#sad but then casey comes back to the present | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

shaotie · 2 months ago

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Seven Years - Ch 19: Sophisticated Five-in-One Microwave

Leo’s eyelids stayed half open, but everything looked and felt and sounded dull - like he wasn’t all the way present in the room and as though his head was dunked under water - and his body felt numb, like he was floating and not laying on the gurney Raph put him on in the med bay.

Worst of all, his body didn't reactively flinch from the prick of a needle he couldn't feel, and he didn't know what was happening around him.

Krang Prime and the prison dimension were still superimposed across his vision, looking distorted, but everything else was completely blurry beyond recognition. Leo tried to focus his vision, so he could see the world he was really in, but his fully dilated pupils wouldn’t focus for him, he had no control over them whatsoever. In fact, he had no control over anything.

All he could do was see a blurry haze and listen.

See Krang standing in front of him with nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, unable to look away or close his eyes to block out the scary sight.

And although he could hear muffled voices, he couldn't make out what they were saying, especially not over the sounds of the monstrous Krang, who was standing right in front of him, looking down on him, tauntingly laughing at his misery.

It was around that moment Leo could fell a pull on his consciousness, like a heaviness was dragging him down and clouding his vision with darkness.

Even though he was still hallucinating he tried to fight it, because he didn't want to leave his family a second time by losing consciousness, maybe never to awake.

But the fog and the blackness were taking over, and even though he pleaded with himself inside his mind to stay, not to be taken away from his family again for who knows how long this time, (perhaps never to return) he didn't have the strength he needed to stop it from happening, so he felt his mind drift away into the black nothingness of unconsciousness.

Just under two hours later Leo began coming to.

As his consciousness gradually drifted in like the rising tide, ebbing and flowing with the ever encroaching waves, and even though his eyes were already half open he still appeared to be unconscious to everyone else.

Leo's hearing and vision gradually came back first, and he was grateful to see the scary prison dimension hallucination was finally over, but he didn't feel fully present, like he might dip under into unconsciousness again, so he tried to stay grounded in the room by latching on to the sound of voices so he didn't drift away.

Or maybe it would be better if he did drift away. Drift away and slip into a coma he would never wake up from. That seemed like the better option for dying than the other ones that haunted his mind.

But if he wasn't dying yet Leo wanted to hang on to every moment he had left with his family. So he pushed through his fears and kept clinging to the voices that were coming in clearly now, thinking the name of the one who spoke to help keep him here in the present.

"He looks so pale."

'April.'

"Did you understand everything I told you?"

'Draxum.'

"Yeah, but . . ."

'Mikey'

"It's just a lot to process."

'Casey.'

Leo tried to move his eyes, to look around the still blurry room, hoping someone would see the movement and realize he was awake now.

But nothing happened.

Nothing happened when he tried to move his finger, too. Or, at least, he assumed nothing happened, but he wasn't really quite sure because he still didn't feel like he was in his body. It felt more like he was floating above it, and he couldn't feel any of the machines or the IV needle hooked up to him, or the blanket covering him or the mattress and pillow beneath him.

"It's all happening too fast."

'Donnie.'

"How much time does he have left now?"

'Raph.' Big, strong, dependable Raph, who sounded like he was fighting back tears.

It broke Leo's heart.

There was a pause before Draxum replied in a sad, soft tone.

"One year. Maybe less."

'ONE YE...'

Leo’s mind immediately fled, sucked back into the void of unconsciousness like he was caught up in the powerful pull of a swirling whirlpool from the shock of hearing how much time he lost since Draxum last told him, and how little time he now had left with his family who he loved.

Leo didn't have any strange dreams this time, instead it was like he was teetering around the edge of the nothingness of unconsciousness. Not aware of his surroundings, his mind devoid of thoughts and feelings, but somehow it seemed like he was able to judge the passage of time, as though he was an asleep passenger on a train who fully roused to the sound of their destination being announced through the speakers. When he awoke again, he sensed he had only been out of it for no more an hour.

Once again he latched on to the sound of voices in the room.

"Hey Dee, how are things going in the lab?"

'Mikey.'

"Good, the mutaten's ready and in the medical fridge, now it's just a waiting game. Did he wake up at all?"

'Donnie.'

"No, I don't think so, although it's hard to tell with his eyes half open like that. But he didn't move."

'April'

Leo saw what looked like a shadow come across his blurry, hazy vision - which he didn't know was Donnie leaning over him to look into his eyes - and he tried so hard to force them to focus when he heard Donnie's voice from right above his face say:

"He doesn't look any different, his pupils are still fully dilated. Did you give him his eye drops?"

"Yeah, I did that ten minutes ago."

'Mikey! I hear you, why can't you hear me!?" Leo cried out in his mind; knowing the answer but feeling so frustrated about this whole situation that he wanted to cry. But couldn't.

Next, Donnie put his hand on Leo's shoulder and gently shook it, but the slider didn't know because he couldn't feel a thing as his concerned twin brother tenderly called out: "Leo. Hey Leo, can you hear me?"

There was a pause and then the shadow left and Leo heard Donnie say: "Still nothing."

'No it's not nothing, I'm here! I'm right here Donnie, listen to me!"

Nothing but silence.

~Some Time Later~

Leo didn’t know if he drifted off into unconsciousness or sleep, but this time he awoke to a bright light being shone in his eyes, which was Donnie using a pen flashlight, hoping to get a reaction from his unresponsive pupils.

But his brother's eyes remained exactly the way they had been ever since this whole situation happened, half closed and fully dilated, blurring the world around him.

“Do you have to keep doing that to him?” Leo heard April's cross voice.

“Yes Prill, I’m looking for a reaction,” Donnie replied factually.

“Can’t you tell how he’s doing with that brain scan thingy stuck to the back of his head?”

‘Mikey,’ Leo thought to himself, trying to keep his wobbly head grounded in reality.

“No, it’s a crude design and it was a rush job. It only informs us if there’s an emergency we need to tend to post haste and I just don't have time to work on a better design, there's too many changes happening too fast, Draxum and I together can barely keep on top of his constantly changing medical needs and don't get me started on how hard it's been to make time for my necessary research!”

‘Donnie.’

Leo tried to wiggle the fingers on his right hand but couldn’t do anything. Well, at least he thought he couldn’t do anything, because he still couldn't feel his body, like he was floating above it. But the numbed senses in his head were beginning to clear, and that was when he noticed there was a thin tube stretching across his face, blowing oxygen into his nostrils.

The dry air he continually breathed in with every breath annoyed him and he wanted to take it off, but he still couldn’t budge an inch; or even make his eyes focus, no matter how much he yelled at himself inside his mind to do that now while Donnie was right beside his head, looking down on him.

“Why doesn’t Draxum use that brain scan thing in his lab to find out if Leo’s conscious or not?”

‘April.’

“We only did that once because it was necessary at the time, but we can’t keep moving him around. It’s better for Leo if he stays here, in bed.”

‘Donnie!’ Leo tried to yell. But nothing happened.

He didn’t feel it when Donnie lifted the blankets off his feet and poked the sole of his foot with the sharp tip of a needle, trying to get an automatic reflex response. He also didn’t feel it when Donnie systematically poked the needle into his skin starting at his feet and working his way up his body. And while he did that, Leo started to sense that he was able to focus his eyes, so he put all his attention into that.

The room blurred and focused, over and over as his eyes were adjusting, and by the time Donnie was done his prick test, Leo could clearly see the white, tiled ceiling above his head (thankfully someone shut off the lights directly over him)

And now he was working on trying to move his eyes.

“How is he?” came a sad little voice from Mikey.

“Same as before. It’s time to give him his next dose of medication,” Donnie replied in a sad voice as well (one he was clearly trying to make sound factual) before flicking the blanket back over his unresponsive brother's body, to keep him warm.

Leo heard him doing something at a tray by his head, and he hoped Donnie would look at the now-focused pupils of his eyes before walking away.

Donnie injected three separate syringes of liquid medication into Leo’s IV line, and when he was done he turned his head around to ask April: "Clean this up for me Pril? I'm going back to Draxum’s lab, I have important work that can't wait.”

"Yeah, of course, Dee."

‘No, no don’t go! Look at me! Look at me, Donnie look at me!’

Thankfully, Donatello gave Leo’s face a passing glass before leaving, but froze in his tracks when he saw his brother looking back at him.

All the tension in Donnie’s body softened, as did his facial expression as he gave his twin a loving, wobbly smile and said in a voice that was far too soft and kind and tender to be coming out of his mouth of all people:

“Hi Leo, it’s good to see you awake.”

“Leo’s awake!”

Mikey and April were the only other two in the med bay at the moment, and they rushed over to be by Leo’s side, with Mikey standing on his left by his head, and April standing alongside Donnie, on his right.

Only able to move his eyes, he looked at their sad yet smiling faces one at a time, before giving his attention back to Donnie.

“Get the others,” Dee told someone.

April rushed out of the room and he called out: “Inform Draxum first!”

After that, Donnie gave Leo his attention again and spoke to him in such an uncharacteristically kind, soft tone of voice that was so full of pity it was nauseating to the slider; making Leo wished he could shake some sense into him to make him stop talking that way and go back to being his annoying 'facts and logic' twin brother, even if that meant listening to his voice drone on and on for hours about whatever latest hyper-focus he was fixated on.

“Hey Leo, I’m going to get you to follow my pen with your eyes, ok? It’s in my hand, see?”

Leo looked at the pen in Donnie’s hand and traced it with his eyes as Dee moved it back and forth and up and down, and all around in circles three times that kind of made him dizzy and want to blink a few times. But his eyelids still weren’t working for him.

“That’s good Nardo, you did good, now I'm going to shine a light in your eyes to make sure your pupils are responding.” Donnie next shone the light in Leo's eyes, one at a time, before putting the pen flashlight away and clicking at his wrist tech, inputting this new information into a medical chart app he designed, that he shared wirelessly with the same app on Draxum’s wrist com.

Incidentally, at first his family wanted the app installed on their cell phones too, but when Donnie gave them access they realized everything was written in medical jargon they couldn’t understand. So all of them gave up on it, except for Mikey, who kept it around to occasionally open and peruse, for nothing more than comfort, because it somehow made him feel connected to Leo.

