"How's your face?"
"I'll live."
"Raph," Mikey playfully whined, but genuinely worried.
Raph smiled a bit. "It still hurts but it's bearable."
"Did I knock a tooth out?"
"If ya did, we'd have a problem. Well, 'sides the one we got now."
Mikey chuckled. "I'm kinda findin' myself not feelin' so mad about it anymore."
"Ya sure?"
"I dunno. I'm not mad at ya as much anymore."
"We got a ways to go, Mikey, but I'm glad ya don't hate me."
"And you don't hate me, right?"
Raph gave Mikey a gentle smile. "No, I don't hate ya." They shared a gentle laugh, about to talk about something else when Leo suddenly appeared. "'Sup, Leo?"
"Hey, how's your shell? Are you feeling okay?"
"I'll live, that's what counts," Raph replied, smiling. Seeing that Leo didn't laugh along, he mumbled "sorry, too soon to joke about it?"
"All of us have a problem of feeling too guilty when it's not needed," Mikey replied to Raph's mumble, smiling a bit.
"Are you two kinda patching things up?" Leo asked.
"We're gettin' there, we're kinda bein' how we were before 'cause we said basically everythin' we needed to," Mikey said. "We're good. You good?"
"I don't know," Leo laughed meekly. "Raph, were you forreal about the whole having a sit down and telling everyone what's going on thing?"
"...yeah?" Raph answered, confused. "I mean, everyone in this house is goin' through somethin', and if we don't talk to each other about what's botherin' us, things might not get fixed. Why?"
"So if I don't tell Donnie about why I'm being weird around him before then, I'll have to tell him in front of everyone?"
"What?" Raph carefully sat up, having to sit up to register this. "What do you mean?"
"Is that how it has to go down?"
Mikey stood up, looking at Leo cautiously. "Dude, ease up, don't get worked up. Just take us through it."
Leo sighed, running a hand over his face. "Sorry, it's just freaking me out. What did you mean by we all have to be real with each other?"
"...what I said is what I meant, Leo," Raph replied. "Dude, you're confusing the hell outta me, I really don't know where you're gettin' at."
"Okay, 'cause I think soon, I'm gonna tell Donnie what's been bothering me, but I'm worried that maybe the talk with everyone will come before I tell Donnie one-on-one. I don't wanna tell him what's going on in front of everyone- - that's embarrassing."
"Okay, you're really gettin' the wrong idea of what I meant by a sit down. I just meant like, whenever everyone tells whoever they gotta talk to what's goin' on and there's some resolve, we all sit together and tell each other like... like, for example, me, April and Mikey are all kinda feelin' the same way, and we wanna let you guys know why we acted the way we did at times and what kind of help we need whenever we're actin' like that again and stuff like that. It's not a fucking call-out thing, it's somethin' I think we needa do by this point."
"...alright," Leo replied, drawing out a breath. "Sorry, we've all been freaking out about it."
Raph raised a brow. "Shit, sorry. That just kinda proves my point- - there's no real talk between everyone anymore, and things get outta hand too easily. It's just a real talk session, that's it. Not a call out thing or a blame game or whatever you guys were thinking." Mikey noticed how tense and on-the-fence Raph was becoming, so he sat back down and gave Raph a soft look. Raph shifted his gaze to Mikey, seeing that Mikey was trying to calm him down. Raph sighed, giving Mikey a small smile. "Thanks, Mikey." Raph looked back to Leo. "So you're gonna tell Donnie soon then? You feel ready to?"
"I just feel like if I don't, something bad is gonna happen."
Both Mikey and Raph became worried. "What do you mean, bro?" Mikey asked.
"I don't know, I just... I feel like something's gonna happen if I don't tell him soon, and that's what's worrying me. And I... I think Donnie has something to say to me too? That's kinda how April made it sound... I mean, I felt like Donnie wanted to talk to me about something, but now that I know, I'm scared that he's gonna tell me how pissed off he's been or something like that. He exploded yesterday, and I feel like I'm just messing things up by holding back for so long."
"If that's the case, bro, tell him when you really feel you're ready to tell him, not outta fear. You gotta do it when you're ready to talk about it, dude."
"I know, it's just nerve-wrecking."
