AN: So, just in case it wasn't obvious: this fic doesn't take itself seriously. This author doesn't take themselves seriously. You've been warned.

Thanks for the support! I honestly didn't expect it on this little side project of mine.

000Marie198: Thank you! Leo as a fanfiction writer, uh? I'll keep that one in a corner of my mind and see what happens. And if you're tired of toasters, hum… Maybe you should skip that one.

LeggoLover99: Thank you! I had fun writing Leo like this. And we'll see what my crazy mind comes up with next...

Jokermask18: Hey, why not? Maybe you'll come up with headcanons I hadn't noticed. No promises I'll write them, though.

Prompt n°2: Fandom Says… Leo Breaks The Toaster (Because This Ninja Can't Handle Kitchen Appliances)

Why, Fandom, why?

Fandom says…

Okay, okay. There it is, then! The Toaster Oneshot.

2012 turtles.

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Leo Breaks The Toaster

A distinctive smell of burned bread invaded the kitchen. The toaster moaned, whistled, and finally stood still.

Leo bit back a curse. What was happening to him? He had done exactly the same as Raph and Mikey, put his neatly cut slices of bread in the toaster and pushed the on/off button, like he had done hundreds of times before, but today – like yesterday and the day before – it hadn't worked.

As he unplugged the reluctant kitchen appliance, Leo wondered how he was going to explain that to Donnie. His purple-clad brother had insisted on him being extra careful with the delicate toaster last time he had repaired it.

What was wrong with him? He could handle all kinds of knives and blades with no problem, pick locks, skateboard through sewer tunnels, but apparently he had lost the skill to use a mere toaster?

As if to make his day worse, Master Splinter chose this moment to enter the kitchen in order to refill his teapot.

"Leonardo? What is the matter, my son?" The giant rat asked, whiskers twitching because of the unpleasant smell.

"Hi, Sensei," Leo answered sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I… uh…"

"Leo broke the toaster. Again," Raph helpfully and happily supplied between two mouthfuls of his perfectly toasted breakfast.

Leo blushed and bowed his head in shame, while Donnie came inside, tying up his purple mask with a yawn. His sleepy expression sharpened at the sight in front of him.

"Leo! Please tell me you didn't break the poor thing again!"

Leo fidgeted.

"Donnie, I'm sorry, I don't know what happened! I did exactly the same as Raph and Mikey!"

Donnie threw up his arms.

"Obviously you didn't," he retorted hotly. "And guess who will clean up your mess?"

"Donnie, I'm really sorry," Leo muttered.

"Leonardo, you know we can't afford to waste food," Splinter scolded him half-heartedly because his son already looked very subdued.

The blue-clad turtle sat down sadly.

"I know. I don't understand what has gotten into me," Leo whispered.

Mikey put a soothing and sticking-with-jam hand on his brother's shoulder.

"We still have some cereals, bro," he offered.

Donnie glared at Leo and brought the toaster to his lab with careful, gentle gestures. Leo sighed.

%%%%%

A week later, Leo's relationship with the toaster hadn't got any better. No matter how carefully he used the toaster, it always ended up broken. He was now officially banned from using this kitchen appliance, which hadn't prevented the cursed thing to almost blow up in his mere presence – at least that's what Leo pretended.

Raph and Mikey found it immensely funny, while Donnie was complaining that if he had to repair the thing one more time, he would blast it himself.

Splinter couldn't decide if his blue-clad son was telling the truth or if he had tried once again to use the toaster. In doubt, he had settled for replacing some of Leo's TV time with meditation in order to help his son focus better.

The ninja master merely hoped that Donatello wouldn't follow through with his threat.

%%%%%

Mikey was sympathizing with Donnie. The genius was already doing so much for them, he could understand that he was getting tired of repairing that toaster again and again.

After the last debacle, Raph had offered to take Leo for a run in the sewers – after he had rolled on the floor laughing for a good five minutes, that is. Leo definitely looked like he needed to unwind.

Mikey decided to check on Donnie. For a change, he didn't jump inside his brother's lab but entered it with extreme caution, careful not to make any noise, so he could leave if it looked like the genius didn't want company.

The sight that greeted him was puzzling.

In front of his desk where an opened toaster lay, Donnie, screwdriver in hand, was cackling with glee.

