mismatchedtwins - Tumblr blog

mismatchedtwins · 4 months ago

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Mismatched Twins - Step One

Donnie wakes with a start.

He knocks something off of him in the process, but he barely gives it any thought. His hands fly to his chest, pressing right over his heart as he doubles over. His breaths come out, hitched and shallow as he tries to figure out why he feels so impossibly invaded. Like someone reached into the depths of his soul, a large recess of him that should never be touched, and dunked in their hand to swirl it.

It feels wrong. It feels awful.

His head swims and stomach contorts.

The only time he'd felt remotely like this was during mediation.

The first time that Splinter tried to teach them how to interconnect their spirits, and instead of the simple tap that their brothers had done, an enthusiastic Mikey's had thrown himself at Donnie's.

Donnie had managed to seal himself from the assault, but he spent the rest of the night in a hazy discomfort.

This wasn't discomfort. This was violating. This was utter misery.

Had Za-Naron touched his soul without him realizing it? Had she rewrote him that far down- adjusting some core part of him that wasn't hers to touch. Who is he then? Who did she make him into?

His breaths come too fast. He hates that it doesn't hurt. That he knows it happened and he knows that he's wrong but there's no pain or agony to pair with the knowledge. He's fine. But he's not.

He closes his eyes and pictures his family’s faces. He thinks about their friends and adventures and his favorite parts of science. He thinks about Za-Noron’s actions and waits to see if any part of him excuses it. He debates and imagines and feels until the anxious whispers and suspicious wondering quiet some.

He seems like himself. He hopes that’s right.

Donnie opens his eyes slowly, lowering his hand to the floor in a grounding attempt. He moves into a meditative position when he calms, inhaling deep and exhaling slow, and tries to reach down to where his spirit resides. As always, it takes a hot minute to do.

The rest of them were never quite as skilled as Leo seemed to be. He caught on like it was as natural as walking the spirit plane, which was only natural once a stable connection between body and spirit were made, so, really, Leo was just irritatingly good at this.

Donnie ends his thoughts there. He focuses on the vulnerability that makes him want to find somewhere to duck and hide.

There’s definitely something different about his spirit. Not bad different, necessarily, but that doesn’t make it good either.

Something’s different. But he doesn’t understand what.

Splinter would know.

Everything about it feels weakened. It hasn’t merely been tapped into. It had been stolen from. Which is an entirely horrifying concept considering that he needs it to survive, more or less.

But how? Any why?

A noise echoes through the cavern.

Every instinct clicks to life, dragging Donnie out of his spiral. He shoots upright to survey their surroundings. Their... Oh.

He’s gratified to look to the side and find Leon next to him. He’s completely knocked out, eyes moving in presumable REM sleep. When Donnie reaches over, his heartbeat and breathing are even. He exhales and places a hand on his chest.

Okay. So stuff happened after Za-Naron.

Something else caused him to feel this way?

Abruptly, he remembers the vines.

Every terrible second of their exploration.

A shudder runs down his spine as goosebumps crawl along his arms. His entire body itches thinking about how they'd been in him. How did he get out? How could Leon possibly have gotten him out when they were so deep? It was under his shell.

And he's free. Somehow. Oh sewer apples.

He's really out of his element here, isn't he?

His stomach growls. The sound echoes through the tunnel, pricking adrenaline like a confident, "There it is again!"

Now that his body is alterting him to his stomach-contracting hunger, Donnie realizes that his hands are shaking. Barely notable, but when he firmly clasps them to get the tremors to slow, he realizes that they're lightly stiff. He's cold.

He hates getting cold. Dimension X always felt like it was on the wamer side, but now that he's thinking about it... There's a light dip to the chillier side here. Enough not to be notable when you're running around, but more apperent when you pass out for an uncaluclated aount of time. Yay.

He hopes the temperature in this place isn't as wonky as it's physics.

There's a notable weight when he gets to his feet. He’s unsteady as he moves forward, ignoring the weakness slurring his thoughts. His stomach growls again. He ignores that too.

He needs to focus. He needs to figure out what happened.

They’re near the opening of the tunnel. And it’s demolished.

There are clear signs of a struggle, if not an entire battle. Donnie doesn’t know how Leon got him away from the vines. He can’t begin to grasp how he managed to make this much of a mess.

Something must have attacked while he was out. The Kraang? Maybe not, Leon didn't seem to have much luck with him before Donnie's intervention. Another Krang creature?

If Leon took care of it, where was the body? If it's not dead, did he scare it off? Would it come back? If it's big enough to do this, it's not wise to assume that he can take it.

Not in his current state anyway.

His eyes dart for the exit. His stomach contorts a bit further, as if picking up on his plan for travel and making a case against it. He lets out a heavy sigh, looking back to Leon.

His companion breaths evenly.

He can carry him, but it's not going to be comfortable.

Donnie releases the wall and heads over. He obeys the impulse to confirm that there were no new injuries, and then checks the old ones for any signs of infection. So far so good.

His brows furrow as he spots the vine peeking out of his belt pocket. Curiosity getting the better of him, he pulls it out, sitting back and running his hands over the slimy texture. This was beneath- it was inside-

His skin crawls. He hates it.

He hates it so, so much.

But it's fascinating. What was it doing to him? Why were the ones on the wall dormant but the ones in the creepy dungeon basement eager to kidnap? The Krang had to have a purpose for them.

They made him pass out. Simply from pain? Maybe. The area was lit up. He remembers that now. Lit up after it started cacooning him. It was a flickering light. Like a really old battery about to die. Or coming to life. Some cacoons were empty, others were filled with bones. The Kraang were aliens, so, different species? Different worlds, different bodies? They were powering it. Some with bones and some without.

...He could have found other things in those cacoons.

He glances down the tunnel. Fear shoves at the curiousity, kicking it down and stepping on it. Yeah, that's not happening.

His stomach growls again. Something about the sound has him gritting his teeth. Annoyance? Frustration?

Either way, he needs it to stop. Strategically, because if he did leave now, he was going to spend every few minutes signaling to other massive deadly tunnel-destroying creatures that snacks existed.

But mostly because the sound was scratching at his brain in the worst way. So it had to stop.

His eyes fall on the black greenery.

His stomach growls.

He's going to regret this.

Donnie takes a bite, crunching through the outward coating. The slime touches the back of his throat and gag reflex kicks in hard. He hacks it back onto the floor, coughing as he wipes at his mouth.

Starving is a fine option, right? He was a mutant. He could handle not eating. He'd manage. He'll be fine.

His stomach reminds him otherwise. He grits his teeth.

He shakes his head furiously and bites down again. He swallows it with all the willpower that he has, trying not to taste it.

"That looks painful."

Donnie jumps, attention jolting to the turtle whose eyes are half-lidded, now lying on his plastron with a smug little grin.

"Tummy-tello woke me." Leon adds as Donnie tries to quell the new bout of saliva, wiping at his face again. "Drama queen."

Donnie doesn't bother repeating the horrific process so he can give the quite informative query of, "Tummy- what?"

“Oh, my bad.” He blinks innocently. “I thought we were still pretending that you were my brother.”

“I never said I was your brother.” The slime drips down his wrist. He shudders at the sensation. He has to be insane to have considered eating this. “But you’re seriously telling me that he has a name for his stomach?”

"Inside joke." Leon reports as he fishes a vine from his belt. "I knew you wouldn't understand."

Donnie's short temper gives up on staying quiet, convinced that this is too much nonsense to handle after his extended period of unconsciousness."Then why would you tell me?!"

“To prove a point.”

Donnie scowls.

Unbothered, Leon hefts himself up, grunting as he does. He sits, shrugs, pulls the vine out of between his teeth, and then chomps down on it without missing a beat.

Donnie gapes. Leon swallows. "Not bad."

His companion grins. Donnie points the vine at him. "How can you eat this? It's worse than algea!"

"Dunno. Kinda tastes like Hueso's tentacle pizza." He slurps it up and then dusts off his hands. Donnie resists the urge to throw the vine at this smug, rude, totally insensitive-

"You do know who Hueso is, right?"

"No." Donnie reports through gritted teeth. "I don't."

Leon stares at him. "Mmhmm. Suuure."

Donnie throws it at him. He lurches up, catching it in the air, and swallows it without chewing. Donnie cringes. "Pretty much a Super Creepy Supreme minus the pizza and the suicide wishes."

"Ewwurgh." He scrunches his beak disapprovingly. "I wish I could say that’s the most disgusting thing that I’ve seen, but unfortunately I’m desperately trying not to think of the times I’ve seen worse.”

Leon pulls another out of his belt and slurps it like a noodle. Donnie throws out his hands, baffled, “WHY?!”

“Because of that face.” Leon points at him. “Right. There!”

He cackles as Donnie tries to figure out what face he’s making that’s so entertaining. That only makes him laugh louder, so Donnie gives up with a pout. “We don’t have time for this.”

He snickers, “Yeaha, we do.” He takes an exaggerated breath and then announces, “We! Need fluid. And this!” He holds it up. “Has some!” He chomps down, wiping the wet substance from his chin to show off. Donnie’s stomach growls.

He grins, “See?”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “I am not eating that.”

“Don’t exactly have a five course buffet at our disposal, guy.” Leon licks his lips and then smacks them. “Give it another chance.”

He holds it out invitingly. Donnie fights off the nausea.

“I’m going to get some fresh air.”

He stands up, ignoring his trembling knees, and forces himself out of the tunnel. The air isn’t any fresher out there, but he moves out of sight from the entrance, breathing through his nose.

“So gross.” He lets his carapace fall against the wall. “So gross so gross so-” He looks up. The endless expanse makes his body feel unsteady. He trains his gaze on the rocks. He breathes, deep.

"There's a hole in the ground." He says when Leon strolls out to join him. He's not sure why the kid is walking when there's a visible stiffness that comes with pain behind every movement, but he's not in the mood to pick a fight about it.

