I want to be blinded from this dull today​

[levelshift]

Who: Leonardo faceguy, Donatello purplexing, Accelerator levelshift
What: Three children commit light B&E and felony theft.
When: Late May. Probably after that Fantastic announcement, what timing.
Where: An electronics recycling facility in Central.
Content Warnings: Kids committing crimes, body horror, psychological horror, blood, sensory overloading. These kids have trauma, thanks nightmare floor! Will update as necessary.


[With everything going on in Central City - the flooding, the lockdown, Fantastic taking over the Alliance - the smart thing to do would be to delay this whole mission. Or even better - call it off, because even though it should be a (mostly) harmless crime for the benefit of Donnie, stealing equipment meant to be recycled is still illegal. But no, they've made plans, scoped the place out, trained. Dropping things now would be putting all that time and effort to waste, and besides, it should be a simple stealthy in-and-out mission, right? It's a recycling facility, how bad can the security be?

Besides, it'll be fun to stick it to Fantastic. A heist (albeit, a small one) happening right after he becomes head of the Alliance? Now that's fantastic.

Accelerator isn't too sure what to expect. He's been in a recycling facility before, back in Academy City, and the security was incredibly lax. This is a different city - different universe, with different rules. He's a little cautious, since this was originally his idea, and he's the one with only thirty minutes of power to work with. Otherwise he's a weaker-than-normal high school student relying on two very capable ninjas.

It's fucking weird to be relying on other people. He kind of hates it, and he isn't totally sure why, though he can't exactly overthink it right now like he usually would. He's trying to stay focused on breaking into the facility and not fucking anything up for Donnie and Leo. He's even made something of an effort for tonight, with a duffle bag to store equipment (a smaller backpack is inside for stuff he'll grab for the Society's cut) and a black hoodie in case he needs to hide his hair (he isn't sure, white hair just doesn't seem very stealthy).

So far it's going smoothly. With Leo's planning and leadership and Donnie taking care of the security system they're able to sneak in and avoid the paths of the security guards. In fact, it's going so well that it sort of seems like they might be able to get in, grab what they need, and get out with no incidents whatsoever.

Of course, it's absurd to throw all caution out the window simply because things are working out right now. Especially when they run into their first obstacle.

After dodging a few more guards, the trio will come to a long hallway, the only path to their goal without having to pass directly several security stations. Spread through the length of the hall are little red lasers, arranged into one very elaborate grid meant to ward off would-be thieves such as themselves. It's like something out of a spy movie, and it's unclear whether these are the kinds of lasers that will cut a limb off or simply sound an alarm if tripped. Maybe it's both.

Accelerator leans heavily on his crutch, looking thoroughly irritated with this obstacle. His reflection might be actively detrimental here.]

This is fucking ridiculous.

Comments

[purplexing]

[Probably not a great idea, but he can't not check on things, and trying to do what he's used to helps him avoid thinking about the thngs he doesn't want to think about.

Donnie not quite jumps as the goggles are deposited in front of him, staring down a moment before he nods as though just remembering why Leo had them in the first place. He picks his goggles up, turning them between his hands before he slides them over his head.

Even with the comments from the other two, he can't help but be overly critical of himself. ]

I couldn't think of anything else. You were the only one able to get us out.

[He looks miserable at that. After learning what Leo was still dealing with, becoming a liability is the last thing Donnie wanted. If there's anything he hates, it's being useless.

Which is part of why he gets to checking technical issues, but he knows security's a valid concern. He lowers the goggles, trying to hide a grimace at the readouts that come up from the passive scanning and the readouts that come with it.

He identifies a couple of cameras in the hall, exhaling once he manages to verify that they're part of the main security feed. As soon as that much is done, he shoves the goggles back up from his eyes, closing them for a moment.]

Everything's still running. Still virtually invisible, somehow.

[faceguy]

[Leo catches that look, and his own expression falls. He waits for Donnie to be done with his checks before speaking again.]

Then we have more time to chill here.

[He’s serious about that break! Especially now that he’s seen that look and he can still feel how tense Accelerator is.]

…I’m serious, though. You did good. With the goggles and with using your battle shell to move us closer to the door.

[He looks over at Accelerator next, giving him a light squeeze with the arm around his shoulders.] And you with that… whatever the heck that was at the end. That was craaaaazy!

It was really a team effort, so good job, team.

[Leo feels like all he did was walk, after all.]

[levelshift]

[Accelerator isn't going to be any help. He's noticing the look Donnie gives the goggles and pointedly looks away again. No point in saying anything when he isn't wrong.

