mcu/rise mashup

[neonleon]

for heyunderoos

this au got us bad so fast

Comments

[neonleon]

[There's no sense in lying about this. Peter's going to find out all the details eventually, either from him directly or picking up hints from everyone and their ninpo.]

Yeah. The... curse. You were in quarantine for two weeks.

[heyunderoos]

Oh. That's... [Much longer than normal. Dangerous levels of long. Peter understands why that happened, he bumped into Drax directly.

He cuddles more into Leo, not that he can get any closer.] That explains a lot.

[He sighs softly.] It ended the war-?

[Someone not watching the medbay meant Peter had time to escape then. even in a delirious state, Peter was still fast, hard to catch. Not that anyone could even touch him then.]

[neonleon]

[He nods.]

It did. The Technodrome, gone like that.

[Without their main base, without their leader who'd been at the base of the blast, the Krang were at a loss. Infighting, mostly, until they left off world to fight in their own ships with more room to maneuver. It gave the Resistance time to set up shields and barriers around and then a stronger offense to start picking off Krang ships as they could.]

It saved everything.

[heyunderoos]

I... I'm glad it stopped the war. I wish I hadn't had to die for it. [He is allowed that much, especially given how distraught Leo seems.] I wish I had still been here with you.

[neonleon]

[Ah. He hadn't wanted Peter to know that detail just yet, but maybe it was foolish to think Peter wouldn't piece it together. He tightens his hold around Peter to pull him close, protective.]

It doesn't matter. You're here now.

[heyunderoos]

[His husband being this distraught, the war seemingly ending, and so much time passing- it all just makes Peter put some things together at least.

He tucks his cheek against Leo's plastron.]

We're both here now. We're... We're going to be okay.

[neonleon]

[Nodding, rubbing his back a little as they settle like this. The fire in his blood is easing up and his breathing is starting to come down to something resembling normal now.]

Yeah. Y-yeah, we're gonna be okay. We've got a while before April brings CJ back.

[heyunderoos]

Do you want to try and sleep? [It is a gentle coax, an offer to help bring Leo back down into something calmer.] You might have to carry me down to meet them later.

[neonleon]

No. [Said a little too quick.] No, I. I have to stay up. Make sure nothing's gone wrong.

[If he sleeps, if he drifts off, he'll wake up to an empty bed and only so̷m̡e̶t̨hín̵g͘ el̸se͠ in his arms. He can't risk it, he can't risk losing what he finally managed to grasp and pull home.]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter frowns, staring up at his husband. That reaction makes Peter wonder just what Leonardo had done.] This was done with something dangerous, wasn't it?

[neonleon]

[He got comfortable being open in his own home when Casey isn't here after these attempts. He needs to get better at schooling it back some like he does everywhere else - but it's Peter so... Should he?

He lets out a shaky breath into those soft curls, something in his muscles finally relaxing as he resigns himself to this conversation.]

It was gonna be dangerous no matter what I did.

[heyunderoos]

Leo... [Peter isn't sure what to say, what he's even feeling. Leo's words weigh heavily on the brunette as he just runs a hand across his husband's shell.]

Can I ask what happened? [It is an out. A gentle offer for it to be another piece to talk about later.]

[neonleon]

[Leo's quiet for a long minute or so. Taking in the feeling of Peter against him, his husband's hand on his back, feeling Peter breathing in and out and his weight in his arms.]

I did whatever I had to to get you back.

[heyunderoos]

[He exhales softly. There are so many things he should ask about. He should prod at.

Peter is afraid to ask, afraid to find out specifics. He has to know though. He can't pretend this didn't happen.]

It... it was something with magic, wasn't it? I can feel you, your ninpo is different.

[neonleon]

[Is it? Is his ninpo different? Does that mean his family has felt it too and not saying anything? Maybe. They probably thought he was grieving and then changing, moving on. But... It's fine.]

...I found some of Barry's old books that were still usable. Th-that's all. [Still soft balling it.]

[heyunderoos]

....Oh, Leo. [He breathes out a sigh, the sound sad and exhausted.]

