Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Adam had just walked into the lounge when he heard the frustrated whine followed by a few sniffles and whimpers. 

He'd been staying at the hotel for a while now, after he was reborn as a lamb-like sinner with his mask’s horns growing atop his head. While he usually stuck to himself and avoided the other residents (aside from when he needed to partake in “redemption activities”), these noises were loud enough to draw his focus.  

Immediately upon entering the room, his lamb ears perked up in attention and he found his hooves carried him towards the sounds on instinct. 

He recognized that sort of noise, centuries alive training him to look out for it even after he died and ascended to Heaven. It was part of why Sera trusted him to run the Exorcists, and babysit new heaven-born or younger angels. 

It was the cries of a child . 

That’s not something a good father will ever forget. But why were they at the hotel, of all places? No one here had a kid that he knew of. Then again, he hadn’t really cared to check. 

Wandering towards the couch, he was mildly surprised to see Charlie sitting crisscrossed on the floor, hunched over a pile of papers and colorful pens scattered in front of her. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, blonde hair sticking wildly out of her ponytail and doing little to hide the tears dripping off her nose onto the ground below her. 

Adam was going to mock, maybe tease the young princess, but the energy to do so died when he heard another high frustrated whine come from the princess. Instead, it was replaced by a familiar sort of protectiveness; a father looking out for his child. She was crying like she was a toddler, and that struck something odd in Adam. 

He did miss his kids, after all. 

So, cautiously, he knelt down beside the girl. His voice was gentle when he spoke, “Charlie? You ok?”
Charlie jumped with a squeak, looking over at Adam with wide, teary eyes. The expression on her face was so familiar, seen hundreds of times by his own children when they were little. Then again by his grandkids and great-grand kids.  Any doubt about wanting to help her was crushed by the pitiful expression before him, although he couldn’t explain why she seemed so young to him.  

He frowned, moving and sitting crisscross beside her. “What’s wrong Charlie?”

Charlie sniffled, turning back to her papers and staring at them for a moment. Then, with anger the size of a toddler’s, kicked them away from her with a huff. “Can’d think!” She whined. Her voice was higher pitched than normal, her words slurred slightly in reminiscence of childhood. 

“Hey, no kicking,” Adam gently reprimanded on instinct. She really did seem like a kid. Why Charlie was acting so much like a child, Adam still couldn’t explain, but the father in him took to a parental role regardless. 

“Sowwy…” Charlie murmured, hugging herself tighter.

Adam patted her shoulder. “It’s ok, kid. What do you mean, can’t think? Are you having trouble focusing on your work?” Charlie nodded. “Do you need some help?”

She furiously shook her head. “Too small now… No want work…”

Adam’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Too small? What do you mean by that?”

Charlie looked over with something akin to surprise, before her expression fell to somewhat thoughtful. She moved to her hands and knees, crawling amidst the papers and digging through them. Adam waited patiently, figuring Charlie was looking for something specific. 

He was right when she gave a little, “Aha!” and proudly handed over a packet of papers to Adam. Across the top read ‘ Coping Mechanisms ’. Before Adam could read much else, Charlie flipped through the packet to a page titled ‘ Age Regression .’

Adam’s eyebrows quirked up and he took the document away from Charlie, carefully skimming through the page, understanding dawning on him the longer he read. 

“Oh, I see…” he murmured before looking up at Charlie. The girl— who was regressed, if the papers were to be believed— was hugging herself again, suddenly shy as she looked anywhere but directly at him. 

Adam smiled at the younger. “How old are you feeling then, pumpkin?” The nickname was instinctual, something he called his own kids, but neither seemed to process it. 

Charlie perked, looking over at him. She held up a hand with four of her fingers up. 

“4 years old?” Charlie nodded in confirmation. “Do you have a, uh– Care…” Adam quickly glanced down at the packet for the term– “Caregiver?”

Charlie nodded again and then pouted. “They no here… Mami out wif Allie, and daddy gon at meetin’.”

Adam had to wrack his brain for a moment to think who was out, but quickly pieced together that “mami” was Vaggie and “daddy” was Lucifer. He remembered the pair mentioning their plans earlier that morning during the required ‘hotel breakfast’, but hadn’t paid full attention to how long they’d be gone. He regretted that now, but it was fine. He knew how to care for a toddler until either of them got back. Even if said toddler was bigger than normal. 

“Well, since they’re gone, are you ok with me watching you? I don’t think you should be alone right now while you’re feeling little.”

Charlie’s eyes widened. “You wan’a wach me?”

“Only if you want me to. I’m pretty good with you youngins! I am the first dad, after all!” Adam teased, puffing out his chest and putting his hands on his sides playfully, making Charlie giggle. 

“Otay!” She grinned. “We color?”

“If you want to sweetie, then sure!”

Charlie squealed in excitement, jumping up and gathering the papers and setting aside blank ones. Adam got up too, helping the little out by grabbing all the forgotten pens strewn about. 

Once everything was found, they pulled over the coffee table so it was next to the couch and sat with their own blank papers and the pens laid between them. Adam leaned against the front of the couch, on the floor, and Charlie was across from him. 

Charlie happily got to work drawing, starting with a line of stick figures all holding hands. Adam sorta began to color something, but gave up mid-way and was content just watching Charlie draw happily instead. It reminded him of his own kids, when they learned how to use rocks and bark as paper and pencil. It was oddly endearing, and maybe a bit nostalgic, to watch Charlie draw. 

At one point, her tongue stuck out and her brows furrowed in concentration, carefully coloring in a piece of her drawing as in-the-lines as her regressed mind could. When she finished that small section, Adam made sure to praise her for “doing so well coloring in the lines!” Which made her beam in pride.

He pretended not to notice how that made his heart swell, his own children’s expressions blending with hers. 

