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phoebepheebsphibs · 4 months ago

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The Cause and The Effect

@boots-with-the-fur-club @tmntaucompetition

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Leo found he couldn't stop smiling.

Mikey was running around, fun and fancy free, all about the halls as they traipsed through looking for Donnie -- or rather, AudreyTello.

Last LeonAudro knew or could remember from his universe (before he'd been re-spored and transported here), tensions with mutants were still high thanks to the TCRI and Mikey wasn't yet cleared to leave the lair, not even in disguise. He would have gone stir crazy if it hadn't been for Draxum and the Hidden City, or Leo's portals. But there was very little to match the feeling of being allowed to run untethered and unafraid. Part of Leo didn't want Mikey to ever leave this place, the sanctuary it offered, the freedom and the peace and the strange familiarity of it all. But he knew that this wasn't home, and in the end that was what he and Mikey needed more than anything. Home. Family. Peace.

And so Leo had decided to keep Mikey as entertained as possible. Much to the annoyance of Luke.

"I don't know if he should be running around a lot," Luke grunted. "What if he gets lost again?"

"He won't!" Leo rebutted, pasting his classic smirk on to prove his confidence in Mikey. "Besides, Michael's got our scents locked in. If he gets too far, he can --"

"There are literally hundreds of you here," Luke growled.

"But how many Leos that smell like fungus?" Leo challenged, his grin only growing. "And how many Leatherheads, or Mama Bears? Hmmmm?"

Luke paused, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to think of a comeback. In the end, he grit his teeth and pushed past him.

"I still think it's a bad idea."

Leo chuckled at his small victory. He knew ragging on the croc was not the best way to make friends, but he couldn't help it if he was too cool for him. Leo ran past the grumpy Yokai to catch up to his brother, who was already zooming back their way.

"Hey, Mike!" Leo called out. "C'mere, I got an idea for a game we can play!"

Luke grunted as he rolled his eyes. Julia stepped in closer and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"What's wrong, honey?"

"He's gettin' on my nerves is all," Luke sighed. "I don't know if I can trust him. He's still connected to the hive. What if he's secretly working against us? Or what if Audrey III is using him to unwittingly spy on us?"

Julia paused, tutting softly as she thought it over.

"...We should try to give him the benefit of the doubt. For Mikey's sake?"

Luke nodded.

"Okay, fine... but he gets three strikes. Three. I think, considering everything that we've been through, that's fair."

Julia sighed. She couldn't control Luke or his temper, and she could understand his hesitance to trust the NFIF AU.

"If you think that's best..." Julia relented. "But remember, people aren't always what they appear to be. I know you know that, and I hope you remember that applies to them as well."

Luke's expression softened.

"I know. And I get it for Mikey. He didn't choose what happened to him."

"Neither did Leo," Julia reminded.

Luke's mouth tightened.

"...I'll try to be patient with him."

"That's all I ask," Julia smiled.

Luke smiled back before rushing away to catch up to the feral teens who had somehow gotten away from him and Julia.

"Hey, guys!" Luke called out, scanning the many intersecting hallways. "Where'd you go--"

Luke felt something hard and heavy spontaneously crash into his chest, sending him flat onto the ground and knocking the wind out of his lungs. He gasped on the floor, looking up in shock to see DM Mikey's giddy and silly face, tongue half-hanging out the side of his mouth as his tail wagged. Leo revealed himself from behind a corner, laughing so hard he started coughing and choking.

"Oh-ho, man!" he cackled, doubling over and wiping a tear from his face. "Nice going, Mikey! And you should have seen your face, Swampy! You looked like this, like 'blaaah! aaah what is happening, raaah!' Y'know? Mikey loves doing that to me and the guys back home... Oh man, Priceless!!"

Luke grumbled as he sat up, glaring at LeonAudro.

"...Strike one."

"Strike-huh? Whadjya say?" Leo asked, face still red from laughing himself silly.

"That was strike one."

"Strike one? What, I have a strike count now?" To Leatherhead's astonishment, LeonAudro seemed more curious than concerned. "What happens when I get to strike three?"

"You don't wanna know," he growled, hoping that would convey the seriousness.

