Work Text:
Leo finds himself hiding under a large rock, at least it feels like one or maybe some sort of rock shaped ship debris. He smears blood along the surface as he sinks to the ground. He pulls his knees up to his chest and wraps his arms around his legs. He rests his head on his knees and takes a long shaky breath.
Krang Prime had his fun with Leo not too long ago. Fresh cuts and bruises decorate his skin, along with each breath reminding him just how painful their latest encounter was. But his new injuries won't stay for long as he feels the krang parasite slink along his skin, digging in and mending his sluggishly bleeding wounds.
Krang prime infected him soon after Leo was trapped here, claiming the fun would be over too soon otherwise. Leo hated him for it, but he hated him for a lot of things. At the least the version he gave Leo wasn't the full mind-controlling type he gave his big brother-
Leo felt his breath hitch. His big brother, how was he even doing? How were any of his brothers doing? Last he checked they were all injured. Raph's eye looked awful and Leo's positive he saw blood leaking out the bottom of Donnie's battle shell. At least Mikey didn't get any major injuries, at least from what Leo saw. Maybe they're all healed by now, time is weird in the prison dimension.
Day cycles aren't a thing here, so at first Leo used his com to keep track of time. And it worked for a while, but with no charger it died after about six months. Then he switched to trying to use estimated healing times. But it didn't really work since Draxum gave him a healing factor, not to mention after he got infected he healed even faster. Leo never thought he'd ever want to heal slower, usually it's the other way around.
Leo shivers as he feels the parasite slither across his face. It's trying to mend a large slash right over his eyes. He's only been able to see black since his most recent meeting with Prime. He'd reacted strongly to Leo calling him an ugly wad of bubblegum. And Leo was too busy laughing at Prime's utterly annoyed expression to dodge his next attack. He puffs out a small laugh just thinking about it. It was totally worth it, at least that's what Leo keeps telling himself.
His pathetic chuckle dies out as he realizes there's liquid slowly dripping down his face and pooling on his knees, he can't tell if it's blood or tears, maybe it's both. Leo sighs deeply and continues to try to ignore the ache that breathing brings him. His small delight fades away as once again the reality of his situation hits him. Prime definitely let him get away. He can't get away from him normally, let alone blind. He's probably cooking up a nasty surprise for Leo or maybe something even worse.
The parasite fully covers his eyes and the flow of liquid stops. His vision flashes white for a moment before he feels two eyes open on his face. His vision has a yellow tint that tells Leo that those aren't his actual eyes. He then feels a third eye open above the eye on the right side of his face and Leo gives a whole body shudder.
He sucks in heavy breaths, trying to not hyperventilate. He squeezes the new eyes shut as he fights against the burning waves of tears. Even the tears trying to fill the krang eyes feel wrong, he refuses to claim them as his. He hates this so much, he just wants to rip out the parasite. He now knows why that's the first thing Raph did when he was freed. But Leo can't, doing so would probably kill him and Prime would probaly find a way to bring him back and torture him even more.
And with every moment that passes Leo can feel the infection dig a little deeper as it takes more and more from him. Slowly transforming his flesh into nothing more than krang meat with echoes of his former self. Turning him more krang than turtle. It's actually the worst thing ever and makes Leo want to scream and yell and thrash, just rip and tear apart the very sinew still holding him together. But he can't. So he's stuck, just writhing in his uncomfortable body he wants nothing more than escape from.
At least he still has his mind. He can still call Krang Prime names, taunt him and pull the strings of his emotions. Predict his reactions as the oh-so-powerful leader falls to reckless rage with just a few well placed words.
Leo can still turn over fond memories of his family and trace his thumb over the faces of his family from the lone picture he has of them. At least with the picture their faces won't fade as fast as the memory of their voices. But maybe having his mind is worse, because with it he's aware enough to feel this.
Leo looks around the prison dimension, trying to find anything to take his mind off the feeling of the parasite crawling on his face, and the hollowness carving a hole in his chest. It's just a gray void with chucks of even grayer rocks and ship debris floating around.
He's probably explored each piece of rubble by now. He glances towards one of the larger rocks, maybe he could dig it out and make a better hiding spot- His thoughts are interrupted when a flash of pink catches his attention.
