#coping skill

Pairing ~ Caregiver Changbin x AFAB Reader Genre ~ fluff, slight angst !!warnings!! little space/age regression, anxiety/stress described Word Count ~ 869 Author’s Note ~ I love writing cute stuff like this Requested ~ Yes! Check out my Stray Kids Masterlist Support me by buying me a coffee ☕️

Picture from Pinterest

Winter crept just around the corner. The frost and the cold made its presence known in the late night and continued into the early mornings. And as the frost took over, so did stress. It was finals week. The end of the semester when everyone really started to regret going to university, and you were one of those people.

It’s not like you had struggled the whole semester for your classes. You had trouble spots here and there, but that doesn’t mean finals week is smooth. If anything, trying to re-learn lessons from the very beginning was the tricky part. It was awful.

Taking tests was always anxiety inducing. Late nights spent studying with no full sleep before the test. Lack of proper care for yourself. You were hunched over your small desk in your room again, crunching the lessons bit by bit, on the verge of tears when you began to struggle. You had barely slept in days, so your emotions really started to seep out, like over-boiling water on the stove. Ready to bubble over any minute when you stop watching it.

Your hand cramped, and your stomach aches along with your head as a tear fell down your cheek and wetted your study guide. One hand was on your head, holding it before it fell on itself. You were on the verge of collapse.

You were so close to falling down, breaking down, ready to throw everything around and quit, but a soft knock stopped your thoughts when it was followed by a faint, “Baby, I’m here.” 

Changbin was here to save the day. Changbin came to take care of you. He knew how you got when put under pressure, and he was going to help relax you. 

You turned your head to the door when it creaked open, staring at Changbin with a face full of worry. He looked at you apologetically, sadly, upset his partner was down in the dumps. Changbin walked over to your desk, standing in front of you and held out his hand. “Come on, little one, it's time to rest.” 

Little one. The name that made you feel small. The name that turned your brain into a much younger processing mindset. You had been so worked up that you didn’t think it was possible to regress until you felt relaxed. But Changbin knew what got to you, and he knew what would help you. 

You reached your hand out to grab his, and he pulled you. He walked you over to your bed, moving around the blankets to make room for you. You watched him maneuver around the mess of your bed, until he finally made some space, and patted down onto it. You slid into bed, and Changbin followed right behind you. He brought the blankets up to cover the both of you and wrapped his arms around you.

“See, baby, it’s okay.” 

“Thank you, Binnie.”

You snuggled your head into his chest. You breathed in heavily and let out a shaky relaxed breath. The warmth of his body calmed you enough to make you fall asleep.

Hours later you awoke. You moved around and looked at Changbin, who was staring at you gently. He smiled when he saw you, moving his hands to caress your face softly. “Good morning, little one. How’d you sleep?” You let out a soft, small noise. “Hmphf, mhm.” You nodded your head, snuggling back into his chest. He rubbed the back of your head. 

A little while later, you and Changbin got out of bed. You left your room and went out to get some cheap breakfast at a nearby cafe. After eating your fill, enjoying the delicious food, you headed back to your place. You had a class final later that day at 3 PM. You decided you had to study a little bit before going.

But when you sat down at your desk, Changbin stopped you. “Not yet, baby.” You looked at him confused. “I know you know you’re okay to stop studying for this exam. Do not overload yourself with information you already know. It’s okay, little one.”

It seemed like manipulation, attempting to keep you small. But you and he knew it wasn’t. Changbin has always known how to take care of you, and this is one of his ways.

He rummaged around through his bag while you sat there waiting for him. He pulled out a coloring book and crayons. Your favorite.

You smiled brightly. “YEEEEESSS! YOU’RE THE BEST, BIN!” You yelled, wrapping around his torso and pulling him tightly. “I love you.” He smiled. “I love you too.”

Just before you began your coloring adventure, he moved to sit on the chair and place you onto his lap instead. For the next few hours, you colored and studied before your exam. Changbin had taken you to your class, waiting for you to finish up so he could take you back to his place. 

When the exam ended, and you walked out of the class, you walked over to Changbin and collapsed into his arms. “Binnie, I’m so tired. Can we please leave now?” He laughed. “Of course, little one. I’ll make some pasta for us.”

How do you know if it is a Distraction or a Coping Skill? 

Like they’re so cute.

The way we found their name was cute too. We were doing uber eats with our grams when we turned down the street Zephyr. Once I read that street name, they got all excited and it just clicked. Zephyr. We love it :)

They’re really calm sometimes which is strange when compared to my hyperactivity “can never sit still always has to move to process things” self. But it’s really nice because my anxiety doesn’t phase them, they just calmly explain things and I can feel their presence on my shoulder nuzzling my neck.

It’s very relaxing and it gives me a lot of comfort. Sometimes I get sad because no one else can see them, because I know the help that Zephry could bring to others too. But we’ve agreed that I can use the things they say to help other people.

They’re funny too! The other day I was crying and just having a really bad time, and Zephyr just out of no where, nuzzled my neck and whispered the stupidest dad joke. It caught me off guard and I kind of choked. But it started an all night war of jokes. They knows so many!!! What the heck Zephyr?? Needless to say, they won.

They’re a very nice prescence. We’re still getting to know each other, but it’s been very nice.

Right now, they mainly takes the form of a Stoat, or some type of Squirrel, and occasionally a Pine Marten, specifically Japanese.

They’re a little Red Squirrel perched on my shoulder. They’re bugging me about the pumpkin seeds that I have. They’re jealous :p

I can’t help my cravings, silly. At least I’m not the one who only wants to eat pasta with sausage~

I’m not even going to fight with that because they’re right

I know I’m right, you don’t have to tell me. I hear all your thoughts, and trust me, you’re lucky they can’t because you’re a strange specimen Rich

Hey! You don’t have ta out me like that! What am I gonna do with you? At least I don’t sound like the main male character in an anime!

I didn’t choose my voice! At least I have a charming voice, have you heard your screeches? Makes anyone’s ears bleed

Hey! It’s all apart of the charm I got going on! ;)

-sigh- what am I going to do with you?

Love me forever and give me snuggles? 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Of course Sunnie, that’s what I’m here for. I’m always gonna care for you silly, that’s not a question, I promise

Good!!! :) :) Anyways, there’s my update with Zephyr. They’re amazing and nuzzling me hardcore right now. It’s been a good distraction and positive part of my days recently, because there’s not been much happiness for me. But Zephyr has had my back, and always comes prepared. I’m really thankful for them. A nice gentle prescence while I’m riding a rickety boat in the middle of a harsh storm miles away from land.