Chapter Text
It was late.
Leo didn't know how late it was, technically, it could be morning. But the gift of living underground, under the thick and heavy concrete that muffles the rattle of train tracks above and with no way to look outside, nothing to let the warm light rays of the sun peak inside their home.
He has to assume by the atmosphere of the moment, there was an eerie silence that blanketed the once noisy household. Instead of the loud and business that usually filled the place, now it was just quiet. He could hear as Raphs dull snores bounce off of his door.
So clearly, to him, it was night time.
And he had every right to feel so mischievous still being up, with no intention of going back to sleep.
Not until he could catch the Space heroes marathon.
Leo knew it was a terribly childish thing for him to do, it was almost out of character for him, almost. He really loved Space heroes, admittedly this was something they would expect Mikey would do, not the responsible, totally perfect, and boring older brother Leo would do.
Which is why he has to be sneaky, he can't be caught. Imagining Splinter catching him on the tv when he should be in bed resting for the unknown challenges of tomorrow, it's almost enough to keep the teenager planted in bed, sweaty with anxiety and trembling with possibilities.
Slowly, he peels the blanket off, wincing when the springs of his bed creek with relief as he raises the upper half of his body. He waits for the ghost of his noise to inevitably be washed away with the tranquility of the 'night' he holds his breath and quickly gets off his bed. Letting out a silent sigh of relief when no metal creaks follow, sagging his shoulders.
Despite being a ninja, he couldn't help but feel like he was the loudest person on earth. Cringing when he steps too loud on accident, and when the couch was too loud for him to get comfortable he opted for the cold floor. A small price to pay for Captain Ryan, he grabs one of the pillows and puts it behind his back resting against the bottom of the couch he huddles himself close. His heart still racing as he grabs the remote, biting his beak anxiously looking over his shoulder towards the dojo and Donnie's lab, the large metal doors shut but the other assumes him in bed.
Finally, Leo turns to the blank tv, his reflection stares back nervously before the box sprouts to life with almost blinding colors and noise.
Extremely loud noise.
"Crap."
The teens' nerves jolt in his body, as he frantically lowers the volume, his bulging eyes fervently looking toward the dojo and the tv.
Once the random cooking show is on mute he relaxes, waiting a good couple of anxiety filled minutes before raising the volume to three, he had to be careful.
Switching to respected channel, he realized his missed episode one, already halfway through the second episode. Annoyance strucks through him briefly, but at least it was only one and a half episodes, he guessed. Huddling closer until his resting chin comfortably on his knees, Leo places the remote next to him, keeping his hand placed on it.
But finally relaxing, the nervous dip in his stomach lifts and he allows himself to be engulfed by Captain Ryan and his adventures.
____
Casey smirks to himself, slipping under the manhole but grimacing when he touches something wet on the ladder.
Maybe he should get normal gloves, instead of his fingerless ones.
The teen entertains the idea before tossing it aside like an old shirt. Nah, his fingerless gloves are way cooler.
Though he couldn't bring himself to look at what he accidentally touched, he mindlessly smeared it on his jeans.
His smirk slowly twists into a smile and he can't help but feel giddy as he gets closer to the lair.
To his boyfriend.
He giggles at the name, he has a boyfriend! How crazy, how absolutely wild.
His heart skips in his chest and his cheeks warm up, Donnie had asked him to come over to help with a project they were collaborating on. Now, yes, his boyfriend could've waited a little earlier than midnight to call him. His excuse was that he was 'in the zone' and was close to a breakthrough but didn't want to make it without Casey.
Without his boyfriend.
Because he is Donnie's boyfriend, and Donnie is his boyfriend.
The love-struck boy lets out a dreamy sigh, and if he was in a cartoon Casey was sure he would melt into a little happy puddle.
His mood can't even be swayed when he sees a rat sprint out of his way.
He's been getting better with handling his phobia after hanging out with the guys (and his boyfriend) so much, of course he would run into Master Splinter here and there, the rat-man had unintentionally helped a lot, and now he can look at a rat from a safe distance without gagging or even being brought to tears.
He haphazardly pushes the turnstile, and enters the lair.
Though a catch of colorful light and a silhouette makes Casey freeze, his body stiffens and he holds his breath.
Donnie said everyone was asleep.
None knew they were dating, being so early in their relationship and Donnie was especially shy about their whole thing.
So, it was a bit suspicious if Casey came waltzing in late at night to hang out with the guy everyone assumed he didn't like.
His heart hummed against his chest, his eyes just as wide as the turtle staring back at him.
Huddle in front of the tv, the only light illuminating the room and it takes a moment for him to realize that it was Leo who, essentially, caught him.
Oh shit.
It would've been easy if it was Mikey or maybe Raph, they were more laid back then the blue bandanad turtle.
His mind racing for an excuse, but the other beats him to it.
"What are you doing here?" His harsh whisper almost echoes through the sewers, clearly annoyed.
"What are you doing here?" Casey blurts and grimaces at the same time, embarrassment melts inside his stomach.
"What?– Casey, i live here." His face scrunches but he doesn't leave his seat..on the floor.
This catches the boy's attention, his brow knitted together as his brain turns and works. The tv was almost silent, only soft murmurs as one of the antagonist monologues even though Casey is barely a few feet away from the tv he can barely hear anything, his sitting on the floor, ignoring the empty couch.
And it's late…
It's late and the tv is almost completely mute..
He's sitting on the cold floor, the couch right behind him..
And suddenly it all clicks, in such a satisfying way he feels his once tense shoulders relax folding his arms as his signature smirk spreads on his face.
"You're not supposed to be up, are you?" His confidence reawakened as Leo sputtered.
"Wha-what does it matter? It still doesn't answer why you came over so late." His eyes dart back to the tv his shoulders sag for a brief moment when one of the characters monologues finishes.
Casey bites his tongue before replying.
"Look man, I'll let you back to your nerd show, if you just let me go to the lab– without any questions." It's a long shot, but Casey wants to have quality time with his boyfriend goddamnit.
The turtle's beak straightens into a thin line, his face unreadable as he looks from the tv and the lab.
His bandana creases mimicking furrowed brows, he could trust Casey, they'd known him for almost a year now and he's done nothing to make his trust waver. And despite his bumpy relationship with his brother they had clearly been getting along better as of late, Leo would even go as far to say they were dating it was a funny and silly thought to tease Donnie about their 'enemies to lovers' arc.
He was sure Casey wouldn't steal anything of Donnie's, he had thought his brother was asleep, perhaps he was still awake and his closed lab doors were to wear off any unwanted visitors.
Was Casey an unwanted visitor?
He didn't know.
But what he does know, is that he wants to finish his show undisturbed.
And so, the turtle gives in.
"Alright, no questions asked if you leave me be."
"Sweet." His smirk stays, and awkwardly strides towards the lab. Not sparing Leo a second glance as Casey grins, even from where he is sitting, he could hear how Donnie eagerly greets him (honestly, he should've known Donnie would've still been up) and watches as the door quietly shuts behind him.
For a moment Leo stares at the doors with a raised 'brow', before a cry of battle brings his attention back to his show.
Curling in closer towards himself, Leo half mindedly wondered why Casey would come over so 'late' and why Donnie had even expected his company.
But whatever, no questions asked, and the teen can finish his marathon in peace.