semilethal | LEO - POST MOVIE

[Everything fucking hurts. No one is asking where April found the van, and really after everything she's had to deal with around them, acquiring a van through unspoken means is likely the most normal thing she's done in the last 48 hours. Raph looks like he's ready to keel over, Mikey's hands are a nervous jittery shaking mess. Pops is on edge in a way Leonardo is still trying to get used to seeing ever since he found out about the Foot and Shredder.

He's still trying to process everything from the last day, the last few hours and how relieved he is that they got Raph back. He'll never say it out loud of course, he can't say it out loud, but as soon as they can go back to jokingly arguing, he's putting his everything into it so his brother knows how relieved he is.

Leo is pointedly not thinking about himself. He is categorically, intentionally, forcefully not thinking about what happened to him. How for those few seconds he was so sure that was it. He wasn't coming back. It was going to be him and Krang until eternity alone in that dimension. He's trying not to think about how his shoulder makes a popping sound every time they move his arm, or how sore his legs are from the overwork to get shit done. He could have died.

Even as he feels that little protective bit of their dad holding onto him.]

Wha? C'mon... Lookit me, Dee, I'm alive, it's fine.

Edited (an almost perfect tag HOW'D THAT 8 GET IN THERE) 2022-08-25 05:56 (UTC)

Ah yes...'alive,' the most oft-used measure of perfect health, he said not without a sense of irony, [ don mutters, already reaching to unlatch leonardo's belt and slide it out of the way so he can check leo's plastron. leo was, true to form, vague on the details of what happened in the prison realm so there could be all manner of wounds hiding beneath that shell.

there had been blood on his mouth. there could be internal bleeding. there could be a punctured lung, ruptured organs, blood pooling beneath skin or beneath shell and donnie wouldn't be able to-

donatello shakes his head, shakes out his arms with an impatient scowl. focus.

there are small scratches and faint surface spiderweb cracks along leo's plastron. donatello starts there, gently tracing and applying faint pressure to check for shifting material beneath. ]

Tell me what happened, [ he demands quietly, eyes shifting to leo's briefly, then to their other brothers before coming back. too quiet for raph and mikey to hear, but splinter's tail tightens ever so slightly. ]

What?

[It's what he manages through half the brain fog that isn't drowned out by the soreness and pain. Every press against his plastron feels like a two ton weight pressing down on him.]

I- I told you guys. [The Super Abridged So His Family Doesn't Worry About Him Because They All Look Really Messed Up Already version. But he catches Donnie's eyes and the way his tone quiets, feels their father's tail tightening protectively around him. Pops is listening... Leonardo lowers his own voice, just barely above a whisper.] I kept him distracted long enough for Casey to pull the key. Portal chopped him - I'm keeping that by the way, works perfectly in use - and when it was just us, gave him some of my best one liners. Honestly you guys missed out.

[But every sore muscle, every time he gets a high pitched tone in his ear, the way he keeps having to lay his head back a bit.

Now my wrath will be reserved for you alone.

Thank god for their shells because maybe Donnie can't feel or hear how fast his heart is racing remembering. It's not that he didn't believe in his brothers, their Ninpo is proof enough that he does. It's more that he was certain there wasn't any way out. Krang and his lot couldn't figure it out for a thousand years, how could they have?]

So.... So don't worry.

[ donatello isn't often one for comfort or platitudes. he'll let his brothers hang off of him, sometimes hug them on his own if they look truly crushed, but dropping topics or gentling his words for the sake of protecting feelings isn't something he does. it's not helpful, it complicates communication and problem-solving-

leo's panicking. donnie might not be able to check his pulse through his shell but he knows his brother, knows the signs of a discomfited brother, can tell in the way his eyes dart about, glaze over just briefly, the way he reaches for a joke like a hiker for their anchor line. ]

I'm not worried. [ donatello lets his flat tone work to his advantage here. calm, cool, a little detached even as his stomach bubbles with utter discomfort over the thought of what happened to his brother in there, so bad he can't even talk about it. this isn't about leo being terrified, ready to die, about leo letting some evil thing tear into him because he thought it was the best he could do for them instead of coming back home. ] I'm examining you. I need to know what supplies to send Mikey for once we get back home.

[ no, he's not afraid, but he is something else. something that makes the sensitivity of his skin fade to numbness as he reaches behind leo's neck to feel the segments of his spine, pushing lightly at the cervical vertebrae to check for swelling, watch for flinching. that something has already pulled his brow down hard, set his jaw teeth against teeth, grinding together until he remembers to open his jaw again and reset. he's not angry, frustrated, or irritated- that's too petty.

leo has (small) cracks in his plastron, a goose egg of a lump on the back of his skull, and blood in his mouth. leo has blood in his mouth. leo was hurt by a horrible thing and now won't let donatello care for him, maybe even can't. leo almost left them forever, because that was an acceptable option to him. some fucking thing hurt his brother and then just ended up locked back in the same cage he was in before after cracking leo's plastron, hitting leo's head, drawing blood from leo's mouth. ] So if you can't talk about it then you'll be still and let me look after you, and I won't hear anything to the contrary. Capiche?

[ donatello's not mad, no. he's furious. he's got hate and grief and nothing to put it on or to, because the monster that almost took two of his brothers from him is out of his reach. ]

Edited 2022-08-25 17:50 (UTC)

[Leonardo looks up to him before letting Donatello move his head around to feel at the back of his neck. Get a hiss between his teeth for his efforts and a muttered:] Not worried, right.

[If Donnie weren't worried, he wouldn't be trying to check him over this immediately. And if the grip is any indicator, furious on top of that. But louder than Donnie's anger, louder than his own heart racing, what he hears loudest is Splinter sigh. Disappointment, maybe, that Leo won't just answer the question and accept Donatello's concern for what it is. Or maybe that Leonardo had made the call the way he did. It's impossible to tell, it always has been with Dad.

He's not stopping Donatello from examining him, but his muscles tense when he presses down on the back of his head, when he's lifted at a weird angle and something hard presses into his chest wrong. No, because this is how Donatello deals.]

Looks like you guys ar- [And that's a pothole, and he can pinpoint where that crack in the lower left part of his plastron is now, it'd only been sore down in the subway but it's so much worse now and that's great- like the stars he's seeing in his eyes before he hears that muffled shouting of April's - "Sorry 'bout that! People can't DRIVE in New York" - voice carries over.]

Just- Some bandaids and good as new. [Did that sound as strained to Donnie as it did in his own ears? He hopes not.]

[ if anything it sounded worse. leo makes a sound at that pothole like someone just shoved a knife between his ribs, his already bruised skull almost bruising again against the cargo van's floor, and donatello makes a decision then and there, his own comfort be damned. ]

All right, [ he grunts, scooting over to the van's wall and carefully levering leonardo into his lap, between his legs, slumping so that leo is half-elevated with an arm over each thigh, his head carefully cradled between don's hands as he rests him against his own plastron. april's jacket is flung into the back, startling donnie even as he grabs it on reflex, but he catches the thumbs-up from casey and april's quick glance over her shoulder and he nods.

the jacket is balled up and placed beneath leo's head against don's stomach, and donatello uses his legs and arms to hold leo as steady during the bumpy ride as he can manage.

he doesn't think there's anything broken under leo's plastron, but he can't know for sure without x-rays, and the jostling won't help keep it that way. leo has to be held still, and with their dad on the lookout for any residual nasties, raphael holding onto mikey and mikey just barely hanging onto consciousness, it falls to donatello.

hah. 'falls.' as if he'd let someone else handle something this important. ]

We are actually fine, by the way, [ donnie mutters, though to varying degrees of fine. none of them are in danger of internal bleeding at least, though it was probably a close thing with raphael. he'll need a close examination too, make sure that krang mutation didn't leave any nasty surprises in his blood. mikey's ailments are probably more of a mystic nature, which draxum will need to check out when he gets back from wherever the hell he disappeared to. okay. list. ]

Okay. Stabilize. X-rays, liquids. MRI later. Blood tests for Raph. Call Draxum.

[Even if the continued, totally unnecessary movements ache, the final resting spot is all right. He's jostling around a lot less now. And that's probably good if he remembers first aid stuff right, jostling an injured person is bad so you definitely want to do it less.

It isn't until he's getting his breath back that he hears it... And immediately loses it with a struggling little chuckle.]

Are you really makin' a list right now?

[He knows this is how Donnie calms down, lists, data collection, tinkering on stuff. But there is just something about the list ending at 'Call Draxum' after all the serious sounding stuff that tickled his funny bone.]

Is 'buy milk' on the list too?

[ thIS fuCKEr ] Can it, Nardo! Whose fault is it that I am reduced to making lists aloud, like some sort of simpleton!? [ he can't even flail around like he usually does when he's upset! because he has to stay still!! FOR YOU!!!! ]

Edited 2022-08-25 19:17 (UTC)

[It's probably a good thing his hearing still sounds muffled or that would be really loud. As it is, he's relieved to hear some kind of nickname from him.]

Haha... Gotcha. Also pretty sure that's Krang's fault.

It is entirely yours. [you get the blame now! that's what happens when you try to sacrifice yourself without consulting your brothers first!]

[It's better hearing Donnie riled up than that quiet anger before. Better because now Leo knows they'll be all right. Even as his muscles start to relax around this turn April's taking.

He thinks he shouldn't be this tired, but then thinks about the last two days and... well. Maybe he should be. Sleep sounds pretty good, as the darkness starts to close in on his vision.]

Yeah yeah...

[and donatello is tempted to keep leo up, to jostle him and use the concussion as an excuse. not out of spite, but just for-

just to make sure.

but leo really does need the rest, and so long as donnie can nudge him every so often and get a grunt out of him, it's fine. so as the van trundles and swerves about, donatello holds leonardo as carefully still as is possible, caging his brother in and holding his head and neck still with april's jacket in his hands. raphael is somewhat awake, glancing over at him and down at leo, obviously desperate for an update but donatello can't give him one just yet.

they finally arrive at the access, thankfully an incline without a ladder so they don't have to struggle through that, and the doors are flung open. raphael shakes mikey awake and starts to reach for leonardo before donatello shakes his head and jerks his chin to a stumbling mikey. the last thing they need is another concussion to deal with if mikey were to faint, which he looks about two steps away from doing. whatever that portal thing was, it must have taken a lot out of him.]

Leo, [don says softly, tapping against his shoulder.] We're going into the tunnels.

[Leonardo doesn't feel the ride once he's drifted off. Each heartbeat is a harsh percussion of metal and anger, the large robot body fists slamming down into his plastron and each bump in the road another slam into the cement underneath him.

Y̴̛̯̮̒̒̈ǫ̷̻̑̅͂̚u̶̢͚̔̾̚'̵̛͈͕̟̫̲͛̌͋͠v̵̨͔̩̙͚̈́͘͘e̶͓̤̹͉͑̍́͊ ̸͓̠̏̈́̌̈́ȓ̵̗̏ư̴̯̜͋̉i̷̪͇͇͐̍͌̐̀ͅņ̴͕̀͛e̷͓͕̙̓̚͜ḏ̸̀͊͌̓ ̵͉͔́̉͐͌͘e̶̤͂̉v̶̨̡̳̱̪̈͝e̷̩̭̪͗ŕ̴̦̝̪̋ỳ̷͕̗̐͐͊͋t̴̗̋̾̂̒h̵͚̝̳͉͔̕͝i̶̛̬̻͑̒͘ṉ̵̛̭̙̌̅͐ḡ̶̱̗̫͎͂ͅ

The physical tapping to his shoulder jerks him out of the nightmare. He'll never admit that's what it was, no one can prove such a thing. But he's breathless for the split second of weightlessness between dream and waking, Krang's angry glare over him melting into Donnie's tired one.]

The- Right...

[It's a herculean effort to start pushing himself to sit up, gritting his teeth as each individual bruise and injury greets him on the way up.]

[it's hard to miss a fitful rest when the person having it is literally in your arms, but donatello doesn't comment. it's not going to help anybody, and it's irrelevant to the task at hand besides.

that task being 'get leo into the lair,' which may prove more taxing than donnie had anticipated. he watches leo struggle, watches him slowly, painfully roll from his sitting position up onto his knees. the cracks on his plastron betray the wounds there, but the back of his shell can't be much better. the truth is, there's no way to help without hurting leo somehow, but-]

...all right, [donnie disengages his battle shell. since it's composed of mystic energy it simply dissolves, and donnie mourns the loss of his physical battle shell back in the krang ship. still, he slings april's jacket over his shoulders before slipping down to a knee in front of leo, his soft shell turned toward his brother.] Get on.

[He's managed to get halfway to his feet when Donatello offers.

It's a rare offer, even. Donnie hates physical touch like this, especially anything longer than a couple of seconds. Offering a piggy back ride? Monumental character growth. And as much as he wants to razz on him some, for this? He'll leave it alone and instead take the offer as it's genuinely given.

A moment to breathe before sort of half-slumping onto him before shifting to something easier.]

...Thanks.

Ugh, don't thank me. [donatello's not exactly the most physically fit of the turtles (okay fine he's the least fit) but he can at least carry his brother. he is undoubtedly the least injured, the least in need of assistance, the most capable, the least upset-

heh. you're one to talk, big bro. hero moves are totally your style.

donnie bites his lip so hard he tastes copper. he hitches his brother up further onto his shell and plods after his family for the lair.]

Edited 2022-08-26 04:29 (UTC)

Whatever you say, little brother.

[He tries to relax, rest his head down on Donnie's shoulder or shell, whatever's closest. But man, Donatello is really not made out for heavy lifting or cardio, huh. He's definitely more of the quick sprint and call it a day... They should probably work on that at some point.

He catches a glimpse of Splinter watching them, meets his father's eyes for just a moment before closing them. He hears Raph collapse heavily onto the couch, Mikey on the floor next to him. He can even make out just the sounds of their youngest brother still rubbing at his hands, his arms. He doesn't know what Mike did, but... It saved him. He'll have to come up with something later to thank him that isn't super obvious that's what he's doing. He still can't get a good read on Donnie, though. Doesn't seem like much physical, but something definitely got to him. More than just Leo potentially not coming back.]

So where to, Ferry-man?

I'm taking Leo to Medical. Raph, you and Mikey check in once you've rested. [the unspoken instruction being 'do not come in yet,' though he doubts he can stop them for very long. maybe he can at least get these x-rays done before his brothers start desperation-cuddling each other.

that being said, donatello isn't exactly bursting with energy either. he stops long enough to ask (read: beg) april and splinter to keep raph and mikey out of medbay until he's had a chance to give leo a decent examination. casey cannot be dissuaded but promises to be quiet and stay over in the corner, wringing his hands as he peers worriedly at leo as he follows.

don drags them over to the cot and finally releases his brother's legs so he can roll onto it. don has to rearrange the pillows and adjust the angle so leo can lay as flat as possible, but he keeps april's jacket over his shoulders like a cape because not having something covering his shell feels...bad.]

Don't move, [don orders shortly, grabbing for the portable x-ray on its mechanical arm, installed after the whole shredder fiasco as an unfortunate necessity. his tone gets flatter, his words more succinct, even if he's much more hands-on with ensuring his brother's comfort than he usually ever would be.

not that he's usually the one doing the medical stuff, but they don't exactly have a choice right now.]

[That shifting from Donnie's back to the cot is more painful than it has any right to be. And just how many times will he have to move? It's becoming an issue, he thinks. But flat and as comfortable as he can manage on this thing.]

Yep. Not moving, that's easy, easiest thing you could've asked.

[Even if his breath is shaky, even if he has a tremor in his fingers and knees he can't really stop. The x-ray itself is showing a hairline fracture between his sternum and ribs, the rest of the bones just jostled and not in a good way. But those cracks in his plastron are a problem, the one in his side just at the edge of the plastron jabbing into his side now.

Krang wasn't exactly pulling any punches at the prospect of being trapped alone with Leonardo in that dimensional prison.]

[the worst thing is that donatello suspects krang was pulling his punches somewhat, probably to keep leo alive long enough to toy with for a while. it makes logical sense, even if contemplating the reasoning behind why leo isn't just a bag of bone shards makes donnie's hands feel curiously numb.

he squeezes his fingers into fists a couple times before moving the x-ray arm back out of leo's airspace and gets to work hunting down the bio-patches and shell spackle.]

Casey, go get some warm water and a towel. Leo's shell needs to be clean for the patches to adhere properly.

Edited 2022-08-27 04:09 (UTC)

[Casey looks both unwilling to leave sight of his would-be-mentor and equally eager to help. The latter wins out as he nods and he ducks out of the area quickly.

Leonardo watches the kid leave, then reaches for Donatello's arm, voice low and quick.]

I'll tell you what happened if you tell me why you don't have your battle shell. And what happened to Raph and Mikey.

[donatello jerks his wrist away from leo's hand with alarming speed. he meets leo's eyes for all of a second before turning again to retrieve and set out forceps, tweezers, and a suture kit beside a half-empty box of alcohol swabs on a nearby rolling cart.]

We'll know more about Raph and Mikey once I'm done in here with you. They're fine. [obviously, donatello is also fine.]

[That jerk away catches him off guard. It leaves Leo staring at the empty space where his brother's wrist should be in his grasp. Something's wrong, and he can't connect the dots the way he normally would (the concussion, probably. it is probably definitely the concussion).

He knows something happened to each of them, and he's too tired to really argue fully the way he wants to. But that Don won't even tell him is... Something. Something he should be worrying about more. But fine. If he's not willing to tell him, then maybe Leo doesn't want to think about Krang trying to kill him, or Krang-zombified-Raph nearly strangling him to death.

He carefully closes his fingers into a loose fist, laying his head back again.]

Fine.

[and donnie just. gets to work.

luckily the broken section of plastron at the corner hadn't dug too deep into the skin. donnie plucks out the chip and cleans and bandages the wound. casey returns with the water and towels, and donnie works on wiping down leo's plastron without agitating the cracks. alcohol swabs next, then biodegradable patches, then the spackle to hold it all together while it heals. waterproof bandage pad, gauze to keep the wounds clean and dry, and that takes care of the cracks.

...now for everything else. leo has serious swelling wounds on his face and blood in his mouth. considering he's not still spitting out blood he probably doesn't need stitches inside his mouth, but donnie wouldn't put it past him to be swallowing it to keep his family from worrying.

he retrieves a penlight, avoiding leo's eyes.] Open.

[No one can prove if he was or was not swallowing the blood this whole time. But he can tell Donnie's avoiding it now. Won't look him in the eyes when he was so insistent before. Leonardo has sat patiently while Donnatello worked. Normally he'd be doing this. He'd be the one handling the injuries and patch up jobs. The worst is waiting for the spackle and everything to dry, so he can't really move.

The order to 'open' is not entirely welcome. But far be it from him to make this worse. So he opens his mouth. There's definitely some dried and fresh blood in there. At some point he bit down on the inside of his cheek and that cut pretty harshly, but who knows where the rest has come from.]

[there are a few wounds inside leo's mouth, cuts from his teeth-
while he was being beaten to death
-but those still bleeding are sluggish enough that donnie is comfortable letting them heal without stitches. he sends casey off for water again, drinkable this time.

the other wounds require minimal cleaning. donnie retrieves a cold pack, smacks it against his palm until it activates and wedges it between the knot at the back of leo's skull and the pillow to hopefully help with the swelling. casey comes back with a cup of water and a straw while donnie is cleaning up and helps leo drink and spit.]

Mikey, Raph, [donnie calls from the doorway before disappearing in the direction of his lab. raphael and michelangelo both stumble into the medbay and over to leo, mikey immediately collapsing into tired tears and holding onto leo's arm, quietly snuffling.]

You gotta promise, never again, [he hiccups, rubbing his face against leo's hand. raphael stands with his hand on mikey's shell, rubbing absently at his right eye as he stares down at leo in exhaustion.]

Edited 2022-08-27 08:18 (UTC)

[Sipping through that straw would be miserable with stitches. As it is, it's easy enough. Swirl, spit. Tries to get a couple actual sips in before Donnie calls their other brothers in.

He looks from Mikey's crying to Raph's older-brother-stoic-mode. But the rubbing at his eye is enough of a reminder that he was in as much if not worse a position than Leo. He makes the decision then and there: it isn't about him. He wanted to make sure they were all safe, and he did. They don't ever have to know the details.

He shifts his hand to pat Mikey's head, getting that voice the best charisma boost h can, familiar and soft..]

Hey, hey, come on, what's that about, huh? I'm here, I'm fine, we all made it.

[But he can feel Raph staring down at him. It's almost unrelenting.] That was foolhardy, you know that?

...Yeah. But... I had to.

It won't happen again.

Edited 2022-08-27 08:32 (UTC)

[by the time donatello gets back, wheeling one of his spare worktables along with him, raphael had somehow been talked into taking off his mask so his younger brothers could look at the eye he'd been rubbing.]

You two, [donnie said, pointing at them both with one hand as he engages the wheel locks on his table with the other,] up here. Gloves and wraps off, Michael. You too Raph.

[like leo's not even in the room. or like donatello is compartmentalizing, hyperfocusing. ignoring any and all other stimuli in favor of checking off his list.]

[The two brothers look from Donnie back to Leo, gives him a gentle squeeze of the hand and arm before they follow through Donatello's instructions. Unwrapping their Ninpo wraps and gloves, belts off.

It leaves Leo laying there on that cot watching. Watching his brothers patch themselves back together (he should be, that's his job, he should be patching his brothers back up-) and deal with the aftermath of what happened. He wants to know everything that happened, but that would mean potentially opening up for them to ask him, and he's not talking about it, he's not going to talk about the murderous intent in Raph's mutated eye, or Krang's slowly stalking toward him and the beating that happened after-

He doesn't notice his breathing shortening and speeding up, his vision blurring and the high pitched tone in his ears but he still can't move as the dizziness sets in.]

