Chapter four:
Leo tries to figure out where he is being lead to. He pays attention to which direction they go trying to put it on a map of the lair. He finds that as he is turned to the left he gets mentally lost as to where he is. He frowns softly realizing that knowing the lair like the back of his hand isn't helping. He hasn't learned to navigate with his new affliction yet. He turns as he feels a hand comfortingly grip his shoulder.
"What's going on in your head?" Raph whispers trying to keep Mikey from hearing.
"I can't get my bearings. It's hard to follow where we are going with the mental map in my head." Leo also realizes he might have been really wrong about where they were headed. So he's feeling a bit down.
"Hey. It's okay. You'll figure out navigation." Raph whispers make which does make Leo feel a little better. "For now we can help you with that. We don't mind. Then when you figure it out you can show off to all of us. Ok?"
Leo nods softly glad for the reassurance from Raph.
"Here we are!" Mikey suddenly announces and Leo instinctively glances around; only to stop as he remembers that won't help. He must have picked up on this as his next words suggest. "We are in the living room now." He explains making Leo feel a little better at least. "Hey Leo do you..." He suddenly trails off and Leo can feel his gaze linger on him for a long moment. "You know what never mind let's just keep walking." He takes the lead again.
Leo has a feeling Mikey was about to suggest that they watch a movie or something. He turns away feeling sad that he can't enjoy things like that anymore. He winces as it's a reminder he won't see any of his favourite shows anymore. He can listen and imagine though it'll never be the same. He feels Raph press close as if a form of comfort. He does his best to shoot Raph an appreciative look in return.
As they walk the sounds change to where it can be easy to guess where they are. There is clanging sounds as if something is being worked on. They must be in the lab now. The noises stop, and Mikey breaks away from Leo before starting a conversation with Donnie.
Leo tries to listen in worried that Donnie still blames himself for what happened. He doesn't want him to feel that way as it wasn't his fault. He can't hear what their hushed words are so he lets it go for now. He hears the two come over after finishing their conversation.
"How are you doing? It's good to see you fully walking around." Donnie mentions and Leo nods.
"I'm doing alright. Just trying to get used to walking around again. But I'll be good. Just takes practice." Leo mentions and before he can ask Donnie how he's doing the other speaks again.
"Speaking of that I have actually done research into how blind humans get around. There's plenty for us to try out and see what helps you."
"I think that's a wonderful idea. Since you did the research then you could try to teach me it." Leo suggests feeling like this gives him the perfect opportunity.
Donnie might feel at least a little better if he's able to help Leo in something as important as this. "Okay." He agrees as he does sound like he's perked up.
"Why don't we start some practice now?" Raph suggests seeming to also like this idea. "It'll be some good moving around for Leo that isn't just circling the lair."
"Yeah! And we can help if you need it!" Mikey chirps loving the idea as much as the others do.
"Alright. Just give me a second." Donnie can be heard running around and moving some things around. He approaches Leo, as heard by his footsteps, when done. "I set up some harmless empty boxes. One of the easier places to start would be using touch. Some prefer to use their hand or feet to try to judge if there's an obstacle in their way. We'll start with this before we figure out a way for you to know where you are going exactly. There can be helpful ways that I have been working on. Specific sounds that you can pick up on to know where to go. I am working on how you'll be able to activate them so they're not always ringing. Plus you can more quickly find where you want to go. If you still find trouble with navigation I also made a special cane that should help with checking your surroundings. However other blind people don't seem to like it."
"I'll try using my feet to see what I can find." Leo tells Donnie to get him to stop rambling.
Donnie makes a sound of agreement then he walks away before stopping. "Okay. One obstacle. Try to get to me. No help from anyone." He adds clearly directed at Mikey and Raph.
Leo nods his head and he moves forward carefully. He uses his feet to check the path in front of himself before taking the step. He pauses as his foot kicks the box causing it to audibly shift. He moves to the right finding the path clear. He moves around only slightly brushing the box when he goes around. He can feel it shift again from that brush however he is past it so it's okay. He tries to remember the direction Donnies voice came from and heads that way. He pauses as a hand comes to his shell.
"Good first try. Very good actually." Donnie tells Leo making the other realize that he had walked past his brother not even realizing.
Leo turns in his general direction. He also hears the other two mentioning how good he had done with that first try.