Mikey stood up and walked over to Leo, placing a hand on one of Leo's shoulders gently. "If you're scared, ya care. If you weren't scared, this would be a way worse situation. No matter what, bro, we've got your back, okay?"
Leo looked to the ground, sighing softly and nodding. He looked back up at Mikey, giving him a small smile. "Alright. Anyways, I'm gonna go downstairs and grab some snacks, do you guys want me to bring up any?"
"Do we have chips or cookies or anything like that?" Raph asked.
"Chips, yeah, I'll be back with them." Leo headed out of the room, leaving the two alone again. Mikey walked back towards and sat down next to Raph.
"Ya notice he hasn't slept, too, right?" Mikey asked.
"There's no missing that," Raph replied. "Maybe he kept over thinking about this whole Donnie thing last night."
"That's our bros for ya. And that thing he said about everyone bein' stressed about the whole talking thing- - maybe we should clear the message?"
Raph smiled a bit. "Might be best to, since they're all takin' it the wrong way. Hey, I was wonder- - hey!" Raph exclaimed as bags of chips were hurled towards him and Mikey, landing on him.
Leo laughed a bit, amused. "Hey, you should be happy for me- - my training is paying off well!" Leo said innocently, flashing a smile. "Don't you want to encourage my progress?"
"You'll be encouraged when I'm chasin' ya around with my fists," Raph growled playfully. Leo shot him some finger guns before popping out of the room, leaving them alone for real. Mikey was laughing at their bickering, starting to calm down as they both started opening the bags.
"You were sayin'?" Mikey pressed on.
"What?"
"You said you were wondering..."
"Oh, right," Raph mumbled. "I was thinkin'... whenever you're up for it, we could start binge watching that show we were watching before... all this stuff happened."
Mikey raised his brows. "Oh."
"It's okay if you're not up for it- -"
"I am," Mikey interrupted. "I just... can we do it whenever everyone is asleep or somethin'? Being in a room with everyone would feel... too intense for me, if ya know what I mean..."
"I getcha," Raph empathized. "We can do that. After all, our sleep schedules are outta whack anyways." They both smiled at each other, digging into their snacks. They started talking about random things, glad they could have casual conversations.
"...can't just tell him, 'hey, Leo, this is how I feel,' that's too sudden- -" Donnie and Casey froze as Leo stepped in front of the doorway of the kitchen. "H-hey, Leo, what's up?"
"Oh, I uh, was just gonna grab some snacks..." Leo replied, looking away. "I'll be quick." He hurriedly grabbed some drinks and snacks for himself and April, heading out of the kitchen as fast as his hobble leg would let him. In his rush to get out of Donnie's range, he didn't take into account how close he was to the frame of the doorway, and his bad knee had bumped into it. He froze up immediately, sucking in a deep breath and trying to keep his composure. Instinctively, he bent down and wrapped his hands around his knee, as if he could shield them from the pangs and jolts of pain.
Casey and Donnie immediately shot up, going over to Leo. "Dude, let's sit you down," Casey suggested, curling an arm around Leo.
"N-no," Leo hissed through his teeth. "I-I'll live."
"Doesn't mean you can't be in a less painful spot."
Leo raised his arm and placed his hand around Casey's upper arm, using it as support to raise himself up. "I'll.. just leave," Leo replied. "Don't worry about it. I'm just gonna head back outside."
"Are you sure, dude?"
"Leo, really, if you need help- -" Donnie started.
"I'm fine," Leo said a bit too loudly. "Just- - let me do this on my own. This is painful enough."
"...what is?"
Leo fell silent. He slowly stood back up straight, and limped out without another word. Casey looked to Donnie, who looked defeated.
"...he probably just felt like being helped was too embarrassing since you guys are kinda... weird again," Casey said.
"It felt like more, though," Donnie sighed. "He sounded... kind of mad?"
"I didn't get that vibe. Seriously, Don, you needa tell him."
"I think he overheard just enough to get that something's bothering me, though. He clearly heard me say his name. Now he thinks I'm actually mad- - oh shit, what if he thought me asking if he needed help was a taunt? Or that I was trying to belittle him? Ohhhhhh shit," Donnie groaned, sliding his hands down his face. "This is so bad. Shit, this is bad."
