mcu/rise mashup

[neonleon]

for heyunderoos

this au got us bad so fast

Comments

[neonleon]

[It isn't often that anything actually scares Leo. But those words have ice running through his veins.

Not a second after he gets his breath again, Leo has his comm out to send a message to Mikey and Donnie. Group of humans have it out for the youkai, Peter was step one. Use discretion and best judgement to proceed while I look after Peter tonight.]

Did it sound like there were a lot of them, or a small group?

[heyunderoos]

He didn't specify honestly. [Peter is trying to be calm about this. If nothing else has happened yet... It could mean Fitzberg's friends changed their minds.] He said if I couldn't look at facts objectively, they were going to take matters into their own hands.

[He hates this. Hates that he couldn't give the warning earlier.]

I know he's new, though, Carl Fitzberg. I brought him in two weeks ago. He was from Philly. He passed most of our checks just fine to join the colony here. He was not armed when he got here. I remember that.

Someone in here gave him that weapon.

[neonleon]

[Leo keeps up his messaging with his brothers while they talk, giving them any information Peter gives him.]

We're going to find out where he got that from. And the ammo. The obvious attempt aside, that's precious material that we can't be giving out willy nilly. We'll definitely look into him and anyone he's been talking to.

[As much as teenage Leo hated that Don recorded everything, it's a boon right now. They can get footage of anyone the guy's talked to in the last two weeks, especially if it looks sus.]

[heyunderoos]

His records came up clean, but... it wouldn't surprise me if he knew other survivors from the same city. That could be any easy enough connection. [Peter is speculating, and still trying to just eat his soup.]

We can probably exile him to a human only colony when we get things figured out. Maybe send anyone else working with him out too. [He rubs at his forehead tiredly.]

[neonleon]

Yeah... [A deep, careful inhale.] Right.

[And slow, forced exhale. The anger in his blood is fiery hot and he has to control that. Leader first. This is a leadership problem and not a Leo-And-Peter problem. If this is a group of humans who have it out for youkai, then a large part of their colony is at risk.

There's also the risk that they get seen as just sending their problems away to some other colony. It isn't an image he's particularly fond of, but in this case sending them to a human only colony instead of festering angrily in the brig might actually be better.]

We'll figure it out.

But- he mentioned that. And then shot you?

[heyunderoos]

Everything is just, in the air right now. [He agrees tiredly in turn. Peter isn't sure what other options they have right now, but they don't have to make a choice yet.

Peter gently reaches out to coax a hand across Leo's arm, offering a comfort in turn.]

That was how the conversation more or less ended before devolving into insults after he shot me, yes. [He side steps the aspects so focused on Leo, still wanting to spare his husband the frustration of it all.]

He mostly wished he aimed higher after he realized I wasn't completely human, apparently. [He rolls his eyes at the thought.]

[neonleon]

[Peter's hand on his arm means Peter can fell how Leo's muscles suddenly go taut with those words.

The audacity of this human - They bring him in and give him someplace safe and he throws it in their faces. His hands clench into tight fists on his thighs, but his expression stays as calm as ever.]

We'll send him to the Chicago colony then. Soon as there's another group heading out.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter winces a little at the feeling. He strokes his fingers along his husband's arm, still trying to offer some semblance of comfort.]

Him and anyone else who participated in- this can go. [Peter agrees plainly back.] It shouldn't be hard to figure out accomplices. We'll make sure to send word ahead to the Chicago colony that they could be trouble.

[He just wants to hold his husband, ease both of them back down to something normal.]

[neonleon]

We will, yeah.

[He finishes messaging his family and rests his hand over Peter's on his arm. It's... they'll be fine. Peter will rest, they'll get moved somewhere more secure. And they'll get these... speciesists? Out of here for the safety of everyone else.]

Anything else?

[heyunderoos]

[He debates with himself on whether to relay the insults, but opts not to get deep into it. Brushing over it feels easier.] Nothing particularly pertinent, at least. The actual threats are a lot more pressing than if he thinks any of us are freaks.

[neonleon]

Pfft.

['Freak'. It isn't anything new. Right when the war started, when the humans in Manhattan were just realizing they shared their world with an entire civilization of youkai and mutants in their city's underbelly, the sentiments had been thrown around a lot.

It's only been after the first few years that desperation and cooperation won out over prejudice.

Or so Leo thought.]

He'll have to come up with something more original than that. [Thinking Leo was some kind of evil mastermind keeping a human as his own plaything, well. That's a little more original.]