"Yeeeaaaaah but I kinda do, that's why I asked--"

"I said you don't wanna know."

"But what if I--"

"You don't. Wanna. Know. Dude."

"Can't you tell me?" Leo asked, almost begging as pressed his hands together.

"I'll tell you when you get to strike three," Luke warned with a growl.

"Okay great awesome thanks!" Leo said with a smile before grabbing his younger brother off of the croc's chest. "MIKEY HELP ME OUT WE GOTTA GET TO STRIKE THREE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!! WE'RE SPEEDRUNNING THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS!"

The two ran off again, leaving Luke sprawled on the floor with a grimace.

"...I think I kind of hate that guy."

. . .

LeonAudro tugged DM Mikey along the path, trying to find another good way to keep Mikey entertained. Mikey had opted to try and run on two legs rather than four, but this was still a challenge at times and could impede his speed. Thus, Leo was tugging Mikey along and not the other way around.

Leo saw a stall offering snacks and beverages, and brought it to his brother's attention.

"Hey Mike, ya hungry?"

Mikey nodded enthusiastically, stumbling a few of the steps as Leo guided him to the stall.

"You don't have to walk on the two legs if it's bothering you, bud," Leo said.

"I-I knnnnnow, b-but it l-looks weird," Mikey mumbled. "I get sssss-tares."

"Don't mind them, they just think you're super cool and they're embarrassed that they can't match your level."

Mikey laughed and gave Leo a side hug.

"Thanks."

"No problem. So, whatchya wanna nosh? I think they have shish-kabobs here!"

As Mikey perused the options, Leo ordered a can of soda. The mod operating the stall handed the cold can of carbonation over to him with a nervous smile.

"Careful though, it might be a bit shaken."

Leo nodded, content to wait patiently as his soda calmed itself down. But then he saw Luke barreling their way. And he got an awful idea. Leo started shaking the can as hard as he could behind his back.

"Heeyyyy, if it isn't Lyle Lyle Crocodile!" LeonAudro joked, a grin on his face as he greeted the steamed Leatherhead.

"You guys gotta stop running off like that," Luke growled. "You keep leaving me and my mom behind!"

"Oh, relax!" Leo crooned. "We're just having some fun, don't worry! Geez, you look hot-headed. Why not cool down? Here, you can take my soda, I'll get another one."

Luke raised an eyebrow as he took the can.

"Awfully generous of you-- BLRBGLGLBRB!"

Luke was practically waterboarded by the spray of soda. He dropped the can and stepped back, spluttering and coughing as he came to the realization what had just happened. He blinked, and saw Leo cackling madly, with Mikey snickering in the background. Luke scowled as the soda dripped down his face and chest, soaking the few garments he wore.

"That's strike two."

"Oh come on!" Leo laughed. "That shouldn't count! It was just a prank! It's half a strike, at best."

"I thought you wanted to get to strike three?" Luke questioned.

"Yeah, but I gotta earn it!" Leo smirked. "That wasn't even my half-best work."

"I don't know how Mikey can stand being around you," Luke grumbled, shaking some of the sticky soda that was dripping down his arms.

Leo lurched back at that statement, his perfectly crafted smirk stayed in tact, save for a small crack in the mask and a twitch in the eye and smile.

"Yeah, I know right? His standards have lowered exponentially!" LeonAudro laughed.

Luke raised a suspicious eyebrow, but didn't push the matter when Mikey came trotting along, three grilled kabobs in his mouth. He grinned at the duo, grilled steak and barbecued veggies in his smile.

"I'll go get us some drinks. Luke, want anything?" Leo asked.

Leatherhead blinked at the suggestion, then shrugged.

"I'll just take some water and a ton of napkins."

"You got it. Mikey, you want anything?"

"Owamge Soba, pweash," Mikey answered, kabobs muffling his speech.

"Okay, one orange soda and one water with a truckload of napkins. And I'm gonna get a new soda."

Leo stepped away for a moment before returning with the requested items, handing the soda to Mikey and the water with napkins to Luke.

"Thanks," Luke said, already wiping his face off. "What brand of soda did you get?"

