The next day it was made clear that Janus wasn't regressed and nor did he want to be-or so he claimed. The minute he woke up, he was kicking at the bars angrily, negative emotions swarming his brain, among them, shame ringed the loudest.

He couldn't even begin to wrap the thought of having acted so ridiculously in front of heroes. He was a disgrace to villains.

Many of the said heroes had attempted to speak with him-mostly Patton. Janus didn't want to hear it. Childishly as it may be, every time someone would speak he would clamp his hands against his ears and say "La, La, La, La, La, La, I'm afraid I can't hear you!"

Eventually, they would give up, leaving Janus in his crib with a few toys to entertain himself. While tempting, he refused to even glance at them, Patton saw him not throwing them out of the said crib as progress though.

He had mostly laid there, occasionally, he would call a hero in to demand to be let out for a bathroom break-he was glad he at least had that freedom-but then he was right back into the crib. Each person who took him offered an activity to entertain him with. And each time Janus turned it down.

He laid on his side, picking at the paint of the crib, scowling as it flaked off.

I want to go home.

Janus paused at the thought, his frown deepening. Now that he thought about it, did he want to go home? What was home? The cracked and broken base the villains lounged around or the house he left years ago? He didn't have a home. He just wanted his routine back, whether toxic or not, it was what he was used to, having it turned and thrown off track was messing with his head. Besides, Jealously is friendly-to an extent. He didn't like Janus hanging out with Lust, but it wasn't like he had much of a choice.

The heroes are nice though, genuinely so-well, Virgil is Virgil. It irked Janus, he didn't trust their kindness, in fact, Virgil's hatred towards big Janus was almost refreshing. It gave him a sense of home, their sweet cooing and words can be suffocating at times.

Janus was snapped from his endless thinking as Patton walked in for what seems to be the millionth time that day, holding a tray of lunch for Janus. Scowling at the man, Patton didn't pay it any mind and set the tray on a plastic kiddie table with a Mickey mouse design on the chairs and table.

"Hey, kiddo! It's time for lunch!" He chirps. The perky tone sickened Janus.

"Go away," He snips, glaring at him rudely. Patton shakes his head and begins to unlock the crib.

"Aw kiddo, don't be rude okay? When we're upset we talk it out, not lash out," Patton explains, lifting Janus easily as if he weighed nothing. He set him on the chair made for an overgrown toddler, and sat next to him, scooping the spoon up for the mac and cheese before Janus could, much to his annoyance.

"I wanna do it!" Snaps Janus, attempting to snatch it back. "I'm a big boy!"

Patton's eyebrows raised in faint surprise, this morning at breakfast Janus had given in easily-having a feeling he couldn't get around it. Patton had a pretty good idea that Janus wasn't as big as he believed.

"Oh dear," Patton begins, handing the spoon over. "My apologies Jan! I didn't know you were such a big boy today! Next time though, you will ask nicely yes? There's no need to be rude." Patton explains, watching in amusement as Janus huffs, scooping up a spoonful of mac and cheese before shoving it into his mouth.

After a few bites of the mac and cheese, Janus dove in for a dino nugget instead, chomping its little head off, smirking as he left them all beheaded.

Patton let out a playful gasp. "Oh no! You've beheaded all the dinosaurs! That wasn't very nice," He playfully exclaims, eyes twinkling as he gets a mischievous giggle out of Janus. However, realizing the sound he let out, he scrunched his face up, shaking his head for a moment, and huffed, dropping his nuggets, deciding to stick with his mac and cheese for now instead.

Grow up! Don't giggle at something stupid Janus!

With his internal scolding session, he slumped his shoulders, fighting off his headspace. He's not a child, he's an adult, he doesn't need to regress and he shouldn't want to.

But he did.

He really wanted to. Regressing made him feel light and safe, the others gave him a sense of protectiveness that paired nicely with his secret vulnerability. He enjoyed playing with toy cars and watching blues clues because god, he wasn't allowed cartoons as a child and they're hilarious. Well, some are. He doesn't enjoy the ones that try and talk to him.

And he really likes Scooby-Doo.

