A/N: Hello and welcome back my lovely turts! I'm so sorry for the delay with this chapter. I was out of the country and away from my computer for the past week! So, kudos to my beta ravenshell because she had this one ready in only two days!

Thanks so much Guest, Cutegenius, CelandineGranger, BurnedIce0, BubblyShell22, Guest, CJtheStoryteller, Heather, MARSHMELLOWTOASTIE, Guest and grungekitty for leaving wonderful reviews! They make me happy!

I just wanted to make a quick note about this chapter. This is the first of the few Interlude chapters. Interlude chapters are the ones that are not told from Raph's point of view.

I actually really enjoy writing them. They're a breather because, can you imagine what's like having Raph in you head all the time? Dear God. No wonder my head's been hurting as of late!

Haha! Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

Interlude: Ototo

He stirs and rolls over on his side, shivering. It's colder tonight. Keeping his eyes shut he scrabbles for his blanket, but his fingers only meet rough stone, then they brush the edge of Onii's plastron. Weird. Where did his brother's hoodie go? With a yawn, he sits up. His vision is hazy at first but after a while everything's clearer. One glance at his surroundings makes his heart leap inside his chest then stop in midair. This isn't home. That's not his Oniisan. He fell asleep again. What time is it? A dim light penetrates the cell indicating nighttime. He hopes it's just been a few hours and not the entire night that he curled up next to Raphael.

Raphael.

Raph - he'd said to call him because now they're friends. Despite his initial panic, he can't help but beam in delight. He knew Onii was wrong about him!

Raph's still dreaming. He lays in a fetal position on the floor, snoring softly.

He studies the turtle's sleeping face. It's kind of weird that he wears a mask, especially since it serves no purpose whatsoever. It doesn't even hide his features like a proper hoodie does. So, what's the point?

He shrugs, deciding he'll ask Raph later. He still can't believe Master had found another turtle like him, like his oniisan. Raphael looks so much like them, and yet he's so – so different. And not in the good way, according to Onii.

"He's reckless, and loud, Oto. Stay away from him," Onii had told him. But Oto doesn't think so. He thinks – What you think does not matter, you filthy, good for nothing, mute freak. His shoulders drop and his eyes rest on his lap. Thinking is bad. But he can't help it.

Raph may be loud, and dangerous. But he likes him. There's just something about him. He knows, deep down under all that anger and frustration there is a kind and compassionate turtle, just like Onii.

He leans towards Raph's sleeping form. Then pokes his good shoulder.

"G' away, Leo," Raph mumbles recoiling deeper into a ball.

He contains a snort. Raph's voice sounds funny when he's not pissed off! Wait.

Leo. He's heard it before. Yes. Raph had said this name earlier, among all the screaming. He smiles. He likes the name Leo. But 'Buddy' is way better. He grins. Buddy. He's never had a real name before but he kind of likes it.

He wonders who Leo is, though. Raph's brother, Oto. Onii's voice supplies inside his head. Oh, right. Onii had said something about Raph having a brother. That is so awesome! They all have brothers! That means that if Leo is a turtle like them, then they can be friends too! If the chance presents itself, of course.

He dismisses the idea. That's not important right now. He just needs to make sure Raph eats something before heading back home. Glancing sideways, his eyes spot the spilled rice and veggies. He shrugs; he'll eat that later. At least he remembered to bring more bread. It's safely hidden inside his hoodie's front pocket. He'd had a feeling Raph wouldn't be in a friendly mood after their last encounter.

Buddy pokes him again. Nothing.

He frowns. Raph doesn't look too good. He wonders if his shoulder is hurting. Maybe it needs its bandage changed. His fingers brush the wound. Raph groans in his sleep but doesn't stir. He's not waking up. In a slight panic Buddy shakes him, harshly this time, but Raph doesn't wake.

Buddy touches his forehead. Oh no. Onii is not going to be happy. No, he can still help. Buddy picks up the water bottle, he unscrews the cap and gently presses the bottle's mouth against Raph's pale lips. The liquid dribbles down his chin. No, no. He exhales loudly, frustrated. Wild bright blue eyes dart around the cell, as if the answer would magically appear.

