Leonardo’s voice is a sharp violin screech in a horror movie jumpscare. It shattered the serene mood as the camera (his eyes) panned up to the azure twin with an auditory jolt. His brother sat in the door of Mikey’s get away, swathed in blanket siding and illuminated by swirls of off-whites, sunny yellows, and (Mikey) orange. One hand subconsciously slid down to find the diary he’d been filling out moments before and tucked it away under one of the many pillows making up the flooring in his luxurious teepee vacation home.
But – Leo doesn’t move in. He sat there, waiting.
His bro showing an ounce of patience is almost scary. With a pause to think, the orange fort keeper scooched further in and patted the spot next to him. Making space to allow the blue-clad pizza bringer to reside within fabric walls alongside him. It’d be a tight fit, but Mikey didn't mind - it was Leonardo, after all. Raph had a fear AND happy stink - one that could kill in such a poorly ventilated, yet comfy, hideout. Definitely not up to OSHA regulations.
Oh! The commission . . . that was finally finished. Y’know, most people wanted art of their original characters or fursonas but he could always rely on Leo to want a portrait of himself – or of Donnie making an exaggerated, stupid face like a parody comic piece in the newspaper funnies. It took a second to find the finished piece before it was turned over to Leo.
His reaction filled Mikey's shell with a bashful pride. Though his grin widened and brows excitedly arched, that didn’t stop the youngest from turtling a little into his carapace with a sudden shyness.
“ Yeah ! ‘Course I remembered ! ” Giddy eyes darted from the paper in Leo’s hands back up to his face. “ Yellow makes blue pop ‘cuz they’re both primary colors, so they go good together. ”
Realization lit up his expression. “ Just like blue and orange, us ! Complimentary colors ! ” The teen swayed from side to side, a bouncy happy stim coming on at the thought. “ That’s why we’re a good team ! Cuz we’re complimentary ! ” Meant in terms of their fashion color coordination but the same could be said for their personalities.
Now for his payment. Support your local artists, folks. A fresh box of ‘za, juuust the way he likes it. Curling pieces of paper and strands of glue sat atop the cardboard lid. It took a few attempts to smooth them down before only the lips of the collage were lifted. “ Oh. Mi. GOSH ! This is so COOL ! ” Mikey scrambled to find his shellphone amidst the mess in his little space, fumbling it so he could snap a photo of it before the heat radiating from within made it peel off again.
Satisfied with his camerawork, he tossed his phone aside and flipped the top open. Can you hotbox pizza smell? Deft fingers picked up and cupped a choice piece. Folding the slice into a pizza roll-up, he bit into one end of cylindrical cheesy deliciousness and hummed in delight.
It freed up his hands so he could push over a blank piece of paper to Leo. Then came the big gesture. Moving his scented markers and the big pack of crayons (WITH sharpener in the back) between them. Sharing supplies didn’t come lightly for the artist in the family. If crayons were broken or the markers lost, he’d have to save up to get them again. These are sacred tools.