"Oh, this?" Leo asked, holding the can up for Leatherhead to see. "It's my favourite flavour of soda, it --"

Leo was stopped mid-sentence when Luke, with a completely straight face, took the can, shook it vigorously, pointed it at the stunned turtle, and cracked it open. Leo was instantly drenched by the spray. He shouted his protests, little good it did, and stumbled backwards. Soon enough the can was emptied, and Leo stared wide-eyed at Luke, who finally smiled smugly and simply replied "Payback."

Leo turned and glanced at Mikey, who was desperately trying to hold in his snickers. LeonAudro smiled, giggles filtering in slowly.

"Okay, okay. I totally deserved that. So, we're even? Can we say no strike two?"

"Half a strike," Leatherhead conceded.

"Cool. I'll go get some more napkins," Leo nodded.

. . .

A phantom rolled through the arenas, unseen by the majority of the contenders. A cloud of mists trailed after him as he followed the butterfly mod. His violet caped flowed as he stepped with haste and determination. Something about his demeanor set the halls with a sense of dread, cold and calculating.

He had been searching for someone. Still searching, only now it seemed he was finally getting somewhere. This person he was looking for, a lost soul. Someone who would undoubtably have no idea what to do without his brilliant brother. He had to find him quickly, before he got himself into trouble. Fortunately for the phantom, this Mod had approached him with the offer to help find lost items or people.

"You're certain you can locate him?" the phantom asked, his voice low so as not to draw attention to himself.

He may have blended in with the shadows, but his presence was sensed nonetheless. Almost like that of a dream in passing, a memory you were trying to forget. A fear you did not want to confront.

"Don't worry!" the butterfly cooed brightly. "We'll find the one you're looking for."

"Good," the phantom smiled. "Because I am running low on time."

. . .

DM Mikey was getting fidgety. Leo noticed it, so did Julia and Leatherhead. Michelangelo was a rambunctious teen to begin with, bursting with energy and excitement, his ADHD running him wild. But now, his ADHD mixed with his animalistic mutations and instincts to roam free and be a bit feral; and he wasn't just run wild, it ran him ragged. Mikey needed to move around so much more, his creature features causing his metabolism to spiral. The teen could usually find ways to occupy himself (especially with Dee's special home jungle-gym), but it was getting tough to find ways to keep entertained in these never-ending backdoor-looking arenas. Leo knew he had to do something, poor Mikey was starting to unravel from jitterbugs and boredom.

And Leo knew he had to make up for lost time.

LeonAudro glanced back at Leatherhead and Julia, who were whispering amongst themselves. Probably about Leo's antics. Oh well, they could deal with one more antic, right?

"Hey, Mikey," Leo said in a hush-hush tone. "Wanna play a game?"

Mikey looked up at Leo, his eyes wide as he nodded.

"What game, Blue?"

"Wanna race?"

Mikey nodded again, his scarred and torn lips curling into a sunshine-bright smile.

"But w-w-what ab-bout Luke a-an' Big Mama -- Mama Julia -- Bear Mom?" Mikey stuttered.

"They can play too, don't worry!" Leo stated. "Ready?"

Mikey immediately got into a ready stance, hind legs reared and spine stretched out like a cat about to chase after his prey.

"Okay, ready?" Leo whispered, before looking back at the others. "HeyGuysWe'reGonnaDoARaceBetterGetReady!"

"Wait, what?!" Luke yelled back, distracted by his conversation with his mother. "Hang on--!"

"OneTwoThreeGo!"

Mikey sped off like a shot, vanishing almost instantly as he bounded away. Leo ran after him as fast as possible, though he knew he would never catch up to him. He was tempted to use his ninpo, but for whatever reason the power that kept him tethered to the spores kept his teleportation skills at a minimum. Luke and Julia screamed after them to hold on, wait a minute! But Leo didn't seem to care. So long as Mikey had a good time.

Leo ran as fast as possible, yelling back with a laugh "Try to keep up! Don't wanna get left behind!"

He didn't see the look of disgusted horror on Luke's face as Leo turned the corner and vanished. It took Leo something around 10 minutes to catch up with Mikey again, and that was only because Mikey realized he'd gone too far and turned back to find him. The feral fungus lads wandered the grounds, exploring the various compounds and stalls.

