiver. And I think he would benefit from a friend his own age. He seems to be holding back a lot around me. I may have volunteered you, since youâre the most low-energy little I know. You donât have to say yes, I know being around new people is hard for you when youâre small,â he explains.
âOh, huh! Hmm. Well, Iâve met him. I donât think heâd bother me too much, he seemed really reserved. Do you think heâd be anxious enough to give me a headache?â Athena turns the idea around in her head. Sheâs supportive of the idea, of course, as someone with half a background in psychiatry. Simon knows more about kids than she does (no one believes that when she tells them) so she trusts his judgement, too.Â
Simon hums. âNot if I keep him close, no. Heâs a very anxious kid, but heâs easier to calm down now that heâs in better circumstances. Heâs actually been coming out of his shell a bit lately, itâs great to see.â
Athena perks up. âIâm so happy to hear that! I was really worried about him when I met him but I never followed up âcuz I think he was a little scared of me? And you knew them all a lot better, yâknow?â
Simon nods. âI saw that, too. I donât think heâd be nervous around you anymore. Really, if anyone might be, itâs the others.â
âOkay, good, good. Iâm sure itâll be fine, heâs a sweet kid. Probably wouldnât mind giving me space if I needed it. Iâm in. Just⌠stick up for me if I canât?â She fixes him with a sincere look.
âAlways.â
And so next time heâs to see Owen, he brings Athena along. Sheâs already dressed in matching pajamas in broad daylight, and totes a bag with her in a tight, nervous grip. Patches answers the door, encasing Simon in a hug that would have Athena teasing him relentlessly on any other day. Then he makes eye contact with her, and says, âOh, itâs youâŚ?â He laughs nervously.
It isnât awkward for long, though, because Owen has a routine now. Patches gets slammed with a dissociative wave as Owen barges his way into front. As soon as heâs settled in, he wraps his arms around Simonâs torso in excitement. It seems he was missed! Simon pats the boy on the back and says, âGood to see you too, kid.â
Owen asks, âIs this your friend? I remember her.â
âIt certainly is. Sheâs going to need a bit of help fully regressing, but weâll be on track in just a few minutes. You two, come sit down.â Simon beckons his wards to the living area. Owen sits across from him, but he pulls Athena to curl into his lap, slipping a pacifier into her mouth, noise canceling headphones onto her head, and her tattered stuffed rabbit into her hands. He shifts her closer, stroking her hair until she lets herself slip. She looks up at him soon enough with the look all littles have in their eyes, and he knows sheâs ready. âThere we go, there's my baby girl.â He turns to Owen, âNow, sheâs a bit littler than you, and she doesnât talk a lot, but I know sheâs excited to be here.â
Athena turns to face the other boy, hiding the lower half of her face with her toy. Owen opens, âI like your bunny,â and when she smiles in response, he remembers something. âWait!â He dashes off to his room and comes out with his own toy rabbit. âI have one too! This is Petunia!! Sheâs a little shy, but itâs okay. Does yours have a name?â
Athena brightens, and speaks for the first time tonight. âHis name is Hopscotch. âŚI like bunnies.â
Owen giggles contentedly, âThey can be friends!âÂ
Sonic : So that's why you were up, huh? Lucky us we're small enough to fit here together...
So. I was thinking a lot of this prompt and I thought how do I combine them... when I remembered of Sonic and... are we going to ignore the fact how SMALL they physically are? So with that out of the way, the pair came to me instantly!
While I know Shadow being Sonic's caregiver is quite popular... I'm WAY too attached to reverse not to do it! Hehe~. So here! My day 3 of the challenge!
Written for my agerecember prompts, day 3 (Crib & Cuddles)
Summary: Milla makes a nursery in her mindscape for her stubborn mission partner.
Read on AO3 here!
Agent Milla Vodello roams the Motherlobe in search of her partner, arms full of fetched papers. Figuring heâs probably in his office this time of day, she toes open the door and asks after him, âSasha- oh!âÂ
He is slouched over his desk, writing something with a crayon. He looks up at her, revealing a plain blue pacifier, and then immediately TKâs everything into a drawer and straightens up. âMilla.â
âSasha!â She understands immediately, and is very well suited to help. Sheâs honestly expected this, given all the time sheâs spent in his mindscape. So she goes all in on the positivity, smiling widely at him. âNo reason to hide, darling. Weâre both therapists. Nothing to be ashamed of.â
Sashaâs lip twitches and his face colors slightly. Heâs not having that, heâs far too easily embarrassed. So Milla drops it for now and continues as she planned to. Sheâll think of some other way to help
That idea hits her some time later, and in whatever free time she has, she retreats into her mindscape to carve out a space perfectly suited for the occasion. Hidden away from the noise and excitement of her top-level mind, here sits a soft, cozy nursery. She only needs to wait for the right moment.
