mcu/rise mashup

[neonleon]

for heyunderoos

this au got us bad so fast

Comments

[neonleon]

[Leo comes to crouch in front of the bars, still watching him. He keeps his posture casual, elbows resting on his knees as he looks up at him.]

Hey, that's important. Like that your head's in the right space wanting equality. What's on your mind, let's hear it.

[heyunderoos]

[Fitzberg tents his fingers together, his voice casual. Not particularly invested in having an actual conversation with a yokai of all things. They're barely worth the time.]

How's that human looking whore of yours doing? [Its spoken with a mild kind of irritation, a flash of teeth.] He talked a lot of big talk about equality too, but, didn't mean much of it.

[neonleon]

[Something in Leo freezes. His posture is still casual, his expression still firmly positive. But something in his blood goes to steel before he moves to rub his forearms like he's cold. As he flicks the recording device back on to make sure this gets on digital tape.]

Phew, felt like a chill just blew in. Care to run that by me again, didn't quite hear it? Sliders, we've got bad hearing and all, y'know?

[heyunderoos]

[The man just gazes at Leo cooly, he some of the tension in his body language loosening.]

You heard me. [He says this plainly enough.] Good to know you acknowledge you're an animal. Your whore was insistent you yokai demons were on the same level as humans. Equals.

[neonleon]

I mean, I like to think he's right mostly because it's the right thing to do. But if we aren't, if there's something causing an imbalance, I'd really like to know about it so we can discuss it with the colony and fix it.

[heyunderoos]

Demons only care about demons. You yokai are drowning out good human voices. All these yokai in positions over people. You're all so damn comfortable in your high towers, private rooms, more meals, better clothes- that you don't notice any of us under you. [He sneers a little back at Leo, not particularly happy with the conversation as a whole.]

Funniest trick you pulled is having a human looking yokai pretend to be human, to act in human interests. Letting him be a voice for everyone was genius.

Here I thought you picked up some poor desperate human to be your toy, looks like it was more demon trickery.

[neonleon]

Hm.

[Leo stands back up, starting to casually stretch his arms over his head, leaning far one way then the other while he talks.]

I can tell you this, we've got a few humans equal rank to me that are like. The loudest humans you've ever met. I mean that in a good way, they're impossible to ignore and I take them seriously. At least two of them can and will kick my ass.

The rest of that though, I can't say I've noticed but I also wasn't looking since I'm usually out in the field or helping scouting mission plans.

The rest of that though seems unnecessary and a pretty big assumption. [When his arms pull apart he swipes his hand over the comm again to cut it off before calmly stepping closer, his voice lowering.] That guy's more human than any other human I've met and could rip me apart in seconds and be able to tell me the exact force needed to do it. Guy's a genius. And one of the most kindhearted people that you'll ever meet.

[heyunderoos]

[Fitzberg remains seated, just watching Leo's movements with open wariness.] Lot of lip service when you only see yokai demons everywhere. No matter where you go. They're everywhere. You're not here much, you're out according to your own explanation, so you don't know what the people really need. You have your whore doing your leg work and telling you what you want to hear.

[The man's own hand drift up to his bandaged neck, where Peter's fingers tore skin away earlier.] Given he ripped my skin off with his fingers, kind isn't a word I'd use for him. He isn't human. He's a freak, a yokai fucker.

[neonleon]

In his defense, you did shoot him in close quarters. Not smart.

[His hand is lighting fast reaching through the bars to grab him by the front of his shirt. Pointedly avoiding skin. For now.]

But insult him one more time.

[heyunderoos]

[Fitzberg is tense at the grab, but glowers at Leo. He grabs at Leo's wrists, trying to pry those hands away from his shirt.]

And you'll rough me up? Show everyone how strong you are? Not a good look for a leader is it?

[neonleon]

They already see how strong I am any time I'm defending this colony from the Krang.

Besides, how am I supposed to check on the bandaging of your neck until I pull you closer?

[And he does just that. Nudging Fitzberg's head the other way so he can check to make sure the bandaging is still in place.]

[heyunderoos]

[Fitzberg's grip tightens on Leo's wrists. He doesn't like being this vulnerable to a yokai. Much less when he can't do much to fight back. A little fear pulses under his skin. Sweat starts gathering at his forehead.]

Its still there, nothing wrong with it. [He spits out at Leo.] Let go of me already!

[neonleon]

Hey, told you, I'm just checking. I'm a medic on top of leader and fighter. Multi-talented because I'm great at karaoke too.

[But he lets go of his neck, carefully smoothing out his shirt where he gripped.]

Besides, why would I rough you up when you've got a trip coming up? You need to be able to travel.

