[Mikey for his part is quiet, just for a moment. He cuts to the point, too tired to make it anything else but what it is.]
We owe you two more than a few of them at this point.
[Peter hums lowly back, drawing out the sound before coughing a little. Even in his current state, Peter feels like there is a distance now, even with Leo softening towards Mikey to some degree.
His death broke Leo apart from the rest of his family.
He fumbles with his further stained hands to sign something clumsily at Leo. A simple, 'I'm Okay.']
[That distance is there, and likely will still be for some time. Leo just watches Mikey another moment to make sure there's nothing else before focusing down at Peter again. Sees those shaky hands and the tears he'd been holding back break loose with a noise in his throat, a wet cough as he just. Sits right there on the floor. Crosses his legs and gently maneuvers Peter into his lap to hold. Protective. Scared.
He looks up at Mikey, tears down his cheeks as he holds his curse-tainted husband in his arms. For the first time in two decades looking more like his brother Leo and not the closed off Commander Leonardo.]
[Peter reaches out to very carefully touch Leo's cheek, trying for reassurance even if he wasn't steady yet himself.]
I know. [Mikey's answer is simple, tired. His own demeanor loosens up, just slightly. The tense terseness of responding to Leo's distance softening.] I could lecture you about how dangerous this all is, but you know. If anyone knows, it's you. It isn't what either of you need right now.
[Soon as he feels Peter moving, Leo's attention is back on him. He lets out a broken half-sob and rests his hand over Peter's to his cheek. Whispering reassurances to his husband while Mikey talks.]
Or ever. [It's the instinctive response. The gut reaction to almost three years of this relationship he developed with his brothers. He shakes his head, one hand in the air moving like shoving what's in front of him aside - clean slate. start over.
He makes sure sure to think about what he's saying. Not so aggressive out the gate, softer.]
Thank you. For checking. I know- I-i know Peter probably feels better about it.
[Peter softly exhales, just stroking Leo's cheek. He manages a thin tired kind of smile. He's relieved in some part he isn't somehow staining Leo's skin on contact.
Mikey seems hopeful, cautiously so, but doesn't push the shift. He offers an olive branch in turn.] I'll be sure to reassure everyone else, so you two have some peace.
[Leo smiles gently at Peter's motions, leaning into his touch before he looks back up to Mikey. Confusion settles in his eyes for a moment. He can't fully trust those words, not after everything.]
[Mikey manages to not outright sigh. Giving his elder brother a tired look.]
April texted everyone in our family group chat, Leo. They know Peter is here. They're a little unsure about him being here given how he came back. Me reassuring them will give you two some space to adjust.
[Peter speaks, finding his voice again.] Just tell them, I'm not dangerous. I wouldn't hurt Leo or- anyone else.
[Leo simply watches Mikey for the moment. Feeling a little better the more steady Peter's voice sounds. Even if Peter can feel Leo tense each time Mikey calls him a nickname instead of his full name. The urge to correct him and make that boundary solid again on the tip of his tongue, but Leo fighting it back. He can see the honest attempt for peace what it is.]
Makes sense.
[But Peter's question... there are other answers he could hypothesize, and he stares hard at Mikey for a second.]
They're the ones who cut you off from everyone before. And now I dunno if I could reconnect you like this.
[Peter strokes his fingers along Leo's cheek, still trying to help him relax. He goes still at that last part, biting the inside of his cheek a little.
Mikey is openly remorseful as much as he's exhausted by the topic.] We had to. At the time we thought it would be the best course of action. The curse was corrupting your ninpo and was trying to spread.
Okay, I... [Peter takes a breath, trying to come to terms with that. Leo can likely feel Peter curl into himself a little before forcing himself to relax.] What is done is done. [Peter says quietly back, trying to just take that in stride.] I... can't go back can I?
[It's a topic they've gone round and round over the years about, yelling and screaming and no resolution, both sides steadfast in knowing they're right. Leo inhales deeply, likely to start yet another round, but Peter's movement and words stop him for now.
Leo looks up at Mikey, then back down to Peter, leaning in a little to lower his voice.]
...Did... you want that? To be connected to everyone else again?
[If he does... then maybe Leo did this wrong. Maybe he fucked up and this isn't what Peter wants. What if Peter didn't want to be back at all-]
I don't know. [Peter is honest about that, his attention settling back on his spouse.
He lets his hand stay against Leo's cheek for a moment before drawing back to lay against his shoulder. Absently just touching the turtle.] I didn't even realize I wasn't connected anymore, or why.
[Everything had just happened so quickly in a way. Peter hadn't had time to really think deeply about everything. Now he was learning more about why things were the way they were.
Mikey for his part hangs back, letting the two talk quietly amongst themselves.]
[With Peter's focus back on him, Peter can likely see that Leo is scared. He's terrified. Could he have done this differently? Could he have done this the "right" way? His family would have likely not agreed no matter what option he found, but...
