Okay, I have 2 other fics I'm supposed to be working on, but the turtle bug bit and, and between that and writing exams and working, updates have been a bit scarce.

I just couldn't resist this since Leo is my favourite turtle and I really wanted to read a crossover, but I couldn't find one that didn't have a number of things that I dislike so I just started writing my own. This isn't to knock anyone who already wrote a crossover. I simply wanted to read a story that's just how I like it.

Warnings: None that I can think of other than possible swearing for now and bits of violence.

Pairings: None (Some may develop later, but I'm not sure yet. Feel free to give your own thoughts on pairings. I'm open to just about any pairing, but I'm not fond of giving OC's major roles in my fics. Call it a personal quirk )

This is a crossover between TMNT and x-men. It's set in the 2k3 series of turtles with mentions of the 2k7 movie. For x-men it is going to be according to the movies, but in both verses it's going to be AU.

CHAPTER 1: Starting point

Flashes of concrete swept by, broken only when a figure took flight for moments while travelling between buildings. Normally this was the one feeling they would all be savouring at every opportunity afforded, but the feeling was overshadowed by the scene which had taken place a short time ago beneath the majestic city. Three shadowed figures moved with the speed lent by fright.

There had been harsh words and even harsher actions between the residents of the lair. Leonardo had been acting strangely. He wasn't practicing or meditating. He had simply stayed in his room, refusing to come out for even meals. His brothers and sensei hadn't known quite how to approach the situation, since he was normally the only one of them who could take care of himself and not cause his family anxiety.

This had continued for three days and each of them was handling it in their own way. Michelangelo was trying to be his usually goofy self, but anyone could tell it became more forced as his worry mounted. Donatello was keeping himself as busy as he could, but his attention couldn't seem to stay focussed on one project after the second day. Raphael had already made short work of his punching bag, half the kitchen appliances and had started in on those in the living room.

Splinter had been concerned, but without Leonardo to reign in his brothers, the arduous task fell to him once more. Keeping Michelangelo reassured was difficult at best, finding things to keep Donatello busy was back-breaking, but keeping Raphael calm was an impossibility. Many were the times that Splinter had tried to teach Raphael to keep his temper and think things through, but it seemed his words were destined to fall on deaf ears when it came to that.

Throughout all this, none of them had managed to draw so much as a response from their brother. All was silent within his room, but it was impossible to tell whether he was even in his room anymore. Leonardo was without a doubt the most skilful when it came to being invisible. Shadows seemed to cling to him, and more than once had it happened that he suddenly appeared from seemingly nowhere. It was a source of great pride to his father and annoyance to his brothers. He also had the necessary speed to complement his natural talent at hiding.

It was on the third night of this behaviour that everything went wrong. Splinter had barely managed to keep the fragile balance in his family. Nobody was smiling, or talking, or doing anything really. They were all sitting on the couch in front of an off television, watching and waiting for the moment when Raph's temper would finally get the best of him. They all knew it was coming, and nobody even tried to stop him when he finally got up and stormed to Leo's room with every intention of breaking the door down.

They all looked at each other before quickly following the smouldering turtle. Once they reached the right floor they watched in trepidation as he banged on Leo's door with a force that warned any idiot of his mood. There was silence before Raph stormed the door with a growl, intent on destruction. It took only two hits for the door to crumble, but they weren't expecting what they found.

Raphael was naturally the first to notice, but as the others rushed up to see what had caused their brother to suddenly halt, they stared in wonder. Nothing. That was all that registered. They all suddenly realised that this was the first time any of them had been in Leo's room. Even Splinter. Leo normally came out if any of them sought him while he was inside.

They took note of everything before realising that the turtle they sought wasn't there. There was also a notable lack of any personal effects in the room. There was the bed, a desk and chair, and a few candles strewn around for use, but absolutely nothing else. Splinter quickly strode to the bed and saw that the sheets were rumpled. Evidence of a hasty retreat. Feeling suspicious he extended his senses as far as he could, employing both his spiritual aura as well as using his keen senses. He felt nothing, then a small twinge at the edge of his senses. He relaxed and smiled lightly.

"Come out my son. I understand if you are not in the mood for conversation, however we are all concerned about you." The turtles had begun to doubt their master for a moment before they saw slight movement from one deep black shadowed corner of the room and Leo stepped into view. He stood watching them, but still said nothing. Raphael was naturally the next to open his mouth, once he realised his brother was still in the room. His ire had returned and he was fully intending to find out just what had been going on with his brother.

