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[The situation with Hunter is more complicated, admittedly, and Casey's made some promises in that direction, too. But one problem to be tackled at a time.

At Rue's response, Casey ducks his head, wilting a little. It was done gently, but he can't help feeling chastised for a foolish suggestion. It'd felt like a natural solution, a place where yokai and mutants and non-humans could live free. He'd heard from the yokai of his world that it had its own merit and beauty. But it's true that it had no true sun or open sky.]

I-I'm sorry. I thought- I mean. ...It's easy for me to say... I grew up underground.

[He never wants to go back to eating leaves or rats, to fearing for his life every day, to running and hiding and fighting all his life. But underground? For his family, he could live underground again. That's home. If only it were that easy for everyone else.]

I don't... know where else to go, though. I don't know what else there is.

[Too passionate? Rue sees the way Casey deflates and they immediately reach for him again.]

No, my love. You did nothing wrong. Forgive me my heated response, it had so little to do with your suggestion and more to my hurt at the idea of another world that will be so utterly unaccepting of us.

[Truth be told, there's just no winning when it comes to New York. It is either stay glamoured on the surface and be allowed to have a real life going anywhere they want out in the sun or to be stuffed into the dark but allowed to be themselves. It's frustrating and Rue has been spinning in place the last month trying to figure out which would make them not go insane.]

It has been much on my mind as well. By all logic, the Hidden City would be where we should land. And let it be said, none of that is any fault of your own. We are the ones who must hide, you even offering to come with us when you could live on the surface and be free, it is far more than anyone should ever have to choose. Besides, being with you and Hunter, and being able to see the others is all that matters. Losing you all just to live a free life would be far worse.

[That makes him hesitate, because it still sounds wrong. Being with them is what matters. Losing them would be worse. It sounds pretty enough but what sticks in his mind is cage, is wilt, is the idea of not being free. It sounds terrible, selfish, cruel to ask Rue to live like that just to be with them.]

...You don't have to... [It's a mumble at first, but when he tries again his voice is stronger.] You don't have to come back with us! You should live free... go home with Hob, be wherever you want... whatever you want. I-I don't want you to be stuck in a cage just for us.

Never.

[It is a whisper, fiercely spoken, but still said with such gentle authority.]

I told Peter months ago that I would have no choice but to choose freedom and that decision already felt so wrong on my tongue. Trust me, Casey, this is not a decision that I have made lightly. It has been on my mind for months now, just more frequently since you became mine. I went back and forth on it for so long, but I mean it when I say that you boys are my very heart. To be separated from you, I can not bear the thought.

I choose you. Every single time I will choose you.

[Alright, that was a little more emotional than Rue was expecting over breakfast, so give them a moment to shake some of this energy off of them, ruffling up their feathers. One more small sigh and their smile returns so much more easily.]

So that part, I assure you, is non-negotiable. It is just the rest I must figure out. I did, however, have an idea. I do not know how viable it truly is, but I would like to run it by you.

[Casey falls silent for a handful of long moments, looking torn and touched, worried and relieved, emotions twisting back and forth as he weighs the selfishness of asking against the urgency of Rue's words. Finally, though, rather than trusting his voice, he scoots over to the corner of the booth and leans against Rue's side, his gaze fixed to the table. He'll move back when the food comes, but the proximity helps to quell some of that mixed anxiety.

"Every single time I will choose you."

No one's done that before. No one had the luxury, and that was something he agreed with and understood. To have it now is... humbling.]

What is it...?

[Rue doesn't crowd Casey this time and drag him in for cuddling, but they keep his hand safely tucked into their paw and lean carefully right back against him.

There is not even a sliver of doubt within Rue that their decision is the right one. They know it is, no matter what hardships they might have to navigate later.]

We will be further from the Leo and the rest of the boys and it will be quite out of reach of all of this convenience that we've grown so used to, but I thought, perhaps, outside of the city we could make our own home. I traveled to New York once, back with ADI, and I remember the beautiful, untamed forests we drove by on our way. We could find our own space somewhere secluded, and I could put up spells to keep wandering humans away.

And we could still visit New York, I could glamour myself and Hob and Hunter for our trips, and Leo could portal everyone over to see us anytime - it is not ideal, perhaps, but it might feel less like a cage to have a space all of our own. My biggest concern is keeping you from your family, so you only need say no and I will banish the thought of it at all.

[This time when Casey considers their words it is with a curious thoughtfulness, rather than concern or anxiety. That sounds very familiar, actually.]

Back home, in the resistance, there was a rodent mutant named Todd. A really nice guy. He was an old friend of the turtles. Before the invasion, he had a puppy rescue out in the woods outside of the city. He said it was just him and the dogs, no one ever bothered him, he never hid what he was. Didn't even need spells for it. I bet he'd know a place for us.

[oh. Rue can hardly believe that after so many months of fretting and working themself up into fits of nerves that the answer could really be so simple.]

And you would not mind? Being there with Hob and Hunter and I? Away from the others?

[He shakes his head.]

