Disclaimer - I don't own them.
A/N - Like the other stories, they're around eight.
Leonardo - Lessons and Leadership
Leonardo stood in a line with his brothers, while their sensei paced in front of them. His hands were sweating and his heart raced. At the last practice, they had begun taking turns being in charge during practices. While Don and Mike's turns went OK, both Leo and Raph had excelled. Both loved the feeling, the exhilaration, of being in charge, being a leader.
Now, Master Splinter would name one of them the leader for today's practice. Leo could hardly wait for his master's decision. He was both excited and terrified that he would be chosen.
Suddenly, Splinter stopped his pacing and took a step forward.
"Leonardo…" Leo stepped forward, his heart beating wildly, and looked up at his master.
"Yes, Master Splinter?" He asked, butterflies filling his stomach.
"I would like you to lead in today's exercise." Splinter bowed to him.
"Yes, Master Splinter." Leonardo replied, keeping his voice calm, and bowing back.
He dared a glance at Raphael, who looked at the ground. Leo took a deep breath, then walked over to his brothers.
"OK, guys." He began, looking at them. "Let's try the same procedure from the last practice."
Practice went well enough for awhile. They took a break to get a drink and sit down for awhile.
"Leonardo." Splinter called to him from his place across the room.
"Yes, Master Splinter?" Leonardo walked up to his master, feeling suddenly nervous. What if he'd been doing a bad job?
"You are doing well, my son. I am going to be in my room, meditating, for the remainder of the practice." Splinter said. "Come get me, if the need arises."
Leo nodded. "Yes, Master Splinter." He said, barely containing the grin that fought to appear on his face. Master Splinter was leaving him in charge!
Splinter nodded again, then clapped his hands together, getting the other's attention.
"You will all continue to practice for another hour. Leonardo will direct you in your practice."
Leo could see Don and Mike nodding. Raphael scowled, crossing his arms. Then Splinter was gone, and Leo turned to the rest of them.
"OK, guys, we have an hour left, so I think that we should…" He trailed off when he saw Raphael walk to the side of the room and sit on the floor.
Mike and Don glanced at each other. Leo walked over to Raph.
Raphael didn't even look up when Leo approached him.
"What are you doing?" Leo asked, his hands on his hips.
"I'm resting." Raph said simply.
"But Master Splinter said…"
"Well, Master Splinter's not here now, is he? So I'm resting."
"Well…" Leo stammered. "Well, Master Splinter left me in charge."
"And I don't haveta listen to you. You're not my boss." Raphael crossed his arms.
"But Master Splinter…"
"Master Splinter shoulda picked me." Raphael stood up, glaring at Leonardo. "You stink. This practice stinks. I wanna…"
"It doesn't matter what you want to do." Leo said, feeling his face grow hot. "It's what I want to…"
"Guys! Guys…" Michaelangelo ran forward, and stood in-between the two boys. They both looked at him, and he grinned.
"Me and Donnie…"
"Donnie and I." Don corrected from across the room.
"Fine, fine." Mike grumbled, but smiled. "Anyway, Donnie and I think we should just keep doing the same things we've been doing, and if we learn them real good, maybe Master Splinter will take us up top again, like the last time we learned something really fast." He looked between his two brothers. "Uh, maybe?" He added.
"Either way." Don said, walking up to them. "It would surprise him a whole lot if we were really good at this, since he just taught us this move not too long ago."
Raph frowned, but agreed. "All right." He grumbled.
Leo was sure that the look of relief on Don's face mirrored his own. His brothers headed back onto the mats, and Leo followed a moment later. But his excitement from before was gone. He couldn't even run a practice. What kind of leader was he? He bit his lip, trying to hide his feelings.
The rest of the practice went smoothly, but quietly. And after it was over, Leonardo headed over to Splinter's room. His shoulders drooped, and he held back tears at the thought of how disappointed his master would be with his failure. Finally, biting his lip, he knocked on the door.
"Come in." Splinter called.
"Master." Leonardo poked his head in. "I'm sorry to bother you, but…" He trailed off, his disappointment getting the better of him.
"What is it, Leonardo." Splinter asked softly.
"It… it's Raphael."
