A/N: I own nothing, though I wish I could.
This story's main idea belongs to Mikisna, to who I dedicated this :D
Hope you enjoy this story just as much as you enjoyed the last :D I promise I will make more soon XD
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Song that inspired me: Anthem of the Angels - Breaking Benjamin
Shattered
Chapter 1 – Anthem of the Angels
Life is always hard on those that she gives birth to, but she is especially mean and pesky with those that try to conquer it. Playing pranks and taking away loved ones is the most fun she can have, but when she meets with creatures that aren't only her doing, she tends to be a little too dramatic. Not that they see it or feel it, but they do sense it, and, as times flies by, they learn how to cheat life. But, then again, games like this don't last long. Something bad happens in the end that makes all the weird things end and everything turns back to what we call normality. But no one thinks twice about those that die or disappear. No one but those that have met those people.
That's what death does to us: makes us disappear and then, maybe, just maybe, if we are lucky enough, it changes us into something better. That's why he never once blinked twice when he jumped in front of his brother to shield him from the final blow, taking all of it on himself. He believed in the old saying that every good man has his place somewhere up there. He strongly believed in the after life, even if nothing until then proved him that there was something like that. He still believed it, and, above all, he knew that his brothers will never forget about him, will never abandon his memory. Especially one. He will continue to live with his memory. Though he regretted thinking that way, considering how his brother was, he couldn't blame himself for being a bit selfish.
When the blade slid through him, slashing through his organs and cutting him away from life, Leonardo, the leader of the four mutant turtles, didn't flinch, but pushed Raphael a bit farther, turning around to kill the one that tried to kill his family. Puffing, his body shaking and feeling the burn that the cut brought with it, the terrapin stood as tall as he could, facing whatever enemy ninja would come to get him.
As his blade whooshed through the air, droplets of dark red fanning away from the tip, glistering in the night sky, he couldn't help but think back at his past, his life as it been until that time, when the final battle with an alien race which enslaved Karai and her ninjas. Strange and abnormal as it may have been, but it was his life, with ups and downs, tears and bloodshed. He had loved, laughed, cried, had fun, care for his family and being cared for. Coughing up blood, two small rivulets of the red liquid running down his chin from the corners of his mouth, tainting his sea green skin, Leo continued to slash through his enemies, running straight ahead, not listening to the screams of agony or pleas from his brothers to stop, the number one turtle advanced, aiming for the head of the alien king, the one that threaten to destroy what he held dear. He would never surrender his loved ones to creatures like this tentacle freak, not until this body of his will remain without life. And not even then, because he will find a way to come back and kill the sucker for everything he ever did.
Howling, the last battle cry his beaten up body could come up with, Leo jumped in the air, green skin glistering with blood and sweat, onyx eyes shining with determination and death, and yellow plastron filled with black holes that gushed out blood and through which anyone could see his muscles tensing and his organs moving. He didn't feel the new wound being created, he hadn't been feeling something since the second wound, the broken blade of the katana that had made it still sticking from his shell. He didn't care at that point what happened with his meat suit, knowing that even if this will end he couldn't survive with all the blood loss and all the wounds and damage his body had taken. With his tongue tasting the air, his lungs full of blood, still coughing, the blue clad terrapin jammed his sword through the alien king's heart, making the guy yell in pain, but dyeing non the less the next second, when his body touched the ground, his mind control ending, and every soldier in his army gaining control over his or her body.
Groaning, staggering on his feet, barely breathing, the first rays of sun falling on his broken body, Leo turned on his heals to take a last look at his screaming brothers that yelled his name, tears falling from their eyes, despair in the tone of their voices. Smiling, mumbling something under his breath, cursing the heavens for taking away his vision out of exhaustion when he needed it the most, Leo fell from the top of the robot suit the tentacle alien had brought with him. He felt the air and the coldness it had, and then, as everything turned black, the fight finally over, he felt someone's warm hands and chest on his own. The salty smell of someone that worked almost non-stop on his bike and took every exercise to extreme, invaded his nostrils, and the crocked smile only someone that loved it could make, made his face glow in the light of a rising new day. But, even if Raph's smell made his heart ache with want, the feelings he had for him bubbling in his chest, he couldn't see nor hear him. He wished he could touch his face for the last time, as a reminder in the next life, but his hands didn't move when he commanded them to lift. He could only die there, in his arms as he cried over him, feeling the cold yet hot and moist texture of his younger brother's tears. He couldn't tell him not to fell bad about the incident earlier, though he wanted to do so, he wanted to make Raphael ease up in the future and not feel bad about being saved. Because he will do so for sure: he would regret being saved if that would mean that his beloved elder brother would come back. He will bit himself up again and again only to make the pain inside his heart go away. Leo feared that, with his death, Raphael will begin to change for the worst, and shut himself up for good. He was always capable of doing so!
