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Chapter Text

"Casey. Casey, come in."

The com link on his arm crackled to life as he grappled to a metal pole and hauled himself up onto the Metro Tower platform or at least what remains of it. He lands with a huff and spots the key off in the distance, a purple hue emitting from the center. With a smile of triumph on his face he replies, "Sensei, I'm here. And I've got eyes on the key." His face plate opens as he sprints towards it, "Tell me when you're home free and I'll pull the plug!" Casey waits for a response from his Sensei, hand hovering inches away from the key. This is it. He's going to do exactly what his version of Leo asked him to do. He will make his Sensei's sacrifice worth it. He'll make Master Michelangelo's sacrifice worth it. Master Donnie's, Master Raphael's, his mother's, everyone's sacrifice won't be in vain. His world will become this one, happy and carefree and full of love and joy. He can grab a slice, just for Master Leonardo. Scratch that, he'll grab two. And then he'll get to take a deep breath and just-

"Casey, listen to me. When I get to the other side, you close that door." Leonardo's words make his ears ring.

Close the door? Close the door!! "What Sensei, no!" Casey pleads, his hands start to shake and his heart hammers louder in his chest. "I'm not closing you in there with those- those monsters."

"Casey." Leonardo's breathing sounds heavy, exhaustion creeping through the speakers, "Casey, it's the only way. The Krang are too powerful and I won't let them hurt our world. Besides, he's not gonna stay on the other side unless I force him in there."

Tears start to form in the corners of Casey's eyes. He has to swallow before speaking, "There has to be another way!" He feels dread seep into his bones. He can't lose anyone else, he just can't. The purple hue starts to taunt him as the key sits innocently on its pedestal. Stupid Krang, stupid key, stupid Foot Clan! None of this would be happening if those horrible people didn't exist in this world. He says through rushed tears, "Sensei I can't let you-"

"We've tried everything, Case. This is the only way." Leonardo starts to cough on the other end, a sound that makes everyone else shatter.

"Leo, please, don't do this!" Casey hears Raph chime in, the fear and pain evident.

A small laugh can be heard from Leonardo, followed with another cough, "You're one to talk big bro. Hero moves are totally your style." Then Sensei's voice was gone for a bit and Casey let his thoughts devour him. Should he do this? If Master Leonardo thinks this is the only way to succeed, should he follow through? He's never questioned his Sensei's orders but this is different. This is a different Leonardo. One with less experience, one that was just being brash and impulsive no less than a few hours ago. Yes that impulsiveness was at the expense of the others but now it's a complete 180 and he's sacrificing himself. Did Casey accidentally make Leonardo think the only way to be a true leader is at your own expense? He's been a jerk to someone who is only a year younger than him and doesn't know any better. Casey doesn't know any better! He's only seventeen and any mistake he ever made was because he didn't listen to his teachers and Master Leonardo always helped clean up the messes he left behind. He would never question his teachers but today is his one exception, sorry Masters.

"Leo, please don't do this. We can help, you don't have to do this alone." He pleads, his voice coming out raw and unsteady, "Your family needs you, they can't lose you." He takes a deep breath, "I can't lose you again. Please." Casey hears the sound of Leonardo being crushed against asphalt, the Krang laughing above him.

"I can't lose my family Casey. I'm doing this for them. For you." Leo's words come out breathless.

"Leonardo they can't lose you-"

"Hey, future me would be real proud of you Casey." This time a crack comes through the speakers and a groan, "I'm proud of you."

This time Casey completely leaves where he's standing, the floor seemingly being swept from under his feet. His eyes gloss over and his heart starts to pound when he's suddenly back at base camp, Master Leonardo's big smile right in front of his eyes. He's tending to one of Casey's many injuries after saving a group of hostages near Metro tower. Casey flinches in pain when he uses whatever Antiseptic solution they have on hand at the moment.

"Ouch that hurts," His thirteen year old voice exclaims, trying to pull away from his teacher.

Leonardo's face becomes softer. "I know Case, but it will be over soon. Those people are back to their loving families and surviving another day thanks to you."

Casey scoffs at the idea, "Yeah, back to praying they live another day in this horrible hell hole-"

"Watch your language! You're lucky Cassandra didn't hear that," Leonardo scoffs, continuing to aid Casey's wounds, the silence not unwanted between them. Leonardo starts on another wound as he speaks up again, "Hey Case?" 

"Yeah Sensei?"

"I'm proud of you."

"Casey! Close the portal now!"

Casey's tears are rushing down his face as he grabs the key with one hand, looking up to the sky and seeing the TechnoDrone. Leonardo is still up there and Casey can hear the punches and beatings through the com link. His heart feels like it's carving a hole in his chest with how hard it's pounding.

He hears a struggling voice, "Casey, please."

