Littlest treehorn AU Zane back when he was first made. He’s sitting upright in bed staring at the ceiling while his father is sleep on the far end of the room. He’s just listening to bellowing outside from treehorns nearby. He begins to get scared so he gets up from his bed, inches over to his fathers bed, then just crawls under the bed bumping it a few times as he wriggles under. This wakes his father up.
Dr. Julian: “….oh Zane. It’s ok. It’s alright baby boy”
He leans over the edge of the bed to peer under. Zane is laying on his tummy fear riddling his face.
Dr. Julian: “you want me to come under there with you?”
Zane nods. Dr. Julian rolls out of bed and kneels down to crawl under the bed with his son. He wraps his arms around Zane’s head making sure to cover his ears with his arms. Zane makes this weird squeaking sound and closes his eyes, burying his face into his fathers chest.
Dr. Julian: “oh my quiet quiet son. You are so sweet and so cute”
Cut to 19 years later Zane is huddled and tucked away under his own bed. Cole is standing in the doorway leaning on the frame.
Cole: “….you comin out?….don’t take a offense big guy but why do you do that….”
Cole: “hmmm. Well theres a ton of flower petals out here for you. Id get them before they wilt, last ones of the season”
Cole shuffled over to the bed and kneels down and peer under, lifting the bed skirt up and smiling when he sees Zane’s hand retreat into the dark. All Cole can see is two bright blue eyes glowing from the dark under bed.
Cole: “your therapist called me today. He said there was a bit of a breakthrough? Is that why your hiding under here?”
Zane: “…..am I……crazy? Kai say-“
Cole: “fuck what Kai says. He knows better and thats on him. I wouldn’t say your crazy, your not crazy. Everyone has something thats up with them. Look at me! I have a binge eating disorder! Kai’s an air head, Jay has seizers, Nya is missing a leg, and Lloyd is only a sliver of human. No one is normal here and thats ok! You fit right in. Just look at you! Over coming social anxiety and selective mutism and joining the work force!? Your doing better than most people that are not feral”
Cole: “thats right Tarzan man!! You got a wife”
Cole reaches his hand under the bed and pokes Zane in what he hopes is Zane’s tummy. Zane’s hands gently wrap around Cole’s hand, almost hugging Cole’s arm.
Zane: “is hard to adjust….”
Cole: “I know it is bud. It’s gonna take a little while. Ill bring the petals in here then ill read to ya how about that”