That moment comes after a particularly stressful mission they just barely scraped out of. As soon as theyâre back to their quarters, Sasha practically melts onto the chaise he keeps in his office. Milla settles next to him and strokes his hair. âOh my⌠Come here, darling. They really did a number on you, didn't they?â Sasha swallows his pride and nests himself in her arms. â...Can I show you something?âÂ
He makes a sound of affirmation, and Milla takes out a psycho-portal, placing it on her forehead in invitation. As Sasha enters, she retreats into her own mindscape along with him. She leads him down the path least taken, and finally, into the nursery.
He stills when he enters, and halfheartedly chastises her, âMilla.â His slight blush gives away just how performative it was, though. She just needs to play it right.
âDarling, please be honest with yourself. Regression is a wonderful way to destress and you need it more than ever.â The soft look of concern on her face sends him plummeting fully into littlespace. He shuffles towards Milla and latches onto her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. She rubs his back and coos at him, âThatâs so much better, isnât it? Iâm so proud of you!âÂ
She scoops him into her arms like he weighs nothing at all, and he clings to her dress tightly. âCome on, letâs get you all comfy.â She kisses him on the forehead, tenderly carrying him to the crib in the corner. As she sets him down, he looks up at her with tired, shiny eyes. Milla strokes his hair as she wraps him in a blanket. âYou must be so exhaustedâŚâ as if on cue, Sasha yawns widely and lowers himself to lay down, comfortably encased by the cribâs bars. His caregiver leans down to give him another forehead kiss.
Written for my agerecember prompts, day 2 (Hasn't regressed in a while & Trust)
Summary: Apollo hasn't regressed in a while. Klavier notices something is wrong, and learns more than he expected to.
Read on AO3 here!
âSchatz, can we talk?â
Apollo is cornered by his partner exiting the hallway. Thatâs⌠really ominous. Nevertheless, he nods and croaks, âYyyyesâŚ?â
Klavier beckons him to sit down. âYouâve seemed really irritable lately. Has something been going on?â So there wasnât as much to worry about. Klavier is just genuinely concerned about his well-being and where all of the sudden stress is coming from.Â
Unfortunately, Apollo has been hyper-aware of exactly what the issue is. Itâs that he hasn't regressed in a while. But does he want to tell that to Klavier? Theyâve never talked about it before, and to him, at least, it feels⌠unnecessarily risky to tell anyone. After all, heâs only ever told one person before, after they knew him for almost a decade.
He canât help but think about how Klavier would do as a caregiver. Heâs so effortlessly affectionate that surely heâd do well, wouldnât he? That is, if he wouldnât find the idea revolting. But would he? Klavier is the type to accept things easily, and he cares about Apollo a lot⌠Maybe itâs not impossible. That is, if Apollo can get it out without getting embarrassed and quitting.
Klavier interrupts his thoughts, âWell, you donât have to say if itâs really sensitive.â
âN-no!â Apollo realizes then that he does wait to tell him. He still hasnât thought about how, though, so he awkwardly broaches the topic, âHave you heard of, um. Age regressionâŚ?â
Klavierâs lax, half-lidded expression raises in recognition. âJa, why?â
âI, ah. Do that? And I havenât in a while.â
Klavier visibly relaxes, knowing this problem is very fixable. He smiles so sweetly at Apollo. âAh, and it's been making you cranky?â
The word choice makes Apollo grumble and blush, but it also feels⌠safe. Klavierâs fingertips gently brush Apolloâs cheeks and he asserts, âIf youâd like to try again, Iâm glad to help you, schatz.â Why does he have to make it so tempting?
âI guess I would, but itâs hard to let anyone in after, um.â He pauses. âClay used to take care of me.â
Klavier fully cups his face now, and it makes Apollo want to lean into his warm hands like a kitten being pet. âOhh, poor dear. You know, Clay would like it if you took care of yourself- because thatâs exactly what it is!â Apollo wrinkles his nose when Klavier taps it playfully. Heâs rapidly losing his resolve, and Klavier can tell. âIs there anything I should know about mein häschen first?â
Wait! Being asked that makes Apollo remember very urgently why he doesnât let people do this for him. Because itâs extremely revealing. He stills, and awkwardly admits, âI, ah. Struggle with my English a lot when Iâm small. It wasnât my first language.â What a way for Klavier to find out. If he pushes any more Apollo may very well kill him.
Klavier grins at him. âOh, I didnât know you were bilingual!â Heâs so infectiously positive about this it is going to make Apollo sick.