With one final deep breath and no more thoughts, Casey yanks the key out of the pedestal and makes a run for it, tears clouding his vision. He keeps running, refusing to watch what was about to happen. The portal was about to close, saving all of New York City and the entire world, but trapping the most important person in his life in the prison dimension forever. The only person in the apocalypse that seemed to understand him. His need to help, his need to protect, his need to never fail his teachers. Someone he has grown to care for, to respect, and to love in so many strong and confusing ways. His feet ached from running but he didn't stop till he felt the shock wave as the TechnoDrone exploded and the portal closed sending him into the air. He kept falling, clutching that stupid, god awful key as he plummeted towards the NYC sidewalks, not feeling any need to save himself as he crashed back first into the concrete-

Casey woke with a jolt as his heart felt like he just jumped off a cliff- which he kinda did in his dream- and went to grab his hockey stick as a reflex. When his hand grasped at nothing but air, he finally realized his surroundings. He's in Master Leonardo's room, not in the apocalyptic bunkers. He's in the Lair- he tells himself to calm his racing heart- not in his old bedroom where a Krang monster could infiltrate at any time and end his life in a single red beam. He takes a few deep centering breaths before sitting up and rubbing his temples. Due to the fact that they don't have any extra rooms in the Lair and Sensei is still in the Medical Wing, he and April are sharing Leonardo's room. April refused to leave after the Krang attack a month ago. He looks around at all the knick knacks and posters, the fairy lights twinkling overhead as Casey hears April's light snores coming from Leonardo's bed. Knowing he won't get anymore sleep, he gets up from the floor and exits the room. He mindlessly walks down the halls and to the kitchen, opening the fridge to get a glass of water. He would grab a snack as well to appease his grumbling stomach but the idea of eating anything extra out of the two meals a day he's used to seems illegal to him, so he takes his water and sits at the table, flashbacks of the dream illustrating on his eyelids anytime he closes them. The clock on the wall reads 6am which is more sleep than he's gotten maybe his entire life so he'll take whatever he can get.

"Rough night?" Master Donatello asks, leaning against the opening of the kitchen. Donatello's presence didn't actually startle Casey as usually when he has these episodes- which is more times than Donnie has caught him- Master Donatello always seems to be awake at the same time. Donatello is currently still in his pajamas, which means his soft shell is open to the elements, his mask and eye brows are not covering his face, and his hands and feet don't have the usual wrappings. He looks funny, Casey thinks, like a regular turtle and not a Teenage Mutant Mystic Turtle.

"I'm sure it's not much worse than yours," He replies, saluting Donnie with his glass of water. Casey knows Donatello has been staying with Master Leonardo at night. He claims to go back to his room once everyone else is safe and in bed but we all know he just checks on Leonardo all night. We all want him to rest but we don't have the heart to stop him. Even Leon has tried to get him to go back to sleep but Donnie just says, "Shut up and go to sleep brother" and not even Leonardo can argue with him. 

"Leo looks stable and his vitals are only getting better so I decided some sustiance is in order," He rattles, moving towards the fridge to grab a flavorless juice and a protein bar. Casey watches him, not missing the fact that his eye bags have extra luggage and his posture is stiff. Casey remembered his version of Donatello and how he always looked this way. Tired and sapped of any energy due to always feeling he needed to be on watch or inventing something to end the Krangs invasion. He liked when he first met the gang once he was teleported to this time stream and how they all looked so alive- no pun intended- and joyful.

"I don't know, he just ran up behind me like a crazy person and screamed my name! Once I efficiently -might I add-took him out I noticed the picture and knew I had to come straight to you guys," He heard a familiar voice explain as his eyes slowly peeled open, they felt like lead. They felt like he just woke up after being questioned by the Krang all those years ago, which instantly sent him into a panic. 

"Get your grimy tentacles off me!" He yelled, pulling on his restraints. He couldn't breath and he couldn't think. What did Sensei always say if he was to get caught by the Krang? What did Master Donatello prepare him with if this were to ever happen to him? What was one thing Raphael told him never to do in this situation? What was Michelangelo's most important saying if ever caught by these monsters? Why can't he remember now that it's happening? Why is he failing everyone? Why is this happening to him? Why can't he-

"He seems really freaked out," A voice said, a voice that doesn't sound like a Krang but his brain can't seem to register anything other than get out of here.

"Should we help him?"

"Well you're the one who said he was a crazy person."

"Well I take it back because he seems young and scared."

"Someone please help this kid for the love of science!"

"Hey!"

