"They just don't get it," he said in his mind. After an attempt of training the guys Leo was left with the scorn of ridicule. "I'm…I'm only trying to help," he says in a whisper. As Leo started back to his bedroom he heard the voices of his brothers "Geez Leo is such a shell head! Why can't he just get it rapped around his head that we don't need him!" Raph said in a hateful voice. "I know right! I don't even think he cares!" Donnie added, "Exactly dudes! Hey, maybe we should just call him um umm I'll think of something later!" Mikey stated mockingly. Leo stood there behind the wall at the entrance listening, while rage and sadness took over him on the inside. Yet he kept a cool exterior and continued to listen to their banter. It went on and on about how he was so terrible, Leo listened to every word, every mock, and every sneer until Raph stated this"It would be best if Leo just disappeared we don't need him!", afterwards Leo couldn't just stand there anymore. He walked into the room with his brothers Raph of course rolls his eyes and says mockingly "Oh good the fearless leader has graced us with his presence," Mike and Donnie chuckled right along and gave him an unwelcoming sense as well. Leo not in any mood to fight says nothing in return, and makes his way to the lair's exit while Raph calls out "Oh I guess he's too good to talk to us now huh guys?" Leo just had to get out and clear his mind; he started to walk but gradually started to sprint. He ran and ran until his legs felt like jelly, then he sat down on the edge of a building looking out at the city. Leo was so tired not from running, but never being good enough for his brothers. Even in the way beginning he had always failed his brothers in some shape, way, or form. The more he thought about it the more overwhelmed he felt, it kept bubbling up and he just couldn't keep it in any longer. He shouted "WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?! I don't understand the more I try the harder I fall." Pacing around the building he continued "Do they even notice how much I try?! Do they not get that all I want to do is be a good leader, and look out for them? I know I'm not perfect and I never will be, but…couldn't...couldn't they just try to at least notice. I don't want there thanks just their acknowledgement…..is that too much to ask?" Leo stopped his pacing and looked up at the stars admiring their beauty. Then a thought came to his mind "What if….I just ran away just took off with no trace, no note just poof gone? Apparently no one would miss me." Though Leo knew better, running away never solves anything plus he has the responsibility of a leader. Leo thought back to what his brothers had said, he got absorbed in the venomous words and started to feel even more liked a failure. Sour tears threatened to poor down his face, but he fought back like he always did. With all of his strength he painted a smile on his face and said "It'll be fine. Tomorrow is a new day just focus on training and maybe mediate with sensei." With good thoughts now in mind he made his way home, and hoping everyone was asleep by now. By the time Leo made it back to the lair thankfully everyone was in their rooms, so Leo made his way to his room to sleep which he knowingly needed.
Leo as usual wakes up first even though he was up so late last night. He puts on his bandana and pads then heads for the dojo. He does his everyday routine while waiting for everyone to wake. An hour later he starts to hear his brothers dragging their feet to breakfast and Master Splinter entered the dojo looking very well rested. He turned to his son and greeted "Oh good morning my son" Leo replied "Good morning Sensei." Leo mustered up the best smile he could make, but Splinter could tell something was off. "Leonardo did you get any sleep last night?" Leo was caught off guard by the question, but answered willing "Oh I just went out for a run and lost track of time." "Oh well remember my son a good ninja must be well rested for a new day." The wise rat spoke. "Y-Yes Sensei." Leo breathed a sigh of relief when Splinter left to go towards the kitchen. "That was close" he thought, soon enough everyone entered the dojo to start training for the day. Thankfully they were just practicing their stances and didn't have to spar it was a plus for Leo since he didn't really want to fight his brothers today. Later after training was over Leo went up to Master Splinter to see if he would like to mediate together. "I'm sorry my son, but April is coming to train today, and it's the only day she can this week, maybe another time." Splinter said sadly "Oh its fine Sensei I understand completely." Leo said whole heartedly. Leo walked out of the dojo and found everyone doing what they usually do Don in the lab, Mike playing video games while stuffing his face with pizza, and Raph lifting weights. Raph looked up from his weights and locked eyes with Leo, but in an instant rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath. Leo sighed and went to the kitchen to make him some tea while doing so he wondered if the guys were still mad. "Maybe they're just distracted by what there doing. Yeah that's probably it everything is fine." He said while trying to convince himself. Leo sat down at the table with his tea and drank it quietly, while listening to his brothers. "20, 21, 22, 23,24,25,26, Hey Mike! Would ya keep it down I'm trying to count here!" "Sorry bro gotta stay focused, so I can beat this level!" "Yer goanna be focused on my fist if you don't turn that junk down!" "Can you guys cut it out! I'm trying to do an experiment here and it would be nice if I could think!" Leo couldn't help but laugh a little at their bickering. Leo finishes his tea and makes his way towards Raph "Maybe hanging out with the guys will blow things over," Leo thought "Hey Raph do you need someone to spot you?" Raph looked up at Leo and said "No thanks fearless I don't need your help" "Sorry for asking" Leo said walking away "Hey Mikey wanna play on two player we