Chapter Text
The Krang leader looms over Leo, his voice dripping with malice. “You think you’ve won, you wretched little pest!”
Leo lies motionless beneath him, pinned to the fractured ground. The surface trembles, then gives way, sending them both crashing into the building below. Dust and debris settle around Leo’s battered body. His blue bandana is torn, and blood seeps from countless wounds etched into his scales. Death hovers close, but Leo doesn’t flinch. Slowly, his right hand lifts, trembling, to reveal a crumpled photograph.
The sight of it makes his chest ache. Tears well up in his eyes as memories of his family flood his mind—bright, happy moments that now feel like lifetimes ago. A choked sob escapes his throat, a tear slipping down his cheek. He knows this is the end, doomed to rot alone in this void. Yet, despite the despair, a faint smile curls his lips. His family is safe. And that is enough.
His enemy snarls, furious. “Wipe that grin off your face!”
With a roar of rage, he unleashes a devastating attack, hurling Leo through the air and obliterating what remains of a floating building, scattering debris into the void. Leo drifts, weightless and alone in the infinite darkness, clutching the photo to his chest as silence presses in around him.
A flicker of light begins to flash against his eyelids, dimly alerting Leo’s attention. What is it? a part of Leo panics. Is he back? He doesn’t know what he can even do against the alien in this state. Still, Leo forces himself to open his eyes, just in time to witness a portal beginning to form before him. For a moment, he wonders if it’s some kind of afterlife welcoming him. He stretches his hand toward it, yearning for an end to the pain.
The portal widens to the face of his brothers. They’re crying, expressions filled with awe and desperation, making Leo’s lips curve into another faint smile. Mikey opened a portal. His brother found him. Against all odds, he opened a portal directly to him. Hope swells in Leo’s chest. He can go home. He can be with his family.
But then the portal begins to flicker. Cracks form along its edges, sending ripples of static across the glowing gateway, dimming its light. His brothers cry out in alarm, their voices muffled by the distortion.
“No, no, no, no!” Mikey’s panicked cries echo through the void.
“Leo!” Raph’s voice bellows, full of anguish.
Leo hesitates, pulling his hand back as the portal blips into nothing. It was only for a moment, but Leo saw it. The glowing cracks creeping up their arms. Mikey had more cracks than the other two, probably because he was the one who did the opening with the others’ help. Leo doesn’t know what they really were, but the damage tells him enough—this attempt has taken too much out of them. They might not be able to try again. The realization sinks in like a stone, but he exhales a slow sigh. If they can’t come to him, then maybe it’s up to him to find his way back.
He closes his eyes and begins to meditate, summoning the depths of his mystic energy. He’s the portal expert, after all. It’s just... different, without his swords. But he draws on the feeling, pushing them to the surface. Time becomes meaningless. Maybe it’s been hours, maybe it’s been months, everything blurs as he focuses on gathering the power for a single portal jump. The strain is immense, his body screaming in protest, but finally, the energy coalesces. He channels it, forcing the portal to open.
The moment he drifts through, pain tears through his body, a searing agony that makes his vision blur. He clutches the photograph tighter, using it as an anchor. Then, suddenly, he feels it—gravity pulling at him. The biting cold of wind rushes past his face as he falls, tumbling through a cloud. Tiny droplets sting his battered scales, far harsher than he ever imagined.
So this is how it ends, he thinks. Falling to his death. He closes his eyes, bracing for the impact below.
But it doesn’t come. Warmth envelops him instead, arms catching him midair. The sudden safety is so unexpected that his body goes limp, relief washing over him like a wave. His mind barely registers the comforting embrace before darkness claims him, and he passes out.
The first thing Leo notices when he wakes is the pain. His body feels like it’s been through a woodchipper, every inch of him screaming in protest. A dull, relentless headache pulses behind his eyes, making it hard to focus. Blinking a few times to clear his vision, he takes in his surroundings. He’s in a bedroom, definitely not his own. It’s cozy and warm, cluttered with posters of movies and bands he doesn’t recognize. The soft glow of sunlight filters through the curtains, adding a strange sense of calm to his disoriented state.
His gaze eventually lands on the door, where a little girl with glasses stands, staring at him like he’s an alien. Which, he supposes, for a human that’s what he looks like. Before Leo can ask who she is or where he is, she spins on her heels, shouting, “Billy! The turtle man woke up!”
