Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

neon-leon: BIRTHDAY !!

Othello Von Ryan: Ahh, I had a feeling you'd be online. Happy birthday, Leo.

neon-leon: happy bday donnie!! you headin to bed now?

Othello Von Ryan: Hmmm, I believe you say that with an expectant raised eyebrow…

neon-leon: lmao ofc i do

Othello Von Ryan: Not to worry, I was, for once. I tend to stay up til midnight on our birthday for tradition's sake, but I go to sleep soon after.

Othello Von Ryan: As for you?

neon-leon: im gonna be honest i would if i could :(

Othello Von Ryan: Hmm.

neon-leon: oh? ohoho?

Othello Von Ryan: I'll bring tea.

neon-leon: FOR REAL?!

Othello Von Ryan: Course. Can't leave my twin wide awake in the first hours of our 16th birthday, can I?

neon-leon: !?!?!?!!!! YEAHHH

neon-leon: can you . bring the pillow

Othello Von Ryan: I was already going to! Do you have the blanket?

neon-leon: uhhh DUH ofc i do you let me borrow it last night

Othello Von Ryan: …I’m going to be honest, I was so tired that I forgot.

neon-leon: PFFT

Othello Von Ryan: At your door. If you don't have your compression braces on, I'm going to yell at you, better put them on now and feign ignorance.

neon-leon: HEY . for your inforMATION, i do have them on. maybe bc raph has been badgering me abt it BUT STILL

Othello Von Ryan: I need to get you a sticky note.

Othello Von Ryan: That was not sarcasm.

neon-leon: pfft, dw i can tell

neon-leon: id honestly be down i just actually Forget most of the time

Othello Von Ryan: Hmmm. And Mikey does have a tendency to forget to eat…maybe we should buy a pack.

magic-mike: hehehehehe

magic-mike: [eepy!.png]

Raph: Awww look at ‘em all piled up!

AO: Hehe, haven’t seen that since their last birthday.

CJ: Oh wow, you guys weren’t lying, that is adorable!

CJ: On the matter of birthdays, though, brb! Already ate breakfast, so I’m gonna go get Casey and Drax!

magic-mike: Still so proud of them for letting draxum join :’)

Raph: Yeah, Dee’s been getting more used to him, but Leo’s still kinda prickly. Kinda surprised he agreed.

neon-leon: cj n dee said theyd punch him for me if they had to

Othello Von Ryan: A true statement. I’ve found him to be…slightly trustworthy, but Leo doesn’t feel totally safe around him, and we respect that.

magic-mike: …Lee. >:(

neon-leon: ugghghghghgh let me drink my tea first

neon-leon: its my birthday you have to be niceies to me

Othello Von Ryan: For the record, Leo doesn’t feel totally safe around most people.

neon-leon: real

magic-mike: ………………..Lee. >:((

neon-leon: ? i thought you already knew that?

magic-mike: No?? I know you dont really like strangers, I didnt know you didnt trust them.

neon-leon: squints at you. you trust strangers?

Othello Von Ryan: Well, Lee, admittedly the base distrust you have towards people is…unique.

Raph: Wait, but. Leo’s always really nice to people who havent done something wrong yet?

neon-leon: pffft. yeah thats cause every person is a person but every person is also a person that could hurt me

neon-leon: its like. every sewing needle has helped mend a seam or two, or rip one open. and every sewing needle has stabbed someone. im not looking to get stabbed

neon-leon: everyone has their own merits and everyone deserves a chance. that doesnt mean im going to trust them at face value. anyone could be anything, including dangerous

neon-leon: ouhhghhgh my tea . my tea my tea my tea is ready !!

Othello Von Ryan: That should shut him up for a little bit. He woke up really groggy. Knee’s bugging him, so he’s grumpy too.

Raph: :(

Othello Von Ryan: Yeah, I’ve got it handled though. Ibuprofen, tea. He made me my coffee but that’s because he refused not to do something in return. You know, Leo being Leo.

Othello Von Ryan: Admittedly, though, I did also believe you all knew this about Leo? I don’t trust at first blush either, I’m just less defensive than Leo. And, frankly, less willing to see the beauty of the world as it is. Sometimes he talks about mankind with tears in his eyes, and I can never fathom it.

magic-mike: I kinda get that!! Everyone is their own person and the world is so vast and wide, you know? Everyone is someone new to meet :]

Othello Von Ryan: Leo moreso feels…it’s difficult to describe, he’s even said the same thing. He always has this bright shine to his eyes when he talks about the world, though, about the inherent kindness of people. Always ends up going off about all of those stories he has from portalling all over the place before we knew he was doing it.

Raph: Raph was >:( and :’) all at once that day

AO: Ohhh, we all were. He did it underneath our noses, but he was so happy about it, too.

Othello Von Ryan: All he ever did was meet people and see the world, and then come back home. I think that’s all he ever wanted to do.

Othello Von Ryan: This is a tad bit hush-hush, but even when we were kids, he talked about the world like it was a beautiful place. Always talking about wanting to meet more people, because he just knew they’d be as great as we all were. My only real theory is that the altruistic tendencies of Jupiter Jim and Lou Jitsu and other main characters from the stories we read really sunk in.

neon-leon: probably yeah but also. idk everyone i knew was so amazing

Othello Von Ryan: Ah, welcome back. Feeling any better?

neon-leon: tea :]

Othello Von Ryan: I will take that as a yes.

neon-leon: but yeah idk it was just. my whole world was filled with such amazing people and i wanted to know if everyone else out there was as good, even if i kind of already knew not everyone was perfect too? like. dad never was perfect none of us were. i knew the world was ugly in its own ways, based on stories and things donnie told me about research and stuff, but dad was always so fond talking about people from his sets, and everyone i knew was so great, and so was april, and i just knew there was a beautiful world out there. and i was so, so right. i missed it so much

Othello Von Ryan: Sighs tiredly. You could’ve told us you felt cooped up earlier, you know.

neon-leon: stares at you blankly and raises an eye ridge.

Othello Von Ryan: Raises a markered eyebrow back at you.

neon-leon: huffs and looks away. grumble grumble fine. yeah i couldve i guess

magic-mike: Admittedly never going to be completely used to the over-text twin telepathy.

Othello Von Ryan: Not twin telepathy, Micheal, that’s not a thing. It’s simply understanding each other’s body language to an incredible degree.

neon-leon: ik usually im like YEAH TWIN THING but agreed i will both always advocate for paying attention to body language + also brag abt my knowledge of it

Raph: You should!! You know a hell of a lot!

neon-leon: thank you thank you its called ‘studied my family extensively as a child to ensure they were happy and keep track of how they reacted to my actions’

magic-mike: >:(

neon-leon: …ok im going to be totally honest i thought that one was pretty normal

Othello Von Ryan: Your dedication to pretending to be a normal person never ceases to amaze me.

neon-leon: normal ppl are cool ppl dee weve been over this

Othello Von Ryan: Glares at you.

neon-leon: stares back but eventually sighs loudly and grumbles

Othello Von Ryan: Good. Now, then, do you want to hang out in my room or yours?

neon-leon: mine!! i have fairy lights now!!!

Othello Von Ryan: Pfft, a fair point. I'll be there in a minute, I have some stuff to grab from my room, then.

CJ: Checking in! And-oh, huh. I don't know that one.

magic-mike: Its a yearly tradition they have! Its partially just cause they like hanging out together on their bday, from what I've heard, but also cause Raph would always tell them to stay away from the kitchen while he was getting the party set up, and they never wanted to split up if they didn't have to.

Othello Von Ryan: We picked the same birthday for a reason, after all.

neon-leon: yeah!!! we like celebrating together :]

Othello Von Ryan: Even when I was younger and still struggling with the logistics of it, I knew I'd enjoy sharing a birthday with this triangle headed, blue fixated idiot.

neon-leon: awww, thanks <3 ive always known i wanted to share a birthday with your rectangle headed purple loving nerd ass too

CJ: …huh. That explains a lot.

magic-mike: ?

CJ: Well, uh. Sensei used to sit with some of Uncle Tello’s old stuff once a year. He wouldn't tell me when his birthday was, or why.

neon-leon: .

Othello Von Ryan: WELL THEN .

Othello Von Ryan: For the record, CJ, thank you for informing us and this is not your fault, but.

Othello Von Ryan: Sighs tiredly. Now I have a Leo shaped barnacle stuck to my side.

CJ: Still sorry :( that'll happen, though.

Othello Von Ryan: Oh most certainly.

Othello Von Ryan: I've done it myself, he can pay it back.

neon-leon: your leo probably never told you cause we picked 6/6 for a reason

Othello Von Ryan: Leo's always loved the number 6 for…some reason? And he said it fit me, too, and I like June a decent amount, and it's a repeating number. Halfway through the year, too, it felt too perfect.

neon-leon: 6 is Blue w a lil bit of purple but 66 is purpley. plus its like. italicized

neon-leon: AND. june has your vibes. as a word and a month

Othello Von Ryan: See what I mean by “for some reason”? He's explained it in the past, but admittedly, it's never made sense to me.

neon-leon: tfw things are colors and colors are things

Chapter Text

neon-leon: groans as loudly as humanly possible WHENS THE PARTY STARRTTINGGG

Othello Von Ryan: I’m also excited, but will ask much more politely: agreed, when the hell is it starting we wanna eat our treats.

AO: Almost ready!

magic-mike: and the last set just got put up!

neon-leon: waitiwaisitiwawita what did you make this year???

magic-mike: I remembered you guys saying it kind of sucked you didn’t like the cake very much last year, so i made cake pops! april bought strawberry candies for leo, and casey hunted down some coffee candies for donnie with raph! Hopefully thats ok?

Othello Von Ryan: Gassspppp. I forgot how much I loved cake pops.

neon-leon: NO THATS SO PERFECT???? and we get our own little candies!!! dee youve gotta let me try yours

Othello Von Ryan: Ohh, you’re going to hate them. Lee, you have to let me try yours.

neon-leon: and youre gonna hate MINE your face is gonna be hilarious

Othello Von Ryan: On the rare chance that you do like them, though, you can’t have any, for the record.

neon-leon: same here but same honestly doesnt go for the cake pops i think we should share those

Othello Von Ryan: Hmmm, you make a good point. You were going to steal one of mine anyways.

neon-leon: yeah lmao but you were gonna steal one of mine

neon-leon: ouhhh i hope you like what i got you

Othello Von Ryan: Augh, same here. I understand why our presents have to go last, but it still makes for a nerve-wracking experience beforehand.

AO: One, you two go last because you blow everything we gift you two outta the water. And two, your guys’ gifts always blow ours outta the water! What’re you worried for?

neon-leon: yeah but what if i was wrong this time :(

Othello Von Ryan: We know each other well, we can’t read each other’s minds, April.

Raph: Let them worry, they’re gonna anyways. Weird little perfectionists /aff

neon-leon: blows a raspberry in your general direction

Othello Von Ryan: Leans over Leo’s shoulder and gives you the middle finger.

AO: Dee!

Othello Von Ryan: Suck it, I have free reign over text where I theoretically have a middle finger.

magic-mike: alright, party’s set up, you two are free to barrel into the kitchen whenever you wanna!

CJ: Do they race every year?

Raph: Oh yeah, always have

CJ: Adorable. Im keeping my camera app open

CJ: [aw.jpg]

CJ: I knew they’d love the cake!

CJ: [cake!.jpg]

CJ: Leo poked me like fifty times so I’d take a pic. It is a really nice cake, though.

CJ: Ill grab more sneaky pics of the twins >:)

CJ: Is that how you use that?

CJ: [bleck.jpg]

CJ: They didnt like each others candy. Huge surprise

CJ: The strawberry and chocolate cake pops are apparently a double hit though!

CJ: [music-box.jpg]

CJ: Really glad the music box was a hit

neon-leon: best birthday ever a thousand out of ten i have two (TWO) music boxes nwo im going to cry .

Othello Von Ryan: YOU’RE going to cry?! You wrote a song for us! And made me a jar of paper stars! So I could make a wish! Whether I believe in wishes or not!!

neon-leon: been working on that since The Incident

Othello Von Ryan: GAH.

neon-leon: oup. ive been dragged away

neon-leon: ooo donnies room. bigger mattress

Othello Von Ryan: And we’re staying here for at least an hour, because you’re going to get your guitar and you’re going to play that again and you’re going to tell me every detail as to how you made it.

neon-leon: pfft, in a little bit dee

neon-leon: im still. how did you guys even figure out i wanted a music box??

CJ: Sensei used to hum the same tune.

neon-leon: ohhhhh. nvm lmao

Othello Von Ryan: The cake pops were frankly genius as well. Less trouble, and something we could share.

neon-leon: yeah it was nice

neon-leon: um.

neon-leon: mikey?

magic-mike: Uh…yeah?

neon-leon: thank you. I wasnt sure id get to be here for our sweet 16

magic-mike: . YOURE WELCOME??!?!?

Raph: LEE???

neon-leon: sorry sorry i know that was really out of left field but i mean it i do

Othello Von Ryan: Can confirm hes crying im crying we are all crying together

AO: That was really outta left field, Leo. What were you thinkin’ about it for?

neon-leon: ive wanted a music box for a really really really long time and. For a sec i thought id never hear that kind of thing again and. And im erally happy donnie didnt have to be alone and i hate that i made that a possibility

neon-leon: and he liked the song ive been working on that for two years i was scared i wouldnt.

Othello Von Ryan: Ok, officially too teary eyed to type, thank goodness, he is lethally honest over a text medium good lord .

Othello Von Ryan: Ill be back give us a minute

CJ: …….hm. :(

AO: Sigh. Me too CJ me too

magic-mike: ohhhhhh he is so getting a hug when he wants one .

Raph: Turtle pile tonight. Raph’s orders

Splinter: My orders, too! Orange, maybe you could order some pizza from Blue and Purple’s favorite place, hm?

magic-mike: Will do!! I was thinking about getting them something theyd like for dinner anyways! It allll works out :]

Othello Von Ryan: Ok! Slightly less emotionally devastated, 80% less teary eyed.

neon-leon: sorry

neon-leon: HRGK. ive been scolded lmao

neon-leon: taking back my sorry bc if i dont i think donnie is going to strangle me

Othello Von Ryan: If you say sorry for saving the world one more fucking time I’m going to blow a gasket.

neon-leon: LISTEN .

Othello Von Ryan: Hm? Sorry, I’m afraid I can’t hear you over the sound of our family’s laughter, which exists because of your attempted sacrifice, dummy.

neon-leon: opens my mouth. closes it. waves a hand and walks away

Othello Von Ryan: Another point for Donatello! All is as it should be.

magic-mike: are you ok leo? I'm not going to dr feelings you!! In fact, youre doing a really great job yourself! But i still wanna ask and make sure

neon-leon: waves my hands around. GAH. lying is so much harder when i can think for two seconds before i open my dumb stupid mouth

neon-leon: HEY. donnie fucking hit me what the hell! its my birthday!!

Othello Von Ryan: It’s mine too, dumbass. You call yourself stupid, I hit you. That applies any other day of the year, it applies today too.

neon-leon: nah the sixes cross over and cause a uhh. slapping eclipse

Othello Von Ryan: Raises an eyebrow.

neon-leon: yeah my material is really waning today hehehe

neon-leon: seriously though im like. 80% fine prommy

neon-leon: thats been weighing on me for. a while? i was scared i wouldnt make it. and i did. and its just A Lot

neon-leon: i mean. i made it. im here. and thats really. its a good a lot but its A Lot

Raph: Raph is double enforcing that turtle pile >:’(

neon-leon: ooo yeah i nearly forgot about that!! omg id totally be down i need to teach cj more guitar chords and dee really likes the song anwyays i should play it again OHHH and the music boxes!! you guys need to see them up close theyre so pretty

Othello Von Ryan: I was wondering what he was typing so aggressively for, pfft. Maybe in Leo’s room? He does have the fairy lights, after all.

neon-leon: GAASSPP. DEE YOURE A GENIUS

Othello Von Ryan: I know, I know, thank you kindly.

Othello Von Ryan: Ooo, April, I think you’d actually really like my coffee candies. You need to try one later.

neon-leon: we should have cake pops for dessert!!

Othello Von Ryan: Gasp!! You make an excellent point!

neon-leon: mikey would LOVE my little strawberry candies too ive gotta let him try some

Othello Von Ryan: Well, we’ll need to figure out what exactly we’re bringing ahead of time…

neon-leon: oh? oho?

Othello Von Ryan: If you wouldn’t mind taking the blanket, I wouldn’t.

neon-leon: of course i wouldnt omg?! thats a great idea!! you should bring your new hoodie too i keep it kind of cold in there

Othello Von Ryan: Brrr. True. I understand you overheat easily, but still.

magic-mike: sounds like a plan to me!! Ill let you guys know when i order the pizza :]

Othello Von Ryan: And then to Leo’s room we shall embark!

neon-leon: pfft you say that like its going to be a grand fairy tale adventure or something

Othello Von Ryan: Who said it couldn’t be? You’re here, after all.

neon-leon: WH . DONNIEEEEE

neon-leon: ITS MY BIRTHDAY DONT MAKE ME CRY???