That voice seems to pierce through the fog as Casey's eyes go from glazed over to back to stunning brown. He looks from one side of the room and then the other. This isn't the Krang...this is-

"Sensei?" His eyes finally take in his four favorite colored turtles. "It's you! It's all of you! All together and safe and safe and alive! I never thought I'd see any of you again. I'm so happy I could hug you-" Casey groans as he topples over in the chair he's tied to, smacking his face on the floor. His head swims with pain for a few moments before he's pulled up by the back of it, his ears ringing as it takes a second for his eyes to adjust back to sitting up. He looks Master Raphael right in the eyes and just takes a second to take him all in. Master Raphael was unfortunately the first of the Hamatoe Brothers to go and Casey was so young he barely remembers. The only feature he can truly remember was his snaggle tooth and kind voice whenever they would run into each other. But instead of a kind voice, he's met with an interrogation. 

"Who are you and why do you have a picture of my family? I'll give you three seconds before I deal with you myself." He barks out, hand not moving from behind his head. Raphael was much bigger than he remembered, his teenage turtle physique towers over Casey's five foot five human teenage frame. Although his seven year old self would be geeking out to meet Master Raphael one more time, current Casey is scared shit-less.

"What's your favorite kind of pizza because I'm ordering RIGHT NOW!" Master Michelangelo asks, clearly needing to learn how to be tougher on intruders. For someone who is so serious and stoic in the future, Michelangelo's younger self is just a giant ball of sunshine and kindness.

"AND why are you wearing this genius tech apparel! That's trademarked" Master Donatello threatens, his hands on each arm of the chair. He doesn't look much different than Casey's Donatello, just not as buff and missing that small tuft of hair on his chin. 

"Yeah! And who took this picture by the way because I look strikingly handsome," Leonardo adds in, his Sensei looking so much younger and smaller than when he last saw him. His heart hammers in his chest for a whole other reason than being scared. Sensei looks... roughly fifteen or sixteen! A sight he never thought he'd see ever. Master always told him stories of his life prior to the Krang invasion but he didn't believe him. It sounded like a Leonardo that couldn't exist. But here he is, young, smiling, cocky, adorable, cool, CASEY DIDN'T SAY ADORABLE! He shakes his head like a dog. Keep it together Case, Sensei sent you on a mission and there's no room for error. 

"Hey! I asked you a question buddy, where did you get my super genius trademarked tech!" Donatello smacked his fist down and activated Casey's grapple and he was pulled upside down while the Hamato family panicked like a bunch of crazy teenagers. 

"Master Donatello, maybe you should go to sleep, I can always stay by Sensei if needed. Keep watch and all that," Casey offered, coming out of his memory when he first arrived in this timeline. 

"That's ok Casey I should be getting back anyway. Who knows if Leo will suddenly need surprise surgery or surprise kidney failure or a seizure or a heart attack or a nightmare or a-" He tried to rush away, but Casey knew that look in his eye whether it was this Donatello or the one he grew up with. 

"Master Donatello, you're at your limit. Please, let me help just for this morning, ok? We need you and we don't want you wasting away," Casey pleaded, stopping Donatello right at the door. Donnie gave him a look of fear before he quickly wiped it away, a neutral expression gracing his face like usual. 

"Stop calling me Master Donatello and you've got yourself a deal," Donnie gives in, looking down the hall towards his bedroom.

"Deal Donnie."

And that's how Casey found himself in the Medical Bay, staring down at the younger version of his sensei sleeping with a heart monitor beeping rhythmically. It was a sight he's seen before which is a sad thought, only the last time Master Leonardo looked much older and much worse somehow, missing his right arm. Leonardo tried his best to keep Casey out of the med room that day but with Donatello dead and most people out in the field, only him and Todd- their other medically trained person on base- could help. That day wasn't pretty to say the least. But Master Leonardo never complained and he never said anything negative. Hope is a ninja's greatest weapon after all. 

"Good morning Case," He heard, pulling him out of the future Leonardo thoughts and back to the younger version. His version now. 

"Good morning, how are you feeling today?" Casey asked, ignoring the smile that graced Leonardo's lips when he saw who was sitting next to him. 

"Better, my back is sore though from laying down so much," Leo groans as he sits up, a grimace replacing the smile making Casey frown.

"Is there anything I can do, Master?" Casey asked, not realizing he let the title slip out. 

Leonardo's grimace was quickly swapped out for a smirk, "You can call me Master again," He replied, wiggling his eyebrows. Casey's face instantly turned beat red and he swiveled his back to Leo. 

"I meant something that can help your back."

"Well you can help me get up and move around a bit," Leonardo said a few moments later although he wanted to tease Casey once more. Casey instantly remembered Donatello's voice when he was about to head to the Med Bay earlier.

"Don't let my slimy brother trick you, he's supposed to stay in bed for at least three more days!" Little Donnie said on his shoulder and then poofed away.

"Didn't Mast- I mean Donatello say you needed a few more days of bed rest?" Casey asked, turning back to face his young Sensei.

