Archive of Our Own

Sometimes Taehyung is amazed by how sweet and understanding Jimin is with him. He knows what he asks of him might be a tall order for a lot of people and because of that he was really hesitant to come out to him. Not many people feel comfortable caring for an age regressor, even less so those that they’re dating. Jimin was certainly cautious when Taehyung asked him to be his caregiver but he confessed a week later that he just wasn’t sure that he would even be a good caregiver, especially given that he only just found out that Taehyung deals with trauma. Despite this Jimin has no doubt that, once he’s informed and confident, he will absolutely adore taking care of his baby boy.

The second Taehyung woke up he became very aware of his decreasing mental age. He’s still safely within the range of pretending to be grown but he’s dangling precariously on the line between. Jimin is supposed to come over in- he looks at the clock- thirty minutes oh my god . He desperately wants to spend time with his busy boyfriend but he’s not sure if he’ll be able to kiss or cuddle with him and that is not the impression he wants to give.

He hears a knock. “Dang it,” he whines, pouting dramatically. He would no doubt be stomping his foot if he were standing.

Taehyung rolls out of bed, nearly bashing his head on his end table in the process, and doesn’t even bother to get himself presentable before going to open the door. He knows for a fact that some of Jimin’s makeup is sitting on his bathroom counter and there is no way he’d be able to walk away from it without playing in it. Normally he’s pretty good at doing his own makeup but while small? Absolutely not.

Standing in front of the door, he clears his throat and tries to shake away the excess energy building up in his limbs--he is hyper as a child. While lifting his arm to the doorknob, he greatly overestimates the length of his arms and punches the door, only to quickly pull the door open in the hopes that Jimin will ignore it. The sight of his beautiful boyfriend standing there nearly makes him squeal, hiding it by launching himself at him.

“I missed you,” he mumbles into his neck, laying a gentle kiss there.

Jimin beams, returning his hug even as he wheezes dramatically at the tight grip around him. Taehyung giggles in response, letting go only to tug Jimin in with him. He can do this , he thinks to himself. I’m a big boy.

10 minutes later he eats his words.

They’re curled up together on the couch with the TV playing in the background, ignored. Jimin is kissing his forehead, nose, cheeks, and then his lips--well, he tries to. Taehyung scrunches his nose up, jerking back immediately. Hurt and confusion flit across Jimin’s face before settling on concern.

“Baby? What’s wrong? Did I do something?” He sounds distressed and it breaks Taehyung’s heart.

Immediately tears well up in Taehyung’s eyes, lip trembling. “I sowwy!” He wails, curling into himself and covering his face.

For a moment Jimin just stares at him in shock, brain struggling to process what exactly is going on. He’s never heard Taehyung genuinely speak this childlike, nor has he ever seen him so upset. He tugs Taehyung into his arms, struggling to mold himself as tightly as he can around him.

“Hey now, Tae, it’s okay. Calm down, baby boy,” Jimin soothes, rocking him gently. He notices the way Taehyung slumps against him at the pet name and makes a mental note of it. “I’m here, baby, I’m just worried, okay? Everything is okay.”

They stay like that for a few minutes as Jimin rocks him and repeats the affirmations. Finally Taehyung’s sobbing dying down to shuddering breaths and sniffles. Jimin pulls away, cupping Taehyung’s cheeks in both hands and swiping away the tears on his cheeks.

“You okay now?” He checks, voice almost a whisper with how soft it is. Taehyung nods. “What’s going on, Tae? Is--did I do something?”

Taehyung’s lip wobbles again but Jimin immediately soothes him.

“Tae--I sorry, I’m wea-- really sorry Jiminie.” He’s grumbling to himself, frustrated with how young he’s starting to feel. “TaeTae- I-I mean I’m s-sor-sorry.”

“Baby, shh, please calm down. I’m not angry, you don’t need to apologize, okay sweetheart?” Jimin shushes him kindly, confused beyond belief but, more importantly, scared. Jimin waits for a confirmation before continuing, “I just need to know what’s going on, that’s all. You can tell me anything.”

“TaeTae‘s widdle.” Taehyung sniffles as he steadfastly avoids eye contact in favor of staring at his hands, which were too big right now. He doesn’t think his statement makes sense without context but he desperately hopes Jimin gets it without him having to explain further.

“Little?” He repeats, unsure if he heard it correctly. Taehyung nods, peeking up at him from under his lashes.

“Real widdle.

“Okay, TaeTae is little. That’s good baby, I’m proud of you for telling me. Do you think you can explain that for me?” The soothing tone of his voice seems to be visibly coaxing Taehyung to relax his body as he starts to calm down, nearly making Jimin sigh in relief.

“I… ‘m a baby righ’ now, Diminie,” He tries to explain, eyes wide as he meets Jimin’s. “TaeTae not… ‘m no’ a big boy. TaeTae is re-reggess.”

Jimin perks up, finally feeling as though he’s getting a clue as to what’s going on. “TaeTae is regressing, is that what you mean?”

Taehyung nods so vigorously that he can feel a sharp pain in his neck that he immediately ignores. “Yeah! ‘M a real liddle baby, Diminie. I don--TaeTae loves Dimin but he no want cooties.”

“I understand baby, I won’t give you any kisses right now.” Jimin is desperately trying not to coo, the relief he feels at knowing he did nothing wrong almost euphoric and just making him all the more soft for Taehyung. “I’m so proud of you for telling me, you’re such a brave little boy.” All of the confusion and anxiety caused by this entire situation is all worth it if only because Taehyung is so unused to receiving praise and attention when he’s little. As for Jimin, he’s just happy that he was trusted enough to be in the know.

Giggling, Taehyung shifts his weight onto his knees. “Is okay?”

“Of course it’s okay, baby boy. I’m so happy you trusted me with this. Will you tell me some more about it later when you’re feeling bigger?”

“Pinky p’omise!” He nods resolutely, sticking his finger out and giggling when Jimin links their pinkies together. “Is okay if TaeTae get paci?”

Jimin was nodding the second he realized Taehyung was asking a question, even before processing the question itself. Taehyung flings himself over the back of the couch to race to his room, happily trotting out a moment later with his paci in his mouth. This time Jimin isn’t able to stop it before he lets out a loud coo, absolutely endeared by the sight. It’s a sky blue, adorable little flower-like gems lining the perimeter and ‘prince’ spelled out in letter beads on the handle. “What a precious little prince you are.”

Instantly his cheeks and ears flood with color, releasing a shy giggle as he gingerly tries to lower himself onto the couch beside him. Jimin scoffs, wrapping his arms around his waist to tug him into his lap. “Can Jiminie cuddle with TaeTae?”

Another soft giggle slips out as he nods shyly. Jimin hums happily, snuggling his face into Taehyung’s shoulder. He hands him the remote, telling him to put on any cartoon if he wants to, and settles in for a comfortable silence.