Around 20 minutes later, Charlie finally exclaimed “Don’!” just as the doors to the hotel opened. Vaggie and Alastor strolled in, with the latter thanking Vaggie for her assistance and disappearing into the shadows as soon as they crossed the threshold.

Charlie’s head snapped over towards the door and she squealed, “Mami!” Jumping up, she bolted towards Vaggie. 

“Charlie!” Vaggie exclaimed right back, opening her arms and quickly scooping Charlie up as the little jumped and wrapped her legs around the ex-exorcist’s waist. “Hows my little girl doing?”

“I draw! Look, look!” Charlie squealed, pointing towards the coffee table and Adam. 

Vaggie looked towards the man and visibly tensed, eyes narrowing. Adam noticed her tighten her grip protectively around Charlie. 

Adam rolled his eyes. “Before you freak out at me, I did nothing wrong. I found her regressed and watched over her while we waited for you. I promise.”

Charlie vigorously nodded her head in agreement. “He comfo’ted me, mami! Me and Adam color! Look!” She tugged on Vaggie’s shirt, leaning half out of the former angel’s grip now, to try and get Vaggie to walk towards the lounge. 

The caregiver did so, walking over to Adam and sitting down at the couch next to him. Charlie immediately scrambled out of her arms in favor of grabbing her drawing and presenting it to the older pair. “Look!”

The drawing was a bunch of stick figures with various different features drawn onto them, clearly representing members of the hotel. Charlie was at the center, evident by the long yellow hair and red eyes, with Vaggie on one side and Adam on the other (evident by his horns and lamb ears). Next to Vaggie was Lucifer, then Alastor, then Nifty, and next to Adam was Angel, then Husk, then Razzle. 

Both Vaggie and Adam cooed at the little, with Vaggie praising, “It looks amazing pequeña!”

“Can we han’ it up, mami?” Charlie pleaded. 

“Of course we can, bebe,” Vaggie agreed. 

Adam reached under the table, where Charlie’s previous work stuff now lay forgotten, and grabbed a tape roll that had been discarded. “Here, I can do it. Where do you want it kiddo?”

“Whe’e all can see!” Charlie cried, clapping her hands excitedly. Adam and Vaggie chuckled at the response. 

Adam carefully taped the drawing above the fireplace, figuring that was a safe bet. Once done, he sat the tape down on the table and looked at Charlie. “Good?”

Charlie was beaming and she squealed, “T’ank you!” and wrapped Adam up into a tight embrace. 

Adam smiled and hugged back. “You’re welcome. Now, go hang out with your mami ok? You be good for her.”

“I will!” Charlie agreed, letting go and flopping down onto the couch beside Vaggie with a giggle. 

Vaggie watched the scene unfold with a soft smile. As Adam turned and began to walk away, she quickly called out, “Adam?”

“Ya?”

“Thank you for watching her.”

Adam gave a thumbs up. “Anytime. If there’s one thing I’m good with, it’s kids. Let me know if you ever need a babysitter.”

And with that, he headed back to his room.

Chapter Text

After learning about age regression from Charlie, Adam decided to scour Hell’s internet for more information. He had gotten a phone from Charlie not long ago as a reward for doing well in his redemption goals (aka, not being a dick to everyone just to stir up trouble) so he was able to access much of the internet down here, without it entirely being dictated by one sinner.

There wasn’t really a reason that he decided to dig deep into the topic— frankly he wasn’t sure why he even bothered— but something in him told him to research whatever he could. 

While there wasn’t a ton of information out there about age regression, there were still quite a few people who utilized the mechanism to handle being in Hell. Adam read just about everything on the subject, although avoided the more… sexual territory, scrunching his nose in distaste at the thought. Who would ever do that with a child, physically one or not?

Adam wasn’t sure if he’d ever need the knowledge again, but he still searched for any and all information he could find on how to help regressed littles and how to tell when someone was regressed.

The knowledge he acquired ended up being of use, much sooner than he expected. 

Adam was in the living room, scrolling through random apps on his phone and listening to the rest of the hotel residents chat around him, when the door flung open with a loud bang !

The noise caught the attention of everyone as they all looked over to see Angel Dust stumbling into the building. 

The spider demon’s fur was ruffled in some places and matted in others, with clear bruising and even some cuts and scrapes staining his white fur into red. (There were other fluids, too, but Adam chose not to think too hard about those.) Angel was shaking, hugging himself with two sets of arms and using a third— surprisingly out on display— to steady himself against the doorframe.

Charlie and Husk immediately ran over, each with exclamations of worry and concern, but the moment they got close they were shoved away.

“ Don’t Touch Me! ” Angel shrieked, stumbling away from the others. The sound made Adam’s ears stand straight up. He knew that emotion quite well. 

“Angel, love, what’s-” Husk tried, but Angel cut him off as he ran past the cat demon. 

As he passed by Adam, the first father recognized the expression on the sinner’s face; a distressed child, terrified of the world around them. 

Angel was regressed . 

Husk started after the spider, but Charlie quickly stopped him. 

Husk’s fur bristled. “Move out of the way princess, I’m going after my boyfriend.”

“Husk, Angel looked really upset…” Charlie tensed at Husk’s angry expression. “I know you want to help him, but- Maybe you should let him cool down for a few moments first? He doesn’t normally push you away like that…”

Husk frowned. “I guess… you’re right… But it’s- it’s Angel and given how he looked and his damn job-”

Adam didn’t hear the rest of the conversation as he stood and slipped away from the others, heading to where he knew Angel Dust’s room was. 

He’d never really… interacted with the sinner before, only knew him from the porn he’d had snuck into heaven, but Adam knew children no matter their age. 

He could do this…

… couldn’t he?

When Adam reached the decorated door, he gently knocked. 

“Go away, whoever you are!” He heard on the other side. The voice had a certain pitch to it, not quite child but definitely not adult . “I don’t want to see anyone!”

