Tina was not prepared for a pacifier to be violently shoved into her eye. It didn't do a lot of damage, having a rubber tip, but it definitely hurt. She can't believe she fell for it---the cute, innocent act. Laying there, timidly sucking her pacifier. She honestly believed all it took to tame her step-daughter was a bit of discipline, humility, and a binky to silence her. Why did she believe that?
Tina grunted in shock and pain, grabbing one eye with one hand, and reaching to grab Leah with the other. She gripped her dress collar, ready to put her over one knee and spank her for being naughty. If it really came to a fight between the two, Tina was far stronger. However, strength didn't matter here---intention does. Most humans have a psychological aversion to causing another human harm, creating limitations on how much damage you can truly do to another. If you have the intention to harm, however, there is no limitation. Take Leah, for instance, as she grabs Tina's hand and bites down on one of her fingers. A toddler having a tantrum will be annoying, but harmless. Leah, however, was a young woman who was fighting for her life, and given that a human finger has the integrity of a carrot, biting it off would be terrifyingly easy.
Fortunately for Tina, she doesn't bite it off, but definitely hard enough to draw blood. Tina rips her hand away screaming, entirely unprepared for the level of violence Leah brought to the table, and even less prepared when she got too distracted to notice Leah grab something heavy to slam into her temple.
Tina hits the floor, head reeling and trying to right itself. She's vaguely aware of something rustling through her pockets, but can hardly do a thing as she tries to balance on her hands. It takes a good 30 seconds for Tina to no longer feel dizzy, just in time to hear her car door shut and lock. She looks up in panic to see the trunk door is closed, and glaring at her through the window is her devil of a step-child Leah. She reaches to her pockets before realizing that they're empty. Her keys, her phone, her pocketbook...all gone. No doubt currently in her locked car. All she had was a cart full of baby things, which really doesn't help her.
"Not so nice when the tables are turned, huh?" She heard Leah's muffled voice, dripping with vemon. She leaned in close to the window to bare her teeth. "You psychotic bitch!"
"Leah, open this car RIGHT now!" She spoke with her most stern voice.
"Give me ONE FUCKING reason, you baby-brained bimbo!"
"*sigh* This is childish, Leah. You can't stay in there forever, and the longer this lasts, the worse your punishment."
"I'm sorry, what? Did I hit you too hard on the head, or are you just that dumb? I think you have it backwards. I'm in the car, I have the keys, I have your phone and your wallet. If I drive back home without you...you're fucked, you deep-dish greasy shit pie."
Tina tried to control her voice, angry but knowing she has to be the bigger woman.
"Leah, you can't-"
"Please do not say 'you can't drive', you dumb fuck imbecile! Dad's been giving me lessons for months. I'm getting my license next year. I know how to drive!"
"You can't legally-"
"I don't give a shit!"
"You'll be stopped if for no other reason than looking like a toddler driving a car!"
"Tina, we live in the suburbs, the chance of an officer catching me is the same as catching someone driving 50 on a 45. They won't care! I think I can take my chances!"
Tina grumbled as she tried the handle, tugging it repeatedly.
"This is ridiculous, open up!"
"Once again, you shit-eating pig fart, give me a reason!"
"I AM YOUR-" Tina stopped herself, taking a deep breath, "Leah, I know you're upset-"
"Upset doesn't even scratch the surface, you pile of-"
"Do you NEED to use such vulgar language?!" Tina shouted, both disturbed and kind of impressed with her colorful language.
"Bite me!"
"Leah, I'm asking nicely-"
"I'm sorry, I thought I was 'developmentally a baby'. Aren't I too stupid to be asked?"
"You're upset about that? You had an accident in public-"
"After holding it for hours? Your point?"
"Only a baby does that, Leah, and this childish game is only proving my point!"
"So shitting yourself is what makes a baby? Really? Are you so diaper obsessed to just...forget incontinence exists and is incredibly common? Not to mention that, again, I just had an accident. That does not make someone developmentally regress into losing object permanence."
Tina tried a different door, with the same success. The car was made to be very secure. She could go try and get help, but...Leah could just drive off and strand her without a way to contact anyone, or even pay for a ride. She...might actually be in trouble.
"Hey, my best friend Tonya shit herself in the 7th grade after being dared to scarf down five scoops despite being lactose intolerant. Do you need to take her out of school? Or how about Jace's great-grandpa down the street? Pretty sure he shits himself regularly. Wanna enroll him in daycare?"
Tina tried the last door, knowing it was a hopeless endeavor. Her only other way in to just break a window, and she's pretty sure that would only make things worse. She rested her head against the car, letting out a deep, harrowing sigh. She wasn't going to win this by force.
"Leah, sweet heart-" She said in a soft, if not strained voice.
"Do NOT sweetheart me." Leah slammed her hands against the window Tina was leaning on, giving the woman a chance to look the girl over.
"You wet yourself."
Leah's angry face dropped for a second as she reaches down to find a squishy diaper; the stress must've caused her to not notice.
"You need a change. Look, open the door, I promise I won't be mad-"
"Fuck off!"
"Leah, please." Tina said, scrunching her eyes closed as she pushed all her patience and kindness into her words, "I just want to help."
Leah's silent after that, for an uncomfortably long period. Tina takes the chance to open her eyes, and sees...