Chapter nine:
"I'm fine with it." Raph assures Donnie. "I thought that you of all would remember that me and Leo tend to fight less out here." He points out which Donnie nods his head softly. "I knew that there would be a lot of changes but I suggested it to Leo anyways." His admission does seem to surprise Donnie that he was the one who came up with the idea. "There'll be plenty to do here. Maybe we could even get some crops going or something. Just a little extra something to do. We both know that being out here will be best for Leo. And I'm willing to give up things I did in the city to be here too. Give it a chance Dee."
"Okay." Donnie agrees clearly seeing Raphs honesty in that.
Raph pokes his head out to look towards the living room. "By the way where did Leo and Mikey go?"
"Huh?" Donnie peeks out too and the two turtles aren't seen anywhere. "I don't know actually."
So the two of them start looking around to try to locate the two. They find everyone else but not Mikey and Leo.
Splinter ended up dozing off on one of the deck chairs.
April decided to do a little dusting around the place.
Casey's in his farmhouse room watching a wrestling match he had recorded on his phone.
No sign of Leo or Mikey anywhere the two turtles looked.
"Well they must be together if we can't find either of them. So at least Leo's not wandering alone somewhere." Donnie mentions pulling out his phone. "I'll text Mikey and see if he answers."
Raph glances around out at the nature areas around the farm that he can see. He wonders where Mikey took Leo, or maybe Leo wanted to walk and Mikey tagged along. He's not sure on who decided to head out away from the home. He turns back to Donnie as he supposes that they'll get answers if Mikey texts back. He slightly perks up when he hears the notification sound from Donnies phone.
"Ah." Donnie nods and he glances up noticing Raphs confused look. "They went for a walk and found a really nice sun basking spot. So they've just been hanging out in that spot."
"Ah. Makes sense." Raph nods as it does explain why they can't find them. He'll have to get Mikey to show him the spot if Leo really likes it. He glances out as he feels his heart warm at even the thought of Leo's smile. He thinks that the other is so beautiful and he wouldn't mind having Leo all to himself.
"I know that look." Donnies words make Raph slightly jump and turn back to him. He's smirking a little. "Don't worry. I've had my suspicions." He waves it off still with that smirk on his face. "So. Is that a secondary reason why you wanted to be out here with him?" He teases making Raph almost want to punch him. "You know we would support you guys if it did happen. So give it a shot. Why not right?"
Raph sighs lightly rolling his eyes. He does suppose that Donnie does have a point. He can tell that Donnie isn't lying that theyd support them. He just has no idea whether or not Leo even likes him like that. He knows that it could get a bit awkward if Leo doesn't feel the same.
"Hey. Save the overthinking for Leo." Donnie lightly punches Raphs shoulder. "Just do it your way and just go for it. Unless you're afraid."
Raph growls and he knows that Donnie is trying to get that reaction so he will just do it. He just feels the fire that he might as well just to show Donnie that he's not scared. "Fine." He snorts before turning only to pause realizing he doesn't know where the two had ended up.
"Don't worry Raph. There will be plenty of time. If you want help figuring things out until they get back we could do so?" Donnie offers looking like he's already planning it in his head.
"I can do it on my own." Raph sighs softly not actually wanting help with this. He thinks it'd be too embarrassing to ask for help with this.
"Ok. Whatever you say." Donnie gives Raph a pat on the shoulder before heading back inside.
Raph slightly turns to watch Donnie head off. He turns away pulling out his phone to text Mikey once Donnie is gone. He questions if Mikey could send him the directions for getting to that cool spot. He could use some sun basking, plus he might be able to chase Mikey away to talk to Leo alone. He lowers his phone once the message is sent, and glances around trying to see if he can guess where they went. He gets a response so he looks to his phone. He frowns at it as Mikey's replied with that he'll show him later then added a tongue sticking out emoji. "Fuck you Mikey." He growls to himself putting his phone away. He turns away heading back inside figuring that he can find something else to do for now. He ends up joining Casey because wrestling always gets him in a good mood.
...
Leo isn't sure how long has passed when a hand on his shoulder gently shakes him. He slightly glances around as he tries to figure out who had interrupted his basking. He stops when Mikey speaks.
"We should be heading back. It is time to get ready for food."
Leo wants to argue this though a hunger in his gut tells him that it is indeed time to go. "Okay." He gets up though still a little dazed from the joys of basking. He allows Mikey to lead him back. His body still enjoying the relaxed feeling from the basking.
"Welcome back boys." Splinters voice is the first to greet them back. "Did you two have fun?" He sounds more fatherly than sensei like. He's done this some times so it's not new. He isn't just their sensei but also their father.
Leo always likes the reminder of this as it makes him feel warm inside; this time is no exception.
"We did! We found a great sun basking spot!" Mikey excitedly tells their father who chuckles warmly.
