Work Text:
Leo felt like a train rammed in his body then came back double checking he was down. His whole body was screaming in five different ways. It hurt! He groan into his hand before throwing his backpack against the wall. Finally, finally he was home.
He face planted into his bed letting out a deep breath. This sucked. He didn't think it would get worse. He only had a little cough this morning but ever since his 6th period it was like every germ in town attacked him. He let out an annoyed sigh closing his eyes. Leo wasn't sure how long he laid there with zero luck of sleep before cold hands started shaking him.
"Nardo come on we can't be late to our first party in our high school career. We got to make a good impression." Mikey shook Leonardo a bit faster before Leo finally bulleted up pushing his younger brother's hands away. The sudden movement sent a stab to his head. Leo grumbled rubbing small circles on his forehead before Mikey's words registered.
The party! How could he forget. He had literally been counting down to this day for the last two weeks. He couldn't miss it. Leo slowly got up rubbing his burning eyes.
He slipped on his blue hoodie shriving slightly. His body felt both freezing and steaming hot. Made his head swim. Leo ran to the bathroom splashing some cold water on his face. He needed medicine but that was in the kitchen. His Dad would go complete helicopter mode if he saw Leo rummaging through it. Totally not worth the risk.
Leo splashed more water on his face. He still looked like shit. This day could not get any worse. Like why! Out of all the days he had to get sick it had to be today. He let out a sigh only a teenager with wonky hormones could make before returning to his room.
"No way Gojo would-" The room went unusually quiet as Leo clasped on his bed. "Leo are you doing alright?" Donnie hesitantly took a step forward titling his head in concern slightly.
"Yeah I'm just tired." Leo flipped over to face them better giving a reassuring smile. "Ya know maybe the Iron Man marathon last night wasn't the best idea."
The others gave him weak smiles. "Dude your insanely pale and sweaty-"
"I just got out of the shower." Leo sprung off his bed grabbing his phone from a near by shelf. "I'm fine." The others still didn't look convinced. "Are we ready to go yet." His tone came out a bit more annoyed than he would have liked. His body constantly kept switching from feeling cold to hot it was causing his pounding migraine from lunch to return.
"Yep." Mikey grabbed his skateboard skating off to the living room. "Daaadd! We're heading out!"
"Be careful boys." Splinter walked up to the group as they gathered around the lair's exit. "Remember to call when you get there and when you'll be leaving, I expect you home by midnight and don't forget about the pictures and-" Splinter stopped as he realized he was rambling again. Ever since the Super Bug incident Splinter promised to be less protective. Old habits die hard. "Have a good time boys. "
The group of teens node waving bye as they swiftly-
"Wait." The group froze in there tracks as Splinter scan the four. Scary site. He was a bit to observant often. The real question is would he point it out or just give a knowing concern parent look as he node to the side.
"Leonardo are you feeling alright?" Leo quickly backed away as Splinter attempted to place a hand on his forehead.
"I'm fine Dad." Leo rolled his eyes looking away from his Dad's concern piercing gaze. He felt kinda bad, but this was a major event as a new high schooler he couldn't miss out on! He was going to have the night of his life he only dreamed about after watching a select few of movies.
"Awful pale... and sweaty.... Your voice also seems slightly horsed to." Curse a vermin's hearing. Splinter raised a knowing brow at Leo. He let out an annoy sigh in defeat.
"Ok fine, I got a little cold. Nothing serious though I'm fine." Everyone in the room gave him a unamused look.
"Leo I think you passed those symptoms a while ago." Leo sent Donnie a glare before turning back to Splinter.
"Leo I think it's better if you stay home, it seems like-"
"Dad I'm fine." His voice came out way more whiny than he expected especially in front of his younger brothers. The cringe went hard "I've been counting down to this day for weeks. I'm not going to let some allegories take away my first big party as a high schooler." Plus this would be one of the best moments to impress April without having his annoying brothers around. Who knows how long it would be till he could get another golden opportunity like this. He went through so much trouble planning it out in his journal to he couldn't let that time go to waste.
The room fell silent. "Leonardo you're obviously sick and going out won't make you feel any better. They'll be more party's." Leo let out an annoyed sigh avoiding his Dad's gaze again.
"This is ridiculous... You guys at least see I'm fine and Dad is just overreacting right?" Leo looked up to his brothers who all shared one awkward look.
"Leo your vibe has been kinda off all day."
"Not to mention you've been looking like a zombie the last few hours."