-eo. Leonardo! [when donnie snapping his fingers in front of his brother's face doesn't work he grabs him instead, hands holding his brother's cheeks as he gives him a shake, leaning over him.

he'd been drawing raph's blood, reassuring mikey and updating them on leo's condition, and casey had come back with a refill only to drop the water when leo wouldn't stop gasping.

now donnie has to do something, has to take care of this, and he hears the rough sound of raphael and mikey sliding down from the table before he turns and snaps at them both,] Get back up there and let me handle at least this!

[he leans over leonardo, still holding his face.] Nardo, listen. [what's he read about this? what can he do? distract. derail.] -Jupiter Jim issue 35, who is the main antagonist?

Edited 2022-08-28 03:23 (UTC)

[It isn't the snapping or the shaking that gets his attention pulling him back. It's the weird conjunction of words that don't match up with what he was remembering-

Jupiter Jim? He's fairly certain that's Donnie's voice asking through the ringing and pulsing in his head that feels like it's going to split open any time now.]

Wha- A- his clone, but- [He squints, everything coming back into focus, consciously recognizing he's having some trouble breathing. More importantly:] why are you asking that right now? Get them patched up.

Edited 2022-08-28 03:54 (UTC)

Shut up, Leo!

[behind them, raphael and mikey who had been advancing, casey who had been hovering about trying to clean up the dropped water glass, april and splinter approaching the door- everyone stopped.

something breaks. something broke.]

Do you not get it yet?! Do you really not get it?!

Donnie- [raphael tries, mikey pressed against his elder brother with tears in his eyes, his hands cupped over his mouth.]

Everyone else here is too nice and too heroic and too worried about you to say anything so I guess it falls to me, but you are the biggest idiot on the face of this planet! [donnie wrenches his hands away because if he holds his stupid fucking same-age-as-him-but-pretends-like-he's-older brother for one more second, he's going to tear his damn stripes off.] You gave up too easily! There, I said it! You gave up! Do you think any of us wanted that?! Do you think we'd be okay with you using yourself as- as hate bait for the Krang to save the planet?!

Forget the planet! Next time, make your stupid idiot portal and jump back home and forget the heroics! Stop worrying about your brothers when we are fine, already! Shut up!

[Leonardo freezes in place at the outburst.

Donnie's emotional sometimes - he claims he isn't, claims he's incapable, but Leo's seen it enough times, knows what his brother gets emotional about - and this is possibly the most emotional he's ever seen the purple themed brother.

But everything he's saying, he's trying to retain it, trying to keep it in his concussion ridden head so he can process it and say anything back. "Hate bait" sounds so ridiculous but that is what he was, isn't it? How else were they supposed to keep Krang in one place, keep him on the other side of the portal long enough to close it? They were out of options, not while the three of them were on Staten Island of all places.

His voice comes out quiet, even.] Is that really what you think?

Obviously that's what I think!

Donatello, enough. [splinter is there and reaches for donnie's wrist, raphael holding onto mikey and looking like he's half a second away from his own outburst, april with her arms folded and and her lip bitten-

SMACK.]

Don't touch me!

[if the medbay hadn't been pin-drop silent before, splinter with his hand slapped aside, staring up at his soft-shelled son in complete shock would've done it. something in donatello's expression shifts, from rage to confusion and hurt, back to anger and desperation.

he spins around and points to mikey and raph.] You two! Rest! [turns on leo] That goes quadruple for you!

[and then he's stalking for the door, practically running.] I'm going to my lab, do not bother me!

[it takes a few seconds after donnie's departure for michelangelo to finally burst into fresh tears.]

Edited 2022-08-28 05:12 (UTC)

[Leo is struck dumb watching Donatello yell at everyone. Their brothers, their dad. Casey looks like a mouse trapped with things much larger than he can fully comprehend; whatever he'd seen of them in 2044, it hadn't prepared him for inter-brother fights. He slinks back over to April who's looking not that impressed by Donnie's tantrum. But Michael's outburst is enough to break the silence and get some movement going - April to him, rubbing his head to soothe, Casey to go get more water to make up for the cup he dropped.

Splinter comes to stand by Leo as he's stuck watching the door Donnie stormed out of. He wants to sit up, wants to go after him and explain - but the still-drying spackle on his plastron is enough to keep him rooted there laying on this cot that doesn't do anything to help them.]

Give him time. [For once, their dad's voice is quieter. He's never been good at the soothing supportive dad thing, but he's been trying to get better lately, to make up for lost time, to make up his own shortcomings and putting off the reality of their lives and destiny as Hamato.]

[All right, that's enough of that. Raphael hands Mikey over to April to look after and heads over to Leo's bedside, a hand on Splinter's shoulder.] Pops, me n' Mikey were talkin' about a pillow fort in the living room for the next few days. Could you an' April help?

[April catches on quickly enough and starts chatting up pillows and "bedsheet architecture," wrangling Casey into it as well as he's on his way back in 'for the experience,' hyping up the impending cuddle puddle and throwing a wink over her shoulder at Raphael.

Splinter is more reluctant to leave his son's side, but at the look on Raphael's face he nods solemnly. He does reach up to squeeze Leonardo's fingers briefly, a spot of comfort before turning to go. They'll be together soon enough, but perhaps this moment is better left between the two leaders.

Raphael drags over their taped-together milk crate stools, dropping his bulk onto the plastic with his usual 'big dog who thinks he's a small dog' energy when it comes to standing or sitting on things. He carefully doesn't look at Leo too long, glancing over the plaster but gazing back out the door where he can hear the bustle of the rest of the family perking up, a calm sort of warmth settling over him despite everything that...happened.

Donnie had given him an eye wash and then a patch for his right eye, which Raphael had thought was excessive. He already took some blood, did he need more than that?]

...Mikey's amazing, huh?

[Leo watches them go. A pillow fort for a few days, huh... He's smart enough to know what Raph's doing, but he won't say anything. It's getting Mikey and Casey in better spirits pretty quickly. His eyes focus still on the door, wondering when Donnie will come back for something, his tools, his gear, anything. But he doesn't...

So he turns his eyes up to his big brother. Then up to the ceiling.]

I- Yeah. I still don't know what you guys did, though.

It was mostly Mikey.

[And Raphael just...tells Leo. No muss, no fuss, minimal drama. Answers.

Mostly because he understands; he can handle any of his own issues, so long as he knows his brothers are all right. So long as he knows what happened, how they got through it, that they're going to be all right. It's the unknown that is the most terrifying to someone who shoulders the burden of protecting his team, his family.

It's not something Donnie's going to understand.]

He did this thing he called his mystic hands. Don't know how, but looked like he was trying to pull open a stuck manhole cover, then all of a sudden the air's glowing gold right in front 'a him. Me and Donnie backed him up, held him steady and, uh, [Looks down at his own hands, wiggling his fingers, brow furrowing in confusion.] Gave him some of our mojo? Not sure how that worked. But it did, and he opened that hole and there you were.

[Raphael meant it. Mikey is amazing. He might not understand everything about how their mystic powers work, but he knows it takes a special kind of concentration to make them work good and Michelangelo had done something incredible.]

Edited 2022-08-28 06:27 (UTC)

[And Leo listens. It's clear he's listening because he's not fidgeting. 'Mystic hands', huh. The thing Casey told him he does. So that's coming around to happening, and may be something to train Mikey on more when they get over all... this.]

...And you and Donnie made sure it didn't hurt him?

[Michelangelo didn't seem like he was hurting more than just being upset and scared for them all. But then again, Leo couldn't tell Donatello was pissed at him, so who is Leonardo to guess? His hands start to tremble again and he instead folds them together over his stomach as he stares back at the ceiling.]

Did our best. Mikey said he didn't think he could've done it if we weren't there, so. [Raphael lets the quiet sit for a moment, looking down at his brother. A whomp sound echoes up into the medbay, followed by a chorus of smaller whacks and Michelangelo's shrieks.

Raph carefully untangles Leo's hands atop his plastron, and takes one in his to just. Hold his hand on the cot.]

Hey. [He waits for his little brother to look over at him.] We're gonna be okay, Leo. All of us. Whole family.

[Leo lets Raphael take his hand and hold onto it, watching him. Seeing those scars around the eye and the patch kept over it. Did Don even finish drawing blood, or was his anger at Leo that much of a distraction?

He doesn't plan to tell Raph how desperate he was to get his big brother back, or how singleminded focused he was that the others had to hold him back from attacking Casey. How the worry and fear had clouded his judgement and made some bad calls in the heat of the moment(s). Raph doesn't need all that.

God. Raph's eye. Leo's not sure he can ever forgive that - the Krang for doing it, and Leo for putting Raph in the position to start with.]

You sure? How're you feeling, big guy?

Like a trashed Mrs. Cuddles. [Used up and exhausted. Raph doesn't let go of Leo's hand, even looks down at it as he holds onto him. His fingers are so much bigger than his brothers', his hands so much stronger. The Krang made him use his stronger hands to hurt his brother, though thank god not to his end.]

...Leo- [Actually, no, it's stupid.] Ah, forget it. It's done anyway.

[He catches that. Raphael wants to say something, but that stupid big-brother-must-be-stoic nonsense is stopping him. Leo shifts a little, trying not to move too much - half out of pain, half out of genuine fear of Donatello - and not getting far.]

Hey, no. Don't do that, what is it? [They almost lost their big brother, Leonardo went through and did too much to get him back for Raph to not feel like he can talk about something now.]

Hey, hey, [Raph half-stands to put his hands on Leo's shoulders, gently pushing him back down. Don't crack that plaster, bro.

Raph sits back down but he doesn't take Leo's hand again, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees, hunched. He stares down at his toes, at the locked wheels of Leo's cot.]

...what Donnie said...about givin' up. [Raphael clenches his fists tight, pressing them together between his knees. His throat burns, mouth tastes sour just remembering it. Remembering how he-] I didn't know...didn't know how to get you back. I didn't know how we could get you back, and I-

If Mikey hadn't been so determined...if Mikey hadn't tried, we might've- [Reaches up and wipes at his mouth, sniffs hard. Passes the hand over his head and sniffs again, against the tears gathering.] You might'a gotten left there. I don't- I don't wanna- [No, he can't.]

[He goes utterly and completely still at the larger hands on his shoulder -

D̶o̵n̶'̴t̸ ̵r̸e̵m̴e̶m̸b̸e̵r̸ ̷d̶o̴n̸'̸t̶ ̵r̸e̴m̴e̶m̷b̶e̷r̸ ̵d̸o̴n̴'̵t̸ ̷r̵e̸m̶e̸m̸b̴e̵r̸

before he settles again.

And he ...gets it. When he'd come up with the plan on the fly, when he portaled himself and Krang in there, he hadn't really come up with a plan to get out. On the one hand, he was prepared for that. On the other hand, he trusted them to figure something out.]

I know, look. Look, I get it. But. I knew you guys would figure out a way.

That's just it Leo, I didn't. [Bows his head again, shoulders up and tense, fists clenched tight atop his knees. Every inch of him feels exhausted and sick, but none more than his heart.]

I was ready to grab Donnie and Mikey and get them outta there. I didn't- I didn't jump into any plans, I didn't stop to think. I just, I- [And here it is, here's the grief he hadn't been able to show at the waterfront, staring up at the destroyed half of a Krang ship as it speckled with explosions and fell. His shoulders shake as he sobs over the sheer guilt of having, even for one moment, given up on protecting one of his little brothers.] I gave up on you. Leo, I'm sorry.

[The reverse being that Leo never gave up on him...

He watches his big brother start to crack and break in a way he hasn't ever in front of him, in front of the others either. Sure, Raph's cried sometimes but usually over something inconsequential in the long run. Not over this. Not over them. The big guy had gone out of his way to save Leonardo at the start, got captured, got taken over and alien cocooned for who knows how long...

Leonardo opens one arm up to him, making a beckoning motion.]

Hey, c'mere. Come here. [Raph willing, Leonardo will hug him with that one arm as gently as he can manage with the pain.]

It's why there's four of us, you know? Can't all carry all the hope all the time, sometimes you gotta let someone else carry it. [He has no idea what he's saying or talking about, but this is the kind of stuff heroes say, right? The kind of stuff Raphael needs to hear whether Leonardo believes it or not.] Mikey had enough for all of you and he did it. So it's all right.

[Even if Raphael wasn't 'officially' the leader anymore, he still is very much the eldest, biggest, and strongest. He's the heavy, he's the team shield. He's the one who saves his brothers from hits, who does the headcount to make sure they all get out alive. He picks them all up and carries them to safety and even if Raphael's felt as if he could crack under that pressure, he wouldn't have it any other way, regardless of whatever their team positions may be.

But that's also the problem, too. Raphael does crack under pressure. The pressure isn't a big fight, a scary bad guy; it's the thought that if his brothers get hurt, if they fail, it's Raphael's fault for not keeping up morale or for not making a plan. This whole entire thing, trying to get the key in the first place, trying to get it back-

Everything that- that happened after. The things he can't think about just yet, what happened to him, what he did to Leo- and then what he couldn't do for Leo, it's all just too much. He doesn't want to show Leo this, he doesn't want to show this to any of his brothers, but maybe he-

Well, maybe it's- Maybe he can trust them with it. Maybe just for a few minutes. Just long enough to release some of that pressure.

Leo's (small, trembling) arm goes around Raph's neck and Raph immediately stands to move closer and down, hover over him. He wraps his arms around Leo as gently as he can possibly manage, but there's so much of him and so little of his brothers that he ends up just blanketing Leo anyway. Knowing that the only reason they got Leo back is because of Mikey both terrifies and warms Raphael, but he doesn't know what to do with it in the face of his own guilt.]

Y-you, [Raph pulls back just enough to wipe at his eye, going back in for the hug again as soon as he possibly can,] You ain't old enough yet to be talkin' like that. Sounding like a grandpa over here, Mr. "Best Ninja in the World."

[The hug is all right. He's trying to get over that, the instinctive reaction from hours ago (it really was just hours ago, not even half a day ago, that they were fighting, that Raphael was trying to kill him, was clutching around his neck firmly enough to dangle him over the edge of the bridge like he was a fly-) by staying in close.

But his chest rattles with a breathless chuckle.] Eeeew, don't- Don't call me that, don't call me old or grandpa, gross.

[But it's good. It's such a good relief to have him back. And if nothing else? He can keep this between them, leader to leader. The two obviously older brothers. It won't fix things all around, but it can at least repair this between the two of them.]

And "Best Ninja" remains to be seen. I'm workin' on that one.

With a long way to go. [Gotta get that little jab in there. Leo feels shaky, like he could break apart at any moment, but Raphael's already troubled him enough with that breakdown. He needs to be strong for the others while they heal. They went through so much to get him back, and he- he can hold it together for them until they're okay.

Raph pulls back and snuffles (snorts) hard, smacking himself on the cheeks until he feels a bit more evenly keeled.] Plaster'll probably be dry by the time they finish that pillow fort. I'll carry you down there.

[That wasn't even a real breakdown, bro! Leo doesn't look quite ready to let him go, still keeping one hand on him. Afraid any second he lets go, Raphael will be ripped from them again and Leo couldn't bear that, he couldn't do it a second time like that.]

Awh, you don't- You don't hafta do that. I'll be fine. [And he lowers his voice a little.] Might help Mikey feel better to see me up on my own, y'know?

Nice try. You ain't movin' one inch for the rest of today, got it?

[Look, Raphael is not afraid of Donnie. ...but he was real big mad.]

Oh, well if that's the case, then I guess I'm staying here. I'll take a fresh cucumber water and my reading materials.

[Donnie was indeed real big mad. And - well. Leo doesn't really know how everyone else is feeling about his decisions today. He almost doesn't want to face it, lest they also all be big mad.]

[oh gonna play the diva card? lmao u thought]

Sure. You go ahead and ask April to cut you up some cucumbers. [And watch her struggle against her impulse to pour that cucumber water on you, scrub.

Raphael just picks up the entire cot like it's a couple of grapes and starts maneuvering it and Leo out of the medbay.]

Uh. Raph?

[Is what he manages to get out before the cot is UP and MOVING, and he is clinging to the sides of it for dear life.]

Donnie might kill you for moving this out. [Donnie's going to kill them for a lot of things probably, this will just be bottom of the list.]

[Dramatic. Like he's gonna drop you WHOOPS- no false alarm, he's okay, just almost tripped.]

Sounds like Donnie needs to work on stickin' around if he wants people to do stuff a certain way! [...a bit long-winded, but you get the picture.

Mikey gives a cry of joy when Raphael and his cargo appear around the corner. The pillow pile has turned into an impressive bedsheet fort, and Mikey crawls through several "hallways" before bounding over to his brothers with his hands clasped.] Leo, Leo! We gave you the biggest room even though it was going to be a ballroom mostly because we couldn't get the chandelier to stay up!

[That's real long winded, but Leo at least gets the picture. His breath catches at that almost-trip though, clutching to the side bars of the cot before being set down.

And gosh darn it, if Mike's enthusiasm isn't contagious. He wants to look better for him at least.]

What? No, you didn't do that. Also maybe I wanna be in the same room as you guys, did you think of that?

[Mikey crawls from where he was climbing on Raph to instead climb onto Leo's cot in order to give him full-force "I'm so touched I love my family" eyes from up close. Raphael lumbers off to check out the fort while Mikey searches for a way to cling to Leo without disturbing his injuries.]

Awwww. Why do you think you got the biggest room, Leo? So we can sleep over!

Okay, then it's not my room, it's our room, Mikey.

[But how can he be mean to those eyes. He'll use his other arm that did not hug Raph to hug Mikey, give both arms the hug workout now.]

You guys put a lotta work into this one, huh? Looks good.

[This close, Leo may be able to see the odd marks on Mikey's hands and forearms, nearly Lichtenburg in style if not for their precise geometric shape. It doesn't keep him from returning his brother's hug, as close to climbing into his lap as he dares without agitating Leo's wounds too badly.]

Don't it, though?! Dad said we were gonna have to take it down tomorrow but you know what? I think we should pull saviors of the world card to keep it.

[He does see it, his eyes lingering on those marks and tracing them up from Mikey's hands to his elbows where they start to fade. Whatever Mike was able to tap into to get him out, he hopes it doesn't have any lasting effects. Or further use would make it worse.]

I mean, I'm sure between the fo- [Wait no there's April and Casey] six of us, we could get Pops to leave it up.

[Pops, who is currently taking a great deal of time making sure his chair can fit in the pillow-slash-blanket fort.]

Whaddaya say guys? Team effort?

[For a moment Mikey beams, his huge, gap-toothed grin that shows up when he's comfortable in the knowledge that he's surrounded by love and comfort-

only for it to slide off his face seconds later as he casts a worried look toward Donatello's lab.] ...we're not a full team right now, though. I dunno...feels weird.

[He follows his little brother's gaze and.. yeah.]

I know. It's... He'll come around. One of you will definitely have to go get him though. If it's me, he'll just yell at me some more.

[He lays his head back again on the now-only-a-little-mushy ice pack and stares at the ceiling.] Some pizza from Run of the Mill might be good to lure him out.

Leo...

[Mikey hesitates, hovering over his brother until Raph approaches, not really trying to hide that he was eavesdropping a bit.] Mikey, snack duty.

[It's not smooth, but Mikey just gives Raphael a semi-sullen look before sliding down off the cot. He takes one more moment to give Leo the quickest, gentlest cuddle he can manage before he leaves for the kitchen.

Raph folds his arms and looks down at Leo, disquiet plain on his face.] Run of the Mill probably ain't even open. The whole city's a mess up there.

[Man, Leo cannot ever express how much those brother cuddles mean to him now, the thought that he might never have gotten them again still on the forefront.

He watches Mikey go before Raph has to come rain on his nonexistent parade.]

Can't I have some wishful thinking? Senor Hueso's probably fine [Probably], he wouldn't let anything happen to that place.

[If anything, he can see Bone Man begrudgingly letting youkai hide out there from the damage while saying he hates it and doesn't want to but nothing stopping him. Hueso's a big ol' softy when it comes down to it.]

[Another sigh before Raphael -the truest testament to how bone-deep exhausted he is- sinks down and sits on a few pillows on the ground, holding his knees even if it means he has to crane his neck to look up at Leo on his cot. Maybe he'll figure out how to use the lever thingies on it to make it collapse down so they can just wheel it into the blanket fort, rather than make Leo move.]

April went to check on him, [Raph offers, picking at one of his fingernails, first with his nails, then his teeth. Half his body still doesn't feel like his.] I dunno what to say to him either. I don't like us spendin' the night apart, not after...that.

[He watches that motion, what Raph is doing. And he gets it, he really does unfortunately Understand it. How conscious had Raphael been for all of it? Was he aware of what his body was forced to do? Did he have any way to fight against it, or is it all jsut a big blank space in his memory for an entire day? Leonardo wonders and knows this isn't the time or place to ask.

(But then when's the next chance they'll have Mikey and Donnie out of the room? When one or both come back, they likely aren't going to leave again for some time.)

Leo carefully reaches for that hand.]

I know. I don't either, so I- Maybe he won't yell at her. I'd have to kick his butt if he does. [He knows Donnie won't. But it's nice to feel in control of literally anything, even if it's just saying something.]

[And unlike Donatello, Raphael takes Leo's hand almost immediately, all gentle care as per usual. His brothers are all so small.]

You know he won't. Even if he did, she'd straighten him out even better than any of us could.

[Jiggles Leo's hand slightly, pulling in a slow, tired breath before letting it out.] ...hey. [Looks up at Leo, tooth catching on his lip as he works his jaw, thinking.] I don't want you feelin' bad about this.

[Leo's fine letting Raph take the hand. It was freely offered as a touch point so Raph wouldn't just... chew his own hand off to prove he's in control. He still wants Donnie down here with them, still wants to make his brother understand now instead of in the heat of the moment like Leo did.

But he looks up at Raphael with those words.]

What? Please, it's me. We all got out, saved the world, nothing to feel bad about.

