In the Hot Seat (Patreon)

Continuing from Arriving at Work Jonathan is getting into a normal day at his job at RegressCo, answering emails and chatting to colleagues… before he’s rather rudely interrupted.

In the Hot Seat

Jonathan grimaced as he looked at the third email of the day. Another complaint about changes to payroll, the grammar mixed up and spelling distinctly phonetic rather than correct. Newly regressed members of staff were paid the same way as adult members of staff but there were a variety of different things that went into place the moment such a thing occurred that prevented things like identity fraud and accidental misuse of funds, whether by themselves or their spouses. This left Jonathan to deal with the annoyance that came from a now two year old IT engineer whose mother had bought a rather excessive number of diapers with his pay check. Every regressed employee had a dedicated guardian who could do the initial transition if needed to their new lifestyle requirements, taking money out of their next pay check… and not all of them had the restraint of his wife.

“Tough start?”

Jonathan looked towards the entrance to his cubicle. The form of a small cheetah dressed in a similar outfit to his own was taking up the space between the white partitions.

“Hey Paul. Yeah not great. How about yourself?”

The cheetah coughed and shifted in place “Same. Dealing with what Jack did a few weeks ago with one of the HR laptops. We’re still working out what the hell needs correcting in some cases.”

Jonathan chuckled “His email is the one I’m reading. Apparently his mother loves to dote on him”

“Hah!” Paul guffawed “I met her when she came in to collect him after he regressed. Kid was a mess. Never seen someone suck their thumb so hard…”

“I mean, we’ve all been there right” Jonathan mumbled “It’s not easy to adjust the first time”

“You get used to it” Paul pulled at his pants “Though this time has been weird. I was potty training, I know I was, but god forbid there’s any record of it anywhere. Instead I just… unnnfff”

Jonathan looked away, trying his best to give the cheetah some privacy. He knew what was happening, he also knew that it was inevitable it would happen to him at some point today. But he had enough empathy to know Paul probably didn’t need him watching the act.

“Urghh... “ Paul grimaced “Fantastic, I just got changed by Mary too.” he loosened his belt by a notch “Sorry, didn’t mean to…”

“It’s alright, not like you can help it.” Jonathan immediately regretted the off-hand remark as he saw a blush strike up on the cheetahs face. He couldn’t remember Paul ever starting potty training, but it was clear he wasn’t used to having an accident quite so quickly.

“Yeah… yeah I suppose.” his tail curled between his legs “I’ll er… I’ll leave you to it. Probably best if I see the nurse”

Jonathan nodded as the cheetah moved away, a distinct waddle to his stride as he headed in the direction of the bathrooms and nurses office. Looking back to his desk he sighed as he sent off a very corporate reply to Jack's email. Whether the tech would still be able to read it was another question. Leaning back into his chair as he hit the enter key the fennec picked up one of the many fidget toys on the desk. RegressCo encouraged all it’s employees, regardless of age, to take screen breaks with small puzzle toys and Jonathan couldn’t help but smile as he tapped away at the various ball bearings and clicking elements.

DINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDING

Jonathan shot up his chair, sending the toy spiralling across the desktop. The noise of the fire alarm blared around, immediately generating a sense of anxiety that permeated the whole office. The initial question of whether it was a test was still working its way through his mind and those of his colleagues, all of the ones that stood up looking for other reactions to determine whether or not to leave.

As it continued for a few more seconds he noticed the high-vis jackets of designated fire stewards starting to patrol the corridor. This wasn’t a test, it was either a proper emergency or a drill.

“Everyone to designated assembly points! Guardians and nurses pick up your personal fire wards!”

Jonathan quickly pulled himself off his chair and grabbed his suit jacket, jogging out of the cubicle and joining the slowly forming queue of furs that were heading towards the exit. Adult furs were heading towards the break room at the back and leaving with regressed staff members on their arms, a couple of them visibly in tears. Sometimes shocks pushed even some of the more emotionally immature into the comfort of childish responses.