Apparently their lucky isn't completely shot. When Donnie says everything is still okay he doesn't relax, but he doesn't make any moves to get up. The break in confirmed relative safety is appreciated, even if things feel all awful and uncomfortable. His (really pathetic) body needs it, even if it means stewing for a bit longer rather than focusing on their goal.]

....

[The squeeze doesn't get much out of Accelerator. If anything, he's tensing a little more.]

He's right. We would've been fucked if it wasn't for you. I sure as hell wasn't going to move on my own with all of them there.

[Juuust going to redirect the conversation back to what Donnie said. It bears repeating.]

[purplexing]

[Leo does bring up some good points. Donnie sighs a little, letting himself lean against his brother again.]

I mean...I guess we can't deny it was a collaborative effort.

I don't think any of us would've managed in there alone. And as terrible as everything was combined...the outcome could have been drastically different if there'd even been one person less.

[Slowly he eases his eyes open again, staring at the blank wall just beside the open doorway that looks so deceptively empty now.

In some odd way they'd balanced each other out. True, a lot of it was in desperation, but...it counts for something.]

For the record, I vote for less extreme team-building exercises from now on.

[faceguy]

[Leo can't help but snort, leaning a little more heavily against Donnie.]

I dunno... is this better or worse than the FAB spray?

[Accelerator won't understand that joke, alas, but Leo can't help but make it anyway. It's something lighter, after everything that happened.]

Donnie's right, though... Without you guys, I would've been stuck right at the start. So... yeah.

[Should they talk about it? Probably. Does he want to? Not really. He's content for the moment just leaning against Donnie, with Accelerator tucked under his other arm (tense as he is).]

[levelshift]

[Yep, no idea what the hell FAN spray is. If Leo's bringing it up right now it probably isn't great, and the turtles have fucking weird lives, so Accelerator isn't sure he wants to know. Right now, anyways.

Besides! He's busy feeling an overwhelming sense of awkwardness as the two of them go on about future team-building and collaboration and oh godddd none of those things should apply to him. He isn't someone who is part of a team, this is just a temporary thing and even the slightest hope of it being otherwise were completely squashed with the appearance of the Sisters.

Even the briefest consideration towards them makes images of them bloody and Krangified flash through his head. That room might be back to normal but it's reminder of what he is is glued to his brain.

He is not a team player, especially with a couple of actual heroes. He's a piece of shit murderer.

He's silent as all that passes through his head. It's slowing down the whole "de-stress enough to do calculations" process, though Accelerator knows from personal experience that once these thoughts settle down and take root he'll be functional. So it's fine. He's going to stay quiet with they ramble about teamwork and FAB spray and so on.]

[purplexing]

[Donnie's groan broke off with a choked laugh at the brief thought of them being stuck together in some new monstrosity.]

You know that was the improper use for it! Sure, it might've been a little amusing, looking back at it now but I think we'd just try to kill each other if we got stuck like that again.

[His voice has leveled out finally, the delivery dry, tinged with sarcasm. In other words, normal for Donnie. Still, he smirks a bit.

Leo's reluctant to talk further about the incident in that room and Donnie's of the same mind there. It's too fresh, and being just outside of the accursed place is still too close for comfort. That they're able to be talking and even joking a bit at all is progress at least, and it's a welcome thing.

Accelerator's silence doesn't go unnoticed though, especially now that Donnie's finally able to relax some. He glances past Leo, even as he lightly nudges his brother.]

[faceguy]

[Donnie’s voice sliding back into its normal sarcastic lilt is definitely a welcome sign, and Leo feels another one of the knots in his chest come undone. He’ll be okay, and Donnie will be okay. They need to get away from here and properly decompress somewhere safe, but they’ll get through it.]

Yeah, I love that we’re all close, but maybe not like that.

[That just leaves the last part of their trio, and he notices the silence, Donnie’s nudge helping stir him to action.]

Still with us over there, Accy?

[He says it with all the good humor he can muster, turning to look at Accelerator again. He seems to be having a harder time calming down, just going by how tense he seems.

Leo has put together the pieces of what he thinks what they saw in the room meant - it’s disturbing, but Leo still thinks, as he did before, that if Accelerator is torturing himself this much over it, he’s already had a change of heart.

Whatever it is, Leo can’t forgive him for it, because that isn’t in his power. But he still believes what Accelerator told him when he revealed he joined the Society: he doesn’t want to hurt innocent people.]

[levelshift]

[The two of them are starting to sound more like their typical selves, which is good. Accelerator's expression is remaining flat and sobered, even as relief creeps into his bones.

The floor is still cold and the overhead lighting is too bright, and he feels like he's going to rot from the inside out, but he's quietly realizing he's comfortable here with them. Leo's arm around his shoulders is nice and half-listening to them banter about some family in-joke is nice. If they weren't in the middle of a robbery this would probably be excessively normal.