"What's a few more days gonna do when it's been a month already?" Leo asked when suddenly Donnie's shadow appeared in the entrance of the Med Bay. He looked mad, very mad. 

"Save your life maybe? Or I don't know make sure your shell which was cracked in three different places heal faster or keep your broken bones in the proper place or keep your concussion from getting worse or-"

"Ok Donnie I get it sorry, didn't mean to push a button," Leo scoffs, laying back down into the cot. Donnie's face gets more angry so Casey side steps away from the cot.

"Scoff! Don't scoff at me Leonardo! You don't have any right to talk back to me when you disappeared in front of my very eyes and I thought you were never coming back!" Donnie spat back, his hands shaking in front of him. 

"But I'm back and everything turned out fine, don't fret Don-"

"I cried for you!" Donnie exploded, his hands slapping over his mouth. Leonardo's eyes went wide and he froze, staring at his twin. Casey suddenly felt he was intruding and slowly headed for the door. Leonardo's attention was turned to him and Donnie's eyes followed. Instant embarrassment flashed across Donnie's face and he headed towards the door. 

"Casey, it's fine, I'm gonna go. Don't let him leave his cot," Donnie muttered and left the room fast, his hands coming up to his ears. Leon regretted everything he said as he watched his worried twin leave the room. 

"Donnie wait!" Master Leonardo tried to stop him, but there wasn't much he could do stuck to his cot. Donnie was out the door before Casey could help at all. 

Chapter Text

Leo watches his twin leave and groans in frustration. This is not what he meant to do when he told Donnie he was fine. He just wants everyone to stop worrying about him all the time. He's fine, the family is gonna be fine, and they need to stop acting like he's made of glass. He goes to stand only to feel a sharp pain start from his toes and go all the way up to his head. Gritting his teeth, he decides he can deal with the pain and tries to walk, his head starting to go fuzzy.

"Woah! Sensei, please sit down!" He hears a voice through the fog and Casey joins Leo's side to grab him under his arms, trying to get him to sit once more. Leo tried his best to keep standing but Casey is too strong and went with the momentum to sit, his body thanking him but his mind is so upset at failing to show he's capable of going back to normal. Casey stares at him for a bit before grabbing the extra chair and taking a seat, watching him closely. Too closely and it starts to make Leo's skin crawl. Like Casey's trying to point out all his flaws which he knows is not true but he can't help but feel that way. 

"Case, would you please stop staring," He admits weakly, wrapping his hands around his biceps in a comforting gesture. 

"Oh of course sorry," Casey looks away, which makes him look like a kicked puppy. Leo sighs, he didn't mean to hurt Casey's feelings either, he just feels extra vulnerable right now. Which he wants to tell Casey, he should tell Casey because sharing how he's feeling is probably a healthy way to start getting all this ick feeling out of his chest. But he just can't muster up the courage to communicate that so instead he gently rests his head on Casey's shoulder. He can feel Casey tense for a second and then relax, his breathing seeming to come out evenly and less stuttered. Casey since the moment they've met has been an interesting "friend". From having this huge expectation of him, knowing how he turns out in the end, and idolizing everything he's "done" in Casey's timeline, it left Leo feeling like the person he disappointed the most was Casey "future boy" Jones. Another thing he should probably communicate to him but the idea of sharing anything so touhy was making Leo's skin crawl so he just sat there in silence with said boy, letting his head rest on his shoulder.

Hands popped up in front of his face, shaking a little before signing, "Is it something you want to talk about?"

Leo's head pops up in excitement, hands quickly moving, "You know ASL? Where and when did you learn?"

"Master Leonardo taught me a few years ago, but I'm still rusty on some words," Casey replies, smiling widely at Leo. They both stare for a second before Leo signs again.

"I'm not sure I want to talk about it right now but, I appreciate you asking," Leo responds, letting his head rest back on Casey's shoulder. He knows ASL! And he taught him in another timeline. Leo felt very pleased with himself as he let the peaceful silence wash over them. Maybe one day Leo can make this Casey just as proud as the Leo in his timeline did. He likes the sound of that. What he doesn't like the sound of is his stomach roaring, making both boys aware one of them is hungry. 

Casey's laugh echoes through the Med Bay making Leo smile and blush at the sound of it. Good thing blushes don't show up on turtles as much as human blushes show. "Sounds like someone's hungry."

"Must be Raph, his stomach growls echo for miles," Leo jokes and they both laugh at that as Leo starts to lean into Casey, his warmth and this comfortable atmosphere making him feel slightly better. Now that Leon is this up close, he notices little flecks of brown in Casey's otherwise black eyes, which Leo now decides is one of his favorite parts of Casey. He stares into his eyes, not noticing the very apparent red blush that is now covering Casey's face. Casey shakes his head like a dog, his face leaving Leo's view as he gets up towards the door to the Med Bay. Did he make Casey uncomfortable just now? His chest fills with that ick feeling once more.

