#nighty writey

[nights-flying-fox]

Mystic Sickness Part 1

This is based on @turtleblogatlast 's post about mystic sickness idea :D Hope you like it!!!

Word Count: 2178 ☆ Fandom: rottmnt ☆ Warnings: a brief mention of throwing up, nothing else i can think of ^^ ☆ AO3 Link: N/A

 Raph has had his bad mornings. He had been sick from overworking too. With how he felt today, he could tell it was a mix of both.

 

 Except it turned out there was more than that. It must be, or else why would a clone of himself stare at him like that?

 

 Raph yelped as he fell from the bed. "What the-?!"

 

 His copy didn't seem to care. It lay on his bed, not even looking at Raph. The turtle blinked in confusion. That was definitely his own ninpo copy. Why was it here, and why was it moving like that? Raph tried to focus and control it, just like he always did, but he failed. The copy still lay on the bed.

 

 He stared at him. Raph was too tired for that, not to mention how early it was-

 

 "AH-"

 

 Raph turned around. "Leo?"

 

 There was nobody else in his room though.

 

 "Is this some sort of joke?" Raph grunted. "If so, Raph's going back to bed and leavin' you to deal with today's plans alone. All day."

 

 "RAPH NO-"

 

 He turned around again, looking everywhere searching for his brother. Again, nothing.

 

 "I am really not in the mood for pranks-"

 

 Suddenly Leo appeared in front of him, "RAPH HELP I-" and disappeared.

 

 Raph looked at the empty spot where a second ago his brother stood. First his own copy, now Leo. What was going on?

 

 "RAAAAAPH!!" 

 

 Raph groaned, “WHAT IS IT DONNIE?”

 

 “WHAT THE HECK ARE YOUR COPIES DOING?!”

 

 His copies? Raph glanced at his copy on his bed before leaving his room and heading to the living room. He had many ideas, most of them nonsense considering his tired and hazy mind. But nothing could’ve prepared him for this:

 

 Many copies of himself running around, accidentally breaking some stuff, some sitting in random places... Donnie was standing at the other entrance, looking tired and angry. Pissed off even.

 

 He noticed Raph looking. “Dear brother, may you explain what is going on during such an early hour that you have decided bring out a whole army of yous?”

 

 “It is not me...” Raph mumbled as he walked towards Donnie, not being able to look away from the chaos going on in the room.

 

 “They are your copies though. Can’t you control them?” Donnie pointed out. “Genuinely asking. I am too tired to be salty.”

 

 “I tried but it is not working.” Raph tried again, failing. Then gave his full attention to Donnie, “You are tired too?”

 

 “I suspect I have caught a cold.” He nodded.

 

 “Me too. I’ve been feeling down since I woke up.”

 

 “Groan. It better not be some sort of illness.” Donnie said.

 

 “As long as it is not rat flu, it will be okay.” Raph reassured.

 

 Donnie shuddered. “Rat flu. Let’s forget about the failure and move on to our current problem.”

 

 “Cold or them?” Raph asked.

 

 “...” Donnie stared at nothing before answering. A usual sign of Donnie being sick. “Yes.”

 

 “Okay, okay. Sickness. Leo has the most knowledge about this.” Raph said out loud. “I’ll go and ask him.”

 

 “Mhm.” Donnie had already begun walking towards the kitchen.

 

 Raph started walking towards Leo’s room, ignoring the messy hallway. Since when did they have all that stuff and who was responsible for this mess? Probably his clones... When he reached to the room, “Leo?” he called. He received no reply. Raph didn’t bother asking again. He walked in, not caring about Leo’s upcoming protests. Except there was none because Leo wasn’t in there. “What?..”

 

 Oh. Right, he had seen Leo for a second in his room for a second. He had appeared and disappeared as if teleporting. But Raph didn’t remember seeing his katanas. He glanced around and saw the swords near his bed on the ground. He was right.

 

 What did this mean?.. What was going on this morning?? Raph began getting annoyed with whatever was going on. Not to mention how anxious he started feeling not finding Leo in his room. Where was he?

 

 Maybe he was with Mikey. Maybe they were doing some stupid prank.

 

 Raph a bit faster from before left the room and began walking towards Mikey’s room. Normally Mikey would be up, making breakfast. But if he and Donnie were right, he should be in his room resting. As he stepped into Mikey’s room, he hopped to see him and Leo doing some sort of mischief.

 

 Instead, he found Mikey levitating, golden chains around him, asleep.

 

 “What the shell?!”

 

 Mikey yawned, blinking. “Mmmmmorning Raphie!” He smiled, being the morning person he was. “Is there any possibility you let me sleep a bit more?”

 

 “Mikey, you are flying.”

 

 “What?”

 

 “Look around, Mike.”

 

 Mikey did. In a second his expression shifted from confused to shocked to excited to panicked. “I AM FLYING!”

 

 “THAT’S WHAT I AM SAYING!” Raph yelled. “GET BACK TO THE GROUND NOW.”

 

 “I DON’T KNOW HOW TO!”

 

 “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T KNOW?!”

 

 “Boys, what is all this yelling for?..” Raph heard Splinter’s voice come from behind. Then he heard a gasp. “ORANGE WHY ARE YOU LEVIATING?”

 

 “I have no idea.” Mikey answered. He noticed the chains around him, “Oooh I also have no idea what these are but cool.”

 

 Raph took a deep breath. “Okay. Okay. First things first. Pops, have you seen Leo?”

 

 “Uh- no. No, I haven’t.” Splinter turned his attention to Raph, less surprised and more worried.

 

 “Mikey, did you see him?”

 

 “Nope!”

 

 So Leo was lost. Don’t panic Raph. He is probably somewhere around here, he thought. “I’ll text April.”

 

 “Red, is everythin—”

 

 Suddenly, just like how it happened in Raph’s room, Leo appeared in the room. He looked very puzzled, tired, annoyed, and a bit panicked. Before Raph could be sure, Leo disappeared again.

 

 His voice, however, was heard from another room. “COME ON!!”

 

 And then from another room, they heard him again. Raph couldn’t make up the words but he sounded irritated.

 

 “Was that Leo?” Mikey asked.

 

 “Yes.” Raph answered, still very confused.

 

 “Where did he go?”

 

 “I don’t know.”

 

 “Boys, what is going on?” Splinter sounded serious.

 

 Raph sadly didn’t have a proper answer. “That’s what I am trying to figure out.” He sighed. “Can you check Donnie? He is in the kitchen and said that he felt sick too.”

 

 “I will be waiting you two there.” Splinter nodded. “I’ll look around for Blue on the way.”

 “CAN SOMEONE—”

 

 Leo’s voice came from his room.

 

 “—HELP ME—”

 

 This time from somewhere closer.

 

 “I think I can handle him.” Raph said.

 

 Splinter smiled, “I’ll make you chicken soup.”

 

 “Thanks Dad.”

 

 As Splinter left, Raph reached for Mikey. Grabbing his blanket, he pulled him closer to him. Mikey watched him with sleepy eyes. “Raphie, can we sleep more?”

 

 “No, Big Man. We need to help Leo first, and then we need to eat something.” Raph said softly, walking out of the room meanwhile. Mikey huffed but didn’t protest. Raph decided to find Leo following his voice: “Leo? Where are you?”

 

 “RAPH! Bathroom—” Suddenly his voice was cut. Then continued from somewhere else, “Never mind. I-” Another pause. The Leo calmly yelled, “I’ll go insane.”

 

 “What’s happening?” Raph shouted.

 

 “I keep teleported-” “-without wanting-” “-to every second.”

 

 “That sounds bad.”

 

 “You don’t say-” “DONNIE IS THA-” “THAT WAS MY MUG!!”

 

 At least Leo didn't teleport out of the lair.

 

 "I think we should call Draxum." Mikey hummed, somehow unbothered.

 

 "Wha- why?" Splinter's reaction hadn't changed even after everything. 

 

 "He knows about mystic stuff." Mikey said lazily. It reminded Raph of how he was when he had eaten one of the poisoned pizza puffs.

 

 "You think this is because of a mystic problem?" Raph asked.

 

 "I know it is because of a mystic problem." Mikey confirmed. 

 

 "How?"

 

 "Can't you feel it? Hm?"

 

 Raph wasn't sure what he was supposed to feel. Donnie leaned towards them, goggles on his eyes. "He is right. There is something wrong with our mystic energies." 

 

 "I'm calling Draxum." Raph announced. 

 

 "Already on it." Donnie interrupted. He, from out of nowhere, had found his phone and was calling the yokai. 

 

 "Please tell me you're solving this." Leo appeared next to Raph, not looking good.

 

 "We're calling Draxum." Mikey smiled.

 

 "Oh good, because I- hrk-" 

 

 Luckily before he could throw up, he disappeared. 

 

 "We need you here. No, we didn't put the world in danger. We aren't dying either. No, we aren't calling you so you can cook us your new abomination. Abomination as a strange creature made of food, i.e. Sloppy Joseph. No, I'm not talking about your food. Yes. There's a problem with our ninpo. Okay, goodbye." Donnie put the phone on the table. "He'll be here soon." 

 

 "Good… Donnie, what's that?" Raph pointed at the tech that wasn't on the table a second ago. 

 

 "Ah. A piece for my new project. Why?"

 

 "When did you bring it here?"

 

 "...I didn't."

 

 "What do you mean I didn't?" 

 

 Donnie raised a brow. "I didn't bring it here. I was thinking about it and it appeared." 

 

 "Appeared?"

 

 Donnie shrugged.

 

 "Since when do things appear when you think of them, Dee?" Raph questioned.

 

 "That's a talent of mine, dear Raphael. My ninpo is very unique in comparison to yours–" Donnie began explaining.

 

 "Since when do they appear without you controlling them?" Raph corrected his own question.

 

 "Ah. Yes, that would be… since last night." 

 

 "And you didn't think of telling us?" Raph was losing his patience, to be honest.

 

 "I didn't think it would be a problem." Donnie admitted.

 

 Raph wanted to break the table. "You thought it wouldn't be a problem." He repeated. "And what if you accidentally create something deadly?" 

 

 "Come on Raph, he creates something deadly all the time." Mikey chimed in. "Like pipe bombs." 

 

 "Mikey, don't!" But Raph was too late. A pipe bomb was formed next to Donnie's mug. 

 

 "None of us is dumb enough to use a pipe bomb, we will be fine." Donnie stated. Then took a sip from his tea. 

 

 Raph wasn't sure about that. He trusted his brothers, but he also knew how much of a trouble they could be. 

 

 Leo appeared among them again. "Dee, I'd suggest you not enter your lab." He said tiredly. 

 

 "Nardo, what did you do to my lab?" Donnie looked at him with a mixture of horror and anger.

 

"Adiós." He made a peace sign and disappeared again.

 

 Donnie immediately opened his phone to check the cameras inside his laboratory. Raph could see the fury in his eyes. Maybe Leo was lucky to be teleported every second, now that he got on Donnie's hit list. 

 

 Splinter put bowls of chicken soup in front of them, "You boys look terrible."

 

 "Thanks." Raph sighed.

 

 "You'll feel much better after my delicious soup." He said. "Now, only if Blue could join us…"

 

 The soup was warm and smelled delicious. Raph couldn't wait to taste it. He would already, if he hadn't noticed his copy coming in. Ninpo Raph walked towards them, stood by them, then took the pipe bomb and ran.

 

 "What the-?! HEY STOP!" Raph got up and ran after him, leaving Mikey to float again.

 

 He chased his clone back to the living room, but it was hard to catch yourself. Especially in a room full of yourself. He stopped, trying to find which one was the right clone. When he did, he was leaving towards the bathroom. Raph didn't waste time following him. Before he reached him though, someone made his copy trip and fell. 

 

 "This yours, Boss Man?" Leo asked.

 

 "Yep." And with a punch, poof the copy disappeared. "Thanks."

 

 "Save me some soup." Leo said before getting teleported again. 

  

 "I will." Raph sighed, taking the pipe bomb from the ground. He could hide it in his room for now. Then go back and drink some soup so he can focus on the situation better when Draxum arrives. Perfect plan.

 

 He quickly walked to his room, found a nice place to hide it, and proceeded to grab his mask and stuff. Then he remembered the transceivers Donnie had put on their gear. They could use this to communicate with Leo! If only Leo can stand in a place for a moment. Raph still thought it was worth a try, so he went to Leo’s room to get his stuff as well before returning to the kitchen.

 

 Donnie had dozed off on the table with a few weapons and tech things that Raph didn’t know their names around him. Mikey was still floating, also sleeping. He seemed to be fine though. Splinter was enjoying his own bowl of soup. Raph sat down and finally tasted the soup. It was delicious, as always, even though it wasn’t warm anymore.

 

 “Did you boys mess up with somebody evil again?” Splinter asked Raph.

 

 “No, we were training and patroling the past few days.” He answered. “That’s what I don’t understand too.”

 

 “Hmm...”

 

 “Don’t worry, Pops. I am sure it is something Draxum can explain. Then we can fix it all at once and then rest.”

[ohellino]

Night Writer

Late at night I used to steal out with pen and paperAnd write until the dawnYour so tiredThey would sayYou’re a drag She would sayI’m lethargic, I would thinkWhen there was a Denny’sAnd I could drink coffee all nightI used to order buffalo wingsAnd 30 coffeesAnd I would writeI would write and write and writeWhat did I write?How can I say, it was so various, so ambitiousSo not nowWhere I sitIn my…

[kid-be]

Night Journal - Sleepless / On Track

“Deep in the bosom of the gentle nightIs when I search for the lightPick up my pen and start to writeI struggle and fight dark forces in the clear moonlightWithout fearInsomnia” Insomnia, by Faithless.  (Rollo Armstrong / Maxwell Fraser / Sister Bliss) So yeah, not sure it’s still the “bosom of the gentle night” still, it’s 4 a.m, and I’ve been struggling to sleep since I woke up at 2:30 a.m,…

[nights-flying-fox]

It's Not Pain (It's Applause)

So!! I learned today is one of my fav albums' anniversary, and of course i had to write something quickly based on a song in the album!! I present you this Dimension Hopper Leo AU fic, which is just Hop looking through his adventures and thinking at late night hours. I didn't check it for any mistakes, so i hope everything is correct haha!! The song that the fic is heavily inspired is "Battle Cries" by The Amazing Devil :]

(Also Null belongs to @noxvee6 and Twin-Sync AU belongs to @little-banjo-frog ^^ )

Tagging @tmntaucompetition because it is mentioned here too, even if not very detailed hehe

《 words and ao3 link will be added later, I don't think there are anything that needs warning, but if there is please tell me so I can add!!》

☆ ☆ ☆

 He had never thought he would see an older version himself from an outside view, let alone himself. But fate had surprised him. Perhaps it wasn't fate at all, but his choices.