He closes his eyes for a few moments. The growl from earlier when Leo asked if he wanted a hug is gone, though he still sounds pretty drained.]

... Tche. I am. I'm just thinking.

[purplexing]

[The response from the esper has Donnie smile a little to himself. It's about the best they can expect out of any of them right now, and Accelerator's hardly the only one feeling drained.

With everything that had been happening, there was only so much that Donnie had caught. It didn't take a genius to figure from the influences Accelerator had in that room alluded to some terrible thing that must have happened, and at the esper's hands.

Donnie looks at the wall as he thinks about the conversation in the library, but Accelerator had kept things vague, even in his self-deprecation. It's hard to gauge just how much worse the room had made things in comparison to actual events, but the baggage there was clear. So much blood...

He tries to steer his thoughts back towards the present, bringing up the building map again. ]

I feel like if I close my eyes again I might actually fall asleep, but that's probably not a great idea here.

We...aren't far from where storage is. Should be just down the hall to the right from here.

[faceguy]

Well don’t hurt yourself.

[He says that to Accelerator. Heh heh.

Donnie mentioning he’s getting sleepy gets Leo’s attention. He’s not totally ready to move again, but falling asleep here would be bad, so he’s willing to get up if it’s time.]

Alright… I say we get what we came for, get out, and go back to the apartment so we can pass out.

[As tired as he is, Leo actually doubts he’ll sleep, but he can hope.]

[levelshift]

[Thiiiiiis face, Leo. This face.

At Donnie's suggestion he shifts away from Leo, making sure that any physical contact is removed before switching his choker to esper mode and back to normal mode quickly. It's only a couple seconds, enough to doublecheck his body's vectors and make sure he isn't bleeding internally or anything ridiculous.

He's fine, so he extends his crutch and moves to stand.]

Let's go, then.

[And it turns out, even when you don't have broken bones, throwing yourself into a fucking wall when you're a fragile little twig sucks!! It sucks a lot!! Doubly so since Accelerator's pain receptors are still pretty underdeveloped thanks to his ability. A whole lot of unwanted pain rips through his body, and he bites back one very loud curse as he lurches to his feet.

He's still fine, he's just a bit of a baby and is definitely going to feel this in the morning.]

[purplexing]

[Exhausted as he is, sleep is the last thing Donnie wants to do. He doubts it'll be pleasant dreams for any of them, but at least the thought of going back to somewhere more comfortable and familiar is something to look forward to.

Nodding at the other two, Donnie braces himself for the process of getting back on his own feet. Watching Accelerator manage to do so makes him hesitant to try just yet, but they were risking a lot recuperating in the hall. After what they'd gone through, the prize better be worthwhile!]

Oh, I'm gonna hate this...

[He mutters, finally forcing himself forward, wincing as he moves his right arm to push against the wall. His shoulder's probably going to be one big bruise but at least it isn't dislocated. He can thank his battle shell for that.

Up, he's up! His toes curl in slightly at the cold floor while he keeps a hand on the wall in case his balance decides it's not set after all, but all in all, it's progress.]

[faceguy]

[Leo watches the other two struggle to get up, then gets his own feet under him.]

Man, haha, must suck to not have a shell, hu-aaaaahhhhh crap I definitely pulled something.

[Leo groans and rubs at the back of his neck and shoulders. His shell may have saved him from getting crushed but it didn’t save him from the whiplash.

He’s on his feet but at what cost.]

[levelshift]

[Yeah, even with his crutch he's going to take a moment to lean up against the wall. It's sorely tempting to switch back into esper mode and manipulate the vectors of his nerves, but he should save it until they're actually at the point of stealing stuff, not walking down a hall.

Even though he wants to curl up into a little ball and cry. Goddamnit, this hurts almost as much as that level 0's punches.]

Fuck you.

[That's coming choked out between clenched teeth, automatically and with no real malice behind it. In fact, he's actually glancing over at the two of them... kind of concerned?]

... Did either of you crack anything?

['Crack' seems more appropriate than 'break,' since their shells and plastrons would've taken most or all of the impact.]

[purplexing]

[Donnie winces at Leo's reaction before shaking his head. Wow, what a set they make right now. Sadder still was the fact that all the physical damage was more or less self-inflicted, not that he was going to blame Accelerator for it. He'd take this pain over being stuck in that room any day.]

Thankfully, no. But if my battle shell can't handle the impact from a wall, what good would that be?

[He manages to scrape up some of that usual ego and pack it into a smirk as he reaches back to tap at his shell. Lessons were learned after facing the Shredder!

...that smirk lasts for all of two seconds before he's hastily lowering his arm to wrap a hand over his shoulder.]