"Let's try putting some more obstacles in the way. Unless you want to try just one again." Donnie suggests giving Leo the option to go to a harder mode. He clearly is also implying that he trusts Leo's ability to be able to do it after clearing the first one.
"Let's try more." Leo agrees so Donnie heads away and stops after going to another spot.
"This way has quite a few." Donnie tells Leo who turns his body in the direction of his voice. "Whenever you're ready."
The lab falls quiet again letting Leo focus a little better.
Leo starts walking feeling a little more confident after the first try. He does still go slow and careful though, just a little faster than before. He feels the first box this time his foot doesn't hit it as hard though it still shifts. He moves to go around it and he fully clears it this time. He keeps going knowing to expect more in his way. He finds the next box after a few steps or so and he moves around only to hit it again. He realizes that it is a longer box. He trails one foot along the edge of the box with each step to find its end. He finds it and goes around. He keeps going afterwards and finds two more boxes checking their lengths before getting around them. He stops when he can hear a happy sound right in front of himself. He almost ran into Donnie this time.
"You're picking it up so quick!" Donnie mentions as Leo takes two steps back.
"Of course he is. This is Leo we're talking about. I bet that he is going to be doing it flawlessly in no time." Raph snorts at this and Mikey quickly piped back.
"Alright! Bet! I say that he is able to master it in a week!"
"Ha!" Raph must have flicked Mikey's forehead as the other makes an unhappy sound. "He'll have it down in three days! Easy!"
"What does the winner get?" Mikey questions with the flick forgotten pretty quick.
Raph hums in thought, while Leo lets out a quiet chuckle at his brothers doing this, before he seems to get an idea. "Whoever wins this bet will have to do the others chores for the rest of the week. If he masters it within three days I win. Longer than three days and you win."
"Oh you're on." Mikey agrees and the two audibly fist bump to it.
Leo smiles to himself as some things truly never changes.
"Who do you want to win?" Donnie whispers to Leo so the other two don't notice.
"Honestly Raph." Leo mentions to Donnie just as quietly. "Nothing against Mikey but I feel like Mikey could do with having a little more responsibility for a little bit."
"Mm. I can see that. Raph does really good with his chores. Mikey tends to leave things messy. He left the controller sticky a few days ago. So I'm with you on that. Plus I'm sure you're itching to master this. I'll help you to let Raph win." Donnie agrees and Leo casts a smile in his general direction for this.
Indeed Leo manages to get really good in two days, and shows off on the third day by moving out of the medbay on his own.
Mikey groaned at the fact he lost while Raph celebrated with loud cheering.
Leo thanked Donnie heavily for him helping ensure that Raph won that bet.
...
After so long it is time for the bandages to come off.
Leo waits and he feels the last of the bandages come off. He slightly glances around though still can't see anything.
"Whoa." Mikey gasps probably in reference to how the scars look.
Leo wonders if the scars look bad, not that he'll ever really be able to tell by seeing it himself. He raises a hand to try to feel his scars and finds three slashes across his eye that he checks. He guesses that he is indeed too damaged there to ever properly see again. He lowers his hand after seeing this.
"It looks good on you." Raph mentions and Leo isn't sure if it's just to try to make Leo feel better.
"Does it?" Leo questions clearly wanting a true answer.
"It does." Mikey adds sounding actually enthusiastic. "You look like someone who took nothing from nobody. I don't want to say what they call them."
"Badasses?" Raph questions getting a squawk from Mikey at him saying it.
"Alright enough both of you." Splinter speaks up putting a stop to it. "You do look fine Leo. Can you see anything at all? Even any light or any small thing?"
"No." Leo confirms and Splinter hums in thought.
"I see. Well then you'll need to still stay in the lair. I don't want you to be going anywhere out of here just yet. We'll set up an escort system for going around the tunnels, or a spot outside of the city where no one will see. There will be a lot of adjustment to all of this. Please understand that this is for all of your protection."
"I understand." Leo assures Splinter who says he has to think on something then leaves. He does feel a little bothered by this as he is itching to be allowed out of the lair. He isn't sure if he's imagining it but he gets a feeling like there's troubled thoughts aura coming from Raph. He only knows its Raphs direction as he hears the other softly hum quietly. He wonders what is going on, maybe Leo probably having to sacrifice his leader position, though Leo would think Raph would be happy to be leader. He decides that he'll leave it as Raph will probably deny anything troubles him, or Raph will just confirm that Leo is imagining it.