Chapter Text
————
Silence…
It’s been 365 days…
Leo thinks that should be an important number, but he can’t remember why…
Leo sits on a rock, gently floating among the endless starry sky. For once he doesn’t feel the constant anxiety in his chest and instead is-calm? As he watches the stars humming a random tune to himself.
All was quiet, until the thunder sounded in the distance. The anxiety coming back full force, knocking Leo to his feet.
He stands even though he could barley feel his left leg. After the last beating the monster gave him, his leg was left bent at a weird angle.
Leo jumped from the rock onto the closest rock nearby. Continuing to run and jump in an attempt to escape his inevitable future.
“Running is futile~”
The monster’s voice rings from afar, inching closer every second.
Leo jumps to the next rock, only to be caught midair.
HES CAUGHT
“I caught you~ …. YOU WRETCHED LITTLE PEST!”
The monster squeezes Leo so hard he thought he’d pop out of his shell at any moment. Leo can barley breathe as he’s crushed within the monster’s grasp.
Suddenly the monster slams him to the ground, the air leaves Leo’s body the instant he hits the ground.
He lays there gasping for air, paralyzed.
The monster stands menacingly above him. Glaring down at Leo’s pathetic form. A devilish grin on his face as he watches Leo struggle.
“Haha watching your withering form pleases me. Seeing as I’m in a good mood today I’ll leave you to your continued struggles. But don’t worry, I will always find you. YOU LITTLE PEST!”
The monster leaves Leo in an instant. Instead of relief Leo only feels more anxiety, overwhelming him.
He’ll be back…He always comes back…Why me?…What did I do to deserve this?…
Leo’s breathing picks up, he struggles to breathe as he lays in the same spot from when the monster slammed him to the floor.
The ringing fills his ears, the sound of his heartbeat taking over.
HE CANT BREATHE
—————-
AIR
Leo startles awake, taking in all the air he could get. He coughs from his rude awaking and slowly takes in his surroundings.
Right….he’s isn’t there anymore…
Something gently touches Leo’s shoulder and Leo startles surprised. He turns to look at who touched him.
“Leo are you alright?” Donnie asks
Leo stares at Donnie’s face for a moment before realizing he was asked a question. He nods in confirmation before looking at his lap. He takes a deep breath.
You’re not there…
“You uhh wanna talk about it?…” Donnie asks.
Leo thinks about it for a second before settling back into a comfy position.
“Sure why not… it’s dumb anyways…”
“Leo, nothings dumb about it.”
“Mm, alright. It was just a dream when I was with the stars and…and the….the monster..”
Donnie’s listens, never interrupting as Leo continues to tell Donnie about his dream/memory.
After Leo finishes explaining his dream he looks to Donnie, who didn’t speak the whole time Leo talked.
“Leo…I…first, I wanna say I’m sorry, for what you had to go through…..but just know that now you’re safe. You’re finally home with your family and we’ll protect you now. And…I have to tell you this ok?…I love you just so you know…with two really’s”
Leos Face feels wet at the end of Donnie’s words. He doesn’t know why the two really’s were import but he can tell just how much Donnie means what he says.
He leans into Donnie and hugs him. Donnie unsure for a moment returns the hug. If Leo felt his shoulder wet then he wouldn’t say anything about it, neither would Donnie.
The two held each other in comfort until Leo felt himself slipping into dream land again.
“Thanks Don-Tron…love ya too…idiot…”
With the last words Leo falls asleep. Donnie stills at the familiar nickname.
Maybe with enough time and love Leo really would be okay….
One day….