"Donnie?"

Said brother jumped.

"Mikey! I told you to always knock! You don't know what I could be doing!"

"That's for sure, bro. I thought you hated repairing that thing!"

Donnie coughed, embarrassed. He hadn't wanted to share his secret with Mikey, but what was the point of being a criminal mastermind if you couldn't boast? Besides, if his brother couldn't be trusted with nice things, he could definitely be trusted with secrets.

"I'm not merely repairing it, Mikey," Donnie whispered confidentially. "I'm tinkering with it. Powering it up. Adding cameras and motion sensors…"

Donnie winked at Mikey, who looked at him with perplexity.

"Why would a toaster need cameras and motion sensors?"

"So it can react if a particular turtle comes close to it…" Donnie said, emphasizing his words with more blinks.

Mikey tilted his head.

"It's a toaster, Donnie," he said softly. "It doesn't care who comes close to it, you know?"

Donnie shook his head, irritated.

"Really? Haven't you noticed anything at all?"

Mikey frowned, and then there was light.

"Dude… you… trapped it? So it would react to Leo?"

Donnie nodded with pride.

"Wow, dude, this is the best prank ever!" Mikey said enthusiastically. "But aren't you afraid he'll find out?"

"Mikey, I'm the one repairing it every single time," Donnie chuckled. "I'm above all suspicion."

"Wow. But… why?"

Donnie pointed an accusative finger at Mikey.

"He made fun of me. During training."

Mikey blinked.

"That's it? But Raph makes fun of you all the time!"

"Exactly. It's to be expected. Leo, however, is supposed to know better."

"Dude, remind me never to get on your bad side," Mikey said, in awe.

%%%%%

"Hey, Leo, stop brooding over," Raph said, nudging his brother. "So what if you can't handle a toaster? We all have our weaknesses."

Raph's supporting words were somewhat ruined by his huge grin, and Leo glared at him.

"Raph, it's not funny!" Leo exclaimed, exasperated. "I don't know what's wrong with me!"

"Oh, it is funny, Leo, I assure you. Except maybe for you… and Donnie…"

Leo sighed.

"Let's just tell Donnie about the collapsed tunnel, okay? See if we need to interfere."

As the two brothers came back into the lair, much earlier than they had intended to, they heard laughter coming from the lab.

Raph raised an eye ridge.

"Forget about what I just said. Apparently, it's funny for Donnie too."

Leo narrowed his eyes and glanced at his sibling. Both nodded and came silently closer to the lab door in order to spy on the ongoing conversation.

Raph's eyes widened as he understood what it was all about. Glancing at Leo, he saw his brother's features switch from disbelief to shocked realization, then to sheer fury. He grinned and took a careful step back as his brother slowly slid the lab door open and advanced towards Donnie.

"Hello, brother," Leo said very slowly, very calmly, very threateningly as he pressed his hands down on Donnie's desk. "I think we need to talk."

Donnie gulped. This couldn't be good.

%%%%%

In the dojo, Splinter let out a deep breath at the sounds of chasing and crashes. Why couldn't Michelangelo stop teasing Raphael? Why couldn't Raphael let it slip for once? All he, Splinter, wanted was some peace and quiet. Was it too much to ask for?

"I'm going to crush you!" The unmistakable voice of his blue-clad son shouted.

"Leo, no! I'm sorry!" Donatello's panicked voice answered.

Splinter's eyes popped open. He hadn't expected these two to cause the rampage. If it had been an explosion, then of course he would have suspected Donnie, but that… Although he had a sneaky suspicion Leo's sudden inability to handle a certain kitchen appliance had just been explained…

He heard another crash.

"How could you, Donnie? I trusted you!"

"I'm sorryyyyyy! It was so much fun, but I'm really regretting it now! Have mercyyyy!"

Bump. Crash.

"Come back here, you traitor! I'm not done with you!"

"Oooh, nice move, Leo!" Raphael said. From what Splinter heard, the red-clad turtle was enjoying this far too much. "I'll definitely have to try it one day!"

Splinter hid his head in his hands, sighing. He could see a lesson on the inanity of vengeance and the importance of forgiveness in his sons' near future, after a thorough refurbishment of the living room.

Oh well…

At least he wouldn't be afraid anymore that Leonardo set the lair on fire.