I also see Steven as a regressor so maybe they can be playmates
yes yeeess yes! i also agree with the regressor steven hc, its a common BUT regardless very based hehe, he's definitely regressor coded to me too,,, i think that him n lapis would probably fingerpaint together for a playdate :0 oooor in general just doodle together, and they show off their masterpieces to their carers (which will be placed on the fridge <3)
THANK U FOR INDULGING ME IN UR THOUGHTS ANON,,,,,,,,feelin very lapispilled hehe i would've wanted to throw in a doodle to honour this ask but unfortunately i'm hella mediocre at drawing humans/humanoids! :(
Cg!Jinbei is so special to me, cause donât tell me he doesnât have that paternal instinct around from years of being a captain of the Sun Pirates + flaunting about Luffy every chance he got for 2 years
Safe and Sound: fanfiction in which regressor!Steven tries to stop regressing, ft. cg!Crystal Gems
system/REGRESS.Steven:Â a rewrite of the Spinel fight, the rejeuvenator works on Steven and Amethyst is the one who has to collect all her regressed friends
regressor!garnet headcanons
regressor!steven headcanons
regressor!connie headcanons
regressor!stevonnie headcanons
caregivers!ruby and sapphire headcanons
big sister!spinel headcanons and moodboard
Fanfic ⢠Agere ⢠Multi-chapter ⢠1/? ⢠setup, agere only mentioned ⢠light warning - mental health struggle ⢠Steven Universe Future ⢠Regressing! Steven, Caregiver! Greg ⢠AO3
ă finally putting pen to paper on the Steven Universe agere series I've been thinking up! Coincidentally, I got a request for a cg Greg fic, so thanks to that requestor for kicking off my series! I might still write a short cuter drabble since this one starts a little angsty and is also unfinished, but regardless, here we go! If you'd like to keep up to date on the fic as it's unfolding, check it out on AO3!ă
Greg had been hovering for weeks.
It was an understandable response. His son had turned into a giant monster barely a month ago, what father wouldnât be worried? At that crisis point, he said something to Steven, and he meant it with every bone in his body - â Anything you need, Iâm here for youâ. He would cross the galaxy for his son, hell, he already had, but he had the itching feeling Steven just couldnât be open about his needs. Greg knew he hadnât been the best father, it was something he regretted every day. He tried his best - what parent doesnât - but he was 20. He didnât know anything about kids! He just knew he wanted one, he wanted a family, heâd work out the details later. Oh, and not to mention, the mother of his child was a literal alien. That threw a planet sized wrench into the mix.Â
But he was older now, more mature. He had learned. Once Steven started showing signs of trauma he learned even more, he kicked into overdrive trying to help his son but by the time he got there it was too late. Regardless, all they had was the present. And now he did know better, he knew how to care for Steven and he wanted to desperately. Sure, he babied him a little now, but he couldnât help it. He knew Steven was old enough to do things on his own, but all Greg wanted to do was make up for all the times Steven had to do them on his own when he wasnât old enough. He just wanted a second chance.
Steven was⌠conflicted. He appreciated all his dad did for him then and now, but he had a hard time accepting it. That broody little teenage voice in his head kept going off - What does he know? Youâre not a kid anymore. He should stop treating you like one. But then again, it felt ⌠nice. To be cared for. Not that heâd ever admit it, but deep down something in him jumped at the opportunity to just leave stuff to other people. He spent so much time caring for others, including his dad, that it just felt foreign to be on the receiving end of it. It took some getting used to, and he wasnât quite to the point that some ego inside him wouldnât push back against any acts of kindness toward him.Â
Either way, it was a touch annoying just how present his dad was. By the request of his therapist, someone had to be with Steven at all times, so Greg opted to move into the beach house. The house was incredibly open, so privacy was not a real option for Steven, especially when his dad popped in to check on him every five minutes. It was a constant parade of check ins, reminders, snacks, everything. Steven was grateful but really - he didnât need his dad within sight every second.
âŚUntil he did.
