Chapter Text
Together with bowed heads and kneeling forms in silent communion. Sandalwood incenses haze the dojo in a thick potency nearly overwhelming to the senses, yet the brothers welcome its nostalgic immersion of a time long past. Never do they rise together rather, of their own discretion, each lift their gaze upon the alter. Through the smoky film their master smiles warmly alongside the pubescent visage of themselves. A moment savored within the splintered edges of its frame, the memory comes easily to them all.
Their father’s tattered sash enwraps the worn cane from handle to collar, its clothed shank set across the alters surface. Undisturbed since that fated day, standing Leo eyes the shrine of memorabilia. The items perhaps too commonplace for such an occasion but each article held deep sentimental value bridging connections to their father.
Leo breaths deeply, glancing to his only other sibling who had yet to vacate alongside the others, hands grasped tight and tears withheld Mikey whispers a blessing. Don had explained religious and deities as man-made narratives and Raph looked upon it in dismissive skepticism but Leo had always found a similar comfort in the act of prayer. The concept of consciously maintaining a connection beyond the cycles of life had manifested itself in his daily meditations.
Their elder father had been sickly and as though sensing his end nearing Splinter would request a moment with each of them individually. The forlorn reaction upon each of his siblings departure from their masters room had left the leader anxious. When, at-last, it was his own turn he'd hidden his jumbling emotion under a veneer of stoicism their father could easily disperse. What had been spoken he’s sure to remember for as long as he’ll live.
A shuffling aside cements Leo back into the moment, watchful as the incense ashing towards its end. It's been years, a near decade, since and yet the pain lingers anew when least expected. The aroma persist, thin whisp of dispersing smoke dwindles into obscurity reaching its end. They both voice a farewell and bow respectively before leaving to assist finishing any final preparations.
Leading Mikey with a pat on the shell he’s aware of the youngest retreating to his room to finish packing. They’d be gone for a couple months and Leo made it known they were to use only one box to fill with personal possessions. A challenge the youngest had found all too difficult as did Don but they nonetheless abided. Their hotheaded brother, similar to himself, had packeted minimally though that also meant what space did remain within the box Raphael had fill with his precious alcohol. An unfortunate priority Leo opposed until he'd begrudgingly settled for a middle ground.
Entering the garage he’s greeted by Don who's finishing a last minute checkup regarding the vans essentials. They’d prepared for nearly every imagined scenario they could think of but most realistically for gasoline. The final stretch of road leading to the house was always the most worrisome, a place where a setting sun meant driving miles along a trek of neglected roads with only the headlights to guide them through the darkness. From there I’d be a half days drive through a thicket of overgrown forestry caging either side of the dirt road.
Not counting the animals who frequently crossed said lonesome path, to say their first travel there during their youth years ago wasn’t an anxious experience would be a lie. A few lined gascans sit securely aside the few boxes labeled in his brother’s familiar signatures. The majority of the vehicles space had been taken up by four stacked mattresses. Raphs rarely used one set on top, the height of the beds didn’t allow for much room for them to do much more than sit and crawl.
Gazing to Don recounting the number of supplies and shuffling through the vehicle exclusive tools, a clipboard in hand. His bespekled sibling being the one to truly assist in making this trip a reality. Approaching Leo leans over shoulder to evaluate the cooler’s snacks once it’s opened.
“Still need Mikey’s box and I’d prefer we bring more blankets. Casey said he’d let us borrow his toolbox incase the farmhouse doesn’t have all the supplies for repairs”, Leo ruminates before volunteering to get more covers. Winter was right around the corner and falling into brumation during the ride over was the last thing any of them wanted. The month between guaranteed they’d be able to experience the slightly warmer temperatures before the cold swiped it away completely.
“Have you gotten the drive schedule situated?”, an aggravated exhale is enough of an answer. Specified when the bespectacled genius mouths off about Raphs indecisiveness. The genius waved away that discussion quoting Raphs unsettled “depends on how I’m feeling” speech before their red banded brother had left to visit Casey’s. In comparison to Mikes ridiculous request to only driving out the city and no further, “at this point I’d rather we just choose straws cause I’m not driving for 3 days”.
Leo smiles with a stain, while hes not completely new to driving his experience was free and far between. Much preferring to dedicate the dreary task to his brothers during the occasional vehicle related mission. It’s obvious from his brothers shoulders and mutters that the stress of the situation was getting to Don.
This hadn’t been a split minute decision for Leo personally but he’d only recently spoken the idea between themselves and while the two elders had discussed it in length the announcement and preparations for such a lengthy trek had been a rushed endeavor. Don preferred to be over packed rather than under and overthinking was a challenge for both of them, however unintentional to prepare under such short-term circumstances had the genius’s mind in a whirl.
Fingering the clipboard lower from the insistent gaze of his distressed sibling. The elder doesn’t speak until Donatello meets his eye, away from the chart of listed items and its hastily scrawled notes. “Breathe with me,” the restlessness from the younger doesn’t go unnoticed but eventually his technique is mimicked. They continue until a reassuring nod is given, “I’ll get the covers and check on Mike”.
