Chapter 11: Fear
Three of the four turtles stood in an abandoned subway tunnel. Donnie wanted to do some tests with Leo. Leo didn't know what tests were going to be or why his older brother Raph was here with them.
"Everything is set." Donnie said finishing setting up cameras and was typing whatever on his laptop. " 'Nardo if you kindly would change?"
Leo nodded, walking a bit further away from the two. The feeling of being watched, especially while he was changing, was uncomfortable at best. At least their fear scent stayed the same.
He made some stretch movements before facing his brothers, waiting for the next order. "The first test is seeing how fast you can fly. I'd rather do it outside, but we happened to live in a city that never sleeps, so the tunnels have to do."
Leo nodded, getting ready to take off as fast he can. "Ready? Set, go!"
With a powerful flap of his wings, Leo was airborne at ease. With few more powerful flaps followed, he allowed himself to gain speed fast, sending him off into the tunnel, letting his brothers enjoy the dust cloud he created on the way.
Adrenaline rushed through his veins while he kept increasing speed. The enjoyment of it was short as the tunnel abruptly stopped into a dead-end, he tried slowing down by turning, but he was too close, sending his shell first crashing into the brick wall.
"Leo!" an echoed voice called him. Leo rolled back on his paws, shaking his head. He decided to fly back a lesser fast. He didn't want to repeat that again.
"Are you alright?" the snapper asked worried. "We heard some noise."
"What can I say? I got addicted to brake fluid. But I can stop whenever I want."
Donnie facepalmed while Raph shakes his head before asking, "You've crashed into a wall did you?"
Leo flashed his brother a sheepish toothy grin.
"Next test is strength. See if you can beat Raph in a fight." Donnie spoke, ignoring the dragon stupidity.
"Hey, aren't you going to tell me how fast I was?"
"You crashed into a wall making us hear it, I assume you can guess how fast you were." Donnie didn't bother looking up from his laptop as he continued typing away on it.
"His laptop fell when you took off. "
Donnie shot a glare at Raph. "You're up, Raph."
Raph smirked at the dragon, cracking his knuckles while he stepped forward. "The rules are no flying and spitting fire." Donnie said while looking at his laptop.
Leo watched Raph running towards him with a battle cry once Donnie gave the go. Raph jumped up in the air and landed on Leo's back. Leo knew exactly what Raph was doing to do. Muzzling him with his hands and try to take control of him.
But not this time.
Leo successfully threw Raph off, by turning around fast when Raph moved his hands to his snout, making him fly off his back onto the ground.
Raph grinned at him while getting back up. The two looked into each other's eyes before charging to each other, locking paws and hands into each other as they got into a pushing contest.
'Man he's strong!' Raph thought, gritted his teeth as he tried to push the dragon out of balance. Raph pushed harder once he felt Leo weakening for a moment, managing to push Leo off balance and throwing him onto the ground.
Raph jumped on Leo pinning him down before he even got the chance of getting back up. Something must have snapped in Leo's mind as Leo started to move wildly, growling like an angry beast trying to get out of his cage.
This alarmed Donnie when noticed the change of behavior. He wanted to warn the eldest when Leo managed to get out of Raph's grip, immediately getting back on his paws.
Raph walked backward from the dragon as it dangerously growled at him, showing his fangs and lowering his head more to the ground, showing more signs of Leo not being fully in control anymore.
"Raph, be careful," Donnie warned, grabbing his tech bo and threw Raph's tonfa's towards him. "He has no control anymore.
"Yeah, I noticed." Raph eyed Leo, waiting for the dragon's next move.
With any warning, Leo jumped on Raph, surprising him a bit with the full-body attack, making him stumbled and fall on the ground with the dragon on top of him.
Raph shoved both of his tonfa's in front of him, stopping the bite attack from his little brother.
"Ugh, you're breath stinks, Leo." Raph wrinkled his noise when Leo's breath hit his nostrils. He gritted his teeth. The dragon responded with growling, biting harder into the tonfa's.
