Papasaur
It didn't take long for hell to break loose in the park. One creature is spotted where it doesn't belong, then more show up not long after. Earlier that day you listened to the PA system blatantly lie about everything being under control. Deep down you knew something was wrong, but who were you to truly say?
By sundown you were stuck hiding in your hotel room with the door locked. Power was still on but you weren't sure for how long. You thought you could hear orders being bellowed out from someone's bestial lungs. Their voice was much deeper than you'd ever heard before. Could it have been the park staff? No, the commands were much too clear and thought out. They knew exactly what they were doing in the midst of the mayhem.
The next morning it seemed like everything was lost. You could hear no more park-goers or staff members about. From what little you dared to explore it was obvious that the hotel was deserted-- at least of people. Nearly every patch of carpet you'd walked on was spotted with the footprints of various dinosaur species. Some of them you'd recognized, as you'd only just seen them right before the chaos unfolded. Others though...
As the afternoon wore on you stockpiled whatever food you had in your hotel room. At least you didn't have anyone to embarrass you about your nighttime bed-wetting, even if you should have been out of the house at this point. So much for learning to be independent. Despite the lights not working somehow there was still running water. The hot water knob still worked, too.
You spent the early evening hours testing each light you could find. Nothing. Then again you were certain that if the alarm clock was on then the outlets would have been functioning as well too. You'd wished you'd realized this earlier when suddenly heavy footsteps came through one of the heavy fire doorways leading up to your floor. Oh no...
The beds sat directly on the floor giving you no space to hide under. You'd thought about hiding in the bathroom. Everyone hides in the bathroom, that's not a good idea either. As you frantically search for a place to wait out this unknown visitor you begin to feel a slight thud on the floor. As the thud grew stronger so did your urge to panic.
You check the closet but you'd be trapped if it found you in there! Quickly you dash over to the bathroom nearly tripping over yourself as you fling yourself towards the door. What good would hiding under the counter top do? Quick, quick, think of something! Where else could you hide? It's still in the hallway and this thing can't be that far off now!
The footsteps stop. Silence. Your heart is beating in your throat. You fight back the urge to throw up. The hallway is too dark to tell what door they are in front of but something tells you it's staring in your direction through that narrow slab of wood. It knows, it has to. You slowly return to the bed and try the only logical thing that you could think of. The classic trick that kept every ghost and monster away from you as a kid.
Without hesitation you quickly dive onto the bed and bury yourself in the sheets. You try to lie as flat as possible as to look natural. Suddenly the doorknob turns. The door opens. The owner of those foreboding footsteps has just entered your room. Holding your breath is your only ace up your sleeve. Your eyes squeeze shut so tight that not even terror-filled tears could penetrate your eyelids. Suddenly you hear a voice.
"It's alright, little guy. I'm not going to hurt you."
...What? No, this has to be a trick. It's that same deep voice that you heard down on the main strip earlier! You'll stay put no matter what, this can't be real.
You feel something surprisingly dull yet pointed begin to draw the blankets back. As the room is revealed through your pitiful hiding spot you instantly realize where those orders came from. This couldn't be right, you just saw the T-Rex being fed not even a couple days prior and now here is one sitting on your bedside next to you. It almost looks like it could be your new dad, somehow. But how-- better yet, where did he come from?
His hand looked nothing like what you'd been told. He has more digits than his feral counterparts and judging by the way he scoops you up and sits you beside him it definitely isn't useless either. He wipes your tears with one of his sausage-sized fingers. You gladly allow him to lean you closer as he softly reassures that everything will be okay.
"What are you doing here by yourself?" he asks as he puts one of the most muscular arms you've ever seen around your shoulder.
Before you can even choke out the start of a sentence a single tear runs down your face. You try to tell him that you don't know where everyone went, but the truth was even more painful: they'd forgotten about you. Maybe they panicked too? You'll never know now, nor did it matter. Your new friend didn't want to pry any further.
Your nameless T-Rex companion asks you a couple of other questions such as how long you'd been there or where you had been getting food. It was easier to respond with the story of how you'd managed to keep yourself going after it all. His surprised expression told you that you must have done something right. Even more so after you had told him that you had never been taught basic survival skills.
As the two of you continue to talk you find his voice more soothing. Each sentence carried a peaceful aura about them. Your fears and worries begin to melt away as he suddenly shifts his tone and begins speaking to you as though you are much younger than you are. You aren't sure why, but it just feels right. You even giggle at some of the cute jokes he would make to any other hatchling.
