The First Stop

Campbell realized three things about Harlow on the station platform:

1) Harlow was taller than he was. He knew that, but standing side by side gave him a different perspective on it. It felt more real.

2) Harlow was carrying a bag over his shoulder. It had a black and white checkered pattern, single strap, with a large compartment. On one end, something was stuffed into one of the sleeves and Campbell could see a familiar baby blue plastic disk filled with holes.

Baby Powder.

Which meant...

3) Harlow had brought diapers with him.

"Well, we've got an hour here at the station before the next train arrives," Harlow said, "So let's get inside out of the cold."

Harlow took Campbell by the hand and led him into the train station building.

The station was warm, but it was barren. There was nothing to do. Thankfully, the station was two streets away from a shopping center. Harlow was following a map on his phone, heading that way, still holding Campbell's hand in his.

"Where are we going?" Campbell finally got the nerve to ask.

"Somewhere warm," Harlow said, pulling the smaller man closer and kissing him on the top of his hair. Campbell melted like the snow as it touched his cheeks.

"You know," Harlow whispered, "in the cold air, with your cheeks pink; little flecks of snow in your hair, your eyes all glassy and cute and wanty like that? You look adorable, Campbell."

The sliding doors opened with a quiet whoosh, and then a louder one from the heat above washing down over the gap to keep the cold air out. The shopping center wasn't empty, but it was a quiet time of day.

For a long time, Campbell didn't know what to say. Every time he thought about how quiet he was, he thought about how he must look to other people. How he was holding a taller man's hand as they walked through the food court of the shopping center. How Harlow ordered him an iced coffee and a donut from the cafe. How he was prompted with little questions in a tone that was just a little too unnatural for one adult to use with another.

Finally, Campbell thought to check his phone. The train would be there in 38 minutes. Had they already been walking around for that long? Then Campbell thought of something to say.

"Do you want any coffee?" he asked, holding up the straw from his cup.

"No, no," Harlow laughed. "It's a bit too cold for iced coffee, in my opinion."

"Oh." But Campbell only liked iced coffee. Hot coffee was always too hot for him. It dawned on him that Harlow had remembered that little bit of trivia, and he blushed again.

"But you know," Harlow said thoughtfully, "all that iced coffee... and you never do know with those train bathrooms. Sometimes they're in order, sometimes they're out of order. And it's an awfully long train ride back."

Harlow was clear with his implication. He watched for Campbell's reaction. If he had to be less subtle with his intent, he would be. But the blush on Campbell's cheeks took on another few shades of pink. Campbell had been roleplaying with Harlow online for quite some time, and that little speech echoed an online one almost verbatim.

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Campbell said, which is what he would have said online. In truth, he wasn't sure how he felt about any of this. Harlow brought a diaper bag, and they had discussed the possibility of something like that, but this was a random shopping center in some other town. There weren't any variables to control for. And hey, they just met! It would be weird to expect anything like that... right?

"I think for the young man who missed his train station, it's fair to say that a lot is on your mind. And with me by your side the whole way back, I'm sure you’ll be distracted. I think it's best we take some precautions, don't you my Little Bell?"

Little Bell. Ding Ding. Campbell. It was a stupid nickname that Campbell had hated at first, but after months of getting closer and closer online, Campbell hadn't just come to like the nickname - he treasured it. And hearing it from Harlow's lips the first time in person almost made him shiver with delight.

"Well, that was... because..." Campbell hesitated. His thoughts were sticky from the silly little nickname, the absolutely stupidest nickname anyone had ever given him. But he'd never had someone like Harlow in his life. He'd never even had a real boyfriend before. Every time he thought he was getting close to someone, he'd sabotage it. Why would anyone like him, anyway? His interests were so... absurd.

But Harlow had reached out to him. Harlow had prompted again and again until Campbell told him the truth. Harlow didn't laugh at him or shut him out; he asked more questions. Harlow got to know a part of Campbell that Campbell had never told anyone, not even himself in the mirror.

Campbell looked up at Harlow with glossy eyes and felt close to crying. But he knew that if he started crying now, Harlow would comfort him and the whole game would end. Campbell didn't want the game to end. So he looked down at his feet and swiveled the toe of one of his shoes in embarrassment.

"Don't you worry, I'm going to take care of everything," Harlow said, a signature line that he would use online. But in person, with sincerity, it felt like he really could take care of everything.

Harlow squeezed Campbell's hand and led him to the back end of the food court. There were several bathrooms, but the family bathroom was where Harlow was leading his charge. He'd been to this mall once or twice, and knew that the family bathroom had a large sofa against one wall that would suit his needs perfectly fine.