Grinding his teeth together, the sea green turtle forced his eyes to focus with all his might, only too see the cut up figure of his brother, crying over him, tears wetting his bandana, golden orbs swimming beautifully in a sea of tears. He was gorgeous in every way, and Leo berated himself for not telling that sooner to his long time secret love.
"But maybe this was the wisest decision I could ever come up with... ughh... I don't have much time left..." groaned Leo in his mind, looking at Raph's face, as he urged his hand up to lightly touch his cheek.
"Don't... blame yourself.. fo-for me saving you!" he managed to say, a true smile tugging at his lips, as his eyes looked straight into his brother's eyes, fingers gently caressing the wet cheek, as his brother's eyes widen, mouth shaking as he tried to say something.
But what could he have said? Nothing could bring time back or Leo for that matter. No matter what he did, who he asked, no one could change this moment, and, if he could go back to the past and change the way things were now, then they both would probably die, or worst, all his family and friends. Leo couldn't afford to know that they won't be safe without him there. Sure, they were crazy and always doing something that could make everything worst, but they managed with him in that year he was away, so why wouldn't they be OK now?
Huffing, his eyes moving to his other brothers and master, he could only smile, his vocal cords not wanting to respond as his light faded, this time for sure, his heart slowing it's beats, till it stopped. As his hand fell from Raph's cheek, his eyes closed, but his face still harboring that peaceful smile, that he always took out of the closet when he was with him, Raphael's eyes went cold, his hands shaking his brother's body. Tears stopped falling from his now empty eyes, as his mouth opened to let out a painful scream. He screamed till his lungs went numb and his throat was raw, but not even then did he stop. He screamed till he went out cold, only one name and one plea on his lips: Leo!
Light fell on them, and wind started to blow from every direction, lifting and bringing with it small pink petals smelling of some fresh zone that they couldn't see. Swirling around the bodies that still had life in them as they mourned the loss of their friend and brother, Raph was the only one that felt a particular touch on his shoulder, a light presence of a hand, the same touch Leo used to make when he was about to stop him from doing something stupid. His mouth hang open, but his eyes looked around, searching for someone or something that could make that touch, but no one was paying attention to his pain or sorrow, being too busy with their own hurt feelings. But, even if he couldn't see anything, he could still hear the rich laugh of Leo vibrating through the air.
"You haven't lost your touch, bro! Now keep this up... Don't forget about me or about yourself! I have done all I could for this family, now's your turn Raph!" the voices in the wind spoke to him, as his eyes finally watered, his father approaching him, wanting to talk about his deceased son.
"I love you, Raph..." the last remains of that voice that seemed to belong to Leo lingered in the wind, caring with it the last breath his brother.
Tears falling from his closed eyes, the strong and stubborn second son of the wise rat, covered his eyes from the world, mumbling something for himself, not hearing anything else but the moans in the wind. It wasn't fair to dump everything on his shoulders, but... if Leo hadn't trusted him with the care of his family he wouldn't have done that thing. Biting his lower lip to blood, the hot head with a soft heart stood up, taking the cold body of his brother with himself.
"We can't stay here, master! We have to go... we'll have enough time to mourn Leo after we get to a safe place." Raphael managed to say, his voice horsed and raspy.
It pained him to think this way, but he had no choice right now. That's what Leo would have done if he would have been dead right now. But it hurt him non the less, and, as he pushed the open wound in his heart away, Raph tried to think and see through the thick layer of tears and dread he felt.
What will happen with him now? What will happen with all of them?
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A/N: now you lovely readers, please leave a comment :D This is only the fist chapter, but I would like to feel some love from all of you :D