Iron Lung Age Regression Headcanons
TW: mention of medical trauma/blood(basically any iron lung related triggers)
đąMama caregiver. She never pressured Simon to call her Mama, especially with his trauma regarding the loss of his mother, but her heart melted when he did for the first time.
đąShe can always tell when Simon is spiralling, and wraps her tail around his waist when she can't hold him.
đąGaia love, love, loves to hold Simon; whenever he's willing she's 100% scooping him up
đąLets Simon play on the floor in her office while she works, although she usually keeps her tail within arm's reach so he can let her know if he needs her.
đąWorks as a Biologist for the Creel, and is studying creatures from AT-5 to figure out how their planet survived the Quiet Rapture.
đąIs very careful to not mention her work or the Rapture around Simon, nothing sends him into a mental tailspin faster.
đąLoves her baby and would literally do anything for him. Even if they can't stop the Rapture, Gaia is determined to give her little hatchling the best life possible as long as she can.
đąVent and puppy regressor. When he is sent to live with Gaia, it's strictly because C.O.I doesn't want another convict to feed/take care of, so he's very aware that he isn't wanted by most. As such, he tries not to ask for anything. Because this alien lady is already kind enough to let him stay with her, how could he possibly ask for more?!
đąA bit stubborn; he's fallen off the counters a few times trying to reach something without bothering Gaia. Luckily she's usually not far, so he's been caught by her tail more than once.
đąOnce he realizes his needs aren't going to get him sent away, he tests her a bit. Asks for help getting things, or asks if he can have something (usually a sample treat he spots on their store outings). Testing his limits, seeing if she really means it when she says she doesn't mind him asking.
đąIt's through this that he discovers a love for garvek (basically a purple version of dried mango slices). They become the holy grail of snacks, he'd do just about anything for a packet of garvek. (Like Shaggy with Scooby snacks).
đąFood scarcity means that he's less than picky. Good when food is limited, not so much when it's in abundance. Gaia has caught him more than once eating something he most definitely should not be, and as a result had to have his stomach pumped once. He was not amused, but neither was she truthfully.
đąLoves stuffed animals and baby mobiles; if you need to keep him occupied, all you have to do is plop him down in front of a new stuffie. He'll be occupied for hours, babbling to it and giving it a name. (He names all his stuffies)
đąKind of a scaredy-cat when small, every little noise makes him jump, and has him running to his Mama.
đąSuper shy about asking for affection, most of the time he just slowly leans against her leg or belly or makes grabby hands at her with pleading eyes. She never denies him, of course. Even if she's busy and can't hold him, she lets him play with her tail or paws; because sometimes he just needs physical contact.
đąHe deals with a lot of soreness from his healing injuries; broken bones, starvation, dehydration, CO2 poisoning, and everything else he endured. There are good days, and there are bad days. On good days, Simon can be playful and silly. On bad days, sometimes all he can do is cling to his Mama and cry. It breaks Gaia's heart, but she helps him do his exercises and take his medications to ease his pain.
đąThe first time he regresses, Simon is in the SM-13. After the eel attacks for the first time, he gets so scared that it shocks him into a smaller headspace.
đąSince then, he feels the urge when under stress. Simon does his best to resist, thinking that it's the eel still trying to take over his mind. Eventually he talks to a Creelean doctor about it, and from there they decide he needs more extensive mental help.
đąThe Creel have strict regulations regarding the care of patients post-op, so C.O.I is âencouragedâ to release him to them after his sanitization treatment. C.O.I are more than willing, not wanting another Convict to take care of.
đąSince Simon is unable to care for himself, and in need of both mental and physical therapy, a message is sent out to a Creelean organization called 'The Nest' to find someone willing to take him in. From there, a volunteer named Gaia is contacted.
đąWhen Gaia arrives, she is unsure if she would be able to care for a human with Simon's medical needs, but one look at the exhausted human has her scrambling to sign.
đąGaia is allowed to talk with Simon, meeting with him a few times before talk of custody is discussed. He's distrustful, of course, but after a while the soft way she looks at him and the gentility of her words slowly ease his fears.
đąAs he slowly begins to trust her, Gaia is absolutely enamored by him. She read his history; she knows what happened in the iron lung, at least what was reported, and studied the vessel herself as part of her research as a biologist. She knows what he endured, and greatly respects his strength and determination. Seeing him so broken by the ordeal breaks her heart, and she wants so badly to help him heal.
đąEventually, his placement is discussed. Simon is hesitant, but agrees to go home with Gaia.
đąThe next time he fully regresses is the day he is brought home. Gaia surprises him by getting supplies for him the day before, including a cozy bed, blankets and pillows, some books, and a few odd things like puzzles and drawing supplies. He's overwhelmed by the gifts, and quickly breaks down.
đąGaia, of course, worries that she did something wrong, and immediately tries to comfort Simon. He gets spooked by her advances, and ends up hiding under a couch. Gaia stays a comfortable distance away to help him relax, and eventually slides a stuffed dog under the couch so he has something to hold as he cries.
đąThe dog helps, and he's eventually able to crawl carefully out from under the couch. Simon hesitantly lets Gaia pick him up, and is so glad he did.
đąShe loves holding him, and Simon finds that he loves being held. From there, Little Simon's heart is captured.