Chapter Text
“It doesn’t hurt?” April asked as she tied a bit of gauze around Leo’s arm. He’d gotten into a bit of a tussle with the Purple Dragons after they had attempted another robbery of a local bodega. Leo had told April over the phone it wasn’t anything too bad, just a few cuts, scrapes, and only one stab wound. She hated how casually he talked about it. No one should ever be that casual about getting into a fight with a gang. Even if it was the Purple Dragons.
Leo shook his head, “Nope,” he said confidently through gritted teeth. .
April sighed as she continued to dress his wounds. She’d known him long enough to know when he was lying.
The gauze she had just wrapped around his arm was already soaking deep with crimson red blood from the cut in his forearm. Angel had cut him pretty deep with her karambit, leaving a messy jagged cut in its wake. April felt nauseous just looking at it. She couldn’t even begin to imagine the pain Leo was in.
No matter what he tried to convince her.
April didn’t understand it but she could tell Leo put on a bit of a facade in front of her. It was as if he was afraid to show off his more vulnerable side to her.
April dug around for another roll of gauze in the first-aid kit she had spread out across her bed. Never in her life had she imagined she would own this many first aid supplies but it was a necessary thing when you were best friends with four ninjas.
April grabbed a roll of gauze and then walked back over to Leo, who was slumped over in her desk chair, holding at his arm. “You being real when you say it doesn’t hurt,” April asked as she knelt in front of Leo and began wrapping more gauze around his bloody arm, tying it as tight as she could without causing him more pain.
“Uh-huh,” Leo said, nodding his head, wincing as soon as it caused a bit too much movement.“I mean it doesn't feel good but I can handle it,” he said as he rubbed a small bruise on his cheek with his good arm.
April tied the gauze into a knot then went back over to her bed to grab an instant cool pack. She squeezed it between her fingers then began to shake it until it felt cold. “Here,” she said as she pressed the pack to his cheek. He immediately relaxed as the cool plastic made contact with his skin.
He gave her a soft smile, “Thanks.”
“No prob,” she said as she let out a sigh. “How’s the cut–the one on your arm, I mean.”
Leo looked down at his bandaged arm then held it up to April to show that it was still dry. April let out an internal sigh of relief. She was pretty sure the bleeding had stopped so that meant he didn’t need stitches.
Probably.
April wasn’t exactly a medic but she did her best to recall everything she had learned in the mandatory first aid class she took during her freshman year as well as the assistance of some helpful Youtube videos. She was amazed at how many online tutorials there were on how to fix a cracked turtle shell with common household items or how to properly stitch up an open wound on a reptile.
“And you’re sure you're not in too much pain,” April tried again. “Cause I got Advil if you want it.”
“I’m good!” Leo insisted, still holding the cool pack to his cheek. April could tell he was holding back tears. She wished he’d just get over himself and just admit he was in pain. This whole tough guy facade was not a cute look on him. Leo shot her a big smile, “Thanks for all your help, April. You’re the bes–”
Before he could finish talking, April cut him off, “I can tell you're in pain! Stop lying to me.”
Leo froze and just stared at her for a moment as a shameful blush spread across his bruised cheeks. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I just didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.” His voice was quiet and a bit strained.
“Well, of course it’s a big deal . Leonardo, you were stabbed!”
Leo looked down at the ground, “I shouldn’t have gotten stabbed in the first place.” He looked back up at her tears forming in the corners of his eyes, “I should have seen Angel coming. I should have knockedher down or blocked her or something,” he sniffed.
“Hey-hey,” April knelt down in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders, “I know you're good but you’re not perfect , Leo.”
“What if my brothers had been there?” He said with a bit of panic in his voice, “Or my dad or you? What if one of you gets hurt because I miss a hit or a block or-”
“Hey, breathe,” April instructed, taking her own deep breath and letting it out to demonstrate. “That didn’t happen and it’s not gonna happen.”
Leo frowned,“How do you know? TCRI or Cynthia could come after us again and I need to be prepared.”
“But there’s been no sign of them since the whole Superfly-Mega-mutant thing.”
Leo just stayed quiet, averting his eyes from hers. April let out a sad sigh. He wasn’t totally wrong. It wasn’t impossible for a small sector of TCRI to still be out there. The boys weren’t exactly hidden so if they wanted to find them, they could.
“Okay, you're right,” April relented.
Leo popped his head up to look at her, “Really?”
April shrugged, “I mean TCRI could still be out there and it’s good to be prepared and all but,” she paused, emphasising the last t, which got Leo’s attention. “That doesn’t mean you can’t admit you're hurt now.”
Leo glanced back at the ground, cradling his injured arm to his chest. He grimaced then looked back at her with tears in his eyes. “It hurts like hell.” April pulled him into a hug, letting him bury his face into the fabric of her sweater. “I promise I’ll train harder. I’ll do better next time.”
“Shut up,” April muttered as she lightly wrapped her arms around him, careful of his many injuries. “You did your best. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Leo let out a relieved sigh, “I think I’ll take that Advil.”