Chapter Text
It takes a hot second to get back into training, between the injuries that had to heal and the rebuilding that had to take place it hadn’t been on anyone’s minds all that much. It still really isn’t a priority.
The last time Leo had tried to push his injuries too far Mikey had whipped out Dr. Delicate Touch and that wasn’t exactly what Leo would call a fun experience.
It’s not even like Leo loved training. That was more Raph’s thing, but he did like spending time with his brothers and messing around in the lair which was most if not all of their training.
Mikey had given him one of those little finger skateboards and had made him a little skate park to go with it, which was super rad and amazing of him. The paint job was a little shaky and he can see where Mikey had given up in places but he loves it nonetheless.
His little brother was extremely talented and he couldn’t be more proud of him, really.
But as fun as new toys can be it doesn’t scratch that itch that’s nestled deep in his bones. His good leg hadn’t been able to stop bouncing for at least a week and it drives Donnie a little nuts whenever they’re in the same room together.
He needed to do something physical like training or skateboarding. Something substantial.
He missed skateboarding. A lot .
And since nobody would train with him in fear of hurting their dear beloved brother. Skateboarding it was.
Which is probably why he’s on his back staring up at the ceiling, pain shooting through his shell as Raph leans over him. He’s speaking but Leo can’t hear him over the ringing in his ears. He sounds angry.
He presses a hand to his face and coughs, trying to push himself up but a large hand reaches out, blocking the light and pushes him back down down and into the ground. He jerks and tries to break free. All he can see is red light blinding him and furious putrid yellow eyes glaring down at him and the horrible cold of the prison dimension closing in around him. The sound of the Krang telling him that Strength. Always. Prevails.
He claws desperately at the hand holding him down and it disappears in a flash, he braces for a hit that doesn’t come, breath caught in his throat.
He goes still, holding his breath and hoping the Krang would lose interest in him soon.
At least his family is safe. That’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter if he dies here. As long as they’re safe.
Something warm touches his hand and he cracks his eyes open to look, taking a small gasping breath, before his eyes focus on… orange and green.
“Mikey?”
What is he doing here ? “You can’t-” He tries to roll onto his side, he has to protect Mikey. The Krang can’t have him. “You can’t be -” He shakes his head and the room spins.
Mikey pulls Leo’s hand close to his chest and wraps his arms around his forearm, “You’re safe, Leo. Just don’t get up yet, okay?” Mikey says.
“You need to run .” Leo whispers, trying and failing to tug his arm free. “I can’t- can’t-” He inhales sharply and coughs into his arm. He can’t keep him safe. Not from this, it’s too much, too powerful.
Mikey hums, “Can you do me a favour?”
Leo shakes his head, squeezing his eyes shut, he can’t watch this. Can’t see whatever the Krang is about to do to his little brother.
“Can you list our fave pizza places?”
It seems like an odd final request but Leo would do just about anything for Mikey.
“I uh- Lou-.” He coughs, “Lou Mike Tony’s.” Leo takes a big gasping breath of air, that doesn’t sound quite right but he can’t think clearly enough to put his finger on why. “Tony Lou’s.” He presses his face further into his arm, “Mike Tony’s Favourite Lou Pizza.” He takes a deep breath, “And Mike and Lou The Brothers Tony Pizza.”
Mikey grins at him, “That’s good. What are they called now?”
Oh, right. Those annoying band girls.
“Famous Lou Mike Tony Tony’s Pizza.”
The Krang still hasn’t come back, so Leo chances a glance around and… the lights are warm and yellow, they still burn when he looks up at them but it’s nothing like the seering red of the Krang or the encompassing darkness of the prison dimension, the walls are a familiar concrete and metal, bits of colourful spray paint littering the walls in no particular fashion.
He spots Raph with his back against the wall, eyes wide and locked on him, cradling his hand to his chest like he’d been burned.
“What… happened?” How long have he and Mikey been laying on the ground?
“I think you had a bad spill off the ramp.” Mikey starts, “Which was stupid, by the way.”
Leo winces and moves to get up only for Mikey to hold his arm even tighter, “Mikey? Buddy? Can I get up now?”
“Nah, you should stay still for a moment.” Mikey bites his lip, “You kinda maybe hit your head.”
That would explain the piercing pain in his skull, “And?”
Mikey glares at him, “The patch over the big crack in your plastron? It’s broken.”
“Oh. Oops.” That would explain why his chest hurts so bad.