"Leo, what's wrong with you? Have you been holed up in here for three days?" Donny tried to intervene.

"Raph!" He was cut off before he could say any more.

"Don't Raph me! He's the one playing emo in here. He's being selfish. Here's you and Mikey and Splinter all worried about him and he doesn't even say nothing!" Splinter felt it was time to stop the stampede.

"Raphael! That is enough. You do not give your brother a chance to even explain his actions." This seemed to do the trick and all eyes turned to Leo, asking and waiting. There was a continued silence as he stepped forward. Not even his footsteps could be heard as he swept past them all and out into the main living area. This seemed to be the breaking point for all his brothers.

"Why you..."

"Leo where are you going?"

"Dude, was it something we said?" All their exclamations seemed to blend together. It was a cacophony of noise and in a sudden motion Leo came to a dead stop before turning to look at them. They were suddenly unnerved by the fact that they couldn't see his eyes beyond the mask. He stood and waited.

This was simply the last straw for hotheaded Raphael. After Leo's return from his solitary training Raphael's temper had been steadily getting worse, and it seemed he had finally reached the breaking point. He dove at Leo who quickly sidestepped and brought his fists up. Raph ignored the shouts from his father and other siblings telling him to calm down. He was angry and he was going to show it! As he repeatedly attacked he noticed that Leo wasn't even bothering to use his full speed to avoid him. This frustrated him even further. He was being taken lightly by his own brother. He conveniently forgot that Leo could kick all their butts when they worked together during sparring, weapons or not.

With all the misguided wrath of his personality, he grabbed his sai and attacked Leo with as much strength and speed as he could force from his adrenaline strung body possessed. He heard shocked gasps, and felt one of his weapons strike true. None of them however, were more shocked or horrified than Raphael when he realised what had happened. He had stabbed Leo in the left shoulder. He was well aware of the fact that it was not a life-threatening wound, but he had...stabbed...Leo...his brother...His weapon fell from suddenly nerveless fingers, the other still wedged in Leo's skin. He watched numbly as Leo...his brother...scrambled up from where Raph had pinned him and roughly pulled the weapon from his shoulder and throwing it up into the air with the momentum. The bloody squelching sound was obscenely loud to the horror struck onlookers.

The others ran closer to help, but Leo deftly leapt over Raph's head and, with the blinding speed they had come to expect from him, disappeared from the lair before the bloody sai had even reached the ground.

This was the set of circumstances that had lead to the current chase through the city. It had taken only a few minutes for Raph to shake himself from his stupor and all three brothers to take off after the injured turtle. There had been enough time for a few sharp words from Splinter, but they never came. He didn't know it at the time, but Splinter had seen the deep remorse and guilt imbedded in his eyes, and he was well aware that it was not the time to add more. His son understood, and his own conscience would be more than enough punishment for the moment.

Their desperation was fuelled by both the injury their brother had sustained as well as the knowledge that every minute wasted could result in an additional hour of searching since the longer they took, the more ground Leo could cover. They all maintained a stony silence after Mikey's question of what would happen if Leo was attacked in his injured state. It wasn't something any of them could bear to think about right now.

Don and Mikey were studiously avoiding looking at Raph. They had been deeply shocked by what had happened. They were all well aware of the fact that Raph would have to face punishment. It would be a harsh one, because he had broken one of the cardinal rules. He had struck one of his brothers with his weapon in earnest. True they sparred with weapons on occasion, but it had been drilled into them from the beginning that they were not to raise their weapons against each other in an argument.

Raph himself was deeply ashamed of himself. He had attacked his own brother as if he were the enemy, but that wasn't the worst of it. The moment his weapon pierced flesh, he had realised Leo hadn't been going easy on him. He was hurt even before Raph challenged him. The only reason that he had been able to flee so fast from the lair was probably from the battle rush of adrenaline when he got stabbed by his own damn brother. In that moment he had seen both the strain and fatigue that lined his brother's body. Right now he felt more like a slug than a turtle. A slimy traitorous slug. He just really hoped they could find Leo before something else went wrong.

(OWARI)

AHP: And there you have it folks. The plot bunnies have literally been knawing through my brain with this idea. Next chapter we find out what Leo's been hiding from the others. Please do R&R if you have any ideas or if you have constructive criticism.