Disclaimer: I don't own diddly squat

Ugh, sorry, again, for so long between updates. :P Life keeps getting all up in my kool-aid and before I know it it has been almost two weeks between updates! :( Sorry, also, for this being a short one; Leonardo is not my forte. I'm doing my best to keep a good balance and not focus only on my favorite characters; I created a poll on my profile concerning characters in my writing so if you'd pop over and vote I'd really appreciate it! As always, reviews are much appreciated.

Stay Awesome!


The candles burned low in the night, covering me in their dying light. The thin wisps reached for me out of the darkness, clinging to every pore of my skin, tendrils filling my consciousness with nothing but smoke and flame, cleansing all within me, removing all worries, fears, and feeling from me.

My blissful, numb meditation was broken by my brother's excited whisperings from within the next room. I sighed, the lead weight dropping back upon my chest; I knew they were planning something. It would be dangerous no doubt, but it was just as surely to be incomparably fun, but as their leader, I had to be the responsible one, the levelheaded one, the "anti-fun" brother. Not only would I not be invited, but I would be actively avoided.

The whispers ebbed like a tide, rising excitedly and breaking only when one of the three would shush the others for fear of alerting me or Master Splinter. Raphael, the de facto leader of any mischief, especially top side mischief, was the most audible; his deep rumble easily piercing the paper thin walls.

I could hear the grin on Raph's face as he laid out the plan. "C'mon! It'll be a breeze. Fearless'll never even know we were gone."

"Ohhhh, we are SO gonna be in trouble if he finds out!" Mikey barely repressed a giggle and was promptly smacked.

Don, his typically low drawl rising, chided, "WELL, we won't have to worry about him finding out if you could keep your freaking voice down!"

A collective, "SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" and more giggling followed.

Sometime later, a slight creak of the door and fading whispers were my only signal that they were going out.

As I struggled to hear the last of their retreating footfalls, I found myself hoping, praying that they would stop by my room on the way out and ask me, just once, to come with them. Holding my breath, I waited in vain to hear my door open and for one of them to drag me along with them, citing some bullshit reason that meant I had to come along. I waited for them to see me as a brother and not a nuisance. None did.

The tiny flame of hope within me died silently. I closed my eyes, bowed my head, raw anguish racking my frame. I shook violently, trying desperately to contain the scream building inside me as unbidden tears streamed down my face.

That night and many others have since passed. Seasons have passed; we have aged many moons.

I am still waiting.