So he tells him, bluntly, âWe are never talking about this again.â
Klavier reels back a bit. âAh. Okay. Well, thatâs. Fine. Is there any kind of way I need to communicate, or?â
Apollo answers, âI can understand you, I just canât respond really well. I struggle in both languages, actually âcause I'm kind of rusty now? Thatâs not a problem for you âcuz, um. You donâ know that one.â Though, hearing Klavier speak Borginian so fluently, such a close sister language to Khuraâinese, always makes his heart ache on a bad day. â...Clay used to ask a lotta questions.â
âI can do that!â He grins down at Apollo, whose responses have been getting notably less coherent. âAre you getting there?â He gets a little nod in response. âOh, thatâs wonderful, kĂźken!â
Apollo mutters something that Klavier doesnât understand, but the tone is questioning so he has a good idea. âWere you asking what that means?â A small nod. âIt means chick. I think it suits you!â
Apollo giggles about it wholeheartedly and Klavier canât help but coo at him and pull him closer. He seems pretty chipper, and a whole lot calmer, too.Â
âThatâs so much better, isnât it, baby?â Apollo nods at him again, more energetically this time. He seems more comfortable now, acting more like himself. Such a wonderful thing to see. Klavier scoops him into his lap and peppers his face in kisses. Such a sweet boy simply cannot go unspoiled. Apollo squeals and kicks his feet and Klavier swears it is the cutest thing heâs ever seen or heard. âEnergetic little one, arenât you? So cute!!â Apollo settles in his arms and smiles at him in the kind of innocent way that shows a tiny peek of his front teeth and the gap between them and Klavier knows heâs got him wrapped around his little finger. He already finds himself looking forward to the next time Apollo is feeling small. Heâll just have to spoil his sweet baby boy even more, of course.
The Kind of Friend Who'll Follow You Just Anywhere
Written for my agerecember prompts, day 1 (firsts & stuffie)
Summary: Rouge gets Shadow a gift at the antique store after a hard day. It makes him feel young in a way he's never been before.
Read on Ao3 here!
Rouge finds herself in a lot of places as part of both her job and her lifestyle. One place she always finds herself returning to is antique stores. Thereâs always the chance of finding something uniquely beautiful in a way that modern creations simply donât have the effort to be. Even when she doesnât find anything for herself, itâs greatly entertaining. After all, another thing modern products are afraid to do is take risks and look stupid. Where else would you find a planter in the shape of a clownâs open waistband, or quite possibly the most ominous postcards ever conceived?
Today, she doesn't find much. She considers a few pieces of jewelry, but decides against each one for some reason or another. Why not branch out more today? She doesnât usually look at the toys, just for timeâs sake, but she has all the time in the world today.
As soon as she enters the room in the back, decked out in faded pastels and worn wood, something catches her eye. A vintage teddy bear with the grumpiest little face she's ever seen. A glance at the tag says she's looking at Knickerbockerâs Pouty Bear. Cute. Sort of reminds her of someone she knows.Â
At first, that's a joke. After she thinks about it, though? It really does. Now, though, it's more the toy's age than its⌠morose demeanor. Maybe she should take Shadow with her next time. For now, though, she just can't resist taking this little fella home with her. Shadow will probably pretend to be annoyed, but he'll also probably find it funny. And then he'll definitely put it on the spot on his dresser reserved for gifts from his friends that he says is a coincidence every time she asks him about it.Â
Shadow arrives to their shared apartment some time after she does, and shuts the door so hard that it attacks her keen ears even from the other room. Must have been a bad day. She should investigate- she's the one person he's guaranteed not to kill when he's this irritated.
âShads?â she calls as she saunters into the common area, âYou alright?â
He just snorts dejectedly in response. One of those days. When she gets closer, he huffs, âI hate working for these people.â
Rouge hums like a catty hairdresser in agreement. âGotcha there.â She takes a seat next to him and strokes his quills reassuringly. He huffs at her, but makes no move to stop her. âDid something happen today?â She knows he thinks that, itâs pretty damn obvious, but it takes a lot for him to come out and say it.
Shadow bristles. Not ready to talk about it. Okay. âThat's alright.â Then she remembers her earlier escapade. Maybe it'll come in handy now. âYou know, I got you something earlier.â
He raises an eyebrow at her. She tits, âI'll be riiiight back~â and glides across the apartment to retrieve the little fella. When she returns, she whips it out theatrically and says, âReminded me of you. I just had to get him.â
She expects Shadow to laugh, or at least to roll his eyes. He does not do either. Instead, he looks almost haunted. He blinks at it in disbelief for a moment, then reaches out to take the toy in his hands like it's made of glass.