April came back with Raph, who were entering the room as Mikey got in the slider's line of vision.

“Hi Leo!” his little brother said with so much cheerfulness and love it made Leo want to smile and reach out to give him a hug.

But he still couldn’t do anything beyond moving his eyes around.

“How are you doing, buddy?” Raph asked next.

All Leo could do was look up at him, and he kept his eyes on his big brother who looked at Donnie when he said: “We’re about to find out,” while attaching a goose neck tablet holder to the side of Leo’s bed.

While he was securing the stand, Dee looked at April and asked: “Did you inform Draxum? Where’s Pops?”

“Yeah, I let Draxum know, he said he’ll be in as soon as he finishes with the next batch of medication, and that you can take over until then. And Splints just finished cake and milk so…” “Say no more,” Donnie replied, making Leo smile internally at the memories of their predictable dad snacking on cake with a big glass of milk, and promptly falling into such a deep slumber no one could rouse him for the next two hours (and all the shenanigans he and his brothers got into over the years because they knew they could get away with murder when Splinter was sound asleep after cake and milk; with none of the four little turtle tots giving thought to the consequences of leaving a trail of evidence behind for Splinter to find when he awoke. Not until they got older and a little bit wiser, of course).

Next, Donnie attached his tablet to the the claw grip on top of the stand, and Leo looked up at it to see three big words, each in a white, rectangle box:

Yes

Maybe

He then looked at Donnie when his twin brother told him: “Alright Leo, I’m working on an app that uses an eye sensor so you can communicate with us until Draxum and I fix this whole situation. It’s still in beta and the only options that work are yes, no, and maybe, but they can be used for other things, like good, bad, and so-so, or high, low, and in between, so on and so forth. The function is simple, look at the word you want to communicate and give a hard blink to select it. The voice right now is a one I hauled off the internet. Go ahead, give it a try by playing around with the controls, and when you feel comfortable look at me and I’ll begin my questions."

Leo took his eyes off Donnie’s face to look at the ‘yes’ on the screen, but when he tried to blink, he was only able to slightly wince his right eyelids.

“Have no fear my mutant brethren, I came prepared with a plan B.”

Donnie took the tablet out of the stand to click at it some more, and when he put it back over Leo’s face, he explained: “Now when you hold a gaze on a word for two point five seconds, it will select for you. Try it out.”

Leo felt a wave of relief wash over him when he stared at the ‘yes’ on the screen and a voice said: “Yes,” through the tablet speakers; and he noticed everyone else in the room also breathed a sigh of relief.

Leo played around with the controls for a bit and when he was ready he looked at Donnie, waiting for him to proceed with the questions and glad his factual twin brother finally lost the super kind, tender, 'I pity my poor, pathetic brother’ tone of voice and went back to the usual ‘factual and logical’ Donnie Leo was used to.

“The first thing we’re going to try are some control questions to make sure you understand what we’re saying. Select the yes.”

Leo looked at the yes and the voice said: “Yes.”

“Look at the ‘no’."

Leo did what he was told and the female voice in the tablet said: “No.”

Donnie did this with Leo for a few rounds, and when he was satisfied, he moved on to simple questions Leo should know the answers to, to check his brain function and memory.

“If your name is Raph look at yes, Mikey, maybe, or Leo, no.”

Leo chose no.

“If you're fifteen click yes, sixteen click maybe, seventeen click no.”

Leo considered looking away since he was really twenty three after his seven years in the prison dimension; but he was technically in the body of a sixteen year old, the whole thing was only a few minutes for them, and he didn’t want to worry his family, so he clicked ‘maybe.’

Donnie ran over a number of questions with Leo, testing his memory, function, and cognition, finishing with:

”Are you the most annoying brother ever?”

Raph shot Dee a dirty look but the corner of Leo’s mouth twitched when he tried to smile, and he looked at the tablet to click: “Yes.”

“See, even he agrees!” Donnie defensively told Raph.

“Yeah, but still, you shouldn’t have asked something like that,” the overprotective big brother of the family complained.

The corner of Leo's mouth twitched again from this familiar banter, before they both gave him their attention. Now that Donnie was satisfied Leo’s memory, awareness, and cognition appeared to be normal, he tensed a little and asked:

“Are you in any pain?”

Leo noticed Raph and the others tensed too, and he considered answering ‘maybe’ since the dry air of the oxygen tube was really, really annoying, but he didn’t want to unnecessarily worry his family; so he answered: “No.”

Raph breathed a sigh of relief and the tension he and the others were holding in eased. It was around this Splinter came in the room to check on his Baby Blue, dragging his tired feet and yawning while rubbing sleep out of his eyes.

“How is Blue? Are there any…” Splinter stopped mid-sentence when he noticed everyone standing around Leo’s bed, and Mikey looked at him with a beaming smile and told him: “Leo’s awake!”

"Why didn't anyone get come me!?" the angry mutant rat demanded.

April dryly replied with: "I did come get you, but you had milk and cake."

"Oh, right."

Splinter's tense composure immediately softened and now he felt bad for calling Leo ‘Blue,’ when he assumed Leonardo was unconscious; like he was used to doing all of his son's life but Leo didn't want to hear anymore because apparently that was something Krang Prime used to call him. But he brushed that aside and likewise brushed Raphael aside when he walked up to Leo’s bedside, by his head, to gaze down on his ailing son with a set of soft, loving eyes.

Leo looked up at his dad’s face, and if he could, tears would have filled his eyes at how sad, broken-hearted, and utterly defeated his dad looked. And he would have cried for sure at the tender way Splinter greeted him, reaffirming his love for him.

Leo didn’t take his eyes off his dad’s face when Donnie factually told him: “Leo’s mind seems to be working fine, his memories are intact and he’s fully aware of where he is, who he is, and who we are. I’m in the middle of asking him some important questions, you can stay if you want.”

“Yes, yes I do want to stay,” Splinter replied. He gently grasped Leo’s hand before sitting down in the chair by his head, but Leo didn’t know it because his body still felt numb - almost nonexistent. Then he tore his eyes away from his grief-stricken dad to look back at Donnie when he was ready to continue.

“I’ll ask you a few more questions and then I’ll explain what’s going on and what we’re doing about it. Do you think you can follow along with all of that?”

“Yes,” Leo replied through the app. The fogginess threatening to drag him back under into a state of unconsciousness was gone, and his mind felt clear.

If only he could say the same thing about his body.

“Are you in any discomfort?”

Leo felt relief wash over him when Donnie asked that question, and he quickly replied: “Yes.”

“Alright, we’ll start with you head and work our way down. Is it on your head?”

“Yes.”

“The top of your head?”

“No.”

“The back?”

“No.”

“The front?”

“Yes.”

“Is it on your face?”

“Yes.”

“Your forehead?”

“No.”

“Your eyes?”

“No.”

“Your nose?”

“Yes.”

“Is it the oxygen tube?”

“Yes.”

“Is the tube uncomfortable on your face?”

“No.”

“Is the air drying out your nose?”

“Yes.”

Donnie looked down to click at his wrist tech and said: “Ok Leo, Casey’s out at the store now, I’ll text him to pick up some saline nasal spray and a humidifier, that should help. But we can’t take the oxygen away just yet, so it’ll be another hour or two before we can get you any relief. Are you ok with that?”

Leo only answered: “Yes,” because he felt there really wasn’t any other choice; he didn’t want to bother Casey by making him stop whatever else he was doing (that he figured was probably important and somehow already connected to him) to grab him the stuff he wanted, drop it off here, and then go out again to finish his shopping.

When Donnie was done clicking at his wrist tech he looked at Leo to ask: “Are you in any discomfort anywhere else?”

“No.”

“Ok Leo, I’m going to prick your skin with a needle. I did that earlier, before you woke up, but now that you’re awake I want to find out if I’ll get a reaction, or if you feel anything."

Everyone held their breath, hopeful, as Donnie pushed aside the blanket to begin the needle prick test. But their hope turned to disappointment when Leo's body didn't reactively flinch or in any way respond to his poke, and even more so when Leo systematically answered 'maybe' to Donnie's question after each poke: "Did you feel anything?" feeling a somewhat disconnected dull sense of pressure and nothing more.

When he was done, Donnie put the needle away and said to Leo: "Ok, we established you didn't feel much of anything and your body also didn't react, but I'm going to ask you this question for clarification purposes. Can you feel all of your head?”

Leo stared at the tablet.

“Yes.”

“Can you feel the rest of your body? Anything at all?”

“Maybe,” Leo replied, hoping Donnie would get the point he could feel a little, like his consciousness settled into his head and mind but was still hovering a few inches above his body.

“Does that mean you can feel some parts but not others?”

“No.”

“Does that mean you can feel a little but not a lot?”

“Yes.”

“Ok, how does your body feel? Numb?”

“No.”

“Tingly?”

“No.”

”Dull, like you’re not all the way in it?”

Hammer meet nail.

“Yes.”

“Alright, I got it. And don’t worry Nardo, you won’t be like this for long, Draxum and I are working on something we know will help. We don't know exactly how long it will take, except that it'll be ready in no more than two days.”

This time a tear did run down Leo’s cheek at the total relief he felt that he wouldn’t have to spend the rest of his days like this, never able to hold or hug his loved ones, or even feel their warm embrace in return, like how he currently couldn't feel Splinter holding his hand and stroking the back of it, beyond the vague sensation there was some sort of pressure somewhere on his body, but he couldn't pin it down.

“Are you still with us?” Donnie asked.

Leo didn’t realize his mind was drifting - or that someone (April) wiped away the tear on his face. He refocused his blurry eyes, looked at Donnie, and then used the table to reply: “Maybe.” Feeling the tug of unconsciousness pulling at the back of his mind once more.

"Do you need a break?"

"No."

“Can you follow along while I tell you what’s going on?”

“Yes,” Leo answered - even though the right answer was really a firm ‘maybe’, but he didn’t want Donnie to put off telling him something he wanted to know now.