"Yikes." Leon comments. "Someone was throwing a tantrum."

"Any ideas?"

"Just one."

He sits down. Donnie stares at him.

"...Are you going to tell me...?"

"I'll give you three guesses of the only three guys that we know are in here.”

Donnie blinks. And then his heart skips a beat as he rears back in panic. "You mean that Krang was here?!"

"Yep."

"And we're not dead?!"

"You're welcome."

"How are we not dead?!"

"You don't have to sound so surprised-"

"How are we not dead-"

"'Cause I saved your shell, that's how." His companion scoffs and crosses his arms indignantly. "You got a thank you in your vocabulary too or just a stammering awe at my abilities?"

He smirks, winking, and Donnie buries his face in his hands.

"Oh, don't be so dramatic." A finger pokes his side. "We made it out okay, didn't we?"

Donnie raises his head, exhaling slowly, hand unconsciously moving down to cover his chest. It forms into a fist. "Leon." His voice is higher than he wants it to be. "Did he do something to me?"

"Nooooooo." Leon drawls halfheartedly. "Threatened, sure, but all villains do that. I tots got you back faster than he could stop me. Shoulda see the look on his face- I mean, I couldn't really see it, but I bet he was-"

"Back from where?"

"He was running off with you." Leon waves a hand at the darkness above them and then props both hands behind his head. "So I poofed you back."

"…I'm going to need more straightforward answers from you." He whines. "Because I'm might go ballistic if you don't work with me."

"Ooh, fancy words." Leon relaxes against the wall. "But I'm gonna need a run-down on what's not adding up because you're the one not working with me."

"Okay." Donnie folds his hands, desperately trying to keep the broiling panic under wraps, "Then would you. Kindly explain. WHAT. POOF MEANS?!"

"You need meds." Leon bites into a vine that Donnie did not notice him holding a minute ago. "For this whole blood pressure thing you got going on."

"I should have let you die." Donnie voices as he watches him get to his feet, stretch briskly, and then begin a trek away from them. "I should have left you- where ARE YOU GOING?!"

"To show you!"

Donnie stands, "SHOW ME WHAT?!"

Leon gets a few feet away, looks around casually, turns to face Donnie with a cool smirk that stretches a bruise on his cheek, and then theatrically raises a hand.

He snaps.

Absolutely nothing happens.

He frowns, looks at his hand, and does it again.

And again. And again.

Frustration is visibly taking hold. "Just- just give me a minute! It's going to be so impressive! Like- coolest thing you've ever seen if I. Could. Just-"

The blue sparks around his fingers catch Donnie's attention, but otherwise, no undescriptive poofing takes place.

“Are you-” A puzzle finally fits into place. “Your ninpo’s back.”

“Shh! Shush shuh-”

“Oh, good, that means we can cover so much more-”

“SHUSH. Magician at work!”

“…” Donnie crosses his arm. Then, because he must, adds, “I thought it wasn’t magic.”

He gets a scalding look. “I liked you way better when you were unconscious.”

Lightly amused, Donnie points over his shoulder. "I’m going back in the cave.”

"No!"

“I’m tired of standing.” Frankly, he’s tired in general.

“Stop distracting me!!”

Donnie sighs and starts heading towards him. Leon gestures frantically, "No, no, wait! Stay put! Stay!"

"Can I at least go back to the wall?"

"Stop! Moving!" He starts pushing his hand out from his chest, movements getting progressively more wild, and Donnie wonders if he needs to check him for another concussion.

"You're a turtle given the power of words." Donnie recommends, content to watch his struggle. "You could utilize them."

His response is a loud, drawn-out groan.

"See, that's less helpful than whatever you were just doing."

"I was trying to poof you!" Leon snaps. "But you won't poof!" His head suddenly whips around to send him a suspicious look. "Are you stopping me?"

"How could I possibly be doing that." Donnie deadpans. "I literally have no idea what's going on. That's the whole point of this?"

"Or maybe you're pretending to make me look dumb!" He gasps. "Well, it's not going to work! Because I know your secret! Ha!"

"Didn't we already have this conversation?" Donnie fires back. "I'm not lying to you-"

"YOU HAVE NINPO!"

Donnie stares at him.

Arm outstretched, he points accusingly.

"...Like the teleporting thing you do?"

"Ninpo-is-different-for-everyone but YEAH!”

"...No I don't."

"Yes you do!"

"I promise you I don't."

"Caught in a lie!"

"I think I would know if I had ninpo!"

"You were white!"

"I'm clearly green."

"It was a glowing white!" He stomps up to him, rocks scattering with every aggravated movement. "Don't try and pull a fast one on me, buddy, I saw you!"

"Glowing." Donnie repeats, panic pricking like a needle in his neck, dragging the thread of realization after. "You- you saw me glowing?"

"When I saved your life." He crosses his arms smugly. "We connected and you lit up like a Christmas tree."

"You-" Everything screeches a halt, save for his heart beat, battering its way out of his chest. "You connected- with…"

"Hey!" Leon grins as he reaches out. "Maybe I can-"

Before Donnie can push him away, he's broken his personal space and pressing fingers against his chest. Their surroundings blink out and everything burns.

Not in an agonizing, fire across skin kind of pain- but in a stifling, heat across skin, smoke in lungs, light flashing in eyes kind of way.

The small strangeness has intensified, surrounding him with something bigger and louder and ringing with more than he can ever comprehend. It’s crackling all over, static from a tv consuming what should be voices and melody, exploding as something loud and bold, interconnecting through veins and heartbeat and defining new perceptions, joys, pains, reality- wait-

Man meets god, a tree strung by lightning, overcome by something greater- scarred and suffocated and infecting the forest with the biting flames that travel in a hot white across green skin- don’t-

It's everything. It's everything and everywhere and sinking deeper into the smaller spirit, the weaker power, taking and giving as it desires -no!- grabbing and embedding- get out get out- rousing and thrilling and replacing and exhilarating and invading and intoxicating and bright- stop stop stop STOP-

Leon pulls his hand away.

Donnie gasps, dizzy and trembling and unsteady.

He beams, smile lighting up his eyes as he cheers, "See! We connected! You felt that, right?"

Donnie steps away.

His skin prickles. His chest burns, farther than the surface, deeper than surgery can reach, hotter than agony should be. Surroundings blur, discordant with each breathe, primal fear sinking it’s claws-

"You ca-"

Panic closes his throat. He can't breathe. He can still feel it- can still feel him. Her. Greater power tearing into him, under his skin and in his bones, squeezing down and holding captive and hovering in the air against his will-

"Woah, woah, hey-"

Leon steps foward. Donnie steps back.

In the distance, something cracks.

Donnie’s arms move, reflexively altering balance- flailing in the sky, catch in a nonexistent grip, invisible fingers clutching-

Leon puts distance between them. "Okay, okay, we're- uh, not taking this well, that-" He laughs, tight, gaze darting down and then back up, "-that's fine! Dandy. Just- don’t move, okay- okay?”

-don’t move can’t move isn’t that the point? Hold him steady, can’t fight can’t stop it can’t move can’t move everything’s moving-

A startled cry. A cry? A scream?

-screaming, screaming, many voices, his name, her name-

-DONNIE!-

“Guy, listen, look at me-!”

-screaming- no names just screaming screaming screaming-

“Hey! Hey!”

-unsteady, falling, scared, terrified, hurting, merging screaming screaming screaming screAMING SCREAMING SCREA-

“DONNIE!”

His head snaps, eyes locking on blue mask.

“Leo?”

“No,” He hesitates. “Or, um,” He shakes his head, laughing breathlessly. “Not… Not the one you’re looking for.”

“My brothers.” They were here they were watching he heard them they were just here- “Where-”

“Just us,” He shuffles forward. Leon does. He’s on his hands and knees. Donnie is too. The ground is titled. The ground? He’s on-

“Eyes up here.” Donnie tears his gaze from the cracks underneath him. “Focus on the face. Not much else worth looking at.”

“I can’t-” He’s shaking. It hurts. There’s screaming. There’s not. “I don’t-”

“It’s cool. I get it.”

Donnie swallows. The ground rumbles. Leon freezes, scanning the area, but he nods when their gazes meet. “No prob. All good. Man, cannot believe you were serious-”

“My brothers,” He tries again, their chorus of terror ringing in his brain. “Where are they?”

“Side note for later.” Leo brushes past easily. “Let's just get you back on solid-"

He holds out his hand -outstretched hand, burning power, clawing reaching claiming killing- DONNIE- closed fist and then- APRIL PLEASE-

Donnie throws himself away.

He rolls, hits open air, and falls.

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mismatchedtwins · 4 months ago

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That moment when your panic attack won’t panic attack right

#writers woes #rise leo #donnie 2012 #teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt fandom #tmnt fanfiction #tmnt 2k12 #tmnt 2012 #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #teenage mutant ninja turtles 2012 #rottmnt fanfiction

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mismatchedtwins · 5 months ago

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FIRE YOU?? NAH, NU-HUH, YOU ARE SO HIRED!

I JUST KEEP COMING BACK TO LOOK AT IT!

JUHUHJIUJH THE SCENE HAS TAKEN FORM?? AND IT’S??!

LOOK AT IT?? MY GOSH IT’S SO ☠️☠️☠️💯💯

WITH PRIME LURKING AND SHADOWED, TOWERING IN THE FRAME, AND LEON’S ABSOLUTE DETERMINATION AS HE STANDS IN THE PATH BETWEEN HIM AND AN UNCONSCIOUS ‘GUY’, BLADE SHAKING ‘CAUSE HE’S ALL FACEMAN RN.

I am so normal about this, believe you me.

It's my blog and I'll be petty if I want to!

*nods without any confidence*

If Take 6 gets 35 notes before the end of January then I'll update for the next arc in February before I go on hiatus. That's my deal.

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mismatchedtwins · 5 months ago

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Mismatched Twins - Take Six

Leon barely has time to blink.

