[Rue tips their head down towards Leo, big eyes blinking slowly, watching him mull over their own words.]
Donnie has always struck me as one who struggles with nuance. He gets so burdened digging into the particulars of every little thing, that he forgets that morals go further than simply good and bad. Sometimes, there is no deeper meaning to a decision, than simply needing to step in to make one.
Do you think his struggle lies more in his own processing than truly with you?
He does need things clear and straight-forward so I try to be, but this is just-
...Should I have not saved the world? Just. Gone with Raph and let the Krang destroy everything?
[Doing so would have made future-him's sacrifice mean nothing. It would've meant Casey came to the past for nothing. There was no right, good answer that would have solved everything in that moment. The minute Don and Mike were out of the picture, the plan was fucked and he couldn't run it anymore. He had to make it up on the spot and it was all he had.
But for all his bravado and confidence, Leo asking that sounds like what he is: a sixteen year old kid.]
[Rue does not even pretend to watch the movie anymore, turning their head down to Leo fully, though they do not move from where he is nestled at their side, keeping him close.]
Leo, no. I do not want you to find doubt in what you did. There was courage and selflessness in such an action, of course, but darling, what you did was out of love, was it not? Love for your family, for your home, for your world.
No one can fault you for that. And I think that you and I both know that there is at least a part of Donnie that must agree, even if he will not say as much himself.
[Leo falls quiet again for a few minutes. Thinking. Rolling the thought over in his mind.
You wanna make it up to us? Never, ever do it again. I don't care if it means the end of the world. You bring us with you or you don't do it.
He can't get those words out of his head, no matter how hard he tries to run from it, try not to think about it. He wants to move on, he wants everyone to just - be happy again. The Krang didn't have to assimilate the world to destroy his. The Krang definitely destroyed his world in smaller, more personal ways.
He brings his feet up on to the couch, slouching a bit against them still watching the screen. He's quiet for a long few minutes, but his voice is quiet, if a little wet around the edges. He tips his spoon a little toward the tv as the third movie gets to just before its climax. Jupiter Jim and Red Fox reuniting, hugging each other and recounting their sides of the incidents of the movie they'd been separated for.]
[The hurt that has ripped the two turtles apart has been going on for so long now, Rue does not expect it all to conclude this afternoon with a few guiding words from them. But it is a start in the right direction, because there is just no doubt in their mind that things will be back to normal in time. This divide will not be permanent, both Leo and Donnie just need a little more space to fix it.
Impossibly, Leo draws his feet up and gets even smaller against them, turning his attention back to the movie, the softest hint of choked up emotion to his tone as he points out a favorite scene.
Rue can take the hint.
They bump their head to his affectionately, adjust their wing at his shoulder so that their feathers are providing a soft blanket over Leo's side, and turn their gaze back to the movie. It doesn't quite receive all of Rue's attention this time, only because they are so hyperaware of the sweet boy holding back tears at their side, but they do want to see how this all wraps up.]
I can not wait. I think that of the three we have seen so far, this one is my favorite.
Yeah? Wait until you see Jupiter Jim Sails the Seven Galaxies. It's the best one, no matter what Don says.
[That's an actual legitimate fight. A worthy fight. Not... not whether or not Leo wants to sacrifice himself or the contrary.
He misses dad. He misses Dad so much, it hurts. How long has it been since he's seen that rat face, felt that soft fur hug him? Would he even recognize Leo after everything that he's been through? He'd do almost anything to see his dad again.
Rue is very parent shaped. Rue almost makes the pain not hurt as much.]
[The amazing thing about family is even as you begin to gain more members along the way, it does not mean the love being shared among them is split even further. Leo can love and miss his father in equal measure, while still loving a new parent-shaped owlbear who is right at his side.
But it is a role Rue is honored to be trusted with in any capacity.]
I love you, dear. Think nothing of it.
[Rue will stay with Leo, lazily watching movies on the couch, for as long as he needs them.]
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no subject
Great. You know me better than my own brother then. Because the way he talks about it, it's like he thinks I enjoyed making that choice.
no subject
Donnie has always struck me as one who struggles with nuance. He gets so burdened digging into the particulars of every little thing, that he forgets that morals go further than simply good and bad. Sometimes, there is no deeper meaning to a decision, than simply needing to step in to make one.
Do you think his struggle lies more in his own processing than truly with you?
no subject
He does need things clear and straight-forward so I try to be, but this is just-
...Should I have not saved the world? Just. Gone with Raph and let the Krang destroy everything?
[Doing so would have made future-him's sacrifice mean nothing. It would've meant Casey came to the past for nothing. There was no right, good answer that would have solved everything in that moment. The minute Don and Mike were out of the picture, the plan was fucked and he couldn't run it anymore. He had to make it up on the spot and it was all he had.
But for all his bravado and confidence, Leo asking that sounds like what he is: a sixteen year old kid.]
no subject
Leo, no. I do not want you to find doubt in what you did. There was courage and selflessness in such an action, of course, but darling, what you did was out of love, was it not? Love for your family, for your home, for your world.
No one can fault you for that. And I think that you and I both know that there is at least a part of Donnie that must agree, even if he will not say as much himself.
no subject
You wanna make it up to us? Never, ever do it again. I don't care if it means the end of the world. You bring us with you or you don't do it.
He can't get those words out of his head, no matter how hard he tries to run from it, try not to think about it. He wants to move on, he wants everyone to just - be happy again. The Krang didn't have to assimilate the world to destroy his. The Krang definitely destroyed his world in smaller, more personal ways.
He brings his feet up on to the couch, slouching a bit against them still watching the screen. He's quiet for a long few minutes, but his voice is quiet, if a little wet around the edges. He tips his spoon a little toward the tv as the third movie gets to just before its climax. Jupiter Jim and Red Fox reuniting, hugging each other and recounting their sides of the incidents of the movie they'd been separated for.]
This part's great. One of my favorite parts.
no subject
Impossibly, Leo draws his feet up and gets even smaller against them, turning his attention back to the movie, the softest hint of choked up emotion to his tone as he points out a favorite scene.
Rue can take the hint.
They bump their head to his affectionately, adjust their wing at his shoulder so that their feathers are providing a soft blanket over Leo's side, and turn their gaze back to the movie. It doesn't quite receive all of Rue's attention this time, only because they are so hyperaware of the sweet boy holding back tears at their side, but they do want to see how this all wraps up.]
I can not wait. I think that of the three we have seen so far, this one is my favorite.
no subject
[That's an actual legitimate fight. A worthy fight. Not... not whether or not Leo wants to sacrifice himself or the contrary.
He misses dad. He misses Dad so much, it hurts. How long has it been since he's seen that rat face, felt that soft fur hug him? Would he even recognize Leo after everything that he's been through? He'd do almost anything to see his dad again.
Rue is very parent shaped. Rue almost makes the pain not hurt as much.]
...Thanks, Rue.
no subject
But it is a role Rue is honored to be trusted with in any capacity.]
I love you, dear. Think nothing of it.
[Rue will stay with Leo, lazily watching movies on the couch, for as long as he needs them.]