The Boy in the Bubble

Hey, true believers! It's me, the ghost of Stan Lee, possessing Andlat to tell you this is a sequel to another story: https://andlatscaptions.blogspot.com/2024/04/pret-porter.html



“Here comes Jayjay Cottontail, hopping down the baby trail!”

“Shuddup.” Jaden muttered, glaring at his brother. Ever since what Jaden called the Garden Party Incident, Aiden had been insufferable. Mom had promised not to show anyone other than Dad the photos of him all dressed up and diapered like a giant baby, but Aiden was nowhere near as reasonable. Jaden had had to buy Aiden's silence, which was giving up his boxer briefs and returning, not just to briefs, but to underoos. Pokémon was cool, but not when you were wearing white briefs with blue piping and Marill on your butt!

Still, it was not like Jaden had completely taken it laying down. He could not do anything that would outright be seen as revenge, but a careful comment to Mom about where Aiden hid his beloved Power Ranger pajamas felt properly vindictive.

Sticking his tongue out at Aiden, Jaden returned to gazing out the window. They had left so early for Uncle Nick's that both he and Aiden were still in pajamas. He wore a solid green t-shirt and shorts set with Camp Wildfire on the chest. Aiden, still mourning the loss of his Power Rangers pajamas, wore a faded pair of pajama pants with monster trucks on them and the Hot Wheels logo on his shirt. It was only thanks to his height that that lady at the rest stop had pegged him as the older brother, Jaden thought sullenly.

“I'm bored.” Aiden announced, breaking Jaden out of his thoughts.

“I know,” Mom said. “But you need to stop kicking my seat. We'll be there soon.” Aiden sighed, a perfectly innocent sound to anyone who wasn't a mind reader like Mom. “And that does not mean bothering your brother.”

“Ok.” Aiden said quickly, but not quickly enough to avoid a mom lecture.

“I heard that song you were singing. You need to stop calling your brother a baby.” She turned to smile at Jaden. “He's a big boy!”

“Mom!” Jaden whined. Mom smirked and looked away as Aiden picked up the Pokémon encyclopedia between them.

“How about you show me which Pokémon is on your undies?” Aiden whispered.

“No.”

“I bet it's” Aiden flipped through the book, looking up at the gray fabric ceiling of the car so that he would land on a random page. He dramatically raised his pointer finger and then brought it down. “Ha! Sylveon.”

“Nope.” Jaden made a face.

“Aww, I bet I'm right. Pretty pink Sylveon panties.”

“Marill, okay?”

“Which one's that?” Aiden handed Jaden the book. He muttered under his breath as he flipped through the book until he found the blue mouse. “Oh! Right! A baby pokémon.”

“Aiden.” Dad said.

“What?”

“You know what.” Jaden felt a little vindicated as Aiden leaned back in his seat.

“Remember, boys.” Mom said. “As soon as we're there, I want you two to change. Not fight, not argue, change into your nice clothes. We'll be there with plenty of time for you to look nice for Grandma when she arrives.”

“We want this to be a nice day for Grandma.” Dad said firmly.

“Even if that means no screens for a week when we get home.” Jaden and Aiden both nodded their agreement.

Almost as soon as they arrived, Uncle Nick was talking to Dad about something. Jaden and Aiden climbed out of the car, Jaden snickering as Aiden stumbled out.

“Nice, Bambi.” He muttered. Recently, Mom had commented that Aiden's sudden growth had made him awkward like a baby deer. Naturally, Jaden had seized on his new nickname. Aiden punched him in the arm, even though Mom hissed for him to quit.

Aunt Marie came over, holding a squealing, squirming toddler in her arms. Liam wore a navy blue striped bubble romper that left everything below his diaper exposed. Jaden shuddered as he remembered the shorts Aiden had forced him into. He was relieved they had been donated to charity, even if that same box had contained every pair of his boxer briefs thanks to Aiden.

“He's excited to see his big cousins!” Aunt Marie said. To both boys, Liam just seemed excited in general. “Can you say Jaden and Aiden?”

“Jay-ayden.” Liam announced.

“Close enough.” Aiden said with a grin.

“Boys, go change.”

“Oh, right. Grandma might not like the jammies.” Marie said. “You two can use Liam's nursery. It's right off the entryway, kay?” Jaden did not like the sound of that, but he followed Aiden. Mom and Dad had both sounded serious, both in the car and for about the last week, about them not ruining Grandma's birthday that he felt sure Aiden would not dare try anything.