Everything happens in a blur that's overlapped by blazing pain. He barely manages to get his hands on his odachi before he’s looking up and the Guy’s just gone. Dragged into the pitch black.

He can't act. He doesn't have the time to even think. The turtle's gone and he's alone and the vines are coming back for him.

His heart lurches to his throat. He turns and flees, grasping the grapple as it suddenly clicks and whirls. The thrusting vines come inches from his skin before he's launched far out of their reach.

He shoots up and watches as they merge into the black.

As soon as he reaches the top, Leo claws for a hold so he can climb over the edge and onto the flat surface.

He leaves the grapple and his sword, every inch of him trembles as he frantically scrambles away from the opening.

His chest burns where the turtle had fallen on him and his vision sways from the pain. He waits for the vines to follow him up and take him to the same place that they took the turtle. He jumps as a scream echoes from the black void down below and he clamps his hands over his head on instinct, kicking backward into the wall.

The screams continue. They get louder. And then they stop.

All Leon can hear is the sound of his own hysterical breathing.

What did he do? What did he do?

He left someone to die that's what he did.

His knees close against his chest. His hands move to cover his mouth. The guilt throbs like a gong. Or maybe that's his heart.

Leo looks at the opening. No motions. No sounds.

He doesn't know what to do.

The guy saved his life. And he let him walk into a den of death.

That's some way to return the favor.

Hysteria tries to lock in at the thought. A puff of air hits his palms, laughter too strained to be real. It wasn't funny. Nothing about this is funny. His nails bite into his cheeks. Leo let him die.

No. He doesn't know that. He might not be dead. Krang's vines didn't kill them. They held them captive. He could be alive.

Leo has to believe that. Leo has to save him.

He has to get back down there. But how?

Whether the vines were sleeping or using the element of surprise, they won't be this time. They'll sense him before he can even get through the tunnel. Once again, his ninpo sparks with life and he catches it, keeping it safely contained. It sputters in the cage, alive despite everything, offering to keep him safe and strong, like it had with any and every other danger.

He can still feel the burning through his skin back at the ship, an electrifying, powerful sensation that eradicated the vines from his system and surroundings in one swift blaze.

His marks flicker and Leon fiercely shoves the power back in the metal box where it can't extinguish itself. He feels the weakness bear down on him without it, but he drags himself to his feet because sitting around shaking sure isn't saving anybody.

Every breath hurts. He fights past it.

Leon takes out the phone that he'd shoved in his belt and shines it down below. His skin crawls when he sees that some of the vines are still slithering about, tangling underneath the dead ones. Some are retreating through the tunnel, lethargically slow now that there isn't someone to chase.

Right. They're alive. But.

What about the ones that... Aren't?

Leo looks to the vines that he used to get down. They looked- pretty alive? He wasn't really a vine expert. But they hadn't made any moves to attack either of them at any point, so even though all the vines look the same, something about them had to be different.

He could probably use the boring vines to get back down without alerting any of the evil vines. What does he do if they do notice him?

For a long moment, he looks down the drop.

"Yep. This is a terrible idea."

With that decided, he turns and walks in the opposite direction.

If he was smart, he wouldn’t have returned.

But he does. Because the turtle is indubitably alive.

And there's only one way to prove that he's right.

Though, quitting would have been easier.

Instead, he takes a very exhausting hike to grab what he needs.

He breaks to catch his breath and rubs his plastron until the ache is manageable. Then he drags the large sheet metal to the edge and lets it drop. It lands and he winces, waiting for his estimation to be wrong and the vines to react. They do not. He smirks.

He picks up the grapple and his odachi.

And then he starts trimming the walls. After a few handfuls are tossed, he dusts off his hands in satisfaction.

Heading to the familiar vine, he grabs onto it and heads down.

He can't believe he's actually doing this. It must be all that hero talk.

Raph is rubbing off on him in the worst ways lately.

His heart aches when he realizes that he'd never get the chance to tell him. No more sibling shenanigans. No hoarding his highest stack win over Donnie's head. No bite-the-pizza games. No more pizza.

He tries to block the notion. He focuses on deciphering where the dead vines and living vines might be. He reaches the bottom, feet resting on the only safe space, pressed against the cold metal. He takes the phone from his mouth, pausing when he looks forward and realizes that there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

He blinks, "Gram-Gram?"

Karai doesn't respond. The light is a strange orange color. It only reveals the end of the path and the tall stalks in the room. His heart races as a vine slithers right below him.

"If I should not go into the light, some better tell me now.”

The only sound is the soft shuffle of vines.

“Okay." He exhales. "Going into the light it is."

He notices the one that he's currently using as a rope doesn't travel down the tunnel like the others. It inserts into the wall.

He shrugs it off and then gets on his knees. He snatches pieces of boring vines littered over the metal and throws them, noting each time the vines react. They don’t seem to mind the random pieces of dead relatives, merely curling around them passively.

Snatching several for the road, he tucks the slimy things into his belt, shuddering at the feeling against exposed skin, and takes a deep breath. He stretches out, setting his foot on a patch that isn't restless. The vines keep shuffling around like he doesn't exist.

He shifts his weight and then releases the vines to plant both his feet into another assumably dead spot.

He doesn't move. One of the vines pulls back down the tunnel.

They must not think anyone would be crazy enough to return.

Too bad they're dealing with the one and only Leonardo Blue Splinterson. Crazy is basically a part of the Hamato package.

Empowered by his obvious superiority, he heads through the tunnel.

He ends up doing a couple flips and handstands when the distance is too long or the vines get too close to his position. His heart thuds with the adrenaline of success, acting as his own cheering squad under his breath. It almost sounds like breathless static, but he refrains from going any higher.

It could ruin the perfectly dramatic musical soundtrack that must be playing in his background. Then where would he be?

Just doing gymnastics in a silent tunnel. Boring.

He winces as he enters the suspicious light, looking up towards the source. There isn't one. The roof simply seems to be glowing.

A solid thud reverberates through the room and his phone slips from his fingers. He frantically grabs it and smashes it against his chest before it can land. He eyes the vines that are doing their best snake impressions. He'd have to give them an 8 out of 10.

They seem a bit to tentacle-lly for his tastes.

Leo makes his way to the sides of the room and then sets his attention on searching for the missing turtle. All the vines seem very interested in only one of the stalks, swimming and weaving in a highly conspicuous way.

"Yeah, he's totally in there."

He gets out his odachi and begins to make his way across the room. The thud repeats and he watches the large mass that the turtle had been interested in contract and then expand.

Weeiiiiiird.

He stops under the stalk. He has to move fast.

The moment that he touches it; he'll be the next prey.

So he turns to the stalk beside it and climbs to the top. He perches there, hanging from mismatched stitching, and tosses his sword lightly. He takes a breath. It lands in tight fingers.

Leo kicks his body forward, slices through the wiggling life, and then grasps his sword tight as vines shoot for him. He curves away from them, watching as they embed in the stalk behind him.

He uses the one over his head to pull himself up, swinging his weight onto his hilt. He catches his balance and swiftly moves for the new opening in the stalk. He yanks the blade out once he's steady and turns to retrieve the waiting turtle.

Only to pause when he’s faced with his failure.

There are too many vines. They’ve injected themselves into so many places where vines are definitely not supposed to be and there’s a big nasty one in his neck. Leon has no idea how he’s supposed to get them out of him without some serious surgery that he does not know how to do and absolutely should not be doing at any point, especially not in an unsterilized, filthy, deadly prison dimension.

He hesitates too long.

The vines latch onto his legs. He stabs down, only for them to shoot out from beside him and insert into his arm. He cries out at the pain that radiates from the area, swinging the blade as his ninpo flares in panic. He can still feel the vine under his skin, vile and unmoving as he ducks one aimed for his skull. Two more vines pierce, stealing his attention so more can firmly snatch his legs.

The heavy, echoing thud swallows his cry.

The energy pulses across his skin, tiny sparks that dance along the vines and beg for the freedom to act. It spreads comforting heat that flickers a glow over his marks and he knows that he could transport away if he only wants to- think of one place, a single haven, and trust trust trust trust it’ll get him there. A brief burst, a final escape, all he needs to do is want to want to need to leave-

Blue crawls along his body. Fingers dig into the vines. NO-

“-AHHHH!”

He screams as they crawl deeper, hatred and fear buzzing in his chest, before something hits the back of his neck. He falls forward as he's shoved further in, unable to move or think or breathe, catching himself on the suspended turtle's plastron-

His ninpo pops, and the turtle jerks, and energy flares up Leo’s arm to mix with the oh-so-giddy whirl of electricity. Then heat darts across his flesh, sparking outward, and the vines explode.

He gasps in a burst of air as a thrill hits his body and pain becomes meaningless as his ninpo begs- pleads- push back.

So he collects the buzzing energy that’s humming and dancing and His but also Not and hopes that he knows what he’s doing when he focuses on getting it out.

His arms are sparking blue but the turtle’s arms are glowing before it hits his chest and the rest of his body joins the party. His eyes snap open, a blank, burning white with blue barely shimmering underneath, and Leo’s jaw drops as it fires outward, eradicating the vines and the stalk. They free fall and more vines shoot up.

His ninpo swirls and cheers as Leo grabs the lifeless arm and his sword pops into his other hand as he declares, “HOT SOU-!”

FLASH.

Comforting heat surrounds him and energy zips through his veins.

This is right, but something about it feels wrong.

The portal spits them out like old gum.

Leo hits the ground with a gasp. He releases the turtle to scan the perimeter, ready for another threat to rear it’s head. He doesn’t remember where he was thinking of going when they ran.

Apparently, it was about the entrance to their personal death trap.

At least it’s somewhere familiar?

The Krang creature is still limp on the ground where they left it.

Leo looks back down the tunnel, completely ready to be swarmed by vengeful vegetation.

Silence echoes back to him. He blinks, cautious.

Oh man. Oh geez. He’s alive. He’s actually alive!

