Ended last time with Leo huddled in the laundry room. Now let's see what happens...
Heather steps out of her room to see Leo's door is open. She walks over carefully, so not to startle him. He was very jumpy the day before. She turns her head into the doorway, ready to welcome him to breakfast once she's visible. But he isn't there. His bed is an empty mess.
Heather looks down the hall, 'Wonder what he's doing.' She walks into the kitchen. Steve is making breakfast, being an early bird. "Hey Steve, is Leo up?"
The super soldier, who has been through countless missions and danced with death on more than one occasion, freezes.
Panic starts to grow in the pit of Heather's stomach, "Leo wasn't in his room, did you know that?"
"Yes, I thought he had a nightmare and went to you."
"Did you bother to check?" Heather asks.
"I didn't want to disturb you!" Heather looks around frantically.
'Where could he be?' She looks around the living room, under everything, even behind the tv. The tree had been taken down, so that corner was bare. Heather tangles her fingers in her hair out of frustration. "Leo?" She calls, not knowing what else to do. Steve had called the Ranch, telling he will be a little late.
"Leo!" Heather walks down the hall to his room. She walks in and checks all over, calling his room every once in a while. Then she passes the laundry room to check if he was hiding in her room. And she hears a whimper. She stops in her tracks and peeks through the not fully closed door.
Leo is curled up under one of the lower shelves, shivering. Heather opens the door slowly. Leo opens his eyes at the creak it makes and huddles closer to himself. He's clutching his blue blanket like his life depended on it. "Leo, what are you doing in here? You had us worried sick." Heather sits on the floor of the room, facing Leo.
"I.." Leo starts to tear up, "I didn't mean to.."
"Leo, can you come out?" Leo shakes his head, eyes full to the brim with fear. "Why not?"
"He might get me."
"Who?"
"Him."
Heather pauses before asking, "Want to tell me about it?"
".. no.."
"Please Leo? It will help. I can help."
"Well.. he was in my room-but I couldn't see him! He.. he t-told me that I don't deserve anything you give me. So I ran here to sleep."
"Leo, please come out from under there," Heather asks. Leo shakes his head. "Leo," Heather says, giving him a soft warning look. Leo hesitates in shaking his head. "Leo, come out."
"Why?"
Heather is taken back by his question. "It looks pretty uncomfortable down there." Leo doesn't respond to her answer, "Steve made eggs in the kitchen. They'll get cold the longer we are here," she tempts, hoping his love for eggs will draw him out. But Leo stays put, avoiding her eyes.
"I'm staying here.."
"Leo, it was just a dream. Your window is closed and was never opened last night. He wasn't here. You are safe, Leo. You'll never have to go back there." Leo fights her words to stay under the shelf. "Leo," Heather stoops down and comes closer. "I want to help you Leo."
"Why? Why do you care about me? Why do you love me? I'm not worth that love.. I can't.. I can't be loved Heather. I'm a.." Leo remembers Heather telling him to never call himself a slave and says, "nobody," instead.
"Everybody can be loved. I'm not the first to love you. You're brothers. Mikey, he ran away and trusted a stranger to help you. Donnie, he risked bringing you to his lab to treat you and made a skype account to see you. Raph, he kept Splinter off the screen long enough so you wouldn't have to see him and I've seen him at your side the most when you were unconscious. They love you, Leo. You've been loved your whole life."
Leo is now crying little streams. He holds his hands out and Heather pulls him out, careful of his cut. Once he's out of the corner, Heather embraces him in a hug. "I'm sorry Heather."
"Don't ever do something like that again, you hear me?" Heather chastises. But she doesn't sound demanding, or threatening. She sounds relieved and scared. Leo hugs her back. "And don't ever doubt my love for you Leo. I would do anything for you."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry.." Leo repeats. Heather rubs his carapace.
She kisses his forehead and whispers, "You have nothing to be sorry for Leo."
"Heather, have you fou-" Steve stops when he sees the hugging mess in the laundry room. "Oh."
Heather lets Leo pull back when he's ready. "So, are you hungry?" Leo nods, timid. "Great. I'm sure we can heat up the eggs. And there is milk in the fridge." Heather looks at Steve.
"Need me to stay?" He asks. Heather shakes her head. "Okay, but call me if you need me."