Don mentions the farms living room fireplace and suggest they bring an ax as well. “It’s here somewhere I’ll find it”, Leo eyes the hoarded boxes of miscellaneous junkyard finds stored in the garages farthest corner. Items found and deemed nascent in their usefulness, and there was plenty to go around. I’d been picked through often enough but rarely did the mass lessen.
The pattering approach of Pepperoni briefly diverts their attention. The adolescent protoceratops had grown so much, concernedly closer to the size of full grown leonberger, the domesticated dino wouldn’t have been able to come along even had they wished it. She clamors closer to them seeking a temporary companion until her favorite red banded owner returned. Don is quick to comfort as Leo backs from the two walking towards the doors, “get dishwashing liquid and make sure Mikey has his toothbrush too” a nod and reassured hum is returned before exiting.
Retrieving a cardboard box from the pile of extras he folds it into shape before nabbing two dish liquid bottles and stuffs the few covers found in the towel closet. Throughout his search the muffled melody of music persisted from the youngest room, knocking on the door he waits for it to open. Before relaying Dons message he eyes beyond the opened doors frame, a box spring stripped bare openly exposing the erotic magazine collection underneath. From there his eye sweeps the messy room, an issue Leo had long since stopped pestering about but it continues to irk him to an extent.
The shorter brother smiles, deepening dimples and crickling his snout in a snorted laugh. “I only got essentials, and then some. Check it.” A footed nudge below drawing Leo’s attention briefly to the box of handhelds and skatchbooks, other miscellaneous items fills the four walls of cardboard with only the barest of actual ‘essentials’. He supposed his brother had packed for the trip not the destination seeing as electricity wouldn’t be readily available until they figure out the meter tampering situation. “Take it to Don, and get your toothbrush.”
The panic in Mikey’s features as he quickly makes for the bathroom quirks the briefest of smiles across the eldest face before he leaves to the garage. Within he scents the strong aroma of pizza, the stacked boxes aside Casey and Raph nearest the workstation conversing, an affectionate Dino by their side while Don checks the toolbox their human companion offered. Once noticed by the duo Leo nods an acknowledgment and continues to the genius.
Don does a quick re-evaluation of the boxes contents before nodding in approval then placing it within the crammed hatch. Leo watches curiously, his gaze roaming the wall of labeled boxes stacked upon one another with a Tetris like dedication.
Those few reading ‘oversize’ in Dons scrawled penmanship he knows to be a hearty donation of from Casey for the colder months upon them, the man bragged of a recent growth spurt which made the collection unwearable.
“Thanks Casey”, the man perks and glances to him with a sheepish expression before he’s snapped back to a barking Raph. “I swear if we come back and she’s over weight I’ll kill you”, a roll of the eye the human looks below to the red banded turtle setting the harness in place around a hyper Pepperoni and connecting the leash. Their conversation continues with harsh quips and joking comments, Don sighs satisfactorily as the tool kit is fitted into the van. “Now we wait for Mike” with an air of nonchalance the unbanded terrapin mentions April having something for them. “She’s in my lab gathering a few documents”, Leo nods under the presumption the files were for Don to study during the trip.
But he’d been surprised to discover that the papers were for her own personal use. “Dons been helping me with a few school research assignments-“ all else she’d explained about the projects details had went through one ear and out the other. For whatever reason it hadn’t been a topic of discussion that the trip would be pulling his brother from such a collaborative process.
“I hadn’t been aware of you and Dons ongoings,” Aprils reaction is shorted lived, a brief and forcibly amused smile the woman, uniform and heeled, arrived late from a meeting. She bends somewhat disheveled gathering papers from filling cabinets to stack thickly within a few chosen crates. She offers context regarding Dons involvement as merely a homework partner so she could relax between the with ongoing assignments.
The woman continues speaking on the matter, her voice lulls him through the packing process and thereafter when Leo insists on carrying the two cases to her car. For a time they walk through the lair contently silent, April, assemably unnoticed, side-eyes him. As though dazed of his visage only to look away in thoughtful embarrassment. Leo’s own eye remained above towards the youngest room, its seemingly unoccupied. Mentally, he crosses the box of potentially assisting his distractive brother in packing.
It isn’t long before the elevator opens with a chime blinking April into attention as she maneuvers the button for the upper level. She’s avoidant and only now does Leo notice her intent in furthering herself from him. He attempts to think little of it though the contrast to Aprils ordinarily confrontational nature does worry the leader.
Ignoring his mental insistence towards ‘mothering’ the woman’s woes, acknowledging that she’d share when she was ready. Leo takes to distracting himself thinking of the trip; not much looking forward to the lengthy drive and unconventional sleeping arrangement rather the time away from city. A point which arose sharp contention amongst the brothers nights prior.
I’d been a month ago, bedded together after their arousals sated and adrenaline calmed settled atop one another in contentment Leo made the announcement. It hadn’t been a surprise for his second in command, there’d been many questions and a challenging discussion as expected of their genius brother. The biggest pullback stemming from the youngest duo, they’d all rooted an identifying part of themselves within city but Raph and Mikey respectively built a commitment to its citizens.
