For the first time since Mikey entered the room, Raph snapped his head up and looked directly at him. At first, his eyes looked at him widely, then they narrowed. Mikey swallowed again, feeling the burn of Raph's glare making him more nervous than he already was.

"What do you mean 'your turn'?" Raph's voice was even as he spoke, which freaked Mikey out more. It was the way Leo would say things when he was trying to clearly understand what he was hearing. It was annoying coming from Leonardo, it was unnerving coming from Raphael.

"Imma, uh, going to talk to him?" Well, that sounded convincing. Mikey looked over at Donnie, who had now assumed Raph's previous posture of his head in his hands. The brainy turtle blew out a big breath after Mikey spoke and spread his fingers just enough, so he could peer at him through them. Mikey could see in his eyes the panic that was signature of Donnie. Not reassuring. From the corner of his eye, Mikey could see Raph draw his shoulders back as he straightened his posture. Mikey was starting to think he was in a bad sci-fi movie and his brothers had actually switched bodies.

"Listen to me Mikey, you can't talk to him. First off, he's totally jacked up from my 'conversation' with him. Which, by the way," Raph jutted a pointed finger in Mikey's direction "Almost turned into a brawl. Secondly, he isn't listening to anybody. All you're going to be setting yourself up for is a beatdown." Raph's eyes remained narrow and had a seriousness to them, but Mikey could also see a glistening in them. His control was breaking, dangerously close to tears.

That did it. Suddenly Mikey found that his nervousness disappeared and had been replaced with a fire in his core. This crazy, crappy Leo charade needed to end, now.

"Well, that's because he is used to you getting in his face 'bout things. And D here has been known to tussle with Leo. But I never call him out on things, never seriously anyway. I think he'd listen just because he'd be surprised. Besides, I'm pretty over this beyond pissed off Leo phase."

"Mikey Raph is right, Leo is just going to beat the tar out of you. Can't you hear him in there? If you're going to do something crazy, at least wait until he's done." Donnie had stood up now and walked over to him, grasping his right shoulder firmly to make his point. Michelangelo just shook his head.

"No. Now. I'm done D. This place has become such a draaaaaag." Mikey drooped his whole body as he drew out the "a" in drag, showing his characteristic childish charm for a split second. He gave it another beat before he straightened himself up and looked his brother dead in the eye. "I'm fired up Donnie. I'm tired of the way things have been. Things are a bummer enough without Leo being self-destructive." He paused for a beat and looked at Raph. "That's totally where he's at, right? Leo's hurting like we are, probably even worse. I mean, look what got dumped on him overnight. Sensei knew how to keep our dumb asses in line. Sure, Leo would wrangle us out on patrol and missions, but he could come home and switch off before, let Sensei take a turn. Because news flash, we wouldn't argue with him like we would with Leo. Now it is all Leo's job, 24/7, on top of missing dad. That's gotta do something to the melon, yo. I don't wanna sit tight hoping he snaps out of it. Because what if he doesn't?"

Raph held Mikey's stare for what felt like an eternity. Mikey could tell Raph was sizing him up, thinking through what he had just heard. Normally, Mikey would wither under such careful scrutiny. But not this time. This time, Mikey could only think of how much he loved his older brother. How much he missed his father and the fear that if he didn't do something right this minute that they might lose Leo to this new dark side, forever.

Finally, Raph dropped his head down and sighed before waving a hand towards the dojo doors. Mikey looked at his immediate older brother, who was biting his lip. Eyes still wide, but full of understanding, he nodded. With the permission from both of his brothers, he headed for the door.

Each step Michelangelo took, the sounds of his brother's madness grew louder. Hissing could be heard, evidence of angry breathes being released through each movement. Mikey approached the door cautiously, placing his right hand on the wooden frame. He drew in a cleansing breath, took one last look at his weary brothers behind him. He flashed them a cheeky smile and winked as he slid open the door.

When Mikey looked into the dojo, he could see Leonardo in its center, working through a kata with his twin blades. Mikey was surprised to see that the kata lacked the perfect precision that was customary of his brother. The movements weren't fluid, they were rushed and sloppy. Leo's arms moved wildly, and his feet stumbled. His swords looked awkward in his hands, a sign that Leo wasn't gripping them properly. It looked as if he didn't know what to do with them.

Mikey was also positive Leo had no idea he had come into the dojo. Total lack of focus from Mr. Ninjutsu Perfection.

"Hey, Leo." Mikey started off brightly. Leo froze at the sound of his voice. Slowly, he dropped his arms to his side as he straightened up, casting his vision towards his brother. Leo's eyes looked at him harshly, accusing him of interrupting something sacred. Mikey cocked his eye to the side and smiled broadly at Leo, raising a hand to do a cute little wave at him.

Going to start off as I normally would. Let's see how he reacts.

Coldly. He reacted coldly.

"Get out Michelangelo." Flat, uncaring. Leo almost sounded mechanical. Mikey frowned at that. When was the last time he heard any kind of light in his brother's voice?

But, Mikey wasn't going to let that question distract him. "No."

Leo's look became sharper, eyes squinting tighter, his lips curling. He took a defensive stand, regaining a proper hold on his katanas. "What do you mean no? I said get out."

"No Leo." Mikey pulled out his kusarigama, allow the chain to drop to the floor, posing himself to be ready "I wanna have a talk with ya." Mikey began swinging the chain. Leo bared his teeth.

"I said Get. Out. Now."

"Make me."

