Hello guys! :D Welcome back, I hope life has treated all of you well! Thank you for the continous support I've been getting, it's truly amazing! :) For those of you who also read "Baby Brother" don't worry, I'm still cooking up that uh-ma-zing (hopefully) epilogue I promised!
Anyways, lets go back to the story! I was planning on ending at 15 and I believe I got everything in order the way I need too, well just see! but this one has lots of brotherly fluff! Try not to explode because I did thinking about it and writing it! XD
Leonardo's P.O.V
"Care to explain?" Master Splinter asked once everyone was on the bench. Donnie was asleep, still holding onto me but I manage to sit comfortably and shift him so his head is on my chest. He had a strong arm around my waist and his hand in mine. I'd never admit it out loud but it was really cute. Sometimes it's great to be a big brother.
But once Master Splinter spoke, all eyes were on Mikey, who was shifting nervously. I also noticed Casey shifting around, trying to look at the floor. "Well?"
"W-Well...in a summary? I went to Shredder's old lair and saved Donnie!" As soon as he said this he shrieked and hid his face in the beanie.
"WHAT?!" Me and Raph demanded. Donnie stirred and I closed my mouth but glared daggers at Mikey.
"Are you stupid?!" Raph demanded and Sensei put up a paw. "Well, you are, but are you serious?!"
"Raphael that is enough." Master Splinter glared and Raph closed his mouth. "Go on Michelangelo.." Mikey looked up guiltily.
"I made Casey drive me to his lair and be my get-away driver-"
"You drug Casey into this?!" Raph demanded in shock but Sensei whacked his head with a cane. Casey looked highly uncomfortable as he wiggled in April's arms. "Ow!"
"I went in through the sewers, knocked some Foot out, and took a uniform to look like them.." Mikey grinned sheepishly. He noticed our unamused glares and sighed. "Then I saw Razhar and he was talking about swapping guard duties or whatever. That's how I found Donnie and Shredder."
"You saw him?" I gawked in somewhat anger and horror. Raph only narrowed his eyes and I saw Sensei do the same.
"Yea, Donnie was on the ground. He had a panic attack." Mikey frowned sadly, staring at Donnie's sleeping form. My arms tightened around Donnie as I looked down too. "Shredder shocked him awake and they had an argument before he was thrown in a jail cell and I saved him."
"I saved ya outside the tower though." Casey blurted and we looked at him. He blushed. "They were ganged up on by Foot and Razhar."
"Mikey, what you did was dangerous!" I scolded feeling my heart beat wildly and Mikey looked away. I noticed April just staring at Mikey with some weird emotion but never moved to say anything. Raph scowled big time and glared. He opened his mouth until Mikey cut him off.
"I saved Donnie." Mikey blurted with tears in his eyes. He looked at me and then at Raph. "You guys were hurt and I…I just wanted to save Donnie!" He clenched his eyes shut and looked like he was struggling against tears. April and Casey's eyes widened.
I looked at Raph and he was already looking at me with wide eyes. I only nodded because I had one little brother, it was Raph's turn. Plus Mikey always felt better with Raph.
"I'm sorry Mikey." Raph muttered while using one strong arm to pull Mikey's face in his chest. Mikey began to cry and shake his head in Raph's chest, his arms slinging around his waist. Raph said nothing else and the room was quiet with Mikey's sobs.
"I need to be going home. April, wanna ride?" Casey offered quietly, looking at me. I nodded, knowing it was a family matter. We needed some time to ourselves tonight. April looked at Mikey sadly and then nodded. They both smiled at us and then left.
Master Splinter was frowning, looking at the ground with a hand on his chin. "I need to go meditate. Take care of your brothers." He was looking at me and Raph. We both nodded and watched him walk away.
"He thought you were dead…" Raph finally says towards me. Mikey's sobs were soft cries now and sniffles. I nodded looking down at Donnie. I smiled softly and rubbed his hair. "He's going to pay." I looked up and nodded with conviction. Shredder was going to pay.