 Turning the pages of the notebook he wrote his discoveries in, he sighed. He looked at the pictures of Neon. He was one of the future versions of himself that he had met. He had ended up being a great friend to him, teaching him some basics. He smiled at the picture of him being busy as a leader. Neon had given him hope, maybe one day he could be like him. He was afraid of the possibility and the responsibility, but those were just a few details next to many good possibilities. 

 He still regretted not asking him some things, but who knows, maybe one day he would. And maybe one day he could annoy the heck out of him, tell him he met a Leo with hair, pointing out his lies. (He was aware he could never know about that possibility, but it was worth teasing the old man.)

He also was one of the people who had proven he wasn't alone. When alone, at night he thought about how without his family he wouldn't go far, he would remember him just like others. He would answer the question of who would save him if he fell (but could they save him when he fell in the deepest part of it all, when he would accept he wouldn't be able to go back home?).

 Leo shook his head. He didn't want to think of any possibilities about the future. He had found a moment of relaxation, a calm hour. Who would've known it would be so hard to rest while visiting almost every timeline that exists? Somehow, trouble never stopped finding them. Make it a villain, a plot twist, or a war. There always was something to do, even if he didn't belong. Even if he had his own war to win, a home to reach.

 He turned the page, humming at the image of the four turtles who had recently discovered they were a family. Honestly, they  must've been idiots to not notice they were related. Or maybe it felt like that to him because these faces belonged to his family as well. Whatever, he was happy to have met them and to know fate had reunited them. They had a lot to catch up to, just as Leo would when he would reunite with his family. 

 Turning pages he came across the picture of younger Big Mama and Lou Jitsu. He cringed, remembering the way he ended up in the past. They sure had an interesting love story, but it definitely was not Leo's cup of tea. 

 He turned the page quickly. After a short while he ended up seeing the grumpiest Leo in the universe. Null's big frown was visible in the picture. His smile returned, big and genuine. Who would know a version of you who wanted you dead would end up being as close to you as your real family? Leo hoped to see him soon, tease him by calling him his big brother. He was sure Null didn't mind, but the guy would do the favor of rolling his eyes and going along with it. He was proud to know him, seeing how he grew to be a better person. He hoped he was proud to know Leo as well.

 And then there were the pages dedicated to the competition he had found himself in. Various alternative versions of his family were all over the pages. He wasn't even sure if he knew all of them. He still grinned, it was fun. The other Leo and Donnie– they were team Twin-Sync–  had become great friends of his, and multiple pictures of them together decorated a single page. He had also gained a new fear towards mushrooms, and had found a new fun game to play. Who would know Muppets could be so bloodthirsty? Game nights were wild…

 He closed it and sighed, so many memories. So many dimensions and timelines. He was happy for all of them. Everything he had learned, everything that helped him become someone better. Everyone he had met and knew and helped. Every time he hopped somewhere new, it felt like restarting a new work of art– at least a Mikey had used that metaphor once he explained to him his adventures. And so many times he was told to hop away once he could, but so many times Leo refused. He couldn't stand to see his family in danger (again). And no matter the pain, it was worth it. Everything was worth for any version of his family. With them he felt like he could summon the Gods and the stars. Heck, he even felt like they were Gods. (He pushed back the memory of an older self of his saying that they were just kids.)

 And there were times he had trouble with those versions. Some that didn't trust him, and some that he had to not trust. There were bitter moments, but there were good ones too. (He swallowed down the pain of the words he had heard from some. The way some wield them as if he was an enemy.) They tried to get rid of him, sometimes. They must've forgotten Leo was stubborn. They could say goodbye, but he won't.

 Leo took a deep breath. It was crazy how he had ended up here. Everywhere. Whatever. It was as if he was walking in the darkness searching for light, but the darkness grew. (And he was afraid he was sinking so deep it was too late.) But he wouldn't give up (even if everything felt like going against him). He wouldn't turn his nights into them, especially when he was about to hop again. 

 Maybe one day he would do everything. Enjoy the calm, or show his skills in a fight. Maybe he would make a season finale, find the right portal. The smiles of others that he reflected would be truly his family's. (And no longer his mask would hide the tears.) Instead of staying, he'd keep hopping as much as he would keep hoping. (He would hide his fears with every new beginning.)

 And he would take a sigh. (And the battle cries in his mind would be buried deep.)

 And every time, it will be worth it for them. It can't hurt him if he'd have people he loved with him.

 (He wouldn't scream. Maybe he was at the end of all the things. It wasn't the time to ask himself how he was.) As long as he believed, he was okay. He was fine.

 Maybe tomorrow was the day. And finally, maybe everything would be over.

[nights-flying-fox]

Hopelessly Surviving Chapter 2

Same (Not the Same)

Leo thinks about everything that happened.

tw: panic attacks & implied (?) hallucinations (if you ever think i should add any other warnings please tell me <33 ) Shoutout to @little-banjo-frog for helping me with the title!! <33

Word Count: 3025 ☆ Fandom: rottmnt ☆ AO3 Link: Here!! ☆ Next Chapter: 14 April ☆ Previous Chapter: here!!

 Leo learned several things after all the hugging and at some point falling asleep:

 Mikey had opened a portal with his bare hands. They had gotten him out and threw a drill and a punch in Krang's face. Everyone (except him) was fine physically. 

 Returning to the lair, they took care of their injuries and mourned. Casey Jr at some point disappeared and they had April and Raph go after him. 

 And then, at some point Draxum arrived. Mikey said that he was worried, and that once he learned what happened to Leo, he was devastated. Which Leo was sure his little brother was exaggerating, but it still was kind of nice to know he cared. L

 Then he came up with an idea. An ancient spell, a ritual. During his research he had found information about it, and believed they could save Leo with that. 

 Splinter for a moment was uncertain, having heard that it could be dangerous to mess up with someone's soul. 

 But they all loved Leo. 

 In the end, they had gathered what was necessary, and had made the spell.

 That led to him gasping for the oxygen he lost, and all of the hugging happened.

 In the most simply told way, these were the events happening after the almost invasion. They didn’t tell any more details, and Leo wasn’t sure he was ready to know some of them.

 Now Leo was laying on his bed, Mikey hugging him and sleeping by his side. Donnie had asked Raph to help him remove some rubble so he could access his laboratory to get some essential items. Splinter and April were preparing dinner, and Casey Jr was with them. He didn't know where Draxum went. 

 Which left Leo alone with his thoughts. He was still processing everything he learned, and he had to admit it wasn't easy. His head was foggy, and the squeezing in his chest didn't leave. He wasn't sure if it was because of the wound near his heart (which was healed now, apparently…) or the realization of everything that happened today.

 He almost caused the end of the world, and without Casey showing up he would have caused it. He almost lost dad, Raph, Donnie, Mikey… April and Casey Jr could have ended up in worse conditions too. And because of his selfishness. He didn't even want to think about what Casey had told him. They all die, the words were repeating in his mind no matter how hard he tried to ignore them. And here he was, died and resurrected. 

 How did they even manage that? Resurrecting the dead… He wanted to ask them what they exactly did, but he knew well they wouldn't tell him. Just like how they didn't tell him they had to stitch his wounds. Leo didn't like not knowing, but he was too tired to get the answers he wanted. Maybe he could learn later, when he felt better.

 He looked at Mikey and the faint golden scars on his arms. Leo sighed, his little brother opened a portal, and for what? To pull out a corpse. The thought made him feel sick. He was alive, right? He was breathing. So what if Krang had most likely impaled him? Who cared if he was dead for several hours? He was back. He was okay. He would be okay. A few scars and bruises wouldn’t stop him, they would heal soon anyway. And Leo will become better, and be a proper hero like Raph wishes him to be. Like everyone wishes him to be. He could start planning better and working harder, maybe spend some time in the dojo after healing. Act like a leader…

 The joy left its place to something numb. He wasn’t excited about these ideas, but he wouldn’t admit it. He didn’t want to spend his free time perfecting his jitsu, but at the same time he couldn’t afford to put his family at risk again nor disappoint them. He had failed enough. Casey Jr was right, he wasn’t the Leo this world needed. He had to become the one they needed…

 He sighed, ignoring how the gripping feeling made him uneasy. Now was time to rest, so soon he could become better…

 …

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

  Leo didn’t remember when he fell asleep. When he woke up he was feeling much better. The grip in his chest still was in there, but at least his body didn’t hurt like before. 

 He looked around, sluggishly sitting up. It must have been late, because other than a faint light coming from outside, his room was dark. The closest thing to light in his room was only the glow in the dark stars on his ceiling.

 Welp, he must’ve slept through the rest of the day, but still didn’t manage to stay awake long enough to pass the night, huh?

  With a sigh, he got up. He carefully moved once he noticed Raph was sleeping on the floor. Well, he had pulled many pillows and blankets, so saying he slept in a heaven of comfiness would be more fitting. 

 He decided to go and grab a glass of water, and maybe later could check out others. He left his bedroom, quietly walking through the corridors. He had expected to struggle more walking around, but whatever the spell had done must’ve helped him. It was much better than spending time stuck in a bed, so he wasn’t complaining. 

 Something caught his attention and he stopped on his tracks.

 Turning around, he looked at the empty corridor. For a second he thought he saw something. A red, bright light. But looking around, it was clear that the only light was the faint night light- which was yellow colored. He looked around again, just to be sure, and seeing nothing unusual he kept walking. It must’ve been a game of light. 

 As he got into the kitchen he ignored his thoughts about how the light reminded him of him. He did his best to not pay any attention to them as he grabbed a glass and poured water in it. But his grip on it tightened with creeping panic. No, no, no. He didn’t need to think about anything related to him or that day.

 But what if he is around? What if he’s back?

 He tried to block the intrusive thoughts, taking a deep- yet quick- breath and drinking the water. He tried to think of something else. Like how Raph was in his room, safe and home. He was sleeping in a giant mess of way too many blankets, and somehow Leo didn’t see any plushies of his around. Raph always preferred sleeping with them. Leo guessed that he somehow forgot or was too tired to go back to grab one of them after everything. Luckily Leo was close to Raph’s room and he could grab one or two for him. 

 Leo left the kitchen and walked towards Raph’s room. It was a very quick trip, but he had to do his best to ignore the broken parts of the lair. A cruel reminder of yesterday until taken care of, and a deja vu he hated. They had to fix that. Maybe he could help in the morning. 

 He finally reached the room, and grabbed two of Raph’s teddy bears. A new one that Raph loved as much as the rest of his collection, and his favorite, Brown. It was his first teddy bear, worn out with time and love, and yet still held together no matter how many times Splinter had to sew it.

 As he left the room, he heard a noise. Turning around the corner, he saw the doors of Donnie’s lab open. From them stepped out Donnie, and his and Leo’s eyes met. He froze, startled. From behind him Mikey’s sleepy voice heard: “Donnie, move!”

 But Donnie didn’t, still staring at Leo.

 “Frozen like a deer in headlights, I see.” Leo mussed. “What’s it, sneaking into your lab at midnight again and getting caught?”

 This got Donnie talking, rolling his eyes as well, “As if that is the first time ever you got me.”

 

 “Then why are you blocking Angelo’s path, hmm?” Leo smirked.

 Donnie’s eyes widened with realization and he moved, letting Mikey walk out. “What took you so long?” Mikey huffed, then noticed Leo. “Oh, hi Leo! Wait, why are you up? You should be resting!”

 “I wanted to grab a glass of water.” Leo explained, “What are you two doing?”

 “Raph stole our blankets and we decided to get more.” Donnie answered.

 “From your lab?” Leo raised an eye ridge.

 “You were getting a glass of water from Raph’s room?” Donnie retorted. 

 

 “I never said I didn’t visit his room as well.” Leo replied.

 “So didn’t I.” Donnie smirked.

 “Donnie wanted to visit his lab to grab his laptop because he wants to do research about you.” Mikey blurted out, still looking sleepy.

 “Mikey!” Donnie glared at him. “Snitch!”

 “Hey, I came only to stop you from doing anything in your lab and go back to sleep. If I fail to prevent that I get to snitch on you.” Mikey shrugged. “Now can we go back to sleep?” He whined.

 “You heard him, back to sleep!” Leo announced.

 Donnie groaned, but laptop and blankets in hand, he did as he was told to. Mikey took the lead, and the twins followed him. Leo looked at Donnie, “What research do you want to do about me anyway?”

 “I thought it was an easy answer.” Donnie said, looking at him unimpressed.

 “Come on, stop being annoying, I’m serious.” Leo glared at him. 

 Donnie rolled his eyes, but Leo was aware he did it just to annoy him, “I want to know how the spell affected you.” He answered. “What exactly it changed, and how it helped. We need to be sure you are okay.”

 “Didn’t Draxum already give an okay and explain everything in super detail to you?” Leo asked.

 “He did,” Donnie affirmed. Then added, “I don’t trust him.”

 “Valid.” Leo nodded.

 They arrived at Leo's room, and he noticed how Donnie and Mikey were following him. Then he realized that it wasn’t just Raph who was accompanying him. That explained why Raph had so many blankets and no plushies or teddy bears. He turned to Mikey, “How do you manage to escape his bear hugs?” 

 “A Mikey talent baby!” He grinned. 

 Leo put the teddy bears next to Raph, and Mikey got back into the hug. Donnie looked at Leo, after putting down the new blankets and laptop he signed ‘Don’t tell Raph.’

 ‘Only if you sleep.’ Leo signed back.

 Donnie glared at him.

 Leo glared back. ‘You have to rest.’

 ‘I need to make sure you are fine.’ Donnie didn’t stop glaring.

 ‘So do I. All of us had a rough day, Donnie. We can’t be okay without a good rest.’ Leo gave his everything to not cringe at how he sounded like Raph. 

 Donnie’s look became softer. He was considering it.

 ‘We’ll do it in the morning. I promise.’ Leo smiled.

 His twin sighed, finally nodding. ‘Okay.’ 

 Leo watched as he put the laptop on a shelf, away from any possible harm and took his place next to Raph. He wondered why they didn’t lay in the bed with him. But who cared when he could join them. Leo lay down next to Donnie and Raph, smiling as he surrounded himself with one of Donnie’s blankets. 

 “Leo! You are freezing!” Donnie whispered, jerking away.

 “Your problem.” Leo closed his eyes, but he knew Donnie was back to glaring at him. It was nice to know even after everything his family could behave like themselves. He heard Donnie sigh, and very quietly whisper “Dum-dum.” before shifting again and wrapping his arm around him. As he lay among his brothers he thought how lucky he was. It was good to be home, safe, and warm, surrounded by his family.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

 The next morning Leo woke up still surrounded by his brothers, minus Mikey. He always managed to get up early, so he was probably in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Leo yawned, turning a bit to see Donnie was sleeping on his back, one arm covering his face and the other arm next to him. Meanwhile, Raph was snuggling his teddy bears, sleeping like an angel.