Othello Von Ryan: You made ME cry, your turn, bitch.

neon-leon: UGGHH YOURE RIGHT AND I HATE IT

CJ: [aww.jpg]

CJ: Started the day in a pile on Leo’s bed, ended up in a pile on Donnie’s towards the end.

Raph: Yeah, that sounds like those two dorks.

magic-mike: glad to see them getting some sleep <3

Chapter Text

neon-leon: ok im starting to lose it. has ANYONE seen my glasses

neon-leon: i try to take a contact break like a smart turtle and they just disappear on me!

magic-mike: Hmmm, i dunno! I haven't seen them!

Othello Von Ryan: Raises a markered eyebrow. Leo, you asked me to put them somewhere yesterday and I told you I was putting them on your bedside table. To your face.

neon-leon: wait seriously? huh. mustve forgotten. thanks anyways though ive been looking everywhere for them

CJ: Squints.

magic-mike: Hmmm, agreed! You dont just forget conversations like that!

AO: Yeah, true. Maybe you misheard him instead?

Raph: You have responded to questions really weirdly in the past, Lee. Is something wrong? Wait is your hearing going out?!

neon-leon: nonono my hearings fine

Splinter: Hmmm. You have ignored me asking you questions in the past…

neon-leon: no i wasnt ignoring you its just.

neon-leon: i can hear it just doesnt. make sense? sometimes?

neon-leon: and. ok things have been a little quieter since The Incident but. everything was loud.

magic-mike: Is this new, too? You'd know better than we would if it was an injury, Leo.

Othello Von Ryan: And accordingly, you'd know how to hide it.

neon-leon: its not an injury thing cross my heart and. pinky promise, i mean. genuinely. the hearing loss is new, and minor. mostly just tinnitus, and its nothing we can really fix, just something i need to keep an eye on. but it. did make it worse.

Raph: The…not being able to understand people?

neon-leon: yeah! sometimes people say things and its just…gibberish. like my brain isnt processing it? especially if its quiet, or theres other noises going on.

Othello Von Ryan: You were running the electric kettle when you handed me your glasses…

neon-leon: yeah exactly!! i could hear you over the boiling, i just couldnt understand you

magic-mike: That…explains a lot??

AO: Yeah! I always wondered why you'd answer questions with a ‘yup!’ sometimes.

neon-leon: eugh, it was that bad?

Raph: …Lee.

neon-leon: uh . laughs nervously. Yuh-huh

Raph: Why didn't you tell us you needed us to repeat what we'd said?

neon-leon: well. i mean. donnie cant hear. i just cant understand. and i figured it was just me being…scatterbrained, or something. it didnt seem like it was…worth it? i guess.

magic-mike: Leo :(

neon-leon: AUGUGHF dont give me that face!!

AO: Aight gotta put another item on the ‘reasons to beat up Leo's brain’ list brb

magic-mike: You know we'd never be mad if you had to ask us to repeat ourselves!

neon-leon: yeah but i didnt wanna bug you :(

Othello Von Ryan: Research has been Acquired!

neon-leon: is this research good for me or good for you guys

Othello Von Ryan: Both!

magic-mike: oho??

Othello Von Ryan: The closest diagnosis I could find is auditory processing disorder; a phenomenon where someone has issues understanding the words they hear, or translating sound into word.

neon-leon: …..hey wait a goddamn minute you're RIGHT. i know about that i didnt even puzzle that together! what the hell!!

neon-leon: good what the hell! but what the hell!!!!

Othello Von Ryan: And you know how softshells’ bad hearing contributes to how bad mine is in air and how excellent it is underwater?

neon-leon: and mine is leagues better underwater too, omg

Othello Von Ryan: Exactly!! Sliders have a similar issue where their hearing is dulled in air due to the level of vibration they're sensitive to!

neon-leon: huh. huh.

Raph: Good huh?

neon-leon: very good huh that actually makes me feel a lot better about this

Othello Von Ryan: I have one last piece of excellent news!

neon-leon: !!! im listening!!

magic-mike: leans in with a hand pressed to my non existent ear

Othello Von Ryan: Due to this simply being an issue of hertz and vibration, it should be very easy for me to modify some of my old hearing aids for you, Leo!

neon-leon: .

neon-leon: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

neon-leon: HUGS. NOWWW

Othello Von Ryan: An expected response; I'm already at your door.

AO: Wait, really?! That's great news!

magic-mike: it is!!! It makes sense, even if I dont totally get the mechanics.

CJ: Ahhh, yeah, Sensei had something like that hidden under his mask. I never had the chance to ask why they looked like Uncle Donatello’s though!

Raph: Dee’s genius saves the day again, eh?

neon-leon: aufh . It really does

Othello Von Ryan: Callout: he is indeed crying.

neon-leon: ok only a little

Othello Von Ryan: But yes! It should be rather easy to modify an old pair of hearing aids for this. Keeping them under Leo's mask is an excellent idea, thank you for the push on that, Casey. Future me’s ideas are even better than mine, as always.

Othello Von Ryan: To explain but not explain too much, essentially they'll increase sound and should be able to filter background noise. That's an essential feature in my own, after all; noise itself is already strange enough, sometimes I need to focus on specific sounds. Then, we modify to allow hertz to be changed, again, rather similar to how mine function, and voila! Shouldn't take more than a day, no trouble at all.

neon-leon: one worry; sometimes i hear things perfectly fine and they still sound like gibberish? so my ears might not be the only issue.

Othello Von Ryan: Hmm, true, but this should at least reduce the frequency of issues greatly.

magic-mike: If you ever do need us to repeat something, ask!!

AO: Yeah, we'd rather repeat it and have you know what we said than you be in the dark.

CJ: Agreed!! Course, signs always an option too.

Raph: And let us know if we're talking a little loud at first, k? I remember that being something Dee had trouble with.

neon-leon: ooo good point

Othello Von Ryan: And don't forget how accepting everyone was when I was younger. There's not going to be a moment on this earth that any of us are going to think lesser of you for who you are, Leo.

magic-mike: YEAH!! It was silly of you to hide that you cant see, it was silly of you to hide this! Wed never be mad at you for being honest.

neon-leon: pffft, i know, i know. ill keep that in mind <3

magic-mike: <3

Othello Von Ryan: Alright, I've hit my touch quota for now. Going to go get working on that, no one bother me for a little bit

Raph: Aye-aye! Raph’ll keep little brothers and big sisters and dads and kind-of nephews out of your hair!

Othello Von Ryan: Thank you kindly, Raph. Mikey, come get me for dinner when it starts, would you?

magic-mike: Will do!! o77

neon-leon: same for me i found my glasses and i was looking for them for a Reason. got a new medical book from the hc yesterday im gonna go hole up and dig into it

magic-mike: nerd!!!

neon-leon: a nerd who can sew a wound closed in three different ways, but fair

magic-mike: snrk, true. and will do! o7

CJ: Ooo, can I help with dinner tonight?

magic-mike: ofc!! ive got so much to teach you >:)

CJ: Hmmm. I might be in danger.

neon-leon: they learn so fast :’)

Chapter Text

Raph: On our way back to the lair, Leo!

Othello Von Ryan: Sweet sweet heating calls my name!

magic-mike: And we got that chocolate you wanted!!

CJ: Yeah, plus some other snacks!

Splinter: I assured they did not forget your crickets either, Blue!

AO: Yup! List all crossed out ‘n everythin’, for once.

AO: …ok he's weirdly silent.

magic-mike: Yeah…hmmmm

Othello Von Ryan: …hm. That, to me, does not bode well. He's rarely far from his phone.

AO: …remember how I went ahead of you guys?

Raph: Uh…yeah?

AO: The lair is way too quiet for Leo to be here.

Othello Von Ryan: …oh fuck me he's in his shell

magic-mike: !!!! YOUE RIGHT

Raph: OH . OH NO

Splinter: Oh goodness. That has never been good news for Blue.

Othello Von Ryan: April, check his room, I'm gunning it.

AO: On it!

magic-mike: Im gonna go ahead too!

CJ: We'll catch up!! Let us know where you've checked, ok?

AO: Bedroom is clear, I've checked all the closets ‘n underneath everything, before Donnie asks.

Othello Von Ryan: Mine next he used to hide under my loft

Othello Von Ryan: Ok, I'm here, Mikey's not far behind. April, could you move to the living room? I'll take over my room and the lab, there are hidden places only we know of.

AO: o7

magic-mike: here!!! I'll check mine just in case

Othello Von Ryan: My room is clear.

AO: Living room is clear…

magic-mike: Mine is too :(

CJ: We're here! Where do you need us, Donnie?

Othello Von Ryan: games, garage, medbay, wherever the hell else. Lab is clear, checking the kitchen, he hides in cabinets

CJ: On it! I'll delegate.

Othello Von Ryan: oh.

Othello Von Ryan: no need.

Othello Von Ryan: i found him.

Othello Von Ryan: dad come this way the rest of you stay in the living room

CJ: You heard him.

Othello Von Ryan: ok hes. Um. Secure.

Raph: …Donnie. Why does that sound foreboding.

Othello Von Ryan: Because he's in my room now but he's kind of still in his shell and he won't talk to me except to shake it a little as a ‘yes’ and even Dad can't get him out which. Really does not bode well .

Raph: Want the rest of us to pop in?

Othello Von Ryan: …yeah, ok. Raph, you first, everyone else should stay outside, but nearby.

magic-mike: o7

Othello Von Ryan: Update: good news, he's out of his shell. Bad news, I'm going to go kill the Kraang with my bare fists

magic-mike: I feel like thats also good news?

Othello Von Ryan: it is until Leo starts crying

CJ: Ah .

Othello Von Ryan: Im going to do my best to explain without killing anyone in cold blood. But.

Othello Von Ryan: As far as I’ve gathered, Leo had a flashback to both sacrifices of The Worst Day Ever Staten Island Included.

AO: …oh god. We left him alone in the lair.

magic-mike: this is the first time weve all left while he wasnt asleep isnt it

Othello Von Ryan: Holds my hand up and makes a break noise. Nope, don’t keep talking like that, he’ll get guilty when he gets back.

magic-mike: :’((

Othello Von Ryan: Sighs tiredly. I know, Mikey, me too, but comforting him is going to work a lot better than being mad at ourselves. …or anyone else, no matter how much I wish to crush whatever’s hurt him in the palm of my hand.

CJ: There are definitely ways to prevent this again, too.

Othello Von Ryan: Indeed! Problem solving now, crying and simmering later. Leo’s always done his best to put his emotions aside for all of us, after all.

magic-mike: he does it for us we do it for him

AO: …yeah. Yeah, you’re right! I’m sure there’s a kinda panic button we can get set up. Could work for you guys too?

Othello Von Ryan: Excellent idea, April! I have been meaning to make some kind of secondary panic button lately. After all, there are ‘I’m dying’ emergencies and ‘I am very much not ok’ emergencies.

neon-leon: that would honestly rule pretty hard

magic-mike: !!!!!!!!

neon-leon: pfft. yes im ok, yes im accepting hugs at this time

magic-mike: ❗

neon-leon: AUGH . i said i was accepting hugs not TACKLES

magic-mike: shhhhh im hugging my big brother who was really scared like ten minutes ago

CJ: Nodnod, a very important job. And I have one, too!! I’ll go make some tea :)

neon-leon: gasp !! tyvm thats actually Exactly what i was trying to do earlier lmao

CJ: Oh…huh. Yeah. Tea bags in the cup and everything.

neon-leon: yeah i got really close to turning the kettle on too and then i heard A Noise and went hmmm actually i think i will have a panic attack

magic-mike: :’(

neon-leon: HEYY dont give me that look, im fine!! yes it was scary yes ill be a little jumpy for a few hours but theres been worse ill live

Othello Von Ryan: True, but we want to worry anyways.

Raph: Yeah :( it sucks, and we wanna help.

neon-leon: well you guys already are helping so mission accomplished lmao

CJ: Tea’s almost ready!

neon-leon: ooo yesss tea is the ultimate calm down ingredient

Othello Von Ryan: Gah! You’re running out of blueberry tea! That’s what we forgot!

AO: I was waitin’ for somethin’ to come up!

magic-mike: we never get out of a store with everything do we?

neon-leon: lmao, no we do not

Chapter Text

neon-leon: @Othello Von Ryan donnniiieeeeeee

Othello Von Ryan: Sigh. What.

neon-leon: nothing I just wanted to bug you lmao

Othello Von Ryan: Raises one of my markered eyebrows. Leo, you let that I autocorrect itself. I know you're tired.

neon-leon: ofc I am lmao its 4 am

Othello Von Ryan: Raises my eyebrow again. I'm not going to help you if you aren't honest.

neon-leon: UGGGHH. You're ruining my nothing's wrong routine

neon-leon: fine its been 50 hours and th e metlaton stopped working ten ago

7 am

Raph: YOU WHAT ??

Othello Von Ryan: Not to worry!! He's been sleeping since 5.

Raph: And what about you, mister?

Othello Von Ryan: My record is clean, dear brother! I awoke at 2 am, after falling asleep at 8 pm.

CJ: True!! He was asleep when I checked at 9.

magic-mike: Are you sure hes ok Donnie?? 50 hours is a lot, even for him :(

Othello Von Ryan: …hmmmm. I'll need to put a reminder down to never ever tell you our records.

Raph: Case?

CJ: Sensei said his was 58 before the invasion but a lot has happened since then…uncle tello said his was actually only 40! Sensei always held it over his head. Master Michelangelo always smacked them on the head when they mentioned it.

magic-mike: AS HE SHOULD!!;;;

magic-mike: Fellow magic mike doing what he's gotta as always!!

Raph: Im so scared of when you figure out the flying thing, Mike.

Othello Von Ryan: Shivers. Indeed. If you can be taller than us, you can pay back for all the teasing we've done.

magic-mike: Chuckles evilly. My time will come

Raph: Wait. HOW MANY?!

Othello Von Ryan: OK FOR THE RECORD MINE IS ONLY 39

Othello Von Ryan: Leo’s is…uh.

CJ: 60 :(

Othello Von Ryan: Yeah, uh. CJ helped out with that one. That was. Bad. To say the least.

Othello Von Ryan: The difference is that I can sleep, but choose not to, and do often take power naps. Leo simply can't.

AO: Dee’s not lying, he told me about the whole thing right after they got Lee to sleep and he was real frazzled about it.

Raph: Isnt there a medication we can give him or something? Donnie, I know you and Leo already have some stuff.

Othello Von Ryan: Breathes through my teeth. Uh, yeah, so. About that.

Othello Von Ryan: Soooo. We may have gotten some. Once. The only kind we could find that wouldn't cause an allergic reaction due to interacting negatively with Leo's turtle side…didn’t really work. Didn't help him sleep, didn't keep him asleep, it made him itchy due to interacting in bad ways with his veins and the skin cells and…it was just. A dud.

CJ: Ohhh. Ohh no I know this story :( werent you two only 15?

Othello Von Ryan: It was during Leo's first month as leader, yes. Excess stress wasn't…helping the whole insomnia thing. To say the least.

Othello Von Ryan: Leo…breathes through my teeth again. Ohhhh hes going to kill me for this

Othello Von Ryan: Leo took six times the dose and had to throw it back up and it didn't do anything anyways and he kind of just had a breakdown in the bathroom on my shoulder at 4 am and I still don't know how to help .

Othello Von Ryan: …um. So. Help?

Raph: YOU . YOU WH

magic-mike: hhahahaahahahaa !!!!!!!;;;!;! Leo is going to have another visit with Dr feelings soon!!!

CJ: Leo is going to really really kill me for this but. Um .

Othello Von Ryan: wait is it related to the .

CJ: yeagh

Othello Von Ryan: oh my god you're a brave fucking soldier CJ . I'll take the fall with you

Othello Von Ryan: Breathe in, and out, you first if you want.

CJ: Sensei kind of always seemed like he wanted to die and so does Leo. Um. To me.

Othello Von Ryan: Leo makes a lot of jokes and Im a little wortied !!!!! They aren't jokes anymore!!

CJ: Im not!! An expert! But ive. Seen it? And felt it? Felt, im fine! And it doesn't seem really bad? but I'm just. Worried. Really really worried.

Othello Von Ryan: and he just! There's this kind of thing he says sometimes where he's like haha I wonder if I can make that jump or I wonder how long I can stay out in the cold without my jacket and it seems like hes just testing limits or being silly but I don't . Know if he. Is. Anymore. After.

CJ: yeah i was uh . that's uhm.