Raph looked down to say something to Mikey, but I noticed Mikey was sighing, his freckled cheeks tear stained. Raph sighed but smiled a little, trying to hide it from me as he just brought Mikey in closer. He looked at me and rolled his eyes. "Little brothers." A quick smile passed over my mouth.
"I know right?" I laughed softly and Raph smirked. I looked back down at Donnie and sighed, sinking into the couch.
"You okay, Leo?" I turned my head and saw Raph not looking at me but trying to get comfortable. Mikey was not sighing anymore, but sleeping or so it seemed.
"Yea, I'm just really tired and this cut hurts." I complained lightly. I saw Raph laugh and smile.
"Well get over it."
"Oh whatever." I rolled my eyes but shifted so I could look at him. "And your injuries?"
Raph seemed to consider what to say which let me know he was going to lie to me. I rose an eyebrow. "They itch." I laughed. Not what I was expecting.
"They'll do that." I smirked, moving my left leg cause it was going numb. After a couple minutes of trying to get comfortable Raph broke the silence.
"Hey Leo?" I looked up at him and saw something in his face had changed into something solid. Something that also looked guilty. "Remember when we were little and said we'd always protect them?" My eyes widened and my heart jumped nearly at the same time.
"Y-Yea…" I replied, my eyebrows drew together as I looked at Donnie's bandaged arms and his cheeks. I began to shake a little but turned to hide it from Raph. Why'd he have to go and say something like that?
"We suck at it." Raph said lightly, trying to make a joke out of it. I frowned and saw him frown after looking at me. "Sorry."
"No, it's okay. You're right." I whispered while feeling my eyes burn. "I also promised myself to find you guys and protect you when I did. Look how good I've done!"
Raph's eyes widened and that's when I realized hot tears were rolling down my cheeks and the cut above my eye throbbed painfully. I was holding my breath so the frustrated sob didn't come out. "Leo-"
"I mean, you get poisoned and cut up. Donnie gets captured and beat to shell. Mikey was abused and his emotions gone to shell too! What's wrong with me? Why didn't I do a better job?" I asked out loud. Donnie and Mikey stirred, that being the only thing shutting me up. Raph actually looked upset, more upset than I've ever seen him.
"Shut up Leo. Stupid!" He hissed and it took me a minute to realize he wasn't talking about me waking up Mikey and Donnie. "Stuff happens all tha time, just like Sensei says. So just shut yer trap, I don't wanna hear it!"
I blinked and then blinked the tears out of my eyes, wiping them with the back of my hand. I looked down and heard Raph sigh a shaky angry breath. When I looked up he had shifted Mikey and himself closer to me. Now he was sitting right beside me, Mikey's head in his lap.
"This was all Shredder, okay? We'll get em back. He'll pay actual hell for hurting our little bros, okay?"
I looked at him and saw the fierce conviction in his sharp green eyes. We all had our parts in this family and one of Raph's was apparently keeping me together as well as being the 'protector'. I smiled. "Okay. Thanks Raph."
Raph then smirked. "No prob. Someone has to keep you in track, my older brotha or not." I blinked in surprise. "So sometimes I gotta play the older brotha part on ya." I laughed softly so I didn't wake up Donnie or Mikey.
"Thanks Raph." I replied more warmly this time. Raph just nodded and then shifted, probably embarrassed so I smiled a mile wide.
I listened to the silence of the room, except for my little brothers' breathing and my own. It stayed like this for a while and I realized that Raph must have fallen asleep. I looked over to see Raph's head was on my shoulder. Mikey's arms were still around his waist and his head was still on his thigh. Donnie's head was on my chest and his body on the other side. I sighed in relief to feel all my brothers on me, knowing I could just reach out if one needed me, or all.
"Looks like it's been a long day." I looked up to see Master Splinter come out. I smiled at him. "How are you feeling, my son?"
"The cut hurts, my head aches, I'm tired but all that is normal." I assured and saw him relax a bit more. He looked sad all of a sudden. "Father?" He flinched ever so slightly.
"My poor children." He sighed as he put his hand on Raph and Mikey's head, the other on mine and Donnie's. I blinked but then smiled encouragingly.