 Leo got up as quietly and slowly he could, and walked out of his room. He felt a bit sloppy and his mouth tasted weird, so he decided washing his face before breakfast would do. The lair was quiet, but if he tried he could hear the noise and very faint music coming from the kitchen.

 He opened the bathroom’s light, entered and closed the door. He yawned again, walking towards the mirror. He noticed how his skin looked paler and the new scars first. Well, technically stitches. He knew he had two on his right leg, but he didn’t see the ones where his plastron was broken. A big gap on his left part of his plastron revealed skin, and there were two big stitches. Same side of his shell seemed to be broken too. There was a nick on his plastron, and two big scratches. And a big bruise on his neck. He frowned, but at least it would heal eventually. He couldn’t help but compare himself to Raph’s first teddy bear though. All sewn, the stitches keeping it together. In Leo’s case, the spell was keeping him together. Then he proceeded to look at his face. He froze.

 Bright pink light was staring back at him.

 His heart started beating fast with panic, and he took a step behind. The reflection. No, his reflection. His eyes. No.

 He felt his hands trembling.

 He couldn’t– No no no– Not the same eyes from–

 He found it harder to breathe as he remembered the same colored eyes staring back at him in the technodrome. His brother under control, attacking him, looking with empty red-pinkish eyes. 

 He didn’t want this. Why were even his eyes like that?! He looked like– Like–

 The memory of Leo almost hurting Raph flooded his mind. The moment Raph held him in his grip. The moment he thought it was over. The fear. They had hurt his brother, they would hurt his brothers. 

 The eyes.

 The reflection. Was he one of them? Was that why Donnie stared at him like that? Why he wanted to do research?

 Had he brought a part of krang with him?

 Would he hurt his family?

 Pink glowing eyes.

 How could even they look at him, he wasn’t he. He was just like– would he become–-

 He lowered himself down, his thoughts too messy, and he couldn’t even breathe. He wasn’t safe. He would hurt others. He had to fight it he had to fight it he had to fight it–

 The tightness in his chest got worse. It hurt. But he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t let them control him and hurt his family. The krang must stay sealed! He couldn’t let them come back again–-

 Before he knew it, the world turned black.

⁺₊

☾

⋆

 Leo gasped for air and shot back up. He wheezed, feeling his chest burning with the oxygen. His body hurt, but the pain had already started numbing. He blinked a few times, looking around. Where… oh, right. Bathroom. He saw the mirror. He remembered the eyes. He felt his heart starting to beat fast again, but pushed the fear away. He didn’t want to black out again. He could figure this out. He was still himself right now—

 The door flung open, “LEO?” Donnie shouted frantically. He immediately ran next to him, sitting next to him and inspecting him with a scan. “What happened, are you okay?”

 “Oh hey, Dee.” Leo replied calmly, not letting his twin see his anxiety.

 “Don’t hey Dee at me.” Donnie glared with worried eyes, finishing inspecting the scan results. “Your heart rate was going crazy and–”

 “I’m fine, Donnie.” Leo reassured.

 “–then it stopped beating!” 

 Leo’s eyes widened with shock. “What?”

 “It stopped beating.” Donnie repeated. “You were dead. Again.”

 “But I am not.” Leo replied. He ignored what Donnie just told him. He had just fainted, that was all.

 “Leo.” Donnie said, and as much as it sounded harsh it was a plea for Leo to take this seriously. He was freaking out. Leo couldn’t blame him.

 He sighed, “I saw my eyes.”

 Donnie looked at him confusedly.

 “And maybe I freaked out a little.” Leo admitted. “But it is okay, I am fine now.”

 “Okay, but that doesn’t explain why your heart wasn’t beating for fifteen seconds.” Donnie said.

 “Maybe a glitch on the signal? I don’t know, Donnie, tech is your thing, not mine.” Leo replied.

 Donnie watched him silently, then sighed again. “It is very unlikely, but considering that you had a panic attack and your subcutaneous tracker having a chance of being damaged, I will let it go for now.”

 “Thanks.”

 “Are you sure you are okay?” Donnie asked again.

 “I am, Dee. It is fine.” Leo huffed. Then glanced at the mirror, “I was just wondering if you had an answer for these.” He pointed at his eyes.

 Donnie nodded, “You can be sure I do. According to Draxum, the spell causes minor side effects. It depends on the situation, and the information about it is limited, so there is no clear list. However, every time this has happened, the eyes changing color to pink slash red slash purple or a mixture of them is a common observation.”

 “So this is because of the spell.” Leo said.

 “Positive.” Donnie confirmed.

 “Nothing related to krang.” He said.

 “No relation to the krang, you can be sure of that.” Donnie got back to his feet and offered his hands. “You can fully trust my calculations.”

 “I do.” Leo smiled as he took his hand. “Thanks again, Donnie.”

 “Anytime.” 

They headed out of the bathroom, going to the kitchen. As they left, Leo couldn’t help but look towards the mirror again. He really hoped everything was okay.

[nights-flying-fox]

Hopelessly Surviving

Chapter 1 (AKA Prologue): Ghosty Leo and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Resurrection

They saved Leo, but it was too late. As the family was still not accepting what happened, hours later Draxum shows up, and somehow he has the help they need. Now Leo is back to life, but something is different. Something is wrong and Leo has to figure out what is true and what is not to win this battle (with the help of his family). ☾ Updates every Sunday. ☾

Word Count: 1614 ☆ Fandom: rottmnt ☆ Warnings: temporary character death, if there is anything else i should tag please tell me ☆ AO3 Link: Here!! ☆ Next Chapter: here

Welcome to the Prologue everyone <33 Hope you like it!! Shoutout to @little-banjo-frog for helping me with this chapter (and the titles)!!!! You are the amazing my dude!!!

 ...

 ..

 Gasp.

 Leo shot up as he took a strong breath and wheezed, feeling the pain strong all over his body. His legs were hurting, his shell was thumping, he still could feel the hold on his throat... but the worst of them was the one he felt on his plastron. The one that was so sudden and painful, and he was sure Krang Prime had taken out his heart or something. He was sure he had died.

 But now he was alive.

 And the world- no, Prison Dimension- was blurry and he barely could hear anything (not that there was much except Krang's growls). 

 And yet, he almost could hear more over the sound of his fast beating heart. The coldness of the floor wasn't the rocks he felt every time he was thrown on, but something different. Familiar. Something was off here.

 He blinked, trying to calm down. Trying to ignore the memories that belonged to the moment right before he blacked out. The red light and the sound of the metal suit.

 Something touched him, and he immediately tried to get away. He tried to get on his feet, at least make enough force to be able to leap back or float away. Instead he felt gravity pull him down and he was met with the floor again, this time rougher and colder. …What?

 He blinked again, trying to focus. Whatever he was against, he couldn't escape if he was acting without the knowledge of his surroundings.

 The voices kept calling. There was something- no, someone in front of him. Then he noticed the green and red. 

 Leo froze. He knew those colors. Comforting, safe... It couldn't be. There was no way. But... what if... Leo swallowed, "Raph?" 

 His vision hadn't cleared fully, but he still could see the wide smile on his face. He said something (and Leo knew it was his name even though all he heard was muffled nonsense), and then pulled him into a tight hug. 

 Less than in seconds, he was surrounded by many. Everyone hugged him, holding him. And he knew all of them. He recognized all of these colors and knew the warmth and... and...

 "Am I hallucinating?" He asked quietly. A muffled murmur answered. Leo didn't know what they said. He decided to ask another question, half joking, "Or am I in heaven?"

 As things got less and less blurry, Leo now could see the way they looked at him once he asked it. Their voices had gone quiet too. Just when they were becoming clear, all the muffled left itself to a faint ringing.

 Then he was met with Donnie, his hands holding Leo's face. "You're fucking alive, that's what you are." He said, and Leo saw the tears on his face. 

 "You're home, Leo." Raph added. Leo noticed his hand was on his shoulder, holding him with care.

 He stared at them for a few seconds, trying to progress the words he just heard. Alive and home? Sounded too good to be true, but also... There was no gravity in the Prison Dimension. He wouldn't be able to imagine this warmness even if he wished to.

 He looked at them again. It was them, and they looked at him with the most hopeful, strong and yet vulnerable eyes. Just like how Raph had when he almost fell down from that building. Huh, that felt like irony. He had once again ended up falling and yet was saved by his loved ones.

 And they were here. They were okay, and with him. They held him. Safe.

 This was real. Leo looked at all of them- everyone in his family- one by one. His brothers, April, dad... Of course. Of course they had saved him. He believed they would after all, didn't he?

 Finally he responded, "Holy shit." 

 "Holy shit?" Raph repeated with a laugh. "You got through all this and just say 'Holy shit'?"

 "Hey, I got caught unprepared and unconscious, you can't blame a guy for taking time to process he was saved while he was out of it!" Leo said back, and even though it sounded like he was complaining he was grinning and he could feel the tears forming. He was safe, he was with them!

 Suddenly there was quiet. A quiet that he didn't like. Something was wrong.

 "What, it wasn't you who saved me?" He took a guess. He didn't want to think of the possibility of anything worse happening.

 "Uh, Leo..." Raph began, but he failed to continue his sentence.

 "What?" Leo asked. He was getting impatient, and the grip of anxiety since he woke up wasn't helping.

 "You weren't... ya know... unconscious." Raph struggled, but managed to find the words.

 But Leo didn't understand. "What do you mean?" He questioned, getting more nervous. It didn't make any sense. “What was I then?”

 There was a moment of quiet, and Leo was about to ask again when Donnie spoke : “Dead.”

 “Donnie!”

 Everyone turned to him with various faces of glares and a 'Donnie, what the heck?'. But Leo didn't care about them. "Dead?" He repeated. "Didn't you just say I was alive? Are we really sure this is real?" He laughed nervously, because it started to feel like a fever dream.

 April sighed, "What he means is when we found you you were, well, dead. But Draxum found a way to bring you back." She explained. Then cringed, "Saying it out loud really doesn't make it any better."

 "Draxum?" Leo repeated, and he was doing this a lot lately, didn't he? But he couldn't help it when nothing made sense. "Bring me back? I'm sorry, I'm not following what you're saying." The grip tightened and he felt sick. 

 "Maybe we should've taken this slower." Mikey interrupted. 

 "And give him some space guys." April added turning around him. Leo was glad, because as much as he liked getting a hug from his family, right now everything started feeling a bit too much. 

 “Leo, it's okay.” She talked to him in her gentlest tone he had ever heard. “Do you need some time and space?”

 He didn't answer, instead he asked again. "I... I died?" He was feeling stupid for asking what he has been told many times now but he still couldn't understand. He didn't understand anything. "Guys- what- this doesn't make any sense."

 And then there was the quiet again. He hated the quiet.

 Luckily, none other than his dad knew that better. "Blue, my son. We can explain everything in detail. Well, maybe Draxum could do that better than us," He glanced towards the yokai on the side of the room. Leo hadn't noticed he was watching them the whole time. Heck, he was just now noticing Casey Jr. was in the room (they were in his room!) and was avoiding eye contact. Splinter held his hand gently. "But this can happen later. Now you need to calm down and rest." 

 Leo looked at him, his concerned eyes looking back at him. Then to the others. Okay. Okay he could figure out this later. As long as he wasn't in Prison Dimension it was okay. As long as he had his family with him it was okay. As long as they were okay, it was okay. He didn't have to worry himself with this, nor should worry anyone else. He nodded, "Yeah..." He said, then forced a smile. "Who cares as long as I'm back here anyways. Now tell me how in the name of the Pizza Supreme in the Sky you got me out of there, because what the heck!" 

 "Now that's the spirit baby!" Mikey cheered. 

 Leo opened his arms again, and his family once again were hugging him tightly. Leo looked at Casey Jr, who still was avoiding looking at him. "You too, Casey." Leo called. “Come on!”

 Casey blinked in surprise, then smiled genuinely and joined them. Leo shared that genuine smile as well as he let himself surrounded by the hugs of his family. 

 “How does your bed not break?” Casey Jr. asked after a beat, clear that his curiosity won.

 “Genius Built.” Donnie answered proudly.

 “Oh no, here we go again.” Leo rolled his eyes. “I get out of Prison Dimension and immediately have to hear Donnie infodump.”

 “You cannot hide your amusement from your face, you little liar.” Donnie replied with a smirk. “Weak.”

 “Says the one who's been crying the whole time.” Leo retorded with his own smirk.

 “Cut it you two,” Raph huffed. Then he smiled albeit a bit evilly, “Everyone knows both of you are idiots.”

 “Gasp!” 

 “Betrayal by my very own brother!”

 “Ah, there is the family I know.” April sighed happily.

 “You all are so weird.” Draxum commented, his frown not changing a bit. “But I guess it is good to see you being like yourselves again.”

 “Aww I knew you loved us!” Mikey exclaimed.

 “Tolerate would be the proper word.” He corrected.

 “He definitely loves us.” Mikey hummed.

 “Sure, Angelo.” Leo said sarcastically. But a part of him believed him, or at least the possibility of the yokai warming up to them. All of them. If what everyone told him was true and all… But who cared about any of that now.

 Yeah. It was fine as long as he was with them. As long as he was safe. 

 “Oh, and by the way, since you wanted to know,” Mikey leaned towards Leo's face. As he pushed down Donnie with hands, he took all of Leo's viewpoint with his face right in front of him. “I opened a portal to the Prison Dimension.”  

 “Huh?” 

 He raised his hands, “With theseeee!”

 “You did what?!”

[nights-flying-fox]

A Reminder

Its comfortember again!! A few days late bc while I wrote this on the first day I wrote this to my notebook lol anyways this one is Cass Apocalyptic Future fanfic ( by @/somerandomdudelmao) if you haven't check it out yet, go and read it!! (if you want ofc)

Sometimes Donnie forgets he and his family are safe now.

Fandom: ROTTMNT (CAS AU) | 330 Words | hurt/comfort | click for AO3 | takes place after episode 17, beware of spoilers

 Leo, Raph and Mikey were all back. Donnie, with Casey’s help had made that certain. They time traveled, came back to life.

 But there were times Donnie would have nightmares about everything going wrong. Him not being able to save them, or him getting sick again. As if he still was in danger. As if the Krang would come back and destroy everything he fixed, and everything he’d fix.

