LFLS [Unofficial] Sequel

Chapter 1: You Understand Me?

It had been four months.. Four- Not including the two it took just to get him back. Half a year. Twenty-Six weeks! Over One-Hundred and Eighty days- Just to get through to him... This isn't right, it cant be. We knew recovery would be slow but.. This just cant be real.

"Yo, Donnie- Get your butt out of that lab, its dinner time!" 

Donatello perked up from his brooding and set his latest piece of tech down to go get food, which usually he had a hard time taking breaks but lately.. After everything that's happened, he decided, just for now, he could tone it down a bit.. Sometimes..

"Yeah yeah, I'm comin' do you even know what we're having tonight? I'm really not in the mood for Chinese again if I'm being totally honest-"

"We uh.. We asked Leo to cook with us this time"

Donnie paused, stopping in the doorway or his lab, Leo hadn't really been the same since he was taken back from Draxum. He was.. Well for starters he didn't talk, he couldn't type on a phone for shit- He didn't like any of the foods he used to, or didn't show if he did? Cant ask him either way.. Honestly, he just didn't show emotion, he literally was just an obedient, silent, Leo look alike. And it kinda bummed everyone out.. Uh- Lovingly of course! They knew it would take time for him to get back to himself. 

It was just really.. Really... Slow going .

"Did he.. Say anything yet?" Donnie asked, making sure his voice was quiet enough that it wouldn't echo in the hallway. Raph shook his head, "No.. But, we know he wasn't allowed to, and.. I don't know much about burns and stuff but those scars are..." 

Raph shuddered turning away from his brother, "Really deep.. I only saw dad change the bandages a few times but I did get to feel those shocks. Do you think.."

"What? Think that laryngeal burns can cause long-term voice disorders due to mucosal changes of the vocal folds not to mention how much he must have used his voice to trigger it in the first place AND that the shocks definitely melted his skin and burned though his nerves making it not only traumatizing to try and speak but also maybe probably making him physically unable to ever speak again because of the collar I  built that-"

He stopped himself from going any further. "Nope, I don't think that at all why do you ask?" Raphael rolled his eyes and gently patted his brothers back, "Well I  do think that he cant talk anymore, even if I couldn't understand half of those words- But on the bright side he can still talk!"

"... Ya lost me-"

"Just come get dinner and Ill show you!"

He gently nudged Donatello forward, walking just a pace behind him as they headed to there usual dining spot. 

Everyone was sitting at the table (Except Splinter who almost always at in his room) Plus April, who'd been coming over a lot more since Leos been back home, was also present. She was wanting to spend more time with everyone, and well.. Since she got off of school for being stabbed she had a bit of free time on her hands.

"Ohhhh.." She started, looking at the bowl of goop placed in front of her by Leo, who Mikey strapped a chef hat to earlier. "Thaaank yooou Leo.. Its looks... Edible!" He just nodded and continued setting bowls in places. Raph and Donnie joined in, sitting in their respective seats. They watched as Leo just stood there, fully prepared to just watch everyone eat while he stood there.. They were still working on that part. 

"Leo." Raph said softly, "You can sit with us, you eat too right? That empty seat there is just for you" He glanced to the chair, stickers and scribbles from when they were younger stained any of its flat surfaces. He sat down, glancing back to Raph, probably to see if he was pleased. "Why don't you show everyone what we've been workin' on yea? Remember the thing I taught you?"

Everyone perked up at this, Rpah.. Taught Leo something? "Ah yes Raph says Leo talks to him" Donnie said in a flat tone, everyone was unsure if he meant to sound sarcastic.. "He does!" Raph countered putting his hand against the table as he would've liked to slam it there. "Watch!"

He moved his right hand making a lot of unknown hand signals to Leo, he watched intently before giving signals back. Everyone was a bit surprised, not only was Leo communicating with Raph, but he even taught that to Leo to begin with which mean he had to learn it first..

