Chapter Text
Leo felt like he was going stir-crazy. He just had to get out of the Lair, even for a small moment! Don's been there for a week, and Leo was starting to feel things that he really didn't want to address! But, due to what happened the last time he was alone, Raph had been even more of a mother-hen to him. So what if he got stuck in the Prison Dimension for a bit?! That was last year, man! He thought that Raph had cooled it a bit with his mother-hen routine! But apparently not, as Raph huffed angrily at him from the Lair's entrance, blocking the entrance and keeping Leo inside. Leo rolled his eyes with a groan as Raph crossed his arms. "Uh, you ain't leaving the Lair alone!" Leo huffed. "Oh come on! It's just Hueso's! I won't even be gone that long!" Raph gave him a look at that. "Really? Cause this is you we're talking about! You attract all sorts of attention wherever ya go! And most of the time, it ain't good attention! Remember the last time you were alone?!' Leo winced, before scowling at Raph. "Really? We wanna talk about this now?" Raph flinched, before shaking his head with a growl. "Leo. We both know how ya are. And I don't want ya gettin' into any trouble. Alright?" Leo groaned and rolled his head back at that. Raph heaved a sigh at the theatrics, before speaking up again. "But ya can choose who ya take with ya. Promise."
Leo lit up at the choice of person to drag along. He then studied everyone in the room with him, his eyes carefully looking them over. He obviously didn't wanna bring Raph, simply because he was being forced to do this. He turned to Mikey with a grin, only for Mikey to turn and glower at him. "No." Leo pouted, before turning to Donnie. Donnie quirked a brow. "No, Nardo. I am perfectly comfortable right here, in Don's jacket." They were wearing Don's jacket like a large cozy cape. His dad was out, hanging out with Drax for Don's and Mikey's sake, and Drax was already an obvious no. April wasn't there, so she was out. Cass and Casey were also not there, so they were also out. Then his eyes landed on Don. The oldest turtle was staring off into space with a rather blank look, sitting on his propped up feet and drinking lazily from a large two-liter they'd filled with water. He was so lost in the sauce, he hadn't realized he was being watched. Oh, he was so Leo's choice! So Leo pointed with a large grin. "Him." The others jolted at that, before realizing who he was pointing at. Everyone seemed rather surprised, before Don snapped out of it. He turned, only to notice everyone watching him. He jolted a bit before he gave them a look. "Uh, why is everyone staring at me?"
Leo grinned with a hum. "Well, I'm not allowed to leave the Lair alone, but I got to choose who came with me~!" Don perked at that, before nodding. He fluidly stood to his feet, plopping his water down and stretching a bit. He then smiled at Leo. "Welp, ready to go whenever you are." Leo grinned even brighter. Raph gave another sigh and a roll of his eyes before stepping out of the way. Don was quick to follow Leo out of the Lair and towards the topside. He led the older turtle to the rooftops. The older turtle certainly never complained, apparently just happy to follow along. Leo grinned as he bounded across rooftops, Don staying close behind easily. Which meant that he really did keep himself in good shape. It didn't help that he'd caught Don and Raph working out together. Now that had been amazing to watch~! Don had been able to dead-lift a 900 pound weight without too much struggle! And, according to Don, he'd actually lifted a car once and threw it at an enemy! Leo nearly fell off a roof while lost in thoughts, if not for Don catching him by the shell with a panicked shout. Leo was gently pulled back and into Don's plastron with a heaved sigh. "Geez, kid. Gonna give me a heart-attack, I swear." Leo apologetically smiled up at the older soft-shell. Don quirked a brow, but shook his head with a fond smile. Don gently pushed him to continue on. So they did so, finally reaching Run of the Mill rather quickly. Don suddenly lifted Leo before hovering them down to the alley leading to the restaurant. Leo was surprised, but soon ecstatically waved his arms around with giggles as they floated down. Don grinned as they floated to the ground. Once they were there, Don gently set him back on his feet. He pat Leo's upper shell gently, rubbing over it with the same hand. Leo felt like a star as he led the older turtle into Run of the Mill, immediately spotting Senor Hueso standing nearby.
Senor Hueso quirked a brow at Leo, before pausing as Don stepped up behind Leo. He was apparently a little taken aback at the guy. But he soon recovered with a shake of his head. "I am not questioning this." Don rubbed the back of his neck with an apologetic smile. "Tio Hueso." Hueso rolled his eyes playfully. "So, are you getting the same order again? Meat Lovers, Hawaiian, Special Surprise, Super Creepy Supreme, and...?" He gestured at Don, who grinned. "I think I'll go with Chicken Hawaiian. Sides, it's been too little time for me to eat another Super Creepy Supreme." Senor Hueso nodded and wrote that down, waving for them to take a seat. Which... Leo was so confused about. The two quickly found a table and sat down. Leo then turned to Don with a quirked brow. "What does that mean?" Don looked confused, before realizing what Leo meant. "Ah. Right. So ya know the peeping horrors?" Leo nodded, remembering the peeping horrors as the eyeball things. "Well, eating too much in too little time tends ta have ya seein' shit ya really shouldn't be able to see normally. And I'm nearly at that point, even if it's been about a week since I got here." Ah, well, that certainly explained a few things. Leo scrunched his beak. "Wait, could they make ya see your dead siblings?" Don stared at him blankly. "Kid, I think ya remember the book that went flying at my head a little too well. They don't cause shit like that." Huh. Don, apparently noticing something, cleared his throat. Leo perked at that, and was confused when Don was grinning at him. "So, any stories ya got for me?" And Leo couldn't help the grin that spread over his face at the open invitation, so much so that he lost himself in one of his stories. And Don smiled and nodded along, encouraging him~!
