Masks
At some point, Leonardo and Raphael figured out that their roles in the family didn't have to rule their relationship with each other.
The slashed remains of Raphael's favorite punching bag rested between them like a corpse, sand-blood still pouring out of the gashes, as Raphael's eyes seemed to shift from amber to crimson. Leonardo knew the signs well; Raphael was slipping into full-on Psycho mode.
"Screwed up real big this time, didn't ya, Mr. Perfect?" Raphael shouted.
Leonardo covered a flinch with a growl. Raphael always knew which buttons to press. "I said I was sorry, Raphael."
If anything, the apology just enraged him further. "Yeah, well 'sorry' ain't gonna fix my bag!"
They stood glaring at each other for a few minutes longer, and then Leonardo yanked off his mask, his fingers trembling with his suppressed anger. Raphael stared at him for a second, grinding his teeth, but he soon followed suit. Almost in unison, the brothers took deep breaths and let them out slowly.
Once they'd discovered the trick, they wondered why neither of them had thought of it sooner.
Leo took another breath and smiled at his younger, bigger brother. "Hey, Raph."
Raph smiled back, his eyes seeming lighter. "Hey, Leo."
"Sorry I messed up your bag," Leo said. "I didn't mean to."
"'S cool, bro," Raph said. "I know you didn't."
Leo looked at the ruined canvas. "I'll help you fix it, if you want."
Raph shrugged. "It was about time for a new one, anyhow."
"Let me help you look?"
"Sure thing."
Without putting their masks marked 'Leader' and 'Psycho' back on, Leo and Raph headed for the junkyard side by side, grinning and talking about sports.
—Fin