LeonAudro had found a door leading to an outdoor station, where old fashioned stalls made up to look like something from a fantasy novel were set around cobblestone pathways, a few carnival games, and grassy hills. Mikey had the absolute time of his life meeting new people and playing the fun games. They had all but forgotten about the MBU clan as the bros enjoyed their time together; and by sunset they were sitting on a bench, Mikey humming softly as they watched the sky change tones.

"That was fun, right?" Leo smiled.

"Y-y-yessss," Mikey crowed. "Fun day. Thank you, Leo."

"Anytime, bud."

The two sat in silence, the heavens turning red and purple slowly.

"...H-hey, Lllleo?"

"Yeah, Mikey?"

"Where are Red and Purple?"

Leo's breath caught in his lungs, and he thought he was about to have a heart attack. He'd been waiting for this question, and the fact that Mikey used their colours rather than their names was a bad sign. Same with his stutter -- those factors only came into play when he was nervous or stressed, or dealing with issues from the mutations. He was more likely to forget how to walk upright, or what he'd done that day, or how to say certain words if he was struggling. It was a reeeeaaally bad sign if he forgot his brothers' names. LeonAudro felt something rising in his chest, a cold anxiety that made his head light and his stomach flip. Blue tints filled the edges of his vision. He blinked it away, breathing deeply as he sought for the right words.

"...I'm not sure where they are right now. Do you know their names, though?"

Mikey paused, lifting his head to look at Leo's face.

"...D-D-Donnieeee... An' Rrrrraph," he purred. "I-I remember."

"Just making sure."

Mikey kept his eyes on Leo.

"Leo? Can I ask you ssssomething?"

"Anything, dude."

Michelangelo reached up, his claws gently coming to Leo's eyes but not quite reaching them.

"Wwwwhat happened to your eyes?"

The big brother's gaze diverted away from his curious and concerned little brother.

"It's... a long story. I had wondered if you remembered what happened... Mike, do you recall a mission with mushrooms?"

Mikey leaned in close.

"You mean... l-l-like... drugs?"

Leo almost doubled over laughing.

"No! No no no, not at all!" he cackled. "It wasn't like that, it was just an evil giant mushroom with a glowing eye, and when we breathed in the spores it made us see these terrifying hallucinations..."

"That sounds just like dr-drugs, Leo," Mikey insisted.

Leo laughed again.

"I swear it wasn't! Anyway, to make a long story short, I got infected by the mushroom and it... made me do a lot of bad things. Things I regret. And this is kind of a... calling card."

Mikey stared at him, studying every aspect of his face and eyes.

"Leo... was like Mikey?"

"Huh?"

"Prisoner," he explained softly. "Withhhh a voice in Leo's head that made y-you do bad things. Like Instinct."

Leo slouched, his usually over-confident facade fading away as he took Mikey's hand and nodded silently.

"Can Mikey help?"

Leo shook his head.

"That's not your job, bud. I'm getting better, I swear."

Mikey rested against his chest, a gentle hug made mostly so they could feel each other's heartbeats.

"Please remember I love you, if nothing else."

Leo pulled Mikey closer, recalling those words from a long time ago.

"I will."

The stars began to twinkle in the skies above, constellations that neither had ever seen before. Just as Leo was about to suggest heading inside, a gruff and furious voice called out to them.

"WHAT THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING?!"

Leo's neck was struck with whiplash from how fast his head swiveled. Leatherhead was storming over, smoke practically pouring from his ears. Julia was close behind him, her expression hard and stern but not quite so frightening as Luke's.

"Oh, hey guys!" Leo waved. "Glad you finally caught up."

"Don't EVEN start with me!" Luke shouted. "How could you just run off like that?! We were supposed to stick together! Why did you leave us? And not tell us where you were going?!"

"It was just a game, dude," Leo snapped back. "Chill out."

"We had no idea where you were!!" Luke screamed, startling Mikey. "We were worried sick!"

"Hey, calm down!" Leo yelled, grabbing Luke by the wrist. "It was just a game --"

Luke wrenched his hand back, snarling in fury.

"That's strike three," he growled, voice deep and dark.

Leo gaped at him.

