Chapter Text
All at once lights came on around Leo making his eyes burn as he squinted to make anything out beyond the, stage lights?
“What the hell?” He muttered to himself, raising his arm to block out the lights above and pointing his ōdatchi at the large figure coming towards him. After a second of adjustment Leo made out what looked to be a bear yokai with tiny round glasses sitting on the bridge of his snout, he looked at Leo with a hint of disdain as he lowered the ōdatchi with his clipboard.
“Mr. Hamato, as much as we appreciate your clever quips, please refrain from making fun of the costume department's efforts.” Leo stared at him in shock and the yokai, named Rowan according to the tag on his shirt, only raised his eyebrow at him. He stepped back as the ninja(?) got up off the floor in front of him, taking off their mask and stretching out their back.
“What are you talking about? If this is some sort of crazy mystic trick from that weird device Donnie wants us to get then I’m not buying it.” Leo attempted to point his ōdatchi at the yokai but it was again pushed back down. Rowan giving him an annoyed sigh and pinching the bridge of his snout.
“I don’t have time for this, you should go back to your trailer and take five. Just please leave your swords at the prop table when you leave.” The bear yokai pointed towards what looked to be a designated area for set items as Leo gasped in offense, holding his twin ōdatchi close to his chest.
“I will do no such thing, villain! I won’t let down my guard that easily.” To his surprise the yokai backed down rather quickly, merely giving him another sigh as he walked away towards the cameras in front of them. He could barely make out the yokai muttering something to himself- damn method actors, can’t just drop the bit for one second. -before he went out of earshot.
Leo took in his surroundings, seeing a mix of human and yokai stage crew buzzing around the set. It was rather large with multiple filming areas in the giant warehouse, the set he was on was rather simple and made him wonder how they would get it dark enough for filming.
Rowan had said he had a trailer right? There was no harm in checking it out and he had to admit, he was curious about this whole movie star business. It’s not like he was in a rush to get out of here or anything.
There weren’t really any signs to point him in the right direction as he walked around the studio, he couldn’t help but look around in awe of everything. The place was huge, with multiple large buildings with all sorts of productions going on at once and he barely resisted the temptation to take a peak.
Somehow he made it back around to where he started, the trailer well within view. It made him a little frustrated that he completely missed this the first time but it all went away when he saw the star on the door, his name right in the center. All too eagerly he opened the door, stepping into the massive space taking it all in with awe.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about! I must be some celebrity to get this sort of accommodation.” A smile spread across his face as his eyes fell on a shelf of awards, the muted tv was playing another action movie and as he turned towards it he saw himself take down another costumed villain.
The space itself was huge with a rather plush looking couch on one wall facing the tv, some snacks sat on a tray with some sort of fancy drink on a nice coffee table. On one side was a station that looked like it was for makeup application, the other wall had a partition when pulled back revealed a sleeping quarters and bath area.
Leo thought about jumping straight onto the bed but decided against it instead returning to sit on the couch and have some of the food laid out in front of it. Most of it was pretty simple, some chocolate covered pretzels, a bowl of chips, a couple apples, and upon closer inspection a bottle of sparkling cider.
Not wanting to bother with the cider he grabbed one of the apples and a handful of the pretzels chowing down on them as he watched the muted tv.
It was odd watching himself on the screen, it wasn’t like watching a recording taken by his brothers where they were always doing some dumb challenge, or even the lair games. Those were candid and real, full of funny mistakes and completely accidental falls, compared to that the movie in front of him felt so staged.
He had never noticed it before, but now that it was him he could see it, his subtle quirks in his fighting style and his quips were sanded down and it left him with a feeling he couldn’t quite place.
“Ah Mr. Hamato, I heard that you got sent here. We’re gonna need you on set again soon, Rowan is getting impatient.” A short nervous man carrying what looked to be a tackle box walked into the trailer, setting it on the makeup table. Leo stared at him for a moment letting his thoughts catch up with him and finishing up the pretzel in his mouth. No rush right? He could figure this out at his own pace.
“Please call me Leo” he gave the man a cheesy smile, just like him on the screen- even if it felt a bit forced -and stood to face him. “Lemme guess, you gotta get me all freshened up?”
The man chucked and opened the box, now apparent as a travel makeup kit and set up a small selection of bottles and powders Leo couldn’t make head nor tail of. A glance at the ID on the lanyard around his neck showed his name as Jonathan.
“Of course, gotta make sure we get a good capture of your face.” John gestured for him to sit down in the chair and Leo obliged. He stared at himself in the mirror as John set up more items, it was him, but the reflection seemed hazy, like if he looked at it for too long something would shift or change into a horrible warped version.
Not that he had to dwell on it too long as he was startled out of his thoughts by John taking off his mask and setting it aside, patting his face with some sort of powder that tickled his nose and made him cough.
“Ah sorry, my bad. This’ll be quick so try to hold your breath for the moment.” Leo nodded and let the man get back to work watching him work while trying to avoid looking directly at his reflection. The whole process was a little uncomfortable but by the time he had a moment to think about it the man was already done and packing up his stuff.
“Quick and easy like I said, I know my stuff.” John chuckled and finished packing up his things and gave him a smile. “Try not to dawdle on your way back, Rowan’s disapproving stare is nothing to sneeze at.”
“Got it Johnny, I’ll be right there.” Leo gave him a grin as John walked out, closing the door behind him. He was about to get up and leave himself but his eyes were drawn back towards the mirror. Really he didn’t look all that different, maybe a little less shiny or his markings were a little more vibrant, but the mirror seemed clearer. The surface wasn’t cloudy or warped, it was just him.
This wasn’t so bad, really. Nothing wrong with having a little fun, his brothers can find the mystic doohickey without him and he’ll find a way out of here later. He tied his mask back to his face and gave the mirror a wink turning towards the door.
As he stepped out of the trailer he smiled and chuckled to himself, what could go wrong?