Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT
"Leo!"
"Aw, what's wrong Mikey? I'm kicking your shell too hard?"
"No way, you numb-nut! The Mikester will never lose!"
"Well, what're you doing now? That's right, losing!"
"Oh, just you wait Leo. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."
"You don't wear clothes, you idiot!"
"Metaphorically speaking!"
"Wow, Mike. That was a big word. Do you need to sit down? Can I grab you some water? We don't want you to hurt yourself."
"Oh, shut up Leo. You are so dead!"
The sound of engines and squealing tires as well as the Mario theme music echoed through the lair. Tense moments passed. Leo and Mikey were glued to the couch, both leaning towards the television, their focus on beating the other.
"No!" Leo yelled as a blue shell flew out of nowhere and his character spun out of control. Mikey's character flew past Leo.
"Haha!" Mikey cried in triumph as he passed the finish line. He stood up on the couch and began a dramatic exclamation of victory. "I told you! Who is the greatest MarioKart racer ever? That's right, this Battle Nexus Champion is!" A pillow hit his face and he fell to his rear on the couch.
"You got lucky, Mikey." Leo muttered. He reached for the remote and turned off the television.
"Aw, no rematch?" Mikey taunted.
"We've been playing for over an hour, Mike."
"Oh, you been playing longer den dat, guys." Mikey and Leo both spun around. Raph was leaning against the doorframe in the kitchen, a soda can in hand. He looked intimidating and reckless, like the old Raph; but Leo's spirit of hope fell when he found Raph's eyes. They were still the same hard, lifeless eyes of the stranger.
"Whatcha mean, Raphie?" Mikey threw his controller behind his back and narrowly missed the basket before walking over to Raph.
"I mean, ya been playin fer almost three hours. It's dinnuh time. Splintah wants pizza. Wanna go get it wit me?"
"Sure. Let me grab some clothes and I'll be right down." Mikey babbled before darting up the stairs. Leo walked over and picked up his youngest brothers remote and turned off the TV. Raph sat and watched him.
"What do you want, Raph?" Leo said a little harshly.
Raph looked at him, some emotion flickered in his eyes and Leo half expected Raph to start yelling, but he only sighed and lowered his eyes. "Nothin' Leo. Is it okay if I take Mike? Figured ya didn't want anyone goin' out alone."
Leo's scowl softened. "Yeah, that's fine." Mikey pounded down the stairs, a pile of rugged clothes in his hands. "Be safe." He whispered as the two headed to the door and left.
Leo sighed and silently walked to Don's lab. The door was sill closed, and as far as he knew, his genius brother hadn't left his sanctuary. He knocked softly on the old door.
"What?" a voice croaked from inside, muffled slightly by the door. "If it's Leo go away. I don't want to talk to you."
Leo closed his eyes and was silent for a moment, knowing that his brother would get curious and open the door if he waited. True to his old habits, the door opened moments later and Don poked his head out. His eyes hardened and he stiffened when he saw who it was.
"Go away." He mumbled and went to disappear inside again, but Leo threw his hand in the way and stopped the door from closing.
"Donny…" Leo said softly. Don sniffed.
"I said go away." He moaned.
"No. We need to talk…" Realization hit Leo like a bucket of cold water. "Like we used to."
Don's head shot up and his eyes looked bloodshot. "What did you say?"
Leo sighed and stepped in the doorway. Donatello retreated and fell into his chair. "We need to talk like we used to, remember?"
Don was still for a moment, then nodded faintly.
Leo took it as an invitation and sat on a rickety stool near the counter. "I'm here, Don. I'm so sorry for this morning. I'm so sorry...for…for everything. Will you forgive me?" Leo said softly, staring at his slumped brother. Don's eyes stayed glued to the floor. "Don?"
The purple banded turtle slowly looked up. "I'm sorry too, Leo. I guess…" He sighed. "I guess I just wanted everything to go back to how it was, but then again I didn't. It's like any organism that is put in an uncomfortable environment." He looked to Leo to see if he was annoying him with his scientific approach, but his older brother was listening intently and didn't seem to mind the analogy. "They adapt to that environment, but then when they are put back into the original habitat, they have to readjust yet again."
Leo nodded. "I understand, Don, and honestly, I wanted things to be the same too. I didn't want to feel so distant from you, and I didn't want you all to change so much. But I changed too, so it's not fair for me to want that. I'm sorry."
"I am too. I'm sorry I didn't take better care of Mikey and especially Raph, otherwise things might be different." His gaze fell to the floor again.
"Hey," Leo whispered. "Donatello, look at me." He said louder. Don flinched before looking up. "You did an amazing job. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You know how hard it is to control Raph. At least you kept Mikey alive, that in of itself is a feat." A faint smile twitched the olive skinned turtle's mouth upwards. "I'm so proud of you."
Leo saw tears brim at the corner of his brother's eyes, so he reached out and Don fell into them. Don shuddered and silently whimpered as Leo tenderly rubbed his shell. "It's okay Don. I'm here now. We're all safe. Just let it out. Trust me, it's better than keeping it in." A wet splash tickled his plastron. They sat in embrace for agonizingly short moments before Don pulled himself up again and scrubbed the tear marks from his cheeks. He finally spoke, breaking through the calming silence of the room.
"What're we gonna do now?" Don asked, unnecessarily straightening a pile of papers he had set in his lap.
"Are you okay?" When Don nodded, Leo continued. "I promise that I will be better about coming in and talking to you. I have so many stories from Central America, and I still need to unpack the stuff I got you."
Donatello's eyes lit with excitement and curiosity then shaded in suspicion. "Wait, how did you know what was wrong? You haven't seemed to notice these past few weeks."
Leo chuckled. "Well, you're uncharacteristic blow up this morning was key." Don looked skeptical. "And I got some clues from Sensei."
"He knew?" Leo nodded. "That sly, spying…" Leo laughed and Donnie smiled. "Well, I guess that's that. What next bro?"
Leo stood and walked to the door. "Next, you're gonna come eat dinner, then go to bed. You shouldn't have bags the color of your mask under your eyes."
Don set his pile of notes on the desk and followed Leo, shutting the door and turning the lights off. Just before they reached the kitchen, Don touched Leo's arm, and the blue banded turtle turned, instantly being wrapped into another embrace.
"I missed you, Leo." Donnie whispered.
Leo wrapped his arms around his brother. "I missed you, too."