Again Leo’s eye wanders to April, he’d be forever grateful for the few human friends they’d maintained but rarely did he feel as deeply regarding those he solely protected. It was the same for Don but even more so, preferring instead to reduce the public as statistics and causalities.
Thoughts linger as the garage door opens onto a familiar scene of scampering siblings and yapping conversation all under the hefty scent of pizza which further dissipates his contemplations. Pepperoni with a slice dangling from her sharp maw running from an equally hyper and determined Michelangelo around the limited space available. Don evaluating Mikey’s box while the vigilante duo lean against the counter cackling to one another while sharing a beer.
April smiles though it doesn’t reach her tired eye. She nods to him before leading the way to her car and opening its junked trunk. Quick to clear out the shopping bags and miscellaneous items with a muttered apology before he settles the crates within. Separating them to all fit, it’s quiet between them and he can practically feel her stare from behind.
It’s an unsettling experience for his instincts to make themselves known even in understanding the lack of any real danger. Standing to full height while closing the trunk Leo continue towards his brothers until April gives him pause, her smaller hands clumsily grasping his one.
The action hidden from anyone’s view with the cars body somewhat obscuring them standing at its rear. Her usual outgoing attitude remains subdued and a discomfort overcomes Leo once again. Then, retrieving from her jacket, she hands him a white thickly compact envelope. He knows it to be money, had requested both humans to never feel the need to offer their personal finances.
“Just to keep my mind at ease.”
He understands that, has been on her end of such exchanges though his brothers aren't comparably as accepting as he is when stowing the rations in his belts pocket. The older woman keeps a distance during his action as she once again loses herself to the recesses of her mind.
Don had informed her of their leave nights ago and seemingly she hadn’t been bothered by what the genius had relayed. Perhaps it’s the context of the turtles temporarily cutting all contact with them during their leave. Raph, expectedly, had opposed such limitations deeming it “fu*king stupid”. Made claims of Leo’s selfishness regarding his brothers attentions and obvious controlling tendencies.
It all held a sliver of truth but also an equal share of falsehood. There held intent behind such seemingly selfish actions and while Don had also been against it he’d ultimately agreed, reasoning to their angered brother that “any type of communication will deplete significantly by the time we’re there so it’ll happen regardless.” It hadn’t been helpful and Raph simply huffed and never brought it up again.
Their youngest brother also hated the rule, he’d built a life online; made friends, some more unlikable than others. And while Leo would never understand such types of relationships he had offered some solace even if the rule held strong.
A knock atop the cars hood and Casey wanders closer to them with a plate for April. “Did you manage to get everything?” She nods and responds casually just as Leos attentions are called elsewhere. Don waves him over while closing the vans hatch, “everything’s set”. They share a moment of silent excitement, this had been a long time coming, longer still for Leonardo.
Farewells are voiced as are physical affections exchanged, Mikey practically falling into their friends arms for any prolonged contact. Raph had affectionately hugged Pepperoni before coaxing her into Aprils backseat. Don is first to load himself into the passenger with their red headed friend at his heels. Leo doesn’t hear them but his vantage point allows him to witness the verbal exchange and avoidant touches. It concerns him, more so when seeing the uneased expression Don wears once April builds some semblance of courage to lean into the car window for a hug.
The genius turns away with a sense of finality and assumedly says his goodbyes to a misty eyed April. She walks the vehicles length approaching, a never reaching smile graces her features as she nearly passes by. “Did something happen?” It’d been spoken before he could give pause, the mere display he’d witnessed had been enough to worry.
It’s an amazing sight to see the humans pale skin redden at such a rate, she never meets his eye while calming his concerns. He doesn’t decline the hug she claimed him in and her wobbled whisper of apology confuses him though a glance behind her form to the side mirror reflecting Dons watchful gaze does keep the leader quiet.
April pulls away before continuing on her way towards Raph offering a brief hug, her unshed tears mistakenly assigned to the sentimental moment before she retreats to her own vehicle waiting for her husband. “Chill Case, it’ll just be a few months,” the human male loosens Raph from his unrelenting embrace. “Few my ass. It’ll be tough to brawl every piece of sh*t I come across”, “not every sh*t stacks worth a brawl but it’s a good warm up.“ Raph rotates his arm in exaggeration a smirk on his face as he continues.
“Do what’s necessary”, Casey nods and relays a similar sentiment as they separate further to their destined vehicles. He teases the possibility of the vacation softening the red banded brother’s physique a laugher belted from both thereafter. “See ya Case”, “Yea catch you later”. Raph retreats to the vans opened sliding door climbing inside with Leo following suit and closing the door.
The stacked beds allow only for them to sit upright, while it isn’t an unwelcome arrangement frequent stops to stretch the legs is definitely in order. The driver door opens and Mikey seats himself passing the partially filled pizza box to Don. Seatbelts fastened the garage button is pressed and the furthest wall of the garage opens into a dark alley. The car aside them purrs to life before driving out with them following closely behind.