[It only takes a moment to realize what Donnie's doing, wordlessly makes the swap and starts with a big deep gulp that absolutely has him coughing a second later.
Fine. Smaller breaths. Easier. He shouldn't talk, but he has a hard time not talking, it's what he does, it's how he processes things, works things out. He uses the wall to help himself back up to his feet, watching Donnie before looking back up at the smoke over the arena. Then back to Don.
It's not safe, [donnie points out insistently, voice raised to be heard through the cloth. his brothers, these ridiculous creatures; at least mikey has a little sense of self-preservation in his head but leo is just as irritatingly big damn hero as raphael is.] We need to go.
And you think we are qualified to provide that help right now? [BRO YOU CAN'T EVEN BREATHE] We have no powers! No weapons, no tech! There's- [cough] There's fire trucks right over there, we'll just get in the way!
[He hates this. He hates this, specifically, seeing what needs to be done and not having a plan, no clear way to get things done. Raph would just smash his way through but Leo can usually see a different path.
There just... isn't one here. He looks back at the smoke again. And it's clear the way his shoulders slump that he knows there's no other real answer here. This city has its own things in place for situations, and they don't have anything to help.
[...holy shit, leo listened to him. it's almost a shock, though one donnie recovers from quickly, just because he really does want to get the fuck out of there. his skin's starting to prickle with the heat so leo's must be worse. they both need to get into some water for a bit, soak in a cool tub or something.]
Okay. [donnie glances around to find his bearings, checks the direction of the smoke blowing and determines that his lodgings in the sutoku territory will be free of the worst of the smoke and flames. they should be fine there and if not, there will be plenty of time to evacuate.
he tilts his head in the direction to go and starts walking, the small apparatus tank in his hand instead of in his backpack to give leo plenty of slack.]
[He listened, but it's clear he hates it. They can't ninja mind meld here, but it's obvious Donnie is wanting to head to Sutoku territory. It's probably clearer, less problems Shuten is having right now. He nods and follows along, taking a few more breaths from the mask before holding it out to Don to swap.]
[glances at leo, then taps his forearm to his brother's before taking the mask to take a couple clean breaths. as they get further from shuten territory, the air begins to clear, though there are more people either struggling to flee beside them or staring at the destruction in the distance.]
We're not getting attached. ["do you trust the people here, donnie?" they need to stay removed. they can't afford get wrapped up in this place's problems.] We're gonna go back home.
[Attached. Right. They shouldn't. They shouldn't get attached, no matter how cool this place actually is (their home not here notwithstanding), or the people are chill (their brothers and dad and April and Casey not here notwithstanding) and-
And... No, it's not home. It's not home and it's not familiar. He shouldn't care about these youkai and other Lost Souls, it shouldn't matter-
So why does it to him? Maybe Raph and Casey got into his head a little too deep. But what else can he do? Watch people panic and not know what to do? Raph would say it's the right thing. Casey would probably say something about how everyone in the future has to help each other because there's no one else.]
Dee- We can't just do nothing though. There's gotta be something.
[Another slow deep breath before he taps his brother's forearm to trade off again. He'd double checked his gear. He still has all his first aid supplies in his pack, but somehow he gets the feeling Donatello would not appreciate him wanting to help out in that way.]
But there has to be anything. I dunno. Even if it's just leading these guys out with us? We're already leaving.
[turns and shoves the mask and tank both into leo's chest.
maybe in a bit, maybe later, donnie will realize that his reaction to leo's stubbornness is disproportionate to the situation. maybe he'll think back with a calmer mind, with the adrenaline fully flushed from his system, with the needles of the memory of leo begging casey, "please-!" gone from at least the forefront of his mind and concede that he overreacted.]
Sure! Here, I'll start! [donnie waves his arms, shouting at people running past, gesturing hugely.] Quick everybody, this way! Away from the fire, which is where all the smoke is! [a few youkai spare donnie concerned or frightened looks, but that's about it.
donnie turns to leo and throws out a hand at people trying to skirt around them, giving them a wider berth now that donnie has kind of made himself look sort of unhinged.] There! Do you get it yet, Leo? We're useless here!
[He takes the canister and mask with an audible little oof and holds them while Donnie proves his point. Leo watches him do that, watches the others around them look and keep moving the direction they were already going. And then slowly put the mask back to his face to take a slow inhale of cleaner air.
Useless.
He's coming to find he doesn't like that word very much. He feels the loss of his swords and the emptiness of his core missing their Ninpo so powerfully. There's a ringing in his ear that's coming and going, so he steps back to Donnie, shoves the mask and tank back at him and stalks past.]
[donnie wheezes a bit as well, but keeps a grip on that mask and tank. his eyes narrow, but- but that's what he wanted. he wanted leo to get it through his thick skull.
so without a word, he follows behind his brother, silently, away from the fire and screams.]
[For now, he'll file silently with Donnie to the Sutoku residence. It looks mostly unharmed from everything - likely because the other bombs were found before any others went off. He's relieved, in a way? It was only his faction's territory that got hit. Less damage, less anyone injured. Easier clean up, and probably easier for authorities to find answers.