Steven knew relapse was a possibility. His myriad of mental illnesses was not something one just willed away once they got a big hug from everyone in their life. But when he fell back into it, he fell hard. And it hurt. This time was different, he didnât have a ⌠reason. He wasnât going through a transition period anymore. He had a constant orbit of support systems. What was wrong now? Why was this still happening? Why did he still feel this shitty? Feeling defeated, he brought it up with his therapist.
âI just donât get it. I thought I was fixed. I thought it was over. What did I do this time?â Steven pulled his knees to his chest in shame, and Dr. Endeara listened.
âAfter all the changes in the last year, it can be hard to readjust. But first of all, youâre not -â
âIâm not a problem to be fixed. I know,â
âI guess I have gotten through to you on some level,â Dr.Endeara chuckled.
âI know I sound like a broken record at this point, but itâs not something you did. Itâs what youâve been through. Even when things are good in your life, past traumas can creep up. Itâs just a part of life, for everyone, and the best we can do is find a healthy ways to cope with and work through that trauma when it reappears,â
That wasnât what Steven wanted to hear. It wasnât great to lie to a patient, but he didnât think â thatâs the breaks, kidâ was an especially therapeutic way of going about things.Â
âWhat has been helping you get through these periods?â
Steven just shrugged. âGetting throughâ was kind of an overstatement.
âWell, how about we brainstorm things together. Who is available to help you?â
He immediately thought of his dad. He was incredibly available.
âI donât know⌠my dad, I guess?â
âThatâs great. What do you want from your dad?â
That was a weird question. Unexpectedly loaded to say the least. There was a beat of silence between them as Steven tried to gather the many things that came to mind.Â
âI donât know I guess I just want him to⌠be a dad if that makes sense? I spent so much of my life being taken care of by the gems it kind of feels like he just left me in someone elseâs hands. And because he did that I never really got a chance to just, be someoneâs son you know? I wasnât just some kid I was Steven Universe-â
Heâd gotten more worked up than he realized. He had unfurled from his position and was on the edge of his seat. He tried to reel himself back.
âSo I guess like⌠one childhood please?â He chuckled, strained.Â
Dr. Endeara put a hand on her chin. She surveyed her notes, looking from them to Steven, and seemed to come to a conclusion.
âWell, if thatâs something you struggle with I do have something that may help you work through that feeling.â
Steven watched as she fished through her many pamphlets. Dr.Endeara loved pamphlets, as if she were afraid her patients would forget if they didnât have written list of what she wanted from them. It was kind of like homework. She passed him the pamphlet, and he was immediately drawn to (and confused by) the title.
â...Age regression? Like you want me to shapeshift?â
That made Dr. Endeara laugh. Steven liked it when she laughed, it was a moment of connection to remind him that they were truly close and she cared about him. Also it made him feel like he was doing a good job at therapy.
âNo, Steven. Itâs a coping mechanism some people use to heal whatâs called your âinner childâ.â
âInner child?â
âYeah, itâs like the little part of you thatâs still a kid. They're still hurt by the things that hurt you back then, and they want the things you lacked in childhood. By attending to their needs, it helps you cope with those things and work through them.â
âSo⌠what does that mean?â
âWell, you can heal the inner child in a lot of ways. But one way is through age regression - temporarily reverting to a younger state of mind.â
Revert to a younger state of mind? This whole thing was starting to⌠ring some bells.
âIt can be something you do individually, but sometimes people have others they trust take care of them as a bonding experience. Maybe you could -â
â... have my dad take care of me.â
âIf itâs not something youâd find helpful, thatâs totally okay. I just thought Iâd bring it up so you knew it was an option,â Dr. Endeara closed her notebook and set it aside - her little cue that it was the end of their time.
Steven looked at the pamphlet again before putting it in his pocket.Â
âThanks Doc, youâve given me a lot to think about."
Fanfic ⢠Agere ⢠Steven Universe ⢠hurt/comfort ⢠light warning - depiction of bad mental health period, bath ⢠reluctant regressor!Steven, supportive mom! Garnet ⢠AO3
ă Sudden Inspo!! The introduction may be inspired by an existing fic but I don't remember which one, if it rings any bells lmk!! ă
"Steven, you can come out now."