[He feels so bad about every moment of it. He will never be able to get that image of Raphael hovering over him protecting him from the Krang's stab out of his mind.]

Little brother.

[Gently shakes Leo's hand again, like he took Leo's hand to comfort him- which he did. Raph's not about to think he won't have his own nightmares later. He's very carefully not poking at the fuzziness of his memories between when the Krang interrogated him (tortured...? no, surely not) and when he woke up to see his brothers on that ship. He's not asking any questions, he's not turning that loss of time over and over in his head, because-

Because. Because- remembering won't do any good. Yeah. It'll just upset him, and everyone else. There's no reason to mess around with it.

But Leo's not like that. Leo acts like he doesn't have a thought in his head, but he's always thinking of what happened, what could happen, what he wants to happen. Raphael isn't the sharpest tack in the box, but he's not a complete fool. He saw the look on Leo's face when he put that escape pod on his chest.]

[He squeezes Raph's hand weakly, still a little shaky all things considered. He wishes he could fix this the way he could fix a lot of things. He wants his big brother to never have to think about any of this again, he wants his little brothers to feel safe and like they won't lose either of them again. He wants his family to be safe and happy more than anything.

And seeing the look on Raph's face tells him it's going to be a long road there. Probably some setbacks here and there, but probably nothing to stop the progress forward.]

Big brother. [He says it knowingly, that lilt in his tone that's annoying on the best days.]

[For a moment Raphael looks like he's about to argue, about to press. He holds Leo's hand a little tighter as if to keep him from running off (like he's going anywhere right now, though) but before he can get a word out, Splinter comes up and tells Raphael to go find a place to sleep and then do it.

And that, for now at least, is that.

Casey makes his way to Leo's side at some point and figures out how to lever the cot's hardware in order to sink it further down to the ground. It does have wheels, which Casey unlocks, Raphael had just found it easier to carry it and Leo both out of medical.

Casey and Mikey together maneuver the cot with Leo on it, protesting when he tries to get up (embarrassed over the fuss, maybe?), but it truthfully doesn't take much effort to get the cot under the blankets and into the aforementioned 'ballroom.'

Mikey piles pillows near and against the side of the cot for his own nest, eventually locating and corralling a drowzy Raphael over to their side as well. When Raphael lays back down he flings his limbs every which way, used to his brothers using him as a mattress wherever possible. Mikey does just that, happily squeezing between Raphael's arm and the cot by Leo's thigh, pulling a blanket over all three of them and burying himself beneath it until not even the top of his head is visible.

Splinter comes to tell them goodnight, takes a moment longer to pass a hand gently over the heads and shells of his sons, and disappears into a different section. Casey fumbles about awkwardly for a moment until Raphael grabs his pant leg and sleepily pulls him down into the pile. Eventually April joins them as well, casually draping herself over the other side of the cot with her own blanket, yawning a quiet 'good night' at Leo before settling down.

And so...they sleep. Some of them. With fits and starts, with one or the other or multiple members waking just to be shushed by the others.

At some point during the night -or perhaps now, the morning- Donatello leaves his lab and quietly bypasses the blanket fort, heading straight for the kitchen without a word or a sound.]

[Everyone sticking close by is nice. It's a comfort, in more ways than he can count. He can't remember the last time they did something like this - pillow-blanket-fort in the main area for them all to pile into. Somewhere down the line, they got used to having their own spaces, all of them rebuilding after Shredder destroyed their home, Leo moving into a rundown subway car.

But this is nostalgic in a way Leonardo didn't think he could be at sixteen. And while the others start dropping off to sleep, he lays quietly. Listens to their steady breathing, the quiet shuffle of fabric as they shift in their sleep. But insomnia is always his companion in the night, and Leonardo does not sleep. He knows if he does, only worse things will find him in his subconscious, so the mix of fear and natural insomnia become the mix with the sore muscles and bruised limbs.

Worse, probably, is the lingering taste of copper in his mouth. He's fairly certain the spackle is mostly dry now, and the pains are minimal as he starts to climb out of the cot long-ways and crawl out of the fort. Water is easy enough, he can get his own water. Even if he's a little slow going, it's fine.

But he stops in his tracks when he sees someone else in the kitchen.]

[and that someone is so lost in his head that he doesn't hear leo enter, even with how painstakingly he shuffles.

in front of the coffee maker as it quietly hisses, percolates, is donatello with his hands spread atop the counter, head down as if a great weight is hung about his neck. one of his more luxurious battle shells sits squarely over his shoulders, though it seems more like a cage than a shield.

his shoulders hitch, just briefly. settle, but then again, softer, twice. his next inhale is shaky and wet.]

[He's distracted first by the realization. Then sidetracked mentally trying to figure out if getting the water is worth the second round of yelling and insults. But he is, indeed, very thirsty and probably dehydrated so the water is worth the risk, but how to get it- and the battle shell, obviously Donnie lost his and wants to feel better and protected and-

And then Leonardo hears it.

Crap.

There's a fifty-fifty coin flip chance of saying anything could go well, or could go very very badly.

Everyone else is asleep, and he may as well hash this out without an audience right now. So his voice is a low whisper, one hand out but not touching.]

Donnie?

[donnie starts and whips around, eyes wide and noticeably red before he turns back to the coffee maker just as quickly. he scrubs at his eyes and cheeks with the heel of a hand, the other reaching for the cabinet to withdraw a mug.]

What are you doing walking around? [hard, somehow angry-sounding sniff] The plaster needs twenty-four hours to fully set.

[That weird moment in time passing on fully now, he sighs a bit. Goes about his business grabbing a cup from the dry rack and heading to the sink.]

I wasn't going to wake one of them up to get me water. Took them too long to finally fall asleep.

[the look on donnie's face shows how acceptable he finds that excuse, but at the very least he doesn't deem it important enough to argue. truth be told, there isn't a person in this household who doesn't know about leo's chronic insomnia even on good nights.

the air is charged with something though, some kind of energy or...expectation. and donatello hates expectations remaining unspoken because he always misreads or misses them entirely. the sound of the kitchen faucet sounds way too loud as leo pours himself a glass of water, like it'll wake their family and they'll come running in any second.]

-I'm not apologizing.

[There's a sense of relief hearing those words. It's visible enough in the way his shoulders slump, holding that glass in both hands.]

Wasn't going to ask you to.

[But he will take a slow sip. If it were Raph, or April, maybe Splinter, he's sure one of them would be telling Leo about what a Good Leader does, smooth things over, make it easier. Apologize and try to work things out. But that just isn't him, he's not apologizing for something he doesn't deem he did wrong. And saving the planet? Literally his duty since he was the only one left there.]

I'm not either.

Wouldn't even hold my breath. [only mild sarcasm with that one, not that it sounds terribly different from donatello's typically flat tone. though maybe the fact that he does sound so emotionless is more telling, given how animated he was the last time leo saw him. he clearly got some aggression out in his lab, not that his projects are any better off for it.

...still. without the panic and anger, the irritation and terror roaring in his ears, he can finally sort out his wants from his needs and make a plan going forward. this is easier. data collection, categorization. these aren't his own emotions, or the sharp-edged shards of his own broken heart. it's just excogitation.] I need something else from you.

[Has water always tasted this good?

Granted, parts of the water lines above are messed up, so they're pulling from their own source down here, but it's better than the alternative. Still, savor it as much as he can.]

What's that?

[It's not a promise or agreement to provide whatever it is. With Donatello, there's no way to really guess at what it could be, not with the way he's forcing his tone flat like that.]

Let me fix things. Including you. Stop fighting me and let me do my part already.

[donnie's proud of his abilities and he likes to think he's fairly objective about his contributions to the team, but nobody could say that he provided a fair share during this entire debacle. he only even managed to get to the ship's computer thanks to mikey's quick thinking, and he didn't even manage to get the krang ship all the way into the portal fast enough before he got ripped loose.

if he'd just been less- less him, if he hadn't hesitated and have dove right in like his brothers always seem to be able to do, maybe he could've done it. if he was someone just a little different, maybe leo wouldn't have felt like he needed to-

well. back to the point, which is- it's that his greatest contribution to the team is always preparation and then recuperation. he fixes what's broken. he's usually the least hurt because he usually does the least fighting, so he can at least look after his family this way. if he can't come up with incredible strategies, if he can't put villains in the ground with his own strength, if he can't rip open space-time to save his brothers when they need it the most, he can at least do this.]

[Something in Leo's expression shifts, from an eagerness to listen to confusion. Had he been fighting Donnie on the way back? He doesn't fully remember, he remembers the van and the bumps, that moment of excruciating pain in his side, but not a lot else. The whole ride back had been a faded mix of pain and exhaustion and relief that his brothers were all right (mostly).

He chances stepping closer, almost in arm's reach now.]

How?

[It isn't an accusation, it isn't meant to make Donatello feel like he can't do whatever it is. Leo's genuinely asking, wanting to know how to help his brother.]

Tell me the truth. Don't brush off my questions. Don't try to redirect my attention, or my concerns. I need data, not reassurances. [this is really what donnie spent most of his time doing sequestered in his lab, besides melting down two of his busts to start on new battle shell components. figuring out how to articulate this without sounding pathetic and/or demanding, so he sounds sure and so his requests are clear and easily understood. the nuances of what he wants to ask are exhausting, and with how often he and leo vibe on the save wavelength, they seem to miss each other just as often.]

And trust me to take care of you, and them. [raph and mikey.

maybe donnie's no good in an actual fight, maybe donnie can't always get the job done out there, but here in the aftermath? he will mend every tiny tear, ice every miniscule bruise. he will use every ounce of his considerable capacity for project management to make sure his family mends in the most efficient, painless way possible. it's his specialty. it's the only thing he's truly good at, when it comes to this.]

Edited 2022-09-04 05:00 (UTC)

[It's a simple enough set of requests. Something Leo immediately wants to agree to; for as often as they get on each other's nerves, he'd give anything for who is effectively his twin.]

I do. -And before you try to say otherwise, I wasn't going to talk about it in front of them. [The others, their brothers, their father. The rest of them will hear about the details eventually, once Leo's had a chance to really break it down, bit by bit and put it together again in a more palatable way. But Donnie? He knows Donatello will react to it, but he at least will keep the emotion out of the immediate and circle back around to it later.

He looks down at his free hand, slowly closing it into a loose fist before opening it again.]

If you want the truth, now's a good time. They'll probably stay glued to us when they wake up again. [It's as much an offer as it is a fact.]

[though donnie would refute it with any number of hypotheses sometimes for the sake of the argument itself, leo is effectively his twin. and that's why when leo brushes it off as 'i just didn't want to talk about it in front of them,' donnie doesn't quite buy it.

...but if it gets him the information he needs, he'll leave it alone. for now.] All right.

[the coffee maker has already poured enough into the pot to make at least a mug, but donnie ignores it in favor of taking advantage of leo's rare straight-forwardness. he folds his arms, finally turning to face leo fully and leaning his hip against the counter.] How many times were you struck on the head, that you can remember. And where.

Edited 2022-09-04 05:21 (UTC)

[Right to it, then. But even he'll admit he's tired, so moving to sit on the counter for now.

God, how many times? Struck on the head versus just hitting his head like normal...]

Only counting the times it was intentional? Like.. three. [He thinks. A few slams from Raph while he was being controlled head his brain bouncing around. But the only really intentional ones were from Krang.] A couple times in the face, at least once... [It's fuzzier than it has any right to be, mingled with Krang's agonized fury screaming in his ears as what was left of the ship fell apart. He shakes his head slowly.] Thrown a few times that hit my head.

[and donatello reaches up to push leo to sit up straight on that counter instead of hunching over. if leo tries to lean forward, he'll find his brother's hand there bracing his outer shoulder to keep him upright.] Don't slouch.

[so, half a dozen times. donnie's not sure where he'd even find an MRI; he may have to put one together himself. he should put this pot in a thermos and start another.] When did your plastron crack; specifically, after how many blows? Did you receive additional blows after it cracked? Did you notice if anything in the prison dimension was able to cause damage to your shell or plastron, or if it was all obtained from your opponent? [a small consideration there. don't use proper nouns to help maintain distance from the subject matter.]

[Something about sitting up straight catches his breath, stuck somewhere on the way out each time he exhales. Likely a problem with that rib.]

It, um. It was him. [And that is a difference between them. Leo can't not use proper nouns and names when he knows them, it keeps him focused.]

Back in the subway. When we got separated, a chunk of cement fell on me. I think that... probably started it. Didn't really crack like this until he was slamming me into the floor.

[He sips his water, runs one hand down his face.

Y̵o̵u̴'̶v̸e̴ r̶u̴i̷n̷e̷d̷ e̷v̶e̷r̵y̴t̶h̸i̷n̶g̴

Think. Other question, this is for Don. Think about that, and not about how it felt or what he was thinking at the time. Focus on the facts.] Yeah. Additional blows after. Plenty of broken up building and pieces of the ship floating around I got slammed into.

Edited 2022-09-04 05:48 (UTC)

[all right. multiple trauma to the same place is most certainly less than ideal, but donnie almost prefers that to the thought of one strike or blow causing this much damage to their shells. resilience is one of their best traits as turtles, he supposes.

donnie doesn't have any other questions specifically about his wounds, so he can let the topic rest here. at this point he's lost again, knowing he should comfort leonardo somehow but unsure how to do so. providing him with good news and a plan of action should do it, right?] Michael's fine. Mild contusions, and some mild patterned burns on his hands and forearms, but they should heal quickly without scarring. Draxum said he would make his way to us in the next few days to give Mikey a 'mystic' checkup.

Raphael might have some scarring around his eye, but his other wounds are mild and the damage to his shell and plastron is cosmetic only. His bloodwork is clean so far, but I have to wait for my cultures to finish cooking before I can completely rule out lingering pathogens.

[satisfied that leo isn't going to go back to slouching, donnie removes his hand (shakes it as discreetly as possible before twisting both hands together) and returns his attention to his coffee, rummaging for that thermos after all.]

As for you, keep your shoulders back and no bending at the waist. No picking up anything heavier than a sandwich for at least two weeks. Immobile with bed rest would be ideal but I'm not gonna pretend you'll listen to that. I want to give you an MRI as soon as I have the equipment together, but in the meantime tell me if you experience any vertigo, sudden nausea, heart palpitations, forgetfulness, slurred speech, blackouts, or loss of any of the senses, partial or full. In fact, just tell me if you feel anything other than 'bruise hurts.'

[He's almost certain Donatello needs or wants more information than that. Whether he's putting it off to wait on whatever equipment he needs, or he just truly doesn't need it this second, Leo's skeptical.

But even he perks up a little hearing the results of their brothers' examinations. He'd picked up about the burns, but is glad Draxum will take a look. The scarring around Raphael's eye... That's just something they'll come to terms with. And he can work on some of the lingering parts of that with Raph later.]

Good. About them, I, um. Yeah.

[He sighs. Moves enough to slowly peel his bandana off and hold it in both hands now.]

Hard to tell you that if you stay away, y'know.

[glances aside at leo before topping off that thermos, dumping the grounds to make another (strong) pot of coffee.] You need an MRI sooner rather than later. Once I get that together, I can join everybody. [and maybe by then, his won't feel like dousing himself in hydrochloric acid every time someone accidentally brushes up against his skin] Call me instead, don't go looking for me.

Edited 2022-09-04 06:17 (UTC)

[He compromised, gave Donatello information and in the way he asked for it. He's doing a lot by still sitting here when he really feels like he should get horizontal, the way his vision is starting to swim sitting up straight like this. He lowers his voice to a whisper again.]

You know they want you in there with us, right? Mikey almost wouldn't even try to go to sleep until April came back and said you weren't coming.

If you can tell me that's what you actually, really want right now, then fine. I'll leave it alone, tell them to leave you be. But we're just as worried about you.

[leo...vision swimming is a symptom. for gods sake please report your symptoms]

Oh.

[hm. a miscalculation.]

I don't want to be touched right now. I really do need to build the MRI machine, though, it's not an excuse.

[YOU ARE AWARE HE HAS A CONCUSSION, SIR.

But it's hard to tell if Don's request is because of the emotional navigation he just spent all evening doing, or if it's because of something else.]

Fair enough, no touching. [Leo can be annoying. He can be frustrating, he can push people's limits, he can see like he doesn't care. But for his brothers, he does take care to their idiosyncrasies. And he knows Donnie requires some consideration for boundaries and requests as simple as 'please don't invade my personal space right now'. He also doesn't want to mess up this tenuous understanding they've reached.

Speaking of. He sets the now empty glass down before slowly climbing down from the counter to the floor again, one hand firmly keeping him upright.] Hey, you said, uh. Symptoms right? How's vision starting to slowly go blurry?

[considering donnie's usual response to unannounced touch is to just look kinda mad about it instead of telling his brothers to stop, yeah, the consideration is simultaneously warranted and appreciated.

however. there are more pressing matters. donatello immediately puts the thermos aside and comes over to leo's side. he can touch leo and that's fine, because he's expecting it, so he takes leo's arm and starts leading him back to the medical wing.] How slowly?

Since 'call instead, don't go looking for me'. Um.

[That wasn't entirely the answer to the question, and he ponders over that as Donnie shuffles him along. Leonardo instinctively wants to drape that arm around him, and Donnie can probably tell by the way his muscles tense and flinch as Leo fights it, keeping his arm firmly where it is in his brother's grasp

Think. Try not to wake everyone up as they walk past the mountain of fabric and snoring.]

Pretty slowly. Enough I can tell.

[actually, that first answer was better than the second. the first one provides donnie with a definite marker, from which he can approximate a length of time.

donnie peers around the medical wing with a scowl. where is the cot. did they move it, these bastards. at least his worktable is still in here, though it's probably less comfortable, but he has leo lay down on it nonetheless and adjusts the incline to at least make it a little easier. he'll find a pillow in a minute but for now, april's discarded jacket over on the counter will have to do.]

It's probably just exhaustion, but I want liquids in you. [over the course of minutes is better than within twenty seconds. less likely to be the result of aneurysm or abrupt brain bleed.] Turn your hand over. [he's gonna get an IV in there. .......hesitates]

Do you want morphine.

[These bastards really did leave the cart in the blanket fort, which Leo said Don would get mad at them for moving it. He suspects Raph will be asked to bring it back sometime in the next twelve hours.

But they do agree on that - it probably is just exhaustion (he wants it to just be exhaustion, pleading with his broken body to just let that be the worst of it). So he'll follow the instruction, turn his hand over.]

Um. [He's battered, bruised, definitely in pain. But he'd rather be aware of what's happening around him and consciously able to concentrate and process everything.] No. I don't need it.

[good because he didn't wanna give it to you anyway, for MYRIAD reasons] Once you soak up this saline, you can go back to the others. [tapes it down for now, adjusting the valve for the bag and holding it up rather than searching for their IV pole, which is probably being used as a coat rack or weapon somewhere.] If you don't sleep tonight, I'm giving you a sedative. You need rest.

[Leo's gaze flicks up to his brother, debating something to say. Weighing the options and... Donnie's come this far. The worst he could do is just drop the bag.]

You know those are two different things, right?

What are? [not paying attention because he's hyperfocusing on this IV bag to make sure the drip isn't too much]

Sleep and rest. Two different, but not mutually exclusive, things. I can be resting without sleeping.

[he's not saying he won't at some point. But he needs some semblance of normalcy here, and sometimes that takes the image of annoying his twin with pedantic nonsense.]

[just fkn tapes the saline bag to the wall]

[PREPS SYRINGE]

[Uh.

DONNIE????]

You want to engage in a battle of semantics? With me? We'll see what you consider rest, ohhhh yes, we will see...!

[On the one hand, seeing Donatello like this is a good sign. He's coming back down from whatever had him so upset before.

On the other hand, he's like this.

Leonardo tenses a bit on the work table watching his brother prep.]

Uh. So, just a thought, maybe I should lay back down with everyone else so there are witnesses.

Oh you will be laying down, believe me. [SEDATES THE BROTHER.

donnie taps a few keys on his wrist computer and a newly modified sheldon floats in, transforming into a floating cot (which is what donnie had been spending the last few hours on while he waited for his magnets to arrive to finish the MRI). ignoring any protests leo may or may not have, donatello rolls him onto shellcot and leads it downstairs. raphael is groggily awake, but calms down when he sees donnie approach with their wayward brother.

hopefully when next leo wakes, he'll be cuddled back up with his family sans donnie and can say goodbye to april when she announces she'll be heading topside to meet with her worried parents.]

What?

[And then he's out! It's a pretty heavy sleep. He does miss April saying goodbye, Mikey sitting on the cot next to him worried, but assuring April that Leo definitely will want to see her again soon, they'll set up a movie night here in the blanket fort somehow, just wait and see!

But he stays asleep for longer than probably anyone really guessed. A massive amount of sleep debt is catching up to him, and Donnie's sedation was just the first step of kicking down that door.

He does finally wake up, about a day, day and a half, later. Groggy and sore and everything hurting much, much worse. Back in the blanket fort and not with the entire crew.]

Hhhhuh? Guys?

[Raphael and Mikey aren't immediately available, but Casey is dutifully on one side of Leo, with Splinter on the other as he holds Leo's mask, carefully stitching up the rips. They'll get him a new one, but backups are important when you are a mutant freak who needs to scavenge.

At Leo's groan, Splinter glances up and Casey half-stands, resting a hand gently on Leonardo's shoulder.]

Sensei! Don't move, you have a new saline IV in your hand. You've been out for over a day.

What?

[That does immediately have his consciousness grasping sharply at the rope given, trying to pull himself to fully aware and awake. Over a day?]

What did he do, ugh.

Donnie? Sedated you, I think. [Casey retrieves a cup of ice chips with a spoon dug into it. Don had said that Leo might have a wicked case of drymouth when he woke up, even with the IV drip.] At least, that's what he said. He said you needed to remain unmoving until he finished the MRI, and he wasn't convinced you'd stay put under other circumstances.

