semilethal | LEO - POST MOVIE

LEO - POST MOVIE

[ nobody asks where april found the van. some mild criminal activity feels irrelevant in light of the day they just had anyway, and they couldn't exactly walk all the way back to the lair.

not with leo like...this. not just leo either; raphael couldn't hardly hold his head up, hunched and clearly wearing his 'i'm the eldest and i won't complain' face as he cradles leo so carefully on their way to the van. mikey's hands and arms won't stop trembling, even when he twists them together and presses them to his plastron. donatello is sore all over and his skin and shell feel raw, like someone rubbed him down with sandpaper.

and leo's quiet. leo's too quiet.

so there they are in the cargo van, raph tucked toward the front with a leg stretched out for mikey to use as a pillow to doze upon. april and casey sit up front, throwing concerned glances over their shoulders as often as is safe while april slowly weaves the vehicle through the half-destroyed streets toward the nearest access point. splinter sits near the doors as their only other capable fighter, though he keeps his tail curled around leo's uninjured ankle.

and donatello, he's stripping off his gloves because he's going to have to touch his brother to get a better idea of his injuries, and his skin doesn't feel like his own and that'll interfere with his judgement. the fewer layers between he and his brother, the more accurate he can be. ]

Alrighty Leon. Look alive, let's...let's diagnose.

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[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?)

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