He yawned and kicked the blanket off of his body, stretching his young and supple limbs out before rising to his feet with another gaping yawn. He smacked his lips and blinked tiredly before shaking his head and glancing back at the small mattress on the floor. The emptiness of his sleeping area stung at him. He felt so much older without the presence of his brothers there. It was weird to him to not have a tangle of limbs to fight through to get up. He admitted that it was easier now, but he would have liked to have the same closeness with his brothers again. It felt nice to have them so close and to hear their soft heart beats pound around him. Their combined body heat was soothing and comforting all the same. And yet, it had been years since he had shared a bed with his brothers. They had grown older and they had all competed to see which one was the toughest of the bunch. There were tears and sleepless nights, but none of them had spoken a word of it lest they be labeled as scared or weak.

The seven year old snagged his mask off the desk next to his bed and swiftly tied it about his features before heading down out of his room, lightly pushing the ragged curtain aside and slipping out into the dark. He quietly crept out and toed quietly past two other similar rooms before creeping into the fourth one. He approached the sleeping turtle and knelt low next to his brother. He pressed a hand over his smaller brother's mouth and the younger turtle's eyes snapped open swiftly, going wide with shock and jolting in panic. Leo pressed a finger to his mouth to indicate silence before lifting his hand from his brother's mouth. The younger turtle blinked and sat up.

"Leo, what are," He began with a yawn.

"Quiet, Mikey, you don't want them to hear, do you?" Leo interrupted with a sharp whisper.

Mikey frowned and rubbed at his eyes tiredly. "What are you talking about?"

"Remember that store we passed by when father took us out earlier?"

"The one with all the food?"

"Yeah." Leo replied.

"What about it?"

"You still hungry?"

Mikey nodded enthusiastically, a grin split his face. Leo smiled at that and stood up, holding a hand out to his baby brother who took it happily. Leo helped him to his feet and snatched Mikey's mask off the floor before tying it onto his baby brother's face with a gentle movement of his dexterous hands. He tugged it softly before nodding and taking Mikey's hand.

"Come on, we can't be gone too long." He said as he pulled his brother along, slipping out of the room, his young eyes scanning the darkness that surrounded them. Mikey crept close to his older brother who then tugged him along. The duo padded on quiet feet out of their home and made their way through the sewers until reaching the rusted metal rungs of a ladder up to a manhole cover.

"Wait here so I can get it off." Leo told him. Mikey nodded and Leo released his hand before setting to climbing up the rungs. Upon reaching the top, his toes dug into the rungs and he pushed against the cover, muscles heaving and straining against the solid weight above him. It budged an inch, grating as it skidded across the stone. He pushed again and it raised another inch before his arms gave way. He nearly fell back, only barely managing to reach out onto the bars again. He sighed in relief and glanced down at his baby brother. Mikey's wide blue eyes were looking up at him, full of admiration for Leo. The eldest bit his lip and nodded before turning back to the cover. He heaved a breath and shoved against it again. He grunted with effort as it finally lifted and fell on the ground above with the sound of stone scraping on stone. His chest heaved and he wiped at the sweat that had gathered on his forehead. He glanced down at Mikey and smiled as he waved the younger turtle up.

The younger turtle's eyes glinted with joy and he climbed up swiftly after Leo. The older turtle helped his brother up, pulling him to his feet before glancing at the end of the alley with cautious eyes. He nodded and took Mikey's hand, leading him down the alley, following the trail he had memorized earlier that night. Leo crouched down, slinking forward behind a building. Mikey mirrored his movements, his blue eyes were wide and he shivered.

"Leo, it's cold out here."

The eldest glanced at his baby brother and raised a finger to his lips. "Shh, we're almost there, Mikey."

Leo slowly rose to his toes and peeked into the building through a dusty window. The inside was dark. He ducked down and lifted a tossed soda can, having watched the owner tuck a spare key into it. He removed the key and moved to unlock the door before cautiously pulling it open.

