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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[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?)

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