Herman never meant to regress at work. He never wanted to. He knew he wasn't the only regressor on the team, but he was so new. And it's not like he was super helpful. There's no way the heroes on the Z-Team wanted to be stuck taking care of him.
And of course, of everyone in the building, Flambae was the one to find him.
"Hey, water bitch, why are you hiding under there?" Chad grumbles, kneeling beside the break room table Herman had stuffed himself under. Herman stares at him with wide wet eyes, mouth opening and closing a few times.
Finding the right words when he was big was hard enough, but when he was regressed, it was impossible. Chad raises an eyebrow, staring down at him with a mix of judgment and worry. Herman opens his mouth again to speak, but all that comes out is a whine.
Chad blinks in surprise at the sound, eyes widening in realization as Herman starts to cry. "Wait, fuck, wait, don't cry!" He rushes out, quickly running through ideas of what to do.
He could easily carry Herman to Robert or Blazer, but that would mean carrying him through the office. He didn't like many people seeing him when regressed, especially if he was this upset. He also didn't want to leave Herman here, alone, sobbing into his knees. Just as he's about to try comforting the sobbing newly recruited hero, he hears the familiar sound of claws on tile.
"Ah! Beef. Come here, Beef." Chad calls the chunky dog over, patting Herman on the shoulder to get his attention. "Hey, Herm, look!" He encourages as he scoops up the wriggling dog, carefully setting him into the sniffling little's lap.
Herman hiccups hard, letting out a little huff when Beef starts licking his face. He wraps his arms around the pup, nuzzling his face against the soft fur. Chad smiles a little at the sight, scooting back from the small puddle growing underneath Herman.
"Okay, uh, I'm going to get Robert." Chad says as he stands up, pointing at Herman. "Just stay there, okay? I'll be right back." He assures as he leaves the room and makes his way to the dispatch room. "Robert!" He hisses, taking the headset off of his head quickly. "You need to go to the break room."
"Ah, hey! I'm in the middle of something -"
"Herman's regressed." Robert stops mid sentence, hand grasping at the air where his headset had been.
"Transfer the call." He orders, gently pushing past Chad to get to the break room. He had a sneaking suspicion from the moment he met Herman that he was a little. It just sucked that he was being proven right while the poor man was at work. As he gets closer to the room, his heart sinks when he hears giggling.
If his team was making fun of a little, he was going to lose his -
He turns into the room, stopping dead in his tracks to take in the scene in front of him. Mal was holding Herman in her lap, who still held Beef like a stuffed animal while Alice made a small light show for him.
Every time the lights flickered or flashed extra bright, Herman would giggle happily and flap his hands. Robert felt the tension leaving his shoulders, feeling someone brush past him into the room.
"No way! Another little!" Courtney gasps, making herself visible as she gets closer to the small group. Herman looks up at her with surprise, a whimper leaving him since she startled him. "Oh, I'm sorry, baby. Look, it's just like peek-a-boo!"
Robert watches with a fond smile as Courtney covers his face, making herself invisible for a second before reappearing. "Peek-a-boo!"
Herman lets out the happiest giggle, kicking his legs slightly and reacting out to grab hold of her hand.
"Alright, bitch, don't hog the baby!" Alice huffs playfully, giving Courtney a shove so she could show him another light show.
"Hey, no cursing in front of the baby." Robert scolds as he steps into the room. "If you guys are going to hang out with him, you should take him to the nursery."
"Nah, that room is shit. We're going to let him hang out here." Mal shrugs, kissing Herman's forehead with a fond smile. Herman looks over at Robert with a little coo, setting Beef gently on the floor so he could reach for the other man.
"Oh, no way, Herm! He's your favorite?" Courtney gasps indignantly as Herman slips from Mal's grip and crawls to Robert.
"What can I say, I'm a natural." Robert chuckles as he leans down to pick Herman up. "Come on, little man. Let's get you in the nursery."
