Author's Note: Master Splinter can be meddling sometimes, just a bit, but I love the fluff in this chapter.
Note to self- nighttime walks were colder than expected. Leo wished he had at least brought a coat- not that he wasn't used to walking around near half-naked all his life… but moonless windy nights were the ideal time to be covered from head to toe.
If Leo wanted, he could have told Casey something. The boy walked beside the turtle, silently focusing on his feet before him. Leo would too- the floor was dark and threatened to trip him- but Leo could only concentrate on the biting wind that wanted to turn Casey's hair into a bird's nest.
"What's wrong Blue?"
Casey didn't stop, so Leo didn't. The turtle shrugged, and brought his hands up to his own shoulders, "Nothing…"
For some reason unknown to Leo, the words slipped out his mouth as though he were perfectly fine with them, "Just a bit chilly."
Casey's head snapped up- deep eyes wide with something akin to surprise, "Aww shell! You're cold-blooded right,"
"More or less," was the turtle's soft response, but he kept trudging on even when Casey delivered wide glances to him.
"So… Leo… want my sweater or anything?"
Yes. Yes Leonardo did. "No Casey- I'm good,"
And at that, the boy snorted and made a direct stop. Leo watched with wide eyes as Casey pulled himself out of his light sweater and handed it to Leo. That left the boy in a meager T-shirt- grey.
"What is it with you turtles and pride?" Casey grinned down at Leo, "Just take it. I can hear your teeth chattering Blue,"
Oops.
But Leo didn't refuse the sweater- in fact, he pulled it closer around him and wiggled into it. It wasn't as big as he expected- tight around his shell but not uncomfortable. Stretchy enough to provide some resistance, but not nearly enough to keep him warm.
And it smelled like Casey.
The blush that overtook Leo came hard and fast- covering his face and making his insides all fluttery. It smelled exactly the way the boy beside him did. It smelled like the dust Casey was in earlier. It lingered of the blood of Casey earlier rubbed onto it. It radiated his murky scent, unique to him alone. It hinted of sweat, of oil and of grass. Of chicken feed and tea and hand sanitizer.
Leo let lose a content sigh, that silly smile appearing on his face and whispering, "Smells like you…"
Casey chuckled, and Leo snapped to him with wide eyes. The boy sent the turtle a grin, "Like it?"
"What? No!" Leo smacked his head away, "I just… I ugh… don't mind it…"
Lair- Leo found himself relishing in the aroma. But Casey pursed his lips and asked, "Thought you'd like it- cause it's blue, and you're Blue."
"Oh,"
Leonardo tried not to inhale too deeply, and when he did, he tried not to make it obvious. But how is it that suddenly Casey smells good? Usually he smelled… normal? But now… it's a nice smell. What was wrong with Leo? He blamed the lack of excitement in his life.
"So Leo…"
"Yeah?"
"I like how you look in my sweater,"
No amount of legendary cool could have stopped the turtle from sputtering out in a fit of butterfly words. And Casey's beam wasn't helping the situation either- if Leo continued like this, he's going to burn up with all this blushing about.
"But… I like how you look in the sweater," Leo admitted, calling upon luck to keep himself from stuttering, "Blue suits you,"
"Ha? Really?"
That's a nice laugh- since when did Casey have such a nice laugh? Or was it Leo who was imaging things- Casey's never laughed like this before, so… gentle but jolly- any other time he was just loud and annoying. Leo liked this change- almost as much as he liked the sweater smell.
They reached the farmhouse far too soon- and Leo was rudely reminded of his bedroom prison when he saw the window open. Sending it a deep frown, he voiced out loud that he should close it. Casey offered to clamber up and lock it in, then the smart part of Leo said that he'd close it when they enter the house through the easy way- door.
He almost missed the shadow of a certain ninja master in the doorway. But Leo caught the swish of the robes a bit too early- and he jumped back into Casey- sending the boy tumbling to the floor in a very undignified heap.
"Master Splinter!" Leo had the odd urge to salute his father, "I didn't know you were up…"
Their father had yet to emerge, "Goodnight Leonardo, Casey,"
"Oh hey Master Splinter," Casey easily picks himself up- totally oblivious to how stiff Leonardo had gotten, "Midnight snack?"
Leonardo eyed the door- specifically the one they'd come in from. Did Master Splinter see his fumbling session? If so, what did his father think? Did his father know? Did he know more than Leo did?
The turtle didn't know what to think- but he snapped back into the present when his father asked him if he wanted a cup of tea. Leo dumbly nodded.
Whatever Casey did- he was good. So good that there wasn't even the initial awkwardness, it all evaporated and Casey practically swaggered to the kitchen. Leo's walk was far more dignified- and he contemplated ditching the sweater. Soothing himself with the thought that now maskless he was technically naked, Leo convinced himself that wearing the sweater was the polite thing to do.
Not that either his father nor friend cared- but Leo did. He cared that Casey suddenly had manners to drink tea and have a casual conversation with his father. He cared that Master Splinter practically ignored the sweater- and most of all, Leo cared that he felt guilty. For what? Sneaking out, no- he did that way too often. Yet people call Raph the expert.
Where was Raph anyways? Sleeping? Likely. Leo let his thoughts wonder once more, and only barely paying attention, but he was shocked into senses when he heard Casey spoke his name.
"-and then I gave Leo my sweater- it's sometimes easy to forget that they're cold blooded."
Leo could have sworn that Master Splinter was smirking into his tea, "Indeed."
"Yeah, I would have hugged him- but I don't think Leo would have liked that."
This time, Leo knew his father was smiling, "One can never know, unless one tries."
"Good point- I'll keep that in mind next time he plays stubborn,"
Was Leo imagining things, or did Sensei just wink at him? It had to be the former-the night was getting to Leo, too much oil must have gotten into his senses. His father wasn't usually that playful- or hinting either. Was he encouraging Leo? Or worse, setting him up?
Leo didn't know what to think- especially when Master Splinter retired once more with a few parting words, "Do not let the opportunity pass, perhaps the darkest nights hold the most light."
Leo turned crimson- sometimes, he detested his father's meddling. But most of all, he's never appreciated Casey's obliviousness more than-
The boy let lose a huge sigh, dipping into his chair, "Is it just me- or was he trying to set you up? Like seriously, I saw that wink Blue. What's that all about?"
Leo hurriedly drank his heated tea. Logic said that you couldn't talk if you're drinking tea. So Leo let this beverage last for a good three minutes.
What was going on?