Jeez 2 months already? Time flies so quickly... (At least in the summer). Anyway sorry bout that but here's yet another chapter. I kinda rushed this, but I think it's okay. I guess you can be the judge of that.
Disclaimer: TMNT belongs to its respective owners.
Eyes from everyone in the room were trained on him. He could feel terror clinging onto him, though he desperately tried to hide it. The scathing golden glare was practically scorching the side of his head as the words fell out of his mouth. His hands, thankfully hidden, were trembling uncontrollably despite all his years of training of hiding his fear. He was surprised he hadn't stumbled on his words, but he could chalk that up to the silent strength that was resonating from nearby, though he could barely see them. He vaguely registered that he had stopped talking when another voice started up, surprising him out of his terror only for anger and pain to set in instead.
His blue eyes shot towards the well-dressed man across from him, and the much larger man beside him. His eyes met his father's. The lawyer kept talking, but once again speech was blotted out in his mind. He hadn't expected nor wanted to see Oroku Saki in such a short amount of time, but yet here he was. Waiting, hoping, that soon he would be free from the hidden fears threatening to surface.
Leaving the small infirmary the Hamatos had set up brought more relief to Leonardo than he thought it would. He didn't mind that the room he was now in was used as a storage space. Anything to get out of the sick smelling room and away from where he could barely walk several days ago, where the pain had been almost overbearing.
Currently he was alone, almost rare in the time he had been down in the sewers. Usually Mikey was nearby, always ready to strike up a conversation or help him, even though the older teen always tried to deny needing it. Hamato Yoshi was often in his company as well, tending to be more of a quiet companion. He didn't see Raph or Donnie as much as he did their younger brother, but typically there was always one person to keep him company. Being by himself though was something he was used to. It was comforting for him and despite liking interacting with the Hamatos, Leonardo was glad to be alone for a little awhile. It helped him think better. Something he really needed when the Hamatos brought up what they wanted to do, what they wanted him to do.
Getting rid of Oroku Saki wasn't exactly easy. With his power and money, not to mention his terrifying presence, the man was nearly unstoppable. The only way to, according to the Hamatos, was to show proof of his sadistic ways. Cue Leonardo.
The dark-haired teen had been completely shocked at what the Hamatos wanted him to do. Yeah it made sense, but it also seemed risky. He knew his father better than the Hamatos did, and regardless of how well they thought it would work, Leonardo had his doubts. Sitting the powerful man down in a courtroom and accusing him of abuse? Fat chance of that working out planned. Oroku Saki, not only a world-known businessman but also an incredibly powerful ninja, was nothing if not deceptive.
But Hamato Yoshi was adamant that proof of Saki's evil deeds would stop the man. And that's where Leonardo came in. He was the proof, the evidence to stop his own father. It wasn't exactly something he wanted to be thought of, but if it got rid of his father than he would do it. Though despite the pain he had gone through because of the man, there was a small part of the teen that still cared for him. The man was still his blood, and Leonardo had worked his entire life for his father to be proud of him, to regard him as his son. He tried to blot out those thoughts.
A sudden shout and stomping brought Leo out of his thoughts. He couldn't help the small, fond smile as he rolled his eyes at the commotion.
"Mikey! Get back here so I can pummel you!" That was no doubt Raph again. And the high-pitched scream that followed being Mikey. If Leo had learned anything about the brothers while staying with them, then it was that Mikey absolutely loved to tease his brothers, primarily Raph, who would immediately retaliate. It had definitely startled the older teen the first time he had heard all the commotion, but thankfully Donnie had been in the room and quickly explained all the noise was a common occurrence before Leo could hurt himself by going to see what has happening.
Being with the brothers was definitely different than what Leo was used to. Almost constant noise versus the silence he was used to, warmth from their company instead of the chill from being alone. It was something he had gotten mostly accustomed to in his short stay with them, and yet he couldn't help but know he was going to dearly miss it when he left. Because though he enjoyed being with them, he knew he wouldn't be able to stay with them. Leo wasn't exactly sure what he was going to do or where he was going to go if Oroku Saki was truly stopped, but he couldn't ask any more of them. They'd given him much more than he thought he probably deserved, and he wasn't planning on being more of an inconvenience than he already was.
"Boys! Settle down." The voice of Hamato Yoshi reprimanded from beyond the door. Raph and Mikey of course tried to deny having any involvement or blame from what Leo could hear, though with all the shouting either of them did, he still couldn't fathom why they'd try to fight against doing anything wrong when the proof was right there. Which brought the dark-haired teen back to his previous thoughts. His injuries still hurt, though he could move around now without putting too much strain on them. Unfortunately his leg injury forced him to limp, the shame of it burning in his veins when someone gave him a pitied glance. They never did it when they thought he couldn't see it, but Leo could just feel it pulsating off them when he moved around. Yet another reason he wanted to be alone, where no one could see his discomfort.
A sudden knock on the door startled him. He cursed himself for not being on guard and paying attention. "Yeah?" Leo said lamely.
The door slightly shifted in, and Donnie leaned in. "Master Splinter got all the preparations done for the trial. We're supposed to be there next Tuesday." He gave Leo a small smile while watching for a response.
