Can you write. Baby regressor Soldier boy from the boys headcanons please?
Regressor!Ben Headcannons (+ a little story blurb)
Being out of his time, Ben is often learning about new things and how the modern world works.
It makes him feel stupid.
Like an alien on a different planet.
Like… like a child.
He knew how his world worked. He had been at the top of the food chain with the newest tech being gifted to him all the time and breakthrough science crap injected in him to make him what he was.
But the modern world was just… too different. There was hardly anything left for him to recognize. And these… assholes that released him from his decades long russian torture treated him…as if he was a glass child. With their limited patience that he could see them wrestling to keep underwraps after he says something and they have to carefully teach him the modern way of going about it. As if they viewed him as being always close to breaking and cutting them with his shards if they stopped handling him with kid gloves.
What he hated more was the fact he needed it and he… he didn't hate their patience.
They rarely got angry with him when he was learning new technology or having to give long winded explanations of pop culture references. They didn't even really get that irritated with him even when he had days where he refused to watch anything beyond his own movies because they were a comfort to him.
He’s lost count of the amount of times Hughie alone has sat him down and attempted to teach him about phones and the kid wasn't the only one to try. Most of the boys have tried their hand at teaching him something about the phone they got him.
So he only occasionally carried around the one they bought for him. Mostly to get them off his back. He can’t do much other than read the messages they sent him. Don't try to get him to figure out how to open the messages app to respond back. And DON'T tell him that they can track the phone.
Butcher once joked about how Ben would at least never be an “iPad baby” because he couldn't figure out the device enough to get addicted.
it didn't matter that Ben didn't understand what that reference was because he would argue and bitch about being called a baby in just about any context.
It was a little ironic that Butcher said that because maybe sometimes he would bug Hughie like an annoying little sibling until he could get him to pull up old movies on his phone for him to watch during particularly long car rides or in safe houses that didn't have a tv. Or when he just wasn't included in conversations and they needed to keep him distracted. (he is surprisingly receptive to baby sensory videos… But only when high enough.)
“Hughie.” Ben called out as he walked over to him from across the room, not caring that he was interrupting the boy’s conversation with that Starchick. He held the box– phone out to him, the extra protective case on it making it much thicker than a usual phone. Hughie glanced at him briefly then held up his finger to tell him to wait. The action instantly irritates him and makes him much more impatient.
“Hughie. Hughie. Put that invisible man movie on my small television– Hughie! The one with that hot piece of ass, Gloria Stuart? You know… I was supposed to do a movie with her back in the–”
Hughie gave him a look that said, ‘are you serious?’ while Startits held up her hand in a placating way but also as another sign to wait while she gave Ben a pinched smile, “Wait your turn. Okay?”
He bristled and leveled her with a hard look as he opened his mouth to put her in her place and remind her who she was ‘as a woman’ but a part of him wondered if that would only come across as more immature and end up being talked to even more like he was a mannerless child.
He grit his teeth while they continued to talk for a few more seconds before he reached out and grabbed the edge of Hughie’s shirt, tugging on it to silently get his attention since he apparently wasn't allowed to share any stories or ask for a simple second request!
The silence lasted only a second longer before he tugged much more harshly on the kid’s shirt and shoves the mini tv in his face, “Hughie! Movie! Now!”
Hughie flinched a bit and held his hands up in surrender, “okay! Okay. jesus. I was getting to you. What movie are you talking about?”
“It has an invisible man in it with Gloria Stuart!”
He gives Ben a slightly confused and unconvinced look as he taps his little fingers away on the glass, “You mean… The Invisible Man?”
God he just wasn't listening today! No one was listening! Was everything he said just babble to them or what? “Yes! There's a man that goes invisible in it!”
“No the– i know he goes invisible. The original movie. From the 30s. Is called the Invisible Man.” he huffs quietly, looking at his girlfriend briefly to share one of those silent adult conversations before handing the little tv back to Ben with a big triangle in the middle of the glass.
“I don't know the name of the movie i watched it decades ago.”
“...just… tap the screen when you're ready to watch it.” Hughie sighs out, turning back to talk to starlight who added onto her boyfriend’s instructions.
“Lightly! Remember we tap the phone screen lightly so we don't break it.”
It was good he was reminded but he still gave her a snarky look before he walks off only to look down at the movie beginning to play with a slight giddiness in his heart.
