TW: Non-graphic self harm
I let out a little yawn as I wake up, stretching out my arms I open my eyes and see my chubby little hands- wait
I sit up and look around. Everything was big. 'Oh no, this can't be happening' Virgil thought to himself. Being used to this, Virgil went about his routine. He struggled to get off of his bed and ran to the corner of his room to were his hoodie lay. He threw on the now two sizes too big hoodie and relaxed slightly. Now his arms were covered.
Accidentally letting his mind drift off, he fully turned into what the light sides would say, a new side. He was a toddler.
Age regression is mentally going back to an age (most likely younger) to were you feel comfortable and safe. This is used to cope with a lot of mental issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. This is a therapeutic method that is commonly used today to relax people. But in the mind of Thomas Sanders, Virgil not only goes back mentally, but physically as well.
~Third Person~
Looking around and realizing he was alone. He started to whimper. The soft, quiet whimpers, turned into wails. Wails loud enough that anybody nearby could hear. And both luckily and unluckily for Virgil someone did.
Patton was just about to go make lunch for everyone when he heard crying coming from Virgil's room. Frightened, Patton went to check on his shadowy son. Knocking on the door, he still heard the cries but no answer. He tried again. Still no response. Panicking, he ran down the hall to Roman's room and swung the door open. "Roman I need you to break down Virgil's door for me!" Patton shouted worriedly. Roman let out a petrified scream. He didn't expect anyone to interrupt him while he was brainstorming ideas for the next sander sides video, let alone it would be Patton. "whoa padre calm down. Why do you need me to break down his door?" Roman being rightfully confused asked. "He's crying and he won't open the door!" Patton yelled again but not quite as loud. Roman nodded "Oh calm down Patton, he's probably having one of those left brain crisis right now " Although Roman did feel a twinge of worry in his gut for the shadow-ling. No one here has ever seen him cry, let alone heard him cry. "but if you insist i must do an unprincly action to save the damsel in distress."
After speed walking over to Virgil's door he could hear the cries that Patton was talking about. They sounded like they came from a young child. "Fear not Virgil for i have come to rescue you!" Roman shouted, running and using the side of his shoulder to break down the door and shatter it to pieces. Patton immediately went through and scanned the whole room. "I don't see h-" Patton cut himself off when he felt small harms hug his leg. Looking down, he saw a small Virgil in an very over sized hoodie, the sleeves only fitting about half way. His eye shadow smeared from crying and his noes red and stuffy. Patton automatically swooped the youngster up into his arms and held him close to his chest.
Roman was left speechless. But when he broke out of his daze he started cooing at the what appeared to be a two year old Virgil. "Aww look at you, you look so cute. You're so cute, yes you are-" Roman would've kept going on but Patton had other plans. "We should probably give him something to eat. I haven't seen him out of his room since last week." Patton stated, looking at Roman. "Would you mind warming up some chicken nuggets that we had last night?" Roman nodded "no thing Padre!" and with that, Roman was out of the room. "Now, lets go get that make up off you before you eat" Patton said in a chipper tone and booped him on the nose. Virgil giggled and nodded.
~Time skip to the kitchen~
Logan was walking into the kitchen to find Roman summoning a sippy cup filled with milk while putting chicken nuggets onto a plate. "Salutations Roman, what are you doing?" Roman whipped his head around and struggled to find the words to explain. Meanwhile Patton and tiny Virgil were entering the kitchen. Roman pointed to the two and Logan turned around to see Patton and a toddler version of Virgil on his hip. "Fascinating" Logan said wide-eyed and got closer to Virgil. Virgil let out a little whimper and hid his head into Patton's chest. Logan backed up a little. "My apologies, i did not mean to get into your personal space." Virgil looked up at him with a questioning look "ap- apolu-" Virgil stuttered out trying to say the tough word. Logan's eyes widened. "It means sorry Virgil" and with that Virgil nodded. Patton set Virgil down with some struggle seeing as Virgil was clinging to him like a life line. He let go as soon as Roman placed down the chicken nuggets and milk though.
A couple of minutes later, when Virgil was done eating, being a toddler, he made a mess, all over himself and the table. Patton automatically started cleaning the table. "Roman could you please conjure up an outfit suitable for a toddler and something Virgil would enjoy" Roman made a little pouty face at the last part but fulfilled Logan's request. Roman summoned a lilac purple onsie with Virgil's logo on the left side of the outfit, something simple, but cute.
Roman was helping Patton with cleaning and washing the dishes while Logan fixated on getting Virgil dressed. Logan grabbed the bottom of Virgil's hoodie and lifted it over his head and set it to the side. He grabbed the footie onsie that roman produced and went to go put it on. Immediately after though, he noticed the red marks that ran across the child's wrist. Logan swallowed nervously. "U-Uh Virgil, w-where did you get those?" Noticing the rare sound of nervousness in Logan's voice, both Patton and Roman walked over. Roman gasped in shock and Patton's tear duct started working. "DD said I did it. DD was upset though when he told me, I don't know why. DD said he would protect me from then on." Virgil said obliviously, playing with his hand.
Logan put on Virgil's Onsie shakily and Patton walks into the living room. All the sides except Virgil were silent, all thinking the same thing. Patton put Virgil down. Virgil looked around the living room before spotting the dvd discs. He waddled over there and shuffled through the movies, looking at the pictures on the front of it. Roman, being the Disney expert he his, walks over to Virgil and sits down with him. Virgil kept shuffling through the disc cases before his eyes landed on a certain movie. He handed it to Roman. "Mulan?" Virgil nodded. "Okay my little prince" Roman exclaimed swinging Virgil into the air before setting him on the couch. Roman popped in the movie and sat down next to Virgil. Logan filled in. Patton grabbed snacks and drinks for everybody, then turned the lights off. He then too, piled on the couch.
There was a lot to talk about, but for now, taking care of the baby Virgil was most important. And in the morning, Virgil would uncomfortably explain what has happened and the others would just listen and support him the best he could. From that day on, they would protect the shadowling more than they already did and do they're best to include him in everything.
Word Count: 1278