After a moment Leo nodded to him, returning the smile. "Thank you for telling me. I...I'd like to meditate a bit." Leo cursed himself again for his stumble, but Donnie didn't seem to notice it. The younger teen nodded and carefully closed the door, leaving Leo back to his thoughts. A sigh escaped him, and he buried his head in his hands. He could feel the fear of facing his father begin to creep back into his mind before he shoved it aside. No, he wouldn't let the fear control him. He would stop Oroku Saki, or at least try to. Completely stopping him was impossible, but getting his father out of his life could possibly done.
"We're supposed to be there..."
We. Leo wouldn't be alone, not against his father. The thought temporarily banished his fears as he pictured the Hamato family. They never had to do anything for him, let alone free him from his father's dangerous grip. Yet they were more than willing to. Leo smiled at that. Maybe it was really possible to stop Oroku Saki.
He was overjoyed to be able to sit down again. His leg was starting to go numb the longer he stood, thought he wondered if that was partially due to the murderous look he was receiving from his father. Mikey was up talking now, waving his hands around as if he was unable to simply stand. Not that Leonardo particularly minded then, since most eyes in the room were trained on the jubilant teen instead of himself. But he could always feel the glances when the eyes shifted over to him. No doubt trying to see his scars again. That had been the worst part.
Leo was, after all, the evidence. Showing the injuries to a group of strangers had left his stomach churning in distaste and shame. The gasps they let out were enough to nearly make him flinch back, but he wouldn't show weakness. Not in front of his father. He didn't fail to notice the slightly widened gaze of his father's attorney, and it seemed as if the middle-aged woman serving as judge noticed this as well. Leo only hoped it would be enough.
Fixing the borrowed black shirt, he stared at his reflection. The scar of course always seemed to instantly catch his attention when he looked into a mirror. Leonardo quickly looked into his reflection's eyes. The dark blue eyes staring back at him reminded him of a storm, clouds billowing together in a hurry to start a downpour. He pondered that it seemed too fitting for his current situation. This was the calm before the storm after all. In only a few hours he would be face to face with his father once again. A shiver ran down his spine as he continued to look in the mirror. Once he had found a picture of his father when he was younger, something that still somewhat surprised him to this day. Oroku Saki as a younger man, looked too much like the teenager he saw staring back at him in the mirror. It sickened him.
A knock and quiet whisper of his name brought him out of his trance. Leo turned towards the bathroom door and opened it to reveal Mikey. The younger teen's eyes were filled with worry. "You okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine." Leo quickly responded. He didn't want to worry the blonde any more than he already had.
Mikey nodded, though he didn't look convinced. "You were in the bathroom for quite awhile."
Leo winced at that. "Just...thinking I guess." An awkward silence filled the space between them. Leo felt very out of place in that moment, still not quite used to the worry over his well-being. He opened his mouth to say something but was quickly stopped when arms encircled him. He tensed up and glanced down at the younger teen.
"We'll be with you y'know?" Mikey whispered. A quiet sniff followed before his arms tightened their hold. He could feel Leo's stiff form relax slightly, though the older teen didn't return the hug. "It's going to be a little scary, but we'll be right there."
Leo could feel tears prick his eyes. We. He wasn't going to be alone against his father. Against anything. Not when he had his friend beside him. He noticed Donnie and Raph appear from around the corner, both with surprised looks at the scene. But there was no jesting, no scorn. The two shared a look before joining in, their arms wrapping around Leo as well. Something welled up inside of him, and he felt himself truly relax into their arms. Where he was safe, where he wasn't alone. He shifted his own arms and wrapped them around the three brothers. He didn't know how long the four stayed there. But when the arms unwrapped themselves from him, he couldn't help but miss the warmth they shared.
Donnie's hand gave his shoulder a small squeeze. "We'll be right there Leo."
Raph rolled his eyes, but gave him a friendly smirk. "Just don't expect another giant hug-fest y'hear?"
The four of them laughed. Leo hadn't ever felt so happy and relieved in that moment.
A minute later he was back to looking at himself in the mirror. But he felt completely different.
He was Oroku Leonardo. A strong and skilled warrior. Able to withstand almost anything life threw at him. But he also wasn't alone. He had a new family prepared to help him every step of the way. A family that cared.
He was free. His father's blazing eyes glared at him, and yet it didn't faze him. The judge gave him a small, but caring smile and he returned it. The rest of the people in the room went over to him, to shake his hand or give him a hug. It was strange but not unwelcoming. And when he looked over to the Hamato family, he couldn't help but smile, a genuine one he hadn't given in a long time.
They had actually done it. Oroku Saki was forced to give up Leonardo for abuse, but it felt like the best thing in the world. The man wasn't jailed however, having too much power and influence for that, but it was enough.
When the dark-haired teen walked over to the family he opened his mouth to thank them, but was quickly rushed and wrapped up by them. Not that he minded of course, as he encircled his own arms around them. Mikey's baby blue eyes sparkled. "This is so great!" He snuggled up closer to Leo. "I've always wanted another brother."
Raph gently hit the younger teen upside the head while Donnie rolled his eyes in exasperation. Splinter chuckled at their antics before meeting the surprised eyes of Leo. "I hope you're ready to be a Hamato."
Leo couldn't help the tears that fell from his eyes as he laughed. The joy that spread through him could not be matched as he stood with his new family. He didn't know what would be in store for the future, but whatever it was, no doubt he wouldn't be alone.
I hope you liked it. If you did please remember to review! Also I'm sorry if this seems like a weak sorta climax or whatever, but honestly I just wanted to get this story finished. I'm going to get one more chapter as sort of an epilogue thing so we'll see when that comes out. But anyway, until next time!