[He hates when Donatello's right because it means either telling Donatello he's right, or acting like he isn't while operating under the reality that he is.

As it is, Donatello would be right: he does indeed have wicked drymouth. Leo eyes that cup as he start to realize just that reality, trying to decide if it's worth asking for it or not. He can't even really complain about Donnie not trusting him because he's right about that too. Doesn't mean he won't whine about it.]

Man, he really just does not trust me. [Leo, you IMMEDIATELY started moving upon waking.] What else did he say? Where's everyone else?

[LMAO YEAH CASEY SAW THAT. He is also now beginning to wonder if his Leonardo ended up just taking on the traits of his brothers after their passing. He doesn't remember much about Donatello as he'd passed when Casey was still young, and even less about Raphael, but this Leo almost seems like an unfinished puzzle for which the missing pieces are the personalities of his family.

Casey just suppresses his smile and holds out the cup for Leo to take before standing up fully to adjust the cot so Leo can sit up a bit more comfortably without moving his torso much.

Splinter, having since returned to his sewing while the two boys talked, answers for Casey instead even as he uses his tail to help steady Leo's hand holding the spoon when it begins to shake from strain.] Red and Orange are meeting with April, as well as checking to see if the pizza shop you boys like is open. Purple has not left his laboratory.

[Not left his laboratory... He must have at some point to hook him up with a fresh bag. Or maybe had someone else do it. Donnie's in a weird place right now, a little harder to read than he has any right to be.

Leonardo looks down at his own trembling hand, like it's betraying him. It's a spoon of ice chips, it shouldn't be difficult (nevermind the tension he feels in his hand just trying to hold the spoon, the exhaustion of moving it to lift, the fresh surge of a sharp pain in his back as he's moved to sit up and how his weight shifting with gravity is doing something weird to his back and shell).

He does manage to get a few ice chips though. Just thinking things over.]

Hopefully it is. I'd fight in the Battle Nexus again if I could get some of that pizza right now.

[and that's about when the sheldon-cot pipes up with his typical surfer voice because apparently he has been SENTIENT THIS WHOLE TIME] Absolutely not, bro! You're under STRICT bedrest orders!

[GLARING from his spot on the cot.]

I didn't say I was going to. It's sarcasm, expression. Joking.

Never know the difference with you, bro.

[and with that, the Shell-cot begins just- ok, abruptly raising up and (gently) strapping two belts over leo to keep him from jostling as it- takes off? flies towards donnie's lab. guess it's checkup time! hope he's done talking to his family!!!]

Because you're a compu-what what what-

[Leonardo instinctively wants to struggle against restraints (oozy and gooey and crawling and trying to get into his skin-) while he still holds that cup of ice chips. Casey and Splinter watch him float away without even trying to save him! Traitors.

But once to Donnie's lab? Medbay? Honestly the lights and his exhaustion are making it hard to tell where he's gone really. He just sighs, resigned to this. He told Donnie he wouldn't fight so.]

[and lo, he did not! will the miracles never cease. please never cease.

donnie slots his goggles the long, arduous journey up his forehead and out of the way when the shell-cot flies in with leonardo safely secured.] Oh good, you're awake. I finished the MRI, and April's bringing down the contrast I ordered. Once the others get back with her I want to get you looked at right away.

Did you sleep well? [taps his wrist computer and the belts securing leo unlatch and slither back away under the cot.]

Pretty sure sedation doesn't count as sleeping.

[But he feels immediately better not being strapped down. Feels like he can breathe easier.

Munches another ice chip staring at Don.]

Good, good... [NOT EVEN LISTENING

gets up and starts fiddling with something along a large thick ring attached to a flat bed, with tracks that proceed through the center of the ring. the ring begins to turn in measured paces as donnie taps several settings on a display.] Sheldon, take his vitals.

You got it, D. [the cot whirrs, and a few wires emerge and attach pads to the inside of leo's elbow, his forehead, and a small plastic clip gently onto a finger.]

Uh.

[That is REALLY NOT entirely okay?? His finger wiggles at the clip instinctively as he looks to see where those pads got attached. They've never had to ever do any serious first aid in here. Usually scrapes, bruises. Occasionally burns when he or Mikey burned themselves in the kitchen somehow. But never anything serious like this. He saw enough of this sort of stuff on his tv shows but ...very different having it in real life.

The ring is more ominous though. He's watching it turn slowly.]

And you're sure this thing won't give me like. Superpower radiation or anything?

Yeah, pretty sure. I had to brush up on the process last night and it's usually fine. I mean, it was the audio book version since I had to be hands free to finish installing the magnets but I was listening.

[after a moment the wires and clip retract and sheldon rattles off a list of numbers that donnie nods to.]

[He is not nerd enough for those numbers to mean anything to him. He's just watching the ring and lights around him with a kind of weight pooling in his gut.

He's still fairly sure he has a concussion but the slow realization that Donnie felt the need to build this thing and use it ... probably means there are worse things wrong than just cracks in his plastron and a few cuts and bruises.]

Sssooo.... What are you expecting to find?

I have no idea, Leo. [flips through some more options. he really only got the crash course on how to use the straight-from-the-box bootleg software for this thing...] X-rays are limited. This will provide a more comprehensive look at what's going on inside your shell.

[not to mention that as they fall into deeper and deeper shit, per the latest trends, having equipment like this will come in handy. he'll have to write up a user manual for dummies for this thing, just in case.] Any more blurred vision since waking up? Shortness of breath, dizzy spells, abrupt nausea?

[He wants to joke here, feels like he should but Don's question stops him. His brother's gotten good at that in the last.... how many hours? He isn't sure. Since they all got back.

Leonardo had his mouth open to make some smartass remark but thinks about that question for a second. He promised, and as much of a goofster as he can be, he's serious about promises to his brothers.]

Vision's still a little blurred. Not much of the other stuff [Leo.], but my back is... [Be serious. Don't downplay this.] it feels pretty serious.

[pauses for just a second.

then spins around, coming back over to the hovering cot.] Serious how? Describe how it feels.

[He's a little caught off guard by the sudden intensity but-]

I dunno. Never felt like this before? Like... [Think, Leo, think through the groggy haze. He shifts a little before his jaw clenches and he remembers to breathe.] Uncomfortable like this, but... Earlier, sitting up hurt. Like my shell wasn't sitting right.

[And now that he's saying it out loud, putting words to the feeling, it's a creeping anxiety under his skin. He's never felt anything like that before.]

[donnie chews on his lip for a second, glaring down at leo's shell as if he could see through it if he just stared hard enough. he should've studied more physiology. he should've been more careful with leo yesterday, and the day before. should've focused more on stabilizing him and keeping him immobile, shouldn't have let him walk around. rookie mistakes.]

Stay there, [donnie orders, taps his wrist computer. the shell-cot moves a bit, as if creating a cradle to allow leo to rest fully without putting as much pressure and weight on his shell, almost like a hammock instead of just a flat bed.] Don't move at all. All right? I'll be right back. [and then, without much more explanation, donnie disappears.]

...he was up all night, [sheldon offers, the wires snaking out again and gently re-attaching to leo's forehead and inner elbow. the clip searches for his fingertip again as well.] Don't worry Leo. Donnie'll fix you.

Edited 2022-09-18 02:06 (UTC)

Wha- Hey.

[He cranes his head to watch his brother leave, even as the bed is moving and he feels himself being shifted into a new position. It's- honestly a little easier? But still feels the weight moving weirdly between his back and shell. And a suspicion of what's happened starts to solidify in his exhaustion addled brain, something he doesn't want to put words to. It's never happened before, something Leo didn't know could happen, as his breath and heart start picking up quicker.

How many hits had it been? How many time had he gotten slammed and tossed around, bouncing like a ragdoll?

Casey, please!

It was supposed to have been quick, was supposed to have been like ripping a bandaid off. So why are the effects still lingering?

He slumps a bit watching the door.]

...I know he will.

Hey, bro! Would you like to discuss your experience? [a little mechanical hand holding a notepad and a pencil (lmao) also pop out from underneath the cot, ready to scribble] Donnie installed a new 'empathy' patch and downloaded some shrink books into me! Said he didn't have time. Tell me how you feel, dude.

[He all but growls under his breath, mostly irritation and exhaustion and pain-]

I feel like I want to talk to my brother.

No sweat dude, I can do that too!

[and there's a brief trill of a phone ringing before donnie's breathless voice answers-]
(Sheldon, what happened?! Is Leo all right, did he get worse?!)

[What Donatello hears is the dulcet tones of his brother calmly explaining himself to Shelldon.]

WHEN I SAID I WANTED TO TALK TO MY BROTHER, I DIDN'T MEAN CALL HIM!

My b!

(Oh, you're fine.) [a huff, but the sounds of a distant new york still filter through the connection and donnie's breathing] (Don't- get over excited. What did you want to talk about?

[Wait, his brother left? Why is he outside?

The realization deflates whatever he was going to say. Raph and Mikey are still out too. He wants dad. But if dad comes in here, Casey will too, and it'll be a whole thing that he doesn't want.

So Donnie it is.]

Look, just. I dunno, I'm a little freaked out right now?

(Yeah. I'll call Dad, get him in there.) [leo adores their father, maybe the most of any of them. dad'll be able to make him feel better.]

[The 'Don't bother' is on the tip of his tongue.

Maybe Dad would make him feel better. It's not the same as his brother, though.]

You get upset that I don't talk to you, and when I do wanna talk to you, you brush me off, sure. Fine.

(What?) [there's a scuff, then donatello breathing a bit harder, but sounding less jostled.] (I'm not brushing you off, I'm doing something important! Besides, you honestly want to talk to me to feel better?)

You know how Mikey and Raph are - they'll cry and blame themselves somehow. I don't really know Casey that well [for all his talking about being proud of Casey (and he was, that was genuine), he still doesn't really know a lot about the kid.] and Dad-

You're the one who'll take it seriously who also knows what's going on. So. Yeah. But you're doing something important, so go ahead. I'll just hang out with Dad and Shelldon.

[there's a moment of silence from donnie, though not entirely of sound. cars honking, people shouting, and loud construction noise rings tinny through the call. closer, clearer, donnie panting as he takes a moment to catch his breath.

out in new york, donnie is standing at a building's edge, hands on his hips, not really seeing the rescue efforts he's gazing at down below. april is home with her parents. raph and mikey are at the pizza joint, helping out in exchange for some free food. dad and casey are both taking care of themselves and the home in their own ways.

and leo...is being honest. is reaching out to him, to donnie. it's not as if they're never close, it's not as if they're unsure with each other...they just tend not to be each other's first, or even second choice when it comes to reassurance and comfort. but it doesn't mean they can't. hell, more than the others, donnie and leo seem to sink into this weird near-identical mindset sometimes. it's the one thing donnie hasn't been able to figure out, and the biggest contributing factor to the on-and-off semi-serious joke/observation that leo and donnie are twins.]

(...I'm getting the contrast from April,) [donnie says finally, wiping at his forehead. mystic shell is still on the fritz, not working right. tech still smashed up or gone from their other fights, streets too clogged with debris and people for the turtle tank. running is the only option right now.] (I don't think you're in immediate danger, but I want to know what we're dealing with sooner rather than later. April doesn't know when her parents are gonna let her leave again.)

[There initially isn't any response from Leonardo's side. Just the silence of the medbay and Leonardo's breathing a little heavier than he really probably should be.

It's something. It's more than he knew, and he didn't know that about April... Safer for her, even if he knows they'll all miss their friend (sis? she's effectively their sis at this point). He's grateful to just... Know what's happening. Not being able to walk around and inject himself into whatever he wants is killing him slowly.]

...Thanks, Dee.

(People're already starting to clean up.) [gets moving again, the small hiccups and jolts in his voice for when he leaps and lands.] (Already equipment and crews all over the place. April's building is mostly whole, doesn't look like it saw a lot of action. One sec.)

[the CLANG of donnie landing on her fire escape, either not bothering or too tired to care about making noise. a one-sided conversation -"you have it? yeah. okay, i'll wait here. next week? probably not, i'll ask dad."- before he starts moving again.] (April says get better and stay in bed.)

[It's... Good? It's good, hearing it all. Knowing what's going on topside, what's happening, how April and her family are doing. Feeling like he's still connected to what's going on. Having information is better in the long run, and getting it from Donnie ensures there's no weird onesidedness to it.

Leonardo feels better feeling connected.

Leonardo realizes the problem. He doesn't want to be alone, or feel alone. Disconnected from everyone at the same time. Just floating...]

Y-yeah. [If his voice sounds a little thick, don't mind him.] Will do.

[leo only gets short like this when he's sinking too far into his own head. come on, a topic, look for something to-

...ugh. eugh.] (You haven't heard about how Mikey and I got control of the ship yet, right?)

[He'd been about to let him go, just settle with Shelldon and dad, but-

Donnie had been cagey about whatever happened; Leo knew something happened, and the only logical time it could happened was when Don and Mikey were trying to hack into the ship. But considering the outburst, Leo hadn't wanted to badger him about it. But if he's offering...]

No, no one's said anything.

(Well- oof.) [a rattling clang before donnie is off again, jumping from rooftop to rooftop] (That short Krang guy was in the main console, so Mikey and I had to figure out how to get him out. That mostly just involved us falling around, but Michael- Michael was brilliant. Tricked the bastard into whacking himself into the wall with his own tentacles. You should've seen him, Leo, he was marvelous.)

[Leo glances up at Shelldon with half a smile. He's tired, he's in pain and aching, but that sounds like something he wished he could've seen. He would've loved to see one of the Krang assholes hit himself in the face.]

Sounds like Mikey. He's good at that, always that razmataz.

(He really knocked it out of the park.) [setup]

Home run, huh?

[A testament to how ...disoriented he is, he misses the setup entirely.]

So Mikey got the Krang guy out of the main console?

(Mhm. After that, just a matter of interfacing correctly.) [compartmentalization is a wonderful thing.] (I know we were fighting for our lives and trying to save the world but Leo, the way that ship worked? It's like I was the ship.) [and donnie has to stop for just a second, has to stand and pant and look up at the sky, about maybe where the ship was. where he was.] (Felt like I was so much more than myself. ...felt like I could do anything.)

Interfacing.

[Not something he really understands, not without a visual or a word picture. But then he keeps listening, listens to his brother talk with a sort of awestruck admiration for what he experienced, what could have been... Leonardo may not have much interest or brain capacity for science, but he can appreciate his twin having the sort of love for it that he does.]

Yeah? Like - what, a bioship or something? [Straight out of some other cheesy scifi movie. Whatever it was meant Donnie had taken his battle shell off. Leo had noticed it when they all got their Ninpo abilities back.] So you were in total control.

(I was something amazing.) [maybe now it's donnie who sounds a little far away, even to himself. but leo gave him honesty, he wants to give some back.] (If one of you asked me then if I wanted to stay like that, I would've said yes.)

[stayed like that, the consciousness of a ship, forever separated from everyone but perfectly perfect in his existence. now, far away from it, unable to access that feeling again, it's...a little creepy. but in that moment, it had been logical, preferable, desirable. would he have left his family to travel the stars as the pilot and lone occupant of a bioship? ...maybe.]

[Leonardo can hear it in his brother's voice. Donnie really would have been happy like that, even if it meant being away from them.]

No offense, but I'm kinda glad none of us asked you that.

[A little flat, a little annoyed but it's more the pain than anything else.]

But you did good. Piloting the ship back into the portal, you did it.

(Not all the way.) [his breath and the ambient noise picks up. he's on the move again.

at that moment splinter appears in the doorway with his sewing. a mechanical arm emerges from some kind of compartment and rolls donnie's high-backed desk chair over next to the shell-cot for splinter to climb into. sheldon hovers a bit lower so that splinter and leo can talk face-to-face with minimal neck-craning.]

But it was enough.

[He watches Splinter come in, his face softening a little. It doesn't really matter how he's laying down, some part of him hurts but he can at least bite it back in front of Dad.

A quick one-sided conversation on his end, Donnie went out to get something, he's probably on his way back now. Sounds like he's on his way back, no idea when April can come back.]

Hey, uh. You're on your way back now, right?

(Yeah. Hanging up now.) [-oh, okay. not going to go through the awkward goodbyes, then.

at least splinter is there, launching unprompted into some behind-the-scenes stories of what happened on some movie sets. usually stunts gone wrong or crazy groupie tales; the good old days. or maybe not, maybe they were just good back then and if he tried to have them now, he'd just be even more exhausted.]

[Ah. Not going to go through the awkward goodbyes, then.

But Dad is here, and that's fine. He adores their dad, probably the mot of any of them. But with it being more of a 'sit and listen' type of situation and he literally has nothing else to occupy himself, Leo can feel his attention drifting into the exhaustion that's starting to settle into his broken bones again. Somewhere in the middle of it, he wonders how he can still be this tired after already sleeping for over a day. But recovery doesn't care about his thoughts, only in darkening them to a dull idea in the back of his mind.

So by the time Donatello gets back, Splinter is quietly working while Leonardo's fallen asleep again.]

[sheldon sends him a heads-up along with leonardo's vitals, so when donatello enters he knows to be quiet. splinter glances up before scooting his chair back, though he doesn't leave completely.

donnie spares their father a look, package in his hands before he drops it onto the table. he prepares the contrast injection for leo's IV meticulously, approaching the table and tapping the side to wake leo rather than touch him.] Leo. You need to be awake for this.

[Waking and sleeping, waking up and sleeping, he can't seem to get enough of one or the other the way his head keeps being pingponged between both statuses. The tapping doesn't really do much but hearing his name does. He wakes with a little jerk of muscle before the soreness kicks in again and he's left groaning.]

Wha-... hey. What's up?

[eyes narrow. he was trying to avoid making leo jostle. maybe he needs to black market some good pain medication here...]

I'm going to introduce the contrast and then get you scanned. The contrast is going to feel really weird and the machine is loud, but it shouldn't take long.

[uncaps the splitter in leo's IV and unravels the tube he'd been fiddling with, screwing it in but keeping the IV pinched for now. sheldon can't go through the MRI, so he'll need to transfer leo to the other table.] Sheldon, help me slide Leo over. Carefully.

Weird how?

[That's about all he manages to get out before he feels the table he's on shifting, one side gradually lifting up higher. It's uncomfortable, after having gotten settled for the last hour or so. And a nerve pinches somewhere in the middle of his back, a new feeling that has him clenching his jaw so tight he'd swear he was grinding the bones down somehow. But more and more, that thought of what may have happened to his back is solidifying into a congealed sort of terror in the back of his mind.

Leo reaches out for something, anything that's within reach to ground himself. His fist clenching tight to whatever purchase it finds.]

Any chance we can get that time traveling microwave going again and stop all this from happening?

[and that anything would be donnie's forearm; he doesn't flinch this time at least, or try to yank away. he just goes very still for a split second before continuing to hold up the various tubes and cords and help sheldon transfer leo with as little jostling as can be managed.]

Sure. Right after I give past Donnie the lottery numbers, I'll go ahead and save the world while I'm in the neighborhood. Piece of cake.

Great time to start trying to make jokes.

[Almost as if Donnie's the funny one. Fat chance of that, though. After a moment and the sure steady new table is under him, Leo finally lets go. But his hand and arm are shaking from the effort it took to hold on, to not just cry out from the pain and try to consciously think of a joke he barely would call funny himself.

It shouldn't be this bad. It shouldn't be like this, they should've been able to shake off the worst of it and walk home, heads high and ready to celebrate a big win. So why is it bad like this?]

[donatello, meanwhile, just detaches himself from the emotion of the situation, which is a completely valid and normal way to cope. all he has to do is remove himself from the clear agony on his brother's face and focus on the facts. possible spine injury. almost certainly something skeletal that wouldn't show on clearly on an x-ray.]

I'm going to introduce the contrast. It'll feel really warm, like a hot flash. [donnie unpinched the tubing and hung up the IV and contrast bags on a hook attached to the machine, circling to the other side to tap at the display.] Dad, can you get me a syringe and a bottle from the second drawer?

[Somehow that just sounds even worse? Even with the warning, it hits him, a bit of heat in his blood before he feels it spreading up his arm and through every part of him. Right, that is weird.

Splinter's fingers had stilled watching Leonardo's struggling, even as one ear flicked toward Donatello's words. But he nods and hops down off the chair to get just that, hands closing around the bottle and syringe. He eyes his son carefully handing them over.]

[draws a small amount from the bottle before setting it aside, flicking the syringe to eliminate bubbles before reaching over to unhook the spent contrast valve and inject the liquid into leonardo's main IV] We don't have anything really strong right now, but this'll help take the edge off. I'll need you to be really still, and be able to raise your arms above your head when I tell you to. Let me know when you feel like you're able to do that.

[hesitates, then awkwardly pats leo's shoulder gently, like 'there, there.' he's definitely not looking to win a "best bedside manner" award, but keeping leo calm will also assist with accurate readings and leo calms down when he knows his brothers are there and safe, and taking care of each other.] Dad, I think I've got things here. Mind going and updating Raphie and Michael?

[Splinter nods at Donatello, but his eyes return to linger on his other son. He rests one hand on Leo's wrist, squeezing gently so he doesn't disturb anything Donnie's doing before stepping away and out. Leaving Leo alone with his brother again.]

I don't think I'll be able to raise my arms ever again! [Dramatic. Because he still has to be, it's the only way he can really cope with what's happening to and around him.] Just- Yeah. Sure. Still until you tell me.

[the innermost sections of the ring rotate again in irregular but measured bursts and the table upon which leo lay began to roll towards the center, smooth and mechanical. donnie taps a few more settings on the display before heading over to one of his desktop rigs, circling around so he can see leo and typing without sitting back down.

he calls out instructions as the table slides up through the ring as needed. a loud, jarring CLANK, CLANK, CLANK begins to repeat as the table moves, and quiets when the table stills. arms up, CLANK, CLANK, CLANK. arms down, CLANK, CLANK, CLANK. two times, four times, six times before donatello finally comes back to the display and the table begins to withdraw fully from inside the ring.] Okay. Stay here while I look these over.

