#but Leo and Donnie are the go-to medical team

[klunkcat]

50 VAGUE ANGSTY + HURT/COMFORT DIALOGUE PROMPTS

42. "Tell me what I did wrong! What's wrong with me?!" + rise A Team 🥺

You keep requesting things that I know will hurt ur feelings!!!

TW: panic attack, derealization/dissociation

Waking up in the med bay had been less painful than this. He’d broken fourteen bones and fractured three more, been coughing up blood and some thick substance he was very sure was never supposed to be on the outside but he’d thought, ‘hey, we won’. 

This didn’t feel like winning. This felt like standing on the other side of a very long tunnel and seeing the world from a sideways tilt. 

He’d been allowed out of the med bay for a glorious two days– mostly to lay up on the couch instead of the stiff medical room— and missed somewhere that the world had actually ended. Because when Raph leaned over him to grab his glass of water on the table beside him, Leo flinched. 

It wasn’t him, he decided. Because Leo had never once in his life feared anything from his big brother, not even when Raph had gone through his snapping phase. Because Raph was Raph and that meant the biggest warmest hugs you could imagine, and big wet watering eyes and crying over commercials with kittens that sneezed too hard. It couldn’t be him that saw Raph moving forward and thought of pink, slimy tendrils, and felt his airways closing with a sharp thrum of oh god and I’m going to die, because that didn’t make sense. 

Raph froze, eyes wide. Leo fell further outside himself. 

The other him made his hand move, he didn’t feel it move. The other him spoke. 

“Oh, ha. Sorry, static must have shocked me.” From the blankets, yeah. That made sense. This other him that jumped at things at least had his wits, that was reassuring. 

“Leo,” Raph said very slowly. Some hindbrain red alert crawled all the way up from his heart and right out his mouth, and into that other version of him that was staying very still. 

“I didn’t— I didn’t mean to.” 

Raph put his arm down just as slowly, leaned back like he could telegraph every moment. His eyes stayed wide and locked on to him. “Okay, that’s okay.” 

“It wasn’t you,” the other him said, and Leo couldn’t feel his lips moving but he desperately wanted to be able to shut him up. “It wasn’t um— just. Jumpy. Pulled something funny, you know with the. The bandages.” 

Shit, Leo thought. Stick to the script, pal. 

“Right,” Raph said, without blinking. Like he was thinking something else. 

“Don’t do that,” other him said. “Okay, the big brother voice thing. I don’t need it, let’s just. Watch the movie, right?” 

He was suddenly aware of Donnie by his kneecaps, Mikey staring at him from the mound of pillows he’d made at Don’s legs. He needed this other him to shape up, acting classes were a must. He was flubbing big time, Leo did not flub. 

Raph shifted again, molasses slow, and gave Donnie a look. His twins face twitched with a nod, and he summarily picked up Mikey, blanket and all and shuffled into his lab. Traitor, Leo thought vaguely. Pincer attack, coordinated front. He hated that. That was his and Don’s thing.

Stepping on my turf, he meant to say. Other Leo’s mouth didn’t move, so he was useless. 

“Actually, Raph’s a little worried.” 

Oh, Leo thought, oh no. Fear lanced through him again, in some distant way. He could see his fingers twitching and couldn’t make them stop. “Worried? About what. Can I help, big guy?” 

Raph hummed. “Think you could, yeah. We haven’t talked about everything that happened, have we?” 

Well, Mikey had made him talk a little, about why he thought it would be okay to choose himself without telling anyone else first. Hugged him as tightly as he could with Leo’s broken ribs for three solid hours until Leo’d given in and promised he’d be kinder to himself. Donnie had been furious at him for three straight days somewhere after he’d blearily woken up from his coma, but they hadn’t talked directly about why yet. Suddenly, the look he’d caught clicks.

He was still too outside himself to react the right way. Other Leo looked away and twisted the blanket in his hands. 

Ever so slowly, he felt Raph’s warm hand land on his knee. He could see it, his big brother’s hand, green and normal. No spikes, no pink. He could breathe out— there was a rope somewhere there that guides him closer enough that he can flip his own hand around and squeeze. 

“Nothing to talk about, bro bro,” Leo managed, but it was croaky and lacking all the usual fizz. Fizzless, him. The horror was nearly too much to think about. 

The look Raph gave him was half a wince of apology, half tangled up exasperation. He didn’t like that there was guilt there. That didn’t fit. Raph hadn’t done a single thing wrong. 

“Leo.” 

He made himself swallow. “Raphala.” 

Raph sighed. Flipped Leo’s hand over so he could stare down at the bandages crossing his palm. He’d burnt the inside of his fingers somehow, he couldn’t even say when it happened. Silly, really. He’d laughed when Don had told him. Come to think of it, Dee hadn’t really looked like he’d agreed with the joke then either. 

He watched the way Raph traced his thumb across the white gauze, the way his face twisted and crashed down with mounting horror. 

“I’m so sorry, Leo. You know I love you, right?”

Other Leo made a second appearance, making his hands go numb. “I— of course? I love you too, what does that—?”

Raph’s non bandaged eye blazed when he looked up at him, swimming in the dim movie light. “I hurt you, Leo. I took your trust and I hurt you with it. Raphie’s so sorry.” 

That didn’t— Leo blinked rapidly. The world fell out of focus, clicked free of its puzzle piece board. Out into the ether. “Stop apologizing.” 

“Leo—”

“No!” Other him said it sharp, loud. Too electric behind the words, he winced at himself and didn’t feel his face move. “You don’t— you don’t get to apologize to me. That doesn’t— what are you talking about Raph?” 

Somehow his brother’s face only fell further, it made the panic in Leo’s chest sticky. “I said that wrong, I don’t—” It was so hard to think, why couldn’t he make himself think? “I’m not afraid of you! I’m not.” He wasn’t. Because it was Raph. 

“It’s okay if you are, buddy. Raph understands—” 

“I’m not!” Leo bit out, and blinked rapidly again as the world falls further out to sea. “I put you in danger, I jumped in and— I did something stupid, and you got brainwashed. Because I fucked up. Why aren’t you mad at me? Tell me what I did wrong!”

What’s wrong with me, he thought, vibrant and liquid like toxic sludge seeping down to his core. 

He couldn’t even see right anymore, everything had gone shapes and colors. It wasn’t even Raph in front of him, it was something. It was nothing and— 

“--breathe with me, okay? In. Out, that’s it. That’s perfect, Bug, keep doing that.” 

The Bug snapped him together, pulls all of his strings forward. Raph hadn’t called him that since they were toddlers, when he and Donnie had started insisting being twins and Raph tried to play along. Bug and Boo, he’d said all proud. Donnie had hated it instantly and rebuked any attempt at being called something so sweet by biting. Leo’d tried to make it fit a little better, since Raph seemed to like it so much.

‘S it b’cause I bug you?’ Leo’d said, sad and puddling up but hiding it with a teasing smile he knew would make the hurting less loud. 

Raph had smoothed his hand across his head and grinned. ‘It’s cause you’re my favorite bug.’ But it sounded like a good thing when Raph said it. 

Leo forced in a breath, feels his hands become his hands and his toes firmly plant as his toes. “Sorry,” he managed. “Sorry, went. Um. Somewhere. Back.” 

Raph’s big worried eye peered down at him, he let go of Leo’s hand with a firm squeeze. Leo shook his head, clearing out all the fuzz as much as he could. 

“I need you to hear me, just for a second. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Raph tried, worry making his voice small. “Can you believe me on that one thing? You were brave, and you got us through it, and most importantly you got Leo through it. I’m not mad.”

Leo scoffed, staring down at the blanket instead. Raph carefully scrubs a hand across the top of Leo’s head, warm and calloused the way he knows. 

“Raph wanted you safe. That’s all. And I hurt you, so it’s okay if you— if you need time.” 

Leo snapped his eyes up, grabbing at Raph’s hand again even before he pulled away. “I don’t! I don’t need you to go anywhere, or leave or. Please don’t leave.” 

Raph’s face gentled. 

“Can we just,” Leo couldn’t look at him, he couldn’t. “Can we just stay here for a minute? Maybe talking can be later.” When it wasn’t him and other him preferably, so he could say things the right way.

“Okay.” 

Raph settled back on the couch, slowly lifting his arm free and telegraphing the space underneath for Leo to decide. As if he needed to decide, the best place in the world was in Raph’s hugs. He’d always fit perfect there. 

Raph smoothed his hand across Leo’s head with his thumb, back and forth.The warmth pulled him all the way back into himself, almost with a shudder. Leo squeezed his eyes shut and buried his snout further into Raph’s side. It made him brave. “I’m not scared of you. I’ve never been scared of you, big guy.”

Raph’s thumb paused. Smoothed back again. “It’s okay if you are. That was… pretty scary.” 

Leo shook his head stubbornly. “Wasn’t you. I know my big brother anywhere. That wasn’t him.” 

He pretended kindly not to hear the hitch in Raph’s breathing. The warm chuckle after is like lottery gold. 

“Thanks, bug. I know you, too.” 

[goodlucktai]

What if I said 10 & 20 as portal duo thanks so much

dialogue prompts

10. “I don’t care. I’m not leaving you.”

+ 20. “Get away! You’re hurting them!”

for my beloved meeks

x

They weren’t supposed to be here. It’s stupid, but it’s the first thing that springs to Mikey’s mind. 

Leo had only recently graduated with honors from those initial grueling physical therapy sessions that usually ended in tears (not always Leo’s) to daily exercises that got easier and easier until he was breezing through them the way he used to breeze through everything. 

If he went farther than two steps away from his arm crutches Donnie appeared out of thin air looking ready to breathe fire at him, and Raph was in the habit now of holding Leo out at arm’s length immediately after every hug in the manner of scruffing an unruly kitten to double-check he was wearing his leg brace and compression sleeve, and Mikey had learned the hard way what everyone meant when they said medics make the absolute worst patients. 

But for the most part Leo was doing really good! He was hitting all his marks and only driving everyone a tiny bit insane—well within the allotted Leo amount! 

So when he had smiled that crooked, conspiring smile at Mikey the minute the coast was clear and said, “There’s no better strengthening exercise then sneaking out with my favorite little brother for a past-due victory smoothie,” what was Mikey supposed to tell him? No??

It did occur to him, a tiny little guilty whisper. Leo was healing. He’d been so badly hurt. Even Splinter, who spoiled Leonardo rotten, hadn’t given into the slider’s constant pleas to rush the recovery process along. They were going by the book. Literally, since Donatello had stepped up as team medic in the interim. Don and Raph and April and even Casey were all very good at not bending an inch no matter how many tragic looks got sent their way. Mikey wasn’t very good at that at all. 

And anyway, joy had drowned out that whisper with a shout. He lit up with it, that newly-discovered supernova inside him curling up like a happy cat in a patch of sunshine. There’s a very big part of him that will always be what it’s always been, no matter how old he gets, or how powerful his mystic arts become—he’ll always be Michelangelo, and Michelangelo will follow Leonardo absolutely anywhere. 

So he said, “I’ll get my hoodie!” and darted out the door with zero ninja stealth, clipping his shoulder on the frame and almost crashing into the table in the hall. Leo laughed behind him, and the unrestrained sound made Mikey feel like he could float. Maybe he actually did for a second or two. 

He’ll never forget those horrible minutes after the portal closed, after Leo’s comms went dead, when he had wondered if he would ever hear his brother’s voice again. When he wondered what, exactly, his last words to Leo had been—they almost certainly weren’t I love you or please don’t leave so they didn’t count. 

