Author's Note: Hey guys. Raise your hand if you're ready for a Leo-centric story following the events of Penance! -raises own hand- -waves it wildly-
Excellent. Let's carry on then.
This story is set three years after the events of Penance. Needless to say, spoilers for that story. If you haven't read it yet, go do so! Or you can just read this one. You'll get the gist of the events from this story, I suppose. Also, good news for anyone who enjoyed the appearance of a certain character from my Raphril fic Therapy (and two one-shots) – Melanie! She will be a part of this story. If you're not familiar with her, don't worry – there's no important information about her that isn't included in this story.
I've never written a story focusing on Leonardo before. Let's see how this goes! As with most of my fics, this will start with silliness and nonsense that has some semblance of a purpose but is mostly used for entertainment.
This story is rated for violence, adult language and possible adult situations in the future.
"HAPPY MUTATION DAY!"
The chorus of voices seemed to grow louder every year. But then again, that was to be expected when the overzealous Hamato family refused to stop growing. Laughter and hugs assaulted the four mutant turtles as they climbed out of Casey's ratty old van. Michelangelo jumped out first, his eyes lighting up as he drank in the surprise party with delight. April's farmhouse was decorated to the nines, complete with streamers and two fold-up tables full of food, all of which sat against the backdrop of the glittering lake behind April's old home. A willow tree loitered over the edge of the water and housed a precariously hung tire swing, just waiting for reckless fun.
"Whoa! Check it out, guys!" Mikey exclaimed, looking up at an excited shout from the porch.
"Aw, guys! I didn't know they were here!" Melanie lamented, arms full of paper plates and cups. She tossed them carelessly on a table and ran full-speed, leaping into Mikey's arms with her characteristic grin.
"It's okay, pretty face," Mikey spun her in a circle with a happy shout. "I can't believe you guys did all this for us!"
Raphael hopped out behind him, pushing his brother out of the way with a grin. "Well, would you look at that?" he eyed the layout approvingly.
A pair of green hands gripped the door and next came Donatello, a laugh escaping him as he took in the party set up. A sneaky arm looped with his and April O'Neil beamed up at him, tugging him along. "Come on! See what we did, D!"
Casey shut the van door with a snicker. "Yeah, check out every single birthday sign you can buy at the dollar store," he rolled his eyes, though he quickly adopted an innocent smile when a lovely dark-skinned girl thwapped him on the head affectionately.
Aniyah protested amiably, "Hey, some of this stuff was hand-made, thank you!"
Wrapping her up in an arm, Casey pressed a kiss to her temple. "Yeah yeah, we know you can look at Pinterest, Aniyah. Good job!" She poked his ribs and laughed, yanking Raphael by the arm and forcing him to join the couple over at the picnic tables.
As the others raced off towards the lake, the last Hamato stepped out of the van and dropped silently to the ground, blue eyes taking in the beautiful summer afternoon and the thoughtful party their human friends had put together. He shut the sliding door behind him, his hand lingering for a moment. Before he turned around, he smiled softly to himself. He knew she was there before he turned to face her. "Happy Mutation Day," April smiled up at him knowingly, standing on her tiptoes to hug her friend around the neck.
"Thanks," Leo returned the embrace for a moment before pulling away, his gaze shifting to the sunny landscape. It was a brilliant idea, really – he and his brothers rarely got to go outside the city and April's farmhouse was secluded enough for all of them to enjoy the outdoors in peace. Besides, there were really too many of them to party in the sewers nowadays, even if Master Splinter allowed it.
In the distance, laughter rolled off the gathering group near the lake's edge, Raphael and Casey tussling about something and making the others squeal and jump out of the way. April giggled and shook her head, her eyes returning to Leonardo. "I can't believe you guys are nineteen," she poked his bicep teasingly. "You're getting to be old turtles!"
Leo chuckled, making no motion to join the others at the tables. "Yeah. It's pretty amazing," he looked down at his friend and raised a brow ridge. "Are you shrinking?" he teased.
April made a face at him. "Shut up. Just because you guys all had a growth spurt last year!"
"Everyone except Mikey," Leo smirked, wincing when he saw Raphael leap at the aforementioned brother, knocking them into a tangled nest of pastel-colored streamers. April snickered as the turtle in question tumbled off Raphael with a screech and fell straight into the lake. The laughing pair shook their heads.
"Then again," April continued. "Maybe height is the least of Mikey's worries."
"Mm," Leo nodded in agreement.