Othello Von Ryan: ok that's enough worrying over that today we need to flee the fucking country now CJ

CJ: Fleeing the country won't help he knows people in Paris and Nigeria and Germany and Spain and like fifty other countries I don't know the name of :(

Othello Von Ryan: ???11?1?2 HE WAHT

CJ: That's what made him a really good resistance leader!!! My sensei knew a lot of people, he said it was both from before his portals worked right and from after, when he'd just try to wander, cause he felt cooped up. He already knew a lot of languages a little but learned a lot more of them! So hed probably find us really fast too :o( Leo's taught me that the o is a clown nose. Which is accurate. Because i feel like a clown :o( who is going to get crushed by his pet alligator :o((((

Othello Von Ryan: Elephant, but you were close!

CJ: *elephant :o(((((

Othello Von Ryan: Admittedly I did not fucking know that thought whatthe fhck .

CJ: Sensei always said he was really good at keeping secrets. I, uh. Kind of thought he was lying.

Othello Von Ryan: Yeah Leo will do that to you

Othello Von Ryan: anyways we need to leave the fucking country .

Raph: I. You. What. What .

AO: boys you really can't just say that in chat and then go i

magic-mike: You won't need to if I have a say in it. :)

Othello Von Ryan: Oooo this is true

Othello Von Ryan: If we have Mikey on our side, he'll only be able to give us the cold shoulder for a month!

CJ: Ooo yeah!! Good point! Sensei used to insult commanders that failed in battle for years to come, but maybe Leo will only do it for a year!

Othello Von Ryan: Ahh, don't say that, now. He'll probably still hold a grudge for a few years.

CJ: Sensei was still mad about the Baron dropping him off that building til the day I was sent back. :/

Othello Von Ryan: Sighs fondly and tiredly. Yeah Leo will do that

neon-leon: what. what the FUCK.

Othello Von Ryan: OH GOD

Othello Von Ryan: SHELLDON PLAY CALL YOUR MOM BY NOAH KAHAN

neon-leon: DONT ACTUALLY FUCKING PLAY IT??? GET BACK HERE

neon-leon: donnie what the hell. you said you wouldnt tell anybody!

Othello Von Ryan: Raph is like the closest thing to a mom I could call ok! There is little else I could do and I was very worried!! You keep making jokes about the sturdiness of your shell in relation to !!!!! THIGNVS and im kind of fucking scared!!!!!!!!!!

CJ: uncle tello always said keeping someone was worth them hating you

Othello Von Ryan: Huh! Well. Parallels abound, I see.

neon-leon: fuck. fuck me. caseys right i cant hate you you might die

Othello Von Ryan: ?????? I’m not dying any time soon??

neon-leon: well you fucking would have if casey didnt come abck and fix shit

Othello Von Ryan: You fixed it!

neon-leon: no the fuck i did not? i made up for it.

magic-mike: DR FEELINGS IS IN THE HOUSE.

neon-leon: no the fuck he is not. leave me alone

Raph: Leo, just let us-aaand he’s offline.

magic-mike: audibly rolls up my sleeves

Othello Von Ryan: WAIT WATIWAITWIAT

AO: Donnie’s makin’ typos we need to listen in

Othello Von Ryan: YES TAHT . AGREED

Raph: I’m not waiting he’s clearly…I don’t know! I don’t know what the hell that’d be called!!!

Othello Von Ryan: typically they call it a threat to themselves or others but um. get rid of the others

CJ: I’m going to get Splinter.

Othello Von Ryan: NO???!!??!?!?!

AO: Casey’s got a point, Dee.

Othello Von Ryan: Nononnoono i mean . DO NOT GET DAD leo will . um. How do i explain ths

Othello Von Ryan: He’ll just. Clam back up its really bad every time

Raph: …Donnie. Have you tried before?

Othello Von Ryan: k. Kind of.

Othello Von Ryan: listen things happened when we were 12 ok haha !!

Othello Von Ryan: but explaning it seemed like a really bad idea and the bathroom was already clean by the time we got back and leo played it off too well and im an AWFUL liar so i just. Stayed quiet?? Because it was easier?

Othello Von Ryan: I mean Leo was already good at stitches anyways hahah

Othello Von Ryan: I Kind Of trust dad leo would rather die

Raph: DONNIE .

Othello Von Ryan: IM SORRY I KNOW I RELAIZED RIGHT ATER I SAID IT

Othello Von Ryan: i just mean like. Um. leo will literally dance around everything he possibly can with splinter there is no possible way hes going to get a proper confession or anything out of leo and if leo even SEES splinter out of the corner of his eye after reading any of this for the next like WEEK hes going to book it to like. Paris

Othello Von Ryan: hell tell me anything hell tell mikey and splinter nothing and hell tell raph Some things

magic-mike: THATS WHY DR FEELINGS CANT GET ANYTHING OUT OF HIM

Othello Von Ryan: yeah hes unfortunately an expert in what i like to call ‘pretending youre fine so well that literally no one knows anythings wrong and keeping it that way because if anyone knows something Is its going to worry them and that would be bad’

Raph: I want to worry about him, though!

Othello Von Ryan: THATS WHAT IM SAIGYIN

Othello Von Ryan: but hes literally been doing it since before i can remember so hahdhadhdah!!!!! ! ! i just have to work around it and pray to the gods taht something goesright !!

neon-leon: …ive been worrying you?

Othello Von Ryan: OH GOD LEO . PLEASE DONT KILL ME OR RUN AWAY OR . UM. oh myg do dont do anything drastic WHEREA REYOU AND WILL YOU RUN AWAY IF I COME TO YOU

neon-leon: no, no calm down

neon-leon: i. give me a minute ok

Othello Von Ryan: promise

neon-leon: promise. id pinky swear, if i could.

Othello Von Ryan: your record is three it better not become four

neon-leon: you know i dont break promises on purpose, tello

Othello Von Ryan: stay safe or im going to kill you myself

neon-leon: empty threat

Othello Von Ryan: im aware but you still say it to me

neon-leon: hah! true. ill be back ok

Othello Von Ryan: you fucking better be you idiot

Raph: …Donnie.

Othello Von Ryan: um . so i might own some green concealer,

CJ: ohhhh. Oh. oh no. thats why sensei said that when i asked about his

Othello Von Ryan: HAHA .

Splinter: Purple.

Othello Von Ryan: AH .

Othello Von Ryan: Um .

AO: Don’t fuck this up, Splints.

Splinter: I will ask one thing, and one thing only: were the two of you ever in serious danger?

Othello Von Ryan: um. No. leo knows where to cut better than anyone else you know that

Splinter: Good. I cannot rest easy, of course, but that is better than nothing.

Othello Von Ryan: yeah im just kind of cukgign scared leos going to uhhHHH! !!!! use that knowledge for ! bad things !

Othello Von Ryan: he knows exactly what can kill speciically us i dont LIKE TI

AO: Donnie, honey. Breathe.

Othello Von Ryan: h . working on it

Splinter: I…will stay clear of this until it is safe for me to speak to all of you about it. And yes, all of you; I am not taking any chances after this. I have had my suspicions, but I knew full well Blue would not let me near it. Purple, however…I, quite simply, did not know.

Othello Von Ryan: I’m uh. Not good at keeping secrets. Leo always is, though.

Othello Von Ryan: And we kind of said we would cover for each other.

Othello Von Ryan: Not a pinky swear though, so. Liable for breaking if deemed necessary. And I, uh. Deemed it necessary.

Splinter: Of course. You’ve done what you needed to, to keep him safe. Would you be willing to come talk to me about this when you are ready, Purple?

Othello Von Ryan: I…think so? Give me time. Give us time.

Splinter: Heavens knows Blue will need it.

Othello Von Ryan: Hah! Hah. yeah he will

Splinter: Good. I will keep my nose out of this for now then. Please, be safe.

Othello Von Ryan: thats the plan

CJ: I swear, we’ll make sure of it.

Raph: Swear to god I'll make them sleep in the living room for the next month if i have to

Othello Von Ryan: ooo thats a good idea Leo's been having nightmares

magic-mike: puts my head in my hands

Othello Von Ryan: haha yeah Leo will do that to you

Chapter Text

CJ: It's been a while, do you think he's alright?

Othello Von Ryan: Oh, absolutely, he's left me on read for far longer in the past. Just give him time, he's probably processing.

neon-leon: point bajillion to dee. you really know me too well

Othello Von Ryan: im not going to send exclamation marks in fear of scarng you off but H !

neon-leon: pfft

neon-leon: dees right though

neon-leon: it doesnt. make sense to me

Raph: What doesn't, Lee?

neon-leon: that youd be worried? i guess? it isnt right either i didnt want any of you to know. ever. i didnt want donnie to know either but he Knows so there wasnt anything i could do

neon-leon: he gets it too well i couldnt have hid from him for long

neon-leon: it doesnt make sense. i mean, it does. of course youd be worried. but it doesnt at the same time and i dont get it

neon-leon: and im used to not getting things because im stupid but i usually know things like this, i know you guys, i know people

neon-leon: i should know why you guys are upset. why you want to be worried. but it doesnt make any sense to me

Othello Von Ryan: Lee, that’s because you’re not used to accepting people care about you, which I don’t know why you’re not used to, but you aren’t. For some reason.

neon-leon: you know i was going to try to say i dont do that but i couldnt think of any way to back it lmao

Othello Von Ryan: Also I'm hitting you when you feel better. For the stupid line.

neon-leon: >:(

magic-mike: what matters is that we do care though, Leo. You don't have to understand it; we just want you to accept it.

neon-leon: …yeah. i could maybe do that

magic-mike: …there is one thing I want to ask though, Leo. Just one! That’s all, I swear.

neon-leon: squints. idk i doubt that but shoot what is it

magic-mike: ...you said you were scared you wouldn't be here for you and Dee's 16th, but there's...this.

magic-mike: i just. Don't understand.

neon-leon: what? i thought it was obvious

neon-leon: i dont want to die i want to stop being a problem

Othello Von Ryan: Sighs tiredly. Indeed. I haven't been able to convince him he isn't one, but then again, he hasn't been able to stop my brain from being mutinous and evil even beyond my own evil scientist ways, so we both agreed to just give up at some point.

Raph: I. Leo what do you mean.

neon-leon: obviously i dont wanna die thats scary and terrifying and i would freak you guys out and if nothing else id like, do it covertly at least lmao

magic-mike: this is really not an lmao scenario Leo .

neon-leon: it is when you use humor to lighten the problem lmao

neon-leon: but yeah i dont wanna die i dont wanna leave you guys I'm terrified of course I am. but. i dont know how else to make things easier. So.

magic-mike: so. You want to stay but you think itd be better if you left?

neon-leon: yeah you kind of just. Gestures around. Thats how it feels

magic-mike: ok. Ok. i can work with that

neon-leon: ?

magic-mike: so obviously i cant convince you that we want you to stay, and that wed be devastated if something happened to you.

neon-leon: yeah it was really confusing when everyone freaked out after Everything earlier this year

magic-mike: . i am putting a pin in that

neon-leon: k just being honest while im like. Here. or whatever

magic-mike: and i cant convince you that your brain is being stupid nad incredibly mean and it needs to be nicer to my brother or im going to explode .

neon-leon: ok that you could swing

magic-mike: So instead im just going to prove to you that you’re appreciated, and i like having you around, and you are not a problem, every chance i get.

neon-leon: …mikey.

Othello Von Ryan: Leo…this could work.

neon-leon: youve tried

Othello Von Ryan: I’m not Angelo. He has a much better grasp on this kind of thing, Nardo.

neon-leon: mikey. youre just going to get upset when it doesnt work ive plotted this out before

magic-mike: I’m not going to get upset if it doesn’t work because I’m going to try something else. And keep trying until I find something that does. Because I love you, and I’d do anything to make it easier for you to stay.

neon-leon: its not going to work and youre just going to hurt yourself more than me telling you already has ive already done enough

magic-mike: You haven’t done anything except hurt, Leo. Even if this doesn’t work, and I get hurt, and even if I get frustrated and given up, none of that will be your fault. Because it’s my decision to try, and it’s my decision to keep trying. You’re not responsible for how you feel makes us feel, you never should be.

neon-leon: god. fine. If you want to build something thats going to crash and burn be my guest

Othello Von Ryan: Hmmmm.

Othello Von Ryan: Hugs administered at…no, I have no idea how that dosage would work.

neon-leon: you suck at this. 10 mg is standard for starter ssris

neon-leon: hate to say that hugs did actually help though. this is like when someone tells you to take tylenol and it works

Raph: So…you feel better?

neon-leon: yeah. better enough :)

magic-mike: Sounds like progress to me!!

neon-leon: yeah it kind of is. sorry for. gestures. Today

Othello Von Ryan: Up-bup-up. You've got nothing to apologize for; I'm the one who brought it to light. To help you, yes, but as Micheal has already said, that was my decision.

neon-leon: yeah but i reacted kind of. blegh.

AO: Because someone confronted an issue…? Yeah, people tend to react badly when something like that is brought up, Lee.

neon-leon: i acted like a jerk about it tho

magic-mike: No, you acted like someone who was freaked out at a secret being revealed.

neon-leon: hmmm. agree to not agree

magic-mike: squints. For Now

Othello Von Ryan: *Disagree. For the record.

Raph: Well, agreeing or not, Raph wasn’t joking about making you two sleep in the living room!!

Othello Von Ryan: Raises an eyebrow. You…very much seemed like you were joking.

Raph: I was! And then I decided that I wasn’t, because you two aren’t leaving my sight for more than three hours for the next week .

neon-leon: booooo lame

neon-leon: id like to bargain for five after The Incident

Othello Von Ryan: And you know he’ll make five. Personally, a cuddle pile sounds delightful, though. As long as you let me do work in the living room.

Raph: Course! I’m not gonna make you stop working, I would just. Like to keep a close eye.

neon-leon: snrk

Raph: Pft. Ok that wasn’t on purpose, but you’re not wrong. And I know Dee’s right, you’ll just portal your way out of there anyways, but just. Six hours? Max?

neon-leon: cant take my portals away when i can make anything a sword babey

magic-mike: . leo

neon-leon: ok that . that one was on accident. ftr. look ummm. no swords just uhhh. erm. no i kind of need those. for training. Hm

neon-leon: six hours i can do though im just. Hm. well now im realizing how much time i spend around sharp things

Othello Von Ryan: Evil, isn’t it? That blowtorch! Right there!!

neon-leon: kind of it more just Hits Me but thats what teeth are for

magic-mike: hrgk .

Raph: lee .

neon-leon: listen appreciate the candidness while youve got it im tired my filter is busted and im going to be cursing myself tomorrow morning but for now ! id like to be honest

Othello Von Ryan: And you’re doing a great job, it’s just that both of us are a little…

neon-leon: hmmmm. insnae in the membrane maybe

Othello Von Ryan: Sure. Insane in the membrane. You’re getting tired, aren’t you.

neon-leon: ……….noooooo. definitely not

Othello Von Ryan: First of all, emotional conversations always make both of us tired. I am also exhausted. And you’re doing a phenomenal job hiding it, but I can still see how you’re slumping over.

neon-leon: augh. Your observational skills thwart me again

magic-mike: …why do you get more wordy when you’re tired?

Othello Von Ryan: Usually he’s trying to sound stupider than he is.

neon-leon: true but if you unveil anymore of my secrets tonight im going to wack the shit out of you

Othello Von Ryan: Hmmm. Fair. Training tomorrow?

neon-leon: bet. i will use my swords for training things only prommy

AO: Squints.

neon-leon: genuinely seriously with my whole heart. I wouldnt do that to them

CJ: Yeah, I was wondering about that. Sensei always respected his katana a lot, even when he only had one left.

neon-leon: ??!! HE LOST ONE??

CJ: Yeah, before I was born I think?

neon-leon: ouhhhh that hurts the soul in ways indescribale

Raph: Ok that’s enough pillow piles ready GET IN .

neon-leon: zzzzzz

Raph: lee i am going to . GAH

neon-leon: haha cant kill me if i want it

Othello Von Ryan: Hate to say that that made me laugh.

Raph: PILLOW FORT. NOW .

neon-leon: ok in retrospect that was mean ill make up for it when im not evil

Othello Von Ryan: You’re not evil, just tired, emotional, and incapable of being dishonest. Which is mean to you, I guess. He was having trouble with his knee, we’re on our way.

neon-leon: blows a raspberry at you

CJ: Hmmm. I think this calls for blueberry tea

neon-leon: ?! omg for real. why but also omg yay

CJ: Because you’re sad and tired? And because blueberry tea always made my sensei feel better when he felt bad! Even in that kind of way.

neon-leon: true that does. Always . oh no im out of the wallowing phase now i did that to you twice? What, no, like-four times?

CJ: Ah . Mikey take over the tea for me

magic-mike: On it!

neon-leon: no but he. Fuck that guy but only because he was me. Fuck me too for scaring you like that. Thats stupid this is stupid

Othello Von Ryan: Ah . I was waiting for this.

AO: Waiting for…?

