Heyo! I would like to request a Rise!Leo fic with gender neutral reader. In it, the reader gets severely injured. (Raph could be the one who injures them accidentally) And when Leo finds out, he goes into medic mode and tries to help them recover from their injury.
What follows are a lot of cuddles, a lot of kisses, and a whole lot of fluff.
And that’s my request! I hope you can do it.
I tried this one through Leo's perspective months back. It wouldn't work, so I gave up on it. But I finally figured it out! Hope this is enjoyable!
Rated T, fluff, Rise Leo, post Krang
Warning: Dislocation
You know something's gone wrong the second you hear Mikey shout. You realize what it is when a burning chain wraps around your arm and pulls you back while a shuriken nearly scrapes your nose. However, you also know that it's about to get much, much worse as pain claims your shoulder and throat, your scream echoing through the sewers before everything falls deathly silent.
Holding your shoulder as the chain lets go of your arm, you fall to your knees. You try to contain the rising panic, the pain, and not notice that your shoulder is sitting at a weird angle before you're made to sit, and you hear someone calmly talk to you. However, your vision and hearing feed you nothing as every nerve screams that something's wrong.
Your shoulder pops. More pain that your throat exclaims, and that you smother with a lip bite. Only the sudden smell of ozone reassures you before you hear your name, are lifted off the ground, and taken through neon blue as your head rests on a shoulder.
Safe, safe. The pain is keeping you awake, but you doubt it'll last, certainly in those arms.
You welcome the white, sterile environment you're taken to. You breathe as you're set down, barely caring for the fact that your jacket is being opened when it leads to three solid, callused fingers wrapping themselves around your shoulder to finish the pop back into place. Pain tries to stake a claim on you, but you find it slowly ebbing away as something replaces those fingers and rolls along your skin.
Lidocaine. It's the last thought your brain fires before you feel lips against your head, hear a whisper, and the world fades to black.
-xxx-
You don't know how long it's been when you wake up, but from the way your arm is bandaged and in a splint, you know it's a while. You also know from the sound that follows you shifting around that someone is with you, and you know who it is before you even look.
"You're lucky you chose leather."
And it helps you snort when the confirmation comes with a comment you're happy to debunk.
"I chose leather because of this, actually. Metal would have been dangerous."
Although you're definitely not surprised when silence is your answer, at least until you hear shuffling and you find him near the cot.
He's not looking at you. His lime-green gaze fixates on your shoulder and it takes you calling for him for him to look away. Even then, he finds the floor before he looks at you, if he even does. It's not until you call him by his preferred nickname that you get his upset, saddened stare.
He doesn't like what you're doing. You've known that since the first time he tested you. But he won't stop you. You know that, too. That's why you're both here, looking at each other as he hopes you've finally gotten the message, while this… is well within your expectations.
"It should take a few weeks to recover."
"Okay."
"Ice it every night before going to bed. It'll keep the swelling down."
"Okay… Leo?"
"And if anything happens, call me immediately. I don't care where you are or who you're with. Ca –"
"Leon." Lime-green loses its steel while you gain yours. "Say it."
"Not worth it."
"Please."
"You're just gonna –"
"You're scared. Be scared."
The only thing that undoes the rigidity is the speed at which he takes you in his arms. The desperation of the kiss that follows. The fact that he refuses to let go even when he hears you hiss in pain, only slackening his hold on you before he cradles you and takes you away from the med bay and to his room, where he lies you in his bed before doing the same, his arm loosely slung over you.
You're not going anywhere. The second you move that arm will tighten, and he'll whine. Instead, you shuffle closer and smile as it does tighten on its own, and he whispers your name. You smile and turn your head as he does, chuckling as he covers your face with kisses. And while he never tells you to stop, that you're just going to get more injuries, and that he's worried you might get on he can't take of one day, you can feel it and you reassure him the best you can.
You're here now. You're in his arms right now. And that's the important part.
Requesting a fluffy Rise Leo fic with female reader. Suffering through a three day migraine with no ending in sight, so maybe one where Leo finds our reader in a similar state and takes care of them? Along the way feelings are confessed and sweet kisses and cuddles are shared. No spice, just sugar please. 💙🐢
As a fellow migraine sufferer, I hear you! Goodness, friend, I hope it's not hurting too bad and that you're able to rest soon. If you welcome hugs, I offer them to you. If not, that's okay, too. Either way, let's see if I can't make something happen. All sugar, no spice.
Also, I might have gone overboard? This went on for so much longer than I thought. 🤣 And thanks to @justalotoffanfiction for the nickname and @milykins for checking if the story was, indeed, cotton candy.
One-shot, pure fluff, Rise Leo, reader has a migraine
You don't disappear that easily. He's known you long enough to know that's not a thing that happens. You're far too dedicated to just abandon anything that you want and being with them, at least during non-pressure moments, is something you want.
... He thinks. He hopes. With everything that's happened, he can't help but doubt that you're anywhere near safe with them but he still can't...
He looks up and catches the glint of metal on his shelves. He gets up and goes to grab it, a clink ringing in the air as he looks at the key resting in his palm. And he closes it before going to the back of his train car, not going for his katanas but for the tantō before staring at the black-wrapped tsuka.
He needs to change it. He'd been thinking about it as of late, but now… he needs to. Later though, when he knows what's keeping you.
He swings the knife into the open air and steps through the portal. He takes a breath when he notices there's no light, lips pressing together and heart seemingly ready to hammer its way out of his plastron. He still takes the key and slides it into the lock before grabbing the handle and twisting it, letting himself in.
No sound. Not a peep. The entire place is dark and the curtains are drawn. The smell of food is faint, meaning nothing was cooked or reheated. The only thing that reassures him, that tells him you haven't gone running is your coat and boots at the entrance… and your scent.
It's not faint. It's recent. And it's leading to…
He knocks carefully and quietly. He hears shuffling behind the door. But before he can even reach for the knob this time, he blinks as it jiggles and the door opens, revealing you.
"Leon?"
You and your cracked voice and blanket-covered head. You and your weakened state and, no doubt, reddened eyes.
He can smell medicine, now. Tea. Peppermint. He even hears a quiet moan of pain that tells him more than he wants to hear and nearly has him make a horrible mistake as you speak.
"If this is about me not coming down, I'm sorry. I just — Leo?"
But he won't let it stop him from opening the door a little more and step inside before gently nudging you back, smiling when he starts getting protests before you hit the bed and sit on it. Hell, it definitely won't stop him from helping you back down and covering you.