"Don't worry Sensei. We will be okay. We always are." I replied and watched him smile back.
"Yes, you are right Leonardo." He gave us one last look before letting us go and standing up. "I will make some tea now, if you or your brothers need me."
"Okay, Sensei." I said and turned to hear him leave. I looked at all my little brothers and occasional big brother Raph? I laughed in my head and laid my head on Raph's, falling into a deep peaceful sleep.
I heard a noise which immediately woke me up. I was always the light sleeper anyways. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Donnie shifting away and stretching his arms. This caused a string of reactions. Raph groaned and I moved my head so he didn't notice our heads were touching.
Raph moved and Mikey suddenly gasped loudly, sending all of us jumping and he looked around. He immediately relaxed and blushed. "Sorry."
"Bonehead." Raph growled, slapping his head.
"Ow!"
"W-What time is it?" Donnie asked rubbing one eye. I looked behind me and grabbed my T-Phone.
"It's 9:04," I replied, surprised we had slept for 4 and a half hours. Mikey blinked, rubbing his head. "Wow, late already?"
"Now we'll never sleep tonight." Raph joked but everyone looked dazed. Donnie pretended to stretch his limbs and avoiding almost all eye contact.
"How…how are your wounds?" Donnie asked avoiding to look at my cut. I put a calming hand on his bandaged forearm.
"They are treated and are doing well." I replied formally and Raph snorted but nodded somewhere behind me.
"How about yours, Donnie? Did I do a good job?" Mikey asked hopeful, bouncing around like normal. I smiled.
"Yeah, it's good." He answered quietly. He smiled at us and then the quietness set in. "Thanks for coming to save me Mikey. I haven't said it yet."
Mikey blinked, his eyes wide and blue. He surprised me when he jumped over me to hug Donnie, who gasped. "Aw, no problem bro! You saved me plenty of times!"
"Alright, alright!" Donnie laughed slightly, pushing Mikey away. He looked at me. "Has anyone messed with the retro-mutagen I was trying to synthesize?" I shook my head and Raph just grunted. "Okay."
"Hey bros, you hungry?" Mikey asked, bright eyed and gleaming. I smiled again.
"Yes."
"Yea." Donnie and Raph replied at the same time, getting a smirk from me and a giggle from Mikey.
"I'll order pizza." I said softly, looking at my T-phone. As I ordered two large peperoni I saw Mikey talking to Donnie, both smiling. Warmth and relief bloomed in my chest.
"Okay, pizza's on its way." I announced. Mikey gave a cry of happiness and Donnie smiled. I looked at Raph and saw him messing with his ripped red shirt irritably. "Raph?"
"I hate stitches, damn things itch!" Raph shouted rather loudly and I jumped. I saw Donnie hug Mikey both with wide eyes. It was so loud it echoed. I wouldn't be surprised if Master Splinter suddenly- "OW!"
I couldn't help but laugh out with the others when Master Splinter came out of nowhere to whack Raph's head, just like I thought. "You seriously gotta knock Sensei! What the heck was that?!"
Sensei chuckled, ignoring him and looked at Donnie. "How are you my son?" I grinned at Raph when he looked at me like, 'are you freakin kiddin me?'.
"I'm better." Donnie replied, ducking his head.
"And your injuries?"
"They will heal fine, just some cuts." Donnie said fingering the bandages on his cheeks. He reluctantly looked up and gave a small smile for better measure.
"I helped!" Mikey beamed, standing tall almost striking a pose. I rolled my eyes.
"Well that's good to hear." Master Splinter chuckled, smiling warmly. He whacked Raph's hand when he went to scratch the stitches on his waist.
"Aw, come on!" Raph whined and I laughed. He glared at me.
"Anyways bros, I'll got get the pizza!" Mikey smiled, jumping up and off the bench.
"No!" Donnie shouted all at once, grabbing Mikey's wrist. Everyone froze and he laughed nervously. "I mean, is that really okay?"