“Jonny! Come on honey, let’s get going!”

Jonathan looked behind him to see Evelyn, her bouncing kangaroo from jumping down the corridor towards him at speed.

“I’m fine Evelyn, I don’t need help getting to…”

“Have you seen Paul? I’ve got to get him in my pouch!”

“Errr…” Jonathan stuttered “He needed a change a few minutes ago. One of the nurses might…”

“Oh goodness me!” Evelyn bounced past him “Thank you dearie! I’ll give you an extra cookie later! Now get down there!”

Jonathan had to shake himself back into shape as he joined a slowly moving queue of people heading down the corridor. He was probably the smallest person there, most of those smaller were being held in the arms of guardians, some happily suckling on pacifiers, bottles or their own thumbs and others pouting in indignation at having to follow this procedure. As he got towards the end of the corridor, he absent-mindedly looked into Kirk's cubicle.

The racoon was still on his laptop, hunched over the screen with his head blocking the view of the screen. He was clicking and typing away frantically, seemingly desperate to get something done before he had to leave the building.

“Come on slowpoke, it’s not a test!” Jonathan smirked a little as the racoon's hair stood on end and he stopped what he’d been doing. With a quick motion he shut the lid of the laptop and grabbed it, putting it under his arm and getting out of his chair.

“We’re not supposed to take…”

“I need to finish something up, I’ll use the wi-fi.” Kirk started to walk past Jonathan, barely giving him a glance “Meet ya downstairs squirt, don’t wet yourself again.”

Jonathan pouted, his fists balling up into a fist by instinct as he followed the racoon down the stairs. Thinking better of responding he trudged his way through the mingling crowds and down the staircase. It was a long winding way down the many floors of the building, with none of elevators usable and his legs substantially shorter than he’d like them to be. The waddle his diaper was giving him was also becoming troublesome, the tapes on the side feeling like they were stretching and pulling at his waist with nearly every floor. Had Izzy just done them up too tight?

By the time he reached the bottom he was acutely aware that most of the other staff members had walked past him already, his little body unable to keep up with them. A few were still going slowly, either because they had regreesees they were carefully carrying or were themselves toddling towards the bottom of the staircase. He adjusted his belt and shirt and made his way outside.

The assembly point was already a hub of activity. At this point most of the staff were now all on their feet, regressed colleagues having been allowed to leave the safety of the arms of their guardians. Jonathan noticed Paul and Evelyn had already arrived down here, with the kangaroo seemingly berating the cheetah, who was missing his suit pants.

“Oh Paul! I was so worried baby! You know you should come to me when we have an emergency!”

“I don’t need it! I’m not a baby!” he was pouting, his arms by his sides and his hands balled up as he shouted back.

“It’s alright Paul, she was just worried about you” Jonathan interceded. Evelyn was a bit overbearing but she was in the right here.

“I know you wanted your Teddies changed Pauly but I can do that here with what’s in my pouch if…”

“NO!” the cheetah's face flushed, his hands going to the front of his diaper. Jonathan could clearly see the droop that was evidence of heavy use, his nose instinctually curling up.

“Maybe it’s a good idea Paul, we might not get back in for…”

“NO! I DON’T WANNA!” the cheetah at this point was visibly tearing up. Apparently this was a sore spot at the moment.

Evelyn was having none of it however. Within a few seconds of the cheetahs tantrum beginning she whipped out a pacifier in her pocket and slipped it into the cheetahs mouth.

“Ssshhh, come on Pauly, I’ll get you all cleaned up. You don’t need a change do you Johnny?”

He blushed “No, Evelyn I’m fine, thank you” he tried to keep himself professional in the face of her going into full grandmother mode. She was virtually unstoppable at that point, as Paul was finding out. He was starting to bawl as the kangaroo bounced away with him on her arm, her other hand heading into her pouch to find some supplies.