Othello Von Ryan: The classic post oblivion adoring phase where Leo remembers that we all love him a lot, though usually he takes it more as a ‘I can’t believe I made you scared like that’ way. It’s part of why he lost it so hard after the inciting mentioned incident for this whole conversation; he felt bad for scaring me, even if he was Tired, too. I…almost understand it. I feel bad for scaring Leo that way, too. It’s why we kept it so closely knit, but…I hoped scaring you guys a little was worth it to keep this from hurtling off a…quite literal cliff edge. Awful joke, but it’s the best description I have for it at the moment.

neon-leon: tired twins ftw

CJ: Good news, Leo is feeling better! Bad news, I’m trapped.

neon-leon: you are not going anywhere and i am going to sing you lullabies and braid your hair in the morning because if you arent aware im still here for you im going to throw a fucking fit

CJ: Hmm. Yeah, I can vibe with that :)

neon-leon: wipes away a proud tear. finally learning the language

Raph: Snrk.

neon-leon: god. yeah i do actually kind of get it now raph im not joking

Raph: Oh??

neon-leon: i didnt mean to scare you either its just. hard. And now my head hurts

AO: Crying’ll do that, yeah!

magic-mike: Today has been a lot already Lee, and theres always gonna be time to apologize tomorrow. Maybe for now we can just watch some ghibli movies and rest?

neon-leon: squints. youre right and i hate it.

neon-leon: …can we watch ponyo? i like that one. and casey hasnt seen it yet

magic-mike: ?!?! wiat really?! of course we can then!!

Othello Von Ryan: GASP. I had no idea! Heinous!! I’ll get the disk!

Raph: Hmmm. Raph’ll get more pillows for Leo.

neon-leon: man i suck at hidiing pain when im eepy

CJ: All the better for us to help you sleep :]

neon-leon: augh . i hate it when youre right

Chapter Text

neon-leon: update: i did indeed fucking regret it augh . ack

neon-leon: ugggghhhghgh now people Know. i hate it here

magic-mike: yeah, it kind of sucks, but!! Now we know so we can keep an eye on it!

Raph: Yeah! And it's a big relief to be able to do that.

neon-leon: but you were never supposed to have to keep an eye on it

neon-leon: smth smth keep all my emotions right here until i die. yknow

Othello Von Ryan: Relatable, but even I'm aware that's not a good idea.

CJ: Also, me and Dee already knew some stuff. We probably would've said something eventually

neon-leon: ugh. probably

neon-leon: just. idk. makes me feel a little sick to know you guysve got that in your heads now

neon-leon: that this isnt something that i can just. throw in a cage until it bites back at me

magic-mike: That's a good thing, though! This isnt something you should keep in a cage. Like how if you don't treat a wound, it gets infected.

neon-leon: i really do not think thats the same thing mikey lmao

Raph: Nah he's right!! If you let that kinda thing hide in a corner, it's going to rot away and get worse.

Othello Von Ryan: Yes, fester and bubble and mold. Sometimes facing things head on is better.

AO: Exactly! Gotta kick its ass before it kicks yours!

neon-leon: pffft. ok ok true youve got a point

AO: Another point to the scoreboard!!

CJ: What scoreboard?

AO: The ‘make my family laugh’ one that lives in my brain, duh

CJ: ohhhh, one of those! Haha yeah I don't actually keep track but i do in spirit

neon-leon: i keep track week by week. dramatically flips my mask tails my high score is 165

Othello Von Ryan: For all of us?

neon-leon: for mikey my everyone high score issss. im bad at math. 400?

Othello Von Ryan: You're not bad at math, you're bad at mental math, Leo.

Othello Von Ryan: Also I am genuinely stunned. That's…incredibly impressive.

neon-leon: you guys arent hard to humor and thats one of my favorite things about all of you <3

magic-mike: awwww me too!! It's nice when I can get everyone to laugh even when things arent perfect :]

Othello Von Ryan: /gen? (/joking.)

neon-leon: lmao yes /gen

neon-leon: ugh . now that ive thought abt it though my brain wont shut up. its still pissy I said anything

magic-mike: :(

neon-leon: and like. AUGH how do i explain this . i still cant fathom why its a good thing you guys know. or why the thought is bad in the first place

Othello Von Ryan: Because you can't fathom having any worth?

neon-leon: ugh, bingo, its that one

Raph: :(

magic-mike: hmmmmmm

CJ: Oh? You got an idea, mikey?

magic-mike: yeah!!

magic-mike: what if we told you why we think you matter?

magic-mike: not in like the sense that we don't think you matter obviously!! But telling you what you do for us that makes us happy or why you're important, so you have something to fight off your brain with?

Othello Von Ryan: Hmmm, you make an excellent point, Micheal! Leo has actually done that exactly for me in the past, and it was a great help.

neon-leon: oh yeahhh. im gonna be honest i forgot abt that convo. huh

neon-leon: yeah ok. im down!! just. dont be mad if it doesnt work?

magic-mike: cross my heart!!

Raph: Why would we be?

CJ: Yeah, there's no reason to be mad. Were just trying to see what works.

AO: And if this doesn't, we'll just try again!!

neon-leon: pfft ok ok

magic-mike: ok, everyone get typing in three…two…one!!!

Othello Von Ryan: I am going to first make a list of emotional reasons and then a list of more “utilitarian” reasons. Sometimes having a more logical view of how you contribute can help, as I've found from Leo himself providing a second list. Everyone else is welcome to provide reasons of this kind, as well, I just predict I'll have the best read on them.

neon-leon: and IM. going to put my phone down so i dont have to watch you guys type for forever aoenrotb

Othello Von Ryan: Hah! Very fair.

magic-mike: you always always ALWAYS make me laugh!! And you're so good at reading stories, and your portals help a lot in battle to get from place to place and in not-battle so we dont have to walk as much and you always know when somethings wrong with one of us and your singing is always so nice when you do it and youre always willing to play games with me when i ask and you never snap at us when youre mad if you can avoid it!! You always have a silver lining and a way to make a situation seem a little better if i cant, and even when I can, you make it so much easier to be bright because you laugh along with me and pick up any slack!!

Othello Von Ryan: To be frank, Leo, you understand me like no one else does. Any time I simply can not explain myself to one of our brothers, I can be sure you'll know what I mean. You're always trying so hard to make us laugh, and often succeeding. You're weirdly good at chess, and I love the challenge you pose, especially in games I'm worse at than you. It's always a joy to sing musicals with you, and any time I'm worried about my shell being a little dirty, or paranoid about my health, I know I can just take a bath with you or ask you what you think, and you'll always have a plan for the latter. Your eye is undeniably keen, as well; you're always noticing things none of us do, and always letting us know when you see something we need to know about. I have more to say, but I'll hold them in reserve in case you need to hear something like this again, and because I have other, more fighting-oriented things to bring up.

AO: You’re so big and bright and cool Lee!! Always pickin’ up my jokes and making good new ones and keepin’ an eye on my silly little brothers, even if you’re not super good at keepin’ an eye on yourself; that’s what we’re for, after all! I can always rely on you to understand, ‘n keep an eye out, ‘n make sure everythin’s workin’ the way it should, y’know? But most importantly, you’re my little brother! And that means you’ll always matter to me!

Raph: You're always really silly and bright :] always know how to make any of us laugh, even when things aren't going well. There are some things I just can't see that you point out so I don't miss them, and you always fix the little things I can't see. You're like my second in command worrier!! But you’re really good at keeping me from freaking out about things, too, cause you know what I really need to be worried about. Raph’s not very good at voicing this kinda thing, now that I’m looking for things to say, but you’re my little brother, Leo, and I’ll love you til the end of the time, no matter what happens, no matter what you do, no matter how dumb you are.

CJ: Honestly, if i tried to type out every reason you matter to me, I’d never stop typing, Leo. Not everyone sees a kid lost and just…takes them under the wing the way you did, you know? You’re careful with me when I need it, and you’re just as willing to roughhouse and joke and make me feel normal. To make me laugh and to just…stay with me. You made a foreign world feel like home, and that’s insane. Sometimes I wonder how you do it, and sometimes you sing songs I’ve been hearing all my life, and I decide the answer is really simple: you’ve always just held enough love in your heart for all of us, me included, no matter how I managed to stumble my way into this family. You mean a lot to me, Sensei <3 couldn’t have settled into all this the way I did without you.

Splinter: Oh, I see we are talking about my excellent son, Blue! The same one who always ensured his brothers made good decisions when I could not, yes? The same child who checked in on me, as well? Yes, he is quite good at brightening a room, and equally as excellent at keeping a close eye on his brothers! Red may be very good at wrangling my sons, but Blue has always done an excellent job of doing what Red could not; being the common sense! Oh how I love my sons, my foolish sons with no common sense. I still recall when you boys tried to go after a spine breaking bandit on your first mission! I did not even need to step in, though, no; Blue handled it before I even got a chance.

neon-leon: checked in at a good time but i am not scrolling up lmao. amywyas so fucking true i didnt want to say it to their faces but there is a reason i told them to go after the paper thieves instead lmao

magic-mike: ………ok so maybe we arent the smartest-

neon-leon: no you are not <3 but thats what im here for

Othello Von Ryan: As for how you contribute to the team, Leo…I’m going to have to narrow this list down. That is /gen, I made a list and now I’m staring at it and it has twenty items and I’m going to have to pare them down. Give me a minute.

Othello Von Ryan: Well, there’s your astronomical amounts of medical knowledge, not to mention all the work you’ve put into understanding our specific biology, which is essential when one of us gets injured, in the field of not. Not to mention how well you handle said injuries, or how readily you share your own universal donor blood when it’s necessary. In and out of battle, your portals and teleporting are incredibly vital, whether someone’s injured, we just need to get somewhere quickly, or we just simply don’t want to walk that far. Especially when your knee wouldn’t appreciate it. They allow for a degree of maneuverability and a speed we simply would not be able to accomplish on our own, and you enhance your own already blinding speed with them excellently. You often resemble a gnat, and you know how to take advantage of your enemy’s annoyance, too, as I’m sure we’ve all often found in training. It would be one thing if you simply could somehow summon portals or bend space time (which I am still reeling over, my goodness.) but you also know how to utilize them to their full potential. Your plans are always inscrutable and beautifully crafted. Often you tell me to go somewhere on the field and I have zero clue as to what you’re planning, and then five minutes later, something happens and I don’t realize how you made it work until we get back to the Lair an hour afterwards. There’s this confidence in our abilities that I almost envy, too, this solidity to your gaze sometimes. Sometimes I worry that Raph or Mikey won’t be able to do something you say they can, and you just smile and tell me to watch. And I do, and you’re always right.

Othello Von Ryan: Raph…was our leader. And he still is, in some ways, and he was and is a good leader. He’s an excellent eldest brother. But Leo, the way you lead is…it reminds me of how you play chess. I look at the board and I make one move at a time, and when you beat the game you tell me you knew you’d win ten moves before. You see the board and the battlefield in ways I can’t fathom, your brain is ten steps ahead of mine, and I used to be annoyed by it. When I was younger, and used to always being the smartest. Then you had to ask me how to change the settings on your phone, and I began to understand that we’re simply smart in different ways. Now it just fills me with awe every time you execute a plan I couldn’t have even dreamed of.

AO: Haha, leave it to Dee to really ramble!

Raph: And to point out stuff I couldn’t have!! Dee’s right, Leo’s ability to plan is just crazy, but I never could’ve really explained it. And glad to know I’m still doing a good job picking up the slack!

magic-mike: yeah!! Leo’s really impressive in battle, but the only way I can really explain it is that he feels kinda like an all seeing eye

Othello Von Ryan: Hmmm, no, that’s an apt description. Pretty much what I said but summarized, after all.

neon-leon: …….ok ive stopped getting notifications give me a min

CJ: Whistling loudly while Leo takes a half hour to process this

Raph: PFFT

neon-leon: HEYYY I SAW THAT. be nice 2 me

CJ: But I already was, now it’s time to be silly :]

magic-mike: you really can take your time lee!! But yeah i do see you taking a while to process haha

neon-leon: sticks my tongue out in your general direction

neon-leon: . WAILS

Othello Von Ryan: Ah, you caught up?

neon-leon: NO I JUST FINISHED YOU AND MIKEYS??? WHATS THE REST LIKE WH

Othello Von Ryan: Ahhh. Good luck.

neon-leon: THANKS??!?! I GUESS???

neon-leon: CASEEYYYYY . YOU MEAN A LOT TO ME TOOO

neon-leon: of course i was gonna try to help you get used to things i couldnt just leave you hanging

neon-leon: ……….Huh. yeah the second list actually helped a lot too

neon-leon: not much i can do to argue against literal facts. plus i know they arent influenced at all cause donnies the one who pointed them out. Huh.

Othello Von Ryan: See? I told you it helped.

Othello Von Ryan: And I knew you meant it when you told me the ways I contribute to the team because you wouldn’t point out things I could refute, back then. That they were all full truths I could rely on. …admittedly, I still quote you back to myself on occasion when I need the help.

neon-leon: awww thats great to hear dee!! that was the point after all, i wanted you to know exactly what you did to help the team. and now ive got that to lean on, too. ty tello <3

Othello Von Ryan: <3 Ofc.

neon-leon: shivers. period after the ofc is cursed but ill let it slide this time

magic-mike: sooooo…you feelin’ better, leo?

neon-leon: yeah <3 yeah, i really am. sorry again for being so. gestures again

magic-mike: up-bup-bup, no apologizing for feeling feelings!! We helped you because we wanted you to feel better, not so youd stop acting a certain way.

neon-leon: your ability to read people is a little disturbing ngl

Raph: So is yours, honestly.

neon-leon: shivers. is this how you guys feel when i figure out whats wrong before you say it based on how youre acting? i get the slight terror on your guys faces now jeez

Othello Von Ryan: And again, another point for your qualities. You’re the only person I know who can deduce what’s going on with only how someone’s acting as evidence.

neon-leon: well yeah you guys are obvious lmao

neon-leon: id say more but then you guysll start subconsciously stop doing it and then ill have to figure out what the new behavior is i learned that the hard way when i told donnie he rubs his knuckles when hes nervous when we were 6

Othello Von Ryan: I was foiled by that one so many times.

neon-leon: yeah until i told you about it and you stopped. blows a raspberry at you. Annoying

neon-leon: ok for real though i . need a nap after all that ALKSJFKL it meant a lot, really. and i took five hundred thousand screenshots and im going to treasure them forever. but now my head hurts and i need to lay down lmao

Othello Von Ryan: Eugh. Crying headache?

neon-leon: a lil ill be fine though, promise

magic-mike: And if you promise, you mean it!

neon-leon: nods sagely exactly. now gn wake me up for lunch please lmao

Raph: Sleep well <3

AO: We’ll talk to you again when you’re done with your ‘too many emotions’ nap, Donnie-style!

Othello Von Ryan: Too many emotions naps are necessary, thank you very much.

CJ: Oh yeah for sure. Still kind of funny that you and Leo always just pass out after crying though.

magic-mike: i think its a good thing! Means they can recover.

Othello Von Ryan: Indeed! You understand me, Micheal.

CJ: Ehhh, petitioning for it to still be funny

AO: Seconded!!

Raph: Thirded!

magic-mike: ehhh ok yeah it is kind of funny lmao

Othello Von Ryan: Scoffs loudly! Well, I never!

AO: LMAO

AO: AUGH . its spreading

Othello Von Ryan: Another lost to the lmao plague…what a shame.

Chapter Text

magic-mike: it has been Decided by Majority Vote: monthly uno is happening Tonight instead of next week!

neon-leon: ?! YO REALLY

Raph: Really!

Othello Von Ryan: Indeed! It was agreed upon that we needed some…levity. After the past couple days.

AO: Eugh. Good point.

neon-leon: not entirely wrong lmao

magic-mike: and uno is always fun!!

Raph: Monthly uno is tonight. Right now is lunch.

magic-mike: OH YEAH TRUE leo. Leo guess what i made

neon-leon: squints. i dont really have a number one lunch mike

magic-mike: nonono not for lunch. for dessert! actually donnie made the strawberry cake, i just decorated it :]

Othello Von Ryan: And no it is not a box mix, thank you very much.

neon-leon: ???!!!?!?!!!????

neon-leon: OUGHHG???

Othello Von Ryan: Your requested dopamine, at your service? To take the place of…wherever your dopamine went.

neon-leon: id tell you if i knew lmao

magic-mike: substitute dopamine is good too, though!

neon-leon: it absolutely is omg. strawberry cake……..

neon-leon: cant WAIT to absolutely stomp you guys at uno tonight too laughs evilly

Othello Von Ryan: Hey, that's my shtick! And you can't win every time, Uno is still a game of luck.

neon-leon: …actually now that i think about it, why did you guys pick uno? you guys used to complain about how good i was at it. that was like, a whole joke, before i stopped inviting myself to play uno

magic-mike: …you purposefully stopped asking to play Uno?? :’((

Raph: Yeah, what?! You love Uno!

neon-leon: well yeah but i didnt like winning every time or. um.

