Chapter Text
Tommy and Dream were on call together after the lore intensive stream that day.
“Dream! That was so cool! Twitter is already going crazy and I have to tweet about this. The clout, there will be so many likes.”
Dream hummed in response, “I’ll tweet soon as well.”
“Wait a few minutes so I have a chance to get some pity likes.”
“Of course. I’d never stand in the way of you and your Twitter stats,” Dream laughed as soon as he finished talking.
The younger made a disgruntled noise and flipped off his camera, “You better not. I’m a big man and I’ll beat you up!”
“I’m sure you would, Tommy.”
Dream waited a few minutes, like he said he would, before tweeting “Just killed a child, feeling good”.
The responses were immediate, some congratulating him and Tommy on their performance. But a lot were angry. Angry at him or angry at Tommy. He had vaguely tuned out Tommy as he scanned through comments, mentions, and tags. Dream could hear the young boy’s tone and excitement but the words weren’t making it through as he read. A familiar theme was that they thought he was awful. Horrible.
“DREAM!”
Dream was immediately pulled back to the present moment. “Yes?”
“I’ve asked you like six questions and you haven’t answered one. Are you okay, big man?”
“Yeah. Sorry, got distracted.”
Tommy hesitated for a moment. “Get off Twitter. Let them settle down.”
Tommy heard a couple of clicks of a computer mouse in response. He was about to speak up again when Dream piped up with a small done. They talked for a little while longer before Dream said he had to go and suggested Tommy call Wilbur. Tommy knew the other was suggesting he regress since he typically would after lore intensive streams. The younger boy looked over at his stuffed cow Henry, sitting on his bed and looked at the small unassuming box sitting by his nightstand. The box held the baby items Dream had sent him. The boy had played it off as a joke on video but had actually kept them. The night he got the package he babbled to Dream about them happily whilst trying to thank him. A few days later he received a professionally decorated pacifier based around Minecraft. The craftsmanship was well done and showed that it was full of love. The little note that came with it saying that it was from Dream warmed the other little’s heart.
“I’ll call him. When was the last time you dropped, Dream?”
“That’s not something for you to worry about, little one.” Tommy felt the beginning of regression pull at him. “Call Wilby.”
“I’ll call Wilby. You’ll be kay?”
“Of course kiddo. Call Wilby and get some sleep.”
“Night Dream.” “Goodnight Tommy.”
Tommy was quickly sliding in age as he called Wilbur. The older brit picked up after two rings.
“Hi Wilby!”
“Hey Toms! Is someone feeling small?” Wilbur’s tone was excited and happy.
“Mhms! I wanna play! Can we play, Wilby?” Tommy was bouncing in his chair.
“It’s getting a little late Tommy. Why don’t you go get Henry? I’m sure he missed you while you were streaming.” Tommy let out a little gasp as he quickly got up to go grab Henry off his bed. He snagged the little elephant crinkly and the paci Dream had gotten him as well on his way back to his computer.
“Wilby! Henry say that we’re going to go on an adventure and and fight a witch because she cast a spell on Henry’s friend!”
“Oh did he now? Well I believe I heard Henry just say that if he’s going to go on any adventure that he’ll have to get a snack in his belly first. You know it’s always good to eat before adventuring.”
Tommy looked shocked but determined. “What’s the best snackies for adventuring Wilby?”
“I believe Henry told me that apple slices and water are great preparation foods. Why don’t you go get some from downstairs, kiddo?”
“Okay!! I’ll be righ back Wilby. Don’t go anywheres!” Tommy left with Henry clutched tightly in one hand.
Luckily Tommy’s family knew about his regression. They understood it helped him cope and kept sippy cups and bottles downstairs to show their support. When he had first explained it they were extremely confused. Then Wilbur, Dream, and Phil all helped explain that many creators turn to age regression to help with fame; they were more open into looking into it. When Tommy ran downstairs his mother was going to ask him to unload the dishwasher until she noticed his state. The way he was bouncing and the stuffed cow in his arms caused very little doubt in her mind that he was regressed. She smiled as she followed him into the kitchen and elected to ask him to unload it in the morning.