He turns around to get a better look at it. Maybe Prime got so bored he sent some krang hounds after Leo? It wouldn't be the first time, and definitely not the last. He slowly stands up, leaning on a nearby rock for support. His freshly broken knee is sending garbled pain signals the parasite is trying and failing to smother. Fighting the hounds may not be the best idea, but when has Leo ever had good ideas? Besides, it would at least give Leo something to do-
Wait.
That pink isn't right, it's bright, too bright. Almost white in the middle with a glowing pink border. It's kinda shaped like a-
No, no no nononono.
It can't be!
Leo feels his stomach drop as his heart races up his throat.
He doesn't think, he just runs. He feels the parasite rush down and clamor over his broken knee as it tries to buckle. But he ignores it as he pumps his legs faster and faster. He's launching himself off any nearby debris, gripping each one so hard little pieces are dislodged, leaving a trail of small rocks and metal chunks in his wake. The painfully familiar red light is in the distance behind him, it's far but rapidly getting closer.
He can already hear the taunting laugh before the noise even reaches him. Desperation somehow pushes Leo's body even faster, maybe he's imagining it but he swears he can see flickers of light flashing underneath the krang flesh squirming over his markings.
Eventually he reaches the portal and dives through. He rolls as his vision flashes as white as the portal before his eyes adjust, much quicker than his normal eyes ever could. As soon as he can see he focuses on the key. The same key he brushed off and ignored. The same key that almost ended the world. The same key that actually did so in another time.
Said key is embedded in krang flesh right in front of where Leo landed. He watches it as it pulses in time with his heartbeat. It doesn't get a chance to beat more than twice before his krang arm rips it away. The force of the pull tearing off a chunk of the key pedestal with it. Then the portal sends out a pulse, almost knocking Leo off his feet, before it flashes brightly and fades out.
He cradles the cursed knockoff tiki idol to his plastron as blinks spots out of his vision. Relief swirls up in his chest as realizes no one else got out, that he didn't get free. He puffs out a small laugh. Krang Prime is still stuck while Leo is free, ha! Now Leo can make sure that ugly wad of bubblegum is never released! And Leo can call him that as much as he likes!
Leo's giddy as he inhales deeply. The air is thick and clean, not thin and stale. It smells of sea salt and ozone, only a trace of blood but no rotting flesh. He's barely able to contain his overwhelming excitement as he takes a look around. He's in a warehouse with dull brown walls, oh how Leo missed walls! They aren't even gray! Boxes and shipping containers line said walls, adding greens and blues to the rapidly expanding world of color around him. He's right next to the large arch of the portal still facing the portal pedestal.
He turns around, hoping to see more color. More of the world he desperately missed. Instead, a sea of orange greets him. Hundreds of faces covered with the painfully familiar Foot symbol fill every inch of the free floor space in the warehouse. They're just standing there staring at him. Most are whispering to each other, some are even pointing.
He realizes that he's standing on a small stage against the middle of the wall furthest from the exit. Between Leo and true freedom is an army of Foot soldiers. Even more soldiers then when he fought Shredder but less than the krang zombie hordes. He can tell they're living too, flesh and blood and not paper. The rise and fall of their chests give them away. He doesn't have his swords.
The new found relief and excitement swirling in his chest balls up and falls to the pit of Leo's stomach, hollowing him out on the way down and leaving a massive hole in his chest. Fear quickly rushes in the empty space, writhing and howling. It hooks its sharp claws into the recesses of his mind.
The Foot and their mission rush up from the almost forgotten dusty corners of his memories. Their attempt to free Shredder, killing gram-gram, almost killing his dad, creating the very portal that freed the krang in the first place. And it's at this moment he knows, he's never going to let them get the key.
Leo feels the krang flesh bubble up and slither around him, covering the rest of his still healing wounds as more and more spikes flare outward. A growl leaves his beak as he takes them in, bearing his too sharp teeth.
The growl causes the whispers to stop. Some straighten their backs as they all stare at Leo, hundreds of eyes watch his every move. He brandishes his overgrown claws as he glares down at the crowd. He's faced Krang Prime; these humans are nothing. They have to be nothing.