To make up for it, he wanted to tell Leo everything every chance he got. He wanted to make him laugh all the time. He wanted to crowd into the little twin-size infirmary bed to watch movies or do art projects that got glitter everywhere. He wanted to sneak out for smoothies even though it would get them in big trouble, because that was literally why he helped save the world in the first place. 

And now he’s standing in a dim sidestreet, an orange streetlight buzzing dully above him, two smoothies melting in his hands. It’s their usual shortcut home, through a bunch of foreclosed apartment buildings and a dead end road. Leonardo is in front of him, shoulders stiff, ninpo humming weakly beneath his skin like a tired little beetle that shouldn’t be up from hibernation just yet. 

Across the road are half a dozen humans in what looks like riot gear labeled TCRI and a man in a black suit. The man somehow looks more dangerous than the people in police armor. 

“Leo,” Mikey says in a small voice. His brother doesn’t answer, but he does shift his weight to put Mikey more firmly behind him, which is answer enough. 

And Mikey thinks, We weren’t supposed to be here. No one knows where we are. 

The man in the suit starts talking into the bulky earpiece he’s wearing, but Mikey can’t make out what he’s saying over the buzzing of the streetlamp and the pounding of his own heart in his ears. All he hears is Leonardo murmur, “Mikey, go.”

“No,” Mikey’s mouth says automatically. It doesn’t even need any input from his brain to say it. Because no. 

“Mike,” Leo says, in his best leader voice. But his tone is urgent in a way that borders on being scared so closely it must mean he’s actually terrified, or he would never have let Mikey hear even a hint of it. “I’d go with you if I could. I’m sorry I can’t.” 

His hands tighten on his crutches. He can’t run. He’s still healing. He should be at home, doing his exercises with those little pink dumbbells in the warmth and safety of the lair, complaining the whole time in between tossing out ideas for dinner. 

Mikey should have said no to sneaking out the way Donnie and Raphie would have instantly said no. He should be better at taking care of Leo the way he needs to be taken care of, the way everyone else does so easily. 

The armored people start to shift to the side, moving around Mikey and Leo in a wide formation, hands on the guns holstered at their waists. Containing them. The man in the suit is still talking, face inscrutable behind the tinted glasses he’s wearing, but his face hasn’t twitched away from their direction even once. 

“Hey,” Leo says, bringing Mikey’s attention back. “Don’t look at them, look at me.”

He’s smiling over his shoulder like it’s any other back-alley brawl with the mutant of the week or a handful of those Foot soldiers who never know when to quit, and not a horrible high-stakes situation in which Mikey stands to lose one of the most important things in the entire world if he makes the wrong move. 

“Just get home and get the guys, okay? Then come right back for me. You can outrun these goons without breaking a sweat. You can do anything.”

Mikey drops the smoothies and the cold wet soaks through one of his sneakers instantly but he needs his hands free so he can clutch the back of Leo’s stupid hoodie. He needs to hold on tight and make sure whoever tries to take his brother away knows exactly what kind of knock-down drag-out fight they’re in for. 

“I don’t care,” Mikey says, too loud in the stillness. “I’m not leaving you.”

He wishes he were a snapper like Raphie. If he was big and strong and had a shell that was as good as bulletproof armor, he’d scoop Leonardo up and shield him from the guns and run them both away. 

If he was a genius like Donnie, he’d have one or a dozen gadgets on his person that would have saved them. 

But he’s just Mikey, who isn’t big and strong, who isn’t a genius, who isn’t one of the people Leonardo is willing to step down and be weak in front of and depend on. Just Mikey, who Leo saved all his best jokes for during painful rehab, like it mattered to him that Mikey didn’t see him struggle. Just Mikey, who Leo always lifts both arms for the second he sees him coming and squishes into the world’s best hug, even if he’s pissed off at everybody else. Just Mikey, who Leo wants to get better for, be the best for, be one of the constant things on this planet Mikey never needs to doubt, like gravity and sunrise and overpriced street food. 

Because there’s a very big part of him that will always be what it’s always been, no matter how mature he gets, or how accomplished a ninja master he becomes—he’ll always be Leonardo, and Leonardo would do anything to make sure Michelangelo keeps smiling. 

Leo is also very stupid, because he doesn’t seem to understand that Mikey will never smile again if his big brother goes away. 

When the TCRI agents explode forward at some signal Mikey missed, and grab the brothers and drag them apart, Leo stumbles and falls when his crutches are wrenched away. He’d probably be making a smart-ass comment if his jaw wasn’t clenched, the sudden fall probably radiating pain all the way up his spine, distress making his gold eyes burn neon yellow. 

Like a flip was switched, all the panic inside of Mikey evaporates into a red-tinged mist. 

The supernova inside him sleeps most of the time, because he’s not big enough to contain its multitudes yet, and it doesn’t want to cause pain. It only wants to shine light in dark places, it only wants to help. But it wakes up with a fury and fills every inch of him to the brim and the overflow spills right out of him, lifts him right off the ground, makes his voice a resounding thunderclap when he yells, “GET AWAY! You’re hurting him!” 

Staggering back and shouting in alarm, the agents begin firing, because humans in a panic are trigger-happy creatures, even well-trained ones like these guys must be. Every round fired disintegrates the second it meets the glow pouring out of Mikey, disappearing before it can do harm. 

“Holy shit,” Leo says, eyes wide. It’s the way Mikey imagines he probably looked at Leo, when everyone else feared Raphael was a lost cause but Leo put his hand on Mikey’s shoulder and told him, I’m not giving up on him. I’m not leaving him behind. A sailor lost in a storm and their first glimpse of the lighthouse in the dark, close enough to save them.

“Hold your fire!” the man in the black suit barks suddenly, his voice viciously angry. “I did not clear any of you to fire!” 

Mikey doesn’t care who the scary Men In Black guy is, or what reason he has for tracking Mikey and his brother down, or why he’s calling the dogs off now. He cares about helping Leo get back on his feet, scooping the crutches up off the ground and getting Leo’s arms in them, and staring right into Agent Sunglasses’s stupid face while the supernova burns and burns and burns inside him. 

Try it, he doesn’t say. Just try it. If the Krang couldn’t take my brother from me, what hope do you think you have?

He feels Leo’s arm slip around his, locking them together at the elbow. Leo’s ninpo, a soft breeze instead of the playful gale it’s supposed to be, weaves through Mikey’s own to lead it. 

‘Like this,’ the wind tells the sunburst, guiding it through the process it wants it to take the same way bigger hands used to guide a smaller Mikey through katas, readjusting his arms and poking him playfully on the beak when he scrunched it in frustration. The golden portal that opens beneath their feet costs him nothing, appearing as effortlessly as Leo’s spinning blue ones always do. 

The agent’s face goes slack with shock the second before the turtles disappear. 

They land on the sofa with enough force that it almost collapses, and Leo makes a pained noise, hands pressed to his plastron like he’s trying to contain a full-body ache with sheer willpower. Mikey scrambles off of him and falls off the sofa for his trouble. His clothes are prickly, like he’s covered in static electricity. A magazine left on the coffee table begins to move, pages flipping as if in a breeze. One of the beanbag chairs lifts up slightly, like gravity has gotten lighter in that specific spot. 

He feels too big for himself. There are multitudes inside him, a million different things that are all true at the same time. He’s still so angry, and he’s still so afraid, and he’s still just Mikey, who couldn’t be what Leo needed him to be until the last possible second. 

Just Mikey, who Leo saves his best smile for. Just Mikey, who Leo hugs like it’s the easiest thing in the world to bring another person that close and trust them right next to his heart. 

“You’re the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen,” Leo says, like it’s another truth Mikey can keep for as long as he wants. Forever, even.

There will be hell to pay when their brothers get home. There’s a brand-new danger their family needs to be made aware of. Leo tried to leave him behind again and it reopened a wound that was still raw and healing.

But for now that wild star in his heart doesn’t need to burn so bright. It can put all the furniture that began to float back down and go back to sleep. And Mikey can press his face into the cracked print of Leo’s favorite Chappell Roan hoodie and say, “Hope you enjoyed your last taste of freedom for the next hundred years.”

Leo laughs, but doesn’t let go of Mikey right away. He clings extra hard for an extra long minute.

He would have left, Mikey realizes, but he didn’t want to go. When he was alone on the Technodrome, staring down a monster and a portal and the truth of how to save everyone, he didn’t want to go. If there was any other choice, he would have taken it. He would have come home. 

Mikey isn’t Leo, who will do what he has to do no matter what it costs himself. Mikey isn't Raph or Donnie. Mikey is and always has been the spoiled baby of the family, who will do exactly what he wants to do and damn the consequences. He’ll tear a thousand holes open in the universe if that’s what it takes to keep his family together, and if the Hamato ancestors don’t like it then they can come and take their ninpo back. 

They can try, anyway. 

[jabber-wockin]

Jabber's TMNT AU/iteration ask game!

Send an ask with a number corresponding to a question you want to ask about someone's AU or iteration

SETTING:

Where is your au/iteration set?

Do the turtles live in the sewers?

What is the lair like?

Do the turtles have money? If so, how do they get it?

What is the origin of the mutagen?

Is there a battle nexus? Is it a respected facility or operated by criminals?

Are there aliens?

Are there yokai/magical beings?

Are there other dimensions?

Are there utrom/kraang? PLOT:

Who is the main villain?

What is the main villain’s motivation?

Who are some villains that are less of a threat?

What is going on with the foot clan?

Is the Hamato clan history relevant? How did the clan originate?

Were the turtles and Splinter mutated intentionally?

Do any characters get mutated during the story?

Do any characters die during the story?

Do any characters get disabled during the story?

Do the turtles go to space?

Do the turtles time travel?

If there is a battle nexus, who fights in it? CHARACTERS:

Are there any OCs?

Is there a Bebop and Rocksteady?

Is there a Baxter Stockman?

Is there a Bishop?

Is there a Rat King? If yes, can he control Splinter?

Is there a Mona lisa?

Is there a Renet?

Is there a Venus?

Is there a Jennika?

Is there a Slash?

Is there a Metalhead?

Is there a Mondo Gecko?

Is there an Angel?

Is there an Alopex?

Is there a Leatherhead?

Is there a Tang Shen?

Is there a Karai/Miwa?

Is Saki the shredder?

Is Karai/Miwa Saki’s daughter?

Is Karai/Miwa loyal to Saki?

How old is April?

Is April a scientist?

Is April a journalist or reporter?

How old is Casey?

Is Casey a vigilante?

Does Casey play hockey? If so, what position?

Are the turtles the same species?

Are the turtles the same age?

Was Splinter born a rat or a human?

Is Donnie only knowledgeable with technology? If not, what else are they interested in?

Who is the leader of the group? How did they become the leader?

Who is the team medic?

Who is the best cook?

Who is the best fighter?

Are any characters disabled?

Are any characters neurodivergent?

Are any characters queer? CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS:

Do Raph and Leo fight often?

What is Bebop and Rocksteady’s relationship?

What is Casey and Raph’s relationship?

Is Splinter the turtles’ dad, sensei or both?

How did Splinter meet the turtles?

Is April considered a sibling?

Does April consider Splinter a parent?

How did the turtles meet April?

How did the turtles meet Casey?

Is there a romance? If so, between which characters? SPECIFY A CHARACTER:

What hobbies does — have?

Who is —‘s favourite sibling?