[He tries to keep still. He really does. Follows instructions easily enough. But that clanking and no other sound but Donnie's voice. He can't get that sound out of his mind, the metal scraping against metal as each hit came down knocking the wind from his chest and putting more and more pressure on his plastron.

Whatever readings Donnie's getting from Shelldon are going a little worrisome by the end. His heart feels like it's racing to get out of his throat. Nevermind the aching in his shoulders from lifting and lowering his arms again and again, slamming into cement and steel and-

And then it's over. He can't get his breath as the table slides him out but he's trying. He's got to bring himself back down, focus. Meditating hadn't really worked before, but maybe he can try again.]

[when leo doesn't answer, donnie looks up at his face. his eyes are unfocused- his jaw is slack but his neck is tense. he's breathing too quickly. at a tap on his wrist computer, sheldon sends him his vitals and the heart rate is high. panic. leo's panicking.

donnie doesn't think this time, hands going back up to hold leo's face, the only part of him donnie knows for sure doesn't have a fractured bone in it, which is shocking enough considering how bruised he is on both cheeks. he doesn't let himself panic back at him; last time he'd lost it himself and just shouted, screamed, stormed out. that had been useless. he'd been useless.

so this time he pings sheldon, who sends him passages from the empathy literature and software he'd installed last night. maybe it's a copout or maybe it would've been better if donnie had known what to do rather than consulting his own AI construct, but he doesn't and it doesn't matter anyway. leo needs him to take care of him however he can.

so. calm, this time.] Leo. Hey. You're right here, you're home. Everyone's fine. Dad's with Raph and Mikey, April's with her parents, Casey's sleeping in the living room. You're in here with me. We're making you better.

[All his trembling stops as he goes completely ramrod stiff at his face being grabbed. There's more coming, more is about to happen, it's going to keep hurting, but his family is safe, everyone's fine-

But more than that, the words that get through: "You're home". Home. With his family. That's what that sounds like.

God, he'd just about kill for a hug. What does a guy have to do for a hug around here?]

D... D- [His own mouth is working against him, his words stuttering against his own will. He clears his throat, forces a solid breath in. Single syllable words then. Once he gets that going, he should be fine. He's trying to drag his brain out of the shit hole it fell back into for a second.] Don't. Put me in that thing.

We won't need to do it again. [but donnie wants to, after leo's healed. because leo will heal, and donnie will keep an eye on those wounds to make sure they heal correctly. they'll have to revisit it later; doing it again when it causes this much stress better be damn necessary.

still, leo's got his words back, but he doesn't seem comforted. donnie racks his brain, passes by the exhaustion, the sixteen manuals worth of knowledge crammed into his skull over the last thirty-six hours, and finds nothing. what does he do? what can he do? why can't someone tell him-

...his resource is right there.] What do you need? I want to help.

Just. Just don't put me back in that.

[It's the one solid thought he can grab onto this very second. Everything else is a nebulous feeling he can't solidify just yet.

He wants a hug. He wants a hug so badly, he could almost cry. He settles for just resting a hand on Donnie's arm, squeezing it weakly like it'll get that simple request across. (It doesn't, he has to use words, but he doesn't have the voice yet.]

Let's just finish.

[Ignore it, deal with it. He can take his brain apart and put it back together later, he just wants out of here.]

[it really doesn't, because leo always projects his needs so clearly, always throwing himself around or on top of donatello regardless of his feelings, when he needs it. he's always done that before. when they were younger maybe, when things seemed less unsure, but more chaotic.

donnie hesitates, feeling something off but unable to determine exactly what, before he lets go of leo and taps at his wrist computer. Sheldon-as-a-cot floats back over right next to the table, mechanical arms sprouting out to assist.] Okay. Let's get you moved back over.

[getting leo away from the machine should help, right? away from the source of stress.]

[It should help.

It does help, some. Not being right in the middle of the machine making the worst noise possible. He keeps that hand clutched to Donnie's arm as he's moved again, even as the Shelldon-cot gradually does that gentle fold in to a hammock style bed again. It, once again, eases a lot of the aches (or was that whatever Don gave him?) and he feels like he can breathe a bit.]

...Thanks. I- ...It's. It just... The noise isn't good.

Okay, [donnie says cautiously, though there isn't much he can do about that. not at the moment anyway, though maybe if another MRI is necessary in the future he can work on-

don't get distracted. he pulls the cot along with him over to the images at his desktop, enlarging the display so leo can see as well. now to make sense of what he's looking at. just identify the trouble spots; fraying that indicates torn ligaments, there, in the shoulder. massive bruising around the lungs. stress fractures in at least three ribs. and there, a misalignment in the spine; a slipped disc, somewhat detached from the shell, discoloration implying bruising and/or previous internal bleeding. if it heals wrong, it would cause chronic pain for the rest of leo's life. it could paralyze him.

donnie lets out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. his fingers are clenched tight against his desktop and he uncurls them.]

...okay, [he repeats staring up at the monitors.] I know what to do now.

[Leo shifts as carefully as he can to get a closer look. He does have a decent idea of what he's looking at. But he's seeing it now in a detached sort of way, these images are clearly of some other mutant turtle not related to any of them. He sees the same injuries, feels them clearly now that he has a picture of what's been done. Remembers every single attack that gave every single one of those images. His back though...

Thrown, like a rag doll, to the cement and bounced like he was nothing into another wall. Slammed down into the ground, both those unnaturally powerful metal robot fists to his plastron and hearing the foundation cracking underneath his back-

That was when it happened. A part of him is both relieved and surprised his shell wasn't cracked into a million shards by the onslaught.]

Do you? Because- Dee... This is bad.

[holds up a hand. the way leo just casually says that, like it isn't his own spine, makes donnie feel a little sick.] No it isn't. You just need surgery.

[His eyes shift to his brother. "Not bad". "JUST need surgery". Like trying to do anything under their shells is both a terrifying prospect and uncharted territory for them all. Obviously some humans are capable of it on smaller non-mutated turtles. But ...]

That's like- That's a big deal, brother.

No, I can do it. [or maybe that's what's making him feel sick. no matter, it's not whether or not donnie can do it, but that he has to.] Laparascopic to reduce exposure. I'll need to outfit my clean room, get the tools together. You'll need a brace afterwards. Maybe I can utilize nanorobotics instead of pins, I'll need to read up. Sheldon can assist.

But I can do it, I can fix this. [he just needs to research. he just needs materials and time. he can do this, he can fix his brother, he can help. no need to be worried, no need to panic. he's not panicking. he's fine.]

[Leonardo listens to that, the slow explanation of what Donnie 'needs' to do, what has to be done to him, for him. And it's more than any of them have ever needed. But as much as in his own head as he's been, he's been trying to not so he can see that downward direction his brother is going.

And it's - No. No, he's not letting that happen. He reaches initially for Donatello's arm, gently placing a hand on it, easy if he wants to swat it away. But if he doesn't, Leo will gently tug him into the loosest hug he can manage, arm trembling from the effort. Just a hug. A hug.

He's already had to comfort Raph and Mikey, he's put on the stoic front for Dad and Casey. Donnie needs him to be okay too. So... so he will be.]

Leo, what...? [he's still a little shocked so leo manages to get that arm around him. his skin isn't crawling; in fact, he feels almost refreshingly numb compared to how hypersensitive he's been the past day.

then donnie remembers slipped disc, paralyzed and he carefully lowers leo back into the bed/hammock. he keeps his hand on his brother's shoulder, but his breath is still coming in too thick, and his eyes are burning. he's crying- why is he crying? he has information, data. he has a plan.]

You're gonna be fine, [donnie croaks, dragging a wrist over his eyes. it doesn't help much, and leo still has that horrible look on his face like he's about to bite off his own tongue if someone asks him to, so donnie shudders and bend over him. holds his weight up with one hand on the cot, carefully, gently wraps his other around leo's neck in a hug only as tight as he dares. the tears keep trickling out, one or two, but there's nothing he can do about it now.

he's gotta make sure leo knows. the krang didn't do anything that can't be fixed. not to this timeline, not to this city, and not to his family.] You'll be good as new. I promise. I've got this.

Edited 2022-09-28 07:03 (UTC)

[He was going to ask something. A little personal, a lot private, but seeing Donnie crying - actual for real tears - Leo knows he can't. Not for a long while at least, after this is over. After Donnie's done what he plans to do because he knows his brother has some kind of plan and is determined to fix all this.]

I know. [His own voice is thicker than it has any right to be. Leo tries to swallow it down, ignore it, talk over it.] You're amazing, y'know that? So- So I know you've got this. I trust you.

[nods against leo, short and brief, and pulls away probably too soon so he can wipe his tears and sniff hard. right, a plan. the crying probably isn't helping him look collected and confident either, so donnie REALLY snorts and dries it up best he can before stalking over to his sample refrigerator to dig out his emergency monster energy fifteen-pack, dropping it a little too loud atop the counter. ...picks it up to put it down more quietly, there. that's better.]

Okay. Leo, you're on strict bedrest; no getting up for anything. You need to be completely immobile until your procedure, so Sheldon's going to move you around where you want to go and the rest of the fam will have to take care of you while I get things ready. In fact, Sheldon, mass-text famchat and get them in there so I can brief everybody at once.

[Their robot semi-sibling/assistant/nephew?'s voice is a little too enthusiastic.] (You got it!)

You'd better get some sleep before you do anything else, Donnie.

[And a minute later their phones go off with a ding in the family group chat. Leo is just rubbing at his face with one hand thinking. Bedrest. No getting up, immobile. Great. Perfect. Exactly his definition of a good time. He stays stuck thinking about that even as everyone starts to file in, Mikey and Dad first who keep giving Leonardo more than few worried looks. April trying to shake Casey awake next to them, and Raph coming in last, sweeping his eyes over everyone to make sure they're all accounted for. Safe. In one piece (mostly, he thinks).]

No time for sleep, Nardo! [donnie exclaims before cracking open his first of what will probably be many monsters as their family filters in] Science waits for no man.

[and then, detachedly, calmly, donatello explains to their family that leonardo will require surgery to repair a herniated disc in his spine. splinter's face goes carefully rigid and raphael reaches out blindly before his hand finds michelangelo, who clutches tearfully as he stares between his brothers in horror.

casey, for the most part, looks vaguely concerned about the rest of them, but not necessarily about the procedure itself. he even chips in to explain that donatello was one of the resistance's lead surgeons for a while when they were short doctors, and that he has every faith in donatello and leonardo for this.

donnie doesn't comment beyond a simple 'thank you,' but his voice sounds a little surer after that, like he'd finally found a blanket in a cold room.]

This is a very common and very doable procedure, [donnie closes out with, though it is common neither for mutant turtles or teenagers, but whatever.] Worse comes to worst? Dad seduces Big Mama while we sneak into her medical facilities and rob her blind.

Rob her of what?

[Breezing right past 'Dad seduces Big Mama' because that is not something he wants to think about. Whatever Donatello gave him did only take the edge off, and he's feeling it more keenly as he shifts to lean forward a bit, actually feel like he's a part of this conversation instead of just a problem in the room to be solved.

Quick as he moves, though, Splinter's hand is gently on Leo's shoulder and carefully shifting him to lay back again. Their dad looks from him to Donatello.] (What exactly would you need from her?)

[shh leo, those who didn't try to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the world are talking. donnie even also puts a hand on him to keep him still, the opposite side of splinter] Drugs, surgical instruments, sanitization chemicals. My cleanroom is set up for mechanical precision work, not biological.

[The INDECENCY!! The audacity. Leonardo lays there with one cheek puffed out a bit while they keep him in place. It doesn't take another second for Sheldon to get the picture and slowly loop a restraint around Leo's shoulders to keep him there.

Their dad puts a hand to his chin in thought, stroking his beard.]

(I will see what I can do. There may be some... Favors I can cash in.)

[However that goes, Leo (and from the looks of it, Mikey too) doesn't want to know what that entails.]

[yeah donnie either.] Great, thanks Dad. Tell me nothing of your plans.

[MOVING ON] Anyway, for the rest of you... [sighs. pinches the top of his muzzle] I need you to...to wait on Leonardo hand and foot. So he doesn't get up at all.

[Splinter nods and motions.] (Orange. Come with me.)

[Both Casey and Mikey look a little unsure at each other before moving to follow. Splinter grabs for April as well, likely to take her topside and get her back to her parents. Which leaves Raph and Casey to watch Donnie and Leo, who is positively fuming on that cot/hammock. For his part, Casey at least looks less nervous than he has so far. Helping Leo is something positive he can do.]

I can get things myself just fine.

[Even though Casey is wondering how much Leo will let him.] (I really don't think you can right now, sensei.)

Edited 2022-10-01 07:10 (UTC)

Yes, sensei, if you insist on moving I will keep you sedated until your procedure. [honestly he would kind of enjoy it]

(Donnie, we'll watch him.) [and raph hovers over leo because he, unlike casey, is not cowed by this wiry little shithead being irate about doctor's orders. he might get so annoyed with him that he'll want to just break leo's spine and have donnie fix the whole thing, but he won't actually do that.

so he. folds his arms and looks down at leo sternly.] (You're not movin' from that bed, Leo, not 'til you're good.)

[Leonardo's expression goes completely flat looking up at the three of them.

Then tilting his head back to address the other presence in the room.]

Hey, Shelldon, you can go vertical and horizontal flying right?

(Uh. Yeah, duh. Kinda the basics of flying around.)

[And Leo looks back up to the others.] So. Just fly me up so I can get things from cabinets and everything else. Can get it myself.

Your shoulders need to stay flat against that bed or you could shift your spinal column. [HOLDS UP A NEEDLE] I'll do it! Medically induced comas are nearly risk-free these days, I read an article of a study!

[ah ok uh, raph picks up purple brother because it looks like the monster hit and now he is a lunatic] (Really Donnie, we got this! Why don't you uh, work off that Monster and then go take a nap?)

[HEY THAT NEEDLE IS UNNECESSARY. HE IS LEANING VERY MUCH BACK ONTO THE BED.]

Yeah, I don't want him doing anything to me until he's had like - minimum six hours sleep!

[yeah raphael is removing this mad scientist from the immediate area and handing over leo's care to casey, who...is probably not the best person to hand it over to, but their options are limited. donnie would chew through casey like a kraft single]

(They're just worried, sensei.) [casey watches raphael and donnie a bit warily, but still pats leo's shoulder gently] (I've seen you roll over and get up from far worse. ...I mean, usually.)

Hm. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

[He's still so annoyed though. He is perfectly capable of taking care of himself. But Shelldon isn't letting that strap across his shoulders and chest up so Leonardo is stuck like this.]

Ready for this to just be over with.

You'll be on your feet soon.) [what can he- ah, an anecdote! a more heartwarming one, to help his master cope.] (I mean, back when I was ten, you fought off three Krang robots and a whole swarm of drones with a broken tibia and a concussion! This is nothing.)

[Leonardo finally just rests his head back fully, Sheldon adjusting so he can face Casey.]

...A whole swarm when you were ten, huh.

[Future-Him really does have it together. Not that he doesn't like Casey, sometimes he just says something that's right on the line of comforting and horrific.]

Hey. Back before, in the tank. You started to say something and then we had to stop. ...You were going to tell Donnie and Mikey they died in your time, weren't you?

[what's not comforting about the way you fought tooth and nail to survive despite terrible injuries]

(Wh-) [casey glances out make sure raphael and donnie are still out of earshot, concerned. it didn't come up again and it felt unnecessarily cruel to mention it, so- well, so only leonardo knows.] (...I was. It felt like I was lying to them, trying to get everyone to understand the danger without the consequences.)

...Yeah.

[He can't help how his hands clench into tight fists at his sides. Unable to freely move no matter what he does because Shelldon's got some clear directives.]

Up to you if you wanna tell them. But... I wouldn't.

(I'm not telling them.) [immediate answer. probably more obvious than usual that future leonardo wasn't just casey's master, he was practically his father.] (Besides, that's not a future that's going to happen anymore thanks to all of you.) [casey offers leo a half-smile, fiddling with the edge of leonardo's blanket.] (Why make them worry over something that'll never come to pass?)

[Yeah, he's starting to pick up on that through the painkiller and everything else and has no idea how to feel about that particular line of thought. He just watches Casey with that nervous smile.]

...Right. Exactly. [Nevermind that everyone dies eventually, something they'll all have to come to terms with. But at least this way they didn't die fighting the Krang for thirty something more years.]

And in the meantime, we keep looking out for each other.

[nevermind that in the future, making it to 40 is a miracle] (So that means you'll stay still and let us take care of you?) [INNOCENT BLINKING]

[Leo just. Stares up at him, from where he is currently still strapped down to the bedcot.]

Casey, I dunno if you've noticed, but I don't have much choice in the matter right now.

(I'm sure master Donatello won't possibly keep you trapped here the entire time, Sensei!)

[somewhere in the bowels of donnie's lab he shrieks "I CAN REBUILD HIM" as raphael chants "no no no DONNIE no-" and then, a mighty crash]

(...he trusts you, I think.) [casey is just CLINGING to that optimism. a huge victory has just turned this boy onto his head; either that, or he recognizes that someone has to do it and the other occupants of the room are otherwise engaged.]

[Leonardo is watching the direction Raph carried their very enthusiastic scientifically inclined brother to.

He really hopes they can hide the rest of that case of energy drinks before he comes back in here. He really really hopes Donnie crashes and sleeps for a few hours before trying to do anything to him.]

You didn't really get to be around Donnie in the future much, did you.

(Things were a lot different when you guys were older,) [casey admits, also gazing at the back of the lab in apprehension. apparently he knows enough about donnie because he just. slides off of his stool and heads over to the case of monsters donnie left on his counter and takes them out of the lab.] (Help me find a place for these, Sensei?)

[Leonardo just sighs through his nose. Shakes his head gently - he still can tell there's something not quite resolved in his skull, even just that gentle action makes his vision strain. But he is so relieved that Casey figured out what he was hoping.

though.... Leo's eyes shoot back at Shelldon behind his head.]

Yo, Shelldon, can I trust you not to snitch?

(Uuuuhhhhhh kinda depends I guess?)

Cool, close enough. Come on.

[Leo starts having Shelldon float him out of the lab and down the hall. he's giving vague short directions to lead Casey, and hopefully not make it quite so obvious where they're going. But they end up at Splinter's room. It is, for the moment, thankfully empty while he's out talking to Big Mama.]

Not a lot of places Dee won't tear apart when he knows I'm hiding something from him. But under Pops' bed was the only place I could count on that he'd never look.

[casey is halfway under splinter's bed (and not commenting at all on the mess, since he has crawled through worse in his life, if barely) when another unholy shriek comes from donnie's lab that sounds suspiciously like, "MY MONSTERS"

casey wiggles out as quickly as possible at that] (They're really back there. Sensei, do we need to hide you also?)

[He almost winces at that - almost. The bed is not affording him much movement for even that. But he looks back toward the direction of the lab.]

No. Just go back out slowly and the same way we came from. I'll be fine.

Edited (when you write a tag after just waking up smdh) 2022-10-07 06:03 (UTC)

[despite the fact that shortly after they exit splinter's room (managing to grab some nearby comics to pretend to read as donnie goes tearing past with raphael trying to chase him down), casey looks positively delighted. he watches with interest over the top of his comic book as the duo disappears into the kitchen, a clash of pots and pans signaling their departure as raphael fusses and donatello rampages the entire way back to the lab.]

(...you guys are all so different, but you're still the same. It's kind of weird.)

[All right well. That just means they've diverted attention from them for now. It's only a matter of minutes before Donnie comes to ask them, and he hopes Casey can have a lying face. Or at least slightly-obfuscating-the-truth face. Something.]

...Yeah? You didn't really get to say a whole lot about them. [And the things he did say about Leo were words with a two ton weight hanging off them to place around Leo's neck. He isn't sure he wants to hear anything else about himself from the future, especially knowing that future is different than what they'll see now.]

[hahahahaha see the thing about deception is that it's pointless to learn when your enemies all just want to kill you on sight regardless. so no, casey does not have a lying face. or a single lying bone in his body. he can sneak hella good though.]

(Mm. My mom died when I was pretty young and I never knew my dad; I ended up being raised mostly by you guys and Commander O'Neil.) [casey turns a little of his attention to his comic book, enough to finally realize he's holding it upside-down and turn it right side up.] (You and Master Michelangelo most of all. Master Donatello was usually busy working and-) [he stops. glances at leo, unsure.]

[That's. Hm.

A confirmation of something he'd started to glean earlier. Raising (oh god don't say children, he's barely sixteen years old, he doesn't want to think about that-) someone is far, far at the end of his list of things he wants to think about.

But Casey hesitates. And given what he's said so far it's not that difficult to put the final piece in place.

Raph wasn't there. Casey hadn't said a single thing about Raphael since he showed up on their doorstep. It's not hard to figure out. When Casey does look at him, Leo's watching him, expression tired and drained and solemn. He knows.]

And Raph wasn't there. [He finishes, as kind as he can.]

[it feels terrible to bring this up now, when they're all safe and when master leonardo should be resting. it feels like it shouldn't be something that should come up at all, but all of a sudden casey wants to talk about it. about them, about who he grew up with, about the people who shaped him into who he is.

after all...they're gone now. in more ways than one.]

(I was too little when it happened.) [casey's voice is hushed, though neither raphael nor donatello are in sight. this is...a private moment. if anyone will understand him, it must be master leonardo, even if he's so much younger. right?] (I remember some things about him, though. How big he was. How if he picked you up, you felt invincible. Just feelings.) [casey lowers the comic book to his lap, gazing blankly down at it.] (And then, he was gone. People were always disappearing back then, but not- ...it was the first time it was someone I really knew.)