He looks down at it and winces, the fibreglass patch is cracked right down the middle. It’s going to need to be replaced. Hopefully without messing with the crack in his plastron, he really doesn’t need to mess it up any more than it is.
If his shell is permanently damaged Donnie would figure something out for him. They could have matching battle shells or something. Maybe he could have some of those mechanical arms. He could hold so many pizzas with them.
“Is Raph okay?” He hasn’t moved from where he’s pressed into the wall.
“You kind of, sort of, maybe freaked each other out.” Mikey says in a rush, “But he’s not hurt. If you stay still I’ll go check on him.”
Leo huffs, “ Fine .”
Mikey pushes himself up from the floor and gives Leo’s hand one last squeeze before he lets go. He knows they’re worried about the added stress to his injuries but he’s honestly not sure if anything is actually worse. He just feels a bit banged up, he tries to sit up and the room tilts and splits into 3 separate areas.
Okay. Maybe staying on the ground is a good idea. He pokes around the fibreglass patch, the crack isn’t that bad and it’s not exactly over his actual injury. They could probably get away with sealing it.
It takes a moment but eventually Mikey and Raph come over to his side.
Raph kneels, hands balled into fists on his knees, “I’m sorry, Leo. I didn’t mean to- I didn’t want-.” His voice wavers and tears collect in his eyes.
“Hey, hey, I’m alright. Just some minor stuff, right?” He wiggles his toes and brings his legs closer to his body. “‘sides, you didn’t do anything.”
Raph shakes his head, “I did something , Leo.” Raph says, a hand coming to rub at his brow.
He has ugly red scratches all up his forearm.
He gulps. “Did I do that?” He holds his hands out to his brother, flexing his fingers in a gimme motion.
Raph bites his lip and looks between Leo and his hands before slowly placing his hand in Leo’s.
“Aw, I’m sorry Raph. I don’t know what came over me.” He says, looking over the scratches carefully, his gut twisting.
Mikey mutters, “ Panic attack .” Under his breath.
“These are gonna need some disinfectant.” Leo says, ignoring Mikey. “Can I get up now? I’m pretty sure nothing's broken or out of place.” He pauses, mouth twisting, “More than it was, I mean”
Leo pushes himself up onto his elbows, “Oh, I… am pretty dizzy, not gonna lie.”
Raph sighs, “You hit your head pretty hard.”
“Ah. Got it. Concussion time.” He leans against Mikey’s plastron. “ Fun. ” He draws the word out, circling a finger in the air until he ends with his fingers clenching and opening up like he’s mimicking an explosion.
“Yeah. Let’s hope your head isn’t any more damaged than it already was .” Mikey says, pressing his face to Leo’s head and squeezing his shoulders.
“ Wow, someones feeling rude.” Leo mutters.
Mikey blows a raspberry to his cheek.
“ Angelo!” Leo struggles in his brother’s grip, “Raph! Help, I’m being attacked!”
“Nah, Raph’s gonna stick this one out.”
“Ugh, fine .” Leo whines.
Raph rubs his arms and looks off into the distance, “We should all get back to bed.”
“Yeah, what are you guys doing up, anyways?”
“I was thirsty.” Mikey says. “Saw Raph storming around and followed.”
“Bathroom.” Raph sighs, “Realized you weren’t in your room and came lookin’.” Raph frowns at him, “If you could stop trying to give me an ulcer that would be great.”
“Oops.”
“Oops.” Mikey snorts. “Can we turtle pile?”
“Yeah, I’ll grab Donnie.” Raph stands with a sigh, “He’s probably still up.”
“Don’t forget to disinfect the scratches.” Leo calls after his brother.
“Yeah you don’t know where Leo’s been.”
“Have you always been this rude?” Leo asks, finally getting to his feet. “Is Raph mad at me?”
Mikey looks at him, eyes wide, “What?” He tries to get a better look at Leo’s face, “I mean, maybe about the skateboarding but…are you worried about the scratches ?”
“They looked pretty bad.” Leo rubs at his head, feeling out the tender spot and wincing, “I wouldn’t blame him.”
“He’s totally not mad about the scratches, Leo.” Mikey smiles at him, “I promise.”
Leo yawns, “Alright. If you say so.”
“Are you tired now? Really ?”
“Ugh, I know.” Leo grumbles.
“We can watch a movie or something.” Mikey says, pushing him towards the living room.
“Okay, that sounds good.”