He can do this. He's started doing this for both Mikey and Raph. He can do it for you. He just… has to stop his hand from tangling itself into your hair as he hears you settle without protest.
"How long?" he whispers, unable not to smile when you pick up on his cue.
"Wednesday."
"You didn't think to call me?"
"I thought it'd be done by now. And I had work."
"That a reason to skip dinner?" he admonishes, chuckling when he catches a flinch, although he’s not quite sure what to make of you hiding under the covers a bit more than you already are. “Preciosa?”
“I’m not… really hungry.”
… Oh. Oh. It’s that bad.
He knows he’s about to give himself a headache with how fast his mind’s working but he knows he needs it to.
“Did the –?”
“Leo –”
“Answer me. … Please.”
“Hurts too much.”
Because he needs to be there for you. After everything you have offered him, he needs to.
“Got any ginger?”
“Ground?”
“Fresh.”
“… In my freezer?”
He barely hears your confused calls for him as he gets up and steps out. He then rushes to the kitchen to set some water to boil before digging through the freezer and finding the ginger, smiling as he sets two pieces aside to thaw. Finally, he sets a bowl in the sink to fill before going to the bathroom and grabbing one of the hand towels.
“Leon.”
Only to near jump at the sound of your voice behind him making him turn and grip the counter.
He knows what you’re about to say, though.
“Leonardo, you don’t have – Leo!”
And he’s not impressed with the amount of protest you’re giving.
You’re strong. You’re so strong. He just… wishes you didn’t use it to fight him off.
Then again, it’s you. It’s… you. You fight… because it’s the only thing you know.
He brings you to your living room couch before heading back to the kitchen for the bowl and cloth. He wets the hand towel and wrings it before setting it on your forehead, grateful for the sigh he hears. He breathes as he gets up once more, going back to the kitchen one more time to put the hot water into a mug he puts the ginger into before bringing it over and setting it on the nightstand.
“Did you really just make ginger tea?”
He’s also completely unable to help the smile at the incredulous question. “What? Got something against it? Or do you need a reminder of my specialty?”
And the groan at his comment only makes him snicker as he goes to remove the cloth only to freeze when you grab his hand.
“Pre –”
“Sorry, just… your hand’s colder.”
… He wishes he had it in him to refuse you. He wishes he was back at the beginning, where he could tease you with what felt like no consequences, even if he later discovered there were. He prays he’s got the strength to hold strong as he sets the cloth back up and puts a hand on your forehead.
It's a little warm. Something he should have guessed at with the way your head’s been hurting. But he’s not ready for you to slump against his shoulder even though he knows it’s because you’re seeking comfort and cold.
He breathes and settles his head atop yours. He doesn’t even notice he’s churring until you shuffle against him and he stops. However, the urge to kiss the top of your head remains, haunting him as the smell of your shampoo invades his mind.
… He wants to bring you closer. He wants to protect you. You are the biggest star in his sky and to see you this dim…
“Leo?”
“Hm?”
“Are you okay?”
“Says the girl with a migraine.”
“Leo.”
“What? I’m not allowed to worry about you, now?” he asks with a smile but glad that there’s no lights because you’d catch his offended gaze.
“You were mumbling.”
Not that you almost don’t catch him anyways, making him freeze.
Perceptive, observant, and not afraid to say something once you’re almost sure. It reassures him and terrifies him all at once that nothing can hide from you, that he can’t hide from you.
… Not true. He’s kept this hidden for months. He can do it again.
“You sure you’re not hearing things?”
“Leonardo.”
“Herm –”
“Don’t call me beautiful. Not when you’re avoiding me.”
And when he feels you flinch and hears you groan after your call out, he can’t help but think he’s doing the right thing. You don’t need this, not right now, not after –
“Hey.”
“S’up?”
“Can you stay?”
… He wishes he were stronger. He wants to say no, ask you if you want April instead. But he knows, realizes how much courage it’s taking you just to ask him.
“How long?”
“Until it leaves… Or the weekend ends, whichever comes first.”
"Sure."
"Really?"
"What? You expect me to go back on my word?"
So he lets himself have it.
It's just a weekend. Two days where he's gotta help you and make sure you eat and sleep. Two days during which he can not only pass time with you and you alone but he's got the perfect excuse to send to his brothers for not being home. Hell, they all approve, although Mikey is a bit too enthusiastic about all of it, and he's left to take care of you until Monday morning at the latest. Something he does not only to the best of his abilities but beyond them as he tries his best to pick up where you have to stop due to the pain.
He learns how to half-make soup. He starts recognizing the moments when the migraine gets worse and pauses everything to drag you to the couch and hold you against him to ride out the storm while holding a hand to your forehead. And nothing quite equals the moment when he playfights with you for you to take a shower after a few hours of you taking one because of a nasty flare-up, which helps tremendously just from the look on your face, and you both settle on the couch after he serves dinner. There's just… one thing that ruins it.
"There you go, mi solecito."
His goddamn mouth and the way it tends to run itself before he can stop it.
He blinks as you do. He clears his throat and tries to smile as he sets a bowl in your hands before sitting down with his. And he can't help but worry the longer the silence lasts.
"What? Don't like being a ray of sunshine?"
Even trying to salvage it with a joke misses its mark as you stay quiet, making him realize that it's not the nickname, but the…
He can't think it. He can't. Even that feels wrong. God, he screwed up. He screwed up. He screwed up. Hescrewedup. Hescrewedup. He —
"I gotta go," he mumbles while scrambling up only to stop when he feels fragile fingers around his wrist.
He could pull himself away so easily. Break your hold, pull out his tantō, and leave. But he can't. Not when his heart begs for him to trust, to hope, to believe.
"Mi?"
"Slip of the tongue. Happens. Doesn't happen to you?"
"Only when it's habit."
But he can't. Not when –
"Do you mean it?"
"Does it matter?"
You pull. Make him turn as you get up. He closes his eyes as warmth and softness greets his cheek. And before he can even think, before he can even realize what he's doing you're in his arms. Held tightly against him with one arm and a hand on your cheek while his breath fans your forehead.
He shouldn't. Your head is hurting and the last thing he wants to do is hurt you more by sending it spinning. But he can at least…
He feels you stiffen as his lips press against your forehead. He folds to swing your legs over his forearm, smiling at the surprised gasp it gets him. And he brings you in, putting you into his lap as the arm around your waist readjusts so his fingers can tangle with your hair as his lips find your temple.