What is —’s favourite kind of pizza

What interests does — have?

What weapon does — specialise in?

Tell us a fun fact about —’s species! EXTRA:

Who is your favourite character?

What character do you relate to the most?

Tell us something you want to share about your au/iteration!

I had help making this, so shoutout to @genderfluid-envy, I had a lot of fun deciding on questions with you! And thanks to everyone else in our discord server who helped out :D

[colibrie]

Can. Can you please do #11 with the Fang AU?

11. "Just keep breathing. In and out. You're doing great." (Minor warning for blood and injury).

Hamato Leonardo knew himself to be a turtle of many enviable talents. Out-of-this-world charisma, rugged good looks, hilarious, a tactical mind, and a resourceful field medic. The whole package. Except, he was not a scientist. He'd never had the patience or the attention span for fiddly formulas, obsessive note-taking, and tedious repetition needed for an experiment to be successful. As the team’s leader and face man, Leo thrived in the gray, mixing information and spontaneity, tweaking and twisting to ensure the outcome he wanted came to pass. Science was Donnie's world. His egg-headed twin thrived in black and white; relying on repetition, craved clearly defined variables, delighting in percentiles and predictability. That was what balanced them in the end, what made them tick as twins. Brainiac and face man, street smarts and book smarts, innovation and invention.

And maybe that was why he was struggling now, sitting hunched over his secret pile of medical books, scowling as he compared them to the ones April had brought from the library. Squinting at tiny, cramped print as his head pounded, forcing eyes crusted from lack of sleep to open to absorb the paragraphs detailing anatomy, herpetology, and epidemiology, alongside pictures that were various degrees of uselessness. This was Donnie’s world, and maybe he would have enjoyed this torment. Maybe, his twin could make sense of these "viral counts" and "impact percentiles ". Maybe, if his twin weren't strapped to the bed behind him, delirious and writhing in pain, they could have already fixed whatever this thing was.

"Shell," Leo groaned, throwing down his pencil as one hand rose to rub his tired eyes.

He was going to get crow's feet and fine lines from glaring at these useless books, things he could (loudly) tolerate if they were to result in a solution to whatever plaguing their purple brother. But they hadn’t so far. Days of effort, nights of burning well past the midnight oil, and all he had to show for his efforts was a splitting headache and a massive collection of unwashed tea mugs. None of Donnie's symptoms matched with anything detailed in the textbooks, or CDC and WHO websites. Given the creepy level of the lab they'd wreaked, it wasn’t truly that surprising, even if it was frustrating. There was, shockingly, not a lot of published research on mutants, let alone their illnesses or immune systems. But, illnesses didn't just come out of nowhere! He didn't need a fancy piece of paper or a Donnie-level IQ to know that. Whatever was ailing Donnie had to be documented somewhere. But he was a field medic for pizza's sake! He knew how to set bones, sew up cuts, and head off infections. Not cellular biology!

Throwing his hands up in defeat, he slouched back into his desk chair. Maybe Mikey was right. Maybe it was time to call in Draxum, much as Leo would rather eat a bucket of nails or light fire to all his limited-edition JJ comics than say it out loud. Mad scientist psycho or not, the Yokai understood a lot more than Leo did, in this one area anyway. And while they were at it, maybe they’d been looking at things all wrong. If a science-based solution wasn’t available, maybe a mystic solution could help? It would be the most delicious kind of irony, given Donnie’s historic skepticism of anything mystical or magical. Maybe their father could take a trip to the mystic library, or they could send one of the Casey’s to Witch Town. So long as they didn't drop Donnie's name in any conversations it would probably be...

A pained snarl cut through his thoughts, and he whirled the chair around to find Donnie bucking against his restraints, head thrown back in a terrible arc as he gasped for air.

"Whoa! Easy D!" Leo exclaimed, jumping out of his seat to reach for the oxygen mask and tank that April and Casey Jr had kindly "liberated" from April's school following the Krang invasion. "Just keep breathing Dontron, in and out."

His twin hissed in response, pants deepening to a guttural growl as Leo approached and attempted to press the mask over Donnie's nose and mouth.

"Come on man, you're doing great. This is going to help you do even better, so chill out a little and I'll-"

Faster than lightning Donnie struck, neck muscles stretched and strained as he ducked around the mask and sunk his teeth deep into the flesh of Leo's forearm.

"OW!" Leo yelled, the oxygen mask slipping from his fingers as they spasmed open in shock. "Dee, let go!"

Donatello snarled in reply, sharp teeth sinking and shredding as his jaws clamped down on Leo's limb.

"Get OFF!" Leo bellowed, jamming the thumb of his free hand into the pressure point just behind the soft shell’s jaw. It took way longer than it should have for Donatello’s teeth to release him, too many long, painful seconds before Leo could pull his arm away and stumble back a step from the bed, cradling his injured limb close. Torn flesh burned against the open air, pain licking out from fingertip to elbow while small crimson streams braided into rivers as they raced across his skin to follow gravity to the floor.

“What the shell?!” Leo snapped, free hand clamping down over the injury as he stumbled towards the cabinet that held their stock of bandages.

Donnie hissed again in reply, and Leo had to fight the urge to cringe away from the way his blood smeared across his brothers lips and chin, the way it painted his sharp teeth when said lips peeled back in a snarl. Dark eyes followed every jerky move as he fumbled with trying to disinfect and wrap the wound with one hand, breaths hitching as the pain in his arm built, creeping like the most agonizing ivy towards his shoulder. Slitted predator pupils zeroed in one the…wait…Donnie didn’t have slitted pupils. None of them did. Their eyes had always been human…

“What the…”

He didn’t get the chance to finish the sentence. Between one breath and the next the pain exploded, lancing up his neck and spearing deep into his chest. His jaw snapped shut around a cry as every nerve in his body seemed to simultaneously go up in flames, numb and useless legs folding like a house of cards as he hit the concrete floor of the med bay. He tried to break his fall, but his body failed to respond to any desperate command his brain tried to send. He tried to call for help, or maybe just scream, but his lungs couldn’t pull in the air he needed. He was trapped, a silently writhing vessel slowly filling up with pain.

[remedyturtles]

Hey!! For the angst dialogue prompt, mayhaps 30? Perchance? Not sure if you wanted charas at well but I'd love to see disaster twins... I'm still recovering from the firefight addition (it was amazing and I'm shaking you /pos)

perchance

halloo!! thank you @kodogaron for the prompt! i hope u enjoy :D

wordcount ~1k, bad future, tw for amputation

30. "You're okay. You've got to be okay. You've got to be. You're okay. Please. Please be okay." 

“Master Donatello? Are you alright?”

It was hazy and distant, coming from far away, as the world was humming urgently in his ear. He was vaguely aware that he’d gasped when the sensation hit, but couldn’t recall for a moment what he was doing or where he was. 

All the air was stolen from his lungs. His body was trembling with the feeling, flash-pain that didn’t last longer than a moment but the memory of it was haunting him. All along his right side, but especially his arm. His fingertips were swimming in tv static — numb, in a moving way. And that momentary agony… 

“I’m fine.” Donnie said blindly, blinking the stars out of his eyes. As he remembered where he was and what he was doing – battlefield, Kraang, end of the world – he forcibly shook off the horrible feeling inside him. To survive was to push on. Even as dread needled him, persistent and sharp. 

He couldn't feel his right side fingertips, as he set up his sniper nest. Providing cover, breathing smoke, pulling all the tricks he knew to slow his heartbeat when it kept leaping out of his chest when he remembered that flashbang of pain. Something was wrong. Until he cleared this area, he couldn't leave anyway, so it was better to buckle down and work. The call-and-respond of the team he was supporting moving forwards. And his fingers were numb.  They were numb. Dread, hot, boiling dread. Finish the task. Go back to base.

His communicator chirped. Donnie pressed to receive and said, "Donatello."

"Don?" Raph's voice told him everything he didn't want to hear. 

"What happened?" Donnie snapped. Heart going double-time. 

"I don't know yet." Raph sounded weary. "Just a message from his away team that they have wounded and they're en route back to base. I haven't heard who, but. It wasn't Leo who called."

And Leo wouldn't do that to them, leave them wondering. If he didn't report back, then he couldn't. 

Fuck it. Donnie packed up his sniper and decided stealth was for the lucky. They weren't lucky. "Ten minutes."

"Don –"

"Ten minutes." Donnie snapped back, a little wild, panic clenching a tight fist around his throat. Eyes sparking dangerously. "See you then."

Raph paused for a thoughtful second, and spoke even softer, "Don't make it two, bud."

"I'll be fine." Donnie roughly stood, summoning flight tech that had the air smelling of ozone. "They, however, will not be."

Ten minutes later Donnie strode back to base to find chaos. He'd arrived just in time to meet the away team as they came in, and the roaring static in his mind grew louder and louder as he shouldered his way through the disorganized calamity. Blood and cries. Donnie's fingertips were numb, numb, numb. 

“Master Donatello!” A young soldier who’d been on Leo’s team gasped, eyes wide and pupils small. “I’m — I’m sorry, he’s —“

“Where is he?” Donnie didn’t acknowledge the apology. He didn’t know if he could. The fingertips on his right hand were numb. 

The kid pointed with a shaking hands, towards the nucleus of the chaos, where medics flourished and yelled, and there was a distinct lack of a familiar voice protesting the treatment. Claiming he could do it himself. Making some stupid joke. 

Donnie cut through the crowd as if it wasn’t even there. Vision narrow and grey, focused on a flash of blue through the wall of bodies, interspersed with red, red, red —

Someone caught his arm. Knocked with that tv static feeling, like the limb was asleep, and Donnie turned to blindly snarl at who dared to stop him — only to find the intense worry chasm of his biggest brother. 

“They’re doing what they can. Let them work.” Raph said. “You don’t wanna see him like that.”

Donnie angrily yanked his arm out of Raph’s grip, because how dare he tell Donnie he couldn’t see his own twin. There was no state of being where he wouldn’t want to be there for Leo, especially when the alternative was to leave him alone to suffer.

And. Donnie faltered at the reality. The blood soaked floor, Leo’s pale face, and the frayed edges of flesh where his right arm used to be. The sight of gore was already an issue for Donnie’s weak stomach, but on someone he loved so dearly it was a level of horror that pierced skin deep. Leo’s eyes were closed, and Donnie — he held Leo's head and got in the way of the people trying to save him.

 "You're okay.” Donnie whispered in his ear, desperate.  “You've got to be okay. You've got to be. You're okay. Please. Please be okay." 

Manic, almost wild. Raph appeared behind him and held his shoulders. “Donnie.”

“I’ll fix it.” Donnie tipped his head back to look at Raph with red rimmed eyes. “I’ll—I’ll fix it, I can, I’ll make him a new arm. He’s gonna be fine. He will. Please. Please — please.”

Raph sighed. He gently tugged Donnie back. 

The medics swarmed Leo, stabilizing him enough to move. Donnie fought Raph's hold, pleading, "He has to be okay, he has to, I can't –"

Raph ignored his struggle and cradled him close, softly kissing the top of his head and rumbling sadly, "They're gonna do everything they can."

Donnie heaved for air. His fingertips were numb. They never stopped being numb.

[popcat69]

Iron what?

Rottmnt boys x anaemic!reader

Notes: this can be read with gn!reader. I didn't get a request for this but i almost passed out a few days ago so i thought this would be kinda funny to write something i relate to a bit. Enjoy <3

Warnings: no warnings just the boys being sweet and caring. Leo is a bit of an ass but oh well

Raph

Before Raph knew you had a iron deficiency he would always be confused as to why you had to take a moment when you stood up from lying down. Or when you felt dizzy alot.