Leo scoots back until his shell knocks the wall.

His ninpo refuses to acknowledge the new adrenaline drained exhaustion, spinning and buzzing and searching? with a giddy joy that is incredibly inappropriate for the less immediate but still continuing crisis that he’s dealing with.

Additionally frustrating, “YOU HAVE NINPO?!”

The turtle, who is likely still unconscious, does not answer.

So Leo stands shakily, turns on his flashlight, and stomps over to the limp body to kick his leg with a reasonable force.

The turtle doesn’t stir. He kicks him a second time. “Oh-ho, we are going to have a talk when you wake up!”

In retrospect, the threat was probably a bad idea. It would only give him more ammunition to stay under. That’s probably why he spent the next eternity sleeping like a dead person. Yep. Indubitably.

He’s might be playing dead, but it’s not good enough.

His stubborn heartbeat gives away the truth.

Leon stays by his side, staring out into the nothing in the distance. He drums his fingers against his legs, letting himself have the moment to breath through the permanent ache in his chest.

After a couple minutes of literally nothing happening, Leo gives into the prodding of his ninpo. He reaches out a hand, finger tips on the turtles arm. He doesn't know what he expects. Nothing happens.

The turtle remains prone and none of the earlier lights reappear. Yet Leo knows that flakes of his own ninpo now rest inside of this turtle.

He can feel them like Donnie's tech can sense the trackers that he so rudely implanted in his family, only Leo's wasn't intentional and probably didn't work that way. His ninpo pulsates warmth at the connection, but it's not real. It's not bred off love or trust or years of growth and loyalty. If anything, he forced it on him.

This could have repercussions. This could be so bad.

But Leo's ninpo feels stronger now. Not powerful or amazing or godly, but stronger. It beams at the connection, humming with a new energy that it's never felt before. He doesn't feel empty.

Selfishly, he realizes, he doesn't regret it.

He pulls his hand away. His ninpo quiets obediently.

The silence rings when he allows himself to settle, drilling relentlessly into his brain. Since there's no one to talk to, he talks to himself, walking his brain through the lyrics of a song that he can't quite place. His fingers drum the beat against the air.

It's some lovesick break-up song that Donnie hates, which is actually a hard accomplishment, so it's a shame that he let the words slip through his fingers. When did that happen? When did he, Leo, get to busy to remember the top ten ways to annoy Donnie?

He should probably know. He knocks his lower palm into his head.

Oh! He snaps triumphantly. That's it! Before Shredder! He became leader and-

And. He ran out of time to focus on things like that. Annoying Raph became a lot easier to fit in his schedule. Way too easy.

It's not supposed to be that easy.

Leo... Can't remember the lyrics anymore. Man.

He should really be writing this down.

He gets out the notes app on his phone and restarts the process.

Even with the light at its lowest setting, the phone is unreasonably bright. His eyes begin burning after a short while. Rocking turns to pacing turns to sitting turns to catching himself when his body tries to pass out. The roller coaster jolt has him back awake in seconds.

He rubs the sleep from his eyes, determined to stay awake and keep watch. He owes the turtle that much.

Man. Leon hates debts.

Once he wakes up, completely and totally fine, they can be even.

He finds his head bowing thrice more. During the fourth, his brain registers that his eyes have been closed for several seconds and he has to forcibly pry them open. He picks up his phone from the ground and gets to his feet, shaking his head to wake himself up.

The turtle hasn't moved. He kneels next to him, checking his heartbeat. It's the same. Is that good or bad?

Movement from the entrance.

Leo looks toward it immediately, scanning for the cause. The silence echoes to him. Everything is as motionless as it always is.

Goosebumps rise along his body. He stays put.

A red glow bathes the area right outside.

Leo's sweaty hand goes for his sword.

A hand drops from over the entrance to the platform. Black. Metallic. Claw-like fingers.

He takes it out of his sheath. He watches them pinch into the flesh of the dead Krang creature. It lifts the body out of sight. He can clearly hear each crunch and squelch of something breaking through bones and mass. Nausea swells and his knees shake, but he doesn't dare move from his stance over the unconscious turtle.

The blue of his ninpo sparks, waiting to be called upon. He can't waste it. Not again. He can't risk using it before he needs to. He'll only have so many shots. Maybe Krang will pass over them.

If he knew Leo was there, they'd already be dead.

He holds his breath when all sounds stop.

Something screeches.

It comes from everywhere at once and swallows all sound to stab into Leo's brain as he hits his knees. His blade falls from his hand so he can clamp both hands over his head, putting pressure down in the desperate attempt to muffle it.

It barely makes a dent in the pain. He squints up, barely holding onto consciousness, and watches as claws tear away at the roof.

Before he can process, the claws have shot through the hole and knocked him onto his back. He hits his carapace and the world blots, pain shooting up in waves, red consuming his vision. Krang lifts the head enough to grant him some clarity. He expects the monstrous fury, but he doesn't even look his way, taking in their surroundings.

"Look at that. Still alive."

His eyes return to Leo. He squirms under the weight, wondering if that's going to be the last thing that he hears before this truth becomes a lie. He thrusts his hand outside the claws, and his sword spawns in his hand. Krang's eyes widen, "How-?"

He doesn't let him finish. He escapes his clutches, transporting a few feet away, arm around his ribs. His heart practically stops, as he realizes that the Krang wasn't directing the first statement to him.

He's lifted the turtle from the ground, shell captured between two fingers. Krang looks from him to the unconscious turtle. The suit shakes him carelessly but the turtle doesn't wake. "Ah. Another menace with more tricks.” A smirk forms, slowly revealing sharp teeth. “And where there's one, there's an army waiting to join Krang."

"Put him down." His spine has a million tiny needles in it, but he remains standing, hands tight over his hilt. "Put him down."

"That's the problem with heroes." The Krang turns the turtle over, like a customer inspecting merchandise. Leo can only look between them in badly contained panic. "So determined to save that you won't do what needs to be done. All your determination to put me here, and yet you let him live. Pathetic."

"How did you find us?" Leo's voice crumbles, weak. Krang didn't even check inside. He knew. "How did you know?"

"I went looking." He tilts the suit's head at him, smug. "My brainless snacks have eyes everywhere. Last thing that it saw was a pest and a tool. So I came to collect."

"What do you want with him?" Leo demands, filling in the blanks even as the question leaves his mouth. Tool. "Leave him alone. He won’t even wake up! He’s useless to you!”

“He’ll wake.” He trails a finger along his skull. “The Krang have ways of getting into the minds of our prey.”

Leo thinks of Raph. His hands shake, and his voice hardens, “Yeah, I noticed. What do you want from him? He’s not anything special. He’s a poser whose shell I literally just had to save.”

Just put him down. Please put him down.

“I want what we both want.” Krang eyes glow. “Freedom.”

A laugh escapes, practiced and baffled. Who else thinks this turtle is capable of the impossible? “Are you kidding? He can’t do that!”

"Of course you'd say that." Krang mocks. "Where would you be without tricks and deception?"

"Not here." Leo points out because duh. "If we could just go back, don't you think we would have already?"

"I suppose you'd believe that's all it takes to persuade me." Krang stands to his full height and Leo steps back. "I have eons of experience under my belt. I know all about the unexplained forces that can tax or fuel a lower life form. I've conquered and defeated mounds of sniveling creatures with impossible abilities."

"And yet this teeny turtle beat you at your own game." Leo's heart pounds hard. He needs to push harder. Say whatever he has to so that Krang puts him down. "He's been unconscious for the last ever. He's not getting you out and you're grasping at straws."

"You got lucky. That is all." He snarls as he bends his knees and Leo's heart races as he leers over him. "And once I return to my Brother and Sister, I will slaughter everyone you love for it. Or better yet, send the rest back here to finish you."

He grins, eyes maniac, and before Leo can get a word in, he leaps.

He springs up and through the hole in the roof. The force knocks Leo off his feet, but panic shoots through his systems. His ninpo assists before he even hits the ground. He lands against rocks, looking up as Krang lands on a floating surface.

"HEY!" He shouts after him. "BRING HIM BACK!"

The Krang ignores him, launching them further away as if he'd never spoken at all. Leo tries to follow but he barely gets a few steps before his legs give out. The fire eats away at his ribs and spine, making it hard to get his breath. He lifts his head, vision splitting, as two Kraang merge into one and then none.

Then, he's gone, taking Leo's only hope of survival with him.

He forces himself to his feet. He can't let this happen. He doesn't care if the turtle's crazy or a liar or a hero or a villain. It doesn't matter if he's mean and rude and snide and sad and hurt. He wants to go home as much as Leo does. He asked for Leo's help and he's failing him again. The Krang took him and now he's gone.

The anger burns hotter than any of his injuries.

It's a familiar injustice. The kind that comes when his dad won't hear his side of the story because Raph already gave his admittedly accurate side. The kind that comes from watching Donnie mock his brilliant puns and Mikey break his things without repercussion because he bit his tongue too often and allowed it.

A fury that reminds that, even if it's partly his fault, he doesn't care.

It's his story, his pun, his jacket with paint now on it.

He glares in their direction, furious and desperate and terrified to be left alone, and his hand shoots out. Ninpo surrounds it in a bright circle as he pushes out and closes his fist. He calls it all back, drawing his hand down to his chest. Every ounce that's his.

Every. Single. Bit.

He feels the tug deep within as the heat finds purchase.

The turtle spawns before him, in a sparkling shower of blue and white, and it shocks Leo enough that he steps away.

He falls onto the rocks and Leo snaps to himself.

He practically tackles him, listening to the booming shout that echoes to them. He cannot believe the idiot is still unconscious after all that, but he grabs his sword, looks towards the sound, and spots Krang as he throws himself towards them.

His eyes burn a flaming red and Leo gives him a haughty salute.

FLASH.

The portal swallows them and dumps them back where they started.