"We will."
"Want to call your brothers?" Heather asks when the Space Heroes episode finished. Leo shakes his head and takes another sip of his milk. They were sitting on the floor. Even after her speech in the morning, Leo refused to sit on the couch. He just said he didn't want to. So, Heather plopped down on the floor with him. He would have refused tv too, but Heather turned on his favorite show before he could protest.
He had barely eaten anything, only his milk was mostly gone. Heather noticed he's tense whenever she's near him. She can't leave him for any reason, she doesn't know what he'll do. It isn't like she can't trust him, it's just after what he's gone through, she knows not to leave his side.
"Why don't we do a puzzle?" Heather asks, perking up. But Leo shakes his head. Heather is crestfallen to see him like this. She tries to think of something else to cheer him up. "Oh! Your room is quite a mess since you were there."
At this, Leo pays attention, "It is?"
"Mmhm. Toys on the floor, books on the rug, bed sheets hanging off. Very messy."
"I should go pick it up," Leo nods, standing.
"Hey there, I don't think you can do much," Heather says, motioning to his hand and elbow, "I'll help."
"You don't need to. I'll be okay."
"I insist," Heather says. Leo shrugs and they walk to his room. Leo looks around and starts to tug at the covers. But he winces when he bumps his elbow. "Here," Heather says, taking it from him, "I'll do that. Why don't you pick up the books."
Leo looks at the book he tripped over and closes it. He holds it with his good hand and sets it on the bookshelf. He finds another book and then a few LEGO blocks. When he turns to help with the bed after the floor is picked up, Heather is done.
"You know, I was thinking of painting in here."
"Painting?"
"Mmhm. Painting the walls. What color do you think?" Leo looks around and taps his chin. "Green?"
"..No."
"What about brick red?" Leo looks at her and shakes her head. "Okay, okay, not anything brick related."
"Or anything red."
"Noted. Now, what color. Hmm-"
"Blue." Heather looks at Leo, who's surveying the room. "I want it to be blue."
"What kind?" Leo holds up his blanket. "Ahh.." Heather walks over and asks for his blanket. After hesitating, he gives it over. She holds it up to the wall. "Yes, that would be beautiful. Much better than plain white." She gives it back. "I'll get the computer."
"Why?" Heather quickly gets the computer and is back before Leo can take a step. Leo sits on the floor, so Heather sits next to him. She brings up a store website. They browse through the paint colors until Leo picks which one matches his blanket. Heather adds it to the wishlist and continues to look for things Leo may like. Everything in the room was for a guest, and Heather thought it was time that it got a more homey look.
'And maybe,' she wishes, 'Leo won't want to sleep in the laundry room again.' After choosing things for his room, Heather suggests that Leo take a nap. Before she can protest, he goes to the corner and curls up. She wants to tell him to use the bed, but that won't help. Maybe the new room will. She turns off the light and brings the computer with. She adds a few more things to the list and calls Steve.
=Hello?=
"Hey Steve, it's Heather."
=Is something wrong?=
"No.. not more than usual," Heather cringes after adding the next part. Yes, something was wrong here, but they are trying to help him, "I need someone to go to the store and pick up the list Leo and I-"
=You went online shopping?= Steve inquires. Heather briefly explains her plan. =Okaay, I'll ask Jarvis to make the list. Is it a lot of stuff?=
"Um.."
=Right. I may need help from Sam.=
"I'll make sure Leo knows. He's napping right now.. on his floor." Steve doesn't say anything, but Heather knows he wants to, "Don't ask.. I guess, the thrill of a new place is over and he thinks everything will be the same as before."
=You're doing good Heather. This stuff takes time. We'll be over with the stuff. Not much is going on today.=
"Alrighty." Heather hangs up and looks around. This place is home to her. She wants nothing more than to have it be like a home for Leo. She sits at the couch and takes a breather. 'I'm sure I won't get very many once the guys get here.'
Heather's got a plan!
I know that if a few Avengers go into a store, they will be recognized. But they have a plan. Jarvis has the store send the stuff to point A and then Steve and Sam bring the stuff to point B, the house.
Also, instead of thinking it will just go away, Heather strives to PREVENT him from sleeping on the floor again. That is smart.
So, what do you think his new room will look like?