He leans down to press his forehead to Peter's gently.]
Right. Just... Whatever you want, you get. All right?
[Peter's expression softens considerably at the fear written across his husband's features. His hand finds its previous place on Leo's cheek again, coaxing his thumb across his cheek.
He loves Leo, but he knows his husband has... done horrible things to get here. To bring him back. Peter isn't even sure how he feels about it yet. Later he might be upset, angry- for now, he's trying to keep them both settled.
It feels like they're delicately balanced here in this moment. Just the wrong thing could push them over.
Okay. I...I'm just trying to play catch up. This is a lot.
Y-yeah. Of course. I hadn't... Things weren't supposed to move this fast. I'm sorry.
[His face turns, leaning into his touch again. Blacked, dark hand or not, it's still Peter. And that means everything to him.]
...Why are you being so nice trying to help, M- [Oh the struggle against forced habits of two years is strong.] Michael. [It's.... as much an olive branch as he can give from his side.]
It's just Parker-Hamato luck at work. [Peter jokes quietly back, still stroking his thumb across his husband's cheek.]
One, you're my brother. [Mikey counts off on his fingers with ease. He takes the olive branch, just trying to cut to the point. It isn't Doctor Delicate Touch levels, but its simple.] Two, finally knowing what was behind that defensive wall you've had up for years helps answer questions I had about what was going on with you. Three, Peter. He's going to need the time.
[Peter huffs a little.] The fact this is the second time I died and lost time means I'll need a buffer.
["What was behind that defensive wall", Leo's pretty sure he made it clear at the time how much pain he was in from their choices they made. But this isn't the time to argue. Right now is the time to let his husband know that he's here, and he's willing to give whatever he needs.
Leo takes Peter's hand from his cheek to just hold for now, ignoring how it looks with the corruption.]
Yeah. I'd- April kind of took that away. [Like you guys took everything else, he wants to add. But not now. Not right here.] Th-the time buffer, I mean. I was planning to catch Peter up and introduce him back slow.
Just give us time. I can figure out re-meeting people one at a time as we go. [Peter offers, finding it easier to step in verbally. It is an ingrained habit from before and during the war, being an additional voice to help Leo. His partner in all ways.]
I'll smooth things over. [Mikey says easily enough, intending to leave.] Given what happened, you'll probably want to take it easy anyway.
[Peter laughs weakly, tipping his head back.] I need to rinse out my mouth and maybe just be... laying for a while.
[Leo focuses for now just holding Peter. Making sure he's here, he's alive and breathing. It's fine. Mikey is... going to help how he can, even if he doesn't one hundred percent agree with Leo or what he did, even without knowing what he did.
He's sure if his family ever found out, there'd be hell to pay anyway.
He nods down at Peter.] Yeah. 'course, you need to rest. We'll figure out the rest later.
Yeah, thanks! [He manages to call out. And then his attention is back down to Peter in his arms. Leo sighs heavily before leaning down to rest his forehead to his husband's.]
You'll be okay. You'll get rest, whatever else you need. All right?
[Peter sighs a little, just closing his eyes for the moment.]
Right now, I just- probably need toast or something before I lay back down. I dunno if my metabolism is normal or gonna freak out. [He has no idea how his body is going to even work after the whole dead and now not dead thing.]
I think I can sit up. [He starts shifting to try and do that now, wanting to just... sit on his own volition since he wants to actually have some control over all of this.
He's dizzier than he would like to be, and makes a face. He had to squeeze his eyes shut for a moment to get himself mildly centered.] ...Maybe bed tray would be better.
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We owe you two more than a few of them at this point.
[Peter hums lowly back, drawing out the sound before coughing a little. Even in his current state, Peter feels like there is a distance now, even with Leo softening towards Mikey to some degree.
His death broke Leo apart from the rest of his family.
He fumbles with his further stained hands to sign something clumsily at Leo. A simple, 'I'm Okay.']
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He looks up at Mikey, tears down his cheeks as he holds his curse-tainted husband in his arms. For the first time in two decades looking more like his brother Leo and not the closed off Commander Leonardo.]
...I.. I just. I needed him back.
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I know. [Mikey's answer is simple, tired. His own demeanor loosens up, just slightly. The tense terseness of responding to Leo's distance softening.] I could lecture you about how dangerous this all is, but you know. If anyone knows, it's you. It isn't what either of you need right now.
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Or ever. [It's the instinctive response. The gut reaction to almost three years of this relationship he developed with his brothers. He shakes his head, one hand in the air moving like shoving what's in front of him aside - clean slate. start over.
He makes sure sure to think about what he's saying. Not so aggressive out the gate, softer.]
Thank you. For checking. I know- I-i know Peter probably feels better about it.
