LEO - POST MOVIE

[semilethal]

[ 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.

Comments

[neonleon]

Not without a lawyer present. [Unfortunately, yes, this is easier than heartfelt conversations with anyone else.]

[semilethal]

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.

[neonleon]

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.

[semilethal]

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]

[neonleon]

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?

[semilethal]

[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.

[neonleon]

[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.

[semilethal]

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.]

[neonleon]

[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.

[semilethal]

You gonna actually do that? [DOUBT. VERY BIG DOUBT]

[neonleon]

[AND HE'S RIGHT TO.]

When would I ever not take the opportunity to chillax?

[semilethal]

I suppose I have nothing to lose if you re-herniate that disc. I could do the procedure again. Practice makes perfect after all.

[neonleon]

Uh.

[Hm. Miscalculation.]

What makes you think I would immediately re-herniate it, I said I am chillaxing.

[semilethal]

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.

[neonleon]

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.

[semilethal]

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]

[neonleon]

[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.

[semilethal]

[To which Donatello just hisses back,] No you won't because you have ADHD.

[neonleon]

[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.

[semilethal]

[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.

[neonleon]

[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.]

[semilethal]

Mm. Generous. [Holds out a hand for Leo to grab and sit up with. Stand up dude]

[neonleon]

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?

[semilethal]

[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.

[neonleon]

[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.