 Then his family would join him whenever he woke up with shaking breaths. Some nights Donnie would get up and sit, working on his plans for fixing more things. To bring back more of what he lost, or to make what he had better. It relaxed him, somewhat. Then he’d find out Leo joining him, ask about what he was doing, and comforting without even asking or talking about his worries. Some nights he would just curl next to one of his brothers. Then Raph would sense his worries and give him one of his most comforting hugs ever (and they would be so warm, just like the old times, when they were much younger). Donnie would gladly snuggle, accepting the feeling of being protected and loved. Mikey would be awake sometimes, and he would tell him about some dumb things his brothers while Donnie was away.

 Donnie would forget his worries as they accompanied him. They were here, alive, by his side. He had done it and pulled them back to his side. He had not let anything stop him; Krang, illness, death. He, alongside him Casey, saved them and was reunited with them.

 And most importantly they were safe. The Krang were no more, the war was over (even before it started in this timeline). They no longer had to save resources, to be always on alert.

 Leo, Raph, Mikey, they all were safe, and so was Casey. And his family was here to remind that. Remind him that everything was okay. That he was safe.

 They were safe.

[nights-flying-fox]

Get respored!!!!

[Prev]

[Hop is called Leo here bc it is from his POV!!]

Leo couldn’t move. He was frozen with what he was seeing.

Null was standing in front of Twin-Sync Leo’s corpse, his blade colored red with blood. Something he had seen through Null’s eyes in their memory link was right in front of him. Null slowly turned to him, his expression the same as the day he attacked him. The same as the moment he almost killed him.

Leo wanted to scream. To run and push Null away from Twin-Sync Leo’s body, to tell him to stop because that is not Null. Null has grown to be better, he realized his mistakes and became a better person and he was trying so hard to hold on and–

And–

This wasn’t his brother.

It couldn’t be his brother.

This must be a nightmare.

His eyes focused on the mask Null held– tattered with time, now covered with blood stains.

Not real, not real, not real.

“Hop?”

And yet, Null called his name. Calm. Collected. A contrast to his cold stare. The same way he had found Leo alone, sulking and letting himself freeze.

Leo couldn’t breathe. He was shaking and yet couldn’t take his eyes away from Null. Even when he approached him, blood dripping from his mystic katana.

“Hop, what’s wrong?” He asked, as if everything was okay. As if everything was fine– except Leo himself.

Leo only could shake his head, his eyes briefly landing on the body of his friend laying on the ground lifelessly.

Finally, he managed to speak, “Y-you aren’t real. C-can’t–” He felt his throat knot, and words die before he could finish his sentence.

“Hop?” Null’s deadly eyes didn’t show any emotions. “Are you okay?”

“Stay a-away from me–!” Leo tried to sound serious, but it came out like a frantic beg. Probably because of the panic that didn’t stop. The fear that slipped through his eyes, blurring them, showed itself though his shaking hands.

Null was now right in front of him. Leo knew he should run, or at least fight. But he was frozen on the spot, and he couldn’t look away. He felt like he was stuck, just like every other Leo that was stuck in the Prison Dimension. Except his enemy wasn’t Krang, it was his very own brother.

The deja vu of Raph holding him, ready to kill him, under Krang’s influence. The moment Leo was bleeding because of the wound on his side, Null holding him the same way, ready to kill him. The memories haunted him.

He tried to gasp, and yet, it was much harder. It was too much. The fear’s grip was worse than how it was before. He didn’t have anyone to his tears away from, he was alone. Why should he even fight, if he never had managed to save him. Was it all nothing? Was none of this a reality? Why couldn’t he find the breath to speak, tell he was sorry. A final truth before he dies?

He kept hearing his name.

“Hop?! You’re worrying me–”

Hop. That was his name. After all, Leo wasn’t he. Leo was the kid that lay on the ground dead.

Hop was stuck, frozen.

He was in the Prison Dimension. He was in the Technodrome. He was bleeding on the roof of a building. He was trying to breathe against the grip. He saw the blood and the metal and the last breath of his ancestor. He was alone.

“Kid?!”

He was nothing, letting death himself hold him ever so gently, readying himself against the cold blade sharp as a wolf’s fangs.

“Hey! Hey! Monkey, look at me!!”

Monkey?

Hop– Leo– managed to blink, push himself away. Hardly, with gasps, he looked sharply at Null, “Don’t– Don’t ca-call me that– you can’t— you aren’t him you— no—”

Null silently watched him.

He wouldn’t accept that Null did such a thing, “Stay back!” He growled, biting back a sob. “You changed! I-I know you did!”

He saw Null’s grip on the katana tighten. Leo grabbed his own katana, ready to attack. Then he noticed how strange his hand looked. And then the glitch. The same as Null’s. He gasped for breath when he saw his reflection on the sword. A copy of what Null was, covered in blood and soulless eyes looking back at him.

The same reflection he saw in Null’s memories.

Leo dropped his katana. He couldn’t– no– he—

Everything was too much.

“Monkey, please,” He heard Null speak. “I don't know what you're seeing, but it is not real.”

“Liar.” Leo hissed, his hands still shaking.

In the silence he heard a sigh, “I don't blame you believing it, and I know what I'm asking you is impossible, but I need you to trust me.”

“Trust you?” Leo asked, his voice breaking. He kept looking at the blood in his hands, to the reflection. “I won’t kill like you.”

“We aren’t killing anyone.” Null promised.

“Says the guy with blood on his hands.” Leo retorted. Funny, considering he also had blood on his hands. His friend’s blood.

“I can prove there is no blood in my hands.” Null calmly said.

“How so?” Leo asked, trying to ignore the small desperate hope he felt.

“You said it is on my hands. If so, you should feel it if you touch them.” Null explained.

“You want me to approach you.” Leo replied, cautious. “How do I know you aren’t tricking me?”

Null looked at him, silent. Then he answered: “You don’t.”

But Leo had promised Null he would trust him, didn’t he? He had promised he would be by his side no matter what. Against the fear, his promise, the small light of hope was there. Leo watched him, Null didn’t move. He was just waiting for what Leo would do.

Trust me. That was what Null asked him to do. Could it be..?

He trusted Null. He trusted him with his life many times before, didn’t he? But the corpse of Twin-Sync Leo was still on the ground, and the blood was on their hands.

But he didn’t want it to be real, and a small part of him let the hope beam.

He took a deep breath.

“Okay.”

He walked towards Null, still cautious. He ignored his katana on the ground. He ignored the cold look in his eyes. He stopped for a moment, the fear of what he will feel holding him still for a second. But he reached and touched Null’s hand.

He didn’t feel the blood.

No blood.

He turned to see again and again, seeing the dried sickly red. He gasped, a sob escaping as he shut his eyes and holding his hand tightly. He couldn’t talk, not say a word, just felt the mixture of panic and relief.

He felt Null gently pull him as he walked. Leo followed him obediently, doing his best to push away his fears. “None real?” Leo gasped as he briefly opened his eyes to sit down next to Null.

“None.” Null responded, his tone a contrast to what he was seeing.

“Twin-Sync Leo?” He asked as he held onto Null’s cloak, leaning towards him as he felt like his world was spinning.

“He is fine. Not here.” Null answered.

As if on cue, Leo heard Twin-Sync Leo’s voice:

“Hey guys I– wait. What’s going on?”

Another wave of relief hit Leo and he wasn’t able to hide his tears. He barely heard Null explain what had happened. Then he felt a hand holding his.

“Hey, it’s okay. We are here.” He heard Twin-Sync Leo say. “We got you, pal.”

Leo took a breath, feeling himself calm down a bit. The fear was still here, and he was so tired. He wasn’t sure how long passed since he had lost himself in all of the emotions he felt, and in the nothingness he found himself in eventually. He only focused on Null and Twin-Sync Leo’s presence. It helped that they were here, both grounding him by merely existing. It helped that Twin-Sync Leo kept stroking his hand too. There was a moment they called to him softly, and Leo didn’t find it in himself to answer, but squeezed the hand and held onto the cloak tighter briefly to let them know he was still here… somewhat. He just needed a moment. And he knew they would know. They always did.

Eventually he felt like he was more like himself, he blinked a few times. “Null? Leo?” He looked at them.

“We are here.” Twin-Sync Leo squeezed his hand. “Are you okay?”

Leo hummed, tiredly. “Had been better.”

“Do you still..?” Null began but didn’t finish his sentence.

“No.” Leo answered. He noticed the sighs of relief coming from both of them. He laughed, a bit too forced, “You guys gonna get Raph chasms if you keep worrying like that.”

“Oh shut up.” Twin-Sync Leo pushed Leo gently with his free hand. “At least you are truly doing better.”

“Yeah, I think I am.” Leo sighed. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” Twin-Sync Leo said.

Null was quiet. A bit too quiet. “Big guy, are you okay?” Leo peeked at him.

“I’m fine.” Null responded.

“Liar.” Leo replied. He noticed Null look at him concerned. “I-I didn’t mean it like that.” Leo quickly fixed his mistake. Too soon. “I mean, there is definitely something bothering you.”

Null looked away.

“Don’t you lie to me or look away, you know you can tell us, right?” Leo leaned a bit more on his arm, putting his head on the cloth.

Null sighed, “You can guess.”

“I probably can.” Leo hummed. And apparently he had to. What a shame, he still felt tired. “Okay then, is it the whole spore accident? Am I on the right path?”

Null nodded.

“Alright. Is it… oh.” He realized the possible reason. His fear of what he could do– of himself becoming like him. Oh no. “Null, I didn’t mean to.”

Null avoided looking at him, and Leo knew he had understood that Leo figured it out.

“No, listen. Look at me.” Leo held him and got back to his feet, holding Null and letting go of Twin-Sync Leo’s hand. “Null, what I saw– it has nothing to do with you. Hey, don’t glare away, look at me.” He held his face and turned it to him, so their eyes met. “Trust me. I am not afraid of you, and I know you. I trust you. Don’t let a hallucination fool you as it fooled me.”

“Are you aware it shows what you are most afraid of?” Null said back.

“It does, but fun fact! I am afraid of many things and losing my family and seeing them troubled is one of them! Ending up hurting them or seeing them hurt is one of them! I know you would never do that! I have seen it!” Leo told him, and every word was genuine. “I trust you. I need you to trust me.”

Null was uncertain. Leo knew that. But he needed his brother to trust him. He knew how he was hurt because of what he did in the past, and now he didn’t want him to be hurt just because of some visions Leo saw. A lie can hurt, but hope… trust… his family. They saved him. He just wanted Null to let him save him too.

“Please.” He added. “I would never believe it if it wasn’t those stupid spores, you know that, right?”

Another silence, then– “Alright.” Null sighed. He wasn’t fully convinced, but he still was trying to trust him. He was trying for them, and maybe for himself, and Leo was so grateful for that.

“Alright’s better than nothing, but believe me. I know you, you’re my brother after all.” Leo grinned. Null smiled slightly, rolled his eyes, and grabbed Leo by the tip of his shell.

“We still got a notebook to take back.” Null said, Leo on his hand held like a kitten doing nothing. Sometimes Null reminded him too much of Raph.

Twin-Sync Leo smirked, “Now you are talking. Let’s go back to action, shall we?”

“I thought you wanted a nice vacation.” Leo grinned.

“First gotta kick some mushroom butts.” He replied.

Leo snickered, “That sounds like a great plan! Mushrooms suck anyways.”

Null nodded, then he turned to see Twin-Sync Leo jumping on his shell, hanging on him like Leo often did. “Onwards, big guy!” He announced.

Leo laughed as Null shook his head and grabbed Leo in a more comfortable way, holding him and keeping an eye both on him and Twin-Sync Leo as he went after the guy that caused all this mess.

Leo smiled to himself, watching them. They definitely were his family, a part of him and not only because they were alternative versions of him. But because they loved him, and he loved them. He trusted them and would trust them no matter what…

[Featuring Null from @noxvee6 's Sub-Zero AU and Twin-Sync Leo from @little-banjo-frog 's Twin-Sync (More Than You Think) AU :3 they helped me a lot with this idea and yall should check out them now!!!]

[nights-flying-fox]

Leo Blues

Leon (Future Leo) realizes that his younger self is feeling a bit blue and decides to help him feel better.

I wrote half of this months ago and the other half today. Shoutout to my friend @little-banjo-frog for giving some ideas and helping with the fic!!! :D

This is part of an AU but you don't really need to know context. Just that Future Leo is back to past, and maybe some other family members, and he is hanging out in the lair with others.

Oh also this is inspired by @tmnt-event-blog 's prompt (basically what motivated me to finish it haha)

Word Count: 2530 ☆ Fandom: rottmnt ☆ Warnings: a very brief implication of death/losing someone close ☆ AO3 Link: Here!! ☆

Leon knew himself well. Not himself himself, but his younger self. Leo was a younger version of Leon after all, and Leon knew what it did mean when he sulked away from everyone. 

Today Leo was less chatty, he didn’t leave his room other than to get breakfast and join his brothers to help them with some things. These two things were more than enough to tell Leon his younger self was in a bad mood. 

That is exactly why right now Leon was on his way to Leo’s room. He didn’t tell anyone else, since he knew how he used to be around on such days. Always hiding his negative emotions and keeping it to himself. Not wanting to share the hurt and make anyone else sad. Leon was worried that he wouldn’t talk to him either, but he had to try his chance. What were your future selves if not to help you when needed, right? Ignoring the 'annoying them till they start throwing stuff at you' part, of course.

He knocked the wall before opening the curtain and entering Leo’s room. As he expected, he found the boy sitting on his bed with legs crossed, his phone in his hand but his eyes blankly staring at the ground. Leon wasn’t even sure if he heard him coming. He most probably didn’t, considering how he flinched when Leon put his hand on his shoulder and sat next to him. 

 “Hey, pequeñin ,” He said as he kept his voice low and smiled softly. 

 Leo gave him a confused look before smirking. “Hey, anciano .”

 The older turtle rolled his eyes, but said nothing. He wasn’t here to jokingly bicker with his younger self. “Haven’t seen you around a lot today.”

 “Eh, got stuff to watch and catch up.” Leo shrugged.

  Lies. “Ah, so feeling blue , huh?” Leon stated the fact, but not without smirking at his word choice.

 “Blue suits me well after all.” Leo replied casually, with a wink and matching smirk. 

 Leon felt himself relax a bit, at least his younger self felt comfortable enough to open up with how he was feeling to him, even if it was in the form of joking. “Has no one ever told you being this blue is too much?” Leon asked.

 “I thought you’d know the answer already, considering we share the same sixteen years of the past.” Leo answered.

 “Heh, you’re right. How did I miss that?” 

 The two sat on the bed for some seconds, enough for Leo to slowly lean towards his bed frame and for Leon to come up with a quick plan to repaint Leo’s mood. 

 As he got up he said “I’ll be right back, and don’t worry I’m not bringing anyone.” to Leo. The other was quiet, only watching him leave. 