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Mikey seems hopeful, cautiously so, but doesn't push the shift. He offers an olive branch in turn.] I'll be sure to reassure everyone else, so you two have some peace.
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...Why?
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April texted everyone in our family group chat, Leo. They know Peter is here. They're a little unsure about him being here given how he came back. Me reassuring them will give you two some space to adjust.
[Peter speaks, finding his voice again.] Just tell them, I'm not dangerous. I wouldn't hurt Leo or- anyone else.
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[He looks down at Peter in his arms again, thumbing at his cheek gently. He addresses Mikey but keeps his eyes focused on his husband.]
I don't... understand why you'd do that. F-for us.
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I can tell it affected you too. Tied you two together. [Mikey gestures at Leo's tattoos vaguely.]
Tied us together? [Peter questions back, his gaze straying from Leo for the moment.]
Leon's ninpo is tied into yours, and it's about the only magic you can probably touch without getting hurt.
[Peter's brows pinch together.] Is that... why I can't feel anyone else?
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Makes sense.
[But Peter's question... there are other answers he could hypothesize, and he stares hard at Mikey for a second.]
They're the ones who cut you off from everyone before. And now I dunno if I could reconnect you like this.
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Mikey is openly remorseful as much as he's exhausted by the topic.] We had to. At the time we thought it would be the best course of action. The curse was corrupting your ninpo and was trying to spread.
Okay, I... [Peter takes a breath, trying to come to terms with that. Leo can likely feel Peter curl into himself a little before forcing himself to relax.] What is done is done. [Peter says quietly back, trying to just take that in stride.] I... can't go back can I?
With how my ninpo hurt you, no. I don't think so.
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Leo looks up at Mikey, then back down to Peter, leaning in a little to lower his voice.]
...Did... you want that? To be connected to everyone else again?
[If he does... then maybe Leo did this wrong. Maybe he fucked up and this isn't what Peter wants. What if Peter didn't want to be back at all-]
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He lets his hand stay against Leo's cheek for a moment before drawing back to lay against his shoulder. Absently just touching the turtle.] I didn't even realize I wasn't connected anymore, or why.
[Everything had just happened so quickly in a way. Peter hadn't had time to really think deeply about everything. Now he was learning more about why things were the way they were.
Mikey for his part hangs back, letting the two talk quietly amongst themselves.]
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He leans down to press his forehead to Peter's gently.]
Right. Just... Whatever you want, you get. All right?
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He loves Leo, but he knows his husband has... done horrible things to get here. To bring him back. Peter isn't even sure how he feels about it yet. Later he might be upset, angry- for now, he's trying to keep them both settled.
It feels like they're delicately balanced here in this moment. Just the wrong thing could push them over.
Okay. I...I'm just trying to play catch up. This is a lot.
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[His face turns, leaning into his touch again. Blacked, dark hand or not, it's still Peter. And that means everything to him.]
...Why are you being so nice trying to help, M- [Oh the struggle against forced habits of two years is strong.] Michael. [It's.... as much an olive branch as he can give from his side.]
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One, you're my brother. [Mikey counts off on his fingers with ease. He takes the olive branch, just trying to cut to the point. It isn't Doctor Delicate Touch levels, but its simple.] Two, finally knowing what was behind that defensive wall you've had up for years helps answer questions I had about what was going on with you. Three, Peter. He's going to need the time.
[Peter huffs a little.] The fact this is the second time I died and lost time means I'll need a buffer.
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Leo takes Peter's hand from his cheek to just hold for now, ignoring how it looks with the corruption.]
Yeah. I'd- April kind of took that away. [Like you guys took everything else, he wants to add. But not now. Not right here.] Th-the time buffer, I mean. I was planning to catch Peter up and introduce him back slow.
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I'll smooth things over. [Mikey says easily enough, intending to leave.] Given what happened, you'll probably want to take it easy anyway.
[Peter laughs weakly, tipping his head back.] I need to rinse out my mouth and maybe just be... laying for a while.
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He's sure if his family ever found out, there'd be hell to pay anyway.
He nods down at Peter.] Yeah. 'course, you need to rest. We'll figure out the rest later.
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Mikey nods at the pair turning to start making his leave.]
If you need anything, you know how to reach me.
Thank you. [Peter calls back out at Mikey's retreating back, waving a little at him.]
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You'll be okay. You'll get rest, whatever else you need. All right?
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Right now, I just- probably need toast or something before I lay back down. I dunno if my metabolism is normal or gonna freak out. [He has no idea how his body is going to even work after the whole dead and now not dead thing.]
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[He's hesitant to do that.] Could do bed tray and all, if you want? Just some leisurely toast and maybe juice in bed?
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He's dizzier than he would like to be, and makes a face. He had to squeeze his eyes shut for a moment to get himself mildly centered.] ...Maybe bed tray would be better.
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