"Wait, for real? You're striking me because I took Mikey --"

"Do you even CARE about what's going on?!" Leatherhead shouted. "Do you even think?! Or do you only just play around like nothing matters?? While you've been goofing off and causing trouble, we've been trying to find a way to keep YOUR brother safe! Or did you forget that?!"

"Hey, don't get all grouchy with me because you can't handle a few funny pranks and jokes!"

"The only joke here is YOU," Luke rebuked. "You don't care at all about your brother, do you?"

Mikey growled at Luke, his tail swinging in between the two and encompassing Leo, who looked stunned. Luke's eyes widened and his face went pale at Mikey's reaction. LeonAudro looked back at Julia, hoping she'd mediate somehow. Julia simply had her arms crossed as she shook her head.

"I'm not mad," she sighed. "Just disappointed."

Leo's mask fell. Not the fake one with a carved smile that he'd discarded some time ago, but the one he'd been wearing ever since he was made leader. The mask that hid his true fears and insecurities. Blue began to fill his eyes up again, his head felt light and his hands trembled.

"I... I didn't mean..."

"Let's just go," Luke growled, "let's find a place to stay tonight. Because after today, I'm done with you."

. . .

Julia opened the door to the room and gingerly stepped inside. Leo had mentioned that last year, after a whole spore-zombie invasion (he looked quite queasy and pale mentioning that) he and another few AU competitors had gathered for a post-victory turtle-pile slumber party. It was like a fancy hotel room, nice and clean and magically sized to house everyone needed. There was even a basket of knitting needles for her on the table.

The three AUs walked inside, tensions high and animosity still brewing under the surface. Everyone felt on edge. Julia stayed in the doorway as the three teens stormed into the room, each one taking separate corners of the living space to sulk in. The Mama Bear took in a deep and rumbling breath before addressing the trio.

"Alright, I've had enough of this," she stated. "You three are going to have a talk and work things out. Right now."

LeonAudro gawked at her, his mouth open as if to ask her what on earth she was thinking. But one 'Mom Glare' in his direction, and Leo had elected to keep his thoughts to himself.

"I'm going out to get some supplies. When I come back, I expect you to have patched things up or come to an agreement. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am," their voices echoed.

Julia nodded sternly before stepping out, leaving the room in utterly uncomfortable silence.

LeonAudro sighed deeply, and turned to Mikey, who looked terrified. Leo signed for him to 'give us some space'. Mikey's shoulders bunched nervously as he scurried into the other room. Leo waited a full fifteen minutes after he heard the bedroom door close to approach Luke.

"Heyyyy, uh.... wassup."

Was that seriously the best he could do?

He cleared his throat and tried again.

"Um, I just wanted to say... I-I'm sorry for everything I did, and..."

LeonAudro stepped around the couch to face Leatherhead, and saw red rimmed eyes and a completely tear-stained face.

"Dude," Leo said, eyes going big as saucers. "Are you okay."

Luke grimaced.

"Do you actually care?"

Leo sighed as he sat down on the arm of the couch.

"I do care. I guess I just have a funny way of showing it. And I really am sorry, I wasn't intentionally trying to bug you."

"What about the soda can?"

"Okay, maybe that time. But that was just for laughs, I swear. I'm not trying to make enemies." Leo huffed. "Let's be real, it's not like I have to try to make enemies. It just happens. I'm great like that."

Luke wrung his hands and sighed.

"Fine. And I guess I'm sorry, too. I didn't mean to make Mikey so upset... I just really care a lot about him, y'know? He... he reminds me of my Mikey. And he reminds me of myself. I had a tough time growing up and... I just want him safe." Luke looked up at him, voice dripping with anger. "And I don't know how safe he is with you."

Leo felt the colour drain from his face.

"I-- I know I made a lot of mistakes, I got the three strikes, but I'll make it up to you! I'll -- look, here, you can hit me! I'll let you punch me in the face top make up for what happened. You can hit me twice!"

Luke's countenance fell, a disgusted look of horror on his face.

"Or... maybe not? I'm guessing not? How do you feel about community service?"

"I don't want to hit you," Luke hissed. "Why would you think that?"

Leo swallowed.