"Glad to hear it. Shall we head inside? I read that there is to be a storm a little later."
"Mhm." Leo and Mikey manage to agree at the same moment. They head inside with Splinter, Mikey helping Leo to get inside without tripping or bumping into a wall.
"Hey! You're back!" Donnie is the next to greet them as they get inside the farmhouse. "How was it?"
"Oh Donnie it was great! That place is the best!"
"Better than the farmhouse pond?" Donnie lightly teases and Leo hears Mikey pause as if caught off guard.
"Hmm... Nah. Close but that place is still better." Mikey decides getting a chuckle from Donnie.
"Well alright then." Donnie accepts that answer.
"I gotta start some food for everyone!" Mikey hurries off like there's no time. "I'm making pizza today!" He calls back as he doesn't stop in his hurry away.
"I believe that they should be good soon so we may need to leave tomorrow." Splinter gives the heads up causing Leo to turn towards his voice. He definitely is talking to Donnie though he clearly doesn't mind if Leo is here.
"You sure?" Donnie inquires and Splinter hums to show that he is. "Alright. I'll make sure everyone is informed." He heads off after that.
Leo kind of wishes that this could have lasted longer. He however does understand that the city does need them, even if it won't be all of them, as without them it would fall to the evil within its city limits. He knows this so he doesn't say anything about it. He turns away to face a random direction. He wonders if they can do more here than just live here. He knows that this is still farmland, just with nothing growing on it that could be farm worthy, so maybe they could do some farming to get extra money?
"Oh. And Leo, Casey and Raph went out a little ago to go pick some stuff up." Splinter mentions getting Leo's attention back in his direction. "They should be back soon."
To get some stuff? What could it be that they are picking up?
Leo isn't sure though he has a feeling Splinter was asked to not say just yet. So he'll just have to wait until the two get back in order to find out. "Okay." He confirms to the other and hears the rat mutant wander away within the home. He stands there slightly glancing around trying to figure out what to do with himself in the meantime. He ends up trying to find his room on his own... Only to end up using Donnies helper to get there. He sits on his bed after using his hands to search for it. He flops back onto it deciding to just enjoy the last bit of the relaxation in him from the basking.
...
Raph glances to his phone as Donnie sends him the message about Splinters planned time to leave. He also notices a small wish of good luck in there, obviously to tease him to make sure he'll admit his feelings. He lowers his phone not even sending a response back. He glances to Casey who is the one that is driving the truck back from the store. "So seems Splinter plans to possibly take everyone else back tomorrow." He mentions to the other who hums in acknowledgment while keeping his eyes on the road.
"Then soon enough it is going to be just you and Leo left here. And I'm sure you two will be busy in a lot of ways." Casey also teases getting a slight punch in the shoulder from Raph. He chuckles it off as Raph rolls his eyes. "Seriously dude though. Say something."
"I will." Raph promises and he knows that Casey can tell that he means it. He smirks a little. "Heh. You know if I do it today then it'll mean I win in the two of us admitting it. Which will mean you'll have to try to catch up by getting the courage to admit your feelings to you know who." He smirks a little wider at catching Casey's blush.
"Shut up." Casey grumbles and Raph just laughs. He is still blushing for a little bit of the rest of the drive back.
Raph turns to watch the land go by as they continue to drive on. He finds the sight of the countryside rather relaxing to watch right now. He's had a few idea dumps with Casey about how they plan to confess. So he has some good starting points... He just hopes that Leo does actually like him back. He pushes those doubts away as he is just going to have to go for it. He'll find a moment alone with Leo to do so. He doesn't want the others to watch if he gets rejected. He is not going to give them teasing rights from seeing that. He tells himself that there's no way that Leo doesn't feel the same. He is pretty great and he knows that despite his anger he will do his best to treat Leo right.
"Say. Raph?" Casey's voice brings Raphs attention back to him.
They're almost back to the farmhouse anyways.
"Should we get some animals for the farm? It might be nice for the two of you. Extra work sure but probably nice."
"We'll see. One step at a time." Raph tells Casey who hums in understanding. He looks
To the farmhouse as they pull up.
The only one outside right now is Donnie who is just going for a bit of a wander. He does turn as he hears the two pull up and stop.
Casey and Raph get out of the truck after it's shut off and head around to the back; Donnie joining. They start work unloading while Donnie checks out what they got.
Raph glances to Donnie who seems to like this idea the two made. "Glad to see you like it." He mentions and Donnie looks up to him from where he's crouched.
"Heh." Donnie smiles a little. "If you need any help setting this up I'm pretty good with my hands."
"Oh trust me we know. I mean you've made eggs into smoke bombs before." Raph smiles a little more at this. "I think it'll be good to have extra hands to really get this plan in action."
Donnie looks quite happy to hear this. "Great! Where do you want to start?"