April couldn't suppress her joy when she threw herself at Casey, almost knocking them both over. Master Splinter had generously insisted them to stay for the night, just in case the rebel Foot would come back. Don voluntarily moved in with Mikey, leaving his room for the red-haired girl and her injured husband, not forgetting to throw a meaningful wink at Leo and Raph before closing the door. They both caught on fast and Raph bid them all good night. However, he left his door slightly ajar and listened for the sound of his family settling themselves to sleep. After a while, making sure that the only sound he could hear was his own heartbeat, Raph used all the stealth he could manage to enter Leo's room. The leader turtle was sitting at the edge of the bed, his eyes following Raph's movement until he sat next to him. But then, Leo turned away, causing Raph to arc his eyebrow.

"Well, whatcha want ta talk ta me about?" Raph tried to break the uncomfortable silence.

Leo didn't reply right away. Instead, he turned back to face him. His mouth was a thin line and his eyes bore into those golden orbs, searching.

"Tell me" Leo asked "Tell me everything that came through your mind at that moment."

"What for?"

"Just tell me."

"Okay, whatever ya want." Raph said after taking a deep breath "Ya were right ta worry like that. I did lose my cool when I saw them got a hand on Donnie. When I mocked them ta rile them up, I still didn't have a single idea of what ta do next. But then, I heard yer voice. Something about it snapped me out somehow, and I could clear the red in my eyes. I realized what I got us inta, and it's either apologizing and hoping that they were mercy enough ta release Donnie, or winging it."

Leo still kept his eyes on Raph, the look that would cut the emerald turtle to pieces, if look could even cut. But Raph returned the look just as fierce as he continued.

"Ya can figure out what came through my mind after that. What I said ta ya back in the sewer ain't all lies, but I didn't tell ya everything either."

For one long, stressful minute, Leo didn't say anything. He just kept staring at those golden irises. Raph was about to think his brother would explode any minute when Leo breathed out softly, his forest green arms reached up to pull Raph to a hug.

"Somehow, Raph, that's exactly what I thought you were thinking back then. You really shocked me, in every way possible."

"Thought so. Ain't that what I've been doing all the time?" Raph grinned sheepishly.

"Not as usual. The usual you would jump in to save Donnie in the most brutal way you know, and I might have to drag two of my brothers' body home. That thought alone sent chill down my spine."

"Is that why ya acted like ya did in the sewer?" Raph asked, the grin dying on his face.

Leo simply nodded before resting his head on the crook of Raph's neck. Raph could only imagine the expression his brother would have on his face right now, and returned the hug to comfort him. Gently, he pushed them both onto the bed, pulling the blanket over Leo and let his head rest comfortably on the emerald bicep. Sure, the thought that Raph could suppress his anger to find a way out of their bind amazed Leo, but the fear of losing any of the leader's brother still frightened him, and he's not alone in that thought.

"I know what yer thinking, 'cause I was scared shitless just like ya when that jerk put the knife over Donnie. Ya were only better than me at holding it in." Raph gently stroke Leo's cheek.

"It's all in the past, what I'm feeling right now is only its residue. I called you here because I let myself be weak for a moment in the sewer. I thought I need to feel one of you close to me, just to know this is not a dream, or a nightmare."

Raph felt a remark rose to his throat, but he squashed it instantly. Fearless could only be Fearless in front of others. But now they're alone, that mask was not needed, and Raph didn't need to play the role of the rebel just to push Leo over his own limit anymore. Since when were they stripped bare to each other like that? Probably when he agreed to let themselves begin this kind of relationship, but he didn't care. Raph felt the urge to feel Leo close rising just as strong. He moved forward, allowing himself to sink slowly to his basic desire…

Leo felt the shift as dark green lips searched for his own. He felt those strong arms cradled him, increasing the heat from both his own and his mate. Without asking for his permission, those calloused hands continued in their exploring on his body, touching where it's never been touched before by other, offering him more than the comfort he needed. Leo's brain started to become hazy, it barely realized what they were doing, but the feeling and the sensation he's experiencing were impossible to ignore. He held dear to those feelings, and let his basic instinct took over, to please the one who was pleasing him with the same ecstasy.