"I... I figured it would make us even. For everything. I thought you would have wanted..."

"No," Luke explained calmly. "I don't. If I made you think that... I'm not that kind of person. I've spent my whole life trying to fight the allegations that I'm only a 'beast', or a 'monster'. People look at me and assume all I want is to fight, to claw my way to whatever I want. I just want my family safe and happy."

Leo tried not to look as small as he felt.

"I only want that too... and I'm sorry about the three strikes."

Luke rolled his eyes.

"Just... don't make it to four, okay?"

Leo looked up with hope, a faint smile on his face.

"So... does that mean we're cool?"

Luke nodded.

"Up to you. But for now... yes. We're cool."

. . .

Julia had gone out to procure some snacks for her boys and a few more balls of yarn for her knitting. She'd not realized how long she'd been until she returned to a dark room, with everyone asleep. Luke was passed out on the couch, and the only light in the area was a soft neon blue glow coming from one of the bedrooms...

The colour made her stomach flip. She knew that blue glow, she'd recognized it. It haunted her, even now. She would wake up late in the nights, convinced she'd heard one of her kids screaming or that there were vines crawling across her floors, walls, and ceilings. She did her best to confront these fears and recurring nightmares, but some things lingered even still.

The fact that there was no screaming or crying was a good sign. She glanced towards the couch to inspect Luke. His head was rolled back and mouth wide open as he snored. Julia grabbed a small throw blanket folded in the closet and spread it over him, inadvertently waking him.

"Sorry, love," she whispered. "Didn't mean to startle you."

"It's fine," he mumbled, stretching softly. "I should move to an actual bed anyway."

"Did you talk to Leo?" Julia asked, accompanying him to his own private room.

"Yeah," he whispered. "We talked..."

Julia and Luke discussed the conversation the two had before they'd each gone to bed. She listened carefully, taking note of some subjects she felt were important to focus on when she talked with him herself. Julia wished Luke goodnight before closing his bedroom door and turning her attention to the ominous blue glow. She inhaled deeply and covered her nose (a self-preservation habit she'd taken from the last time she encountered the spores), then slowly approached the source.

In the other room, on the bed, a nest of vines had grown around two slumbering figures. The vines were the source of the glow, with no signs of any spore clouds or fungus beyond that. Julia exhaled deeply, somewhat relieved. But the vines only confirmed her hidden fear. Leo was still connected to the hive mind, to Audrey III.

She stepped closer, looking the duo up and down with concern. LeonAudro slept in the center of the nest, cradling DM Mikey close to his chest. Mikey was curled up tight, knees against his chest and hands clutching onto Leo as he dreamt. The two were inseparable. Not from the vines, but by choice. Which was a consolation to Julia.

She may or may not have been worrying in the back of her mind about LeonAudro. She knew he was DM Mikey's brother, but he was also under the control of a homicidal mushroom. He'd tried to kill her just a few months ago. Her and a lot of other people. Julia was not the type to hold a grudge, but she understood that sometimes danger lingers. People are always capable of change, but that doesn't always mean they will. Take Draxum, for example. Many of her kids were the result of Baron Draxum and his cruelty. While some lived in universes where he had been redeemed and reformed, others lived in dimensions where he was incapable of such feats and had remained a cruel and manipulative villain his whole existence.

What Julia needed to decide was if LeonAudro could be trusted.

She stared down at the two teens, sleeping with the utmost peace in each other's embrace.

This boy, this Leo...

He wasn't a villain. He wasn't a bad kid. He'd been under someone else's control, no choice in the matter. He had been sleepwalking. Just like Mikey that first night in the daycare. It was not his fault, and she couldn't continue to hold him accountable for that.

She pulled a blanket out and spread it over the two kids, gently tucking it here and there before turning around to leave.

"...Are you going to make me leave...?"

Julia paused, glancing over her shoulder to LeonAudro as he spoke, his eyes glowing bright in the darkness.

"No, cub," she whispered back. "I'm not going to make you leave."

Leo gripped DM Mikey just a bit tighter, pulling him close to his chest and resting his chin against the top of his head.

"...Why not?"

Julia was taken aback by the question.