Tensing his muscles Leo settles into a familiar fighting stance. He holds the key close to his plastron, he's gripping it so hard if it were anything else it probably would have been crushed by now. He's never going to let them get it, he'll find a way to keep fighting even after he takes his last breath. He's not going to let them end the world. He'll keep his family safe, it doesn't matter what he has to take from himself to do it.
He sees the closest Foot soldier motion something to the others. Leo's one moment away from lunging when the sea of Foot soldiers bow. One by one they kneel and outstretch their hands towards him, voices chanting in sync.
"All hail the Krang!"
What..?
Leo's brain stutters to a stop as he takes in the Foot before him. Maybe Krang Prime knocked around his head a little too much or maybe he got hit a little too hard? He's expecting the soldiers to get up and start attacking him, that this is somehow just one big joke and his confusion is the punchline. But they don't, they just keep going.
"All hail the Krang!"
The same soldier that motioned to the others speaks over the crowd, a voice Leo isn't familiar with.
"Our lord, we have risen from defeat and freed you from your prison! We will serve your every demand in return for a place in the new world!"
Do they think he's Krang Prime? He doesn't even look- wait, the krang parasite. They can't even see his actual face.
Oh!
Oh, this is hilarious!
"My lord, this time we have a plan to stop those pesky turtles so your rein may last forever!"
Leo holds back the waves of laughter fighting to burst out of his chest. This is even funnier than Raph's reaction to Mrs. Cuddles and that never gets old. The only thing that stops the manic giggles from breaking through is the years Leo spent practicing his acting, hours and hours spent in front of the mirror trying to master each expression and craft the perfect masks to mimic his favorite actors.
He's not fully successful as a crooked smile twists his beak, amusement dancing in the krang eyes covering his face as he stares down at the crowd of kneeling Foot soldiers. They slowly rise and look to Leo for direction. Leo, one of the very same 'pesky turtles' they're talking about. The same ones that defeated their original master and locked their new ones away.
Somehow, Prime gave him the very tools to make sure he's never freed. Leo can feel his mind waking up, ideas starting to whirl around his mindscape like a vortex. New plans form and are discarded just as quickly. The movement clears away the dust and fear that's gathered there, making way for the delight and competitive joy of finally being able to fight the Foot again. Of finally being able to win against them.
One plan sticks out above the rest, causing a flurry of even more plans to be created following its lead. The promising plan brings out memories of the Shredder, his stance, tone of voice, his sheer confidence and how the Foot listened to him without question. It brings up his first encounter with the krang leader, along with the many other villains Leo's seen and read about in movies and comics.
The plan shuffles through them, picking out bits and pieces. Then it strings the memories together, crafting another mask. It's already cracking and leaking darkness, and behind it vicious glee shines through the forming cracks. Tales of revenge and finally finding a way to keep his family safe sing to Leo. The pros and cons thrash, claw and fight each other, snarling and breaking the mask apart and rebuilding it over and over again.
Leo once more stares at the crowd awed by him. They think he's their leader, the person that'll lead them to greatness.
The mask shreds itself and is reconstructed again.
They were going to free the krang again, even after the disaster that was the last invasion.
Darkness leaks through the eye holes and rips the mask apart as more pieces rush in to fill the fractures.
They already have a plan to 'stop those pesky turtles.'
More mask fragments are removed and replaced, darkness pools at the memories providing the pieces.
Leo knows what he has to do.
He slips on the mask, spine straightening, stance turning from unsure to unshakingly confident. His krang bits flare up even more, slithering over the last of his exposed flesh and covering every inch of his pale lime green skin.
The mask settles snugly on his face as his resolve hardens. It's still dripping, leaking the whispered promises of revenge and payback.
A large too wide grin splits his beak, showing off rows of sharp teeth. He raises his now pink fist and pumps it in the air.
"To the new world!" Leo's voice is raspy but otherwise steady and filled with mimicked arrogance.
A roar of cheers fills the warehouse, the sheer amount of noise causes Leo's tympanum to ring. But he ignores it and focuses on putting on a show of basking in their enthusiasm. It feels just as gross as the Krang flesh coating his skin, but he's not going to waste this opportunity.
Somehow, his grin turns even sharper. The Foot will never know what hit them.