~ B ~

Jaden grimaced as they stepped into Liam's nursery. It sure looked like one, from the crib to the rocking chair to the changing table stocked to the brim with diapers.

“Thinking about putting one on?” Aiden asked, somehow already shirtless as he leaned the bags up against the leg of the changing table. “Might be a good idea! That rest stop was a little iffy.”

“You were the one who begged to stop.” Jaden said, starting to undress now that he was confident Aiden was a good distance away. “You were!’

“You were in diapers a lot more recently than-” He dodged a flying sock. “I didn't even mean that, dude!” He glanced over at the changing table and then to the walk-in closet.

“Where's the clothes?”

“Over here.” Aiden pointed to the bags by the changing table. He snorted as Jaden walked over. “You weren't kidding when you said Marill.” He grinned as Jaden only grunted. Oh, well. He would miss them once he was dressed. With a shrug of his shoulders, he pounced.

“Hey! Get off!” Jaden bellowed, but it was no use. Aiden overpowered him and got him onto the changing table, strapping him down despite Jaden trying to kick him.

“Off come these little boy undies. Baby Jayjay needs a diaper!”

“Don't you stinking dare!”

“Like I can resist. We're in a nursery, dude. Aunt Marie must know about your baby photos.”

“Get me off this thing!”

“Yes, keep screaming so someone walks in on you naked.” Jaden glared daggers up at him, but Aiden did not care. He looked down at his brother on the changing table. Mom and Dad had told him countless times to stop calling him a baby, but if they could only see him now, naked and pudgy, it would be as obvious to them as it was to him.

“Don't do this again!” Jaden protested as Aiden reached under the table out of his sight.

“Who packed our nice clothes?”

“Aiden!”

“Come on, who packed our nice clothes?”

“I did.”

“Exactly. So you know I didn't have any way to bring your outfit from the garden party, right?” Jaden considered this, but then he wondered why Aiden was bringing it up.”I'm just gonna put you in a diaper and then we'll get dressed, kay?”

“But”

“That's right!” Aiden said, overly cheerful. “Baby Jayjay's butt needs powder and a diaper!”

Jaden yelled, screamed, and kicked. It did not change anything. No one came to save him. He could hear their voices outside, but somehow, they could not hear him as Aiden heavily powdered him.

“Better too much than too little, right?” He laughed as he surveyed his handiwork. Jaden looked like a blizzard had hit him from his belly button to mid-thigh. He whimpered as his brother put him in a diaper for the second time. “I know, they don't have Marill on them, but this'll be better for your little water gun.”

“Aiden!” The twelve year old grinned.

“You don't like big brother's jokes? Why not, baby Jayjay?”

“That's not my name.”

“It is as long as you're a baby.” He grinned as his gaze moved from his brother to the closet. ‘Hmm, you know, if Liam's diapers fit you…”

“No! No!” He struggled against the strap holding him down to the changing table as Aiden leisurely examined the closet's offerings. Did Liam ever wear anything that wasn't super cute?

“Come on.” His brother said, grinning. “Why wear boring khakis and a shirt when you can wear” he held up an outfit on a hanger. “A bubble romper?”

“No stinking way!”

“It's either that or a Jon Jon, but bubble sounds cuter and Liam's wearing a bubble too, I'm pretty sure.” Jaden snarled and tried once again to kick him. “It's perfect. It'll show off your babyish legs you try to hide and it'll make sure everyone knows baby Jayjay still wears diapers!”

“Aiden. I swear to God, I'm gonna tell!” Aiden laughed.

“Dude, you won't have to tell. Everyone's gonna see, just like last time.” It took a lot of fighting, but Aiden knew babies were like that sometimes. All that mattered was, despite his protests, Jaden soon wore the bubble. The contrast between the brothers could not be more stark with Aiden in nothing but his boxers and Jaden wearing a bubble and a diaper. Aiden smelled like too much deodorant, Jaden smelled like just as much baby powder.

“Get this thing off of me!” Jaden pawed at the buttons of the bubble, but that only reminded him of the diaper underneath. Aiden laughed and pushed him onto his back. “Get it off!” Aiden had no intention of doing that.

“Ohmigod, dude.” Aiden could hardly believe his eyes as he really looked over his handiwork. He almost felt bad. The last outfit had been cute, but this? “You totally look like a baby.” Jaden really, truly did. A giant baby, sure, but a baby nonetheless.

“I am not a baby!” He bellowed. How had no one come to investigate?

“Alright,” He slid the strap back over his brother's chest. “You can stay right here in your diaper and bubble and think about how much of a baby you aren't while I'm getting dressed, kay?”