Donnie started by telling Leo: “Draxum couldn't join us, he's busy in the lab, making a new batch of your medication, so that means the job of explaining has been given to yours truly.”

Donnie stopped and looked away momentarily when his bottom lip quivered, and Leo wanted so badly to pull him in for a hug when he saw that, but he still couldn’t feel anything and wasn’t able to do as much as twitch the tip of his little finger.

April came to the ‘rescue’ when Leo saw she put her hand on Donnie’s arm, and the softshell who wasn’t normally one to tear up got control of himself, cleared his throat, and said:

“The gist of it is that there’s a disruption between your brain and your body. But the good news is Draxum absolutely insists it can be fixed with the right amount of mutagen combined with my ingenious tech, because those neurons weren’t irrevocably damaged by the changes happening to your brain from the prison dimens…woah, woah Leo, are you still with us?”

Everything went blurry when Leo’s eyes began to unfocus, and the sounds became muffled as his mind began withdrawing from the present at the phrase ‘prison dimension.’ But he came back again when Donnie helped by snapping his fingers right above his face.

As soon as Donnie saw Leo’s eye refocus on his hand, he asked: “Are you ok?”

“Yes.”

“Ok, do you want me to keep going?”

“Yes.”

Donnie raised one eyebrow and asked in a skeptical tone: “Are you sure?”

Leo shot him a glance that he hoped expressed his annoyance (it didn’t), and firmly (at least in his mind) replied: “Yes.”

“Ok, if you’re positive, Nardo.”

Donnie took a deep breath and gave careful consideration to his next words, not wanting to trigger Leo to go black again by bringing up his hallucination and subsequent panic attack. When he got his words together, he said:

“The stress you had caused a massive bleed in your brain that, in turn, caused a stroke, damaging some of the neurons in your…uh, brain,” he repeated, about to go off into a detailed explanation of exactly what neurons were damaged in exactly what part of the brain, as his personal form of stress relief, but he stopped himself and kept it simple for Leo.

“The pathways between the nerves that control your motor functions were damaged, and the damage was too extensive for the natural regenerative powers in your fabulously engineered mutant turtle body to heal, but as I said, Draxum and I are currently working on a cure. And…”

Leo’s vision began blurring again, not because he was losing consciousness, but because this time his tired mind was drifting off into much-needed sleep.

He didn’t know it, but his eyes closed all on their own, sending him into a deep, satisfying slumber that lasted a few hours before he awoke again.

Leo woke up to the sound of voices again, not knowing if everything had been momentarily black because his eyes were closed or because his vision were still coming into focus.

As soon as his blurry vision cleared, he looked around to try and find out where the voices were coming from, who was here, and to try and figure out if there was any way for him to communicate that he had an annoyingly distracting itch on the tip of his nose he really wanted someone to scratch for him. But at least the dry oxygen air wasn’t bothering him anymore, either because someone squirt saline spray up his nose when he was asleep, or because of the humidifier he noticed was pumping out a refreshing cool mist over his head; or a combination of them both.

Near the door, Leo saw the noise that woke him up was coming from Donnie gingerly pulling a large techy looking contraption on wheels into the med bay, with Draxum pushing from the other side.

Raph was there, too, watching them, ready to lend a hand if necessary, and when he heard a sound to his right, Leo turned his eyes that way to see Mikey curled up on a recliner beside his bed, asleep under Draxum’s living room throw.

No one was in a position to see that Leo was awake yet and he really wanted that persistent itch scratched, so he looked back at the tablet but was disappointed to be met by a screen saver.

Leo wasn't sure what to do next, beyond waiting for someone to notice he was awake, so he occupied his time by following the bouncing color changing screen saver ball around with his eyes for a few seconds. But when it went to the bottom right corner, he noticed a small box that read ‘Leo click here’, making his heart fill with fondness for the twin brother who had been very busy working with Draxum (for him) but yet took the time and put enough thought into his communication app to give him access to turn it on himself when he woke up (no doubt lacking ample sleep on his account).

The first thing Leo saw when the app appeared on the screen was that in addition to the 'yes', 'no', 'maybe' options, he was met with a qwerty keyboard that had a list of common words and phrases below it.

Donnie would have done much more for Leo if he wasn’t busy trying to fix... well everything, but he had made a mental note to work on improvements to the app here and there whenever he had a chance, in case something like this happened to Leo again (Hopefully not, but it was always good to be prepared).

The very first thing Leo did was jolt Mikey awake when he used the app to say: “What’s a turtle got to do around here to get a nose scratch?” which was still in the original voice because Donnie didn’t have time to do what he wanted and download sound data from audio files he had of Leo talking.

Everyone abruptly stopped what they were doing and looked at the slider in surprise, with the thoughtful Mikey immediately sitting up and reaching over to scratch Leo’s nose, offering a pleasant: “Good morning! How does that feel?”

Mikey stopped scratching and Leo looked up at the table to reply: “Good. How long was I asleep?” He glanced at Raph when his big bro walked over to him with a sad-looking smile (one he wanted to slap off his face and tell him to 'smarten up' and stop looking at him like he was dying or something - which, of course, he was, but he didn't want to be treated that way). But then he gave Donnie his attention when his twin walked up to him and told him: “Nine and a half hours, just long enough for me to complete this masterpiece!”

Donnie proudly gestured with both hands to the new piece of tech he created, and after looking it over, Leo used the tablet to joke: “Oh great, my own personal med bay microwave. Stick a few pizza burritos in that bad boy,” because he knew Donnie hated it when his family undermined his hard ‘genius’ work by comparing his technology to common household appliances.

Leo snickered internally when Donnie’s smile dropped and he sternly replied with an air of annoyance (exactly the reaction Leo was fishing for): “Scoff! Does this look like a microwave to you!?”

When Leo’s gazed switched to the tablet, Donnie flatly said: “Don’t answer that,” so he looked at him again as he continued.

“This my brethren is a sophisticated five in one piece of intelligent engineering made by your genius in residence!” He scowled and angrily added: “And it is definitely not a microwave, dummy!”

Leo internally laughed some more when he heard Mikey stifling a laugh, but only because he didn’t want Raph to hear him because their big brother shot Donnie a dirty look and sternly told him: “Don’t talk to Leo that way! Can’t you see he’s suffering!”

“He’s also the one who started it!” Donnie argued back.

“So help me Don…”

“Can your five in one marvel of engineering heat up a burrito, resident genius?” Leo's tablet interrupted.

He was already preparing his next response when Raph rolled his eyes and walked away to help Draxum push Donnie’s tech into the med bay, and Donnie replied: “No it can not heat up a burrito, but it can…”

“Boooring #eyeroll #yawnie face,” Leo interrupted, having that answer already prepared and ready to go.

Despite his current circumstances, this playful banter with his family made him laugh internally some more, even moreso when Mikey’s shoulders bounced from his hearty laughter.

Although no one could hear Leo but himself, they both laughed even harder because the protective big brother of the family tensed and glared at the back of Donnie’s head when the softshell flatly replied to Leo: “You can’t even eat a burrito in your condition, dumb-dumb.”

Then Dee stuck his smug grin back on his face and continued in a more positive tone, but with his 'evil genius' look in his eyes:

“But you will be able to eat one momentarily once we hook you up to this bad boy!”

Leo grimaced internally at the sight of a very big, intimidating-looking machine full of switches and knobs, lights and wires - one that was even taller than him (if he could stand up). He looked up at his tablet, but Donnie seemed to know what he was thinking before he even wrote out two words, reassuring him: “No, it will not hurt, Nardo.”

“But the mutagen will sting your arm going in, if you can feel it,” Draxum calmly informed Leonardo next.

He walked up to Leo’s bed holding up a syringe containing bright green mutagen, while Donnie helped Raph put his tech in place, and then Drax looked at Leo’s head like he was inspecting something, although the slider wasn’t sure what.

Barry laid the syringe down on a nearby medical tray and felt around in his lab coat pocket for his thermometer, while asking his son: “How do you feel?”

Leo did a mental check, feeling the same dull-not-fully-in-his-body sensation he always felt since this happened to him, and then did a check of his head, before using the tablet to reply: “Fine. A little warm, small headache,” assuming Draxum was already informed he couldn’t feel his body.

“You look mildly feverish,” his goat dad commented. He swiped his thermometer across Leo’s head and showed the number to Donnie (and by extension Raph and Mikey) after looking at it himself. Then he pocketed it again and, as Donnie wiped the sweat off Leo’s head with a wet cloth in preparation of attaching some electrodes, Draxum informed him: “You have a much higher fever than I suspected, considering your current symptoms. Donatello informed me you cannot feel your body, is that still correct?”

“Yes,” Leo replied through the app.

Barry nodded and glanced at what Donnie was doing now, mentally confirming he was placing the electrodes in just the right spots on Leo’s unmasked head, before saying to Leonardo: “You may be feeling quite unwell but are unaware of it because of your current condition.”

After that, his opened a small portal, reached through into the lab where it led, and pulled back holding a solution of fever medication. The portal disappeared and he drew some up in a syringe to add it to Leo’s IV line. Then he put it on the medical tray and said: “Inform me of any other symptoms you may have once this procedure is over, understood?”

Leo moaned in his mind, not wanting to stay like this but also not liking the thought of getting his senses back, only to find out he was feeling gravely ill, but instead of communicating any of that he simply used the app to reply: “Yes.”

“Good,” Draxum responded, before instructing: “Everyone but Donatello, leave. This procedure requires focus and concentration.”

“Aw man,” Mikey whined, as he got out of his chair and waved good bye, saying: “See you in a bit, Leo.” Then Raph told him: “We’ll be waiting outside the door.”

Leo watched as his big bro walked over to a recliner further back in the med bay where the slider didn’t know until now his dad was sleeping, and Raph nudged him awake and said: “C’mon Pops, Draxum says we gotta leave the med bay for a bit.”

After Splinter came over to squeeze his son's hand and say: “I’m looking forward to hearing your voice again, Leonardo,” everyone left and closed the door behind them. Then Leo heard a ‘click’ and the humming of Donnie’s tech warming up, and looked up at Draxum when he told him: “You will require a clear head for this to work, and for optimal, quicker results, access to your mystic powers, otherwise this procedure will take a minimum of two hours. Do you have a clear head?”