It was a long afternoon of swimming, eating and general "tom foolery," as Master Splinter called it. Their large brood did plenty of damage to both food and furniture but that was, again, one of the bonuses of using the old farmhouse. Most of the stuff there was broken anyway and even if it wasn't, no one was really using it. Even the old wooden lake dock wasn't necessarily safe, but of course, that didn't stop anyone from running down its length and leaping off the end into the freezing cold water.
Aniyah danced into view from behind a tree and struck a pose. "How do I look in my new swimsuit?" she asked April and Mel, the latter of whom wolf-whistled.
"Way too hot to be with Casey!" she called out with a laugh, shrieking wildly when Casey snatched her around the middle and dragged her to the dock's edge. "Ahh! Mikey!" she exclaimed before – splash! Casey collapsed with laughter until Aniyah grabbed his ear and Mikey assisted Melanie by jumping in the water and picking her up – only to toss her again into the depths. "Ahh! Some help you are!" she splashed the laughing turtle, giggling wildly when he ducked under the water and encircled her from behind, peppering her neck with kisses.
On the edge of the dock, Donnie dangled his legs in the water. "Do you know," he said thoughtfully, only vaguely aware no one was listening to him. ", it's very possible we came from a lake just like this. If we weren't bred in captivity, I mean. Which is also a possibility. But just imagine! We could have been born - "
" - not total dorks?" Raphael interrupted with a smirk. "Sorry, Don. I think you were doomed from the start." He fell comfortably next to his brother and settled an arm around his shoulder.
"Just like you were born a total brute?" the purple-banded teased in return, even as Raphael slapped a hand against his brother's plastron affectionately.
"Yep," he said proudly, grinning out over the lake.
"I am like the fastest swimmer in the world," said Mikey to no one in particular.
Casey settled down on the other side of Donnie, a soda in hand. After hovering nearby for a few minutes, Leonardo joined them, his absent gaze across the lake. The others looked in the same direction, but Leonardo was the only one who wasn't pulled in the direction of the floating dock in the center of the murky water.
"Ooh, yeah." Casey smirked. "I can definitely deal with this." Raphael and Donnie snickered, nodding as they watched the three swimsuit clad girls – April, Melanie and Aniyah – situate themselves on the wooden island as they chatted amicably in the distance.
"Man, April is white," Raphael commented with a laugh, watching as the redhead carefully settled a floppy hat on her head to shield her face.
"She's perfect," said Donnie with a dreamy smile.
Mikey popped up in front of them and heaved himself onto the dock, spraying the lot of them with lake water. "Dude!" Casey groaned. "I just dried off!"
"Too bad!" the turtle quipped with a snigger, grabbing Casey up into a dripping wet hug. Of course, that turned into a wrestling match that ended in the water. From their spot at the center of the lake, the girls watched with matching smirks.
"I mean, seriously. Can like, five minutes go by without one of them grabbing the other?" Melanie smoothed sunscreen over her arms.
"Mm, nope." Aniyah adjusted her sunglasses. "We've been together for over two years now and I don't think I've ever seen Casey sit still for more than ten minutes," she said with a shake of her head.
"BOO!"
The girls shrieked as Raphael burst from the water right next to their floating island and then dissolved into laughter. "Lame," he informed them, grabbing the decking and pulling himself up easily. He shook off his limbs away from the girls.
"Raph, you're in my sun," Melanie complained from where she lay stretched out on her rainbow towel. He responded by flickering cold water on her bare stomach.
"So does Casey still spell your name wrong?" April asked Aniyah curiously, shifting to the side as Raphael took a seat next to her.
"Wait," Raphael interrupted. "I know the answer to this." He pointed at Aniyah. "Yes."
"I mean, really," Aniyah dropped her head back and turned her face to the sun. "How hard is it? Two and a half years!"
"I love your name," Melanie turned onto her stomach and curled her toes in the air. "How did you parents come up with it?"
"Well," the other girl said languidly. "My folks moved to New York before I was born and they were really nervous. They didn't speak any English and lived in a teeny little one-room apartment. For a while, they were afraid they made a mistake. Then they found out they were pregnant with me and – I don't know, they said it was a such a good omen for them. They knew they were in the right place. So my dad named me Aniyah, which is Haitian for messenger from God." April and Melanie 'awwed' in unison.
"That is so beautiful," Melanie said, propping her chin in her hands, before continuing on with a sigh. "My parents named me after a soap opera actress."
Raphael leaned on an elbow. "Well, that explains why you're so dramatic," he rolled his eyes.