One time when you decided to have a movie night with him and you stood up too quickly you felt dizzy and lightheaded. You grabbed the closest thing to you or well turtle to help support you.

Poor boy was so worried

He was franting asking if you were alright

You were able to smell his fear stink 

Once you told him you had an iron deficiency he was confused so you had to explain it to him. He understood quite fast and began keeping a closer eye on you.

Feeling dizzy? He's carrying you. 

Looking paler then usual? He sitting you down to eat something.

If you take medication he will put an alarm on your phone and his to not forget.

Leo

How this turtle found was something else

Long story short you stood up too fast and basically fell to the floor

Leo being the insufferable person he is thought you tripped on something and was laughing his ass off.

But in no less then a minute hes realising you not moving and goes into full panic mode.

As you regained consciousness you realise you were on the couch next to a turtle fulls of tears.

He pulled you into a big hug as you calm him down and explaining that your anaemic.

Leo has experience with medical…stuff? Perks of being the team medic.

Soon after that whole incident he started to become more observant. Always by your side when you stand up or when you haven't eaten a lot that day.

With leo if you take medication if he will keep a bottle on him at all times incase you have forgotten yours at home

Donnie

I feel like Donnie would already kind of know as hes quite observant

“I'm anaemic btw” “i know”

You kind of stared at him with a raised brow thinking. What?

Anyway he would always ask you if you have eaten a proper meal or gotten enough sleep.

Kinda ironic if you ask me

One time he gave you a diet plan to help with your iron deficiency and you followed it for like a day or two and then kinda forgot.

You felt really guilty when he asked how was the plan going. You knew he put the time and research to make it for you specifically so you gave him a sheepish smile as you looked around the room nervously.

Since that didn't work out he made you a portable pill dispenser? And it has a checklist on the back of it.

Have you eaten at least 3 proper meals?

Are you feeling dizzy a lot today?

You get the idea

You loved and cherished donnie’s small inventions that he gifts you.

Mikey (my beloved)

When mikey realised that you are frequently dizzy or lightheaded he would immediately asked if somethings the matter 

You explained to him without any hesitation and he would just slowly nod listening to you

He would find small ideas to help remind you to take your medication and to eat meals that are rich in iron.

Also he would send you small texts as reminders

Hey to the most amazing, best person in the world. Did you remember to eat enough?

Honestly it makes your heart melt. The first time he sent a text to you like that you were almost in tears holding you phone to your chest 

He once found out that you haven't eaten all day and forgot to take your medication from overworking yourself or just when having a bad day then BOOM!

Doctor feeling has arrived

[quartergremlin]

have you made comics about leo's brumation before? I dont remember that coming up before your most recent ask! did i miss smth? (also love this most recent story, really heartbreaking. he musta compared himself to his siblings so much :( )

-@hapfish

okay so i thought that i talked about it in the notes of the last comic but apparently my stupid jank phone did not save my edit like it told me it did! So uh. sorry about that. totally did not notice. 😔

other than that i alluded to it in this post, tho the event was much fluffier at the time.

i was referring to this stretch of the comic!

At this point we're going on three years into trying for a kid with no progress, so the Hamato Medical Team smash their heads together to look for a solution! The uh *checks notes* yeah the number of eggs isnt the problem, so there's gotta be something else we can do. Enter: brumation.

Brumation is important for the reproductive health of turtles (here's an article that mentions it, but all sources that i've found are about that vague). So they crank the air conditioner in his cart and Leo spends that winter half-asleep and getting taken care of by yuichi, donnie, and shelldon. This does not work.

and thank you! It's been a long time coming, I'm happy it's been well-received.

Absolutely. Mikey with their little bundle of sunshine, and raph and cass trying and having a kid immediately. Hadt've hurt.

[chil-aglia]

𝐃𝐨 𝐈 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐦? |ROTTMNT| (Male OC)

[The Turtle in Stasis]

Be sure to read the tags on my Ao3 so you guys know what you’re getting yourselves into.

Art above is done by me. PLEASE feel free to make your own art and idk tag me in it or something—

ALSO, I have a Bad Things Happen Bingo card out right now and would really appreciate it, if y'all could go and help me out with it!

Warnings: Mention of blood, mention of war, major canon character “death”, etc

Quick thank you to my awesome beta reader @cimmerian1275

They agreed to be my official beta reader and so far, I’m very pleased and excited to have them on my two-man team (literally just me and them) they have also created the cover art of the book, Caden’s ref sheet and just fanart of this series in general. Very talented and please, go give them a follow, love their work, etc.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leonardo Hamato is a turtle of many great talents. A master of wielding his katanas, a well-renowned and respected leader for his team and the Resistance, an expert on strategy with advanced ninja skills. A great big and little brother to his fellow family members. 

He also had an impeccable sense of humour to brighten up any dull moment.

He also had his fair share of burdens to carry. The weight of leading the Resistance in this apocalyptic world, with the Krang roaming about taking over at least 85% of the world, and the humans along with it being assimilated into Krang zombies. The fact that everyone relies on him to lead, to be a beacon of hope for others that the world can be saved. As long as he was around.

To everyone on the outside Leonardo didn’t seem to let those responsibilities get to him. Having one of the best poker faces a mutant like him could have. He was cocky, oftentimes bantering with his enemies to catch them off guard and then striking when they least expect it.

He’s the face man. And one of the best medical experts the Resistance still had. Of course, it didn’t mean he was the only medic out there. But his family always preferred him to oversee and double-check in case one of the human or yokai doctors overlooked something.

Leonardo Hamato is a turtle of many skills.

And all great beings…must succumb eventually.

-----

Ringing white noise was all Leo could hear as he laid prone on the dirt. Blood stained his blue scarf, most of it his. He could feel the red liquid essence pooling slightly from the side of his mouth. His side felt numb but he knew there was something wrong with it, perhaps more of his vital fluids escaping from a wound he couldn't identify through the haze of pain clouding his judgement.

His eyelids felt weak, and he was doing what he could to stay awake as he saw the blurry figures of his brothers hovering around him, all talking—no, shouting, among themselves. Their voices were muffled in Leo’s tympanum, who at this point was barely paying attention.

He knew the war was still raging on around him, briefly seeing the rubble and debris of broken down buildings in the distance. The muffled sounds of gunfire and explosions. The vibrations of heavy footsteps not far from where he lay.

Krang did this to him. Krang Prime to be more specific. But the bastard was gone, perhaps he left Leo to die alone in agony, to die thinking…. he failed. Failed to be the leader that everyone needed him to be. Failed to protect those who clung onto him for hope.

Failed, failed, failed.

He began closing his eyes, succumbing to the exhaustion overwhelming his mind and body. He just needs to sleep. He’ll be fine once he sleeps.

-----

Raph, Donnie and Mikey were shouting amongst themselves, coming up with ideas and plans on what to do. Unaware that Leo had already closed his eyes, no longer paying attention to them.

Mikey however was quick to notice, gasping with eyes blown wide as he stared at Leonardo’s limp and unmoving body. “Leo…?” He uttered under his breath, quickly and gently placing his tridactyl fingers against Leo’s bloody plastron as he listened for a heartbeat.

It was incredibly faint. On the brink of stopping all-together.

Mikey immediately became alarmed, shoulders trembling as he quickly tried to think of anything to save his brother. There wasn't anybody on the battlefield or nearby with the medical knowledge needed to help with something this severe. He could…he could…

He closed his eyes to ponder.

Come on Mikey! Think!

His Ninpo pulsed and surged of its own accord, and his hand that laid upon Leo’s chest began to glow. Mikey didn’t quite understand what he was doing, but it felt right. He could see, even with his eyes closed. He could see a blue light shining in the distance despite the darkness of the void he now found himself in.

Leo’s soul, he figured.

Mikey swam over to the blue ball of energy, clutching it gently but securely in his hands as he looked down at it solemnly. “You’ll be okay. I’m gonna help you out bro.” Mikey soothes, unsure if the ball of light can even hear him or be comforted. He looked around the void before curling in slightly, his transparent body glowing more in an effort to shield Leo.

He was searching for something….searching for a connection. Searching for a secure and safe space to store Leo into.

And… and he found it as he peered deeper into the darkness. It was hard to make out what it was, but Mikey felt it was the best option. The only option.

And so he glimmered brightly in concentration, the blue ball that was Leo flew out of his hands, as though he was being reeled in by an invisible fishing line, heading towards a location that Mikey charted for him with his own mystic powers.

He was going to be okay… he knew it, wherever he was going.

Mikey finally opened his eyes, blinking as his vision was blurry and distorted upon returning to the real world. “Mikey! Come on, we can still save Leo, but we gotta get out of here.” Raph exclaims, shaking his little brother's shoulder as the mutant box turtle recoiled out of surprise and stood up.

Donnie was now carrying Leo on his back. Mikey didn’t even see him move. Then again, he was preoccupied with something else. ”I can make a portal to the base.” Mikey assured, stretching out his arms as Donnie nods quickly, “Well come on! Leo’s not getting any lighter here.” He sarcastically quips, the stress eating away at Mikey as he inhales a deep breath before maneuvering his hands out in front of him.

He sweats from the exertion, but an orange portal begins to open, spreading widely enough for everyone to fit and whipping up loose pebbles and dust around their feet. Donnie was first to jump in with Leo, Raph following after and lastly Mikey jumping in, the portal closing behind them once they returned to the safety of the base.

They had arrived in one of Donnie’s labs, where the softshell pants from either exhaustion or worry, Mikey doesn't know, and immediately began taking Leo towards one of their private medbays. Leo hadn’t woken up or twitched a muscle during the whole ordeal.

”You're going to be okay Leo… just gotta patch you up again and—“ Donnie was interrupted when he almost bumped into someone, a familiar chest. Noticing who it was he was almost relieved to see them.

”Draxum. Help! Leo…h-he got hurt, badly!” Raph exclaimed, unable to hide the panic in his voice as he pleaded with the yokai who paused like he'd recently seen a ghost, and looked as though he ran here if his loud breathing and ruffled fur was anything to judge by.

Draxum stared silently at Leo. Taking in his appearance. He looked rough, still bleeding out onto the floor, his blood still visible on Mikey’s hands and Donnie’s clothes who was no doubt going to freak out about it more later.

”Come, we must stop the bleeding first.” He took charge, shaking his head to snap out of the daze he was in as he led the brothers to the med room. Donnie was quick to settle Leo’s large body onto the bed, immediately assisting Draxum as they worked together to assess and patch his wounds, clean up Leo, strip off the blue and bloodied scarf as well as the rest of his gear and wrap him in fresh bandages.

Mikey was ushered out by Raph who didn’t want him seeing the state their brother was in right now for any longer than he had to. For Raph, it was like seeing the culmination of all his failures take a physical and heartbreakingly real form, he failed to protect his brother. He remembered making a vow to Splinter years ago to always be there and protect his family from harm. And yet here Leo was, unconscious, limp, bruised and bloody all over. Raph felt like curling over into a corner and just crying. But he had to remain strong for his brothers, at least for Mikey.

Mikey on the other hand could tell what Raph was thinking when he looked up into his biggest brother's face, seeing the effort he put into holding back tears on his tight expression. He didn’t blame him one bit. Mikey himself felt similar given the circumstances.