Buddy stands up and runs towards the door. He opens it slightly and peeks his head out. There's no one outside. That's all he needs.

He slips out of the room, swift and light on his feet. Closing the door as soundlessly as possible, Buddy doesn't even bother locking it. He just steps into the empty corridor and rushes to their home. It's just across the hall, feet away from Raphael's room.

He bursts in and finds Onii sitting on the floor, surrounded by bits and pieces of what used to be the old broom that Buddy had gotten from the kitchens yesterday morning. The door slams shut behind him and Buddy cringes. He'd forgotten about the door closer.

Onii's head snaps up. A wide, fearful expression in his face. His arms push against the bamboo rug as if wanting to lift his weight up and rise to his feet in their greeting position.

He stops and quickly relaxes once he sets eyes on Buddy. Oniisan sits back down, breathing in relief.

'Ototo, it's just you. You scared me! What's up with all the noise?' he signs and goes back to the wooden broom he's destroyed.

Oto ignores the question as he approaches his oniisan and taps him on his good knee, calling his attention. 'Onii, I think I'm in trouble. You need to come right now! You have to help!' he signs panicked and far too fast.

"Wait, wait, wait, slow down!" he says lowly and places the wooden stick down to continue in their sign language. 'Are you hurt?' His eyes inspect Oto's frame as if to spot the usual bruises or gashes.

'No!' Oto replies. 'But I think he is!'

'What?' Onii signs and lets out a helpless groan. 'Oto, please tell me you didn't go back into that cell.' But he already knows the answer.

All Ototo can do is send Onii the most sheepish, most innocent grin he can muster and sign quickly. 'I thought he might be hungry again.'

There's a pause as Onii stares dryly at his brother.

'Oto, it's dangerous, we talked about it,' Onii reasons and massages his temples. 'What if someone had seen you?'

'But no one did! Look, I'm sorry, okay?' Oto signs. He had just wanted to help. He didn't mean to make his onii mad or make Raph sick.

'Ototo, I know you want to help Raphael, but there's not much we can do,' he signs. 'Please, you're only going to make things worse if you keep bringing him our food. Master will find out and he's going to blame you. I can't... I won't be able to protect you.'

Oto grunts in frustration. He can take care of himself. It's not like this is the first time they've bent the rules a little bit! Besides, Raph is a turtle just like them! Isn't Onii a little bit curious about where he came from? 'Master said not to let him die and that's what I'm doing!'

Onii's mouth curves downwards into a tiny snarl. 'Master ordered me not to let him die. He never said anything about you bringing him food!'

'He didn't order you to give him the painkillers and you did anyways!'

'And you saw what happened!' Onii gestures at his messed up leg. Then his expression softens. 'I don't want something bad happen to you, Oto. You... you shouldn't have gone in there again!'

'Why? It's not fair!' he asks, his hands dragging each word. Onii gets to make friends but he's not allowed? He likes Raph!

"Because, Ototo, he's not our friend! He's just another prisoner!" Oniisan says and signs at the same time, losing patience at last. He only does this when he really wants Oto to understand something.

'Well, someone had to feed him!' Master wanted Raph not to die right? Well, guess what, dummy? You need food not to die.

At this, Onii's eyes fill with shame and regret. 'You're right. I'll give him something tomorrow... they said I could check on him after work.'

And that's when Oto remembers why he came here in the first place. 'No. We have to go right now!'

'What?' Onii frowns in suspicion. 'Ototo, what did you do?'

'I didn't do it! At least, I didn't mean to. I... that doesn't matter!' Raph needs Oniisan right now. They can't waste any more time. 'He needs your help! I woke up and he wasn't moving! And now, I think he really is dying! He's dying, Oniisan!'

'What? What do you mean he's dying?' His onii seems to understand how serious the situation is.

Oto shakes his head. 'I don't know! He was fine earlier, talking and yelling too!' He is trembling and feels a soft whimper leaving him. Raph can't die. He can't.

