So I tried my best to make this story as accurate as possible. I found it a bit easier to write this story with Splinter and Shredder still alive. Hope you guys enjoy this! Please review/comment!
"Master Shredder, please. I understand you're upset, but I can do better!" Baxter Stockman promised. "I've done an extended amount of research and I have a trap for the turtles that is sure to work!" The Shredder looked down at the man on his knees. He had been given too many chances and all of them failed. But his need to punish his servants was overruled by his vendetta against his enemy. "Very well. You may set your trap for the turtles, but if you make one more mistake" The Shredder started as he held his blades up to Baxter's head. "It will be your last." Shredder left the room along with Tiger Claw, Razar, Fish Face and a few FootBots.
"Raph! You can't go topside! Gang activity is getting way too high and the Shredder is still out there" Leo reasoned. Donnie sighed as he buried his head further in his book. Leo and Raph have been arguing for who knows how long because Raph had claimed that his punching bag wasn't enough of a challenge because it didn't fight back and that he wanted to go topside to go 'bust some heads'. But of course Leo had to reject the idea and tick Raph off again. "All the more reason to go up to the surface. The longer we stay down here, the more chances idiots like the Purple Dragons get to steal from others." Raph replied. Donnie inwardly nodded to himself, silently agreeing with his hot-headed brother. "Raph, why can't you understand that I'm just trying to keep you safe!" Leo yelled. "Well I don't need protection from you!" Raph yelled back as he walked over to the exit o the lair. "Raph. You're not leaving." Leo said one last time. "Oh yeah? And who's gonna stop me?" Raph asked, turning to face his older sibling. Donnie watched as his older brother said nothing, but drew his weapons. Raph followed suit. Donnie silently put his book down next to him and stood up, walking over to get his Sensei before things got too heated.
Raph and Leo had a history of getting into fights. When they were little and didn't have real weapons they would wrestle a lot to get rid of their anger. But now that they had actual weapons things could get really dangerous really quick. "Does me being leader mean nothing to you?" Leo asked as he circled around. "Why do you always do that? You always have to make sure that we all know that you're the leader! You think you're so much better than us just because Splinter likes you more? Well you're not!" Raph yelled as he threw himself forward. "You think I chose to be leader?! You think I chose to have extra training and less sleep? You think I chose to have more responsibilities?" Leo asked as he defended himself with with twin katana. "No, I don't. But I do think you take this leader thing to your advantage. You're always bossing us around and telling us what to do and how to do it." Raph said as he came back with a low kick to sweep Leo's feet out from under him. Raph's feet connected with Leo's legs and the eldest fell to the ground, but he quickly composed himself and hopped out of the way of Raph's incoming fist.
"I only do it to protect you, Donnie and Mikey. And it's not like it matters anyway, you guys never listen to any of my orders!" Leo said as he swiftly swiped his blade into Raph's sais. Raph expertly twisted his weapon to stop Leo's swords from getting any closer to his face. "Because your orders are stupid! You somehow seem to find the longest and most complicated ways to fight." Raph mentioned while pushing his brothers swords farther away. "It's called a strategy, and it's saved our lives in the past!" Leo countered. The two were so busy fighting with words and weapons that they didn't notice their younger brothers and Sensei enter the room. Their father stood and watched his two eldest sons battle. While he was disappointed by their actions, but he was also slightly impressed. He had witnessed each of his sons fighting one another, and it broke his heart each time. But Leo and Raph seemed to be using fighting techniques that he hadn't seen them use in a long while. He would be sure to bring these old moves back into training.
"That is enough!" Splinter yelled, startling not only Raph and Leo but his two youngest as well. "You two are trained warriors, I do not expect you to act like five-year-olds" Splinter scolded. Leo immediately lowered his weapons and looked down to the ground, clearly ashamed to have his anger overcome his morals. Raph on the other hand only felt his fury enrage. "Master Splinter, can you remind me again why you let Leo of all people be leader!?" Raph asked as he threw his sais back into their holders. "Because Leonardo possesses several traits that you do not. Such as grace under pressure, and the ability to think beyond the mind." Splinter answered. Mikey couldn't hold back the chuckle that escaped his lips. Donnie quickly shoved his elbow into his little brother's stomach to shut him up. Leo silently smiled at his feet after hearing his sensei complement him. But unfortunately, Raph saw it. "What? You think this is funny, Fearless?!" Raph asked, stepping closer towards his older brother.