As he looked around he noticed he couldn’t see Izzy yet. There were still people coming out of the building but that little knot of concern built in his stomach. The assembly point was just outside the monorail station, the plaza full of furs of all shapes and sizes, making it hard to work out if she was in amongst the throng.

He could feel goose bumps starting to form on his arms, the short fur sticking up as he started breathing exercises. Like with the cognitive exercises on the train, keeping himself feeling safe on his own allowed him a measure of control over his own mind. He knew this feeling was the natural worries meeting a level of immature instincts that wanted to override his adult experiences, each little thought trying to chip away. Sometimes they got the better of him, too many times he’d woken up from a nightmare with nothing but a desperate desire for Izzy to take him out of the travel cot and into her arms.

A slow build of these emotions was normally something he could manage. Seeing Paul collapse into a state of infantile weeping reinforced the resistance and barriers he was raising. That was exactly what he didn’t want to do, however naturally it might be trying to come to the fore. Izzy wasn’t here yet, but she would be, he told himself.

“Johnny!”

The fennecs ears immediately perked up to full height as he heard his wife's voice come in over the din of the crowd. She was just leaving the front of the building, carrying a very small bear in her arms, a bright pink pacifier firmly in their maw.

In a blur he was jogging towards her, all concerns about his mental state vanishing as the primal desire to be close to her kicked in. As she allowed her cubby colleague to leave her arms, Jonathan slammed into her leg.

“Whoa! Hey I’m here baby, I’m here!”

Jonathan felt himself get a rush as he clasped onto her. It was like all of anxieties and fears washed away in a near instant. A sense of vertigo hit as she lifted him onto her arm, taking him back to the assembly point.

Each little bounce on the way started to bring Jonathan back to his senses. As calm settled back into his mind the realisation of what was happening kicked his adult thoughts back into gear.

“I… I’m ok Izzy.” he stuttered out “Can you put me down now?”

“You sure baby? I don’t mind if you want Mommy to…”

He nodded, blushing intensely as Izzy smiled at him.

“Okey dokey, you’re feeling a bit heavier any… Whoa!” as she put him down, she crouched down to his height and took a look over him “You’re getting bigger!”

Jonathan looked down at himself, pieces starting to click into place. The way his diaper felt tighter, his shirt and belt needing adjusting… he was growing back up!

“Izzy this is great! The regression is reversing!” he positively beamed at her, bouncing on his feet.

“I was just getting used to you being my little guy too…” Izzy gave his cheeks a little pinch.

The mood almost instantly changed. A distinct pout appeared on Jonathan's face “Well, I’m not gonna be for much longer Izzy.” he undid a few buttons on his shirt, allowing it to settle into a more comfortable position “No more diapers, no more stupid bottles…”

“I think you might still need the diapers…” Izzy took the opportunity to pull the back of his pants “Oh, still dry”

Jonathan's face went from mildly annoyed to curling in anger “Izzy stop!” he whirled around and looked up “I’m not a baby! I was never a baby!”

Izzy just sighed, standing back up and giving him a sceptical look “Sure, I guess all those diapers I changed over the last few months were someone else’s Jonny.”

The two of them stared at each other for a good few seconds before their faces loosened and the two breathed out. Jonathan looked away first, loosening his belt again as he felt the pants tighten.

“Sorry” he looked back at the building, noticing some fire trucks pulling up outside “I just…”

“I’m sorry too” Izzy responded “You’re not a baby, you're my husband.” she put her hand on his shoulder “And I love you very much.”

Jonathan looked back up at her and smiled. He knew deep down that everything Izzy had done over the last few months was more than he should ever expect. Some partners just weren’t cut out to be mothers or fathers to regressees. He’d got lucky in many respects.