Patton noticed Janus' hesitation and hummed softly, scooting his chair in a bit closer. "You otta put those dinos out of their misery Jan! It's not fair to leave them headless!" He exclaims, pouting a bit. He managed to get Janus to glance at them, before he finally reached and grabbed one, nibbling on it.

Smiling, Patton nudged a plastic cup towards him. It has a bendy straw sticking out of a lid-because while he didn't think he would appreciate a sippy cup today, he did want to prevent a possible spill. Glancing at the cup, Janus reached for it, holding it with two hands as he sucked on the drink, smiling as he realized it's blue raspberry kool-aid.

"Is it yummy little snake?" Patton asks, giggling at his slightly sheepish smile, his cheeks flushing a light scarlet.

"Mmh," He hums in agreement, setting the cup down, moving back to his mac and cheese, switching between the three items accordingly.

"After this, why don't we watch Scooby or maybe teenage mutant ninja turtles? Or even power rangers?"

Janus perked up at all the options, swinging his feet eagerly. "Courage?"

Patton nearly squealed. How could a villain be so gosh darn adorable?!

"Courage the Cowardly Dog it is!"

---

"I'm going to rip your organs out one by one and make you watch as I blend each one up and feed them to your weeping mother!" Remus snarls as Roman pauses, his hand freezing in place as he previously waved a mood octopus around, threatening to drop it into the "lava", aka, the floor.

"Wow," Logan lets out, raising an eyebrow as Janus only cackled.

"Organ smoothie!"

"Janus, no," Patton scolds standing carefully on the coffee table while Janus balanced on a phone book.

"God, Remus," Virgil complains, rubbing his forehead, feeling deeply disturbed by the comment. He purposely stepped into the lava. "Yay, I'm burning. Maybe I can get that image out of my head."

"Noo!" Whines Janus. "No burn! Back on the pillow! You just have no feet now!"

Scowling, Virgil reluctantly agreed. He knew his next move was those stupidly adorable puppy dog eyes. He kneeled now, as apparently, he has no feet.

As for Roman, he did in fact, toss Remus his beloved octopus that he set on his head, somehow balancing it perfectly. "Don't touch my octopuses."

"It's Octopi," Logan corrects, fixing his glasses.

"Octopi what? The bedroom? Sure Lo," Remus purrs, winking at the other who bashfully glared at him.

"No, I'll occupy a grave for you instead-"

"Guys," Patton interrupts sternly, placing his hands on his hips. "Don't talk about death around Janus! He's just a kid!"

"M'not a kid!" Whines Janus, stomping his foot against the phonebook. "M'very big!"

Patton sighed but smiled. "Oh, of course, silly me. How big are you again Jan?"

Fiddling with his fingers for a moment, he held up six of his fingers. "See? Two hands!"

Virgil snorted, covering his mouth. It was hard not to laugh, Janus is really something.

Patton all but cooed at the adult child. "Oh of course! That's so very big buddy!"

"Eh, six is alright, but I prefer twelve-inch co-"

"Remus, don't finish that sentence young man," Patton demands, earning a pout as he deflated.

"You're no fun!"

"Janus is mentally six years old, he doesn't need to hear about your personal preferences Remus," Logan adds, rolling his eyes as he grumbled and sulked.

Janus was growing bored of standing on the phone book, so, he turned towards Roman who was currently balanced on the back of the couch. He grinned, carefully hopping on a variety of Items, and jumped on the couch, giggling a little as he began to climb up next to Roman.

"Woah there small reptilian!" Roman exclaims, quickly stopping him. "You're a bit too small to be climbing up these parts!"

"But you're doing it!" He whines, pouting up at him.

"Yes, but I am a brave prince, princes are meant to climb up dangerous mountains!" Roman proudly explains, squeaking like a mouse as he nearly loses his footing.

Virgil snorts, rolling his eyes. "Yup. Real brave."

"Shut it Panic at the everywhere!"

"Now kiddos," Snickers Patton. "Play nice."

"M'wanna climb! Pat! Roman isn't letting me climb!" Janus tattles, crossing his arms.

"Well, kiddo you don't need to be up there anyway."

