Chapter Text
Rowan awoke suddenly to the feeling of being watched.
“Fuck,” he thought quickly, panicking. “Did I forget to close the blinds?” It would be the first time since he was young, when he still thought a blanket could be enough to protect him.
But no, this was a different feeling, accompanied by much less dread and much more tired comfort. He sat up to see Soren standing at the edge of his bed, hunched over in that horrible posture of his. “Soren,” he said, hopefully not loud enough to wake his fellow counselor currently asleep in the top bunk, but loud enough that the boy in front of him could hear. Soren responded by shuffling closer slowly. Rowan frowned. Something wasn't right with Soren. Something about how he carried himself.
Rowan let out a small ‘oh’ as a realization popped into his head. Soren hadn't regressed with him, or juniper as far as he had been told, in over a year, nearly all the way back in college.
Rowan lowered his voice gently as though talking to a small child. “My prince?” Soren let out a small whine. Rowan slipped out of bed and let out a soft expletive as the floor created beneath him. He opened his arms and sank to his knees to get on the same level as the hunched-over soren in front of him. “Come here baby boy.” Rowan said softly. Soren shuffled forwards into his arms.
“Rowan?” a bleary voice questioned from above him.
Rowan swore again, no louder than the first time. Despite his best efforts, Soren’s appearance had awoken Juniper.
At the sound of his other caregiver’s voice, Soren broke into excited babbles. Rowan quickly shushed him, and Juniper spoke again, apparently bewildered. “Soren??” He asked again, so confused that Rowan couldn't help but take pity on him.
“Hi, love” Rowan began. “Yes, both Soren and I are here. He's…. Well, you can come see for yourself if you want, or just go back to bed. It's the middle of the night.
Juniper let out a lengthy, tired sigh.
“Alright,” he groaned, “ let's see what we're working with here.” He slowly climbed out of the top bunk and down the ladder. At the sight of Soren clinging to Rowan’s side like a barnacle, he paused, and looked up to Rowan. “Is.. he?” Juniper questioned, trying painfully obviously not to be too obvious about his question.
Rowan rolled his eyes internally. Juniper was such an idiot sometimes.
“Yes,” Rowan replied, resisting the urge to add ‘you idiot’ to the end of his statement.
“Alright, then.” Juniper said in that charming British way of his. “I suppose the collection of some items are necessary before we really do anything, huh?” He aimed that last question at Soren, who responded with a small squeak of excitement, jumping up and down. “Do you have your paci, love?” Juniper asked, again to Soren. Soren shook his head, still jumping excitedly.
Rowan and Juniper looked at each other with unreadable expressions. That wasn't great. Soren was usually nonverbal when he was small, or at least not understandably so, but damn he could be loud.
“Alright buddy,” Rowan began, “let's go find that, huh?” Soren replied by squeaking excitedly once more. Rowan took one of Soren’s hand and Juniper followed his lead, gently grasping Soren’s other hand and together, they began to lead Soren towards cabin Ladybug, where his possessions were most likely stored.
When they reached Soren’s bunk in cabin ladybug, Juniper hugged Soren while Rowan looked under his bunk, where his possessions were stored, gently rooting through his possessions to try and find anything that looked like it was intended for his regression. When he failed to do so, Rowan turned to Soren and asked him if he had an idea as to where his paci could be. Soren shook his head, babbling something neither of them could really understand. Juniper suddenly gasped, coming close to what Soren was trying to say. “What is it?” Asked Rowan.
“He probably didn't bring any of his stuff, because he hadn't regressed in so long he either didn't remember to or he didn't think he would.” Rowan sighed. Why did this have to be so complicated?
“We really only have two options.” Said Rowan after a short moment of contemplation. “We could try to get through it without any gear, and risk a fussy baby,” he looked lovingly down at Soren, “or we could go to Sydney's office and risk being assaulted, et cetera.”
“Did you just say ‘et cetera’ in real life? Asked Juniper incredulously.
“That wasn't the point of my statement,” chastised Rowan. Juniper contemplated being a brat, but Soren was already right there and Rowan could only deal with so much.
“I think the second option is better,” Juniper said, “first, Sydney really doesn't seem like that kind of person, and secondly… well I'm struggling to come up with a second point, but I'm sure it will be fine, now come on old chap! Off to the nurses office we go!” he said, promptly dragging Soren and Rowan behind him. Rowan sighed for the thousandth time that night, questioning why he had ever become friends with, not even mentioning becoming his boyfriend. He rubbed his shoulder, sore from being pulled, and ran to catch up with Juniper and a giggling Soren.