notapancake | Folkmore IC contact

You lost me two years ago. [The words just come out of him, and to him? It is the truth.

Leo has two years without him, and well. He can't do anything about it, can he?]

[Leonardo physically recoils from Donnie at that. He had done his mourning. The death wasn't new, but there would always be a wound. This doesn't help with the threat of tears.]

Why are you doing this...?

I'm not doing anything, you brought this on yourself. [He spits right back, and since Leo isn't holding onto him anymore?

He's leaving, before he does something he'll regret.]

[Leonardo doesn't try to chase his twin. Just this once, letting Donnie leave. When has chasing Donnie ever fixed anything the last few months?

He always chases, and always gets hurt in the process.

The older man moves to just heavily sit down on a stool loose in the lab. Just covering his face with his hands. He's so tired of crying. So tired of this jagged edge of grief that cuts through him.

A few pitiful tears escape, but Leonardo is mostly... vacant.]

[It isn't long after that Caduceus returns, having missed Donatello's departure through the convenience of timing, and is confused when he finds the other alone.]

Leonardo?

[He found a sled, but... maybe it won't be necessary after all.]

[Leonardo manages to sit up at the firbolg addressing him. Blinking back into focus.

He coughs into his hand, trying to clear his throat.]

Looks like, it's just you and me headed back. Donnie- decided to make his own way back.

...Ah. [Yeah, even someone with less insight and observation skills than Caduceus could probably deduce how things went wrong, here. He'd heard some of the conversation before, and Donatello had made his opinion quite clear once they'd arrived.] He really doesn't like me.

[Leonardo rises from his seat on the stool. The turtle is wrung out emotionally, but trying to shake it off. It is obvious on his face for a moment. Before Leonardo firmly places an emotional mask back in place. Enough of one to function.] He's convinced himself I'm picking you over him. When that wasn't even a question.

I think, he just needs time to cool down. [He's trying to offer his brother a semblance of grace.]

[Caduceus furrows his brows. That... sure is a leap, yeah. His friends have become a part of his family back home, so being forced to choose between would be more difficult than it might've been a long time ago, but that was through many months of life-and-death forging. It's still... his family, those he's grown with and loved his entire life, a hundred years strong. A friend of a handful of months doesn't compare, nor should they.]

Maybe he's trying to distract himself. Being angry at you for something absurd is easier than dealing with what happened.

[A child precious to both of them died. Much, much easier to get angry and latch on to something unreasonable than suffer the grief, at least for some.]

You're probably right, he's not... an emotionally open guy. [That is about the simplest way to put it. He dusts himself off, sniffling a little as he tries to shake off lingering tears.]

I think, I will stay with you. He doesn't want to see me right now.

[Caduceus opens his mouth, shuts it. There's a few things he could say, but he too has siblings, those he's fought with plenty of times. Over stupid things, over serious things. Easy to think about Colton's indifference, so often stone-faced, pretending he's strong even when he might not be. Calliope's confidence in the face of despair. Clarabelle's stubborn bluster, thinking she knows best despite still being such a child. It's hard to know what the best call or the best advice might be.

He exhales softly, giving Leonardo's arm a pat.]

Then give him space. We can take the train back to Gram, maybe it'll soothe your mood some.

[He's found the gentle glide of the train weirdly comforting when he rides it. Nice scenery, good distraction. Better than flying back when they're already exhausted, anyway.]

I hope so. [He rubs at his eyes for a moment, trying to abate the weight that wants to settle down over him. Leonardo doesn't know why his twin is acting like this. He wishes he had a simple answer.

But right now, that isn't within his grasp.

He walks over, closing the distance between them with a few steps.]

The train is always nice to ride on. Be a lot more calming than anything else that's happened today.

We could all use a little calm.

[Especially today, after everything. Once Leonardo reaches him, Caduceus turns, and together they can make their way to the station. There's still plenty to deal with, but... well. They're all due for a rest. Everything else can wait for tomorrow.]

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