He wants to kiss you. He wants nothing more than to confirm what he's just witnessed. He can't. Not yet.
"If you're not better after tomorrow, call in sick."
"Leon."
But if just him whining and nudging your head with his own is enough to make you concede, then chances are your heart sings with his.
"You are so demanding."
"And you give in too fast."
Something he's certain the pillow you smack into his cheek just confirms, certainly when he can grab your hand, get you to let go of the cushion, and put his cheek against said hand only to watch you blush while not pulling away.
Your touch. It's so warm. So welcoming.
"Leon," he hears you whisper. He feels your hand trying to bring him closer. And he smiles as he obeys, but aims for your nose instead of your lips before bringing your foreheads together.
"Get better first," he murmurs before he kisses it gently.
"Dare I ask why?"
"Do you wanna faint?" he asks only to chuckle as you try pushing him away.
"You are so full yourself."
"Am I wrong?"
And your pout at his words only has him snorting to hold back laughter.
… Maybe it's a good thing you didn't come to the Lair. He doubts this would have happened otherwise.
I can't remember how exactly this came about anymore, but it's here. I would like to give special thanks to @thelaundrybitch for coming up with the idea and then letting me write it. Beware the diabetes.
One-shot, pure fluff, Rise Leo, set in main timeline (AU?)
You're not sure what to think about when you get the messages. You're even less certain when you call after work and the only thing you get is, "Please get down here right this second" and nothing else. However, the thing that worries you the most isn't the fact that Donatello seems to be ordering you around or the fact that your best friend seems to be panicking. That seems par for the course for the Hamatos. No, what worries you is the lack of messages from a certain someone that makes your heart squeeze.
He's gotten good with his timing. Incredible, in fact. He never asked, but nowadays, it feels like the second you get up for lunch at work, there's a message waiting for you. He bugs you with everything and anything, from memes to heartfelt messages that always manage to make you smile, even giggle sometimes. But there was nothing today. Not even the start of the conversation you have to sadly shoot down because someone thought it was a good idea to occupy your lunch with a meeting.
So, it's with a heavy heart and worry on your mind that you step into the lobby of the Lair.
"LEO! DON'T RUN!"
Only to blink as you hear Raph shout, you barely catch a blue streak zip up the stairs, and you flinch as a weight hits your legs, making you look down.
… Is that…? There's — There's no goddamn way.
You watch as the snapping turtle makes it up the stairs only to sigh when he sees you. He, thankfully, doesn't hesitate to approach you, just holds up his hand in greeting, which you return before watching the hulking man sit and make himself as small as possible before speaking in a tone that can only make you smile.
"Leo, you need to let go."
"No!"
"Leo –"
"NO!"
Although… you can't help but blink at the name and the voice you're hearing.
"Leon?"
And the fact that the blue-covered head finally moves to let you see lime green and red…
"Eya."
…
Oh dear god.
You watch as Leo unglues himself from your leg and brings his arms up. You look at Raph in confusion.
“What happened?”
“Donnie. He’s working on a solution.”
“Is this linked to the Empyrean?”
And the snapping turtle’s acquiescence gets cut off by quiet hiccups, making you look down and feel your heart almost shatter.
His eyes are watery. Leo is trying so very hard not to cry but he wants up. And you can’t…
You kneel and open your arms. The intelligent boy picks up on it immediately and, after a blink, rushes into your arms and settles his head into the crook of your neck as you lift his surprising heavy body off the ground.
“It’s the shell,” Raph explains and you believe it. He’s not particularly pudgy although he seems well-fed, but the weight doesn’t match.
Although, considering how fast he settles down in your arms, you’re not sure you mind. No, you don’t mind at all when you feel a tiny rumble against yourself.
You want to say that you’re surprised with him refusing to let you help with dinner, but if you’re honest…
“Leon, I gotta help your brother.”
“No!”
“You want to eat late?”
Considering his current age, to not expect him to be glued to you would be wishful thinking. Certainly when the second question gets indignant chirping galore Mikey understands and translates.
You were missing all week. It’s his turn.
Not even two and already acting like a drama queen. You want to be angry but the fact that he insists on both staying on your lap during dinner all while eating on his own is too endearing to get mad at. Not to mention that he does seem to somewhat understand boundaries ‘cause he asks for Raph when you talk about getting ready for bed only to stick to you when you’ve showered and changed.
Little glue pot. Who is still incredibly brotherly as he points you to the Lab and has a chirpy argument with Donnie through the intercom about sleeping.
The fact that the softshell actually comes out is a testament to Leo's persuasion, certainly with how proud he looks in your arms. He, unfortunately, loses much of that pride as you get to his room, and not only does he insist that you sleep with him, but he tries climbing over you several times and complains so loudly every time you move him back to where he was, it catches Raph's attention who, thankfully, explains.
It's something you know Leo has been doing for months, now. Whenever you share the same bed, he insists on having an arm around you or sliding halfway atop you. Either way, it leads to the same thing, you wake up with him holding you tightly in his arm while he covers you with himself. At first, you thought it was out of being touch-starved. Now, after everything you read and him still doing it, you're thinking it's a dominance thing. It's neither. In fact, it's something much simpler.
His shell. Doesn't matter if there's damage, his shell and skin are stronger than yours. And he's protective. Extremely so as he tries again while you're distracted with his brother and you still catch him, leading to him trying to nip your fingers and forcing you to gently hit his beak with a "None of that."
He whines, then, rubbing his head against your hand while his eyes fill with tears. You barely notice Raph leaving as you try to reason with him, eventually boiling it down into the simplest fashion you can while putting his hand against his.
He's usually so much bigger. Leo might not be too much taller than you, but he is surprisingly broad despite how agile he is and his hands engulf yours. You can barely see the color of your skin in the lime-green of his, usually.
Not now. Now, your hand makes his disappear. Your skin is all you can see. And light hiccupping is all you can hear as just how helpless he is sinks into you.
He can't protect you. Not right now. That's your job. Until he's back to normal, you and his brothers have to make sure he's safe, happy, and, above all, loved.
You hold him close. Bring him against your chest before placing a pillow underneath him to make sure he's comfortable as he holds onto you. You listen to him churr as you scratch his head and shell while promising him security and protection. And while you're not sure he completely gets it, you know he's understanding some of it as he holds onto your shirt like a lifeline, leaving you to wonder one thing.
Is this… how he wishes he could behave? Or something close?
