* I am now getting into a real rhythm of posting, and I need to say two things. First of all, don't expect quick or simple. This story isn't something that could be wrapped up in a 30 minute episode. I will post every other day for the duration of the fic, unless you ask for it faster. Which brings me to the second point.
I need help. I am coming off a major fiction fail that ended in me losing 99% of the online friends I gained over the course of ten years. Yes, this account is brand new, but I'm not. I was devastated, and I'm still not really over it. I don't like begging for reviews, but I need feedback. I need connections, even if it's only what you DON'T like. I won't get through posting this by myself. It won't happen. I am actively seeking friends, and am happy to return the reading/reviewing favor. Just ask. Like I am now. Please...criticize and rip me to shreds if you have to. But don't ignore me.
The squeal of a door jarred the blue-masked turtle out of a dead sleep, and he instantly whipped toward the entrance to their lair. Even in his disoriented state, Leonardo was prepared with another apology for his Sensei, which he'd practiced several times that evening.
However, the heavy door to their den hadn't actually budged, so the thirteen-year-old was left to look around in confusion. Then Leo caught a shadow of movement near the stairs – what ended up being his purple-masked brother.
"Leo? What are you doing?"
Leonardo rubbed his eyes before replying. "I was waiting for Sensei and Mikey to get back." He glanced at the clock, noticing that it was after 3 in the morning. "It's already pretty late. Did they sneak in without me hearing?"
The ten-year-old shook his head. "No. Mike didn't come up."
"Must have a good haul," Leo murmured. "Why are you awake, Donny?"
"I'm hungry," he admitted, as if it was something to be ashamed of. "Thought a couple of crusts wouldn't hurt. Mike doesn't like 'em anyway."
The blue-masked turtle was quick to agree. "No, it won't hurt, especially with the supplies they're bringing with them."
"Yeah, hopefully." The dismissive quality in Donatello's tone wasn't a good sign.
"Are you still mad at us?" Leo had to ask.
"I don't wanna talk about it," Don returned softly, and headed into the kitchen.
Leonardo watched him go, and almost didn't pursue his brother. Truth is, I don't want to talk about this either. But if I don't, Donny is gonna mope around here for a couple of days until I get truly sick of it.
When he walked into the next room, he found Don counting slices of bread. "We have more food coming," Leonardo reminded him, unintentionally eyeing his younger brother's too slender shoulders.
Sometimes it feels like we take two steps forward, and five steps back. We all managed to put on a little weight this last Spring, but Summer took a horrible toll, especially on him and Mike. Bouts of food poisoning had taken the household for days, and no one wore it worse than the purple-masked turtle.
"We already have mold starting," Donatello announced.
"Wasn't keeping stuff in the fridge supposed to help? The bread was expired when Raph pulled it from the dumpster, but we can usually get a little more life."
"Refrigerator is only working about half the time, Leo. If we kept it closed, things might stay colder. But Raph and Mikey seem to think that peering into the 'magic box' every five minutes will make more food appear."
"How much did we lose?" Leonardo cringed with the question.
"About five slices. Leaves us with six until we can restock. I don't need to eat anything." He was already tying up the bag when Leo reached out a hand to stop him.
"Don, take one."
"I'm fine. My stomach will stop growling – it usually does."
"I'm serious, bro," the teen reiterated. "Grab a piece and I'll get the peanut butter."
Donny looked appalled at the suggestion. "We don't have that much, Leo!"
"We'll have more than enough when Sensei gets back."
The younger turtle still looked torn, so Leo took the bread from him and separated out a slice. His heart sank a little over how light the peanut butter jar felt, but when he looked inside, Leonardo knew he could at least get a teaspoon out of it.
"Sit down, Donny."
The blue-masked turtle took longer to spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the bread than necessary, savoring the scent of the snack he dared not make for himself.
"It's not fair, Leo," Don objected like he was reading his thoughts. "No one else is eating. If Raph caught us, he'd have a cow."
"If I breathe wrong, he has a cow," Leonardo grumbled. "But he also doesn't need to know. With the bread you already had to pitch, no one will miss that one piece."
