I own nothing, but the Mom character.

Raph's POV

It actually started out as a really good night, you know? I won in the dojo against Donnie and Leo. Again. I had all the pizza I wanted. The only way Mikey ever gets a win on me is by eating more pizza than I can. But I got my fair share. Yeah, he pulled the "worm" prank with the cake, and mom made sure he only had to apologize, not recognize my greatness. But, it was still pretty good cake.

Then sensei gave us the green light to head to the surface, for the first time ever! It was pretty spectacular. Everything is so … "high" up there. Mostly in the sewers you're thinking about how deep down you are and are going, along with where the lair is to where "you" are. Up there, you can keep going up, and up, as long as there's something to climb.

Of course, it felt kind of empty, in a creepy way, on that rooftop near the sea Mom led us to, and everyone else seemed to like, except maybe her. But it was still a really great time. We even got to eat more pizza up there.

Then, just when it was starting to get dull, April and her dad showed up. And the Kraang showed up! And we got to beat up Kraang! But then, Mom sent us away.

I shouda stayed. I should have gone back, not Leo. I'm the best fighter. Not him. Mom needed me, not him. He was our leader.

I keep remembering those "games" Mom had us do in the sewers. After a few of them, she made 'Leo' leader under her, not me. I was mad! I started going back to tell them what I thought of it, after heading home with Mikey and Donnie while she stayed behind to "talk" with Leo! I was sure it was for congratulations and maybe "further instructions," for our new "leader."

I guess I was being quieter than even I thought, ninja silent, because I overheard what they said to each other.

"Leo, do you know why I made you leader under your father and me instead of any of your brothers?"

"Uh, cause my team won while I was leading it?"

"Because Donnie gets too 'inside' his own mind thinking of ideas without seeing what's going on around him. Mikey is easily distracted by things around him. And he can't communicate clearly with others to properly lead them. Many times, we don't know what he's talking about. He seems to live in his imagination. And Raphael …"

"Gets mad all the time?"

I was getting mad right then let me tell ya.

"Raphael feels too much thrill, when in a fight. He is always seeking it out. He doesn't know when to retreat."

Suddenly, my anger evaporated like water on Mikey's hot frying pan. Wait. In order to be a leader, you had to be willing to retreat. To not win?

Leo seemed to be on the same side as me for once. "Wait, you 'want' me to give up sometimes?"

"I want you to keep gaining your objective in balance with keeping the others safe. You are intelligent, but not a genius like Donnie. You are athletic and notice changes in your environment, but are not as easily sidetracked and energetic as Mikey. You are the second-best fighter among your brothers in the dojo, who compensates for his lack of physical strength with good strategy, a necessary skill for a leader in battle."

Leo's voice sounded low. He stretched out all his words like he does when he's confused, or "really" disappointed. "Soooooooo … I'm not really great at anything, except maybe strategy, and because of that … I'm … a great leader?"

I could hear the smile in Mom's voice she gives us when trying to let us down easy. I actually think Dad is better at that. "You have the 'potential' to be a great leader, Leonardo. Donnie is already a genius. Mikey is best at balancing and bodily coordination. Raphael is best in sparring among the four of you in the dojo. And 'I'm' Leader, for now. But 'you' have the 'potential' to become a great leader …"

There was a pause before Leo answered. "Thanks mom. I think."

"That's good enough for now. We need to head back before your brothers come to spy on us."

I sank back into the deep shadows of a side-exit of the tunnel that led home. Pretty soon after, Mom and Leo walked past me. I knew as soon as they wouldn't hear me, I'd have to run all the long way around to get home before them, and then act like I hadn't been running when I got there.

As they passed me, Leo just stared ahead of him looking stunned like he'd been punished instead of promoted. He always looks kinda stunned when he's punished for something, like he can't believe it. I'm always being punished. So, it's no surprise to me.

As Mom strode past my hiding place, though, she turned to face my direction. Then she winked. I froze.

She knew. She knew I'd been listening … But … Mom doesn't lie. Not like Dad, who does sometimes. She meant what she said to Leo even if it was also meant for me …

"I'm" the best fighter. She said so! I should have been back there with Mom. I just … I saw Donnie grab the April-girl and take off with her. I knew the Kraang wanted her, but they might also come after her dad. He'd wanted to stay with her anyway. I wanted an excuse to bash Kraang. It was better than bashing my brothers! So, I grabbed him.

I knew the Kraang would bring the fight to us. They'd been bringing it to these two humans who couldn't fight all night! These people couldn't get away from them! We'd be dragging them. So, the Kraang would catch up eventually. And I didn't want to face an angry mom for disobeying her, too much, but … if the Kraang caught me …

Then Leo split us up, and "Mikey" took out the two Kraang that managed to follow the two of us. Mom musta been doing a great job at keeping them off of us. She woulda done better with me beside her though. I felt my heart hit the floor between my toes, when that Kraang answered Mom's phone instead of Mom!