He nodded for Mikey to enter. Michelangelo stared at him for a moment before nodding and entering. The duo crept into the empty store and Mikey skipped ahead of his brother, confident in Leo's ability to protect him from any danger that should rear its head. Leo closed the door and watched his younger brother eye a box of assorted breads and cookies on a glass counter much taller than the small turtle.

The floor boards creaked as Leo moved to Mikey's side and dropped to his hands and knees. "Stand on my shell, Mikey."

His baby brother nodded and climbed onto his older brother's shell. He tentatively rose to his feet and Leo braced himself against the floor, supporting Mikey's full weight. Mikey opened the top of the box and leaned on the counter, tip-toeing on his brother's shell. Leo released a shaking breath as he realized that Mikey probably weighed more than him.

Leo glanced up as he heard rustling sounds coming from above him. Mikey lifted the box on wobbling legs, shifting all of his weight back onto his brother and Leo bit back a groan as his arms began shaking. Mikey hopped off his shell with the box and Leo heaved a sigh of relief as he rose to his feet, shaking his arms free of the tension that had built up in them. He glanced back at Mikey and smiled at the sight of his baby brother sitting cross-legged on the floor with the box balanced on his lap. Mikey bit at a piece of bread clutched in his hands and munched on it noisily. The older turtle's smile faded slowly and he turned his young eyes back to the counter. He stared at the cash register and rubbed his hands on his thighs in anxiety. He knew this was wrong. He wasn't supposed to be taking things without giving something in return.

His left hand wrapped around his right arm and he rubbed the pad of his thumb against the skin as mixed feelings ran through his mind. He glanced back to Mikey and watched his younger brother take another bite of the bread. He could feel hunger gnawing at his own stomach now. He licked his lips but shook his head. He'd already eaten his fill. He had to make sure his other brothers were able to get enough food too.

Leo turned his eyes on the cash register once more and made his decision.

.,.,.,.

Leonardo's calm gaze did not stray from the woman that stood in front of him. She held the blade limply in her relaxed hand, but he recognized the danger she presented to his well being. He heard the soft scuffling of several bodies dropping onto the surrounding rooftops. He knew that he was surrounded by her ninjas. They were highly trained individuals. He'd had too many run-ins with them to be aware of that much. They were usually silent and had only made noise to alert him of their threatening presence. He glanced at one out of the corner of his eye and released a breath, turning his eyes back to Karai. He flexed his fingers before closing his hands into fists once more.

Silence hung in the air as his enemies watched him and he acknowledged them.

Then he recognized the near silent padding of feet against stone rooftop. Leo whirled around in a swift motion as a ninja dove at him from atop the tool shed, a blade glinting in the dim light as it was aimed at his throat. Leo threw himself back, onto his shell, avoiding the stab first. He could already see the other ninjas moving towards him in his peripheral vision. He swung his legs up, digging the balls of his feet into the ninja and pushing off, sending the first attacker flying over his head. Leo used his own momentum from the kick to roll back to his feet, arms spread out for balance. He leaned to his left, avoiding a katana swipe that would have sliced cleanly through his shoulder. Leo took a step back, avoiding yet another katana blade. He ducked forward as another came at his back, cutting through the air above him.

Leo leaned forward, dropping to his hands and one knee. His leg swung out, hitting the back of his foe's ankles and knocking the ninja off his feet. Leo rolled aside and swung his feet underneath his body, rising to his full height once more. Leo leapt back, one foot landing on the stone trim of the rooftop, giving him a slight height advantage over his numerous enemies. His knee bent and he pushed off, leaping high. His foot came down on the head of one ninja and he pushed off, sailing over the rest of the pack.

