Work Text:
The last thing Leo heard when he was alive was Casey’s scream.
He hoped it meant that the plan worked. That’s all he could now, apparently. As he felt himself disintegrate, losing the feelings of himself running and holding his sword, he felt relaxed. He was ready. The plan would work and he could return to his brothers.
At first, it was a rest. A moment of pure bliss where Leo could finally relax. There was nothing to worry about or watch because for once he was alone. No Krang to interrupt him at all or what remained of his family.
He wanted to stay forever.
It had been so long since he rested, why leave?
Then, he felt himself. He could move again. Leo didn’t want to move or see again he wanted to sleep. The sword returned into his hands and he tried to forget and go back.
“LEO!”
A large hand slapping Leo brought him back.
He stared ahead of him. Above him was Raph, as he was moments before he died. He still wore the back up tonfas on his belt and a bruise from when he fell down the sewers the previous night. He now stood at Leo’s height. He was a menacing figure compared to his personality, yet it was still him. The same Raph that never made it past 21.
“Wakey wakey!” That was April.
“Is this hell or purgatory?” Leo mumbled.
“Our family’s living room actually, dear brother.” Donnie remarked, hearings the clicks and shifting metal follow the statement.
“So it’s purgatory?” Leo didn’t want to get up. He was satisfied with staring at his now younger brother.
God, he was the oldest now.
“We’re in the past, Leo. We followed Junior somehow.” said Mikey, who Leo had just sent to his death. “They survived.”
So it was worth it. He smiled to himself. Finally, reunited with his family. Junior would have been able to enjoy the past now and settle down. He could grow old and alongside his family. He would get friends his age for once.
“Already buddy, let’s get up.” Raph grabbed him by his arms and sat Leo up. He was tempted to fall limp and crash onto the ground again, but followed Raph.
He now was able to take sight of his surroundings. Empty pizza boxes were thrown across the room. Younger versions of his brothers laid around the room, snoring. Splinter sat in his chair asleep, with an older Lou Jitsu film playing on the projector. Sunita, Casey, and April cuddled next to each other. Junior was there, watching the film intently. In the back, behind Splinter's chair, was young Leo, his face illuminated by his phone.
Junior deserved this.
"Leo!" April crashed into his shell and popped up behind him grinning. "Little me is doing journaling still! She got an article published on herbicides!"
"That's great!" He smiled back, rubbing April's head.
"Junior's really grown, huh?" Donnie remarked with a soft smile.
"Donnie!" Raph swept him off his feet and took him to a corner. Whispering something to him, before Donnie finally understanding what he said wrong. Leo still didn't know.
”Huh.”
"Well, Casey's been crying a lot becau-"
"I wasn't crying!" She yelled out.
"She's a big softie and loves her son." April stuck her tongue out. “And he’s no longer her little slugger-“
“O’Neil!” Casey, now red faced and tears falling down her cheeks, launched herself at April.
She managed to tackle her on the ground, tumbling into Mikey who was watching young Leo. He sat next to him with his knees close to his chest. Donnie now laid on top of Raph, ready to fall asleep at any moment.
Leo technically was the oldest now.
It was weird. Donnie never made it to 40, making Leo the older twin. Hell, Raph was the youngest now. That didn’t mean Leo didn’t see him as the best big brother he’s had, but it felt weird looking for comfort in a kid. Time travel sucked and everything was wrong.
At least him family was together again.
“I miss this.” He said without thought.
April and Casey froze from their roughhousing to look up at Leo. Raph, Donnie, and Mikey now had their eyes on Leo too.
“How old are you?” Raph asked, and Leo’s heart broke.
“40-ish.” He answered, choosing to sit on the ground.
Silence followed. April climbed off Casey and sat next to Leo. The Lou Jitsu movie reached it’s climax at this point. The man was fighting in a construction zone, easy to fall and die from. Leo couldn’t help but be captivated by the movie. It seemed like everyone else was doing the same, except for Mikey, who watched young Leo.
Suddenly, the sound of a phone crashing on the ground broke the silence. Junior whipped his head back and Leo stared at his phone bug eyed. It was a good few feet away now and Mikey’s eyes were just as wide, with his hand outstretched. Like he just threw something.
“Sensei?” Junior called out.
“I’m fine, just dropped my phone.” young Leo answered, he looked horrified.
“GuysguysguysGUYS!” Mikey cried out raising the pitch of his voice. Leo hadn’t seen Mikey so emotional the past week. The sight softened his heart.
“I moved Leo’s phone!” He pointed at scarred hand.
“Woaaahhhh.” A chorus replied.
“Let me try!” Raph ran forward and slapped young Leo. His hand phased right through.
“Use something mystic!” Mikey insisted.
“Ohhh, yeah that makes sense.” Raph formed a red projection of his hand, and poked young Leo.
The turtle flinched so hard he fell back on his shell. Young Leo looked desperately for where source of the poke came from. Luckily Junior hadn’t looked back to investigate the noise.
“Don’t bully him too much.” Leo knew his younger self would spiral until someone else woke up, because he’d do the same thing. “Wait until someone other than Junior is awake.”
“But look at him!” Donnie motioned at the turtle. “Tell me you don’t want to shake him in your hand Nardo.”
“Donnie it’s only you who wants to violently shake him.” Leo argued.
“And I’m right to do so!” Donnie summoned a robotic hand with his ninpo, right behind young Leo.
“Donnie!” Raph yelled out in his older brother voice.
Donnie bunched his shoulders up at the tone. He then raised a hand and the robot hand collapsed. “But-“
“Let the little guy have at least some chance of sleep.” Raph said.