"You look like you're going to pass out any second dude, honestly." Leo turned away from them crossing his arms. Deep down he knew they were right. His body literally felt like a volcano, his throat had this annoying tingling feeling in the back, and his head still hurt like hell.
"Leonardo you're staying."
"Buuuuutttt daaaaddd-" Splinter gave him a look that instantly shut him up. He grumbled in frustration.
"Hey we'll take pics maybe we could even video-" Leo balled his fists turning away from the group as they called after him. The comfy blankets of his bed felt like heaven.
At least there was one positive thing tonight. Leo rubbed his eyes yawning. Uuuughhhh why did he have to be in so much pain! Why did life have to hate him....
He pushed his face deep in his pillow. Well, his brothers go have fun all night he was stuck here laying in bed. What a nice night.
Warm hands rested on his shell rubbing small circles. Leo sighed deeply wanting to hit his head against the wall. A hand gently touched his forehead.
"That's a really high fever kid." Splinter eyed Leo as he wished he could vanish in the air. "What's hurting?"
Leo sat up pulling away from Splinter's touch. A mixture of hurt and worry spread across his face. "Dad I'm ok I-I..." Leo rest his head against the wall. He took a deep breath before a tear fell. "It hurts. Everything hurts really bad I-I" A few more tears fell down his face. "It all hurts."
"Ssshhh." Splinter put a paw on Leo's hand. "What hurts the most?" His voice was low and gentle
"Head I guess? Throat to a lot..... just so hot it's hard to think and it's been hurting all day." Leo sighed in his hands. Splinter nod noting the turtle's burning skin. He had to at least have a fever of 102° (38.9 Celsius)
Leo quickly shook his head as he wiped away the tears. " I'm fine sorry to worry you." His voice was rough as he spoke eyes still averting Splinter. They held a mix of emotions that were hard to name.
"You are never a bother Leonardo." Splinter's hand slowly rubbed circles on Leo's hand. "I'm sorry you weren't able to go tonight but do you really want to push through that party feeling like this? It sounds like a pretty miserable time compared to snuggling on the couch after some medicine." Leo pushed away from the wall leaning on Splinter's side. Clear heat radiating off him.
"Why don't you go take a bath first. A nice cold one that'll bring your fever way down and I'll make you some tea." Leo stayed still staring into nothing. He felt so conflicted, frustrated. This was going to be his night! Was....
"Leo..." Leo let out a deep shaky sigh.
"I-I just want to sleep." Splinter tried his best to give a reassuring smile but that still needed some work..
"Let's get you some medicine and a cup of tea first." Splinter gently got up placing Leo's head on his pillow followed by a blanket being wrapped around. He made little protest seeping into the covers. Splinter scanned him once more before disappearing in the kitchen. Leo let out some version of a knock off whimper in his pillow as soon as his Dad was out of earshot.
He hated his life. This was..... Annoying why must his body hate him. Leo let out another heavy sigh in his pillow. He wondered what his brothers were doing. Probably having the time of there lives. He squinted his eyes as he turned to the clatter in the kitchen. It created a stabbing pain in his head.
He let out a grumble mumbling as he shifted to his other side placing the blanket over his head. "Hey," gentle paws nudged him. "Medicine first." Leo groan burying his head in the blanket. "Leo...." Splinter let out a deep sigh. A jolt of realization and guilt shot up Leo's spine. Here his Dad was just trying to make sure he was ok and here he was being such a brat. gjkrngjbkrf! He was the oldest he couldn't be acting like this!
Leo sighed sitting up grabbing the pills and tea he held out. Splinter sat on the edge of his bed watching carefully. "I know it's frustrating..... But there's no need to get sicker out there." Leo nodes slowly staring at the green steaming liquid in his cup.
"Sorry." His body felt like it was attacking him again ten times worse than before. A single tear dripped down his face. "I'm sorry." Leo's vison went blurry as his hands began shaking. His brain was running wild. He was missing out on time of his life, he was in so much pain and being a complete brat!
Gentle hands full of care slowly pried his hands open taking the steaming liquid away. Leo let out a low whine now lacking any warmth. Well, his body was on fire, but he still felt really cold. "Sssshhhhhh."
Warm paws wrapped around him pulling him in a tight embrace. Leo grumbled deciding to let every care and voice inside of his head go. He hugged his Dad tight burying his head in his chest. "Leo it's ok-" Splinter continued talking but Leo couldn't register any of it. For the first time all day he felt the pain dull down. His exhaustion caught up again. Leaning into the warm embrace Leo finally closed his drifting off.