Thank you for taking the time for reading "The Falling Lotus" thus far, it means a lot to me and I hope you will enjoy the future installments to it. This is the first time I've ever written outside of the paranormal/fantasy genre and I hope to keep going with it.

Warning: OOC-ness from set characters, AU-ness, and graphic language, violence, and sexual content, 't-cest' (turtles are not biologically related in this story.)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything TMNT related, it rightfully belongs to their creator. I only own Oshiro, Riku, Takuya, Kenji, Hibiki, and Minoru. They're the main occs I will place in my TMNT fan fic universe unless stated otherwise. :)

Chapter One

Raphael sat down at the floor in the bathroom that kept his mate protected from the dangers of the outside world. He held the blanket close to him, it along with the lone photograph of his once pet turtle Spike was all Raphael brought with him once he left their sewer home in the city. Raphael wanted to take on the world and defeat the Shredder once and for all, but in the end, he knew he was powerless, all because of his fallen mate. The one that kept him balanced during their times alone to talk about their emotions. Leonardo was his rock, his yin to his yang when things gotten rough, especially since they found out about not being related.

He along with the other turtles knew that it was a possibility of them not carrying the same blood in their systems, but since they never cared about it at first, they wanted to remain brothers to the very end of their lives. But as time went by, the curiosity grew inside their hearts, especially for the red-headed turtle. He knew deep in his gut that he was different from the rest. Unlike Donatello, his younger and lone brother, Raphael was very into people of the same gender, hell he was also into girls like April. But, he never wanted to admit it out loud he wanted to remain hidden with his feelings locked because of his protector's instincts he always kept within him, and that he figured love was too stupid for him. In the end though, he lost that fight when their 'fearless' leader found about his sexuality in private, by walking in on Raphael's 'private' time in the bathroom by listening to the sounds of his deep churrs and a piece of one of his old bandana rubbing against Raphael's chest.

It was the most embarrassing moment of Raphael's life, but after hours of trying to punch through the harden barrier, Raphael caved in and Leonardo won the fight. Only because the leader of the ninjas didn't leave him be, but stood in place with a concerning gaze in his eye and much to confess as well. Once the door was shut, they learned a lot about each other, not giving a shit if their younger brothers stormed in on them. By the end of that 'special' day, Raphael felt free to be himself, and so did Leonardo. For Leonardo, he softly confessed to being gay, even though there many times he felt in love with their old enemy Karai. When it came down to everything in the room, Leonardo discovered his rightful sexuality when his eternal crush finally kissed him on the lips. It was a test run for the both of them, but it made their worlds spun, their hearts flipping inside of their chests, just waiting to break free to mend together as once. It made them happy that they were finally free to be themselves, to be at peace with themselves and to not never feeling angry like Raphael had for many years.

They were now the same, the perfect yin and yang that Splinter had always envisioned when teaching them the ways of the shinobi. Though now, things were different.

Their family members were broken pieces, scattered throughout the woods their farmhouse was surrounded by, each doing their own thing and wondering if Leonardo was going to wake up for the first time ever in four months. Raphael was stubborn, however, he stayed and hoped even when he was the first to admit that there was no hope for them. He had doubts, but wanted to stay hopeful, for Leonardo's sake. Raphael closed his eyes, whispering his prayers to Leo before he heard the tiny knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Raphael asked tiredly, not opening his eyes.

"Hey Raph, it's me." Michelangelo answered, opening the door wide enough to let him and the tray of food inside the room. "April made dinner so I figured you wanted some." He placed the tray in front of the weary turtle and sat down next to him.

"Oh.. Thanks." Raph whispered, opening his eyes and grabbing the grill cheese sandwich and nibbling on it. "What's up?" Mikey lowered his gaze to the stubs of the bathtub.

"Just bored. Things are too quiet here," Mikey replied, hugging his knees to his chest. "I figured you could use the company since your guest here is sleeping like a baby."

"Oh, well you're welcome to stay here for the night if you want. He's not moving anytime soon and I don't feel like fighting ya."

"I know." They became silent, the breathing between the two blended into a single heat that evaporated into the room for their leader.

"How are the others?" Raph suddenly asked, breaking the silence he grew to despise with a passion. Mikey sighed loudly and leaned back against the wall with his head on his curled up knees. "That bad huh?"

"Everyone's getting tired of keeping up with the norm Raphie, hell even Don won't leave his stupid so-called lab. He thinks what happened with Leo was entirely his fault. I want Leo to wake up, but I also want my family back. I want things to get back to the way they use to be. Is that so bad? Is that so hard to ask in this world of ours?" Mikey back fisted the wall with frustrated grunts, tears flowing down his face when he gave Raphael a pleading look in his baby blue eyes.

