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[He appreciates the kiddie gloves being off for this. But it's still much kinder than Hueso or Draxum would ever give him. This is more like... talking with Gramgram. Which is a different sort of pain to his heart to think about.

Don't think about it, then. Just focus on what's in front of him, which is that Rue did talk to Donnie already and confirmed it isn't just his brother.]

Okay... Then. Then what do we do? [Normally he's the plan guy, the strategy guy. But he's missing his strong guy and eats peanut butter with his fingers guy and his brainy dum-dum twin brother despite being right in front of him.]

If it's Entities, I still don't know what this place's whole thing is with dealing with them. If it's people, I'll track them down myself.

Here -

[Very carefully, Rue takes one of Leo's hands, just a show of gentle, steady support.]

The first thing we must do, is be patient with Donnie. We both know he did not play a role in any of this occurring, he is merely a victim of some higher power's maliciousness. [Of all the things that Rue has seen so far while working for ADI, this sudden loss of memory feels the most cruel. Especially for these two.] We know that, but your brother is putting the blame on himself. He is terrified of your reaction.

[a gentle squeeze of their hand against his.]

Even without knowing you, he still cares so deeply for how you feel. That is proof that his memories must still remain within him. They are simply locked away, not taken.

[Leo instinctively wants to pull away from that - contact initiated on his side is always welcome, he's comfortable in his own motions and physical touch. But others? Not so much; no one is this kind to them, not without an ulterior motive. But Rue's quickly hitting that same position Hueso carved out.

So he lets his hand be taken for now, staring at their talons holding his three-fingered hand.

He is terrified of your reaction. Fucked up step one.]

...I hope you're right. I- He's only been here a few weeks, it isn't fair. [He hasn't even met his own two roommates. Untrusting of human adults entirely, barely trusting the nonhuman ones. He's avoided all of them as much as he can but he was still alone his first month here. Having Donnie here made it easier to start branching out a little more; if he doesn't keep an eye out for Donnie, who will? Not Donnie, that's for sure. His brother had been too trusting of Big Mama from the get-go that Leo could sense wasn't right.]

So.. So we have to figure this out.

[Rue's touch is gentle and supportive, but not so strong that Leo can't pull away with ease at any moment.]

You are quite right, my dear. It isn't fair. None of this is.

[Rue can't help but remember the agony Donnie was in when they met on the stairs. They would give anything they could to simply make it all go away, but for now, they'll just have to work with what they've been given, to navigate all of this until Donnie's memories return.

Because they will return. They simply must.]

My thoughts exactly. I have begun asking around on how best to proceed and nearly all have said these effects will fade away on their own within a few days time. But even still, we shall not sit idly around waiting. I think the best course of action would be to spend this time with him. To be patient with him, to prove your bond goes well beyond the memories you have of one another.

['Fade away on their own'. Will it? Is Leo that lucky? No, if Rue is suggesting he spend more time with his twin brother that doesn't even know who he is right now. Leo does regret a little blowing up at him on the steps before; he was overwhelmed and scared and angry. Not at Donnie though. Not this time, at least. How is he supposed to be patient?]

He knows that. [Does Donnie? Do any of his brothers know that Leo is nothing without them?] But- What if it doesn't? What if it doesn't just fade away? [Normal sixteen year old worries.] If he doesn't remember me then what does he think happened back home? Who does he think sealed the Krang away? He has to be asking those questions if his memory is missing me.

[He's asking these questions more to himself than to Rue; he knows how Donnie thinks and he knows that Donnie is likely looking for any weird discrepancies in his memory, ways that things wouldn't fit together properly. Leo's the one who lost the key and let them all out, Leo's the one who inspired them on the roof, Leo's the reason Raph got taken, and Leo's the one who sealed himself away to save them. Surely Donnie has figured out by now his memories are whack.]

Maybe... [Huh. He hasn't like... tried? To use it this way.] Maybe our ninpo could help.

[The reminder of just how young the two brothers really are cuts straight through Rue, their whole expression softening with worry, their touch to Leo's hand tightening but only for a brief moment.]

Leo my dear, hear my words. I promise you - and believe me, the word of the fey is not something given lightly - but I promise you, your brother will remember you again. You will not lose him. No matter what happens next, you will not lose each other. I will not allow it.

[Whatever Rue must do, it will be done.

His mention of something unfamiliar though, leaves the owlbear's head tipping curiously to the side, eyes wide.]

What is that you say? Your ninpo? You think it could help?

[The words don't have an immediate result. He's still worried, still kind of scared honestly. After everything, for his twin's memory of him to be wiped so suddenly, so definitively and cleanly is a different kind of terror. Worse than the Krang sealing their powers.]

