A/N: I do not own TMNT, I simply borrow for entertainment purposes.
To my readers, you keep me writing, and my reviewers who always bring inspiration. Thank you so much.
As always, please enjoy
"I don't wanna hear it Leo," Raph said with a note of finality as he stuffed his sai back into his belt and turned on his heal, headed for home, stepping over Foot ninja as he went.
"You never want to hear it Raphael," Leo said through clenched teeth, using his full name like he did every time he was frustrated with a brother.
"Then you'd think you'd give it a rest for once," Raph said with a dismissive wave of his hand before both brothers stooped to remove the manhole covering. Leo ushered Raph in first before following.
"I could say the same to you," he countered once he'd caught up. "When are you going to stop being so reckless?"
"That would be the day you finally realize that what I do is none of your business!" Raph growled.
"It is my business when you put yourself in danger like that!" Leo hissed in frustration. "You were outnumbered and-,"
"Why's that matter?" Raph interrupted. "We're always outnumbered."
"And you dove in head first, blazes burning with fists flying like a bat out of hell," Leo continued like Raph hadn't spoken at all. As usual. For a guy who enjoyed meditating so much, one would think he'd be a better listener. "What if I hadn't been there?"
"Leo, you're always there," Raph said, scrubbing a frustrated hand across his face. He did not like what he was about to say, but if there was one thing he knew it was that showing a softer side everyone once in a while tended to get people to shut up real quick. "If there's one thing I can count on, it's that you've got my back, even when I don't want you looking over my shoulder all the time," he added.
Leo looked like he'd received a smack upside the head. "Raph…I…"
Like a charm. Raphael smirked.
"You know that saying," Raph went on, "the one where they say if you can't beat them join them? Load of crap. I say if you can't beat them, then beat them anyway. They'd be expecting you to join, so this way you got the element of surprise in your favor."
Leo quirked a brow at him.
"What?"
"I'm just…in awe is all."
"What for?" Raph asked with a hint of suspicion.
"Your tactic has always been hit first and ask questions later," Leo pointed out. "It's just amazing that you actually take something like the element of surprise into consideration." He joked. "Donny'll be thrilled to hear about this, and the fact that you do actually count on and think about us."
"Hittin' first just keeps things simple and…wait…what?" Raph asked, but Leo had already made a beeline for Don's lab. "Ha, ha, very funny Leo!" Raph called. He waited half a heartbeat to see if Leo was kidding. He wasn't.
His brothers looked for any and all reasons to give him a hard time about anything. He'd never hear the end of it, especially if it got back to Mikey. "Leo, wait!" He made a mad dash after him. "Leo!"