Chapter Five

Leo's P.O.V

I usually don't write flashbacks, but since I'm using this story to experiment. Why not. Italics are flashbacks.

I was in the middle of tightening some loose screws on the mechanism that opens the boarding deck. Mechanics is usually my brother's fortei, but I have long since resigned to the fact that life with the ravagers means stepping outside my comfort zone. So after a long and grueling training spree with Retch. Alibit, Retch isn't the kindest on the ship so it was more like having the snot kicked out of me while the older bald and cynical ravager pointed out every one of my imperfections. Retch calls me weak when I complain, 'life isn't a playground' his words ring in my ears as I work on greasing the hinges. 'The weak die and the strong survive. You want to be able to protect ya self and ya mates, you need to toughen up, become stronger. Because turtle, your nothin but a pansy now. I ain't going easy on ya pancake so, toughen up or throw up. I don't care. If ya die it's not gonna be because i went soft on ya.'

"Hey" a hand on my shoulder pulled me out of my thoughts. I nearly jumped out of my skin as I turned and saw an uncharastically kind face. The man before me is in his mid twenties, his dishwater brown hair is short and carefree. And although his eyes seem to hold the depth of a man who has seen many battles they also twilkle with mischievousness, showing his youth and humor. I turn to the strange ravager before me. He looks around a few times before crouching down next to me, his voice low.

"What's your name kid?"

I frown calculatingly, but he seems trustworthy so I answer. "Leonardo, but you can call me Leo"

His bright eyes seem to dull for a second, but he smiles non the less offering his hand out. "Names Peter". I shake his hand, looking around again he continues. "Leo, how long have you been here?"

I frown knowing the answer without even having to think. "Nine months, two weeks and five days"

He gives me a knowing frown as through he has walked a mile in my shoes. "Where are you from kid?"

"New York" I answer turning back to my chores.

He gasps his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water as he obviously struggles with words. "T..the big apple?"

I smile.

"New York?!" He exclaimed loudly before catching himself and lowering his voice, not wanting to draw attention. "New york?" he repeats, still giving me a baffled look.

I nod my head understanding his reaction. "I'm a mutant" I answered simply. He just shrugs and gives me a smile. Before smirking "just glad someone else on this ship will understand my outstanding pop references. Man have I missed earth"

Now it's my turn to smile "you're from earth?"

"Missouri born and raised" he smiles, his southern accent turned on thick. He looks around a few times again and I wonder why he's afraid of someone seeing us talking. "Listen kid. I was about your age when I was taken from earth. If you act out and try to escape like I hear ya did yesterday your just going to raise a whole lot of suspicion and make things harder for yourself"

I frown at him. Of all the people on this ship he's the one who I would have expected to understand me. I needed to get home to my family. His face is serious as he continues. "Now I know you want to get home. I personally have nothing to go back to" His smile falters as he continues. "But you probably have a home, a family"

"Brothers.." I interrupt. "I have a dad and three brothers" I take a breath. "I need to get home. They need me. It's my job to protect them". He looks at me silent for a second as though facing a puzzle. "How old are you?"

"Eight"

He lets out a half laugh. "Big brother hugh?" I nod. He smiles foundly. "I bet your a good big brother"

I feel my heart warmed by the compliment. "I'm from yondu's ship. We rarely correspond with Fury's regiment. So I won't be able to help you get away, I rarely head in that direction. Wait until you've gained the others respect before trying anything fishy or they'll make sure you never even think about running again."

I swallowed knowing from my own experience that the friendly words of warning were true. "You're too far out right now, you won't reach the Milky Way for several months, Fury has a heist planned about three months out from now on earth. Get in their good graces so that by the time they arrive, they won't suspect a thing. Keep your ears open and your head down."

He rubs my head fondly before turning to leave.

"Are you going to escape?"My question stops him in his tracks. His puzzlement soon morphs into a sad smile. "I have nothing left on earth" his eyes brighten slightly as he continues, his southern accent curling around the words slightly as a grin spreads over his face. "But don't you worry about old peter. I'll think of a way out. I'm not going to be a ravager forever." The older man turns to sit beside me with a shrug. "I have my own ship now, at least I'm no longer under Yondu's foot." I frown recognizing the name of the Ravager leader. I had heard that he had once been a Kree battle slave before the ravagers took him in. But the leader had been cast out after breaking the code. Fury, a rebel, was one of the few ravagers who was still in communication with the allianted regiment. I looked at the young missourian next to me, realising just how much a parallel our lives are. I pulled out half a kit cat I had found at a trading station we visited on Knowhere, when Fury took me along on a stop to sell a coveted item to a man called the collector. I broke the bar and half and handed half to Peter. He smiled at me before taking the offered food. We talked comfortably for nearly the rest of the day. We talked about anything and everything. Whether the conversation was serious or just plain silly, we were able to talk like too long lost friends. Peter gave me a list of old movies I had to watch, and shared some of the music he grew up to. I told Peter about my life in the sewers, with Master Splinter and my brothers. He was impressed to hear about my ninja training and even asked me to show him a few moves. A gruff voice over the innercalm finally broke the surrealness, as Cracklin reminded Yondu's crew to return to the ship. I was reminded that Peter wasn't a part of this ship. Peter's eyes were sad as he once more bent down to be eye level with me. Placing a hand on my shoulder he gave it a small squeeze. "You're a good kid leo. I hope you can get back to your brothers"

I smiled up at my friend. "If you ever need to get a hold of me" I stared at the small round device he placed in my hand. It was no larger than a round river stone, the black device was practically blank except for a circular lens in the middle I assumed would light up and activate a tracker if pressed, and although that fact should concern me, the forign device felt comforting in my hand. Running my hands along the device I found a latch on the side that opened the round device like a seashell. On the inside of the personal yet simple device, was a small screen, on the other was several buttons with familiar symbols and letters. "Yondu gave me this when I was your age" Peter said bending down to look at me. "I know it just looks like a space rock at first glance but it's a communication device. It has a tracker you can activate if you get into any trouble, it can't make calls but it can send written messages'' He sent me a fun smile. "So we can text back and forth." I just stared blankly at the small device in my hand before raising my eyes to him, a cascade of emotions coursing through me.

"I'm not leaving you Leo" Peter smiled placing his hand on my shoulder once again. "You're not going to be alone here." He tostled my head as he went to stand, smiling at me foundly. Without thinking I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around Peter. Startled at my sudden embrace he just stood there for a second before hugging me back.

TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT

I sat on the floor next to my bed, an old and familiar object in my hand. I stared at the small black screen, though I did not type, not today at least. After all this time I was still in communication with Peter. I know it seems silly, but he was kind of my anchor at times. When I first came home, everything had been forign. I had become accustomed to the ravager life. At first I couldn't sleep, accustomed to the sound of this ship that had become almost a lullaby. I was always on edge, my reflexes honed. My brothers were irritated with my behavior that was now so ingrained that it was as natural as breathing. I had trouble just cutting loose with my brothers, my senses always intune and prepared for danger. I wasn't as interested in certain games and activities as I once was. Feeling years older than my age after taking on older responsibilities and roles for so long, it was hard to revert back to childlike dependency. I had always felt protective of my brothers, and it had always come natural to comfort and care for them. But after life with the ravagers, I had become more suspicious and aware, just adding to my already existing protectiveness. Falling into the role of protector and leader was second nature, and felt as normal as breathing. Though at times such responsibility weighed on me, the weight was always present in my heart. When life became overbearing I would pull out the inconspicuous small device and message the ravager. Quill and I were two sides of the same coin. We had both been abducted, both lived the lives of Ravagers and, in our own way ,had both escaped. I had run away just as Quill advised: when least expected and close to home. Quill or Star Lord as he likes to be called, left the Ravagers when he formed the Guardians of the Galaxy. As much as he talks about them, I feel as though I know them.

After escaping I had tried to pick up my old life, resume as though nothing had happened. And to my brothers and Sensei I had. But I had held onto the communicator, in a selfish desperation to hold onto one last piece of the life I left behind. A year of my life had been stolen from me. A year spent in the vast unknown, far from my brothers and father. A year I spent with strangers, who I had grown to view as friends. Fighting alongside them over time, instead of against them. The comradery and protection I felt toward these ravagers, was always a whirlwind of casading and confusing

I don't know why I stayed in contact after escaping, I know I should have cut ties with all connections to the ravager world, but part of me just couldn't leave Quill. He was like family. He often talked to me like a little brother, and I often looked to him as the older brother I never had.

Talking to quill has always been as easy as breathing from the first day we met. He was the older brother I always wished I had. Sure he was galaxies away and no one in my family knew he existed, but I did. I knew he existed, and he was always there to talk when I needed him. And even more I was always there when he needed me. I understood him in a way others couldn't. Both of us being from the same planet and spending time with the Ravagers gave us lots to talk about. I kept him up to date on sports scores, major events and whatever he wanted to know. While he gave me lots of movie recommendations and song and artist lists to listen to. When I became leader, it was easy to come to him with the burdens my brothers never knew I bore. As captain of his ship, he understood the toll such a position takes: the personal sacrifice and stress. We were each other's support, providing advice, or an ear to vent to, or sometimes just a break from everyday life.

I stare down at the small device in hand, not surprised to see no messages from Peter today. He had always understood my dark day in a way no one else had. He never tried to reach out to me on this day; knowing I prefered the silence. But I have no doubt that it would be a totally different story, if he were physically here. There were times that I wish he had. There were times I would wake with nightmares of the past, or something would jog my memory of something unpleasant and I would just need someone to turn to. It was times such as these, that I almost wished my brothers knew. I wanted to protect them more than anything, but sometimes I wished I could turn to them. We had always been there for each other. And it pained me that my missing year had separated me from them, in ways that lasted more than just that year. When I woke with nightmares of the time spent alone on the ship, or when memories about the prison and slave camp breakouts haunted me in the night; I wanted nothing more than to run to the warm arms of Rapheal or feel free to confided in Donatello or just snuggled with Michelangelo to remind myself that I was home.

But it wasn't' my place to do so. If Sensei hadn't shared the truth himself about my missing year with my brothers; then it wasn't something he wanted my brothers to know. I understand his reasons, and would never go against my father's wishes. But it didn't stop my heart from longing or craving that attention and comfort. It was easier to push my brothers away in times like this. It was easier to suffer silently, alone. I took a deep breath. I just felt so torn in two. In ways it felt as though I had never left the ship, and returned home. Somedays it felt as though I had left a part of me, in space, with the ravagers. I grieved for my missing year, the time lost away from my brothers. I grieved for leaving the ravagers. But I also grieve for the weight I felt in the silence now that I have returned home. I have never been one who has kept a lie well, because my honor forbids it. This same honor has also held me to this lie all these years; in order to stay true to my father's wishes and to spare my brothers from the truth. But my own actions have caused a war within me, while also distancing myself from those I so desperately need.

I let out a small gasp that turns into a sob. Placing the phone back in the small nook in the wall, my special hiding place; I wrap my arms around myself as the tears once again take over. I am the fearless leader of the Hamato clan and will do whatever it takes to see my brothers through. I have never hesitated in sacrificing myself if the mission called for it, and would willingly lay down my life for my brothers. I don't let fear rule me when on the field. I have long ago learned of the power faith yields. But just because I know how to be strong, does not mean I am without weakness. That year alone with the ravagers made me stronger in many ways, but it also took its toll. And right now, as I sat with my arms wrapped around my legs, my face buried in my arms as I wept, I wanted nothing more than to lean on someone else for a change. If I could have one wish; it would be to be selfish for once. I was tired of hiding the truth about where I was for a year. I was tired of Raph's anger and jealousy over a story Splinter created as a coverup. I was tired of my brothers' seeing me as a stuck up workaholic. I wanted them to understand why I push myself as hard as I do, and know how these habits formed. I wanted my brothers to see me, all of me. For once. I just wanted my family.

Wow, that was longer than intended.

I just wanted to introduce Peter into the story, and touch on the history of how the two met. Peter will be making another entrance sooner or later, but like I said this is a Leo centric story, and less of a crossover than most. Sorry for the sad sap, if it's too much please let me know. But don't worry I won't let Leo wallow alone for too long. Little brothers to the rescue!

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