It's only a couple feet deeper than they were before, the chucks of metal from the broken roof lying in front of them. Leo drapes himself over the motionless form, watching as the ground cracks when the Krang lands. He roars, once, enraged, and then he charges out of sight. The ground shakes when he launches himself into the abyss of nothingness. Leo listens to him land and take off again.

"Okay," He wheezes as he clings tightly to the thankless turtle that's speckled with his energy. He remains against his plastron, pain swirling his surroundings and swallowing every inch of senses.

His arm slips to the floor. He can't so much as twitch his finger. Relief floods his system anyway. "Now... We're even."

His vision gives out like the ground crumbling outside.

This time, Leo doesn't bother to fight it.

Previous Current Next Arc8

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mismatchedtwins · 6 months ago

Text

@claaaaaaaaaar That’s not what I mea-

I don’t know whether to fire you or hire you but I concede defeat

See you guys in February, ig

It's my blog and I'll be petty if I want to!

*nods without any confidence*

If Take 6 gets 35 notes before the end of January then I'll update for the next arc in February before I go on hiatus. That's my deal.

#Mismatched Twins AU #rise leo #donnie 2012 #tmnt fandom #tmnt fanfiction #rottmnt fanfiction #rottmnt fandom

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mismatchedtwins · 6 months ago

Text

Mismatched Twins - Take Six

Leon barely has time to blink.

Everything happens in a blur that's overlapped by blazing pain. He barely manages to get his hands on his odachi before he’s looking up and the Guy’s just gone. Dragged into the pitch black.

He can't act. He doesn't have the time to even think. The turtle's gone and he's alone and the vines are coming back for him.

His heart lurches to his throat. He turns and flees, grasping the grapple as it suddenly clicks and whirls. The thrusting vines come inches from his skin before he's launched far out of their reach.

He shoots up and watches as they merge into the black.

As soon as he reaches the top, Leo claws for a hold so he can climb over the edge and onto the flat surface.

He leaves the grapple and his sword, every inch of him trembles as he frantically scrambles away from the opening.

The screams continue. They get louder. And then they stop.

All Leon can hear is the sound of his own hysterical breathing.

What did he do? What did he do?

He left someone to die that's what he did.

His knees close against his chest. His hands move to cover his mouth. The guilt throbs like a gong. Or maybe that's his heart.

Leo looks at the opening. No motions. No sounds.

He doesn't know what to do.

The guy saved his life. And he let him walk into a den of death.

That's some way to return the favor.

No. He doesn't know that. He might not be dead. Krang's vines didn't kill them. They held them captive. He could be alive.

Leo has to believe that. Leo has to save him.

He has to get back down there. But how?

He can still feel the burning through his skin back at the ship, an electrifying, powerful sensation that eradicated the vines from his system and surroundings in one swift blaze.

Every breath hurts. He fights past it.

Right. They're alive. But.

What about the ones that... Aren't?

He could probably use the boring vines to get back down without alerting any of the evil vines. What does he do if they do notice him?

For a long moment, he looks down the drop.

"Yep. This is a terrible idea."

With that decided, he turns and walks in the opposite direction.

If he was smart, he wouldn’t have returned.

But he does. Because the turtle is indubitably alive.

And there's only one way to prove that he's right.

Though, quitting would have been easier.

Instead, he takes a very exhausting hike to grab what he needs.

He picks up the grapple and his odachi.

And then he starts trimming the walls. After a few handfuls are tossed, he dusts off his hands in satisfaction.

Heading to the familiar vine, he grabs onto it and heads down.

He can't believe he's actually doing this. It must be all that hero talk.

Raph is rubbing off on him in the worst ways lately.

His heart aches when he realizes that he'd never get the chance to tell him. No more sibling shenanigans. No hoarding his highest stack win over Donnie's head. No bite-the-pizza games. No more pizza.

He blinks, "Gram-Gram?"

Karai doesn't respond. The light is a strange orange color. It only reveals the end of the path and the tall stalks in the room. His heart races as a vine slithers right below him.

"If I should not go into the light, some better tell me now.”

The only sound is the soft shuffle of vines.

“Okay." He exhales. "Going into the light it is."

He notices the one that he's currently using as a rope doesn't travel down the tunnel like the others. It inserts into the wall.

He shifts his weight and then releases the vines to plant both his feet into another assumably dead spot.

He doesn't move. One of the vines pulls back down the tunnel.

They must not think anyone would be crazy enough to return.

Too bad they're dealing with the one and only Leonardo Blue Splinterson. Crazy is basically a part of the Hamato package.

Empowered by his obvious superiority, he heads through the tunnel.

It could ruin the perfectly dramatic musical soundtrack that must be playing in his background. Then where would he be?

Just doing gymnastics in a silent tunnel. Boring.

He winces as he enters the suspicious light, looking up towards the source. There isn't one. The roof simply seems to be glowing.

They seem a bit to tentacle-lly for his tastes.

"Yeah, he's totally in there."

He gets out his odachi and begins to make his way across the room. The thud repeats and he watches the large mass that the turtle had been interested in contract and then expand.

Weeiiiiiird.

He stops under the stalk. He has to move fast.

The moment that he touches it; he'll be the next prey.

So he turns to the stalk beside it and climbs to the top. He perches there, hanging from mismatched stitching, and tosses his sword lightly. He takes a breath. It lands in tight fingers.

Leo kicks his body forward, slices through the wiggling life, and then grasps his sword tight as vines shoot for him. He curves away from them, watching as they embed in the stalk behind him.

Only to pause when he’s faced with his failure.

He hesitates too long.

The heavy, echoing thud swallows his cry.

Blue crawls along his body. Fingers dig into the vines. NO-

“-AHHHH!”

His ninpo pops, and the turtle jerks, and energy flares up Leo’s arm to mix with the oh-so-giddy whirl of electricity. Then heat darts across his flesh, sparking outward, and the vines explode.

He gasps in a burst of air as a thrill hits his body and pain becomes meaningless as his ninpo begs- pleads- push back.

So he collects the buzzing energy that’s humming and dancing and His but also Not and hopes that he knows what he’s doing when he focuses on getting it out.

His ninpo swirls and cheers as Leo grabs the lifeless arm and his sword pops into his other hand as he declares, “HOT SOU-!”

FLASH.

Comforting heat surrounds him and energy zips through his veins.

This is right, but something about it feels wrong.

The portal spits them out like old gum.

Leo hits the ground with a gasp. He releases the turtle to scan the perimeter, ready for another threat to rear it’s head. He doesn’t remember where he was thinking of going when they ran.

Apparently, it was about the entrance to their personal death trap.

At least it’s somewhere familiar?

The Krang creature is still limp on the ground where they left it.

Leo looks back down the tunnel, completely ready to be swarmed by vengeful vegetation.

Silence echoes back to him. He blinks, cautious.

Oh man. Oh geez. He’s alive. He’s actually alive!

Leo scoots back until his shell knocks the wall.

Additionally frustrating, “YOU HAVE NINPO?!”

The turtle, who is likely still unconscious, does not answer.

So Leo stands shakily, turns on his flashlight, and stomps over to the limp body to kick his leg with a reasonable force.

The turtle doesn’t stir. He kicks him a second time. “Oh-ho, we are going to have a talk when you wake up!”

He’s might be playing dead, but it’s not good enough.

His stubborn heartbeat gives away the truth.

Leon stays by his side, staring out into the nothing in the distance. He drums his fingers against his legs, letting himself have the moment to breath through the permanent ache in his chest.

The turtle remains prone and none of the earlier lights reappear. Yet Leo knows that flakes of his own ninpo now rest inside of this turtle.

This could have repercussions. This could be so bad.

But Leo's ninpo feels stronger now. Not powerful or amazing or godly, but stronger. It beams at the connection, humming with a new energy that it's never felt before. He doesn't feel empty.

Selfishly, he realizes, he doesn't regret it.

He pulls his hand away. His ninpo quiets obediently.

He should probably know. He knocks his lower palm into his head.

Oh! He snaps triumphantly. That's it! Before Shredder! He became leader and-

And. He ran out of time to focus on things like that. Annoying Raph became a lot easier to fit in his schedule. Way too easy.

It's not supposed to be that easy.

Leo... Can't remember the lyrics anymore. Man.

He should really be writing this down.

He gets out the notes app on his phone and restarts the process.

He rubs the sleep from his eyes, determined to stay awake and keep watch. He owes the turtle that much.

Man. Leon hates debts.

Once he wakes up, completely and totally fine, they can be even.

The turtle hasn't moved. He kneels next to him, checking his heartbeat. It's the same. Is that good or bad?

Movement from the entrance.

Leo looks toward it immediately, scanning for the cause. The silence echoes to him. Everything is as motionless as it always is.

Goosebumps rise along his body. He stays put.

A red glow bathes the area right outside.

Leo's sweaty hand goes for his sword.

A hand drops from over the entrance to the platform. Black. Metallic. Claw-like fingers.

The blue of his ninpo sparks, waiting to be called upon. He can't waste it. Not again. He can't risk using it before he needs to. He'll only have so many shots. Maybe Krang will pass over them.

If he knew Leo was there, they'd already be dead.

He holds his breath when all sounds stop.

Something screeches.

It barely makes a dent in the pain. He squints up, barely holding onto consciousness, and watches as claws tear away at the roof.

"Look at that. Still alive."

"Put him down." His spine has a million tiny needles in it, but he remains standing, hands tight over his hilt. "Put him down."

"How did you find us?" Leo's voice crumbles, weak. Krang didn't even check inside. He knew. "How did you know?"

"I went looking." He tilts the suit's head at him, smug. "My brainless snacks have eyes everywhere. Last thing that it saw was a pest and a tool. So I came to collect."

"What do you want with him?" Leo demands, filling in the blanks even as the question leaves his mouth. Tool. "Leave him alone. He won’t even wake up! He’s useless to you!”

“He’ll wake.” He trails a finger along his skull. “The Krang have ways of getting into the minds of our prey.”