He knew that he took Leo’s soul someplace safe before he could succumb to his injuries…but was it truly safe? Did he screw up? Did he send his older brother on a quicker route to death's door? For all he knew, that's exactly what he did.

Mikey’s lip quivered as he turned to Raph, who avoided eye contact, apparently finding the ground to be more interesting. Mikey knew Raph was just overthinking everything, he could tell because Raph’s ‘worried stink’ was particularly strong.

“Raph…” Mikey murmured, scooting close enough to softly touch his brother's arm in silent support. The snapper mutant glanced down at his youngest brother.

“He’s going to be…” Mikey halted in his sentence. As he thought about it once more. He refused to believe that Leo would die, that he could already be dead. He’s going to be okay, he WILL be okay, he needed to convince himself if he was going to help his brother.

He cleared his throat and continued in a stronger tone “Leo is going to be okay…”

Raph blinked down at him, a tense moment went by and he gave an appreciative nod, Mikey let his brother scoop him up and hold him tight as they waited.

Leonardo didn’t move or twitch a muscle as Donnie and Draxum worked in tandem together to treat his brother. And the inner turmoil was overwhelming, his brother has been seriously injured before, but these new symptoms? The utter lack of response? Leo seemed to be completely catatonic. And they don’t have any painkillers or drugs strong enough to knock out a fully grown mutant scientifically engineered to be resilient and built for war like this, so it couldn’t be those. If only Leo wasn’t the one injured, he’d surely have an inkling of what's wrong.

“He hasn’t woken up once since we brought him back, and with the amount of pain he has to be in—“ He began to run off for the needed equipment so that he could gather data and figure out what’s wrong so he can fix it, but paused when Draxum spoke up sternly.

”No. He won’t need any of that, and I have a much better place for him. Wheel him along and follow me.”

“Draxum? What do you mean?”

Draxum leaves the room, gesturing for Raph and Mikey who had been anxiously waiting outside to come with him. Donnie soon followed from behind, wheeling Leo’s medical bed out of the room with a flat expression.

The brothers share a perplexed look between each other, unsure where Draxum was taking them. The yokai himself remained quiet as he led them to his lab, further on the other side of the base that they currently resided in. Away from the prying eyes of humans and yokai alike.

Upon entering the lab, Draxum didn’t stop there. No, he ventured further over to a wall where all he did was place his hand against a brick, a hidden hand print recognition scanner appearing as it scans Draxum palm, beeping with a green light before the wall actually splits open to reveal an elevator.

”What is this? I don’t recall this being here.” Donnie voiced out, eyes narrowing in suspicion at the idea of Draxum keeping secrets from them.

“That’s because I kept it hidden. I made a hidden underground lab for myself.” Draxum only stated, striding into the large elevator that looked just big enough to fit the bed, gesturing for the others to enter as well.

Donnie wheels Leo inside, flabbergasted by his admission while Draxum waits for everyone to enter, pressing a button to close the doors as the box they were in starts descending.

”You have a hidden lab?! Since when?! How come I didn’t know about this?” Donnie interrogated, the ding of the elevator sounding off as the automated doors opened to reveal Draxum’s hidden lab.

It was big, cluttered with machinery, and the shelves were stacked with tattered and ancient-looking books. And multiple jars of experimental medicines and colourful liquids inside that had somehow survived the alien invasion were littered around the space.

Glass tanks were lined up ahead, and the brothers audibly gasped and awed at their surroundings. How was Draxum able to keep this hidden for so long without anyone, especially Donnie, finding out about it?

“Okay… we seriously need to have a talk about all of this, but what’s important right now is why did you want us to bring Leo down here? What could you have here that can help him?” Donnie tilted his head with a questioning gaze, already poking and prodding at a few of Draxum’s projects littered around his secret lab with a critical eye. Draxum showed them when he commanded Raph to pick Leo up and place him inside the first large and empty tank that he opened the glass door of, who gingerly and carefully carried his limp brother to where Draxum had gestured. Raph hesitated when he reached the glass door.

”Place him inside. We need to preserve him.”

”I’m sorry, preserve him?! He’s not dead or in some kind of coma.” Donnie hissed out, but Draxum just furrowed his brow and quietly groaned, rubbing at his temple with a clawed hand.

“Just do as I say, we don’t have the luxury of time to waste”

The three brothers share a conflicted look, but Raph eventually moves Leo inside when he meets Mikey’s trusting gaze, placing Leo down and stepping out as Draxum closes and seals the tank, turning to face a button on the side of the giant tube and pressing it. They all trust Draxum, to certain degrees.

Green liquid quickly fills the tank, Leo’s limp body rises up and floats comfortably in the unknown substance as it fills up completely. The brothers watch with a mix of emotions warring on their faces, from fear, to horror to disgust and morbid curiosity. Seeing Leo float motionless in this tube like a specimen was… strange, unsettling.

”So, you just had this laying around here for who knows how long now?” Donnie narrowed his eyes towards Draxum, who looked away and hummed in response.

“I needed more space for my…work.” He supplied eventually, glancing back at them as Raph steps forward, just as equally confused and baffled as the rest of his remaining brothers.

”What work, Drax?”

”It's…complicated.”

”Well explain the complexity of whatever it is you’ve been doing down here!”

An argument began to grow between the three with Mikey observing them from the outside, panic took control of him for a moment as he feared a potential fight could break out, given the high emotions everyone was experiencing right now.

Mikey turns his attention back to Leo’s floating body, mouth feeling dry and chest tight. He had to look away before the tears could find more incentive to fall. When he first saw Leo laying on the ground in the battlefield, it was hard not to stare. Leo had always been smiling, grinning or making jokes even in the face of danger.

But this time…

Mikey shook his head, taking his mind off it all as he decided to wander around the newly discovered underground lab that Draxum hid from them for who knows how long. Mikey wasn’t all too worried as to why Draxum kept this from them. It wasn’t like he was a villain anymore.

He softly gawked at the experimental medicine that was placed on the nearby table and shelves. Whatever was Draxum doing in here? Hiding medicine didn’t seem like it was such a big deal, especially if it was going to help the Resistance.

A sudden chill ran up Mikey’s shell, making the turtle uncontrollably shiver as he looked behind him, his eyes concentrated on the dark side of the room that didn’t seem to have any lights illuminated over there. An invisible string was tugging on Mikey to venture into the dark corner and investigate, and he did. Taking one step at a time as the abnormal feeling grew stronger and pulled him onwards.

What was it? What else did Draxum keep secret?

Mikey squinted his eyes at the shadows, noticing the outline of another tube-like tank, he placed his hand on the glass, the chilly sensation of its surface made him shiver again as he looked around for some kind of way to illuminate it. He noticed his hand was still bloody but dry from touching Leo earlier, but that didn't bother him at the moment. He crouched down slightly, finding what appeared to be a switch of sorts, flicking it up as he heard the whirring of what he guessed to be a water filter starting up.

He steps back out of surprise when the tube actually lights up, showing off what was inside… or more like who.

Mikey let out a startled yelp, stumbling backwards and landing on the floor as his brothers and Draxum rushed over to see what happened. “Mikey? What’s wrong?!” Raph interrogated, checking over his little brother who was frozen staring ahead with wide open eyes.

Donnie and Raph didn’t notice the occupied tank that was now visible to them. More focused on the wellbeing of Mikey who looked a whole new shade of green paler. He raised his finger on a shaking arm and pointed forward.

”….Leo?”

Mikey saw Draxum go stiff in his peripheral vision, who was looking ahead and imperceptibly sighed, placing a hand over his face. Furthermore looking ashamed as Raph and Donnie finally followed to where their brother was pointing, and recoiling violently at the sight they were met with.

Inside the green and bubbling liquid of the tube was a mutant turtle. Much younger than they were, somewhere in their teens if Mikey had to guess. The turtle looked like an exact replica of Leo, especially when Leo was younger.

This turtle, while resembling Leo, had only slight differences noticeable. The most notable one was that this turtle had extra stripes racing up their shoulders and stopping just a little bit under their chin, similar ones were visible on the outside of their thighs.

This turtle remained asleep, eyes closed as it floated peacefully in the tank. Raph blinked, stupefied, and turned to Draxum with wide eyes before narrowing them in anger. “Please explain what the hell we’re looking at.” He demanded, as Draxum exhales a breath he must have been holding and strolls over to the tank, his hooves clicking on the ground in the silent lab and eyes trained on the turtle in stasis.

”I created him 17 years ago. With the very real possibility that one of you four may perish. In this war, I want to take any chance that would be beneficial to us all, so he’s a backup that I created for such a scenario”.

Donnie gaped, pointing between Draxum and the turtle. “You… made another mutant? And kept it quiet for 17 years?! Do you realise how insane that is?!” He blurted out, as yet another dispute broke out.

Mikey had stood back up on his feet at some point, standing in front of the tank as he observed the new mutant in front of him. It was uncanny how much it looked a lot like Leo. Mikey placed his hand on the surface of the tube again, closing his eyes when he felt that familiar pull from earlier encouraging him.

He was back in that empty void of darkness again, looking around, floating in the air as he saw a vibrant light pulsing brightly in-front of him.

It was blue…

It was Leo. The box turtle gasps inaudibly upon realising what this could mean. He remembered when he saw Leo’s soul earlier today. He wasn’t quite sure what he did, but he remembered sending the soul away, sending it to the best and nearest vessel it could store itself safely in.

And that vessel was this 17-year-old in-stasis turtle.

This turtle is Leo.

Mikey snapped out of it all and came back to the real world, smiling widely with tears of relief in his eyes as he turned around to the arguing trio.

”Guys! Stop fighting!” He announces, but it falls upon deaf ears making him grumble as he clears his throat. Inhaling a deep breath.

”EVERYONE SHUT UP AND LISTEN!”

His voice boomed and startled the three who jerked back at his command to gape over at him. Mikey waits a moment for his nerves to calm down before spreading his arms out wide, enthusiastically. “Leo is safe and fine, guys! This turtle right here—“ He pauses and gestured to the sleeping mutant.

”It’s actually Leo!”

”Whoa, slow down Mikey. Leo is over there.” Raph corrects in confusion, tilting his head to the side as Mikey nodded but then shook his head, “Yes, he is. But, but! If you let me explain why this is Leo. You’ll believe me.” He bubbly jumps up and down as he places his hand over his plastron.

”Long story short, out on the battlefield I connected myself to find Leo’s soul. I saved him and directed his soul to be stored somewhere safer, in-case he… I stored him in another body. And this is the body that Leo’s soul is currently in!”

They all stood and stared, Donnie crossing his arms. “Angelo, have you gone mad? That’s scientifically impossible.” He scolded but before he could rant about the science behind it and how that couldn't be true, Draxum steps forward.

”But not mystically impossible.” He rectifies, placing a hand under his chin in thought, “It’s incredibly rare but not unheard of, according to legends and rumours in the past, yokai and witches and any other beings who were mystically gifted, were able to transfer a soul into a different body. It’s a tricky concept to think about and even more difficult to actually succeed in and pull it off. But if what Michaelangelo says is true…” Draxum ceases, as he looks between the sleeping mutant and back over to where Leo’s actual body was now stored.

”…then it’s possible that Leonardo is inside this body. Serving him as a vessel of sorts.”

Raph and Donnie remained quiet, taking into account what was said. They were always learning more about the mystic side of the world, relying on their knowledge of Ninpo and what Draxum had been teaching them. Sometimes the yokai that were still around and aiding the Resistance would inform them of legends and rumours and even showcasing whatever mystic abilities they had to offer in the war against Krang.

