Boys. [Splinter speaks, his voice firm. It was rare for their father to use their full names unless he's serious.] Michelangelo, sit back down. Raphael, help me clean this up. We can finish breakfast once things are calmer.
Donatello, do you still have those cameras around? Keep an eye on your brother, once he settles go after him. [The family at least knew going as a group didn't work out well. One on one was better.
The feral turtle for his part was running through the lair. He practically bounces up and over the train cars that made up their various bedrooms. He crams himself between the small space of the train car and the tunnel.]
[As soon as Splinter is using their full names, it's a serious time. Donnie is turning off the stove before he's pulling up the cameras on his tech gauntlet.]
Sure, dad. I can do that. [He's checking the cameras now, finally seeing Leo on the ones set up outside the bedrooms. He lets out a sigh when he sees on the camera just where Leo has holed himself up, it'll take him a bit to get there.]
Found him, he's at least still in the lair... [And unless they need him, he'll start heading out that way. But taking his time so Leo can be calmer by the time Donnie gets to him.]
Its a good thing though, he's not trying to bolt out now. [Mikey is taking that as a positive sign if anything. Donnie can hear the murmur of conversation between the three as he heads out into the rest of the lair.
Donnie's guess about his brother's mood is correct. By the time he makes it to where the older turtle is, the red eared slider isn't actively hissing at the sight of Donnie. He's just crammed himself into a very small space.
Donnie can likely hear the nervous tip tap of claws against metal, but the older turtle has yet to move.]
[With just a little "hm" at Mikey's words and he's off, heading towards the bedroom area while also taking his time.
The lack of hissing is taken as a good sign really, as he crouches by the only way into where Leo has crammed himself. Aside from going in from above, that is, at least he doesn't have Leo boxed in. Another thing to always worry about too, not wanting to make his brother feel trapped.
The tapping is, maybe, a good sign. It's better than hissing at least, as Donnie starts with some quiet words to try and coax his twin out.]
Leo, it's okay. Raph didn't mean to do that and you're safe here. Come out, please?
[The feral turtle growls just slightly. His plastron clicks audibly against the metal he's pressed himself into. He doesn't move beyond that, just very still and quiet.
The tapping picks back up as the older turtle peers down at Donnie. A wary shift to move slightly out of his hiding spot.
This is honestly a faster recovery time than he's had the past few weeks.]
Okay, okay, okay. You don't have to come out now, but I promise no one is mad at you.
[The tapping has him curious, making him wonder if, like the clicking, it's a way to communicate. But then again, that seems a bit too advanced for Leo even before the prison dimension.
The slight shift is noticed, as Donnie is just going to reach out a hand towards his brother now. Moving slowly so as to not startle him too.]
[The tapping trails off as Donnie draws closer. Initially, the older turtle hunches into himself, half likely to disappear further into hiding spot he's found.
He hesitates, growling just a little.]
Purrble? [The growl absolutely mangled the word, but there is an attempt at it.]
[The confirmation and steadiness is enough to make the older turtle shift again, moving to dislodge himself from the cramped space between the top of traincar and the tunnel.]
Purrble, down?
[It's an actual question, be it phrased awkwardly.]
[He gets that it's a question, but he doesn't get what Leo means. Part of him just wishes his brother was back to normal, but then the better part of him feels bad for thinking that way because this is a process after all. Things won't be fine so quickly.
[The older teen clicks unhappily in turn. Frustrated in some part with himself as much as he is at Donnie for not understanding. He's becoming more and more aware his Treasures are different than he is.
He wants to be like them, but he can't reach that point yet. He isn't even sure if he can be.
He points at himself, trying for a fuller sentence. His voice is still thin and a little reedy. Scratchy on certain vowels.]
[He's about to say yes when it hits him. Leo referring to himself as "Pest", that. That's not a good thing, even Donnie is aware of that, and makes him pause.]
You're Leo, not Pest.
[He hates this, he's bad at this, it makes him feel things he doesn't want to feel and yet. He'd still do it because it's for Leo, as much as he may have complained about his twin and as much as he may have said not so nice things about Leo? Donnie still cares, and something like this just hurts to hear and see.]
[Donnie's response is confusing to the feral turtle. Is that a yes or a no? He doesn't quite understand. Instead of asking again, he just pushes himself down and off from his perch. He lands on his feet with ease, chirruping.
Donnie's distress is a bit more pressing in the moment. He pats at his twin's shoulder gently. He doesn't understand what exactly Donnie is reacting to. He doesn't have the context anymore.
Being alone with Big One for three years had left pieces of him broken, some likely to be unrepairable, others could be mended with care.
Being around his Treasures, his family was enough to help start to pull things back together.]
[The question rouses Donnie out of his own thoughts, which is a good thing. He needs to be present for Leo, that's the important thing, so at the older turtle's question, he gives a small smile.
Better to pretend things are going well than let things backslide.]
Yeah, I'm okay. [He lets out a breath he wasn't even aware he was holding in and reaches out to give Leo a shoulder pat as well.]
But you, my dear brother, need to come out of hiding. Everyone is worried about you.
[The feral turtle narrows his eyes somewhat. Some former emotional intelligence present enough.
He doesn't have all the pieces to understand why or what upset Donnie, but he is feels like something is wrong. Its really the first time he didn't just take what was said to him at face value.]
purrble, purple- not- [He struggles to get the words together properly. His voice gets shakier on the last two words.] Okay. Not Okay.
Trreasures don't- [He's clicking his teeth together, just unhappy for a moment he can't get things sorted.] worry. Shouldn't.
[The feral turtle is unsurprisingly still a little skeptical. The expression more something Donnie likely remembers opposed to the cheerful but almost blank look that tended to be the default on the older turtle's features.
He reaches out, before drawing back. A bit more coming back to him. Some boundaries were clicking back in place.]
[The look on Leo's face kind of hurts to see, just because of the remembrance of something familiar. Like a hint that maybe things could be how they were, and Donnie can't hide the hurt from showing on his face.
More so when Leo reaches out but then draws back, sure Donnie has his touch limits but... He's been letting them get pushed for his feral brother.]
It's okay. We should head back before they get more worried. I can make you more burnt eggs if you want?
[Just backing out of the spot now, hoping Leo will follow since he's no longer crammed up in there.]
[The temptation of eggs is strong. The feral turtle clicks and chirrups a little at Donnie. He doesn't believe Donnie about being okay, that much is written on his face. That kind of expression used to be followed with the feral turtle peppering him with questions or trying to cheer him up.
For the moment, he just vocalizes lowly.
He does follow, starting to drop into all fours until he course corrects himself. Between steps he awkwardly slides back into standing up and walking on two legs.]
[Don't you make that face at him, Leo. He just is going to awkwardly smile at his brother and he's well aware of the other turtle's issue with walking on two legs?
When he sees Leo correct himself, he'll offer a hand to him.]
Need some help?
[He just thinks it'd be nice to not see Leo struggle for even the little bit that walking back to the kitchen will take.]
Until Leo says that. That one little word, much more impactful than calling him "Purple", makes Donnie stop in his tracks. And he just stares at his brother, as something, an emotion, starts welling up inside of him and he just.
Scrunches up his snout, trying to keep himself from showing anything on his face and failing.]
You're... [He chokes on his own words, not able to say anything else in this moment. Instead doing something he wouldn't normally do, as he's pulling Leo into a hug.]
Donnie-? [He repeats it again, a bit more confidently. Even if his voice is reedy still.
He's surprised by the hug, but readily holds the other turtle close. His hands settle away from Donnie's shell. The gesture more ingrained into the feral turtle than its a conscious choice.
He exhales softly, cheek pressed against his twin's shoulder.] Going- be okay.
[He sniffles a little, biting the inside of his cheek.
It feels like a weight was settling over him. Some part of him understands this is important. This is his brother, his family. His Treasure. His treasure was upset.]
Donnie, got you. [Its a promise, he wishes he could actually get his thoughts out. His voice is still weak, but he's trying.] Okay- upset.
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Donatello, do you still have those cameras around? Keep an eye on your brother, once he settles go after him. [The family at least knew going as a group didn't work out well. One on one was better.
The feral turtle for his part was running through the lair. He practically bounces up and over the train cars that made up their various bedrooms. He crams himself between the small space of the train car and the tunnel.]
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Sure, dad. I can do that. [He's checking the cameras now, finally seeing Leo on the ones set up outside the bedrooms. He lets out a sigh when he sees on the camera just where Leo has holed himself up, it'll take him a bit to get there.]
Found him, he's at least still in the lair... [And unless they need him, he'll start heading out that way. But taking his time so Leo can be calmer by the time Donnie gets to him.]
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Donnie's guess about his brother's mood is correct. By the time he makes it to where the older turtle is, the red eared slider isn't actively hissing at the sight of Donnie. He's just crammed himself into a very small space.
Donnie can likely hear the nervous tip tap of claws against metal, but the older turtle has yet to move.]
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The lack of hissing is taken as a good sign really, as he crouches by the only way into where Leo has crammed himself. Aside from going in from above, that is, at least he doesn't have Leo boxed in. Another thing to always worry about too, not wanting to make his brother feel trapped.
The tapping is, maybe, a good sign. It's better than hissing at least, as Donnie starts with some quiet words to try and coax his twin out.]
Leo, it's okay. Raph didn't mean to do that and you're safe here. Come out, please?