Raphael reached out an arm around the younger turtle's shoulder blades and shook him lightly. "It's going to be okay.. Starting tomorrow, we're gonna get everything off their butts and back into motion with training. For Splinter and for Leo." Mikey looked up at Raph and smiled a bit as he wrapped his arms around the older turtle.

"Thanks Raphie. That means a lot to me." Mikey whispered. The protector of the family gave him a once in a lifetime smile of reassurance and stroke Mikey's arm.

"Anytime little bro, anytime."

"Little bro? I thought you weren't gonna call me that anymore."

"Regardless of that DNA bullshit, if I'm mates with Fearless then you're my brother, blood or not."

"Thanks. But, I don't think that's going to help Leo in this case or Donnie. We gotta do something now instead of later."

"That's why I suggested training, but right now, we must rest. It'll be easier for us to kick some shells into place after we rest. Leo will like that." Raphael looked at the sleeping body in the tub in small hopes that he would see movement, but he didn't. Raphael looked down to his younger 'brother' and saw that he fell asleep with his breathing evening out, his face symbolizing an innocent child. With a tired smile, Raphael huddled in his lover's blanket, covering mostly Michelangelo with it before closing his eyes. Slowly letting the silence become his lone lullaby.

x-x

Morning rose, the sun's dimming rays reflected against the opposite wall, Michelangelo was the first to rise up from his slumber since his older brother couldn't do it at this time. He carefully sat up, making sure that Raphael didn't wake up by placing his head on the floor and covering his body with his special blanket. He looked over at the tub, but frowned at it. Leonardo didn't improve overnight like he hoped; it was the same as before. Leonardo sleeping the day and night away. Was it even possible that he was hearing everything that was going on in this farmhouse? Michelangelo wondered in the back of his mind.

The younger turtle walked over to the bathtub and rubbed his hand on his brother's head, few tears falling down on his puffy cheeks.

"Morning Aniki. We miss you, wake up for us okay? Please." Mikey whispered in a small, hopeful tone. He walked over to the door and quietly twisted the knob so he can open it. His baby blue eyes looked towards Raphael's sleeping form again and smiled. "Leo, if you can hear me, do this for me. Don't wake up because I'm telling you too as your little bro. Do it for the one that's been keeping an eye out for you. Yeah he's a pain in the ass, but he's worth the fight to live. We all are, but mostly him. Okay? See you later." Michelangelo closed his mouth, stepped outside of the room with his hand closing the door slowly with the tiny click being the only source of noise.

x-x

Raphael woke to the sound of the bathroom shutting, giving him a mental insight that the younger turtle took off for the day. He sat up, rubbing his emerald eyes before taking his morning glance over to Leonardo. He folded the blanket neatly and placed it next to his stool and photograph before walking over to the tub with his hand reaching to stroke the top of his lover's head.

"Hey.. How you'd sleep? Just kidding. I know how you slept, still are huh? Healing away in silence. I finally got a decent night to sleep, maybe I should let Mikey sleep in here more often huh?" Raphael looked down at the water, examining the multiple scars that were embedded throughout Leonardo's skin. Raphael felt his anger rising once he glanced at the scar that went down from both his lover's shoulders right down to the veins of the wrists respectfully, and the long one on top of his head, almost going over his right eye. Raphael clutched the tub, his knuckles turning blue. Why didn't Leo call for help? When he looked to his peaceful lover, the rage inside turned into despair, realizing it was too late to even wonder about it now. Not long after it, Raphael leaned down to kiss Leo's temple, as it was a custom ritual for him to do before descending down the steps for the day, for Mikey's sake. Otherwise he would've stay here forever if that what it took to be alone with Leonardo.

"Leo, I will kill him. I swear to you. Once you wake up, I'm going after him. Then maybe we can get that quiet life you always wanted. Maybe Splinter will finally be avenged. And maybe you if you've passed on without telling me. I don't know, I hate this shit and I know you do too. But dammit Leo, quit being a scaredy-cat and be the fearless soldier I know you are! Please." Raphael broke down in tears, his body trembling in place.

"Everyone needs you, I frickin' need you. Please my yinny, come back to me. Please!" He punched the tub, going down on his knees, trying to keep his inner world in place inside his growing barrier before it shattered from stress.

Minutes passed and Raphael wiped his tears away, standing up with a grim expression, silently and slowly hoping for a miracle for his lover. He kissed Leonardo's temple one last time before turning around to walk out the door to see his broken family in a solemn silence for the day.