His leg swung up and drove down into the chest of another ninja with a harsh crack followed by several other cracking sounds as the ninja's ribcage caved in. Leo rode the ninja's body to the ground, tearing a pack off the ninja's belt at the same time before skidding several feet and turning in a fluid spin. His hand swept out as he spun around, flinging a handful of shuriken from the stolen pack. One throwing star hit a ninja's wrist with a small spurt of blood and a muffled curse. Another star lodged itself into the cheek of a second ninja who twisted with the strike and gave a muffled cry of pain. The other shuriken flew by the ninjas and gave the humans minor cuts as they flew through the damp and stagnant air.

Leo stepped off the ninja underneath his feet and kicked the unconscious man's body at his peers' legs. The limp body struck several shins and caused the ninjas to plant their faces into the stone ground. A smirk found its way onto Leonardo's features as he considered the opposition that sprinted at him.

He shook his hands and rotated his head as he prepared for another hand-to-hand bout. He raised his hands into a defensive stance and waited patiently, conserving as much strength and energy as he could—though he felt more alive than he had in the past few months.

He threw his hand out, throwing the empty pack into the face of a ninja who swiftly and instinctively stumbled back. Leo advanced, leaning aside and allowing another blade to whistle through the air he had previously occupied. His hand shot out, gripping the front of the disorientated ninja's shirt and maneuvering the same ninja between him and a katana. Blood sprayed wildly as the katana cut through the unfortunate man's shoulder, shearing through muscle and ligament. Leo moved back, releasing the ninja, before planting his foot in the ninja's chest and kicking the man into his comrades.

Leonardo whirled around and drew back a second too late. A katana came across in a diagonal swipe, managing to cut a thin line across Leo's outstretched arm. A light spray of blood followed the blade and Leo drove forward, into his assailant. His hands pressed down at the ninja's shoulders, slamming the back of the man's head into the ground with a crack. Leo spun around, pushing aside the forearm of a katana wielding ninja. Leo's free hand drove up, his fist striking the ninja's solar plexus and forcing the man to double over. His knee rose just as swiftly and struck the human's face with a wet crunch as the ninja's nose broke at the blow.

The sound of dancing sparks had him turning and leaping back swiftly. A pair of ninjas sprinted at him with electrified batons. He moved back on cautious feet, eyeing the ninjas carefully, knowing that one misstep at this point would take him out. A rustle of movement behind him forced him to twist aside instinctively, barely avoiding the stab of a blade wielded by Karai. His chest rose and fell sharply as he heaved a deep breath. He lifted his hands once more and shook his head to the right, popping his neck and preparing for another bout.

.,.,.,.

"That's it! I'm having words with him!" Raph snarled, stomping toward the screen door.

"Wait, what are you doing, Raph?!" Don found himself squeaking as he caught his brother by the upper arm.

"Don. Let me go. Your plan didn't work. It's my turn now." Raph bit off each word, giving his younger brother a venomous look.

Mikey glanced between them and quickly pried Don's fingers from Raph's arm. "I think we should let Raph go on from here, Donnie. Maybe he can make better progress than we can."

Raph glanced at Mikey and nodded once. He whirled around and slid the screen door open before slamming it shut behind him with a rattling creak. He glared down at the elderly ninja master before dropping into a respectful kneeling position with such force that the usual respect that should have come with the movement was suddenly replaced by aggression.

"Raphael," Splinter began.

"What did you do to him?" He asked quickly, interrupting his father.

Splinter frowned. "Your brother became frustrated and fled. He could not control his impatience and he could not manage his own growing ire."

"He was in here for four hours before literally sprinting topside, Sensei, so forgive me for not thinking it was normal." Raph cut in.

The master opened his mouth to speak, fur bristling with managed irritation at the disrespectful tone his son had taken with him. He closed his mouth and sat back on his heels, eyeing the turtle before him and returning to a calmer state of mind. He reached up with a hand and tentatively stroked his chin.

"I see it now, Raphael. There is unrest residing within you, and it has traveled to your younger brothers as well. It is Leonardo that causes this confliction of emotions, is it not?" He spoke in a far more calm voice, watching and gauging Raphael's reaction.