[Casey does wanna talk about this right now, and who is Leonardo to say no? It isn't as if he's going anywhere. So he listens. Tries to imagine that. Not just Raph taken where Leonardo and the others can get him back, but gone. Never to return. What would that be like? How devastated would they all be?

He thinks back to that first time Raphael was able to truly unlock his Ninpo, catching Leonardo so carefully after being thrown off the building. All the times their big brother saved their asses just by being himself.

Leonardo thinks something might permanently break if Raphael were truly forever gone. The anger he felt when the Krang simply took his brother would have been incandescent if Raphael were in a state he couldn't be brought back. But Casey doesn't remember what happened - who knows. Maybe the Krang did take Raphael. Maybe the worst did happen. They don't know what year Casey's actually from, but would he have been alive for when the Key was originally taken? Did he know all the details from his version of events? Likely not.

Where he lays on the Shelldon-cot, Leonardo's expression is tumultuous on its own journey before it settles into something like "tired". Too tired to give this the consideration it deserves.]

Well. You don't have to deal with stuff like that anymore. You're here now. Gotta be better than there, right?

Edited ("hoe" no you are not leo) 2022-10-10 11:55 (UTC)

(It is, so much better. Thanks to all of you.) [Casey looks back up in time to catch Raphael quizzically carrying a very drowsy Donatello into the room from the kitchen. "He burned through that thing like nitro fuel," Raph notes to Leo in amused disbelief, hefting Donatello up higher into his arms on his way to the bedroom when he grumbles something about revenge grmb grmml bionics.

Casey laughs quietly to himself as they disappear around the corner, but his voice is curiously thick as he continues,] (I don't even know how to say how relieved I am, but they're still...gone forever.) [His breath hitches as he reaches out and rests a hand blindly on Leo's arm, seeking comfort but trying not to hurt.] (I'm so glad you're all alive but the turtles who I grew up with, my mom, Commander April...my Sensei. I'll never see them again. They'll never even exist.)

[Everyone survived, but he's grieving all the same.]

[Leonardo is losing his mind not being able to move or do anything. His natural instinct when someone needs comfort is to hug. To drape, to sprawl across someone until he can smother whatever shitty feelings someone has dissipates. Raph's good at big hugs and emotional speeches, Leonardo's good at just being ....

Well.

Charismatic, usually. But that's debatable these days.

There's a relief in his nerves that it looks like Donatello might finally get some sleep. And he'll catch up with Raph later. But right now, Casey needs him.

(When will he get his own chance to break a little? Probably not until everyone's finally resting and he can just take himself to his own room. He'll figure out a time later. For now everyone needs him to be okay. He's starting to understand that pressure Raphael was under. Just a little, even if it's different.)]

Yeah... [Then, more sure:] Yeah. I know we're not the same thing, but. They're still with you. You've got your memories and feelings for them, so. You're not alone, Casey.

[And if nothing else? Leonardo means that.]

I know. [Casey spares Leo a small smile, strange, like he doesn't quite know how to wear one properly anymore. He doesn't know what it's like to be happy without terror still hanging over his head, and it's kind of mixing things up. He's not sure how to actually feel.] ...is it okay if I still call you Sensei?

[Wait hold on, his thoughts stop in their tracks.]

Um. Up to you?

[Honestly after everything he's a little nervous about that? But if that's what Casey's comfortable calling him, then...]

[That's definitely Master Leonardo's unsure face, so maybe Casey should try-] Um, Leo- [NOPE] No I'm sorry, I can't do it Sensei. That was weird. I can't.

[That was almost weird but man Casey didn't even last two seconds.

He's making this weird. Leonardo is actively making this weird. He manages to squirm on the Shell-cot enough to rub at his face before the strap across his shoulders dig in a little too much. Ultimately he settles for just resting his head back and making an attempt to relax (he doesn't, though. It's too much for him to relax just yet).]

It's fine. Don't worry about it.

Sorry. [Casey does at least seem genuinely regretful, fiddling with the already dog-eared page of the comic book in his lap.] I'll work on it. Maybe eventually...mm. [But, he kind of doesn't want to, anyway?]

Seriously, it's fine.

[Like they're never gonna call their dad Yoshi Hamato or Lou Jitsu, he's just... Splinter or Pops. Just the way it is, and if Casey's not into calling Leo by his name and more comfortable using Sensei then he's not about to change that.

But it seems like whatever was going on with Raph and Donnie has settled down, so he lifts his head to look back at Shelldon and then back to Casey.]

Look, uh. If it's all the same, I think thisi s gonna be the best chance I get to get some sleep before everyone's back. So. You should probably do the same while you can.

Right. Yeah, of course, I...yeah. [NOT TIRED IN THE LEAST. But as usual, Master Leonardo thinking of others and suggesting very reasonable things, no matter how much Casey doesn't want to do them and just bask in the idea of his family being whole, if not entirely hale.

Stands, carefully placing the comic back atop the stack and hesitating for a moment before carefully folding himself over Leonardo in a hug, gentle if only because he doesn't want to hurt him, and not because of unfamiliarity. Leo could probably use this, right? Sensei was always the strong one, constantly reassuring others, but he also always returned Casey's hugs with an almost desperate fervor as if he'd needed them just as badly as Casey did.] I'm glad you're going to be okay, Master. So glad. [Because he will. Master Donatello is on it; Leonardo can't be anything but.]

[Sensei who always took the time to listen. Sensei who knew that mixed or uncared for emotions could get in the way of a mission, could cost lives or the war. Sensei who always made sure everyone was taken care of first, because an unfed fighter was a hazard, a soldier running on an hour of sleep is a liability. Sensei who knew that someone distracted by their problems off the battlefield would have trouble focusing and remembering his plan details. So Sensei did what he could, and if that seemed like being in the moment caring from the outside... Well, maybe he was a little.

But Leonardo here in New York City who just wants to break down alone. Leonardo who wants to turn off the lights in his car-room for the first time in years and just let go for a little bit. And he can't do that if he has a Casey Jr. shaped shadow hanging on his every word.

The hug catches him off guard, though. It makes sense, everyone else except April had gotten one in, of course Casey would want in on that. He gives great hugs... when his arms are not literally strapped to a metal flying sentient cot. His hugs are amazing, second only to Dad and even (maybe a little ahead hoho) with Raph.

So if he sounds choked up, well. Maybe he is a little.]

Y-yeah. I am too, Casey.

[And with that, Casey leaves him to his breakdowns with a gentle squeeze and a knowing smile.
___________
Later that night, Donnie lets himself into Leo's room without so much as a knock. It's better if he's sleeping anyway; he needs his rest, and Donnie's just here to check his vitals. Even though Sheldon can do that. Remotely, and then transmit the results to Donnie's wrist computer so he doesn't even have to move from where he is.

As quietly as he can, he pulls a milk crate over to the cot and sits down next to it. He's typing softly at his wrist computer, display dimmed to the lowest setting and the usual "beep boop" sounds of data input silenced. He's probably going over Leo's vitals, maybe taking a scan or two. Or six. Maybe he's just reviewing his work, over and over, while watching his brother to make sure he keeps breathing.]

Edited 2022-10-25 03:24 (UTC)

[He did finally fall asleep. It took a bit, some actual conscious effort to let his mind stop running, and a promise to himself that he'll do all the front loading sleep now and be back on his normal (nonexistent) schedule after so he can keep watch on everyone else. It's blissfully quiet now, no one fretting over him or trying to get him to talk about it because god no.

It's fitful, though. The occasional twitching of a finger, the turn of his head in his sleep. Around test five is when the results spike up; pinned and he can't get up, he's trying to get up but he's stuck, and the wind is knocked out of him, why can't he just get up, he can't breathe because of the pressure pinning him down and he can't shout-

He jerks awake, trying to sit up and can't because Shelldon's keeping him secure - that whole 'no moving' thing quite serious really - so he's left to quickly get his bearings. His eyes shift around quickly to figure out where he is, what's happening, what he needs to do.]

[Of course Donnie was watching, wondering if he should wake Leo or let him sleep, when he startled out of the nightmare himself, panting and shivering.

He watches for a moment longer, before turning on the crate to rest his hand atop of Leo's and go back to the display on his computer, reading. They don't need to talk about it. He doesn't need to, and Leo doesn't want to.

Maybe this is what compelled him to come in here. Maybe somehow Donnie could tell (not that he prescribes to this woo woo science "twin" telepathy nonsense) that even if Leo wants to be left alone, he doesn't want to be alone.]

[His skin jolts at the touch but he turns his head to look at his brother. A sort of unspoken understanding there and Leonardo settles.

It goes like that for a while, a few nights. Sometimes it's just the Krang, sometimes it's a fully converted Krang-Raph piloting that stupid mech suit, sometimes it's all three Krang, sometimes it's his brothers. But he keeps waking himself up in the same manner, wordless and shaken.

One of those nights he's staring at the ceiling (can't hold comics, can't hold his phone, grip too tired still to hold a tablet) and laying quietly.]

How much longer, Dee?

[They're spending most nights in Leo's car now; Donnie's even taken to sleeping on Leo's bed as he needs to remain on the cot, though he did drag in his own soft blankets to make a sort of piled-up nest in which he bundles himself to read next to Leo nightly. They don't discuss the nightmares, they never do (and never will), but he can't let Leo wake up from those alone.

Mikey would dote. Raph would fret. And their father would pile the guilt onto Leo, with just having witnessed his son in pain. Don, he can accept his brother having nightmares as a matter of course, and just exist there as confirmation, readily available, that it wasn't real.]

Tomorrow morning, [Don says from within his blanket pile, snuggled up in a hoodie as he reviews for the eighth time the procedure with explanatory diagrams on his tablet.] The last tools I need will be here as soon as April brings them. Cleanroom's converted, I have everything else. We're both as prepared as we're going to get. [Glances at Leo over his tablet.] No eating or drinking from here out. You can have water when you wake up after the procedure.

Edited 2022-10-25 04:10 (UTC)

[He nods at the bit of instruction, the reminder, with eyes still fixed on the ceiling of his car.] Good. [His voice is cracked at the edges, threatening to shatter if he thinks about it a little too hard.] I'm ready to be fixed.

[Because that will do it, right? Don fixing him, physically healing will solve the rest, won't it? It has to. It's the worst any of them have ever been injured, so someone has to get the experience and be a test subject, he guesses. And as great as the pampering and waiting on was the first day, Leonardo is internally screaming to be able to do things on his own again. To make his own food, use his own phone, get his own damn cup from the cupboard.

His vision traces the lines of the car's metal seams. He's just about got every single dent and ding in the ceiling memorized now. But he keeps his voice low:] Sick of this.

[Don hums, noncommittal. Soft taps of his fingertip against the tablet as he restarts the tutorial.]

Being stationary, or being scared?

Does it matter?

No.

[Tap. Tap, tap.] Mikey would say yes. Probably.

.... Then let's say both. Yes.

[Tap tap. ...tap.

Donnie heaves a sigh before lowering the tablet to his bundled lap, staring down at it. He rubs the back of his neck (Leo), fiddles with the edge seam of his sleeve (Raph), rubs his toes together beneath the blankets (Mikey). An amalgamation of his brothers' tics, his own likely entrenched in theirs. All an equal part of each other.]

I'm not trying to make this about me, [he starts uncertainly, because that's a thing he does apparently. Not on purpose -not usually on purpose, but he doesn't know how else to impress upon his family that he gets it other than with experiential evidence. With proof.] And I don't know what it's like to do what you did, to make that decision. I couldn't. It's unfathomable.

[Buffs at a scuff on the tablet's casing with the hem of his hoodie.] I can't fix everything. But I don't want you to be afraid of tomorrow. Because I'm going to use every iota of my very considerable genius to fix what I can so flawlessly, so completely, that you will heal as quickly and painlessly as is possible. You'll be back to normal, you'll be free to walk and run and dance and whatever other urge occurs to you at the witching hours when we're supposed to be sleeping.

Everything else, [lifts tablet to gesture before lowering it back to his lap.] I don't know. Short of recreating the F.A.B. incident to keep us literally attached at the hip for the next twenty years, I don't know how to fix any of it. I just...don't want you to be afraid of anything I can control.

Thanks. I'm not afraid of that. I- I trust you.

[Honest is difficult. It is so difficult. But he's had a little too much time to reflect on himself, on what happened. What it could mean.

There is something that's been on his mind the last day or so. An inkling of an idea of a thought that's been slowly growing like mold in the back of his mind, festering and creeping into every other thought he's been able to have.]

I just... What if. What if there's something out there worse than the Krang?

We thought petty criminals were the worst, then there was Shredder. Then we thought Shredder was the worst, and then there was the Krang. What if - What if there's more.

[He swallows nervously, already a problem given how dry his mouth is.] What if I make another bad call like that? [The subway.] What if we have to make even worse choices?

Edited (FIRST LETTER GONE... NO... it would have haunted me) 2022-10-25 15:57 (UTC)

[Donnie tilts his head, frowning. He traces the edges of the tablet, the smooth corners.]

There's always going to be more. That's natural law. [Lifts a hand to show an upward trend, then flat-] Growth, plateau, decay. -[and then decline, a slope down.] Plus cause and effect. For example: the Shredder made us realize we needed to be better. We improved, we succeeded. The Kraang almost took some of us. But it didn't, so we succeeded. We improve again. [He twirls his finger to gesture around the lair, to indicate "all encompassing" for his vision.] I already have ideas on how to improve the lair security to make sure break-ins are even more difficult because of how easily they got in.

-but I know there will be. [Taps his fingers nervously along the edge of the tablet.] There will be...psychological ramifications to deal with. I know not everyone can dissect and address those concerns. For me, it helps to put things into context of natural laws that cannot be changed, because then you can just. [Swerves his hand around his leg, like a vehicle avoiding an obstacle.] -work around them.

I don't think what you're concerned about is dumb, or wrong. But they are certainties and there's no way to avoid them. The only option we have is to improve.

[Leonardo listens, his eyes watching Donnie for a moment. But by the time he finishes, Leo's eyes are fixed firmly at the ceiling again, hands gripped into tight fists at his side on the Shellcot.

A certainty that there will be something worse than the Krang at some point in their future. He hates this. He hates it with almost everything he has. And the fact that ,as long as their dad says he's the leader, he'll have to continue making decisions he hates.

He didn't ask for this.

He never wants to see his brothers taken, or hurt, or go through anything like that again. His father and April count on him now. And Casey keeps looking up to him to fill that void of whatever future-him is like. So Leo will have to... do whatever he can to make sure no one gets hurt in the future.]

Thanks, Dee.

[What else could he possibly say to that?]

[Donatello's no fool. He might be...somewhat emotionally stunted (a lot), but he knows that didn't help. Acknowledging the reality of the situation and resolving to many sleepless nights building contingency after contingency helps him, but it didn't help Leo. Leo feels worse.

A change in approach is in order. Should he try to comfort his brother the way Leo would comfort them? Would that help him?] -what's a ninja's greatest weapon?

[The question jolts him out of his thoughts, rolling his head over to look at him tiredly.

That question, huh? He huffs out a little breathless sound.]

Hope.

So what do you hope happens? [Puts tablet aside, waves hand nonchalantly.] Even if it's ludicrous.

I hope that I'm fixed, we pick up and move on, and never have to deal with anything that earth shatteringly threatening ever again. Go back to petty criminals like Hypno and that stupid worm guy. April goes back to her classes and doesn't get kicked out for whatever that stuff was she got [she wouldn't shut up about that investigation for months leading up to it and then she shows up with near-explosives in her bag? Yeah, nah.] Mikey can train on mystic stuff with Draxum and see if those marks on his arms can be healed, Raph makes a full recovery and full sight back, and you - I dunno, you can make a new super computer with that big brain and what you got to do.

Okay. And which of those are completely out of reach, never gonna happen, not even remotely possible?

All of them if we get stuck fighting even worse baddies.

I didn't set conditions, I asked which outcomes are impossible! [POINTS AT] Stop trying to skew the results with hypotheticals. You said you hope those things all happen. Coincidentally, so do I, and so do our brothers and the rest of our family. Now, which if those are completely impossible to achieve?

According to you, going back to petty criminals apparently.

[He's frustrated. He's in pain, and he's sick of nightmares and being worried and scared, and he still hasn't actually talked to any of them about what happened. And has no real plans to as of now. He can already feel the muscles in his neck and shoulders stiffening worse from being stuck like this for days on end. He's just tired.]

What I really want? What I really want is for none of this to have happened. So I hope we can figure something out to change that.

We technically already tried that. And apparently the effort to send Casey back to our time killed the Mikey of the future.

[Yeah. You can bet he went to Casey and wrenched the entire story out of him during this preparation time. Having that many unknowns makes him uncomfortable, and if there was any future knowledge that could help him figure out how best to repair, recover, and support his family, he would take it no matter how hard it was to hear.

His own death was...well. It was at least suitably dramatic.]

So, that's off the table because the cost is too high. But everything else? Doable. [Leans forward and if he'd looked or sounded irritated before, that was just his face, his voice. Donnie's brow is set with determination, and his eyes are lit with confidence. Whatever plagued him previously, when he'd cried while staring up at the x-rays of his brother's fractured skeleton, his internal bruises, at what he'd suffered for his sacrifice...Donnie's come to terms with it, at least.

If he has to drag Leo kicking and screaming to that same goalpost, he will. If he has to suffer these emotional talks for weeks or months or until the end of time, he will. If he has to be the one to pull the hope card sometimes, he will. Mikey is the baby. Raph deserves the rest. If Leo's hurt or in danger or troubled, Donnie will readily accept the unspoken second-in-command role and either prop Leo back up, or cover him until he can do it himself.

Coming to terms with that reality? Wasn't nearly so difficult.] If I can come up with a way to deliver an atom bomb to the prison dimension to nuke the everloving newtons out of the Krang, you better believe you'll get first dibs on pressing that button. And if Dad ever lifts the uranium ban, I'll make us a gigantic mech suit so undeniably killtastic that we won't even have to throw a punch to win the next Krang-y fight.

The point is, if something big comes for us again? You aren't alone. If you don't think you can do it, you get Raph, or you get me. You can even get Mikey, he'll be insulted if you don't. Just because you're the leader or because you're the plan guy doesn't mean it's just you. We tore open spacetime to prove that! Okay so Mikey did, me and Raph just helped.

[It's rare that Donatello gives these kinds of speeches. Even rarer that there's this much emotion behind them, something he's feeling particularly strongly about. It's good to hear. Even if Leo may not be in the right mindset to hear it, to accept it. Some part of him is still stuck in that dimension, floating in the dark having not made it back out with the rest of him.

But he listens.

A ninja's greatest weapon, huh.

Hope doesn't make the panic stop. Hope doesn't stop the way his nerves freeze when he hears metal clanging against solid foundation. It doesn't stop the way that, when it's deathly quiet at night and he's the only one awake, he can still hear his brothers pleading for him to find another way.

Had their father ever intended for things to turn out like this? When he started letting them learn ninjutsu, is this what he'd had in mind? For them to be heroes saving the world from otherworldly beings when they're just sixteen?

But Donnie is trying. He's trying so hard.

He can't lift his arm properly for a fist bump or a forearm tap, but he can just lift his fist enough to show what he wants, watching Donnie quietly. An offer. An almost promise for the time being. He'll try.]

[And he'll never admit it or talk about it in a hundred thousand years, but Leo lifting his fist for a bump makes something huge and warm swell up in his chest, overtake his organs, his muscles, his bones. He doesn't feel things of course, and he'll maintain that until his dying breath ~~or until he finally gets some therapy tailored specifically for people on the spectrum~~, but this...

He lifts his own fist to tap it against Leo's. It's okay if Leo's not okay yet- not that it's okay that Leo's not okay, but it's okay if Leo isn't ready to be okay too. Leo heard what Donnie was trying to say, with too many words and not enough kindness, probably, in his tone. Mikey can sit there and sob and hold onto people and they can feel it seeping in through their skin, and Raph just has a way of speaking that's so sincere, so clear, that it's as if he's cracked open your chest to speak directly into your heart, but Donnie-

Well, when Donnie talks it usually doesn't work out well. Not that it stops him, it's just-

Refocus. Leo's not okay but he's willing to try. He's willing to let Donnie handle things while he's not okay. He understood that all of that was Donnie saying, I'll handle things, and I'll help you make sure we're okay, and I love you.]

Welp. That's enough brush-up, I think. [Donnie tosses his tablet onto one of Leo's shelves and slaps his knees.] Give me a second and I'll put together a rig with a widescreen on your ceiling so we can play Mariokart. [Also useful, since Leo's going to have to be generally stationary after the surgery, too.

And he really did mean it about a second or so, because within minutes Donatello and his robotic arms have assembled a complex framing apparatus that suspends a TV not directly facing down, but such so that Leo doesn't have to crane his neck or try to look down in order to have a perfect view. Donnie passes over a controller as he sets up Mariokart, so they can play and have fun and be ready for tomorrow, a day which might change everything.]

[Something else Leo will never admit is how fucking cool it is sometimes that Donnie can just... do stuff like this. He'll try for this. Holding the controller is only a little awkward, but he can act like he wants to win.

Gradually, the night does slip by. And eventually the early morning noises of their older brother doing rounds of the lair creep over the noise of their game. Then it's dad getting up to make tea, followed by Mikey's loud characteristic yawn as he goes to start breakfast.

Leo looks over at Donnie, a little scared but more resolute.]

Just about time, then.

That it is. [Donnie flexes his fingers, just slightly. They'd stopped intermittently; it wouldn't do to tire his hands out when he has to perform such delicate work. To be honest he should've tried to sleep, but there was no way he could. He doesn't even feel tired, or scared, or even hopeful.

Just...buzzy.] Sheldon, can you prep Leo?

You got it, Donnie! [The belts that have been stabilizing Leo for the entire preparation period finally unclasp and retract, robotic arms much like the ones in Donnie's battleshell extending instead.] C'mon Leo, time to get cleaned up and cut open!