[heyunderoos]

A yokai is a damn yokai. Only care about their own unless they need to pretend!

[The man backs off once Leo's fully released him, quick to press his back to the cell behind him.]

So you're taking your "husbands" advice then, exile? [There is enough venom on the word husband to make it sound like a curse.] The demon loving freak made you soft.

[neonleon]

I dunno that I'd call it 'exile', I just figured after hearing all this you might be more comfortable in an all human colony.

[Probably odd is Leo standing like he's thinking about something before his stripes light up and a blue flash surrounds him. The smell of ozone crackling in the air hits before he flashes inside the cell next to Fitzberg. He grabs him more firmly by the throat, squeezing.]

But come to think of it, I don't think you need to talk to be able to walk.

[heyunderoos]

[The man has no time to actually react to Leo all but disappearing from view to reappear in the cell next to his own. He startles, yelping before he's silenced by a hand around his throat. He scrabbles at the hands holding onto him, clawing desperately at Leo to get let go of.

He struggles against the turtle's hold, firmly in fight of flight mode. For all his talk, Carl Fitzberg is merely human.]

[neonleon]

[Leo makes no attempt at loosening his grip or letting go, instead lifting Fitzberg a few inches off the ground to pull him uncomfortably close to Leo's face.]

For the record. You aren't even insulting me correctly. I'm half human. No, it wasn't through some 'unholy' whatever you probably wanna call it. Lab science, plan and simple. So if you're gonna insult me, at least do it right.

[heyunderoos]

[Fitzberg's expression shuffles through a few things, confusion, fear, indignation, and finally fury. Even with the grip on his throat he manages one act of defiance in the face of Leo all but choking him.

He spits directly into the turtle's face.]

[neonleon]

[Leo doesn't flinch when it hits his cheek. His expression shifts to just... exhaustion. He knows any bruises that show up on his throat will be attributed to Peter's injury earlier, and he really does want this guy to be able to carry himself to the Chicago colony on his own.]

I really do mean it when I say I wanted to work this out and let you stay here. I don't really care of someone does or doesn't like me. What I do care about is someone choosing to hate half of the refugees staying here while we're being attacked and hunted by millennia old aliens who want to destroy us. Perspective and all, you know? If you wanna be childish about it, fine. But my job is to keep everyone in this colony safe, and that includes people like you.

[Leo sighs setting him down carefully and letting go to portal himself back outside the cell and dusting himself off, flipping the recording back on as he does.]

There's a group leaving for the other colony in a day, you and anyone who shares your sensibilities will be going with them. We'll make sure you still have protection and supplies to go with you.

[heyunderoos]

[The stout man moves to press himself into a corner once he's releases. A hand pressed against his throat where Leo's hand had been.

Fitzberg sucked in a harsh shaky kind of breath. He sneers at Leo, trying to say something, but breaking into a cough.]

You'll get yours yokai demon, you'll get yours!

[neonleon]

Oh, probably.

But until then, I'll keep trying to make sure everyone's safe.

[Giving a wave over his shoulder as he turns to leave.]

[heyunderoos]

[Leo can likely hear Carl Fitzberg swearing, but it isn't anything particularly enlightening or interesting. The same thing the mutant has likely heard most of his life.

By the time Leonardo makes his way back to the medbay, he'll find Peter is definitely asleep. The brunette is half curled into himself on the cot, seemingly trying to make himself smaller where he's lain.

The sound of his husband's approach is enough to make Peter rouse somewhat, blinking slowly as he murmurs something less than intelligible. He needs a second to wake up a bit more fully.]

[neonleon]

[While he walks he talks with April over his comm to give her a head's up about a group going with the Chicago refugees, catches up with Donnie about any updates and what Leo found out.

But when he sees Peter curled in on himself, he feels zero remorse for scaring Fitzberg even a little. He did his best to keep it professional as much as he could while making it clear it was personal in ways Fitzberg couldn't prove.

Leo sits back in the chair, hesitant to touch his husband in case he falls back asleep.]

[heyunderoos]

[The creak of his husband's weight settling into the chair is enough confirmation for Peter to fight off the urge to sleep. He rubs at his eyes a little as he uncurls in the cot.

He recognized his husband's gait upon approach, the specific overly light steps paired with the way he naturally counterbalances for the weight of his shell is something just burned into Peter's mind as safe and familiar.

He smiles sleepily at Leo, his expression loose, open from sleep.]

Hey, you.

[neonleon]

Hey...

[Keeping his voice low, reaching to stroke curls out of his eyes and threading his hand down to cup his cheek.]

Didn't mean to wake you up.