Leo thinks of Raph. His hands shake, and his voice hardens, “Yeah, I noticed. What do you want from him? He’s not anything special. He’s a poser whose shell I literally just had to save.”

Just put him down. Please put him down.

“I want what we both want.” Krang eyes glow. “Freedom.”

A laugh escapes, practiced and baffled. Who else thinks this turtle is capable of the impossible? “Are you kidding? He can’t do that!”

"Of course you'd say that." Krang mocks. "Where would you be without tricks and deception?"

"Not here." Leo points out because duh. "If we could just go back, don't you think we would have already?"

He grins, eyes maniac, and before Leo can get a word in, he leaps.

"HEY!" He shouts after him. "BRING HIM BACK!"

Then, he's gone, taking Leo's only hope of survival with him.

The anger burns hotter than any of his injuries.

A fury that reminds that, even if it's partly his fault, he doesn't care.

It's his story, his pun, his jacket with paint now on it.

Every. Single. Bit.

He feels the tug deep within as the heat finds purchase.

The turtle spawns before him, in a sparkling shower of blue and white, and it shocks Leo enough that he steps away.

He falls onto the rocks and Leo snaps to himself.

His eyes burn a flaming red and Leo gives him a haughty salute.

FLASH.

The portal swallows them and dumps them back where they started.

"Okay," He wheezes as he clings tightly to the thankless turtle that's speckled with his energy. He remains against his plastron, pain swirling his surroundings and swallowing every inch of senses.

His arm slips to the floor. He can't so much as twitch his finger. Relief floods his system anyway. "Now... We're even."

His vision gives out like the ground crumbling outside.

This time, Leo doesn't bother to fight it.

Previous Current Next Arc8

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mismatchedtwins · 6 months ago

Text

Help me I gave into the voices in my head (they're singing)

On the downside, I did not edit tomorrow's chapter

On the upside, I added about five more drafts to the collection

#teenage mutant ninja turtles #Mismatched Twins AU #tmnt 2k12 #donnie 2012 #rise leo #tmnt 2012 #teenage mutant ninja turtles 2012 #tmnt donnie 2012 #tmnt fandom #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt fanfiction #leo rottmnt #leo rise #tmnt 2012 donnie #2012 donnie

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mismatchedtwins · 6 months ago

Text

On the downside, I did not edit tomorrow's chapter

On the upside, I added about five more drafts to the collection

#what you gonna do #when the brain gets thinking #teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt fandom #tmnt 2k12 #donnie 2012 #tmnt 2012 #rise leo #teenage mutant ninja turtles 2012 #tmnt fanfiction #tmnt donnie 2012 #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles

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mismatchedtwins · 6 months ago

Text

NEW PROFILE IMAGE SPOTTED THIS IS NOT A DRILL

Still there

@imagionationstation

Ha ha torment >:))

Horrors and angst for the turt >:))

[check out the @mismatchedtwins au for those who want context haha, I'm evil I won't elaborate >:D ]

Anyways I had so much fun drawing that!! I hope u like it IS!!!! Man I love this au, very rotisserie chicken very good. The emotions on that one scene in ch.2 really struck me so I had to do something about it.

Hope ur doing good moot!! I'm only dipping in rn for a sec to put this here. I'll be back after I finally watch the sonic movie lol

Here's some silly doodles 4 ya

And Alt versions too!!

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mismatchedtwins · 6 months ago

Note

i absolutely love this fic

I love that you’re having so much fun with it!!

This is just a silly little side project but making my favorite character bond with the character that irks me most has been so much fun. I’m also doing waaay to much world building but thankfully Dimension X logic gives me so much wiggle room to enjoy it!

I have PLANS coming up and it’s going to be a little slow going for a while but it shouldn’t be THAT terrible a wait-

*realizes the next update after this one is scheduled in early April*

I am so sorry.

#Mismatched Asks

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mismatchedtwins · 8 months ago

Note

Quick question ✋ before I forget

I've been drawing a bit more for this au (heeehee) & I already know Dee lost his mask but does Leon still have his? I can't recall atm and I don't want to keep adding it in if it's not even there yk?

(I've tried checking but im alil loopy from sleep deprivtiion & can't follow along words rn😔)

Quick Answer:

Yes, Leo does have his mask. I kinda mention it in the second Take but it's very easy to miss. Donnie takes it off while he's looking at Leo's head and then puts it back on after he bandages his head.

“No.” He says, a bit to fast. “It’s just… Interesting…” He adjusts the blue mask, a new splotch of red on the side, back down over the bandage- he removed it? When did he- “And you mean physician.”

I've had to tell too many people this today:

"GET SOME SLEEP PERSON WHO I PLATONICALLY LOVE!!"

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mismatchedtwins · 9 months ago

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Bro it was so visceral and horrifying, the way u made Donnie AWARE of his flesh and bones mending together. And you made him feel it too?? No!! EVIL🫵 That was soo evil but I loved it!! I love horror!!

I DO TOO BUT HORROR IS SO HARD TO WRITE

I always felt like Donnie should have been a little out of it since he was literally SOWN BACK TOGETHER in the city streets. And I was thinking about how that would go and I had the inescapable urge to write what I’ve always wanted to happen. And I’m SO proud of it, lemme tell you the truth! It’s like reading someone else’s work!!

This bit was so cool, I don't stumble upon a lot of horror in fics yk? There's not a lot thats made me recoil and sit there mouth agape. But this??! U totally nailed it!!

Thank you!!

I’m so weird ‘cause I CANNOT watch horror on the tv screen but I will DEVOUR horror in books form. Like. MMMM tasteh

[The prison dimension looks like the stuff of nightmares. Dead ancient ruins and echoes r such a fun bit to play around with >:)) im excited to see how u interpret it]

I HAVE SO MANY PLANS

I NEED TO MAKE A LIST OR SOMETHIN’ OF ALL THE THINGS THAT I’VE DECIDED BASED ON DIMENSION X LOGIC AND THE FUN TIDBITS FROM THE KRAANG SHIP LIKE MMMMM

I just lie in bed at night mentally filling in every single blank that only I care about like why 😭🤣

Also him immediately wanting his brothers around and thinking about his dad hurt 😭

His family will be on his mind for the next eternity.

If I have my way, his guilt will be unnecessary and painful.

His sufferings are both instantaneous and crippling!

Sksskk this made me giggle out of my previous horror shock. Dee just went thru the most traumatic event of his life so far and witnessing an explosion comparable to a nuclear bomb and his 1st instinct is to take a pic.

There are so many times where I have to question whether the 2012 cartoon would have someone do something, but HERE we go by a mix of 2012 AND 2018 logic! MY POWERS HAVE GROWN!!!

(Literally, I love this moment so much. It’s supposed to help the readers move away from horror and to action! And it works!! Translation silliness! I’m glad you share my gigglessss)

(such a curious lil guy, most wouldve hightailed it out of there already instead of going, hmm 🤔why's that alien behemoth over there beating up a rock for? sksk)

PLEASE like any Donatello wouldn’t question the absurdity.

He wasn’t going to go say HI- he was just gonna peek a lil’

😭😭😭 just by this alone I know I'm not walking out of this unscathed. Brotherly love is going to end me I can feel it

Okay, NOW, he’s gonna go say hi

The kindest boi my sweet purple son

On one hand: Would not any normal person think: that’s seems unnecessary it shouldn’t be happening?

On the other hand: GOODEST BOI WANNA HELP 🥺

He waves😭 he waves goodness I can picture it so clearly. Don't wave at the highly volatile threat. why is he like this?

I don’t know but I hope he never changes 😭

IS. IS. I choked on my drink when I read that. The others reactions were so vivid too LMAO. Thank u for including that, it was hilarious.

SPLATTERS this kid is HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE’S DOING and it’s MURDERING me bc he’s going to die by his own obvious dummy genius brain. This poor child

Ok ok now the fight between krang prime and Dee was awesome. Yeah it's a miracle he's still standing and yeah he got his shell handed to him twice over and he was literally about to die again BUT!

The fact that he was able to hurt prime with nothing but a blade from his broken wooden bo and his sensei's advice echoing in his head is like actually so cool. And he was so sassy doing it too!! (Channeling his inner raph huh? I see what ur doing 👁️👁️)He's got no powers or knowledge of his surroundings or anything just his intellect and quick thinking and he still got a hit! Probably his only hit in close combat w/ prime ever but still yk what I mean right?? Wooh goo Dee!!

DO you see what I’m doing because I think I knew what I was doing but I don’t remember anymore 🤣 EHHHHH struggles

IT WAS ALL THE ELEMENT OF SUPRISE (and the fact that he is used to fighting massive aliens or suited creature) AND A LOT OF LUCK. CHILD WOULD HAVE DIED IF LEON DIDN’T STEP IN, MKAY

Well. He would have died eventually. After Krang was done with him.

And this also made me realize that Donnie came back with everything except his mask. He had his phone, his gear, his bo, his grappling hook(this tool will be handy later) everything except his mask. The one thing that sets him apart from his brothers. That represents who he is besides his staff and big brain. Him. Donatello. Donnie. The turtle before anything else. The brother the son the friend before everything else. Before his inventions, before his skills before his sacrifices and accomplishments and failures. He is the boy who decided his favorite color was purple. Purple. That's him. That's Donnie.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS I’M IN PAIN RN

And it was left behind :(( Against his will. Taken u could say.

I could and I would. BAD ZA’NARON. BAD.

He quite literally and figuratively lost a piece of himself behind when he died huh? I do wonder if he'll ever get it back (but even if he did there ain't no way he'll ever be the same OUGH ur evil)

HA You better bet I am. And I ONLY GET WORSE!!! >:D

(also this fact made the part where Leon gets ticked off and denies Dee being a Donnie feel more angsty and like bitter?? I'm not sure how to describe it But i will talk more about that later lol)

*covers audience’s ears* GEE spoiler alert Splatters

You gotta let ‘em read the next chappy yk

Anyways that's all I have rn. I will come back and continue with the rest of the chs later!! Gn muah muah

I WILL BE COMING AND COMMENTING ON THE OTHERS!