On the other end, Raph felt a light shiver coursing through him, seeing how his leader reacted from his touch. He was surprised of himself as well, of how his own body controlled its urge, taking its time to caress, to hold close the body of his loved one beneath him. He wanted to go further, he wanted to do more than touch, but the command from his brain was shifted somehow when it arrived to his hands, and he was glad for that. He wasn't scared when facing that giant Foot, but now with his hands roaming free over Leo's body, he didn't know what he would do next, and it frightened the normally daring turtle a little.

They're both enjoying each other's company, but then the touch and caress didn't seem to be so exploring and gentle like it was from the beginning. Both were thirst for more, their movements grew more lustful with every passing second. And when it was impossible to contain, they both rushed forward, bringing each other over the edge to fall into pleasure oblivion. Wave after wave of ecstasy hit them, melting their bodies and let their souls merged into one single being. No more Leonardo, no more Raphael, only two souls united, seeking completion from the other. It was so overwhelming Leo thought he blacked out for a moment. Not until a while later that they came back from their afterglow, their eyes finding each other only to see a whole new brother, a whole new mate in each other.

"That was... awesome!" Raph breathed out lying next to Leo.

"I... I've never felt anything like it before..." Came the whispered reply.

"Sure ya didn't, unless ya already messed around with Karai."

Raph realized what he just said a second too late when Leo's body stiffened next to him.

"I-I didn't mean..." The emerald turtle tried to apologize.

"No... you don't. It's okay, I got over her." Leo eased his muscles against his brother.

"It ain't okay." Raph tried to push himself up, but the exhaustion forced him to lie back down "I know ya got a huge crush on her. Ya don't have ta lie ta me just ta comfort me."

"I don't." - Leo frowned "I already knew she doesn't belong to me, that's why I could put it in the past that easily."

"Yeah, right, like I can throw Joy behind like an old toy." Raph huffed.

Silence. The red-clad turtle was expecting a retort, not this sudden quiet. He felt Leo shifted away from him sitting up.

"You still can't get over her, can you?" He asked softly.

"I did. Why else did I agree to this?" Raph stared to feel a bit of frustration. What's with Leo all of a sudden?

"Did you listen to what you just said? If you tell me that I haven't gotten over Karai while I actually did, what do you think I would feel when you told me you can put Joy behind?"

"I'm saying that it ain't that easy, okay? Do ya know how hard it was ta get over something like that? Even an easy-going one like I am had a hard time dealing with it, imagine someone as uptight as ya..."

"Oh, so now I'm the uptight one? Why did you still agree to this then? Do you feel pity for me?"

"I don't know, may be I did!"

Raph couldn't hold his tongue in time. His breath hitched as those last words escaped his lips. He didn't mean any of that, not by the slightest. He never pitied his brother, but Leo's question drove his temper out of control again. His blue-clad brother just sat there, dumbfounded, with his words rotting in like acid.

"... Get out..." Leo breathed, turning away.

"Leo, I..."

"Out." Leo repeated, his voice reduced to less than a whisper.

Raph felt a dark claw ripping its way toward his heart. What had he done? Why must he said something he didn't mean to everytime just to hurt those close to him? He reached out a hand to touch Leo's shoulder, but it recoiled as if the forest green skin was made of lava. Whatever he said now would be blocked from Leo's ear. Slowly, the red-clad turtle made his way to the door. Upon setting his hand on the doorknob, he took one last look back to Leo to see his brother looking back at him, the pain visible on his face. There's also something else, something that kept Raph from exiting, but what could he say for it to show more clearly?

"I... didn't mean it that way. I'm really sorry." Raph turned away, didn't dare to continue the eye contact "Good night, Leo."

With that, he vanished out of the room just as quiet as he came. Alone in the room, Leo fell back to his bed, pulling his legs close to his body, forgetting the mess they just made on the sheet.

"Stupid... stupid..."