The sudden volume makes Leo wince, his headache spiking sharply. He groans as the girl disappears down the hall, her voice echoing as she yells again, “Billy! Come quick!”
Leo tries to sit up, but his body refuses to cooperate. He can barely lift his head before collapsing back onto the pillow, frustrated and helpless. A few seconds later, the sound of hurried footsteps reaches his ears. A boy with dark hair and striking blue eyes—no older than Mikey—appears in the doorway.
The boy strides into the room with a confidence that belies his age. “How are you feeling?” he asks. After a moment’s hesitation, he repeats the question in another language Leo doesn’t recognize.
Leo manages a weak reply, his voice raspy. “Like I got chewed up and spit out by a giant bubblegum alien prick.”
The boy—Billy, probably, Leo figures—blinks, his expression caught somewhere between confusion and amusement. “What?”
“You had to be there,” Leo mutters, offering no further explanation. His head throbs harder just from talking.
Billy hums thoughtfully, pulling up a chair beside the bed. “Well, you’re not just banged up physically,” he says, his tone turning clinical. “Your body’s under a lot of magical strain. Overuse, most likely.”
Leo grimaces, closing his eyes against the pulsing ache in his skull. “That would explain the killer headache,” he mumbles, though the idea of ‘magical strain,’ and its symptoms are completely foreign to him. Wasn’t Mystics and Magic different, though? At least that’s what he gathered. Mysticism wasn’t exactly his strong suit.
Billy watches him closely, as though trying to decide if Leo’s worth explaining things to. “You’re lucky you didn’t burn yourself out completely. Another portal jump like that could’ve done permanent damage.”
“Noted,” Leo says dryly, though his sarcasm is undermined by the exhaustion weighing down his voice. He doesn’t have the energy to argue, much less make sense of what’s happening. For now, he’ll just have to trust that this kid knows what he’s talking about.
Leo shifts slightly on the bed, his voice hoarse as he murmurs, “Any chance I could get a cup of water?”
Billy blinks at him, his face twisting in sudden realization. “Oh, right! Sorry about that—totally forgot,” he says, already getting up and walking toward the door. He barely takes a step before nearly colliding with the girl from earlier, who’s balancing a small tray with a glass of water and a pitcher.
“Billy!” she scolds, her glasses sliding down her nose as she glares up at him. “You were supposed to get the turtle man some water! You’re making us look like bad hosts!”
Billy sighs, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, you’re right. I’ll remember next time.” He takes the tray from her whispering, “Thanks, Darla,” under his breath as he does so.
Leo catches the name and offers a weak smile. “Yeah, thanks, Darla.”
Pushing up her glasses, the girl’s face lights up with a grin. She then skips out of the room, her mood seemingly restored.
Billy watches her go, then glances back at Leo. “Good hearing.” he says, carefully setting the tray down on the bedside table.
Leo shrugs instinctively, immediately regretting it as sharp pain lances through his shoulders and down his arms. He winces, biting back a groan. “Yeah... also, I don’t think I can drink on my own right now.”
Billy nods, grabbing the cup and sliding a straw into it. He holds it to Leo’s beak, letting him take a few slow sips before setting it back on the tray.
“Thanks,” Leo says, his voice a little clearer now.
Billy hums in response, then leans back in the chair. “So, where are you from? You need help getting home?”
“New York,” Leo replies before thinking. Who is this kid? Why is he so calm right now?
Billy blinks, visibly caught off guard. “New York? Huh... didn’t expect that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Leo squints.
Billy shrugs, idly examining his fingernails. “I just thought you were, y’know... from off-planet.”
Leo snorts. “I wish. That’d be cool.”
Billy lets out an awkward chuckle before straightening up. “Well, good news is you’re in Minnesota, so it’s not too far. Could’ve been worse.”
“Huh. Never been out of state before,” Leo admits, relaxing slightly. “But hey, at least I didn’t land in Staten Island...” He then scrunches his beak, “or worse, Jersey.”
Billy laughs at that, shaking his head. “Don’t let Batman hear you say that.”
Leo blinks, his brow furrowing. “Who?”
The room falls silent for a moment as Billy stares at him, incredulous. “You know...” he starts, lifting his hands to his head to mimic pointed ears with his fingers. In a low, gravelly voice, he growls, “I’m Batman. I am vengeance! I am the night!”
