Chapter Text
"Nowth!"
North looked up from his papers to see a familiar figure crawling along the floor. The Santa Clause beamed while dropping to his knee and holding out his hands. "младенец! Come see me!"
Jack beamed around his pacifier, quickly crawling into the older man's arms.
North scooped him up. He held him close and peppered a dozen kisses into the younger's face and neck. Forcing Jack to giggle and push on the older man.
"Let's see, how old are we, huh?" North shifted the teen to one arm while freeing his other hand. He held up three fingers. "This many?"
Jack simply didn't pay attention. He pointed to something over by the fireplace while a few slurred words came out.
"What is it? What you see?"
"Choo choo."
"Choo choo?" North scanned the mantle until his eyes saw it. A mug with a train going across it came across his vision. He pointed to it. "Ah. Choo choo?"
"Choo choo!" Jack cheered.
"Yмница." North pressed another kiss to Jack's temple. "You see things so well."
The immortal teen beamed around his pacifier at the older man.
North chuckled, rubbing their noses together. "Come младенец. You need be cleaned and dressed appropriately, da?"
It had been a few weeks since North had discovered Jack's age regression. That had been a time of learning and lots of talking and communicating. Because North refused to let Jack be in baby head space or in a space where he might be hurt or not able to take care of himself alone. And, in time, Jack found he loved having North as a 'caretaker'.
The older man looked gruff, but he poured out love like it was his job. Which made sense as Santa he guessed. But it made Jack feel extremely safe and secure to be his regressed self around him. He knew he would be taken care of no matter what.
North gathered up the supplies he needed based on what he saw then carried Jack to the bathroom. Normally, baths would be warm, but since Jack was a winter spirit, they had to be cool or cold. North slipped in bubbles in the hopes of keeping Jack occupied enough that he wouldn't freeze the water. Of course, the immortal teen still did, and had the audacity to giggle at the older man when he did.
North's half hearted glare slipped into a beaming grin. He couldn't stay mad at that adorable little face. Instead, he tickled under Jack's chin before breaking through the thin ice to get the water he needed.
Once they were done, North towled him off before rubbing him down with lotion. He may have snuck in a few tickles here and there just to hear the teen giggle.
"Nowth," Jack got out, giving him a pout around his paci.
"Aww, I'm sorry умница." North pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I love your laughter too much."
The pout on the teen's face quickly switched back into a beaming smile at the attention.
"Come along. Let's finish for sleep."
After the lotion, came the baby powder and diaper.
Jack hid behind his hands for this part. North had yet to change him. Normally, Jack would be regressed at night and wake up in his regular headspace so he would just change himself. He had been assured North wouldn't mind, but Jack felt stressed getting one put on by the older man. He'd be too embarrassed having it changed by him too.
So they settled for this arrangement of Jack covering his eyes to get the diaper put on and left out the idea of changing for now.
Once it was on, North gently pulled Jack's hands back. "Peekaboo."
The immortal teen squeaked and giggled.
The Santa Clause cooed and carefully maneuvered the younger's skinny frame into a set of footie pajamas. Its light blue color matched his pacifier and the tiny white stars looked a bit like the ice when it sparkled in light.
North zipped up the pajamas before scooping the teen into his arms. "Now малютка, let us get Snowflake then to sleep we go."
"Fwake!"
"Daha." The older man shifted Jack to his hip. "Snowflake."
It wasn't long before North had the immortal teen tucked into bed with his beloved stuffie. He sat down beside him and patted his back. "Rest now друг. You had long day, and your eyes are heavy."
Jack yawned, his half-lidded eyes peering up at the Santa Clause.
"I'll be right here until you're asleep."
With a little shift, Jack settled into his sleeping position. He settled onto his stomach with his stuffie pressed up against him while his heavy eyes flitted shut. "Love Dada."
With just that phrase, North froze. His hand stayed on Jack's back while his eyes widened. They hadn't had a talk about this yet before. Most of the time, Jack just called him North or maybe 'No-no', but never Dada.
However, the one person he should talk about this way was currently sound asleep.
For now, North let the warmth wash over him as he gave Jack a final kiss goodnight. "North loves you too младенец."