(I don't own TMNT or Hunger Games.)

Chapter 10

The audience roared with applause and cheering after Donatello announced he was in love with Leonardo. The Fugitoid shook Donatello's hand and he walked off. He was halfway down the corridor to his dressing room when a fist connected with his jaw. It knocked him into the wall. An arm pinned him across his chest and he was face to face with a furious turtle.

"What was that all about?" Leonardo demanded, his face close to Donatello's. His eyes were blazing. Donatello was actually fearing for his life. "You don't talk to me and you say you have a crush on me? You say you want to train alone," he spat, getting all his anger out from this morning. "Is that how you wanna play?"

Casey ripped Leonardo off Donatello, and pinned him to the other wall. He stepped in between him and Donatello, while April and Vernon checked on him. Irma stood by watching and making sure no one walked in on them. "Stop!" Casey yelled.

"He made me look weak!" Leonardo yelled at Casey. Casey turned toward him, "He made you look desirable." He pointed a finger at Leonardo. "Which in your case, can't hurt sweetheart!" He sneered, making the last word grind out. Leonardo hated when he called him that when he got in trouble.

"Now, I can sell the star cross lovers from District 12-"

"We are NOT star cross lovers!" Leonardo cut Casey off, furious at how he was being played like this.

"It's a television show," Casey explained to Leonardo, with a hint of exasperation. "And being in love with that turtle might just get you sponsors and save your life." Casey pointed at Donatello without looking away from Leonardo.

Leonardo sent one look toward Donatello, filled with spite. "Okay?" Casey asked, coming into Leonardo's face, making him stop looking at Donatello. "Okay." He whispered, his voice hoarse from yelling.

"Why don't you get out of here?" Casey pointed his thumb to the exit. Leonardo nodded and stormed to the door. He heard April harshly whisper, "manners," to him as he stormed past her. He slammed the door open and walked into the elevator. He slammed the top button with his hand and let out a deep breath as the elevator started heading toward the penthouse.

His eyes widened with realization. The turtles saw the broadcast. Leonardo cursed Donatello with every curse word he remembered and waited for the questions he was about to be screamed at him. The elevator doors opened and he walked fast toward his room. Not bothering to hear the turtles yelling at him with questions.

He closed the door on their face. He got out of his outfit and took a shower. The hot water helped relax his tense shoulders and he put his forehead on the cool tile of the shower wall. He recounted what he had done and felt ashamed of himself. 'I shouldn't have reacted like that,' he thought to himself.

The guilt was now killing him. Tomorrow was the day and he was feeling guilty. Why didn't they tell him about this? He could have played along, too.

'I guess from now on,' he thought, 'I shouldn't trust no one.' He turned the shower off and got himself ready for bed. When he opened the bathroom door, he let out a groan. The turtles where in his bedroom.

"How did you guys get in here?" He asked. One of the Raph's held up his sai. He internally groaned. Pulled the covers down and got in bed. He pulled the covers over his head, hoping the turtles wouldn't ask questions.

But that is impossible with sixteen confused, time warped turtles who he could only see and explain things. "I don't know why he said that." He answered. "Tomorrow's the big day and I want to try to get some sleep." He closed his eyes.

He woke up a little while later because he heard a noise outside his room. He peaked his head out from under the covers and looked at the sleeping turtles. 'Man for ninja's they suck at hearing noises.' He thought.

He got up from the bed and quietly stepped over the turtles. He opened his door, thankful that it didn't squeak, and stepped out and quietly shut it. He walked out into the living room and on the couch, looking out the window, was Donatello.

"Still up I see." Leonardo whispered, startling Donatello.

"Oh, hey." Donatello said awkwardly. He motioned for Leonardo to have a seat so he did. He sat far apart from Donatello, but close enough to hear what he said. "Can't sleep?" Leonardo asked.

"No, of course not." Donatello whispered, not looking at him. Leonardo felt guilty. "I'm sorry I went after you like that." Leonardo said, leaning forward a bit so he rested his elbows on his knees, putting his hands together.

"You know I meant that as a compliment." Leonardo nodded. "I know." He whispered, he scooted over a bit. Donatello looked away from the window and focused on Leonardo.

"Listen," he started, licking his lips and leaning toward him to whisper. He paused, looking at the ground thinking of a way to put it.

"Yeah?" Leonardo asked, wanting to know what Donatello was wanting to say.

"I just don't wanna change me. I'm turning into something I'm not. I just don't want to be another piece in their game, you know?" Donatello whispered to Leonardo, looking at him like he expected Leonardo to get at what he said.

"You mean you don't want to kill anyone?" Leonardo asked, that was the only thing he was getting out of that.

"No." Donatello said, he leant back. Leonardo did the same. They sat there for a few minutes of silence. "I just keep thinking of a way to show them that they don't own me." Donatello finally said, letting his true feelings out.