Leo raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Sounds like he needs a throat lozenge.”
Billy drops his hands. “Did you hit your head or something?”
“Probably,” Leo says, glancing up at the ceiling. “But I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
Billy drums his fingers on his knees. “You’ve gotta have amnesia or something if you don’t know who Batman is. Unless you’ve been living under a rock your whole life?”
“No, but close,” Leo mutters. “A sewer, actually. But we got TV and internet and nope, never heard of Batman before.”
Billy blinks, tilting his head slightly. “Okay... what year is it? And who’s the current U.S. president?”
Leo furrows his brow at the odd questions but answers both anyway.
Billy’s face twists in confusion at the president’s name, his lips forming a quiet who? before he takes a deep breath. “Alright, uh... this might sound crazy—and don’t freak out, okay?—but I think... you’re in a different universe."
Leo stares at him, his expression blank. “Ha-ha. Very funny.”
“I’m not joking.” Billy’s voice is steady, but his eyes carry a seriousness that makes Leo’s skin crawl. He pulls out his phone, lifting it a ways from his mouth to speak. “Hey APRIL, show me the current president of the United States.”
April? The phone responds with a picture of a bald man Leo doesn’t recognize. Billy turns the screen toward him, the glowing image staring Leo down like a bad punchline.
Leo blinks, his chest tightening as he processes what he’s seeing. He isn’t sure if he should cry or laugh, so he does both. His body shakes with pained, broken sobs that mix with bitter chuckles, each movement sending sharp jolts through his wounds.
“Of course,” he mutters, his voice dripping with self-loathing. “This is just so me. Screw up one portal jump and end up in another dimension. Way to go, idiot, real hero material.”
Billy watches him with a surprising level of composure, though the sympathy on his face is impossible to miss. “We’ll get you home,” he says softly, his voice firm with quiet conviction. “I promise.”
Leo looks at him, not sure if he believes him but nods anyway, too tired to argue. Half-listening, he catches fragments of Billy’s explanation about how he was found. Something about a portal forming in midair, a bright flash of light, and him falling through it.
Billy pauses mid-sentence, realization dawning on his face. “Wait—I didn’t even ask your name.”
“Leo,” he answers, his voice strained but steady.
Billy’s face lights up. “No way! I have a friend who goes by Leo, too.”
A weak smile tugs at Leo’s lips. “Bet I’m cooler, though.”
“I don’t know,” Billy replies, grinning. “He can do some pretty cool acrobatic stuff.”
Leo huffs, trying not to wince as the motion aggravates his injuries. “So can I—just, y’know, not right now. Injured and all.”
“Oh yeah?” Billy leans forward, curious.
“Technically, I’m a ninja.”
Billy blinks, surprise flickering in his eyes. “Huh. My Leo has siblings who are ninja-slash-assassins.”
Leo’s gaze drops, and he mutters under his breath, “Assassin...? That’s... pretty cool.”
“Ah,” Billy says, perking up as if he’d just remembered something. “They don’t do the assassin part anymore, though—turned over a new leaf and all that, but they were trained for it.”
“I got it, no need to rub it in,” Leo says. He shifts slightly, his eyes scanning the room again before he speaks again. “So... Billy, right?”
Billy watches him closely, almost scrutinizing. “Wait, did I even...? Are you a psychic?”
“Only if you want me to be,” Leo half-jokes. When he notices Billy’s serious-yet-confused expression, he pivots, “Darla screamed your name on the top of her lungs, bud.”
“Oh. Right.”
“An-y-ways,” Leo draws out the word, emphasizing each syllable. “Is this your room or something?” he asks, nodding faintly at the posters and clutter.
“Yeah,” Billy confirms, leaning back in his chair. “I needed to bring you somewhere safe to recoup. My place was the closest, especially since you were, y’know, falling out of the sky above my city. I wasn’t sure if teleporting or more exposure to magic would mess you up even worse, so... here we are.”
Leo hums thoughtfully, the logic making sense. “Fair enough.” He then nods towards the other bed in the room. “You sure your roommate don’t mind?”
Billy’s eyes flick over to the aforementioned bed. “Ah, yeah, he’s chill. We commandeered the living room for the time being.”
“Cool.” After a beat of silence, Leo smirks faintly. “Y’know... you’re putting a lot of faith in me— assuming I’m not gonna cause any trouble.”