And Leo went back … I can't believe it. He disobeyed mom. He's usually such a goody-three-toes. And now … They're both gone … I can't believe it.

At first I went ahead of everyone else, to get away from Donnie. Then Dad took him ahead of all of us with him, so I started to hang back. Then I got to thinking if I hung back, I might see a Kraang back there … following us. I could beat the crud out of it and demand it tell me where my mom and brother are!

The only reason I followed dad's instructions that whole time is cause I knew he wouldn't take 'No' for an answer. If there's a better fighter on earth than Mom it's Dad. I can't beat either of em, yet. Someday … But he woulda grabbed me and nerve-pinched me if I tried to get away, and then I wouldn't be able to yell at Donnie after he leaves. This is all the genius' fault!

After we tell Dad all we know about the Kraang and our battles with them, he scolds us, but he doesn't go on for very long. He doesn't have time to full on lecture us with Mom and Leo out there to save. Instead, he tells us to behave as he opens the door, he loves us as he turns away, and then he leaves. I wait till I'm sure I'm sure he's too far away to hear me. Even the heavy metal door between us now might not keep him from hearing me. Dad's ears are as legendary as Mom's hard hands. But when I'm sure he's gone, I give Don what I've been holding on to for him. "This is all your fault, Donnie!"

He looks up. There are tears in his eyes. I freeze.

He mutters. "Don't you think I know that Raph?"

I'm still frozen. He's not going to fight? All this waiting and he's not even going to fight back?

I push harder leveling a finger at him while yelling, "If you hadn't chased after her," I point my thumb back at the human girl, "None of this would have happened!"

"Dr." O'Neil stands up from where he's been sitting on a long crate with Miss Kraang Magnet. He holds up his hands. "Wait …"

He's gotta be kidding. I'm just getting started. I stomp my foot. "Mom and Leo could be in Kraang hands getting experimented on, and it's all your fault, 'Genius'!"

Donnie stands up after sitting on a smaller crate. "I know alright!"

"Dudes ... You are both 'so' wrong …"

I turn wide eyes on Mikey. He's frowning at us his eyes still wet too. He continues. "Mom, at least, if the Kraang could get her at all, woulda been captured even if we didn't fight too. And no one can tell Leo what to do if he decides to do something else."

I just stare at him. I want to shake him. He can't be right. It has to be Donnie's fault, not all Mom's and Leo's, because they're not here to yell at!

Then "Dr." O'Neil interrupts. "Why do you say that, Michelangelo?"

I turn a hard stare on the man. How can he talk like that, calm, cool, like nothin's happening? But Mikey answers him. I turn back to my littles brother as I see him shrug.

"I don't know. It's always been that way. Mom went first trying to protect you guys and even wanted us to bring you down here. So, she musta 'really' wanted to save ya. She likes kids. She always talks about the ones she meets at Chur …"

Donnie breaks in making a slashing motion across his throat. "Mikey!"

Mikey looks over at him. "What?"

Then the girl's dad breaks in again. "And your brother, Michelangelo?"

Now even the April chick is looking at her dad weird. Mikey continues like he's talking to one of us. He's not even looking at him, but at the ceiling!

"Leo almost 'never' disobeys Mom and Dad, but when he does, he goes full out!" Mikey throws his arms out like he's about to give someone a big hug. Then he grins and looks at Donnie and me. "Remember the time he cut himself on Dad's katana?"

Donnie stares at him with that blank look he gives us, when he can't believe how stupid we are. "Mikey that was like ten years ago."

Mikey grins bigger and points at Don. "But you still remember it, D! See!"

Donnie opens his mouth, then stops. I can see the wheels turning in his brain. I begin to shake. The heat burning me up builds up my head again. Why shouldn't I let it out? This is serious. "So what?!" Now I'm the one throwing my arms out. "Donnie 'still' chased after the girl! And everything was fine until then!"

And Donnie, finally, defends himself. Good. "You were just as anxious to fight them as me, Raph!" I smile. Now it's a real fight!

I open my mouth to say something back, but a throat is cleared beside us. We both turn a little to see the human guy we, well, "I" dragged down here. Donnie and I turn to him and he talks to us. "You both seem very worried for your mother and brother. Maybe talking about them will make you both feel better than arguing with each other will."

Is he kidding? But then Mikey jumps up with a big grin on his face and here we go. Ugh! I lean back against the wall and roll my eyes.

Donnie is biting his bottom lip. He looks … helpless. I can't muster up the energy to be mad at him again, yet. But if Mikey starts spilling secrets, "real" secrets, I'm going to slam his mouth shut.

What do you think?

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes