Chapter 1: Fallen bird
Chapter Text
Leo and Ralph jump out of the portal on top of Big Mama’s hotel. Leo quickly grabs the jar of bugs from the Barrons,landing right back onto his big brother’s shoulders. A smug look ever present across his face.
“Leon’s got it!”
Baron Draxum then quickly shoots out vines from his hands aiming straight at the two. They dived out of the way, running around trying to avoid the attack. Jumping and leaping all over the place. Leo was set flying high into the air by one of the baron's vines, spinning around.
“Leo toss me the bugs!”
Leo throws it in Ralph’s general area and catches it. But with his momentum he was sent hurling off the roof. Draxum snatches him by his mask tails dangling him off the 350 floor hotel. Leo made the mistake of looking down, eyes widening.
“I may have created you but I will not hesitate to destroy you.”
Leo, still dangling, slowly turned to the Baron.
“Uh… who created what now?”
“ Let my brother go!”
Ralph came in facing draxum with the jar in hand.
“Not literally!!!”
Leo pointed, he did not want to become a street pancake.
“ ohh~ brotherly loyalty.” the Baron said as he rolled his eyes.
“ but my bugs are important to you as well. What would you choose.”
“ Give him the bugs! Just give him the bugs!”
Leo yelled and twisted. He can see the look in Draxum’s eyes from where he is. He means it, draxum will literally drop him. Come on Ralph-
“ I’m not giving him the bugs!”
Ralph man, your eyesight isn’t the best but- come on. This isn’t a cartoon villain. Ralph is always the one to say ‘you need to grow up Leo’. But now Leo is the one glaring at him, hanging off a roof.
“These villains are all talk he’s not gunna-“
“Ok”
And then Leo falls.
“No!”
Of course.
He warned him, he had been warning him the whole day. But did anyone listen to him, Noo-.
Now he’s plummeting to his death.
“ With my last breath I told you sooooo…”
Leo yelled as the wind rushed against him.
“Leo!”
Ralph yelled as he rushed to the ledge hoping to save his brother in time. Draxum trips him forcing Ralph to drop the jar as Ralph dives after his brother. His third little brother. The one right before Mikey. His baby blue. Growing closer and closer to the ground.
As tears well in his eyes he punches his fists together summoning his powers.
“ Power smash jitsu!”
He summons a glowing red hand to try to catch his little brother.
But it was too late.
“Ralph!”
He saw his little baby’s face as his shell met concrete. And he heard a sickening
CRACK
—_____________—
Leo felt oddly fuzzy.
Which isn’t saying much, he can’t feel anything past his neck. And what he could feel was being numbed by the second. His vision was getting spotted with little black dots. He can distantly feel something big land next to him. Followed by a sound he doesn’t really know. In fact he doesn’t know anything right now.
He can feel himself slipping.
He swears he started to float.
His body became more and more numb.
Numb
Numb and fuzzy
At the last moment he looked up to see his big brother, crying. He doesn’t know what he’s crying about. He shouldn’t be crying. His big bro can’t cry. His dad can’t cry. He wants to ask him why.
But Leo’s tongue already died in his throat. All he could do is give Ralph the warmest smile he could do.
Then he let the fuzz take over.
—_____________—
When Ralph landed he looked at the horrible sight.
His brother.
His little brother.
Dead on the New York sidewalk.
His neck at a slightly off angle, his legs looked like they were made of glass that shattered and his shell…oh god his shell. It was completely caved in causing blood to pool around the slider.
He looked like a baby bird that fell out of its nest.
Ralph let out a choked out sound as he approached the body. He slowly tried to pick him off the ground. He was so small in his arms. That is when Ralph let out a hard sob, his entire body shaking. He looked at Leo’s face as his baby brother tried to put on a smile as he saw the light go from his eyes.
His brother
Was
Gone
Ralph’s wails could probably be heard from staten Island but he didn’t care. His brother was dead. It was all his fault.
If only he caught him in time.
If only he listened to Leo.
If only he TRUSTED Leo.
He cried and wailed, cradling his brother slowly feeling the warmth drain from his body.
“Ralph?”
Ralph looked behind his see in his only other brothers. He can’t look them in the eyes. Look at what he’s done. He lost one of their brothers, how could he. All he could do was whimper and place his forehead on Leo’s face.
“Ralph is…is that Leo?” Mikey barely whispered. Ralph started to sob all over again. Donne rushed toward Leo. Trying to find a pulse.
“ no no no no no, I can fix this I can fix this I can fix this I can totally fix this” Donne started to mumble not finding anything. He tried his hardest not to look at the bloody mess of Leo’s shell.
But
He can’t deny it, he’s read his fair share of turtle anatomy books with Leo. He can’t survive his shell being caved in like that.
He can’t find a pulse.
His twin is dead.
His twin.
His other half.
Why? Why is his cheek wet? He looked down to see he was crying. His breath hitches as he collapses. He cries silently next to his cold twin. He feels like if he stares at Leo’s face long enough his eyes will flutter open and say one of his stupid one liners.
But that doesn’t happen.
It will never happen again.
His tears keep coming as he slides next to Ralph putting almost all his weight on him. He was too weak. He couldn’t even look now at the mangled mess that is his twin.
“C-come on guys… we have to get back to the lair so we can patch up Leo. He-he’ll be better… right”
Ralph looked up to see a shaking Mikey. Hands shaking up and down as tears threatened to make an appearance on him as well.
“ Mikey it’s-“
“ NO! No Leo's fine. He’s fine. He..he has to be.”
Oh no Ralph’s giving that look. He’s being serious. Mikey wants to stay in the dilution that his brother is still alive. But he can’t take his eyes off the way Leo’s blood pools behind him and Ralph’s hands, spilling out on the sidewalk and into the gutters. The way his skin starts to pale, his once bright crescent stripes duller than the blood surrounding him.
He’s going to be sick.
Mikey dry heaves shaking his head as the tears finally fall down. He sobs and wails, his knees giving out falling next to Donne.
He can’t live in his delusions anymore.
His brother is gone.
No more cheesy jokes. No more skateboard races through the lair. No more running into him in the middle of the night because Leo had insomnia and Mikey had too much energy. No more soft hugs and head pats. No more being the “fun” brother that doesn’t baby him but is still protective.
He lost his brother.
“ what do we do now?”
Chapter Text
April was staying after school for extra help in math. As much as she loves when Donne dose her homework, she still needs to learn. Though it is hard when she has the most boring, monochromatic teacher ever.
She’s trying to pay attention to what the teacher is saying when her phone rings.
It was from Donne.
April told the boys that she was staying after so it can’t be them asking if she wants to have a movie night. And Donne never calls during school as it is ‘important to get an education’.
It must be an emergency then.
Why does she have a bad feeling about this?
“ Mr. B, I have to take this call. Is it ok if I go in the hallway?”
“ Fine O’Neal, but be quick”
She quickly walked into the hallway closing the door behind her. She was getting more nervous by the second. She was always the first to call him. So why was he calling her?
“ Hey Donne what’s up?”
All he could hear from the other end was
Donne’s heavy breathing and quiet sobs and sniffling in the background.
That can’t be good.
“Donne is everything ok?”
It was silent for a few more minutes before Donne spoke, barely a whisper.
“ Leo… Leo … he’s-“
His breath hitches and April can pick up the sob that comes out of him.
“Oh god April….April he is gone.”
Her heart drops.
“What?”
“ He’s gone … oh god Leo’s gone HE’S GONE!”
Donne is in full hysterics as he sobs and cry’s.
April is no better herself. She really didn’t want to but she had to confirm.
“What do you mean Donne? Donne?”
Her voice sounded weak.
This time Ralph picks up the phone. His voice sounded rough and scratchy like he was yelling at the top of his lungs a second ago.
“April…..he’s…he’s dead”
The world stopped spinning for a few seconds. Her vision blurred and there was a ringing in her ear. Her breath hitched as tears came flowing down her face.
Her little brother.
Her best friend.
Was dead.
“ w-what?” She tried to respond. She didn’t want to believe it. If she did then her baby brother was truly gone.
He was just fourteen.
Fourteen.
“ April, I’m sorry- I’m so sorry it’s all my fault. It’s all my fault.”
She could hear Ralph trying and failing to hold back tears. Not like she was doing any better.
“ Where are you?”
“We’re…heading back to the lair. We haven’t- haven’t told pops yet”
“ I’ll be there soon”
As she hangs up she allows herself to fully breakdown. Collapsing in the hallway trying to muffle her cries. Her poor, poor brother.
Oh god.
Eventually the teacher came out to look for her, finding her still on the floor.
“O’Neal?”
“ I have to go.” She said as she got up on shaky legs.
“ I can’t let you go yet the class isn’t done yet-“
“ My little brother just died! I’m leaving!”
She walked in to get her bag quickly then went back out.
She won’t be going to school for a while.
—_____________—
Mikey walked into the lair, but it didn’t feel like home. Something was off about it. The walls were a different color, it was too cold, too quiet. He couldn’t put his finger on it.
But he could.
It was there in Ralph’s arms.
His dead older brother.
That is what was missing.
The whole way back everyone had tears silently falling. They ran into April going down the manhole. She tried to keep up her strong older sister role but it fell apart when she saw Leo.
Her poor little brother, mangled and bloody.
It wasn’t fair.
Mikey was practically leaning all of his weight on April as they walked to Leo’s med bay.
Leo’s med bay.
What are they going to do now? They don’t know how to mourn properly. The only reference they have is movies and April's dad when she was 5. How are they supposed to process this?
Thankfully, somehow Donne did. He and Leo had a sleepless twin night and went down one to many rabbit holes. Where Donne made a weird freezer, for if one of them would become too sick or in a coma. He wasn’t planning to use it as a coffin for the other person that helped him make it.
They couldn’t bury him and burning him seemed wrong. That’s not the blaze of glory Leo was talking about.
So after they placed Leo in the case wrapped in one of his favorite blankets, the fluffy one with little sharks, they all went to the living room.
Well not the main one where splinter is. They don’t think they can deal with their father at the moment. Call them selfish but they just wanted to quietly mourn with the warm bodies of the ones they cared about the most.
They all had a mix of feelings while cuddling.
Guilt
Regret
Grief
Rage
Revenge
Draxum will pay.
They sat there silently on their phones. They were all looking at their camera roll, seeing pictures of Leo. They cried silently together till all that could be heard was quiet sniffling. They fell asleep shortly after, exhausting themselves.
Later splinter looked at them, finding nothing out of the ordinary.
If only he knew.
If only he cared.
Would he care? Why would he? They always joked that out of the four of them Leo was his least favorite. What if it was true?
What would Leo think?
Notes:
Hi! Thank you so much for all the support I got on my first post 🩵 I know this chapter is a little shorter than I would have liked but the next chapter is going to be a lot bigger.
Have a good day/night
Chapter 3: Trying to get used to it
Notes:
Sorry if it’s a bit too long. Blame my friend they said I could squeeze it all into one chapter/j. As much as I love April I had such a hard time writing her.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It was strange the first few days without Leo. April tried to stay as long as she could but her mom was starting to get worried. As much as they wanted to stick to their older sister's side they knew she had to go home.
The lair felt empty.
The hallways were cold and it wasn’t as loud. They would joke that Leo just didn’t know how to shut up but now.
They realized just how much space their brother made up.
They knew Leo liked having a bigger than life personality. Yet now they felt his absence even more. There were no random noises coming from the hallway. No loud muttering coming from the med bay. No jokes and puns by the skate ramp. No music coming from Leo’s room.
Just quiet.
Everyone felt Leo’s absence.
Except Splinter.
It felt like he didn’t even notice. Now Splinter wasn’t the most … attentive father, but he didn’t hurt them. He wasn’t a bad father.
Though Ralph doesn’t like thinking about it that often. If he does he always finds himself back in that one memory. Back when they were all tots, around 5-7. Where they were having a coloring party under a heat lamp that Donne somehow made. They all were drawing different things. Mikey was making a sunrise, Donne was making a blueprint with somehow, perfectly straight lines without a ruler. Ralph was just happily scribbling down any color he felt like, making it look like a unicorn threw up on it. Leo’s on the other hand was different.
“ Raph! Raph look what I did” Leo said scooting next to Ralph to show him his picture. It was a little family picture with a poorly drawn Ralph, Donne, Mikey and himself. It would have been really cute and he would hang it on the refrigerator next to Mikey’s creations. But what caught him off guard was that over the drawing of himself, it had an arrow pointing at it saying dad. In the corner it also said ‘I love my dad’. Raph started crying but for a different reason. Leo thought he was crying because he loved it so much but Ralph was crying because that was the moment his childhood died.
And now his baby brother is dead.
He failed as a brother, he let down Leo. If only he trusted Leo. He keeps on repeating memories of when he should have trusted Leo. Of all the mistakes that now can’t be fixed.
How could Leo forgive him?
They were still all wallowing in their grief. Having turtle piles in the living room and falling asleep together. Ralph’s separation anxiety has worsened, Donne started to isolate himself more and Mikey’s sketchbook looked like a war zone.
They were all trying to cope in their own ways.
The good old reliable was, of course, punching.
They would beat any petty criminal they could find. This was how Ralph always used to cope but now all his brothers are doing the same.
Like that one time they stopped two thieves from stealing jewelry.
It was during the Extreme Skateboard Finals show they always loved. But they couldn’t really get into it.
It wasn’t the same without Leo.
He would probably start skating around trying to do all the crazy moves and almost succeed.
Keyboard- almost because he would probably try that one move, the 14-40, and break the WiFi router or something.
Watching in the lair felt wrong for them so they decided to watch it in a department store April used to work at.
They felt less on edge but still felt guilty. It used to be Leo’s favorite show. This was their bonding time even though they watched it somewhat separately. It was one of the things they were all passionate about.
Ralph was a little happy when he heard suspicious sounds from the level above them. So he went to check it out.
When he saw that it was those foot guys he smirked to himself. He got to let go of all his anger.
He let all his anger and grief off on the two thieves. Leaving them bloody and with at least a few broken limbs.
He never liked to get angry often. He always tried to suppress his emotions so he wouldn’t have an outburst in front of his brothers. He was the biggest, always has been.
His brothers would hang off him like a walking jungle gym. Swinging around his shell spikes and jumping around his tail.
He had the role of the general giant thrusted against him at a young age. So he had to learn how to regulate his emotions faster. He had to mature faster. He had to grow up faster.
It wasn’t fair.
He blinked trying to clear his vision, not remembering when he faded out. Realizing he was punching a mannequin until it shattered. Making his knuckles bleed slightly from small cuts… as well as some of the blood from the foot soldiers. He should head back and let Leo take a look at his hands.
Wait.
There is no Leo.
Leo can’t look after the scrapes that adorned his hands. Leo won’t be there when Donne accidentally burns himself on whatever machine he was working on. Leo won’t be there to put little Scooby Doo band aids on Mikey’s scraped knees.
His vision blurred again but this time it was because of the tears in his eyes. This day was going ok but now it’s ruined.
Big old Ralph couldn’t keep his emotions to himself like the baby he is.
A baby that just wanted to be held by someone.
But no one could.
—_____________—
Then there was the fight between Hypnopotomis.
It was April's school dance that Donne pushed her to do. He said it’s what Leo would have wanted, that he would want April to ‘slay’.
She really didn’t want to go for numerous reasons. Her social anxiety, her depression, and the way the school has always seen her as weird. The way she left that day especially didn’t help her reputation.
And so she enters the school with only Ralph as her backup because of course Donne and Mikey were doing their own thing.
Great.
Well at least she had Mayhem with her. That at least calmed her nerves knowing that they were in her corner.
She had a little hope of this party going ok when she was invited to sit with the popular kids in school. That was until she saw a familiar bald head.
Dale shouted her name as he ran over. Don’t get her wrong he was a good guy…but. He’s a bit strange to say the least and this was her one opportunity to be seen as ‘cool’.
“ Hello, my favorite person.”
“ Hey are you going to this shindig too? I usually don’t go to these school ‘dances’ but I was actually invited to sit at the cool kids table. So…”
She tried to walk away, hoping that Dale took the hint and left her alone.
“ Hey I’m invited too!”
“Oh! I thought she just invited me but it looks like you got invited too. That’s…cool… cool”
Yeah she should have seen this coming. Getting invited to sit with the popular kids as a sign of pity. Oh well that won’t stop her. She was gonna work this in her favor.
Dale followed close behind her.
“ By the way, how are you feeling April?”
She stopped to look at him again.
Remembering how she left school that day and didn’t come back for a week and a half. Of course the kids at school would be curious.
“ I’m just…trying my best ya know.”
She shrugged because that was the truth. She is trying to push through this she had to. For her grades, for her mom and for her…remaining brothers.
Dale just nodded awkwardly and followed her into the main gym. The dance had a weird theme of magic and rabbits in hats decorated everywhere. But which was weirder was that everyone was on their phone.
Something in the room was off.
It sent prickles down April's spine, her instincts going haywire. But it’s fine, she’s fine, she had to be.
They both walked up being greeted by Taylor Martin, the most popular girl in school. Honestly it was the only real reason April wanted to come in the first place. She was actually really excited to get to know someone new that wasn’t weird.
“April! Dale! So glad you came. Sit!”
She pushed them both into chairs looking down across the table.
“ We were all just talking about the most amazing new game, hypo-crush.”
Everyone looked up from their phones at that moment. Staring blankly they all said in a monotone voice, “So fun.”
Taylor leaned into April.
“ Have you played it yet?”
“I..I’ve been meaning to download it..”
This is getting a little too uncomfortable.
“ How are we going to be besties if you don’t have the game?”
“Got it!”
Dale said, waving his phone with the new app open.
“Oh ok”
She quickly pulls out her phone, scrolling through the apps store to find it. She didn’t want to be seen as uncool in front of everyone. When she eventually does find it and tries to download it Donne pops up. A little icon of her purple brother shaking his finger as it said “ Donne said no no no” over and over again.
“What the! Will you excuse me for a second?”
She quickly leaves the party calling Donne’s phone. She didn’t want to bug him, especially after recent events. But she was blowing her shot of having a social life at school.
“You are conversing with Donatello, how may I help you” she heard Donne’s voice. It sounded a lot more tired than it used to and she thinks she heard….puppy’s ?
“ What is a Donne blocker?”
“ I added it to your phone so that you wouldn’t get hacked or download malware. Why is something wro-“
“Nope! Nothings wrong”
She quickly interrupted and hung up. She didn’t need him feeling guilty over nothing right now. This was a mistake she should have never come.
Just then Mayhem popped up next to her legs.
“What are you doing here? I told you, you have to stay out. Cool kids don’t bring their pets to school! Do you want people to pick on me?”
This just isn’t her day right now.
Just as she thought about leaving the doors burst open. Out trailed all the kids on their phones. She wonders if the dance is over when she sees Dale among the crowd.
“ Dale? Did Taylor tell us to go somewhere?”
“ Did you get the game yet April? We can play it together.”
And then he was carried off into the crowd.
Stupid Donne blocker trying to make April not susceptible to peer pressure.
All she wanted was her life to go back to normal.
Why can’t I just be normal?
Then Taylor also popped up behind April. What is with it with people popping up next to her.
“ Did you download the game”
“ I…totally…got it.”
“ Can I see it?”
April conveniently drops her phone. She is not getting caught in her lie.
“Oh darn… my phone. But the game is so fun…! With all the hypos and stuff”
They all ended up in the theater when something plopped on stage.
Then a mutant hippo appeared. Dressed head to toe looked like a magician. She looks around seeing everyone in some sort of trance with their phones.
The dots are connecting as she slumps in the chair. So much for having a normal stupid high school dance.
She watches as the villain goes over a monologue of how he shall make a high school disappear to show off to that kid that made a middle school disappear. She had to leave. Right now.
As she runs to the door the hypo stops and the spotlights turn to her.
“Where do you think you’re going missy?”
“I want to serve you.”
….
“ Ah, forget it. This is wack.”
And with that she bolts out the door. She can hear the hypo yell “ Get her!” from behind the doors.
She barricades herself in a science classroom only for Taylor to bust it open not even a minute later.
She quickly runs out the door again and runs down the hall.
That’s when she saw the hats he was using before turn on with a purple glow and it inhaled all the lockers in the hallway.
“He’s gonna make us all disappear. Permanently.”
She can’t leave her brothers. They already lost one she needs to be there for them.
This got too serious too quickly.
She continued to run when eventually got surrounded by her classmates. They got closer and closer trying to hypnotize her with their phones. Then mayhem appeared and poofed her out of there.
“ Mayhem! I’m so sorry-“
She felt so bad trying to hide mayhem the whole night. They deserved better. She got interrupted when mayhem pointed behind her still seeing the crowd of hypnotized students.
Nope nope nope.
And the chase was back on.
“Mayhem now is the time to get us out of here!”
She quickly got cornered again, she looked around frantically. All her classmates looked like zombies, eyes glowing a sharp pink.
Mayhem tried to teleport them away but all they could do was glitch.
“ Oh no. Look at you, you’re exhausted, you must be all out of poof juice!”
“ Don’t worry I got this. They will listen to me! I’M APRIL O'NEIL!”
It was dead silent.
Of course nobody knew her name. She was doomed. Doomed to disappear in some silly magic trick. She can’t disappear yet, she has so much to live for.
If she disappears, who will remember Leo?
There was a loud boom as Ralph came through the wall. His mystic red holograms cover his arms as he lands in front of her.
Not gonna lie he looked…scary.
He quickly scooped her up and started running to the exit. Up close she noticed that he had his protective lenses on for his eyes.
“ Wait Ralph, we can't leave yet! Hypno is trying to make my school disappear!”
The only response she got was a huff from Ralph and him slowing up a bit.
“ I have a plan but I need you to deal with hypno first and free everyone.”
They stop by the theater where they part ways with a nod.
It was weird, she had never seen Ralph so serious before. Sure he was usually the most mature but he seemed different. He didn’t have the same spark like he used to.
She can contemplate on this later but right now she’s going to need a car.
___
“ Finally you’re back, oh it’s you.”
Hypno looked up to see Ralph just standing at the door.
“ Where's the others? I'm surprised the blue one isn’t here. He seemed to like my magic shows.”
A low growl was the only thing he heard before he got hit in the face. Flying towards the wall leaving a hippo shaped dent into it.
He plucked himself off the wall pulling out his rings to throw.
“ Sorry mate, I didn't mean to strike a nerve.”
Before hypno could get in a quip or two he was thrown into the wall again, this time breaking through.
He shook his head and looked up. All he saw when the dust settled was a silhouette of a monster.
That’s when all his hats appeared beside him. Then a creature came and teleported him and the hats in the air. His hats started to glow his signature purple color. He knew what was coming next as he disappeared in a burst of purple energy.
As everyone reverted back to normal, April came in with Taylor's golf cart, all busted up. Mayhem teleported into her lap as she hugged them.
She didn’t care that her classmates still saw her as weird; she was just happy the situation was over. But as she looked over at Ralph she became worried again.
His eyes have returned to normal but he was staring at the ground like it offended him. He clenched and unclenched his fists to the point that his knuckles split.
She was going to have a long talk about healthier coping mechanisms when she gets home.
Notes:
Not all the chapters are going to be written like this I was mostly experimenting. Also not me projecting my oldest sibling anger/grief onto April and Ralph✋😔
Have a good day/night🩵
Chapter 4: Casper
Notes:
I know this might be silly but slight TW with graphic duplication on injuries. I put it in between the * if you want to skip it.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Leo’s eyes slowly blinked open from where he was laying on the sidewalk. He slowly remembered what happened before that could have led to him laying shell first on pavement.
When Leo stood up he still felt fuzzy but a different type of fuzzy. More like he got stuck is a jar full of TV static, feeling pins and needles all over his body. Like he just woke up in a weird position after a nap.
Still he felt off… like everything was slightly to the left. He felt out of body, floaty even.
In his defense he just got thrown off a roof. He could have sworn that he saw his life flash before his eyes when he fell. To be honest he should have done more with his life. It was sad.
Speaking of which, where did everyone go?
So what, once Ralph caught him they decided to ditch him? Just to be petty? The nerve.
He doesn’t mind too much, he has major tea to spill. Unless Ralph already told them, but he would just tell the story again for dramatics.
He looked around but he couldn’t find his sword, great. Looks like he’s walking home.
Those guys owe him, today has to be named Leo day, it’s the least he deserves.
As he slips down a manhole, a nervous feeling settles in his stomach. Something felt off but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
When he finally got to the lair it was quiet. The only thing being heard was whatever splinter was watching in the living room.
Other than that nothing was out of the ordinary. As he went deeper into his home he could faintly hear someone in the kitchen.
It was probably Mikey, his little brother is the only one allowed unsupervised in the kitchen. Leo could cook, but he was not allowed in a five inch radius of the toaster. Donne would try to upgrade any mundane item he could find until the end result became almost unusable. And he remembers that one time Ralph managed to burn water.
He leans on the kitchen island, hitting his hand down repeatedly.
“Mikey you would never guess what I just found out! Draxum created us! He told me this before he threw me off a roof so I don’t think he’s very attached.”
He got no response out of Mikey.
“ Mikey?”
Mikey did nothing, not even turn his head.
“ Mikey, are you ignoring me?”
Nothing, he didn’t even look up.
“What type of prank is this Mikey? Whatever it is, it's not funny.”
Still no response, he just continues to stir the soup that he’s making.
“Mikey are you mad at me or something?”
Nothing.
“ Mikey “
Nothing.
“Mikey?”
Still nothing.
“ Mikey come on this isn’t funny anymore”
Leo started to get more nervous. He walked closer to Mikey trying to get his attention.
“Look what ever I did I’m sorry but can you at least look at me?”
Mikey didn’t even look up from the soup.
“MIKEY!”
The lights flickered for a moment which finally got Mikey’s attention as he looked up.
“Bro what is up with you lately, first you guys ditch me at Big Mama’s place but know your acting like I’m a gho-“
He doesn’t get to finish that sentence as Mikey walks right through him.
What.
Leo stalls for a minute, his brain rebooting. What just happened? He wasn’t actually a ghost. Right?
It happens again when Mikey phases through him. It felt weird with the same pins and needles feeling like before.
He tries to put his hand on Mikey’s shoulder but it just goes over him. Mikey shivers at the touch but other than that there was no reaction.
His breath hitches as tries to get Mikey’s attention, failing each time.
He starts to breathe faster trying to find his other two brothers.
He found Ralph in his bedroom, sleeping in his bed. Though when he got closer he noticed that Ralph wasn’t actually sleeping. He was just staring at the wall like it just kicked a puppy in front of him. Leo noticed how tired he looked, his mask not hiding his eye bags.
“ Ralph? Ralph, can you hear me?”
Similar to Mikey, Ralph didn’t move.
“Ralph?”
He tries to touch his brother’s arm when it phased through. All that happened was Ralph shivering and pulling up his blankets higher.
Was he really…a ghost?
He runs out of Ralph’s room, tears threatening to springing loose as he tries to find Donne.
Maybe his twin can see him. Yeah come on Leo you can’t lose hope just yet.
He finds Donne in his lab of course. But it looked absolutely trashed, his usually clean and organized room in chaos. Papers thrown everywhere, a desk flipped over and a few machines that looked smashed.
Leo finds Donne sitting at the computer screens. He sees Donne’s leg bounce a mile per minute, typing rapidly against the keyboard. He had the same eye bags as Ralph and Mikey. His drawn on eyebrows creased together as he focused on his work.
He quickly glances at the tabs that Donne had opened.
Voice recordings, AI voice simulation, how to grieve?, 5 easy ways to cope after the loss of a loved one, photo albums, freezers.
Freezers?
Leo looks to the side seeing the old freezer he and Donne made a while back. He remembers making the freezer after a cold snap in the city making him look up brumation for turtles. He remembers spinning back-and-forth in Don's extra chair that was unofficially designated for him. With him rambling off random facts and info dumping till his heart content. Donne could have stopped him whenever he felt like it but he didn’t. Leo was one good white noise machine though he would never admit it. Even when Leo would inevitably get quiet it was comfortable. Just enjoying each other's company.
He had a feeling that he didn't want to know what’s in the box.
“Donne?”
Leo tries one last time.
“Donne?”
Nothing.
“ Donne. Donne please. Please Donne tell me this isn’t real”
Leo's voice cracked at the end as he started to tear up. Out of all the brothers Leo was always the least likely to cry, to actually cry, not just for show.
His voice started to shake as he phased in and out of Donne.
“Please. Please. Please. This…this can’t be…happening”
He started to breathe more heavily, tears flowing down his face.
“ PLEASE DONNE!”
The lights in the lab flickered but Donne didn’t even react to the wail that Leo let out.
He rushed out of the lab down to the bathroom. He needed to see himself, maybe this was some kind of mystic spell left over from the hotel.
Those hopeful thoughts died him his head the moment he saw his reflection.
*
He saw a big red streak covering the right corner of his head, bleeding into his mask. He saw the way his neck twisted in a way that can’t be natural. He’s just happy it didn’t break skin which couldn’t be said for his legs.
Muscle and skin stretching and distorting around the white bones of his shattered legs.He turned around and saw his shell. Or what’s left of it. It was completely caved in, his pattern unrecognizable in a bloody mosaic maze. He didn’t want to look at it too long.
*
Leo’s hands started to shake. His shoulders hitch up as he sobs. He slowly lowers himself down, trying to curl himself in a ball.
This can’t be happening.
His whole body shook as he cried out. But no one heard him.
Leo has never felt so isolated before. He didn’t want this. Why did this have to happen to him?
Why did Mikey have to be right?
Notes:
Now it’s time for some ghost shenanigans.🎉
Also the updates might be coming in slower bc 1) school is actively beating me up 2) I'm almost out of all my pre-written chapters. I’m still going to try to update every Friday and Tuesday or so though.Have a good day/night 🩵
Chapter Text
The next few days Leo tried his hardest to get his brother to notice him.
He noticed that when he yelled the lights flickered and so he tried over and over again. All that came out of that was a sore throat and splinter complaining about the power.
He tried doing typical ghost stuff like picking up and throwing things, appearing in reflections, or moving cold air around or something.
He has only watched a handful of ghost hunter episodes with Mikey so that is all he’s working with.
Moving around the air was the easiest, anytime he touched or was near his brothers they would shiver. Though that was about all the reaction he would get. They might grab a blanket or hoodie if he did it enough times but still.
He didn’t want to test out the reflection one. After that time in the bathroom he avoided mirrors like the plague. He hated how mangled he looked and he didn’t want his siblings to see him like that.
So all that really left was manipulating the things around him. He tried something small at first, like flicking a light switch.
Which for some reason was one of the hardest things Leo has ever done.
He lost count of how many times he phased through the light switch. Getting more and more frantic the longer it took.
Until finally he turned off the light.
And then he promptly passed out.
Could he pass out if he’s a ghost? Would that even work?
Funny, he really took the “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” expression to heart.
He decided to just call them naps because calling them anything else made it too real.
And so the cycle repeated. Him trying his best to move a pen or a cup left on the counter. Then trying for at least half an hour, then finally making it move an inch. Then he proceeded to take a ‘nap’ for another 30 minutes.
He just had to build up his endurance. That’s what he kept telling himself at least. Then when one of his brothers finally notices he can stay awake long enough to follow it up.
But then which brother would actually believe him.
Maybe Ralph? He was the quickest to believe something. Be it someone new or some random conspiracy theory of a canceled Jupiter Jim TV show.
But he didn’t want to follow Ralph around.
It was hard watching Ralph stay in his bed all day. It was very un-Ralph of him. Ralph was always the one to wake up first to do a light exercise and then join Mikey in the kitchen. Now Ralph stays in his room for hours, sleeping most days or just silently staring at his phone.
It was scary. He looked like Splinter.
Ralph did move once. It was when they all came back from the mall after he took a ‘nap’. He didn’t know why they left but he did hear when they came back.
He heard the hushed voices as Mikey and Donne just walked past him as usual. A hollow look in their eyes as they went their separate ways to their rooms.
He then heard the loud stomps heading to his medbay. He found Ralph in there, wrapping his bloody hands in bandages. At first Leo didn’t think it was Ralph. His eyes were all white like when he wound go savage but he seemed …calmer, more calculated. It was scary seeing him like that, he looked like a predator and he didn’t like that one bit.
His big brother wasn’t a monster.
He wanted to go to Donne next, but his twin has been isolating himself for the past week. Only leaving his lab when absolutely necessary, or if Mikey forces him. And by that he means he once saw Mikey lift his brother up like a log to drag him out of the lab and into the living room with him. They used to be able to lure him out with coffee, but Leo’s no coffee machine in the lab rule has been vetoed in his absence. If Leo tried to prove that he was a ghost Donne would just push it off as a symptom of sleep deprivation. Leo can count a handful of times that has happened to him.
So he decided to follow Mikey around. He was the most aware of healthy coping mechanisms and he was always the most spiritual of the brothers.
Mikey always was the one to believe in ghosts.
He just had to flicker the lights or knock something over in front of him. Easy enough, right.
Turns out that his fast little brother was a little too fast. Speeding around the lair from one distraction to another. He didn’t stay in one room long enough for Leo to even start powering up to knock over something.
He tried screaming a few more times, he wasn’t called the tantrum child for nothing. But even calling Mikey’s name over and over again just got into Leo’s head more so he stopped.
He would still pretend to have conversations with Mikey though. He might as well have some fun with it.
“ I wonder what I should make for dinner?”
“You know I heard that turtle soup is in season right now. I’ll go ask Donne!”
Ignored.
“What game should I play?”
“ Star Wars legos! It’s the best game!”
And then Leo went on a half an hour lore dump as Mikey clicked on animal crossing.
He liked doing this, it brought him some sort of normalcy and comfort. He still persisted with moving objects around Mikey when he could. Dropping a spatula, skateboards and other materials until he saw Mikey start to set up something in front of his room. It was a short desk with a picture of him in the middle with his mask and sword thrown on top. It looked unfinished but Leo could see what Mikey was onto.
Hopefully it will be good for Leo.
___________
Mikey was always the superstitious type. Always believing in ghost stories and cryptids. So he has a good understanding when things start to get a little strange.
With his remaining two brothers isolating themselves in their grief, Mikey prides himself on having somewhat healthy coping skills.
He has been going from one activity to another to get his mind off of the incident. From stress cooking to working on his animal crossing island to painting, he’s been keeping himself busy.
But sometimes he notices when things get shoved off the kitchen counters, even when they were nowhere near the edge. Or he would get these random chills, and the lights would flicker. And sometimes if he focuses he could hear whispers. Nothing coherent and they were too quiet to even tell it’s there.
That’s when he got reminded of something he had wanted to try.
To make Leo an altar.
He saw a few from different cultures and traditions to remember the dead. He decided to make his own by grabbing a desk and finding a good picture of Leo he liked and grabbed Leo’s mask and sword. He placed them on the makeshift shrine as he went to the hidden city to buy more items.
He grabbed some incense, oranges and some of Leo’s favorite snacks and drinks.
On his way he stopped by the Run of the Mill pizza place. He’ll pick up some pizza for Ralph and Donne, maybe they’ll eat with him this time. As he walks in, the smell of fresh dough hits him, the warmth of the restaurant. He couldn’t help himself as he started to tear up, he’s surprised he lasted this long, just shopping for Leo almost made him tear up in the shops.
So as he stood there with silent tears flowing down his cheek. The skeleton owner walked up to him, his usual stoic look shifted into something more concerned. It wasn’t everyday that he saw a little kid crying in the front of his pizzeria.
“¿Qué pasa, niño?”
Mikey looked up at the skeleton man, rubbing his eyes.
“Nothing… nothing sir. Can I have one cheese pie to go please?
Mikey rushed out his order, he felt embarrassed crying in public let alone in front of an adult.
The man just nodded and wrote down the order and gave it to a waiter, looking back to the kid in front of him.
“Talk to me niño.”
Is this what Donne talks about when he says he wants perennial validation. And that’s when he bursted, spilling out all the feelings he’s been trying to repress.
Not knowing how to comfort him Hueso just pats his head as Mikey sniffles.
Mikey cried until his pizza came. Hueso gave him the pizza asking what was in his bag. Mikey explained what he was working on and Hueso gave him some advice.
“When making a shrine like that you have to give a piece of your soul to gain a soul.”
Mikey nodded and thanked him as he ran home.
He deposited the pizza on the kitchen counter , he’ll eat it later, he has more important things to do.
He added the new stuff he bought as well as some flowers and candles he found. When it finally looked finished he followed what Hueso told him. He focuses all his energy into the feeling of his brother. Of all the memories they had together since they were babies. All the love he has for his brother he calls out to him, praying for an answer and a sign.
Nothing.
Nothing happened and disappointment settled in his lungs as angry tears spring forth. He didn’t know what he was expecting, for Leo to fly down from the heavens to grace him with his presence?
He just wanted his brother! Was that too much to ask?
He ran to his room trying to find something to occupy his brain besides the guilt and the memories of his brother’s limp form. He settled on a painting that he has been working on for the past few days. It’s a painting of the New York skyline with the Manhattan Bridge overlooking the East river. He started to paint until his angry tears dried and his breaths became even again. Painting always helped clear his mind as he let his mind fuzz out.
He started to tap the paint brush against his chin, something was missing.
“What else could I be missing?”
“A lovely shade of blue would help.”
Mikey snapped his head around so fast that the ends of his mask hit him in the face. It was a whisper, like it was just next to his ear. But he could recognize that voice anywhere.
That sounded just like Leo.
Notes:
From experience, if you ever show up to a pizzeria sad/crying, the old man behind the counter will either drop some sage wisdom and life advice or insult you. There is no in-between.
Have a good day/night 🩵
Chapter 6: Tiger eyed shark
Notes:
*slaps top of fic* you can fit so many headcannons in this baby.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Leo sat there wide eyed.
Did…did Mikey hear him!
“Leo?”
The desperation in Mikey’s voice was about to make Leo break but he had to push forward. This is the moment he’s been training for. This is his chance to prove that he is there for Mikey. That he is there for his brothers, his family.
But in typical Leo fashion, he fails.
All the hard work he’s been doing for the past weeks goes down the drain. He has been moving things all day, whatever Mikey did, gave him a power boost, but it didn’t do enough.
But he just. Couldn’t. Do it
He tried to move paint brushes, water cups, he even tried to call his name a few times.
But still nothing worked.
As he tried to do anything useful Mikey started to break down even more.
“Leo? Leo, please tell me that wasn’t just a thought in my head.”
No no no Mikey, he’s here he’s here.
“Please Leo you can’t leave me!”
But Leo couldn’t do anything as more angry tears sprang from Mikey. A heavy feeling of guilt settled in his gut. He didn’t want to be the reason for Mikey’s tears.
He didn’t want to make his little brother cry.
“Why did you have to leave me! You were supposed to stay with us, with me! I need my big brother! I need my brother back!” Mikey screamed.
Leo also started crying, tears slowly rolling down. All he could do was slightly hover over Mikey in a hug. He realized early on that he couldn’t hug his brothers; he would just phase through him.
He felt Mikey slightly shiver under him as Mikey shook through his sobs.
“L…Le-o? Leo?” Mikey hiccuped out.
He was going to try again to talk to Mikey when Donne rushed in. He must have heard the wails from Mikey, his big brother instincts kicking in.
Leo failed again.
____
Days passed since Mikey's meltdown. He kept on rambling on about how he heard Him. That he knows what he heard and that he’s not crazy. But Donne couldn’t help to doubt him a little.
Mikey has been running around in denial for so long and now it’s finally crashed around him. He felt bad about his brother’s unraveling, but he needed a reality check. He really hates being negative but someone has to be the voice of reason. He would normally ask Leo or Ralph for advice but Ralph has been holding himself up in his room like what splinter used to be. And Leo…
Mikey continues to run around the lair still, grabbing seemingly random stuff to add to…something?
“Dee, do you still have that laser engraver?”
Mikey randomly walked into his lab. Donne stopped and pulled off his googles. He tilted his head toward a corner in his lab where a tall machine was buried.
“It’s over there. Why do you need it?”
Mikey just shrugged him off walking towards it. That was suspicious. Mikey always liked to ramble about whatever he was working on.
“Can you engrave this?”
Mikey handed Donne a huge polished slab of Tiger eye.
“I’m not even going to question where you got that from. What do you want on it?”
Donne moved around to start up the machine not noticing how Mikey looked uncomfortable, darting his eyes around until letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
“I want to put Leo’s name on it. The full one.”
Donne wiped around to stare at Mikey. His face was black but Mikey knew Donne’s little hints. The twitch of his eyebrows, the slight frown on his beak.
“Ok.”
His voice was blank and monotone but so many thoughts and feelings rushed through his brain.
“It’s for Leo’s shrine.”
“You’re making him a shrine?”
Why didn’t Mikey tell them this? He could have helped in some way. Or with both of them they might be able to get Ralph out of bed. He didn’t want to lose another father.
“Yeah. I’m… sorry for not telling you sooner.”
“Don’t worry about it Mikey.”
He starts up the machine as it starts cutting into his and Leo’s birthstone.
“Can I add anything to the shrine?”
He wants to support his little brother even though the thought of making Leo a shrine seems silly. Then again, Donne always wanted a statue in his honor when he died.
“Of course!”
Donne hums in approval as he thinks about what to put. He finally has an idea when the machine lets out a chime telling him it is done. He hands the slab over to Mikey as he searches for the item.
It was one of the first gifts Donne has ever given Leo.
It was one of those shark plushies from IKEA.
Sharks and the sea was always one of Leo’s special interests, but that wasn’t the reason Donne got it for him.
He got it when they were about 9 or 10. Donne was trying to prove Leo wrong that they weren’t twins by testing their DNA. Donne was wrong which Leo never let him forget but they also found out that splinter was also wrong. When the rat man first acquired the baby turtles he guessed their genders, though he was 3/4 right. Leo was technically not like the rest of them. Leo cried and ran into their shared room. In his head he was still a boy no matter what Donne’s stupid computer said. Right?
Seeing Leo like that Donne broke one of Ralph’s rules and went out to get Leo a gift. He’s been seeing these shark plushies popping up in the magazines Mikey collected and decided to stea-get, get Leo this plush. When he returned he found Leo still quietly sniffing in the corner of their room. He sat right next to him and pulled out the freshly stolen shark.
“If it matters, I still think you’re a cool twin brother.”
Leo all but jumped on Donne hugging him. Donne squealed about Leo getting his snot everywhere. Leo has kept that plushie ever since.
Donne found it in his room underneath the pillow fort they made before the Incident. He moved some of the blankets and pillows around but he couldn’t bring himself to take it down.
While he was going out he spotted Leo’s phone. He was trying to get all the photos out and onto a file. He decided it would also be a good addition to the shrine. He grabbed it off his desk but nearly dropped it because of how cold it was. That distracted him long enough not to notice why the phone was unlocked and opened in the family group chat.
He followed Mikey to Leo’s room where the shrine was, shark and phone in hand. He saw that Mikey decorated it well, fulfilling Leo’s messy maximalism aesthetic. A picture of him surrounded by candles and incense sticks, now joined with an almost reflective stone with Leonardo’s name on it. Around it was his mask and sword as well as small items from his room.
Donne was about to place the plushie down too when Mikey stopped him.
“You have to make sure you give a part of your soul and give it as an offering.”
“Who told you that?”
Donne was going to argue about the science behind Mikey’s claim but decided to comply.
”Señor Hueso, that pizza guy.”
Donne raised an eyebrow at that but just sat silently next to Mikey.
He followed the guidelines of what Mikey said, reaching within him. Bringing forth all the feelings that came with Leo. How he somehow would always annoy Donne but was still supportive. They would show their love in such small ways he didn’t realize that they were even there until Leo was gone. He put all that energy into the two items as he placed them down.
He felt Mikey curl around him in a half hug. He felt dampness under his eyes as he brought his hand up to brush away a few stray tears.
It felt good to have closure.
___
Leo had it! He almost had it!
He was trying his last resort to try to prove that he’s there.
He won’t let his brothers give up on him.
Even though he liked the shrine it felt like they were moving on too quickly. Not that he wanted them to mourn him forever, he hated the look in their eyes whenever they passed his room. But it only bubbled up old insecurities, of how easily replaceable he is. That he’s only holding them back, being a burden.
And he’s nothing without them.
So he tried to work with his phone and unsurprisingly, it was hard. You never realize how many times you tap your phone until your fingers feel like lead or just phase through the phone.
Though he was proud of the fact that he managed to unlock his phone and open up the group chat.
As he was figuring out what to say because he knows saying “guess who’s back” in the chat will not get the attention he wants.
He didn’t realize when Donne walked in and took the phone from him. All he saw was a hand phase through him and took all his hard work.
And Leo broke.
He has been trying. So hard.
And it was all useless.
Useless.
Useless.
Useless.
He hadn't even realized that he was sitting in his designated swerve chair. Just crumbling down in what used to be his comfort spot, now a reminder that things will never be the same.
While he sobbed out all his feelings that he has been bottling up since he died he didn’t hear the door open.
“L…Leo?”
Notes:
HIIII, I just want to say thank you all so much for the positivity you’ve been giving me. All your comments have been a real motivator for me so thank you!!!!!!💙💙💙
_____
- The amount of rabbit holes I had to go through to find out their birthdays so I can find Donne’s and Leo’s birthstone, I just made up my own. Ralph’s is May 1st, Leo and Donne’s are June 1st, and Mikey is September 1st. They are all the first of the month to make it easy to remember.Have a good day/night 🩵
Chapter Text
That’s it, Donne’s finally lost it.
Maybe it was one too many all nighters or his still grieving brain short-circuiting.
But he was sure of it now, that is his brother.
There is his dead brother, crying in his chair. Normally he would be wondering why his twin who usually never cries, is sobbing into his hands. But he knows.
“L…Leo?”
Leo shoots his head up to stare at Donne. He notices Leo’s mouth move but he couldn’t hear him.
“ Leo?”
Donne hopes Leo didn’t pick up the crack in his voice. If he’s even real?
He noticed Leo trying to use sign language to try to communicate with him. Besides himself, Leo is the most fluent in the language.
But he can’t focus on what he’s trying to say.
Leo looks the same as the day he died.
Donne has thought that those images would belong burned into his memory. The way his twin's body twists unnaturally, blood still fresh even though his heart is cold. But with one good look at his brother he can tell it’s him.
“ Leo is it really yo-“
But he’s cut off by a blaring alarm with his own voice echoing around the lair, “Villain alert. Villain alert. Villain alert”. The words repeated as the lights flash.
In-between the flashing red lights he can still see Leo. Mouth open in a silent scream wanting Donne to hear him. Ralph rushes into the room calling for Donne.
“Donne? Donne, you there?”
“Yeah! I’m here!”
He looks back at Ralph’s worried face. He hated the crease of his brow and his hands clamping around his ears. When Donne looks back he no longer sees Leo. He turns off the alarm seeing that the location is in Alberto Land, seems familiar.
He rushes out with this tech Bo in hand with Mikey and Ralph pushing Leo in the back of his mind for now. He can unpack that later.
_______
Donne was so tired. Turns out trying to hold off over a hundred Alberto animatronics as well as hacking into said Alberto network to shut them down can take a lot out of a guy.
All he wanted to do was to flop into bed and fall asleep for 18 hours.
As soon as his head hit the pillow though he remembered what he saw before the attack.
The logical side of his head tells him it was all in his head. That he was running on 4 hours of sleep for the past two days, so of course he might be a bit delusional. His brain was just releasing what he wanted to see, especially after just praying to the shrine they just made.
But he knew. He KNEW that his brother was there. He wasn’t crazy! He knows what he saw! Don’t say that he’s in denial because he is NOT!
Right!
Right?
He didn’t even realize his feet were moving until he found himself in front of Leo’s altar. He saw that cocky grin stare back at him, one that he used to hate, now wanting it back.
He quickly knelt down and let an incense stick. It worked last time, maybe it will work again.
Like how he did before, he brought up all his favorite memories of Leo. In that moment he remembered one in particular.
He doesn’t remember how old they were, all he knew was that it was around the time splinter started to hide away more and more. He remembers waking up from a nightmare alone. He always hated waking up from a nightmare, the raw feeling of fear even though there is nothing there, the sticky sweaty feeling and fast paced heart.
Normally he would run to Ralph’s room to be comforted, but at the time Mikey had a fever. He didn’t want to take attention away from his little brother so he hid. He crawled into his safe corner between his bed and bookcase. He thought he was crying quietly until Leo rushed in.
“What’s wrong Dee Dee?”
Donne only sobbed harder.
“No no don’t cry. Dee no cry.”
Leo moved into his little corner, squishing together. Donne didn’t like physical touch when he was like this, his only exception was his twin.
“How-how did you- know I was-crying? Donne hiccuped out, snuggling closer to Leo.
“It was my twin sense!”
“We are not twins.”
“ Yes we are! Stop living in the Nile.”
“It’s denial, the Nile is a river in Egypt.”
“Same thing.”
“No it’s not.”
“Whatever.”
Donne just rolled his eyes, calming down slightly. They stayed silent for a while, just enjoying each other’s company.
“Can you promise me something Lee?”
“Course.”
“Can you promise to stay with me?”
“Don’t worry Dee, I’m not going anywhere soon.”
That liar.
He lied! He didn’t stay with him. He promised. He promised!
Tears started to flow down his face, that one happy memory tainted now. He did leave him. It wasn’t fair! It wasn’t fair!
“You broke your promise!”
He choked out between sobs. He hated crying so much, but it seems like that’s all he’s been doing. He just misses his twin. He just wants his twin back.
“Have I really lost you forever?”
He never wanted to lose his brother. He should have never lost a brother in the first place.
“ I know what I saw yesterday! I am not in denial! I know what I saw!”
He doesn’t care if he’s being too loud at this point. He will scream as loud as he can so Leo can hear him in the after life.
“Why didn’t you stay?”
Donne broke down what felt like the third time today. He felt absolutely exhausted both physically and mentally.
The phone on the altar buzzed to life.
What?
He would think I was maybe April or just a spam text but when he looked at the contact his heart stopped.
It was from Leo. It read “I’m here” which shook Donne to his core.
He was here?
“What do you mean “I’m here”?
This can’t be Leo, Leo is dead. There is no way of Leo texting him, no one can hack into their network and not even he can unlock Leo’s phone.
He waited for a bit until another notification popped up.
“I don’t break promises.”
Before Donne could question that response as well he felt something next to him. He let out a shiver involuntarily as something cold settled on him.
There was no evidence to support it. It made absolutely no scientific sense. But he knew deep down in his very soul.
It was Leo.
He looked to where the cold air formed and he saw him. He saw the faint outline of his brother, not fully visible but just enough that Donne could make him out. He watches as Leo slowly sighed out.
“I told you I wasn’t going anywhere.”
Notes:
Hello!! I don’t think I can keep posting every Tuesday but I’m still going to try every Friday. If I don’t make myself a schedule I’m going to forget.
I promise more fluff in the next chapter because they all need a hug.
Have a good day/night 🩵🩵🩵
Chapter Text
Leo could feel the pins and needles feeling slowly crawl up his spine. Like his nerves were starting to spark and then die out. His vision started to swim until he finally let out a puff of air and the feeling stopped.
“That was an hour and a half. 30 minutes more than last time.”
Donne responded as he wrote down the results. When Leo explained how he can materialize and move they started to experiment with how long he can last.
His record for being seen was 2 hours but it lowers when he has to do something else like talking. Leo thought that being able to talk would be easier than just being able to be seen but he was wrong. So far he was only able to be verbal for about 30 minutes until Donne couldn’t hear him anymore. He was just happy Donne wasn’t telling him to shut up.
“Hold this piece of paper.”
Leo places his hands under the paper waiting for Donne to let go. Interacting with objects always drains him, especially after trying to be seen and heard. He tried to explain that to Donne but he was insistent that he should test it.
He was keeping an eye on the timer Donne set up on the main monitor when Donne suddenly stood up from his chair.
“I forgot to tell Mikey. I forgot to tell Ralph! They would be so happy to know that you’re ali- here with us! How could I forget?!”
Leo lets go of the paper as he watches it float to the floor.
“Leo? Are you still with me?”
Looking up he waves his hand through Donne’s arm two times. To be honest, for a few minutes he forgot he was even dead. The two twins settled into their usual rhythm like they used too perfectly.
“Ok, I’m going to go tell Mikey. Come with me.”
Donne stood up from the chair, leaving the lab in a rush. Leo quickly took off after him, feeling a lot more clingy.
It seems too good to be true.
By the time they both made it to Mikey’s room they remembered that it was the middle of the night. The usual insomniacs didn’t even notice and Donne didn’t care as he broke into the room.
“Mikey! I have great news!”
Mikey jumped from his hammock swinging side to side before falling out. He lifted his head out of the four blankets to give Donne the meanest death glare he could make.
A few beads of sweat appeared on Donne’s forehead as he looked away guilty. He usually takes pride in being the scary dog in the family but no one was as scary as a sleepy Mikey.
“Now look I have a good reason to wake you up-“
He was cut off as a slipper hit him square in the face, making him tumble over. Leo, being the loving twin that he is, bursted out laughing.
Mikey froze where he was,stopping midway from launching another slipper at Donne.
“What was that?”
Mikey let out a whisper, his eyes blown wide scanning the room.
“That was the news that I was going to tell you when I was rudely interrupted!”
“Yeah, no one cares about your bruised ego.”
Mikey’s eyes widened more as Donne continued as if it was normal.
“Offended gasp! How dare you brother you wound me.”
“Is that Leo?”
Mikey’s started to frantically search the room. He kept staring at random spots of the room like if he looked hard enough he would see Leo.
“This isn’t demon possession is it, I always fall for this!”
Mikey pointed an accusatory finger at Donne.
“ No, trust me! It’s Leo!”
“You-you better not be lying to me!”
Mikey’s shoulders started to shake, his voice cracking. His eyes started to get glossy, wiping them with his sleeve.
“You better not be lying!”
“ I never lie Mikey, I just bend the truth.”
Mikey eyes shot up the voice he thought he would never hear again. And there he was. Leo was standing next to Donne, arms open offering Mikey a hug.
Mikey didn’t hesitate to jump into his arms and to Donne’s surprise, Mikey didn’t phase through Leo.
Even Leo looked a bit surprised, but he’s been waiting to hug his brothers for so long. Now that he can, he's never letting go.
He rocked Mikey back and forth in the hug, Mikey having a death grip on his, sobbing into his shoulder. He felt Donne also latch onto him in a side hug, wrapping his robot arms around the two.
They stayed like that together for a while until Leo started to phase in and out. Mikey pulled away first but still wanted to stick to Leo’s side.
“Wait, that one time in my room. Was that you?”
Leo nodded, not having the energy to respond verbally.
“ I knew it! I wasn’t crazy!” Mikey pumped his fists in the air. Then he came to the same conclusion Donne had before.
“We have to tell Ralph and April.”
They looked over at Leo who was flickering in and out of vision. They could make out his signing “do it together. I don’t know how long I’ll last.” Before he flickered out.
“ Leo! You still there?”
Mikey felt a shiver go down his spine as he felt something cold fall on his shoulder.
Now he knows why he has been cold for so long.
“This is kind of my fault. Leo wasted all his spirit energy trying to convince me he was actually Leo.” Donne said, rubbing the back of his neck. He realized that it probably wasn’t the best, wasting all of Leo’s energy on little tests.
“How do we help him then?”
Mikey didn’t like how his anxiety spiked the moment he lost sight of Leo. He knew he was there, he could feel him by his side, but he would feel much with his eyes on him.
“He mentioned that when we did the altar he had a burst of power. That means-“
“If we all pray to it Leo would get stronger! And we can see him!”
They both start jumping up and down, happy to be able to help.
“ I’ll text April the meet us up you go get Ralph” Donne pointed to Mikey.
“Why do I have to get Ralph?”
Donne just gave Mikey a look,”yeah yeah ‘I don’t do good with emotions.” The rest Donne couldn’t make out as Mikey walked out.
As he walked to Ralph’s room his mind was racing, still trying to process that his dead brother is now a ghost. It seems too good to be true. He thought he would never hear Leo’s laugh ever again.
He made it to Ralph’s room quicker than he thought. He had no idea how he was going to do this, he’s been trying for weeks to get Ralph out of his room. The only time he came out was on missions or when he went out only to come home with his knuckles bloody. When Mikey formed a plan in his head he took in a puff of air and walked it.
He was meet with a dimly lit room, the only light coming from some Chinese lantern they took from chinatown and a light under a mound of blankets. The only indication of Ralph being underneath was his tail sticking out of it.
“Ralph? Are you under there?”
Mikey watches as the blankets move revealing Ralph’s head.
“Do you need something Mikey?”
His voice sounded raspy from it not being used. He wasn’t wearing his mask so his eye bags were visible. He looked so tired.
“I made something you want to see?!”
Ralph sat up and hummed and bit but maid no effort into getting out of bed.
“Also Donne invited April over so she’ll be here soon.”
“Ok Mikey.” Ralph’s eyes were hollow as he brushed his fingertips over his scabbed knuckles.
Ok, it looks like Raph won’t be getting up anytime soon. Time to bring out the big guns.
He put together his best puppy dog eyes, pushing all his youngest brother energy to make Ralph come with him.
“Can you get out of bed please Ralph. I want to show you something but you need to get up first.”
Ralph tried to avoid making eye contact knowing that if he looked he would have no choice.
“Please, for me?”
Ralph let out a big sigh as he got up. Mikey rushed to give him a hug, almost lifting him up off the floor.
“Thank you Ralphe!”
“So what did you want to show me?”
“Come see!”
Mikey dragged Ralph by his arm out of his dark room. Ralph had to blink a few times to adjust to the light. Mikey walked him to Leo’s room when they stopped. There was a small altar made for his dead younger brother. A brother he killed because he wasn’t fast enough. Because he was a terrible older brother. All those thoughts that have been circling him like sharks came to the forefront of his mind.
He should have never left his room.
“Ralph you ok?”
Ralph looked down at Mikey, forcing a smile. He doesn’t deserve them, the proof that he had failed them was right in front of them. Why wasn’t Mikey yelling at him? Why hasn’t Donne come in yet to yell at him for killing his twin? Can’t they see that this is all his fault.
“It looks lovely Mikey”
Mikey beamed up at him as he sat down waiting for Ralph to join him. When Ralph sat down Mikey put his hands together and bowed his head, Ralph following his lead.
“ You have to give a part of yourself as a gift to Leo.”
So that’s what he did.
All the guilt that has been swirling around in his gut snaked its way up to his mind. Memories rushed forward of all the times he’s failed Leo.
Over and over and over again.
“Raph! Raph! Raph!
Leo is bouncing on his toes in front of Ralph. He’s trying to make something for them to eat because dad hasn’t left his room in a few days.
“What is it Leo?”
“What are stars?”
“I’m not really sure. Why don’t you ask Donne?”
“Noooo! He’s gonna give a boring answer! I wanna know what YOU think stars are!”
Ralph didn’t know a single thing about stars or space. He’s seen Leo collecting a whole bunch of astronomy books lately.
“Hmmm…. I think stars are…. Everyone we love. There is probably one for Donne, April, you, me, dad-“
“ Mikey’s probably shines the brightest.” Leo cut him off as they both giggled.
“ Yeah, you’re probably right.”
It was only when Leo died did the night sky get dimmer. Leo shined so bright that when he was gone Ralph was left in the dark.
“You ok big guy?”
Ralph opened his eyes at the voice. He looked over at April who had a hand on his shoulder. He felt something wet drip down on his legs as his hands reached up to his face to feel tears.
“Yeah I’m good.” Ralph said in a hushed tone.
“So this is what Donne was talking about. It looks great Mikey. Mind if I place some stuff down?”
Mikey shot her a grin, ”Of course!”
April started to unpack her bag taking out candles and snacks. She even pulled out Leo’s favorite stuffed unicorn that he would steal from April whenever they came over.
There was a comfortable atmosphere around them as they looked at the decorated altar. Donne came up behind April giving Mikey a look.
“Man if Leo ever saw this his ego would swell too much.”
“As big as Donne’s forehead?”
Ralph and April quickly whipped their heads around to the voice. And standing right in front of them was their brother. Somehow he was there. They stood their slack jawed and eyes wide.
“What’s with those faces? It looks like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Leo had all but 3 seconds before he was tugged into a big group hug.
“Careful guys, you're going to squeeze the life out of me!”
“Nardo I swear to god if you make one more ghost pun!”
They all laughed in the hug, none of them wanting to let go. Ralph protectively wrapped himself around them as Mikey pushed himself in the middle next to Leo and April.Leo has never been happier, he missed this so much. All the times he wanted to hug his brothers, he finally can.
None of them will ever let go again.
Notes:
Sorry that this was late-ish. School and life has been beating me over the head with a chair.
They finally got to hug!!! Now they know he’s “alive” ( except for the people who didn’t know he died in the first place >:] )
They all have separation anxiety now.
Have a good day/night 🩵🩵
Chapter 9: Lost time
Summary:
The Gumbus/ The Purple Jacket
Chapter Text
“With my last breath I told you sooo!”
And then he falls.
Leo’s been watching this loop happen for a while now. Him being dropped off the roof and then watching himself splatter on the floor.
Over and over and over again.
Were his last words really, “I told you so.” Of all the things he could have said, that's what he chose.
He watched as his shell met concrete and shattered, then the loop continued.
At first he was disturbed, watching his death play out again and again. But this is the 4th time this has happened, he got used to it.
But this time was different. As he heard the sound of his shell smashing he looked over and saw a hooded figure. Then more appeared.
Every time he dies one more teal figure shows up. Then they started to walk to him, stretching out their arms like a welcome. But it’s more like seeing a relative you’ve never met before.
Something was off about them.
As they got closer they got more distorted, arms becoming long and uncanny . He started hearing them whisper “it’s time. It’s time. The martyr. The martyr.” They got closer.
And closer.
And closer.
Leo shot up from where he was laying, shaking from whatever fever dream that was. He still had left over tremors and his breath was unsteady as he scanned the room.
He looked down at his trembling hands only to see blood. His blood. Covering his palms and as his eyes traced down he saw his shattered legs.
He quickly shook his head, getting rid of that last of his nightmare. He tried to gather himself like last time, focusing on trying to make himself look normal. His family can never see him like this.
Leo looked himself over making sure he covered everything. He looked over at where everyone was sleeping. They all decided to have a turtle pile after the hug, not wanting to separate. Leo looked around himself, finding Donne and Mikey glued to his side with all three of them cradled in Ralph’s lap. April was there too hugging onto Ralph’s arm.
A part of him wanted to go back asleep. His insomnia never let him sleep more than 3 hours a night, so this was a blessing.
But he hates the dreams that come with it.
He can see why his family has been glued to his side since he materialized. He feels bad for worrying them so much. He knows he had almost no control over his death, but still! He hates being the reason his family is like a shell of themselves. Those weeks where he couldn’t interact with them was torture. He thought that his big reveal would have more emotional impact but he felt…numb.
Before he can unpack his thoughts he notices movement in the corner of his eye. For a brief moment a wave of anxiety rolled over him, images of those hooded figures appearing in his mind. He looked over only to see Mikey stretching awake.
Mikey was still wiping his eyes, but Leo had to make sure yesterday wasn’t all an illusion.
“Mikey can you hear me?”
Mikey blinked the last of his sleepiness away. Eyes blown wide he stained at the spirit in front of him.
“Leo!” Mikey screamed as he crashed into Leo.
“It wasn’t a dream! Oh me gosh you’re really here!”
Mikey hugged him hard, crushing him. Leo patted the top of his little brother's head as he grinned.
“Of course I’m here man, I wouldn’t ghost you guys.”
Mikey pulled Leo out of the hug, giving him an annoyed look.
“Was that a ghost pun?” Mikey squinted his eyes at Leo. The sliders only response was a shit eating grin.
“Hug revoked.” Mikey said flatly as he shoved Leo away.
“I am wounded Mikey, truly wounded.”
As Leo was being dramatic,Mikey slowly removed himself from the turtle pile putting a pillow in his place.
“Now, what do you want for breakfast?”
Leo looked away from his brother, “Whatever you feel like making.”
He didn’t know if he was even able to eat in the first place. He didn’t want to crush his little brother’s spirit while he’s happy. Thankfully Mikey took the bait.
“I can make a big breakfast spread! With eggs and pancakes and waffles and-“
“Don’t forget the bacon.”
“I can never forget the bacon you carnivores.”
“Yeah because the last time you forgot Ralph tried to eat it raw.”
They both burst into giggles as they remembered their big brother’s antics.
When they arrived at the kitchen Mikey started to pull all the pans out of the cupboards. As Leo heard the sound of metal meeting metal, he slouched on his seat by the kitchen island. One leg propped up on the stool, his chin resting on his knee and arms stretched out till he heard the sounds of his joints popping. They always joked that Donne had the worst shrimp posture out of all of them, but Leo was close second.
As the room slowly started to smell like eggs, batter and bacon the others started to crawl in. Ralph walked in first with a blanket over his head with only his beak peaking out. Curled around the end of the blanket that dragged on the floor on Ralph, was Donne curled like a cat. This was not an unusual sight. Mikey and Leo were always up early, they both were unable to sleep past 7. Ralph would wake up around 8 to make sure he had around 8 hours of sleep. Donne on the other hand would have to be dragged out of bed, quite literally if the scratches by his doorway is anything to go by.
“Is that bacon?”
“Yes Ralph, I know I can never forget it.”
Ralph slid into a stool, Donne still laying on the floor. They all nicely fit in the same routine like nothing was ever wrong.
“Where did April go?” Leo asked, looking at his red brother. “She went home, her mom got worried because she left in a hurry.” Ralph hummed out.
Donne finally crawled off the floor at the sound of the coffee machine. Pulling out a mug and pouring the coffee in,sliding it to Ralph. He then proceeds to drink straight from the coffee pot.
“No! Donne not again!” Mikey screamed as he tried to take the pot away from his hissing brother.
A few minutes later Mikey is back to flipping pancakes with Donne in the corner with a bendy straw in the coffee pot, clearly the victor.
Leo missed this.
The comfy and warm feeling. The normalcy of everything. It’s like he never left.
Mikey set out his breakfast spread on the table. Ralph and Donne immediately went for the bacon. Mikey made sure to stack a bunch of pancakes and waffles onto Leo’s plate before serving himself.
Leo looked down at his plate but instead of hunger he felt nervous. The nervous feeling started to pool in his gut, not wanting to take a bite. He hasn’t tried eating since he died. He didn’t feel hungry in a normal sense, more like an itch he just can’t scratch. Would he try to eat something and then it comically slipping out of him? Would it dissolve into ghost food?
He didn’t want to disappoint Mikey. He could notice his siblings trying to be subtle the way they glance at him. Leo picked up the fork like it was as heavy as lead. Picking up a piece of food he brought it to his mouth.
And it slipped right through his jaw.
Leo felt shame rise up to his shoulders as he spared a glance at his brothers. There was a mix of pity and guilt in all their looks. He felt pinpricks of guilt crawl up his arms and neck.
Why couldn’t he do this one thing for his brothers? They’ve done so much for him recently, and this is how he repays them? Why can’t he do anything right?
“Hey Leo, it’s ok if you’re unable to eat. You don’t have to worry about it.”
He can hear the words drip with pity and worry. He shouldn’t have to worry his brother. Everything was going so well, everything was back to normal.
Why did he always have to ruin everything?
Leo just looked down at his plate, not having the courage to look any of his brothers in the eyes.
“Good morning boys!”
And then in walked Splinter.
He didn’t mention why his son was now back from the dead or why Mikey suddenly started to make breakfast again. He just took his food and walked back to the tv room.
The room fell into a tense silence.
“We…we didn’t tell Pops about this whole situation.” Ralph said, fiddling with his fingers as Donne and Mikey looked away.
“He didn’t notice?” Leo whispered out. His own father didn’t notice his absence. He knew he never talked to Splinter a lot, only when he’s so desperate for attention that he’ll do anything.
“Well, know that you're like this,” Mikey gestures towards him “We don’t have to tell him.”
Donne nods as Ralph puts a hand on Leo’s shoulder “If you want we can still tell him.”
“No it’s fine Ralph.” Leo waved him off.
The three of them continued to eat as a wave of emotion encased Leo. Guilt and regret swirled around him as well as an overall sadness.
His own father didn’t care.
__________
Later that afternoon he found Mikey curled under a blanket fort. He spent the rest of the morning explaining his powers. What he can and can’t do. He can’t fly but if he tries he can hover for a few seconds. He can go through walls but not the floor of couch. And he found out that talking is what drained his energy the fastest. Donne poked fun that the chatterbox of the family now had to be quiet for a while, though he stopped when he saw a hurt face flash on Leo.
Thankfully he didn’t have to do any more tests so he wanted to spend time with the others. Ralph went back to his room so he decided to bug Mikey first. April was also there, sent in a mission to get Ralph out of his room to no avail.
They both crept up towards the pillow fort when they heated Mikey scream. The whole set up collapsed on him as his iPad flung out.
“Uh what’cha watching Miguel?”
Mikey’s head suddenly popped out of all the pillows as he started to jump up and down.
“OH ME GOSH! I was just watching my favorite can stacking channel!”
“Can stacking…ok” chimed in, trying to be supportive. “It’s a thing,” Mikey slid between his siblings.
“There’s the one supermarket stock boy. He builds forts, towers, national monuments!” Mikey said as he scrolled through the channel obvious clickbait thumbnails.
“Yeah, I see his channel has… a like.”
“I would like it twice if I could,” Mikey nodded at Leo’s comment. “Anyway he’s at the store after hours and..you gotta see it. He scrolls through the videos again,tapping on the one labeled The Gumbus.
A video opens with a kid alone in a dark store. “And now I shall complete the most difficult stack of all. Only completed by one other stockboy.” The camera pans around to show a can stack. “The Lady Liberty Sta-“ there was a crash in the distance. “Hello? Is someone there?”
The boy looked around to find nothing there until a can rolled by, startling the kid. A figure appeared in the darkness behind him as it grabbed the kid, dragging him screaming. “It’s the Gumbus!!!!!” the video ends with static as the ending plays telling the viewer to subscribe and donate.
“Whoa! …What’s a Gumbus?”
“It's a ghost that haunts the Stock N Shop!” Mikey hugs April tight.
“Pfft. There's gotta be a simple answer,” Leo throws the iPad. “Earthquakes, magnets, giant prankster mice. There's no such thing as ghosts…. shoot.” Leo stood there as all eyes landed on him.
“See! Ghosts are real, take that Leo!”
“Hey! Maybe not all ghosts are real!” Leo tried to defend himself. He was always the number one ghost denier but after this whole situation… it’s hard not to believe in ghosts.
“There is only one way to solve this! We head up to the Stock N Shop and tamper with the mysterious forces of the underworld.” April releases her signature evil laugh.
Mikey tries to run away “I’m fine, Just getting the pants scared off of me and my pillow fort.” But Leo grabs him, forcing him to walk with him. “Oh no. April’s right. I’m gonna prove to you there’s no such thing as a Gumbus.”
“Leo, no! I don’t want to go!” Mikey kicks and screams as he gets dragged by his brother and sister. April is clearly hyped about solving her very own Scooby Doo mystery. “Yeah! Ghost hunting!”
They arrive at the arguably “haunted" Stock N Shop. They all stumble out of a vent landing on top of each other. Something else falls from the vent landing to Leo’s head with a yelp.
“Mikey, why do you have that thing?”
Leo points to the vacuum cleaner Mikey brought with him. “To suck up the ghost. It’s lined with tin foil to keep him in.”
“So you already planned to ghostbuster me! For shame! I am hurt!” As Mikey hurls apologies at Leo trying to convince him that he only just made it for the Gumbus, April turns on her flashlight.
“Guys, check this out.”
They look around the mega supermarket, “This place is like Christmas morning for food!”
“This place is creepy.” Mikey said anxiously looking around. “Creepy or awesome! Answer. Both.” There was a sound like chains behind them and Mikey jumped. “What was that!”
“What?”
“I heard something.” Leo scoffed as he tilted his flashlight up to reveal a model train passing by. “See a model train. Simple answer!” Leo laughed as Mikey grumbled out “What kind of sicko puts a model train in a grocery store?”
“Focus guys. We came here to see a ghost, and a ghost we shall see.”
Mikey looks up at Leo, threateningly holding up the vacuum.
“Not. Me. Mikey.”
“Yeah yeah alright” Mikey looks around but all his eyes pick up the most terrifying things that can be placed in a grocery store. From scarecrows to weird puppet cows, he bumps into something screaming.
“Ghost!”
“Hey I’m not the ghost” April yelled as Mikey tried to vacuum her up. “Yeah Mikey I’m the resident, and the only ghost right now.”
“I feel like someone’s watching us.”
“Me too. Isn’t it great?”
“You two are nuts. The only people here are the three of us.” Then Leo is bombarded with a mop landing on his head. That is it! He is no longer being tangible, he is done being hit around.
Mikey screamed again, hugging onto April like a koala. “The Gumbus got Leo!”
“No! There is no such thing as a Gumbus!” Leo yoinks the mop away, shining his flashlight revealing the boy from the video.
“You! What’s the big idea!”
“I’m sorry! I thought you were the Gumbus. Wait, are you turtles?”
“We’re not into labels,” Mikey shakes his head, “All that matters is that we’re huge fans of your haunting videos.”
“Always great to meet my fans-in any form. Did you subscribe and donate?”
Mikey pauses, “ No, but we’ve been thinking about meaning to.”
“So can you tell us about this awesome ghost?!”
“Or figment of your imagination.” Leo said in air quotes.
“Perfect timing.. I was about to vlog about that.” The kid pulls out his phone, “The Gumbus. It all goes back to ancient times 1987.” Mikey shouts in the background of the camera. “I'll spare you the gory details. The greatest stockboy the store's ever seen. Jeremiah Gumbus was crunching the chains of the milk processing plant!” April shouts in excitement, the complete opposite of Mikey “What happened to sparring the gory details?!”
“Chain and soul combined and now as the chain laded Gumbus, he haunts the aisles of the store. Legend has it the only way to free the Gumbus from his eternal torment is-Huh?” Baxter looks around seeing ghost’s chains wrap around him. “The Gumbus!!!!”
The trio watched as blue chains drag the boy back into the dark but when they shine their flashlights, he’s nowhere to be found.
“Got a simple answer for that, Leon?” Mikey mocked as they approached the last spot they saw him. “Obviously, he's behind the cans,” he knocks over the can stack “ Uh, yeah.” He looks over only to see nothing but a pair of glasses and soot, with the words “save me” written.
“It-it can't be... No no no no!” Leo slaps his hands across the wall then leaning down to move around the cans. “This can't be happening. There's gotta be an explanation!”
There’s a sound behind them as they all frantically scan the hall. The squelching gets louder as they find a turkey on the floor.
“Uh a-a turkey?”
Leo begins to reach for it before it jumps up, starling him.
“I’m alive”
“No no no IT’S A TALKING TURKEY!” Leo yelled pointing at the moving turkey.
“Guys, it's me! Stockboy. The Gumbus trapped me in here. Hold on a second.” The turkey pulls out a selfie stick from inside itself. “Hold on. Hey fans, It's me Stockboy.”
“This is happening.. This is really happening..” Leo pulls on his face, this was supposed to be a fun trip.
“I know right!” April pulls the vacuum away from Mikey holding it above her head. “Hide behind the giblets. I'll smash you out!”
“No! You'll destroy my soul. And mess up my inventory. The only way to expel Gumbus is to build his greatest creation, the liberty stack,” they all give each other a look. “You’ll need to access my video, subscribe and donate it-“
The turkey got interrupted as Mikey and the others started to run off.
“I've seen that 1000 times for free. I can do it!”
“Whoo hoo! Come on, guys!”
They ran to the nearest pile of cans when a loaf of bread came flying out, stabbing into the nearby shelf. They looked over at where it came from to see flying pizzas hovering along with more bread.
“Hhhuu boy”
The pizzas started to zip towards them, April and Mikey dodged while Leo just let them phase through him.
“Cover me!” Mikey yelled as he slid under the flying bread. He starts to stack the cans as fast as he can as the other two try to block off the relentless loafs.
“Mikey hurry!”
“This is exactly what the real Michelangelo went through when he created stuff. And we're basically the same level of artists” Mikey said as April got wrapped in some sort of pasta. She got flung up and down as Leo tried to bite it off. And with the finishing touch of his flashlight as a touch Mikey shouts “Ta da!”
And with that the pasta drops April onto Leo as they both fall face first on the floor. April yelps with excitement as Leo shakes his ear to get rid of his starry vision.
“We- we did it!”
“Mikey! You appeased the Gumbus!”
“What can I say? I’m the best!”
The flashlight suddenly turns off and the whole aisle lights turn off. They hear more chain sounds as a can rolled by. They pan the flashlights behind Mikey as they lay eyes on a green ghostly figure surrounded by pink chains.
Mikey screamed at the top of his lungs as pink chains descended towards him. The ghost roars as Leo and Mikey scream in terror while April screams, excited as always.
“FLEEE!!!” Mikey yelled are he runs away slipping into the next aisle. Leo follows him also running as April takes the lead as the Gumbus is close on their tails. April laughs as the pink chains come down on them again. Items start flying from the shelves, dodging and jumping out of the way.
“Where is the exit!!”
“Incoming Mikey!” Leo yells from inside a shopping cart April is pushing. Mikey pops into his shell as Leo catches him in the cart.
“I gotcha Mikey!”
“How long is this freezer aisle?”
They yell together as the two brothers hug each other tightly.
The Gumbus roars again behind them as the shelves start to levitate up to block the trio.
“He’s gonna block us in!”
“Yes. Ramming speed!” April picks up speed as Mikey hides in his shell, Leo clutching him closer to his chest.
With a shout April rams them through, everyone flailing around. Mikey pipes out of his shell with a yelp and hugs Leo tightly.
“Look, guys, it'll be fine. We know how these things go. As long as we stick together and don't split up, we'll be okay.”
And then she disappeared as one of the shelves, revealing the Gumbus on the other side.
Leo and Mikey scream as Leo flips around grabbing Mikey to run. They fly into the air ducking behind chains and then trying to hide behind the deli counter.
“That ghost is real! THAT GHOST IS REAL!”
Leo yelled as he threw Mikey behind the counter.
“I told you so!” Mikey shrieked. “But now that thing’s got April. And I got the only thing that can stop it!” Mikey pulls up the vacuum cleaner and Leo takes a few steps back, not wanting to get into the crossfire.
“Get thee back to the netherworld, fiend!” Mikey turns on the vacuum cleaner as it actually starts to suck up the ghost. “It’s working. And I don’t even know what it’s plugged into!”
“Yes, get 'em. Get the chain laden doofus.”
The vacuum starts to stutter out as whatever it was sucking up. The fabric rips off the “ghost” revealing a metal robot.
“A robot?” Leo’s shocked expression morphed into his signature smirk. “Right? The simple answer. I was right. I was right. I was right.” As Leo continued to repeat his victory and flexing Mikey deflated. “Aw, man. I was scared of something that doesn’t even exist.”
The robot roars to life again as both start to scream again, ducking under the counter. “Real stuff is scary enough as it is.” They head towards the back looking for weapons to defend themselves.
Leo grabbed the most useful item, a comically long sausage and Mikey grabbed a ham leg, far superior than the axe nearby.
They held out their makeshift weapons ready for attack, only for them to be blown to bits the moment the metal monster touched it.
“Oh no.”
Before the robot could strike again, it gets hit in the back by a price of meat. Then they hear the war cry of their favorite sister.
“April O’Neil!! Oh, you’re gonna wish you’re a ghost, Gumbus!”
April pulls out a bow and arrow maid out of a sausage. She launches it and it cuts the rope the robot was attached to as it crashes to the floor. They wait a minute before the robot explodes in a flash of white. The stomach opened up and the boy from before was thrusted out.
“What, you?”
“Duh, he was literally 100 percent of the people we know from this place. What’s this?” Leo picked up the phone beside the kid, seeing that it was on record. “Ugh, you were recording the whole thing, weren’t you?”
“I had to! Because of cheapskates like you who watch my videos but never subscribe and donate!”
“What? So You did all this for money?”
“Look, this is my parents' store. They don’t even pay me to work here. But there's big bucks on hoaxes.” The boy tried to make himself sympathetic, but failed miserably.
“Looks like you're done, hoss. We’ll be taking the footage with us.” In truth, Mikey just wants to watch all of the unposted videos for free.
“What? You’ll pay for this. You will rue the day you cross young man genius Baxter Stockboy!”
April let out a snort. “Wait a minute. Your name is Stockboy? And you’re a stock boy?” They all bursted out laughing.
“I’ll teach you to laugh at me! Now you will feel the wrath of-“ the kid was interrupted by a loud voice, “Baxter, are you in there? You were supposed to be home an hour ago. What happened to the store?!”
Baxter has a horrified look on his face as he looks towards the two turtles and human. “Oh no, guys. It’s my parents.” But the girl and the orange turtle were already flipping into the overhead vents.
“Tell us if you got grounded in your next video, mkay?” The blue one in front of him said, as he held out a peace sign as he vanished in a blink of an eye.
“Don’t forget, sometimes ghosts are real.”
____
Leo heard commotion coming from Donne’s room so he went to go check it out. When he stepped in he could see his twin clearly frazzled. He was acting weird earlier in the day, mysteriously coming home with the most stunning satin jacket he’s ever seen.
No he was not jealous at all, no not him.
Donne suddenly turned towards him, brow frowned even though he did not have his eyebrows drawn on.
Leo just gave him a look, feeling too tired to be vocal.
Donne seemed to know as he yelled at Leo.
“What’s with the interrogation, Leo?! Everything's fine I said!”
Donne pulls on the jacket from before as he brushes past Leo. He just shrugs and goes back to his room to rest for a bit.
____
Leo got spit out of a swirling blue spit him out into the warm pizza restaurant. The warmth and cozy feeling absorbs into his core. He can’t help but feel a little happy to be back.
“Hey Leo you’re back.” One of the waitresses, a deer fox, waved at him.
“Hey Zeb, have you seen Hueso anywhere?”
“Yeah, he’s in his office like normal. Though I don’t think he’s in the mood.”
“When is he ever in a good mood, thank you.”
Leo walked to the back of the restaurant, opening the office door.
“¡Hola, qué pasa, jefe!”
“Aye pepino what do you want?”
“What? I can’t say hi to my favorite bone man.”
The skeleton just looked up at him then back down at his paperwork.
“Listen about my…arrangement-“
“Yes yes yes, you work for me until you fix your debt and I take down your picture. I’m not reducing your hours if that’s what you’re asking.”
“No it’s um… you see… well I-I hehe..”
“Just spit it out pepino.”
“ I’m dead.”
“Ok pepino.” But then Hueso’s eyes widen, realizing Leo’s words. He shoots up from his desk looking Leo in the eyes.
“What do you mean!”
“I’m dead.”
“How-what. You can’t be.”
“I don’t really know how to show it to you man.”
Hueso moved from his desk, quickly standing up. He moved toward Leo in a hurry, grabbing onto him. He felt the chill run from Leo’s arms to Hueso’s hands. He looks into Leo’s eyes and they’re…different. Instead of the usual brown almost red, it was a bright blue teal color.
Hueso wrapped Leo in a hug. “Oh my poor niño pequeño.” Leo hugged him back, not knowing how to feel.
“Does this mean I still have to work?”
Hueso gave out a dry chuckle as he pulled away. Then he got serious looking into Leo’s eyes. “Yes.”
Now it was Leo’s turn to laugh.
“Thanks bone man, see ya Friday!”
As Leo left Hueso remembered when the orange one came in crying. He guesses the shrine he was asking about was for Leo. Those poor kids, they’re too young to be going through this.
Guess he’ll have to keep a closer eye on pepino.
Notes:
Sorry this chapter was a week late. It’s extra long as an apology. I had to cut out the episodes Mrs. Cuddles and Stuck on you because it wouldn’t fit in with the ghost plot so I had to cut out.
Now I am going to pass out 🩵
Have a good day/night 💚💚💚
Chapter 10: And it almost worked
Notes:
Don’t be like me. Don’t procrastinate and have to write 6 essays in less then a week, two research papers and a lab write up. Don’t do it. I have been burnt out to the point that I couldn’t create anything. The stars finally aligned and after 3 rewrites I finished.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Leo was beyond tired.
He constantly had to be at least visible to everyone not wanting to worry his family more. But even that became draining and he didn’t know how long he was going to last. But every time he tries to rest he’s met with the same nightmare.
He falls, he splatters, the figures follow him then he wakes up.
But they have started to follow him out of his dreams. When he feels he’s about to fall asleep he feels hands coming out to drag him through the floor. He’s even been seeing them around the lair. Like when he was keeping Mikey company in the kitchen or hearing Donne ramble in his lab. They would always be in the corner just…watching.
Now he’s had his fair share of visual hallucinations caused by sleep deprivation but his was different. It was like they were staring deep into his soul, calling out towards him. Wanting him to follow them.
But he can’t! His family needs him. He was there when his family slowly started to come undone when he was gone. He can’t leave them again. It doesn’t matter if he’s straining himself thin. It doesn’t matter that he’s past the point where he is struggling to even appear to his brothers.
He needs to be there for his family.
He has to stay visible to calm Donne’s nerves that he is, in fact, really there with them. He has to be tangible for when Mikey would come out of nowhere and give him a surprise hug. It’s gotten to the point that Mikey has learned to repress the shiver of meeting Leo’s ice cold skin.
He would be doing the same for Ralph but he hasn’t seen him in awhile. The only time he comes out of his room is for meals and missions. It’s totally out of character for him to not be doing something in the lair, be it training to planning missions to even cleaning up the other’s messes. The times Leo has seen Ralph he always looked happy around him but his eyes told a different story. His eyes looked hollow and filled with grief, only being highlighted by the deep eye bags.
He hated that look on his big brother’s face.
Sure he lost a brother but still. He’s back now! It’s like he never left. Shouldn’t Ralph be happy that he’s back with his family, that he’s not gone forever? Why can’t things go back to normal?
That’s how he found himself now, overthinking every minuscule detail. Pacing back and forth in his room. He is completely off, recharging. If any of his brothers would walk in on him now all they would feel would be a strong breeze in his room. He found out the hard way that when he tries to rest with him being visibly or tangible was not good for him. It would just drain him more, kind of like when you keep your phone charged at 100% it ruins the battery power and it doesn’t last as long. As long as he doesn’t appear as he did the day he died infront of anyone it was a win.
Usually he would be worried because technically he’s “asleep” but he found that when his mind is racing the figures don't appear in the corner of his eye. But overthinking wasn’t very helpful right now. Over analyzing every single thing about his interactions with his family is suffocating.
You would think getting a shrine to himself would be his greatest achievement. That’s all he ever wanted, to have this type of attention. To be honored and seen as a hero.
But at what cost.
He just wanted attention, is that too much to ask. And not the suffocating one like when Ralph wraps him in a blanket burrito and holds him in the air. The type that was genuine.
That little smile Ralph did when he did something right. The time Donne got so excited he hugged Leo instead of using his words. When Mikey and him have a flour fight in the kitchen, then Mikey leaves him to clean up all by himself.
When he would cry for splinter to look at him like he’s not invisible.
Leo shook his head trying to clear his mind. He decided to start moving around, his thoughts getting a little too much.
He made his way to the kitchen. He glanced at the stove clock and saw it read 3:00AM. Guess the rumors are true, 3 AM is when the ghosts come out. Leo laughs at himself as he grabs the tea pot and starts to boil water.
He still can’t drink but he can steal the warmth the tea has. He used to do this normally, just brewing a cup of tea just to ground himself in the warmth.
Sadly his thoughts didn’t leave him like he wanted. He just stared down at the mug in his hands. The warmth only reaching his palms, almost like it’s mocking him.
Another one of his comforts stripped away from him over an accident. That was his fault-
No. His hands tighten around the mug in his hand. It wasn’t his fault he got dropped off a building.
Draxum was the one that threw him.
He hears shuffling in the dark as he snaps his head up. Looking around he didn’t know what to expect. Splinter? Draxum? A stray cat Mikey always tries to sneak in?
The hooded figures with long arms beckoning him to join them?
He heard a yelp and the sound of the light switch flicking on. Leo looked down by the entrance to see Mikey’s shell on the floor. His little brother pops out jumping up.
“Leo, you scared the shit out of me!“
Mikey jumps over the counter to shake him by the shoulders while Leo laughs.
“Swear jar Mikey.”
“No! I get a pass because you scared me!”
“Fine.” Leo sighed and rolled his eyes as he peeled Mikey off of him.
“What are you doing up so early…” Leo looks over to the stove's clock to see the time is now 6:30 AM. Oops.
He felt Mikey’s grip on him tighten around him as Mikey shifted so he would hang off of Leo like a koala.
“So…. What do you feel like making this morning hermano?” Leo giggled trying to ease the tension in the room.
“What were you thinking about?” Mikey mumbled into Leo’s shoulder.
“Why?”
“You looked…angry.”
“Me? Angry? Mikey, you know me. I’m not quick to anger like Donne nooo. If looks could kill he would show up on one of those makeup true crime story times you were obsessed with a year ago. I mean-“
“No it’s not that.” Mikey cut Leo’s ramble short as the air stiffened. “Your eyes were glowing…like a lot! And your mask was wiping around like crazy! You just seemed…off.”
Leo didn’t respond this time, what can he say to his little brother. No, I was just thinking about that man who killed me. Nothing to worry about my mental health is fine! No, that would make him a liar, and Leo is not a liar. He just bends the truth.
“I was thinking about when Donne stole the last of my pop tarts and now I can’t get him back” Leo flicked Mikey’s forehead. “Speaking of pop tarts, let’s make a spread because I think April brought down a bunch. I think she even got those limited edition ones!”
“The Man Spider ones!”
The atmosphere brightened up as the two joked with each other. They may have forgotten the toaster rule but it was fine. It was only a small fire that they could cover up saying that it was just burnt.
_____
After getting a lecture about toaster safety and how Leo is still under the toaster ban he just wandered around. He found that he was bored easily, not wanting to push himself too far.
So which brother to bug? He glided past Donne’s lab and he heard the sounds of tinkering. Well he says tinkering but really it was just loud EDM music echoing past the soundproof doors.
Leo doesn’t even knock as he slips through the door. He jumps into his chair, spinning it around until he’s next to his twin.
Donne doesn’t even look up from his code flashing across his monitor. Donne was oblivious to Leo sitting right next to him, just bopping his head to EDM music.
He tries and fails to make out what his brother was doing. Something about a S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N, whatever that is. While Leo was studying the screens Donne shifted his head to the right, jumping in his chair.
“OH MY- Leo! You scared me!” Donne yelled over his music.
“That’s the second time today.” Leo yelled as Donne finally lowered the music. “So what'cha working on?”
“It’s a surprise!”
“Oh so it’s definitely going to blow up in our faces later then.”
“Offended gasp!” Donne clutched his chest dramatically. “I would never.”
“20 dollars.”
“I am not placing a bet that my invention will fail.”
“I’m not saying it’ll fail, I’m just saying that it has a 92% chance of turning evil.”
“Where are you getting your numbers from?” Donne pinched his nose bridge as Leo laughed.
“Sooo…can I get a hint on what the surprise is?”
“No! Then it wouldn’t be a surprise. Now get out!”
And with that Donne pushes Leo out of the lab with a metal arm.
Leo pouted at the door for a moment before walking out of the lair.
By the looks of the code on Donne’s screen he had some time before the surprise was ready. Which was good because right before bugging Donne Hueso called him in to cover a shift. Yay work, so much fun.
He was starting to get stir crazy staying inside all day.
“Where are you going?”
Leo stopped in his tracks as he heard Ralph’s voice. He looked over to see his big brother leaning on the wall by the exit.
“Out”
“Out where?” Ralph moved to block his path. Leo is fighting with himself on whether or not to just go through Ralph.
