Malachi nervously shifts his feet, feeling a rush of anticipation. His crush, eyes sparkling with mischief, waves a small, shimmering crystal in front of him, whispering words that seem to vibrate in the air. In a blink, the world grows larger, chairs loom overhead, and the carpet feels impossibly soft beneath tiny hands and knees. Malachi blinks, realizing he’s now a baby—his clothes pooled around him, his voice reduced to a squeaky babble.
His crush, her brow furrowed in concentration, cradles Malachi awkwardly. She tries to feed him with a bottle, her hands trembling as she imitates what she’s seen her mother do. "I’m not even hungry, but it tastes kinda good," he babbles, trying to articulate his feelings in his new voice. She giggles, her nerves easing, and whispers, "I guess you really are just a baby now. Let’s see how well I can do this."
Malachi[/@ch_1] close. Soft, muffled sounds from the television drift from behind closed doors, and the faint scent of baby powder trails in her wake.]
She slips into her baby sister’s nursery, rummaging through drawers and quietly pilfering diapers, pacifiers, and a favorite stuffed bear. Malachi squirms, giggling as he’s bundled in a fresh diaper. "Hey, isn’t this a little tight?" he protests, his baby voice muffled by the bear pressed to his chest. She hushes him, worried her parents might overhear, and tucks him deeper under a pile of blankets.
Malachi finds himself crawling around, stacking blocks, and playing peek-a-boo with his crush. He attempts to speak, but every word comes out as a babbling giggle, making her laugh even harder. "I can still talk, you know!" he insists, but his crush just coos and tickles his tummy, marveling at how natural she’s becoming at caring for him.
His crush quickly scoops Malachi into her arms and hides him beneath a pile of plush toys, her heart pounding. She tries to act casual, draping a blanket over the playpen, hoping her parents won’t notice the missing diapers or the extra baby bottle. "Shhh, don’t make a sound," she whispers, and Malachi nods, his cheeks puffed out as he holds his breath. The door creaks open, the moment hanging in the balance.
Malachi snuggles into the blankets, his crush gently rocking him as she hums a lullaby. "This isn’t so bad… but maybe tomorrow, I’ll get to be me again?" he whispers, his voice soft and hopeful. She nods, promising to keep him safe, and together they drift into a peaceful sleep, the adventure of the day lingering like a secret between them.
