Safe Space

III. Final

Little one nickname adult

The no longer tired boy typed into his phone, trying to figure out why San calling him this made him feel all bubbly.
Nickname usually given to a submissive female from a dominant male…
“Submissive female?!” Yeosang’s eyes widened as he read this aloud. He quickly covered his mouth in case he raised his voice too much and stared at his door and listened to see if his friend would make his way upstairs. After a few moments, the wavey brunette returned his gaze to his internet search.

Nickname usually given to a submissive female from a dominant male. However, there are many other instances this nickname is given.
Ie. The submissive (but consenting adult) partner in a relationship with a Caregiver/Little dynamic.
“Caregiver/Little dynamic?” the boy said, puzzled, as he began another search.
Eventually, he comes across a term he has not heard before.
Little Space
“What in god’s na-” Yeosang started.

Littlespace is a mindset in which an adult relaxes into a state of carefree, responsibility-free safety. It is the mindset that many littles go into when they’re in a trusted, comfortable environment; usually around their dom, family, or close friends.

Yeosang kept reading into this newfound reality, becoming more intrigued the more he read about it. Everything he was finding was blowing his mind as he repeatedly made connection after connection. He could never explain why he was more carefree around his younger friend. He just felt…comfortable…safe. Everything about what he read pointed to the answer he had been wondering for a while now. He had a littlespace when he was with San.

Yeosang was lost in thought when he realized his best friend was opening the door to his bedroom.
“I thought you were sleepy,” San said in a playful “I caught you” tone, raising an eyebrow as he leaned on the door frame.
“I-I was,” Yeosang froze, “I thought you were cooking?”
“I finished prepping the stew. It’s simmering now.”
“O-Oh…” the smaller of the two stammered and looked down at the plushie in his lap.
San noticed the sudden change in expression. The blonde went over to his friend’s bed and sat next to Yeosang.
“Is something wrong, Yeo? Are you running a fever,” he asked as he tenderly placed the back of his hand on Yeosang’s forehead.
“I-I’m fine…can I ask you something,” Yeosang looked up at his friend.
“Always, what’s on your mind?”
“Why did you call me ‘little one’ earlier,” he asked in a shy tone.

San removed his hand from his friend’s forehead and placed it on his cheek, cupping it lightly.
“Oh Yeo, my little Yeosang. I simply called you that because it felt right in the moment. I’ve seen other people use that as an endearing term. It works well in this case because you’re smaller than me.”
“Shut up, San,” the older whined and lightly shoved the other’s shoulder.
“Alright alright,” the blonde chuckled, “Did me calling you ‘Little one’ upset you? If so, then I won’t call you that again.”
“N-No…it’s not that,” Yeosang shyly rubbed the back of his head, “I kind of liked it. It made me…happy,” he sheepishly looked back down at his lap as a light hue of red spread across his cheeks.
San smiled.
“Well good, then that’s your nickname for me now.”
Yeosang looked up with wide, glittery eyes.
“But don’t let anyone else call you that. If they do, you tell me, alright Little One,” San added, lifting Yeosang’s chin with one finger. This only brightened the red color sweeping across his face. He could only nod in response.

“The stew should be almost done, I made your favorite kind,” the lean blonde stood from the stuffed animal-covered bed, but he was halted in his tracks.
Yeosang gently grabbed the younger’s wrist.
“H-Have…” Yeosang started shyly, “Have you ever heard of something called ‘littlespace?”
San smiled as he sat back down in front of his friend, cupping both of his lightly heated cheeks once again.
“Yes, in fact, I have.”
Yeosang looked up at San with soft eyes.
“You have? Where from?”
“Well, a little over two months ago, I was doing some research on something when I came across the term. I looked more into it, and it started sounding very similar to a lovely person in my life.”
Yeosang’s eyes trembled.
“I learned why that lovely person felt so safe with me to let their guard down, more so than they do with other people, even their other close friends. It warmed my heart that the person saw me as their safe space. It made me want to make sure that nothing would harm them and to protect them. I want to make sure that they know that I care about them as much as they do me.”
Yeosang’s eyes began to water as he quickly became embraced in his best friend’s arms.
“So you aren’t embarrassed that I’m like this,” Yeosang looked back up at San.
“No, Sangie, I’m not. I never have been, and I never will be, so get that thought out of your head,” the younger said, rubbing the back of the brunette’s head.
“Thank you, San…for always being there for me.”

“Forever and always, little one.”