Laparoscopic, [Donnie corrects as Sheldon floats Leo out of the room.]

[Soon as the straps retract, he has to fight the urge to sit up, to move after this long. He can tell he's going to have to take his time when it's all over to get the muscles back in shape. Just to get his neck loosened up again alone will be a lot.]

Really, really do not like how you said that, Shelldon. [Just grumbling the whole way to being cleaned up.]

[Shelldon whirs gently as he navigates the gurney around the lair, approaching and passing the kitchen where their family is congregating for their morning rituals.] C'mon bro, lighten up! Aren't you glad to finally be fixed?

Yeah, but there are way better ways to say that than 'get cut open'.

Never thought you'd be a stickler for semantics, [Shelldon chuckles as he hovers them into Donnie's lab and the pop-up hallway outside of his newly refurbished clean room. The hallway is just large enough for the gurney and a few shelves to fit in and Shelldon seals the door before the hallway is flooded with a cool mist.]

Okay dokay, stand up real careful, Leon! Here, I'll help. [The little robotic arms come out to form guardrails around Leo himself, to help guide him slowly to his feet.] Gotta get this solution all over ya for optimum cleanery.

I am when it comes to literally cutting me open.

[Just like he doesn't want to hear 'almost died' in relation to his survival. As far as he's concerned, he's unkillable since the krang didn't do it. Way better perspective to look at it.

The Shellcot tilting just slight so Leo can get to his feet even easier is helpful. But it's a similar sensation one has of walking or running on a treadmill for a while and then trying to walk on regular floor again - it feels off, like trying to learn to walk again after several days of barely moving and being floated around everywhere. Unhelpful is the reminder that everything is sore and nothing is fully healed yet.

He clutches to the guard rails after trying to take a step. He's glad his family isn't seeing this right this second, it's embarrassing considering his everything usually. He lowers his voice though.]

Thanks, Shelldon.

No problemo, dude. [Shelldon doesn't really have a lot of options for his voice aside from 'aggressively surfer' since Donnie never deemed it worthwhile to change his voice back when he'd fixed the programming issues, but maybe -maybe- his little robotic tone softened a bit.

Two more robotic arms appear; one with a soft sponge and one with a spray bottle, which it uses to soak the sponge liberally before the arm with the sponge begins to wipe ever so gently at Leo's shell, careful of the patchwork.] No offense bro but I'm glad I don't have an olfactory function. You probably reek right now.

Yeah, I've been trying real hard not to think too much about that.

[His family has been great, but he's not an idiot. He'll play the fool all he has to (to make sure plans actually work, to make himself less of a target because as long as he's there, he can portal them all out, to cheer his family up, to boost his own confidence when he has to) but an actual fool Leonardo is not.

While normally a good shell scrub feels great, the rubbing with his back problem is a low-grade throbbing agony. He grips the guard rails tighter to just. Get this over with.]

[Shelldon, either unconcerned with or unaffected by Leo's discomfort, just proceeds with his task until complete. No muss, no fuss! Aren't robots great?

Just then, however, a tap tap tap on the outer canvas of the pop-up hallway precedes Mikey calling plaintively as if he's trying to reach Leo through a brick wall or a bad phone connection.] LEO! WE'RE ALL GONNA BE OUT HERE IN GERM LAND TO SUPPORT YOU! WE ALL LOVE YOU VERY MUCH BUT I LOVE YOU THE MOST!!

[He freezes when he hears it. Creakingly turns his head to look that direction and try to smile.]

Thanks, Mikey, I know I can always count on you.

Edited 2022-11-02 04:37 (UTC)

I WILL COOK YOUR FAVORITE DIN- [Mikey gives an indignant squawk when he's cut off by a very large hulking figure whose shadow dwarfs the side of the sanitization tent.]

Leo, just relax. We're all gonna be right here, so we'll see you when you wake up, yeah? [Raph's voice is casual, calm. Very, very calm, carefully so. The conviction is there, the I'm the biggest brother and I'm promising you that you'll be okay, but he's also trying to mask his own anxiety about one of his brothers undergoing surgery for the first time.]

[As much as he appreciates (and desperately craves) the support, as much as it helps... It is the worst thing right now. Somehow this would have been easier if he and Donnie could've just gone in and started without an audience. No, now he has to put on a brave face, act like he isn't high-key terrified.

He grips the guard rail a little tighter, now looking at the door ahead of him while Shelldon finishes.]

Thanks. I'll make sure not to keep everyone waiting. [There's some of that Grade A Leonardo Charm.]

[And with that, Raphael at least seems a little relieved. He carries Mikey away as the littlest brother calls out to Leo all the dishes he'll make and all the drawings he's going to give him and I love you Leo! I can't wait until we can skate and wrestle and go topside again! MWAH! I LOVE YOU!

Shelldon finishes cleaning Leo up with little fanfare. When Leo turns back to the gurney, in place of the bedding there's a waterproof cover over the padding of the cot, the sheets and pillows gone. The cushioning on the cot is still curved to account for Leo's shell, but he'll more or less be laying flat.]

Showtime, dude.

[Once Leo is situated, Shellcot floats out of the hallway with its settling mist and into a tented operating room fashioned from Donnie's old cleanroom corner. Over by the table Donnie has a smock, mask, and gloves already on, his goggles down over his eyes as he messes with some equipment. Surprisingly, also in the room is Casey, likewise scrubbed up and waiting over by the hanging IV pole.]

Finished? Great. Over here, Shelldon, and lock yourself down once you're docked. [Donnie gestures to what looks like half of a forklift, which Shelldon carefully navigates the gurney into before settling with a firm CLANK.] Monitoring vitals and prepping anesthetic! Everything looks good, my bros. Heart rate's kinda high.

[Seeing Donnie like that, it bubbles up a nervous kind of laugh from deep in his throat. It's like they're kids trying different costumes. If he squints a little, it isn't so serious. Until he hears the clank and his nerves jolt for a brief moment.

He's terrified. He's so scared of this and of course Casey's here so he can't even be honest about it. He shoots Donnie a glance before trying to settle still again.]

Yeah, I'm gonna say that's normal.

[He is still the worst patient.]

[It's weird, because Donnie kind of feels the same way. Not a kid, maybe, not for a while, but in a costume?

He straightens the few surgical tools he'll be using, for the tenth time. He still doesn't look over at Leo.]

Not normal, but it's cool! You're probably just freaking out.

[The slant of Casey's brow is sympathetic, even as he reaches for Leo's wrist to turn his arm over and expose his inner elbow.] Sensei, we'll be right here. Can you straighten your arm out?

I am not freaking out-

[His arm goes rigid stiff when Casey reaches for it. He doesn't even want to turn it over until he hears his voice. Leo forces a heavy swallow of whatever had started to pool under his tongue and carefully follows the motion with careful motions, clearly methodical and not at all with his usual fluidity.

So he's freaking out a little bit. This is happening... now. Like now now. No more "when Donnie finishes building thing" or "after Pops comes back with the supplies", definitely an end to the thought "it'll be after we finished prepping". This is it. They're ready and Leonardo is not.

He feels sick. He feels like he's going to vomit at some point in his future.]

Y-yeah.

...Hey, Donnie? [He waits for a second to see if he'll respond. Either way-] You got this. I trust you.

[Looks over at Leo in surprise. Does he think...or maybe it's not about Donnie at all?

Casey looks up at Donnie over Leo, and Donnie nods towards the hallway. Clear out for a second. Thankfully Casey seems to pick up on it because he lets go of Leo's wrist and sets the IV needle back down on the surgical tray, heading over to the sanitization hallway and closing the flap behind himself.

Donnie resigns himself to scrubbing in all over again as he strips his gloves and drags a stool over to sit next to Leo, not pulling his mask down but taking his brother's hand after a moment.]

I'm not worried. You're afraid, though. Scientifically speaking, lying about it won't make you less afraid.

[He hadn't really expected Donnie to stop and come over. Just expected a noncommittal response noise and them going on with it.]

...It's not lying to say I trust you.

[He does. Every bit of trust is flowing through their ninpo whether anyone else is keyed into it currently or not. And if he tells himself that Donnie's got it and really believe that (he does), then he can get over his own nerves. Just. A few hours, maybe half a day if that and done. That's it. That's all it is. That's all and then he's fixed and things can start going back to normal. They've been in limbo a week too long.]

[Waves his free hand. Obviously Leo trusts him, they've been over this.] I meant you saying you aren't freaking out. You are. Your heart rate is up and your palms are clammy. Anesthetic might make you nauseous so it would be best for the procedure and recovery if you can calm down.

[At the mention of his palms, he'll just take his hand back, fold them anxiously together for a second. Then lay his arms at his sides again. All nervous energy, this adhd king.]

I'd love to try to calm down, but you're right. I'm freaking out right now. It's the first time any of us have had to do this. So I think I'm allowed a little freaking out. I'm already nauseous anyway.

[Looks around for something Leo can fiddle with before settling on a spare surgical sponge, shoving it into his hands so he stops picking at his nails.]

Literally none of that is a point in favor of just letting you freak out.

[oh- he takes the sponge shoved into his hands and just. Holds it for a second before starting to fiddle.]

So what then? Because this has to get done, sooner the better.

I agree, but. [S I G H.] Shut up ahead of time.

Michael gave me. [ugh] Coaching. Lessons. [uuugghhh] To "improve my bedside manner."

[The natural brother instinct to laugh is something he has to fight down. So instead he bites down on his lip and just lays there watching his brother.]

Oh-Okay. Sure. Go for it.

[GLARES SUSPICIOUSLY. literally never in their lives has 'shut up ahead of time' worked, ever, even once. surely there cannot be that much trauma to overcome leo's compulsion to make fun of donnie when donnie is being awkward, surely he must be backloading the ridicule.]

...and part of that coaching, [PAUSES TO EYEBALL AGAIN. he doesn't trust this or you, leonardo] was to. Y'know, [gestures in a circle, like, carry on] check in with the patient. Both prior to and afterwards. ...emotionally, check in.

Okay...

[He's quiet, just feeling the different divots and porous holes in the sponge. It's not a bad feeling, it's enough to keep his hands occupied. But he also figures he probably shouldn't make fun of the guy about to go into his spine and do some delicate surgery to hopefully make sure he can still like. Move.]

Okay. [A little exhale. Just... thinking.] We talked about a lot of it last night? Not sure what else there is to say here. It's a big deal, first time any of us have had to have serious medical stuff, and I'm. Just. Really nervous about it.

That's a natural reaction, or so I've read.

[Donnie relaxes just a bit when it looks like Leo really isn't going to jump right into mockery. It's not his usual vibe, not their usual vibe, but their vibe hasn't been 'usual' for days now. Maybe their usual vibe has even changed from what it was. Donnie's not sure he likes it, but then again he doesn't like anything when his footing is unsure.]

What specifically are you nervous about regarding the procedure?

None of us have had something like this. What if it goes wrong? What if your hand slips [Doubtful.] or it's waaaaay worse in there than you thought it was gonna be [Also doubtful.], or something else happens-

[Oh.

That's... it. There's a clear realization on his face as it hits him. It's because he's not in control here. This isn't something he can plan and manipulate the field to what he wants. He is entirely at the mercy of someone else for his health and medical need. He's going to be out in medically induced sleep and won't be able to even see what's happening, let alone be part of it or be able to take charge when he needs to, and that's really it.

He sighs, slumping a bit where he's laying.]

This isn't really something that can be fixed with talking. Just - knock me out, let's go.

About time. [Donnie stands up. Leo's not wrong, and Donnie's of the mind that nothing is fixed with talking. So many times he'd had to just put himself out there- fuck it, it's not working and he's tired of trying Mikey's playbook because he feels guilty or because Mikey looks at him with his big stupid doe eyes. Enough. If there's anything else that needs to be done, Donnie's just going to hide around the corner and tranq his stupid brother instead of dealing with this bedside manner bullshit.]

"What if your hand slips," of all the nerve, [Donnie huffs off to scrub in anew, tossing the flap of the sanitization hallway aside and pointing back at Leo to the somewhat-guilty-looking-Casey who was very clearly trying to eavesdrop.] Did you hear that? Knock the man out.

[Casey comes back in a little timid but watching them both before deciding Donnie in this state is probably worth being cautiously afraid of. Leonardo, for his part, is just watching his brother huff at a single low percentage possibility of an outcome.]

I said before to just do it and you wanted to talk!

[Even Casey winces a little as he starts to fit the syringe into Leo's arm, where Donnie showed him the best place to find a vein would be. He almost seems relieved when Leo reacts more to that than whatever Donnie's saying.]

[Yells out the flap, scrubbing up to his elbows] You can't give anesthesia to someone having a panic attack, idiot! I was trying to help your stupid ass!

[From somewhere outside the tent Raph shouts LANGUAGE!! and Casey just bites his lip as he inserts the IV and connects the saline bag, accepting the additional syringe from Shelldon and inserting it into the administration port.]

[Wait is that what was happening? Was he having a panic attack? He couldn't even tell. He's still watching where Donnie went to as Casey gets that second syringe going.

Even if he was, it'll be fine. They'll fix all this, and then he'll be fixed, and it'll be fine. Just a few hours. He can make it a few hours, he thinks even as the darkness creeps in.]

Count backwards from twenty, okay Sensei? [Casey's there at least, leaning over Leo with a surgical mask and a hairnet, brows crumpled together in concern. It had kind of looked like a panic attack, or maybe a start of that dangerous spiral, but maybe Donatello was projecting.

Maybe.

Casey turns to say something to Donatello over his shoulder, but it's been more than twenty seconds, and Donatello's coming back over with his hands aloft, and the room goes very dark and very, very quiet.]

-----

[The procedure concludes. Donatello stays behind to clean up, but Casey can see how he's gulping and sweating so he just gives him privacy, follows alongside the Shellcot to move Leonardo into a separate sterile recovery room, close enough to the lab to deal with any emergencies but not in that disturbing surgical tent.

Casey pulls up a chair and monitors the saline drip, hangs it carefully back up next to Leonardo's bed once they're stationary again. Everything really had gone incredibly smoothly. Casey had seen Donatello work on intricate things before, but he still couldn't help by be impressed by how confident he'd seemed as he guided the tools into his brother through the tiniest of cuts and just...fixed pieces of his spine.

For the fourth time, Casey gets up just to check that the sanitary bandage is still firmly in place over the surgical site underneath Leo's arm but above he ridge of his shell. It is.

Infection, Casey knows from experience, is now the thing to be concerned about. That, and keeping Leo still and comfortable while he recovers. Infection is the bigger concern considering where they are, though.]

...you'll be okay, Master, [Casey whispers, for his own benefit. In an hour or so he'll be relieved by Mikey or Raph, then another, then Splinter, probably April, maybe eventually Donnie as they cycle through family members to keep vigil over Leo, to watch his vitals and change his saline drip, ready to reassure him that finally, hopefully, god-willing they can start to get over everything that happened.]

[He was just blinking. Just a quick blink and when they open again, the world's changed around him. A different room, a different feeling going on. Hard to pin if it's an ache and soreness, or just something Different.

But Leo's eyes blink slowly again, this time keeping the same surroundings. That's enough for him to try and sit up. And then it's very clear that it is, in fact, all aches and soreness. He goes back down with a noise in his throat that sounds distant and foreign to his own ears.

Only after that pitiful attempt does he even notice someone next to him.]

...Case?

[Thankfully Leo is already settling back down after that awful pain-filled croak, so Casey doesn't have to find a gentle way to push him back down. Instead he just settles a hand on Leo's shoulder, a smile curling the corner of his mouth.]

Master! You woke up sooner than we expected. [He half-turns to adjust a valve on the IV drip] Hold on, I'll see if Master Donatello's awake.

[He isn't exactly in the best position to say anything else.]

Sooner? How long's it been? [He does settle like that, watching Casey and following his eyes to the IV drip.]

It's been about a day since the first time you woke up. [hopefully leo knew that, that he woke up once already, and hopefully that does not come as a shock as casey is generously increasing the morphine now that leo is AWAKE awake]

A day...

[He really doesn't remember, if he's honest. Not so immediately. He might later, after his brain can catch up to the situation.]

How'd it go?

The procedure? Just fine. [Casey sits back down instead of going to find Donatello. Maybe Leonardo just needs some quiet first, some time to organize himself before dealing with his family's worry or Donatello's snappish care.] You probably don't remember but we talked a little about it before. There weren't any complications, and so far no sign of infection.

We weren't sure how much rest you'd need, but you passed out after like fifteen minutes and you've barely made a peep since then, until now. Maybe you just really need the sleep.

[He absolutely needs the little bit of time first. He loves his family, but Casey's easier. Sure he knows Casey but Casey is still in that perfect position of "familiar but still at a distance" territory that makes it easier to be a mess in front of.

Hearing that he's been out for that long though gets a groan out of him. annoyed at himself mostly.]

So it's... what, Friday now? Jeeeez. No one needs sleep that much except Pops. I can't be getting old. I'm too young to get old.

Everyone gets old [hopefully], but I don't think you're there yet. [Casey relaxes a bit though, shoulders falling ever so slightly. That's Leo's usual bluff and bluster, but it...doesn't sound as desperate? Maybe? Maybe Casey's just hopeful, just projecting.] The incision for the procedure already closed. You're probably really sore, but otherwise how do you feel?

[Stares up at the ceiling.]

Like I got dropped off a building and then thrown around against a bunch of space ship walls?

[A normal answer, and as honest as he can allow himself to be right now at least with Casey. It's not that he doesn't like Casey - like the guy, great kid - but right now he just... Honestly wishes it were dad or Donnie in here. Dad because he'll just talk and Leo doesn't have to, and Donnie for that detached way of emotion he has that Leo could really use right now. But his muscles are relaxing now with the morphine.]

You doing okay?

OH, my god, yes everyone else is doing okay and yes, Leonardo still was very recently run over with a garbage truck, [Donnie complains loudly as he comes in, immediately going for a tablet plugged in nearby and scrolling through it crankily. Eavesdropping on this conversation is painful.] Casey, Raph wanted to know if you were up to helping and if so, to go meet he and Mikey at the A-junction.

[Casey does actually want to help, and he extracts himself from the stilted 'so how ya doin' back-and-forth he and Leo were having sheepishly enough. He's still finding his footing with this Leo; that's what happens when you are raised by a guy, practically worshiped that guy, then met his teenage self who was being kind of an asshole lbr, and then started again to worship even the teenage version because he was sort of being like your sensei who you love and miss.

........it's complicated.

Either way Casey bids his goodbyes as Donnie puts the tablet back and circles around Leo over into his open lab door, not at Leo's bedside but within talking distance.] Most everybody else is helping out topside. Raph, Mikey, and Dad are at Hueso's, humans doing human stuff.

You need anything?

[Did Leo mean that he could really use Donnie's particular brand of detached way of emotion? Because it grated immediately before he settles for letting out a controlled breath. Everything does still hurt but it's slowly loosening up.]

A brain transplant maybe? Cyborg body? I dunno.

Am I allowed to move my arms? Is that legal?

You're on thin ice. [taps a button on his wrist computer and the straps originally around his shoulders retract, hopefully permanently this time.] Don't stand and if you must sit, have Shelldon adjust. I want to keep the pressure on those vertebrae to a minimum until I can get a new X-ray.

[Hopefully. He's already reaching carefully to rub at one shoulder where the straps had been for honestly too long. He misses physical contact, he misses hugging and draping on his brothers, he wants to HUG THEM.]

Got it, got it. Still a lump on a log for now, understood.

[It's miserable. It'll get better, with time, if Leo doesn't fuck it up. But for now, it's still miserable.]

...Thanks, Dee.

You may express any and all gratitude to me in the form of monetary compensation. [Picks up that tablet near his bed again and starts flipping through charts.] I had to dip into the uranium fund for all this equipment. Go steal me a radioactive core.

You have a uranium fund?

[Does dad know you have that.]

Obviously not anym- were you listening?

Yes, and might be the morphine, but you said you want me to pay you?

Pay my twin brother for helping save my back so I am not succumb to a lifelong potential disability that would have kept me from doing what we do??

It must be the morphine because I do recall offering an alternative. [the theft]

Edited 2022-11-29 06:42 (UTC)

The secret third alternative that is be grateful to my brother for helping save my back from a lifelong disability because it's the right thing to do and because we are brothers who love each other very much? That alternative?

Well that doesn't sound like it'll get me uranium, soooo...

Maybe not right this very second, but it may make me more inclined to help get it further down the line.

[Why did he want his brother here again? Oh right, distraction.]

I don't believe that you will either remember that or will uphold it honorably. You're signing a contract. [ok do u still want him tho]

Not without a lawyer present. [Unfortunately, yes, this is easier than heartfelt conversations with anyone else.]

Oh yeah? [TOSSES TABLET BACK DOWN, who cares about monitoring vitals] Call him up, get your counsel on the phone. I'd love to hear the defense's argument.

Edited 2022-11-29 07:08 (UTC)

I just came out of a major medical procedure and [looks at the iv drip, then back to Donnie.] am currently under an influence so this conversation can't happen.

Struggling for excuses. [picks it back up with a barely concealed pout] No matter. I can dismantle your case at any time. [because this is small claims court and not just negotiation now, why have mediation when u can have a fight]

Uh huh, I'll have my lawyer call you. [It's just Mikey. He's calling in Mikey at some point. But for now, he settles in and just watches Don.]

So how long am I still out of commission?

[gives stink-eye, but acquiesces. don't you dare sic michelangelo on him, you bastard] I mentioned new x-rays. [begrudgingly looks down at the charts with leo's most recent post-op bloodwork.] ...but you're healing up quickly. Various enzyme counts down, introduction of BMPs took well, no sign of infection or inflammation near the surgical site.

If recovery proceeds at this pace, you should be able to start physical therapy in a couple days.

[Too bad he's going to.