 Leon’s first destination was the living room. The last place he had seen Leo’s tablet (which he probably had forgotten to pick it up yesterday). Entering in, he saw it was still on the same spot as before. The room was empty, nobody other than Splinter who was enjoying his usual commercials. Leon smiled at the nostalgic scenery. No matter how long passed since he returned to the past, he still couldn’t get used to the fact he once again was back at home. Back to the casual chaotic life he had before the apocalypse. The little simple things would forever make him feel warm. 

 After picking up the tablet, he walked towards his next destination: His room. Or rather his, Future Mystic Hands’ (they really needed a shorter ‘official’ nickname that both Mikeys would accept) and Case’s room. He took the extra blankets (Mikey Two wouldn’t need them anytime soon) and left. 

 Next up was the kitchen, which was the final room to visit before returning to Leo’s room. As he came close to the entrance he heard the chatter. Casey, Donnie and April’s laughter filled the kitchen. The three were sitting on the chairs, mugs of three different kinds of drinks on the table. Casey was the first one to notice him: “Hi Sensei!”

 "Hey Case," Leon ruffled the boy's hair as he walked by him. Casey grumbled in protest, but Leon could see his grin. What a hypocrite. 

 "Will you join us Big Blue?" April asked with a smile, "Mikey's made hot cocoa."

 "Sorry guys, got other plans." 

 "What other plans?" Casey questioned, raising a bow. 

 "Finally catching up on some TV series." He answered.

 "All by yourself?" April asked.

 Leon got two mugs. "Yeah, myself and I." 

 "I see, you mean you and Leo ." Donnie pointed out. "And here Future Boy was telling us some future stories." 

 Leon turned to squint at Casey. "What kind of future stories?"

 "Ummmmm…" Casey looked away. Bad sign. A very bad sign.

 "Nothing you should worry about." April said and sipped from her cocoa.

 "Somehow this makes me worry even more." Leon deadpanned. Then he turned back to what he was doing.

 Donnie smirked, "You'll most likely find out soon anyways." 

 That could only mean an embarrassing story. But hey, two could play that game. "Well, maybe you'll find out more future stories too." 

 "Oh ho ho, tell us all of them man." April sounded excited to learn more embarrassing stories. Leon couldn't blame her, there were a lot of crazy silly things going on even in the doomed future.

 "Maybe not all of them." Casey chipped in, looking with somewhat pleading eyes to his sensei. 

 "Perhaps." Leon replied, meanwhile finishing with preparing the tray with the snacks, leftover pizza and hot cocoa mugs. "But not yet."

 "Leaving us at cliffhanger?" April huffed.

 "I didn't even start saying anything."

 "The trailer was enough." 

 Leon grinned, "Soon in the lair… stories from the future." He said dramatically.

 "Three V.I.P. tickets, please." Donnie said after sipping his probably way too sweet coffee. "For the premiere."

 "We accept payment with story sharing." Leon smirked.

 "Deal. Junior shared plenty." 

 "Sweet."

 Leon turned to look at his protégé. Casey watched with confusion. Then Leon realized that the boy didn't know– or rather didn’t remember. "Do you remember cinemas, Case?" 

 "Yes?" His eyes shined brightly the moment he connected the dots, "Oh!" 

 "...Future didn't have cinemas." Donnie announced his own findings as he thought out loud. "I hadn't considered that."

 "I believe you guys can fill him with some culture of the present?" Leon asked.

 "Of course, there's so much for the Future Boy to discover!" April got her arm around Casey's neck and pulled him closer. Casey smiled, putting down his mug of tea to side hug her. 

 It was good to see the boy had gotten better at being relaxed. Being always on alarm was a hard habit to break from after everything he went through. 

 As the three began talking about all the places and things his future lacked, Leon left the kitchen and headed back to Leo's room.

 The boy was now under the blanket. Leon could tell that he still was on his phone from the subtle light. 

 "Hot cocoa delivery," Leon announced. 

 "Mikey's?" Leo asked from the spot he was in.

 "Yep."

 He peeked and then reached to him, "Gimme!"

 Leon gladly gave him one of the mugs. "If you come out we can share the snacks."

 This perked Leo's interest a bit more. He squirmed out of the blanket, no more laying on the bed. He noticed the rest of what Leon collected on his short trip in the lair. 

 Leon took his place next to him and wrapped the blankets he brought around them. He placed the snacks and pineapple pizza between them, and the tablet in front of them. "What do you wanna watch?"

 Leo shrugged, "Dunno." 

 Good thing Leon was still a Leo. He knew what his comfort movies were and he could use this to his advantage. “Kung Fu Panda?”

“Sure. Are we doing a marathon?” Leo asked.

“You bet. After all, it has been a while since I last saw them.” Leon grinned. He barely could remember the movies, or the days he would watch them with his family thanks to Donnie, in the middle of the apocalypse. He really hoped they could do that again, just not in an apocalyptic situation.

Leo looked at him, with a glint of sadness. He quickly looked away towards the screen. “You better plan watching Secrets of the Scroll too, then.” He said. Voice completely normal, as if it wasn’t him who was hiding under blankets a short while ago.

“You know I will.” Leon hummed. He hadn’t missed that look, and he would help himself. “Before that… is there something you want to talk about? You seemed like you wanted to say something a second ago.”

He seemed uncertain for a moment, “Ah, no. Nope.”

“Are you sure?” Leon knew that this was a lie. “Because whatever you say, stays between us.”

“Yeah, yeah… just…” Ah, there it was. “Remember last night’s patrol?” He said a bit quietly.

Leon nodded, “Yeah. Didn’t you guys end up kicking Stockboy’s butt?”

“Yes… but…” Leo pulled his legs towards himself. “I almost failed.” He whispered.

“But you didn’t.” Leon pointed out, urging his younger self to talk.

“But I almost did!” Leo repeated. His hold on the mug tightened.

“And why is it a problem?” Leon questioned, genuinely. He wanted to know why Leo found it such a big problem.

“Because the last time I failed, everyone I loved almost died .” 

Leo sounded so tired, and equally panicked. And Leon couldn’t even blame him. Not when he did the same thing. Not when he did lose them. Not when he froze once he heard the words.

Leo took a breath, “Sorry, I… I didn’t mean to. I…”

Leon looked at him. The boy he once was. So young, sad, broken… Unfairly punished by a cruel fate. And never ever let himself relax, to be seen weak. Especially after the apocalypse. After losing so much. After becoming a leader, responsible for whatever is left. This boy had almost experienced it. He almost had the same life as him. And even though he managed to escape the hell, he still was suffering from it. Even though he literally had sacrificed himself, he had given his everything to save everyone, he was still hurting thinking of what could’ve been. Of what happened.

And, oh, how unfair that was.

  He put his mug aside, then gently took the mug Leo was holding from his hands (who looked at him confusedly) and put it next to his. Then he pulled the boy into a tight hug. “It is okay, Leo.” He said, voice small but powerful. “It has passed, everything will be alright.”

“But what if I make another mistake? What if everything goes bad again, because of me ?” Leo responded, his voice trying to stay strong but clearly close to breaking.

“You will make mistakes.” Leon said. “You will make so many of them. Just like I did. Even after everything that happened. Even when I was a leader.” He pushed away the memories full of pain, regret, and shame that creeped from the back of his mind. He had learned to accept them, once he had time to recover and focus on himself. Or rather he was learning to, it was a hard process to return to what you had locked to survive. He didn’t want Leo to do something similar, or let his fear destroy him. “And you know what? It is amazing that you make mistakes. It means you are trying something new. You are trying to be better. To learn. That you realize them means you are trying to learn from them.”

“And what if I don’t have time to learn from them the next time I make a mistake?” Leon knew Leo had shut his eyes and was doing his best to not let everything out, to not break in front of him. He was holding Leon tightly too.

“You will have time. Trust me.” Leon affirmed. “After all, what is important is the fact that you are trying. You aren’t giving up. You are trying to be better. And I am so proud of you.” He broke the hug and looked at his eyes. “I know you think otherwise, but you are actually a much cooler dude than me. You are even teaching me new stuff every day.”

Leo smiled a bit, a shaky one. “How so?”

“You were the one to remind me what I always fought for, you are the one to remind me who I was– or rather, I am .” Leon smiled at him. “You are beating yourself up for something impossible, and while I know it is hard to not to do so, I also know you are strong, Leo. And you are never alone.”

And with those words, Leo finally let himself relax and smile. Then Leon saw as tears fell, right before Leo hugged him tightly. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t really have to. Leon knew how much it meant to be reminded of having someone by your side even at the worst times. For someone to confirm even when the world felt like it was ending (which was not an unfamiliar concept for both of them, sadly) things would turn out well. So he held the boy, until he stopped crying and shaking, letting everything out after who knows how long.

When Leo broke the hug and sat, leaning to Leon instead of his bed, Leon patted his head. “How blue are you feeling?” He asked, handing back now luke warm hot cocoa. Somehow, they hadn’t gone cold, which to be honest was weird.

“Less than before.” Leo smiled. “I never had thought I’d end up getting hugs from my older self, but here you are.”

“Isn’t it insane?” Leon replied with a smirk.

“It is.” Leo grinned. Then he added. “Thank you.”

“Don’t even mention it.” Leon replied. “Now drink your cocoa and get ready, because I want to watch Kung Fu Panda.”

Leo grinned. “Sure thing, old man.”

“No, even after those hugs? You are cruel.” Leon teased.

“Those are just facts.” Leo smirked. Then he sipped the hot cocoa, “Mmm, this is good.”

“I bet it is.” Leon said as he sipped his. Oh, it was even better than he remembered it to be. “It really is…” He nodded. He had missed this so much.

“So are we watching the movies or..?” Leo asked, a fake hastiness in his tone.

Leon laughed, “Yeah, let’s start.” He grinned as he opened the movie.

He didn’t think much of it, but he was grateful for Leo. He wouldn’t ever talk about it, but those words he told his younger self? He needed to hear them too. He had forgotten them. He may have had his family back, but still sometimes it was hard to remember things weren’t always bad. That things would be okay in the end, and that he wouldn’t ever be alone.

So in the end of the day, both blue masked turtles had ended up feeling better– or as they would call it, less blue.

[nights-flying-fox]

This one is a bit short, but Dimension Hopper Leo AU fic update!! As promised for @tmntaucompetition propaganda, here is chapter 3 :]

[nights-flying-fox]

Baby's First Halloween

Mikey forces Draxum joining him and his family for trick and treating.

My @rottmnt-secret-gifting gift for @bambiraptorx :] Happy Halloween!! Don't judge the title, I am either very good with them or terrible with them TwT Sorry this is shorter than I planned, but I hope you still like it!!!! I saw that your fics featured Draxum a lot so I tried writing something that is both Halloween themed and from his pov, I hope he is in character and you enjoy it :> Also on AO3 <33

 Baron Draxum had yet to understand humans. Yet to like them. But he had thought he had an idea of them (other than the fact they all were annoying). Spending months among them had given him a new chance to observe them better. At some aspects they were just like he expected them to be. In other aspects though, they proved to be more interesting than he thought they were. That wouldn’t happen often, but still was worth mentioning.

 Nowadays he didn’t have a problem living among them, he had gotten used to them, and to their behavior. He knew the basics; he knew what to expect from their society.

 Then Michelangelo showed up at his door with a costume in his hands and Draxum once again was lost.

 “What the heck is a Halloween?” Draxum stared at the mutant.

 “You don’t know Halloween!?” Mikey exclaimed. “It is okay, I can teach you everything!”

 “I am not interested.” Draxum replied.

 “Too late!” Mikey grinned as he walked in. Draxum knew he had no way to escape from the boy. He let Mikey get in with the costume he held. “So, Barry, Halloween is a human holiday- one of the best even- which I’m sure you’ll love!”

 “I doubt that.” Draxum had learned about some. They were nothing like yokai holidays, and they made no sense at all. He was sure this would be no different.

 Mikey sat on to the couch and placed the costume by his side. “Halloween happens during the night of 31st of October, and people celebrate it by trick and treating, watching horror movies, putting scary decorations everywhere…”

 “Is that why I have been seeing bat and pumpkin replicas everywhere?” He asked rhetorically, interrupting the teen.

 Mikey grinned, “Yep! People like to decorate and get into the Halloween spirit early! That’s what October’s about baby!”

 Draxum gestured to the costume in front of him, “What’s with the costume?”

 “Oh! I made it for you!” Mikey beamed. “The most important thing of Halloween is how you look. You gotta wear a costume if you are celebrating it. And you’ll terrific!”

 He reached and held the costume in his hands. “You dress up ridiculously?” Draxum questioned, inspecting the costume with more detail now.

 “Sometimes some people do, but majorly it is about looking scary.” Mikey explained.

 Draxum eyed the costume again. He couldn’t see how these clothes were supposed to be scary. He didn’t mention that though.

 “I mean, you don’t exactly have to wear a costume since this whole situation”- Mikey gestured to Draxum like whenever his family said that phase- “but, traditions are always better!”

 Draxum suddenly realized what Mikey meant, “So that’s the thing all the yokai got excited about every October.”

 “Huh?” Mikey blinked at him with confusion.

 “Every year yokai get excited about going to surface and walking among humans freely for a night.” Draxum explained. “I never understood the excitement for a thing like that, and so I didn’t find it worth to check and lose the time I could prepare my plans.”

 Mikey hummed, “Humans somehow can’t tell the difference between mutants and costumes most of the time, which is much better for us!”

 “As I had said before several times, they aren’t smart.” Draxum commented.

 “Don’t be rude, Barry!” He got up, “After all we’ll have some fun among them soon.”

 Draxum looked at Mikey, and then at the costume. “I’d rather to pass the offer.”

 Mikey shook his head, “No! Way!” He exclaimed. “You are joining us this Halloween!”

 “You?” Draxum didn’t like how it sounded.

 “Yep! Since you have never enjoyed this amazing holiday, why not join us?” Mikey said, hugging Draxum’s arm.

 The mutant raised a brow, “I am not sure if your family would like that idea.”

 “They won’t mind.” The boy chirped happily. Draxum wasn’t convinced but he didn’t try to fight against him.

 And so Draxum was once again had found himself in a situation he never expected to be in, thanks to Michelangelo. He had no idea why, but the boy always found a way to make him join his ideas or do what he asked for. Maybe it was because of how it was almost impossible to escape Mikey’s persistence. (It was definitely not because he cared for the boys he had created. Not at all.)

 He looked at the costume again and sighed, he was gonna hate it.

 He hated it.