Just a little tender. You okay there, 'Rator?

[faceguy]

[Seriously, what kind of ninjas are they that they’re this shook up after hitting a wall?]

Nothing cracked here, so, tensile strength is… stronger than the wall. [Is he using that right? No. Does he care? No.

He’ll just look at Accelerator after Donnie asks that, waiting for his response.]

[levelshift]

[Okay, that's... good. Still, he's feeling irritated with himself for that stupid mistake. It's like with his reflection - when he doesn't pay attention limbs get broken.

Donnie gets a little nod (thank god for that battle shell), while Leo gets a huff.]

Your shell has higher impact strength than the wall. [Does he need to correct Leo? No. Is he doing it anyways? Yes.

He is also pulling away from the wall even though he doesn't want to. It sucks and is painful, but he's going to suck it up.]

Nothing's broken. [Totally fine over here!

(He is going to be sooo bruised in the morning.)]

[purplexing]

[To be fair, they were put through a mental tenderizer before the wall. Donnie's certain they would have faired better if their reflexes had been as sharp as they usually were.

He does slide a look at Leo, staring a moment before he glances at Accelerator once the esper supplies a response. Ah. Okay, that makes more sense then. Sort of. ]

That's good at least. Fun a project as it might be, I don't have the time to be building everyone body armor.

[Or the resources. But aches and pains aside, at least they're here to solve part of the resource problem.]

Well gentlemen, shall we continue?

I was going to go light on the selection, depending on what we find, but after that, I think we're entitled to a little more for our troubles.

[faceguy]

Uuuugh, why does physics need so many words?

[He will not remember that.]

You better take whatever you want, because I’m never coming back to this place. Not even if I have something to recycle.

[He shakes his arms out, then starts down the hall. Might as well lead. Though he’s careful not to go too fast for Accelerator’s sake.]

After this we stick with trash and junkyards no one gives a crap about.

[levelshift]

[If he was in a better mood he'd smirk at that. Physics coming in clutch! As it is he just follows the other two, definitely going slower and leaning more heavily on his crutch than normal.

He'd actually really like to tear this entire building down after that room, but he's going to refrain from saying that out loud.....]

There just better be crap worth stealing here. I'm going to be pissed off if it's all useless garbage.

[..... Okay, he might actually tear the building down if that happens.]

[purplexing]

Ohoho you're not the only one.

[The flat look that falls across Donnie's face doesn't betray his own thoughts entertaining leveling the place, starting with that stupid magic trap.

He's fine with not going regular speed though, still adjusting little by little. ]

But otherwise, yes, agreed, Leon. I'll be glad to never have to set foot in here again and if I entertain any thoughts that might suggest otherwise at any given point in time, smack me.

[faceguy]

[Immediately Leo is smirking back over his shoulder.]

The power you’re giving me, Donald.

[Leo will remember this!

As a member of the Alliance, he should probably object to the destruction of a building, but as it is Leo doesn’t say anything. As long as they evacuate the security staff, he honestly doesn’t care if this place is destroyed.

Seriously, theft deterrent or not, who has a room that does that!?

He gets to the door first, listening close for any signs of a guard. From what they observed, the guards stay on the upper floor, but Leo wants to be prepared.

When he doesn’t hear anything, he carefully opens the door.]

[levelshift]

[They'd be doing the city a service, really!

Accelerator snorts a little at the two of them. Listening to more twin banter is welcome, since he's a tiny bit nervous there's going to be another trap or something through the next door.

Luckily, there's nothing. When Leo opens the door they'll find the reason they went through all of that: stuff.

It's sort of like a big warehouse for just about any electronic equipment you could ask for. There's a section over in one corner where appliances are being temporarily stored before they can be broken down. There are shelves lined everywhere, with bins containing batteries, computer parts, old music players, old cellphones, video game consoles, receivers and tuners for different kinds of signals, and a plethora of smart technology like lights, doorbells, and security cameras. There are bigger rolling bins on the floor containing even more things. There is more than one section assigned to old super weaponry and superhero and villain technology.

It's an engineer's dream.]

[purplexing]

[Finally, the moment they've waited for. It clearly surpasses Donnie's expectations, that's for sure.]

...you know those old movies where people are searching for some ancient buried treasure or really old important artifacts from lost civilizations and they finally find it? I think this is exactly how it feels right now.

Holy truffle mac and cheese...

[He stands in awe at the sheer amount of tech just sitting there awaiting processing. It's like a weird dream come true that he never knew he had, at odds with frustration that there's just so much and it's not being used!!!

Well. He'll fix that.

As soon as he, you know, stops staring and unsticks himself from the floor.]