At the challenge of his words, Leonardo let out a howl of rage and charged. Mikey deftly swooped to the side, coming into the center of the dojo. Leo's rage was making him sluggish in mind and body, and Mikey had repositioned himself to see that Leo still hadn't registered his move. He also caught a glimpse of the dojo door cracked open slightly, and a flash of red and purple peeked through. Somethings never changed- you could always count on some brother spying in when something serious was happening in this room. It briefly made Mikey smile.

When Leo realized Mikey was gone from his previous position, the eldest merely spun around, eyes searching frantically for his kid brother. Eyes laid on him and it shook Mikey to the core. They were blue like Leo's. They were wide like Leo's. They were framed by the blue bandana like Leo's. But they were filled with something foreign to Leo.

Hate.

Sadden, Mikey stood he ground and waited for him to come.

"You have been a total jerk, you know that Leo? For what?" Leo snapped at the words and ran towards him. Mikey merely waited, known Leo wasn't thinking clearly. When he got close enough he dropped down and dodge to the side, extending his leg enough to cause his brother to trip. Leo fell with an unceremonious thud.

"Like seriously dude, I have no idea!" Leo rolled over. "But it hasta stop brah." Leo jumped up and charge. Mikey spun out of the way and cracked his chain over his shell. Another thud, this time accompanied with painful heaving. "I mean, I miss Sensei too. We all do. You're not alone, so let us help. We know how you feel!"

Leo rolled over again, his eyes full of fury. "You have no idea how I feel Mikey." Leo stood up but didn't move, just stood squarely 10 feet away from his brother. Leo threw up another angry wall. Mikey tried to reach out and Leo was shutting it down. Freaking unbelievable.

"Oh, yeah, no idea Leo." He snorted derisively. "You're right. D, Raph and I didn't also lose our dad. We have zero idea what that is like." Leo gripped his katanas tightly and growled. Mikey didn't wait to see what he'd do.

"Or, are you talking that we have no idea what it is like to be a huge ass? Because that's all you have been Leo. A gigantic pain in the ass. Raph has been so weird man! He's been nothing but patient with you, good to you. Not his usual whackbag self. While you, on the other hand, have been here playing a psycho. What's the deal man?"

"You don't have the same pressure I do!" Leo spat, spittle flying from his lips.

"Yeah, that's another thing that has been bothering. I love dad, a freaking lot Leo. I never once questioned his decisions, until now." Mikey stood ready, known the possible outcome of what he was about to say.

"Mikey, don't" Leo threaten.

"Don't what? Tell you what a shitty thing dad did to you? All the pressure he's put on you?"

"Don't you dare talk about dad." The rise of his blades.

"No, you listen! You're going to kill yourself by being this way! When is the last time you ate, or slept, huh? I know dad wanted to protect us, wanted to make sure we'd be cared for when he was gone. And I get it, you're the oldest. You're the one whose head isn't all over the place. That's why Dad's expectations were different for you. But jeez Leo, like, you didn't get to be a real teenager. Since day one of breaking the surface, you got pushed harder and hard. The more dangerous it got, the high the expectation was for you. How is that even freaking fair? And for what? A stupid fear dad had of us not being able to take care of ourselves when he was gone? Your seventeen. You're still a kid, like us. We should be figuring this out together." Mikey stared fiercely at Leo, making sure he had his brother's full attention. "Dad's fear warped you, Leo."

After the words came out of his mouth, Michelangelo could see it, something snapped in his brother's eyes. His pupils contracted, and an electrical charge surged through his blue orbs. Time suddenly stood still, and Mikey was caught in his brother's chaos breaking loose. Instantly, Leo's skilled training returned to him, and he sprung towards Mikey with his normal grace and frightening speed. Before Mikey could register what was happening, how to block him, Leo's katana bit into the side of his plastron.

Hamato Leonardo had finally lost complete control.

Mikey gasped as he crumpled to the floor, feeling the blade slip out of where it was lodged. He saw that Leo took several stumbling steps back and was breathing raggedly. Mikey could also hear the frantic shuffling of his brothers outside the dojo doors. He brought his hand where his wound laid. He was bleeding a bit and the pain was sharp, but he could already tell that it wasn't all that bad. Probably needed stitches but not life-threatening.

But Michelangelo was willing to milk it for all it was worth. Mikey laid on the floor in a crumpled heap, clutching his side and putting forth his best whimpering. He peered an eye towards Leo, who looked visibly ashen. The katanas left his hands and let out a loud clatter as they hit the floor. Next thing the youngest heard was the broken whisper of his brother's voice.

"Mikey… I… no!" Leo rushed towards him. Mikey could hear Raph in the back tearing opening the door and barking out a "Don't touch him!", making his own dash towards their little brother. But Leo got to Mikey first.

Exactly as Mikey was hoping.

As Leo approached him, Mikey drew his right leg back into himself before thrusting it full force, contacting Leo's plastron. He winched at the motion, as it aggravated the cut. But the kick was solid. It promptly tossed Leo back and threw him down on his bottom, blinking with astonishment at the ambush the baby of the family laid for him. Raph and Donnie had both made their way to Mikey by now. He absently heard the fuss they were making over him, the criticisms they were shouting at the leader, but Mikey continued to stare at Leo as his other brothers helped him to his feet. The hate he had seen in his eyes before was gone and replaced with a dazed look as if the life was draining out of him. With an arm slung around each of his brothers, Mikey kept his gaze on where Leo sat, eyes brimming with tears.

"Guess we know why Dad never wanted us to settle our arguments with weapons."

Author's note: Hi guys! Hope you enjoyed this next installment of Fuse Box. My apologies if the fight sequence was dull. I have never written one before and intentionally kept it short. I really wanted to showcase Leo's poor state of mind and not bog it down with a clumsy action sequence.

As always, I do appreciate the reviews! But more so hope you enjoy the tale. :)