"Because I would never do that to you," she answered sweetly, tiptoeing back to rub his head. "Or to Mikey. You two need each other, I see it."

Leo's forehead scrunched, his eyes looking away. He was gently rubbing Mikey's spiked and shattered shell, hidden under the soft but tearing fabric from Julia's hand-knit sweater.

"Luke told me you asked him to hit you," Julia mentioned, sitting herself down on the bed. She noticed Leo flinch at the mention.

"I thought..." Leo shifted, hugging Mikey while making him more comfortable. The mutated boxshell boy hummed in his sleep as Leo adjusted him, trying to avoid Julia's inquiry. "I thought it would make us even. I didn't know it was a trigger for him... he's a big dude, and I figured -- I mean, with all the stupid stuff I did today -- I figured he'd leap at the chance to pummel me."

Leo hid his face behind Mikey's.

"Anybody would."

Julia cooed sadly, reaching forward and stroking what she could see of LeonAudro's head.

"Ohhh, cub! No, no no no..."

"All I do is cause problems and hurt people and--"

"Leo, that isn't true--"

"But I do, I know I do," Leo mumbled, his voice muffled as he buried his face deeper and deeper into the nest of vines and Mikey's sweater. "After everything I did, all the trouble and pain and fear I caused... All I do is cause pain. Any time something bad happens, it's because of me. I'm always there. Donnie always talked about catalysts, cause and effect. I'm the cause, I'm the curse. It's always my fault. I destroyed the future, I caused the apocalypse, I gave strength to Audrey III during the competition, it was always because of me --"

"That wasn't you."

Leo looked up, eyes wet with tears as he stared at the Mama Bear.

"B-but --"

"It was not you, my dear cub," she repeated. "You are right about cause and effect, but you have it backwards. Those things happened, but not by your hand intentionally. You weren't the cause, so much as the effect. How do I explain... Bad things happen everyday. But good things come to counterattack, and bring light to the dark. You were there because you were the good counteracting the bad!"

Leo stared at her, not entirely sure he believed her.

"You didn't start your world's invasion, you fought against it with every breath you had. You didn't purposefully let the spores loose, and you didn't choose to have Audrey III capture you or your family. You can't hold yourself responsible for something you had no control over. The day I first met your brother and Chaplin attacked us, Mikey was sleepwalking and Chaplin made him do things he never would do otherwise --" Julia raised her arm to show LeonAudro her injury, "-- do you think that was Mikey's fault?"

Leo shook his head.

"Then how are you any different? I know you didn't want to do any of the things Aufrey III made you do. And so I can easily forgive you for that."

"But today -- I was just a burden to you -- Luke was right, I goofed off and didn't contribute to the mission at all..."

"But you did," Julia insisted. "You were there for Mikey. He needed you, and you took care of him. I saw you, and you cared for him as only a brother can. You're a good kid, Leo."

Leo's eyes ran with bright blue tears. They streaked down his cheeks and left stains on his mask. He wiped his face, trying to hide his emotions as best he could. Julia hummed sweetly, pasuing to see if he would want any affection. Leo eventually looked up from his cry-fest, realizing that she was waiting for him.

"Th-thank you," he whispered.

Julia nodded with a smile, reaching out to touch his shoulder.

"Of course, cub--"

She touched him. All it took was a touch. And she saw it all. Hallucinations that filled the entire room, converting it into a scene -- a memory. A dark room with half-dead people bound by vines and roots, the centerpiece held a blue-clad ninja turtle that was being eaten alive by an enormous mushroom. The air was visible, muddled and murked by blue mists and fog, the stench of fungus.

Julia pulled away quickly. The world was put to rights. Leo was still laying there, still cradling a peacefully sleeping Mikey. It seemed neither boy understood what had just happened. Julia barely knew what had happened.

She reached out and touched him again.

She was in a laboratory with a godless man trying to drag Leo away by his legs as his brothers watched and screamed. When Leo fought back, he was hit with an electrifying device that sparks burning his shell and skin just a few feet from where Mikey was caged, tears flooding down his terrified face.

Julia released Leo. The room was still and quiet once more. Leo glanced at her, unsure of what she was doing. She wasn't sure either. But she had discovered one thing: Leo could still use his fear powers.

He suddenly sat up straight, eyes wide as his pupils flashed pure white. DM Mikey groaned in his sleep, trying to reach for his brother when he couldn't feel him anymore. But LeonAudro sat stock still, chest rising and falling frantically as he hyperventilated.

"Leo?" Julia whispered cautiously, wondering if he'd seen what he'd unintentionally made her see. "What is it, what --"

"Something's about to happen...!"

. . .

Baudrey hummed as he lead the way through the halls. It was always difficult to tell what time it was in here, since time technically didn't exist in this realm. There was a sun and a moon and a sky, but that was more so for decoration than anything. People from all sorts of timelines and years congregated here, and while months could go by, they wouldn't age a day and no time would have passed in their homeworld. All that to say, clocks were useless. But he could assume that it was late in the evenings based on how few people were still trotting about, and from how quiet it had gotten. Not that Baudrey needed sleep anymore.

"Hurry along now," he said, his voice sing-songy as he directed Chaplin to the daycare. "Wouldn't want to be late."

"I don't see why we're attacking again," Chaplin grumbled, his face alternating between shades of pale caucasian and purple. "It didn't fare well the first time around."

"Ah, but as a scientist you must know that new variables can alter the experiment greatly!" Baudrey chuckled. "You have me now."

The villainous duo approached the daycare; the purple dome surrounding it shimmered upon their arrival as a warning.

"You know what to do," Baudrey crooned, stepping aside and gesturing at the door.

Chaplin stepped closer, frills on his neck revealing themselves as he took in a deep breath, then yelled. Sound waves reverberated, cracking the dome and causing it to slowly melt away. Some areas stayed in tact, but there were plenty of holes for the men to enter through. Baudrey pushed the door open with a dramatic flourish and stepped inside.

"Your turn," Chaplin sneered.

Baudrey waved his hands, and clouds of blue began infiltrating the sleepy daycare.

"That should help keep the snotty brats entertained," Baudrey smiled. "Meanwhile we have free reign to roam as we please."

"And if they aren't here?" Chaplin growled. "What then?"

"Oh don't worry, I have a man on the inside. Though he has been somewhat of a disappointment to me as of late... no matter. There are other ways to get what we want..."

Chaplin smirked as his body grew and deformed.

"Shall we?"

The two strolled along the halls as the children began to scream from their nightmares.

. . .

"What do you mean, something is about to happen?" Julia asked as she followed after Leo. "What's going to happen??"

"Something bad, I don't know," Leo gasped, hurriedly rushing around the room. "I-I got a feeling -- almost a glimpse -- Audrey III, they're planning something --"

"Planning what? How do you know...?" Julia froze. Leo turned to look at her, his face pale and expression sick, as if he might throw up.

"I... I don't know how to explain it, but... it's in my head... he's still in my head..."

Julia's eyes searched his. She knew that those infected by the spores had bright blue sclera, irises and pupils a lifeless white. Leo's eyes were only half-blue, his pupils dilating between the black and white.

"I-I promise I'm not going to hurt you!" Leo insisted, getting ahead of the conversation he knew was coming. "I swear on pizza supreme, on my life, on Mikey's life--! I won't hurt you! I'm not a bad guy, I promise!"

"I know," Julia said, trying to calm him down without touching him. "I know, don't worry. But... I don't understand?"

"Like I said, it's hard to explain," Leo answered, words fumbling out of his mouth faster than he could process as he paced anxiously. "I am and I am'nt. Am not, are not -- whatever. Audrey III doesn't control me anymore, but it still has like, a direct line to my brain. I'm kind of plugged in, and sometimes I get a signal -- A-and I just got a big one! A signal or command, or m-maybe even a message."

"What message?" Julia questioned nervously.

There was suddenly a knock at the door. The two heads snapped in unison, staring at the entrance. They exchanged a glance laced with reservations and nerves before Leo timidly went to the aperture and unlocked it. The door lazily swung open, revealing a phantom in a deep purple cloak.

"Finally, I found you," he whispered, lowering the hood and revealing a softshell turtle with a purple mask and bright blue eyes with white irises. "Hello, brother."

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