And that's fine. That's fine because they aren't really part of this, they aren't fixing this, they aren't getting attached.
No matter how wrong that feels to him. Seeing the homes and businesses damaged that belong to the youkai that just live here... They'll have to rebuild, and who knows how long that'll take them. What if it was Senor Hueso? He'd want to help, as best he can. What could he do though? Donnie had made it extremely, painfully clear that they're useless right now.
So. Piling up on the floor with his pillow. Sure.]
[they'd barely spoken since the explosion and ensuing...not fight. disagreement, maybe. but there was an air of discomfort between them that usually didn't come with the typical family bickering or spats. one or both of them had poked at something sore, and now that agitation seeped into their shared living space like a bad smell.
donnie doesn't even sleep in the bedroom, instead working late into the night and eventually dragging his pillow and blanket to the living room to curl up next to his work. the apartment, dorm, whatever it is is starting to get cluttered, boxes of what looks like garbage piled up here and there. trinkets, electronics, abandoned gadgets and metals that donnie might be able to utilize later.
the next day donnie comes into the bedroom rubbing his eyes, knocking his mask askew, before he tosses leo's phone onto the pillow next to him with a yawn.] Fixed it. [-and he leaves. doesn't even point out the two additional icons on leo's homescreen that weren't there before: an old-fashioned movie camera, and the Jupiter Jim logo.
one is a video player with all the lou jitsu movies they'd ever seen pre-loaded into its library. the jupiter jim logo holds all the scanned volumes of their comic books.]
[It's been a little awkward. Not because he's mad (maybe a little), but just... because what does he say? He didn't do anything wrong so there's nothing to apologize for, he didn't not do anything so there's no apology for that either.
It was just. A disagreement. And one Leonardo feels too sharply between him and his brother.
He loves his brother, but he can't help remembering this was one of his least favorite things about his brother. They're both too damned stubborn once they've made their minds up.
So it's a little surprise when he feels the thump of something landing near him. Not on him - surprising, given it's Donnie's aim - but he glances at it, then up at Donnie before he turns away.
Right... Phone was cracked to hell and back. He fiddles with it, sees what those new icons are and what they have.
Oh.
It's a minute or two before he's out in the living room to see what he can put together. But sees Donnie out the corner of his eye. Decides to sort out a pile of boxes so he can sit here.]
You'd said you wanted familiar. [doesn't look up from his own work, not even to give leo the stinkeye for moving around his things (trash). he just continues to run the cleaning cloth over the espresso components. he's behind on this order which is just embarrassing, considering how elementary it is.]
[And now that he's got a spot, he sighs. He did say he wanted 'familiar'. He didn't think Donnie would go that far, though. He can recognize the action for what it is, and since his brother isn't saying the words, he won't.
So instead, he goes to the fridge and gets a small takeaway package, gets it in the microwave. A couple minutes later, he'll bring a bowl of warmed pork ramen next to Donnie.]
[takes the bowl in hand and just kind of...holds it aloft for a second while he..finishes this.....thing- okay.
slots his goggles back up onto his head with a flick of his finger, looks down at the ramen then back up at leo, and then puts the rag aside to accept the disposable chopsticks his brother also holds out and dig in.]
...you know I'm not saying I think we shouldn't do the hero thing here, right?
[rolls eyes and slurps his noodles, poking around for some chashu hopefully hiding in the broth] What I'm actually saying, Leonard, is we shouldn't throw ourselves into it at risk of getting hurt. We have a family to get back to. Possibly even rescue.
It wouldn't happen to begin with. I wouldn't let it.
[It's instinctive to say, habitual to promise. Naturally, Leo wouldn't let anything happen to his brother. Not after what happened to Raph, he won't let any of them get hurt again. But with not having everyone here in an unfamiliar place, the moment passes and he gets his breath.
There's no guarantee here. All he can do is his best. But the thought of Raph and Pops' disappointed faces if they found out they had the option to help and didn't do anything...]
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Fine. Smaller breaths. Easier. He shouldn't talk, but he has a hard time not talking, it's what he does, it's how he processes things, works things out. He uses the wall to help himself back up to his feet, watching Donnie before looking back up at the smoke over the arena. Then back to Don.
What now?]
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It's not safe, [donnie points out insistently, voice raised to be heard through the cloth. his brothers, these ridiculous creatures; at least mikey has a little sense of self-preservation in his head but leo is just as irritatingly big damn hero as raphael is.] We need to go.
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These people need help.
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There just... isn't one here. He looks back at the smoke again. And it's clear the way his shoulders slump that he knows there's no other real answer here. This city has its own things in place for situations, and they don't have anything to help.
Mask back on, he takes a clean breath and nods.]
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Okay. [donnie glances around to find his bearings, checks the direction of the smoke blowing and determines that his lodgings in the sutoku territory will be free of the worst of the smoke and flames. they should be fine there and if not, there will be plenty of time to evacuate.
he tilts his head in the direction to go and starts walking, the small apparatus tank in his hand instead of in his backpack to give leo plenty of slack.]