Billy raises an eyebrow. “Are you planning on being trouble?”
“Not as far as I know,” Leo replies with a shrug, though the movement pulls painfully at his injuries. He really needs to stop moving.
Billy huffs. “You’re in no condition to be trouble. Besides, even if you had accelerated healing or something, I could still take you.”
Leo squints at him, suspicion creeping into his voice. “You got a sleeper build or something? ‘Cause that hoodie looks, like, two sizes too big on you.”
Billy scoffs, his arms crossing as if personally offended. “Hey, don’t let the hoodie fool you. I’m stronger than I look!”
“You know what,” Leo admits, his voice softening, “fair. Maybe in this world, less muscle means you’re stronger.”
Billy’s mouth opens to retort, but a sharp beep-beep-beep interrupts him. The noise is coming from his jean pocket, its source something that clearly isn’t his phone—given the fact he’s still holding it. A pager? Who has a pager in this day and age? Maybe it’s common to have pagers here?
Beep-beep-beep.
“Uh... I need to take this,” Billy says quickly, his expression unreadable. “I’ll be right back.”
Before Leo can respond, Billy steps out, closing the door behind him. The faint sound of muffled conversation filters through the door, and though Leo can’t make out much, a few words catch his attention: safe, no, bad shape... Batman.
Leo leans back with a groan, his thoughts racing. He barely has time to overthink before Billy sneaks back into the room, slipping through the door as quietly as possible.
Leo raises an eyebrow at him. “Did you snitch on me for not knowing who Batman is? Because, in my defense, I’m from a different world, remember? So, cut me some slack.”
Billy stares at him, caught off guard, then shakes his head. “Nah. It’s just... people concerned about your condition.”
Leo’s relaxed posture vanishes in an instant, his body stiffening. “Concerned?” he repeats, his voice low, wary.
“Good guys,” Billy assures him quickly, raising his hands in a placating gesture. “Don’t worry.”
Leo narrows his eyes. “You understand how hard it is to believe you when you say it like that, especially with no proof, right?”
Billy pauses, his gaze steady as he meets Leo’s. “Yeah,” he admits softly. “I get that. But I promise—you’re safe here.”
“If you’re planning to sell me off to be experimented on,” Leo advises, his voice half-serious, “at least have the courtesy to let me know now. Y’know, so I can mentally prepare.”
Billy freezes for a split second before yelping, “I’m not doing that!” There’s a flash of anger in his voice, genuine and sharp enough that Leo hesitates.
“Alright,” Leo says after a moment, his voice quieter. “Sorry. Guess I’m just... on edge.” He clears his throat. “Uh, you got any pain meds?”
“Yeah,” Billy says, his tone still a little tight but softening. “We’ve got over-the-counter stuff. Aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen...” He trails off before muttering under his breath, almost to himself, “Could probably get my hands on something stronger if I get clearance for it...”
“Ibuprofen’s fine,” Leo cuts in, not quite sure what ‘clearance’ entails and not wanting to know.
Billy nods and slips out of the room again, returning a moment later with a small bottle in hand. As he approaches, he holds the bottle up clearly, turning it in his fingers so Leo can see the label.
Leo blinks, raising an eyebrow as Billy twists the cap off. “You think I’m worried about you slipping me something weird?” he asks. Oddly enough, Leo realizes he is worried about that now, which leaves him cursing softly under his breath, “Great. Thanks for giving me a new anxiety I didn’t even know I had.”
Billy huffs a laugh, “You’re welcome,” he says, shaking out two pills into his palm and handing them over with a glass of water. “Don’t worry, man. Just ibuprofen. Scout’s honor.”
Leo eyes him for a moment before taking the pills. “Yeah, well... I’m not ruling out you being a really convincing liar.”
“Noted,” Billy replies, smirking faintly as he watches Leo swallow the pills.
A stocky teen, at least a head taller than Billy, walks into the room carrying a portable CRT TV. Despite his imposing size, his voice is surprisingly soft as he greets, “Heard our guest is awake.” He glances at Leo briefly before continuing, “Thought he’d like some entertainment.”
Billy quickly gets up, moving to clear one of the cluttered desks nearby to make room for the TV. “You should give it back to Eugene when you’re done with it,” the teen adds, setting the TV down with a grunt. “And maybe, I don’t know, tell Eugene you borrowed one of his TVs—I couldn’t reach him.”