"Do you want something in particular?" Casey asks in the doorway, his arms crossed over a white t-shirt he borrowed from the turtles. The shirt is designed to accommodate a shell so the shirt shows a lot of his shoulders and goes way past his waist, covering half of the blue pj pants he's borrowing as well. Leo tries not to stare for too long as he asks for whatever Casey is having. He nods at Leo's answer and exits, leaving the Med Bay much colder than Leo remembered.

Leo lays back fully onto the cot, staring up at the plain gray ceiling. When did this whole Casey thing start? He thinks back to the first time they met, Casey being dragged in by a shocked looking April that night after the Warren-Stone and Hypno robbery. The night our lives changed.

"Guys! Guys come quick please! This kid is too heavy!" April called down the entrance to the Lair, her voice echoing into the skate ramp room where he and his brothers were seeing who could do the four rotations Sydney nailed at the finals last year. All except Raph, who was probably having a conversation with Splinter about Leo and his impulsiveness. Telling him all about how arrogant he is and blah blah blah. Raph can tattle to dad all he wants but it won't change the fact that he's the leader. Which is a title he doesn't know if he wants yet or not. The three of them rush towards the sound of the echo and are met with April dragging a man behind her? A robot teen? Hard to say but Leo and his brothers each grab a limb and help carry him.

"Do we need to take him to the Med Bay? He doesn't seem to have any injuries from what I can see or scan," Donnie instantly goes into doctor mode- one of his favorites- and starts to analyze this person in hopes of finding an answer to why he's here.

"I mean I did smack him pretty hard but I think he's fine. More importantly, he had this in his hands and I don't know where he got it or how," April admits, handing the photo to Mikey who's eyes instantly went wide.

Leo tried to lean over his shoulder to see what Mikey was looking at but almost dropped the robot boy on the floor in the process so he simply asked, "What Mikey? what is it?" 

"It's a picture of us. All of us! Raph, Leo, Dee, Splinter, April, me all of us from when April graduated High School and got into East Lard University!"

"It's East Laird University Mike," April scoffs, leading the boys into the living room where splinter and Raph were conversing, said conversation stopped instantly at the sight of April and his brothers carrying in a stranger. Raph grabs one of the kitchen chairs and places it in front of the projector as he and his other brothers help place robot boy into the chair. Leo reaches over to Mikey and snatches the picture.

"Wow this is a great picture of me! Do you see that gorgeous smile?" Leo gloats, sparkles floating around his head, "But I also don't remember taking this picture. Do you guys?" Leo asks as everyone but Donnie crowds around him. The picture looks like it should have been taken just a few months ago when April started school but there's something about it that's off. It's not entirely how he remembered that day when they found out April got accepted.  

"Did we even take a photo when this happened? Which, by the way, rude! This photo is adorable!" April complains, taking the photo from Leo's hands and inspecting it further. Leo tries to grab it back from her but she keeps it at an arm's length, laughing and pointing at him.

Donnie plucks it out of her hands with ease using his titanium spider legs and takes a first look, "April's right, that is odd. That day we went to Alberto Land, ordered pizza, and watched her favorite investigative journalism documentaries. So where did this photo come from?"

"I say we smash whoever that is and get some answers!" Raph exclaims, approaching the teenage robot boy. Splinter actually intervenes this time, his rat tail poking straight up and down.

"This whole situation smells fishy to me, let's wait until he wakes up and then we can ask for answers," Dad says rationally, taking his bowl of popcorn off the kitchen table and plopping into his recliner.

Leo's brothers seem to agree and go sit on the beanbags around the room, spreading out and relaxing for what could be a long night. He huffs with annoyance, not liking being left in the dark and confused. What if this person is a spy for the Foot Clan? Or Shredder even? We can't just let him chill in our house. With this in mind, he approaches the kid and gives him a once over. Donnie has successfully tied him to the chair, his arms and legs restrained against the chairs matching appendages. His head is rolled forward due to being unconscious and his breathing is even and relaxed. At least it sounds even but the mask with the voice modulator makes it sound almost scary. Leo looks to each side of the mask and notices the clips which will remove it. "I don't know about you guys, but I wanna make sure he's not some scary yokai under here," Leo grabs both sides and pulls the mask off, setting it down on the floor in front of the chair. Looking up, he comes face to face with a teenager- he knew he couldn't have been a man- who doesn't look much older than him. His eyebrows are soft, his nose is round and full, and his mouth is curved down into a frown. Maybe he's having a bad dream? Leo stares for a moment longer, almost lost in the way he looks. He looks like every comic book character and movie star that he's has ever had a crush on- Lou Jitsu unfortunately- all combined into one seemingly perfect human. His black hair is long but it frames his face so nicely, looking somehow soft even though his clothes are tatted and hand made? This kid seems to have been washed through the sewers for possibly years. Leo hasn't noticed the silence behind him as he continues to observe and inspect the new person. 