Leo was speaking when he leaned back and accidentally leaned into someone's space. He slightly corrected himself, and turned with an apologetic smile. "Ah, sorry, bro. My bad." The "guy" he bumped into turned to glower nastily at him. He raised his hands in a gesture of goodwill and apology. But, much to his surprise and astonishment, the guy grabbed his chair and shoved him back into his table. He jumped a little at that, but the guy was already turning back to his table with an angry grumble. Okay? That was rude. Leo was confused. What was that guy's deal?
Ah well. He might never see the guy again. So better just to let it go. He turned back to Don with a confused grin and shrug. "Heh. People, am I right?" Don quirked a brow, before snorting. "Yeah. People. Now, you were getting to the juicy bit of your story?" Oh, so he wasn't acting like he was paying attention. He was actually paying attention to the story! He grinned as he rubbed his palms together. He jumped right back in, accidentally going back over a few parts he'd already told. But Don didn't seem to mind, as he only nodded and smiled along. He even flapped his hands as he spoke, but Don seemed happier when he did so. So he saw no reason to stop doing so. But then, after a few minutes, the guy behind him must hate that. Cause the next thing he knows is that the guy was looming angrily over him with a sneer. But then Don was on his feet as well, giving the guy such a nasty glare that had Leo a little nervous. And oh man, when did Donnie get such an expression? The guy, however, was a bit more nervous about Don's glower at him than his rage at Leo, cause he soon backed down after glancing between Leo and Don. Leo grinned a shit-eating grin at the guy, for good measure. "You sure ya wanna test those waters, dude? Cause it looks like papa bear's ready for a fight."
The guy scowled at Leo, but hunched in on himself at Don baring his teeth aggressively at him. And oh, now that made Leo very happy. Once the guy was back in his seat and turned back to his table, Don slowly sat down in his own seat. He glared at the guy for a moment, then took a few breaths as he relaxed himself. He then turned to Leo with a gentle and worried smile. "You good, Leo?" Leo was touched, but didn't get to respond when Hueso appeared by their table. He glared at the guy for a moment, before turning to Leo with a worried frown. "You okay, Pepino?" Leo felt himself flustered at the concern from the two older men. He grinned as he waved at them. "Oh yeah, perfectly fine. Guy probably had a bad day or somethin'. Sides, he's not used to seeing such a handsome guy near him~." Don rolled his eyes playfully, but Hueso sneered. "Well, this establishment is a safe haven for everyone. And I mean, everyone." The way he stated that with some venom told Leo that he didn't appreciate the guy's behavior. Leo hummed with a smile. "Hueso, it's fine. Besides, we'll be outta here once we get the pizza~." Hueso looked a little conflicted, but then nodded. He sent an odd look Don's way before wandering off with an, "If anything happens, I saw nothing."
Don nodded, before the two soon returned to Leo's story. After a while, Don gently stopped Leo. "Hey, Leo? I just gotta get up for a moment. I'll be right back. Promise." Leo nodded, smiling as he watched Don shuffle off out of sight. When Don disappeared from view, the guy suddenly grew bold with his nastiness toward Leo. Which meant that the guy was such a coward. The guy sneered as he stood to his feet and turned to Leo. "Well, it looks like yer boyfriend isn't here to protect ya. Now what're ya gonna do?" Leo sneered back, disgusted at what the guy was implying. "Um, no. He's actually my dad. I got most of my looks from my mom~!" He then smirked. "Sides, I don't think Hueso appreciates you causing a scene, big guy." The guy growled at that before he grabbed Leo's neck with his left hand. Leo was shocked, and could only grab at the guy's hand. The guys' right hand was pulled back for a punch. Oh no!
But, much to his relief, just as the guy's fist started approaching his face, Don was suddenly by their sides with an angry and aggressive roar of, "HE'S MY SON!" The guy was too stunned to stop himself, as Don's right hand snatched the guys' flying right fist. He yanked it towards himself, turning the guy more towards him in shock with the momentum of his own fist. Don then jabbed his left fist into the guys' stomach, making him gag at that. As the dude started bending over from the gut punch, Don used his own right fist to deliver a knock-out punch to the guys' face. The punches downright knocked the guy out and on his ass. Once the guy was unconscious, Don threw the guy to the floor. The guys' left hand slipped off of Leo's neck, relieving Leo. After a moment, Leo grinned. "Well, I guess we won't have to tell the guy to stop hitting himself~." Don was angrily shaking and panting as he glared down at the guys' body. He then turned and glowered over the restaurant. Anyone who was still staring were quick to turn away. It. Was. AWESOME! Don waited a moment, before turning to Leo with an obviously softer and more genuine grin. "It's okay, Leo. I got ya." Leo whistled. "Well, damn. Ya coulda held back." Don looked genuinely confused. "Uh, I was holding back." Oh. OH! He kinda wanted to see him go full ham on someone now.