He doesn't exactly look pleased by the idea, but it's better than bedridden.]

I'm sure that'll go well. Be back to kicking your butt on the ramp in no time.

Mm, latest trends show that even at perfect health, you would struggle with that. [WHO WON THE LAST LAIR GAMES? Who does not care that he had to fill the vent above his bed with insulation and duct tape it closed? This guy.]

[Maybe Leo just won't tell him this second that Don's win was entirely by design. Instead he just looks mildly put out because oooh noooo Don beat him that one time the infamy, the tragedyyyyy]

Yeah, we'll see. In the meantime, I get to lay back and relax for now.

You gonna actually do that? [DOUBT. VERY BIG DOUBT]

[AND HE'S RIGHT TO.]

When would I ever not take the opportunity to chillax?

I suppose I have nothing to lose if you re-herniate that disc. I could do the procedure again. Practice makes perfect after all.

Edited 2022-12-03 06:29 (UTC)

Uh.

[Hm. Miscalculation.]

What makes you think I would immediately re-herniate it, I said I am chillaxing.

Oh I'm just not assuming anything. I am, [pause] releasing myself from the responsibility. [he's going to watch you like a FUC KIN G HAWK. nobody is doing or getting surgery ever again. it is disgusting and traumatizing for everybody involved.] You may chillax. You may not chillax. Do you know who is going to be concerned over which of those things happen?

Not I. I am officially busy.

Edited 2022-12-03 06:46 (UTC)

Uh huh.

[So Donnie is going to be watching him like a fucking hawk. Surgery was probably disgusting and traumatizing for everyone involved and he doesn't want to do it on anyone ever again.]

I'll remember that while I sit and read comics in bed.

Excellent! I will be in my laboratory. Shelldon, transport the degenerate over to his comic books if you please.

Righteo Donno! [and off leonardo is carted! must be nice to be bedridden on a bed that listens to someone else, huh]

[How did Donnie know his favorite thing in the world?

And that it happens to be not that? He grips one hand to the side of the cot as he whizzes by his brother, giving a low glare at him.]

I'll remember this.

[To which Donatello just hisses back,] No you won't because you have ADHD.

[He's still being floated away at Donnie's order. He's annoyed about it, sure, but it's hard to really be annoyed when his brother just did that invasive surgery.

But he still heard that.]

Rude as hell, is what you are.

[bro whatever!!! u get what u get

---

And what he gets is actually less bedrest than expected. Maybe it's because the ooze or mutagen or empyrean or whatever it is in their veins is still difficult to quantify in terms of how it affects their metabolisms, their cell regeneration, their pain tolerance, etc. Maybe it's just because Leo really does stay more or less stationary, at least according to the monitoring program Donnie had Shelldon initiate.

So, just a day and a half, barely two short days later, Don shoots a quick text to Leo with 'Come here' before recalling Shelldon back into the lab-adjacent recovery room. Is he interrupting any conversations or activities? Who cares.

Donnie gets up from his project. ...minimizes the windows he's got open just in case, and heads over to meet Shelldon in the recovery room.] All right, enough lazing about.

[He was actually in the middle of discussing at length with Mikey about Jupiter Jim's kitchen situation and what he's eating in space all the time and the likelihood of them talking Donnie into trying to make one of those food-materializer-machines that just make whatever you're thinking -

But he's summoned away, grumpy the whole float ride to the recovery zone.]

I'm sorry, I thought that was called 'recovering'. [Air quotes and all.]

Mm. Generous. [Holds out a hand for Leo to grab and sit up with. Stand up dude]

Yup.

[Taking the hand and starts pulling himself up. He's still pretty tired all things considered and will keep a firm grip on Donnie's hand once he's upright, other hand balancing on Shelldon still floating.]

What's up?

[Makes a mental note of the strength in Leo's grip as he keeps holding onto Don's hand. He's gonna need that back eventually but...meh ok fine, Leo can keep using it as a brace.]

What's up is that you're starting physical therapy. I want x-rays of you standing, and I wanna see your comfortable range of motion.

[Please, you don't need that hand, Donnie. While the grip is firm, it's a little shaky for the moment but nothing horrible. Leo does just watch him.

Fuck it's only been two days, come on.

Trust me to take care of you.]

Fine, fine. Just tell me what you need me to do.

You're very compliant lately. It's kind of gross. [this bitch, after he specifically asked for that compliance,

Donnie maneuvers so he can tap at his wrist computer without letting go of Leo's hand and a freestanding panel floats over. Donnie adjusts the positioning with one hand directly in front of Leo's upper torso, then hesitates.] ...I need to go to my computer.

[A beat.

And then realizes-]

Right. [Just lets that go and holds on to the panel instead.] Also you're the one who specifically asked for that compliance.

Yes but I still didn't expect it. [thus, gross.

Donnie heads over to his computer, taps a few keys. A window with what looks like a wormhole diagram opens up briefly before it is replaced with multiple windows of comparative x-rays, various charts with medical data, and an input field for notes.] Let go of the panel and stand as straight as you can on my count. One, two- three. [He taps another key and waits for a moment to check that the x-ray is sufficient before coming back over and automatically holding out his hand again for Leo to take, even though he surely has walking aides around here somewhere.]

[Donnie, surely you have walking aides around here somewhere. But on three he lets go, trying to stand up straight. But everything is sore, he feels the adhesive of some bandages on his skin tugging with the new, definitely normal position he's definitely been in for days.

And once Donnie's close by, he'll take that hand again.]

Oh, if you don't want it, I can be normal about it instead.

I'm glad we can agree that your normal state of being is usually categorized as very annoying. [Shoves floating screen out of the way so he can guide Leo over to two parallel handrails with a stool placed somewhat out of the way of the walking path in the middle.] Lift both arms as far as you can without pain.

Only the best to annoy my twin bro.

[Follows along, trying to just get the hang of walking after laying down not moving for... how long has it even been? A week? Longer? Time's fake.

But the instruction he looks at it. Already feeling tired again, but raises his arms. They get farther than he thought, almost shoulder height, before the pain jolts from his shoulders down his back and he stop there before letting them down again.]

That- That's it.

Hm. [Taps away at his wrist computer. The form fields on his computer screen across the lab fill somewhat.] Okay. Same thing, bend to touch your toes.

[And like this Donatello leads Leo through more exercises. Twist at the waist, stretch side-to-side, even leg exercises to make sure there isn't much muscle atrophy. Roll his head, turn to look over each shoulder as far as possible, chin to chest, eyes up to the ceiling. Rotate arms in circles, wrists, elbows. Everything connects through the spine, everything. He has to be sure.]

All right. [Donnie kicks the stool over in case Leo (probably) wants to sit down, though that's surely not going to be as comfortable as the Shellcot's been.] I'll build a regimen off of this. We can probably take those bandages off for good though. I also want to get any plaster remnants off and check your shell for any stress fractures, but the x-ray looked good.

[Leo didn't know it was possible to feel tired and worn out just from some slow stretches. But he's learned something new today.

By the time it's over, he's breathing hard than he normally would be for this little activity. So the stool is promptly grabbed and sat on.]

Yeah? Great. 'Cause I'd really love a shower right now. Or a bath. Either one. [He Feels So Disgusting Right Now.]

Yeah, so would the rest of us. [you are loved but you also stink so bad

Donnie circles around behind Leo and rubs his chin as he examines the plaster. Shelldon arrives a moment later (still a cot, thankfully) with a basin of warm soapy water and a soft sponge. Those usual mechanical arms sprout from Donnie's shell and pluck away Leo's bandages, seizing the sponge and basin to start wiping excess plaster away from the shell wounds to check on the healing.]

...maybe a resin coat just to reinforce, [Donatello mumbles to himself, tapping more notes into his wrist display even as the mechanical arms work to support Leo and clean up his shell.] No visible cracks though. Could probably do without just fine.

[His fourteen step skin care routine has been RUINED since the Krang got here. He has so much to make up for in pampering.]

Good. [He'd been genuinely.... definitely worried about that. Not being able to do his own medical treatment had been scaring him a bit.] What else?

Nothing else. [Straightens up, mechanical hands dropping the sponge back into the basin as Shelldon floats merrily away to dispose of the water and whatever else he does around the lab.] You're healing better than expected. You should be able to get back to regular training in a matter of weeks.

[...and that's it. Leo's fixed. As fixed as Donnie can make him, pending physical therapy of course.

All done. Job's finished.]

....And. That's good.

[He sounds unsure about it, like.. He expected some other big horrible Thing to be tacked on at the end. Donnie just playing him a little or something, like they do. He keeps watching his brother for now.]

'Course it's good. [Gives Leo a look like he's being the weird one before stalking back over to his computer and dragging his chair over, dropping himself into it.

Shelldon floats back over next to Leo with a fresh set of sheets on, lowering himself a bit in case Leo wants to climb back on and get back to resting after all that. Donnie doesn't turn around.] Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a lot of work to do.

[Leo watches that happen... Smiles a little before starting to climb on.]

Yeah. See you 'round, Dee.

[He'll just quietly lean to Shelldon to whisper we are making one stop to get clean clothes and then the bathroom for the love of all that is good before he starts climbing on.

Away they go, cleaning to hopefully happen with no issue.]

[Donatello emerges from his lab, sleep deprived and feral, with the aura of a man sporting a five-o-clock shadow and coffee breath, in the middle of Leonardo's Shelldon-run rehabilitation. He's probably on the treadmill? Whatever, Donnie programmed all the rehab modules into Shelldon for a reason, and that reason has finally culminated into real, quantifiable results at last, this night.]

I've done it!

[He's walking - still taking it easy - but definitely walking on the treadmill. He nearly trips when Donnie shouts, but catches himself. Leo's unimpressed really, picking up the pace again.]

What'd you do this time.

Only something unbelievably brilliant, as per usual. [slaps controls on leo's treadmill until it stops and grabs his brother's elbow with one of his spider-shell's mechanical arms.] Come with me. You need to be the first to see this.

Edited 2022-12-26 08:16 (UTC)

Whoa-

[Stumbles half a step before the metal arm steadies him. All right, well. It's the best mood Don's been in since before the invasion. He carefully steps off the treadmill and starts following.]

All right, let's see it.

It started with your conversations with Shelldon, about being fixed. Naturally he's limited to more mechanical terminology; being 'fixed' in an organic sense isn't necessarily so cut and dry. [Keeps pulling (supporting?) Leo all the way into his lab, past a curiously humming device shaped a bit like an oversized top suspended inside of a large transparent barrel and over to his computer.

Displayed is the same graphic from before; a wormhole readout, numbers calculating beside it in different sets and matrices, as well as a soundless video from almost exactly Donnie's POV of when Mikey (with Donnie and Raph's help) was tearing open the spacetime portal to retrieve Leo.]

[Donnie taps a few keys and the video minimizes, the wormhole graphic enlarging to engulf the entire screen. A diagram of Leonardo's skeletal structure overlays it, with brain scans popping up as well.] But 'fixed' is still the correct sentiment in that all items of concern should be addressed before one can be deemed functional. Your spine has been repaired, and rehabilitation is proceeding apace. Naturally, there are still other items of concern given that you haven't slept longer than an hour at a time since then, most likely due to the nightmares you've been having. [Donnie presents this information all with a sort of manic excitement, a curious sense of detachment alongside his observations as if recalling a distant study he'd read in a textbook.] 'Fixed' is still relative. Until the core trauma has been sufficiently addressed, we're not there yet.

[He looks over everything, realizing this is what's been keeping his twin busy the last week. But he goes still when Don mentions his nightmares.]

How do you know about that? I mean - not that I do have them. [He knows Donnie records everything, he knows Donnie's probably been keeping tabs, but he still has to deny it instinctively.]

I'm not dignifying that with a response. [Please. They've all had nightmares. It would be weirder if Leo wasn't having them, let alone not having the worst nightmares of them all.

Donnie taps a couple other keys, and the wormhole graphic is suddenly overlaid with another image; a render of New York on one side of the wormhole, and the prison dimension on the other.] Given that I'm not a psychologist and cannot render appropriate medical treatment for whatever emotional scarring you have due to what you went through, I did the next best thing.

I mathematically recreated Mikey's portal-opening technique, and have finally confirmed the formulas necessary for the simulations to return with a success. And then I built a model fission bomb that we can send through that portal to obliterate anything and anyone within a fifty mile radius of its epicenter.

[Leo looks at all of this, not really fully understanding what's being presented here. Not until Donnie mentions a bomb to send through.

Donnie's still wanting to kill Krang Prime.

Not that Leo is entirely against it, he's just also been focusing on recovery and rest before he thinks too much about the anger there still.]

...Why are you showing me this?

[He isn't mad. Leo just wants to have all the facts here. To understand.]

[Donnie, at least, doesn't seem to pick up on any strange vibes. He types away excitedly at his computer, running the portal simulation over and over.] I know, I don't usually reveal my work until it's complete, but to be honest I'd been looking into dimension tears before all of this. So many of our enemies and frenemies and so forth have access to so much knowledge regarding other dimensions that I couldn't stand for us to be so far behind.

As far as this particular application, I just couldn't keep it to myself. [Donatello straightens and claps his hands, nearly bouncing on his toes with restless energy.] Of course there's still practical application, and the methodology of making sure we actually get the bomb -or bombs, if we'd like to be thorough- in the vicinity of Krang Prime, but I may be able to finagle that with my own mystic powers, though I don't know how reliable that would be after we close the portal. Still, the biggest hurdle was the theoretical research and with that out of the way, I'm back in my wheelhouse. I don't doubt this is completely doable.

[It takes to "couldn't stand for us to be so far behind" for Leonardo to realize how far exactly Don's gotten on this.

It's difficult. It's really, really difficult. Because a very large part of him does want the Krang to suffer for what they did - to other worlds, to their city, to him and his family. But is that really... really worth it? Isn't being alone in the Prison Dimension with no escape enough?

Maybe. Maybe not.

But Donnie's excite about even this unfinished... project? No, it's more than that. But what even does he call this.]

If it works, then what?

[Donnie derails.]

...what do you mean? [Gestures to his simulation. The 8-bit bomb travels through the portal and detonates with a cartoonish KAPOW overlay.] Then it's over. He's dead.

And then what?

[He's still wrapping his head around this. There's still the other two Krang in their world as well.]

What about the other two Krang?

Well...I haven't gotten that far yet. The smaller Krang, the brother, he's likely dead but I would like confirmation on that. The sister Krang is in detainment with some sort of government agency, if online rumors are to be believed.

So.

[He can't really put his finger on why this doesn't sit right to him. Something about it's off, but he's been too tired mentally and physically to really string thoughts together properly. Something either with his brother's motivation or the act itself.]

Okay. So... we send it in. Kill him. Then what?

I already said. Then he's dead. And then I get to work on locating and neutralizing the other two. [What is going on?? Donnie didn't expect Leo to jump for joy at this plan, but he did expect some relief. Not...whatever this is.]

[Leo isn't... sure why he doesn't feel relief at this. It's a good start of a plan, it's something they all want. The entire universe is better off without these things and they can not worry so much about it if it works (it should work).

He rubs at the back of his head, feeling that bump that's just on the "almost" side of healed up. Moving his arm this way still hurts, honestly, but he doesn't know what else to do with his hands right now, not while he tries to sort his brain out.]

Okay, but I mean... After all that. After they're gone. What's the plan then?

We return to our lives. Threats neutralized. [Isn't that the goal here? Get back to standard procedure?]

[That is... Objectively the best outcome. And what he hopes they can all do as New York rebuilds itself, so can they. And the universe is likely better off without these things around.

He just... doesn't know. It's a call he didn't think he'd have to make - killing the only three of an alien race that they know of. For all they know, this could make them extinct. Is that something Leo wants to have on his shoulders? In the back of his mind? Knowing his go ahead did that?

Y̶̜̅ó̵̱ù̴̼ ̴͍́r̸̟̐ű̸̱i̵͙̐n̶͕͆e̴̡͠d̵̅͜ ̵̖̾é̸͍v̷̼̚ē̶̝r̶͎̋ỹ̷̲t̷̬́ĥ̷̢i̸̻͊n̵̬̒g̸̣̚

He looks at the simulation on the scree again.]

Do we still have any of that chemical stuff April got from her school? That seemed to do plenty of damage.

We don't, but it's not necessary.

[Whew. For a second there, Donnie was concerned that Leo would tell him they can't do this. Like, how weird would that be, right?] The Krang are made of organic material. There's plenty of their nasty goop around that I've already stuck onto cryo for testing. I'm sure powerful acids would do the trick regardless, but I can try different methods on the growth samples while we're looking for where the sister is being kept.

[He still doesn't like it. He doesn't like any of this or that this decision is his to make.]

Before we go ripping a hole through the universe again, let's track down the sister.

[FROWNY FACE......but he worked so hard on this little diagram....but ok that makes sense kind of] All right. Might as well confirm the brother's dead, too. Maybe she can tell us before we kill her.

[And we're all very proud of the little diagram.

STILL WITH STRAIGHT TO KILLING THOUGH. If he didn't know better he'd almost think Donnie's mad.]

Then. Yeah, let's work on that. [Y'know, after he finishes healing up, who knows how long that could take right]

[the murder is the most important part my guy] Rrgh, fine. I'll dig into some forums and see if any conspiracy theorists struck gold.

Cool. Shouldn't b e too hard to track down considering how big an event all that was. I think.

How much cover up do you think they did?

If they're smart? As little as possible. Otherwise they could Streisand-effect the Krang right into stardom. [Opens up a browser that looks very unsupported and starts typing. Brings up what appears to be a black chat window and runs a couple lines of code as well.] I'll start with conspiracy theory boards and black market hits for spaceship debris. Someone has evidence somewhere.

Edited 2023-01-21 05:18 (UTC)

Cool. I'll keep an ear out at Hueso's. [As if any of them will let him go out any time soon. He's aware, he just wants to say something to sound like he's helping here. If it means he doesn't have to make that decision right the fuck now...]

We'll find something.

Mmm. [Dismissive, maybe. Preoccupied.

Though when it seems like Leo is about to escape back to non-sciencey land, Donnie turns in his swivel chair abruptly.] Nardo. Uh. A moment, first.

[He was just gonna go back to laying down or something but stops halfway to the door.]

Buh- Yeah? What's up?

[Taps fingers rapidly on armrests. Neurotic. Looks away from Leo's face, fixes on something...somewhere. Across the room. The bomb model, maybe.]

It was, mm. Brought to my attention that my handling of this whole...situation was perhaps not the most graceful. [Understatement. Michael "Dr. Feelings" Hamato specifically called his behavior a "dumpster fire with a PhD," which was a little flattering but also enlightening. "You did that thing where you turn off all emotions except anger, Donnie," Mikey had sighed in exasperation, hitting him on the head with his clipboard.

Donnie barrels onward without pausing to let Leo react, or even speak. Gotta get it out with the momentum, gotta complete the thought(s).] That I didn't accurately portray how I'd felt, or even understood how I'd felt. I wanted to clarify what I'd said to you, about you...giving up. I know that wasn't it. But the idea that we- I could have lost my brother so quickly, so easily, wasn't one with which I could come to terms, so I. Detonated, as it were. My anger at my helplessness was transposed onto you.

So I'm sorry. You didn't deserve the accusation.

[Leo has learned one thing during this whole invasion and aftermath: how to listen. Listening is occasionally, sometimes, maybe even marginally important. So rather than brush it off or do that thing where he looks like he's listening but he's actually thinking about eight other things because he has nothing to do with his hands here to keep himself physically occupied through what sounds like it's going to be a very difficult conversation, he forces himself to stand there and focus.

'Giving up'? He... doesn't remember, not completely. He sort of vaguely remembers Donnie being mad and exploding a bit, but it was so wrapped up in delirium and pain that Leo couldn't remember the details of it. Was it that?]

...It's fine, Dee. Water under the bridge. [Still. It's good to hear at least. Like a balm on a burn he hadn't quite realized was there until it suddenly wasn't.]

[Taps fingers again, restless. He was kind of hoping for a sudden release of his anxiety at the confession, but it's still kind of there. Maybe the relief is more gradual? Hm.]

Well. That's all I had to say.

[Leo was also hoping for the release of his own anxiety at being fixed, we can't always get what we want he supposes. Not in this house anyway.]

...All right. Cool. Um. [Should he... say anything back?] Thanks. For- for fixing me up. [Leo you don't just say 'thanks' to your brother performing invasive surgery on your spine.]

You're welcome. It was extremely difficult. [Oh, extremely.]

....Yeah. So.

We'll figure out where the other two Krang are and go after those before we decide what to do with uh. Prison Dimension.

[Raps his knuckles nervously against the desktop next to his keyboard before spinning in his chair to face Leo.]

What about Raph and Mikey?

[Blinks twice at him.]

What about Raph and Mikey? Or...

[Light bulb going off.]

Do you not want them to know about this?

They could have some...difficulties executing the finer points of our plans. [it's 'our' now]

[Yeah, he picks up on that immediately. His expression is unreadable, even for someone not-Donnie before he nods.]

Got it. So we'll figure out what we're doing, get them either arguing about a movie or playing a competitive game together, boom we go do our thing while they're busy for a few hours.

I could fake a robbery alert for them. [So long as he's not verbally lying to their faces, it would probably even work.] Small scale. I'll be busy rebuilding the lair defenses, and you'd still be benched. Knowing those two, they'd be distracted helping out with something else before they even get close enough to know it was a false alarm.

Hm. Could.

Only works if you don't give them an update from what all you just told me. But it could work.

Yes well, obviously any improv must rest on your shoulders.

Yeah, we really should pick rehearsals back up after all this is over.

But all right, let's do that tomorrow.

[Please he is so tired and needs to get horizontal.]

Just shoot a message when you're ready and give me a head's up before the alarm goes off.

LEO - POST MOVIE

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im done with fancy html, life is too short

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why are you awake ma'am

dw bout it

I'm GONNA worry about it

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