He presented the half sandwich to Don like an offering, praying it might improve his mood as well as provide some needed calories. Donatello stared at the food like he was perplexed, and didn't automatically touch the bread.
"I already used the ingredients, Donny. You gonna let it go to waste?"
His brother gave him a dirty look. "Why do you seem to care so much sometimes, and not others?"
"I never stop caring," he objected. "Sure, I didn't take Raph's crap today-"
"That's not what I meant. Just forget it, okay?"
"How can I forget when you bring up things I know nothing about? If you could say what you actually mean occasionally, it'd be great."
The purple-masked turtle continued staring at the table. "Let it go, Leo."
"Until you randomly throw it in my face again."
"I don't want to fight. You and Raph go at it enough for all of us combined."
"I know you're pissed about being left behind tonight, Don. Why won't you admit it?"
"Why can't you let this go?"
Leonardo had the urge to beat his head against the table. But if I did that, I'd probably break one of the legs. "Fine. I'll shut up if you eat."
Don eyed the bread and at least picked it up that time. Leonardo knew the tiny nibbles he followed with were only meant to make the treat last longer, because he often did the same thing.
"Hey, think about it," Leo offered optimistically. "If this works out, maybe we won't have to worry about food for a few weeks. That's if the stuff is actually safe to eat," he finished with a remaining doubt.
Donatello glanced up at once. "Leo, the recall covers undeclared allergens. Several lots of Kraft's* new packaging didn't mention the possibility of soy or peanuts. It's a massive lawsuit waiting to happen."
"That's really it? Ingredients are missing from the labels, so they have to destroy everything?"
The purple-masked turtle nodded. "Every last bit, even though it isn't harmful to anyone without an allergy. This is one of the biggest recalls in the company's history, covering at least a dozen categories of their snack-size packaging. I bet they'll have pretty long expiration dates too, since it all came out after the new design was released."
Don took another bite of his "forbidden" snack. "With any luck, it'll help us get through the winter easier. Of course, we'd collect more if we were capable of working together."
"Donny, I know you're mad about tonight. You can stop pretending like you're not. You told me to drop it, but there you go bringing this up again. I'm sorry, okay? Raph pushed me all day, and he went too far after the match was called. Then the second I bite back, Sensei's there to see it."
"He's told you a thousand times-"
"I know what he's told me. I don't need you to tell me."
"Leo, it would have been really cool," Donatello said stiffly. "How often do we get to explore new places? Or have a supply run with this kind of potential? I couldn't wait to get there. I'm the one who found out about the recall and did the research. But I'm also the one sitting at home twiddling my thumbs, like I already did all day. Never even made it to the library, and I really wanted to check my email."
"Are you still watching the auction site, Don?"
His brother glared instead of answering him. Donatello's method for selling memorabilia had been a matter of many discussions between the two of them, and they'd never been able to agree.
"How long have you had the one lot posted, Donny? Close to three months, isn't it? You're trying to draw out some big guns, and nobody's playing along. Why not break the merchandise up? What do you have against selling the baseball cards little by little?"
"I've explained this to you a dozen times, Leo. I don't see how saying it again will make a difference."
"I'm only trying to get you to see another side of it. Don't you think the money would come in faster if you broke the cards up into manageable auctions? What's the point of one massive lot that no one wants to bid on?"
"Leo, those cards are worth way more than I'll ever get selling them online. Yeah, a lot of people will be more tempted by tiny auctions. But I'm holding out for the buyer who wants it all. I'm telling you, I have more earning potential from serious collectors if I keep the cards together."
"How long is that perfect bidder gonna take to show up? We could really use the money, Donny. I thought it was a great idea on your part from the beginning. I never realized what you could accomplish with Movo.* When you first brought up the possibility of real income, you had everyone excited. Now months have passed with nothing to show for it."
"You have to be patient, Leo! I'm telling you – it'll pay off. The second I make a sale, PayBuddy will directly deposit to the Movo card. The account has no fees, instant ATM and online access...None of which is convenient yet, since I still need the library for an internet connection.
"We have to do this one step at a time. Movo is gonna open a lot of doors for us. You're wanting to kick them down, instead of waiting for me to get anything unlocked. That kind of thing could do more harm than good. I need you to trust me, Leo."