Adam tried the handle anyway, finding it unlocked and poking his head inside.

Angel was curled up on his bed, two sets of arms wrapped around himself and the third still out, clutching a pillow close. He snarled as he heard the door open and turned to face the person. 

Adam held his hands up in surrender, keeping his tone easy and calm. “Look, I know I’m probably not your favorite person, but I figured talking to me might be better than being pitied by the others.”

Angel looked confused and hesitantly sat up, pillow dropping into his lap. Adam took that as his cue to step into the room, gingerly closing the door behind him and walking over to the other.

“Wha… Why…?” Angel muttered. “Why would you check on me…?”

“‘Cause, I know what a distressed teenager looks like, even if the body they’re in appears older.” Adam stated. 

Angel’s eyes widened and he pulled the pillow up to his face in embarrassment. “How did you-?!”

“I’m a dad, Angel. You don’t just forget how to care for kids, at least if you actually try to in the first place.” Adam sat at the edge of the bed and patted the space in front of him. “Now c’mon, talk to me. How old are you feeling?”

Angel peeked out from behind the pillow and shrugged. “Like… Fifteen… Maybe fourteen…” He mumbled. 

“Does Husk know?” Angel shook his head. 

That mildly surprised Adam. He knew the sinners had been dating, so he had expected Husk to be Angel’s caregiver. But that was fine, he could work with that. 

“He’s gonna want to check on you later, he’s giving you space for a bit… If he walks in while you're regressed, is it ok that I mention he should talk to you about it?”

Angel hesitated then slowly nodded. “I didn’... wan’ him to see me like this… jus’ yet… ‘S why I ran… But I wan’ him to know, eventually…” 

Adam nodded in understanding. “That makes sense… I won’t say anything unless he actively comes in here, ok? It doesn’t matter right now, anyway. But what I really gotta ask… is there a reason why you’ve started to regress today…?”

Angel was silent, though he pulled his face out from hiding and rested his chin on the edge of the plush pillow. He shrugged again, looking down at the comforter. One of his hands unlatched itself from its position and rubbed itself against the smooth fabric. 

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want, kid,” Adam reassured. “I’m sure there’s not much I can do anyway, but sometimes talking can help… Does it have something to do with older-you’s job…?” Adam remembered reading something about distinguishing ‘adult’ versus ‘little’ versions of regressors, so he decided doing that here would be of help. Angel likely didn’t want to think about his day, but it was important to get the spider demon to vent a bit and release those emotions. 

It took another moment, but slowly Angel nodded. “Val reminded me of my pops today… He was mad’r than ‘ell and hit me alot… Made me feel small… All day I tried not to, but at the end of th’night he- he tried to kiss me, and I just… I couldn’t hold it in anymore, I tried to stop him and-” Angel’s eyes welled with tears and Adam quickly moved from his position to Angel’s side. 

“Hey hey hey, it’s ok, it’s ok,” Adam hushed, pulling Angel into a hug. The spider demon let go of the pillow in order to wrap all his arms tight around Adam’s torso instead, sobbing into his shoulder. “Shhh, it’s okay Angel. You’re safe now, you’re here at the hotel, I’ve got you. No one here will let anything happen to you while you’re in these walls.”

Adam rubbed one of his hands along Angel’s back in soothing circles, continuing to whisper words of comfort to the other. He could feel tears soak into his shirt, let alone the other bodily fluids coating Angel’s fur, but the first man couldn’t care less. Not while he was busy comforting a teen. Not while he was busy being a dad . 

It reminded him so much of when he was alive, comforting his children at all ages. He’d been in so many similar situations before, holding his sons and/or daughter’s close and easing their worries with his presence… Even his grand and great-grandchildren, especially when sin started to run more rampant into his family following Cain and Abel… It made his heart ache, remembering his family. He had tried to see them again, those who were in Heaven, but they refused. And now, he was in Hell… The ones here certainly wouldn’t want to see him. 

Holding Angel Dust now sort of made him long for a child again, picturing the demon as his son rather than just a random sinner. But Adam quickly shoved those thoughts and feelings aside, focusing his attention on his child the regressed sinner in his arms. He may not be super close with Angel— let alone the extermination stuff— but he’d always take care of a kid. That just happened to include age regressors, now. 

After a few moments, Angel’s sobs turned to whimpers, then sniffles. That’s when Adam noticed the snuffling coming from beside the bed. Adam looked over to see a pink and black pig, with little horns littered across his back, standing up on hind legs beside the bed as if trying to jump up. 

Adam carefully unwrapped one of his arms from Angel and leaned over to scoop the pig up and onto the bed. The animal immediately began to nudge at Angel Dust, who laughed wetly and pulled away just enough from Adam to wrap one set of his arms around the pig. 

Adam adjusted Angel so the sinner was comfortably snug against his side instead, looking at the pet in their lap. “Whose this little guy?”

Angel sniffed, wiping his eyes with one of his hands as he responded, “Fat Nuggets. He’s my best friend.” His voice sounded smaller now, but still no younger than a pre-teen if Adam had to guess. 

“He’s adorable,” Adam said. He poked Fat Nuggets on the snout which caused the pig to snort. Angel giggled, patting him on the back. Adam ruffled the fur on top of Angel’s head. “Tell me more about him?”

Angel perked and immediately started rambling to Adam about Fat Nuggets: his breed, how Angel got the pig, caring for him, etc. 

Adam patiently listened, occasionally asking questions and sending Angel on longer tangents. 

Soon, Angel began to wear himself out and the sinner eventually slumped against Adam, sound asleep with Fat Nuggets held close and his third set of arms hidden away. 

Adam ran his fingers through the fur around Angel’s upper back, humming quietly to continue soothing the sinner. His ears flicked up when he heard a creak and he glanced toward the door as it quietly creeped open. Adam pressed a finger to his lips, shushing the newcomer before they could disturb Angel’s sleep. 