Othello Von Ryan: Ahhh, I smell honesty. Take your time.

neon-leon: well i. kind of felt bad when you guys would all groan every time i won

magic-mike: !!!!! :’((((

AO: Awww, Lee, we never meant it.

neon-leon: yeah i know but i was kind of worried you. did. and i just wasnt seeing it

neon-leon: and i really do feel bad every time i forget to say uno i just forget to talk when im that In It

Othello Von Ryan: Which is why I started pointing it out for you.

neon-leon: yeah!! it made it a lot easier i didnt have to focus on making sure i said it when i had one card left

neon-leon: but i still feel bad for getting so focused i forget

magic-mike: Sooo…you’re saying you feel bad for having fun playing a game?

Othello Von Ryan: Indeed. You always say you love honing in on games like that when we're done playing; it's not your fault your version of “fun” is focusing so hard you forget to speak. My version of “fun” is working on code for three hours, after all.

magic-mike: And my version of fun is shouting out uno really loudly! It's ok that you forget sometimes, Leo, it's just a card game!! It's supposed to be fun!

Raph: Yeah, and we aren't really mad whenever you win. It's kind of impressive!!

AO: We groan ‘cause you won again and we wanna see if we can beat you, not ‘cause we hate that we lost!

neon-leon: pfft. ok ok you guys have a point

neon-leon: that still doesnt. why did you guys pick uno then? i dont always win but im good at it. maybe too good at it.

CJ: That was a majority vote too, actually!

Raph: Yeah! Mikey brought it up.

magic-mike: ah, cats outta the bag! ^^’ yeah, we wanted to cheer you up after…Everything. and we thought it was only fair to play a game you liked a lot but that we had a chance at, and then we decided to do it again the month after that, and then it just turned into a Thing we started doing!

Othello Von Ryan: And when April brought up that Leo does win at Uno a lot, we all declined to stop playing it regardless.

Raph: Yeah! It's kind of only fair.

neon-leon: hmmmm. disagreed ftr

AO: Shhhh we don't care

magic-mike: Yeah!! We're gonna be nice to you about it whether you like it or not!

neon-leon: pffft. fine, whatever. ill leave it For Now

neon-leon: i still feel kind of bad knowing our monthly gameTM is one i win at so often though. just feels…cheap isnt the word. mean?

Othello Von Ryan: Unfair?

neon-leon: yeah that might be it

CJ: Hmmm…we could alternate?

magic-mike: ooo, yeah!! like, umm…uno every other month and then something like Mario kart every other month?

Othello Von Ryan: That would solve the problem and add variety…I’ll put a reminder on my calendar. We can get together and discuss it more thoroughly this weekend, before weekly game night.

magic-mike: sounds good to me!!

Raph: Yeah!

neon-leon: sounds like a plan <3 thanks dee. you too mikey. i mean it when i say that helps a lot

magic-mike: ofc <3

Othello Von Ryan: Eugh. Appreciation.

neon-leon: . WHAT DK YOH MEAN THERE ARE STRAWBERRIES IN THIS CAKE

Othello Von Ryan: Oh, I was waiting for that. Love you, Nardo.

neon-leon: I LOVE YOU TOO . THIS ICING IS FUCKING STRAWBERRY FLAVORED. WHAT THE FUCK

magic-mike: <33333

neon-leon: <3333 TO YOU TOO. AUFH

Chapter Text

Othello Von Ryan: Sighs dramatically. Everyone clap for Leo, who won the last game of Uno and therefore gets to change our usernames. Again.

neon-leon: heyyyy dont worry abt it too much youll be able to change them back soon

magic-mike: I still spent a week being called orange peel last time though >:[

neon-leon: its because you add zest to everything you do!!

magic-mike: …wait is that /gen?

neon-leon: yeah!!

neon-leon: …d. did you guys not. know i do sappy names for uno names because i like seeing them was that not obvious

Raph: ………………….oh.

CJ: ?!?!?!?? I thought the rest of you knew?!

AO: Same! He called me Apple last time, he only does that when he's happy!

Othello Von Ryan: oh .

Othello Von Ryan: Even I got played by Leo's accidental propensity to seem like a jerk when he's being genuine. Oh no .

magic-mike: and both of were mean about it ;o(

neon-leon: NONONOKOKOKO ITS FINE I SEEAR

Othello Von Ryan: IT'S NOT THOUGH??

neon-leon: I MEAN LIKE . IT HURT A LITTLE BUT THINGS HAVE HURT MORE

magic-mike: THAT DOESNT MATTER???!?!??

neon-leon: NOTHING IS AS BAD AS WHEN DAD CALLED ME ‘SLOW-LEARNING’ OK YOU GUYS CAN RELAX

Othello Von Ryan: he said what.

Othello Von Ryan: and you didn't fucking tell me.

neon-leon: oh god I shouldn't have said that oH NO

neon-leon: SOMEONE WARN DAD

magic-mike: he called you . When

neon-leon: oh geez. Um, I don't remember? I just know hurt a lot and when it happened. I think he meant to say it to soften a blow, but. Um.

Raph: Splinter is who he is sometimes, yeah, but sometimes we’ve gotta wring him out a little, Lee. Keeps him on his toes.

Othello Von Ryan: Sometimes your dad is the best mutant rat around and sometimes you have to knock some sense into him like when he calls your twin brother slow

neon-leon: haha yeah you did catch that one

Raph: WHEN ????

neon-leon: ohhh we were like…4 it meant nothing

neon-leon: you know how i am! i was just taking forever to learn how to read!

Othello Von Ryan: Leo. It took you an extra two years to learn how to read because you are nearsighted as hell. And dyslexic. And you still read medical books at 10.

neon-leon: exactly! it wasnt an intentional insult at all, even if it hurt

neon-leon: doesnt mean i dont kinda hold onto it but doesnt mean we gotta go after him for it a decade later right?

magic-mike: Dr Feelings is in the house.

neon-leon: ???!!?!?! WHAT WHAt DID I DO

magic-mike: Regardless of the intention, it still hurt. Regardless of what Splinter meant, or what we meant, what we have meant in the past, it still affected you. And that matters, Leo. It matters so much more than the reason why it happened, or even if you feel like it was “deserved” or “understandable”.

Othello Von Ryan: Also your karmic system is HEAVILY damaged, sometimes you tell me you feel like you need to do something to make up for something else and it is virtually equivalent to someone saying they should move a boulder because they stepped on a worm.

neon-leon: ok but i did make mikey sad. ftr.

Othello Von Ryan: Which you do not need to not eat snacks and train more over.

magic-mike: WHAT .

neon-leon: laughs nervously. uhhh. how did we get here comedy liveshow world tour

CJ: Great same diet coke taste with added vanilla…Sensei used to say that all the time. Where is it from anyways?

neon-leon: ohoho. were watching some jacksepticeye later you and me

AO: You're deflecting, Lee.

neon-leon: uhhhh yeah ofc i am thats my whole gig

magic-mike: ohhhh we're talking about that karmic system later mister

neon-leon: h .

neon-leon: Mark my grave rn I'm not makin it out of this one

Othello Von Ryan: LEO .

AO: LEO

CJ: DUDE.

Raph: MAKE LITREALKY ANY OTHER JOKE . PLEASE

neon-leon: I KNOW IM SORRY I IMMEDIATELY REGRETTED UT

neon-leon: LISTEN IM FUCKGIGN STUPID WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO PEEL BACK MY LAYERS OK

Othello Von Ryan: Still smacking you for that one later!

neon-leon: aw shit

Othello Von Ryan: One of these days, I'm going to reverse-pavlov you out of it, I stg.

neon-leon: god. the period after stg does Not look right you suck at slang

Othello Von Ryan: Ik.

neon-leon: EVIL.

magic-mike: Leo. This is important.

neon-leon: Laughs nervously . Uhhhhhh yeah,m ?

magic-mike: Do you or do you not understand that regardless of the intention, if someone hurts you, it still matters? That they still hurt you?

neon-leon: um.

neon-leon: …30%?

magic-mike: Which means…?

neon-leon: uh . um. itmeanz I don't want to think about it that hard because then I have to acknowledge I wasn't being weak abt it

magic-mike: puts my head in my hands

Othello Van Ryan: kind of hate that I expected that

Raph: Lee, you were never weak for being hurt.

neon-leon: you guys werent

Othello Von Ryan: Because we aren't you.

Othello Von Ryan: Nardo, there are a lot of things you hide on instinct. Which means there are lots of internal parts to how you work that people can't see. Parts they're liable to harm when attempting to interact with your interface. That doesn't mean that you're at fault. It doesn't exactly mean that they're at fault either. But you were still hurt, and that matters. It doesn't matter why or how.

magic-mike: DONT FORGET THE SHIT DAD SAID

Othello Von Ryan: Oh don't worry it's on the rap sheet. All of us will get our chance within the week, I can schedule it if you'd like.

magic-mike: Oooo scheduled anger!! Im totally down!

Raph: Yeah, Raph can work with that!

AO: i call a hit.

neon-leon: haha relatable ive got a rap sheet but its mental

neon-leon: i do also love some strategically placed anger haha

AO: Squints. Mental rap sheet?

neon-leon: oh yeah! anyone does something that i didnt like or that hurt, it goes on the mental rap sheet! but the proportionate distrust is like, tiered, depends on who you are. thats why i dont like draxum he has a lot of stuff on his rap sheet and nothing on his good rap sheets >:/ though i dont keep as good of track of those

Othello Von Ryan: Oooo, I nearly forgot about that. Do you still have a rough estimate of offenses?

neon-leon: about 1,340 total!

Othello Von Ryan: . leo why has that gone up like 500 since you last told me

neon-leon: laughs nervously . uhhhhhh. um. Haha

Raph: …how many are me?

neon-leon: Um. Haha um. Only. 300?

neon-leon: 200 OF.THEM ARE FROM THE LEADER DEBACLE THOUGH

neon-leon: dad has like 500 lmao

neon-leon: draxy has like ten but theyre all REALLY FUCKING BAD and he doesnt get the family discount of ‘get out of mad at you jail forever card’ soooo

magic-mike: puts my head in my hands

Othello Von Ryan: Raises an eyebrow. And how many, may I ask, are related to us making fun of nicknames you've given us affectionately, looping back to the start of this?

neon-leon: oh i dont really keep track of repeat offenses lmao

neon-leon: i just know youll do it so i brace for it. thats what the rap sheet is for! if I know youll hurt me it won't hurt as much. I think. maybe?

magic-mike: lays on the ground in a heap

neon-leon: what what did i say wrong

neon-leon: i was being honest for once!!

Othello Von Ryan: Sets a hand on your shoulder solemnly. Leo. Nardo. My beloved twin. I love you so fucking much. There is so much wrong with you.

neon-leon: lmao real

Raph: DONT JAUT SAY LMAO REAL????

neon-leon: WELL ITS TRUE

magic-mike: scheduling a DR Feelings and DR delicate touch appt rn .

neon-leon: laughs nervously . I'm in danger

magic-mike: now though.

magic-mike: how much do you get it now?

neon-leon: …70%, i think?

magic-mike: much better!!

CJ: read up, kind of unsurprised? You guys should probably let Leo change names though, it's been a while.

neon-leon: IH YEAH !!!!! I NEARLY FORGOT

Othello Von Ryan: Sighs fondly. Yeah, this explains why you were so excited to change names every time you won uno.

neon-leon: yeah I like fucking with you guys but I like nicknames more!!!

CJ: Oh it's like the sun

magic-mike: Sometimes i get how you guys talk about me when Leo gets excited ngl

Raph: Dont look directly at it! You'll be blinded!!

neon-leon: aw geez i kinda wanna go for my favs now that you guys know I MEAN IT mean it cause i say em sometimes but not much and they're my favs you guys should see them all the time!!!

neon-leon: HEY. . LEAVE ME AND MY LOVE LANGUAGES ALONE

Othello Von Ryan: YOU CONSIDER IT A LOVE LANGUAGE????

neon-leon: of course i do!! theyre what you guys are to me!

neon-leon: um . Who's knocking at my

neon-leon: WHY IS DONNIE HUGGING ME.

neon-leon: IM NOT OPPOSED IM JUST REALLY CONFUSED

neon-leon: maybe if i dont talk hell just stay there for a lil while and we can cuddle

neon-leon: . ok so apparently letting people make fun of a love language is like double bad. Laughs nervously woops

magic-mike: curls up on the floor and slams my fist against it repeatedly

Raph: slowly sinks down a wall and lays on the floor

CJ: Yeah :( yeah it kind of is, Leo.

AO: how many nicknames do you want i have . I have so many

neon-leon: !!!!!!!!!$!2(3(3(4202(303)3)4

neon-leon: YOU WANNA GIVE ME ONE????????#(#)23)

magic-mike: OF COURSE WE DO??????

Raph: YOU JUST DAID THEYRE A LOVE LANGUAGE OF COURSE?

Othello Von Ryan: ohhhh you always. You alwyas liked being called blueberry even when I was mocking you .

neon-leon: yeah that ones good haha

neon-leon: i should make that my name!!!!

neon-leon changed their name to blueberry

blueberry: blueberry :]

CJ: I really suck at nicknames but um. Does orchid mantis sound good?

blueberry: ?!!?!??#)#!#9;$_8&;wowbeoejejr OF COURSE IT DOES ??M?M?M

blueberry: THATS BEAUTIFUVL ??M

CJ: Its because they're mantises that pretend to be flowers! It's very you!

blueberry: IT ISSSSSS OH MY GOSH

blueberry: OO OK I should get onto everyone elses though omg omg omg

blueberry changed Raph’s name to Ruby

blueberry: oooo i cna !!!! I can explain!

blueberry: because you're rugged and red and you come from the earth kinda and its stone stuff? but youre not super tough but you can stand up to force n youre all red and shiny

Ruby: oh . oh I love it Leo th

blueberry: ………did. did you start crying mid message

Ruby: MAYBE

Ruby: I call hugs when Donnie’s done with him >:(

blueberry: good luck w that lmao he's clutched on tight

Ruby: Turtle pile then!!

blueberry: yeah sounds good to me!!

blueberry changed Othello Von Ryan’s name to Lavender

blueberry: i really like this one but its hard to explain hm >:[ its cause youre natural and some people don't like you but that's ok and its such a nice shade of purple and it's a lighter one like how you act all tough but its cause you're soft like me

blueberry: WHY IS HE CRYING .

Lavender: it was because that is some of the sweetest words I've ever heard and you haven't been this carefree and happy in fucking ages I'm going to explode

blueberry: someone called me !!!!! ORCHID..MANTIS!!! of course I'm excited don omg

blueberry: and my name is blueberry now! blueberry!!!!!! how could i not be happy!

blueberry: and you guys are liking the names and I can explain them and you get what i mean when i make them now and maybe I can say them out loud more often and then I can call people nicknames when I'm looking at them in the !!! donnie Donnie donuermdienin

blueberry: marshmallow!!! that was my other fav for you! cause youre soft and springy and sweet even through a lotta boiling!

Lavender: You…don't mean it about my shell?

blueberry: ? no? your shell is leathery, dee, get with the program, geez

blueberry: Mikey next !!!!! I love love love love love love this one!!!!

blueberry changed magic-mike’s name to merengue

blueberry: because youre soft and airy and sweet and moldable but you can get kinda solid at the top when your fiery spirit comes out! soft and sweet but never defenseless! And its just so PERFECT merengue! Merengue!!!!!!!!! Its so good!

merengue: WAISL . OUHHHH LEO I LOVE IT OH MY GOSH

blueberry: YEAHHHHH I KNEW YOU WOULD

blueberry: second pick was orange creamsicle but im going w one word nicknames this time! for the Theme babey

merengue: ouhhh orange creamsicle is also so nice ourgh . augh !!

blueberry: going to do dad next cause hes way too hard to think of nicknames for >:/

blueberry changed Splinter’s name to Cobblestone

blueberry: shrugs. i cant explain this one very well honestly? just…split apart but together, gray, comes apart kinda easy but stands strong when its gotta…its kind of an insult at the same time but all of mine for splinter are dual insults so?

Lavender: Shakes your hand.

blueberry: shakes your hand

blueberry: when the parent is your parent and you love them but you kind of trust them as far as. well in this case how far he can throw me i could throw dad pretty far

merengue: ?!

Lavender: Breathes in through my teeth. Euugghhh yeah that one might’ve been a bad idea Leo.

blueberry: …wait you guys. Dont .

Lavender: Well, I mean…I trust him to be there for some things and not for others.

Ruby: Hell always be there for us! Even if hes not perfect all the time.

merengue: Hes our dad! Of course i trust him!

blueberry: …huh.

blueberry: i dunno. i think the fact that hes our dad makes him less trustworthy

blueberry: i thought this was kind of. obvious? i love him, and i love draxum, but i dont trust them. because theyve proven they cant be too many times. they did bad things and they never…paid them back. you guys always pay back the bad things you do. april is always there when i need her. cj has a rap sheet of…what, 3? if i was going to pick anyone to keep me safe when i needed it, itd be him, or don.