"Harlow, I... I'm not sure about this..." Campbell argued half-heartedly, as he was led by the hand. They were just outside the family restrooms, and Campbell's head spun around - snapping left and right - to see if anybody was watching. If anyone would notice two adult men walking into the family bathroom together, without a kid at their side. Sure, there were people, but nobody seemed to pay them any attention. That fact didn't quell any of Campbell's anxiety.

"I know you’re worried, and you know your colors, right my Little Bell? Yellow and Red? And what's the other color, do you remember?"

He pushed the door to the bathroom open and stood in the precipice; a man acting as the gateway between two worlds.

Campbell looked around one more time. Nobody was watching, but standing there with the door propped open wasn't inconspicuous. So Campbell made a snap decision, one that he would ordinarily talk himself out of.

"Green," he muttered, and hurried into the restroom after Harlow.

Harlow smiled that brain-meltingly confident smile and led Campbell into the bathroom. He knew that Campbell would be hyperfocusing on every little detail, so his actions were decisive. Click went the lock on the door. Then Harlow pressed his lips to Campbell’s, kissing him firmly and passionately. As he broke the kiss, he grinned and added:

"I've got your favorite diapers, the one that one model on Twitter wears. And you are going to look so much cuter than they do, just you wait and see."

Campbell looked sheepishly up at Harlow with red cheeks and tried to argue. Obviously, there's no way a guy like him could look as cute as those guys on Twitter. But before he could get a word out, Harlow kissed him again and the words melted like ice cream down his throat.

Campbell found himself sitting on the couch while Harlow leafed through the diaper bag, fishing out one thing after another. A changing mat. Baby powder. And finally, one of those thick diapers. One of the diapers that Campbell had never even worn before, because they were just expensive enough to triumph over his wants. Campbell's entire body tingled in anticipation, but when Harlow came back over, Campbell grabbed his wrist.

"You don't have to do this," Campbell said shyly. "I know you want to make me happy, and I know we talk about it online, but... but I know it's weird, and I'm not a little kid, and... and we can just have a normal date, like normal people..."

"Wait wait wait, are you saying other people don't diaper their incredibly gorgeous boyfriends on the first date?" Harlow asked with mock surprise. "What the fuck is wrong with those people? Well baby boy, they might squander their opportunities, but not me - I'm going to diaper you, and the entire way home on the train you can sit in my lap and crinkle while we make out cowgirl style."

That was Harlow's biggest strength: his confidence, his determination. He knew what he wanted and he wasn't afraid of that.

Campbell laughed a little. He finally let go of Harlow's wrist, but he didn't seem completely assured. For his entire life, the idea of some guy diapering him was all he'd dreamed of. Now, it was right in front of him, and... well, he thought it must be a dream. It had to be, right? He'd wake up any moment now...

"Campbell," Harlow said softly, dropping down to one knee. "I promise, I want to do this."

"I know, you say that..." Campbell muttered. "I believe you..."

"But?" Harlow prompted.

"But... I'm scared..." Campbell admitted. "I'm scared that the things I like... they make me unlovable..."

"I understand baby boy, I promise I do. You think that just because I'm all confident and assured that I was always this way? I had to come to love myself too. And I'm going to show you how to love yourself, because you deserve to be loved - by yourself, and by everyone whose day you make brighter with that little smile of yours."

"And you want this...?" Campbell asked nervously.

"I want this," Harlow reassured him.

"And you won't see me any differently?"

"Oh, no promises there," Harlow teased. "Once I see my little boy in a diaper, maybe I won't be able to see him as a grown up ever again."

Campbell rolled his eyes, but his tummy was fluttering. Maybe this wouldn't be as terrible as Campbell imagined. Maybe it might even be as wonderful as he imagined.

Harlow motioned to the sofa with a big goofy smile and gestured for Campbell to lay down. They both knew how this went; they'd both written this scene together a hundred times or more. But having it actually happen? Harlow was better at hiding it, but he was just as excited as Campbell.

The sofa wasn't an ideal changing table, but Harlow could stand at one end, and Campbell could lay back with his butt on the soft arm of the black leather, and it would do just fine.

"Unless my baby boy is too little and needs to be lifted up onto the sofa?"

Campbell laid down on his back and looked up at Harlow. He was even taller, and Campbell blushed a little deeper. Harlow leaned down and unbuttoned Campbell's pants and the both of them had the same thought at the same time:

Usually taking a date's pants off for the first time isn't for a diaper change.