The mystic world was vast and they were only still scratching the surface of it all. So, this whole soul being transferred into a new body wasn’t… entirely surprising if it could be explained via mysticism.

”Why isn’t Leo waking up, then?” Raph mumbled sadly, his attention back on the younger mutant. “He’s been like this for years. Only a few times he’s opened his eyes. Earlier today, just before I found you all he had opened his eyes again. With this soul transfer, it could possibly take a few weeks at best for him to properly wake up.” Draxum explained the statistics of the reason. Donnie clicked his tongue, finding all this hard to process and incredibly difficult to even accept.

”I’m going to my lab.” Was all he said, storming off as Raph watched on in concern.

“I’ll… go make sure he’s okay.” Raph adds, awkwardly leaving in a hurry and going after Donnie. Mikey remained where he was, observing the new body his oldest brother was now residing in.

”He’ll be fine. I’ll let you know if anything changes.” Draxum assures, placing a gentle hand on Mikey’s shoulder as the box turtle mutant nods. “Can…can I visit him?” He asks shyly, earning a surprised noise from Draxum who seemed to think it over a little before he nodded in tentative agreement.

“Yes, you can visit. In return, I would like to continue your mystic training again soon. I know that you are already incredibly powerful as you are now. But from what you’ve told us, you seem to have more untapped potential within you. It would be wise to learn more about it”

Mikey smiled up at his second dad appreciatively “Deal” He agreed, he turned back to his hand that was still resting on the tanks cool surface.

”Wake up soon, Leo.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY FUN STORY TO WRITE GUYS! Like I’m already getting fanart, got myself a beta reader. Life do be good!

APOLOGISE FOR ANY GRAMMAR MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE, I TYPE PRETTY FAST AND OFTEN DON’T SEE THEM UNTIL I ACTUALLY PUBLISH THE CHAPTER. THEN I’D TRY AND FIX ANY MISTAKES WHEN I SEE ONE.

Quotev - Do I Look Like Him?

Ao3 - Do I Look Like Him?

Next chapter here

Taglist:

@turtl3sk3tch3s

[sophiacloud28]

Leo is Leo (A Rise analysis and a reconnection to the larger TMNT franchise)

So… I've talked about the fact that Leo is a strategist. I've talked about how Leo looks like a chaotic mess because he feels useless compared to his brothers. Now, let's talk about how it all comes together in order to satisfy a desire that every other Leo deals with.

Control.

There's one advantage that the Rise series gave us, and that's the fact that the characters are similar to their other counterparts, all while being vastly different. The best proof of that resides with Donnie and his autism, who came along to explain the behavior of other Donnies to the point that a lot of us went, "Oh! That explains this behavior." However, there is proof throughout the series that the Rise counterparts are still the same characters. They still share the same genes. They're just expressed differently because of different circumstances.

All Leonardos before and after Rise have been the eldest, the leader. All of them live with the anxiety that one of their moves might fail, that the entire situation will fall apart in front of them and they'll be left holding the blame. That leaves them with a simple back-and-forth: If my team isn't working together, then I'm a failure. If I can't get my larger-than-life brothers to work together, then I'm the one to blame.

You want to know what that leads to? Self-esteem and control issues.

Rise Leonardo is not the eldest. He is not the leader. But he's still responsible, aware of the populace's reaction to them and, like I said before, knows his brothers inside and out if you go the medic route. He's keenly aware of how little he contributes in any situation since he plays backup to his brothers and how little they listen to him because he's the voice of reason none of them want to listen to.

And what does that lead to? That's right. Self-esteem and control issues.

Only I'm sure you can already tell the difference. He can't blame his brothers. He can't use his brothers as a crutch for his problems. He's not the leader. He's got no control over them. The only thing he can control is the situation… and himself.

Have you noticed how rarely Leo loses control throughout Rise? How much he smiles or acts either like a doofus or in a nonchalant manner, you barely notice them? What if I told you that it's on purpose? And that we have had the answer since the beginning?

Yeah. That's right. He pulled the wool over our eyes since the very beginning. The self-esteem and control issues that all Leonardos have, Rise internalized them. He became a master manipulator and chessmaster because he wasn't in charge. Because the only thing he could do was manipulate and lie.

It's still Leo. It's still our blue boy. It's just expressing itself differently.

taglist:

@silverwatergalaxy @thegirlwiththeninjaturtletattoos @thelaundrybitch @luckycharms1701 @thepinkpanther83

@avery73 @the-cauldron-witch @redsrooftopprincess @iridescentflamingo @ninnosaurus

@milykins @yorshie @justalotoffanfiction @truffle-reblogs @adebauchedsloth

@raphsmuneca @theanonymousninja247 @leosgirl82

[bowsergotdunked]

ROTTMNT AU: STREET SMARTS!

so, i wanna start off by saying a HUGE thank you to the people who gave their time and effort to this au: @autumnmoon15 , @songdrop and @purplecaffeinecat ! autumnmoon helped massively with the boys designs along with designing Raph, songdrop gave me anatomy tips and purplecaffeinecat gave feedback on the story!! INCREDIBLY HUGE THANKS, I LOVE YOU PEOPLE!!! >X3 🩵🩵🩵

on with the yapping!! જ⁀➴

╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ MAIN STORY

this AU is a take on the separated au trope! in this one, the boys are mutated by draxum and raised by him up until their early teens, but unfortunately get separated when an accident happens.

now without the guidance of any parental figure and scarred, the boys have to navigate life in the hidden city as the mystic menaces!

╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ CHARACTER BIOS

(i'll add the design ref sheets when i draw them and clean this up for a masterpost eventually lol)

── .✦ Raph!

unable to fullfil his role as leader due to an injury, so he took on the role of teaching his brothers how to fight (with some help from Donnie),

only leaves the lair when absolutely necessary (usually to kick ass),

reserved, but still friendly when desired,

pseudo-leader,

basically 2k12!Splinter but harsher & more stressed,

mask inspiration: Shīsā

── .✦ Mikey!

the same as he is in-canon, although way more energetic and clingy (especially with Raph), likes to move around like a monkey,

leaves the lair basically all the time, whether it be with Donnie & Leo, or by himself

the most social out of the 4, has a lot of friends in the hidden city and a few on the surface,

powerhouse, usually the one running mystic powers training for everyone,

literally just mikey,

mask inspiration: Kitsune

── .✦ Donnie!

still the tech guy, experiments a lot with mystic energy, does research on mystic powers,

always in his lab, unless he has a reason to leave,

anti-social, prefers spending time with his brothers & April

brains + a bit of brawn, second in command,

personality of 2k12!Raph combined with rise!Donnie,

mask inspiration: Oni

── .✦ Leo!

this bad boy can fit SO much trauma in him, cockiest bastard in the hidden city,

leaves the lair often, likes to go watch the battle nexus,

likes socializing, but makes more enemies than friends,

leader, face man, professional boyfailure & team medic,

rise!Leo turned up to 11 with a villainous edge (aka the other type of edgy to not cope with trauma),

mask inspiration: Oni

── .✦ April!

same as in-canon, a bit more jaded due to her history with the guys, big sis 24/7,

visits the lair any time she can,

socializes a lot to gather intel in case the guys need it,

unofficial 5th member of the mystic menaces,

basically rise!April still,

mask inspiration: TBA

── .✦ Draxum & Splinter!

unaccounted for just yet >:3

╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ EXTRA!

originally i wanted to make this au solely because i wanted to traumatize leo the least but well here we are where he is the main character yet again oops

i will make a fanfic for this at some point along with maybe a few comics, but that'll be way in the future, so i humbly ask for your patience. if you wanna see any kinds of updates, tho, you can follow my bluesky! i post wips there sometimes :33

THANK YOU FOR READING!!! X]]

[dandylovesturtles]

we're stressed but we remain silly (actually this is super angsty lol)

more Sidelined + Firefight (Firelined???) propaganda for the @tmntaucompetition

Sorry I keep stealing your boys @remedyturtles

Spoilers for chapter 15 of Firefight, cw: for heavy injuries + blood, no actual recounting of how they got the injuries in this fic, though

Please consider voting for us! Thanks!

-----

In the time it takes Donnie and Leo to get medical supplies, it's been decided that they'll be teaming up with the Firefight guys.

The situation has also, somehow, managed to deteriorate.

If Leo thought these guys looked like death warmed over before, now they just look like plain old death. The other Donnie is littered with bloody injuries and his leg is bent in ways it really should not be. And the other Leo...

Leo shudders at the cracks in his shell. He's not sure he wants to know what kind of monster could do that.

The Leo is chirping periodically - help help scared - and the Donnie answers back by tapping on his shell. Leo knows enough now to recognize it as Morse code; trying to calm him, coax him into coming out. It doesn't seem to be working too well.

"...I think we should have brought more medical supplies," says his own Donnie, yanking Leo out of his reverie. "This may not be enough."

"I don't even know where to start," Leo confesses softly. Really, they need to see a doctor, but Leo has no idea where to find one. Maybe one of the older turtles here has more medical experience than they do? But he has no idea who to ask...

"We'll just... do the best we can," says Donnie, and he sounds determined. Leo finally tears his eyes away from their deathly still mirrored versions, the Leo cradled close in the Donnie's arms, to look at his own twin. He's got his jaw set and teeth clenched, like he does when he's gearing up for something particularly unpleasant, and Leo isn't going to let him face it alone.

"Alright." Leo starts laying out their supplies on the bleachers, sorting it for easy grabbing. "Let's see what we can do."

-----

When he tries to take the other Leo away, the other Donnie bites him.

Really, he should have been prepared for that.

It's only hard enough to graze the skin on his arm, but Leo still hisses when it happens. The other Donnie's eyes fly to his face, then widen and let go, which is good, because Leo knows what could have happened if he bit down harder.

He looks horribly guilty, his eyes flying between the Leo in his lap and Leo's own face. His eyes are glassy and he may not be able to fully distinguish between them. So now he thinks he bit the brother who is still chirping periodically - help help scared - and boy does Leo feel like a tool.

He holds up his hands in surrender, rushing to reassure him. "It's okay, that was my bad. I could have telegraphed that way better."

"Excellent work, Leon," chides his own twin, who looks thoroughly unimpressed. He immediately grabs Leo's arm in one hand, then reaches for the disinfectant with another. "We're supposed to be treating their injuries, not yours."

"It's fine, it's just a scrape!" he says, but doesn't actually do anything to stop Donnie from cleaning it. His immune system has been pretty much useless since the armor, and mouths are nasty.

Besides, the gentle attention Donnie is giving his wound, despite his harsh tone, seems to be doing something for the other Donnie. He doesn't loosen his grip on his twin, but something unspools in his posture as he watches, attentive, as the wound is cleansed and covered. Like it's finally clicking for him that they're here to help. That things are... well, better than they were.

Leo gives him his biggest, most reassuring grin, and says, "Yeah, see? We're gonna get you guys all patched up."

Donnie finishes his work, then pulls on a pair of gloves, thankfully already modified for three-fingered hands. He holds out a pair for Leo. "Are your hands steady?"

It's not at all an unfair question. Leo nods. "Yeah. For now, anyway."

Donnie nods back, letting the gloves fall into Leo's palms. "I'll start work with Leo, you take Donnie. Start with the lacerations on his back. I... don't think we can do much for his leg."

"Right."