They donât make toys like this anymore. That being said, itâs all he remembers. Maria had so many stuffed animals just like this. They spent a lot of time on shelves, all the adults saying she was getting too old to play with dolls- another social norm Shadow never understood, she was still a child, wasnât she? When they werenât paying attention, though, the two of them would take them down and play all night. On the nights she was too sick for visitors, sheâd tried to give him one of her toys to keep in his quarters to quell his worries. That didnât go over well with the scientists at all. Her favorite was a rabbit in a little pink bonnet who wore an expression so achingly similar to this one. He almost canât believe this bear is his.
Shadow clutches the bear to his chest and quietly sobs. Rouge has seen him cry before, but this feels⌠different. More vulnerable than before. Heâs curled up as small as possible, his shoulders shaking with the force of his emotions. The sight makes Rouge feel startlingly protective of him. Just because heâd eviscerate anyone else who saw this and she doesnât want to deal with the cover-up. Yeah.Â
Rouge is great at emotions, a great asset in her line of work, but with ShadowâŚ? Sheâs clueless. Nothing has ever pushed him this far before, and she has a pretty good idea itâs much deeper than just an old teddy bear to him. She flits to his side and frets, âIâm so sorry, dear. Whatâs wrong?â
He whines. Heâs never done that before. He peers over the top of the bearâs head and his eyes are wide and wet and vulnerable and unfamiliar. In a wavering voice, he says, âNo, it's okay⌠I love him. Mâ just remembering.â He doesnât have to say any more for her to know exactly what he means. The same reason she thought to get it for him- the time period- always brings so many memories for him. Good, bad, and really, really bad. Now that she thinks about it, he sounded⌠odd. Small, slurred words and an emotional honesty that would leave any of his friends speechless. She can count on one hand the amount of times Shadow has said he loved something, and now heâs so free with it. Almost childlike.
âŚMaybe thatâs it! Sheâs heard about something like this from Omega of all people, how bizarre for it to come in handy now. What was it called? âShadow, are you feeling⌠little?â
He looks at her like a startled baby deer. âUh-huh. âŚPlease be nice.â
Rouge fully takes a seat next to him and turns to coo, âI would never be mean to you, dear. How are you feeling?â
Shadow considers his answer carefully. âA lot. Nice memories but a little scary too. I miss her a lot.â
Rouge hums. âOf course, of course. Do you want to talk about the nice ones?â On any other day, Shadow would say absolutely not and duck out of the conversation entirely. But now, he actually considers it.
âShe had a lotta dolls. I liked playing with her.â Shadow gazes into the middle distance and strokes the worn fur of his teddy bear. âI never had my own toys, I would just borrow⌠so this is a big feeling.â
âOh, yeah? Was it a surprise?â
Shadow nods. âYeah. Thank you very much, Miss Rouge.â
Rouge chuckles fondly at the formality. âNo need to call me that if you donât want to, hon. Anything you want is alright with me.â
Shadow bites a claw and looks around almost guiltily, then he takes a big risk. â...Mama?â
Rouge is holding back tears with the force of a thousand suns. She cannot cry now. She croaks, â...Is touch okay?â and upon getting a shaky nod, she scoops up the hedgehog into her arms and squeals in adoration.Â
He gasps and then softly giggles as the bat rocks him with a familiarity and warmth he never experienced when he was younger. Rouge coos at him, âYou wanted to give being a little guy a try? You never got to be this little for real.â He smiles at her. Wiping his tear-streaked face with her open hand, she continues, âMy sweet baby boy. Iâm so proud of you.â She holds him closer and kisses his forehead. âDonât bite me in the morning.â He giggles like he has no idea what sheâs talking about. Then, resting his head on her chest and purring, he asks, âMama, can we watch Cinderella?â
That was always Mariaâs favorite movie. They didnât get film reels sent to the ARK often, but they came every once in a while, permitted for enrichment. She didnât like all the âstuffy grown-up moviesâ very much, but the beautifully hopeful whimsy of it all captured her attention like nothing else. Sheâd ask to watch it again and again, and Shadow saw it so many times during his vocal development that he even took to that old Hollywood accent that his friends tease him for whenever it slips out. He wonât lie, the narrative about growing past superiors who see you as a tool through unyielding hope and the feeling of belonging spoke to him in a way he could never place until he finally lived it himself.
Rouge strokes his spines and wraps him in a soft blanket, then picks up the remote. âOf course we can, sweetheart.â
Shadow leans against her contentedly and pops his toyâs head out of the blankets. âTeddy watch too?â
notes: day one of @battybabyz's agerecember! used the prompt "stuffie" :) super excited to contribute to this you have NO idea. thank you for the prompt list batty!
summary:
It's easy to slip when he's overwhelmed. Too much stress, too much anxiety, and he's spiralling back down to the shy little kid he used to be, whispered sentences and comfort in soft friends that smile and never judge him.
...having it happen at Jazz Jinn is bad timing, but at least it seems like Akechi doesn't have to know what's happening to be willing to help.