Leo looked up at the tablet without hesitation and replied with a: “Yes," not feeling the pull of unconsciousness trying to drag him under anymore.

“Do you also have access to your mystic powers?” came the next question.

Leo searched within himself but he really wasn’t sure if that gentle warmth he could sense but not locate was his mystic ninpo or something else; so he kept searching himself out, trying to figure if that was what he felt or not.

Draxum seemed to understand why he was hesitating to respond, so suggested: “Try activating your ninpo now.”

Donnie helped a little with Leo's focus when he walked away to flick off the main, overhead lights. And almost as soon as the room went dark, a soft glow emitted from his body, one that was bright enough under the med bay blankets for the glow from the markings on his arms and legs to show through. But not the blue markings on his shell because he was laying on his back, propped up a little on a slight incline so there wasn’t a repeat of what happened the day he woke up choking on his own vomit.

“Good,” came the calm, stalwart voice of Leo's dad who had been an anchor for him through all of this.

The glow faded away, leaving the dim room illuminated by only a few secondary lights Draxum installed in the med bay when he first constructed his home.

Next, Draxum looked up at Donnie and the softshell double checked everything was ready on his end, before giving him a nod. Then he took off Leo’s blanket so they could immediately see any movements from his body - no matter how slight - and Draxum removed the tablet, stand and all, to get it out of the way.

“I will be injecting pure, concentrated mutagen into your bloodstream,” Leo's dad next told him. “As I said before, it will sting your arm going in, if you can feel it of course. After two minutes, once the mutagen has sufficiently coursed through your body, Donatello will activate his mystic tech in conjunction with the physical tech he has created. At that time, your job will be to activate your ninpo in tandem with Donatello’s, thereby speeding up the process from a few hours to merely a few minutes. You may feel a tingling sensation as the neurons repair themselves and your senses returning. Do you understand everything I’ve told you?”

Draxum held up the tablet long enough for Leo to answer: “Yes,” and he also answered ‘yes’ to Draxum’s question: “Are you ready?”

Then he put it down and injected the mutagen that Leo couldn’t feel in the slightest, except for a mild flush of warmness in his already warm head when it spread throughout the blood vessels in his entire body.

Two minutes later, Draxum nodded to Donnie, who placed his fingers on Leo’s head, with each fingertip directly on top of one of six electrodes he carefully attached to his paralytic brother.

When his purple ninpo glowed over his hands, he watched as it spread to the electrodes, up the wires to his new piece of tech; and as soon as the entire machine glowed purple, he firmly instructed: “Now, Leo!”

Leo’s ninpo immediately lit up on the markings on his face and body. Almost right away he began feeling a tingly sensation sweeping down his body, through his arms to his fingers, and down his legs until it reached his toes. He managed to gasp in a deep breath through his mouth, focusing his mind on the sensation of his lungs filling up with air, and he blinked his eyes a few times before closing them to help him concentrate.

Leo’s entire body felt numb and prickly, like when he laid on his foot or hand the wrong way and it fell asleep. But he was able to take deep, purposeful, meditative breaths in through his nose and out his mouth. Then when he tried to move the index finger on his dominate right hand, it twitched.

What came next was all too much for the ill slider. In a single wave, from his head down to his feet, his senses returned to him all at once, bombarding him with too much too fast.

In addition to the regular sense of touch - the mattress under his body, the oxygen monitor pinching his left pinkie finger, the heart monitor attached to his chest, and all the other medical devices hooked up to him, he felt a wave of raw pain in his achy, feverish body. But what was worst of all was the digestive acid that felt like it was burning a hole through his stomach on top of the overbearing nausea.

As soon as he was able to move, the first thing he did was roll up into a ball on his side, sweating and shivering and feeling the hot, acrid burn in the back of his throat when he urged into his hand three or four times.

Draxum quickly took Leo’s temperature once more, frowning down at the still-high number the fever medicine should have reduced at least a little by now; but Leo ignored him and opened his eyes when he heard Donnie’s patronizing voice. Only to see his 'twinsie' eye-to-eye with him a few inches away from his face, with a smug grin, as he cheekily inquired:

“Still want that burrito, dumb-dumb?”

Leo lowered his hand off his mouth, wrapping his arms around his stomach because of how gross he felt. But of course, being Leo he couldn't pass up the opportunity for a good joke, so he playfully replied:

“Only if I can cook it in that fancy new microwave of yours, egghead.”

Grave News for a Busy Skeleton

"My name is Akimitsu Nakamura. I was sent here by Baron Draxum with an important message from his son, Leonardo Hamato."

🔹🔹🔹

<<previous || next>>

🔹Seven Years masterpost

#rottmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #shaotie #shattered_ontheinside #seven years #rottmnt au #rottmnt fandom #rottmnt fanfiction #rottmnt fic #rise fandom #rise fanfic #rise of the tmnt angst #rise of the tmnt #rise of the tmnt au

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hoaflanpatisserie · 1 year ago

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Rottmnt ☆ Star Child AU Part 2

Trigger warning: implied slight gore, trypophobia, and mild swearing.

‘Kay so, Leo finds himself in very overwhelming mood after having starry highlights on his irises. When he heard a footsteps coming from outside his room, he was so hella worried that they notices that he might be awake and escaped, but he definitely heard a sound of his brothers arrived in the lair, so Leo then returned to his bed and pretends that he was sleeping, so his brothers wouldn’t notice that he was awake (Except for Donnie, he knows what was going on with Leo.).

Mikey, Raph, Donnie, April, Splinter, and Casey Jr. have arrived home, and Mikey and Donnie went upstairs in Leo’s room to bring the presents for him, except for Donnie, of course, has only a first aid kit along with him just in case. Mikey, of course, was very sad and scared if Leo was gonna die like this. Mikey then puts the two bags of presents right next to the doorway. Inside of the two bags, there were 10 sheets of unicorn stickers, a plushie, a sky-blue-colored tumbler cup, a unicorn hoodie, a mug with Leo’s name on it, and a picture frame. After that, Mikey then leave Donnie alone with Leo for a bit. Donnie then wakes Leo up by poking his forehead. Leo then wakes up like nothing has happened to him. Donnie then said “Are you alright, ‘Nardo?” “What the hell? I’m fine, Don-Tron. Nothing has ever happened to me, of course”, Leo responded. Donnie feels so skeptical about Leo’s answer to him, but plays it along, so he doesn’t get so upset so quickly. “Whatever you say. But me, Mikey, Raph and everyone in the lair was worry about you.” Donnie responded back. Leo then rolls his eyes, pretending that he’s alright. Donnie then checks on Leo’s right leg, and turns out he has 15 holes, with blood on them. Looks like Leo’s been affected by either the rocks or the shooting star, but theres one thing that exists called “Pockmarks”, they’re typically marks that caused by chickenpox, acne, scars, or any types of infection. Pockmarks cannot be dissappear or go away by itself, but treatment can usually help. Of course it can’t be the Krang One, because he was blown away when the fucking door closes, and plus, he didn’t fucking die, he was actually been defeated by Leo when was locked in the prison dimension. This infection was very unusual to Leo, because he never have this kind of marks on his leg before. Donnie then checks it again and sees bruises and a slightly opened-cut ankle that looks like a rock hit on it. “ I don’t think you’re okay, Leo.”, Donnie said. Leo then responds, “ What the fuck do you mean I’m not okay?! I’m alright now. Can’t you see my luxurious, beautiful face-“ “NO NARDO!! YOURE NOT OKAY!! And why are you swearing at me?! Who taught you that?!”, Donnie yells. “Don, I am okay-“ Leo says, as Donnie interrupts him. “‘Nardo, I swear if you scare me, our brothers, dad, April, and Casey like that, I’ll slapped your face!!” Donnie then starts to tears up, as he puts on a cast on Leo’s leg, but until Donnie notices a starry highlights on both of Leo’s eyes. That left him shocked, but still does not want to worry a bit too much. Leo then says, “ Donnie, I thought you hate e-“ “I-I-I’ts fine, just dont go and fucking kill yourself, okay?…”, Donnie says as he was about to cry. “Alright…”. Leo said, as Donnie then leave him in his room.

Leo then grabs his phone from his nightstand, and then starts scrolling through YouTube, until he found the video that is unusual to him. A live singing performance of Mira Starr, a 20-year-old Indian-English singer. He then clicked on the video, as he gazes at her performance. He starts to feel like he’s a fan of Mira as he kept watching a video of her singing performance.

Fun facts:

Mira likes samosas and butter chicken.

Mira’s birthday is December 1st.

Mira’s favorite color is light or hot pink.

Mira can speak 3 languages (including English), except she speaks a bit of Punjabi.

FINALLY I FINISHED THIS!! dont worry y’all, im working on part 3. :3

! Not mine !

(First Part | Next Part )

#rise of the tmnt #rottmnt #rise of the tmnt au #rise leo #rise donatello #rise leonardo #angst #oshi no ko #rottmnt au

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irish-urn · 6 months ago

Note

may I present to you more Dasey songs for Derek to sing to Casey? Im a little obsessed with the idea of Casey realizing and coming to accept Derek through his heartsongs...

starting with Dirty Little Secret MUCH to Casey's confusion (cause surely there's another interpretation to that), or maybe Shes So Mean by Matchbox 20 in the middle of a fight, Chocolate by Snow Patrol (particularly the second verse) as he's pretending not to be in love with her), Jealous by Labyrinth when she's with another guy and he's sad about it, or alternatively Figure You Out in a particularly tense moment of angry jealousy, Iris by The goo goo dolls in a moment of tender vulnerability, Play Pretend by Alex Samson when he's comforting her after a breakup, She Is The Sunlight right before Casey decides to go ahead and kiss him, All I Need by Mat Kearney when they are together but facing the hard reality of what their relationship is ...

I just have sooo many ideas.