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Thanks.
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We're not getting attached. ["do you trust the people here, donnie?" they need to stay removed. they can't afford get wrapped up in this place's problems.] We're gonna go back home.
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And... No, it's not home. It's not home and it's not familiar. He shouldn't care about these youkai and other Lost Souls, it shouldn't matter-
So why does it to him? Maybe Raph and Casey got into his head a little too deep. But what else can he do? Watch people panic and not know what to do? Raph would say it's the right thing. Casey would probably say something about how everyone in the future has to help each other because there's no one else.]
Dee- We can't just do nothing though. There's gotta be something.
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[Another slow deep breath before he taps his brother's forearm to trade off again. He'd double checked his gear. He still has all his first aid supplies in his pack, but somehow he gets the feeling Donatello would not appreciate him wanting to help out in that way.]
But there has to be anything. I dunno. Even if it's just leading these guys out with us? We're already leaving.
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maybe in a bit, maybe later, donnie will realize that his reaction to leo's stubbornness is disproportionate to the situation. maybe he'll think back with a calmer mind, with the adrenaline fully flushed from his system, with the needles of the memory of leo begging casey, "please-!" gone from at least the forefront of his mind and concede that he overreacted.]
Sure! Here, I'll start! [donnie waves his arms, shouting at people running past, gesturing hugely.] Quick everybody, this way! Away from the fire, which is where all the smoke is! [a few youkai spare donnie concerned or frightened looks, but that's about it.
donnie turns to leo and throws out a hand at people trying to skirt around them, giving them a wider berth now that donnie has kind of made himself look sort of unhinged.] There! Do you get it yet, Leo? We're useless here!
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Useless.
He's coming to find he doesn't like that word very much. He feels the loss of his swords and the emptiness of his core missing their Ninpo so powerfully. There's a ringing in his ear that's coming and going, so he steps back to Donnie, shoves the mask and tank back at him and stalks past.]
Fine. You proved your point. Let's just go.
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so without a word, he follows behind his brother, silently, away from the fire and screams.]
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And that's fine. That's fine because they aren't really part of this, they aren't fixing this, they aren't getting attached.
No matter how wrong that feels to him. Seeing the homes and businesses damaged that belong to the youkai that just live here... They'll have to rebuild, and who knows how long that'll take them. What if it was Senor Hueso? He'd want to help, as best he can. What could he do though? Donnie had made it extremely, painfully clear that they're useless right now.
So. Piling up on the floor with his pillow. Sure.]
the next day
donnie doesn't even sleep in the bedroom, instead working late into the night and eventually dragging his pillow and blanket to the living room to curl up next to his work. the apartment, dorm, whatever it is is starting to get cluttered, boxes of what looks like garbage piled up here and there. trinkets, electronics, abandoned gadgets and metals that donnie might be able to utilize later.
the next day donnie comes into the bedroom rubbing his eyes, knocking his mask askew, before he tosses leo's phone onto the pillow next to him with a yawn.] Fixed it. [-and he leaves. doesn't even point out the two additional icons on leo's homescreen that weren't there before: an old-fashioned movie camera, and the Jupiter Jim logo.
one is a video player with all the lou jitsu movies they'd ever seen pre-loaded into its library. the jupiter jim logo holds all the scanned volumes of their comic books.]
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It was just. A disagreement. And one Leonardo feels too sharply between him and his brother.
He loves his brother, but he can't help remembering this was one of his least favorite things about his brother. They're both too damned stubborn once they've made their minds up.
So it's a little surprise when he feels the thump of something landing near him. Not on him - surprising, given it's Donnie's aim - but he glances at it, then up at Donnie before he turns away.
Right... Phone was cracked to hell and back. He fiddles with it, sees what those new icons are and what they have.
Oh.
It's a minute or two before he's out in the living room to see what he can put together. But sees Donnie out the corner of his eye. Decides to sort out a pile of boxes so he can sit here.]
...Thanks.
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So instead, he goes to the fridge and gets a small takeaway package, gets it in the microwave. A couple minutes later, he'll bring a bowl of warmed pork ramen next to Donnie.]
Here.
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slots his goggles back up onto his head with a flick of his finger, looks down at the ramen then back up at leo, and then puts the rag aside to accept the disposable chopsticks his brother also holds out and dig in.]
...you know I'm not saying I think we shouldn't do the hero thing here, right?
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[Leo instead sits on the floor, flipping through his phone now that it's fixed.]
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[He's already making use of the scanned comics, rereading a favorite. Is it to distract him, help him focus, or comfort? Who's to say.]
I don't like not having our weapons and powers as much as you do, but in the meantime we just... what? Do nothing?
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[It's instinctive to say, habitual to promise. Naturally, Leo wouldn't let anything happen to his brother. Not after what happened to Raph, he won't let any of them get hurt again. But with not having everyone here in an unfamiliar place, the moment passes and he gets his breath.
There's no guarantee here. All he can do is his best. But the thought of Raph and Pops' disappointed faces if they found out they had the option to help and didn't do anything...]
I dunno, Dee.
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