Chapter 2
"You know he didn't really mean it."
"The shell he didn't!"
"Leo, Raph is just frustrated lately. Everything is kind of off balance, and-"
"Oh, like I'm not?!"
Mikey took in the scowl on his oldest brother's face, the anger etched into his very posture, and sighed. "Look, bro...I know it's not easy to be patient when he's poking at you, but sometimes you just have to take it in stride. Raph is a butthead. We know that - we always have. We just have to allow for him sometimes."
"To what end? When will it finally be enough? When will we be able to stop making excuses for his horrible temper and behavior?" Leo's next punch to the wall came hard. Something in his hand gave way with an audible crack and he swore in pain, clutching the injured member to his plastron.
Mikey sighed and took his brother's hand, examining it. The knuckles were busted at least. Streaks of blood ran down his green skin, and there was already some discoloration appearing.
"You have to stop doing this to yourself," the youngest chided softly, reaching for a roll of bandages and starting to wrap up the injury. "One day you're really gonna get hurt."
Leo was silent until his sibling had finished bandaging his hand. Then he sat down on the floor and pulled his knees to his chest. "I'm sorry, Mike...I just...it hurts, the things he says. What he calls me."
"I know it does," the freckled ninja replied. "And I also know that it's a lot easier to be angry at someone than it is to tell them you're hurt. But anger doesn't help anything, Leo."
"I wouldn't have to manage my anger if certain people could learn to manage their stupidity," Leo muttered.
"Dude, I know it's hard. But you're both working through some stuff."
The blue-banded turtle said nothing for a long moment. Then tears rose unbidden to his eyes. "...I wish Dad were here," he finally confessed, near silent. "He could help me. He could...he could figure out this thing between me and Raph."
Mikey shook his head. "You know what he'd say. He'd tell you to figure it out between yourselves."
"I just-"
"He did WHAT?!"
Raph's shout permeated the not-so-thick wall that separated his bedroom with Leo's, causing the leader to flinch. When nothing else followed that egregiously loud exclamation, Leo turned to Mikey with wide eyes.
"What do you think that was all about?"
The youngest shrugged. "Who knows? Raph gets ticked off by the littlest things. For all we know, this time it could've been about a cockroach eating his favorite barbecue potato chips."
At that Leo's expression softened. "Thanks, little brother."
"For what?"
"For talking to me."
A sly smile appeared on Mikey's face. "Does that mean you're gonna work this out with Raph?"
"I'll try at least," the blue-banded terrapin replied, shrugging. "Whether or not I succeed is ultimately up to him. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."
"Are you calling Raph a horse? Cuz I totally agree with your statement and all, but I would've substituted 'bloated buffalo' for horse."
Leo snorted a laugh. "Come on," he said, tugging at his sibling's bandana. "Let's go get something to eat."
"Pizza?" Mikey asked hopefully.
"Fine...but you're not picking the toppings this time."
"Aw, come on dude! Why not?"
"Because I don't want to get stuck eating marshmallow-sardine-surprise again."
The youngest stuck his tongue out. "You just don't know what's good."
But while Leo had his back turned to order the pizza, Mikey couldn't help the smile that crept onto his lips.
It seemed that Hamato Leonardo was finally turning a corner.