"I do trust you."
"Then why are we having this conversation again?" Don demanded.
"Donny, you've done things in the last few months that are amazing, seriously. We can all see how smart you are. But you don't know everything. That's why it isn't a bad idea to listen to other people sometimes."
"I listen to you guys all the time – I just don't do everything you say."
"Bro, when you get an idea in your head, it seems to become an obsession. That doesn't mean there isn't more than one way of doing things," Leo pointed out.
"Of course there is. But in this case, I'm taking the longer road. It'll end up being more profitable than the short-term peanuts I can get for single cards. I know what I'm doing, Leo."
The blue-masked turtle shrugged. Too "smart" to admit that there might be a better option. "They're your cards, your auction. Do what you want."
"I'm doing this for all of us, Leonardo!"
"All right," he relented, only because arguing was pointless. Leo motioned to the two-bite portion his brother had left. "Finish it please."
Don held the bread out to him. "You can have the rest."
The teen started to shake his head, only for Donny to shove the battered plate across the table to him. "Take it."
Leo wanted to resist, but in the end, he couldn't. He munched through the meager remnants of his brother's snack, and turned toward the door. "They'll be back soon. You ought to get some more sleep, Donny."
"It's not the same without Mikey's snoring."
Leonardo's eye ridges rose. "Are you saying you miss it?"
"I say that now. No telling how I'll feel later."
The older turtle pushed back from the table. "You wanna wait up for them with me? I don't think I snore, but I could fake it for a while." He was hoping for a smile, and Donny returned with a small one.
Donatello stifled a yawn while rising. "I'm sure it won't be much longer. Let's go keep watch."
It was later than Raphael expected when he woke up. The twelve-year-old rolled over with a start to face the glowing numbers of the alarm clock Donatello rebuilt for them. The read-out of nearly 7AM meant that he was already running behind.
He rose from the beat-up mattress which sat directly on the floor, and stretched out slowly. Wonder how I ended up getting off the hook with Sensei and "Fearless". Maybe Master Splinter wants to take turns reaming us out separately. Doesn't give me a good reason to go downstairs.
The red-masked turtle carefully opened the door to prevent its persistent squeak. He peeked his head out of their room, listening for signs of life nearby. When he didn't hear any, Raphael chuckled. Sensei musta worn out Mikey for him to be this quiet. Only way his big mouth didn't wake me up either.
Raphael ventured into the hall and glanced over the railing, staring at the living area below. The decrepit, sagging excuse for a couch was currently occupied by a couple of his brothers, who appeared sound asleep. He only had a few seconds to be confused, before a devious thought entered his mind.
Raphael silently entered the nearby bathroom and grabbed two plastic cups off the side of the sink. He filled them both with the coldest water the faucet could supply, and snuck back into the hallway. The red-masked youth moved even more slowly down the steps, consciously controlling his feet not to make a sound.
After creeping up behind the sofa, he settled for merely throwing one cup in Don's direction, and simultaneously dashing the other directly in his older brother's face. Leo's yelp was a lot more satisfying than the purple-masked turtle's sleepy grunt, but his mission was accomplished.
Raphael snickered unashamedly at his rival while Leonardo rubbed water from his eyes, and then fixed him with a glare.
"What's wrong with you? Do you have to be a jerk from the second you get up?"
"A ninja should always be aware of his surroundings," the twelve-year-old mocked. "I got points on you and Donny this morning. You guys were sitting ducks!"
Donny's irritation was milder, but he still took the chance to throw his dampened blanket at him, which Raphael easily deflected.
"That leaves you at six points to my eighteen for the month," Leo retorted.
"Only 'cause you wake up so early. The high and mighty don't usually sleep in this late."
"Sleep in?" The blue-masked turtle jerked to look at the clock. "What...Don, when did you fall asleep?"
"I don't remember, Leo. Sensei and Mike must have come back without either of us hearing them."
Leonardo's brow furrowed at once. "But...if Mikey was here, he would have laid down with us. He can't resist a turtle pile."
"Maybe he didn't wanna snuggle up next to the snitch," Raph suggested.
Leo crossed his arms with another dark look. "Do you have to start this early?"
"Bro, it was never finished."
