Chapter Text
Standing in front of his father’s grave, Leo feels numb. The sky is dark, barely any starlight peeking through the heavy blanket of clouds. He can feel the humidity in the air threatening a storm. Fitting weather.
It doesn’t feel real.
Childishly, Leo wishes for all of this to be one long, terrible dream. But, like all of his other pleas to the universe, it goes unanswered. The nightmare continues.
He can’t escape the way it took days before they could safely return to the lair. How they were greeted by its destruction and what remained of their sensei. How he had to face Mikey’s quiet sorrow and Raph’s explosive rage. And before that, the invasion of their home and the decision to flee. How he had to look his father in the eyes and allow him the grace of an honorable death defending his family. Could there have been another way?
The memories all sit like a stone in his gut. Leo doesn’t think he’s been able to stomach a proper meal since that terrible night. It’d be a waste of food, anyways. Better to give it to someone more deserving.
A presence beside him, arm barely brushing his own. Leo knows it’s Usagi without looking. Everyone else has already left. Casey and April off to keep securing the ramshackle base they created after losing all of their homes (the Shredder chose to find them and tried to take them all down in one fell swoop). Raph needed to be dragged off by Mikey before they disrespected Splinter’s grave with an argument (a fight). The few people (those still alive and allied to them) who had known his father left quietly. There’s no time to linger and mourn the dead.
He needs to move.
He doesn’t.
Leo and Usagi stand in silence for long enough that the sky rumbles. Eventually, Leo feels droplets of water against his head, so he resigns himself to being drenched. But instead, he hears a whoosh of movement. Rain falls, but no longer touches him. In his periphery, Usagi is still stalwart next to him, an opened umbrella now in his grip. Water hits its surface in a staccato rhythm.
Without looking, Leo reaches for Usagi’s free hand. His friend takes it readily, gripping firmly. Leo’s shoulders shake. His breathing shutters. If additional drops are added to the downpour, no one will know except for him and Usagi. Time passes in a blur, feeling too fast and too slow all at once. All focus on the roughly carved marker of his father’s grave, on the noise of the heavy rain, and on the steadying warmth of Usagi.
Eventually, the darkness spreads, and the clouds rumble louder and flash. Crusty tear tracks line Leo’s cheeks. He’s so exhausted.
“Leo.” Usagi tugs at his hand gently. Leo nods. Together, they step forward. Leo places a palm on the wet surface of the marker and mumbles a prayer he remembers Splinter reciting for his Master Yoshi. For one father and now another. It doesn’t ease the hurt, but he finally feels the numbness creeping away. When he finishes the prayer, he pulls his hand back.
“What would you like to do?” Usagi asks quietly.
Leo breathes. One deep inhale and a slow, tension-dropping exhale before he speaks, “Let’s go.”
Home, he wants to add. He can’t. The rubble of the Lair flashes in his mind. He pushes it away, thinking instead of their new base. Of the cramped room he’s bunking in with his brothers, of the rations they’re trying to build up, of the folks they’re trying to provide refuge for. There’s so much to do.
Another tug on his hand. Leo shifts focus to just him and Usagi, to turning away from Splinter’s grave (he’ll be back. He’ll visit when he can). They creep through the trees of Central Park until they’re on the path to the base. Usagi has to stow the umbrella for stealth, so it’s not long before the rain drenches them. Leo doesn’t quite feel the chill. Usagi’s palm is still warm against his. He’d never let go.
Leo doesn’t either.
April greets them when they arrive, throwing towels over their heads and looking like she’s only just biting her tongue to keep from scolding them. Casey says he and Raph got the water and heater working (thank the gods that Angel knew about such a good place). There’s no Raph in sight, but Mikey smiles tiredly at them from the kitchen and tells them food will be ready soon. Leo’s throat clogs, unable to say how grateful he is for all of them. Usagi does it for him, murmuring thanks with each interaction.
Eventually, they’re all clean and warm and fed and suddenly in their bunks. Leo lays on the bottom bunk, looking up at the top mattress. Usagi’s quick to find sleep, and Leo can see one of his ears has flopped over the edge and dangles a bit in the darkness. Despite everything and the sadness still weighing him down, Leo feels his lips quirk up just a bit.
No, this base isn’t home, but they’re well on their way to making it one.