 Mikey had made him some sort of red imp like costume. Draxum had no idea how the boy had managed to get him wear it (maybe it was the fact behind his niceness he hid the scariest person known to a yokai). When the rest of boys and April had seen him, they burst into laughing. By the way they joked, he suspected that him they were very excited to see him like that for a long time. Leo made so many terrible jokes and teased him the whole time, more than others. So much that Draxum was sure even the others were tired of his puns. He also knew that Donnie and April had taken many pictures of him. All Draxum was glad nobody that knew his glorious days (other than the Hamatos) saw him like that.

 Eventually they moved to trick or treating part. He still didn’t understand any of this. A part of him wished people would let them do their trick, so he could show what powers he got and scare all of them. (He was sure that was the meaning of trick.) Just like the old days. Shame it wasn’t “safe or legal”. Humans seemed to be afraid of him even in this ridiculous costume, so that was somewhat better.

 As the night kept going on, Draxum noticed the many yokai walking among the streets. Some having fun, drinking and enjoying the night in a different way, some spending time by trying out or checking out normal human things and technologies. They all seemed very happy. Both humans and yokai… odd. Then he looked back at the boys. They seemed very happy too. Even Leonardo was not caring that Draxum tagged along (by Mikey’s force). It was different than any other night. One night free for all to walk among each other peacefully.

 Maybe Halloween wasn’t that bad.

 After a time, they finally returned to the lair, where Splinter laughed so much that he ended having cramps and a coughing fit. Draxum had retorted pointing out how stupid his costume looked, but Splinter paid no mind telling him how amazing it looked on him and that Draxum had no taste at all. Draxum disagreed, not understanding at all how the stupid fake teeth and cape looked amazing on him.

 Then as the teens examined the candies they collected (which was surprisingly a lot); Splinter began searching for something. He victoriously announced, “I found it!”

 “What is it, rat?” Draxum asked, more to kill time than being curious.

 “Lou Jitsu’s special edition horror movie marathons.” Splinter explained proudly.

 Draxum looked at the small box Splinter held. “I thought you were an action movie star?”

 Splinter stared at him, “You are so uncultured…. Thankfully tonight you will see some real good stuff.”

 Draxum rolled his eyes, “How even your movies considered good?”

 Draxum wouldn’t admit, but they were good. Not only Splinter’s old horror movies which were more of a comedy in Draxum’s opinion, but the other movies too. The most recent ones were mostly accurate about gore details too. When Draxum mentioned that it, Donnie gladly agreed pointing out some inaccuracies. As the two agreed, the rest of them were trying shushing them so they could watch the rest of the movie properly. Draxum heard how Leonardo whined, “There are two of them now”. Draxum ignored that comment, only thinking about how it meant that Donnie was good at catching details and had knowledge over that. Even though some parts made him uncomfortable, the boy had knowledge.

 At some point Raph fell asleep. Mikey, who was hiding under a blanket next to him trembled. Leo kept his hand on the blanket, watching the movie playing with candy bag in his lap. Donnie sat on the ground with his own candy bag, occasionally commending about the movie and whispering to April, who sat next to him some things about the movie. Splinter eventually fell asleep as well.

 Draxum found it interesting. How they didn’t mind him around. How this wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be (minus the costume). How it was tolerable to watch the teens joke around, scaring each other at times under the projector’s light.

 Hours passed, as the movie marathon continued one by one, they fell asleep. Draxum could stay awake longer if he wanted, but he let himself rest as well, as the rest of them slept deeply.

 At some point he heard someone getting on his feet, he felt a blanket on himself. Once he looked, he saw Splinter with another blanket, heading towards Leonardo. He had brought blankets and pillows for them all. Draxum didn’t understand why he would do that. (At least why would he bring him one. That didn’t make any sense.)

 Then Splinter saw him, “Go back sleeping before you wake them up Draxum,” he whispered. “It is three in the morning.”

 Draxum was going to say something, but he found himself not responding. Splinter was right, he could wake them up. So, he decided to not to say a word, and do as he told him to do. Meanwhile, Splinter went back to his spot, with a blanket and a pillow going back to sleep as well.

 As he fell asleep, Draxum thought. Maybe this was why it wasn’t that bad. Because even though he was forced to join them, they still included him. Because they showed him what Halloween was. And while Draxum would never say that to them, maybe it was great to spend time with this family, more than he ever thought it would be. After everything, perhaps this was a nice change…

[nights-flying-fox]

Deep (Purple) Thoughts (and Realizations)

◇ Click here to read on AO3 | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 ◇

Chapter 5: Talk It Out Donnie shares some information.

Word Count: 1743 | CW: manipulation (kind of??), self blaming (not donnie tho), mentions of genocide, survivor's guilt

(if you think i should add something plz tell me)

 

 Controlling the Technodrome was an exciting idea at first. Donatello Hamato, the first person to fly a spaceship! His dreams from childhood were about to become real. Then he had discovered how disgusting it was. Icky, slimy, alive. The texture on its own made Donnie nauseous. But he could do it, for he was a genius, and this must not stop him. Not when he had said he could. Not when his family’s lives were on the stake. So, he had forced himself. With Mikey’s support the situation being a bit bearable. With every step it got worse. He had to use himself, not just his hands.

 So, he let himself fall into the spaceship.

 At first it felt as if he was being captured. Technodrome’s parts holding him, becoming a part of him. Then he had gasped. Connected. He had control. He knew everything! He could use it, protect his family and be powerful! He had knowledge!

 With ease he controlled the Technodrome. He let it move according to the plan, protected Mikey. He knew why he was there and what he could do. But he wanted more. He could do more. He wasn’t just Donnie, he was also a spaceship. He was a genius with power and knowledge.

 Donnie looked at the ground. “Except knowledge isn’t always good, it turns out.” He spoke. “Not when you can see what the Krang did.”

 The silence felt too long, too heavy. He knew his family were giving him time, he appreciated it. And he wanted to tell them what happened. It was just hard. He felt his hand being squeezed. Raph smiled at him, supportive. Donnie took a deep breath.

 “During my time connected with Technodrome I felt invincible. I didn’t care about what I learned. I... I even could understand why Krang wanted power.” He didn’t want to admit it. But he didn’t want to lie. It was what had happened, what scared him. “Afterwards it changed. Everything I knew, it was terrible. The planets they had taken over, the wars... I am glad we stopped them.” He didn’t want to get into the details. Not wanting to talk about how Technodrome was a corrupted thing, alive.

 “Donnie...” He heard April whisper.

 Before she could continue, he talked again. “The spaceship didn’t whisper or talk like in the horror movies. But it seemed to try control me too.”

 “Control you?” Raph asked.

 “It wanted me to join them.” Donnie replied. “At least that’s my guess.”

 Another silence. He looked at them. Raph looking at him with understanding eyes, Mikey seemed to be worried, and Leo looked at him with wide eyes. Horror, guilt.

 “Don’t blame yourself dumdum.” Donnie warned. He knew his twin well enough to stop him spiraling into self-hate. And not because they’d comfort each other when they had these moments of heavy guilt or self-hate at times.

 “I shouldn’t have asked you to do something like that without knowing what exactly was it.” Leo said. “I am sorry Donnie.”

 “Don’t.” He cut him off. “I wanted to do that anyway. It was an efficient information against the Krang as well.”

 “You learned about their genocides.” Leo pointed out.

 “Exactly. And that’s why what you did was insane, reminder.” Donnie glared at him.

 Leo huffed. “Can’t even apologize and have a heartfelt moment without being accused with your past decisions.”

 Donnie grabbed the pillow he was sitting on and threw it on his face. Leo yelped, “Hey!”

 “You deserved it, idiot.”

 “Rude.”

 Suddenly Donnie was pulled into a side hug. He didn’t need to look to know it was Rapha. The big guy had that emotional look on his face. “Raph gets it, and he is very proud of you sharing this.”

 “Thanks Raph.” Donnie said, relaxing in the hug a bit. He was still feeling the nervousness from remembering everything, but he didn’t mind Raph’s hug. It was comforting. Then he decided to ask something he was wondering for a long time, hopping it wouldn’t hurt Raph now. “When you were... you know... was it like that too?”

 Raph took a deep breath. “Kind of?” He replied. Then voice a little quieter, and yet bravely he explained. “I didn’t see what you did see, at least not during my time like that, but my mind was empty and all I felt was needing power and accomplishing my mission.”

 That was enough for what he wanted to know. Donnie decided to not ask anything else. “I’m sorry big guy.”

 “It is fine.” He said. “Genuinely, I appreciate everything guys. You helped me a lot in the past weeks.”

 It was true. Raph, unlike Donnie, had accepted help. Had admitted remembering parts of his time under Krang’s control, and that he had nightmares often. Raph didn’t want to tell them everything about that time, but he had shared enough for them to understand. Enough to get help. Maybe Donnie should’ve done the same.

 “Is there anything we can do to help you Donnie?” Raph asked.

 He still could, actually. “I...” He began, whispering. “...I don’t have nightmares but... there are times I fear I will feel like that again.” He admitted. “I can’t sleep.”

 “So, this is why you spent hours awake during our turtle pile.” Raph realized.

 Donnie nodded. Okay, end of the emotional stuff, right? He didn’t want to go into more details anyway. “That’s all from me. So, uh, we can move on?”

 “You are terrible at this.” April shook her head with a smile. “But we can work on it. Right, Mikey?”

 Mikey was uncharacteristically quiet. When all eyes were on him, he blinked confusedly, “Sorry, I was thinking something.”

 “Something?” April raised a brow.

 “Mhmm.” He was still fidgeting.

 Nobody was going to let it slip, Donnie knew that. He was proven right when Raph smiled softly at Mikey, “Want to join to hug?”

 Mikey looked at him with big eyes before nodding. As Mikey wrapped his arms around them, Donnie noticed his arms trembling slightly. “Is it your arms?” He questioned.

 “No.” He replied.

 “What’s wrong, big guy?” Raph asked softly.

 Quiet. Then, “I should’ve done more.”

 “What?”

 Mikey snuggled more towards Raph, “I should’ve done more to help. Then none of you would’ve ended up this hurt.”

 Donnie looked at Raph, confused. Raph looked back him with surprise. Before any of them could say anything though, Leo talked. “Mikey, what the shell are you talkin’ about? You literally broke some science law stuff to save my tail that day.”

 Mikey turned slightly to look at Leo, “But I didn’t do anything like you did.” He said. “Raph got everyone safe, Donnie controlled a spaceship, April, Dad and Junior got Krang Sister, and you stopped Krang Prime!”

 Everyone looked at him confused. “Mikey, you realize that without you I could have ended up be dead, right? Heck, we all would be, considering it is your future version who sent Junior back in time.” Leo said. “You even threw a freaking building at Krang.”

 “...It still doesn’t feel enough.” Mikey whispered. “I am sorry, it doesn’t make any sense.”

 “Actually, it does.” April interrupted. She turned to Shelldon who was watching them all silently the whole time. “I am not sure, but wasn’t there something about feeling bad for not going through something others did?”

 Shelldon was quick to answer, Donnie feeling proud at how fast Shelldon could gain information on situations like this. “The closest match seems to be survivor’s guilt.” He answered. “Survivor guilt or survivor's guilt is a mental condition that occurs when a person believes they have done something wrong by surviving a traumatic or tragic event when others did not.” He explained, reading an article he found. “Survivor’s guilt is a response to an event in which someone else experienced loss, but you did not. While the name implies this to be a response to the loss of life, it could also be the loss of property, health, identity or a number of other things that are important to people, is another definition from a different a source.” He added.

 “Close enough, thanks Shelldon.” April turned back to Mikey. “Maybe it’s something like this?”

 “Oh. How didn’t I think of this?” Mikey questioned with surprise.

 “It’s okay, even Doctor Feelings can forget details.” Raph tried to reassure him.

 “That’s why he should take a break.” Leo said. Then he proceeded to join the hug. “And you too. You did amazing back there, Mike. Don’t let your thoughts deceive you.”

 “As an exception, I have to agree with him.” Donnie nodded. “You were very brave back there, Angelo.”

 “Thanks guys.” Mikey smiled with teary eyes. “You are the best.”

 April joined the hug as well, “So are you.”

 Donnie was sure things were already better. Now only if his dumdum twin opened up too—

 “Hey, Raph, if you don’t mind me asking,” Leo suddenly broke the comforting silence. “When you answered Donnie’s question… Is there something you haven’t told us?”

 Donnie turned to Raph. If Leo suspected of something, it was worth to follow his lead. He was a good observer. Raph avoided to look at them, so it should be true that Leo was right.

 “It isn’t that important.” He shrugged it off.

 “Are you sure? You seem to be stressed about it.” April said, “You know you can tell it to us if it bothers you.”

 Raph sighed, “I don’t wanna burden you guys with that. Really, I can handle it.”

 “Okay… but don’t burden yourself.” Mikey reminded. “If it we can, we will help. Just tell us.”

 “Thanks for the support, Mikey.” Raph smiled genuinely.

 Mikey hugged him tighter as a response.

 Donnie watched as Raph looked at the ceiling. He was considering. Donnie knew Raph would see nightmares that wouldn’t let him sleep. Raph was no night owl, it troubled him a lot. Even if he had tried to hide it, it would have been obvious. But Donnie had never thought there being another possible reason keeping him awake.

 He held his hand and squeezed. A silent support, a reminder that they were here. Something the siblings would do when one of them was having a bad day and not being able to talk. Or when the world would become too loud for words. Or just when they wanted to remind each other they were by each other’s side without telling it.

 After a moment, Raph squeezed back.

[nights-flying-fox]

It's Not Always the Rabbit Who Takes the Wrong Turn

Chapter 2: Two Leos, No Leo

Leo wakes up somewhere very familiar, and yet not. Meanwhile Donnie has a theory.

Word Count: 3477 ☆ Fandom: rottmnt ☆ Warnings: brief mention of wounds, nothing else ☆ AO3 Link: Here!! ☆ Previous Chapter: AO3 / Tumblr

 Leo wasn’t sure what was going, or why he was sleeping in such an uncomfortable place (his bed wasn’t like this). A buzzing sound of loud chatter filled the place too, which was the worst. He hardly could make up words.

 “It wasn’t me-”

 “-no –machine—”

 “I—clone—eo—”

 He knew those voices.

 “Then how—o Le—”

 Family, it was his brothers.

 It was them.

 His mind was slowly catching up with reality. As sounds became more and more clear, Leo’s memories of what had happened returned to him as well.

 “Please Casey—”

 “They all die!”

 “It isn’t about me.”

 Leo opened his eyes wide open, shooting up with the sudden worry. His family, he had to be sure they were okay. He had to see them.

 “L-leo! Slow down, you’ll hurt yourself!” He heard Raph before seeing him. There he was: big, strong, healthy. All good, just a few healing wounds. He looked all okay.

 “R-raph?” Leo asked, voice a bit weak.

 Raph examined him while he placed Leo back on the bed carefully. “Is it really... really you? Leo?”