Hueso soon returned to the table with their pizzas and a grin. He was... Oh, he was ignoring the guy like he didn't see what happened. Oh. Hueso had mentioned that earlier, didn't he? Hueso gently thrust the boxes into Leo's arms with a hum. "Here you are, Pepino. Hope you all enjoy your meals." Leo happily took the boxes with a large grin. It was his prize for getting to see Papatello in full action. They paused as they watched another customer walk on the guys' body casually. Leo then got to his feet and started moving to the exit. Papatello was quick to appear at his side, gently wrapping an arm around Leo's shoulders on his shell. Aw, well that's real sweet of him~! Still feeling protective of him! Once the two were out in New York again, Leo looked up at him with starry eyes. "DUDE! THAT WAS AWESOME!" Don was startled, but soon gave a chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand. "Well, you were being attacked by an asshole who was being an asshole right off the bat. You didn't even mean to start it. And you were being the reasonable one." He then sneered. "I hate people like that. So it was an easy choice for me."
And Leo? Well, he felt like hugging the crap outta Don! So he shoved the pizzas at Don, who took them with a confused look on his face. Leo then hugged him tightly, shutting his eyes to nuzzle his beak into Don's shirt. Don gave a soft chuckle and croon at that, apparently shifting to hold the pizzas on one arm to hug Leo with the other. "Aw, Leo. Ya coulda just told me ya wanted a hug." Leo snorted. "Nope. Only hug." Don hummed, gently rubbing over his carapace with one hand. Once Leo got his fill of Papatello hug, he backed off with a grin. "Alright, Don. Let's get these pizzas back home before Raphala gets too smother-y~." Don chuckled and nodded. Leo quickly opened a portal into the Lair, and gently took the pizzas back. The two then stepped into the Lair.
When they stepped into the Lair, Don muttered something about pancaking before wandering to their living room area. Leo took a moment, before rushing to find the others excitedly. He couldn't wait to share the exploitable, protective fury that was Don on a warpath! Don was terrifying! But, luckily for Leo and his brothers, it only came out in protective flames that ate everyone else up! They thought that they'd seen him furious and ready to explode! No! He just got to see it, in Run of the Mill of all places! Taken out on a guy in a few steps! The dude didn't even stand a chance! Apparently put up against a Tank of a Protective and Aggressive Turtle Mutant? Yeah, Leo's got his money on the Tank of a Turtle now occupying the floor next to their dad's armchair. Leo found his siblings all in the kitchen, talking about something. He set the pizzas down in the middle, startling them. Before they could speak, he was flapping his hands excitedly. "Dudes! You will not believe what I'm bout ta tell ya!"
Donnie, without missing a beat, rolled their eyes. "Um, scoff, obviously not. You tend to over-exaggerate things." Mikey snorted with a bounce of their head. "Yeah, Leo. You tend to tell tall tales." Raph and Donnie snickered at that as Leo scowled. Well, they had missed something so cool! He sneered. "I saw Don in full protective fury mode." They fell silent at that, staring him down. Raph heaved a sigh. "Leo, please tell me yer joking." Leo grinned, happy to have their full undivided attention. "Nope! So we went to Run of the Mill, right?" The other three nodded. "Well, we were sitting at a table, waiting for the pizzas, and I was sharing one of our past adventures with him! But, like, I upset this dude real bad? Cause he got all mean and angry with me? So, at one point, he towered over me with this nasty glare. But then, Don got to his feet and gave an even nastier glare back to the guy! He even bared his teeth at him! Then, when the dude tried to punch me, Don grabbed his arm and decked him in the gut! Then used the guy's own fist to knock him out in a second strike! Knocked the dude out! He threw the dude's body to the floor, and glared down at him! Oh! And just before he knocked him out, Don called me his son!"
Through the course of the story, his siblings looked skeptical. They looked stunned at the son comment. Don suddenly shambled in, with his empty pizza box. He noticed them all watching him, and quirked a brow. "What?" Raph and Donnie spluttered, before Mikey beamed up at him. "Apparently, ya beat up some dude for being a jerk?" Don grumbled angrily. "That guy was an asshole! Jesus! He was just asking for his ass to be handed to him! Just cause Leo leaned into his space and flapped his hands! Guy's lucky Leo was there. Otherwise..." He clenched his fist, crushing the box still in his grasp. The trio were shocked, before the four younger turtles shared a look. Oh, they were so looking forward to taking Don out on the town~.