“Tommy, do you need help?” She asked gently. She wasn’t his main caregiver but she still helped out now and then.
“Can you fill my sippy up wit water please? And do we have appy slices? Wilby said Henry says we need it for our adventure!”
“I can do that. I believe there are apple slices in the fridge hun.”
Tommy snatched some apple slices from the fridge as Motherinnit filled up a red sippy cup with water. She filled up another with apple juice just in case and handed both to him.
“Goodnight Tommy. Make sure Wilby doesn’t keep you up too late okay?”
“I won’t! Nini mummy.” Tommy was running up the steps to return to his call with Wilbur. Meanwhile Motherinnit’s heart soared at the nickname.
As soon as Tommy was back in his room he was ecstatically talking to Wilbur. “Wilby! I got da appy slices and water and I think mummy gave me juice too!”
Wilbur’s eyes widened slightly at the nickname but a smile came to his face quickly, he was trusting his mother more when regressed. “What sort of juice did your mummy give you kiddo?”
Tommy’s eyebrows scrunched together as he looked confused. He stared at the sippy before finally drinking out of it, “Appy juice!”
“Apple juice and apple slices? That’s exciting buddy!”
“Yeahs! Wilby can we plays now?”
Wilbur looked at the clock, it was slowly getting later and later.
“How about this, we can play for a little bit and then we’ll get ready for bed.”
“But I’m not sleepy!! An I’m a big man! I don need to sleep.”
Wilbur let out a small sigh, “We’ll see kiddo. How about you and Henry eat your snacks? If you want to go adventuring you need your energy.”
Tommy quickly picked up an apple slice before munching on it. He tried multiple times to give one to Henry which Wilbur had to subtly redirect him. After Tommy finished his food, with only a minor amount of mess, Wilbur convinced him to go change into pajamas. The little came back after a few moments, Henry was held in one hand whilst two fingers on his other hand were in his mouth. A red hood blocked off most of his hair as he had pulled up the hood of his dinosaur onesie. Tommy called Wilbur from his phone and celebrated when the other picked up.
“Wanted switch over.”
“That’s quite alright buddy. Is someone feeling a little smaller?”
Tommy let out a small whine and then nodded. His fingers returned to his mouth once more.
“No icky fingers, okay kiddo? If you need something then use a soother.” Wilbur watched the little pick up a pacifier from his desk. “Why don’t we try to go to bed?”
“No no, wanna pway.” The speech was muffled due to the pacifier but Wilbur understood.
“But growing boys need their sleep! We can play in the morning, Toms.” Wilbur watched the way Tommy seemed to be debating it, “What was that Henry? You’re sleepy? And you need Tommy to cuddle you so you can sleep?”
Tommy let out a little gasp and he hugged Henry close to him as Wilbur spoke again, “I think Henry needs you to make sure he’s safe when he sleeps. He’s a little scared and he needs a brave boy to lay with him.”
“ ‘m a brave boy.”
“That’s right! Why don’t you lay down so that Henry can get a bit of sleep?”
Tommy stifled a yawn, “Henry’s the sleepy one, not me.”
“Of course bub. You’re being very kind to make sure Henry can sleep.”
Tommy laid down, bringing his phone to the bed with him. He settled into the blankets and made sure that Henry was in a comfortable position. “Will you play somethin Wilby?”
Wilbur hummed softly before grabbing one of his guitars quickly. He picked at the strings for a few moments, checking they were in tune before he started playing quietly. The older man had learned lullabies when he originally started taking care of Tommy. Occasionally he’d hum along to it as he’d check on the little through the screen. When he was pretty sure Tommy had stopped fighting to stay awake and was asleep, he played for around 20 minutes longer just to make sure. When that was done he muted himself and carried his phone as he finished getting ready for bed himself. He made sure he was never too far in case he was needed. After all, they were like brothers and he’d always be there for the boy.