Chapter Text
The final bell rang, and I packed up my stuff, grabbing my bag. Before I could even step out the door, I saw Pierce with his usual kind smile.
Yeah...still wasn't sure if I wanted to do this or not. I kept flip-flopping between hell no and absolutely yes. Life had been way too confusing recently.
"Zach, let's go," Pierce said, giving me a once-over before grabbing my hand, leading me out of the school. He seemed to always make sure I was okay when he saw me, and I....liked it...I think. I wasn't used to it for sure, my parents are usually too busy for that.
That also showed they trusted me enough to take care of myself, which was good...right?
I came out of my thoughts and stifled a yawn. I seriously needed to go home and sleep. At this rate, I was going to end up on the ground and ruin my clothes, which was something I was pretty sure my parents wouldn't appreciate.
"You didn't get to sleep earlier, did you? You better after this," Pierce said, spotting his new concerned look that he seemed to always be wearing these days. It was like when you buy a new shirt and that's all you'd wear for a week.
I mean...it was nice that he cared enough to mention it- oh shut up Zach, you're 16 and don't need this. But, I crossed his mind and-
Okay, I was not going to think about this anymore. I couldn't for the life of me pick a side.
"I will. Don't worry about it," I replied, making sure my inner turmoil didn't show up on my face.
"I'll ask about it later," he said simply, still leading me by the hand to the store.
Was he seriously going to ask me if I slept later? That was- oh nope, not thinking about it, or my body was going to get that weird feeling again.
Before I knew it, we passed the automatic doors and entered the air-conditioned building, the cool feeling the only thing making me realize we made it. I was not usually this absent-minded, right?
He took a shopping cart and I followed him, ending up in an aisle of video games. Everything in me said that I had no business here. I sighed, tapping Pierce on the shoulder. He turned around, giving me a curious look.
"I...really don't think I'm into these types of games. I'll just end up not using it," I explained cautiously, hoping he wouldn't be angry with me.
"You play games at my house though?"
"Yeah, I know. And, those are fun, yeah, but I have no interest in playing them alone, you know?"
He nodded, pulling the cart out of the aisle, taking me by surprise by smiling. "That's fair, we'll get something else, yeah?"
He...wasn't disappointed? Okay...
He started walking away, and I followed him. We passed by where the small stand of books was, but Pierce didn't stop.
"Hey, they're right here?" I said, pointing to the stand.
"That's a really tiny selection of recent releases. I'll take you to the library where you can find something you like, and if you really enjoy it, then you can buy it."
So...another location. Alright.
It took a second to realize where we were going next, and when I did, I took hold of the cart, stopping him. "We're not getting any baby stuff."
"You sure? The next time you slip at my place, I want to make sure you have everything. You can slip down to about one, right?"
That...was what my 'age range' was, right? So, the answer would then be yes. I nodded, and that just made Pierce keep going towards the aisle, saying that his baby needed some extra stuff. I bet my face was a tomato by this point.
Staying at the edge of the aisle, not wanting to go in, I looked around the store, just wanting Pierce to finish up so we could leave the area. I glanced at him once and saw the package that he'd just picked up.
Diapers.
There was no way on earth that I was using those things.
But, imagine the affection he'd give you if you acted so helpless- but diapers?? DIAPERS? It's a little weird, but consider? Absolutely not. But he'd have to dote on you so much. No diapers.
I walked over to him, grabbed the package and swiftly put it back where he got it from. "There's no way I'm getting in those things.
"Zach, I know it might be embarrassing, but many Littles with a headspace as young as yours need them. Haven't you had an accident in headspace before?"
How....would I even answer this question? If I say no, then he'd figure out I'd been lying to him this whole time, but if I say yes, I mean, diapers??
"I get it's embarrassing to admit it, Zach, but your silence has told me all I need to know," Pierce said gently as he picked up the diaper package again.
Just what have I gotten myself into?
I decided to look into the cart and see what he had in it. A teether and a few toys for babies. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die of embarrassment.
"It's okay to like them, Zach," Pierce said, looking at me fondly. "I think it's super cute you're finally showing this side to me. You're such an adorable Little."