"So.. What were you saying?!" Mikey asked, already excited to learn these new signals and have a chance to talk to his brother again.. "Here look-" Raph said, showing his hands a little higher, "Im gonna say, uhh... What's your name, that's an easy one" He moves his hands, both palms up in front of his chest making a curious expression, then pointed to Leo, then back to his hands palms inward tapping one finger from his right hand onto the same finger on his left. Leo watched in silence and thought for a moment before signing back the letters "L-E-O-N-A-R-D-O" Which everyone counted making sure it was at least the right number of letters since they didnt exactly know what each sign meant letter wise. Still, it was quite amazing that they both understood, and again. Raph taught him that-

"Oh like ASL" April said, slowly pushing away the bowl that no one else seemed to want to touch either.. "We do that in school, let me try! Leo, look here" And she signed, asked what he made them for dinner."

"S-L-U-G-P-O-R-R-I-D-G-E" 

She and Raph both choked back the urge to throw up their lunch, trying not to offend him. "Ohh... Cool Leo- I.. Didn't know you knew how to make that, they aren't.. Alive still right?"

Everyone else read their expressions and slowly pushed their bowls away too, not wanting to risk whatever it was he made. Leo looked between the two, almost like he was looking for permission before he started to eat. The pale mush didn't exactly look appetizing but maybe the texture was softer on his throat then other foods? If that's what he wanted no one was going to stop him.. They would silently judge him though.

"Me too! me too!" Mikey said, "Show me how to do the hand thing!"

"I'm calling it TSL for Turtle Sign Language" Raph said proudly, "But Aprils right its mostly a rip off of ASL with a bit of modifications for not having as many fingers.. So.. Maybe TASL?"

"Tassel" Donnie said with a chuckle, not really listening as he scanned the food with his wrist tech. Reading the reports and also choking back his earlier meal, "Oh, Oh noo- Nope- Keep it down Vomitello-" He said to himself looking away from the list of ingredients his tech provided.

"Does it taste good Leo?" Raph asked, wondering if maybe it wouldn't be half bad.. 

'No' Was all he signed back as he kept eating. Which made him only that much more confused- Why would he eat it if it wasn't good? "You.. Know you don't have to eat it if you don't want to right bro? If its bad we can just order out again.."

Leo shook his head, his bowl already almost empty. Maybe he didn't want to trouble them? Or he was just so used to eating that sludge? He just couldn't understand it.. But then again he supposed he didn't really need  to understand..

___________________________________

After dinner (And eating snacks and other things to eat when Leo wasn't looking so they wouldn't hurt his feelings) they gathered 'round in Donnies lab, where he helped make some sheets with useful signs on them for everyone to take and practice with. Things like the alphabet, and common signs like foods, the what/who/when/were type signs. Things they'd be using the most. Leo was sitting outside in Mikey's beanbag chair, which he offered to him almost constantly when they sat out there so it was basically his default seat now. Raph joined him after giving a good amount of help with creating the sheets to begin with. He and Leo were talking, mostly Raph.. But it was a start, and he felt like he was really starting to get though to him. There were times of course where it seemed like the real Leo was peeking through but it was rare, and even after all these months there wasn't much to show for it seemingly.

"One more time bro.. I know you know it, just.. I cant help if I don't know the story yknow?" Raph said softly, "I want to understand everything that you went through, what made you like.. This conditioned, you don't show any emotion with your face or join us for family game night- But I know you're still in there, you just haven't been showing it." He sighed softly and started signing again, asking questions and trying to get more of the story from Leos time in the Battle Nexus and under Draxums control.

'sorry'

Raph's eyes widened as he read Leos sign.. "Sorry.. For what?"

There was a moment of hesitation, 'I hurt' He was looking for the sign before just spelling it after a moment.

'E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E'

Raph pulled Leo into a hug, he heart dropping trying not to think about it too much, "Don't think like that. No one blames you. No one- We're only glad that you're back, and we're never gonna let you be alone again. Never ever never. No matter what you think were always gonna be here to bug you. That's what brothers, and honorary sisters do." It took a moment for Leo to hug back, having to remember that kind of thing was allowed now. "I love you Leo, never ever forget that you understand me?" Raph said softly, pulling back after, not wanting to overdo the affection train. Leo just gave a small nod in response, unsure if he fully believed it or not..