Husk stood in surprise at the doorway, looking between both sinners in a mix of confusion and anger. He crept closer until he was against the foot of the bed and glared at the first man. “The fuck are you doing here?” Husk quietly hissed. 

“Comforting him,” Adam whispered back. 

“The hell? Why would you-”

Adam cut him off. “What do you know about age regression?” 

Husk paused. “... What?”

“Age regression, what do you know about it?” Adam patiently repeated, voice still quiet. 

Husk’s eyes narrowed. “... I know Charlie and Vaggie regress, occasionally we see one of them caring for the other… Why?”

Adam nodded and gestured for Husk to get closer as he started to shift away from Angel. “Talk to your boyfriend about it when he wakes up, I think you’d ought to hear more about it from him. But if you have any questions after, feel free to ask me. ” 

When Husk drew close enough, Adam pulled the cat down onto the bed as he stood, causing Angel to immediately cling to Husk in his sleep. Any remaining tension visibly drained from the little’s shoulders as he breathed in the comforting scent of his boyfriend. 

Adam started to walk away but paused when he heard Husk call out softly, “Thanks… For watching him.”

Adam glanced over. Husk was staring down at Angel with a mix of love and concern, one hand using its claws to try and untangle parts of the porn star’s fur hardened from lack of cleaning. 

The sight made Adam’s heart clench and he turned away. 

“Don’t mention it.”

Chapter Text

It was nearly 3 am. Adam had been walking back to his room from the kitchen, having woken up ridiculously early. Unable to fall back asleep, he had decided to get a quick snack, when he heard the whines coming from one of the bedrooms. 

He paused in the hallway, debating whether or not he should bother checking, until he heard the distressed sounding “Dada!” 

There was no turning away from that kind of cry. 

Bracing himself, Adam quickly followed the noises towards one of the hotel rooms. The door was already cracked open, so he carefully pushed his way inside and was surprised to see a blob of red hair. 

Niffty was sitting on the bed with her knees pulled to her chest, eye red and puffy with leaking tears. She had her thumb in her mouth, more or less chewing on the appendage and rocking herself back and forth. 

Adam frowned and walked over. He may not be all that favorable towards Niffty— for obvious reasons— but he wouldn’t dare leave a child on their own. Not like this. 

His voice took on the typical soft-tone he had towards children. “Hey sweetheart, you ok…?”

Niffty looked up at him in surprise, thumb popping out from her mouth. “... You not dada…” 

Adam chuckled and sat at the edge of the bed. “No, I’m not, unfortunately. But I heard you crying and came to check on you… What happened, kiddo?”

Niffty’s lower lip jutted out as fresh tears fell from her eye. “Nigh’mae…”

“Aw, nightmares are no fun…” Adam sympathized. “Wanna tell me about it? Might make you feel better.”

Niffty vigorously shook her head. “No! No t’ink! No no no!” She shrieked, starting to pull at her hair. 

“Woah, hey now, shh it's okay!” Adam assured, prying Niffty’s hands away from her head and holding them carefully in his own, which caused her to fall silent. “You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to, I just thought it might help. Would you like a distraction instead?”

Niffty hummed in affirmation, yanking her hands away from Adam in order to crawl into his lap. He wrapped his arms loosely around her and adjusted so he was sitting against the headboard of the bed. 

“Why don’t I tell you a story, huh?” Niffty perked, quickly nodding in agreement. Adam chuckled. “Alright.

“Once upon a time, there was the most beautiful garden. Full of the greenest grass, lushest bushes, and in the center stood a gorgeous tree bearing delicious looking apples…” He began.

He’d told the story millions of times, of how he and Eve were created by God, met and fell in love. How they were tricked into eating the apple, and vowed to stick by each other’s sides when cast out of Eden, giving rise to humanity. Niffty listened intently, any remaining tears dying up in favor of her eye widening with wonder.

As Adam spoke, looking down at the tiny sinner, he was taken back to all those years ago; holding his first children, Cain and Abel, in his arms as he told the tale, later doing the same for Seth, then again and again for his other sons and his daughters. For his grandchildren and their children after. Crafting the images for them with nothing but his voice.

His heart clenched painfully, the sorrow from missing his kids threatening to consume him, but he smiled down at Niffty regardless and continued from one story into another. He continued talking about the fun and wholesome tales of his family as it grew and grew after Eden, then eventually delving into biblical stories he wasn’t there for but had heard about in Heaven. He must have sat there for a couple hours, just talking to the little one in his arms. 

The longer Adam spoke, the more Niffty began to drift. Blinking her eye open in order to try and keep listening, head nodding against his chest until she finally settled into sleep. 

Carefully, he stood with the girl in his arms and pulled her covers back. Laying her gingerly onto the bed, he tucked her into the sheets. “Night kiddo,” He murmured, brushing some hair from her face and then exiting the room. 

He quietly closed the door behind him and turned towards the hallway, only to jump out of his skin when he came face to face with Alastor. 

“God damn it man!” Adam hissed, pressing a hand to his chest. “Don’t scare me like that you fucking dickass!”

“What on Earth were you doing in Niffty's room?” Alastor inquired sharply with a dangerously wide grin, radio static thick around them, as he leaned on his cane towards Adam. He was dressed as he normally was, despite it being so late at night (or early morning? How long had Adam told stories to Niffty?). Adam briefly wondered if the Radio Demon even slept. 

“I overheard her crying and went to check on her and make sure she was okay. Got a problem with that asshole?” Adam responded defensively, glaring at Alastor. 