Lavender: we need to get you off of your phone more often youre way too honest through a text medium

merengue: if you fucking dare take thsi from me im wringing your fuckigngn neck .

blueberry: WOAH HEY WOAH THERE .

Ruby: MIKEY

merengue: SORRY SORRY . SAID THAT ONE A LOT . BEFORE

blueberry: example: rap sheet plus one, minor offense, could happen again, jolt of panic wasnt fun :/

merengue: im sorry :( i shouldve thought it through first, lee.

blueberry: example: rap sheet minus one. minor offense made up for in full! could happen again. wouldnt be on purpose.

merengue: ………wh. Why is the ‘could happen again’ still there .

blueberry: the rap sheet is there in case it does! so i know what to do, how to play it off, and how to recover

Lavender: …Leo. Why are you shaking.

blueberry: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,olk sao maybe honesty is really really raelaly hard hahahahhahh sd. H .

Lavender: It’s nice being able to see more of your inner workings, Nardo, and I’d love to see more of it. I really would. You being open is…a miracle. Nearly an oddity, I wasn’t going to say a thing but I was a little worried you had been like, I don’t know, possessed by a ghost. But you don’t need to push yourself if you don’t feel like you’re ready to say something.

blueberry: ghosts beside the hamato clan dont exist we made a truce on that !!

blueberry: and its. I do? I really want to be honest and its a lot more easy when im not talking. Because then my mouth cant just run off and ruin it all and make me look like an idiot and then i cant just instictively choose the path of least resistance. But its still scary? And i dont know why it just is

Lavender: Of course it’s scary, Leo. You…I really don’t think it’s ever been on purpose. But you’re never honest about who you are. This is new ground. And you’ve never been good with things you don’t know how to deal with ahead of time either.

blueberry: haha. true

merengue: thats something we can keep in mind for another dr feelings visit!! maybe one that donnie can help with?

blueberry: not gonna lie thats a good idea. silly little fivehead purple bitch knows me better than i know myself

Lavender: Well your funny little trianglehead blue ass knows me a lot better than I probably know myself, too. Only fair, hm?

blueberry: pfft, true

CJ: You had a couple people left to name, right Leo?

blueberry: AH SHOOT YOURE RIGHT

blueberry: uhhh ummmm. APRIL NEXT im saving casey for last!!

blueberry changed AO’s name Rose

blueberry: youve got thorns but youre so intricrate! by any other name youll always be just as sweet, no matter where you go well all be there, i know it, and youre always keeping yourself and us safe with those thorns and always looking so beautiful! youre weird with the rest of us but you have your own awesome unique energy!

Rose: sniffles loudly. Th. thank you i love it im .

blueberry: YAHOO

Lavender: Oh my god he just chirped

blueberry: AS I SHOUDL thats one of my weirder ones! And she liked it!!! Donnei she liked ist !!!!!

Lavender: [chirpy.mp3]

Lavender: He’s…still chirping. This is adorable. And also the most I’ve seen him chirp in…ages.

blueberry: HEYYY LEAVE ME AND MY CHIRPS OUT OF THE INTERNETS FOREVER HISTORY

blueberry anyWAYS. last and BEST.

blueberry changed CJ’s name to starlight

starlight: oh.

blueberry: one day i was thinking about how you kind of zone out sometimes and i was like haha space case and then i was like gasp. star!! oh hes definitely a star! youve got the soft sparkling light, the colliding reactions and all that brightness packed into one spot! but just one star wasnt…quite right? so i kind of let it sit and then i was like, starlight. a sea of stars. to get kinda serious here, you led the way, case. the northern star. the world was gonna end, i was gonna ruin it all, and you showed the way back home. in the darkest hour, you came to shimmer and burn, big and bright and soft and warm. you know?

blueberry: oh . oh wait i just saw that oh

blueberry: do you not like it? i can change it if you dont like it

starlight: no no nonono i love it i.

starlight: sensei called me taht

blueberry: ah . ah ok

Lavender: Alas, I must relinquish my hold. Leo has a pseudo-son to talk to, it seems.

merengue: You two being the teen parents here is…kind of hilarious! But also kind of what I expected

Lavender: Leave Shelldon alone or I WILL have your head.

merengue: Oh don't worry Im not bugging either of you about it! I think Leo would do unspeakable things to me if I insulted CJ anyways lmao

blueberry: Oh I wouldn't do unspeakable things to you, you're family. But I'd certainly find anyone you cared for who wasn't and do unspeakable things to them.

Lavender: SUGAR HONEY ICED TEA . THE PROPER GRAMMAR

blueberry: haha i know mikey wouldnt do that anyways though hes smarter than that, and he loves too wholly to really insult anyone i care for as much as i do case

Rose: How’s he doin’, by the way?

blueberry: just fine! little lullaby always works

Lavender: Hmmmm. Teen fathers indeed…

blueberry: eh, worth it. told you he was starlight

blueberry: kind of just glad future me got the memo too

blueberry: if he didnt id have to hate myself even more! Haha

merengue: not funny. didnt laugh.mp3

merengue: In fact Im CRYING INTO THE BRICKWORK

merengue: DR FEELINGS SESSION. TOMORROW .

blueberry: i dug this . um.

Ruby: DONT .

blueberry: i . um. I started this fire ill roast marshmallows over it?

Ruby: god . Better

Chapter Text

merengue: Hey, has anyone seen Leo lately? He said he wanted to help me with dinner and I was gonna start soon!

Lavender: Ah, he's in the bath.

Ruby: STILL?!

Lavender: Ah, not to worry, dear brother, I've been checking in every 15 minutes. He even let me (with minimal teasing) use a heat gun on the water every time I checked. I've ensured the temp has gone no higher than 85 degrees, trust me.

Lavender: Tepid for a human, so perfect for us.

Ruby: H .

Lavender: Laughs sheepishly. Apologies for the scare.

Ruby: Nono you're fine I'm just .

merengue: Blargh :(

Lavender: Eugh, yeah.

starlight: Wait, is this something I'm allowed to ask about? I don't think I know what you guys are talking about. Or that you guys took such cold baths, huh.

Rose: Yeah, that surprised me the first time too. It's cause they're not all warm-blooded.

Lavender: Aptly said, April! We aren't nearly as dependent on ambient temperature for our own body temp as regular turtles, but our default temp is more like 70 degrees, and it can still be heavily influenced by outside factors. We have to be careful going outside sometimes, and with how hot or cold water is when we take baths or swim. Though, the latter affects us far less due to movement. Leo basks enough that he counterbalances it, but he gets close, sometimes.

Ruby: And Leo always makes his baths too hot :(

merengue: His showers, too!! Sometimes hell stumble outta the bathroom and nearly fall on his face >:[

Lavender: And so, we've made steps to ensure he…does not do that. Though he's been feeling better recently, so I doubt he would.

merengue: …….donnie what does that mean.

Ruby: AGREED WH . DEE

Lavender: Ah .

Lavender: I have made a grave mistake,

Lavender: I’m . Going to go tell Leo Mikey needs him while I think of a response I will return shortly

Rose: Ok that's…suspicious.

starlight: Huh! Nah actually that does make a lot of sense! I'm not surprised Leo would take baths that are too hot though haha, Sensei used to stand outside when it was cold for a long time, always said it made him feel alive. Master Michelangelo always got onto him for it, I never quite got why.

merengue: ……..alive.

merengue: why does that wording worry me

Lavender: Because Leo is a good liar only in the sense that he's good at masking things as something else.

merengue: Donnie what does that fucking mean.

Lavender: Sooooo. Umm.

Ruby: dee when you start a sentence with a so with 5 os it FREAKS ME OUT

Rose: Yeah, you and Leo only copy each other's speaking patterns when you're freakin’ out!

Lavender: Well. So. About that conversation from a while back about Leo's tendency to wander off in the direction of non-living .

Ruby: …oh you're fucking with me

Lavender: Unfortunately Raph, I am…very much not. He's only ever told me, because. You know. Pacts. But he tends to have intrusive thoughts about things like making the water hot enough that it just…

merengue: what was that abt intrusive thoughts .

Lavender: Oh, wow! Look at that! I've mentioned a problem he has that he's refused to tell you all that I think he shouldn't be ashamed by and that I've been wanting to tell you all about for years now in passing, thereby not directly breaking a pinky promise!

Lavender: However, one of Leo's was on a technicality because he insisted, so 11 to 3. As always, you're still winning, Leo.

merengue: I…OCD how did I not

Lavender: Because he is very adept at hiding things, Micheal. And, admittedly, it didn't used to be that much of a problem.

Rose: didn't used to be

Lavender: Glances at the last year or two and grimaces.

merengue: head in hands

starlight: …huh.

starlight: A Leo is a Leo is a Leo, i guess.

Lavender: Sighs tiredly. Indeed.

blueberry: WH . DEE

Lavender: I'm in my room and free to punch if you would like a hit, but I don't regret a thing.

blueberry: no im not like. mad mad im. i get it now but HEY

blueberry: ESP THE OCD THING CMON

blueberry: i was hiding it so well >:(

Lavender: Leo, you opened and closed a door fifty times yesterday.

blueberry: bc if i didnt id wake up in the prison dimension lmao i thought that was a given dee

merengue: NOT FUNNY. DID NOT FUCKING LAUGH LEO

blueberry: IT WASNT MWANT TO BE IM TRYING TO BE TRANSPARENT OK

Ruby: well you're doing fine but also ow .

Lavender: Agreed, oh my god. Ow.

Lavender: Not teasing you for it any more than I was then. Goodness.

blueberry: oh cmonnn you didnt really tease me for it anyways

Ruby: . The hand washing

blueberry: oh nah thats the . shivers. eugghhh i hate getting sick i hate it soooo much

blueberry: AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT GERMS DO???? DO YOU KNOW HOW THOSE THINGS WORK

blueberry: TERRIFYING!!!!!!!

blueberry: also a lil the ocd tho tbh

Ruby: I'm both reassured because I already knew you were a germaphobe and still worried .

Lavender: How you get yourself covered in blood one day and wash your hands fifteen times the next, I'll never know.

blueberry: thats called sacrificing your comfort for the good of others babey

blueberry: also blood isnt a problem unless you have open wounds, its why im always wearing so many damn bandaids. its Just In Case. everything else is like RAHGH I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU TOUCH YOUR FACE TOO MUCH

blueberry: god, and heaven fucking FORBID you touch a doorknob and then eat something jesus christ. mikey you amaze and disgust me every day

Lavender: Oh my god, the heaven forbid . I forgot you said that when you really hated something.

blueberry: there are three things i hate: goop, germs, and cottage cheese

Lavender: The new addition is very, very fair.

Rose: ?

Lavender: Ah, that list didn't used to have goop on it.

merengue: Eugh. Yeah, fair.

Chapter Text

Lavender: Ahem. Weekly game night commences in two hours; as is tradition, our monthly Uno winner gets to pick the first game of the month. Leo? Your pick?

blueberry: MAFIA

Ruby: NO. NOT AGAIN.

blueberry: would you rather i pick chess, dear brother?

merengue: NOOOO WERE GONNA GET SO THRASHED

Lavender: Leo I know you haven't been doing as much leader work now that Raph is helping but this is not the way to handle it,

blueberry: PLEAASSEEEE im going STIR CRAZY

starlight: Wait, mafia? Do you mean that game where there's a Kraang spy and you have to figure out who it is?

Rose: Ah, it's not quite like that here, but kinda!

blueberry: . I TOTALLY FORGOT YOU HAVENT PLAYED MAFIA

blueberry: PLEAASSE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

Lavender: Raises an eyebrow. And this is your genuine pick? You only get one.

blueberry: very genuinely? yes i already wanted to play it because if i dont get A Puzzle im going to fucking EXPLODE but now i know cjs never played it and thats a fucking CRIME

merengue: that does also mean he's probably never seen Leo play it!

starlight: Yeah, Sensei was usually pretty busy.

Ruby: Hmmmm. Well, if Junior hasn't played it before or seen Leo play it…

starlight: And what exactly is ‘chess’? Leo mentioned it earlier, I haven't heard of it before?

blueberry: CNA I . CAN I HAVE LIKE. ONE MORE PICK AND YOU CNA TAKE ONE AWAY FROM ME NEXT GAME NIGHT PEAD PELASE PLRASE PLEASE

Lavender: Not to worry, dear brother, I've been craving a game of chess myself; it was already my pick for tonight.

blueberry: YESSSSS YES YES YES

blueberry: chess with you especially is ALWYAS fun FUCK YEAH!!!

Rose: Geez, sometimes I forget how much he likes a good puzzle. Makin’ him the judge a couple rounds could fix the Mafia problem though.

Lavender: Hmmm, you make a good point…

Lavender: I have two (2) conditions for tonight, then;

Lavender: Leo, you'll sit out on at least a few games of Mafia and chess, just to get Junior acclimated to the game and so we have a slight chance. And, of course, you’ll be the only Mafia when we play that, but that’s a given after how you’ve massacred towns in the past.

blueberry: HELL YEahg

blueberry: sorry. *HELL YEAH i got excited

merengue: we are going to get so thrashed and it is unfortunately so worth it

Lavender: If you're this desperate for a puzzle, though, I might have to find something for you…hmmm.

blueberry: YEAH IM LOSIN IT OVER HERE before i had Too Much to think about and now im like digging around looking for shit to do

Ruby: Narrows my eyes.

merengue: Soooo. Your brain was in overdrive due to having too much to do and think about as a sole leader and youre still expecting that kind of workload?

Rose: Kinda like uhhh…phantom pains?

starlight: Ooo yeah, sensei used to get really antsy when someone else would make him rest!

Lavender: Maybe being in a constant state of fight and being unable to transition back to calm is more accurate?

blueberry: DONNIE . you snitch

Lavender: Ohhh nooo. I've happened to stumble upon a similarity between a problem you’ve told me you have and a problem that's being discussed, and now everyone knows about it and will be able to help. Whatever shall I dooo, he says sarcastically.

blueberry: UGGHHH. your urge to help people is always screwing me over

merengue: So thats another session with Dr.Feelings scheduled for the twins…

Lavender: Chat we might, perhaps, be winning.

blueberry: NO WE ARE NOT WINNING

Lavender: Leo you jump every time I enter a room without my battle shell I am certainly winning.

blueberry: >:(

Lavender: Lamao.

blueberry: why do you have to type it OUT that way too UGH. CURSED

Lavender: Backtracking, have you been reading up on any new medical articles or researching our species at all? I know that usually preoccupies you for a little while.

blueberry: genuinely i read everything i could possibly find while i was in the medbay after The Incident

Lavender: Breathes in through my teeth. Ooo. Yeah. That makes sense. And you still went stir crazy.

blueberry: theres an itch that reading medical stuff scratches and theres an itch that playing a hard strategy game like chess scratches and they arent Quite the same

blueberry: doing enough of one fixes the other but not Entirely

blueberry: and i havent played chess in a montha dn im LOSING IT!!!!

Lavender: Huffs quietly to myself. Certainly there's something I can find…if there isn't, I can always make something.

Rose: There's this game kids in class have been talkin’ about that might work?

Lavender: Oh?

Rose: Somethin’ about…5d chess with sped up time?

blueberry: !!! IM LISTENING

Lavender: Oh that could certainly work! I'll find it on steam and make sure it's on Leo's account so he can play it on his laptop, it should be on there.

blueberry: CHAT WE ARE IN FACT WINNING

blueberry: LETS GO!!!

Splinter: Blue might like Hanafuda as well. It is a two player game I could teach him! If Purple would be willing to provide the cards, that is?

Lavender: Absolutely! I've only heard a little about Hanafuda, though, you might have to help me order the right kind.

Splinter: Of course! I could teach it to the rest of you, as well, but Blue first. I have a feeling he'll enjoy it!

blueberry: !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rose: Is he chirpin’? I have a feeling he's probably chirping.

merengue: Pffft, yeah, he is!

Ruby: Oh man that's so loud I can hear it through the walls!

Lavender: Genuinely, and I say this with my whole heart, that will always be one of the single best sounds ever. He didn't make it enough when we were still 15.

blueberry: haha thats bc I was a fuckin wreck whrn i was 15

Lavender: Sighs sadly. Yeah, yeah you were

blueberry: BUT THAY DOESNT MATTER BC DAD KS GONNA TEACH ME A STRATEGY GAME

starlight: Baha! And he's chirping again.

merengue: oh me gosh, was that a chirrup?!

Lavender: Oh . Oh he's that excited. Ok im going to go cry for a little bit

Ruby: HES WH

Rose: “Chirrup”? I dunno if even I know that one.

merengue: that's cause its . Kind of really rare esp for Leo ouh. OUHHH

Lavender: ok ive collected myself a little i . H. He hasn't done that since we were ten I've been keeping track

starlight: Ooo, I know this one! It's something you guys only really did as kids or when really excited, right? Kind of like a chrr, used to soothe, but emotional in the other direction.

