Tina brain shorted circuited as Leah walked in dressed as a toddler and distinct waddle/crinkling of a diaper. She fumbled with the duster she was using, coughing as the particles puffed up around her.
"L-Leah?"
"Yeah, hi Tina." The girl mumbled around her pacifier, looking horribly embarrassed as she looked anywhere but at her eyes, "I hope you don't mind that I borrowed this dress from your room. I, uh, don't really want people to see me act like a toddler while dressed as a teen, so...yeah."
Tina needed a few seconds to clear her lungs, still staring wide eyed. "No that's *cough* that's fine! I'm just surprised is all. I didn't expect you to willingly dress like that."
"Yeah, well, being seen acting like a toddler is less humiliating when you look like one."
"I get that, I do. It's just..." Diaper. She's wearing a diaper. Willingly wearing one, while dressed a a toddler. It was so cute, Tina felt like she was going to explode. "...you were so against wearing a diaper before."
"Ugh, you were right." The teen groaned, looking like admitting it was some agonizing torture, "I don't want to make a bigger mess than I already have."
Tina should be celebrating. Tina should be jumping for joy. Leah, precious little Leah, willingly put on a diaper when Tina explicitly gave her a way out. No hypnosis, no coercion, just a girl trying to avoid accidents. Tina should...but she was also worried. This isn't normal behavior for Leah, and that SHOULD concern Tina far more than some weird motherly fantasy she has.
"Leah, as much as I appreciate that...as I told you, diapers get in the way of going to the toilet. Wouldn't you prefer to wear pullups?"
Leah gave her a weird face, like she wasn't expecting this line of questioning. If Tina is being honest, SHE doesn't know why either; why is she actively trying to get her out of diapers when Leah so willingly put them on?
"It...*sigh* it wouldn't work."
"What won't work?"
"Tina, I wasn't potty trained as a toddler."
Now that was a surprise. Tina tilted her head in confusion, making Leah let out a truly tired sounding sigh before walking to a couch in the living room and sitting down. Tina followed.
"What do you mean? Did no one teach you? Did you have difficulties? That's not unusual, you-"
"It's when my mom died, Tina."
Tina shut her mouth. This was it, the topic that always hung between them yet could never be acknowledged. Already Leah looked to be on the verge of tears. Tina sat down next to her with a neutral expression, nodding to let her continue.
"She, uh, was in the middle of training me when it happened apparently, and it really messed me up when I was younger. I didn't get out of diapers until I was 5. I didn't stop needing training pants until I was 7. I didn't stop wetting the bed every night until I was 10. It still effects me to this day." She collapsed against the back of the couch, looking small and sad, "I still wet the bed every other week, pee my pants every other month, have so many close calls I lost count...it's like when she died, I lost the ability to grow. I never got bigger, and I never really stopped having accidents." She let's out a long, wavering breath, sniffling and wiping her eyes.
"So yeah, I wasn't potty trained when I was a toddler, so if I'm turning into a one I'll need diapers. Okay?"
Tina nodded her head, processing the information. She now feels terrible for every time judgmental thought she had whenever he did the laundry. This wasn't a baby in denial having accidents, this was a girl with a trauma induced disability. Leah sided eyed her expectantly, and Tina knew she had to respond carefully...