Billy rolls his eyes, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Thanks for the advice, Pedro. Really appreciate it.”
Pedro just smiles faintly and nods to Leo. Without another word, he then turns and leaves the room, his footsteps as soft as his voice.
As Billy starts fiddling with the cables, Leo raises a brow. “Quiet guy, huh?”
“Yep,” Billy replies without looking up. “That’s Pedro for you.”
Leo tilts his head. “So... siblings?” Darla called herself and Billy Leo’s hosts, which would mean she lives here too. And if Pedro is just snatching another resident’s TV’s like it’s no big deal, that could mean he lives here as well.
“Yep,” Billy answers as he disappears below the desk to plug the TV in. “Foster, technically, but that don’t matter to us. Surprised you guessed siblings off the bat, not that many people guess that right away. Too many kids, looking way too different from one another...”
Leo chuckles, wincing slightly as his chest protests. “Yeah, I get that. My family’s pretty big too—there’s five of us, siblings-wise. Although it’d be difficult to miss that we’re related, what with the green skin and all that. Except for our sister though, she looks completely different from me and my brothers.”
Billy hums to express that he’s paying attention but doesn’t ask for clarification.
“Because she’s human,” Leo adds, anyway, “so y’know, pretty big difference.”
Billy appears from underneath the desk. “Well, all my siblings and I are human, but I’ve got two more you haven’t met yet, so I win by sheer numbers.”
Leo groans dramatically. “Aw, man. Guess I lose this round.”
Billy flips the TV on with a smirk, and the screen lights up with a news anchor mid-sentence.
“...reports continue to pour in after the strange portal that appeared over the skies of Fawcett City late yesterday evening. Witnesses captured the incredible rescue on their phones—Captain Marvel, seen here...”
The anchor pauses as shaky portrait-mode smartphone footage appears on screen, showing a massive, muscular man in a red suit and white cape. He’s flying, for crying out loud, arms outstretched as he catches what Leo realizes is him, as he was plummeting toward the ground.
Leo stares at the screen, dumbfounded. “No way.” It didn’t look like the man on screen was wearing any kind of tech. Mystic? Magic, maybe? He had a title though, which sounded more like a hero name than a normal job title or military ranking.
“...was able to catch the individual before they could hit the ground. Speculation continues to grow regarding the unknown figure, as their green skin has led some to suggest they might be a Martian.”
The footage replays again, zoomed in on Leo’s limp, battered body.
“A Martian?” Leo barks out a laugh. Seems like either the news here likes to play fast and loose on what is deemed reputable information based on pure speculation, or that extraterrestrial aliens are such a frequent occurrence that it’s common knowledge.
The anchor presses on. “Could this be a new refugee? A lost traveler? So far, the Justice League has assured the public that both the portal and the individual pose no immediate threat and that the person in question is in custody. However, the League has declined to comment further on their identity or the reason for their arrival.”
Leo stiffens. Custody?
Billy stays silent, his expression neutral, as the segment transitions to a panel discussion. Two people appear on screen via webcam footage, one more grainy than the other, their names and occupations displayed beneath their feeds.
The anchor addresses the first guest, one Dr. Eliza Mandrell, a cheerful xenolinguistics (and another word Leo doesn’t recognize) professor with a kind smile. “What’s your take on this event Dr. Mandrell? Should the public be worried?”
“I don’t think so,” Dr. Mandrell replies. “If the Justice League says there’s no threat, we should trust their judgment. They’ve handled similar incidents before—”
The second guest, Cpt. Gerald Kincaid, an older man with a scowl on his face and greying hair, cuts in. “Trust? That’s all we ever do, isn’t it? Trust that the League knows what’s best for us? It’s all we can do, because it’s apparently their jurisdiction. Why should we trust them, when all they care about are extraterrestrials—half of the members aren’t even from Earth!”
Leo frowns as the man leans closer to his webcam, his voice rising.
“Besides—aliens shouldn’t keep dumping their problems on our doorstep! Why does Earth have to be the fallback planet when their homes go to hell? Maybe try landing somewhere else for a cha—”
The feed cuts abruptly as Billy changes the channel, stopping on a sci-fi movie where a spaceship glides silently through a starry sky.