–
Kind of a shithead. But are we surprised? It's Ben. He curses when he's told not to, purposely says certain slurs and other outdated mess up stuff because he knows it’ll exasperate everyone around him, does dangerous stuff, and takes dangerous stuff all while regressed.
In general he can be pretty disrespectful… until put in his place by someone he more or less respects and views as a parental figure (Butcher!) because he has some deep rooted issues from his neglectful father that make him feel like he has to listen to a parent to make them like him/be impressed with him.
After a while and a whoooole lot of a proving themself to him the person he sees as that parental/caregiver figure (although they may not see themselves as that) will be just about the only place Ben feels comfortable to actually explore and relax into his regression.
But then he’ll do a lot of small “average” gestures to impress them instead of trying big things. Like drawing for them or showing them how tall he could build his block tower… or just taking his naps without throwing too big of a fit.
Needs a curfew and scheduled time to “rest his eyes” in the afternoons. (it’s literally a bedtime and scheduled nap time. but he’ll get angry if you call it that. Bc he’s “not a toddler.” You're right Ben! You're not a toddler! You're a baby.) Otherwise he just won’t sleep.
Gets anxiety about sleeping. Especially without a comfort item and someone staying with him due to his fear of getting iced again.
Sleeps best if Butcher is in the room with him or even Kimiko because he thinks they're some of the most capable with fighting and potentially protecting him.
But he will settle for Hughie sleeping beside him.
He regularly sleeps in the same bed as Hughie. However there is a strict no cuddling rule (for now). Some physical contact is… okay… but only back to back so he can feel the others’ body warmth as a reassurance. (he doesn’t want to look “weak” by cuddling or doing something else he views as being too “girly” like holding hands.)
Watches his movies a lot and only branches out when “made” to.
Butcher puts something on and he’ll watch the whole thing enraptured with childish awe. Pictures in color were easy to accept and get used to, he sees in damn color doesn’t he? It’s not a big deal. But the special effects and the cars and hot chicks… that blows his mind a bit and he starts to actually enjoy being “forced” to watch new movies. Even if he’ll never admit they’re better in any way than his own.
His own time period of movies are still his baseline comfort however and are sometimes easier on his eyes, particularly when he has a hangover.
Eats worse junk food than normal and tries to put his drugs in it and gets frustrated when Hughie doesn’t let him.
“No! No way! He can’t fucking tell me what to do! Hughie– you sure as shit ain’t my father! So you ain't got any say in what I shove down my own gullet!” Looks at Butcher for confirmation and backup but he just gives Ben a look that says ‘y’gotta respect him even if we ain’t agreein with him.’ He’s disappointed with the Brit's response, his shoulders sagging a bit but listens. Albeit with a heavy attitude that would get most regressors punished– but really.. not having his elephant-killer snack simply because he was little felt like punishment enough to Ben. He flips the full crack-seasoned pizza box at Hughie then goes and sulks.
Likes listening to old 1920’s music because it was something he grew up with his parents listening to.
He used to sing and do a bit of dancing on TV but he likes listening more than doing when he’s regressed. Partially because he can't remember the lyrics very well or he just finds it hard to do anything more than just hum along when playing or falling asleep.
Loves chocolate chips because they were literally created when he was a teen and he only started to get to try them for a small period of time before his time with Vought.
Given apple juice in the glass bottles so he still feels “grown” and can pretend he’s drinking beer with Butcher but he’s still drinking from something he can't spill… or easily spike when no one is looking.
Outdoor baby. If it's possible for him to be outside while little he will be. But secluded outdoors for obvious explosive reasons.
If he’s a big enough baby or feeling a little rebellious he’ll climb trees but otherwise he’s happy to simply play in the dirt and drive around a collection of worms, lizards, and random bugs in a dump truck.
He enjoys picnics in the woods where he’s laid out over a blanket with another person that pets through his hair or over his back and face.
Frequently when playing he acts out a lot of things that happened during his life. Mostly traumatic things because it helps him finally process through some of it since he never got to as a child.
Because of this though he frequently breaks his toys and upsets himself, needing a carer he actually believes would tell him the truth to reassure/comfort him.
Sometimes he just needs to be allowed to break every toy, crayon, tv, comfort item he can see then just… cry in the dirt for a while.
The more he does it the shorter the breakdown and recovery takes afterwards.
Pulls plastic dinosaurs out of his pocket and tries to hand them to people like they’re illegal. (What’s your poison? Triceratops? Nice.)