Chapter Text
It had only been maybe two days, the first two really blurred together since it was a bit later in the day when Mikey was able to bring Leo back, and they all took naps back and forth for the next 24 hours.
The next time Leo woke up he was wrapped in a blanket, well now it was a few extra blankets all different colors, blue, purple, red.. Nothing that sparked any emotions. The lights had dimmed and he thanked whatever power was out there this his eyes could finally be in use without being overwhelmed by so many colors.. All the lights, the saturation and overbearing brightness along with the hum of the electricity running through it. Leo made a curious chirring sound as he slowly sat up, seeing Orange beside him and Red on the other side where Purple had been. The purple one was instead sitting across the room with a metal box in his lap, clacking away softly enough that it wouldn't wake them with the distance. Right.. That wasn't their names was it, he had it in his mind just a moment ago, his chirping grew more frustrated as he tried his hardest to recall the names. It should be easy shouldn't it? No one had forgotten Leos name.. So why couldn't he remember...
Donnie perked up hearing Leo and set his laptop down gently, "Leo..? Ahr ewuoakiy?"
What was the purple one saying..? His tone sounded like he was asking something but what? Did he want to know if Leo was awake? Yes, he was. "He-err" He said, keeping the soft blankets around him for their warmth and comfort, "L-Lee... Eeowake!" He softly called back, followed by a happier chirp. Donnie sighed softly and slowly stood up taking slow steps towards his brother, "Ah ou ungry?" Leo tilted his head to the side, unsure what he was asking now. "Ou an food? Li tou sou um food?" Leo perked up hearing the word food, eyes wide as he leaned in wanting to hear more, his stomach rumbling at the mention. Donnie's expression softened and he gave a little nod straightening his posture, "Ell ight ba ay Leo okay? Ou er ha n oth so shhh. Owe ter ep oh sho ay ere uch ing ay?" Leo nodded as if he understood, he was only able to gleam bits and pieces, like his name, that he was leaving to bring him food, and something about not moving? Or staying quiet? Whatever it was Purple seemed pleased that Leo nodded and sat there patiently.
He must have spaced out because it was very quick before the purple brother came back with an armful of snacks. Leo made a louder chirp springing up from his spot, tripping over the mound of blankets he was wrapped in and fell to the floor with a hiss how could something so soft and warm be a threat?? Raph shot up hearing the thud and quickly pushed his tiredness aside to help Leo up, which he protested the whole time but at least he wasn't biting anymore.. "His leg is all messed up still.." Donnie said softly, "Once he's distracted maybe you can hold him while I get a brace on..? Or.. Or maybe April could go get some liquid pain meds since he won't take pills anymore.. Then he'll be calm enough for a cast?" Donnie set the food down on a nearby table, letting Raph walk Leo over so he wouldn't put as much weight on the injury. Leo glanced between the two, feeling their worry, but he was fine! He was always in pain, that's just how it's always been! He'd tolerate it as long as he needed to.. Not like it'd be his first time popping his leg back into place anyway. He took a deep breath, recalling how he did it last time before grabbing his leg with a pained hiss.
He shoved the bone back into it's rightful place not that it felt much better, tears pricked at his eyes and now that he'd had a fair amount of water he was hydrated enough that his body didn't fight as harshly to keep the tears in. His brothers looked at him with worried expressions but he ignored them as he continued towards food, that was much more important then how he was feeling. Doing as Red had shown him with the yellow object first, though this time he wanted to peel it himself, so he slowly pierced it with his finger, trailing down it's curved surface in awe as the darker yellow folded back to reveal the sweet smelling treat. His brothers glancing to each other before they continued to watch him, hoping he at least had the sense not to scarf the thing down and choke. Once free from it's skin he sniffed the inside contents then ate the whole thing in two bites. Glaring at the skin and bringing it to his nose to sniff before he hissed and tossed the peel back onto the table. Raph smiled softly, wanting so badly to pat his brother on the back and help him in any way he could.. But he wasn't even sure what would get through to him, if he'd be able to understand what he was trying to say..
There was a soft whine from the pile of blankets, Mikey had started to wake up from the a lack of warmth. Leo craned his head to see his younger brother and grabbed a few snacks before scampering over back into the nest of pillows and blankets. He pressed his face against Mikey's cheek chirring softly, it almost sounded like purring..? The younger turtle quieted down hearing Leo beside him.. His eyes slowly opening, "There's.. An apple on my lap-" He said, both confused and highly amused by the randomness. "It's Leos" Donnie added, "I guess he brought the food over so he wouldn't have to be far away from you? Not sure why he's extra protective of you, maybe he knows you're the youngest?"
Mikey gave Leo a tired smile leaning back against him, "Ey udd ig ro.. Wha his ead en food or? Od eh nu aus, iss za Leo?" Leo paid no mind to Mikey's words since he could hardly understand him anyway, he took the apple on his lap and sniffed it, it was a different color then the one he had earlier so he had to make sure it wasn't a threat before giving it to Orange. "Ah.. oh ink eu Leo, on un igh no ay?" Was he refusing? Hmm.. Maybe he couldn't eat it because the hard outside.. Not to worry Leo knew what to do.