"Oh, and what's your excuse?" April grinned at him.
"Yeah, Raphael-a," Melanie giggled, ducking away from Raphael's swipe in her direction. April shook her head and turned to look across the lake. She spotted her boyfriend there, laughing shoulder to shoulder with Casey and Mikey on the dock. She waved and Donnie waved back, his grin warming her even across the distance. April's lips fell into a soft smile as she looked beyond the trio, pausing at the tree that lingered over the picnic tables.
Leonardo stood alone, arms folded and eyes turned away. No matter how long she watched him, he didn't turn in her direction.
Evening fell.
The group crowded around a campfire near the lake's edge, flames carefully maintained by Donnie. Outstretched on blankets, munching on snacks and sodas, the lot of them exchanged stories and jokes as the night wore on. April leaned further against Donnie's plastron with a satisfied smile, her face turning to peer up at his tenderly. He returned it in kind, red eyes never absent the adoration he'd held for her since day one. I love you, she mouthed. He responded by curling his arms around her and murmuring the same.
Across the fire, Raphael and Casey were regaling the others with the story of their latest Purple Dragon beatdown, complete with full combat reenactments and sound effects. "Well, at least you two are better at fighting together now than you were before," Aniyah said wryly, making a face at the others. "The day I met these two – You know, when they stopped those guys from mugging me? They literally ran into each other. Boom. Into the dirt."
"Hey, we still saved the day!" Casey pouted. "You got to keep your stuff – and scored a date with me!"
Raphael fell to his spot next to the fire. "Yeah," he said dryly to Aniyah. "I've been meanin' to apologize for that for years. Now you're stuck with him." Aniyah shrugged, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"I'm okay with that," she nuzzled Casey's cheek, cooing over him even as he grew increasingly flushed and embarrassed.
"Okay, okay!" he wiggled out of her grip.
It was then that Leonardo spoke up for the first time in a while.
"Where's Mikey and Mel?"
Animals hooted and called out in the night forest, but Melanie and Michelangelo paid them no mind as they tumbled into the darkness, wrapped in one another's arms. Mikey stooped low and curled his arms around the backs of Mel's legs and lifted her high, his other hand jumping up to her face as their heated kiss sent them further into the woods. The campfire wasn't too far away – they could still see the light if they cared to look – but this was secluded enough.
Lowering her to the forest floor did little to loosen Mikey's grip, Melanie's body a welcome warmth against his own. The kiss grew more heated and Melanie's sneaky hand found his, bringing it around to the bikini top she wore over a pair of shorts and his fingers began to make quick work of it – and then he stopped, his eyes suddenly wide and mouth drawing away from hers.
"What?" Melanie asked, pouting at the sudden lack of contact. Mikey's blue eyes slowly scanned the area of forest around them.
"Mel..." Silence floated between them.
Melanie's heart-shaped face grew more and more annoyed with every passing second. "Don't say it, Mikey. Do... not... say it - "
"This is just like a horror movie!"
Melanie groaned, a hand sliding down her face even as Mikey continued adamantly. "I mean, dude! Think about it," he gestured wildly. "A group of teenagers partying at a secluded lake – at night! And then two of them sneak off to hook up! That's like – every single horror movie ever!"
"Aw, Mikey! Come on!"
"We'd be the first to die and you know it!"
"Nothing is out here, Mikey!"
"Yeah, that's what the people in the movies always say."
"Dude, come on -" A shadow formed to their left and they both screamed, Melanie falling over her own feet in an effort to hide behind Mikey. "YOU WERE RIGHT!" she shrieked, gripping his shell frantically.
Out of the shadows, Raphael snickered and shook his head. "What are you two idiots doing?"
The pair stared and Melanie dropped her hands, shooting a glare at Mikey, who shrugged sheepishly. "Well, nothing now!" Melanie said with a huff.
Mikey pointed behind them at the woods. "We were trying to keep safe from the homicidal maniac in the hockey mask," he told his brother plaintively.
Raphael raised a brow ridge. "You mean Casey?" he inquired.
"Ugh, whatever." Melanie grabbed her boyfriend's arm and tugged him back to the campfire with Raphael following close behind, laughing all the while.
The activity grew tired and lazy, with most everyone still lounging around the dying fire and talking in small groups. Away from the warmth and light of the flames, Leonardo stood near the lake's edge, arms folded over his plastron and gaze unfocused. He wasn't sure how long he'd been there before he heard movement to his side.
"Hey there," April gestured. "Mind if I join you?"