[heyunderoos]

His originality kind of dried up with calling Yokai demons, and being weird about us. I didn't exactly talk with him long enough to get an idea about either.

[There were inklings of it, but not enough for Peter to get the weird gist of what Fitzberg and his friends thought was happening.]

[neonleon]

Hmph. Whatever.

[He pats Peter's hand on his arm still, smiling gently and leaning in to kiss his cheek.]

We'll get you rested up and taken care of in no time. Just gotta rest here tonight.

[heyunderoos]

[The kiss is enough to soften Peter's expression by several degrees.]

We'll get another cot rolled in here, so we can at least sleep next to each other, even if its in different beds.

[He has not forgotten, Leo.]

[neonleon]

Can't monitor you if I'm asleep. [He croons, poking one finger to Peter's forehead gently.]

Got some stuff I gotta work out while you're sleeping anyway. I'll sleep when we're back to our room and this is all sorted out.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter does not look convinced.] I'm not perfect, but there isn't a lot of danger from the wound, Leo. If I just stay here, I'll be fine.

I'd really rather you get a little sleep too.

[neonleon]

I'll sleep plenty later. Promise.

[Never did sleep well in infirmaries. Hospitals, the whole thing. No, for now, he's settled comfortably in his chair squeezing Peter's hand softly. But his voice goes quiet, again just for the two of them despite having the small bit of privacy soundproofing Donnie gave. A plea.]

Please, Peter.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter is on the verge of arguing, but the quiet plea at least makes him hold his tongue. A lot of the fight he has for the idea wilts as he sighs.

He's disappointed in a way, but knows it doesn't matter very much. He just wanted Leo to rest. He wanted to hold his husband.]

Okay.

[There are always things to do. That never really changes.]

[neonleon]

[Always things to do. Always the safety of everyone in this base for Leo to think about, arrangements to be made for the brig and the shuffling out whomever was involved in this. Investigations, interrogations sure to happen at some point soon. All of that on top of Peter and Leo being moved to a different location in the base, and Leo requesting specific adjustments-

And all Leo really wants to do is climb onto this shoddy medbay cot with his husband and hold him and cry in relief that Peter's fine. That feeling of holding his weight and feeling Peter's blood dripping down his front and his hands slick with Peter's blood as he sewed him back up isn't something Leo wants to risk reliving in his dreams. Or nightmares, he supposes.]

I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here.

[heyunderoos]

I know, Leo. I know. [He pats his husband's arm again, able to swallow down the disappointment. He masks it with eating, glad for something to actually do.

He wants so many things, but he can't have them.

It's easier to fall into old habits, making a brief joke between bites.]

You get to watch the excitement and thrills of me eating soup.

[neonleon]

I know you're trying to joke, but that actually is an exciting thrill for me right now.

[For whatever joking Peter's trying for, Leo's voice is serious watching him.

Trust me for this miracle, Leo had said. A night off with a late morning he'd promised his husband. Something nice for the two of them. A rarity for the holiday season.

This is what he gets for being selfish. For wanting one thing, just one thing that was solely his and his husband's. Will they ever be able to have something entirely for themselves anymore? Or will they just... always be the leader and commanders who give everything to the cause, lest others suffer because they dared to want.

His selfish ego causes tragedy again. Leo's eyes are focused on Peter, but it's clear the weight of the Resistance and the world weigh heavy on his shoulders.]

[heyunderoos]

[He just eyes Leo for a long moment. He isn't a mind reader by any stretch of the imagination, but he knows his husband. He understands that crushing feeling of guilt, of responsibility.]

None of this was your fault. [Peter points his spoon back at Leo.] This was all some asshole who hates yokai throwing a tantrum. Even if we didn't take time to ourselves, he would have cornered me a different day.

[neonleon]

[His eyes flick up to Peter at that before a smile quirks at the corner of his lips.]

I know. Can't control assholes, right?

We'll be fine.

[But that weight still sits behind his eyes, still watching Peter.]

[heyunderoos]

[There is a tired edge to Peter's expression, he just sets his spoon down.]

Leo. Actually believe in it. I know you don't. [He feels like he's warranted a little frustration, especially since Leo operates on obfuscation. Hide what he's thinking behind a mask, bury the guilt even as it festers to boil over.

Peter knows that feeling intimately. He does the same damn thing.]

Us taking a break didn't lead to this. It never was connected. If you decide it was just to feel even worse about the situation, I'm going to make you eat this spoon.

[neonleon]

[Leo blinks once at that. Twice.]

I don't think that's the best way to get the recommended daily dose of iron.