"This feels strange," the lion said, giving a wiggle in his seat. His diapers crinkled.
The fox chuckled, smirking. "Well, you're the one who suggested it. Besides, it's no stranger than an adult, fully potty trained non-incontinent lion wearing diapers and a sleeper, being babysat by his loving and surprisingly tolerant and paternal best friend."
He tugged at his sleeper sheepishly, looking at the yellow ducky and baby bottle prints. "I like my sleepers."
"They are cute," the fox admitted, "and they do rather bring out your eyes. But weren't we about to read a story?"
The lion nodded eagerly, scooting closer to his friend. His diapers crinkled more. The fox smiled and put a paw around the shoulders of his friend, turning on the reading lamp by the bed, and readying the book. The cover showed a young bunny dressed in a sleeper with a butt-flap, happily nursing on a baby bottle.
"'No More Bottles For Bunny'," the fox read aloud from the cover. "I wonder who the murderer is."
The lion giggled. "Probably the butler."
The fox nodded in agreement. "It usually is. Probably killed him because he wouldn't give up his bottle."
The lion giggled more, slipping his thumb into his muzzle. "You're being silly."
His friend smirked and nuzzled at his friend, giving him a gentle squeeze with his arm. "Sorry, sweetie. So, why'd you buy this book? Do you think this book will convince you to give up baby bottles?"
"Probably not," the lion confessed bashfully behind his thumb, before removing it to go on. "I thought it looked cute. And, emh, the website I ordered it at had a campaign where you got the shipping for free on any order that contained a book. And since this book cost as much as the shipping, I figured I'd rather have the book."
"Ah, I see. That makes sense. And who knows, it might actually work..."
The lion frowned at him.
"... but probably not, yeah. You do like your bottles, don't you?"
The lion gave a smile and a nod. "Uh-huh."
"And it is rather amusing to burp you afterwards. Should make a recording and show it to your boyfriend, show him what a big boy you are."
"You wouldn't dare." The lion frowned at his friend again.
The fox simply smiled. "You're cute when you're annoyed. And you're cute when you burp."
"And I'm sure I'm very cute when I'm being read a story to," the lion responded with a grin.
"Right. I got your point. Ahem." The fox cleared his throat, and opened up on to the first page. He tried to put on a soft, gentle, sing-songy voice, as caretakers often would with babies and young children, taking his time on each sentence.
"Bunny has a bottle at meal time. Bunny has a bottle at nap time. Bunny even has a bottle --"
The story was interrupted by a sudden, wet, muffled rumble. The pleasant scents of lions, diapers, sleepers, and babypowder gave way to a decidedly less pleasant, more sinister smell.
"Sorry," the lion said meekly, his cheeks turning red under his fur, giving a bashful smile. "I guess the laxative finally kicked in..."
"Yeah, I noticed. The whole bed was shaking. I thought it was an earthquake."
The lion blushed further, avoiding his friend's eyes, and starting to shift to get up and out of the bed. "I guess I should go get changed..."
The fox smiled, pulling him gently closer, and planting a kiss near his snout. "I'm the babysitter, and I decide when you get changed. Let's at least finish the book first. There might be some aftershocks from the laxative, after all. Remember last time?"
The lion nodded. "Yeah..."
"Besides, baby doesn't mind having a poopy seat for a bit, does he?"
The lion giggled bashfully and shook his head. "Nu-uh."
"Good. Now, where were we..."
The lion slipped his thumb back into his muzzle and snuggled up against his friend. His friend didn't mind if he had 'accidents' in his diapers, and didn't even mind changing them from time to time. He indulged and he encouraged, helping him feel little and having fun with his strange role as an occasional babysitter to an adult lion. He felt safe, and at ease. He was a good friend, and the lion allowed himself himself to relax again, not stirring when his bladder released as a result. The diaper change could wait, because now it was time for a story.
"Ah yes. Here we are. Ahem. Bunny has a bottle at meal time. Bunny has a bottle at nap time. Bunny even has a bottle when he goes out to play..."