Donnie steps over and settles down on the bleacher next to the pair, body angled towards them. He holds out his hands for his counterpart to see.

"Hello, Donatello," he says. "Can I start treating your Nardo? I'll keep him right here - you can maintain physical contact if you want."

The other Donnie hesitates. He hasn't spoken since they arrived, his only active communication the continuous taps against his own Leo's shell. It's not surprising - there's no way this situation isn't overwhelming. But it's making this whole process a bit difficult.

Donnie's never let difficulties slow him down, though.

"I swear," he says, clear and steady, "I'll treat him like my own Leo."

The other Donnie looks down at the bloody shell in his lap. Then he looks at Leo, who gives another smile and a little wave from his wheelchair.

Again, it seems to be clicking, and slowly, very slowly, the other Donnie unwraps from around his precious bundle, and lets him go.

His chirps get more rapid when that happens, and the other Donnie's taps get more rapid. They're close enough that he can keep a hand on his Leo's shell easily, can keep up the Morse code, keep telling him that he's safe. It means Leo's going to have an awkward angle to get to the other Donnie's own injuries, but that's alright. He's gotten good at reaching things that aren't convenient.

He wheels himself as close as he can get, then leans over the arm of his chair and gets to work.

It has to hurt, but the other Donnie stays stalwart, all his focus on reassuring his twin, barely twitching as Leo cleans and bandages the wounds. So Leo works in silence, lets him tap away. He knows enough to recognize it, but not enough to know what he's saying. Still, he can take a good guess.

Eventually, Donnie has done all he can to the other Leo, and Leo himself is flagging. His hands had been steady when he started, but this kind of work wears him out quickly - his hand muscles are cramping, and his wrists are sore. Donnie catches on, because he always does, and announces that they'll trade places without leaving room for argument.

So after a little maneuvering, Leo has his counterpart in his lap, while his twin works on cleaning the other Donnie's arms and legs as best he can. The taps are still going, and the chirps still come, here and there.

Leo can't do much to help now, so he tries to help. Tries to think of what would make him feel better, if they were switched.

He looks over at the other Donnie, battered and bruised and bloody, his leg twisted and his breaths wheezing.

And the next time the other Leo chirps, he says, "It's okay. Donnie's safe."

And he says it again, and again, and again, each time he hears the chirp, until-

"You're safe, too, Leo."

He looks up, at his twin, whose hands have stalled in their ministrations. He's looking at the shell in Leo's lap, but for a brief moment his eyes flick up, and they lock, and there's something meaningful there that Leo has to rush to catch.

"You're safe, too."

Leo watches Donnie, for the first time he notices the shake in his twin's hands. And it occurs to him, if it hurts him to see a Donnie in this state, like he's never seen before, then for his twin to see a Leo in this state, when he has-

He takes a shaky breath. The chirp comes again, and this time he says, "Yeah. You're safe. Donnie's safe. It's okay. No monsters here."

They keep it up until Raph and Mikey come back with the chairs and the food and blankets, the ones Leo drapes over his legs to keep them warm. By that point, they've done about all they can, and with some maneuvering they get the other Donnie in the transport chair, and pass his twin back to him, safe in his lap.

He still hasn't made any move to come out, but no one tries to force him.

"Let's ask the staff if there's anywhere these guys can lay down," suggests Raph, and they all nod in agreement to that. The bleachers are not comfortable enough for naps, especially not in the state these guys are in.

"Do you need me to push you, Nardo?" asks Donnie. "You said your wrists were hurting."

"They're fine," he protests, giving his hands a shake. "Don't..."

The word "worry" dies when his counterpart chirps again, and he catches Donnie's flinch when it happens.

"...Well," Leo says, "I guess I could stand to take a break."

His twin looks relieved. Leo's glad one Donnie does, at least.

Donnie grabs the handles of his chair; Raph takes the handles of their teammates'. And with that, they're off.

[qoldenskies]

Favoritism rant gal here! I spent a solid ten minutes resisting your "Raph is Leo’s favorite" propaganda, but I have to admit—it was convincing. My stance remains, but it’s been severely weakened. Kudos to you.

On another note, what are your biggest icks with fan content? For me, it’s the OP Leo syndrome—where he’s this all-knowing, all-powerful, all-cunning force that his brothers don’t stand a chance against. Like, I know canon Leo is good, but he’s not that good yk. The fandom tends to exaggerate some of his traits while neglecting the others, which sucks because the team is meant to be a unit. Each of them is unique and excels in their own way, and ROTTMNT is one of the few iterations where Team B actually gets attention and can hold their own.

A close second is overly angsty Leo.

And third—the lack of Raph-centric fics. It’s a crime. I cry about it nightly.

No hate to anyone’s preferences, though—everyone’s free to enjoy what they like! These are just my personal icks.

i dont actually mind when people play up leo's cunning very much but not when he's like fourteen cause thats a baby right there-- although in general i dont like it when they take away the,,, idk, sentimentality of it, i suppose. when i write leo as more particular and analytical, there's always something deeply emotional driving him to act that way. he's not a clear-headed, infallible person and even if he's acting that way in anger, i think it's more compelling if that actually peeks out. he CAN be very manipulative but he's not like. idk, a snake. sometimes his reasons are stupid and bullshit and he's playing 5D chess while literally nobody cares. they just flip the board over and tell him to shut up

although like, i think sometimes people play up leo's everything way too much in some places. i LIKE the medic leo headcanon but i HATE when people make him super book-smart. that is my adhd dyslexic king and i will FIGHT FOR THAT!!!!!! leo's self-esteem issues would be way more compelling if he wasn't book-smart!! and guys he doesn't need to be to go toe to toe with donnie, leo's clever and street smart and extremely good at reading people!!! guys pls. i write him as a medic but i dont even know if he knows all the words. he picked it up solely through experience while donnie bitched at him about doing it right the whole time LMAO

and yeah idk i havent been quiet about not really partaking in most leo angst but i think thats mostly because i dont think people ever interpret him in a way that's congruent with my read of his character. making leo a people-pleaser and donnie distant without caring about how other people think ....... yeah not my thing.

[craftypeaceturtle]

TMNT 2003 Fic Recs

These are mostly going to be hurt/comfort, with a lot of Don fics.

.

Homecoming by Technodawn

Donnie is kidnapped by someone and held captive for four years.

Posted on fanfiction.net, this fic is brilliant! One of those fanfics that I read entirely one sitting because I couldn't stop. Lots of brotherly moments and the time Don is held captive is emotional and visceral. This whole fic is so grounded and well thought out.

.

Turning the Blade by Pebr

All of the brothers start experiencing the same intense nightmares and all need to come together to face those fears. Only Leo spirals from these nightmares and falls further from his brothers.

Not for the faint of heart with its vivid descriptions and gore. Fantastic exploration of the characters and Leo in particular. A super creative idea with a unique threat. The exhaustion and injuries make the fic feel real and intense.

.

Blood-Stained Tiles by RealityBreakGirl

Donnie panics after having to stitch up his father.

I'd recommend anything by RealityBreakGirl in all honesty but this fic has a special place in my heart. It's so sweet and explores the idea of Donnie as the team medic and the pressure that puts him under.

.

The Gauntlant by T33la

Donnie has been working on a gauntlant that can negate gravity- but it's highly experimental and glitchy. But soon Mikey and Donnie have to bet their lives on this tech.

Again, would recommend you read through everything T33la has ever written, this fic in particular is my favourite. Reads as an episode of the show. The characters are so vibrant and in-character. Some fantastic action and character moments that won't leave my head.

.

Find the Road by SillySocks

A series of oneshots exploring how everyone is dealing after Leo is sent to the Ancient One.

Such a great exploration of family and what these characters mean to each other. Kind of blows my mind that this idea isn't in a bunch of fanfics. A slow almost grieving look after Leo leaves as everyone finds a new normal and tries to keep going as well.

.

It Takes a Village by GreenGoddessSmoothie

April is stressed out to the max with dealing with her baby. Thankfully Donnie and Leo come to the rescue.

You won't find a better April hurt/comfort fic. It's so sweet and an amazing fic which explores how these three all see each other. It's one of those fics which is great to read while trying to sleep, very fluffy and a great read.

.

Can You Break What You Can't See? by lunaless

Donnie struggling after the mind probe.

One of my favourite post-mind probe fics. The struggle Donnie facing to keep his mind in tact and also everyone struggling to get out of the ship is great! It feels intense and the growing realisation that Donnie isn't okay makes for a great read!

.

The Afterward by halogalopaghost

Donnie after his secondary mutation slowly recovering and being nursed back to health. The cure didn't work instantly and everyone is on edge trying to coax him back to health.

Yes. YES! A great fanfic with a lot of medical speculation and the helplessness of watching a family member fall sick. Leatherhead's exhaustion, everyone's desperation. A fantastic read! Also please check out halogalopaghost, another fantastic fic writer that I could recommend every single work they've done.

.

Midnight Comforts by mattyj

Raph comforting Don after he had a nightmare about SAINW.

OH! If you want a great character based conversation which completes destroys my heart, you'll find it here. Such a sweet fluffy fanfiction. A fantastic look into Don and Raph's relationship. A must read if you're a sucker for that dynamic.

.

Matchmaker Matchmaker (Make Me a Match) by LilliputianDuckling

Donnie is in love with Usagi but mistakes that interest in seeing how great Usagi would be in a relationship and so setting him up with Leo.

Okay I usually avoid shipping stuff since it doesn't really interest me but this was so cute and put an interesting spin on Donnie and Usagi. A great little read and the moment when Raph realises what's actually going on is great. The fic that makes me prefer Don x Usagi rather than Leo.

[percyaugod]

Unnamed Rise AU Part 2: Eternal Prison

Edit: It has now been named The Prisoner and the Pretender AU. : D

Leo was bored asking how long has he been stuck there anyway. The technodrome says forty-three seconds. Leo is unamused and gives a flat "Ha Ha. No really."

The technodrome doesn't say anything and Leo is left reeling. "What, how!?"

"Time dilation. Time moves faster here than back in your dimension. If it makes you feel any better you aren't aging. This place was designed to be an eternal prison. Not very eternal if the Krang die of old age."

Leo crossed his arms muttering bitterly about how well that worked out.

The technodrome holds Donnie above all others, and it is partially because of being connected, but it's mostly because Donnie is just Donnie. Donnie is the first to look at the technodrome and see something truly amazing. It holds him in such high regard because he holds it so high. Which is why it doesn't want to disappoint him and lose that.

Not to mention how much of himself he was willing to give to it so it could think for itself for the first time. No more just sitting around waiting for commands. Being used like a tool by those that don't appreciate it, don't deserve it.

Leo keeps the technodrome talking so he can hear his brother's voice, though he'd never admit it to even himself. He's just gathering data, nothing else. Yet he's probably just doing stuff to aggravate the technodrome like messing with the stuff it uses to make nutrients so Leo doesn't wither away.

It tastes awful, he's just trying to make it pizza-flavoured. Or preferably anything other than what he imagines Dad's chair tastes like. He knows chemistry, he can do this!

The technodrome begs to differ. He knows Earth chemistry. These chemicals are literally alien to him.

The technodrome keeps moving so it's harder for Krang One to find them. Which is extra difficult while trying to look like just a piece of nonfunctional rubble floating there.

Leo would definitely try to sneak outside. If nothing else he's bored and wouldn't completely trust the Krang spaceship. He still hasn't decided whether it sounding and acting like Donnie is worse or better. At least it'll be harder to forget the egghead.