Something close. Definitely something close from the fact that he wakes you up in the middle of the night with his screaming and crying and he looks like such a mess as you hold him tight against you. You doubt he wants you to hear the hiccupping he's unable to hold back or that wants you to see him as anything but strong. You doubt he enjoys the fact that he woke you up, no matter how little you care, and promise him that it's fine as you take him to the kitchen for a cup of warm milk. And nothing makes that more obvious than you waking up to an already awake Leo whom you can only smile gently at.
"Hey Leon."
Along with the fact that he immediately nuzzles against your hand as you hold it out.
"Did you sleep?”
A nod.
“After we came back from the kitchen?”
A very hesitant nod.
It's harder to lie, to deflect. Not to mention he's trying to lie to you, something you've had more than a hint of him disliking. However, it does tell you how ingrained the habits are and how soon Leo had to learn that sacrificing himself… could be necessary.
You just hope you know the perfect way to return the favor as you send texts to Mikey and Raph before settling into the bed a little more.
"How about we sleep in, then? I just cleared my day."
From the way his eyes light up at the offer before you find yourself tackled by someone half your size, you'd say you're not doing a bad job of it.
You wish you were surprised when it turns partially into show-and-tell. You can only chuckle when Leo races through the room to bring you stuff he babbles and chirps about. And you smile fondly when, eventually, he brings over the book you've gotten him and, after triumphantly stating, "Eya book!" he lies with you to look at the images while you read the text aloud. But it's the way he cuddles against you as you speak that has your heart skipping around. Not to mention that he only snuggles closer when you quiet your voice to a hum and let him settle against your chest, breathing deepening by the second.
You know better than to stop. You might have only raised four-year-olds, but you remember their behavior skirting with this one, certainly after a nightmare or an awful day, and you're not about to leave Leo to suffer to his demons. You already can't let him when he's older, how can you now?
You help him settle a little better as he stretches and tries to snuggle closer, likely looking for warmth. You smile as he sleepily chirps.
“I wuv you, Eya.”
But there’s no helping the blink as you hear him whisper against you. No stopping your racing heart and fond smile as you wrap a protective arm around him, murmuring, “I love you, too, Leon."
You jolt as you hear screaming, shouting and tumbling throughout the lair. You notice the lack of weight against you and hear a very familiar three-letter word accompanied with some surprisingly familiar words as well.
“Leo! Get back here!”
“No!”
And you sigh, almost resigned to the mess you’re about to find as you step out, wondering what trouble the little chaos demon has managed to get himself into.
You blink when all you see are color-coded blurs. The blue one turns the corner so sharply, you wonder if you’re still sleeping until another blur, red one this time, does the same thing, reminding you of where you are. You sigh as you make your way up and blink at the absolute mess the lobby is in, recognizing the spots Leo might have thought he was safe before his brother tried to extricate him out of hiding.
Are you surprised that, upon his return to the lobby, he’s taken to the heights this time? Nope. In fact, you just sigh as Raph shouts at Leo who is absolutely refusing to leave his perch in the bar. It’s not until the little menace tries to get away and knocks a bottle off the shelves that they seem to realize how dangerous this is becoming as your heart nearly stops.
Oh no.
You can hear the crying before it starts. You’re still not ready for the chirps that mix with it as Raph realizes he can’t reach Leo, at least not without breaking the bar. However, the distress you see across that tear-streaked face is enough to make you move, thankfully easing Raphael's worry but not quite working on Leo's nerve, even as you step into the bar, round the shattered bottle, and hold yourself under the slider with open arms.
"It's okay, Leon. Come on."
It takes everything for you to stay calm as he cries louder, holding out his tiny hands towards you. You can't reach him. You're not tall enough. But he can jump down.
"Come on, big guy. Just a jump. I got you."
The distressed chirps make you want to cry. You have to keep smiling, though. You have to keep steady. He needs a rock, and you're the only one who can reach him.
"I gotcha. Te tengo, Leonardo. Jump."
He does. You buckle a little under his weight but hold steady as he hiccups before crying while gripping your shirt like a lifeline. You turn around to an apologetic Raph who gingerly points to what Leon has clasped in his right hand and the fact that the latter immediately lets it go to put his arms around your neck doesn't surprise you in the slightest. What does is the cause of the mess.
"A Lou Jitsu action figure?" you ask as you hand it over to the sighing snapper.
"Got it from Dad's room."
… Oh. You smile, even giggle as you half-rock the hiccupping Leon in your arms.
"Did you want to show it to me?"
Only to chuckle as you feel the faintest hint of a nod against your neck. This little rascal.
"Want me to take him off your hands?" Raph suggests and you shake your head.
"I have —! What… happened here?"
Before you can answer, though, the softshell appears in the lobby holding a vial you only hope is the solution to the mess.
You're not surprised when quiet is all that finds you when you slide open the train car door. You almost expect him to pull back the second you lie in the bed next to him, something he does before you put a hand over his.
"You okay?"
However, you're glad when all that finds you instead of the lies he's been spewing as he helped fix the mess he created is silence.
He's not in the mood to lie. Not to you. Yet, he's also not wanting to talk about the past few hours and, honestly, you can't blame him.
"We don't have to –"
"I don't get you."
Although, you're not sure what to make of the remark, blinking at it.
"Leon?"
"I don't understand. I don't… I should have…"
"You didn't."
"Why not?"
"You were a child?"
"Not –"
"If you're about to say excuse, I'm going to get Raph to beat some sense into you. Besides, I raised twins."
He falls quiet, looking unsure. You squeeze his hand, not expecting but still getting one you almost want to laugh at as he brings you in and lays atop you.
Shielding you from the world. Keeping you safe. And, as you feel him freeze over you while you wrap your arms around his neck to bring him closer, so touch-starved he nearly melts over you when you start scratching his nape and the base of his skull.
The churrs are so incredibly deep, you can feel them reverberate through you. It's beautiful.
"You'd make a wonderful mother."
It's not as heart-racing as his comment, though, your mind wondering if he means it, if he's thinking about it as he kisses and murmurs against your cheek.
"I love you, estrella mía."
You won't know now, though. Not yet. Patience is key and he needs his sleep.
You lean your head against his as you whisper your reply, "I love you, too, Leon."
Thanking @thegirlwiththeninjaturtletattoos for this one. She has made a wonderful playlist for the Disaster Twins and I happened to listen to this one for the first time, tried to dissuade myself that this didn't have Leo written all over it before I heard "I feel love for the first time" and signed my death warrant. So thank you Tats and I give to you a pining Leo.