Ohhhhh my goodness. Okay, so I don't actually know half of these songs, which means I need to listen to them tomorrow, but, like--

WHEN does Casey get this ability? Right before she goes to University? Does listening to Derek's heart songs make her think that maybe he needs her around? After all, he asked her to stay, right? And that's... That's just... She's WANTED to be his friend for, like, ever! They're family! Somehow. In a weird way. And, yeah, maybe she catches hints of melody when he's glancing at her and she shoves it as far away as possible and purposely looks at someone else and ignores the sound of his voice behind her ("You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be and I don't wanna go home right now.")...

Does she run from it? Does she accept the first date she's asked on; hisses a little as she listens to Derek sing (because Figure You Out is SO GOOD, you're right), and then does this guy sing some crass song about getting lucky, all about Casey's looks and not she, herself; and does she leave the date early and does Derek find her because of COURSE he does; and when they're sitting on a bench together, does she admit she's afraid? Does she whisper, "I don't know what I'm supposed to do. What's the right thing here? No matter what happens... Someone gets hurt."

Does Derek just knock his knee against hers, and there is blessed silence? Does he walk her back to her dorm, and teases her and pokes her like everything is normal? Does she wait for him to sing something, but there's nothing until, after her door is closed and she's opened the window for a small breeze, she catches a glimpse of him walking to his residence, and hears him singing, "And I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more, just to be the man that walked a thousand miles to fall down at your door."

And does she cry herself to sleep?

#asks #dasey #urn writes #i think we might just be writing this fic through tumblr lovely humans #we need a really good casey song now

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firstprince-ao3feed · 8 months ago

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With All My Very Best Floral Greetings

by Aurora09 His Alex, his golden memory never to be tainted or touched by the sad realities of life. That thought would come back to haunt future Henry, indeed it would torture future Henry. Future Henry believed he had bought fates wrath down not only upon himself but upon Alex too. Future Henry would conclude present Henry a wicked, wicked man. Words: 2582, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Red White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston, Red White & Royal Blue (2023) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, Alex Claremont-Diaz Relationships: Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, Alex Claremont-Diaz & Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Flower Shop, Gay Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, Bisexual Alex Claremont-Diaz, Alex Claremont-Diaz Has a Bisexual Awakening, Angst and Tragedy, Sad with a Happy Ending, POV Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor Loves Alex Claremont-Diaz, Florist Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, Alex Claremont-Diaz Needs a Hug, Lawyer Alex Claremont-Diaz, Alex Claremont-Diaz Loves Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, Slow Burn via https://ift.tt/UCfY9om

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #red white and royal blue #rwrb #firstprince #Aurora09

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heckitall · 2 years ago

Note

Just wanted to say that I ADORE your style! And yes. The toaster joke is peak TMNT humor, absolutely. No matter the “universe”. I was huge on 2k3 when they were coming out (though I was super young and couldn’t properly be in the fandom.) I’m in the same boat where I loved Tmnt 2003, then just one day stopped watching it and forgot about my beloved turtles.

Then the ROTTMNT movie came out. Watched it. Fell completely in love all over again. Binged the show and…. It been months now. Practically half a year and I can’t. Stop. Drawing. Them. Now. O.o

Anyways! Enough of me rambling. Welcome to the fandom, I hope you find it really enjoyable.

If you’re looking for the less edgy stuff:

I highly suggest reading through the Cass Apocalypse Series by somerandomdudelmao (for more humor based/canon-aligned stuff). Though it’s featured in the bad future primarily. They’ve recently gotten to the present time with Casey Jr!

bluskiesofsaturn, also has some very humorous comics. Very sibling-antics based. They also have this neat “Leo’s on the Moon” comic. Very interesting.

Meandtheyeehaws also has super short, super cute comics. Featuring interactions with even characters outside of the Rottmnt universe.

Baskeigh-ball and cupcakeslushie also has some cute stuff (though cupcake will dig some into the tragic side, haha)

And can’t forget kathaynesart! They’re comic is also canon-compliant! Though definitely sad. But I think it’s worth a read!

That’s all I can think up off the top of my head. But, again, welcome back to the turtle side of the internet! Hope I didn’t bother you too much, friend.

NOBODY TALK TO ME FOR THE NEXT 36 HOURS im jumping into this fandom head first

#holy shit?????????????#this is amazing #like im shook #ive never had a welcome guide book for a fandom before and I AM SO THNKFUL #bless you #asks

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coffeeheartaddict2 · 2 years ago

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Cruel summer

Book: Open heart (post series)

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!mc Casey Ramsey; F!OC Christine Valentine, Tobias Carrick

Warnings: Mentions of pass pregnancy loss

Category: fluffy angst

Rating: Mature

Word count: 1578

Summary: It is five weeks after her missed miscarriage and instead of celebrating by announcing the news to the world, Casey is hit with another wave of grief as well a revelation from her mum Christine.

Disclaimer: non-original characters belong to Pixelberry.

Authors note: those who have read my fic Better days know that Casey is visited by her mum after her missed miscarriage. At the time I did not know if I would write a fic about this part but inspiration struck.

🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

It had been a warm summer by Bostonian standards, normally Casey would be making the most of the weather, beach days, romantic nights with her husband and bbq dinners with friends but this year was different. It had been five weeks when her world was turned upside down in the cruelest of ways. News of an unplanned but not unwanted pregnancy only to find out the next day that the baby did not survive.

The initial grief hit her hard, she even questioned if Ethan was going to stay. She thought she was turning a corner but then 5 weeks after having a d&c, her cycle came back, reminding her that her body had failed to sustain a new life and what hurt more is that if the pregnancy had stuck, they would be announcing to the world the happy news but instead she was sad, she was angry. Sad for what was lost and angry at herself for not being able to carry a baby to term. The doctor in her knew the statistics on miscarriage and how common they were and how little was known about the causes but it still did not quell her anger at herself. If anything it made it worse. Ethan was wracked with his own grief. There was a time he genuinely believed that he would never settle down and want have things like marriage and a family of his own but Casey was patient and understanding and showed him love that he thought himself unworthy of, this coupled with therapy to work through some of his issues and getting closure on why Louise abandoned him well, this helped him realize that he did want this life. It also hurt him to see Casey struggle with her grief too. They were in therapy together which was helping but grieving is never easy.

Casey’s mum Christine, finally made it to Boston to spend some time with her daughter. When her and Ethan called her and Michael about the miscarriage they were shocked and saddened. Christine wanted to be there right away but she decided to leave it a little bit. Christine had her own experiences with miscarriage but at this point it was unknown to her children and she wanted to give Casey some time before presenting this information. The flight from Oregon was pleasant and she stayed with Casey and Ethan.

Christine did expect her daughter to be sad, but she was not prepared for the anger that was accompanying the sadness.

“I understand being sad but why are you so angry?” Asked Christine timidly.

“If you had come last week I was better, truly but this week has been hard.” Replied Casey. Trying to hold back the tears.

“My cycle came back this week. That coupled with the fact that we would have been making an announcement this week…” Casey starts to cry.

Christine hugs her daughter and allows her to cry. After awhile Casey stops crying. “It just all feels so… so cruel. I know the baby was not planned, we had not even set a timeline for when we would start trying but the baby was wanted. I know I am more than just a breeding machine but I feel like that my body failed.”

Casey tries but fails to hold back more tears. “I know this happens, but the knowledge is not helping me.”

“My body has failed me too, sweetheart, more than once.

Casey looks at Christine, bewildered.

“What?”

“About fifteen months before you were born I had a miscarriage and I had another when Joel was 18 months old.”

“But why didn’t you say anything?”

“Firstly, until now it has never come up and secondly, is there an age appropriate way to tell your four year old and 18 month old that the reason why you are in pain is because you are losing a baby?”

Casey sat silently, in shock at what she had been told.

“We’re either of them like mine?”

“No sweetheart, I did not need surgery on either occassion.”

“Were you or dad upset or angry?”

Christine took a breath.

“Sad, of course I was but I do not recall being angry. The first time for us was like you and Ethan this time, a surprise but not unwanted. The second time I already had you and Joel so we took it as a sign that we were done.”

Casey nodded her head.

“How did you work through your grief and how did you decide to try again?”

“I just did what I needed to do. Yes I was sad but it is something that is not normally talked about…” Christine took a deep breath. “But I got through and that is what is important. As for trying again I can not answer for you.” Christine gave her daughter a hug and went into the kitchen to make a start on dinner.

Ethan arrived home and was greeted with the smell of a beef stroganoff. He greeted Casey and then made his way to the kitchen and greeted Christine. He was happy to see her, he knew how much Casey loved her family and she knew that the distance between Boston and Oregon made it difficult to see them. Christine asked how Ethan was going with everything. Ethan said he was going. Christine was happy to hear this. They enjoyed their meal and Christine turned in. Ethan and Casey sat out and enjoyed a warm evening on the balcony. Ethan could sense Casey was troubled.

“Mum told me today that she had two miscarriages, one before me and the other when I was four. I asked her how she got through and was she angry and how did you decide to try again. She said that she did what she had to go to get through but would not tell me about the decisions made to try again. I just feel so….so…. I don’t know.” Casey tries to hold back the tears but she failed.

“I would be lying if I said that I was not scared about the prospect of trying again, I do have anger but not towards you, at our profession yes, it is something we do not know the cause of yet we have made such great strides elsewhere. I am also scared that this will happen again.”

“This may be grief talk but do we try again?”

“Well not right now obviously. Not just because of the grief but whilst we are not it is a moot point.”

Casey nods in agreement.

“I love you, Ethan. Even though I am a hot mess right now…”

“You are my hot mess and we will come through this together. And I love you too.” He kisses the top of her head and she cuddles in close.

Over the coming days Casey processed her feelings. She also enjoyed having her mum around, despite the revelation, Casey started to again feel like that she was close to turning a corner again. Christine was also very heartened by how supported Casey was, not by Ethan but also her friends. She had met her friends at the engagement party and wedding so she knew how close but she was still heartened nonetheless. Casey’s six week appointment came and went. The surgery had gotten everything and Dr Watson was relieved that there was no adverse affects on her cycle with it coming back and being similar to what it was. She had the physical clearance to have intercourse but Casey still was not in the right headspace. Ethan was more than understanding and he was more than happy to have sexual intimacy happen on Casey’s timetable.