'Calm down, Oto,' Onii signs then picks up the long piece of wood. Ototo hadn't noticed before, but that's no longer a broom stick. It's taken him hours, a lot of their old bandages and some tape from the lab but Onii has finally turned it into a proper crutch. With its help, Onii manages to stand. His signing is compromised now though, as his hand is busy holding onto the crutch. "It's gonna be okay," he whispers.

Oto nods and picks up their 'hurt box'. He places the long strap over his shoulder and the first aid kit hangs across the front of his hoodie. 'He's gonna need it,' he signs and Onii nods.

Raphael is exactly where Ototo left him. His chest falls and rises slowly. His bruised body looks even paler under the poor light coming from the window. Oto can only whine at the sight.

Onii ignores him and sits down with some effort to examine his patient.

"He has a fever," Onii explains as he picks up a bottle from their hurt box. "Oto, I need you to get me some clean water and the leftover honey we had. I think I left it on the counter. His shoulder's infected."

Oto nods and does as he is told. He slips back into their home and grabs a plastic bottle of their boiled water from the table. He sighs sadly, as his eyes fix on the last bit of their honey resting on the counter like Onii had said.

No. Oto shakes his head and snatches the container. Raph needs it more than they do now. He learned long ago that honey is not only a delicious treat, reserved for those especial occasions when they've been good enough to earn it, but it's also helpful when dealing with infected wounds from Master's punishments. And Raph could really use it right about now.

Full of determination to help his friend, Ototo returns to Raph's room. As he sets the items down next to his brother, he taps Onii's shoulder. 'Is he going to be okay?'

Onii looks back at Raph. "I think so."

It feels like a thousand years before Onii is satisfied with his work on Raph's shoulder. Now the only thing left to do is wait. By the end of it, Oto is pacing around the room, biting his nails.

Onii sighs sending Oto a hopeful grin. 'Maybe I should stay for the night on guard, just in case.'

'No,' Oto signs back immediately. 'No way, this is my fault and besides, you're hurt!'

'How is it your fault?' Onii asks, frowning. 'You didn't make him sick.'

This time Oto's gaze cast down, to his feet. Then he moves away and Onii's eyes notice the bowl of rice and veggies spilled all over the floor.

Oniisan groans. 'Is he ever going to eat anything you bring him? We can't keep cleaning the soup off the walls.'

Oto cringes at that. If he hadn't come in here in the first place, Onii wouldn't have had to clean up the food. Raphael wouldn't have broken his chain and Onii's leg wouldn't be hurt.

'I'll take care of it.' Oto signs guiltily rushing out of the room, towards their home. When he comes back he carries the mop and a bucket with water and soap. He places them against the wall for a moment. Then Oto kneels down to grab the discarded dish from the floor and picks as much of the rice and vegetables as he can, pouring them into the bowl. When he is done, he sets the food aside to clean up the residue on the ground.

'There. Good as new,' he signs appreciating his cleaning job with a huge grin. Then he lifts up the bowl and manages to sign awkwardly while holding onto it. 'And look! I saved dinner!'

Onii shakes his head, smiling helplessly. A wave of relief washes over Oto. Oniisan is happy, everything will be okay now.

'You can have it,' Onii signs, 'they gave me some bread earlier.'

And by 'gave' Oto knows that means the soldiers threw it on the ground for his onii to pick up. He nods and sits down. Raph's breathing becomes the loudest sound in the room. It starts getting darker by the minute and cold wind enters through the window. They both shiver.

'We should get him a blanket,' he tells Onii, who shakes his head.

"They'll suspect something," Onii whispers back and he straightens up. With a groan he takes off his hoodie and places it on top of Raph's chest. "There. This way, I can take it back at any time and no one will ever know."

Without his hoodie Oto can see all the scars that trace up and down his older brother's thin arms, marking him as his Master's. Even in this faint lighting, he can see Master's logo branded on his Onii's shoulder. The dark green protuberance stands out, rough and ugly, among the more superficial thin lines of blades and whip. Instinctively, his hand reaches for his own burnt scar and shudders. Branding had been one of the worst punishments.

He taps his hand against the ground twice so Onii would look at his signing.

'It was my fault,' he admits with a sigh, 'that he didn't eat the food. I sort of yelled at him, because of what happened to you and he – he kind of took it the wrong way. Maybe if I hadn't been mean he would have eaten it... maybe he wouldn't be sick right now.'