The technodrome only lets him out to get supplies because even broken it's still far too big to enter. Supplies are hard to come by though, and who knows how long Leo will be in here until his brothers can save him. It keeps watch of all exits in case he tries something.

Leo is definitely curious about the technodrome, especially its connection to Donnie. How exactly did it get a copy of his brother on its systems, and what is it going to do to the original?

He wouldn't just ask it directly though. Donnie can't lie, but who knows about the technodrome. He asked in roundabout ways about other tech and functions to gather more info before making his way slowly to how piloting it works.

Leo tells stories to the technodrome who listens since at least he isn't trying anything. It's when he tries to exaggerate something and the technodrome corrects him that he realizes the technodrome remembers this stuff too because Donnie remembered it. So now Leo has the technodrome tell him stories to help him remember. It's odd hearing some of the same events but from Donnie's point of view.

Leo has a lot of trouble sleeping, especially in a prison dimension. He says something completely wrong and falls asleep to a "Donnie" rant.

Leo asks the technodrome what it knows about neuroscience since it could help him take care of his brothers in the future as team medic (you can rip medic Leo out of my cold dead hands) and he's pretty sure the ship mentioned tapping into someone's brain or nerves to receive instructions.

He's really going to have to look Donnie over when he gets back because that can't be good.

The technodrome constantly brings up Leo having the portal closed on it. Is this what Draxum feels like dealing with him? Good.

[colibrie]

Fang AU: Infection

Sooooo this is yet another extension of scene I wrote for the Fang AU created by @trilobitepunch, based on a request from @psychologicalwarclaire. Its starting to become something of a trend for me. Anyway, hope you all enjoy. Props and thanks, as always, to trilobug for letting me play around with her amazing creation, and curly for enabling me.

Hamato Leonardo knew himself to be a turtle of many enviable talents. Out-of-this-world charisma, rugged good looks, hilarious, a tactical mind and a resourceful field medic. The whole package. Except, he was not a scientist. He'd never had the patience or the attention span for fiddly formulas, obsessive note-taking, and tedious repetition needed for an experiment to be successful. As the team’s leader and face man, Leo thrived in the gray, mixing information and spontaneity, tweaking and twisting to ensure the outcome he wanted came to pass. Science was Donnie's world. His egg-headed twin thrived in black and white; relying on repetition, craved clearly defined variables, delighting in percentiles and predictability. That was what balanced them in the end, what made them tick as twins. Brainiac and face man, street smarts and book smarts, innovation and invention.

And maybe that was why he was struggling now, sitting hunched over his secret pile of medical books, scowling as he compared them to the ones April had brought from the library. Squinting at tiny, cramped print as his head pounded, forcing eyes crusted from lack of sleep to open to absorb the paragraphs detailing anatomy, herpetology, and epidemiology, alongside pictures that were various degrees of uselessness. This was Donnie’s world, and maybe he would have enjoyed this torment. Maybe, his twin could make sense of these "viral counts" and "impact percentiles ". Maybe, if his twin weren't strapped to the bed behind him, delirious and writhing in pain, they could have already fixed whatever this thing was.

"Shell," Leo groaned, throwing down his pencil as one hand rose to rub his tired eyes.

He was going to get crow's feet and fine lines from glaring at these useless books, things he could (loudly) tolerate if they were to result in a solution to whatever plaguing their purple brother. But they hadn’t so far. Days of effort, nights of burning well past the midnight oil, and all he had to show for his efforts was a splitting headache and a massive collection of unwashed tea mugs. None of Donnie's symptoms matched with anything detailed in the textbooks, or CDC and WHO websites. Given the creepy level of the lab they'd wreaked, it wasn’t truly that surprising, even if it was frustrating. There was, shockingly, not a lot of published research on mutants, let alone their illnesses or immune systems. But, illnesses didn't just come out of nowhere! He didn't need a fancy piece of paper or a Donnie-level IQ to know that. Whatever was ailing Donnie had to be documented somewhere. But he was a field medic for pizza's sake! He knew how to set bones, sew up cuts, and head off infections. Not cellular biology!

Throwing his hands up in defeat, he slouched back into his desk chair. Maybe Mikey was right. Maybe it was time to call in Draxum, much as Leo would rather eat a bucket of nails or light fire to all his limited-edition JJ comics than say it out loud. Mad scientist psycho or not, the Yokai understood a lot more than Leo did, in this one area anyway. And while they were at it, maybe they’d been looking at things all wrong. If a science-based solution wasn’t available, maybe a mystic solution could help? It would be the most delicious kind of irony, given Donnie’s historic skepticism of anything mystical or magical. Maybe their father could take a trip to the mystic library, or they could send one of the Casey’s to Witch Town. So long as they didn't drop Donnie's name in any conversations it would probably be...

A pained snarl cut through his thoughts, and he whirled the chair around to find Donnie bucking against his restraints, head thrown back in a terrible arc as he gasped for air.

"Whoa! Easy D!" Leo exclaimed, jumping out of his seat to reach for the oxygen mask and tank that April and Casey Jr had kindly "liberated" from April's school following the Krang invasion. "Just keep breathing man, in and out."

His twin hissed in response, pants deepening to a guttural growl as Leo approached and attempted to press the mask over Donnie's nose and mouth.

"Come on man, you're doing great. This is going to help you do even better, so chill out a little and I'll-"

Faster than lightning Donnie struck, neck muscles stretched and strained as he ducked around the mask and sunk his teeth deep into the flesh of Leo's forearm.

"OW!" Leo yelled, the oxygen mask slipping from his fingers as they spasmed open in shock. "Dee, let go!"

Donatello snarled in reply, sharp teeth sinking and shredding as his jaws clamped down on Leo's limb.

"Get…OFF!" Leo bellowed, jamming the thumb of his free hand into the pressure point just behind the soft shell’s jaw. It took way longer than it should have for Donatello’s teeth to release him, too many long, painful seconds before Leo could pull his arm away and stumble back a step from the bed, cradling his injured limb close. Torn flesh burned against the open air, pain licking out from fingertip to elbow while small crimson streams braided into rivers as they raced across his skin to follow gravity to the floor.  

“What the shell?!” Leo snapped, free hand clamping down over the injury as he stumbled towards the cabinet that held their stock of bandages. Donnie hissed again in reply, and Leo had to fight the urge to cringe away from the way his blood smeared across his brothers lips and chin, the way it painted his sharp teeth when said lips peeled back in a snarl. Dark eyes followed every jerky move as he fumbled with trying to disinfect and wrap the wound with one hand, breaths hitching as the pain in his arm built, creeping like the most agonizing ivy towards his shoulder. Slitted predator pupils zeroed in one the…wait…Donnie didn’t have slitted pupils. None of them did. Their eyes had always been human…

“What the…”

He didn’t get the chance to finish the sentence. Between one breath and the next the pain exploded, lancing up his neck and spearing deep into his chest. His jaw snapped shut around a cry as every nerve in his body seemed to simultaneously go up in flames, numb and useless legs folding like a house of cards as he hit the concrete floor of the med bay. He tried to break his fall, but his body failed to respond to any desperate command his brain tried to send. He tried to call for help, or maybe just scream, but his lungs couldn’t pull in the air he needed. He was trapped, a silently writhing vessel slowly filling up with pain.

 Words dissolved. Not just words, but the very concept of speaking drained away, skewered by pain and caught by an strange continuous croon that kept pulling him in. Dragging him down, down, down, a silent and deadly riptide wrapped around his ankles. It hurt... it hurt...

Hurt. Pain! Painpainpainpain! Scared. Alone. Alonealonealonealon-

Here.

The crooning grew louder, building and rebounding until it vibrated in his bone marrow. It rushed in to smother his scalded tissues, knitting into his nervous system. It was all around him. It was him.

Fear!

Here.

Fearpain!

Comprehend. Herecomfort.

Here? Comfort?

Affirmation. Herecomfort. Heretogether.

Together…

Like a lighthouse in a storm the notion split through the chaos, neatly severing his mind from the inferno still warping his flesh and bones. It reeled him in, no longer a rip tide but a now a much welcomed life line that he clung to. The crooning became a pleasant hum in his mind, stripping away the burden of thought and feeling, wrapping his synapsis in cotton wool before pressing him down, down, down…

 He was not alone.

No

They did not need fear.   

Never

They were…

Together.

Like a key in a lock it fell into place, cemented and unshakable as the very cosmos themselves. For a while all they could do was be, ignoring bodies that distantly stilled their writhing. Together ran in an unending circuit between them, euphorically triumphant as each rebound grew louder and louder.

Togethertogethertogethertogethertogethertogether.

Togetherhappy!

Agreed. Togetherhappy. Togethercomplete.

Completecomplete…Complete…Complete?

Like a grain of sand in an oyster, the question grew, streaking their prior enthusiasm with jagged lines of frenetic frustration.

Not complete.

Not complete!

Need…Needwhat?

Needmore…moretogether…

Moretogether. Moretogether! Moremoremoremore….

Whatmore?

Compute…

Like a flower blossoming in double time an image appeared before them. Red and green. Green and Orange. Silver-Brown. Smooth scales, soft fur. Love…Family…

Family…

Familytogether.

Needfamilytogether!

As though by invisible cue, two familiar scents hit their noses, bodies inhaling synchronously. Red and orange. Close. They needed them. They needed to complete together. They needed to-

Needsearch.

Needbite.

Bitebitebitebite!

They both froze a new scent hit their noses. Sweeter than Red and Orange. Warmer. Softer…

Human.

Slitted eyes opening simultaneously, the world kaleidoscope into prisms as they looked at each other from above and below. Humans. Humans were near together. Unacceptable.

Hunt. Kill.

They rose from the floor on silent legs, making their way to sever the ties that held them bound to the bed.

Seek. Bite.

They rose, bodies fluid and soundless as the slunk into the gloom beyond the door. Their objectives were clear. It was time.

Go.

[fishwithaphone]

Ok I'm posting a bunch, but the hyper fixation is crazy rn and I know I'm going to lose it.

A small collage.

Mikey spends any extra time he has reading and looking into turtle anatomy and general medical care from what he can find online and some books he's found in the garbage (even if the books are a bit outdated).

Everyone knows Mikey isn't a smart guy, or a book guy, but he knows that someone needs to care for Donnie, and even human medical doesn't cover stuff like mutant turtles or Kraang tech, so it's important he knows what he can.

Splinter is proud of his son for finding a passion to care for his injured brother, and the other two brothers tend to avoid the B team, not knowing how to really interact with this new dynamic both of them seemed to adopt.

While Donnie is still recovering, occasionally, he finds it in himself to sit in his lab and show Mikey how some of his more simple tech works.

Mikey is slowly learning more about the medical world and the tech world, to better care for his brother who's been hurt in many ways, and hopefully care enough for the weird Kraang integration that Donnie had gotten.

I know this is a bit out of character. I like to think that from the time that Donnie was taken to when he was saved (maybe a day or two for everyone else), Mikey knew of the time difference and how the Kraang worked from his time in dimension x without the others. Mikey had the advantage of not being known to be there immediately but Donnie was taken so Mikey knew that when Donnie got back, he'd need a lot of help.

To offer this help, Mikey scavenged what he could about medical care before the invasion, then when in the farm, he spent most of his time balancing between Leo and Donnie while still trying to read through the books.

He might not be too book smart, but two of his brothers were injured and it was important to him that they were okay, so he forced himself to focus and properly learn as much as he could.