“Just out.” He shrugs as he slides past Ralph and out the exit.
“Why do you want to leave so badly?”
Leo could tell that there was some underlying reason Ralph was asking but he decided to ignore it.
“I think if I stay cooped up any longer, I might just explode.” Imitating an explosion with his hands.
Ralph let out a long sigh, a Ralph casm forming.
“Fine. But be back in time for dad’s lesson ok.”
“Ok!” Leo gave a mock salute as he walked down the tunnel.
He could still feel Ralph’s eyes burn a hole into the back of his shell as he made his way to the sewer cover.
_________
Regret.
So much regret.
He really should have taken a power nap or at least attempted one. But that’s what he gets for running on 3 hours of sleep for the past week. To be fair, why do ghosts need to sleep in the first place? It’s so unfair.
Hey at least he kept the number of broken plates to a minimum.
As he was walking down the tunnel he remembered what Ralph said before he left. He fumbled with his phone to see that he was 30 minutes late. Stupid Brandon showing up 20 minutes late to a shift, Ralph’s gonna kill him.
He runs further into the sewer, in the back of his mind he’s telling himself to just portal directly into the living but he shuts down that thought.
1) it would bring attention to himself and then he will get in trouble for sure.
2) He hasn’t tried the whole portal thing since he died.
It barely worked when he was alive. Why would it work now?
As he ran into the lair he heard his siblings voices coming from the projector room. He made his way in as casually as possible seeing Donne and Mikey play out a scene from Lou Jitsu Meets the Mummy King. Donne was, of course, the victim and Mikey the mummy. Usually this is were Ralph would come in-
“Where have you been!”
Leo swears he jumped a foot up as he looked back to see Ralph looming over him. Leo fiddled with his fingers trying to avoid Ralph’s glare.
“You’re 30 minutes late! You missed the one thing I told you to come too.”
“I lost track of time! You can't blame me for that.”
Leo flashed a grin as he tried to wave Ralph off.
“I actually can. Where were you in the first place?”
"Nonya.” Leo muttered. “What was that!” Ralph crouches down to meet Leo in the eye. Leo looked anywhere but Ralph’s eyes, sweat dripping off his brow.
“Come on guys stop bickering! We’re going to miss the Lou Jitsu Meets the Mummy King movie playing in the park!”
“No no no! You boys can see that another time after you CLEAN!” Splinter yells from the couch.
“No, our plans foiled!” Donne cried out. “Yeah splints we cleaned last year!” Leo joined in with his twin.
“It’s not even that bad.”
That all looks over the table where mountains and mountains of pizza boxes lie. The bottom ones are caved in with a sludge leaking out of it with bugs of all kinds, skittering ground.
“How about we find the turtles that did that and make them clean this up.”
“Great idea Leo.” Ralph slowly turned to him, grinding his teeth as he grinned.
“I vote Leo does it!”
“Mikey! Why me!?”
“You skipped out on dad’s lesson!” Ralph pointed down at him. Leo crossed his arms as he pouted like a toddler. “If you call watching a movie training.” He mumbled again.
Ralph glared daggers at Leo as he shrivels down into his shell. He may have crossed one too many lines and pushed too many buttons today. He makes a zipped lip motion and Ralph slowly backs off.
“While it may be funny if Leo does all the work I may have a-“
“A fix bro?”
“A fix bro. Hey! Leo stop stealing my lines.”
Leo gasped as he rushed in front of Donne, getting right up in his face. “Is this the surprise you were talking about!”
“Hey, no spoilers!” Donne waved a mechanical arm to push away Leo who just let it phase right through him. Leo stuck out his tongue as he mocked Donne, moving out of the way of the robotic hand trying to shove him off.
“ANYway! Now prepare to-“
“Eatith thy words!” Leo didn’t react fast enough and a metal arm hit them square in the face.
“Now before I get rudely interrupted again.” He shoots a glare at Leo. “I give you all, Shelldon!” with a rapid tap of a button a small silver drone appears out of the table with bright orange eyes.
“Good day kind sirs.”
Oh so that was all that code from before. Donne made his own ai. Leo would shower him with praise but if he did Donne’s forehead might grow bigger then it already is. He’ll let Donne have his zing moment as Shelldon cleans and brings out snacks.
Later they all settled in the arcade room getting to test out all of Sheldon's new features. Leo honestly was just trying to stay awake and he thinks he’s hiding it well. Shellon is the perfect distraction with the purple and orange duo playing a game and Ralph getting a shell massage.
Something seems fishy with how much Shelldon is favoring Donne though.
“So is my bet still on?”
“Uh no! Shelldon here is not capable of whatever you mean by “failing”.”
“Oh so you’re just making him favorite you?” Leo said as he watched as Mikey got launched out of the video game chair.
“Master Donatello would never.”
“Suuurrree, and I’m Da Vinci”
“Technically you are…” Leo threw a tennis ball at Donne’s head to shut him up.
—-
So if it wasn’t obvious before it is now. Shelldon is favoring Donne.
From not allowing them to eat leftover pizza, the audacity. The robot also had lasers which lines up with his theory that these robots are definitely going to go rouge.
Donne made a true enemy at night though. Leo was looking forward to it all day, letting sweet unconsciousness rip him away with hopefully no night visions.
Of course Donne had to ruin that dream with him blasting his daily affirmations along with his terrible EDM music. It made the whole layer shake from the sheer volume.
“Could you at least play some vocaloid!”
He had no choice, he had to treat Shelldon like an Alexa.
“Hey Shelldon, I'm sad play David Bowie.”
“Hey Shelldon, play Despacito.”
“Shelldon, what is the weather like tomorrow?”
“Hey Shelldon, play some Hatsune Miku.”
“Hey Shelldon, what are the lottery numbers?”
“Hey Shelldon, play the Fanboy and chum chum theme song.”
Eventually Leo overheated the system and Shelldon turned it off. With a job well done he walked off to his room. He turned a blind eye to Ralph and Mikey sneaking into Donne’s lab. It’s not his business and he ain't no snitch.
Well maybe he should have been a snitch this one time. He should have seen it coming with Ralph and Mikey acting like Sheldon was the new Donne. Leo acted along because it was hilarious and he wasn’t missing out on that opportunity. But things got… out of hand.
“Come on bros, just let me turn Donne into turtle dust and then us real bros can hang out.”
“Does this mean I get my 20 dollars?”
“No this doesn’t count! You guys reprogrammed him!”
“We would never.”
They ran out of the kitchen into the main hall as Shelldon followed them out.
“You can’t be our fourth brother!” Mikey pointed up at the drone.
“I beg to differ.” The. Shelldon unleashed a thousand sharp arms from out of the roof. Seriously why did Shelldon need this many robot arms with weapons of mass distribution.
“Just admit it Donne, you made him favor you over us.”
“You made him try to vaporize me!”
“Enough whining Donne.”
They start to move around the moving saw blades and pinchers. They punched and distorted as much as they could be the robot started to overwhelm them.
Shelldon managed to pin Ralph and Mikey to the wall and strapped Donne down to a table to be sawed open.
Leo did the only thing he could.
“It’s burrito time!” The floating microwave came zooming in by Ralph. Ralph grabbed it right out of the air and chucked it at the robot. That seemed to do the trick as everything came crashing down.
“Sooo my 20 dollars.” Leo drawls out as he shoves his hand to Donne. “No, because I have a backup Shelldon 2.0.” They all looked at Donne for a solid 3 minutes, “this time no favoritism.”
“I was right!”
—-
Leo once saw an article saying that after 4 days of no sleep you start to develop sleep deprivation psychosis.
That must be what’s going on here.
“What’s wrong buddy, have a staring problem”
Leo is starting daggers at one of the hooded figures that has been a thorn in his side since he died. He really wishes that would tell him whatever reason they have been stalking him instead of just staring.
“Like do we have a problem or something?”
The thing just stared unblinking.
“What are you, the ghost of Christmas past?”
Leo laughed at himself for the joke. At least that’s what he told himself. A type of static energy filled the room making his skin prickle.
“Come…with me.” The figure whispered out though to Leo it sounded like it was screaming in his head. This is the first time one of the things actually talked to him and if he wasn’t already freaked out he is now.
“Why should I?” Leo pretended his voice didn’t shake. Its voice echoed against his skull.
“… responsibility..” it breathed out, reaching out its hand. It beckoned him forward. Something deep inside him wanted so bad to take its hand and follow it.
But what about his brothers?
“If you want me to come with you… then why do you just follow me around? Why don’t you just take me?”
“…willing…”
Leo’s heart sank right to his stomach, a chill crawling its way up his spine.
"Wh-what do you mean by that?"
The figure reached its hand out to him again, calling to him. Calling his name over and over again. Begging and pleading for him to follow it. Leo's breath quickens like something is squeezing his lungs. He feels something inside him yarning to follow it, pulling him towards the figure. He starts to panic as he gets out of bed and starts walking towards it. In his head he's screaming at himself. He doesn't want to follow it. He needs to be with his brothers, they still need him.
He can't just disappear again.
He hears crashing down the hall and he breaks from his trance. When he looked back the figure was no longer there. He lets out a breath that he didn't know he was holding only to let out a yelp as his curtain doors were ripped open. Mikey came sliding into the door frame staring at him for a second only to get a running start and pounce on Leo.
“Wha- Mikey what’s wrong?”
Mikey just hugs him tighter, Leo tries to return the hug but his arms slip through Mikey’s shell for a brief moment. He panicked and just hovered his hands over his little brother.
“Did you have a nightmare?”
Mikey nodded his head against Leo’s shoulder and hugged him impossibly tighter.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Mikey shakes his head no so Leo just shrugs. If he was Ralph he would probably press for more information. Instead he rocks back and forth until Mikey eventually lets go enough so that they are sitting up side by side with Mikey still holding his arm.
He knew Mikey hated being babied and belittled. That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t use his younger brother privilege, he just wants to be confronted, not lectureed.
As they settled on Leo’s bed, he was starting to nod off as he watched Mikey play on his phone flipping from one social media to another. Leo actually thought he might be able to finally sleep. He felt his eyes get heavy as he closed them for a minute longer until they no longer opened.
They snapped open though when he felt that annoyingly familiar sensation of being watched. Where the old phantom was a different one. This one was surprisingly, not a hooded figure. This one was a Japanese woman with a high bun and a flowing kimono. Her expression was full of sorrow and longing.
Normally Leo would just ignore what he thinks is a hallucination driven by his sleep deprived brain. But Mikey is right next to him. What if it messes with Mikey too.
What if it tries to take Mikey away too.
“Leo!”
Leo snaps his head towards Mikey. Mikey’s eyes are blown wide and his lip is trembling. Leo tilts his head to the side, quickly risking a glance at where the figure used to be only to see nothing.
“What was that!!”
“What was what?”
“The..you know the-the” Mikey flails his arms around, “your eyes and masks and everything was glowing!”
“Again?”
“Again!”
Leo rubs the back of his neck looking anywhere but Mikey.
“Are you going to explain it?”
“Are you going to tell me about your nightmare?”
Mikey pouts, crossing his arms, now it’s his turn to not look Leo in the eye.
“Soooo….” Leo taps his fingers together, leaning against Mikey.
Mikey takes a gulp of air “If something was going on you would tell us right?” Mikey blurted out.
“Only if you do the same.”
Of course he wouldn’t burden his own problems onto his little brother and by the way Mikey sinks down further in the blankets and pillows, he knows he feels the same.
Leo rubs the edge of his mask tails between his fingers trying to fight off the awkward silence. He just couldn’t stop staring at the corner.
Mikey, taking the opportunity to change the subject to show Leo his phone.
“Look!
Leo leaned over to get a better look at Mikey’s screen. It seems to be an old ad for a game when-
“Oh my gosh there is a Lou Jitsu game!”
“We gotta get it! I need this in my life right now!” Mikey jumps up on the bed to shake Leo. After Leo was thoroughly scrambled Mikey goes on the hunt to order it.
“Found it!” Mikey slams down the purchase button. “Oh baby! We are going to be the proud owner of a copy of Hot Soup: The Game! Let’s go!”
“So when is it going to be mailed here?”
“Oh wait, I have to pick it up at an auction house.”
“How are we going to pick it up with, well, with this whole situation.” Leo gestures to Mikey’s face. “Plus Ralph will never let you leave alone.”
“There’s only one way to find out!” Mikey jumps off the bed to run off to wherever Ralph is. Leo just sighs as he drags himself off the bed. He has a bad feeling worming its way in his stomach.
He looks back in his room before he shuts the curtains when he sees the same woman before in the same corner.
He quickly runs off after Mikey.
Notes:
So I finally got the plot all figured out so finishing should be easy. Though the time in between chapter updates is going to be longer then it was before ( hopefully not more then a month)
Have a good day/night🩵
Chapter 11: Announcement/update
Chapter Text
Hi! I know I have not updated anything in awhile and I just wanted to let you know that this fic is now discontinued or whatever the right word for it is.
I was not in the best mental state when writing this and it got worse and worse to the point that it was affecting my health and I was getting sick constantly. Burnout didn't help either and I started to hate this fic. I do not want to delete it though so I can look back on how I improved.
I have been getting better now and hopefully I will be able to continue my other works and make new ones.
Thank you for giving me support on one of my first fics, I hope you guys have a good night/day