"Here!" He said back proudly, taking a few bites and chewing the food for him, opening his mouth to offer the food back which made the purple one gag and turn away. Mikey held back a laugh and shook his head, "Aww.. Uh, eh I ow on hess ay? Uh thu oh, be teh ore ter Leo.."
Oh, he wasn't hungry? He swallowed the bits eating the rest for himself, core, stem and all earning another noise of disapproval from Purple. He hissed back at Purple unamused by his easily upset attitude. Then looked back to Mikey, seeing the thick bandages on his hands. He whined softly as he lowered his head sniffing the wrapping.. There was the faint scent of blood and burning flesh that Leo knew very well from his own time away. He glanced back up to his little brother with a sad expression. "I.. D-Did I-" Was all he could manage, his hands hovering over but not darling to touch down. Mikey immediately shook his head trying to reassure Leo he had no direct part of his wounds, "No no, ou in id th hiss Leo I id hen ov ube oh et ou ick teh ter ay.." He leaned against his older brother wanting a hug, Leo unconsciously giving in and snuggling into him, a low grumble resonating in his throat like he didn't fully believe Mikey's words.
Donnie for his phone texting April about his idea, she'd been out getting some things from home so she could stay overnight. Raph went over to where Casey had been sleeping, gently shaking him awake to let him know everyone else was up now. There was a sound on the hallway, most people hadn't noticed but Leo perked up hissing at the entrance causing everyone to look his way then towards the door, it was silent for a few moments before Splinter came through the door. Leos hissing quieted to a curious trill. "..T.. Treasure?" He said softly, tilting his head as he eyed the figure. He felt a warm and overwhelming feeling in his chest that kind of hurt.. The figure was someone special, someone he looked up to and would do anything for. He hesitantly pulled away from Mikey walking similarly to an ape to get closer, his fists against the floor for stability keeping himself low to the ground Incase of a threat.
Splinter wore a sad smile, stopping halfway into the room to give Leo the option to back away if he wanted, his hand extended for him. "Ei on oh ay oi Blue.. Leonardo... Oh ve iss sai oi ouh." Leo came about a foot away from him, leaning in and sniffing his hand before resting his head against it. The soft trilling getting louder showing he was very happy to get this affection. "I don't know if he remembers me fully.. But I'm glad he feels safe here." Splinter said glancing back to his boys, "I came to check on him now that he's had rest but it seems it didn't do as much as hoped." He turned back to Leo his hand cupping his face while Leo only leaned more into it, letting the grey figure squish his face made him feel so safe and warm, it was hard to describe.
"Oulds ou ick ou ea bu- Leo? Ea?" Leo tilted his head a little, trying hard to understand what the figure was saying.. What was his name again? Something with an Ssss sound.. But he never called him that, there was some other nickname he used right? He lowered his head feeling the frustration build up making himself smaller if possible as he leaned into Splinters embrace. His clothes were soft and his furr was fluffy, it was like a breathing blanket wrapping around him and his three other non-breathing blankets. "Leo.." The voice called softly after a moment. He didn't want to look up, he didn't want to feel any worse for not being able to understand anything, for not being able to remember.. "Ou ouh eh ei am Leo?" There was a pause, Splinted hand gently guiding Leo to look at him, "Do.. Do ou ow e, my son?"
Leo sat there trying to process, he nodded a little, of course.. Of course that's what he'd been asking, he wanted what everyone else wanted. "Treasure..?" He said back, hoping that was enough of a confirmation. But Splinters pained smile did not reassure him. In the time Leo had been paying attention to his father everyone seemed to have moved. Mikey was back on his bed high off the ground were Donnie was giving him something. He pulled away from Splinter hissing at Donnie, the horrible scented pill in his hand. Who would give such a nasty thing to Orange? It must be poison, it must be a threat. He crawled back onto the bed over Mikey's lap hissing at him to put the threat far away from his treasure.
Mikey tried not to laugh but he gently put his hand on Leos she'll to comfort him, "Woah hey.. it's okay" Leo slowly quieted down hearing Oranges soothing voice.. "Is oh ay Leo, shhhh.. Onni ust iv ee ed oh urt ore kno ay?" Leo glared back at the pilled in Donnie's hand, "..N-No.. Threat?" He asked, finally able to say something the rest of them understood. Donnie shook his head, giving the pill to Mikey when he reached out for it, Leo watching with intense focus, and a disgusted look as Mikey put it in his mouth and swallowed. He got closer to Mikey's face, sniffing for any signs of dying, but he seemed fine.. Better even? He looked back to Donnie and the bottle in hand, he pulled another one out and offered it to Leo. "Just don't bite me this time, it's okay if you don't want it." He looked back to Mikey who forced a smile trying to show him it was really okay, so he hesitantly took the pill from Donnie's hand, grimacing as he opened his mouth setting the pill inside, it didn't taste as bad as it smelled, but it wasn't exactly pleasant. Everyone smiled a bit seeing him at least try, to they heard a crunch and suddenly looked very unsure. Leo chomped down on the pill trying to chew it, making a disgusted expression and hacked up the bits onto the floor beside Donnie's feet. He held back throwing up and took a few steps back, "Nope, nope nope nope keep it down.. Keep it down vomitello-" He muttered as he pulled out his phone confirming with April to get the liquid medicine till Leo could remember how to take pills.