Michelangelo's Pizza Problems

: I don't own any of the rights to TMNT:

Chapter 1: Caught in the Act

"Again!"

At hearing his brothers' angry shouts and curses, Leonardo looked up from the book he was reading. What could possibly be the reason for his brothers' sudden outbursts this time? It seemed as if lately, Raph and Mikey were fighting more than usual.

At the beginning of the week Mikey had thought it would be funny to play a prank on his older brother by putting a stink bomb in the toilet. Then when Raph didn't come to the table fast enough, Mikey would scarf down his slice of pizza along with his own. The only problem was he couldn't stop. He felt like he couldn't get enough pizza, even when reprimanded by Leo.

Mikey had followed that up in training practice by carefully switching his most beloved and cherished sia with rubber chicken who laid an egg when Raph grabbed hold of them for weapons practice with their fearless leader.

"Is this some kind of a joke," Leo had said with out being amused.

Raph had started the week off in a bad mood. This of course left absolutely no room for Mikey's pranks. This meant that his anger really got the best of him.

Raph had beaten him senseless in practice even without any weapons earning a total of sixty flips from both Leo and Master Splinter for his behavior.

From across the room Donatello met his gaze with a worried frown, and nodded in the direction of the confrontation.

"Let's go see what this is all about," Leo said with a heavy sigh.

The two turtles got up, and proceeded to walk into the kitchen.

"Hey, I said I was sorry! Can't you just cut me some slack once and a while, or are you such a …!"

"Michelangelo! Raphael! Cool it!"

"Guys, calm down," Donatello said. "Do you really want Master Splinter to walk in on you two fighting like that. You've already been fighting all week. We'll get extra practice and chores for a whole year with what's coming out of your mouths."

"Mikey deserved it," Raph spat at his younger brother. "He ate all the pizza for the second time this month."

Silence followed. Leo and Don looked at each other, and than at Mikey. Both wondered how one teenage turtle could eat so much pizza. Master Splinter had already talked to him about it once after his katas began to get sloppy, and his concentration (be that it may) started to decrease it stamina.

"That's still no reason to cuss at him like that, Raph, "Leo said getting back in the conversation.

"My sons, what is the meaning of this?"

All four turtles turned around, but couldn't make eye contact with their master. No one said anything. They just stared at the ground.

"If no one will answer, then I'm sure a few extra hours of practice will help straighten this whole thing out," Master Splinter said firmly.

Everyone let out a silent groan. They all knew that any disciplinary practices that had to be enforced by their master including several sets of flips, pushups, and katas.

"We will begin in the morning at 5 am," Splinter said. "I suggest everyone get a good night's rest by going to bed early."

Finely, Leo dared look up at Master Splinter. They hadn't been sent to bed early since they were little turtle tots. He quickly looked away when he saw the disappointing and stern look that Splinter gave him. Sometimes it was tuff being the leader.

"Leonardo," Master Splinter began to lecture. "As the leader and eldest of your bothers it is your responsibility to take control of these situations when they arise; even though lately it seems that you have been easily influenced and run over by your brothers. This is not…"

Suddenly Don couldn't take it any more. He hated how Leo always got reprimanded on their behalf. He hated extra practices. He hated how he could never perform as well as his brothers. Why was Leo always blamed for their actions? Before Don knew what he was doing, he blurted out the entire incident, not excluding the language Raph was using.

Raph growled. He knew that this meant an extra twenty flips for him, as well as more chores for a month.