Casey sighed, knowing nothing was going to ease Donnie's conscience now. "...why don't we play some video games to distract ya, D?"
"...you're not gonna try to cheer me up?"
"I know when the point of no return is when it comes to ya. The only thing that'll work is a distraction, and video games are a good one, right?"
"...okay, yeah, let's get distracted."
"Open the door open the door open the door open the door- -"
"Okay okay!" April replied quickly, stumbling to open the van doors. She opened them, and Leo threw the snacks and drinks inside before he extended his arms to protect his face and upper body as he fell towards the van's floor.
"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck," Leo hissed. "P-pull me in, pull me in- -"
"What happened?" April asked worriedly as she grabbed Leo's arms and pulled him inside, shutting the doors behind him. Leo quickly sat up and lifted his bad leg up, quickly cradling his knee. "Leo, what happened to your knee? Did you fall?"
"N-no, I bumped it into the door frame really hard trying to leave the kitchen," Leo breathed quickly. "Shit this fucking hurts- -"
"Is someone bringing a bag of ice or anything?"
"No, I told them to let me walk out alone- -"
"Leo! Come on that was stupid!" April cried, finding herself a bit irritated with Leo's choice. "I'll go get you a bag of ice, okay? I'll be right back."
"I'll be here," Leo joked dryly, continuing to succumb to the pain as April rushed out of the van.
April ran inside the house and into the kitchen, quickly grabbing a large zip bag, stuffing ice into it, picking up a towel rag and rushing back out, not pausing to look Donnie or Casey in the eye. She quickly returned to the van, climbing back in and handing the materials to Leo. "Okay. I get it."
"Get what?" Leo asked, having started to get a hold of his breathing.
"How you bumped your knee- - Donnie was in there, you didn't wanna push boundaries, you tried to rush out- - bam, there goes your knee."
"How did you get all that from a trip to the kitchen?"
"Because I saw Casey and we're... well, not fighting, but it's weird right now. I'm just overreacting, though."
"N-no no, what's going on?" Leo asked, carefully placing the ice on his knee. He jolted a bit, but forced himself to stay still.
"Well, you know how everyone's got this tension with someone else? There's not tension between me and Casey, but he said he was going to tell me what was bothering him, and then he dodged me yesterday to avoid answering, then we were talking and he said he'd tell me tonight and then he and Donnie start bickering and I figure out that he's told Donnie what's bothering him, which is kind of... I don't know how to put it, I guess kind of hurtful?... 'cause I've known Casey longer than any of you four, and it's like he doesn't trust me or something." Leo gave April a soft look. He extended his arm out, inviting her to sit at his side. She smiled a bit, sliding to his side and leaning on him carefully. He wrapped his arm around her, trying to comfort her. "...am I being overdramatic or something? Be honest."
"No, you're not," Leo replied. "I get what you mean. And don't hate me, but I get why Casey did what he did."
"Can you explain it to me, then?"
"It's like... telling someone you haven't known for as long doesn't make things feel different or that things have changed. But once you tell something to someone who's really close to you, it feels like everything's changed and there's no turning back. He wasn't ready to reveal his vulnerability. He wasn't ready for things to change, but like you said, he plans to tell you, so now he's ready for change. You know what I mean?"
April stayed quiet, but she turned more towards Leo, laying her head on his shoulder. "...that makes sense."
"Things will turn up, April, I'm sure of it."
"And the same goes for you, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it's the same for everyone, I guess. We don't face the truth until we're ready for change. Kind of the same with you and Donnie."
"Most definitely," Leo replied, smiling a bit. His smile dropped thinking about a few moments earlier. "...I think he really is mad at me or something."
"Why?"
"When I went to get some snacks for us, he and Casey were talking and I overheard him say 'hey, Leo, this is how I feel,' and he stopped when I walked in. I don't know. It just sucks."
April looped her arms around Leo's arm, giving it a squeeze. "I know. The sooner you tell him what's up, the better, you know."
"Yeah, yeah," Leo sighed. "Don't rub it in." April chuckled a bit, making Leo smile a bit. "Either way... guess I'll live."
"Oh, why is that a mood," April smiled.