What you didn't notice was that he had found the diaper bag that you had once loathed so much. As often as you had protested about needing it became yet another thing on the list of reasons why you weren't on good terms with your step-parents. Seeing it again this time though-- made you feel warm inside.
"I didn't think you would still wear these as long as our young ones do," your companion observed.
You try to explain why you wear them through rosy red cheeks, every so often cracking a slight smile when he would joke about saving the world from a flood in the night. There was a curiosity in his eyes, though. Something you couldn't quite make out until suddenly he was pointing down at your crotch and asking you if you were truly sure it was for nighttime.
Uh oh, you hadn't even noticed! When did this happen? You pull your shirt down in an attempt to save face. He pulls it back up anyway and gives you a sympathetic hug. For once you weren't being teased or laughed at for having an occasional accident. As much as you had always wished those didn't just vanish.
"It's okay, little guy," he starts as he cranes his head down towards you, "you don't need to be ashamed of it. Sometimes it just takes a little longer to grow up, you don't need to hide who you are. It's why I came back for you, I'd heard you crying in your sleep the last few nights."
What did he mean? You look up at him and ask. He responds with a soft chuckle and rustles your hair.
"What I mean is that it's okay to still be young. You have a lot to learn, and that's okay. I wasn't going to let anything happen to a little one, what kind of dinosaur would I be?"
You melt in his arms. How were you even supposed to feel? Nobody's ever said this to you before, but somehow he was hitting every mark. It probably wasn't helping that you had left your favorite dinosaur pajamas out on the dresser or accidentally talked about the plushy that you had left back at home, if it even was anymore. Before any other thought could cross your mind you even called him Papa. Whoops.
"Papa" gets to his feet and lifts you to yours by your armpits.
"Let's get you a bath and out of those wet clothes. And yes, you can call me that if you want."
You stand around with him waiting for the tub to fill. Your diaper bag sitting out in the open catches your eye once in a while. The thing you once hated now brings you comfort. As long as you had owned it though you could never bring yourself to look through all of its pockets, however. No time for that now though, your bath is ready.
Papa picks you up and carries you like a toddler into the bathroom. He sets you in the tub and the two of you continue talking about the only good part of your trip. There was so much to see! You even managed to ride the Triceratops even though it took a little convincing. Your favorite part though was seeing the T-Rex. That part made him giggle along with you.
He fetches a rag and soaks it before wiping your chest and back. This was definitely not your new Papa's first rodeo. There was a method to his bath time that you could only hope to ever learn someday. Afterward he helps you clean your lower half, being sure to let you do the rest if you aren't comfortable. His consideration can only make you love him more.
After finishing your washing he tells you to wait for a moment and leaves the bathroom. Curiously you try to listen to what he's doing since he'd put you facing away from the door. He's rustling through something. Could it be yours? Even if it was, you didn't care.
"Alright, bud, let's get you all dried off" he says as he re enters the bathroom and picks you up out of the tub.
You could have easily done this yourself, you'd been doing it for years! This time though you couldn't help but smile. You raise your arms when he needs to get under them. You stand with your legs spread so he can dry them off. His technique is flawless. Somehow you knew the ropes, too. He lays the towel on the toilet and picks you up once again under your butt before carrying you into the bedroom. He sets you on the bed and sits next to you with his hand on your shoulder.
"Okay now," he started as he reached for something behind him, "I just want you to know that you don't have to be ashamed of yourself. You might be big where you come from, but I think we both can see otherwise."
Papa sets three diapers in your lap but keeps your focus on him.
He continues, "I don't want to you get hurt out there. You have lots to learn and time to grow. If I'm going to be your Papa we gotta make sure you're still being good, you hear?"
You pause for a moment.
"It's normal for little ones to be, well, little throughout their young years. If you want to leave, I understand. I'm not sure how you'll find your way back, if you ever will at this point. And please don't think I'm trying to scare you--"
He doesn't even finish his sentence before suddenly his new little one is embracing him in a hug. You continue to tearfully hug him while he fishes the diapers out from under you.
"Well now that I see how you feel about it," he says before presenting you your three choices, "which one will it be?"
As you ponder your choices you realize that two of them were ones you used to hate. The first has a dinosaur print. You got these as a "gift" from some relative one time and hadn't wanted to wear them out of embarrassment.
The second has rocket-ships and planets. You were surprised that you'd even had these despite them probably coming from the same relative.
The third is one of your plain white ones. Boring, generic, the only one you could bear the thought of wearing to save even a scrap of dignity.
Normally your choice is obvious. Why would you ever think about wearing anything that would make you look-- yeah leave this one to Papa. You ask him to help you choose because for once you have no idea what one you want.