Leo glanced at her and shook his head politely, moving down to the bank and settling on the edge. April took a seat next to him and for a few minutes, they watched the lake water roll up the grassy embankment in sync with the warm summer wind. Leonardo enjoyed the silence, the distant voices of the others faint and unintelligible. After several minutes of quiet reflection, April shifted next to him and extended her hand.
"Got you something for your Mutation Day," she said, nudging his arm cheerfully. Leo accepted the small wrapped gift with a grateful smile. When his green fingers worked off the paper, it revealed a photo housed in an beautiful bamboo frame. The elegance of the intricately carved wood stood in stark contrast to the photo within, a wild group shot of the four brothers and all of their human friends. "Remember this?" April asked gently. "We took it a few months ago at Mel's birthday."
"I remember," Leo murmured, his fingers smoothing over the decorative designs on the corner of the frame as he studied the faces in the photo. Donnie in the back, still the tallest of them all, his arm looped around Mikey's neck, who grinned wildly from his spot. Melanie crouched in the front, flashing peace signs. Aniyah to her side, sticking out her tongue and Casey behind her, arms folded over his chest and cocky grin in place. Raphael just next to him, an arm on Casey's shoulder and a snarky smirk his only consolation towards a smile. April stood next to Leo, a laugh frozen in place from her corner, her hands on Aniyah's shoulders.
Leonardo stood in the back, only a slight quirk to his lips in place of a smile, hands at his sides.
"Thank you," Leo turned the frame over in his hands, carefully replacing it in the wrapping and holding it in his lap.
His hands stayed there and, after a few seconds ticked by in silence, April placed a hand over his and squeezed his fingers. "You should come back to the fire. Apparently, Raph has a funny story about Mikey and Mel," she tried, tilting her head at him teasingly. "Sounds like it'll be good."
Leonardo met her gaze briefly, the wrapping paper crinkling loudly in his lap. He barely suppressed the urge to flinch. "I will soon," he promised. When April frowned in response, he turned over his hand in hers and returned the squeeze. "Really."
The redhead sighed quietly. "Leo..."
"Oh, come on guys!" The solemn pair looked up at the sound of Mel's desperate plea and quickly spotted the source of her distress. "Don't do it, Mikey!" Mel exclaimed, hurrying towards her boyfriend.
"Too late!" Raphael shouted gleefully as he and Casey released their holds on the massive slingshot holding Mikey at its center. The smallest turtle rocketed into the air with a very long, increasingly high-pitched shriek that followed his descent into the pitch-black lake, a splash in the distance cutting off the last of his hysterical yelp. Off to the side, Donnie held up his fingers in an 'L' and complimented them on their angle implementation.
April and Leo exchanged amused glances. "See?" April stood and held out a hand to the blue-banded turtle. "Never a dull moment."
Morning came too early and far too bright.
The farmhouse was quiet, streamers and food-stained paper plates mixed in with the exhausted teenagers that littered the various pieces of old and worn furniture. Warm light dotted with dust filtered in through the windows and cast a yellow-orange glow over the sleeping group of teens, prodding insistently even as most of them pushed wakefulness away.
Leonardo looked over his friends and family from his spot near the door. They'd pretty much fallen asleep where ever they'd dropped last night, which meant most of them were a tangle of limbs on the couch or armchair. Mikey was face-down on the floor, his face buried in his forearm.
Shaking his head, Leo turned and slipped quietly out of the farmhouse door. The front porch felt warm beneath his feet despite the early hour and the desire to curl up on the steps and bask in the sun was fervent. One of the side effects of his species, he supposed.
Leaning against the aged railing, Leo closed his eyes and accepted the soothing morning rays, the welcome winds that stirred the trees. It was so different out here, away from the city. The wild urge to take off into the woods and never return tugged powerfully at his mind.
"Leo?"
The brief tranquility evaporated. Leonardo straightened slowly, though he did not turn in the direction of his brother. Donnie approached anyway, one hand curled around a mug. "Coffee?" his brother offered with a smile.
"No, thank you."
Donnie lowered the mug, his eyes flickering uncertainly. He took a sip from it himself and turned to face the direction of Leonardo's gaze. "Sure is beautiful out here," Donnie commented. When Leo said nothing in reply, Donnie bit his lip and glanced sidelong at him. "Hey, Leo..."
"Man!"
The two turtles turned to face Casey Jones as he exited the house with a yawn. "I feel like total hell," he grinned at his friends. "Which means it was an awesome time, am I right?"
