Caregiver! Janus, Patton, Logan, and Virgil.

Little! Roman

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Roman is a Prince.

Roman enjoys being a prince, he enjoys acting like a prince and dressing like a prince because that is who he is—while not in a literal sense that would be incredibly helpful when it came to indulging in his pretend games though—and while he enjoys being a prince, he had a problem. His dilemma was confusing and annoying, cause he is a prince. A boy.

But sometimes he wants to be a boy and a princess. He wanted the frilly dresses and pretty makeup, he wanted to be called girly pet names that made his ears go red. Sure, boys can wear dresses and stuff too, but the others always assure him how manly he is, even when in a dress, and most of the time he appreciates it because most of the time he wants to be a little prince.

But every once in a while, including today, he woke up with the burning urge to throw such a title out the window. He still wanted to be perceived as regal, because he is very much royalty, so he couldn't help but feel his chest tighten a bit when he peered up, having cuddled up in one of his caregivers' beds the night before rather than his own, and had Patton smiling sweetly at him, his glasses not yet on. The words fell from his lips naturally, and Roman wanted to whimper. It sounded wrong.

"Morning little prince, did you sleep well?" Patton whispered sweetly, they liked to ease into loud amounts of noise in the morning, as waking up isn't easy for any of them except for Logan and Patton.

Roman decided maybe if he wasn't little, then he didn't have to be a prince today. "Sorry Pat, not little anymore," He says, chuckling softly, his voice cracking a bit at the end at the obvious lie. Patton seemed to just pass it off as a morning quirk and chuckled, giving him a head kiss.

"No need to apologize, that's fine. You hungry?" He asks, gently pulling away and Roman immediately missed the comforting feeling of his strong dad's arms around him. He didn't complain though, he merely nodded his head and sat up, fisting at his eyes with a little grumble.

It was going to be a long day, he could tell.

"Alright kiddo! I'll start on some pancakes!" Patton chirps, far too chipper at such an hour. Roman only bobbed his head and watched him leave, unable to hold back his sigh of relief. Sliding out of bed, he wanted to change into something frilly—something pretty. He wanted to have his caregiver call him a cute little princess as he twirled and showed them a pretty dress or tutu. He could wear it any day he knows, he wears dresses all the time but it wasn't the same.

He decided to indulge in his desire, even if he didn't put on a frilly one, which he kept for his little space. He slipped on a white, high-rise skirt that came up to about his mid-thigh, along with a cute red sweater. It's simple, yet cute and suits him, he thought ad he turned around in the mirror. He felt a lot better now that he dressed up a bit.

After he was dressed he headed downstairs, not at all surprised to find Virgil on the counter, sipping tiredly at a mug filled with coffee. Logan opted to sit at the table, unlike the emo fiend, also drinking coffee. Roman didn't particularly like coffee, he only liked it if it was in a very complicated order at Starbucks to the point where it didn't even taste like coffee. Not that it mattered anyway, he wasn't typically allowed caffeine, which is fair, he didn't need it anyway, his brain already raced a thousand times a second.

"Morning my chemically imbalanced Romance!" Roman cheered, attempting to act as normal as possible, as if had wasn't on the verge of slipping. Couldn't be him.

Virgil seemed to notice his lack of his usual "Mornin' Vee Vee!" And grunted. "Mornin' princey," He murmurs, and Roman hoped he didn't catch the way he deflated at the name. Because he didn't.

"I'm surprised you aren't regressed," Logan states bluntly as he glanced up from a book he seemed to be reading. Who starts reading so early in the morning? Roman doesn't know, but apparently, Logan is one of them.

"Woke up big," Roman says with a shrug, trying not to shrink as Logan eyed him. Stupid mom senses, he probably saw right through him!

"Well, I'm sure you'll regress soon, you rarely wake up big, it's rare seeing you don't have work until the afternoon," Logan points out. Roman merely shrugged and was glad he did not have work today because he wasn't sure he would last out in the world. He would surely slip faster than any other.

Then of course the last person he wanted to be around at the moment walked in. He looked exhausted and immediately went for the coffee machine. Now Roman wanted some, it seemed like all the big people were drinking it! And he's a big boy right now!

"Can I have coffee?" He blurts out, and Virgil snorts.

"I thought you were big?"

"I am," Roman huffs out.

"Then why are you asking our permission?" Logan adds in, a bit amused himself and Roman flushed heavily.

"W-Well- I-I-!"

"Roman," Interrupted Janus as strolled over. "You don't like coffee."

"Do too!" Roman insists.

"Fine then," Janus says, setting down his mug on the table. "Prove it, little prince."

Roman glared at him for the name, and Janus smirked in response. Roman hated his stupid smirk! Their teasing made him feel all small!

"I will!" He huffs, far too stubborn for his own good. He tugged the mug over and frowned as it was rather hot. He didn't particularly care for hot beverages. He lightly blew on it before sipping. Immediately, he tried to school his expression but was actively failing, earning multiple snickers around the room.

"Oh yes, you seem you enjoyed yourself," Janus teases, gently taking the mug back before having a seat.

"It's not my fault you drink it black!" Roman complains. "It's gross like that."

"Well kiddo," Patton chuckles out. "That's how most adults like it." He explains, heading over with a few plates of breakfast, and Roman wasn't very happy to find Patton to cut his up for him! He had told him he's big! He is!

"Patton I'm big," He complains loudly, crossing his arms as he glared at him slightly. Patton merely gave him a sweet smile.

"Sorry sweet prince, it's a habit."

Roman grimaced at the name for the hundredth time. He thought saying he was big was gonna make them call him by his name! He felt rather frustrated, and he showed this by shoving his plate forward and slumping in his chair. Everyone's eyes fall on him now, but he kept his petty glare on the table.

"Roman," Came Janus' calm, yet firm voice. "That's enough now, Patton didn't mean to cut it up. He's used to you being little in the morning. And I have to say, I'm not quite convinced you aren't little with your behavior."

Roman flushed at the scolding and he held back a whine and kicked his feet under the table. They were dumb! Dumb! Dumb! Dumb!

"Not little!" He hisses, his tone higher in pitch than he had made it before.

"And why not?" Patton asks, all too soft for Roman to handle. "Why don't you wanna be little baby?"

Roman only whined and felt his eyes prick with tears. His bottom lip trembled and he quickly stood up and bolted out of the kitchen, ignoring the protests from his usual caregivers. He headed down the hall to his room and slipped under the bed, burying his sobs into his arms as he allowed his head to fall forward. His body curled in on itself and his fingers firmly slid into his mouth as he began aggressively sucking on them for a source of comfort. As he hiccupped around his fingers, soft footsteps only had him sliding further towards the wall, wanting to be far away from everyone and anyone!

He watched with blurry vision as Janus peeked under the bed, crouching to his level, and was quick to lay on his stomach, resting his head on his hand as he tilted his head to the side curiously.

"My dear prince—" Roman sobbed louder at the name. "Why are you so upset?" Janus asks, and his tone made goosebumps crawl up Roman's skin and his chest went warm and fuzzy, but it didn't stop the tears from barreling down his cheeks.

"N-Not Little!" He cries, pressing himself further into the corner, hiding his face away, feeling ashamed for such childish sobs and whines that left his throat, but his head was feeling fuzzier than it should, and he knew his statement wasn't at all true.

As did Janus.

"That's not it," Janus insists quietly. "How am I supposed to fix the issue if you won't tell me what it is hm? I promise I won't be upset, my sweet prince."

"N-Notta prince!" He finally whimpers out, the tone so quiet and vulnerable and Janus seemed to freeze at his words, seeming quite concerned.

"Darling, what do you mean?"

Roman sniffled and somehow, he found the courage to peek at the man, his bottom lip quivering as he choked down another cry. "Don' wanna be a prince..."

"I see," Janus murmurs. "What do you wanna be then dear?"

Roman bit down on his lip and his cheeks began to warm in embarrassment. "Princess..."

Janus blinked. And then again. And once more.

Oh.

"Oh my sweet princess," Janus all but croons. "Oh, baby why didn't you say something. My dear—oh of course you can be our little princess."

"B-Buh- still a boy!!"

"And still my beautiful little princess anyway," Janus assures with a soft smile, gently stroking his hair. "You can be a boy and a princess dear, I wish you would have told us sooner, but no matter, what can I do to make you much more comfortable baby?" He asks, swiping his gloved thumbs against his cheeks, wiping away the tears that rushed down the others face.

Roman sniffled, fisting at his eyes, it nearly felt too good to be true, but he wouldn't deny such a sweet offer. "Wanna be a princess," He repeats softly, and Janus nods, gently helping him to his feet, holding his hand in his.

"Then a princess you shall be my dear, next time we're upset, we use our words though, yes? We can't help if we don't know the problem little one, do you understand?" Janus asks, his tone sickeningly sweet as he leads Roman off to his bedroom, scrambling through his closet to find the perfect outfit for his dear princess.

Roman, who was already regressed but was attempting to fight it, gave into his headspace and allowed his shoulders to slump and relax, watching excitingly as Janus' fingers skimmed against his clothing. He nodded along to his sweet tone that swayed his regressing mind, wrapping his brain into a warm hug that had him floating. "Uh-huh," He murmurs. "M'have the frilly one?" He asks, pointing to a pretty pink, frilly skirt, grinning as Janus immediately plucked it off the hanger.

"Of course, anything for you my pretty princess," Janus croons softly. "Let's get you changed and then it's someone's breakfast time. I'll warm it up for you in the microwave, how does that sound baby boy?"

Roman smiled big, his cheeks slightly pink and he absolutely swooned as Janus continued to call him a boy. This felt right, he felt so right.

"Sounds awesome Janny! Thankies! Thankies!"

"Of course princess, anything for you."