[It takes about three, nearly four rings before Leonardo picks up. He was getting his arm off, trying to relax a little without it. Thus a fumble to pick up his phone.
[This was not the mood he expected. Leonardo stalls for a moment himself. Confusion immediately turns to concern. He lifts the relic closer, trying to grab his cowl to pull on. He needs to find Casey.]
Casey-? Are you okay? What's going on? [Casey can probably hear the turtle moving around.] Where are you?
No, no. Um. Stay there. [He pauses, thinking. Flying, running, moving- it's too slow. He wants to be there now. That's his old home, though. He's close enough. He can do it, he thinks he can do it.] There's- the light, by the couch, can you turn it on?
Alright. I'll stay here. [How Casey sound just leaves an uncomfortable feeling low in the pit of Leo's stomach. The teenager can hear the turtle moving around the apartment, then the familiar click of a light being turned on.]
[It takes a few moments, but with a flare of sudden light, Casey appears next to the lamp out of nowhere. The momentum of his movement just before the teleport carries him forward, launching him directly at Leonardo, where he swiftly clings on like a lifeline.]
[Casey's sudden appearance does a good job of startling the turtle, though he recovers quickly enough to open his arms to Casey. He pulls the teenager in close.]
I'm guessing something happened, and you'll tell me in a second?
[Casey nods quickly, his face burrowed against Leonardo's shoulder, his voice muffled as he makes an agreeing noise, though he can't trust his voice just yet. He needs to hold on for a bit, just a handful of seconds to catch his breath and remind himself that it's okay, he's not alone, even with…
He hates to say it, and he knows it won't impact sensei the same way, they only just met. Still. He can't help - and won't hide - how his heart is aching.]
Rue- Mom is- they're gone, they're not in Folkmore now…
[Leonardo is steady, quiet as Casey presses into him. The turtle coaxes a hand through the teenager's dark hair to offer some additional comfort.]
I- oh. [he feels stupid that, that reaction comes out first. He didn't really know Rue, but he thought of them as fairly untouchably settled here. A piece of the place that helped Casey grow.
The fact they're gone is jarring.] Oh, Casey- [He's just going to squeeze Casey closer.] Fuck, I'm sorry.
[Casey huddles against him, as close as he can get short of some kind of body merger. With the news out in the open, he doesn't need his voice functional anymore, he can cry. And oh, will he ever.]
I was- I thought- what if you, too- I couldn't-
[Rue's absence is going to be a thing he has to work through, a wound worse than any physical one, a void so harsh no trial could compete with it. He'll deal with it, he'll keep living like always. But he needed to ensure sensei was alive and well still, or he really would break. Rue- he can find them, somehow. They're still alive, just... somewhere else. He will meet them again.]
[Leonardo shifts just enough to carefully scoop Casey into his grasp. Given he's down an arm, the teenager could easily escape. If he doesn't, Leonardo gingerly carries Casey over to the couch. Just settling down and keeping the boy close.]
We're both here. I'm not going anywhere, okay? [It's not a promise he can make, but it is one he will try to keep regardless.]
[Casey's not looking for a promise, though he'd take one if it was given, even if it were proven a lie later down the road. He'd accept the placation without holding it against sensei later. This is enough, though, and he doesn't fight or withdraw as they're moved to the couch.]
[Casey is just half propped in his lap, half on the couch. He just wants to keep Casey comfortable.
This isn't the first time he's comforted Casey for the loss of a mother. The fact it had to happen twice weighs heavily on the turtle. What can he say? What he can do?
If he knew Rue better, he would ask himself what Rue would do?
He leans in to press his snout against the top of the teenager's head, kissing the top of his head.]
[Casey remains curled against him, shifting a bit so he's half sideways, rather than fully buried and muffled. It's important to talk about this stuff, he knows. Mostly he wants a reason to keep hearing sensei's voice.]
And- and I got you, too. I don't want her to take you away, too. And I don't want to leave. Like Uncle Raph…
[He'd been here so briefly. Maybe… maybe it wasn't really even him at all. But he can't bear losing another. It's the nature of this place, he knows, still…]
I know you do, kiddo. [Leonardo struggles to find the right words. He begins gently rocking Casey in his arms. Just wanting to provide something besides what feel like useless words.
Given the whole stare into the abyss incident, he's been trying to be better about a lot of things. Not try to push Casey away when he thought the teenager was taking on too much responsibility.] I don't plan on leaving, I don't want to leave. I still have a lot to do and see with you.
[The rocking motion gets Casey to quiet for a little bit, his eyes half-closed, gazing at a fixed point on Leonardo's plastron, some old chipped scar he halfway remembers the circumstances of. Younger Leo doesn't have that. Younger Leo wouldn't hold him like this. It's his dad. His dad's here. Uncle Tello's still here, Cass-mom is still here. Everyone in the group chat- April-
Rue-
His eyes flood, his throat constricts, and one hand lifts to catch the dangling tail of Leonardo's mask. Something he did when he was little, when he needed that line of security but sensei needed his hands free. A tiny child perched on the shoulder of what felt like an immortal giant, who was strong, unstoppable, who would always be there, because back then it felt like he was all Casey had left, and he had to. That changed, of course, and that feeling was never truly correct. But he remembers the feeling.]
...We'll get them back. [His voice is quiet, strained.] Maybe not here. Maybe not for a long time. But... we will. We will.