"But I wanna!" He complains, his temper beginning to rise. If Roman could climb then he should be allowed too!

"Kiddo-"

"Janus," Logan intervenes, adjusting his glasses. "When we tell you something you have to understand we're doing it to protect you. There isn't much room to balance properly, you could easily fall, which will result in injury. In fact, nobody has any business being up there," Logan explains, throwing a pointed glance towards Roman, who pouted, but reluctantly climbed down.

"I was only testing it!" Roman defended, cheeks tinging a light pink color at being scolded. "I was making sure to test whether or not our small reptile could safely balance on it!"

"M'wanna climb," Janus sulks, sinking into the couch, the game of the "floor is lava" no longer appealing to him.

"Well, climb on Roman then," Virgil suggests, shrugging his shoulders while Roman's eyes widened at the suggestion.

"What?!"

Janus only perked up, giggling loudly. "Yeah! Ro, I wanna climb! Pretty please?"

"Yeah Ro, pretty please?" Remus mocks, him and Virgil laughing as Roman glared at the two.

"Go on princey, show Jan how big and strong you are," Virgil cooed.

With a huff, Roman stands. He isn't a fan of children particularly-but he could make an exception for Janus he supposes. Besides, he's not an actual child.

"Fine, but don't ruin my hair!"

Squealing, Janus stands on the couch, eagerly hopping onto Roman's back, causing him to stumble forward with a soft "oof!"

"Careful reptilian!"

Janus only giggles in response, squealing as Roman reaches back, grabbing the back of his jumper and tugging him under his armpit-as if he wasn't a grown man. Janus wiggled as Roman held him, blowing a few strands out of his face. He was set on his feet, but Janus only dove right back up, wrapping his arms around Roman's neck and hiking his legs around his waist, clinging to him like a baby koala. Laughing as he groaned in mock displeasure.

"I'm not a playground-"

"Spin! Spin!" Janus cheers.

"Nope, no way! I said no ruining the hair!"

"Aw come on Ro!" Giggles Patton as he and Logan began cleaning up their previous game. "Give Janus a few spins!"

"But I-"

"I'm come on Princey, entertain the toddler, " Virgil muses, his smile widening at his glare.

Reluctantly, he gave in and began spinning, making sure to hold onto Janus' waist as he did. After a few spins, his brain urged him to stop as the world around him muddle together, constantly looping and twirling, even as he collapsed on the couch with Janus now on his lap, seeming to be suffering from the same cause, but enjoying it far more than Roman did.

"Dizzy!" He shrieks, laughing as he clenched Roman's clothes.

"No kidding," Roman remarks, gripping his head.

"Again! Again!"

With a huff, Roman's vision slowly began to clear and a devious idea came to mind. "Revenge!" He chirps, beginning to attack his sides instead. Deceit let out a loud shrill and immediately attempted to crawl off, laughing loudly as Roman was merciless. He dug his fingers into his ticklish spots and squeezed at the skin, laughing along as Janus shrieked and spasmed.

"Paaaaaat! Help!" Janus begs, reach for him, unfortunately, that only gave Roman access to his armpits-which he gladly took advantage of.

With a giggle, Patton held his hands up. "Sorry kiddo! I'm cleaning!"

"As am I," Logan adds, an amused smirked on his lips as Janus giggled and chortled.

"Virgeeeee!"

Snickering, a mischievous smirk fell on Virgil as he rolled up his sleeves. "I suppose I'll have to play the villain for a moment," He comments before diving in, grabbing Roman's foot. Flinching, the princely side attempted to wiggle out of hus hold, shrieking twice as loud as Virgil scratched at the bottom of his foot.

"Virge!"

With Roman weakened, Janus was able to twist out of his hold, wiggling his fingers threateningly towards Roman before he too began attacking him with evil tickles, the tables now turned.

"T-This isn't fair!" Roman cries, squealing as Virgil tickled both of his feet at once. He kicked on instinct, but Virgil dodged each one.

"Life isn't fair," Virgil comments over the boisterous laughter.

"Muhahaha!" Janus giggles.

Maybe he did have a home.

---

Enjoy the fluff- while you can 😈😈😈😈