Harlow hardly hesitated, stripping off Campell's pants and underwear all in one motion. Campbell quickly looked at the ceiling and tried to steady his excitement, which was wholly unsuccessful. His arousal was obvious, and the embarrassment of his first-ever diaper change only seemed to add to it.

Harlow had all kinds of smooth comments in mind - like how if this wasn't the first date, and they had more time, he could take care of that arousal for Campbell. But that moment was about making Campbell feel comfortable.

"You're doing so great, Little Bell."

"Mmhmm..."

Once the diaper had been laid out, Harlow lifted Campbell by the ankles - both of them in one hand, such was his physical prowess. Harlow stood up and leaned around to one side to make certain that he'd gotten things straight and centered.

"Like wrapping a gift, Little Bell; and you're my favorite present."

Harlow grasped the bottle of baby powder, twisted the lid, and began sprinkling a large amount of scented cloud all over Campbells diaper area.

"Now try not to squirm too much, alright my little diaper boy? I need to rub it in now~"

"That's really not necessary," Campbell tried to assert, but with the softness of the diaper under his butt and the fuzzy feelings in his head, his assertions weren't very strong. The sensation of Harlow's large hands between his legs, against his bare skin, touching his most intimate places... Campbell's breathing grew labored.

"There's a good boy," Harlow cooed. "We just need to make sure we get the powder into every nook and cranny, just to make sure my baby boy doesn't get a rash on the long train ride back."

Harlow's movements were soft, but tender. Firm, but gentle. Campbell couldn’t sit still as he rubbed in the powder.

"Someone's a squirmy little mister. I should have brought a pacifier with me, huh?"

"Mmm... Harlow..." His name felt wrong on Campbell's lips. He didn't call Harlow by name online, not unless things were particularly serious. But they had just met, and Campbell didn't want to freak him out. But Harlow was one step ahead of him.

"Come on now, that's not what you want to call me, is it?"

"Mmmm..." Campbell quivered at Harlow's touch and the aroma of far-too-much baby powder filled the air.

"Be a good little boy and use your words," Harlow prompted.

Campbell closed his eyes in embarrassment and his mouth fumbled for the word they both wanted to hear:

"...Daddy..." Campbell whispered.

"There's Daddy's good boy."

Harlow rewarded Campbell's good behavior with the pull of the diaper up between his thighs. He undid the tapes, one at a time, and a tightness wrapped around Campbell’s hips.

Harlow helped Campbell sit up, and the diaper was so much thicker than Campbell had ever dreamed. It contoured perfectly to his body. It taped perfectly around his hips. It was soft and warm and crinkly, and everything Campbell had ever wanted.

He kept waiting to wake up from the dream, because there was no way reality could be so perfect. The way he felt was something he had only read about in fairy tales. That feeling of "happily ever after", when everything is right and perfect. Even the embarrassment didn't take away from his first real diaper change; it only added another layer of mystification and excitement. Campbell truly felt like a submissive little diaper boy.

Campbell looked up at his Daddy with shining eyes, glossy with excitement. He had never been so happy before.

It was really hard for Harlow not to ravish the young man in front of him, the gorgeous little baby boy in just his t-shirt and diaper. After Campbell stood up, Harlow settled instead for pressing his hand to Campbell’s rosy cheek, reaching around to squeeze his padded butt, and kissing him with all the passion he could muster.

Unfortunately that kiss had to come to an end. Campbell and Harlow had a train to catch.

"They can tell," Campbell whispered nervously, holding Harlow's hand tighter than ever before. They passed by another couple on the way to the station platform.

"They can't tell," Harlow reassured him.

"I'm waddling like a duck," Campbell hissed. "I look like a toddler taking his first steps."

"Nobody pays attention to how someone walks," Harlow said. "Do you?"

Campbell did not pay attention to how people walked.

"I'm crinkling," Campbell muttered. "I sound like I'm smuggling grocery bags onto the southbound train."

"Trains are very noisy," Harlow insisted. "And why would anyone think that crinkling is from a diaper?"

"Shh!!" Campbell shushed, louder than someone should shush. "Don't say that word!"

"Diaper?" Harlow whispered in Campbell's ear. "Like the thick diaper you're wearing between your legs? Like the diaper that's making you waddle? Like the diaper that brands you as my little boy?"

Campbell fell silent, blushing deeply. And not from the cold.

"Your pants aren't too tight, and your coat covers your butt," Harlow reassured him. "They can't tell."

"I guess..." Campbell muttered shyly. His grip on his Daddy's hand loosened a little.

"Besides," Harlow added, glibly, "that's stuff for Daddy to worry about. Your job is much more important: Daddy is seriously in need of some kisses."