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The tapping picks back up as the older turtle peers down at Donnie. A wary shift to move slightly out of his hiding spot.
This is honestly a faster recovery time than he's had the past few weeks.]
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[The tapping has him curious, making him wonder if, like the clicking, it's a way to communicate. But then again, that seems a bit too advanced for Leo even before the prison dimension.
The slight shift is noticed, as Donnie is just going to reach out a hand towards his brother now. Moving slowly so as to not startle him too.]
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He hesitates, growling just a little.]
Purrble? [The growl absolutely mangled the word, but there is an attempt at it.]
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At Leo saying his "name" he nods, stopping his own movements.]
Yeah, it's me. Purple. No one else, just me.
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Purrble, down?
[It's an actual question, be it phrased awkwardly.]
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So he nods some more at Leo's words.]
Yeah, down. I'm down here for you.
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He wants to be like them, but he can't reach that point yet. He isn't even sure if he can be.
He points at himself, trying for a fuller sentence. His voice is still thin and a little reedy. Scratchy on certain vowels.]
Purrble want Pest, down?
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You're Leo, not Pest.
[He hates this, he's bad at this, it makes him feel things he doesn't want to feel and yet. He'd still do it because it's for Leo, as much as he may have complained about his twin and as much as he may have said not so nice things about Leo? Donnie still cares, and something like this just hurts to hear and see.]
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Donnie's distress is a bit more pressing in the moment. He pats at his twin's shoulder gently. He doesn't understand what exactly Donnie is reacting to. He doesn't have the context anymore.
Being alone with Big One for three years had left pieces of him broken, some likely to be unrepairable, others could be mended with care.
Being around his Treasures, his family was enough to help start to pull things back together.]
Purrble. Okay?
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Better to pretend things are going well than let things backslide.]
Yeah, I'm okay. [He lets out a breath he wasn't even aware he was holding in and reaches out to give Leo a shoulder pat as well.]
But you, my dear brother, need to come out of hiding. Everyone is worried about you.
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He doesn't have all the pieces to understand why or what upset Donnie, but he is feels like something is wrong. Its really the first time he didn't just take what was said to him at face value.]
purrble, purple- not- [He struggles to get the words together properly. His voice gets shakier on the last two words.] Okay. Not Okay.
Trreasures don't- [He's clicking his teeth together, just unhappy for a moment he can't get things sorted.] worry. Shouldn't.
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[Supress, don't feel. It's better this way and puts less stress on Leo, which is the last thing he wants to do.
Especially when he says that treasure shouldn't, and don't worry.]
Hey now, you can't make us not worry about you. You're important to us, you're our treasure.
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He reaches out, before drawing back. A bit more coming back to him. Some boundaries were clicking back in place.]
Mmrrph, Purrpble.
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More so when Leo reaches out but then draws back, sure Donnie has his touch limits but... He's been letting them get pushed for his feral brother.]
It's okay. We should head back before they get more worried. I can make you more burnt eggs if you want?
[Just backing out of the spot now, hoping Leo will follow since he's no longer crammed up in there.]
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For the moment, he just vocalizes lowly.
He does follow, starting to drop into all fours until he course corrects himself. Between steps he awkwardly slides back into standing up and walking on two legs.]
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When he sees Leo correct himself, he'll offer a hand to him.]
Need some help?
[He just thinks it'd be nice to not see Leo struggle for even the little bit that walking back to the kitchen will take.]
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He trusts Donnie enough to help him up on his feet again. He looks at his brother, just for a moment.
Something clicks somewhere in his mind.]
Donnie. [He chirrups a little. Struggling on the second part of his sentence. Thaank youuu.
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Until Leo says that. That one little word, much more impactful than calling him "Purple", makes Donnie stop in his tracks. And he just stares at his brother, as something, an emotion, starts welling up inside of him and he just.
Scrunches up his snout, trying to keep himself from showing anything on his face and failing.]
You're... [He chokes on his own words, not able to say anything else in this moment. Instead doing something he wouldn't normally do, as he's pulling Leo into a hug.]
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He's surprised by the hug, but readily holds the other turtle close. His hands settle away from Donnie's shell. The gesture more ingrained into the feral turtle than its a conscious choice.
He exhales softly, cheek pressed against his twin's shoulder.] Going- be okay.
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Just hearing Leo say his name though and that it's going to be okay, he can't help it. The tears come out.]
I know, I know it'll be okay. That you're going to be okay...
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It feels like a weight was settling over him. Some part of him understands this is important. This is his brother, his family. His Treasure. His treasure was upset.]
Donnie, got you. [Its a promise, he wishes he could actually get his thoughts out. His voice is still weak, but he's trying.] Okay- upset.
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gently bumps us ahead once again
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