Regressor: Akaashi
Caregiver: Bokuto

Akaashi trailed behind Bokuto, his head feeling like it was fuzzy. All day they had been trying to get him to regress fully but his body just would not allow it. They'd gone shopping for stuffies, gotten candy, listened to calming music, tried to nap, and even tried baby stimulation games. Nothing was helping Akaashi slip out of his in and out state.

Bokuto looked back and smiled. "Are you tired hun?"

Akaashi shook his head.

Bokuto hummed. "Do we want to try again?"

Akaashi whined, nodding. "Mm stuck."

Bokuto pulled him a bit closer. "It'll be okay in a moment sweet boy. We still feel like going between big kid age and three?"

Akaashi nodded. He felt fussy and wanted to sleep but his body wouldn't even let him do that.

Bokuto pointed to a bookstore. "I did need to get Roro a new book. Wanna go find yourself a book?"

Akaashi nodded. Bokuto led him inside and pointed to where the little kid section was. Akaashi went to the little kid books, silent. Bokuto walked off and Akaashi quickly followed him. "No leave."

"Gotcha." Bokuto let Akaashi follow him around, knowing Akaashi didn't need to be watched. Akaashi eventually felt his mind start to relax more and more until he was stood still, staring at a Pete the Cat book.

He huffed quietly. "Papa...?"

Akaashi turned, holding the book. His heart sank as he realized Bokuto wasn't by his side. He looked around and there were shelves of books in all directions. He started to tear up, holding his book closer.

Someone touched his shoulder and he turned around hurriedly, startled. Kuroo looked over him and realized what had happened. "Hi there little one... what are you doing by yourself?"

"W-wants... papa..." Akaashi clung to Kuroo's hand. "Just need itty bitty books cause brain was so big and no more papa..."

Kuroo nodded. "Stay right here Keiji. I'll go find papa."

Akaashi nodded and watched Kuroo leave. Within minutes he was back to trying to find things to hold. He found the children's section and sat in the largest bean bag chair he could find.

He grabbed more books and held them close. An hour passed before he saw a glimpse of Bokuto's hair above the shelves. He whined loudly.

Bokuto walked into the children's section and spotted Akaashi. "Oh honey..."

"Papa."

Bokuto leaned down. "Did you find some good books?"

Akaashi held up his Pete the Cat book. "Button."

"Oh that's right love. He does look like Button." Bokuto gently took the book. "You just want this one?"

Akaashi looked around and pointed to an ABCs book. It also had a cat on the cover. "Kitty."

Bokuto smiled. "I'll get you a book about kitties from the big boy area too."

"Wit pitchers?"

"Of course!" Bokuto eased him to stand and had him follow him again. A few minutes into looking for a picture book he turned around to see that Akaashi had wandered off again. "Oh god..."

Bokuto walked around a bit, sort of wandering so it seemed as if he were calm. He spotted Akaashi's sweater and hurried over. Akaashi had squeezed in between shelves, holding all three books he wanted. Bokuto smiled.

"Hi hun. Mind coming out of there so we can buy your books?"

Akaashi giggled. He crawled out and handed Bokuto his books. "Get racer?"

"Eraser?"

"Mhmm."

"I'll see if I can find one hun. Let's go."

"Carry!" Akaashi grabbed the book Bokuto was holding.

"You got it?"

"Mm big boy. I help."

"Of course." Bokuto held out a hand. "Hand."

Akaashi clung to Bokuto's hand and followed him to the counter. He put his stack of books on the counter and stared, watching intently. The books were placed in a bag and Akaashi huffed at Bokuto hurriedly. Bokuto picked up a package of fruit erasers and put them on the counter.

"These too, please."

The cashier scanned them.

"You can just hand them to him." Bokuto gestured to Akaashi, who excitedly smiled.

The cashier gave the bag to Akaashi and Akaashi stomped his feet a little, trying not to seem like he was regressed. It was failing miserably and his childish ways showed. Bokuto just smiled. He held out his hand and Akaashi grabbed it. Bokuto walked him to the car and Akaashi whined and huffed.

"What is it whiny butt?"

"Wanna milk. Milk! Nubby!" Akaashi kicked lightly. "Need milk!"

Bokuto chuckled softly. "Easy there hun. I've got you."

Akaashi kicked a bit before Bokuto started driving him home. Akaashi started to get so fussy and whiny that tears leaked from his eyes.

"Oh goodness someone is hungry. Papa has snacks I think." Bokuto reached into the center console. He found a package of gummies and opened it with his teeth before attempting to hand it to Akaashi. "Here Keiji. Nummy gummies, yeah?"

Akaashi slapped them away, pulling at his clothes. "Itchy!"

"Overstimulated?" Bokuto sighed softly. "I get that." He turned off the radio and reached into the back. "Do you want your bunny? Or the kitty books?"

Akaashi screamed, pulling at the seatbelt. It locked and he panicked, pulling on it harder. Bokuto pulled into a parking lot and unbuckled Akaashi.

"Watch out sweetheart, you'll get a boo boo." Bokuto kissed his forehead and rubbed his chest. "Take some deep breaths. We're almost home. As soon as we're home I'll get you out of those big boy clothes and into something soft."

Akaashi coughed and sputtered.

"Hey, hey, hey..." Akaashi clung to him, shaky. He tried to verbalize but everything slipped past his mind. A soft babble did make it past his lips and Bokuto smiled. "I promise. You're just so tiny, hm?"

Akaashi giggled softly.

"And there my little one goes. Getting so tiny now." Bokuto buckled him back and closed the door. He got in the driver's seat and waited for Akaashi to stop touching the wheel before heading home. Poor thing started to strip as he entered the house, forgetting all about their roommates and his books. He plopped down in the living room, shirt gone. He shrieked as he saw Kenma sitting with his laptop.

"Hey there little guy."

"Bubby?!"

Bokuto eased behind Akaashi and put a lighter shirt on him. Akaashi looked back and pouted. "You no touch."

"How are you supposed to get dressed kid?"

Akaashi flopped on his back. Kenma chuckled. "You want Bubba to make it better?"

Akaashi stared at the ceiling where there was a piece of tape. He gulped.

"Is someone hungry?"

Akaashi turned his head to the side and smiled.

"Oh?" Bokuto lifted him up and gently set aside his glasses. "Let's get you into pajamas and then I'll get you your nubby."

Akaashi clung to Bokuto and was carried to his room where he clung to his hands as he was changed into something more comfortable. Bokuto wrapped him in a blanket and Kenma had a bottle full of milk and vegetable substitute on the table. Akaashi whined for it.

Bokuto helped him with the bottle, just holding him to his chest and sitting in the rocking chair. Akaashi's eyes started to close and he loosened his hold on Bokuto. Bokuto chuckled. "I guess we get to read the kitty books later."

Akaashi whined.

"What is it? Hm?"

"Boo."

"Book?"

"Mm."

Bokuto leaned over and grabbed one from the stack. Akaashi held it to his chest and fell asleep, comfortable. Kenma got up and eased the bottle away and gave him a pacifier. "Here we go..."

Akaashi fussed before promptly falling back asleep. Bokuto set him in his bed and let him be. Kenma got Akaashi a little bento for when he would wake up and Bokuto made sure to make things quiet in the house. Akaashi was precious to all of them, especially while regressed. Whatever he needed was to be handed to him without question as well. Akaashi was just too little right now.