Chapter Text
In retrospect, Sapnap thought he hid his regression pretty well. It was something he never wanted anyone besides himself (and the stuffed animals hidden beneath his bed) to know. The thing is, some secrets are hide to hide, especially to your best friends who always seem to be around even when one of them is across the sea and the other downstairs.
It had been easy to regress when he was still in Texas. There hadn’t been any physical connection, if he needed to be alone he’d simply offer some lame excuse of going to sleep or his family needing his help and simply just leave the call. Sure the two boys on the other side of the call would always heckle him to stay and sometimes he actually would.
Although he’d probably never admit to their face, they always brought him the most comfort. When he decided to stay some nights, muting his mic incase of any slip ups, he’d simply just lay down with his favorite panda plush and listen to whatever the other two were talking about and it always managed to lure him to sleep.
He misses that.
Now it’s a lonely night in Florida, sitting on a bed that feels suddenly uncomfortable. His mind feels foggy and he wants nothing more than to talk to his best friends or play games with them but suddenly everything feels too big and the walk downstairs feels scary and even if rationally he knows if he called Dream he’d be here in a instant, he’s dead set on hiding his regression til the day he’s dead.
Whining softly, Sapnap rolled out of his bed landing on his knees with a thump and a soft huff. Deciding he wanted to get out of his seemingly yucky feeling clothes, crawling over to his dressers he began to search for something he deemed fitting, whining when nothing seemed comfortable enough for a small boy.
He’d been so lost in searching for clothes he didn’t even realize Dream was walking in, eyebrows raised in confusion as he watched Sapnap on his knees digging through his drawers, random pieces of clothes scattered across the floor looking like a hurricane ran through the room.
“Sap? What’s up? I heard a bang from downstairs and wanted to make sure you didn’t pass out or anything” Dream asked in a hesitant voice as he watched the boy visibly tense before turning to Dream with a pout. He noticed the boy looked like a mess, hair all messed up from probably laying in bed and there were slight dark bags beneath his eyes. He almost looked vulnerable and Dream wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about that
“Get out” Sapnap said in a small voice, not trusting himself to make long coherent sentences at the moment. “Not suppose t’ be here”
“In your room?” Dream asked. The two had set boundaries early on when they had both moved in together, not entering each other’s room without asking unless they thought the other was hurt or needed help, so it was sort of a surprise when the boy had said that.
Sapnap nodded, twirling his fingers around one of the shirts that had been scattered on the floor, still sporting a small pout as he remembered he still didn’t find anything comfy to wear.
“I’m sorry I didn’t ask, I just heard something and wanted to make sure you’re alright…did you need help though? You look a bit out of it” Dream said slowly walking towards his best friend, even crouching down to be at the same level.
Sapnap was conflicted. He really wanted Dream to stay with him and help but he also didn’t want to be too obvious that he was regressed. He knew in some way Dream would never be mean and judge him, but the small part of his brain made him still overwhelmed with the idea that it could happen so against all better judgement he nodded, knowing he made the right choice when Dream let out a sigh of relief, he never wanted to scare his friend.
“Great! Alright wanna start by telling me what happened here?” Dream started, gesturing to the clothes that surrounded the floor around him.
“Uhm….clothes not comfy” Sapnap responded, trying to sound as big as he could. “Can't find nothin’”
Dream chuckled, shaking his head.
“Well obviously these are all jeans and shirts, you’re not gonna find anything there especially if you’re looking for something to sleep in. Where’s your shorts?” Dream asked and Sapnap perked up. Shorts! Of course those would be comfy!
Pointing to the dresser drawer he had yet to open, Dream nodded, walking to the drawer and pulling out a simple pair of black shorts he’d seen the younger wear countless times before, a little confused on how he didn’t get to that conclusion sooner but nonetheless happy to help his friend feel better.
“Alright, what about a shirt or do you want a hoodie or something?” Dream asked, handing the shorts to the smaller boy who was already tugging off his rough jeans, quickly slipping the shorts on with a dopey smile that Dream found endearing.
“Hoodie” Sapnap responded, short and simple.
“Hoodie it is” Dream responded walking to the closet where he knew the younger kept his hoodies. “Which one do you want?” He asked snuffing through them, already trying to guess which one he’d choose.
“Yours!”
Now rationally Dream knew this could’ve meant one of the plethora of Dream hoodies the boy had collected in his closet, however the way the younger reached his hands out in a sort of grabby hands made him think he meant the hoodie he was currently sporting. Another part of him also knew that Sap was most likely joking but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t as the younger sat in an almost expected stance of knowing exactly what he wanted.
After fighting with his thoughts for a quick second he finally caved, shrugging off the soft and warm hoodie and placed it in the younger lap who smiled in childish delight and instantly put it on, all traces of sadness gone from his face and Dream knew he made the right choice.
“Okay now we’re all good, are you gonna try sleeping now?“ Dream asked and Sapnap nodded sleepily, he had on such comfy clothes he just wanted to curl in bed and sleep.
“Alright I’ll leave you too it then, night Sap” Dream said starting to walk to the door when a small hand grabbed onto his pulling him back slightly.
“Stay? jus’ tonight?” The younger asked bashfully, still not wanting to be alone right now.
“You want me to stay with you?” Dream clarified and Sapnap nodded.
“Alright fine, let’s sleep” he said walking over to Sapnaps bed and collapsing against the sheet, Sap following suit after shutting off the lap.
“T’ank you” Sapnap mumbled sleepily, “nigh’ Dream”
Dream smiled, knowing the two should have a talk but deciding to wait until the morning when the boys were well rested, so instead he just ruffled the boys hair before throwing a comforting arm around him.
“Night Pandas”