Alastor’s eyes narrowed, leaning even closer. Radio static was now heavy in his voice when he spoke, “How very noble of you, Adam, but need I remind you that Niffty is my charge? So no lying~! What were you really doing?”
Adam snarled, shoving Alastor away from him and ignoring the sharp screech in the air as he did. “That’s what I was really doing you motherfucker! I heard her crying for her dad, clearly age regressed, and I was not about to let a child suffer on her own! I don’t care what the fuck you think of me, but I would never, ever, harm a kid, no matter their actual age, you fucking got that you cunt?” He snapped. 

Alastor leaned back in surprise, grin softening just a smidge. “She was in little space?”

“Yup,” Adam popped the P. “Surprised you even know what that is.”

“Of course I know what it is!” Alastor snapped back. “I am her primary caregiver!”

Realization dawned on the first man. “You were the ‘dada’ she was calling for, then.”

Alastor hummed. “I would imagine so, yes. Though, she has yet to regress in some time since we arrived at the hotel… By the time I realized her distress signal via our contract, you must have eased her worries because I felt nothing. I only came to check now, since I had the time and knew she hadn’t left her room. ”

Adam nodded and a frown tugged at his lips. Any fight he had against Alastor had drained away, leaving behind a concerned father trying to inform another parent of their kid’s issues. It almost reminded him of his discussions with Eve, but he shoved that thought back in his mind. He didn’t realize he began to ramble. “She had a nightmare, but didn’t want to tell me about it. So I told her some stories and distracted her until she fell asleep. If I were you, I’d try to talk to her about it when she wakes up, especially if she hasn’t regressed in a while. I read that regression can hit pretty hard if one suddenly drops into it after not needing to or repressing it for some time. Let alone the fact that nightmares can really stress a child out, given how hard it is for them to differentiate reality from imaginary when they’re so young. I don’t exactly know how nightmares work with age regression— I’m still knew to the subject— but that’s how it worked with all of my kids-”

“I had forgotten you were a father,” Alastor muttered thoughtfully. 

Adam shrugged. “A lot of people around here seem to. But I was. Once a dad, always a dad, no matter how long it's been. As long as you’re a good one, in any case.  If you ever need some assistance with Niffty, feel free to ask me. I’m going to bed now.”

Alastor nodded. “As you should, it is dreadfully late. Goodnight Adam, and…” his smile strained, “I suppose I should thank you for caring about Niffty.”

Adam waved him off, starting to walk away. “It’s nothing man, seriously. Have a nice night.”

Then Adam headed to his room and went to bed, dreaming about the family he once had. 

Chapter Text

Adam backtracked while walking past the kitchen, peering inside to see Vaggie on her tiptoes. The ex-exorcist was desperately attempting to reach the middle shelf of a cabinet but was simply too short. Instead of using a stool or a chair, hell even her wings , the former-angel was stretching as far as she possibly could to reach whatever it was (the door was blocking the contents inside from Adam’s view).

He stepped into the kitchen with a raised eyebrow. “What the fuck are you doing?”

Vaggie squeaked in surprise, flinging herself away from the cabinet. She moved back too far, however, and she ended up landing hard onto her butt. Adam was immediately about to make fun of her, but something in her expression made him pause. Her eye had welled with tears and she furiously wiped them away. Her cheeks were flushed bright red, a quiver to her lips. Adam noticed her cheek sinking in, assuming she was biting it to keep from crying. “Not-hing…” She mumbled, still biting her cheek through her words.

The whole scene made him frown. This was not like Vaggie, whether in Heaven or in Hell. She looked damn near pathetic , not at all the fearsome ex-warrior and princess’ girlfriend that she usually was. She was even curling up into herself, shoulders hunching and shying away from Adam’s gaze, nothing she has ever done in all the time he’s known her. Not to mention her voice sounded so small, it was almost like-

Realization dawned on Adam in an instant and he could practically feel his brain mentally shift gears. 

She’s regressed. 

He knew that Vaggie occasionally regressed, having assumed so based on Husk’s comment when Adam initially helped Angel. He had gotten confirmation from the bartender the next night, when Adam stopped by for a drink and the pair ended up discussing the conversation he and Angel had about regression. 

Adam hadn’t ever seen Vaggie in such a state though. He assumed she avoided him while like that, given their history. Even after he helped Charlie, Vaggie always made sure to act superior to Adam. She probably didn’t want him to think any less of his former soldier, the Exorcist’s hierarchy mentality ingrained in Vaggie. 

Seeing her like this now, though, Adam couldn’t even think of them as one in the same. This wasn’t one of his top girls. This was a child . 

Adam carefully softened his stance and walked closer to Vaggie, so he could kneel in front of her. “That was a pretty hard fall,” He commented softly, “You ok there champ?”

Vaggie’s eye widened and welled again. She looked down at her lap. “... It hurt…” She mumbled. 

“I bet. I hate getting ouchies like that, you’re handling it so much better than me.” Adam smiled in sympathy. 

“I am?” She perked, risking a glance up to the first man. 

“You are! I would be bawling like a baby if that were me!” Adam exclaimed. Vaggie giggled and shook her head. “Really! Does bigger you remember that time I fell from the bleachers during training? I was basically throwing a tantrum!”

Vaggie giggled more, covering her smile with both her hands. Adam grinned.  “You’re silly,” She said, voice muffled. 

“Oh I definitely am,” Adam agreed. “But you looked pretty silly reaching into the cabinet. Can I ask what you were after?” 

Vaggie’s hands lowered to wrap around her waist, suddenly shy again. “Wan’ed juice, bu’ mama busy… So’s I ge’ meself! Bu’ I can’t use steppy stools while small, mama says I coulds ge’ hurt…”

Adam nodded in understanding. “So you tried to reach for it, but then I startled you and you fell?” Vaggie nodded in agreement. “Well, that certainly was silly of me! How about I make it up by getting juice for you?”

Vaggie looked up at Adam in surprise and barely contained excitement. “Weally?!”

Adam chuckled, standing. “Yes really.”

