fandom little space oneshots

idk- sk8

requested by: Wolfmasterstar89

little: kaoru

cg: kojiro

The restaurant was quieter than usual, the dinner rush having come and gone. Kojiro sighed in contentment as he wiped down the counters, enjoying the rare moment of peace. His thoughts wandered, as they often did, to Kaoru. The man was an enigma wrapped in elegance, always so composed and refined. But tonight, Kojiro noticed something different about him—something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Kaoru sat at their usual table, his eyes distant as he absentmindedly traced patterns on the tabletop. Kojiro approached him, smiling as he placed a steaming cup of tea in front of his friend.

"Everything okay, Kaoru? You've been quiet tonight," Kojiro asked, leaning against the table.

Kaoru blinked, as if pulled from deep thought, and offered a small smile. "Just... tired, I suppose."

Kojiro frowned. There was more to it than that, but he didn't want to push. "You know you can talk to me, right? If something's bothering you."

Kaoru's smile faltered, and he looked away, his fingers continuing their idle tracing. "I know, Kojiro. It's just... hard to explain."

Kojiro pulled up a chair and sat across from him, sensing the need to be closer. "Try me."

There was a long pause before Kaoru finally spoke, his voice softer than usual. "Do you ever feel like... you just want to let go? To not have to be so strong all the time?"

Kojiro's heart ached at the vulnerability in Kaoru's words. "Yeah, I get that. Everyone needs a break sometimes."

Kaoru nodded slowly, his eyes downcast. "It's more than that for me. Sometimes... I just want to be small. To not have to worry about anything."

The confession hung in the air between them, and Kojiro felt a pang of realization. He'd heard of things like this before—age regression, they called it. A way for people to cope with stress, to feel safe and cared for in a way they might not have been able to before.

"Kaoru," Kojiro began gently, "do you... do you regress?"

Kaoru flinched slightly at the word, his eyes flicking up to meet Kojiro's. He didn't answer, but the look in his eyes said it all.

Kojiro's heart swelled with compassion. He reached across the table, taking Kaoru's hand in his own. "It's okay. You don't have to hide that from me."

Kaoru's eyes filled with unshed tears, and he squeezed Kojiro's hand tightly. "I didn't want you to think I was weak."

"Hey," Kojiro said firmly, "you're not weak. Not by a long shot. Everyone has their own way of dealing with things, and if this helps you, then that's what matters."

Kaoru's grip on Kojiro's hand loosened slightly, his shoulders relaxing. "Thank you," he whispered.

Kojiro smiled warmly, squeezing Kaoru's hand one more time before letting go. "How about we close up for the night and head upstairs? We can watch a movie or something. Whatever you want."

Kaoru nodded, a hint of relief washing over his features. "I'd like that."

As they stood to leave, Kojiro noticed the way Kaoru's posture changed, his usually poised and confident demeanor giving way to something softer, more childlike. It wasn't something he'd ever seen before, but it made sense now.

Once they were upstairs in Kojiro's cozy apartment, Kaoru seemed to relax even more. He gravitated towards the couch, curling up in a corner with a small smile. Kojiro grabbed a blanket and draped it over him, making sure he was comfortable.

"Do you want anything else? Maybe something sweet?" Kojiro asked, his voice gentle.

Kaoru's eyes lit up at the mention of sweets, and he nodded eagerly. Kojiro chuckled softly, heading to the kitchen to grab a plate of mochi. When he returned, he found Kaoru clutching a small stuffed rabbit Kojiro didn't remember having. He must've brought it from home, but it was cute seeing him with it now.

Kojiro sat down next to him, placing the plate on the coffee table. "Here you go. Enjoy."

Kaoru's eyes widened as he reached for the mochi, his movements slow and deliberate as if savoring the moment. He took a bite, and a small, pleased hum escaped his lips. Kojiro couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"Good?" Kojiro asked, already knowing the answer.

"Mhm," Kaoru mumbled around another bite, his eyes crinkling in happiness.

They spent the next hour like that, Kaoru snuggled up with his rabbit and Kojiro keeping a watchful, caring eye on him. They didn't need to talk much—just being together was enough.

As the night wore on, Kaoru's eyelids grew heavy, and he eventually drifted off, his head resting against Kojiro's shoulder. Kojiro didn't move, not wanting to disturb him. He looked down at his sleeping friend, a deep sense of protectiveness washing over him.

"I've got you, Kaoru," Kojiro whispered, brushing a strand of hair from Kaoru's face. "I'll always be here for you."

And in that quiet moment, Kojiro knew that this was just the beginning of something new and beautiful between them