The time Christine spent in Boston flew by and before she knew it, the last weekend had arrived. Tobias invited Ethan, Casey and Christine over for a bbq. Ethan and Tobias got competitive about the food and the grilling but it was still fun and a lovely evening. Christine had never seen a competitive side to Ethan so it was a shock. Casey told her that it was par for the course with them but at least it was not toxic like it had become in medical school. Whilst the boys were cooking Tobias asked how they both were.

“Getting there, Casey has enjoyed having her mum here and I think it has been helpful. Everything was all good with Dr Watson but we are on Casey’s timetable now.”

“That is good news.”

It is Tobias, I understand her fear this time, I am scared too, it is grief that I am not in a hurry to relive.”

“That is understandable but I am sure you will have success at some point.”

“Thank you Tobias, I am glad we are friends again, don’t get me wrong it has been good having Casey’s friends…”

“I get what you mean. I am glad we are friends again too. It has sucks seeing you go through this but you will get through it.”

“Thanks Tobias, truly.” Both men embrace and get back to the bbq.

The next day Christine heads back to Oregon. It was confronting seeing her daughter so upset and angry but as the trip went on she understood why and most importantly she was loved, not only by Ethan but her friends and she was hopeful that like her, the next time she had news it will be happy and she would be a grandma.

———

Authors note 2. Casey’s anger is real, I know when I had mine it was frustrating because you Did not know the cause.

As regular readers know Casey and Ethan do have two children and no more miscarriages. If you read this far, thank you.

Tagging: @jerzwriter @jamespotterthefirst @cariantha @genevievemd @crazy-loca-blog @a-crepusculo @bex-la-get @trappedinfanfiction @youlookappropriate @potionsprefect @liaromancewriter @binny1985 @schnitzelbutterfingers @tessa-liam @socalwriterbee @lucy-268 @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

#open heart #ethan ramsey #choices fanfic writers creations #Ethan Ramsey x Casey Ramsey #choices #tobias carrick #fic of the week

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jerzwriter · 2 years ago

Text

All in the Past

AU Mini-Series Part 1 of 3

This started as a request from @angelasscribbles for ONE scene. Three parts later... I decided to make this a follow-up and alternate ending to one of my favorite short, angsty AUs, Unblemished, because we needed more angst. All three parts will be posted today.

Series Summary: Tobias & Casey were friends turned lovers whose different dreams led them to become friends once again. Two years after their painful breakup, Casey has moved on. Tobias is in town to attend his friend and one-time love's wedding, with his new girlfriend on his arm. It's just the wedding of an old friend, or, is it?

Part 1 Summary: Tobias and Meghan leave Boston to attend Casey's wedding in Raleigh, North Carolina. It's a little getaway, a happy trip to see his two friends get hitched. But prewedding events lead to unexpected and uninvited emotions coming to the surface. Tobias gets a cold shoulder from Sienna, and their frank conversation leaves more questions than answers.

Book: Open Heart (Post Series)

Characters/Pairings: Casey MacTavish (F!MC) x M!OC, Tobias Carrick x F!OC, Sienna Trinh

Rating: Teen

Words: 2,700

Series Masterlist

Tobias x Casey Masterlist | OH Masterlist | Full Masterlist

Ladies and gentlemen, we have touched down at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, where it is 80 degrees, and conditions are bright and sunny. We thank you for flying Transit Airlines and wish you the best with whatever brings you to the area.

"Sir?" A woman gently nudged Tobias's arm when he didn't reply. "Sir... I'm sorry, but I need to get...."

"Oh, of course," Tobias apologized, jumping from his seat to allow the woman through.

He was usually the first to get off a flight, but today, he found himself lost in his thoughts, and he still hadn't found his way back as he reached into the overhead compartment to grab his bag. All it took was an arm looping around his waist to snap him back into the present. The petite, red-haired beauty's smile lit up the cabin as she held him tight; she was as happy as he was pensive.

"I missed you," she beamed. "You were such a gentleman agreeing to give that mom your seat so she could sit with her child, but I have a warning for you."

"Oh yeah," he grinned. "What’s that?”

“If we’re ever on a flight longer than two hours, you’re prohibited from doing that. I need you near me... deal?”

“I’ll tell you what. If we’re ever on a flight longer than two hours, I’ll spring for first class, so it’s not an issue.”

“Hmmm, I could handle that,” Meghan smiled.

“Good,” he smiled, taking her hand. “Now, let’s get off this plane.”

~~~~~

He couldn’t describe his mood if he tried. Melancholy was too sad; wistful may be more fitting, though neither truly worked. He was happy, he reminded himself. More importantly, Casey was happy, too. It had been over two years since that cold Boston night when they tearfully said goodbye. Fast friends from the start, they eventually turned into much more. When different goals ended their dreams of “forever,” they were heartbroken and said goodbye, foolishly believing it was where their story ended. People don’t always see the invisible string that binds souls that are meant to be connected, and when Casey’s phone rang three months later, not answering was never a consideration. They started as friends, and perhaps that’s where they were meant to be. That’s what they were now. Friends. Good friends.

“Welcome to the Umstead Hotel,” an overexuberant young woman smiled. “What name is your reservation under?”

“Uh... Carrick. Dr. Tobias Carrick.”

“I have you right here! You’re in town for the MacTavish-Duncan wedding?”

“That’s right,” he nodded.

“Wonderful! The couple is hosting a cocktail reception for their out-of-town guests in the lounge at six.”

“That’s so sweet!” Meghan gushed, taking hold of Tobias’s arm. “We’re going, right?”

“Of course,” he smiled with some apprehension. “As long as I get in a nap... that early flight wiped me out more than I thought it would.”

“Fine, old man,” Meghan laughed as they entered the elevator, her head firmly on his shoulder.

He was just tired. He told himself. Besides, it was normal to feel emotional when a good friend was married. And Casey was among his best. It all made sense. Perfect sense.

~~~~~

The evening found him at the bar alone, anxiously twirling his old-fashioned in his hand. They had only been in their room fifteen minutes when Meghan realized she left her shoes in Boston. She was in an Uber on her way to the North Hills Mall in minutes, leaving Tobias to his nap. She promised she’d be back by six, but Tobias knew her well enough to know if shoe shopping was involved... he’d be lucky if she returned by ten.

He noticed a small group of wedding guests mingling toward the back of the lounge but didn’t recognize any faces. The normally social doctor wasn’t in the mood for small talk, so he stayed put. He didn’t want to come at all, but hurting Casey’s feelings wasn’t something he was willing to do. Now, it looked like she was a no-show for her own party, so he made a decision. He had already waited the requisite twenty minutes; he was finishing this drink and then making a beeline back to his room. But as he raised the glass to his lips, he heard her voice. It didn’t matter how much time had passed, he’d know it anywhere.

“Hello, stranger!”

They were just friends now, nothing more. So why did he feel his heart flutter? His signature smirk was firmly in place before turning to greet her. A natural defense mechanism to keep the butterflies at bay. But when his eyes fell upon her, all pretense disappeared.

How did she only become more beautiful? Etheral is how he’d describe her. Blonde hair pulled into a whispy updo, with delicate off-white flowers pinned to hold it in place. Her matching silk dress gracefully skimmed over every curve that he knew so well, and her smile. That smile had melted his heart and pulled him out of more bad days than he dared to count. And after all the years he’d known her, after all they had been through, it still rendered him speechless. Noticing his silence was lasting too long, he jumped from his bar stool to embrace her. A brilliant grin hid the war of emotions battling inside him.

“Stranger indeed! I haven’t heard from you in a while, kid. I was beginning to think you rescinded my invitation.”

“As if!” Casey laughed. “It hasn’t been that long. You try managing a busy career, a publishing deadline, and planning a wedding for two hundred of your nearest and dearest. See how much time you’d have to chat.”

“Casey... do you ever see me in that position?” He asked wryly.

He swore he saw her smile falter, and a bit of her effervescence was gone. But why would it be? She was happy. It must have been one old-fashioned too many.

“No,” she spoke softly. “I guess I don’t.”

“You look stunning,” he smiled. “How do you plan to outdo this on your big day?”

“Stop,” she said with a playful slap on his arm. “I’m immune to your flattery by now, don’t you know?”

They both laughed nervously as his eyes roamed the room. Still, no sight of Meghan, and someone else was missing, too.

“Where’s Craig? I haven’t heard from him either. I was going to see if we could shoot some hoops before the wedding.”

“He got called into an emergency surgery,” she shrugged. “The glamourous life of doctors. And where is Mandy? You said you were bringing a plus one. I assumed she’d be joining you.”

“Mandy? It’s Meghan,” he chuckled. “Mandy and I broke up some time ago.”

“Oh, sorry. It’s hard to keep up with you. So, where is your latest and greatest?”

“She had to run to the mall for a few things. But she’ll be back soon.”

“Good,” Casey smiled politely. “I can’t wait to meet her. How long have you two...” She raised her hands, visibly checking herself. Her cheeks red with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, that’s none of my business...”

“It’s OK,” Tobias laughed, reassuringly touching her elbow, then dropping it when the gesture took both by surprise. “It’s not a state secret. Only a few months... don’t worry... we’re not headed down the alter anytime soon.”

Casey let out a wry laugh, and her words came out more curtly than intended. “I didn’t expect you would be.”

“Yeah,” Tobias muttered, gulping down the remains of his drink. “Walking down aisles isn’t exactly my thing. Is it?”

“Well, it was your excuse for ending things with me,” she replied with her arms crossed. “But you never know. Sometimes people change.”

Casey felt her stomach drop. What if he had changed? Accepting that Tobias was generally opposed to marriage was one thing, but if he ever took that step, she’d have to admit that marriage wasn’t the issue... she was, and that was too painful to imagine. She began to perspire, and was filled with worry. This wasn’t the reaction she should be having when her wedding was just over a day away. Her eyes darted around the room, desperate for a reason to escape.

“Well, I should mingle with the other guest,” she settled on. “Without Craig here, it’s double duty for me. But you and Meghan will be at brunch tomorrow morning, right?”

