AN: Hi guys! Getting a little antsy with Triangle on hiatus until season 1 ends, so I decided to work on an AU in the meantime. experimenting with different things here, so this story is basically a playground for me.

Enjoy

Warning! Story contains violence, abuse, and adult themes.

Cracked Brand

Prologue

There were no signs he was being pursued, yet Raph ran as if the floor behind him was falling in. The only sounds he could hear was his ragged breathing, and the splashing of his feet as he made his way through the damp tunnels. When he came to a junction, he paused only to get his bearings before diving through the tunnel on the right, trusting in his mental map to guide him. Normally he would care more about covering his trail, however there was no time for that; if he were caught there wouldn't be a second chance.

His chest was burning, a combination of the cold air and running all out for so long. He had to be getting close by now. He slowed to a jog, his exhaustion beginning to show as he pondered his next move. He absolutely could not afford to be caught, and he knew he wasn't going to be escaping unnoticed.

The slight sound of metal scraping behind him was all that tipped him off that he had a pursuer. He barely managed to dodge the strike of the twin blades whistling passed him as he skipped backwards several paces, drawing his sai with a twirl.

His brother, Leo, stood between him and the way ahead. He cursed under his breath; he did not want to have to fight his way through.

Leo lowered his weapons, but not his glare, "Raph, that's enough! Where do you think you're going to go? We can't survive on our own, Sensei-"

"-just stop! I don't want to hear your lectures Leo!"

Leo's eyes darkened but he didn't say another word, giving Raph a moment to speak.

"He's killing us!" Raph began, slapping a hand to his chest. Below his palm was the dark ink of his tattoo, the one his brothers shared with him. The Hamato Clan crest. "I don't know what it is like on the outside world, but I am sure whatever it is, it isn't as bad as this hellhole!"

Leo sighed deeply, his patience straining, "If you were headed to the surface, you wouldn't have gone this deep into the sewers." He stated matter of factly, "Raph, since when have we lied to each other? Is it really that bad, the four of us? Do you hate your clan so much that you need to act out like this?"

"That's what Splinter's calling it? Acting out?" Raph wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, "I don't wanna fight you Leo, just get out of my way!"

Leo's eyes remained firmly locked on his brother as he brought his blades to ready, "I have my orders Raph, don't make me do this."

Raph didn't reply, he just charged, flipping his sai to the ready as he attacked.

Leo brought up his blades to defend, pushing against Raph's force. The bulkier turtle shifted his weight, causing Leo to spin around to continue the defense. This turned out to be a mistake, as Leo hadn't been anticipating Raph's next move would involve him dropping his weapons and fleeing down the tunnel.

Raph rushed headlong towards his goal fueled by desperation and fear. He would die before he went back. He jumped down the final tunnel, sprinting as fast as he could go. He couldn't hear if Leo was following, he could just hear his desperate, ragged breathing.

He stopped so abruptly he slipped backwards. The path dropped off into a deep pit, lit by daylight from a grate above. Even lit, Raph could not see the bottom. He cursed under his breath. This wasn't what he had been expecting.

The sound of Leo catching up caused Raph to stand up and turn around to face him, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. His legs were shaking, he was too burnt out to fight.

"I'm not going back." His green eyes glared fire.

Leo just shook his head, "There is nowhere to go. Don't be an idiot, Raph, we need you at home."

The red banded turtle turned his head and looked behind to the pit he was backed against, considering. His eyes returned to Leo, full of resolve.

"Sorry bro."

Raph turned and without even hesitating threw himself into the pit, falling away into the darkness, Leo's startled cry echoing behind him.

End