They'd still be close by... between Leo's portals and Hunter's teleportation glyphs, we could see each other in minutes if we wanted. And, um. [He fidgets.] Will you keep a secret?

[Without even missing a beat, Rue nods.]

Always, my love. What is it?

Well... their future selves were my family, and I lost them, and now they're my family again, kind of? But it's not the same. Of course I love them, I wanna see them as much as I can... but I think maybe I shouldn't live with them. At least not until I get better at forgetting how things used to be. They don't deserve to be my ghosts.

[How is it possible to be so intensely proud of one young teenager?]

I think that's a very mature way of viewing the situation. And truth be told, I am relieved because I agree that it might be unfair all around. None of you deserve to feel that way. [Their paw squeezes around his hand.] But if you and Hunter would not mind living with Hob and I, as a somewhat different kind of family, we would be so happy to have you.

[A home of their very own, where they could all be unhidden and free, with access to the rest of their family with just a few magic spells.

It sounds so perfect.]

I... think I'd like that, yeah. A place for all of us. We can all be a little weird and outside of society [god knows none of them know how to exist in the human side of it yet] but still be close to everyone else.

[A pause, and then,] But we would have to have wifi or Donnie will never visit us.

[immediate PANIC]

Donatello will be able to set up the internet connection, won't he? We'll still be able watch all of our favorite television programs, yes?

[Cheerfully:]

I don't know!

[He absolutely knows. There is zero chance Donnie wouldn't hook them up.]

[Rue's son is a menace!! (affectionate)]

Well! If not, I will simply make the three of you reenact my favorite shows every evening.

[Because that's always going to be the most important part, that the four of them are together. (but also please donnie, mom needs their stories....)]

[He laughs at that, returning to his spot finally, far more relaxed and back to normal again. Feels good to have that settled.]

Does that mean we'll finally have to watch period dramas?

You'll simply have no choice now! Who knew all I needed to do was bully you and Hunter into living with me!

[But it's so obvious that the weight that had been settled across their broad shoulders is just gone, a new ease to their expression as they smile over at their son.

The promise to face this together makes it seem so much less daunting. Not that Rue is quite in a hurry to leave this place just yet, but knowing just where they are headed, it brushes away so much of the uncertainty that's been twisted up within Rue for months now. They could not be happier.

Rosie returns with their meals as a few more customers begin to finally come in as everyone else begins to wake up with the sunrise.

Rue thanks her and then waits for Rosie to bustle away to another table before continuing their conversation.]

The only thing I remember of New York - besides this awful history museum we visited - was that there was a city there called Buffalo who was so strangely proud of it's name.

[Doomed, he is doomed. At least until Donnie scoffs at their lack of tech and hooks Mom up with every amenity imaginable, all to lord over them all and earn (deserved) praise for the trouble.

Once the food arrives Casey wastes no time drenching his pancakes in syrup. Look at him, he learns. He's even eating at a mostly reasonable pace! (Though that is in part because he has to pause to talk.)]

What's so great about buffalo?

[Is not sure he knows what a buffalo even is.]

I haven't a clue! But their gift shop was atrociously Buffalo-themed.

[Rue pulls out their old cellphone, scrolling back through albums of photos before turning one in particular to Casey. It's a picture of Hob in what could arguably be the worst t-shirt ever made.]

I still do not understand it. And no one there could explain it! Perhaps I should ask Leo.

[Oh no. Poor Hob. That's genuinely hilarious. He leans in to peer at the photos, grinning at the absurdity.]

Definitely ask Leo! What the heck is a Buffalo voice?

[Ridiculous!]

To this day, I do not even know!

[Rue maybe looks at the picture just a half second longer, softly admiring their dear husband before tucking that phone away and turning to the buffet they have laid out before the two of them.

They pinch a piece of bacon between two talons, nibbling at one end.]

An accent, I suppose, or a very specific dialect of that single city. Pray, I wonder what city Leo and the others are from and if they have their own city voice!

Edited 2024-01-13 08:18 (UTC)

I've haven't thought much about accents before. Some of the yokai and mutants from home had different accents, but they were rare. Most people didn't talk about where they came from because either they were local or those places didn't exist anymore.

[He considers a moment, then shrugs.]

I think we all kind of sound like a mix between parts of New York and the TV shows they grew up watching.

To me, that makes perfect sense. Growing up, one can not help but seek influences out in those that have influenced them. And I know how greatly media shaped them all.

[They see the way their eyes light up at the mention of their favorite movies, how excited they get to share them. Rue would watch anything to get all of their boys to look so young and uncontrollably thrilled again.]

I can not wait to see the world they are from. My time in Massachusetts certainly soured me towards America, but they say it is entirely unlike our stay with ADI.

I'm excited to see it, too. I only really saw it overnight, and most of that was spent running around or fighting. There's still so much I never got to experience. And considering how much they love New York, it can't be anything like that ADI place.

[He may not have experienced it firsthand, but he grew up on the stories. Every time the brothers spoke of home, there was some form of fond nostalgia underlying their commentary. New York was a hot mess but it was their mess, and they would always fight for it. Even if the city was in ruin, it was home.]

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