"If I'm going to die. I wanna still be me." He said. Leonardo could hear something in his voice but he didn't know what.

"Yeah, I understand," Leonardo trailed off. "I just…can't afford to think like that." He finally said. Donatello looking at him. They just stared at each other for a long time. Thinking that they finally understood each other, but Leonardo was starting to get uncomfortable. He cleared his throat softly and stood up.

"Guess, I'll see you tomorrow." He said, and went toward his room. He just barely heard Donatello's reply. "See you tomorrow." He stopped and gave Donatello a nod. He snuck quietly back into his room and when he turned he almost yelled. 03Leo stood there with his arms crossed, but a knowing smile on his face.

"Feeling better?" He asked. Leonardo smiled at him. "Yeah, much better." He went back to sleep and had a peaceful night.

The next morning, Leonardo was woken up early and was given a uniform to wear. Since he was a turtle he didn't need that much. He was giving knee and elbow pads, a belt and shoes made for his feet. He turned toward the turtles. They each gave him a goodbye hugs. The Mikey's were teary eyed. The Don's were a little but not much, except 87Don. The Raph's were pulling a tough guy act and trying not to show emotion, but 87 and 12 Raph was failing. The Leo's were calm.

"We'll be watching," 03Leo whispered to him as he gave him a hug. "And waiting for you to get back." Leonardo nodded. He was trying to be brave but saying goodbye to his new friends was going to be hard. He waved to them and walked out of his room, hoping he would see them again.

Casey was waiting for him. "Donatello's already been briefed so you need to listen to everything that I say." Casey explained to him as they walked to the elevator. Casey explained what he could to Leonardo as they walked to the hangar where a hovercraft was waiting for the Tributes to board.

"They put all kinds of stuff right in the front. Right in the mouth of the Cornucopia. There'll even be a bow there, don't go for it!" Leonardo looked at Casey confused. "Why?"

"It's a Bloodbath, they're trying to pull you in. It's not your game. You turn, run, find a high ground and look for water, that's your top priority. Don't step off the pedestal early or they'll blow you sky high." Leonardo stared incredulously at Casey.

"I've seen it happen and it's not pretty." Casey assured him. They stopped at the door that lead them to the hovercraft. "Leonardo, you can do this. I believe in you." He patted Leonardo's shoulder and opened the door for him.

"Thanks Casey, for everything." He said and walked out the door toward the huge hovercraft. It had huge turbo's and wings that were almost touching the walls. He stepped on the boardwalk and sat down on one of the seats. The other Tributes were getting shots in their arms.

"Give me your arm." A green-blue salamandrian held a syringe looking tool and pressed it into Leonardo's stretched out arm. He winced at the slight sting of a thing going into his arm. He saw a faint glow beneath his skin. "What's that?" He asked the salamandrian.

"Your tracker." She simply stated and walked to the other tributes. The hovercraft shook and soon they were air born. They landed thirty minutes later and the tributes were taken to a room. Leonardo saw a tube that lead to somewhere. The door opened to his room and Irma walked in with a blue mask in one hand and the other hiding something.

"This mask isn't made of fire, this is a normal one." She tied the mask around his head. The tails were shorter and came to his shoulder. "I talked to the designers who had turtles and they agreed to put masks on you guys. Another turtle, who is a girl, has light blue so they should tell the difference." She held up the Mockingjay pin that he gave to Mikey on Reaping day. That seemed just yesterday.

She pinned it to his belt. "I'm not allowed to bet, but if I could I'd bet on you." She said to him, looking him in the eye as she said this, playing with his mask tails. He gave her a hug and whispered in her ear, "Thank you." She hugged him tighter. She was one person he was defiantly going to miss.

A bell chimed. "That's your que. Come back to us Leonardo." She patted his shoulder and watched him get into the tube. A door closed behind him sealing him in. Soon the tube was taking him upward. He clasped onto the walls and was taken up to an arena. The area was a forest with twenty three platforms, each containing a tribute.

In the middle of where they stood, a giant metal Cornucopia sat, with weapons and backpacks scattered out from it. He looked around for Donatello and saw him. He was shaking his head. Leonardo looked above the Cornucopia and saw the count down.

10….

9…..

8…..

7…..

6….

At District 12, Mikey and Splinter sat in the living room, holding onto each other. Raph was with his family, staring at the screen with no expression, whatsoever.

5…

4…

The turtles gathered on the couch. Each holding their breath, hearts hammering in their chests as they watched the tributes getting ready.

3….

2…..

Leonardo let out a breath. Praying that he could have said goodbye to his brother and tell him that he loves him.

1….

The canon fired and the Games began.

(The Games began! What will happen to Leonardo and Donatello now? Please review!)