"Of course, right?" Mikey asked confused and a bit worried. "No one will see me, it's just under the grate like usual…?" Me and Raph gave each other a look of suspicious concern.
"Sorry. I just…never mind, sorry." Mikey smiled in an attempt to show no harm and I saw him give Donnie's hand a squeeze.
"You can go Mikey. But if you're not back in 15 minutes I'm coming up there." I warned and he saluted me. Raph groaned, face palming as Mikey jumped and left. I slid to Donnie's side and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay."
"Yeah, I know it's okay." Donnie whispered. He smiled at me and then looked at Raph. "Seriously, stop or you're gonna bust the stitches!"
"Okay, fine!" Raph sighed, looking to where Mikey had left. Master Splinter simply sat down on the bench beside him.
"My sons, how has the retro-mutagen crisis developed?" He questioned with curiosity. I saw Donnie tense so I tried not to look so serious.
"Well, when I…left..it was synthesizing. I haven't checked on its process yet." Donnie rubbed his hair sheepishly. "But the last time I examined it, it was going smoothly. But like my others it takes time."
"I understand." Master Splinter smiled, shifting so he was now beside Donnie. Me and Raph smiled when Sensei put a comforting hand on Donnie's shoulder. "You did well my son, I am so proud of you." Donnie gulped but he could not contain himself for long. He threw his arms around Sensei and smiled, very small tears sliding down his cheeks.
I felt the soft pounding come back in my head and tried to ignore it. Raph was still trying to sneak scratches at his stitches but it was like Sensei had eyes on the back of his head. I smiled, feeling amused as I watched my little brothers. I unknowingly touched the stitched gash above my eye and saw Raph glare warningly at me.
"Rest tonight, my sons. I will see you in the morning." Sensei suddenly smiled, rising from the bench.
"Whoa, wait. You're not gettin pizza, Sensei?" Raph questioned and Master Splinter shook his head. Me and Donnie looked at each other.
"You need to find comfort in each other," He said and we all blushed at how weird that sounded at first. He chuckled. "And I am not hungry. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Sensei." We replied and I bowed my head. He hummed and walked away slowly.
"He wasn't gonna wait till Mikey got back?" Raph asked looking annoyed at his waist. I snickered.
"I guess he's been..tired?" Donnie said smiling nervously. I sighed.
"More like worrying himself to death." I replied and they gave me a weird look. "He may not always show it but he probably worries the most."
"Over you? I think that's impossible." Raph grinned. Donnie joined him and I rolled my eyes.
"I guess I should check on the retro-mutagen…" Donnie looked away to his lab and I frowned. I opened my mouth to say something but another voice cut me off.
"You can't dude cause guess who got the pizza?!~"
I couldn't help but hide my smile as Donnie jumped and Raph laughed out loud. Mikey jumped down from the spiral slope above and smiled a mile wide, carrying two pizza boxes. He walked up to me, since I was in the center and placed them in the pit.
"Jeez Mikey, it's late and you're still so loud." Donnie growled, embarrassed.
"Sorry, D." Mikey blushed but smiled at Raph, who had finally stopped laughing to wipe his eye. I rolled my eyes again but sucked in my lip so Donnie didn't catch me smiling.
"Just come and get your pizza." I teased Donnie, who rolled his eyes and joined me and Mikey in the center.
"I don wanna get up!" Raph complained half heartedly, throwing his head back. Mikey laughed.
"No one feels sorry for you." I smirked and he glared at me, making Mikey giggle more and Donnie grin.
"Shaddup Fearless." He retorted but at least it got him off the couch as we formed a square around the pizza boxes. I smiled as we began eating.
"Wanna watch a movie?" I asked them. Each paused in their thoughts.
"I should really check on the retro-mutagen.." Donnie mumbled while worriedly staring at his pizza. I frowned. Mikey suddenly put an arm around his neck and leaned in.
"D, you worry too much. More than Leo and that's saying something." Mikey said seriously. I scowled while Raph smirked at me, chuckling.
"I'm serious." Donnie frowned, looking like he was trying not to smile. I rolled my eyes, groaning.