“Sorry about that,” Billy says with an awkward laugh, his fingers still lingering on the knob.
Leo sucks in his teeth. “Yeesh. Hope the rest of your world isn’t like that.”
“They’re not,” Billy assures him. “But, yeah, there are a few... very vocal bad eggs.”
Leo hums, leaning back against the pillows. “So, what’s the deal with this Justice League? You part of it or something?”
Billy’s eyes flick suspiciously a bit too fast to meet Leo’s. “I’m, uh... affiliated,” he says cautiously, carefully avoiding the question’s full weight.
Leo raises a brow. “Right. And why is this League—a bunch of kids, from the looks of it—acting as Earth’s immigration office for extraterrestrial affairs?” He looks around. “Whose base is their own house?”
Billy snorts, his lips quirking into a smile. “We—they’re—the Justice League aren’t kids. Technically I’m just a liaison, and they’re definitely not the immigration office.”
Leo tilts his head, his curiosity piqued. “Uh-huh. You’re dodging the question, dude.”
Billy doesn’t respond, fiddling with the TV instead, his grin turning sheepish.
“Right...” Leo says. “Well, the news definitely got one thing wrong—I’m not an alien,” he muses, a weak chuckle behind the words. His face quickly turns serious as he looks over at Billy. “But seriously—why am I in custody?”
Billy shifts uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s not what it sounds like,” he says quickly. “That’s just what the Justice League told the media to keep people calm.”
Leo frowns. “Why would that calm anyone down?”
“Look, it’s not that the League think you’re dangerous,” Billy explains, choosing his words carefully. “You’ve obviously had a rough time. I mean, anyone can see that. But the people? They feel safer if they think you’re locked up. It’s not great, but...” He shrugs helplessly. “That’s the world we live in.”
Leo’s beak presses into a thin line, his gaze falling to his bandaged shoulder. “So I’m a PR stunt?”
“No!” Billy says emphatically, stepping closer. “It’s not like that. They’re just trying to prevent panic. People freak out about stuff they don’t understand, and, well... portals and mysterious green dudes falling from the sky kind of fit the bill.”
Leo sighs, his shoulders slumping. “Fantastic. Just what I needed—being a walking headline.” And right after he just got his ass beat, too. Although right now, he would probably be in the headlines regardless back home. No doubt there’s video of him and his family fighting the Krang. Maybe Donnie’s scrubbing the footage right now.
Billy offers him a small, sympathetic smile. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re a threat. And if the League thought you were, you wouldn’t be here. You’d already be locked up somewhere way worse.”
Leo glances at him. “Comforting,” he drawls dryly. “Who is the Justice League, anyway? Don’t have them on my world. The name sounds like something right out of a comic book.”
Billy leans against the desk, folding his arms as he begins to explain. “The Justice League is... well, they’re the world’s premier superhero team. They handle global threats—alien invasions, supervillains hellbent on world domination, monsters, natural disasters, you name it.” He ticks off names on his fingers. “There’s Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, Martian Manhunter—”
“You know listing the names doesn't help since I have no idea who they are, right?”
Billy clears his throat. “Right. Oh, but there’s also Captain Marvel,” he adds with a small, expecting smile.
Leo perks up at the name, the news footage flashing in his mind. “That’s the guy who saved me, right? With the cheesy looking lightning bolt on his chest.”
Billy frowns a bit, but nods. “Yep, that’s him. He’s a good friend of mine. That’s why he trusts me to take care of you for now.”
Leo narrows his eyes, studying Billy. What’s so special about this kid that he’s got a global hero backing him? The thought lingers for a moment, but before Leo can press further, his stomach gurgles loudly, breaking the silence.
Billy blinks, then laughs. “Guess that portal-hopping worked up an appetite, huh?”
Leo rubs the back of his neck, a bit sheepish. “Yeah, you could say that. Got anything to eat?”
“Do you want... ah, uh...” Billy falters, wringing his hands together, “...worms?” He finally asks, looking extremely hesitant.
Leo squints, unsure if he’s being serious or not. “Are worms a normal dietary staple on this world?”
“...No?”
“Then are they magic worms?”
“No,” Billy replies, a bit more confident this time.
“Then no,” Leo nods resolutely. “Why the hell are worms the first thing you offer?”
“I... uh, might have looked up what turtles eat, since you’re a giant turtle and all...” Billy looks down at his palm, reading off a list, “There’s algae, bugs, frogs...”
Leo snorts. “That’s a hard pass on all of those.”
“...fruit and lettuce...”
“Not really in the mood for a salad, fruit or otherwise.”
“Noted.” Billy’s eyes return to Leo inquisitively. “Where do you even get magical worms?”
“From the magical yokai underground city, obviously.”
“That is not obvious,” Billy insists, inclining his head in thought. “I think I know a place, but I don’t think we’ll be able to get you magical worms on such short notice...”
Leo actually laughs at that. “I don’t just eat magical worms.” Billy is squinting at him, which compels Leo to clarify, “I really only eat them on pizza. I’ll eat just about anything on pizza.”
“Even frogs?”
“You know, I’ve never tried, and I’ll try any kind of pizza once—but I doubt you can find frog pizza at your local pizzeria. Normal pizza sounds good, though.”
“Pizza it is, then. Any preference?”
“If you’re offering, get me a Hawaiian. But I don't actually care that much. If it’s on pizza, I'm eating it,” Leo emphasizes the last sentence, staring deep into Billy’s eyes so he knows how serious Leo is about pizza.
Billy snorts. “Alright, I’ll get you a Hawaiian. You get some rest.”
“Not like I can do much else,” Leo quips as Billy leaves the room. As the door falls shut, Leo sinks into the mattress and pillows.
Despite the fact that the kid has provided zero proof that he is actually affiliated with a big superhero legion, Billy seems trustworthy. Maybe Leo’s bullshit radar was off the fritz or maybe he’s too tired to give it a second thought. He lets himself drift off, determined to make it Future Leo’s problem if it all goes to shit.
The next time Leo opens his eyes, the room is shrouded in darkness. The sun has long since set, and the only illumination comes from a faint nightlight in the corner. Groaning softly, Leo shifts his gaze to his left. The TV has been turned off, a remote lying within arm’s reach on the nightstand. Beside it sits a tray with pain meds, a full cup of water, and a plate holding two slices of cold pizza.
Guess I slept through dinner, Leo thinks with mild guilt. His limbs protest every movement, but he grits his teeth, reaching for the meds. Swallowing them dry is an instant regret as they scrape down his throat, prompting him to hastily gulp water to ease the burn.
As he sets the cup down, something stirs in the corner of the room. The faint glow of the nightlight barely shed light on the shadowy figure, but his turtle genes kick in, sharpening his limited night vision. What he sees sends a chill down his spine.
An amorphous blob.
It’s just standing there, hulking and silent.
“You’re awake,” the blob says, its voice low and gravelly.
Leo freezes as it steps forward, the indistinct shape becoming more menacing in the dim light. Panic sets in, and all rational thought flees. With a scream that’s definitely not at all unmanly and high-pitched, Leo grabs the nearest object—the TV remote—and hurls it with all his strength.
The blob dodges with ease, the remote clattering against the wall. The cover pops off, and the batteries bounce to the floor.
“Calm down,” the figure orders.
But ‘calm down’ is the last thing Leo can do. Adrenaline courses through him as he snatches the plate of cold pizza and flings the slices like ninja stars.
“Stop,” the blob commands again, but Leo’s too far gone. He’s not going down without a fight, he’ll kick and scream and bite and punch out of this one if it’s the last thing he’ll do.
The commotion brings Billy rushing into the room. He bursts through the door, wide-eyed. “Leo? What’s going on—” His gaze snaps to the corner, and he practically jumps. “Batman?”
“Batman?” Leo echoes, utterly dumbfounded. He squints at the figure in the corner as the pieces click together. That’s Batman? Isn’t he supposed to be a hero? Why is he lurking in the dark like a total creep?
Both Billy and Batman turn to stare at him.
Leo blinks. “Uh... Did I say that out loud?”
“Yeah, you did,” Billy says, barely concealing a smile behind his hand.
Batman lets out a noncommittal “Hn,” flat and unreadable, giving nothing away.
“No, but seriously,” Leo presses, his voice a mix of confusion and irritation, “what were you doing in the corner like a... like that?” He omits the like a creep part, though the sentiment firmly lingers in his mind.
“Yeah, Batman,” Billy says carefully, remaining at the doorway’s entrance. He crosses his arms. “What are you doing here?”