"Having fun over there Leo?" Mikey calls out from the bean bags, his smile and laugh making the rest of his family giggle.

Leo warms instantly and steps away, going over to plop into the blue bean bag, "I was just making sure he wasn't a threat!"

"Yeah sure, a threat," Raph says playfully, giving Leo a playful rub on the head.

Leo shuttered at the idea of his entire family knowing he was "checking out" Casey when in reality he was just checking out a potential threat. Yeah, that's exactly what he was doing. Nothing else could have possibly been happening that night. Rubbing his hands over his tired eyes, he goes back to stare at the gray ceiling, dying of boredom, "I gotta apologize to Donnie," Leo mutters to himself, his back continuing to ache. The ache reminds him of that horrible pressure when the Krang shoved his back into the concrete, not stopping even after hearing his shell and ribs crack from the force. Just the reminder makes the breath disappear from his lungs and his eyes fog over. Nothing was scarier than feeling he was going to die, like he was never going to see his family again or be able to hang out in the Lair and just relax and spend time with his brothers. He knew it was worth it, to sacrifice himself for New York City and the entire world. But he felt it was almost unfair. He was having his life ripped away from him before it could truly really begin. But the idea of any of his other family members being in the place that he is now, he knew he made the right decision. He reaches over and grabs the fidget cube and starts clicking the button over and over again. It's his favorite one. The clicking of the button, the twist of the stick, and the ticks of the wheels make this cube the most satisfying for his hands and that pressure building in his chest. 

"Hi," He hears past the clicks, looking up to see Donnie standing in the door frame, a face of discomfort spread across his features. Leo smiles up at him, knowing exactly what kind of communication is best for Donnie. Leo waves him over and Donnie crosses the room, sitting in the extra chair that Casey was sitting in previously. He's wearing his favorite big purple headphones.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry," Donnie signed in ASL, his hands stiffly moving through the motions. When Donnie doesn't want to verbalize his feelings, he uses ASL with the entire family. We learned to "communicate better in the field" when in reality, we all learned for Donnie and sometimes Mikey in case they ever go non-verbal but still need to communicate with us. It's been very helpful.

"No I'm sorry, I didn't think at the moment that you're just concerned about me," Leo signs back, his hands probably moving sporadically. He actually knows Donnie was just concerned and he has every right to be, but it still made him feel fragile.

He goes straight back to the fidget cube while Donnie responds, "Well I'm sorry too, I just couldn't help it," Donnie leans back into the chair, his hands adjusting his headphones as he closes his eyes, signaling that he's done with the conversation. Leo thanks Pizza Supreme in the sky for that and continues to move his hands over the cube. He could never be mad at Dee for too long. They just understand each other so well and so horribly at the same time that he couldn't imagine his life without him. His brain lights up when he realizes that's probably why Donnie has been so stressed lately. He had a few moments of his life where he had to imagine Leo not being at his side. With a feeling of understanding, Leo places a slow and gentle hand on Donnie's knee, Dee's eyes opening right after.

"Can I hug you?" Leo signs quickly. Thought crosses Donnie's face before he nods and Leo leans over. He gives him a moderately tight hug, enjoying the smell and feel of his twin right where he's safe. Donnie pulls back first per usual and then swivels in his chair to have his back to Leo, a kind of saying he needs to be left alone. When Donnie is up for it they'll have a long chat about what is truly going on their little heads. But for now, Leo continues his fidget cube until he hears a light knock on the door frame. 

"Breakfast is ready!"

Chapter Text

Casey enters the kitchen, his face so hot he could probably cook Leo any kind of breakfast on it. What was happening? Why was Leo staring at him for so long? Did he have something on his face? He knows he doesn't nearly get enough sleep but was it that obvious? Was he looking at the similarities between him and his mother Cassandra? They do look pretty similar. He's just a bit more chill. But maybe it's because he's never been able to act like a true teenager. Casey's questions run through his head as he walks past an unsuspecting Mikey and opens the fridge. He stares into the box of cold air for about twenty seconds before he remembers he has no idea how to make anything. He didn't even have a fridge in the future let alone enough food to go around to make a yummy and appealing breakfast. He peers around the door to look at Master Michelangelo, who seems to be adding a bunch of ingredients to something in a large orange bowl, humming a rather pleasant tune. This Michelangelo compared to his Master is very different, but somehow still the same person. His eyes are still bright and full of optimism- which Casey never understood how he has so much when the world is falling apart- was sorry, was. You're not in the same place anymore - and Michelangelo still has the same smoothness whether he's cooking or opening a one way portal so Casey can save the world. By himself. And everyone is dying behind him. Including Master Leonardo and all of the rest of his-