can go head to head. "Nah Leo I'm good." Mikey says while brushing Leo off. "Oh….ok, I'll catch you later then." Leo made his way to the lab in hopes he could help in some way "Hey Donnie need any help with that experiment?" Don coldly answering "No, I'm good Leo." Leo casted his eyes down and said "Oh ok sorry for bothering you." As he was trying to leave Raph stopped him at the door way and said "Hey why don't you go bother someone else?" aggravated Leo said "I'm in no mood Raph." Leo tried to pass him, but Raph wouldn't let him." What's the rush oh great leader?" "No rush I just want to get by hothead." Leo was getting pretty fed up and didn't mind a little fight all of a sudden." What was that!?" Raph shouted "You heard me!" Leo fired back "Oh yeah fearless how about I show you just how pissed I can get?! Raph said now screaming "Oh please Raph we've all seen how mad you can get! I mean you get mad if someone isn't breathing right for crying out loud!" "You know what Leo everything would be so much better if you weren't here! All you do is think about yourself! It's always been about you Leo!" An unknown feeling welled up inside of Leo; it was like a giant mix of everything. Raph let out a laugh "What ain't got nothin' to say now fearless?" Leo pushed Raph out of the way so he could finally get by, tired of the fight Leo turned right around and said "Raph let's just drop thi-..." a thought interrupted him "How long can I keep this up? When will it be enough?" and then it happen he snapped. "You know what no I can't live like this any longer! You guys dump on me all the time and all I'm doing is trying to help!" Raph tries to interrupt but Leo stops him "No! You're all gonna shut up and listen you've had your chances to talk now it's my turn!" defeated they finally listen "You guys want me gone right? Sadly that isn't going to happen and trust me I've glanced at the idea, but I have the reasonability of being your leader weather you like it, or not...Look I don't know what it is about me that you guys hate, but…I'm trying the best that I can. You have to believe me on that; I'm sorry I'm not the greatest leader….I'm sorry that I'm a terrible brother." Raph clicked his tongue in annoyance interrupting Leo "Got something to say Raph?" "Oh come on Leo this is exactly what I'm talking about it's all about YOU." Before Raph could say anymore Leo yelled "IT'S ALL ABOUT ME?! NO IF ANYTHING IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU GUYS! Leo was going to take this easy but clearly that wasn't going to get his point across. "I try so hard to please you guys, but nothing does I tried today and look at what happened! Since you're all still pissed because of my attempt to HELP you yesterday; you reject me in a heart beat. I get it I'm nothing but a failure…I-I don't even know…..what to do anymore" Leo looks down at the floor his vision getting blurry "Don't cry not here, not now" he swallowed his tears and continued "You guys have never…have never tried to understand my position. You guys have never tried to understand anything. I know sometimes I'm hard on you, but it's because I see so much potential in each of you, and I only want to help you reach it. It's not like I want your thanks….I just want you to know how much you guys mean to me. I want you to know that I do try." Leo looked up at his brothers and found guilty faces. "Well I guess that's all I have to say; you can return to your activities." Leo leaves to go to his bedroom ignoring the voices of his brothers. Leo locks his door and takes a deep breath "I did it. I actually did it." He said to himself in disbelief but then he wondered how things would play out after this, but he decided not to worry with it at the moment and meditate.
A few hours later Leo was still meditating he heard a knock at his door and as he opens it he finds Donnie and Mikey. Leo smiles at them and asks "Hey guys are you ok? What is it?" Don was the first to speak "Oh we're fine, but um we came to uh apologize. I think you're right Leo we've be really self absorbed and never noticed how much you did for us. I'm sorry it took you telling us to finally see it." "Please forgive us Leo! We're so sorrrrrry!" Mikey added while hugging Leo. Leo let out a laugh and hugged Mikey back and said" It's all right guys I'm just glad all of that is behind us." Then Leo out of wondering asks "Hey where's Raph?" "Oh he went out a while ago." Donnie answered. An idea just came to Leo" Hey why don't I go out and get some pizza and we'll have a movie night tonight?" "Sounds fun" "Yeah! That'll be awesome dude!" Don and Mike replied. "Alright I'll see you guys in a few." Leo said his goodbye as did Mike and Donnie then made his way topside. "On the way maybe I can find Raph." He thought, so Leo checked out some of Raph's favorite places and finally found him. He calls out"Hey Raph are you alright?" Raph looked up at Leo from were he was sitting and answered "Yeah I'm fine. Why are ya here anyways?" "Pizza run, we're going to have a movie night too, wanna join?" Leo offered. Raph gave him a smirk "Why not, hey can we watch a horror movie so I can scare Mikey?" Leo laughed at this "Come on Leo you can be in on it." "We'll see Raph." Leo says while laughing. "Hey Leo." "Yeah Raph?" "I'm…I'm sorry, for what I said. I-I didn't mean it you um mean a lot to me too bro, and I'm sorry my head was so far up my shell. Thanks for always bein' there it's funny I should be going to you, but you come out to find me. You're a great brother and a good leader, you're not a failure trust me." Raph then reaches out and hugs his brother; Leo was shocked by the action but hugged his brother back happily. "You're a great brother too Raph." They let go of each other and Leo gets another idea "Hey race ya to the pizza place and home!" "You're on!" Raph says excitedly. Afterwards all brothers have fun eating pizza, and watching movies as brothers. They also learned a valuable lesson too never keep something bottled in, because eventually you'll explode.