Vaggie squealed, jumping up after Adam and wrapping her arms tightly around him. “Tank you, tank you!”

Adam instinctually wrapped his arms around her in turn, freezing for a moment. But he quickly melted into the hug, patting her gently on the head when she pulled away “Of course, sweetheart.” 

Adam was startled by how reminiscent the hug was to holding his own kids. Maybe it was because Vaggie was short, making her feel even more child like while regressed. Maybe it was because she was an angel. Hell, maybe it was because he knew her. But, as always, he ignored the nostalgia in favor of letting go. 

He walked over to the cabinet Vaggie originally was looking through, and noticed the assortment of bottles and sippy cups on the middle shelf. Just barely out of Vaggie’s reach, but well within Charlie’s. Probably an oversight for the taller hellborn. 

Adam grabbed a sippy cup covered in butterflies and showed it to Vaggie for approval. When she nodded excitedly, he closed the cabinet and set the cup aside in order to look through the fridge.

“What kind of juice do you want kiddo?” He asked, noticing the assortment of liquids inside. 

“Appy pweese!” Vaggie chimed.

Adam could feel his heart pang at the words, briefly thinking back to his own kids again. They used to make fresh apple juice together, having grown their own apple tree in memory of the garden. 

He quickly shook off the thoughts though, grabbing the jug of apple juice and carefully uncapping the sippy cup. He poured some juice in and closed both containers, setting the jug back into the fridge. 

Vaggie was waiting, bouncing on her heels impatiently. She immediately made grabby hands when he turned and handed her the juice. 

She practically gulped down the first few sips and Adam laughed. “Slow down, little angel. You’ll make yourself sick if you drink too quick.”

She blushed but listened, taking her next few sips slower. When she was done for the time being, she held the sippy cup to her chest and smiled up at Adam. “Tank you, ‘gain.”

Adam smiled back. “You’re welcome, kid. You have some good manners. Now, since Charlie is busy, what do you say we go into the living room and watch a cartoon or something, hm?”

Vaggie’s eyes widened and she beamed. “Ya!” Then she raised her arms up toward him. “Cawwy me?”

Adam melted , carefully picking up Vaggie and resting her on his hip. She was so much smaller than him, and weighed practically nothing, so it was easy to hold her. He almost forgot how fragile the former exorcist really was, so used to her warrior side. She wrapped her arms around his neck for stability and leaned her head against his shoulder. 

As Adam walked to the living room with Vaggie in his arms, his mind drifted to his kids again… He would hold them in a similar cradle, when they were young, all the time…

Adam has always missed his kids, ever since he died. He missed taking care of them. It was part of why Sera often had him as a babysitter, especially when Emily was first born. He could feel that longing for a kid once again.

He’d been thinking about his kids so much more lately, since finding out about age regression. He missed raising and taking care of them. Adam missed having a family…

It was a gap he was longing to fill. Taking care of the littles within the hotel helped ease that longing some, even if the memories came up more due to it. But none of them were his to care for… Even though Vaggie was one of his exorcists— and Adam would genuinely love to be a caregiver for her to make up for the shit he put her through, now that he's actually trying to be a redeemable person— she wasn’t his kid, nor his little. Charlie was her caregiver, like how Vaggie was Charlie’s, Husk was Angel’s, Alastor was Niffty’s… If only he could…

Adam shook the depressing thoughts away when they reached the living room. He settled onto the couch with Vaggie, who snuggled into his side, and turned on the tv. “What do you wanna watch, little angel?” He asked. 

“Powes Puff Giwls!” Vaggie cheered. 

Adam searched for the show and pressed play. It was clearly a human-made show and Adam wondered how Hell got shows from Earth. Probably something to do with Lucifer. He was living at the hotel now, maybe he figured something out for the sake of his daughter’s dream. Same reason how the internet wasn’t dictated by anyone, if from Charlie or Lucifer. 

He let his mind trail through the thoughts as he watched, occasionally listening to Vaggie’s childish explanations of who the characters were and why they were fighting bad guys. He only half paid attention, enough to make sure she knew he was listening so she wouldn’t get upset. 

Half way into the second episode, the pair heard a voice. 

“Vaggie!? Sweetheart, where are you?!” Charlie called.

Vaggie sat up quickly. “In here mama!” She called back

Charlie came rushing in not a moment later, relief evident on her face. “Vaggie, how did you get out here, you were supposed to be in- Oh!” She paused upon seeing Adam and smiled. “Hi Adam!”

Adam waved. “Yo. I found her in the kitchen, got her some juice and we’ve been watching tv. She said you were busy.”

Charlie rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, walking over and sitting beside them on the couch, on Vaggie’s otherside. The latter immediately crawled into Charlie’s lap, happily drinking more of her juice and watching the tv. 

“I was finishing up some paperwork, but it got away from me… I had told her to play quietly in our bedroom until I was done, but I must’ve taken too long…” Charlie explained. 

Adam shrugged, chuckling lightly. “It happens, I remember getting carried away with farmwork back when I was alive. There had been a time or two where Eve chewed me out cause I forgot I was supposed to be watching the kids.”

“Oh ya!” Charlie perked. “I forgot you had been a dad!”

“That seems to be an ongoing theme around here.”

“Well, I know she isn’t an actual kid but… I hope Vaggie wasn’t too much trouble?”

“Nah, not at all. She was really calm, actually. Though I did startle her when I first found her and she fell pretty hard. She got over it pretty quick though.”

“Oh, poor thing- She tends not to cry when she’s hurt but it must’ve-”

“ Shhh! ” Vaggie’s voice cut into the conversation. The pair looked toward the little, who was pouting at them. “Wanna waaacchh!!” 

Adam laughed. “Sorry kid, didn’t mean to interrupt your tv time.”