[Leonardo doesn't press for conversation as he feels Casey go still in his hold. The familiar grip on his mask tail tells turtle pretty much everything he needs to know. Casey needs him to be comforting. To be his steady adult. Leo can do that, is relieved he can still be that.
He continues rocking the teenager, just listening to Casey's breathing.]
I didn't have a chance to really speak with Rue too much, but, I can believe they're waiting for you.
Pretty sure if anyone can out smart this fox, its them, yeah?
[Sensei gets it, of course he does. Rue's smart, ruthless when they want to be. They may be gone for now, but it won't be forever. Either they'll find Rue, or Rue will find them. A reunion is inevitable.]
I know it wasn't long... I wish you'd had more time. They'd have loved you. And I'm sure if you let them in, you'd have loved them.
[He says it like it's a forgone conclusion. (It is. He believes, wholeheartedly.)]
It would've been nice to have more time to know them. [He debates with himself for a moment. He hadn't planned on bringing this up, but, it could at least help Casey feel better.]
If it... helps any, they tricked me into coming over for tea. So, we talked a little.
[Casey looks up in surprise at that, though perhaps he shouldn't be surprised by this particular admission. He stays tucked against Leonardo's plastron, but wants to see his face.]
[Well, duh. Rue's always looking after him and keeping an eye out by default, so of course they didn't have to change anything. It's a thought that warms his heart, and at the same time leaves him cold: he won't see their face every time he visits their shop, or stays over at their lovely cottage, or- or anything...
He scrubs at his face. Our kid. That's him... and now they'll have to put learning to co-parent on hold. Just until they can find Rue again. Which they will. They will.]
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His voice is cheerful as he answers.]
Hey, kiddo. What's going on?
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You're still... [thank god. oh, thank god.] ...Dad...
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Casey-? Are you okay? What's going on? [Casey can probably hear the turtle moving around.] Where are you?
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Where are you? I'm not hurt, just- I need to see you.
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I'm guessing something happened, and you'll tell me in a second?
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He hates to say it, and he knows it won't impact sensei the same way, they only just met. Still. He can't help - and won't hide - how his heart is aching.]
Rue- Mom is- they're gone, they're not in Folkmore now…
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I- oh. [he feels stupid that, that reaction comes out first. He didn't really know Rue, but he thought of them as fairly untouchably settled here. A piece of the place that helped Casey grow.
The fact they're gone is jarring.] Oh, Casey- [He's just going to squeeze Casey closer.] Fuck, I'm sorry.
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I was- I thought- what if you, too- I couldn't-
[Rue's absence is going to be a thing he has to work through, a wound worse than any physical one, a void so harsh no trial could compete with it. He'll deal with it, he'll keep living like always. But he needed to ensure sensei was alive and well still, or he really would break. Rue- he can find them, somehow. They're still alive, just... somewhere else. He will meet them again.]
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We're both here. I'm not going anywhere, okay? [It's not a promise he can make, but it is one he will try to keep regardless.]
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Yeah. Yeah... we're here. It'll be okay...
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This isn't the first time he's comforted Casey for the loss of a mother. The fact it had to happen twice weighs heavily on the turtle. What can he say? What he can do?
If he knew Rue better, he would ask himself what Rue would do?
He leans in to press his snout against the top of the teenager's head, kissing the top of his head.]
I got you, I promise.
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And- and I got you, too. I don't want her to take you away, too. And I don't want to leave. Like Uncle Raph…
[He'd been here so briefly. Maybe… maybe it wasn't really even him at all. But he can't bear losing another. It's the nature of this place, he knows, still…]
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Given the whole stare into the abyss incident, he's been trying to be better about a lot of things. Not try to push Casey away when he thought the teenager was taking on too much responsibility.] I don't plan on leaving, I don't want to leave. I still have a lot to do and see with you.
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Rue-
His eyes flood, his throat constricts, and one hand lifts to catch the dangling tail of Leonardo's mask. Something he did when he was little, when he needed that line of security but sensei needed his hands free. A tiny child perched on the shoulder of what felt like an immortal giant, who was strong, unstoppable, who would always be there, because back then it felt like he was all Casey had left, and he had to. That changed, of course, and that feeling was never truly correct. But he remembers the feeling.]
...We'll get them back. [His voice is quiet, strained.] Maybe not here. Maybe not for a long time. But... we will. We will.
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He continues rocking the teenager, just listening to Casey's breathing.]
I didn't have a chance to really speak with Rue too much, but, I can believe they're waiting for you.
Pretty sure if anyone can out smart this fox, its them, yeah?
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[Sensei gets it, of course he does. Rue's smart, ruthless when they want to be. They may be gone for now, but it won't be forever. Either they'll find Rue, or Rue will find them. A reunion is inevitable.]
I know it wasn't long... I wish you'd had more time. They'd have loved you. And I'm sure if you let them in, you'd have loved them.
[He says it like it's a forgone conclusion. (It is. He believes, wholeheartedly.)]
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If it... helps any, they tricked me into coming over for tea. So, we talked a little.
Mostly about you.
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You did, really?
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[Well, duh. Rue's always looking after him and keeping an eye out by default, so of course they didn't have to change anything. It's a thought that warms his heart, and at the same time leaves him cold: he won't see their face every time he visits their shop, or stays over at their lovely cottage, or- or anything...
He scrubs at his face. Our kid. That's him... and now they'll have to put learning to co-parent on hold. Just until they can find Rue again. Which they will. They will.]
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You're in safe hands with them. Whenever you see them again, that won't have changed at all.
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