neonleon | SERPENTINE HORIZON

Of course I do. He saved me, remember? From Belos.

That's why he's in this situation.

I know. And I thought I could handle it, but-

[Another sigh. Existing like this is exhausting.]

I couldn't. So now you're both here like this.

[ Hunter reaches out to touch a part of OML's shoulder that isn't covered in goop. ]

It's okay to need help sometimes. It doesn't make you weak.

[It's nice he's trying.]

I know. But it doesn't make it easier when everyone's looking to me for answers.

Future you? Or you you?

Both? Casey was expecting me to be just like the future-me he knew, and now so is everyone else.

Casey is the... human from the future?

Yeah, Casey Jr. He's - he's all right. He's been through a lot, like you.

The future's that bad, huh.

From what he said, yeah. Whole world destroyed and taken over by the Kraang, and everyone barely holding on.

[ Hunter shivers at that. He can sure imagine THAT kind of setup... ]

The Boiling Isles might be like that too. Depending.

... I know I'm literally my own self doubts manifested, but. I hope for your sake, it isn't like that.

My world got invaded by an incredibly powerful alien who was reshaping the world before we escaped.

I ... hope it's not as bad, but it sure feels about that bad.

I'm still going to hope it wasn't as bad as what Case made the Kraang future sound like.

Y-yeah I. Think it's better than that but.

Anyway, we have a chance to fix it.

Yeah.

[He stares at the sky a little. Tired. His ability to keep this form together now that the purpose is over is getting more difficult to maintain.]

A ninja's greatest weapon. Hope.

... Yeah. Yeah. I can keep that.

[ He looks over at OML with a small wince. Tries to flare the ninpo a little? He glows gray-gold. ]

And trust too.

[He sees that ninpo flare up even with the soft layer of blue with Hunter's.

Tries to flare up his own but it's quiet, subdued. Flickering more than anything.]

Yeah. Trust.

[ Still there. Still hanging in there. ]

... Can I hug you without getting infected?

...I don't know.

I mean, I'd love to say yeah, but - that guy and you... I-i dunno.

[He's incapable of trusting his own judgement here. He doesn't want Hunter hurt.]

[ Hunter doesn't want to BE hurt. He doesn't want to risk Belos getting into his system again.

But ... this seems important enough to risk. He takes in a deep breath, summoning all of his trust - every bit of the ninpo he thinks he can access, including that layer of blue protection - and leans in to wrap his arms around the old turtle. ]

[Oh-

That hug is warm, enough to almost make him cry. He can't really hug back with the frozen arm and he's hesitant with the goop arm. But he'll bury his face against Hunter's shoulder while it's there.]

[ That's okay. Hunter will just hold him tightly, leaning his head against Leo's. Better to keep that goop arm away in this context. ]

We're coming to rescue you, Leo. Hang in there just a little longer.

He doesn't know. Belos, he-

[Whatever energy he had is just draining out of him quickly.]

He's kept him closed off. Leo doesn't know you're coming.

Edited (clarity woop) 2022-12-10 13:39 (UTC)

[ Titan. Hunter sucks in a horrified little breath at that and clings harder. ]

He must think we've completely abandoned him. It's been too long.

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