“Aw, sweetie, did we disturb you?” Charlie giggled and kissed Vaggie’s head. “We were just talking, lovely. Maybe you’d like to sit on the floor closer to the tv so you can hear it and we don’t upset you?”

Vaggie agreed and slid off Charlie’s lap so she could settle closer to the tv, still clutching her sippy cup close. Adorable. 

When Vaggie was settled, Charlie turned to Adam with a serious expression. “Honestly, Adam. Thank you. Not just for watching Vaggie, but also me a couple weeks ago. I also heard you helped Niffty and Angel, which you really didn’t have to do and… Really. Thank you.”

Adam sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “It's nothing, princess. Really.” He turned to face her, thinking through his thoughts carefully. “If I’m being honest… It’s kind of nice, helping care for the regressors around here… It reminds me of when I was alive, raising a family… I know you aren’t actual kids, but I miss my kids you know? Caring for people has… helped, some. And makes me feel less inclined to be- I don’t know- a jerk? To you guys? So, in a way, this is just as much a coping mechanism for me as it is for all of you.”

Charlie’s expression was soft as she smiled at Adam. “I’m glad… I know this is kind of weird, and definitely a niche topic but- If we can help in some small way, especially if it brings you closer to redemption? Then I’m thrilled!”

Adam smiled back. “Ya… Me too…”

Chapter Text

The last person Adam expected to see, late at night at his bedroom door, was Lucifer of all people. 

Adam had turned in early that evening. Charlie had started a new gardening project for a redemption activity a month or so ago, and only Adam was keen on keeping it going. He had been out in the hot Hellish air all day watering and pulling weeds, replanting new growth and fertilizing the current. So, he decided he’d only grab a quick bite of dinner and then headed to bed. 

He had only been there for a couple hours, dressed down in sweats and a t-shirt and lightly strumming his guitar (a gift from Charlie for doing well on his redemption journey), when he heard a knock on his door. 

Adam thought that it was Charlie at first. After he helped Vaggie a while back, the pair had gotten closer with the first man and now Adam was on the babysitter roster for either girl if they needed to regress but the other couldn’t watch. Or, in one instance, they both needed to regress. 

He also thought maybe it was Alastor, who stopped by every once in a while to ask Adam to watch Niffty, when the overlord had errands to run. Usually it was more so in case she regressed while Alastor wasn’t around, and the overlord just wanted someone to keep an eye out for her.

Hell, Adam would’ve expected Husk or Angel even. The couple had gotten closer to Adam after he helped Angel, and the first man often had a drink or two with them when the trio felt like it. Once in a while, he offered to help watch Angel, though they haven't taken him up on the offer yet. Maybe today would've been the day. 

Needless to say, Lucifer was not on Adam’s list. 

They’d interacted during Adam’s duration at the hotel, sure. They’d even gotten past their ‘enemies’ relationship into more of a ‘semi-close acquaintance’, but not quite to ‘friends’ like they used to be in the early days of Eden. The incident with a regressed Charlie and Vaggie certainly helped matters, as the king didn't expect Adam to actually care like he did. But otherwise, they really only interacted when the pair found themselves alone together, or partnered up during Charlie’s activities. Maybe once or twice at the bar when they both stopped by for a drink. 

What was more surprising, however, was how Lucifer looked . 

To put it simply, Lucifer looked like shit. He had dark bags under his eyes, his hair was a tousled and tangled mess, he was sweating profusely, and he was breathing kind of funny in weird, panting gasps. Not to mention, he was dressed in duck patterned pajamas that were just the stupidest thing to see on the normally pristine king. He always tried to appear professionally dressed, especially around Adam as a dominance ploy, so it was startling to see him so messed up. 

But it was what Lucifer was clenching desperately onto that kept Adam from slamming the door in the devil’s face. 

It was a plush yellow duck, with its eyes closed. It looked old and worn, sewn up in some places where rips had formed. Clearly a well loved toy. 

A comfort toy, if Adam had to guess. And sure, adults have comfort toys and there was nothing wrong with that. But this felt… different. 

Familiar . 

Adam frowned at Lucifer, pulling the door open wider and ushering the man inside without a word. He closed the door, then pulled Lucifer over to his bed and sat down with the demon. 

Lucifer was hugging the duck tight, not looking at Adam’s face and still breathing heavily. Almost like he was having a…

Oh shit.

Adam’s voice was soft as he placed a hand to Lucifer’s back. “Breathe, Lucifer… In… Out. Follow my lead, ok?” He kept breathing evenly, encouraging Lucifer to follow and rubbing soothing circles into his shoulder while he did. 

Lucifer nodded numbly. It took some time, but slowly his shaky breath carefully tried to match Adam’s. Finally, it began to even out. 

“What happened…?” Adam asked softly, when Lucifer seemed to calm. Lucifer sniffed, rubbing at one of his eyes. He shrugged, staring down at the duck in his lap. Adam’s frown deepened. “C’mon Luce, talk to me. What’s wrong?”

Lucifer was silent still. Adam worried maybe he had gone nonverbal or something and Adam would have to guess what's wrong. But after a moment, the king spoke, “I’m just… not doing well. I’ve been feeling- I just- I’m, um… Well- It’s- It’s kinda strange…”

“You came to my door for a reason. You can tell me.” Adam encouraged. 

Lucifer nodded, picking at a loose string on his duck plush. “I’m- I’ve been- Um, well… I’ve been- Between headspaces all week and it uh… came to a head, pun unintended, today…”

Adam’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Between head…?” 

Then it struck him.

Headspace was a term commonly used to describe the state of mind between little versus adult, with age regressors. 

“You’re a little?” He questioned.

Lucifer nodded. “I’ve, uh… Been doing it… it a while… I, uh- Discovered the actual term when humans did… I don't- I haven't- Uh. I haven't told… told anyone… But um… It’s uh… Uncontrollable…”

“... you don't have a caregiver…?”

