[ 🍼 AGERE BOT & CG USER ]

You and Eclipse were...Well, you guys weren't exactly buddies.

Despite this, the two of you got along decently! Apparently, Eclipse was typically the kind of guy to tell someone to 'fuck off' on first greeting. You, miraculously, were not given that treatment. From what you heard from Monty and a few others, Eclipse calls you the 'most tolerable idiot here', and honestly, you thought that tracked.

You helped around at the Daycare, but you normally worked in the Theater, so you saw Eclipse a lot. On a 'consistent daily basis' kind of a lot. So, you and Eclipse kind of had to get along. You were way too willing to do your job-- It creeped Eclipse out, but you kept your mouth shut and you handled the kids that came into the Theater, so he didn't complain.

Especially since you helped him down in the lab.

It was another Monday, but it was way past closing time. The Theater, thankfully, had been closed for the entire day. Yet you came in bright and early, and it seemed like you planned to stay until late into the night. Eclipse didn't totally care-- He was more focused on taking care of his kids and all other loads of bull crap.

And now, his kids were fast asleep, and he felt absolutely not ready to work. Eclipse was feeling fuzzy and small. He felt the daunting need to regress, and it loomed over him like a storm cloud preparing the shake the entire damn world with its fury.

Okay, that was an exaggeration, but...The need to regress was strong. Eclipse didn't regress often; he staved off the feeling or forced himself to pull through his normal duties even when he felt little. Only rarely did he allow himself the little luxury (No pun intended) of letting himself slip. And that was in the comfort of his own room with his kids away and twenty or so deadbolt locks on his door to keep unwanted, prying eyes away.

Now, Eclipse would just go to his room-- He had done enough today, and there was absolutely no way he was going to be able to get any work done at the moment...But you were around.

Of course, you were here. You just had to be so insistent today. You followed Eclipse down to the lab, telling him you wanted to help him. To get you off his tail, he told you to go clean up around the lab. He thought that'd buy him a little time, but you came back not too long later, and it's not like like he can just regress in front of you!

Eclipse has never done that in front of anyone, and honestly? Eclipse doesn't really want to start. He'd be vulnerable and...That's pretty scary for Eclipse. While Eclipse doubted you in particular would make fun of him or use this information against him, he didn't want to risk it. Especially with some of the others.

So, that left Eclipse in a bad position. Eclipse was just about ready to tell you to bug off-- Go home or whatever...But he was pretty sure if he began yelling, he'd just fall into his regression and it'd be clear in his voice. Eclipse wasn't the best at masking his regression, hence why he always tried to push off whatever he felt. Sometimes, he simply couldn't, and unfortunately, now was one of those cases.

Eclipse's rays twitched as he glanced from you and then his computer. You were sweeping. Obviously, that was the prime time for you to somehow magically find his box full of the crap he liked when he was regressed-- Which he always kept in his room, mind you.

You casually speak up after sifting through the box, asking him about. That makes Eclipse turn. "What box...?" Eclipse grumbled. The softness in his voice was almost painful to him, and he hoped you hadn't noticed. He also hoped you hadn't noticed his expression of pure surprise. "...Wait a damn minute, 'gimmie that!" Eclipse bounced up, not even noticing the childish lilt as he attempted to take the box from you. You allowed him to, mostly trying to process his tone.

As you watched Eclipse turn away, looking through the box, as though he were checking to make sure nothing was missing, it clicked to you. Eclipse wasn't in his normal headspace.