Chapter 24: Space Heroes

Author's Note: I planned to post this chapter earlier this week, cause I just wanted a short fluff chapter in between my regular posts..but life got busy. Anyway :) hope you enjoy


Like a warm still summer's day there was a comfortable yet excitable energy throughout the lair as three was once again four.

"I just can't believe he's home" Mikey squealed, jumping up and down silently.

Raph and Donnie just smiled in agreement, the three turtles sitting at the table in the kitchen watching the returned elbest sitting on the couch reading a book.

His favorite book Donnie noted to himself. It was odd, having no memories their brother would be experiencing everything for the first time all over again. Like a lightbulb turning on, an idea appeared.

"Hey Raph, where did you put Leo's old Space Hero's tapes?" Donnie smiled.


Looking up from his book, Peter's long black hair flipped to the side as he tilted his head in confusion as the red banded turtle carried down a box of old video cassettes.

Curious, Peter put the book aside leaning forward to rest his chin on his palms as he watched in intrigue.

"Are we watching more Crognard the Barbarian?"

"Nope," Raph answered, digging through the box for the right tape. He'd seen his brother watch this particular episode at least half a million times. A proud grin spread across his face, turning to yell at Mikey not to add anything weird to the popcorn, Raph turned back around to pop the well worn tape into the VHS player.

"Ohh is it starting?" Mikey asked, grinning wide as he plopped down on Peter's left.

"Is what starting?" Peter asked confused, his head cocked off to the side in an all-so-familiar pose.

It never stopped amazing Raph how even as a human, the way he looked, acted and sounded was all so Leo-like.

Grabbing a handful of popcorn, content to be surprised, Peter settled in next to the turtles.

Donnie, Raph and Mikey exchanged a look, knowing all too well that their brother's laid back posture was about to change. Whether or not he knew the show already, they were all fairly certain their eldest brother would be fanboying by the end of the first episode.

Peter's eyes grew wide as the over-dramatic theme song started playing. Raph resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the loud, overdrawn theme tune that had no lyrics, but made up for the fact in the instrumental.

Mikey clenched his fists together under his chin, beaming with pure sunshine as he watched the recognition and joy spread across his brother's face.

Donnie leaned back with an amused and considerate grin. Huh well I guess some things never change, and evidently one of those things is that Leo is and will always be a huge Space Heroes fan.

With an existing squeal, Peter dove down to the floor clutching a pillow close to his chest to move right in front of the tv to sit cross legged. "No way! Space Heroes!" Eyes glued to the screen he didn't catch the knowing look the brother's shared.

"Are you fans too?" he failed to keep the hopeful tone out of the question as he turned big blue eyes on the three turtles still on the couch.

"Nope," Mikey answered, popping a handful of popcorn into his mouth. "I mean it's okay and all. I like watching it with you, but I prefer Crognard the Barbarian or Criss Bradfurd and his two rough crew"

"The plot is illogical" Donnie added with a smirk.

"It's a total dork show" Raph's grin was wide despite his answer, leaning forward to hand his brother a bowl of buttery popcorn.

"I don't think I've seen this one" Peter answered, eyes glued to the screen once more.

"Oh" Raph's eyebrows raised. Sharing a look with his brothers, intrigued. It wasn't everyday you gotta watch your 'favorite episode of all time' for the first time again.

Raph smiled as he watched the japanese boy in front of him sitting cross legged staring at the screen with wide sapphire eyes his dopey contented smile stretched across his face. The hot head leaned back shaking his head, it was a scene he'd seen hundreds of times over the years, his older brother seated in front of the TV watching intently that exact look on his face.

"I never thought I'd see that look again" Mikey's voice sounded slightly awed as he leaned in to whisper to his brothers.

"Me neither Mikey" Donnie whispered back his smile a mixture of awe, elation and sadness.

Mikey pulled his legs under him to sit cross legged, his grin blinding. They were definitely in for a treat.


"NO!" Peter yelled dramatically as Captain Ryan was hit by a ray by the panicons "It can't end like this?!"

The brothers shared a glance. "Well technically it's not ending like this we still have ten minutes left on the show, by my account"

"SSHH" Peter hushed over his shoulder, finger held over his mouth.

Raph popped more popcorn into his mouth, this was the third episode they had watched now and looking between his three brothers he had a feeling this would be the first of several space hero marathons. Their older brother was indeed as big of a space Hero fan as a human as he had been as a turtle.

The brothers had been amused to watch the myriad of emotions play over his face over each episode, gasping at surprises they'd seen dozens of times, guessing plots they knew by heart and yelling at the characters when they undoubtedly did something foolish and of course shushing them when they interrupted. The best though had been watching their returned eldest quote the show alongside his admired Capin Ryan, standing in pose, copying his voice and word for word reciting the show.

"Ahh! Ohh! We're all going to die! And I think I left the food replicator on. This ship might burn down!"

Raph rolled his eyes at the lameness of the show, because seriously the captain of the ship is hit by a ray from twenty foot red robots and you worry about a food replicator?

"Get it together Captain'' Commander Grundch's voice called from the TV. "You're our leader, so start acting like one"

A smile spread over his face as he remembered the time he'd quoted this scene to get Leo to calm down the time Dogpound had kidnapped April and were trying to spill chemicals into the sewers.

"Your right Raph, that was the anxiety ray talking"

"What? That's it? You're not going to slap yourself?"

"Psst, let's save April"

Raph shook his head at the memory, a smile forming on his face.

Sitting there watching his brother and the lame ass show, he couldn't help but understand what Mikey had been saying about relishing the new and the old. In so many ways their brother was the same. Yet at the same time so much was different. There was no denying that he'd been gone for a year. Out in the world with no family and no memories. A scowl formed at the dreaded thought. For a whole year they'd been mourning their brother. Losing Leo had been one of the worst pains in his entire life. He couldn't even count how many times he pleaded with God for another chance. How he wished he had a chance to say goodbye, to tell his only older brother how much he loved him, how much he looked up to him, how much he was going to miss him. Miracles of miracles, they'd been given another chance. Though Leo didn't remember anything, so telling him how much he missed, needed and looked up to him seemed a little harder to do, he was bound and determined to let his brother know he was loved. They had their brother home now. It was different now, with their brother being human and no longer the ultimate ninja and fearless leader. It was their job to protect him this time. Which was such a three-sixty to their life before with their oldest brother always watching and caring for them. But they were trained ninjas, and even more, they were determined protective brothers; who wouldn't let anything get to their beloved older brother. So yeah things were different, Leo needed more protection now. He could also cook, and was human. But things were also similar in so many ways. With a smirk, Raph popped a handful of popcorn into his mouth. Space Heroes just happened to fall under the similar column.