Leo looked away from Donnie, but he didn't miss the annoyed exhale from his younger brother. Casey adjusted his wrinkled shirt. "Anyone want to come with me to the store? I gotta pick up some -"
"I'll go," Leo volunteered, moving away from the railing with a quick step.
Casey blinked in surprise and then shrugged. "Alright, sure. Let's go." Without another word to Donnie, Leo stepped off the porch with Casey and hopped into the van. As they sped off in the direction of the lone convenience store, he chanced a look in the side mirror.
Donnie stood where he'd left him, alone against the large silhouette of the house, his eyes low and shoulders slumped. When they returned a few minutes later, Donnie had gone inside. Only the mug remained, coffee now cold.
"Leonardo."
Fingertip paused on the corner of his page, Leo glanced up at the sound of his father's voice. Master Splinter waited at the edge of the living room, clawed hands clasped behind his back. "I would like to speak with you in the dojo."
Leonardo glanced quickly at Raphael, who only shrugged in reply.
Setting aside his novel, Leo stood from the couch with a nod and followed their sensei into the dojo. Without being asked, he closed the door and knelt respectfully on the mats, hands on his knees. When Splinter took a similar position across from him, Leo looked up and waited patiently for him to speak.
The familiar cadence of the dojo offered him some semblance of comfort, the sights and smells as natural and soothing as the many memories he'd made there.
"Leonardo," Master Splinter drew his attention and Leo met his gaze. "I have received a letter from Japan."
Leo's brows furrowed. This wasn't what he had been expecting. To be honest, he'd thought this might have something to do with the fact that the refrigerator door had been hastily replaced with a piece of cardboard painted with an unconvincing door handle, but hey. That wasn't his fault and he was more than ready to explain that story to Splinter.
"Do you still know people in Japan, Sensei?" asked Leo, confused. This was the first he'd heard of Splinter making contact with anyone from his previous life – aside from Oroku Saki, of course. Master Splinter nodded gravely.
"I did not communicate with anyone for many years. However, I reached out to a family friend to tell him of the Shredder's death. Oroku Saki had terrorized more families than mine, after all. I thought it prudent to inform the others of his defeat." Leo nodded, his jaw clicking rigidly.
"Now my friend had written to me again. And he is... in trouble," continued Splinter, his tone strangely weary. Leo straightened in his spot.
"What do you mean, Sensei?"
"Oroku Saki was not the only menace to come out of our land, I am afraid. A dangerous group of highly skilled warriors besiege my friend's village with increasing hostility, laying waste to their lands and killing any who stand in their way. They attack from the mountains during the night and care not for the children and families who live there."
"Why don't the people fight back?" Leonardo asked, frowning.
"They are simple farmers," explained Splinter. "They are not trained in combat. They cannot defend themselves and they are too far from the cities to receive assistance. I am afraid they have already lost many who might have been capable of protecting them."
Leo looked away, his gaze thoughtful. "Why would they do that? What could the farmers possibly have that would cause them to attack over and over again?"
"They do not know the reason for the attacks," Splinter admitted with a twitch of his whiskers. "Kiyoshi says they are unprovoked and occur at random. The warriors take little or nothing when they arrive, only seeking to destroy and do harm."
"Kiyoshi?" questioned Leo.
Splinter nodded. "Kiyoshi Akira, the leader of the village. He was a close friend from my youth and now he pleads for my help, despite knowing of my mutation."
Leo lifted his eyes to Splinter's, an uncomfortable feeling of panic welling inside his chest. "Are you going to travel to Japan to help him, Master?"
"No." At Leo's confused stare, Splinter rose to his feet and clasped a hand over the top of his cane. After a long moment of silence, he turned to face Leonardo stoically.
"It is you that will help these people, Leonardo. It is you that will go."
Jumping to his feet, Leonardo hurried after his father. "Wh – What? What do you mean, I'll go?" When Splinter turned away and moved to cross the dojo, Leonardo stumbled behind him, his blue eyes wide. "Sensei, you can't be serious."
"I am perfectly serious, Leonardo," Master Splinter placed both hands on the top of his staff and looked over his shoulder, dark eyes on the mantle displaying his family photo. "You are my eldest son. You are the leader of our clan once I am gone. You will act on my behalf – on behalf of the entire Hamato clan."
He shifted, his eyes on his bewildered son, his hands unnaturally tight on the cane.
"You will go to Japan in my place. And you will put a stop to this."
Author's Note: Aaaaaaaaaaaand …. go!