The dragon immediately released the tonfa's when the pain struck him from the side. Looking at the one causing it, Leo turned his full attention to Donnie, growling and showing his fangs in anger for getting stung with electricity.
Donnie grabbed his tech bo tighter while walking backward, knowing well he had his brother's full attention now.
Seeing Leo getting ready to attack the purple turtle, Raph dropped his tonfa's on the ground, grabbed the dragon's tail, and pulled him back from Donnie. "Sorry, buddy," Raph said before raising his fist, slamming it into his brother's face and knocking him out cold.
Both Donnie and Raph sighed. "That went well," Raph said, looking at the unconscious dragon on the ground.
"That was strange." Donnie walked back to the laptop, typing the new info down. "Pops said he wasn't acting like this when he fought him the first time. He was more in control, worried he might hurt him. The foot must have done something to get triggered like this. I have a theory, but I need to do some more tests."
"Whatever it is, we need to find out what it is before some accidents happen." Raph slides his arms under the dragon, picking him up with ease. "Let's go back home."
As they walked back to the lair, Raph felt some movement in his arms, telling him his little brother is waking up.
"Heya, buddy," Raph said in a sweet tone. "Sorry for knocking you out. But it was the only way to stop you from going ."
Raph looked down worried when the dragon in his arms stayed silent. Leo laid his head on Raph's upper arm and stared in front of him as he recalled what happened in the tunnels
"Leo?"
"I'm sorry." Leo mumbled changing back into his normal form, not caring anymore if his brothers watched him or not.
"It's alright, Leo." Reassured Raph, squeezing gently Leo's arm.
"It's not, Raph. I could have…."
"But you didn't. We stopped you before you even could…hurt us."
Leo sighed. The thought of what could have happened if they didn't stop him terrorized his mind. Raph stopped walking and pushed the slider up into a sitting position on his arm, forcing him to look at him.
"Stop overthinking. You didn't hurt us."Raph looked into Leo's eyes, hoping he stopped Leo from feeding the dark thoughts in his mind. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out."
"The foot must have done something to you. There has to be a reason why you lose control so easily during battles. Pops said you weren't like this when you fought him. Do you recall what happened that day?" Donnie said, typing away on his wrist computer.
"No." Leo lied. He did know what happened that day, but not all of it. Just a bit of piece here and there.
"Mmmh." Donnie looked at his brother doubtfully. "I want to take a sample of your blood when we're back home."
Leo nodded, knowing it was the best way to figure out what happened to him.
Mikey sat alone at the kitchen table, making some drawings when he noticed his brother in blue walk in.
'He walked in silence into the kitchen with grease. Like a predator, finally finding his next prey, looking for the best way to attack. Quite, quick and deadly.'
Mikey jerked himself from his thoughts, forcing his eyes back to the paper. 'Woah! Stop right there creative brain! This is my brother you're making fantasies about!'
'But Donnie did mention he walked like that. As a predator. What if he loses control again? This time for good? He easily can finish you without a blink.'
Mikey tightened his grip on the pencil. 'Stop it, Michelangelo! He's your brother! He never hurt anyone before anyone knew he was a dragon! Why would he do it now?'
'Because he changed. Ever since we knew what he really is he's been acting strange.'
Mikey bit his lip, struggling to fight the overreacting imaginations.
Leo would never hurt anyone!
"You okay, Mike?"
Mikey looked up from the drawing, seeing the turtle dragon looking at him from a distance. "Ye-ye-yeah!" Mikey stuttered grabbing his stuff together in a hurry and jumped up. "I have to go. Need to check on Draxum. Bye!"
Mikey ran out of the kitchen, failing to see the hurtful eyes of his brother.
Leo dropped his shoulders and sighed, watching the orange turtle left him alone in a hurry. 'They did tell him.' Leo thought disappointed. He hoped Raph and Donnie didn't mention anything to Mikey. But then again, they have been updating each other for a week now.