It's- Our family has a connection to each other, alive and ancestral, and we can connect to them that way. But I don't think I've ever tried connecting to my brothers or dad like that? Could be something.

[And that is absolutely alright. Even if Leo can't bring himself to find any comfort in Rue's words, they still mean every one. He's allowed to process however he needs to. What's happened to him and his brother is beyond cruel.]

Oh! Well, that sounds like it could potentially work, doesn't it? How do you do it? Should we rush out to find him now and try?

Um. Medication? [Meditation.] We've only ever really tried using it once or twice, and they were like. Big eff you kind of fights.

Not sure how we'd even initiate it here like this. But if we could get him to sit down long enough willing to try...

Meditation, I presume, [Rue gently corrects. Oh, they do adore these strange turtle boys.]

Please, my friend, if you can use my help in any way, I am more than willing to do whatever it is you need. Shall I come with you and act as mediator? Even without his memories, perhaps with the two of us guiding him, Donnie shall agree to trying this method together.

...That might help, yeah. He doesn't remember me so it might help to have someone he does there to help.

[He should like... be polite or something here. But he's a little too distressed still to be proper about it. Schmoozing under pressure is his game, it's his DEAL, but usually he has backup in the form of at least one (1) if not more brothers and now he doesn't. So he stares at Rue for a moment before rubbing at the back of his neck nervously.]</small. Thanks.

[The situation is much too heartbreaking for Rue to truly find warmth in his thanks, but once Donnie's memories return to him, then they will be able to embrace it. They simply need to get through to him first.]

Think nothing of it. I would never leave either of you to face this alone. Whatever I am able to do, I will be at your side, dear Leo.

[And Rue officially slots themself into Trusted Adult Status slot. This is Rue's fate now, Leo will come to them any time he's alone and needs help. Sorry now.]

I- [He rubs at the back of his neck, looking around a little nervously. A lot lost.] Thank you. I'm- I know he'll appreciate it too, even if he's bad at showing it.

[The very idea leaves Rue laughing softly, brushing Leo's worry away with a wave of their wing.]

You need not worry, my dear. I am quite the expert at seeing what is left unspoken. The, ah, perks of growing up with my former Court. [When you live in a pit of vipers who will smile so charmingly to your face but call you a beast behind your back, you do learn to read between the lines.]

Just tell me what you need. Shall we go to him now? Or would you prefer to take a moment to gather yourself? I could order in food, if you are feeling hungry. Whatever you require.

[That is something they have in common: Leo's the expert in his family at reading people, no scoping their intentions and characters. It's why he doesn't mind bringing this desperation and worry to Rue; Leo could tell pretty quickly they were safe for that.

But it's likely very telling how Leo stalls on answering for the first time in this conversation. Had he eaten? When was the last time he ate since he realized. He rests a hand over his stomach thinking.]

That's probably a good idea. Y-yeah.

[Rue had a feeling as much.]

Please then, have a seat. I'll have Hob pick us up something.

[and until then, Rue will just get the turtle some water and give him a little space, while still being fully available. Just in case he's feeling overwhelmed and needs a moment to himself.]

[Leo nods quietly. Looks around the room before carefully sitting on the couch, knees pulled up and arms wrapped around them. He looks... small. Like he's shrinking into himself, like if he wanted he could retract his limbs and head into that shell of his. He wants to. He wants to disappear and only come back out when his brother has his memories back.

Leo isn't that lucky. Leo has to fix this, he can't just rely on others to do it. Rely on others for help, sure, but his brother is his responsibility. It's what being a leader means: being responsible for your brothers.]

[Rue gives Leo his space for a few moments, slipping into the small kitchenette to text Hob and arrange a little dinner delivery. By the time they emerge, they set a small tray of hot cocoa topped with marshmallows and a few shortbread cookies out for him to enjoy, before settling beside the young turtle on the couch.

He looks positively devastated, and Rue does not blame him. Even knowing the boys as briefly as they have, Rue has known from the beginning of their intensely strong bond and their natural instinct towards protecting one another. To feel that all of that long history is gone, that he himself is so forgettable, Rue can not begin to imagine his pain.]

Leo, my dear, tell me, would you prefer to talk further? Dinner shall be over shortly, but until then, if there's anything you would like to get off of your chest, so to speak, I'm happy to hear it.

[It's weird, how absolutely still and quiet this turtle can be. Whether it's the years of training as a ninja that does it or the fact he is just that devastated, who's to say. But the moment she opens the floor for him to talk again, he explodes a little.]