“I love you too”

The two waited for the all clear, occasionally exchanging pleasantries with other staff members. Those in Jonathan's department noted his small growth spurt, giving him congratulations on getting out of the worst of it. Regressed colleagues struggled to keep their envy in check at times but he understood that first hand, not that it kept him from grinning widely at every snarky compliment.

“All right everyone! You can head back inside now. Make sure you’ve got your wards, the elevators are back up and running!”

Jonathan took Izzy’s hand, the possum squeezing back as they walked back into the lobby. Most of their colleagues were waiting by the elevators already, some heading up the stairs rather than having the patience to stay. Kirk was at the back of the line for one of the elevators, a small rabbit pouting at him on his right arm, his laptop under the other.

“... next time I’m just getting down here. What the hell took…”

“Language Timmy, or I’ll just ask for a pacifier” Kirk wasn’t even looking back at him, his mind clearly elsewhere as the queue moved forwards.

“You two alright?” Izzy asked, looking at Timmy who had crossed his arms in response to Kirks rebuttal.

“This poopy head didn’t come and collect me! I was waiting for him for ten minutes! I could’ve burned alive!” his arms shot into the air dramatically.

Izzy giggled “Oh Kirk! You’ll never be a Daddy if you can’t take care of little ones at work!” she wiggled Timmy's nose, the bunny reacting with an unintentional giggle that resulted in a small blush.

“Tsch” the raccoon adjusted Timmy on his arm “He made a fuss when I arrived, otherwise we’d have been out a lot faster”

“Maybe don’t work through an alarm then?” Jonathan's response brought Kirks head round, his eyebrows narrowing at the fennec.

“It was a single email kid, don’t get your diaper in a twist”

“He’s got bigger today!” Izzy chimed in “Pretty sure he’ll be out of those in no time!”

Kirk just looked back towards the elevator “I’ll make sure to order fewer air fresheners”

Izzy and Jonathan looked at each other with their eyebrows raised. Clearly Kirk was in no mood for a chat. Eventually the elevator arrived and they huddled into the small space, as it went from floor to floor dropping off frustrated staff members of the various companies situated in the tower. When it reached Jonathan's office the small group that left all looked at each other and sighed.

“Well, at least it turned out to be nothing. Wonder if someone smoked in the bathroom or something?” Timmy said as Kirk put him back on the ground. The racoon immediately started heading back to his cubicle, leaving the three of them to walk at the bunnies slow hopping speed. Jonathan was too distracted by his now very tight pair of suit pants to respond, his belt now as loose as it could go. It almost felt like...

POP!

“Oh…” he stopped, Izzy turning to look at him

“What’s the matter Johnny?”

“Errr… my diaper tapes just popped”

*************************************************************************************************************

Thirty minutes later the pair were back in Johnny's cubicle. A short emergency visit to the nurses office had followed, he’d been doted on and congratulated for a while before eventually getting a spare set of clothes to change into. His diaper had been pulled out of his suit pants, but he’d asked to change in his own space.

But most importantly, he wasn’t going back with a new diaper. He was going back with a pair of training pants!

“Sure you don’t want a hand?” Izzy asked. Jonathan barely paid attention, grabbing them from her arms and pulling them straight up his legs.

“Wow…” he grinned “This feels way too good”

Izzy ruffled his head fur “You’re definitely gonna be ok?”

Jonathan lightly batted her paw away and blushed “I’ll be fine Izzy”

She smiled “I’ll be coming to pick you up for lunch. You’re still getting that bottle, I’m not wasting it!”

Jonathan pouted “Fiiiiine. But I still get ice cream later right?!”

Izzy giggled “Of course! Anything for my big boy!”

Blushing again at the doting Jonathan chose to turn round and get back onto his chair “I should get back to work. Love you!”

“Love you too Johnny… oh! Here’s your potty” she held out the small blue object “I’ll put it under your desk.”

“Mooooom!” he didn’t even try to stop it. That was full embarrassment coming to the fore and he couldn’t have if he tried.