“Sigh.”
…
“I decided on full names for us and shortened for the little guys.”
April O’Neil sat in a circle surrounded by her family. The other living souls went ahead and began breakfast. Splinter, Casey, and Junior were still asleep.
“What about me?” She asked.
“Commander?”
“O’Neil?”
“Sis? Sissy?”
April glared at Leonardo. “You are not calling me Sissy.”
“Uhhh, let’s call you May? Or March?”
“Ooh, I like the sound of May, Mike!”
“That makes you Junior’s Aunt May!” Leonardo had a softer expression, but the same familiar, relaxed tone.
“Yeah!” She pumped a fist in the air.
“I brought breakfast~” Mikey’s voice entered the room.
Casey was first to wake, she crawled over and stood straight up to face Mikey. On the plates were an egg and biscuit.
“Thank you Micheal.” She bowed and took the plate.
“No problem!” He grinned. “You better wake Junior up before breakfast ends. Today will be his first Lair Games!”
Oh, the Lair Games?
May felt a herself smile. They never did the Lair Games again after Raphael died. She missed it, how it brought everyone together again. No mystic powers, no fight for their lives, just stupid things for prizes.
Michelangelo turned the the group with an exaggerated smile. “I’m gonna win.”
“I have my bets on me again.” Leonardo said.
“I dunno, maybe I’ll win.”
“It’s be me, obviously. The only reason the most recent games is because someone took advantage of a specific phobia.”
It was Michelangelo. He filled in May with his plan to have Draxum throw beachballs, Ms. Cuddles, or a slice of pizza at random intervals. She didn’t snitch, only because Michelangelo was the only one to have never win the Games. Raph even managed one time after the invasion.
She had a feeling Michelangelo had another plan up his sleeve, with the way he silently followed Mikey out of the living room.
“I’m rooting for Raphael.” Cassandra announced. “I don’t know what for but-“
May grinned. “It’s Cass’s first Lair Games guys! Triple Casey event!”
“Cassandra trust me, I hold the record for most Lair Games wins, it’ll be me.” Leonardo crawled up to Cassandra and said.
“Aw, that means I’ll be recording the whole thing!” May said. “I hope she’s on the news one day.”
“For being wanted?”
May glared at Donatello. “Yeah. Right after I’m done with you.”
…
Michelangelo tested his mystic powers before the Lair Games began.
His chains were the easiest thing to manifest at the moment, the telekinesis not so much and portals were harder. Those were the only things can caused him actual pain as well, so best to avoid unless needed. He could also put a little bit of energy into his hand and interact with the world. While his brothers didn’t have such fine control, Michelangelo felt he had the advantage in this scenario.
All of the Caseys stood next to April as she filmed Donnie’s speech. May hung over her shoulder eagerly. Leo was grumpy the entire time, while Mikey and Raph cheered Donnie on.
“Where was this when I won the last 5 times?” Leo asked.
“Saved for the brother who would beat you.” Donnie bent over towards Leo and announced.
“Suck it!” Donatello yelled, jumping on the stage.
“You suck it!” Leonardo replied.
“Guys! Shut up I wanna hear the first round.” Raphael interjected.
It was Pizza Darts.
Michelangelo could intervene easily with this one. Of course he wouldn’t sabotage his brothers, but giving himself a little boost wouldn’t hurt.
The first round Michelangelo directed the pizza bullseye into the center. No one suspected a thing. But everyone except the Caseys were in shock.
“What’s the big deal?” Cassandra raised an eyebrow.
“Mikey never gets this close!” Raph said. “Good job!” He patted Mikey on the back, who was still trying to figure out how he did it.
The second round, Leonardo watched him. Michelangelo didn’t wave his hand around as extravagantly, but Mikey would have completely missed if it weren’t for him. After that round, Leonardo sat next to Michelangelo.
Mikey and Leo ended up at a tie in the end, and Splinter let the boys both have the point to not discourage Mikey. Afterwards, Leonardo left the group, walking off somewhere else in the Lair.
The next round was playing Chicken with More Dangerous Chemicals thanks to Draxum. Donnie was first to jump away, much to the dismay of his counterpart. Mikey tore away before Michelangelo to catch him and throw him back. Only Raph and Leo remained.
“Come on!” Cassandra yelled out, standing on top of Raphael’s shoulder.
“You better win this little me.” Raphael dropped to the ground and got close to the other’s face. “Beat him.”
The goo was now inches from their faces. Sweat pooled on the ground. The other two turtles watched in silence, and behind them stood Leonardo. In his hand was his sword, and he phased through the younger pair towards the goo.
“I-I-…” Leo stared at Raph. His hand rapidly tapped the ground. “Crap!”
Leonardo sliced his sword next to Leo, forming a blue portal for Leo to roll into. He rolled right into it and popped back out from the ground, right in under the goo.
“Leo!-“ Came from multiple people.
“That wasn’t me!”
Raph rolled out of the way in time, before the goo bursted onto Leo’s face.
“Blue wins!”
The younger turtle jumped up and ran up to the bucket of water. He shoved his head into the water which was now glowing like the goo. Apparently a new set piece insisted after Donnie won last year and Draxum new chemicals, according to April.
“Before you get on to me-“ Leonardo pointed at Michelangelo. “He started it.”
“I-! Did not!” Michelangelo thought Leonardo was better than that!
“What so we’re now allowed to root for ourselves by intervening?” Donatello said sarcastically.
Silence followed.
“That sounds fun.”
“May!”
“No she’s right.”
“Cassandra!”