A little toddler girl walked in, wearing a cute little sundress and pigtails that were still damp with a pacifier in her-
Tina blinked, and then blinked again. That was Leah. It took her brain a few seconds to realize, because of how ungodly familiar the sight was. The tod- teen had her arms crossed with a stern, embarrassed expression that looked like an adorable pout, looking to the side. Tina must've looked quite the sight, because Leah groaned in an angsty way only a teen could do.
"God, don't just stare at me like that! It's already embarrassing enough." The girl ranted with a bizarre mix of teen angst and pouty child, making Tina's brain do a few loop-de-loops before she could respond.
"Leah...you...what?" Her response was pitiful, but she couldn't really help it. Her mind was trying to make sense of the information being fed to it.
"Look, you were right. I'm turning into a toddler, and I'm going to start having accidents. Pretend I won't will just make a mess. So I decided to wear the training pants. But then I realized things will just get worse from here on out, and I really don't want people to see me like this, so...I guess I decided to dress the part too."
"Where'd you even get that?" Tina finally spoke, mind finally starting to catchup. The teen shrugged as her blush deepened.
"I thought 'Hey, if I wanted to dress as a toddler, Tina would probably have something', so I went to your room and found, like, a lot of different clothes that were my size. You really are stocked for this kind of thing to a weird degree, you know that Tina?"
Tina felt herself flush at the mention. It was probably the supplies the department store or whoever gave her with the list of triggers, which thankfully Leah didn't find too suspicious---whether or not she should be concerned on HOW 'baby-brained' she thought Tina was is something she could worry about later.
"I'm, yes, well...Leah, I'm sorry, but I'm so surprised."
"And here I thought you'd immediately shout out how cute I looked. Huh."
"I mean, yes! You look absolutely precious...!"
"Theeeere we go."
"...but Leah, you were so embarrassed before! What changed?"
She shrugs, trying to look disinterested when she clearly feels self-conscious in the getup.
"I'd prefer to act like a toddler when I'm not dressed like a teen. I already shit and pissed myself, and can't stop sucking this thing. Heck, I couldn't even read the bottles in the shower, just hoped I remembered which was which...I really can't say I feel like a teen right now, so I don't feel comfortable dressing like one. This way, if someone sees me, at least it won't be so humiliating." Leah's rant sounded less frustrated than Tina expected, like she's just accepted her new situation. It must be true, too, because Tina didn't utter a single trigger to make her dress like that. "Besides...I figured you'd appreciate it." She smiled teasingly.
Tina felt like crying. Where did this thoughtful, fun girl come from? Has this been what Leah is like the whole time?
Leah rolled her eyes. "Tina, please don't make this weird by crying. It's already weird enough."
Tina blushed as she turned away, wiping her tears. "Of course not! Sorry, I just...I'm not used to seeing this side of you."
Leah shrugs, "I guess I'm not used to showing it. I always thought you were so patronizing, and belittling, and that you didn't really respect me or see me as a young adult." She shifts uncomfortably, "Or, uh...wanted to replace my mom...or whatever." Tina could see from Leah's face that the subject was still a touchy one, which made her all the more surprised to hear her bring it up. Everything she said was something Tina feared, that Leah really didn't like being around her because of her tendency to baby her.
"But...you really helped me out today. I snapped at you, but you didn't get angry back and even backed off on diapering me. I know I'm a difficult person to be around at times, but you're trying, and I guess it's only fair if I try back."
She gave a bashful, but incredibly sweet smile, and Tina wanted to cry all over again. Is this what happens when she respects Leah's agency? Leah starts to actually like her? Why hadn't she tried this from the start? It almost makes her toddler hypnosis plan feel pointless. Almost.
"That's...thank you, Leah. I won't betray that trust." Tina said with a wavering voice, knowing full well that she 100% already ruined that trust and was planning on doing it several more times in the future. Well...Leah doesn't have to know the illness is her doing, and if it forced them to bond further Tina only sees that as a win.
"So then, you said you wanted this to be fun right?" Leah asked with a hint of excitement. Tina cleared her throat and nodded.
"Yes. We can do anything you want to do. Or, we could do something you haven't done since you were young. You'll start to enjoy those activities again, might as well some fun with it while you can right?"
"Hmm, I guess. It's a little weird, but...you're not wrong." She taps her foot and rubs her chin, looking absolutely adorable; Tina resists the urge to take pictures. Leah snaps her fingers as a metaphorical flash bulb lights above her head.
"I got it! Let's..."