 Leo had priorities though. “Are you okay?”

 “Wha- oh- yes I am good, but I need you to stop moving.” Raph said softly.

 “I—” Leo tried to move to look at him better, but the sudden pain made him gasp. He cursed under his breath, wincing.

 “The painkillers should kick in soon.” He sighed, clearly not happy seeing Leo like that.

 Geez, Krang must’ve hit him badly back on Technodrome. And when he was returning home. Eugh. At least his family knew the basics of healthcare, he was grateful for that. Talking about wounds and family... “How’s everyone? Dad, Donnie, Mikey, April? Casey Jr.?”

 “Everyone’s okay, see?” Raph smiled, albeit his worry was still readable on his face. He gestured to the space around them, and Leo followed his direction. To be honest he was surprised he hadn’t seen Donnie and Mikey before. They were behind Raph, looking at him. Leo couldn’t see any injuries, much to his relief.

 Except... those scars (or they were burns? They looked like lighting scars though...) on Mikey weren’t here before. He turned to Raph to ask, but then he noticed the healing wounds he had seen before were scars, fully healed.

 ...Had he slept that long?

 “Are you really Leo?” Mikey asked, distracting him. Beside Mikey, Donnie looked at him in a way that made Leo’s worries worse. It was that untrusting face, the suspicious one. Had something happened to Leo, like in Jupiter Jim’s New Adventures Vol. 7 where JJ’s appearance was altered? Oh, pizza supreme in the sky please no! He was the face man (and the leader, sadly), he couldn’t lose his good looks!

 Leo smiled at his brothers, not letting his thoughts spill out. “The one and only!”

 “Don’t be so sure about that, pal.” His voice said back. Leo turned towards the sound’s direction and saw his own face looking back at him.

 Leo stared at him, then turned back to look at his brothers. “Not to worry you guys, but I think I hit my head worse than I thought.” It was probably the concussion. Yeah.

 His brothers glanced at each other, nervous. Oh, they were worried. He didn’t miss how Raph glanced at the other Leo too.

 “Guys, I’ll be okay, no big deal.” Leo tried, but the pain wasn’t helping. Ugh, he really wanted to get over this and figure out what was wrong with his body right now. “It is just a few injuries—”

 “Shell cracked, wounds on right leg and also broken, rib damaged and a broken bone. A few minor wounds. The rest is nothing that won’t heal in a day or two.” His other self interrupted.

  Oh it talks too! How great. “I wasn’t talking to you, halluci-leon.” Leo huffed. “You’d expect yourself to understand that.”

 Other Leo rolled his eyes, “You’d expect the stranger doppelganger of yours connect the dots faster, but here we are.”

 “Leo! Be nice to yourself!” Mikey scolded.

 “He can handle a few jokes.”

 “You are seeing him too?” Leo turned his attention back to his brothers. Mikey nodded, so Leo asked the next logical thing: “Ooookay, what did Donnie do this time?”

 Donnie gasped, a bit dramatically in Leo’s opinion, “How dare you too! As if I’ve ever broken Papa’s rules.”

 Everyone in the medbay turned to him, various expressions of disbelief on their faces.

 “You all are terrible.” Donnie crossed his arms.

 “Love you back, Dee. Anyway,” Other Leo looked back to Leo, “I don’t think Donnie did something this time.”

 “Then what’s going on?”

 “We were hopping you’d tell us.” Other Leo said. “You’re not a Casey Junior case, are you?”

 “Uh, no.” Leo noticed the relieved breaths.

 “Are you a clone?” Donnie asked.

 “No.”

 “Are you a shapeshifting alien that fell from the sky via a meteor and is trying to trick us to eat us and then replace us with your kind?”

 “No. Mikey, what the heck?”

 “Okay, this doesn’t make any sense if you keep saying no.” Other Leo groaned.

 “It is not like I don’t want to help here.” Leo glared at him. He was as lost as they were, and it lowkey began making him feel rather anxious. “How about we try different questions?”

 “Good idea. Uh, what year is it for you?” Raph asked.

 Leo smiled. Big guy most likely had an idea. “2020.”

 “You know Casey Junior, so did the invasion happen?”

 “Kicked Krang butts, stopped it from happening.” It sounded so simple when he said it like that.

 “How long did it pass since that?”

 “Well, you see, I just got out of the Prison Dimension.”

 “YOU DID WHAT?!”

 “WHAT?!”

 “OMIGOSH.”

 Yelling and his other self looking at him in shock. This went on better than he expected.

 “How did... what...” He mumbled before taking a deep breath, “How did you get outta there?”

 “Portaled myself out...” Leo replied, a bit distracted by how everyone reacted. “Am I missing something? Like I get it, it was a dangerous decision and all that but this is not the reaction I was expecting.”

 “You are looking almost all fine, for the starters.” Other Leo said, “I wasn’t as good looking as you buddy. Congrats avoiding some punches, good for you!”

 “Not just that, but did you say you portaled yourself out?!” Raph gasped.

 “You didn’t even have the time to progress everything that happened to you!” Mikey exclaimed.

 Amongst the worried talking, Donnie interrupted. “Gentlemen, do you realize what does this mean?”

 “What?” Leo was going to handle the other information later.

 All eyes turned to Donnie. “Your portaling has malfuctioned and you ended up in the wrong timeline.” He explained.

 Leo blinked. Portaled myself to the wrong timeline?! “Are you sure about that?”

 “That’s the most likely theory I got.” Donnie confirmed. “We need to get on some details to confirm it though.”

 “Maybe Draxum or Junior can help too, right?” Mikey smiled.

 “If we ever need help, perhaps.” Donnie was still not fond of the idea of asking for help from Draxum, but this was a better answer than the ones they’d gotten in the past months.

 “At least that explains some things...” Other Leo sighed.

 Leo was glad for the answers, but unfortunately, the answers didn’t help his worries. Made them worse even. “I need to go back.” He tried to get up, but Raph stopped him.

 “You can’t until you heal properly.” He said softly.

 “Raph, I know you mean well, but I need to go back to my timeline.” To his timeline, and to his family. To his brothers and sister and father and friends, who were all beat up and probably mourning him.

 To his family, to the place he belonged.

 “I don’t think you can portal yourself back like this. You might end up hurting yourself worse.” Other Leo said. “Trust me, just stay like this for a week. With how Draxum created us, your bones will heal in no time. So will your shell. I am sure your ninpo needs healing too.”

 “My ninpo?”

 “Overuse of ninpo can be damaging.” Mikey informed.

 Leo wondered how did he know this. Or why.

 As if he read his mind, Mikey elaborated. “Casey Junior explained that in the future because of the overuse of ninpo his Mikey suffered a lot from side effects. Draxum agreed too.”

 “What sort of side effects?” Leo asked.

 “Wounds on body, damaging your ninpo extremely badly, aging faster...” Mikey began counting.

 “Aaaand that’s why I must run some tests on you.” Donnie interrupted, goggles on his eyes.

 Tests didn’t sound fun right now, “They better be quick.”

 “I don’t think you should worry.” Other Leo said. “Though that explains the wounds in your hands.”

 What wounds..? Leo turned to look at his hands, bandaged. He didn’t feel any pain, but it was probably the painkiller. Good to see it was starting to work. Then he looked at Mikey again. His arms, the strange wounds—

 “Are those scars from overuse of ninpo?” Leo was looking directly at Mikey.

 He avoided his eyes, “Yes.”

 “What happened?” Was it during the Krang attack? After? Did his Mikey get those wounds, or could he stop that?

 Silence.

 Now, that won’t do. He was wounded, tired, and confused. He wanted answers, and he was going to get them. “Okay. Since no one is talking I guess it was bad. Did that happen during the Krang invasion attempt?”

 Raph sighed, “Yes, it did. But I am not sure this is the right time to talk about this.”

 “No, it is! I need to know, so when I go back, I can help.”

 “I don’t think you can do that.” His other version said. “That happens while you’re in the prison dimension. Or rather, probably around the time you escaped or shortly after that. Donnie, correct me if I am wrong, but even if after a week he manages to portal himself back at the same time he left, there isn’t much of a chance he can stop it, right?”

 Donnie hummed, “I don’t think he can even manage to go back to the time he left. Though time is a tricky concept, and there are many theories, and—”

 “Alright, alright, I get it. Fine.” Leo was so not in the place to listen to detailed explanations of time and space. Not when his mind was getting more and more nervous. “So let’s say I can’t go back for a week like you said, I need to know. Post Krang, what happened? What have I caused to change?”

 Did I put anyone in danger again?

 They clearly didn’t want to talk about it. Couldn’t blame them. Leo wanted to forget that day too, but he couldn’t. Not when he didn’t know his family’s fate.

 Finally other Leo took a step forward, “I wasn’t able to keep my katanas. I got trapped in the Prison Dimension with... him.” Leo watched as other Leo stopped for a brief second. “I am not sure for how long, but until Mikey ripped space and time to save my butt.” He smiled towards his little brother, “Our mystic warrior, Raph, and Donnie got me out. Closed the portal. Raph had some scars, he and Donnie both had similar wounds to Mikey’s on an arm but it wasn’t anything too serious. Even Mikey’s healed pretty fast. Donnie was stubborn but Mikey told us about his shell, some wounds there, but it was all stuff they can do without us. Dad, April, Junior, they all were fine too.”

 Those were good news. No major injuries that they’d need his help. Good.

 “To be honest, it was me who was beat up badly. So in your timeline that does not happen.” Other Leo turned his attention back to Leo, “Like I said, lucky.”

 Leo cringed, “Eugh boi, glad I wasn’t you. No offense.”

 “None taken.”

 There was something Leo wasn’t telling him, but he didn’t want to dig into that. Not when his brothers were here. It could be something that should stay between Leos.

 “How’s the scan, Don?” Other Leo turned to his twin, who no longer wore his goggles.

 “I couldn’t find anything new.” Donnie replied.

 “Good! Then you can go back home right after you heal, but we should probably ask Draxum first.”

 Mikey was right, but that didn’t mean Leo was happy about that. He wasn’t fond of Draxum’s company as much as his twin. “Just make sure he does not throw me off the roof or the window or something.”

 “You are never gonna let it go, will you?” Raph asked, most likely tired of hearing the same thing again and again after almost two years of the event. Too bad for him, he was going to hear it for forever.

 Both Leos answered at the same time: “Nope!”

 Donnie glared at them, “There is two of them now. We are doomed.”

 Mikey’s face lit up with realization, “We still haven’t figured out how to call you, other Leo!”

 “Easy, Lameonardo.” Raph teased.

 “Come on Raph, you can do better than this.” Leo smirked.

 “I think other me deserves a great title, like World’s Greatest Ninja.” Other Leo joined.

 “We are so not calling any of you like that. Never.” Donnie glared.

 “How about something silly, like uhh Poptart?” Mikey suggested.

 “Poptart?” Leo repeated.

 “I am hungry.” Mikey shrugged. “How about uh- double marked Leo?”

 “Double marked?” Leo asked.

 “Because there are two Leos and that makes double marks!” Mikey grinned.

 “Sorry Mike, but that doesn’t make any sense at all. Maybe if he had some sort of extra markings then maybe it could work.” Other Leo replied.

 “What was the Spanish word... tio? Ah no...” Raph struggled to remember.

 Meanwhile, Leo cringed, “Please don’t call me tio, it literally means uncle.”

 “I was trying to find the word for brother.” Raph explained.

 “Hermano. But I dunno, not really a nickname.” Leo hummed.

 “You know, we could call you Neon.” Other Leo said. “Like... Neon Leon. But you’re the Neon and I am the Leon.”

 Leo smiled at him. Like the name he had chosen for the video game records. “That’s not bad, other me.”

 “Thank you other me.” Other Leo made a dramatic bow. No- Leon made a dramatic bow. Right.

 One week. He had to wait for a week, and then he could go home. He could do that. All he wished was that his family would wait for a week too. Just one week.

 Donnie had never felt like this before. He didn’t exactly know what this feeling was. Worry? Sadness? Anger? Desperation? Maybe it was all of them together.

 His dumdum twin had just sacrificed himself.

 Not only that, but his dumdum twin’s tracker didn’t work. Donnie couldn’t see his vitals or his location!

 "I don't understand!" Donnie kept staring at his screen. The lights representing his family shone brightly, except for blue. There was nothing blue on the screen. Nothing to prove Leo was back. Nothing to prove Leo was alright. "We saw him get into that portal. He must be somewhere, there is no possibility of the tracker not working."

 "Maybe while fighting against Krang it got broken or something." Mikey tried to reassure. 

 "Maybe." Donnie repeated. 

 "Well, if he isn't here then he must've portaled somewhere safe." Raph said, no longer upset about Donnie putting trackers on them. "Maybe Dad and April are luckier. Donnie, you keep trying to find him."

 Donnie nodded, determined eyes fixated on the screen and his hands tapping it without a break.

 As Raph was about to move, he heard the call coming from April. "Found him?"

 "No, so you didn't either." April's voice sounded worried.

 This didn’t make any sense. None of this made sense. Where the heck was Leo?!

 "He isn't here." Raph replied, trying to keep his anxiety under control.

 "But where he could've gone?" Mikey questioned.

 "He has some favorite places, doesn't he?" April said. "We can check them."

 "He wasn't in his best shape, he might have accidentally portaled himself to somewhere randomly like the old days." Raph agreed. 

 "I hope he didn't portal himself to Tahiti." Mikey sighed. "Not the worst place but…"

 "How about the Hidden City? Or Hueso's?" Raph guessed. "I don't think he's somewhere hard to reach. We just need to keep searching!"

 "You are right, my son. We must keep searching." Splinter's voice said softly.

 Raph smiled at Mikey, then at Donnie. That's when he noticed the concern on Donnie's face. "Donnie?"

 He didn't answer. Instead, he kept staring at the screen.

 "Donnie, are you okay? You're worrying me." Raph watched as Donnie took a deep breath. 

 Then he finally said, "He might have portaled home." 

 "What? We just searched the whole lair." Raph didn't understand.

 "We did. But our lair. Our timeline's. What if he didn't portal to our world. Then he would end up portaling into a different universe or timeline, and that would explain why I can't find him no matter what I do! Because even broken I'd get signals! I did the design and coding and everything, I know how it works!" 

 "Donnie, what are you talking about?" 

 "Remember how Casey came from a different timeline? This might have created an issue in time and space and with Leo's messy portaling the dum dum might have ended up in a whole different timeline." He told them. “Or maybe it is something about ninpo and the dumdum mystic stuff! I don’t know, but he has portaled somewhere out of this planet at least once! You saw that too. And that is exactly why there is a possibility he has done that or something similar again.” 

