Chapter 12

"Mikey, I'm not really sure if this is-"

"Dude, what did I tell you? It'll be fine."

Despite his brother's words, Leo's mouth ran dry as they stood at the door that separated them from the reptile they sought. "You know what? This is a bad idea. I'm just gonna go back to the Lair and-"

Fast as a viper, Mikey reached out and snagged Leo's arm before the leader could bolt. "Nu-uh. You're not going anywhere. Not until we talk to Leatherhead."

"But-"

The door opened as if on cue. Leatherhead looked surprised, if not pleasantly so, at the sight of his friends. "Michelangelo, Leonardo. I did not expect to see you."

Mikey flashed a winning smile. "Well, you know. The best surprises are ones that people don't know about ahead of time."

The giant crocodile shook his head, laughing. "Please, come in, come in." Once they were all seated around what passed as a kitchen table, Leatherhead raised a brow. "What brings you here, my friends?"

Leo swallowed, licking his lips and glancing at his baby brother. Thankfully, the youngest understood and spoke for him. "Leo has a bit of a problem, LH. I was wondering if you could help him like you helped me?"

An understanding look appeared on Leatherhead's face as an unspoken conversation passed between them. Eventually the crocodile nodded. "Yes. I would be glad to assist you." He turned to the leader in blue, his eyes gentle. "May I see?"

Leo swallowed again, unsure whether or not to unwrap his wrists. For the first time since becoming leader of the Hamato Clan, he had no clue how to proceed. He was totally out of his element.

But then his youngest brother touched his arm and nodded reassuringly, offering a smile. So he slowly pulled the leather and gauze off his wrists, wincing a bit at the pull of the newly healing cuts.

To his credit, Leatherhead didn't gasp or berate him for hurting himself. He didn't even give him a pitying smile - something that Leo was very much afraid of receiving. He didn't want anyone's pity.

The enormous mutant merely sat there for the next two hours, talking everything over with the two turtles, and listening to Leo release the burdens from his narrow shoulders. And when the eldest finally broke down, weeping, Leatherhead was there with a box of tissues and words of comfort. The only thing he asked for in return was a promise that Leo would return each week so that they could talk.

Later, right before the two turtles returned to the Lair, Leo pulled Mikey aside. "Thank you," he said quietly.

Mikey blinked. Of all the things his sibling could have said, this was the most unexpected. "Um...you're welcome? But...ah...for what, exactly?"

"For taking me to see Leatherhead. I think talking to him about everything will help me. And maybe..." He took a deep breath. "Maybe it'll give me a chance to get back to normal. Or at least get as close as I can."

Leo wants to get better.

This was truly more than Mikey had dared to even think about. But now...

A surge of hope rose in Mikey's heart, only showing because of the tears welling up in his baby-blue eyes. He lunged forward and hugged Leo tight, burying his face in the leader's scarred plastron.

Leo stiffened. Then, hesitantly, his arms wrapped around his baby brother. For the second time that day, the blue-clad ninja broke down into tears. But these were happy tears. Because now, Leo had reason to hope. A ray of light had broken through the darkness that held him captive.

Thanks to Mikey, he had a reason to keep fighting. A reason to keep going.

A reason to live.

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