Please... Please tell me you- you've been careful. [He tries to look up, but Leo is still buried in his curls.] I can't- I can't ask if you hurt anyone.

I already have a strong feeling you might have.

[neonleon]

[Peter can feel when his muscles tense again, his usual bright blue ninpo now dulled and muddied with the black and angry violet of the dark magic he's been using. It didn't start with just Peter's resurrection, but has been since Leo started experimenting and trying.]

...I did my best to... to make it as easy as I could.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter only draws back to cup Leo's face in his hands. He holds his husband's gaze. The brunette still unaware one of his eyes is corrupted by dark magic in a way it will never be normal again.]

You've been doing this... for nearly two years?

None of it was easy, Leo. None of it was safe. [He brushes his thumb along Leo's cheek.]

I don't know how to feel about this. I'm not... angry with you. I'm worried about you.

[neonleon]

[Peter can feel him trembling so minutely trying to keep it under wraps. But Leo is staring at Peter's now mismatched eyes. He thinks maybe after the initial reactions, after the first second responses, maybe Donnie could come up with something to hide it if Peter wants.]

I'm fine. [His voice sounds thick even to his own ears, croaking a little as he swallows down the emotion and leans into Peter's touch.] I-i'm fine. You're back, so I. I'm fine now.

[heyunderoos]

[The feeling of Leo trembling is enough to make Peter's breath catch slightly.

Tears sting at his eyes. The magic tainted eye leaks gold liquid as Peter blinks. It rolls down his cheek. The shock of everything is starting to wear off bit by bit.] Leo...

[Peter draws Leo back into him, just holding him fiercely. They have always been each others rocks. This is no different now.]

Leo, you haven't been fine in a very long time. [He says softly back, unable to stop himself from crying a little as well.] and that's okay.

You don't have to be. Just let go. I'm right here.

[neonleon]

[They have always been each other's rocks. This is no different now. Leo trying to keep himself in one piece since Peter just came back, Peter's been gone for two years and needs to readjust, get the lay of the land. Leo can't break just yet.

He buries his face into Peter and clings to him tightly. Starts whispering mumbled into him-] I'm not letting you go again, I'm not letting you go. I'm not doing it again. I can't do it again, I'm not letting you go-

[Repeating. A mantra as Leo readjusts to his world with Peter in it again.]

[heyunderoos]

I'm right here. I'm right here. [Peter offers back quietly, starting to cry a little himself. He can't stop te grief from rolling over him. The grief for Leo, for himself, for what Leo did to bring him back.]

I'm not going anywhere. We're both here.

[neonleon]

No more missions, no more scouting, no- No more you going out alone. We don't have to anymore, we can be happy. S-so you're not going anywhere dangerous. Okay?

We can be safe and happy, finally. W-we finally have it. I-i finally have you back.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter hiccups again, unable to stop himself from crying.

He never wanted Leo to feel this desperate, this alone- to chase after a ghost. They had so many plans. So many things they wanted. The longer they lay here, ninpos connected again, the more obvious it feels.

Leo had to do horrible things to achieve this.

Peter tightens his grip on Leo, desperate to keep him close.]

N-no more. [He agrees weakly.] It's... it's just going to be us. We'll be safe, safe and happy.

[neonleon]

[He did. Many horrible things. Not just the bodies and blood he had to acquire each time he tried, but the other materials and ingredients as well, even so much as what he needed to even read Draxum's books. There were a lot of unsavory things he did that he would never want Peter to know the details of. To himself and to others.

The stronger he feels Peter's ninpo, the more vulnerable he feels. He'd closed himself off for two and a half years, since that day he carried Peter's body back to the med bay. A dam that started to crack the minute he heard Peter's voice again and is breaking even further now like this.]

I'm sorry- I'm sorry, Peter, I'm so sorry. [He can't stop it, thinking about the things he did, the sins he committed that he would have never done otherwise. He would judge his brothers for these things, he never even considered this spell for Raph - and maybe a part of him is guilty there too. That he went through all this for his husband but not his brother.

He buries his face against Peter's front crying openly now, whispering apologies.]