Lavender: very apt explanation CJ . Which is why were losing our shit

starlight: Yeah I told him the other day that I grew up with turtle noises and it calms me down! It was true but also a way to get him to let them happen, cause I noticed he doesn't do them nearly as often as you guys do.

Lavender: i say this so incredibly often but genuinely. So genuinely. Sets my hand on your shoulder. Thank you so much Casey.

Lavender: This isn't…her fault, per se, because Leo clings onto things and doesn't let go, but.

Rose: Oh dammit. This is about what I said the first time I met you guys isn't it?

Lavender: Unfortunately, yes. Leo had chirped in surprise and April had asked, with clear confusion, what it was. To Mikey and Raph, it looked like confusion. To me and Leo, it looked like judgement. Leo lets go of judgement outwardly much more quickly than I do, but it…sinks in further.

blueberry: HEY . WHOS GOSSIPPING IN HERE

Lavender: Guilty as charged, but all in the name of love, as always.

blueberry: ugghhhhh you dont have to say it like That

blueberry: fine yes its part of aprils rap sheet

Lavender: And…?

blueberry: GROANS. and i stopped making turtle noises as much cause i decided if april didnt like them then they just werent cool or normal

blueberry: and if april was donnies new favorite then i had to be cool to her

Lavender: Pauses. Turns my head slowly. What did you just say.

blueberry: ?? is april. Not your favorite?

blueberry: i mean. hmmm. actually no i dont have a favorite do i all of you are favorites in your own ways cj is just new and i worry

Lavender: Exactly?? No I do not fucking have a favorite and no I don't like April more than you and no you didn't have to. I!!!! Fuck this I'm coming over there

blueberry: oh sHIT

blueberry: o7s in chat im going to be a blanket very soon

Rose: No o7. Deserved.

merengue: Agreed!

starlight: o7? is that it? oh. OHHH ITS LIKE A LITTLE SALUTE. That's so cute!!

Ruby: No o7 you need more hugs and so does Donnie.

blueberry: DAMMIT

Chapter Text

merengue: ………..So! that was. A Lot. its good everyone left to collect themselves, but i still wanted to check in, so i figured this would work! how are we doing?

blueberry: he didnt mean it and im still .

blueberry: he didnt mean it and he felt bad.

blueberry: i had a feeling it wasnt on purpose i didnt think.

blueberry: and there was regret in his eyes. what the hell

Lavender: I’m…not going to lie, knowing your origins makes a lot of your problems make…a lot of sense.

merengue: Yeah :( but at least we know why your shell is so curved now? There's that??

blueberry: oh god yeah. he didnt mean jt and now i know what the hell is wrong with me. kind of evil he couldve done one at a time lmao

Ruby: >:[

blueberry: leave me and my jokes alone i deserve a bit of coping

blueberry: lmao how do you think hes gonna react when we tell him abt the egg bound thing

merengue: :’(((

blueberry: im both terrified for and looking forward to the sheer terror on his face haha

starlight: Lee, you're scaring them :/

blueberry: haha all the better

Lavender: Leo.

blueberry: h. Ok sorry

blueberry: i just! Wow apparently I wasn't supposed to be such a fucked up mess and apparently I'm a mistake in my own right and he feels bad for making me a mistake and he feels bad for making me and he didn't do any fucking research and I'm from an awful place and there probably wasn't anywhere else he was going to get me anyways and he cares enough to feel bad but he still did it and wow! He gives a fuck! Wow!! Ive been a fucking mess since before I was me!!! Yippee yahoo excellent fucking news

Lavender: do you need a hug

blueberry: god do i absolutely need a fucking hug

blueberry: lame of me to lose it once and then not get over it though ngl

Rose: >:(

blueberry: UGHHH fine. maybe its not lame but. hah! HAH.

Lavender: …Leo did you just remember the literal definition of that word because I hear you laugh-crying through your door.

blueberry: lmao maybe

Lavender: Leo just made an awful fucking joke and I'm quoting it back because I'm not letting it slide:

Lavender: “No need to hug so hard, I'm already a fix it upper turtle from a shitty pet store”

blueberry: im not wrong ftr

merengue: >:’(

merengue: not funny, did NOT laugh, dr feelings is seeing you in two days

blueberry: oh, yippee, more feelings. exciting!

Ruby: Leo.

blueberry: no do not fucking. Nevermind

Lavender: Glares in Raph’s general direction.

Ruby: What what did I do?!

Lavender: You know scolding him for feeling bad doesn't help.

Ruby: But he's! H!!! Gestures at him!!

merengue: That's cause he's hurting Raph :( even if he hurts the rest of us in the process, you know he's already going to feel bad for it later.

Ruby: …yeah i know :( i just don't like watching everyone get hurt when he's hurt

starlight: We're all always gonna hurt when one of us hurts, Raph, that's how love works. Leo always fixes it afterwards anyways.

merengue: Yeah!! He's scared and hurt right now, we don't need to get mad at him for how he expresses it.

Lavender: In fact, Leo's always reacted this way when he's really, truly hurt. We just don't see it very often because he doesn't usually let us. The fact that he's being obvious about this should be celebrated.

Lavender: Also, excuse my slow typing, I have a crying turtle on my hands. Yes he's ok, yes he knows I'm talking in here, yes he would like to say sorry, and yes, he's ok with me speaking for him. I'll be relaying anything he has to say.

Rose: ‘Excuse my slow typing’, he says, still sending messages faster than anyone else I've ever met

Lavender: Scoff! It's still slow! ..for me, that is.

merengue: !!! That's great news! Let him know we know he didn't mean it, ok? And if he has anything he'd like for dinner, I'll make sure he gets it <3

Ruby: Yeah :( tell him I'm sorry for scolding him, please? I just didn't know how to handle what was going on better

starlight: Does he want any tea? I can leave him alone otherwise, but i know how he makes his berry teas, and that's usually what he has when he's upset.

merengue: . wait he WHAT

Lavender: Leo says he wants tacos, I assume you have the ingredients? He doesn't tend to ask for things we can't already make. And I absolutely will, but I'm going to give him a little time first, ok Raph? You know how he gets. And he says that sounds lovely, Casey, just drop it off when it's done.

Ruby: Yeah :( i do.

starlight: o7 will do!! Is he hungry? He still has some of those little cookies he likes to eat with his tea.

Lavender: That got a chirp, so yes, it would definitely be appreciated!

starlight: o77

Rose: Wait wait. Mike, what were you going ‘he what' about?

merengue: dee said Leo has always reacted like this????

Lavender: Ahh, yes. Also for the record, I asked him if I could say that and he said yes. We both believed it would explain his behavior a little more.

Lavender: But yes, he's always lashed out when he's confused by how something has upset him, or his view on someone is forced to change, or just when something hurts him to his core. I've just been the only one he's let see it, for the most part.

merengue: head in hands. No you're so right I didn't even notice

merengue: he already deflects hurt with humor why wouldnt he deflect deeper hurt by brushing it off and making light of it

Lavender: Sighs tiredly. Yes, indeed. Though there is also a component of poking at the wound to see if it still hurts, I believe. At some point, he's learned that it isn't his…”job” to be hurt? For lack of better words? And also just as far as I can tell. So he tends to hide that hurt, or brush it off, and gets mad at himself for hurting at all.

merengue: …oh no oh no oh I see it oh no

Ruby: Mikey? Mikey you good??

merengue: a little. And. Leo would've brushed that off Leo wouldn't have even said a little oh no oh nonononono

merengue: do you guys remember. When we lost the lair

Lavender: Sigh. Of course I do.

merengue: and we all kind of lost it

Ruby: …and Leo just.

Lavender: …oh god you're right.

merengue: Leo was just talking about how nice the new place would be and it helped so much

Lavender: it was such a silver lining but he.

Ruby: he never cried or talked about what he missed did he

merengue: no. no, he didnt. And instead of telling raph he didn't want to be leader he just tried to be so bad he'd have to take it back

Lavender: And then he sat there for two months and tried to play off everything and joke and smile

starlight: he kept not telling us he needed more morphine

Ruby: He was justbtrying not to show how scared he was and I got mad at him for it.

merengue: even when he couldn't joke to brush it off. He was so gentle

blueberry: hey cj got me my tea but now donnie is crying what did i do this time

merengue: and that! That too!! You assume it's your fault!

blueberry: wh . Ok lemme read up

blueberry: ok well tbf it Was my fault this time

merengue: No it fucking isn't! It is not your fault that you've learned to put yourself last and we're just now noticing it!!

blueberry: ??? of course ive learned to put myself last? you guys deserve so much better

merengue: head in fucking hands

blueberry: and raph it is absolutely not your fault that you got mad at me during the whole leader debacle i was being a jerk

merengue: because you were terrified.

blueberry: well yeah but its not like i could let that show??

Ruby: Why not??

blueberry: pauses. hmm. idk im just not supposed to? its a Bad Idea if i let anyone know im scared then theyre going to feel bad im not supposed to make people feel bad

Lavender: Why.

blueberry: why what

Lavender: Where did you learn that

blueberry: ouhp. ive been hugged

blueberry: and idk i just. idk?? its kinda. i hate making you guys feel bad so if i just hide all of the hurt you guys wont ever feel bad cause of me

blueberry: and its way better to make people mad than for them to give me that sad look or be disappointed in me for not being able to do better

blueberry: so if i just. make a joke out of it its wayyyy easier

blueberry: i looked up the definition of class clown the other week and haha yeah thats me

merengue: it is and i hate it

merengue: cancelling the dr feelings appointment were talking about this as a family

blueberry: wh. What do you mean no dont tell dad what are you talking about you cant tell him that

blueberry: mikey do not fucking let dad into this why are you even. Its not that big of a deal its been sixteen fucking years im fine!

merengue: youre doing it again.

blueberry: of course im doing it again im not going to hurt dad like that and im not telling any of you any of this while looking you in the fuckging eyes do you take me for a-a feeligns murderer???

merengue: …ok. Ok. We don’t have to let Dad know.

starlight: …you know he can read this right?

blueberry: oh yeah lmao but hell read it and then process it himself and then never talk to me about it, i couldnt handle him having to process it in front of me and talk to me about it, eugh. i would Die

Rose: leo.

blueberry: you cant blame me for that one im in crisis mode my funnies are less haha and more ohno

merengue: But.

merengue: We, as brothers, just the four of us. We need to talk about this. Because we can’t keep unconsciously relying on you to always be ok. Ok?

blueberry: ugghhhhhhh. fine

blueberry: dont come crying to me when i say something and it freaks you out though ok

Lavender: Leo the whole point of this is that we’re going to freak out because we care about you.

blueberry: ehhh sounds like a hassle then

Lavender: Yes. It will be a hassle. And it’s going to be completely worth it, because you’ll be able to tell us you’re hurting.

blueberry: hm . i dont like the energy in this chilis tonig ht ngl,

Lavender: And now I’ve been hugged. Good, he looked like he needed one.

merengue: how many times has he needed one and we didnt give him one :(

Lavender: Holds my hand up and makes a break sound. Nope, don’t keep talking like that, you know he’ll hate it with a passion. The answer is probably more than we can count, and there’s nothing we can do about that. What we can do is urge him to be honest when he’s hurt, instead of hiding to save our feelings.

Ruby: Where did he learn that?

starlight: I uh. Have a theory?

Lavender: Of course, Casey. The floor is yours.

starlight: Sensei did this kind of thing too. He always seemed alright, and i rarely saw him cry, or even seem down at all. When he couldnt joke, hed reassure. And i think he just…loves too much not to. Mikeys usually the one that holds things together emtoinally, right? Except he has the space to be hurt.

merengue: and leo decided he doesnt

starlight: Yeah.

starlight: Hes honest with me, sometimes. But even then, I have to pry it out of him sometimes, because I know better. And it seems like he wants to be honest about it, a lot of the time, and hes told me before that he just doesn’t want anyone to know hes hurt, that its easier for everyone if they dont.

starlight: So im not sure…where he learned it, exactly. But. I think he just thinks its easiest for everyone, including himself, if he doesnt let it show.

Lavender: oh.

Lavender: Leo doesn’t have the energy to type, but he’s been keeping up.

Lavender: He said, and I quote, “everyone was so much happier when I was ok, and everyone was so upset when everyone else was upset. I couldn’t just…make that worse”.

Lavender: I didn’t have permission for that one. I don’t particularly care.

merengue: when did we turn him into the bandaid?

Rose: Mike, you say that, but you’re usually holding up a lot of this family, too.

merengue: Well yeah but i know that. Ive been working on it, it happens when youre the youngest, and i feel rewarded when i fix a problem that I know how to fix. Leo didnt know. Leo hasnt been fixing problems, hes been hiding his own to improve our experience.

merengue: ive been fixing cracks, leo has just been letting his own fester.

blueberry: haha cracks

merengue: >:[

blueberry: sorry couldnt help it

blueberry: you guys didnt turn me into the bandaid though its just. i did that to myself

blueberry: hate to say it but cj got it in one, i. think?

blueberry: this is new to me too i havent really thought about this before

blueberry: like i knew my job was to be happy and silly and make everything easier but i didnt really think about what that meant? or why i did it? i think. at some point i just decided that was all i could do and so i clung to it REALLY hard

blueberry: oh. oh! the bandaid!! hehe

blueberry: thats kind of why i leaned into the medic thing too though. all of you were so queasy and mikey looked at me with this bright grin when i was like, 8? and i just slapped a bandaid on his knee. and i thought, i wanna fix things for them like that forever

blueberry: and then i kind of couldnt. for two months. couldnt do my job either i didnt. ugh. im still trying to make up for it

Lavender: Grips you. What the fuck do you mean ‘make up for it’.

blueberry: ?? i mean that im trying to make up for lost time? you know, helping you guys with medic stuff, making sure the air is…right? blue? pale blue. when i do my job right the energy is like a clear sky and honeysuckle

Lavender: Sighs fondly. You make very little sense to me. That’s a really nice way of looking at it.

merengue: but you shouldnt have to. You shouldnt have a “job” its not the end of the world if we’re hurting everyone hurts. You hurt sometimes, you were hurt. Your only job was to get better, your only job before that and your only job now is to be our brother.

Raph: There’s gotta be ways to make things feel like that without you having to pretend so much.

blueberry: oh yeah of course there are! mikeys really good at it and sometimes when donnie gets talking it happens and raph, you do it a lot, too! its just that im the only one who notices it, i think, and so im the only one who can fix it

Lavender: Well, I'm sure there'd be very little harm in you telling us, then.

merengue: yeah!! Like you said, we can fix it, we just don't notice it!

Ruby: Your eagle eyes always see the stuff we don't; can't hurt to clue us in!

blueberry: ehhh. ill think abt it

Rose: …am I the only one who found it kind of funny that Draxum didn't know what a pet store was?

blueberry: nahnahnah youre right apes that part was hilarious

Chapter Text

blueberry: i was right the terror on his face was kind of worth it lmao

Lavender: Not lmao. You were throwing up for a week.

blueberry: if i dont lmao ill lmasob. sooooo. lmao

Ruby: Sighs in eldest.

merengue: Uhhh. Did anyone see what direction Draxum went in?

blueberry: dads room for sure. his shoulders were tense as hell

merengue: why would he be tense if he was going to talk to dad?

blueberry: bc hes pissed lmao. Duh

Lavender: True. Papa did fail to bring us to a doctor all these years.

blueberry: weird to see draxy give that much of a shit though

merengue: :’(

blueberry: AUGH CMON. dont gimme that look im just being honest

merengue: Oh! :’) then!

blueberry: pfft. good enough

blueberry: NVM. DRAXUM GETS TEN POINTS FOR HIS GOOD RAP SHEET

Lavender: Excited about going to an actual clinic, huh?

blueberry: BLOOD ANALYSIS MACHINE !!!!!

Lavender: Haha! That's a yes.

starlight: Me and April have been planning to go shopping together anyways, so we'll go do that while you guys are out of the house! :]

blueberry: did you put on sunscreen

starlight: …no. I forgot. How do you always know?

blueberry: i feel it in my Bones

Lavender: Read: he knows you well enough to know you always forget until he mentions it.

blueberry: blows a raspberry in your general direction. you always forget to brush your teeth until i mention it

Lavender: Ehe. Fair point.

Ruby: That's how Raph knows nobody has their burner phones packed before we leave for missions!

blueberry: lmao true i always forget to snag it before i leave

merengue: mines usually buried somewhere ^^’

Lavender: Well at least I take good care of my electronics.

2:30 pm

blueberry: cj this is going to make you laugh your ass off. they had an ‘origin’ check for animal based mutants and it was just wild, bred, and unknown. dad was so fucking confused lmao. though tbf so was i it was kind of a riot

Rose: Pfft. Can confirm, he immediately busted out laughin’. That's going to be interestin’, though.

blueberry: oh yeah for sure lmao

Ruby: I like the chairs here :] they fit me really well!