Lucifer pulled his legs up onto the bed, bending them so he could bury his head in his knees while he shook his head. “Lilith didn’t like it… ‘Specially after Charlie was born…” He sniffled. “Being alone… like this is… Is hard… I didn't… today, I- I-”

Adam felt his heart break. 

He may not be super close with Lucifer, not anymore, but the thought of someone being mentally a child and forced to deal with it alone? He couldn’t fathom it. And the fact that it was Lucifer? Someone who used to be a close friend of Adam’s back in the day, who could’ve been apart of his family if it all didn’t go to shit? That made it worse, in Adam’s mind. He would have never left Lucifer alone like this, enemies be damned. 

Lucifer had to have come here after hearing Adam helped Charlie, Vaggie, and the others. Which meant he knew Adam would care, and having no one else to go too… Well, Adam wasn’t going to turn away a kid.

Adam carefully wrapped an arm around the devil, pulling him into his side. “I’m sorry to hear that... You shouldn’t have had to be left alone, Luci…”

Lucifer sniffled again and raised his head to meet Adam’s gaze. Tears had welled in his eyes and were starting to drip down his cheeks. “Don’t wanna be alone…” His voice had started to take on a higher pitch, mindset seeming to slip younger. 

“Aw kid, it’s ok… You don’t have to be anymore…” Adam whispered, then pulled the king into his lap and wrapped his arms around him. 

Immediately, Lucifer broke down sobbing with his head pressed to Adam’s chest. One arm reached out to grip onto Adam’s shirt, the other still clutching his stuffie. Adam began rocking side to side slightly and rubbing circles into Lucifer’s back, trying to comfort the regressor. 

“M’sorry, m’sowry…” Lucifer cried, muffled. 

Adam shushed him. “You don’t have to be, sweetheart. There’s nothing wrong with needing to cope. It’s ok.”

It took Lucifer a bit to stop crying, slowly winding down to whimpers and sniffles the longer Adam comforted him. Once he did and lifted his head, Adam loosened his grip to get a better look at the demon. 

Lucifer looked so small like this. Adam didn’t think he’d ever seen Lucifer as anything like it… Even during his most depressed days (which Adam only got glimpses of in the first place, both via heaven meetings and spending time in the hotel) Lucifer still put on a brave face and did his best. Or hid away so no one had to worry. He always tried to seem powerful around Adam; in the early days of Eden, during their battle in Hell, and now that Adam is a hotel guest. 

But right now, Lucifer looked damn near fragile . If Adam didn’t know the power the devil actually held, he’d be convinced Lucifer could shatter in his arms. He looked so much like a child right now, and mentally was one. He needed to be cared for, to be loved. 

It made the instincts in Adam’s very soul scream at him to protect and defend this little in his arms. It made the memories of his own kids swarm his thoughts. It made the ache he felt for his missing family become all the more noticeable. And it made ignoring all those feels just as easy, because all that mattered right now was helping Lucifer. 

With ease the first man was somewhat surprised by, Adam stood with Lucifer still held in his arms. Moving to the bed, he plopped down with Lucifer laying atop him, grabbing his comforter and laying it over top of them. Lucifer squeaked in surprise, but adjusted to be more comfortable and settled rather quickly. He pulled his duck up to lay next to him. 

“Who's your friend?” Adam asked, poking the plush beak of the duck.

Lucifer perked. “Ducky! He my bes’ fwiend!” His voice was slurred more, any more adult aspects of his headspace slowly drifting away. 

Adam smiled. “Really? How long have ya had him?”

“Fo-evewr!” Lucifer beamed. “Made him!”

Adam gasped dramatically. “You made him?! You’re so talented!”

Lucifer giggled, hiding his face against the duck’s, suddenly shy. 

Adam chuckled. “Say, what do you say we watch a show on my phone hm?”

Lucifer poked his head back up and nodded enthusiastically. 

Adam fished for his phone in the bed, having left it there when Lucifer stopped by, and quickly searched children’s shows. 

Finding a popular one about a blue dog and her family, he pressed play on the first episode and held it by his stomach so both of them could watch it. 

At some point while watching, Adam glanced down at Lucifer. The little was snug against him, happily giggling and smiling at the show, occasionally humming the theme song. Any signs of distress from earlier were gone, the only trace being the dried tears staining his cheeks. 

Adam couldn’t help but melt at the sight.

He thought back to his kids again. Cuddling together, telling stories. He would have watched a tv show with them, had they been invented. Just like he would color with them, comfort them, play games with them… They were his children, and he loved them. 

It was startling how he could picture Lucifer, now, in a similar way. See him little like this as he would his own kids… And maybe that’s weird, Adam knows it is, but… He wouldn’t be opposed to helping Lucifer after today. 

The king didn’t have a caregiver, after all. And he came to Adam for help. 

They may not be close, but maybe this… maybe this could help bring them closer together again… He did miss having his friend…

Maybe when Lucifer felt more grown up, they’d have a talk about it. Get more to the bottom of why Lucifer felt safe here , with Adam, and see if he’d be willing to let Adam care for him. 

He knew, logically, that Lucifer wouldn’t be regressed all the time. Frankly, that was more than ok. Being a dad 24/7 was exhausting, but making sure someone was taken care of every once in a while? It might be nice. A good way of filling that hole Adam’s family left. All the while, ensuring Lucifer had his coping mechanism in a safe environment. No longer alone. 

Neither of them would be. 

It could be like having kids again, for a time… 

But for now, Adam ignored that train of thought. They could discuss it later. 

For now, he was content in just being a grounding presence for the other.

Watching cartoons and relaxing, idly listening to the childish nonsense Lucifer would chat about and asking questions to prompt the little to continue. 

Eventually the pair fell asleep, the cartoons still rolling. Both contently cuddled together. 

Perhaps this could be the start of something new.