He tensed under the master's scrutiny and prepared to snap an answer back only for his anger to huff out in a puff of breath and his blazing gaze to turn away from his father. He didn't speak, instead letting the silence between them lengthen and seep into the space around them, settling like a blanket over the twisted emotions residing within.

"I don't think it's Leo causing these 'conflictions of emotions'." Raph spoke lowly, raising his bright and fierce gaze to his father's own. "I think it's you, Sensei."

Splinter's brows rose at that. "Is that so, Raphael? Explain to this old rat exactly what he has done to earn such an accusation."

"Leo didn't do anything to deserve the shit you gave him this morning." Raph growled lowly. "He picks up the slack where we screw up; I don't think you realize what he did last night. All you see is failure."

Splinter nodded and waved away the foul language. "I see, my son. You believe that I was upset with Leonardo."

Raph's face twitched. "Yeah, I do. Am I wrong?"

"Yes. I am actually quite displeased with Michelangelo, as it was him who became distracted and forced your brother to intercept a blow. Leonardo knows this, Raphael. However, there are certain challenges that come with the title of leadership, my son, and Leonardo must be victorious for this family to remain safe." Splinter said calmly before gesturing to the chessboard that sat between himself and his volatile son.

Raph stared at it and his expression faded from one of contained anger to that of an eerie calm. He swallowed once and blinked several times before snapping his gaze back up to his father. "The hell does that have anything to do with the situation?"

Splinter studied Raphael silently. He nodded once and rested his hands flat on his lap. "Your brother has become a great tactician and handles himself well on the battlefield, Raphael. This does not come from intuition or talent alone. He faces situations both on the chessboard and in the dojo in preparation to a real battle. I do not believe you entirely understand the time and effort that Leonardo has put into his role as the leader."

Raph looked away for a moment before turning back to his father. "Then enlighten me, Sensei, because your great leader seems to be having a few problems. I know you've noticed. Why haven't you done anything about it?"

The aged master's ears twitched at his son's words and he smoothed his robes as an afterthought, dropping his gaze to his lap as he recollected his thoughts. "Your brother is a ninja skilled in the art of stalking and incapacitating his targets. He is no child, Raphael, as you should know yourself. He is a deadly warrior and will be treated as such." Splinter said as he lifted his gaze to meet Raphael's. "You will not pursue this any longer. You would dishonor him with your assumptions."

.,.,.,.

His chest rose and fell as he breathed heavily, his pulse having quickened as it spread adrenaline through his body. A drop of rain splashed against his face and his eyes darted up for a moment to the dark sky before dropping back to his enemies. He shifted his stance. The rain would make a hit from the electric batons much deadlier now.

He exhaled as a flash of lightning darted across the sky. Suddenly the world was pitch black and Leonardo was moving.

He scooped up a katana from the ground and stabbed at Karai just as the darkness faded away and their eyes became accustomed to the lighting once more. She slid away with ease, moving fluidly and smirking at him with a challenging look in her eyes. He barreled through, choosing to use his weight and height advantage over her now. He swung the katana down in a powerful arc and she hopped aside easily, coming upon the back of his shoulder. She closed the distance and brought her own blade down on the back of his neck.

Another flash of lightning leapt across the sky in time to the clang of metal on metal as Leo's katana met her blade. He snatched the front of her tunic and pulled her in close to his body. She stumbled into his plastron and leaned back swinging her leg up at his face. He leaned back, releasing his grip on her and ducking under her kick. She spun and sent another kick and he straightened, holding his hand out and pushing her leg away. She lost her balance for a moment and pushed off the ground, leaping back and creating some distance between her and Leonardo.

He turned and was immediately moving back as sparks danced before his eyes from a baton he barely evaded. He stabbed forward, into the ninja's center mass. The ninja turned its body just in time to avoid the stab. It shoved the baton at Leo's face and he dropped the katana as he quickly moved back to avoid the baton.