One-shot, pining Rise Leo, set in main timeline
He shouldn’t be this happy. He should not be staring at his room’s ceiling like it’s filled with stars. And he certainly should not be thinking, hoping that wherever you’re taking him is far enough that his brothers can’t reach him.
But he is. He is closing his eyes and imagining you and him in a place where no one recognizes either of you. An unbidden smile finds his lips with a chuckle as you come at him with the sharp wit he knows you’re capable of. And whether he likes it or not, he can hear your laughter, see your smile as he turns around with a groan, trying to keep your voice from ringing in his ears while raising the sound of the radio.
Only to lower it with another groan when he hears a love song.
Way to stab him in the heart. Way to remind him that you're up there enjoying your best life and he's down here, looking at the inside of his train car like something's wrong.
Nothing is. He's inspected the damn place four times already last week alone. And yet…
He looks at the midnight-blue blanket beside him as he sits up. He plays with the white border while appreciating the weight of it on his lap. And he brings it to his nose, hoping, praying to catch something, anything only to put it down when nothing comes.
It's been a month. They passed two weeks without you and with someone from his past in your room. So while nothing has changed… something definitely has.
He wants you down here. He wants to open his phone and bug you. But it's the afternoon, almost evening and you're…
You're Mikey's right now. Or you will be in an hour or two. He can't interrupt that. He can't touch that. Time with the rest of his family is sacred. He can't…
You're not his. He needs to stop. This obsession with your behavior isn't healthy and it's going to break him. It already strained his relationship with Donnie more than it already was, so why does he want this?!
Mi Luz (12:25)
Looking forward to this weekend despite the snow?
(12:25) Leon
Just sounds like we'll have to cozy up with blankets.
Mi Luz (12:25)
I'll pack some extra, then. And bring your weighted blanket!
…
"Fuck," he swears, covering his head with a pillow.
I hope you had the most fantastic Christmas this year because I know I did after reading your adorable little one shot about toddler Leo. Most wholesome 🤌🏼✨
And I was wondering if you had any additional thoughts or possible headcannons to add about if Y/N happened to turn into a toddler for a day and how the turtles react? 👀👀👀
No worries if you don’t, just thought I’d ask cuz you got me thinking! Thank you again!
This is super rough, but I think it needs to be. There was a lot more that was supposed to happen, but when I got to the nitty gritty of it, some of it just got taken out. I hope this is to your liking, anon.
Rated M, Rise Leo, post Krang invasion
WARNING: Panic Attacks, mention of mental and emotional abuse
When Leon hears the shout, he's already rushing down the corridor. By the time he hears his name, the lab door is opening, and he's making his way to the back. But no matter how fast he runs, no matter how quickly he tries, there is no making it in time. There is no help or fix because when he gets there, he can only notice his brother unsure of how to approach the child on the floor of his chemistry lab. He can only watch and half-hear Donnie swear to oblivion as he tries to figure out how they got here… and what to do.
"I thought you agreed not to store anything this volatile near the sink?"
"Gasp! You had to drink it for it to have any effect!"
"Her skin isn't as tough as ours!"
"I wasn't aware that the keratin levels would change things this greatly!"
Only to realize by the whimper he hears next that he fucked up.
It's so small. It's so goddamn tiny. He knows you to be soft-spoken at best, quiet at worst, but he — he can't have this argument with his brother, not now.
He carefully, deliberately approaches the bundle of clothes you're in. He watches you shift within, trying to hide in plain sight as he asks Donnie to get you some clothes.
"Estrella? Mi…" he starts only to trail off, realizing he can't, that it's inappropriate.
You're a child. You're a kid. You might be the love of his life, but you're no longer…
"Sweetheart?" he tries, hoping that you come out.
You don't. If anything, you flatten to the ground, almost disappearing in that pretty dress of yours. He can only watch you curl into a ball and flinch as he moves your shoes aside to sit in front of the mess. He hopes to coax you with the gentle, kind tone he knows you usually respond to, if only with a little hesitance, but his heart breaks when you whine and back away from his hand. And he's not sure how to deal with the way his brothers stampede in to help, and only Mikey, Mikey gets a positive response.
-xxx-
Donnie promises a fix and locks himself in his lab. He watches his older brother try to interact with you only to realize that it's taking everything out of you to stay put and not cry. And he has to watch you being held by his baby brother, who keeps telling you story after story.
According to what his genius twin figured out, you should be around four or five. You should be able to talk, hold a conversation. It's why Mikey keeps talking to you, keeps telling you stories. He's trying to get a reaction, something out of you. You're not giving him anything back, though. You might as well be mute. And it worries Leo. It scares him. It makes him wonder if you lied about your time with your aunt or if he severely underestimated the damage that was left behind.
He wants to say neither. He's scared it's both, certainly when he can look up from his phone and find your gaze straight on him.
That's another thing. You have not stopped staring. He's not allowed to touch you or be alone with you, but you refuse to let him out of your sight. Each time he tries to leave, you fuss. Hell, one of your most recent attempts led to you nearly hurting yourself since you'd tried to leave the counter, forcing him into action and getting the beginnings of an answer he wishes he didn't have.
Your eyes filled with tears. You looked at him in fear, absolute panic, before you struggled, and he let you go. Leo attempted to make his exit then, seeing that you weren't going to be running around for who knows how long in their ratty old clothes. However, the second he moved, you held on. You clung to his legs and hid your face in his jeans. That was when he knew he couldn't leave you, even if it somehow hurt you.
He hates it. If there's one thing he's been priding himself on, it's the fact that he's been your shield, your shell throughout the entire time he's been with you. He strives to keep you safe, keep you secure in their dangerous world. And yet now… he's become the biggest source of pain, of anguish, and he doesn't know why.
If only you would talk. If only you would say something. He would stop hurting you, eliminate whatever it is of him that hurts you. But removing himself gets you upset, touching you makes you cry, and you won't talk.
Maybe he's blowing this out of proportion. Maybe he's seeing things that don't exist. Maybe he just needs to concentrate on what must happen and leave everything behind.
-xxx-
Leon enlists Casey's help to take you to the store since Mikey can't come along to buy you clothes. He's grateful for the young man's arrival, even if it pains him to watch you hold the latter's hand instead of his own. And he can't help the smile as you all walk in, and curiosity immediately lights your eyes.