"Yeah it is, because I don't want to get in worse trouble than we already have."
"It's hard to be the teacher's pet when y' can't keep your hands off me, huh?"
The teen's arms dropped to his sides, but clenching fists told Raphael he was getting to him. "Quit pushing. It's not gonna work."
"Right, because it's always my fault. You never do anything wrong. We're the ones who are all against ya, because you're so perfect."
"Stop it – stop calling me that."
"I would, if you didn't act like it every day. You think you're better than any of us. That's why you're at Sensei's side, giving him those little reports like some three-year-old tattle-tail. You just gotta be his favorite, don't ya?"
Leo's return chuckle was dark. "It's not hard competing with your bad attitude. Of course he likes me more than you."
Before Raphael could stop himself, his grip landed on his brother's shoulders. "You take that back."
The blue-masked turtle wasn't intimidated, and his hands flashed out to meet Raphael's threatening posture. "Can't. I believe in telling the truth."
"Take it back, now." Raph's tone lowered, even as his anger grew.
Leonardo's smirk was like adding gasoline to the flames. "Make me."
Despite the lack of serious muscles, the red-masked turtle's sturdy frame automatically gave him an advantage over the rest of his counterparts. Leo was the only one who ever challenged him outside of a spar, and Raphael wasn't about to let it go today.
He went to shove his brother into the wall with a snarl, only for Leo to slip under his arms and dodge to the right. The next time Raph dove, it was with greater intent. The teen spun out of his grasp once more, but the red-masked turtle anticipated the maneuver, and caught Leo's ankle with his foot.
The twisting motion sent Leonardo tumbling sideways, and Raph leaped on the vulnerability. The older turtle's right leg snapped out to connect a powerful blow with Raphael's plastron at the last second, landing so hard it took his breath away. The red-masked turtle wanted to rail at his brother, but was instead reduced to a humiliated, gasping heap.
"Raph! Are you okay?"
The sight of the teen kneeling mere inches from his frame was all it took to reenergize the floundering turtle for a comeback. His fist plowed into his brother's face with as much force as dared put behind it, sending Leo to the floor.
Witnessing the way his eyes teared in reflex to the blow was enough to make Raphael grin, until he realized the bruise his brother would end up with too. Well, we already got in trouble for fighting. What else is Sensei gonna do?
When Leonardo scrambled to his feet, both his breathing and rigid posture indicated the fight wasn't over. Raphael stood back without an ounce of fear and motioned for him to come.
"How much you got in ya, Fearless? I ain't done by a long shot."
Leonardo blinked rapidly; an indication that his eyes were still stinging. His set jaw, however, gave no hint of surrender. "You will be done. I'm not going easy on you anymore."
"Is that what you call the roundhouse y' just gave me?"
"Don't act so innocent, Raph. You want to end this, or not?"
"I'm waiting for you to finish talking, Leo." Raphael was gearing up for another unexpected lunge, when Donatello suddenly inserted himself between them. Up until that moment, he'd forgotten the purple-masked turtle was even there.
"Guys, knock it off!"
"Stay out of it, Donny!" Raph ordered. "Mind your business."
"Just get out of the way," Leonardo said evenly. "He has to learn, Don."
"Oh, and you're the one to teach me?" Raphael laughed. "I'll show your perfect shell what it means to fight dirty."
"A true ninja would never stoop to such tactics-"
"YOU GUYS!" The younger turtle's follow-up shout had the effect of startling both of them. "Shut up and listen to me! Sensei and Mike aren't here."
Raphael's tense position faltered after a beat. "What do you mean, Donny? Where else would they be?"
"I don't know, but they aren't around. Maybe you two could stop fighting long enough to help me look for them?"
Leonardo went from bristling to uncertain in a flash. "That doesn't make sense. They've got to be close by."
"They're not in the den. I looked everywhere."
"They had to come back," Raphael proclaimed. "Sensei wouldn't mess up something like that."
"We should check the sewers," Leo said decisively. "I bet they're on their way, even if they haven't made it yet."
"What if they ain't?" Raph challenged, still defensive against his older brother.
"They are. Come on, guys. We need to move."
*I own neither Kraft nor Movo.