He should have known Garnet would catch him. All Steven wanted to do was hide until this awful feeling went away, until he could just stop crying and act his age, but he should've known that wasn't going to happen. He knew Garnet, but something about her felt so unfamiliar right now. Everything felt unfamiliar.
"Steven, I'm not going to be mad at you."
He should've known that too. There was no way Garnet would ever judge him, but his mixed up brain was so scared she would. He couldn't stop picturing it - get it together Steven! You're a crystal gem, act like it!
He felt the tears continue to stream down his face as he tried to stifle his whimpers. Stop it, stop it, stop it! Somehow he was only making it worse. He rocked himself back and forth in the closet, feeling trapped by the mountains of laundry he hadn't gotten the energy to wash. This stupid feeling had stopped him from getting anything done for days. How could the gems not be upset with him? He was upset with himself.
He heard a light rustle as Garnet knelt in front of the door. He could feel her presence there, and despite it all it was comforting.
"It's okay, Steven. I'm here, it's okay."
He felt her hand on the door, and he desperately wanted to push it open and jump into her arms.
What was he, 2? He shouldn't need his mom-gem-whatever to rock him back to sleep, to take care of him. He was grown, he could handle it (despite the evidence to the contrary all around him). He shouldn't be bothering her with this.
"We want to be here for you Steven. I know I do."
Garnet must've rested her head on the door, she felt closer and he felt warmer. He could hear the smile in her voice.
"Please, Steven?"
...
He couldn't help it any longer. He pushed open the door and fell into Garnet's arms. She scooped him up immediately, hugging him tight in her lap. They stayed there for a while, Garnet rocking Steven back and forth, letting him cry into her shoulder. It was silent in the room except Steven's sniffles, and Garnet's gentle hums.
Before he could realize, Steven was up. Garnet hoisted him onto her hip, carrying him down the stairs to the kitchen where she gently placed him on the counter.
"When was the last time you had water?"
Steven racked his brain and could not for the life of him find an answer. The last few days all blended together into mush, he wasn't sure if he'd gotten up at all. Garnet hadn't waited for a response, a sippy cup full of ice water placed in his hands. His sippy. It was old, but his favorite. It had lions on it.
"Ln..."
He babbled, face pressed up against Garnet's shoulder as she held him again.
"That's right, sweetheart. You're so smart,"
He smiled, closing his eyes and sipping the water, now fully realizing how long it had been since he'd had any.
Now they were in the bathroom. Garnet leaned down to the tub and drew a bath, with some calming bubble stuff Connie had gifted them. Steven sighed as the aroma filled the air, feeling his muscles untense for the first time in days.
Before he knew it he was surrounded by warm water and bubbles, enjoying the feeling of comfort surrounding him. He really needed a bath, yet another thing he had unknowingly neglected. They were one of his favorite things, especially when small, evidenced by the small fleet of bath toys Garnet placed among the bubbles. He smiled and laughed, batting them around as Garnet washed and combed his matted hair.
Once he was dry Garnet set Steven on the bed in his towel to find some pajamas. Pearl would probably have a set ready, but Garnet didn't keep a walk in closet in her gem. She rifled through Steven's clothes and breathed a sigh of relief - at least his pajamas were clean. Steven had a favorite pair, his soft star bottoms and his dad's old shirt. They were the only thing he didn't refuse to wear while regressed, and it was nice to see they were waiting for him.
Now that he was bundled up, Garnet made quick work of changing the sheets. It was probably for the best, there were enough crumbs for a small colony to subsist on. The only ones clean were some older sheets of Steven's, they had Cookie Cat on them, which he was very happy about. He played in the sheets as Garnet gathered every spare blanket and comforter in the house, building a little nest for Steven to rest in.
For the final touches, Garnet looked around for Steven's little comfort things. His pacifier, his bear, his music box. While she was setting up she noticed Steven's eyes wander to the window - where lion was patting his paws against the glass.
"You can come in you know," Garnet laughed, opening the window and immediately feeling the avalanche of cat.
Steven giggled and clapped, and lion took his place as the biggest pillow in the bunch. Garnet cuddled up too, laying next to Steven and petting his hair.
"All better, Steven?"
He snuggled into her, eyes closed and content. That was all the answer she needed.