NOTHING WILL STOP ME!!!!

Um can I like, ask stuff about ur au here🥺? Well its more thinking out loud and putting a magnifying glass on several moments during ur fic than asking. Cuz asking means answering and I'm not about to make u do that unless u want to(I dont wanna be the reason u unload the whole lore yk lol) (and i also didn't want to like bug u too much either with my brainworms and excitement)

ABSOLUTELY!

I would LOVE to have my AU under a magnifying glass! There are so many little things about my own AU that I go NUTS over and I would LOVE to hear what moments have caught your eye! You would NEVER bug me with your brain worms! (No one would!) I'm eager to see what about my AU is wiggling around in your brain!

And that means questions too! Ask away!

I may not answer all (or any) if it means too heavy spoilers, but I would be happy to have a chance to consider new elements that the outsiders are seeing and I am not. I love finding connections that I didn't even realize existed before that moment! Maybe I'll add in Easter eggs based on ideas that you guys have! (Maybe.)

I am seriously overthinking this fic and would love to hear any and everything from you guys! LET'S GO CRAZY!

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mismatchedtwins · 9 months ago

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Mismatched Twins - Take Five

“I cannot believe you’re blaming me for this.”

Donnie ducks under a low point in the metal where the roof caves, running a hand along the vines as they go deeper still. More appear the longer that they travel, clinging to the walls and lying at their feet. He hadn’t sensed a trace of any Krang creatures since they’d stood outside. He doesn’t know whether to be disappointed or grateful.

Leon’s voice carries on endlessly as he trails behind him, always with the same accusing note, so Donnie doesn’t feel the least bit guilty for the past several minutes of silent treatment. Donnie offered to let him rest. He’s the only reason that he’s not. He wants to be a liar and cheat then he can take his punishment like a man.

Then again, if he’d been right about that creature…

Donnie rubs his arms for the tenth time. The last thing that he wants to deal with is anything else altering his body against his will.

Not to mention his poor, brilliant brain.

The rocks that patter in front of his feet pause before they resume noise from a distance, so Donnie crouches.

He flings an arm out when Leon tries to walk past, knocking his momentum back. His companion flails before falling on his butt, barely missing a breath of complaint, “-the one who designed it! So- so really, you did this! Who locks his phone for fourty-six hours! On purpose! Huh?! Who does that?!”

“It’s a security precaution.” He snaps as he glares in the direction of the increasingly pathetic whines. “I have important stuff on there that not just anyone can get their hands on.”

“But two days?!”

“I need the time to track it down and get it back.” He gets out his grapple. “Or blow it up.” He aims randomly. “Which ever comes first.”

“Stuff like what? Game scores?” He gasps, affronted. “You’re being unreasonably cruel over videogame scores?!”

“Like GPS locations that I’d rather the creeps’s trying to kill us didn’t get their hands on?” The grapple hits the ground. “Hmm. Okay, get your shell over here.”

“Why? So you can shove me again?”

“I didn’t shove you.” He mutters. “You were about to walk off a drop. You’re welcome.”

“You could have been nicer about it.” The misery in his voice shifts to mild curiosity. Now Donnie’s forced to wonder if he was intentionally being that annoying. “How deep is it?”

“Not too far.” The grapple clicks into place. “But I wouldn’t recommend jumping in your condition.”

“So we turn back?”

“Of course not.” Donnie clicks on the phone light. Leon hisses and rolls away from it, crouching like some kind of feral creature. “I’m seeing where the vines lead. It’s the first source of life that I’ve seen. I’m going to find out how it’s thriving.”

“What if we don't?” Leon volunteers as he crawls over and peeks down the drop. “I don’t think these things like turtles.”

“It’s vegetation.” Donnie dismisses as he points the phone. There are more vines curled at the bottom, but they don’t look very threatening. “Oooh, spooky. Do you need a nightlight?”

He holds out the phone and Leon swipes it back. “Yeah, you joke about it now, but we’ll see who’s laughing when they slither into your skin and try to kill you.”

He smirks. "I thought you weren't scared?"

"I'm not!"

“Uh huh. You know, you sound exactly like my brother when he talks about cockroaches.” Donnie tugs on a vine. It doesn't react in the slightest. It also feels sturdy, so he follows it to the end, bracing his feet against the rock edge. “Look. See? They’re harmless.”

“I think you misspoke deadly. Dead-ly.”

“They haven’t hurt us yet.” Donnie teases, amused by the lost bravo. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Outside the cave.” Leon points the light. “Let’s go get it.”

Donnie raises an eye ridge and then jumps. Leon yelps and the light momentarily scatters above as Donnie hops his way down. Leon shouts after him, and then keeps shouting, but he’s happily ignored as Donnie makes contact with the ground. He rubs his aching shoulder, feet crushing something that crunches with each step.

Donnie crouches to run three fingers over the suddenly brittle texture, debating the nest of vines beneath his feet. He looks up as Leon slides down beside him, gripping the vine with one hand, and Donnie plucks the phone from his grasp.

“Oh, good. You conquered your fears. Congrats.”

“Well, when nothing tried to eat you…” Leon shrugs as Donnie examines the area and then shines the light upward.

The drop is too deep to not include some kind of way back up. Nothing looks broken or bent, so it must be intentional. The metal is completely smooth, difficult for hands or tentacles to climb up, and the tunnel behind them is too small for one of the Krang suits. Unless they have especially sticky secreting glandular hairs, but even then, it’s highly irregular to have this kind of pathway in a functioning-

“Hey, does this look weird to you?”

Leon squints up. Donnie levels him with a deadpan.

“Can’t just be me.” His companion insists. “This feel trap-y. Way trap-y. It’s like… in the air. You have to feel that.”

“It’s a mix of the dark and the silence.” He informs. “Your brain is trying to fill it by assuming there’s something else present and, right now, the adrenaline in your system is triggering a threat response.”

It’s simple science. Comforting. Reasonable.

Donnie points the light down the tunnel. There’s an opening too far to see. Anything could be there. Waiting. Lurking. “But… I think I’ll keep the light on. Just in case.”

Leon nods rapidly. “Good call.”

Neither of them move.

Leon bows, a hand outstretched. “Ladies first.”

“Cowards second.” Donnie returns easily, taking the first step. Leon scoffs and grumbles, but he follows with uneasy tracks.

“This battery is actually lasting longer than expected.” Donnie admits to keep the silence from descending. He’d much rather something jump out at him with noise than without it. He settles in his safe place: theories and facts. “The percentage hasn’t even changed. Even with the conserving, I’d have expected some decrease…”

“Oh, yeah, Donnie designed these special.” Leon steps a bit closer as he allows himself to get preoccupied by the phone. “Haven’t charged that bad boy in two days.”

“What?” He gawks and Leon smirks. “When you’re as chronically online as Donnie, he wouldn’t dare let Donnie brand engineering die before he gets at least three days of constant scrolling out of it.” Something in his voice changes. “He gave me his old one. Think his newest can go, like, a week or something without charging.”

“Wow.” Donnie breathes, super conscious of every movement as he lowers the phone instead of taking it apart like he really, really, really wants to. No one can understand his woes. “That’s… impressive.”

“That’s Don.”

Donnie looks at him, trying to place the emotion. His tone is mocking and his smirk is dry, but his shoulders have slumped low.

The wall of anger that he’s constructing cracks as his eyes soften.

He’s not the only turtle separated from his family. They’d both been abandoned here by people that they care about. At least Leon did what his team thought was best to save his New York. If they're too scared to risk using some 'key', if their new York really was overrun by this- body dominating Krang species... It must have been dire. The fate of the world and all that.

What's Donnie's excuse?

Sensei warned him. And he still ran after her without thinking.

Now his family has to face her alone.

He should have reached out to Leo.

He would have come up with a better plan.

Leon glances at him, bringing a hand to brush over his red marks. “Something on my face?”

“Blood and bruises.” Donnie looks ahead. “Nothing new.”

They exit the tunnel and enter a massive room, eyes widening in sync. Donnie keeps going as Leon gasps, “Vine central.”

Donnie couldn’t have put it better himself. They overtake every inch of the middle room, sparse near the sides, many converging on the entryway. There are pillars of them among the new nest. Like a firm stroke of paint, they all flow upwards in perfect lines, tangled into many different shapes at the very top.

“Pretty dead in here.” Leon quips as he comes to the same conclusion as Donnie’s starting to. Like the bottom of the drop, many of the vines have already begun decay, and others are in the obvious stages. If something was providing them with life, it’s not anymore.

Donnie pokes the ground. It no longer feels like metal, but it’s not dirt either. What exactly were these things growing in?

“The Krang creature could have been… Feeding? Off of these things?” Donnie guesses. “Or, at least it had lair in here. Must have used the vines to climb…”

He stands up, attention caught by a shadow on the side wall.

A massive, blocky shadow. Curious, he heads toward it.

“Doesn’t explain what this place is.” Leon’s voice is loud enough to echo over to Donnie’s position, blanketing the silence. “Other than creep-tastic.”

When Donnie glances in his direction, he’s standing in the shadows that the light is leaving behind, squinting at one of the vine structures. “I think these things need some pruning.”

“Let me know if you find a weed whacker.”

"All I got is a handy-dandy sword. Not sure if it'll cut it." He snickers. "Get it? Get it? Cut? Wait, no, I can do better-"

"Save yourself the embarrassment."

"Wouldn't be much of a point! Wits to sharp for you?"

"Yep. That won't get old fast."

"Bah! My puns are cutting-edge!"

He shakes his head and continues on. "Focus please?"

"I am so focused. I am- the most focused."

"Good. Then feel free to take a stab at it any day now."

"Don’t gotta tell me twi- HEY!"