Batman tilts his head slightly. “I’m here to interview the patient.”
Patient, Leo notes internally. Not prisoner or alien, but patient. It’s not much, but the choice of words takes a sliver of the edge off.
Billy groans, dragging a hand down his face. “That was scheduled for tomorrow morning. Remember?”
“It is morning,” Batman replies evenly.
Billy splutters, throwing his hands up. “Normal people hours, Batman!”
Batman shifts slightly, his imposing presence dimmed for just a moment as a hand emerges from his cape to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Apologies,” he says, voice gruff. “It’s been a long week. I forgot common operating hours.”
“Yeah, well...” Billy straightens up, clearly relishing this rare moment of leverage. “Come back later, get some rest, or Penny One is definitely gonna hear about this.”
Batman hesitates, the faintest flicker of irritation—or perhaps guilt—crossing his impassive demeanor.
After a beat, he nods. “Understood.”
Before he leaves, he briefly ruffles Billy’s hair with surprising gentleness. Then he looks to Leo, his piercing gaze softening just enough. “Apologies once again.”
And just like that, he disappears into the shadows, vanishing with a practiced ease that leaves no trace.
Leo stares at the now-empty corner, then looks at Billy. “What just happened?”
Billy sighs, running a hand through his hair to fix it. “Batman’s a workaholic. Always has been.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t explain his Harry Houdini vanishing act just now.”
“I thought you were a ninja?” Billy asks, a teasing smirk on his lips.
Leo opens his mouth to answer, but finds that he has no leg to stand on. So that’s how it feels to be on the other side of that. He owes April a few apologies for pulling that on her.
“Am I gonna have to talk to that guy again? Because yeesh,” Leo says with an exaggerated shiver.
“Probably. He’s the best one in the League to deal with situations like this,” at Leo’s dubious look, Billy quickly corrects himself, “when he’s slept properly.”
“Lucky me,” Leo drawls.
Billy shrugs, looking to the side. “Or... you might get lucky and one of the other Bats will handle the interview instead? Although which one could be another pool of luck altogether.”
Leo balks, his eyes widening. “Wait—there’s more of him? Like... a whole shadowy hive of mini-Batmans—Batmen?—crawling around?” He’s joking, but there’s an edge of genuine horror as he imagines shadow creatures with pointy ears and glowing white eyes, smaller but just as unsettling as their amorphous leader.
Billy shoots him a wry smile. “Yeah, something like that. He’s got a whole brood.”
Brood. What a word to describe them.
“Joy,” Leo says flatly, crossing his arms—or trying to, until a sharp twinge in his shoulder reminds him to not move it so much. There’s also a weight in his lower body, the discomfort familiar. He exhales heavily and asks, “Alright, where’s the little turtles room?”
Billy’s brows furrow in confusion for a moment before realization dawns. “Oh, the bathroom. Got it.” He steps closer, looping an arm around Leo to help him up. “C’mon, let’s get you there.”
Leo groans as he shifts, every movement making his body scream in protest, but with Billy’s help, he manages to shuffle down the hallway. He leans heavily on the kid, who’s surprisingly steady for someone smaller than him. Definitely a sleeper build, Leo thinks to himself.
Once in the bathroom, Leo closes the door for some privacy. He does his business, then heads to the sink. Turning the faucet on, washing his hands before he cups the water, splashing it over his face. The sensation is refreshing but does little to erase the bone-deep weariness weighing him down.
He looks up into the mirror, his reflection staring back at him. It’s not a pretty sight. Even with bandages covering his chest and shoulder, Leo can see the new nicks in his plastron, and he can only assume there’s new scars on his carapace as well. His normally vibrant red and yellow markings are dull and faint, his green scales clammy and pale. Dark circles hang under his eyes, painting his exhaustion for all to see.
“Fantastic,” he mutters to himself, running a hand over his face. His fingers tremble slightly, a reminder of how fragile he is right now. Taking a steadying breath, he wipes his face dry with a nearby towel and heads back to the door.
When he opens it, Billy is waiting just outside. “Ready?” he asks.
“Yeah,” Leo mutters, leaning into Billy’s support once again as they make their slow way back to the room.
“Don’t overdo it, alright? Rest is the priority,” Billy says as they settle Leo back into bed.
Leo nods, though his thoughts linger on the ominous notion of Batman’s brood. Rest might be easier said than done.