This whole place SUCKS! I was here, by myself for a month without any explanation except what those humans told me, which I do not believe by the way and you shouldn't either, and then only one of my brothers shows up and like USUAL we immediately start fighting and now that we settled into a groove and we were going to figure stuff out together, this whole stupid dumbdumb place [And just where did he pick up that descriptor? Definitely borrowed, frustration lending itself to one of his brother's favorite turns of phrases - "dumbdumb"] makes him FORGET I EXIST!

It's not- [He sighs a little, the outburst finished and energy for it gone. Leo hugs his knees a little resting his chin on them.] It's not fair. Can't use my powers, can't contact the rest of my family, can't go home, and now the only family I do have doesn't even know who I am.

[To Rue's credit, Leo explodes and their composure is immaculate. They do not flinch or frown or turn a pitying look his way. Rue's expression is only pinched with that same worry they've held for him all afternoon, a tinge of sorrow rimmed around their dark eyes.

His pain is - Rue can not begin to even describe it, how deeply it must be felt, how hopeless this must feel. Rue has been trying to comfort him certainly, but without any true proof that things will right themselves in the end, why shouldn't Leo react in this way?

So they simply listen, they sit beside him on the couch, hot cocoa softly cooling on the table, and let him yell and scream and hurl every single one of his grievances at the wall, for as long as he needs. And once it's over, as the young man curls up on himself once again, chin dropping to his knees, Rue swoops in close and wraps him up in their wings. It's soft and warm and maybe just a touch ticklish with all of those feathers, but Rue is big enough to enclose Leo completely in a hug, to shield him from the pain of the world if only for a moment.]

You do not have to hold it all inside, Leo. Pray, leave part of it here, with me. I shall hold as much of your fury and hurt as I'm able. You deserve none of this.

[He feels their feathers slowly wrap around. And it's not quite the same heaviness of Raph-hugs, but not the same fuzziness as dad-hugs either. It's different and it's enough to jolt Leo out of his stupor. And maybe it's a little childish to lean into that. Accept it and want to be hugged and cry about it. He's only sixteen, after all.

But the reality is he doesn't have that luxury here. His brother needs him, whether Donnie knows it or not. They can cry about it afterward, big ugly anime tears that he knows Donnie will hate and say "ew gross" about but let Leo do it anyway because that's just how they are.

And then...

Then they'll get up and work together. Because that is just how they are. Leo lets himself settle into that soft feathery down for a few breaths, a couple big ugly sniffles before he wipes at his eyes.]

You're right. It's why we've gotta fix it. [He looks down at his hands. He didn't give up on Raph, they didn't give up on Leo. He nods once with a little tired smile, clenching his fists.] Hope is my greatest weapon. So we're definitely going to fix this. I already helped save the universe once, what's getting my brother's memory back compared to that, right?

[Being sixteen is a challenge all on its own, even without all of the extra hardships that have come into Leo's life. Truly, if Rue could wash away the heavy weight that Leo, Donnie and Peter have all had to carry for so long, they would give them all the chance to simply be silly, carefree teenagers. But not even fey magic can truly alter the past, so Rue will just have to be certain that none of them carry their individual burdens alone from here on forward.

It's a quiet, heartfelt moment between them, the owlbear gently tucking Leo into the warmth and safety of their wings, just until they feel that he's found his composure again. But even as Rue finally pulls away, a feathery paw drops to the young man's shoulder, squeezing, a gentle touch of their unwavering support.]

I should very much like to hear about that sometime.

[Another time. When so much less is at stake. When Leo and Donnie are back to teasing one another. When they can finally look back at this mess and just laugh.]

But you're right. I believe in the bond you've both created. To be quite honest, I somehow doubt whoever is responsible for this had any idea just who they were messing with.

Oh, they really didn't.

[His voice is stronger now, full of confidence and determination. They will figure out what happened and fix his brother's memory. And whoever did it? Is going to get their butts kicked.

But he looks to Rue, takes in their expression and how they're holding themself. And after a moment, Leo smiles.]

Thanks for... all of this. Usually I've got my other two brothers and our friend April to soundboard off of until I get my footing a little, but. I appreciate it.

[There. That's the Leo that Rue knows. He looks unshakeable in his determination, ready to do whatever he must to get his brother back.

And they will.

Their eyes smile back, warm and bright and full of tender affection.]

You're most welcome. Now, drink your cocoa before it gets cold. Hob should be here shortly with dinner and then we can make a plan of attack. However you want to do things, I am fully prepared to follow. I know that I am not the brothers or friends you have relied on in the past, but I refuse to let you go about this alone.

[!!! RIGHT hot cocoa!! He'll just pile himself up on the couch cross-legged and sip.]

Thanks, Rue. I- really appreciate it.

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