"Blue." Leo looked up seeing his father at the kitchen door. "Come with me. We need to talk."
Leo followed the rat to the dojo. Splinter signaled to him to sit down. Leo obeyed and sat down in a Burmese position on the dojo mat.
"Blue, I've noticed you've been struggling." Splinter started, sitting down as well.
"Me? Struggling? I'm not struggling at all! Everything is fine." Leo smiled, trying to wave his real emotions away. He wasn't in the mood for another talk. Raph tried that in private when they got home.
"Then tell me, why did you hide in your room after you came back from the tunnels?"
"I was tired," Leo lied weakly. He knew his father saw immediately through it by the look on his face. But was happy when Splinter continued to speak.
"I would like to try something with you." Splinter held up his hand, stopping Blue from protesting. "Don't worry, you do not have to change."
Splinter looked at him so before speaking again. "I want to teach you mediation."
"Mediation?!" Leo repeated before groaning. "Dad, it won't work on me. You can't silence my mind with crappy music and forced daydreaming."
"I know. I've told my sensei the exact same thing." Splinter said before placing his hand on Leo's shoulder. "But you need to try it, Blue."
"It may help. To gain more control over this." Leo sighed and slumped his shoulders. His dad was right. He should try it. For his family's sake. "Alright, what do I have to do?"
"Close your eyes, focus on your breathing." Splinter instructed, watching his son follow his instructions. "Take a deep inhale and slowly exhale. Don't let your mind wander."
"You know to who you're talking right?" Leo cracked one eye open, noticing barely a tail coming his way smacking him on his head. "Ow!"
"Focus!"
Leo rubbed the sore spot before closing his eyes again and focused on his breathing. Inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly.
"If you feel your mind start to wander, refocus again on your breathing."
Doing what he was told, Leo focused on his breathing, forcing his mind not to wander.
After a few minutes of trying, Leo groaned loudly, opening his eyes again. "It doesn't work, dad." He told the old rat, slouching his posture. "I can't stop myself from wandering."
"Mmhhh. " Splinter said, stroking his goatee softly with his hand. Seeing Blue sulking over his failer, Splinter placed his hand on the young turtle's shoulder, looking with caring eyes before speaking again. "It's alright, Leonardo. You've tried. No one became a master in mediation in a day. But right now, I think a long walk or in your case, flying, would help to clear your mind for now."
Splinter removed his hand from the blue turtle's shoulder and stood back up. "We shall continue this training tomorrow."
"Hey, guys!" April greeted the brothers while walking into the turtle lair.
"Hey, April!" Raph and Mikey greeted, looking up from their lifting weights and cooking book. Donnie gave her a wave while he continued typing on his laptop.
April looked around, noticing Leo isn't with them. "Where's Leo?"
All three looked at each other not knowing where the missing brother was. "Have you seen him?" Raph asked his brothers.
"No, not since tunnels," Donnie answered.
"And I only saw him in the kitchen, but that was a few hours ago."
"According to the bracelet I gave him, he isn't in the lair," Donnie said, looking on his computer where the blue turtle could be. "I can track him do-"
"No." All of them looked up seeing Splinter enter the skateboarding area. "I have sent Blue away."
"But why?" Raph asked worriedly.
"So we can have a private talk without Blue overhearing it with his sensitive ears. Besides he needed a walk to clear his mind. And probably ended up at his friend's place." Reassured Splinter the eldest. "He'll be safe."
"Sensitive hearing?" Mikey asked surprised. "What do you mean Leo has sensitive hearing? Leo can hear us talking over the loud music?!"
"Michael, I told you this already. Nardo's auditory perception is better than any of us. He can hear us talking over the music If he wants to!"
"Then why didn't he respond when I was talking about the new tv chef?!"
Both brothers looked at each other before turning their eyes back at the youngest. "Selective deaf." They both answered deadpanned.
Splinter cleared his throat. "Now that we're all here and Blue is away, we need to talk about our fear of Blue."