"Hey Casey you ok? You're breathing really shallow," Master Michelangelo asks, looking up from his bowl. Casey didn't even notice how short his breaths are and how hard his heart is pounding. Deep breaths Case. You're in the Lair. With Mikey, Donnie, Mast- Leo, Raph, April, and Splinter. You're somewhere with plenty of protection and lots of food and water. Somewhere where the biggest threat to your life is a giant hippo, sewer rats that aren’t splinter, and maybe Donnie if you mess with his lab. 

He took a steadying breath and finally closed the fridge door, walking to Michelangelo and peering over his shoulder, "Yeah I'm fine, what are you making for breakfast?" He asked, looking into the bowl. Casey knew Michelangelo wasn't stupid and that he noticed his little panic attack, but he seemed to let it slide thankfully and smiled at the mention of his food.

"I'm making turtle waffles! Usually Leo would help me but he's still recovering..." Michelangelo trails off sadly, his eyes casting down to his bowl of waffle mix.

Casey reaches out to comfort him, but ends up changing his mind, his hand falling by his side. Instead he says, "I can try to help," he offers, wanting to get rid of the frown on his Master's face that usually has a smile.

"Really?!" Michelangelo exclaimed, his smile returning even bigger, making Casey feel warm and fuzzy inside despite his little knowledge of making waffles. He looked from Mikey to the door and then back to Michelangelo again. Should he help? Or will he just mess it up? But he wants to make Michelangelo happy.

"Of course Master Michelangelo! But I hope you know I know nothing about cooking," He admits sheepishly, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. Michelangelo's eyes soften as he goes to grab a spoon and passes the bowl to Casey. The cooking utensils feel foreign in his hands, nothing like how they looked in Michelangelo's experienced turtle hands. 

"That's ok! Just mix everything together and then pour it into the waffle iron! Would you mind stirring while I heat it up?" He asks, standing on his tiptoes to reach the top shelf. Casey starts to stir unconfidently and slowly, being extra cautious not to spill any on the floor, "Also if you're curious, it's just flour, baking powder, sugar, a dash of salt, eggs, milk, butter, and vanilla extract! Next time we make breakfast I can show you where everything is and the order to mix them in. You can get a taste of Chef Mikey" Michelangelo says excitedly wiggling his eyebrows. Casey rolls his eyes and laughs as Michelangelo plugs in the turtle-shaped waffle iron. It matches Michelangelo so well and he bets his turtle shell waffles taste absolutely wonderful. Instantly filled with determination to not fail Michelangelo, Casey starts stirring with new energy, mixing till it all looks like one solid color and then placing the bowl on the counter.

"All done Master!" He states, standing at full attention for his next step.

Michelangelo turns to face him, inspecting his handy work, "Nice job dude! But please, call me Mikey!" He smiles, no anger or annoyance hinted in his voice. Casey smiles back and watches as Mikey takes the bowl and pours some into the waffle iron, filling it so it covers every little hole before closing the lid tight. "See how I did that? You want the entire shell to be covered with waffle mix before you close the lid! But don't over fill or else it won't taste as good" Casey takes everything Mikey's saying into consideration, the waffle iron beeping and Mikey flips it over. Casey's about to ask why he did that when Mikey explains, "The waffle cooks best when you flip it on both sides! So when it beeps, it's time to flip."

"And when will the first one be ready?" Casey asks, feeling like he's learning the most important thing in the world. Master Michelangelo may have taught him how to summon him with a thought if he was ever in trouble or how to aim for the Krangs weak spots, but Mikey is teaching him how to cook. For fun! That to Casey is the coolest thing anyone has ever taught him. The waffle iron makes the same beeping noise and Casey goes to flip it again when his eyes lock onto the red light at the bottom of the iron. Red light. A red light sweeping over his base. A red light scanning for him and his mother. A red light finding his mother. A red light killing his mother. A red light killing Leonardo. A red light killing everyone. Everyone, "Everyone is dead and there's nothing I can do about it! They're all dead and I'm here safe and sound! Why wasn't it me?! WHY WASN'T IT ME?!" His hands reach up to his head and cover his ears, making red scratch marks all over them.

"Casey! Casey, listen to me! You're safe. You're in the Lair. You're in the present! Raph? April? Someone get Casey a weighted blanket!"

He thinks he hears a voice, but the red light won't go away. His eyes are locked on it. Waiting for it to evaporate him. Or teleport him. They never did quite figure out if it killed you right away or if it sent you to some Krang torture camp. Where you'd never see your family again. Because they're all dead and there's nothing you can do to change that. 

