Work Text:
It was late evening when a certain royal guard made his way into the Hamato residence. The eighteen year gator hadn't planned to visit the family but when a worried snapping turtle called him he had no other choice but to drop by. So with the permission of Princess Y'Gythgba, Leatherhead made his way into the home.
“Ohmigosh! You're finally here!” Mikey exclaimed as he ran to hug the 7 foot tall gator. “We need your help!” He cried.
Leatherhead, having been caught off guard, glanced up at the others in the living room.
“It's Donnie. He… Well he's kinda… sorta…” Raph mumbled.
“He locked himself in his lab and refuses to let us in to even give him food. As the group's medic it's my job to make sure these dummies don't hurt themselves or in Donnie's case, starve.” Leo responded from his seat on the floor. Usagi was with him petting his shell as Leo glared at the floor.
“Relax Lee, I'm sure Donnie is okay.” Usagi assured him. The rabbit glanced at Leatherhead, basically pleading to help with the sympathetic look on his face.
“I'll get him to eat.” Leatherhead replied. The youngest beamed up at him before rushing towards the kitchen.
“Thank you Leatherhead.” Raph smiled. Leatherhead nodded and before he knew it he had a plate of three grilled cheese sandwiches that had the crust removed and cut into small squares shoved into his hands.
“Don't promise I'll be able to get him out though.” Leatherhead mumbled as he made his way towards the lab.
The brothers watched him disappear down the hall hoping that Donnie's boyfriend could get him to at least eat something.
Leather reached the lab door and gently knocked. He knew Donnie had cameras pointed at the door so he could see who was there. He waited a few seconds before the door opened with a hiss. Stepping inside he could tell the problem wasn't that Donnie didn't want to eat or come outside, the problem was Donnie was hyper fixated on a project.
“Leatherhead! You're here!” Donnie beamed seeing his boyfriend walk in. “Behold! The new and improved security system for the palace!” Donnie announced as he showed Leatherhead all the weaponry and control boxes. “So~ Are you impressed?” Donnie gleefully asked.
Leatherhead couldn't help but chuckle at how adorable the softshell looked practically bouncing up and down on his toes.
“Indeed it is.” Leatherhead replied as he walked closer. He set the plate down on Donnie's workbench and motioned for Donnie to step into his personal bubble. Once he had him in arm's reach he gently pulled him into an embrace. “As impressed as I am, I must ask you a question.”
“Yes?” Donnie responded as he rested his head on Leatherhead's chest.
“How long do you think you've been in here?” Leatherhead asked as he started to sway.
“A day maybe two?” Donnie hummed as he relaxed in his boyfriend's arms.
“A week.”
This had Donnie stiffened. He hadn't realized how much time had passed. He usually had timers set up to keep him on track. Now that he thought about it he must have forgotten to set those up after his recent upgrades on his and his family's phones.
“Oh.” Donnie muttered. “Sorry.”
Leatherhead slowly stepped back with Donnie before letting himself fall back on the large beanbag chair Donnie had near his workbench.
“My love, I need you to eat. Your brother made you something light.” Leatherhead said as he pressed the release buttons on Donnie's shell. The metal shell immediately dissipated in purple particles and Leatherhead couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful his boyfriend's mystic energy looked.
“Are they mad?” Donnie asked in a low voice. Leatherhead placed a kiss to Donnie's head as he grabbed the plate off the workbench.
“No, just concerned.” He replied as he offered Donnie square. Donnie took the cheesy comfort food and started nibbling at it instead of just eating whole or taking a bite.
“Sorry.” Donnie muttered once more.
“You're making up for it by resting and eating.” Leatherhead replied as he started rubbing circles up and down Donnie's shell.
“Still.” Donnie replied as he finished the square and reached for another. “I should have known when my brothers came knocking on the door.”
“Perhaps.” Leatherhead commented. The two just sat in silence as Donnie ate and Leatherhead continued the much needed shell rubs. Occasionally Leatherhead would reach over to grab something to drink from the mini fridge Donnie hid under his workbench.