"Our fear?" Donnie repeated, raising his eyebrow.
"Yes purple, our fear." Splinter looked around at each turtle and human. "I have told Blue to give us time, but the more we all learn about him, the more we become afraid of him."
All of them looked down at the ground. Splinter was right. The more they learned about Leo's abilities as a dragon, the more they are afraid of their brother and friend.
"We all need to spend more time with him and not run away as soon we see him enter the room or if he comes too close to us." Splinter said, looking at Raph, Donnie and Mikey.
"Running away?" Raph said in confusion.
"I don't run away. I'm just busy doing research." Donnie defended his actions.
Mikey stayed still. He admits to himself he has been running away from Leo as soon he gets closer to him. He just can't help it. His imagination just starts to go wild when Leo in the room with him. And if the blue turtle comes closer, he needs to get away from him.
"Locking yourself in your room all day is running away, Dee." April pointed out. "When was the last time you did something with him? Besides using him as a test subject? When was we all hanged out with him? It's already been a week since you guys found out."
"Hey you've been running away too, you know!" Donnie looked at the human pointing at her. "You've stayed two days away from the lair!"
"At least I admit I am afraid of him and trying to do something about it! Unlike you!" April snapped back.
"Why did you stay away from the lair anyway, April?" Mikey wondered.
"She stayed away because Leo attacked her! If it wasn't for pops, Leo would have injured her!"
"Donnie!"
"The same thing happened today, April! Me and Raph had to stop him from attacking us! This is why I air quote hide in my room! I want to prevent situations like this!"
"Enough!" Splinter's rang through the lair, silencing the bickering between the two. Moving his eyes to the purple turtle he spoke; "What has happen today?"
"Me and Leo were sparring. Something snapped when I managed to pin him down on the ground. He turned feral instantly." Raph explained what happened this morning. "I knocked him out when I had the chance."
Splinter nodded. So this is the reason why Blue was sulking in the dojo earlier.
"I've tested his blood for a few days now." Purple started, calling an image on his wrist computer. "There are traces of sort of drug in his system. I have a theory this drug is affecting Leo's controlling his other side."
"And you were going to tell us when?" Raph asked absorbing the new information he reserved.
"The levels of it in his blood are much lower now than last week, but still causing problems for him." Donnie said, ignoring the red turtle as he typed away again, looking if he finds anything about the drug. "For some reason, I can't find any information about it or anything related to it. It might get harder to make an antidote if Leo gets exposed to it again."
"You won't find anything about it because it was banned." Splinter said. All eyes moved to him. "The hidden city police removed any information of it to prevent anyone using it again."
Splinter sighed, before taking a deep breath. "The substance was used to make dragons ready for their battles in the fighting pits."
"Fighting pits?!" Mikey spoke horrified. "Draxum told me about those! But he didn't mention any dragon feral making drugs!"
"That's because the drugs were forbidden before the dragon fighting pits became illegal." Splinter explained. "As Purple stated, Blue must have gotten a high dosage of it. It could be the main reason why he is still becoming feral after getting all worked up in your play fight." Splinted looked at the two eldest turtles.
"So what do we do now?" Raph asked, rubbing his arm uncomfortable, knowing it was his fault Leo turned into a feral unwillingly.
"We have been afraid of Blue long enough. It is time we conquer our fears and show Blue he's not alone in this." Splinter looked around in the room, making sure his words were heard. "I suggest you keep looking for an antidote formula, Purple. If Blue ever may get exposed to it again, then at least we can treat him before anything bad happens."
Mikey looked determined around the room before stretching out his hand holding it in the middle of the group. "For Leo."
Raph smiled and nodded, placing his big hand on top of his brother's hand. "For our brother."
"For my friend." April said, placing hers as well.
Donnie looked at the group before doing the same. "For Nardo, who definitely needs our help."
Splinter smiled and slowly his hand on top of the pile. "For my family."