"No, I just think it's fitting that our father is telling you everything you're doing wrong." Leo said, looking up. "This is what I mean! You're always thinking you're better than us because Splinter's always praising you!" Raph yelled. "Enough Raphael!" Splinter started. "Leonardo. I find it immature of you to take Raphael's anger and turn it against him. You are the leader, and as such you must help your team become stronger as a unit, not throwing more fuel onto the fire" Splinter continued as he looked towards his second eldest. "And you, Raphael. If you do not learn to control your anger, more could be at risk than any of us intended." Splinter finished. "Yeah, yeah. I know, but Sensei. Leo's always using his power to boss us around and he never le-" Raph started before he was interrupted. "Raph, why can't you see that I'm only doing these things to keep you guys safe?!" Leo yelled. "Maybe I'll start seeing it when you start doing it!" Raph yelled back. "I don't know if you've noticed lately, but you're really bad at making plans. You're really bad at leading this team, and you're really bad at being my brother!" Raph finished, walking away to his room. If he had stayed a bit longer, he might have seen the broken and defeated look in his older brother's eyes. Clenching his fist, Leo swiftly walked forwards to his room as well. Neither saying another word.
Splinter's ears met his head as he looked down with a saddened look. It never failed to hurt Splinter's heart each time he watched his sons fight. But he knew that Raphael in particular could take those fights too far without even realizing it. He looked up to see Donatello wrapping an arm over Michelangelo, giving him a small side hug. Splinter smiled at the relationship his two youngest had, but frowned at the relationship his two eldest had. Raphael had a tendency to act before thinking, and Leonardo the opposite. Making up his mind, Splinter walked back from where he came and called out to the two remaining turtles. "I will be in my room, meditating. Please keep it down to a dull roar." Splinter finished before closing the door. Meditating always seemed to calm his mind and help him think of solutions in a better way. But it was always a bit difficult to reach that state of relaxation when you have four teenage boys living together.
"What do we do now?" Mikey asked, looking up to his genius brother. "I guess we just wait. Don't provoke either of them." Donnie warned, also heading to his room. Mikey felt stuck in the middle, knowing that he shouldn't anger Leo or Raph but feeling like he should talk to one of them. Maybe try to ease the tension. Sighing, and feeling defeated Mikey slowly walked to his room. Once the door closed, another opened. Raph needed to be extra cautious and extra quiet if he was going to sneak out without being heard. He knew for a fact that Leo was the most skilled out of all of them, and was also a light sleeper. But if he could just make it past the turnstiles, he'd be home free. He only grabbed his sais and decided to leave his T-phone so they couldn't track him. After all, he was sneaking out to get away from his family. Still feeling the effects of the latest outburst, Raph ran as quickly and quietly as he could. Making out into the sewer tunnels. He found the ladder reaching up to the surface and started to climb. Once he was at the top, he lifted the lid and set it down as gently as possible to not make any more noise then needed. Once he put the cover back on, he finally felt freedom.
Freedom from the lair, freedom from rules, and restrictions. And Leo. Taking in a big breath, Raph jumped up onto the wall to reach the top of the building. Raph started to run, getting faster and faster. He could feel the wind picking up his bandanna tails as he raced across the rooftops. He jumped over satellite dishes and vents, hopping over the edges of the buildings and looking at the street below. Raph gently smiled at how good the new, cold air felt on his face. But all of the sudden, he felt like he wasn't alone. Raph jumped down to a street with almost no cars and made his way to an alley using skilled stealth. Keeping his eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary, Raph drew his sais out and spoke.
"Come out, I know you're there!" he yelled. The shadow Raph had been keeping his eyes on moved forward and what he saw only made him more angry. "What are you doing here?!" he yelled. "I'm here to make sure you don't do anything stupid." Leo answered. "Well, I don't need a babysitter. So you can just head back to the lair." Raph said with a tone that aggravated Leo. "You know, if I actually care-" Leo stopped and swiped his hands up to grab his katanas. Raph was about to ask Leo if he was delusional, but then he caught sight of what Leo had seen. A footbot.