"Well," he says in a cheery tone.
He pretends to ponder this debacle himself before setting down the last two.
"I think you had a pretty good time seeing them for yourself, huh?"
As if almost automatic you lay down on your back. The multiple shades of red your burning cheeks turn tell him that you're happy with your choice.
"Oh, I almost forgot!"
He presents a bottle of baby powder from somewhere out of view. No need to ask, it is the most important part of change time after all! He wastes no time covering your diaper area with powder and filling the room with that tell-tale aroma while doing so. The patches of cool powder on your skin make you giggle with glee.
"And one more thing," Papa declares as he reaches into a utility pouch he has on his belt.
"Alright bud, open wide for me," he instructs as he gently guides a pacifier into your mouth.
You suck on the latex nipple in your mouth as he places the top of the diaper into position. Even his tape job is masterfully done! He starts with your left side, legs first. Something you were always taught to do. Each tape sticks and holds your diaper in place perfectly. You've never had a better change in your life!
"I managed to get my claws on one of these without tail holes as well. We'll keep this on under your jammies, okay?" Papa says as he fishes out a dinosaur themed onesie from the same pouch your pacifier came from. This didn't look like any park souvenir you'd ever seen. They also come with tail holes?
Papa slides your onesie on over your head and helps your arms through. You lay back down as the snaps on your crotch are done up. As he helps you to your feet he finishes his job well done with a couple soft pats on your newly diapered butt. As you go to take your pacifier out to say something he stops you.
"Rule number one: binky time is binky time. We teach all of our little ones this early so that they're used to it. It's also a pretty easy habit to break when they're ready, so don't worry about it being a habit you grow into."
You lower your hand and continue listening; pacifier in mouth. He fetches your pajamas you'd left out and helps you put them on as he continues explaining the rules.
"Rule number two, which I don't think we'll have a problem with: diapers stay on unless your elders say so or change you. If you need a diaper change just ask. We don't want any stinky butts running around, now do we?"
He picks you up again and slings your diaper bag over his shoulder. As you continue for the stairs he begins explaining his third rule.
"Rule number three: Always obey your elders. We want to teach our little ones to succeed in life. Talking back, pouting, throwing a fit, any of that will land you in time out or worse. I don't see you as the type to be a troubling little one, though."
You giggle through your pacifier as he pinches your cheek. He continues explaining a few other minor rules to you but you start to doze off. It's been a long few days with a twist ending, though it wasn't over just yet. His voice trailed off as you fell asleep on his shoulder, though shortly afterward you suddenly felt yourself being jostled awake.
"You awake, sleepy head?" he asks as he rustles your hair.
"Aw, my little guy is tired, huh?" he adds as he sees you rubbing the sleep from your eyes.
The moonlight bathed the wreckage of the park's main strip in its light. The damage was worse than you thought. Glass was thrown every direction, supporting structures were bent at dangerous angles and at one point you were pretty sure there was a concession stand where now there was only empty space that didn't seem to belong. Papa sets you on a bench outside of the gift shop and fetches you a pair of shoes from inside.
For being on your best behavior for him he takes you inside and lets you pick out a new dinosaur plushy to keep with you. While you're busy deciding which one of the many different species is your favorite he collected some shirts and other items in a shopping bag. After deciding on your favorite one you join him over in the toddler's section.
"You'll need one of these," Papa says to himself as he fetches a bib from the shelf.
He turns to you and helps you try it on, and it fits perfectly. You're greeted in the mirror with a bib that looks like an Apatosaurus is wrapping its neck around yours with its head being what holds the bib in place. Papa then removes it and places it in the bag as well.
After doing some "shopping" in what most would believe the aftermath of Black Friday would be, he scoops you up in his arms once again.
"It'll be a little ways but I've got a crib ready for you once we get there," he says.
Finally, a bed-- crib? Did he say a crib? You look at him with some confusion only to be met with a slight laugh and a reminder about how you're his, "little one."
"We don't want you getting up in the middle of the night and causing trouble, do we?" he chortles.
True to his word the walk was quite a ways. You aren't sure how far away from the park you are now but up ahead you see something only short of a miracle. Lights. There are lights up ahead, and even more interesting is the multitude of voices and sounds you can hear in the distance as well. Papa rests your head against his shoulder and beckons for you to sleep. He'll take care of the rest.
After everything you've been through you believe it. This wasn't up to you anymore. You didn't want this to be up to you anymore. As unbelievable as it may be, you know that deep down he loves you and truly cares. To you that's all that matters. You sink your head into his shoulder and close your eyes. You drift off to sleep knowing that Papa will take care of the rest.