An eight year old Leo sat in the dojo trying to meditate but thoughts of his brothers playing without him came to mind. They had stopped asking him if he wanted to play with them and pretty much ignored him unless they needed help with something. Laughter echoed outside the dojo as his three little brothers played, Leo got up and went over to the door to listen to them.
"Let's watch a movie, guys." Raph said to the other two.
"Yeah, let's watch an action movie, Raphie." Donnie said excitedly.
"Should we ask Leo, guys?" came Mikey's voice, but there was silence.
"No way, he's probably too busy to do anythin anyway." Raph told Mikey in a voice that had hatred blended into it. "Ya know with his trainin."
Leo went back to his mat, sitting down he pulled his knees to his chest and felt tears well up in his eyes which he fought to keep hidden.
"I only do this for you." Leo whispered, knowing his brothers wouldn't hear him. "I do it all for you."
After a few minutes Leo left the dojo and headed for his room not even glancing over at his three brothers. None of them had even noticed Leo go passed until the movie was halfway through and Master Splinter came out of his room.
"My sons, it is time for your evening training." he said to them looking around. "Where is Leonardo?"
"Don't know, Sensei." Raph answered crossing his arms.
"Last time we saw Leo he was in the dojo, Sensei." Donnie said, looking at his father.
"I'm here, Master Splinter." Leo said coming out of his room.
The four turtles followed after their master into the dojo where they knelt before him waiting for instruction. Leo stared at his knees as Master Splinter talked; the young turtle felt isolated from his brothers by an invisible wall.
"Leonardo, Raphael." Master Splinter called out.
The two turtles jumped up knowing that they would be sparring against each other to show their brothers and Master what they have learned. Raph was happy to be sparring against Leo because he was angry with his big brother for not being there when he needed him. The two circled each other looking for any openings and like always Raph was the first to attack his opponent. Leo gracefully dodged to the side before quickly throwing his brother over his hip and jumping away. Raph's temper was getting to him as he stood back up and threw himself at his brother wanting to show everyone that he was better. But Leo quickly pinned him to the ground by swiping Raph's feet out from beneath him and placed a knee on his plastron.
"Good Leonardo, Raphael." Splinter said as Leo stood and offered Raph a hand up.
"I don't need your stinkin help, Leo." Raph growled slapping Leo's hand away. "I hate you."
Leo stared at his brother before bowing to Splinter and leaving the dojo, heading to his room he could feel the tears coming. Once he closed the door, he let the tears flow but had to place his head on his pillow so no one would hear him. He wanted to scream but knew that even with the pillow to muffle it his family would still hear him.
"Even though they hate me for this I will always protect them." Leo vowed to himself. "I will protect them and they will never see me cry or hear me scream."