Once done, Donnie shook his head at the last square Leatherhead offered him and just let himself relax. Not wanting to waste any food Leatherhead ate the last piece and allowed Donnie to fully lay on top of him. He was grateful he had taken off his armor before coming over. It made this easier for the two of them.
Donnie let out a long yawn as he stretched out before settling back down.
“Sleepy are we?” Leatherhead chuckled as Donnie tried (and failed) to glare at him. “Sleep, you need proper rest.”
“No tired.” Donnie slurred as he forced himself to keep his head slightly lifted and his eyes opened.
“My love, you need to sleep. Please? I promise to wake you if something happens.” Leatherhead negotiated. Donnie hummed as his eyes fell shut and sighed an ‘okay’ before succumbing to sleep.
Ture to his words, Leatherhead kept an eye on security cameras. He watched as Raph paced around the living room. Mikey was in the kitchen anxiously recognizing spices. As for Leo, the slider was asleep in his boyfriend's arms on the couch. With everyone occupied, Leatherhead decided to send each message that Donnie had eaten and was resting.
One by one the brothers looked down at their phones. Even Leo had opened his eyes to glance at the message Usagi was showing him. He observed as each brother relaxed and went on with their day. Raph left the lair with Mikey following an hour later. Leo had woken up after his nap and portaled away with Usagi. Leav the two of them alone for the day.
Donnie slowly blinked the sleep fog away as he stared up at Leatherhead. The giant gator smiled down at him and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
“Morning darling.” Donnie replied with a breathy laugh as he wrapped his arms around Leatherhead's neck.
“It's actually evening.” Donnie corrected. His response was met with another kiss, this time to the space right between his eyes, causing him to scrunched up his nose. “Brothers?” He asked as he nuzzled his snout against Leatherhead's.
“Out. Leo left not that long ago with Usagi.” The gator replied as he enjoyed the affection.
“I feel gross.” Donnie mumbled as he now became aware of how long he's been locked in his lab without a shower.
“I could run a bath for you. Let you soak for a bit.” Donnie hummed in appreciation.
Neither moved. They continued to lay there in a comfortable silence. They shared innocent kisses and laughed when their eyes would meet after each one.
“Bath.” Donnie groaned as he started to feel all the residue of sweat and oil. Seeing his discomfort, Leatherhead stood up with Donnie in his arms and walked out of the lab.
“Almost there.” Leatherhead assured him as Donnie started squirming around. Once in the bathroom Leatherhead placed Donnie on the counter by the sink as he ran him a bath.
“Sorry.” Leatherhead had been in the middle of dropping some of Donnie's favorite scented soap in the water when he heard Donnie sniffle. “I should have texted or called you but I got distracted. I didn't mean too! I just wanted to-”
“Hey hey that's okay.” Leatherhead replied as he rushed over to him. He gently cupped his face and wiped the tears that started flowing. “You did nothing wrong. Everyone knows that you can get carried away. We know you well. If anything I should be at fault for not checking up on you sooner.”
“But I-”
“Sh… Come'ere.” Leatherhead lifted him up and gently set him in the bath. Donnie let out a chirp as he sunk into the water. “What's done is done. We can only focus on the now and right now I want to take care of you my love.” Leatherhead kept his voice soft and low as he helped Donnie wash up. He hummed a few songs as he worked on his lover's shell.
Once done, Leatherhead drained the tub and dried Donnie off. He picked him up and walked with him to his room to allow him to rest some more. Gently setting him down, Leatherhead made sure to be careful of his shell as he slipped in next to Donnie. He wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and kissed his head as he lulled him to sleep with his humming.
Donnie smiled as he snuggled up against his boyfriend. He was planning to set reminders on his phone to at least send messages to Leatherhead. Unbeknownst to him, said boyfriend was in the middle of texting Leo. He wanted Leo to text him whenever Donnie refused to leave the lab.(Maybe even portal him in case of emergencies.
The two fell asleep in each other's arms. The door to Donnie's room opened and a large blanket was pulled over the two.
“You found a great partner, my son.” Splinter said as he smiled at how peaceful his son looked. He swiftly walked out and made his way back to his shows.