faesphere | Life in the Apocalypse

[Leo can't help the light chuckle at Casey's flopping. He was the same way, still kind of is. He's just gotten better at dealing with it. But the question has him pause.]

About my dad? What do you wanna know?

Mmm... I don't know. What did you do with him, just sit and drink tea?

Before the Krang showed up, I didn't really do that much with him, tbh? He'd lived a pretty exciting life and was happy to sit and watch commercials and eat good food. But he'd still train us sometimes.

After the Krang... We just. We'd take whenever we could find an hour or two and sit and talk. Drink tea, sure, and ..I dunno.

It doesn't sound like a lot or that exciting, but I'd give almost anything to sit and have another conversation with him.

[Those words and the somber tone makes Casey roll back over, scooting closer and resting his head on Leo's, trying to hug him around the neck.]

What would you say if he was here?

If he was here?

[He lifts his head a little, patting Casey's arm affectionately. He appreciates the hug.]

That I love him. That I wanted to hear more stories he had to tell.

[Casey hums, leaning into the touch like a magnet.]

I bet he loved you a lot.

[Because sensei is sensei and who wouldn't love him. A dad definitely would.]

...He did. He loved all of us so much.

[He takes a breath and uses it to blow the steam off the tea before carefully offering it up to Casey.]

It's still pretty hot so be careful - don't burn yourself.

[Casey very carefully accepts the cup, holding it between both hands to not risk spilling a single drop of this precious thing sensei shared with his dad. He sniffs it again - it does smell better than before, actually, so clearly there's some science at work with this infusing thing - and blows on it a few times before taking a cautious sip.

...Makes a face. Then takes another sip. Then announces, very seriously:]

These are the best leaves I ever tasted.

[He patiently waits before taking the bowl from Casey. And then laughs gently at that response.]

I'd hope so. They're made to be tasty, but this is gonna be a rare treat. Until Donnie can grow them more regularly. Still...

[He looks down at the bowl, expression soft in a way Casey might not be able to see where he's perched.]

Thanks for sharing an old turtle's memories, CJ.

[He can't see the expression, no, but he can hear something quietly nuanced in Leo's tone that is difficult to parse yet sounds, overall, pretty good. It's enough to satisfy Casey, and he folds his arms against Leo's head, resting his chin on them.]

You're not that old yet. ["Yet". This is your child, Leonardo.] Thanks for sharing your leaves with me.

"Yet". [He is definitely Leo's child, as he laughs a little to himself at that. Cassandra would've said something similar too, he thinks. Leo takes another sip of the tea and starts walking them back to a quieter room with less eyes about to wake up and find them.]

Happy to share. You know, not that many really care about hot tea water anymore these days. I thought you'd appreciate it.

I do! [Even if he doesn't appreciate it the same way Leo does, thinking of his dad, he's coming at it from the opposite side. He's the one getting to share it with his... well. Sensei. Which is kind of the same thing.] Do you think Uncle Tello will be able to make more? So you can drink it all the time?

[He'd much rather have these leaves than the usual.]

I think if he managed to make this much and told you to tell me about it knowing full well I'd immediately drink it? Yeah, he can make more.

[Casey makes a soft, happy noise, hugging tightly to Leo's shell.]

I wanna do this again, sensei. Drink tea with you, like you did with your dad. Can we?

[Feeling bold this morning, though there's an edge of shyness in his question.]

[Oh, Casey's feeling bold this morning. But he can sense the edge of shyness in that question. He won't let him down though. Not if that grip on his shell is anything to judge by.]

Yeah. Soon as he has more ready, we can do this more often.

[Casey starts to let out a woop at the answer, but remembers that it's still early and they're supposed to be quiet. He course-corrects to a whisper.]

Woo... thank you, sensei!

[He chuckles lightly at that, reaching up to pat his shoulder.]

Of course, Casey. Any time, all right? Just say the word.

You're not too busy?

[Look he love love loves his sensei's attention, undivided or otherwise, but he knows there's a war going on. Leo's very important, and everyone demands his time. Casey's old enough to know he needs to manage his expectations.]

While everyone else is still asleep? Not too busy at all for you.

[Once the base starts waking up is another matter and he'll have to give up his time to the cause, to leading. To strategy meetings and coordination of resources and people. While everyone's asleep, his time is his own and he'll devote it however he likes.]

But you need your sleep, too!

[Yeah, uh, so do small CHILDREN, but he's not registering that he'll feel like passing out for another 2 hours by mid-morning yet. What's more important is that if sensei is tired, he could get hurt, and that's absolutely not allowed.]

I sleep plenty, don't worry. I've got enough family that bully me into going to bed anyway. [Gonna just ruffle that hair of his.]

You're gonna have to tell me when you wanna start training though. [He'd talked to Casey about it some before she passed about training her son. And then with CJ himself once he got a little older. he hadn't wanted to start the kid on that path too early, wanted to let him be a kid as long as he could. But he's getting bigger so it wouldn't be the worst thing to start teaching him how to defend himself.]

[Oh. Oh, that is the best thing he could possibly have ever heard. He didn't know Leo was waiting on HIM to start things!

He wiggles closer, clutching Leo's shell and leaning as far forward as he can without falling off. His eyes are so wide.]

Sensei! Please train me right away! I wanna destroy all the Krang!

[The enthusiasm is great, he laughs a little at that. Leo adjusts to make sure Casey doesn't just fall off his shell with that lean.]

How about tomorrow morning? Tea and then training.

Yes! [Oh wait, quiet again. He claps both hands over his mouth, echoing with a muffled whisper.] Yes. I'm so ready.

[Yeah this one'll be a great ninja.]

[He will if Leo was anything to judge by when he was this age.]

Let's get everything cleaned up and I beeeet we could help with breakfast in the kitchen for everyone. How's that?

Life in the Apocalypse

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