Leon laughs and Donnie grins to himself. It fades into frustration as he watches the strange, blocky area become larger with every step.

Yeesh, that is a lot bigger up close.

He really doesn’t want to climb anything, so he searches along the wall for an opening. Leon has apparently taken up swinging his blade like an axe. Donnie can hear each time that it makes an impact on the trunk composed of vines. It doesn’t seem like the smartest move for someone with likely bruised ribs, but as long as it keeps him busy, Donnie’s not about to complain.

He almost trips on an area where the vines gain entrance to the box-like wall, and when he catches himself, he cringes when his hand comes away sticky. He pokes it, twice for good measure.

He flings a bit of the gross off before looking to Leon. “It looks like the vines are… Interconnected with some kind of biological mass.”

“Krang like fleshy ships.” Leon sounds out of breath. “Technodrome was a big mess of ew.” He shudders. “Especially the command station. Ditched that place quick. Was muy nasteh.”

The structure tilts. Leon scrambles back. “TIMBEEER!”

Donnie hurries over as it lands. Leon hugs his hilt. “Talk about tightly wound. Junior got this in one swipe.”

Donnie… Will ask later. He leans over curiously as Leon slices through the vines, watching the weaker ones snap open before it slides apart like a rotten peel, revealing… Nothing.

It sits empty.

“Got a dud.” Leon reports unhelpfully. “You do the next one. But I call dibs on timber. I am the timberer.”

“If I’m going to go through all the work, then I expect the reward.” Donnie drops the phone in his free hand, walking up to another one as his companion sputters his disagreements.

He sets a hand on his hip. "Light?"

Leon begrudgingly points the light upward. Donnie walks up to the intriguingly crafted trunk and checks to make sure the twisted vines are compact enough to hold his weight.

Then he starts climbing.

Leon gives him about a minute of peace.

Not surprising. All good things come to an end.

"Do I want to know?"

"Think smarter." Donnie hefts himself up. "Not harder."

"So... Is that a no...?"

"It... Is... A..." Donnie reaches the top. "Throw me your sword."

Donnie doesn't expect much from Leon, but he definitely thought that he'd pretend to aim. Instead, he does a little twirl and flings it.

For the second time that day, Donnie finds himself inches from a spinning blade. He can actually see his reflection with how close it lands, practically taking off his beak.

He looks down, furious. "LEON!"

"You said-"

"I DIDN'T MEAN TAKE OFF MY HEAD!"

"Your head's fiiiine."

With a low growl, Donnie steadies his other three limbs and then yanks the blade free. He goes for the thinner vines, stabbing the sword a few inches in and then dragging it down. They peel open easily and Donnie spots small objects at the bottom. He drops the blade and then shuffles closer to the opening. He reaches in.

And pulls out a bone.

A yelp escapes his throat. His pushes back in surprise, throwing it back in and upsetting his balance in the process. He hits his carapace, crushing vines as he lands. Leon doesn't move. "See, this is one of those times where I just know I'm going to regret asking." Donnie gets to his feet. He points over his shoulder. "Wanna skip to the part where we both agree to leave?"

"Good idea." Donnie grabs the blade. "I suddenly have a really bad feeling about this place."

"Yeah, no kidd-" The smirks freezes on Leon’s face.

Donnie pauses, the light aimed at his plastron. “What?”

His eyes are dots, locking on him. “I can’t move my legs.”

“Can’t move your…”

Leon shines the light downward. It reveals two-toed feet planted on the pile of vines, and the very not-dead vines pushing their way into the flesh around his ankle.

It seems like the appropriate time to scream.

He steps forward and a large vine shoots at him. He slashes at it fast, diving to his triggered screaming companion and slicing him free. He grabs his arm and tosses him to create distance from the pile, ducking as two vines shoot over his head.

He spins to separate them from their roots, hurrying away to watch them hit the ground. He stumbles into Leon. Hands lock around the top lip of his shell, peeking at the small vine tendrils slithering out from the not-dirt. His eyes dart to Donnie and then the exit.

"Any ideas?" Donnie demands. Leon turns frazzled. "Me?! You're the one-"

Donnie's brain glitches. "Are you not a leader?"

"Well, yeah, but-!" Donnie surges forward to meet the vines that want to try their luck. "GREAT! SO LEAD!"

He doesn't dare look back until Leon is grabbing his arm and dragging him the opposite direction of the exit.

"Where're we-!"

"I lead! You follow!"

Leon holds out his hand. Donnie bites back a retort and hands him his sword. The young, infuriating leader continues his sprint, bringing Donnie along with him. "Do I get to know the plan?!"

"Don't touch the vines!"

"THAT'S NOT A PLAN!"

Donnie tears his arm away, both for rebllion's sake and to obediantly flip over the connection between the strange mass and the vine nest. Leon carefully bounces around the vines on the ground as the nest grows thicker along this side of the room. The vines are still shuffling around each other like snakes, hiding amongst the dead ones.

It occurs to him that they're no longer attacking.

He looks down as he hops over an entwined pair that have latched onto the wall across from them. Of course. They're plants.

Creepy, haunted alien plants. Limited senses. Likely can't see or hear anything. But if someone steps on the lives ones...

They both slide to a stop near the tunnel. He meets the calculating gaze. “They don’t know where we are.”

“They will.” Leon looks down the vine pathway and then lowers the light, asking, "Ready partner?"

Donnie nods. "Let's make this quick."

Leons shakes out his arms. Donnie readies his stance.

Then they run for their lives.

“Leon.” Donnie keeps his eyes on the prize as he senses movement behind them. The brittle texture that signifies death crunches beneath his feet. “What, exactly, is your history with these things?”

Leon swallows. "Long story?"

"Abridged version now."

Leon pushes them both to the ground as vines launch overhead. "Nothing helpful! They were on Krang's ship! He used them to restrain me and my bros!"

They bound back to their feet. "And you didn't think that was something you should share with the class?!"

"I didn't think it mattered if he's not here!"

"It DOESN'T MATTER?!" Donnie shrieks as he ducks into the wall. Leon slashes the vine that comes between them. "EVERYTHING MATTERS! And NEXT TIME the guy with the permanent information should think, ‘oh, hey, maybe I should tell my fellow turtle why I think the den of evil vines is EVIL’?!”

"Maybe next Mr Mock Donatello should ask-!"

"MOCK DONATELLO?!"

They reach the dropping point as Donnie furiously whirls on him. Leon doesn't look back, more preoccupied with the vines that are launching off the walls, which, is annoyingly the more valid concern.

But they are so not done-!

Donnie goes for his belt.

He aims above them and shoots the grapple.

It doesn’t lock, falling to him. It's bound to happen at some point, but he doesn't know why it always has to be at the worst moments.

He spins towards Leon as he cries out. The vines have somehow managed to wrap themselves around his blade, holding tight even as it tries to cut into them. They yank at it and he loses his footing with a cry, frantically trying to regain it as they attempt to pull him through the tunnel. Donnie spots the ones that shoot for his legs.

Donnie gets three seconds to panic and two more to plan.

He grabs his throwing stars and tosses them at the vines attempting the hidden assault, abandoning his position to slip to his side. Leon looks at him as he grabs his arms and uses both their weight against them. The blade slices through, freeing his sword. Donnie lands on Leon's plastron, ignoring the pained cry.

The phone must be on the floor now because the area is lit up. He doesn’t waste time looking for it. He grabs the blade from his loose hold and shoves the grapple into his hands, flipping to his feet to swipe at the incoming enemy.

He uses one last second to look back. "MOVE!"

Leon is already on his knees, arm cupped around his chest and fingers locked over the phone case. Eyes wide, he sprints to his feet at the command.

Donnie turns to face the threat as the grapple fires and the vines surge for him. He dodges the first assault and then rushes forward to cut off their reach, hating how unsteady the blade is in bo-adapted hands. He really should have taken the switching weapons lessons more seriously-

"I did it! Hey, I- no!"

Donnie whirls.

Leon's reaches out.

He feels them latch on.

His heart skips. The hilt flies from his hands.

Donnie hits his carapace with a choked cry as the vine closes around his neck to drag him down. He manages to grab a throwing star from his belt, but the vines snagged his wrist too, throwing it down to the ground. He hears the star swirls against the floor.

The panic stalls his racing heart, and that’s all the leverage they need to wrap around his torso. His shoulder burns as his free hand claws at the vine around his throat, suddenly getting a weak inhale in when it comes loose. In the next moment, it’s locking against his chin and his carapace scrapes the ground.

“NO!”

Horrfied eyes lock.

Everything goes black.

Not because he goes unconscious, which in retrospect would be a serious blessing, but because the vines have encased his body and have taken it upon themselves to pull him back through the tunnel.

His head rams something. His shell skids. Air rushes past his body.

He thrashes and squirms and bucks- and suddenly, he stops.

Nothing beneath his feet, his carapace, or his head. He manages to tear at the vines around one leg and kick out. Nothing.

How is there nothing?!

His arms are locked down at his side as the vines regain their hold around his lower limbs. A frantic sound escapes his throat when he can feel the pressure against his scales, shuddering as they slither up his plastron and press into his bridge. They fail to find a purchase against his shell, but they succeed with skin.

His muscles tense as he endures the pricks when the vines slip in and move beneath flesh.

A subtle thud from the dark. His fingers flex and his muscles tense as he tries to continue the struggle, but his attention is drawn to the brief flicker of light. A vine finds its way into the back of his neck and he hisses when it shoves further down.

The rest decide to follow its lead.

They all thrust at once and hot fire burns across his skin when they keep pushing. He screams. The vines don't stop.

His heart pulsates and the room flickers with light.

He blinks, whoozy, as the cage that the vines are forming comes into view. The room goes dark. He can feel every weak tremor, every breathless pant, every twitch of the mass beneath his skin.

A steady thud reverberates. His body is on fire.

His head lolls against his chest. The roof flickers.

A steady thud and then light.

Donnie's vision goes dark.

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