Cobblestone: Agreed! There was a rather small one for me as well.

merengue: well my seat will always be me sized! :]

Lavender: (Micheal is currently sitting on Raph’s shoulder for context.)

blueberry: lmao hes not wrong

3 pm

blueberry: AKSDJFKLDJ. told my doctor abt the female turtle male dna thing and it surprised him SO BAD lmao

Ruby: Think that kinda thing is pretty rare, Lee.

blueberry: yeah im not surprised it was just funny. hes getting a turtle yokai girl though!

merengue: grips you in if you don't mention the whole egg bound thing i stg !!!

blueberry: nah dw i was going to. this just makes it wayyyy easier

3:20 pm

Lavender: Free from blood taking hell. Now then CJ how long have you known that Leo is able to just open up portals with his bare hands because i know you knew before I did

merengue: HE WH

merengue: THAT WAS MY THING!!!

Lavender: They asked for my battle shell and Leo was passing by so I asked him to take it and then he just pulled open a little portal with his hands! What!!

starlight: Oh, he's only been able to do that for a week or so! Takes him a lot of effort, too. Teleporting by snapping, though…

starlight: Well, I'll let him tell you. ;)

Lavender: hm . I'm not going to think too hard about the fact that it takes him considerable effort

Ruby: WH

merengue: HUH????M

Lavender: . wait WHAT

starlight: snrk

blueberry: JIG IS UP

Lavender: WH?????

blueberry: ill explain when we get home lmao

merengue: you BETTER, holy shit

4 pm

Lavender: CJ, keep in mind to lecture Leo about putting his knee brace on before he leaves the lair for me later. Thankfully, I always have a spare on hand.

blueberry: blows a raspberry at you

Lavender: Why do you always say that in specific?

blueberry: idk it gives off the vibe i mentally respond with

Lavender: You still make no sense to me, and it's still frankly fascinating.

starlight: Lee >:/

blueberry: in my humble defense, i was genuinely so excited i forgot it was a problem i had now ^^’

starlight: Squints. Hmmmmm. Fair enough, but I'll be reminding you more often!

blueberry: eugh but also fair lmao

merengue: now time for us to get shoppin’ babey!!! How's it going for you and apes, CJ?

starlight: Pretty good! We've kinda just been wandering around and picking stuff up here and there, its been great :]

blueberry: dont forget you wanted a new blanket, case!!

starlight: ! I almost did! Thanks Leo!

blueberry: ofc ofc tis my job as the local casey dictionary

Lavender: I thought you were the local Mikey dictionary?

merengue: I thought you were the local raph dictionary!

Ruby: I thought you were the local Donnie dictionary??

blueberry: *the local dictionary for like five people

blueberry: tbf. all pretty true

Lavender: Hmm, yeah, now that I think about it, you have pretty encyclopedic knowledge on a lot of us.

blueberry: well so do you

Lavender: Not in the same way, though. I have factual knowledge, like likes and dislikes and how to navigate certain situations. You know all that and a little more, though you do seem to trade knowing what's going on with us currently for that.

blueberry: honestly i kind of do? hadnt thought about it that way but yeah, true. you guys talk about stuff youre up to my brain is like doesnt mikey like mangoes. and raph has been looking for a new pillow. and then i tune back in and im like Hm. i have no idea what youre talking abt

merengue: Huh!

Ruby: That…explains a lot?

Rose: Yeah, it does!

Lavender: So…when it seems like you aren't listening, you aren't, but…it's because you're thinking about us anyways?

blueberry: not always lmao sometimes im like WHERE did i put that chess set. but yeah my mind kind of just goes on a merry stroll and then im like HEY. WAIT A MINUTE

merengue: Yeah, i kinda do that too sometimes! But i kinda just zone out honestly

Lavender: …hmm. I'll keep that in mind.

blueberry: raises an eye ridge. lowkey threatening but ok lmao

4:30 pm

blueberry: @merengue MIKEEEYYYYY. MIKEY GET OVER HERE

merengue: IMMA COMIN’

Lavender: What is it?

merengue: ??!!?!?!? GET OVER HERE

Lavender: Oh my goodness???

starlight: Huh? What is it?

Lavender: Our second shop stop was a pharmacy of sorts, and Leo found lotion made for healing mystic injuries.

blueberry: ! NEW UVB

starlight: Holy shit, really?!

blueberry: NEW UVB BULB!!!!!!!!!!!

merengue: Raph agreed to carry it before Leo could even ask! Leo being excited does that to a guy though

Cobblestone: Ahhh, I have been worried about that as well! That's excellent news.

blueberry: AUGHGHF YEAH!!! i can bask bask tomorrow. omg. Omggggg

Lavender: Gasps softly. Leo! Your cracks!

blueberry: !!!!!!!!!!

merengue: ?

blueberry: vit d + calcium = kesatin

Lavender: Explanation because Leo is halfway to buzzing out of his skin right now: we have enough calcium in our diets to sustain our shells’ bone and keratin, but having more vitamin D should make it leagues easier for our bodies to produce more of it! Raph's shell might heal a little more quickly, too!!

Ruby: Really?! That's great news!! :D

Lavender: Leo. You can't avoid the feminine hygiene section for forever.

blueberry: smiles nervously. two more minutes?

Lavender: Sighs fondly. Two more minutes. I'll get to looking.

blueberry: WHEEEEZE

blueberry: [snackies.jpg]

blueberry: SLUG LUNCHBOX.

Rose: SNRK

starlight: Ok that's actually hilarious.

blueberry: at least SOMEONE agrees that its fun and silly

Lavender: I will say a collective ‘ew’ for all three of your brothers here and now: Ew.

blueberry: seriously though i also found pads so i can stop just borrowing aprils. w

Rose: W!

blueberry: WH . GUYSSS GET OVER HERE

blueberry: CALCIUM GUMMIES

starlight: For real?!

merengue: FOR REAL

blueberry: AND calcium capsules. thatll be a godsend next year

blueberry: ok i dropped the last set in the living room but THIS ones going in the medbay since so much of it belongs there. would love your help on that later tonight or smth, cj :]

starlight: Of course! If we get back before you guys do, I'll get to work on what I can.

blueberry: nahh chill out when you get back thats a lot of people to people around for so long

starlight: Pfft, alright, will do.

Lavender: We've only got one more stop. Are you on your way back?

starlight: Yup! April's coming with me, though, so we can all hang out together afterwards!

merengue: heck yeah!!!

5:45 pm

Lavender: On our way back. And by that I mean ‘Leo’s opening a portal once we're a safe distance from the crowd’. Be prepared; Leo's probably going to launch into you first thing and start chatting.

blueberry: lmao not wrong i am EXCITED to talk abt The Stats i have gathered omg

merengue: Hes already talked our ears off! New ears to talk at are gonna be a treat :]

Lavender: Hmmm, true, talking new ears off is always nice.

blueberry: lmao and you would know

Ruby: Don't forget you gotta show us the teleporting thing later!!

blueberry: not to worry raphala its in my mental calendar after dinner

blueberry: its not that impressive though lmao

7 pm

Lavender: UPDATE: IT WAS INDEED THAT FUCKJNG IMPRESSIVE.

Lavender: Had to make sure that response was properly catalogued because what the fuck.

blueberry: dont ask me how it works i just know i think of a place i snap and then voila ! i am there. not as pinpoint as my katana are though ofc

Lavender: You fucking baffle me. /aff

blueberry: lmao ly2 ❤️

Chapter Text

blueberry: sooooo. you guys remember that hidden city doctors office draxum dragged us to last week

Ruby: Uh. Yeah?

Lavender: Leo, when you start a message with ‘so’ with five o’s I have very little confidence that you’re not up to something.

blueberry: no no i didnt do anything For Once im just. puzzled?

merengue: puzzled??

Lavender: Oh goodness. He’s using my vocabulary. Ok I’m listening

Rose: Was just ‘bout to say I'm a lil suspicious but. Yeah, puzzled?

starlight: Is something wrong??

blueberry: nah nah everythings fine cj, i have a clean bill of health, im just.

blueberry: also? a medical anomaly???

blueberry: [girl-what.jpg]

Lavender: Oh. Oh. OH.

starlight: In retrospect, this explains why you took so long.

blueberry: and all the nurses. that girl was really nice though!!

Lavender: Wait a moment. Email will be sent to your…WAIT A MINIUTE

Rose: Wait, Lee. Dee is your emergency contact?

blueberry: yup! :] and im everyone elses

starlight: We figured it was safest that way! Donnie’s the best at taking care of Leo, and Leo’s the best at taking care of us. Only reason Lee isn’t the best person to take care of himself is that he can’t, hehe.

blueberry: and dee doesnt do well with blood but hes um. Safer

Lavender: Ah, yes. Leo is the medic, but I’m the twin. Older twin privileges sometimes apply, you see.

blueberry: unless its a tuesday, thursday, or saturday

Lavender: Yes, of course. And then if it’s an off day but we’re needed, privileges are briefly revoked.

blueberry: cant be the oldest twin if ur having a breakdown lmao

Lavender: Nods sagely. Indeed.

Lavender: In much more insane news, oh my god Leo this is excellent. For them to be interested in studying it? In allowing you to participate???

blueberry: GAHHH I KNOW im so excited!!!

Ruby: Raph’s being paranoid, but there isn’t anythin’ too weird they’re gonna do, right?

blueberry: oh hell no if they do if i have a katana.

Lavender: And I have a fucking gun.

blueberry: plus everyone at that clinic seemed really nice, and the message i got was really personable, and dees email was nice enough even if it was more formal cause it had to be, and besides, i kind of have to be willing to participate for them to be able to look into anything lmao

Lavender: Besides that, you are both a minor and one-of-a-kind, in this sense. Legal action could easily be taken if Leo feels anyone’s done something they shouldn’t have.

blueberry: yup! and now i can flash my scars and give them the sad puppy dog eyes <3

Rose: Squints. You’re on thin ice for that one.

blueberry: laughs nervously

Lavender: Additionally, you’re a pleasure to be around when you’re excited about something, if not a little chatty, though I don’t doubt that will be an asset to them regardless.

blueberry: aww thanks dee <3 ok lemme set up this call lmao dont bug me for like. an hour min, kk bye!

starlight: He left ‘cause he didn’t expect the genuine compliment, didn’t he?

Lavender: Oh absolutely. One of these days we’ll get him a little more used to it though, I’m sure.

merengue: Oh, we will. We will if I have to bury him in them

Lavender: Raises an eyebrow.

merengue: …ok yeah burying him in them doesn’t work BUT SLOWLY BUT SURELY!!!

Lavender: Call me the hare because I smoke tortoises…pfft.

Rose: Oh, you were lookin’ back at that footage, Dee?

Lavender: Yeah. In retrospect, Leo said to our faces that he meant to lose the last lair games.

Lavender: I’m still haunted by the snores, and still so impressed by the whole plot that I can’t even be mad.

Rose: Oh yeah, it was pretty wild!

Ruby: Very Leo of him to have done it so low-key, though

merengue: And for such a petty thing.

Lavender: Oh, absolutely, the petty energy was off the charts, and I simply had to respect that.

Lavender: The way he winked at the camera after asking if he really lost…genuinely evil villain level plotting. The whole world would be doomed if Leo wasn’t such a kind person, I’ll admit.

merengue: Yeah, cause I cant even reign you in the way he can!

Lavender: Nods sagely. Indeed. I hate to admit it, but he’s got a tighter leash on me than most. …namely because he knows all of my secrets, but also because his serious voice is scary.

starlight: Oh, it’ll get scarier.

Lavender: Shivers. Goodness.

merengue: Literally the only time he made me cry and didn’t know why. He was worried cause I did something dumb because i was 8 but he already had The Voice and it scared me so bad I thought he was So Fucking Angry at me I got so scared LKASJF

Ruby: Leo has freaked me out with that voice, man, he doesn’t mess around.

Cobblestone: Oh, Blue has most certainly scared me with his serious voice as well. Especially when I’ve made poor decisions in raising you all.

merengue: ohmigosh-wait, really?

Lavender: Ooo, no, I know this one. Leo came to me looking guilty afterwards because Dad had literally stepped backwards.

Cobblestone: True! Blue is very intimidating when he wants to be, and especially when it comes to making sure his brothers are doing well.

Lavender: Even if that means walking up to you and saying, hey, you’re fucking up and if you don’t stop fucking up I’m going to fucking explode. /or hey, you’re fucking up, here’s how, here’s how to stop it, and if you don’t I’m going to fucking explode. He’s done it to Raph once or twice, too, reportedly, though thankfully I’ve only ever experienced it when keeping an eye on him and Dad’s convos. He wanted me to keep him in check.

Cobblestone: Yes! He was certainly not afraid to threaten me if he needed to.

Ruby: Shivers loudly. Eugh, yeah. I mean, I kinda deserved it both times, cause I was coddling Dee and Mikey or, a lot more recently, he got onto me for charging in blindly. That was more of a leader-to-leader ‘I need you to step up’ convo though? So, scary, but not nearly as bad, Leo brightened right back up afterwards, too.

Lavender: Ohhh, yeah, he told me about that one. Said he felt a little bad basically scolding you but that he felt like it was necessary, and kind of fair given…gestures at the leader debacle.

Ruby: Agh . Yeah, true. He was really just pointing it out to me and making sure I took it seriously, anyways, it was mostly just still kinda scary because of how different it is to how he usually is.

Lavender: Nods seriously. If there’s one thing Leo knows how to do, it’s weaponize his usual silly energy and jester attitude by acting serious only when it’s truly necessary. Admittedly, I find it admirable at times. He brings levity in most scenarios, and draws attention by being quiet when he needs to be. It adds far more potency to his urgency.

merengue: Kinda like the opposite of the boy who cried wolf!

Lavender: Exactly! Leo moreso sees a half wolf and shrugs, and simply pretends it isn’t there, until he sees a full grown hunter, and sets off the alarms.

blueberry: oooo honestly really true. if youre silly most of the time everyone will take it more seriously when youre serious

blueberry: definitely an opposite of the boy who cried wolf thing. kind of like. ummmm. how handlers treat venomous snakes? is it a snake? yes! it is venomous? nah, just treat it carefully. is it venomous? they take all the precautions

merengue: Kinda like you do when we get cut by something rusty!

blueberry: pfft, yeah. i have good reason for that though

Lavender: Of course. It's simply a good comparison. By the way, welcome back. How was the call?

blueberry: SOOO awesome he knew so much and im heading over there this weekend and theyre sending girl turtle yokai? im so fuckjng pumped dude holy shit. theyre going to check my estrogen levels dee! estrogen! levels!!!

Lavender: !!!! Really?? Ooo, I know you've been worried about that! It might give us some really good insight into how the female half effects you.

blueberry: EXACTLY

blueberry: theyre doing x rays too!!

Ruby: Squints.

blueberry: sighs loudly. yes i will get them to x ray my evil knee while theyre looking at my fascinating medical anomaly never before seen reproductive system

Lavender: Well, good news, I just got the email back; I'll be testing it out the day before you, so I'll be able to tell you how it goes.

blueberry: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! !!!

Lavender: And I've just asked them to keep track of how the radiation effects me compared to normal yokai/other mutants, so we can track any differences between us and other mutants Draxum made, as well as further differences that you hold.

blueberry: SNIFFLES LOUDLY. TYYYY YOURE THE BEST

blueberry: im not going to lie i was . the smallest bits paranoid about how any of *gestures at myself* would interact with that

Lavender: They wouldn't be x-ray-ing you if it wasn't safe, Lee. But now we can know for sure.

blueberry: well yeah but theres no knowing if its safe when youre encountering something this new in medicine, we know a lot of what we know is bad for you because we encountered it first

Lavender: Ahhh, you do make a good point.

blueberry: but ! with you going first they should have a better idea!! not that i want you to get fucked up accidentally by the x rays but more that i know you Won't and i Might

Lavender: Oh, certainly. I'm barely any different to a turtle yokai with a soft shell anyways, we have no idea what your anatomy actually looks like.

blueberry: which is also why x-ray-ing it would be so cool!!!! but seriously you checking it out first means a lot <3

Lavender: Ahhh, but it's an excellent opportunity for me as well!! I get to hold seeing it first over your head.

blueberry: AH DAMMIT

merengue: jokingly holds up a sign that says ‘nerds’ with an arrow pointing at you guys in the background

blueberry: i am allowed to be a nerd about 1 (one) thing i will stand by this Specific nerd-out moment

starlight: coughs into my hand. Jupiter Jim, Lou Jitsu, and tea

blueberry: 4 (four) things

Lavender: Thank you kindly for the compliment.

merengue: lmao youre welcome

merengue: ah .

blueberry: LMAO

merengue: NOOO ITS RUBBING OFF ON ME

merengue: THE CURSE!!!!