He knows this. He recognizes this. He might even say that he'd hoped for this. He remembers your face as you looked through his things, and he's glad to find it well and alive in you, even if you're still behaving extremely well. It even tempts him to speak in hopes that he gets an answer.
"See something you like?"
However, when all he gets is hesitation, he immediately remembers what exactly happened and what might just happen now. Worry sprouts at the forefront of his mind as you refuse to move and even cling to Casey, although you let him go the second he starts agreeing with Leo. And it blooms to annoyance, almost anger when no amount of coaxing, no amount of gentleness gets you to grab anything to wear for yourself.
Is this how they treated you? Did you not get to choose, or were your choices criticized before they were ripped out from under you, and you were told it wasn't okay? Are you doubting your own choices because of it, or letting them choose? Does it matter? Do you even — NO. No. He can't just… but how? How can he make this better? He's not an expert when it comes to children. He doesn't understand any of this.
But he can try, can't he?
He looks at a distressed, unsure Casey, who seems ready to rush into the aisles just to get something. He watches you, stiff and near tears, probably just as frustrated as he is.
"Hey," he voices and sees you turn to him. "Are we doing something wrong?"
And he can't help but smile as you vigorously shake your head, the water in your eyes fading with a few blinks. You might take a step back as he sets a knee down in front of you, but he still smiles, hoping that this… is the start of something.
"Well, in that case, I want you to know that we're letting you choose because we don't know how long this is gonna last, and we don't want you running around in just those clothes, certainly when they might cause you trouble. So… can you help us find clothes for you? Stuff you either need or want to wear?"
It feels like it is when you hesitantly reach for his open hand only to change your mind and head for Casey's the second your fingertips brush his palm. It almost feels like a win when you start bringing them into the aisles, not quite heading for the clothes but heading for something far more important as you point to two bags he picks up only to smile at the content as you look for another bag. Underwear. He puts them in the cart before welcoming the socks with a chuckle and moving on to shoes.
The step back you take worries him a little, but Leo can only breathe as Casey takes over. Since he's closer, he can see you hesitate over the ones that tempt you, and he gets you to try them on. The little scowl when they feel uncomfortable makes Leon snort, but nothing equals the moment when you find your shoes. While there's no real smile on your face, the way you tap along the floor and even spare him a glance tells him everything he needs to know. The little pair ends up in the cart before you all move back to the clothes.
This time, even though you still hesitate, when Casey pulls you into the racks, you follow and you look. Your gaze is everywhere, and your hands touch everything. Case even tries a few times to give you options he thinks you might like, and while Leo worries when you look at the price tag, the thing that makes him realize that this might not be about the price is when you touch the fabric and your face scrunches. You're definitely looking for something specific, and nothing tells him that more than when you stop.
You hesitate before pulling it off the rack. He holds his breath as he watches you trying to decide whether to approach him or not. You eventually do as he swallows, eyes darting around. It's not the most expensive thing, but it's not the cheapest. The garment, the dress, is adorable and reminds him of the clothes you made for yourself. There's… just one problem.
It's white. That white won't last long in the Lair. However, as he's looking around and asking questions, he's realizing there's nothing else like it in the store. There's a reason why you zeroed in on this dress, and he doesn't have it in him to tell you no, not with the courage it took you to even look.
However…
"Considering how long white would last in the Lair, you against modifying it so it lasts longer?"
He blinks and immediately brings up a hand when you jump before giving a small glare at Casey, who looks sufficiently cowed but still insists, earning him a look he's almost too familiar with.
"Grab a few more and then lead the way," is the only reasonable answer and he knows it, just like he knows he'll never forget that smile.
-xxx-
Your laughter is an explosion. It brings a smile to Leo's face and a chuckle to his throat. Your squeals make him lightheaded and joyful, certainly when it's accompanied by both his youngest and oldest brothers' laughter as your face gets streaks of paint on it. After watching you reconcile and try with Raph with a piece of ribbon you've put around one of his teddy bears' neck, it's been nothing short of amazing. It's to the point that Leo has caught himself multiple times with his phone out, recording the moments and wondering what you'd think, if you'd enjoy looking back on this as much as he would.
Because this is the most lively he ever remembers you being. Through all the tickle and pillow fights, he doesn't remember you squealing or your voice carrying so far, even his softshell brother can only wander down in wonder. This is you in your purest form. With the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
He expects you to crash. You don't. Instead, he gets to watch you dawdle around as dread seemingly sinks into you, and he's reminded of something… highly uncomfortable when your eyes meet and you stop for a moment, gaze almost pleading.
This is not a single fight. This is a war. And the next tide… is tonight.
It takes a moment, but he manages to wrestle you away from his youngest brother. He then has to wrestle with you so that you can have the bed while he settles into a recliner you usually use when you're having a migraine and need to relax. And, when he notices you stay awake for longer than you should, he suggests a tale. One he weaves himself with memories and a bit of imagination until you fall asleep when you nod and your eyes slowly drift close.
One more wave broken before it batters your shore. He hopes he has the energy in him to keep it up.
-xxx-
The dresses that await you in the morning immediately cheer you up. Your enthusiasm as you put on the one you all tie-dyed makes him chuckle as you rush upstairs to show it off to Mikey, who coos and makes you twirl a few times to show it off. And he can't help the half-smile as you insist on helping with breakfast, even if the best you can do is get everyone their drink of choice.
… You're cute. Your smile is the most adorable thing he's ever seen. He wonders if you were ever told, if you were ever –
His eyes widen as you trip. He sees your own do the same before you hit the floor with a crash. He tries not to flinch when the carafe that was once in your hands shatters. But he can only watch you pale and your eyes mist over before you look at both of them in expectation… and terror.
… No…
He moves. One second, he's seated at the island, the next, he's holding you against his chest. He feels you struggle, beat your tiny fists against the hard keratin, but all he can do is look at Mikey who only nods before he leaves with you in his arms. He can only hold you close as he zips his way to the med bay to check for any injuries. And he can only walk his way back to his room when he finds nothing, and your reaction starts changing.
Quiet little sounds climb and climb until it's all he can hear. Tiny fists that beat on his plastron now cling to the robe he puts on all while holding you close. And it's hard not to notice, not feel the damp spot that immediately forms as you sob, near wail through years, nearly a decade of pain that you struggled with.
Now, he gets it. Now, he understands. He wishes he didn't, but he does.
"Leo?"
He lifts his head. He can barely see his oldest brother through the mess that is his vision, but he tries as the latter approaches. And he can only chirp gratefully as he's lifted from the bed into Raph's arms while he tightly holds onto you, trying to soothe you as best he can. He doesn't need to see where he's going, his brother has that covered, he just — he just…
The settling in the TV room feels all too soon and all too late as you hiccup in his arms. He only shifts towards his brother, though, while the latter calls for the rest of the family. Just like he can only breathe when you slowly settle into uneasy sleep and he thanks his brothers for helping.
The tsunami might have hit, but they're not letting you get taken by the wave.
-xxx-
It's not a simple wave. It's a storm. It's a hurricane of incredible proportions that shakes you to the core. And he hates it. He hates it. Not because he wants to stop it, but because it's there in the first place.
From the day Leo first met you, his biggest fear has been ruining you. That he would somehow, some way, destroy the light that he could see within you just by being himself. That fear nearly ate him alive as he concentrated on a light he thought he could only admire, never understand.
Yet now, he does, and he realizes something that makes him bleed.
He could never ruin you.
… No, he could. He could hurt you beyond repair. They all could. The fact that this was caused by your own family is proof that anyone could take what you'd built and destroy it. But he couldn't get himself to. He would never go that far. No one in his family would. Because to snuff out the light… was to destroy the one who gave birth to it.
And he loves you too much to even think he could do that. He loves you so much that he soothes you every night with a story. That he keeps close and, the second you ask for him, he's there, holding you tight and letting you cry. That, by the end of the week and Donnie finally finds a remedy for you, he knows exactly what to do.
He smiles as you come out. He lets you distract yourself with work and conversation that you smile during with that ever soft, recognizable smile. He lets you help, be the tool you think you are. It's only at nightfall, after patrol and telling his brothers what might just happen, that he acts, and it starts with him finding you in their bed and joining you in a way he knows is going to get a response as long as you're awake.
"I'm sorry, Leon. Not tonight."
"I know."
Because he needs you to be for the next step.
"Then what –?"
"You're safe."
He schools his mouth as he feels you freeze.
"… Wha –?"
"You're safe here."
He keeps you in place as you try to shift.
"Leo, what –?"
"You're safe."
"Leo –"
"You're safe with me. With us. We'll always keep you safe. Your future is in my hands, and I'll make sure it's as bright as I can manage. And if your past tries to find you, I will personally take care of it. So you're safe. You're so incredibly safe. I've got you, mi estrella hermosa. Te tengo, amor de mi vida."
"Leo… Leo, don't…"
And something finally, finally clicks into place as he smiles at your trembling tone, delivering the same answer you still barrage him with.
"No."
He lets you shift. He welcomes your face burying itself in the hard keratin of his chest and the quiet sobs. He even welcomes his own tears and his oldest brother lifting both of you out of bed and into the TV Room for a pile up, having waited for his cue.
Because Leo gets it. He finally gets it. And while he can't erase the past, he can make sure it never happens again.
You are his friend. You are his love. You are his mate. You are family. And you will never be alone ever again.
One-shot, pure fluff, Rise Leo, set in main timeline
It's not the first time Leo wakes up in your arms. It's not the first time he catches himself smiling and huffs a laugh after staring at your sleeping form for far too long. And it's certainly not the first time he basks in your presence.
But it is the first time he feels like he gets to know why.
It's stupid. He's seen you in the light so many times. The Lair's fairy lights as they give you a beautiful halo. The morning sunlight of your previous apartment when he stays over after a ridiculously tough night. Hell, he's even seen you under the midday sun after climbing out of the ocean, the rivulets of water making you glisten like a fairy.
But here, here the light of the Hidden City as its daytime population begrudgingly awakens, he might be finally catching sight of a dream.
You're wrapped in green. A stunning neon green he knows he's seen before. It's all over you, cradling you like a blanket, like a hug he hopes is keeping you safe. The fact that he can also catch flecks of blue has his vision almost blur as he laughs and hides his face in your shoulder.
He knows it'll be gone by the time he blinks and the Hidden slowly gears towards work. It can't be real. But god, does he hope his ancestors have taken to protecting you. That they love you... just as much as he does.
"... Leon?"
Because he finds it all too ironic that it fades the moment you rasp against him and he moves to watch you sluggishly open your eyes in a way that shows concern.
He cups your cheek and joins your lips. He hums as you do while putting your arms around his neck before scratching the top of his shell, making him churr. And he simply settles against you, oh so glad it's a Friday, and the worst he's got to do today is a waiter shift before meeting up with his brothers along with you.
Run of the Mill Pizza is going to be interesting tonight, but he can't care less.
"You okay, honey?"
"I'm fine. Just... remembering there's a family member you haven't met."
"There is?"
"Yeah. Just... not sure if you can. I'll have to ask Mikey."
"What are you brewing?"
Not when you're his main focus today as he chuckles, "Nothing. Why do I have to be up to something?"
"Mikey and talking to people means astral plane and ancestors."
"You hang with Drax way too much."
And makes you chuckle as well.
"Want to check if I'm allowed in?"
Before he silences and holds you close, "You already are. I just want you to meet someone."
Which you reciprocate, "Okay."
...
You need to get started on your day. His brother can and will get mad at you if you don't show up on time, certainly with it being the last few days of summer. That new collection is not going to get done itself, after all, and it looks stunning from what he's seen.
"Breakfast?"
"You got the chai ready?"
"I did."
"Thank you, sweetie."
But, as you hug him before slowly crawling out of his arms, he wants to drag you back. He wants to hold you for a little longer. And he desperately hopes he did not imagine that glow.
Because you are Hamato. He is yours. Something he hopes to make official by the end of the month.
"Wish me luck, Gram-Gram," he whispers as he gets up and follows you to the kitchen.
One-shot, pure fluff, Rise Leo, set in main timeline
He doesn’t… get it. Don’t get him wrong, he wishes he did. He wants to understand the hows and whys of the past few days, past few months. As he lies there on his own bed, he oh so desperately searches for answers.
But as much as he wants them, he also realizes that the only reason he thinks he doesn’t… is because everything in him doesn’t believe any of it.
He doesn’t want to believe that he thought you safe for shenanigans after you’d declared yourself unavailable. He wishes he hadn’t seen the broken lines that had led you to such a decision. He kind of hopes that it isn’t the reason he tried something new.
But it was. It is. And everyday he wakes up wondering how and why all while knowing, knowing why it is what it is.
Because every morning he wakes up next to you feels like a dream. Every time he opens his eyes to see the flickering ember that is you it feels so unreal, he wonders if his imagination has finally broken him down and he's officially gone insane.