I blushed, staring at the ground, a warm feeling spreading from my heart throughout my chest, making an appearance.
Maybe...just maybe....this was worth it.
I rubbed my eyes, reminded of my serious need to sleep. My head was already starting to run slower than I was used to.
We got out of the baby aisle, and I was following Pierce again, scanning the aisles until I saw one filled with toys, but for a young child instead of a baby. My eyes specifically caught on an RC bulldozer, and I wandered down the aisle to just....look at it up close. I picked it up and examined it, feeling a little confused by the growing desire to use it.
"Zach? What are you doing?" I heard Pierce call, the rattling of the cart getting closer. RC trucks were obviously not for literal babies, so it would look extremely suspicious to be holding one. I put it back on the shelf and met him halfway.
"I was just looking around, you know?" I said, taking hold of the cart and attempting to drag it out of the aisle. Pierce took hold of it and stopped me before I could get anywhere.
"You want the RC toy?" he asked encouragingly.
"Uh no, just thought it'd be something Kai liked," I said dismissively. If I took that to Pierce's house, it'd make it even harder to pretend to have a young headspace because I'd surely be using it the entire time.
"You sure?" he asked. "I can get it."
"No, it's okay," I confirmed, pulling the cart away from the toy again.
You dimwit, that bulldozer looked sick! Go back and get it! No, that'll ruin everything. But, it's so cool! I have an RC truck at home, I'll just use that there. But you don't have one at Pierce's house! I have a role to play at his house. But doesn't it look so fun- Shut up.
Looking around at where I was again, I saw that we were at the checkout, Pierce already paying for the stuff.
Maybe you could come back for the bulldozer- I already have an RC vehicle. Shut it.
Pierce took me to the library next and let me look around for books I liked. It took a while to get that stupid bulldozer out of my head, but when it finally left, I focused intently on which books I could possibly find interesting. I hadn't read a fiction book in so long, I didn't really know what I'd like.
Eventually, Pierce just gave me a few books from a few different genres to start and tell him which ones I liked the best so we could go back and get more.
"We...we're....coming back?" I asked as he checked out the books.
"Of course we are! How am I going to get more books for my Zachie?" he said cheerfully.
And, there I was, blushing again, not sure if I should squash the returning warm feeling or embrace it. This was too much for my brain today.
"I'll walk you home?"
"Uh, sure," I agreed, taking the items from him. "Um, thanks...for the stuff by the way."
He hugged me, my brain shutting off the entire time. "Anytime, especially with the way you react each time."
I looked away, muttering, "Playing me like a fiddle or something, the jerk."
"Who bought you all those things? A jerk, you say?"
"Sorry," I mumbled, and he laughed, heading towards my place.
Once we got there, he gave me one last once over, a thumbs up and left. I turned around to unlock the door with my key, but missed the placement the first three times.
After I finally got the door open, I went inside and straight to my room. Putting my new stuff away, my plan was to go straight to my bed, my head not functioning properly at all, but then my eyes fell on the RC truck Kai got for me.
I checked the time, 4:30 P.M.
I could...give it...just one spin. Couldn't hurt.
I took out the controller and put some batteries in. I started the truck, and a small, unfamiliar feeling of excitement coursed through me.
I immediately grabbed the truck and took it outside. I placed it on the paved ground near my house and started moving it, watching it zoom faster than I was expecting.
Woah...this was cool.
I drove it across the pavement and around the lawn, trying to get a handle on it. I put it on full speed and watched it zoom across the grass.
Why don't...I try run with it?
........
After almost ending up on my face a few times, I decided to just move it around and walk.
I drove it around in every possible way I could find, even taking some bigger rocks I could find from down the road and some cardboard to use as ramps. Everything else faded into the back of my mind.
I only realized how long I spent when my phone in my pocket buzzed. I checked it, and it was my mom telling me that dinner was ready.
It was 8:00 PM. I'd been using this one truck for three and a half HOURS.
I quickly took the truck back to my room and went to the kitchen for dinner, already making plans on when I was going to use it the next day.