With Jaden secure, he was able to take his time. He grinned as Jaden kicked and screamed, looking for all the world like a baby throwing a tantrum. Maybe he could just leave him here and let someone discover him. How often did Liam need his diaper changed? More importantly, how had no one wondered where they were?

He strolled over to the window and saw Dad and Uncle Nick chatting while Mom held Liam and talked with Marie. Apparently they had not even noticed their absence.

“Well,” He tugged his shirt down to make sure it was not wrinkled. “Let's make our grand debut.”

“Aiden.” Jaden snarled.

“Here comes Jayjay Crinkletail, waddling down the baby trail.” Feeling especially daring, he pinched Jaden's cheek, but pulled his hand away when his brother tried to bite him. “Keep it up and I'm putting you down for a nap.” He paused. “Or just leaving you here. That seems easiest.” He looked down at his furious brother. How was he able to stay this angry for this long? “Is that what you want?”

“No.” Jaden said with a sigh.

“Let's get this over with?” That was met with a curt nod from Jaden. “I was hoping you'd say that.”

Jaden stared down at the ground as they made their way outside. Barefoot and barelegged, he looked every bit like Aiden's baby brother as they emerged out into the sunlight to gasps of surprise. He looked from his cousin to himself. It made no sense! His cousin was so much smaller than him, how did his diaper and his bubble fit him so well!?

“Aiden. Come here.” Dad immediately pulled Aiden inside the house.

“I” Aunt Marie said, looking from Jaden to his mom, unsure if she was allowed to gush over how adorable her nephew looked.

“I know you're miserable.” Mom said, running over and hugging him. Her nose wrinkled. “We might have to pay you back, Marie. Pretty sure Aiden used an entire bottle of baby powder on his brother.” Jaden began to sniffle. “Now, sweetie. I know. You can go change after we get some photos of you and Liam. This is just too cute!”

“But mom!” There was no negotiating with her.

Aiden remained inside while Jaden was subjected to an entire photoshoot sitting on the grass with Liam, waddling around with a ball, they even made him crawl next to Liam as they snapped photo after photo of their bubble butts. He was almost certain they were minutes away from stripping the pair down to their diapers when Liam came to his rescue.

“Mommy, poopy!” He declared.

“Alright,” Mom looked at her phone adoringly. “If Liam's getting a change, you can go change too, Jaden.” Jaden nearly fell over as he charged toward the house, Mom trying her best to capture a few more action shots of her son's last moments in his infantile ensemble.

Jaden had no reason to run back to the nursery. Try as he might, he could not get the bubble unbuttoned. Part of it was because touching the diaper underneath made him recoil.

“It's almost over.” He reminded himself as Aunt Marie came casually strolling in with Liam in her arms.

“Need some help?”

“Yes, please.” Relief colored Jaden's face. Aunt Marie set the squirming toddler down and studied Jaden's bubble. “How's this thing even fit me?”

“Baby clothes are stretchy.” Aunt Marie replied. “They do a lot of growing, you know!”

“But I'm like… five times Liam's age.”

“This one was a bit big for him.” Jaden wondered if Liam would be kept in bubbles until he was ten. He shuddered at the thought. “Do you mind lying down? I don't if it's muscle memory or what, but it'll come off like that” she snapped her fingers. “If you assume the position.” Aiden was not there, so Jaden readily reclined on the floor. Sure enough, the bubble came unbuttoned and he pulled it off, even if it meant being in front of his aunt in nothing but a diaper.

“Oh, do you mind leaving the diaper on? I would hate for it to go to waste.”

“To waste!” His face paled. “I'm… I'm not using it!” She laughed as if he was ridiculous for thinking that that was what she had meant.

“Of course not, but it can work as underwear too, don't you think? And I'm sure no one'll know you're wearing it under your big boy clothes.” She saw his face. “Oh, sorry. I'm used to talking to toddlers. Under your normal clothes.” He was more annoyed by the prospect of wearing a diaper all day long.

“Uh.” He wanted to say no, but Mom had already talked about paying back the baby powder. He sighed and waddled over to his nice clothes, strewn all over the floor by Aiden. Marie almost commented, but thought better of it as the boy struggled to button his khakis around the diaper.

For the rest of the day, Jaden was careful not to walk too much. Aiden barely said a word to him until it was time for lunch and he needed the pitcher of lemonade passed. For years afterward, Jaden would remember that as the grandma's birthday where Aiden had gotten in the biggest trouble ever. It was a better way to remember it than 'the grandma's birthday where I was diapered for the family photo'.