Splinter's eyes widened. "Is he injured…?" He moved to rise.
"Oh no, master. No." Leo looked down at his feet. "It's… it's just… you should have picked him." He muttered softly.
"What?"
Leo looked back up at Splinter. "You should have picked him to be the leader. He wouldn't listen to me, and he really wanted it." He said, his voice stronger, louder now.
Splinter sat for a moment, then smiled softly. "Come, my son. Join me."
Leo nodded, then moved to sit beside him on the mat. Splinter moved so that he faced Leonardo, then smiled again.
"Leonardo. Your personality, your choices are that of a true leader. I have already noticed your brothers looking up to you for answers and guidance."
Leo shook his head. "But I'm no good! I couldn't even run a practice." He wiped at his eyes furiously. "Next time pick someone else. I don't wanna do it anymore."
"Leonardo, do you think that being a leader is easy?" Splinter shook his head. "It is never easy." He put a hand on the young boy's shoulder. "But it is your destiny. It is written in your eyes, in your movements. It is in every fiber of your being, it is in your dedication to your art. Did you not like leading the practice?"
Leo nodded. "Yes, but it wasn't good." He hung his head. "Raph said I stunk, and then he only listened to Mike and Don."
Splinter smiled slightly at that. "Not everyone listens to their leader. He will. He is testing you." His smile widened. "He has been testing me since he could talk." Splinter paused for a moment before speaking again. "And you, Leonardo, have unconsciously been leading your brothers in practice ever since they began. And, yet, it is only when I place you in the role that you find that you cannot."
Leonardo lowered his head again, but Splinter put a finger under his chin, lifting it up so that he faced him.
"You must have confidence, Leonardo. But never over-confidence. If you believe it, you must enforce it. But also be willing to listen to other's opinions, and to change your own. You must have respect for your clan, and make them respect you. Then, you will truly be a great leader."
"But, what if I mess up again?"
"Leonardo, no one is perfect. Always remember, if you make a mistake, learn from it. Do not repeat it. It will only make you stronger."
"But…" Leo began. "But what if they ask me a question, and I don't know the answer?"
"No one knows everything. If you did, then there would be nothing left to think about."
Leonardo was silent for a moment, then smiled. "OK. Maybe… Maybe I'll try it again."
Splinter nodded, smiling. "We shall try it again soon." He paused again before speaking. "And, if you truly do not want to do it, you will not have to. But I believe, in your heart, you will find the strength, the want, to lead. Do not be afraid to let it out. If it is something that you truly want, then it will come, naturally."
Leo nodded. "Thank you, Master Splinter." He said, and reached over to hug Splinter. Then he got up, turning to leave.
"Leonardo."
He turned, and saw Splinter looking at him. "Yes, Master Splinter?"
"Be confident, Leonardo. Listen to your heart, and, no matter what you do, you will be great."
****************************
The consoling words of his father ran through his head everyday, all these years later; but never more so than when he was about to give directions to his brothers. Master Splinter had been right. He naturally migrated into the leader role. No, it wasn't always easy; in fact, it rarely was. And sometimes, just sometimes, he regretted being the way he was. He was constantly questioned about his decisions, by the harshest judge of all: himself.
He had learned to be more confident, with each correct decision he made, each good practice. And his brothers helped. Sure they never agreed on everything, but then, no one does. They were, however, always supportive of him. They followed his orders. Even Raphael. And that scared him, sometimes. A lot of the time. To have them, in their undying trust, following his every word, his every direction. To be responsible for all that. And he'd learned that to be afraid, sometimes, was good. But you had to be able to push it to the side of your mind. To be afraid made you cautious, and think about your next move. But he must not let it be debilitating to his abilities. And his brothers were always there to help with that, too, and that comforted him.
It was hard to tell the others what to do, when you could hardly convince yourself, sometimes. His sensei's words and support urged him to be confident in himself, but also to listen to the others. He'd learned to take advice from his brothers. They each were talented in different ways. They all had input for dealing with different situations. But the final word still usually fell to him. And he wouldn't always have the answer, and he didn't always make the right decisions. Especially not in those first few years, but he'd learned.
And he continued learning.
