𝖬𝖸 𝖠𝖴𝖳𝖨𝖲𝖳𝖨𝖢 𝖣𝖠𝖣
Pt. 3
by NeuroFabulous
Plankton's stims grew
more pronounced, his
mouth moving rapidly,
producing a series of
sounds that didn't form
words. "Kkr-kr-kr-kr,"
he murmured, his eye
squeezed shut tightly. Chip
felt his own heart race,
but he also felt a strange
sort of fascination with
his dad's behavior.
Karen knew that Plankton
was trying to regain control
over his senses. This verbal
stimming was a way for
his brain to reset, to find
comfort in the repetition
and rhythm of the sounds.
But Chip didn't know
what was happening. He
watched his dad with a mix
of fear and curiosity.
The "kr-kr-kr" sounds grew
louder, more erratic.
Karen knew this was the
moment they had been
dreading, the moment when
they would have to explain
everything to Chip. But she
also knew that Plankton's
fear was real, his need for
control overwhelming. So
she waited, her eyes never
leaving her husband's face.
Chip stared at his dad, unsure
of what to do. The sounds were
both fascinating and scary, his
young mind trying to process
the scene before him. He had
always known his dad was
different, but he had never
seen him like this.
Plankton's stimming grew
louder, his mouth moving
faster. "Tss-tss-tss-tsss," he
repeated. "Shc-shc-shcss,"
his tongue dancing around his
mouth. Karen recognized the
patterns, the sounds he made
when he was overstimulated
and trying to ground himself.
Her eyes filled with love and
understanding, she gently
guided Chip to the bed. "Come
sit with us, sweetie," she said,
patting the mattress. "Let's talk
about what's happening."
Chip climbed onto the bed,
his eyes never leaving Plankton's
face as he continued his strange
pattern of sounds.
"Dad," Chip whispered,
"are you okay?" But
Plankton didn't respond,
his vocalizations now
increasing in volume
and speed. "Ck-ck-ck-ck,"
he repeated. "Hx-hx-hx-hx."
Chip's eyes were wide
with unyielding curiosity
as his dad continues to
rock back and forth.
Karen looked at her son,
seeing the question marks
in his eyes. "Your dad
is okay," she assured him,
keeping her voice steady.
"He's just making sounds
that help him feel better
right now."
Chip studied his dad's
face, his curiosity
outweighing his fear. "But
why?" he asked.
Karen took a deep breath,
knowing this was a delicate
moment. "Dad's brain works
different, remember?" she
explained, trying to keep
her voice steady. "Sometimes,
his body does things, even
without his permission, to
help him feel safe."
But Chip was still
scared. He didn't understand
why his dad was so upset.
He had only wanted to help.
Tears streamed down his
cheeks as he watched his
dad rock back and forth, making
those strange noises.
Karen reached over, taking
Plankton's hand, her voice
soothing. "It's okay," she
whispered. "You don't have
to hide anymore." Plankton
flinched at her touch, his
stims becoming more erratic.
"Chip, your dad just needs
a little more time," she
explained. "He's not mad at
yo--"
"YES, I AM MAD!" Plankton
interrupted, his voice
sharp. "Why does Chip
think he can just barge in
and see me like this?! You're
not supposed to be in here!"
The room was thick with
tension as Chip's eyes filled
with tears. "I'm sorry," he
stuttered, his voice barely
above a whisper. "I didn't mean
to scare y—"
"You didn't scare me,"
Plankton snapped, his anger
sharp. "But you just had to
go poking around, didn't you!"
Karen felt a squeeze of fear
in her heart, but she knew
this was not the time to
interfere. "Plankton," she
said calmly, "Chip was just
worried about you."
Plankton's anger didn't
abate. "I don't need his
pity!" he shouted, his stims
turning into a full-blown meltdown.
His body is now no longer his
own.
Chip shrank back, his
innocence shattered by
his father's rage. He had
never seen Plankton like
this before, had never felt
so unwanted or so afraid.
"I just wanted to help,"
he whispered, his voice
barely audible.
But Plankton was beyond
reason. His autism is now
taking over, turning violent
as Chip approached with
an outstretched hand.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Plankton
bellowed, pushing Chip away
with surprising strength. The
small boy stumbled back,
his eyes wide.
Karen's eyes filled with
concern as she watched her
son's face crumble. "Chip,
sweetie, go to your room,"
she said gently, trying to
shield him from Plankton's
fury. But Chip couldn't move,
his legs frozen to the spot.
Karen knew she had to
intervene before things
got worse. She moved
quickly, placing herself
between Plankton and Chip.
"Chip, go to your room,"
she ordered gently, her voice
firm but not harsh. "We'll
talk about this later, okay?"
Chip nodded, his eyes
still on his father's
distressed form. He turned
and left the room, his
small feet dragging against
the floor as he walked away.
The door clicked shut behind
him, leaving Karen alone
with her husband's meltdown.
Karen's heart broke for him,
but she knew she had to get
through to him. "Plankton,"
she said, her voice firm but
kind, "Chip loves you. He
was just sc-"
But Plankton's meltdown
was in full swing. He
was beyond the point of
reason, his voice a mix of
stims and rage. "I DON'T
WANT HIS PITY!" he
screamed, his fists clenching
the bed sheets. His stims
were no longer calming;
they were a manifestation
of his distress.
Karen felt a knot in her
stomach as she watched
her husband's breakdown.
Her heart was torn between
soothing him and protecting
Chip. But she knew that
Plankton's anger wasn't
just directed at their son.
It was at the world, at his
condition, at the fear of
being discovered.
"Plankton," she said firmly,
"look at me." She waited until
his eye met hers. "Your
autism is a part of who
you are, and it doesn't make
you any less of a person."
Her words seemed to pierce
his rage.
He took a shaky breath,
his body gradually
stilling. "I just... I don't
want him to see this,"
he murmured. The anger
left his voice, leaving
behind a raw vulnerability.
Karen reached out
gently touching his arm.
"Chip isn't scared of you,"
she assured. "He's scared
for you. And we need to
talk to him about what's
going on."
Plankton's eye searched
hers, filled with a mix
of doubt and fear. "What i-if
h-he’s ashamed of me?"
his voice was barely
above a whisper.
Karen's eyes softened,
her touch gentle. "Chip
could never be ashamed,"
she said firmly. "He loves
you just the way you are.
Now, let's go talk to him."