Leo ducked underneath the swipe of another sparking electrified baton. He gripped the wrist of the attacker as he rose to his feet, moving behind the ninja. He wrapped an arm around the ninja's neck as he held the ninja's wrist in an iron grip. The ninja struggled against his weight and muscle as Leonardo turned to face Karai and the second ninja. He pointed the electric baton at them as they drew close and the two skirted back a cautious step.

Leo eyed them carefully before shoving the ninja in his grip forward and planting a foot in the center of its back and kicking it into Karai and the other ninja. Karai leapt aside and sprinted at Leo.

"You play dirty, Leonardo." She taunted.

"Sue me." He retorted sarcastically as he moved to meet her. He thrust his hand out at her face and she leapt back instinctively. He took the opportunity to drop to the ground and sweep her feet out from under her body. She hit the ground on her back and rolled to her feet instantly, lifting her blade only to blink as she saw his running form.

Leo leapt from the rooftop, sailing over a garbage strewn alley and the manhole that would take him to his home. He landed on the next rooftop lightly—despite the slick stone—and sprinted in a mad dash, knowing more of Karai's reinforcements were on their way. His arms pumped in tune to his legs and his breaths came out in short puffs of air from his open mouth. He leapt again, pushing off the edge of a rooftop. The disoriented feeling of being airborne came and left as he landed in a roll. He ducked to the right, behind a rooftop greenhouse, barely avoided a hail of shuriken. The rain pelted his skin painfully now and he gritted his teeth against it.

He pressed his shell to the greenhouse and cursed as he saw that ninjas were standing at all of his possible escape routes. He was trapped and Karai knew it too.

He eased himself away from the greenhouse and slowly moved to the center of the rooftop, each step was weighed cautiously. His movements were sleek and measured; they had a barely contained grace to them. It was as if each strand of muscle was entirely under his control. His calm gaze bored into hers as the strengthening wind tore at his mask tails.

She stood not ten feet away on the same rooftop, a wakizashi in hand while the two ninjas carrying the electrified batons flanked her. She was the victor here, and yet she felt stripped away by his calm and accepting demeanor. She was the one who hadn't been in control. She was the one to crack and reveal emotional strain where he did not—or could not. Her cold eyes narrowed and she nodded to the two ninjas at her side.

Leo stood at the ready as the two men approached. The rain pelted and stung against his eyes. He would rather have chosen to fight on, but this was not a fight he could win. He needed to remain as fit to fight as he could. His hard and regal glare speared through the two ninjas, causing them to fall back a step. They exchanged glances and Leo saw it flash between them. Fear. They had never been this close to him without receiving an incapacitating blow.

They turned back to him and pointed the batons at him as they approached. Leonardo's eyes rose from them to Karai. She slid her blade back into the sheath at the small of her back. The wind whipped at her short hair and the rain plastered strands of it to her face.

Lightning danced silently across the sky.

A grunt of pain was torn from his gritted teeth as his body dropped to one knee, limbs twitching and fingers jerking. He shook his head and met the masked face of his attackers. They stood over him now, behind their masks mad glee danced and sparked much like electricity did from the batons.

The thunder rumbled through the gathering, reverberating off of buildings. The baton came down on the back of his head and Leo fell flat on his hands and knees, plastron pressed to the ground and gritting his teeth against the electricity leaping through his body. He lifted his blurry gaze to the ninjas.

The two raised their weapons once more.

His piercing gaze did not stray from them as he lay on the ground, teeth gritted, eyes narrowed, and hands flat on the ground. The rain streamed down his face and had soaked his mask. He blinked the water out of his eyes as he glared at the ninjas with eyes full of intensity rather than anger as the batons came down once more.

A/N: And there's an update. Woohoo. Flashbacks and stuff. Yay. Thanks for keeping up with my long overdue updates!