“’Morning Leo.”
“’Morning.”
Because he’s never smiled this much. He’s never felt this calm. And usually, it’s a lot harder to get him to lose his words.
Not with you. Not with the way your pretty hands reach for his tense shoulders, making him fall back and churr the second they start kneading. And certainly not when, after all that, the next thing he gets is a kiss and a question.
“How was patrol?”
Every morning without fail. Every time, you fall into routine and he wonders. Just wonders.
“Boring, although Big Mama has been all too quiet lately. Might need to check on her again.”
“Are you going to need a hand?”
“I might. Depends if the application I sent gets accepted or not.”
“You really think she won’t catch on?”
“It’s Big Mama.”
All while wondering if it’s the same for you.
Do you get it? Do you understand? Because he doesn’t. He sure as hell doesn’t. It doesn’t stop him from smiling at your giggles, but he sure doesn’t get how things get so… comfortable. Along with how much he loves it.
“Well, let me know. I think Donatello finally perfected –”
“Really? You’re gonna yak about my brother this early?”
How much he adores your laughter before he cages you in with a kiss you huff against. How much he can’t help the shivers as your hand slides to and along his nape, breaking the kiss and bringing his forehead against yours. How much he’s impressed at how fast you manage to make him breathless as he presses his lips against yours without rhythm, without any other purpose than to blank your mind.
“Leo…”
If only because it gets him a response he knows he can’t hate along with an answer to his wondering, certainly when he pulls away just enough to catch the look in your eye.
It's you. It will forever be you. You make him feel so, so good. You took the mess he was and fashioned it into a man he can be proud of.
And he likes that. Pizza Supreme, does he adore it.
He settles his face in your neck with a chirp. He gives a few nudges with his beak before he mumbles something he knows will annoy you but can only hope you accept.
“Skip breakfast?”
He doesn’t want to share you yet. He wants to have your soft, pliant self a little longer. And from the way your lips find his, you agree.
I'm feeling sick so I'm doing this instead of working on Chapter 18
One-shot, pure fluff, Rise Leo, set in main timeline
You know something’s up when your boss walks through the door.
To be fair, the fact that he comes in only a few minutes after ten o’clock on a Monday morning is a telltale clue that something happened. Certainly when he’s supposed to be on the tech side of things this week since there’s an upcoming product launch. Donatello isn’t the type to do anything unnecessary or backtrack.
“Where am I needed?”
“Home. You will be working remotely this week.”
That’s why you only blink once when the softshell speaks before sighing, practically unable to help the smile on your lips. Why you can only shake your head as you grab your purse and fish your phone out, unsurprised at the lack of messages or calls but knowing that you will need to keep it especially close because you're due to review designs this week. And why you bypass Donatello with a thank you as he informs you that he has a delivery planned later for you.
You know better than to question. You've known the softshell going on four years, now, and it's not the first time this has happened. Certainly not with the person it concerns.
You're already on the phone, talking with your team as you get on the elevator. You've hung up by the time you're on ground floor, pocketing your phone as you take to the streets. However, you only sigh as you get to your apartment complex, opening the front door with your key before heading straight for the elevator and touching the top button while hoping, praying no one else asks you to keep the door open.
No one does, thank god, and you ride the elevator all the way up to the penthouse while shedding your coat, throwing it against the chair of your desk as you rush through the corridors that lead to your destination.
Or, more precisely, your target.
The idiot has buried himself under the blankets, but you can still hear him whine a little. You shake your head as you notice that your pillows are missing, meaning they're probably with him, under that pile. And you simply step away, at least for the moment, to go fetch some food and some water.
He'll hear the clatter. Probably get paranoid about it. A good thing. He deserves it for lying to you for the hundredth time.
In the meantime, you grab some of the leftover soup from last week, ladle it into a bowl, and send it spinning into the microwave for a minute before stirring it and putting it back in for another minute. You pull out the tray out keep in the kitchen for occasions like these before preparing a nice treat, some yogurt with seasonal fruit and honey that you know will only help keep him compliant. You then head back to the bedroom with your set-up, chuckling as you find him in an even smaller disposition.
Hiding in his shell like always. It's unfortunate that you know how to pull him out of there easily, even if you can't move him.
You set down the tray and climb onto the bed. You carefully remove the sheets, blankets, and pillows he's buried himself under. Then, with a careful and gentle hand, you touch his shell, caressing both the beautiful blue designs you see and the cracks you feel, as you tenderly call for him.
"Sweetheart? Come on. Time to eat."
Before you finally watch sluggishly unfold, no doubt glad that he's facing away from you even if once he's free from his shell.
He looks miserable. Completely out of it. From the way his mouth is hanging open, you can tell he's having a hell of a time breathing. Heck, you don't doubt for a second that his face feels like it's in a vice and that his entire body feels heavy, almost uncomfortable. It's how you'd felt, after all, along with nauseated.
So you carefully help him sit up before collecting the food and bringing it up. You go to his nightstand to collect a painkiller you hand him and he takes with a grumble but still takes nonetheless.
He's getting marginally better at taking medicine. You can definitely appreciate that as you kiss his cheek and round the bed to lie in it yourself to watch him eat.
"You know you don't have to do that."
"You know I do. Eat. Your brother already gave me the clear and my staff already knows I'm working remotely."
"And he calls you Nardo 1.5."
You laugh, "I know, I know. Just eat. You'll feel better after you do."
"I still want the license plate of that eighteen-wheeler," he mutters as he brings the spoon to his lips and carefully drinks the content before enjoying the fruity yogurt. You smile as he does. You get up to collect the tray once he's done. And his arm shoots out to grab yours, making you stop and turn a little as you watch him struggle.
One.
"Querida?"
"Yes, Leon?"
Two.
"How long are you getting?"
"A week."
Three.
"C-Can you spare a minute?"
You smile as you set the tray on the desk of drawers. You join him and giggle as he adjusts himself and the bed so that you're surrounded by sheets and pillows as he half covers you and ensconces you in a gentle hold. And, without question or thought you let yourself drift as you hear him thank you.
Leonardo is always cuddly, but, when he's sick, it gets worse. Much worse. He said a few minutes. You know it's a few hours. It's fine, though. He needs the sleep, the insomniac.
You nose his naked temple and he chuckles before returning the gesture with chirps and thrills before he settles down with a churr as you smile.
He'll be okay. He's got his favorite nurse after all.
