Chapter Text
“Higher, Dari!” Raine squealed from the swing-forward. They flew back, and Darius shoved them harder so they took off higher into the air. Raine laughed and laughed and kicked their feet, squealing as they soared backward on the swing. “Higher!”
Darius laughed, but he pushed them harder once more. “If you go much higher, you’re gonna loop around the swingset!” he said, though Raine didn’t seem too scared of that idea.
“I wanna go all’a way ‘round!”
They’d gone to the park after school just to play and have fun. Darius thought it’d be a good idea to get that extra energy out of the regressor before trying to get them to do homework. He was very grateful that they were alone at the park, knowing how embarrassed Raine would be if anyone saw them like this.
“What’re you guys doing?”
That is, they were alone until Alador showed up. Raine squeaked, and Darius grabbed the chains on the swing to stop them. Alador rose a brow at the two, clearly unsure of what they were up to. After all, Darius hanging out with Raine Whispers was a new development, one that Alador wasn’t completely in the loop about. Darius just glared at him and hopped up to put his feet in the swing seat. He squatted down so his chin rested on Raine’s shoulder, and if Raine didn’t know any better, they'd think he was trying to make Alador jealous.
“Just hanging out,” Darius finally said. “Where’s the hag?”
Alador crossed his arms, eyes narrowed at Darius. “You shouldn’t call her that,” he said. Darius just rolled his eyes. “Odalia’s signing us up for a play. You should join us!”
“How ‘bout no,” Darius snarled. “I don’t wanna be near her, and it’s gross that you’re fine with being with her.”
“Dari,” Raine whispered, and Darius finally looked at the regressor. Raine looked so nervous, and their face was so red. In an instant, Darius melted, and he climbed off the swing to let them breathe. Raine hopped down and grabbed their bag, tossing it on their shoulder before taking Darius’s hand. “Wanna go home, now,” they mumbled.
Darius squeezed their hand, his small apology, and picked up his own bag.
“Are you okay, Raine…?” Alador asked. He stepped closer, and Darius had to restrain himself from sending an abomination to carry him far away. Raine curled against Darius and hugged him close.
“They’re fine, they just don’t spend their time around hacks who need sleezy salesmen to boost their ego.”
“Dari,” Raine fussed. He just tugged Raine along quickly, disappearing into their neighborhood before Alador could say anything else. “Dari, that was mean,” Raine said once they were nearly to Darius’s house.
“He knows it’s true,” was all Darius said. He shoved open the door and dragged Raine off to his room. He threw his bag down on his desk and collapsed on his bed. “They’re trying to sell Aboma-dolls at school so you can have an abomination do your homework. It’s so gross. Not to mention that Odalia’s just using Alador and he doesn’t realize it- or, or maybe he just doesn’t care and I don’t know what’s worse.” Darius hated to admit that he had tears in his eyes, and he felt awful for taking Raine’s kiddie time to rant about stuff that shouldn't matter.
Raine sat down beside him and rubbed the back of his neck, just trying their best to comfort him in whatever way they could. After a moment, Darius sat up and wiped at his face, drying his eyes before giving Raine a big smile. “Hey, how ‘bout we play wolves, hm?” He needed the distraction, and taking care of Raine was his favorite distraction of all. Lucky for him, Raine was still regressed, and they nodded in agreement. Raine darted over to his closet and pulled out their wolf plush.
“Let’s play!” they squealed, jumping around. “You get to be the mommy wolf an’ I’m the baby wolf, an’ Echo can be the big brother wolf!!”
“Any room for another…?”
Raine squeaked, and both of them jerked their heads toward the doorway. Alador stood there nervously leaned against the door frame. Darius jumped up and shoved him out the door, shutting it gently so he didn’t upset Raine.
“What in the titan’s name are you doing here!?” he hissed. “Why did you follow us!?”
“Look, I know we haven’t hung out in a while, and you really don’t like Odalia…but I miss you,” Alador said. “And I know you’ve got a new friend group with Raine and Edalyn, but maybe we can still, y’know…”
Darius crossed his arms and took a step away. “Well, sorry, but we’re kinda busy right now.”
“Is there something going on with Raine…?”
“None of your damn business!” Darius's arms went to his sides, fists balled as his abomination clay flew from its holster on his side and started to morph around his hands.
The door cracked open, and Raine peeked their head out with a small smile. Darius blushed, hating how fast his heart melted over seeing Raine when he was trying to be mad. “Dari, he can play too…” The abomination clay retracted to its pouch.
He blushed brighter, crossing his arms and chewing the inside of his mouth. Alador just huffed a laugh. “Thanks, Raine,” he said. Raine tossed open the door and beamed brightly at the two. They darted over to Darius’s desk and grabbed the wolf ears they’d made a week before.
“You can borrow Eda’s ears for now but I can make you some too!”
Darius rolled his eyes. He didn’t know how to feel about Alador potentially hanging out more often. “So, how do we play?” Alador asked. He flopped down on the ground beside Raine, who fished a pacifier out of Darius’s bag and jammed it in their mouth. They grabbed another that was missing the nipple, and they stuck it to their stuffed wolf's mouth. He raised a brow and looked to Darius, who refused to meet his eyes.
“Well, ‘m the baby wolf and Dari’s the mommy, but you can be the daddy wolf!”
“What!?” Darius yelped. Raine just giggled and scooted over, fixing Darius’s ears on his head.
“It was Echo’s idea!” they said around their pacifier.
“Oh I’m sure it was, brat,” Darius fussed. “Get in the den, you’re grounded.”
“Nooooo!” Raine crawled away, practically begging Darius to chase after them. Unfortunately for them, Darius cheated and stood up, tackling them to the carpet. “Dariiiii!”
Alador laughed, and Darius froze. That just didn’t feel right. Raine got the upper hand, then, and flipped them around so they could run away.
“Alador, ‘tect me!”
“I’ve got you, Raine!”
Darius huffed and glared at the two. This was not fair.