"Just shut up and eat with us." I replied making Mikey and Donnie look at me in surprise. Raph looked on in amusement. "It won't kill you to wait."
"See? Leo's got tha right idea!" Raph winked playfully and Donnie glared. I turned my attention away as I shifted channels on the now blaring TV. I knew Space Heroes wasn't on and they wouldn't feel like watching that anyways.
"OH MY GOSH LEO PAUSE IT!" Mikey all but screamed, making everyone in the room drop what they were holding.
"Mikey!" We yelled angrily. He blushed sheepishly and Raph hit his head.
"Ow! Sorry!" He frowned. But then he beamed. "This is WipeOut! A totally awesome show, dudes!" I turned, still scowling to unpause the show.
"You better be right Chucklehead." Raph argued, also scowling.
After a few minutes of watching people try to jump on the 'big balls' and failing, Raph almost couldn't breathe, which was making me and Donnie laugh. Mikey was almost constantly laughing, tears in his eyes.
"Where did you even come across this show, Mikey?" I asked smiling in amusement. He beamed happily.
"Oh, well.." He started while smiling but then he just stopped, his smile slowly fading as he looked down. My eyes widened when his face suddenly darkened. I saw Donnie stop eating to look at him worriedly and Raph looked confused. "I just found it." The sentence came out forced and totally out of his element.
"You okay?" Donnie asked as the attention was all on him now. He looked up, like he realized we were still paying attention to him. He gave a small smile.
"Yep! Anyways this is uh-ma-zing!" He gushed and Donnie just looked at me. I was frowning but Raph groaned, rolling his eyes at Mikey's easy dismissal.
"Ya can't just do that and not explain." Raph rose an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he shifted a little closer to Mikey.
"Do what?" He asked smiling innocently. Donnie face palmed and I glared.
"You know what Mikey. You can't just get upset about something and not tell us why." I replied. Mikey sighed and then looked sad.
"You'll just get mad and then it will ruin the good night we've tried to build." He whispered making my blood run colder. Raph looked at me and I nodded at him.
"Why would we get mad?" Donnie asked looking worried again. Mikey hung his head low and just sighed again.
"Mikey." I warned in the big brother tone I use from time to time on them.
"Just tell us." Raph scowled harder, shifting yet closer to Mikey so that their knees were almost touching. Mikey wiggled uncomfortably but had nowhere to escape.
"I first seen it at Kenny's place, before he got home from the bar." He said, his body shaking just a little to match his tone.
I blinked, not really all that surprised for some reason. But I took a calm breath so Mikey couldn't see the obvious anger threatening to come off me in waves. Raph was still scowling, but forced his hands into fists so he crossed his arms. Donnie surprised me as he just scowled but grabbed Mikey's hand.
"See? Now was that so bad?" Donnie asked and Mikey blinked up in surprise. Mikey's face looked sad and hurt glimmered in his eyes. "I know you didn't want to remember. We're sorry." Donnie pulled Mikey close and I smiled.
"He won't be hurtin you anymore." Raph all but grinned, trying to look reassuring. Mikey returned it with a small smile.
"Yeah, they're right." Is the only reply I could muster, but it was worth it when Mikey's smile grew and the brightness returned to his eyes.
"Thanks bros. I know I can always count on you!" He beamed, getting out of Donnie's hug. Raph rustled his hair with a small fond smile and I turned to unpause the show.
Now that Donnie and Mikey were back, I felt the worry slowly leaving me, but never permanently. I would always have to be aware of what Donnie was doing or where he was going. It was going to be hard to look after my little brothers.
But Raph was right. I looked at Donnie's bandaged arms, thighs, and cheeks. He had been damaged, hurt, by Shredder. Yep, Raph was definitely right.
Shredder had actual hell to pay.
Yeah, well, let me just tell you. Leo and Raph are BOTH pissed. Shredder's gonna be hurting somehow XD
Anyways, I hope you liked it! I tried my very best just for you guys! *laughs* But thank you for the support, i hope you will continue to support me! Thanks guys, so much! You make my day! :)