He hadn’t been aware there was a brunch. And since laying eyes on Casey, attending more wedding events was the last thing he wanted to do, but he detected the hint of pleading in her voice.

“Do you want me there?” he asked softly.

Casey nodded effusively. “I do.”

“Then I’ll be there,” he assured. “We both will.”

~~~~~

Brunch was... awkward. Tobias was sure Casey thought seating them together was a good idea, but she probably didn’t know how long Sienna Trinh could hold a grudge. And with Sienna’s plus one coming down with the flu, Tobias, Meghan, and Sienna made for an awkward trio.

Casey viewed their breakup as mutual, but Siennna saw things differently. Tobias was a stupid man who let his commitment issues ruin a wonderful thing, leaving her friend heartbroken. He hoped more than two years passing and Casey marrying someone else would have changed Sienna’s opinion of him, but all indications said otherwise. Sienna picked at her stack of blueberry pancakes as they all struggled to make small talk. Perhaps they could talk shop?

“So, Meghan, you’re at Edenbrook, too? What department do you work in?”

“I’m a paralegal. I work with the CEO.”

“Oh,” Sienna smiled politely, that didn’t work. After more uncomfortable silence, Meghan made the next attempt.

“I’m really looking forward to the wedding. The venue they selected is just beautiful! I’ve seen it on some wedding shows but never thought I’d get to attend a wedding there.”

Sienna held back a laugh. “I can understand that. I mean... because we live in Boston, and you know... you’re with Tobias.”

Losing patience, Tobias tossed his linen napkin on the table. “And what’s that supposed to mean, Si?”

“Just that you avoid weddings like the plague. I was shocked to hear you were coming.”

“It’s Casey’s wedding,” he smiled tersely. “Do you think I’d miss it?”

“I guess the answer’s no,” Sienna smiled smugly.

“You know, I’m going to run to the ladies' room,” Meghan announced.

Sienna wiped her lip, “I’ll join you.”

“No,” Meghan insisted. “I need a moment away from this cold war, and if you both care about Casey as much as you profess to, maybe you should work out whatever... this... is before her wedding day. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Tobias and Sienna sat slack-jawed momentarily, then a slight smile formed on his lips.

“I guess I deserved that,” Sienna stated. “Meghan seems lovely, and no matter my feelings toward you, I shouldn’t have made her uncomfortable. I owe her an apology.”

“Maybe what we owe her is doing what she asked us to do,” he replied. “Sienna... what exactly is your problem with me? I know people can be bitter about their best friend’s exes, but Casey and I are good friends. If we put the past in the past, why can’t you?”

Sienna shut her eyes, warring over how much she should or should not say.

“It’s different,” she started cautiously. “I got to see the extent of the damage after the two of you fell apart. Whose apartment do you think she ended up at that last night in Boston? Who do you think she sat on the phone listening to her cry all night after she moved? I know you were hurting after things ended, but I experienced her pain. You were spared that.”

“Sienna, breakups are painful. You know that! And no, I didn’t see her immediate aftermath because we felt not contacting each other for a while would be for the best. But I was living through my own personal hell. It was hard on both of us.”

“Then why’d you do it? Tobias? All she wanted was a future with you... You’re the one who said it wasn’t possible!”

“We wanted different futures. Hers included a wedding... just like this one... a house in the suburbs, two kids, and a dog. I never wanted that and didn’t want to promise her something I couldn’t guarantee. Don’t you think I had wished I could? I could put you on the phone with my best friend. Kerry would tell you how wrong it was for Casey to want that life more than she wanted me... but you’re both wrong. We made a choice together, and it was painful as fuck. But, Si, it wasn’t my fault.”

“I guess,” Sienna sighed. “It’s just hard to see you both throw something so special, so rare away. It’s two years later and still hard to see.”

“I understand, but... Casey was dating Craig six months later, and she’s marrying him tomorrow. She and I are friends, hell, Craig and I are friends... so why are we even discussing this?”

“Because I’m her best friend... and I know how someone should be acting before they get married... and I still don’t see that in Casey.”

“What... what are you talking about....”

“She’s happy, sure... to a degree... but I’ve seen her when she was truly happy, and this seems like a facsimile.”

“Sienna,” he stalled, “She’s busy planning this weekend and under a lot of stress, but I’ve been around them. She loves Craig.”

“I know she does,” Sienna replied. “But she was in love with you.”

Tobias sat in stunned silence when he noticed Craig mingling with guests across the way. Looking for any excuse to evade the topic, he spat, “There’s Craig, uh... I’ve been looking for him... wanted to see him before the wedding, but he seems a little evasive...”

“Of course he has. Don’t you realize? Tobias, you’re the one who got away. You’re her best friend... other than me... that is. Do you think he needs a reminder before he says his I dos?”

“I... I thought coming here was the right thing to do... I just wanted to... to be here for them... and to see...”

“To see what?”

“To see she really moved on. To really... let her go.”

“Right,” Sienna smiled. “But you’re over her. I’m glad we talked, T. I think my bitterness toward you is just my overprotectiveness of Casey. I love her. But I can be a bit of a momma bear.”

“No shit!” he said with a half-smile as Sienna narrowed her eyes at him.

“I’m trying to make amends. Shut up before I change my mind. Truce?”

“Of course. How could I be mad at you for being protective of Casey.”

“I know,” Sienna smiled, pushing away from the table. “Do me a favor. Just lay low until the wedding. Be there to support her, then go live your life and let Casey move on with hers. We have to trust that she made this decision knowing what’s right for her, and... we should both respect that.”

“I never intended to do anything but.”

“Good.” Sienna looked up and saw Meghan approaching the table. “I owe you an apology and want to thank you. This talk was overdue, and I promise. We’ll be grown-ups from now on.”

“Hey, I was being a grown-up,” Tobias protested.

“Tobias, is this the hill you want to die on?” Sienna snapped back.

“Continue...” he grinned.

Sienna extended her hand. “It was very nice meeting you.”

“It’s lovely meeting you, too,” Meghan agreed. “Maybe we can get coffee back in Boston?”

“Sure, I’d like that. Tobias, I like her... be good to her.”

Tobias slipped his hand into Meghans and smiled. “That’s my intention. Thanks, Sienna.”

After Sienna walked away, Tobias turned to Meghan and thanked her for forcing them to talk. “You’re pretty special, you know. that?”

“I do,” she smiled sweetly. “But let's go back to our room because now it’s our turn to talk.”

"About?"

"About why we're at this wedding..."

"Meg," Tobias sighed. "We're here to see my friend... my friends... get married. Nothing more."

"Good, then it won't be an issue to have a quick talk about it...right?"

He let out a soft sigh. It was the last thing he wanted, but he knew better than to think Meghan would let it go.

"Right," he stood up, extending his hand to her. "Lead the way."

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics @choicesjuly2023challenge - Fairytale

#choices fanfic #open heart #open heart fanfic #choices open heart #open heart choices #tobias carrick #tobias carrick x f!mc (past)#tobias carrick x f!oc #oh!f!mc x m!oc #sienna trinh #playchoices fanfic #choices the stories you play #playchoices

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altosk · 1 year ago

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♡ //TARGET LOCKED

🇦🇹🇹🇷🇦🇨🇹🇮🇴🇳 ⦂ flynn's cute. not his type though. 🇦🇫🇫🇪🇨🇹🇮🇴🇳 ⦂ raven had first met flynn when he'd joined the knights as schwann and from the beginning he could see just how pure of heart the young man had been. in raven's eyes, to the present day, flynn had always been a true knight in his eyes. one that casey would admire just as he does and while he rarely partakes in his role as schwann anymore, he does take a bit of inspiration from the young commandant as he does from yuri. 🇮🇳🇹🇪🇷🇪🇸🇹 ⦂ the only other interest that raven really had with flynn that didn't match with yuri was his experienced time in the knights. it is one of the things the two of them can see eye to eye on and make conversation over. while, there is some things raven is clearly uncomfortable talking about, he still had some stories to share. 🇱🇴🇾🇦🇱🇹🇾 ⦂ flynn had that kinda face that was hard not to be loyal to. you ever seen this kid look sad? it's like you've literally kicked a puppy dog. 🇹🇷🇺🇸🇹 ⦂ trust with them could go back to even their days in the knights. schwann would trust flynn to have his back, but raven would trust flynn with much more. he's come to learn more of flynn as a person while living his life now on top of it was hard not to trust someone yuri had admired so much.

#{ i was too sleepy to finish the rest of these last night }#{ asks : answered }#{ headcanons }#mistralxsoul

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angelmichelangelo · 11 months ago

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brother i will devour any content of that human au

AH OKAY I HAVE MORE !!

so the purple dragons are like. preeettyyy prominent in this au. they’re just bad influence gang members. raph + casey + eventually mikey all get caught up in their, uh, escapades and it doesn’t really end well. poor mike ends up the worst out of it (sorry michael this is the curse of being the writer’s favourite)

but raph meets mona through them! and they become each others reason to be better people so. that’s cute :3

i also added yuichi to the list of side characters because who am i if not a leosagi enjoyer <33 and they’re happy… for now >:)

WOODY IS ALSO PRESENT!! we gots to have my main boy woody. he also is a good enough reason for mikey to get away from the dragons but.. but poor mike is a vulnerable kid. he’s had a tough childhood. maybe woody is sadly not enough to have him change his life around :(

donnie is just vibing. i haven’t really through it all the way through as to what his whole arc is gonna be in this fic. i know i wanna fix the whole april/casey/donnie love triangle in some way.. so yeah. maybe donnie gets the spicy arc lmao

i also love the idea of single foster father splinter. not sure where he’d actually fit into the story but he’s there. in my mind. with the rest of this fic LMAO anywho. here’s a flash forward snippet that i did the other day to kill my writers block :3

tw: mentions of drug abuse + vomit (i said this one was gonna be sadder lol)

Three am. That’s the time that his phone blinds him with when he grabs it off the end table, stopping it from skirting off the edge where it dances across the wood top as it buzzes fiercely at him.