"The red lights killed all of them! The Krang won and I didn't stop them!" He can't seem to hear or feel anything until his voice is muffled by a soft weighted something landing on his head. It breaks his eye contact with the red light and his flashbacks slow warp back to the present. His body feels absolutely exhausted as gentle hands guide him towards one of the bean bags, the blanket being lifted from the top of his head and wrapped around his shoulders as he's sat down. 

"You okay big guy?" Master Raphael asks, sitting right in front of him. Right in front of him? Is he dreaming? Casey hasn't seen him since he was roughly four or five.

"Master Raphael? You're alive?" Casey asks in his panic, still lost as to where he is. 

"Yes I am because you're here with us before the Krang were able to take over."

"The Krang? Where!" Casey starts to breathe heavily again, but Raph grabs his hands and looks him straight in the eyes. 

"Hey it's ok, stay with me, you're right here in the Lair. You're here with Mikey and I in the Kitchen. Donnie and Leo are just down the hall and April somehow slept through all the screaming but she’s nearby in Leo’s room," Screaming? Was Casey screaming? He doesn't remember doing that. Raph continues to comfort him by grabbing Casey's hands, making him start to come back out of that horrible place. He still feels completely out of body, but Raph, the blanket, and his words are a reminder that he's not in the future anymore. 

"Casey, why don't you go chill in Leon's room and I can serve breakfast to everyone," Mikey offers, a small smile gracing his face.

Casey shakes his head, his voice coming out raspy and quiet, "No it's ok, I wanna eat turtle waffles with everyone."

Raph and Mikey give each other a look Casey can very clearly tell is concerned, but they nod their heads. Mikey goes back to the kitchen to finish the waffles and Raph sits right next to him giving him a look. It's not a pity look Casey tells himself. But it feels like it. Even though he knows Raph would never pity him or anyone. "I'm gonna wake up the rest of the gang for breakfast. Are you ok on your own or do you wanna come with me?" Raph asks gently. Casey feels the blanket on his shoulders and the bean bag against his back calming his frayed nerves. He definitely doesn't want to get up anytime soon so he shakes his head no. Raph smiles in understanding and reaches behind him to grab one of his many many teddy bears. "Boss will keep you company while I'm gone. Be back soon!" Raph gives him a big thumbs up and leaves the living room, making Casey hug the bear tight to his chest. His eyes are heavy with exhaustion as he tries his best to calm his racing thoughts, but he can't escape the feeling that he's not safe. Even though the blanket and the bear are helping.

From instincts alone, he stands up, not being able to stay still for too long. His body needs to rest but it can't. He must make sure everyone is safe. Safe and alive. He surveys the perimeter of living room, checking all entrances and exits for something or someone just in case. His weighted blanket trails behind him as he travels to the kitchen, walking around the outside of the room and passing Mikey. He gives him a once over. Good, Mikey is safe and sound. Moving onto the next room he does the same, checking all exits and entrances. Once he's satisfied with every room- he even snuck into Donnie's lab just to double check- he heads back to the kitchen. The sound of soft laughter and the smell of waffles and syrup in the air greets him as he sees the entire family- even Leo- sitting on the floor enjoying the turtle shell shaped waffles. Seeing everyone makes his nerves calm down more and he walks over to Leo's right side.

"Listen, I am all for Casey getting a chance to do this year's Lair Games but he will be at a huge disadvantage against me," Leo says, that smug smile on his face as well as some maple syrup on his chin. The urge to wipe it off had Casey blushing as he was sitting quietly next to Leo.

"What do you mean you ! I won last year!" Donnie states, giving his twin the death glare.

"Did you though? Did you really?" 

"What is that supposed to mean?!" Donnie's hands flail, clearly annoyed at his brother being vague. 

"Guys chill, this conversation isn't doing anyone any good. Besides, we all know this is the year I'm gonna take the game by storm!" Mikey exclaims. Everyone groans in disagreement. Mikey pouts in his spot at the table and then his eyes shoot over to Casey, noticing him sitting next to Leo, "Casey! Did you want a waffle? I didn't know where you went but I saved you one!"

Casey's eyes go wide, "You saved me one?" 

"Of course!" Mikey smiles, passing Casey a waffle.

Casey's mouth starts to water at the idea of eating this yummy, fluffy, turtle shaped waffle. He cuts it into pieces and places a square into his mouth. He chews for a second before stars light up behind his eyes and he moans, shoveling the rest into his mouth. He looks up from his empty plate to see everyone staring at him and they all fall apart into giggles.

"It's nice to know someone appreciates my cooking!" Mikey smiles, giving Casey a thumbs up.

Casey enjoyed that waffle so much he wishes he could have more, but he'd never ask.