'It's not your fault, Ototo. That shoulder's been infected for at least a whole day,' signs Onii, then mildly glares at Oto, though the annoyed stare doesn't last long. He never seems to be able to stay mad at Oto for more than ten minutes. 'But you shouldn't have triggered him. You know it's not his fault Xever hurt me.'

'I was mad!' Oto defends himself. 'And he did punch you! Besides, I said sorry... honest!'

'That doesn't matter anymore, okay? I'm going to stay here tonight, keep an eye on him,' Onii's hand finishes and rests on his chest then points at the door before signing again. 'You need to go back home and get some rest.'

'No!'

Onii frowns, the expression is almost pleading. "Oto..."

'I said no!' Oto slams his feet on the ground. Raphael stirs and Onii turns around.

"Mm 'eo?" Raph moans.

Onii places a wet piece of cloth on his forehead. "Don't speak," he says in his best doctor's orders voice.

"...Where 'm I?" The words slur out and his elbows push against the ground. He tries to sit up but Onii places a firm hand on his plastron, stopping him and lowering him back down.

"You're -" Onii looks around, because what could possibly be a good answer for that question when Raphael is sick and in a dungeon? "-not home."

"W-water," Raph orders in a groan.

Raph opens his mouth but instead of water, Onii drops a spoonful of medicine inside. At this, Raph winces in disgust and actually attempts to punch Onii. Thankfully, his fists are too weak to reach his brother. Oto grimaces in understanding. That stuff is nasty.

"Screw you, F-fearless." Raphael coughs trying to spit the medicine out.

Onii rolls his eyes, he lifts the water bottle to Raph's lips and gently guides the liquid into his mouth. "Easy," he says, taking the bottle away when Raphael tries to drink all the water in one gulp. "You have a fever, but you're going to be okay now."

He offers the water once more and this time Raph obeys.

Once he's done swallowing, Raph falls back down against the floor. He smiles up at Onii and his eyes blink twice, unfocused. "I love ya, bro."

Oto supresses a giggle. Onii reels away, lost for words. He glances at Oto then at Raph again. "I'm... I'm not your-" But Raphael's eyes are closed now. He is out once more.

'He thinks you're Leo,' Oto signs after a while with a small smile. 'His brother.'

"He's delirious," Onii mutters, mostly to himself. He shakes his head. 'It doesn't matter. You need to leave now.'

Ototo's grin falls. 'Why? I want to stay! It's not fair!'

'Oto, can you take care of Raphael if he wakes up in the middle of the night? Do you know what to give him?' he signs. Oto says nothing. Onii is right, as usual. So Ototo just looks away from his know-it-all sibling and towards their 'hurt box'. Onii pats the floor calling his attention once more. 'Can you talk to Raphael in case you need to keep him awake? What if he wants something? He's too sick to try and decipher what you're signing.'

'I can still help,' he signs pathetically because it's so obvious that he can't. Useless, little mutt. I bet it's too stupid to even talk.

'No,' Onii signs with empathy, noticing his little brother's growing misery. But that doesn't stop him from continuing in a low commanding voice, as if proving the point. "I'm your oniisan, and that means sometimes I have to pick for the both of us."

Oto pouts but then his face brightens in triumph. 'Work! You have to work tomorrow!'

'Ototo, we have to work every day.' Onii gives him a dry, condescending stare then he shakes his head quickly. 'And I'll figure something out. Now go, get some sleep. You have work tomorrow too, remember?'

'Yeah but-'

'No 'buts', Ototo. Go to bed,' Onii smiles a gap toothed grin when finally, a grumpy Ototo stands up. 'And don't forget to brush your teeth.'

'Yeah, yeah,' Oto signs and moves to pick up their belongings, resting in the corner of the room. Like a stubborn child, he stomps his feet on his way out, balancing the bowl of rice, mop and bucket as he goes.

The cell door closes gently, leaving Onii alone with the prisoner.

"It's better this way, anyways," he tells Raphael in a sad whisper. "He shouldn't get too attached."

A/N: Hugs you all.