Leo pulls himself away from Yuichi’s arm that’s lovingly and heavily slung over his waist and hits accept on the call.

“Mike,” he says, voice raspy and tired and coming out of him all slow like it often did when he was awoken so abruptly. “What’s up.”

Silence, only for a small fraction of a second, then shuffling and movement. A sniff, like he’d been crying and that gets Leo more awake in mere seconds.

“Leo,” he says, voice so small and far away sounding, like they were just kids again, scared and alone and, fuck. Leo’s heart is ramming hard against his chest. “Leo. I, uh. I need you to come get me. Please?”

Leonardo has now managed to entirely untangle himself from the loose limbs of his sleeping boyfriend beside him, slipping out of the bed to stretch the knot of muscles out of his calves and rub a knuckle into his eyes to smear away the sleep that lingered there.

“Yeah,” he says without a second thought. His alarm is set to go off in just a few hours. He has a full shift waiting for him but Mikey needs him. “Sure. Where are you?”

More shuffling. More movement. Leo wants to blink and have his little brother appear here in front of him. “I’m. Uh. I’m just leaving now. Can you meet me on 41st?”

It’s not far, and Leo can go faster knowing the streets’ll be mostly empty at this time of night. “Of course,” he tells him firmly. “Just stay there, okay? I’ll come get you.”

He hears the sound of a broken off sob and he’s cutting the call dead, spinning in a half circle to blindly search for his forgotten sweatpants on the floor when there’s the sound of Yuichi slowly waking from his side of the bed.

“Hmmm,” he says as he’s pulled from his sleep, stretching his arms out in front of him like a cat. “What’s wrong?”

Leo’s found his sweatpants, dancing about in them, one leg hopping about the room before he’s able to yank them up and pocket his phone away safely. “Mike,” he says plainly. Even in the dim room, he can make out the sad expression the other boy makes. “I’m gonna go get him. He’s– he’s in a bad way, I think, Ich.”

Yuichi makes no such fuss. He sits up, pushing back the shaggy locks of his blonde hair from his face – letting it stiffly stand up on end, he makes himself comfortable before looking at Leo with a loving gaze.

“Need me to come with?” He asks gently.

Leo shakes his head. “No. Though, I wouldn’t mind if you set the couch up for him for when we get back?” He asks.

Yuichi smiles, then gestures for Leo to come to him with little grabby hands. Leo gladly follows, pillowing his face between his warm, gentle hands.

“Love you,” he simply says, pulling him closer to press a soft kiss to his nose. Leo sighs, melting into the touch with ease.

“I know. Love you too.” He pulls away with a pout. “I won’t be long.”

And so he goes.

Leo’s old Sedan might be a heap of junk but it gets him to Mikey’s destination in good time. He pulls up, clipping the curb and bouncing the entire car with a jerk, to find his little brother perched sadly on a bench, his face wet and sunken, curls plastered damp across his face.

“Oh, Mike,” he says softly to himself as he peels himself out of the car to approach him. “What’s happened.”

Mikey almost doesn’t even notice that he’s arrived just yet, not until he’s up close in his bubble does his blank stared reserve seem to burst and his whole face crumples, reaching up for his brother like he’s five years old again.

“Hey,” Leo says with a breath, wrapping him up into his arms. He smells like booze and sweat and something else that has his gut turning in circles. He only pulls away to inspect him up close, holding his face between his palms like Yuichi had done for him, his heart sinks when he notes his brother’s blown out pupils and how pale he really was.

“M’sorry,” Mikey slurs, a mixture of intoxication and tears, bottom lip wobbling about on his face. “M’so sorry, Leo. Fo’everything.”

Leo pulls him in again, running his fingers through his matted, unkempt hair. “It’s alright. I got you now.”

Mikey’s breath shudders. He’s so small still, so lilith and… god so little. Leo is able to practically pick him up whilst he’s sandwiched up in his arms like this and guide him back to the car where it’s warmer.

They get in the car where Leo blasts the heaters on full and turns the radio down to mute.

He watches as his brother sluggishly slides his seatbelt over his chest, then wipes his nose with the back of his wrist, wetting his sleeve.

“I’ve been worried sick about you, Mike,” Leo says to him, unable to hold back the words any longer. “Weeks without any contact. I… I was thinking the worst.”

Mikey, unable to hold eye contact for longer than a brief, fleeting second, sighs, dropping his head down with shame as more tears spring hotly behind his eyes.

“I’m an idiot. I ruined my life, ruined yours and Don’s and Raph’s–” He hiccups, whole body shaking violently as a brutal sob crawls out of him. Leo’s instinct is to fly a hand out and land it on his arm to try and quell him. But he doesn’t.

He can’t. He just watches.

More silence. Aside from the sniffling and the grizzling, Leo takes a sobering, steady breath.

“What…” he loses his confidence. He clears his throat and tries again. “What did you take? Tonight?”

Mikey pinches his whole face together, like he was simply trying to just… pop himself out of existence into thin air. He scrubs a hand down his face and relaxes, eyes still closed, he tells his brother,

“I dunno. Think. Think it was somethin’ a lot stronger than I’ve taken before. S’okay. I didn’t. I didn’t shoot up. Just pills, this time.”

This was how it would go. This was how it would go for Leo’s littlest brother – his little brother that found a crutch with pills and substances rather than his own family. His little brother that had found a more solid foundation in pushing poison through his veins than his own flesh and blood.

Leo’s chest gives a little unsteady wobble. “Okay.” He says slowly. “Do…do you need a hospital?”

Mikey is quick to shake his head, his curls loose, go skirting about his forehead before he’s frantically pushing them away with the palm of his hand.

“God no,” he says in one breath. Eyes still shut, he tips his head back against the headrest and sighs. “Can. Can we just go? I don’t care where you take me.” His eyes slide back open, hazy and lost. “I’ve, uh. I’ve been staying at that hotel, the one with the flamingo on the wall. You know it?”

Leo shakes his head, swallowing thickly. “No,” he tells him. “I’ll take you home.”

Mikey blanches. Someone outside the bar gets loud and rowdy and starts singing a song with all the wrong lyrics.

“Home?” Mikey says, voice small. “What home?”

Leo swears he feels his heart dive to the long, endless bottom of his gut. “My– I’ll take you back to my place.” He tells his brother. “It’s your home, too.”

Leo has to watch the way tears well up, big and wobbly in his brother’s soft, brown eyes. Listens to the way his voice trembles when he asks.

“Will Yuichi be mad?”

Leo scoffs and then does he finally start the car, clunkily putting it into drive. “Course not. Your family, Mike. I’ve been waiting for you, remember?”

The drive is slow and long and bordering on torturous on the account of Leonardo having to sit beside his brother that continues to muffle his sobs into the palm of his hand. Eventually when they pull up to his apartment building, does it seem like the crying has subsided for now.

“Oh, shit,” Mikey says with a breath grazing past his teeth, climbing loosely out of his side of the car. He wobbles, catching himself on the door, and then laughs somewhat wetly. “Yeah. That’s— that’s hitting, now.”

Leo’s face tightens as he goes around the car, shouldering some of his brothers shaky weight, walking him up the steps like a baby deer, they finally make it inside.

Not before Mike pukes all over the welcome mat.

“Aw,” he says weakly, his entire body sagging against Leo’s now as his bottom lip trembles slightly. “I’m sorry.”

Yuichi, who seems to appear within the blink of an eye with bundles of blankets heaped up in his arms, shares a softened expression between both brothers.

“It’s alright,” he assures him, voice gentle, gesturing for him to follow him inside with a nod of his head. “Here. Come in. I’ll clean that up, you just go sit.”

Leo steers his brother around the puddle of vomit and towards the couch that is currently resembling more of a nest than it did a piece of their furniture.

Leo peels off his hoodie and unlaces his sneakers for him. Mikey hiccups, and Leo scoots away, mindful that he might just be sick on him, but untenses when he notes it’s just another little sob evading him.

Yuichi gets to work mopping the entryway and Leo tucks his brother up in his makeshift bed, flattening his unruly curls back with the palm of his hand.

“Sorry,” Mikey whispers again, eyes drooping shut. He whimpers another sad, pathetic sound, and then, finally, is he asleep

There’s the sound of running water, the squeak of the faucet turning off, and Yuichi’s bare feet padding across the small living room to meet Leo, bumping a comforting shoulder with his.

“I’ll probably stay up, keep an eye on him in here,” Leo says with one heaving breath. He runs a hand down his face, fully feeling the effects of being awake at such an hour catch up on him hotly.

Yuichi brushes his knuckles against Leo’s; a gesture so intimate and warm, it almost makes him fall asleep on the spot.

“You sure you don’t want me to?” He asks, mindful to keep his voice hushed. When Leo turns to face him, his brows are furrowed, a look of concern etched deeply across his face as they watch Leo’s sleeping brother sprawled out on the couch.

Leo hums. Knocking his knuckles with his with a small tap. “No, it’s alright,” he assures him, offering him a warm, easy smile. “You get some rest. I’ll call work in the morning. Tell them there’s been… a family emergency.” His voice goes tight as he looks again towards Mikey.

He’ll also have to call Raph in the morning also. And he could try Donnie, but he’s not so sure he’d really be up for caring all that much right now.

“Okay,” Yuichi says after a while, leaning over to press a chaste kiss across his cheek, lips lingering for just a second before he’s pulling away to stifle a yawn.

“Get some rest, Ich,” Leo says softly, nodding towards the direction of their bedroom. His boyfriend smiles warmly, and then does he go.

“Wake me if you need me,” he says before he disappears behind the door. Leo agrees and finally allows himself to slump his weight into the small, plush armchair that resides beside his brother.

He watches the steady rise and fall of his chest, coming and going, knowing that with each pump of his heart, he was shooting poison and pain through the very veins that kept him going.

Anxiety causes his gut to form like a hard knot. So he swallows the thought down, bitterly, and keeps watching the up and down motion of his brother’s chest.

Up. And down. And up. And down.

#okokok im gonna go spin about in a circle now and try and actually write this fic AH #tmnt human au #i don’t even have a name for this mf oops #tmnt fanfic #ask #fic stuff #tmnt

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