 Donnie had seen how Leo had opened a portal purely by accident and ended up getting them almost eaten by some sort of creature while trying to escape from Stockboy’s plan. They had spent nights talking about how far he could portal. This should be the answer.

 Because any other answer would mean there was something worse happening. Donnie refused to believe anything worse was happening.

 Raph and Mikey looked at him, both looked even more worried now.

 “If it is really that… Then what will we do?” Mikey asked.

 “We keep searching,” Raph said. “But in case Donnie is right, we must prepare for that. What do you need, Donnie?”

 Donnie thought for a second. “I need to start doing some research and gain some information. I already had a plan for a dimension travel machine, but we need to be sure Leo is not here. Also it would be great if there is any more information I can gain about his mystic powers…”

 “I’ll try to reach Draxum.” Mikey announced.

 Donnie was relieved, “Thanks Angelo.” He really really didn’t want to ask for help from the yokai. 

 “Boys, I know it is hard but now I want you to stay there and treat your wounds.” Their dad said after a deep breath. “April, Future Boy and I can keep searching.”

 “But—”

 “Raphael,” Splinter interrupted again. “We will find him, but I cannot lose any of you too.”

 Raph seemed to be still upset, but he sighed and gave up fighting against Splinter. “Okay. We will join you as soon as we can.” He nodded to himself.

 Donnie glared at Raph. How could he give up so fast? Leo might need them! They didn’t know how much time they had! What if he was hurt? What if he needed them? What if they were losing time—

 “Donnie?”

 Donnie looked at Raph.

 “Are you okay?” He asked, genuinely worried. Again.

 “We must keep searching. Or at least try to gain more information.” Donnie said.

 “We will, but first we must treat our wounds. Dad’s right about that.”

 “And what if he is in the need of our help? What if he right now needs us?” Donnie retorted, voice a bit loud.

 “We can’t help him if our wounds get infected.” Raph pointed out. “If anything happens to us, we can’t help him.”

 “We can try and communicate with Draxum meanwhile.” Mikey said gently.

 “We will go back into searching right after taking care of our wounds, okay?” Raph reassured. “I am worried too, so the faster we get this done, the better.”

 He was right, and as Mikey said the time they would use to treat their wounds wouldn’t be fully wasted if they managed to reach Draxum. “Okay.”

 “Good. That’s a plan. Now, to the medbay.” Raph led them.

 Donnie slowly followed, trusting Raph’s words.

 That was a plan. A plan so they’d find him. Donnie knew they would. Because none of them would ever stop till they did. After all, they had hope. 

[nights-flying-fox]

a short tidepod duo sickfic gift for @little-banjo-frog & @spacemimz :] hope you guys feel better soon!!

Word count: 1283 ☆ fandom: rottmnt ☆ ao3 link: n/a (yet)

 Leo really hated being sick. It was always boring. Especially if he was the only one who got sick. Raph would get anxious and act like a mother hen, and Donnie would never let him leave his room if it was not necessary (and mind you, it is not because Leo has to rest, it is because he’d end up spreading his sickness in the lair), and would be a snitch whenever Leo tried to sneak out. At least Splinter had the experience and always knew what Leo needed. 

 The thing was that his dad seemed to miss the fact Leo had slept the whole morning, and then the whole noon, and now he couldn’t sleep. To be honest he didn’t want to either. Being sick was bad, but staying in your room and not being able to do much was also bad. The first was okay. He read comics, scrolled on his phone and read some fanfiction, played some video games... Yeah, he had company too but... He wanted to do something other than lying down all the time! He was well enough to walk around, and he was pretty sure his sickness wasn't contagious so he should be able to leave the room, right?

 So he got up. It was slow and careful steps, mostly to not wake up others. Thank Pizza Supreme in the Sky, he didn’t cough anymore. He could just have a tour of the lair, maybe even find something interesting to do—

 “Leo?”

 He turned to see Mikey standing at the entrance of his room. He had his blanket wrapped around him, and his eyes were tired. Uh oh.

 “Don’t tell me...” Leo started.

 “It is your fault.” Mikey glared.

 “...Is this why you came here?” Leo asked. “To accuse me of spreading sickness.”

 Mikey whined, “Noooo, I can’t sleep.” 

 Leo tilted his head, “Why?”

 “Because—” He began coughing. Leo watched, feeling terrible. Maybe this was his fault, alright. After his coughing fit was over, Mikey continued. “Well, this...”

 “Eugh boi... Yeah, let’s make you some warm tea.” Leo grabbed his blanket as well. It was cold out of his bed.

 “That sounds good, but I was wondering,” Mikey was looking at him pleadingly. “Could I stay with you tonight?” 

 Leo understood his pain very well. Sickness alone was boring as heck. “Sure, but we will visit the kitchen first.” He didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he pulled his blanket and walked out of the room.

 He’d consider himself fast for someone sick, considering how Mikey had yet to join him. Except he wasn’t aware that Mikey was watching him walk, pulling his plushies on the blanket at the same time. The youngest smiled to himself as he followed his brother, deciding not to say anything. 

 Eventually, the two reached to the kitchen, Leo making two mugs of linden tea. Meanwhile, Mikey leaned on the counter, watching him. As Leo poured the warm tea into the mugs, he noticed something: “Hey, isn’t that Dad’s soup?” 

 Leo looked at where Mikey pointed at. A big casserole, which Leo knew that Splinter used it for when he made one of his famous soups. “Yeah, it is...”

 “Shouldn’t he have put it into the fridge?” Mikey muttered.

 “I dunno, you are the chef here.” Leo shrugged.

 They looked at each other for a second before Mikey said “I’m reheating it.” 

 “I’m getting the bowls.”

 And so the two warmed the soup, poured it into bowls, and headed out of the kitchen with two trays of soup and tea. The slideer had yet to notice his plushies on his blanket too, so they came along with the turtles as well. 

 Leo pointed out that Mikey’s room was the closest one, so they quietly headed there. However, Leo had forgotten that Mikey lacked a bed. Good thing Mikey had unreasonably a lot of pillows. Since Mikey had even less energy and was coughing a bit more now, Leo decided to handle putting the pillows down to make a comfortable place they could sit. As he did the task, he noticed the familiar purple tablet on the ground. “Is that Donnie’s tablet?” 

 “Mmmhmm.” Mikey murmured. 

 Well, they could use this! “Wanna watch a lame movie until we fall asleep or Raph finds us?” 

 “Yeah,” Mikey replied, enthusiastic but tired. “One of the lame horror movies?”

 “No, you won’t be able to sleep.” Leo said as he placed more pillows on the ground.

 “Nuh-uh.”

 “You literally couldn’t sleep after watching those fake ghost stories youtube videos for a week.” 

 “Lies.” 

 Leo rolled his eyes. He didn’t say anything though, because he got distracted once he pulled his blanket over the pillows. “Wha- are those my plushies?” 

 “Yea, you’ve been dragging them along with your blanket the whole time.” Mikey snickered.

 Oh. Okay, Leo maybe hadn’t recovered enough, how had he not noticed that? Eh, who cared. He took them and placed them on the pillows. “Bring yours too then.” He told Mikey as he sat down and pulled the trays closer, opening space to put the tablet on. Mikey did as he was told, and then sat next to Leo. They chose a movie and drank their soup and tea as they watched it in the dimly lit comfy room. The fairy lights and the way they were lying on the many pillows sleepily really made it feel like they were in a pillow fort. It was nice. 

 Mikey eventually got into his shell, only leaving his head out to see the screen. Leo held him close, circling gently his shell whenever his brother had a coughing fit. They both weren’t feeling their very best, but it seemed that the warm stuff and the comfort helped.

 The youngest was the first to fall asleep. Leo didn’t remember when, but he fell asleep too. In the morning they found themselves in Leo’s bed, surrounded with some pillows and stuffed animals. And there was grumpy Raph watching them- no, glaring at them, sitting next to them.

 “Hey big guy,” Leo smiled. Mikey was still sleeping beside him. “For your information, Mike’s joined the sick club.” 

 “I know.” He huffed. “What were you two thinking laying on the ground the whole night?”

 “On pillows, Raph.” Leo corrected.

 Raph glared at him even more, if it was possible.

 “Relaaax, I was restless and he wanted company. I thought tea would help with his coughing, and his room is closer than mine...” Leo explained.

 Raph sighed. “What am I gonna do with you two...” 

 “Bring us a very good breakfast?” He suggested.

 “How are you feeling?” Raph asked, ignoring Leo’s suggestion. But he had smiled, so he might’ve brought them a good breakfast. Or maybe it was already on the way. 

 “Still not feeling too hot, buuut kinda better.” Leo answered. “No coughing, a bit tired tho.”

 “Yeah, good.” Raph smiled, then put his hand on his forehead. “Your fever seems to be better. But don’t you dare to leave the bed yet. Not alone.”

 “Why, where are you going?” Leo asked.

 “Didn’t you ask for breakfast?” Raph smiled as he walked towards the door.

 “You’re the best Raph.” 

 “Yeah, yeah.” Raph waved his hand. As he left, he added, “Get prepared against Donnie’s rant of careful usage of his stuff and whatever Pops has to say about soup.” 

 When Leo groaned, Raph had already left. 

 But now Leo wasn’t sick and alone. Yeah, maybe being sick was boring, and so was being stuck in your room, but hey, at least he had his family that made his days better. He smiled to himself, closing his eyes to fall asleep before his twin or Splinter paid a visit.

[nights-flying-fox]

Till the Cold Pass

Splinter learns something new about his sons when winter cold arrives.

DAY 4: Warmth

Guess who wrote half of this for whumptomber but didn't finish it until now lol Anyways, I wanted to write a brumation fic for a long while now. It is not exactly what I planned but eh im very tired and its almost 2 am so all i say i hope there arent any mistakes (feel free to correct me!!) and that you like it!! &lt;33

ROTTMNT || 1079 words || Splinter centric || click here for ao3

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Splinter never had liked the cold. This year this fact didn’t change, only that he hated it even more.

 Now he was a father of four. He wasn’t sure how the cold would affect his sons, so he worried. He wasn’t able to reach much information about turtles, not being able to get the few resources most of the time too, only some about childcare. He also was struggling with finding enough sources for them. Food, blankets… the essentials.

 Waking up and seeing snow made his fears worse. But on the other hand, he could show his sons it. He had to get even warmer clothes for that though.

 His sons were still sleeping, even after the sudden cold. All of them in their shells, under the blankets, Splinter didn’t have the heart to wake them. But he had to, for they had to eat breakfast and have a healthy schedule.

 He shook gently them, softly calling their names. “It is morning, my sons.”

 But they didn’t get out of their shells. They didn’t reply either. So, he shook them again, still gently but with a bit more force. Still nothing. He was starting to get worried.

 No matter what he did his boys didn’t wake up. Splinter watched in fear as he hardly could hear his boys’ soft snores. He tried more and more, shaking them and calling their names, but nothing worked. Panic rose in his chest. This couldn’t mean good. Was it because he wasn’t able to provide enough for them? Was it the lack of food or the unexpected cold weather. It didn’t matter, he had to figure out this and help them. He had to. They were his everything, he couldn’t lose them. Not when he was the one responsible for them. They were his sons.

 He opened the books he had “borrowed” a while ago, trying to find any information that might be helpful. Sadly, there was nothing that could help this situation. But all his books were about babies. Human babies. Parenthood and such. None of them were about turtles—

 Splinter cursed to himself. He should’ve had grabbed that book about turtles while he had the chance. He could’ve returned for the other stuff he had found that day.

 There was a library not far away, but he couldn’t afford leaving his boys alone. He quickly wrapped them in blankets, then wrapped his jacket and held them carefully. He wore the hat he had found a short time ago and did his best to look as human as possible. Maybe people wouldn’t notice them with his disguise.

 Fastly, he left the lair, heading to the library. It was hard to run with the snow, cutting his speed. He shivered as he moved on. People passed next to him, the city as alive as always. It was all going okay until he almost slipped and fell. He lay towards the display window next to him and managed to keep his balance. He quickly checked his sons. They were still wrapped safely, all four of them. Splinter sighed in relief. Then he noticed the shop he was next to—

 Eastman and Laird’s Pet Shop.

 Now that could’ve help.

 He stepped in the shop. Various animal sounds filled the place. There was a man around his twenties, standing behind the register. Splinter walked towards him, “Excuse me.” He called. The man turned at him. Splinter continued. “I was wondering if you could help me with my- uh- pet turtles.”

 “What’s your problem, man?” The man asked lazily.

 “They won’t wake up.” Splinter said, voice a bit shaky with worry.

 “Ah, of course.” The man said, not interest at all.

 “What do you mean?” Splinter asked, trying to keep calm.

 “We get this all the time. People keep buying without knowing a single thing about turtles.” He explained, with a bit of annoyance slipping into his tone. “And to answer your question: that’s a turtle thing. Brumation.”

 Splinter blinked, “Brumation?”

 “Ya know how bears sleep when winter comes and it’s called hibernation, this is brumation for some of the reptiles. It’s a bit different but basically its that.” The man said.

 “I see. Is there… anything I can do for them?” Splinter asked.

 The man explained how he should treat them quickly. Splinter listened to him carefully before leaving.

 The next months he did as the man told him to do. He kept them warm and kept water by their side. He always kept an eye on them.

 He had relaxed a bit after learning what was going on, but still, he couldn’t help but get anxious over it. What if he wasn’t able to provide for them? What if he failed them in a way? What if he made a mistake?

 Meanwhile, he managed to find some more blankets and clothes. Whatever that was possible to keep them warm. He didn’t care if he froze as long as his boys were alright.

 Then one day, when the days weren’t as cold as before, one of his boys yawned and then whined, “'ts hoooot!”

 Splinter laughed with joy and relief. He held Blue in his arms, “Good morning, sleepyhead. Don’t you like warm?”

 Blue shook his head, still yawning. Splinter didn’t care, he was keeping them warm till summer came if needed. He hugged his son happily.

 Then one by one the rest of his boys woke up. Purple, Red, Orange. They all were okay. Splinter had managed to keep them healthy and good. He sighed with relief.

 Still, every year he still got a bit worried. As years passed and they grew, he got used to. At some time, they met with April. Once she learned about brumation she was eager to help and gathered all the knowledge and help she could for them. When Purple started making his gadgets and made a heath lamp for the cold days and then provided warmth for their lair, he was both proud and relieved. Then they grew even more. Purple made even bigger lamp, he provided even more of a warmth. They still brumated when weather got too bad, but they learned their limits and got careful, taking precaution when needed.

 When they bumated, they still lay together in a pile. Splinter still would keep an eye on them. And when they woke up, at least one of them would whine about the room being too hot. Splinter didn’t care. He had never liked the cold anyways.

[nights-flying-fox]

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