"Leonardo."
The turtle felt an inward stab hearing his name, but didn't so much as blink. The face approached until it was a few mere centimeters away. Leo could feel the hot wafts of breath twisting violently against his skin. In contrast, the eyes were barren and cold giving an upward flick before slowly moving downward to scrutinize every feature of the mutant.
"The great Leonardo," Saki said neutrally before stepping back, the cape billowing behind him to catch up, "My…replacement."
Saki drew the word out in a hiss while placing his helmet over his head to complete the Shredder costume. The word faded out like a tire losing air until replaced by breaths throttling against metal.
"Nothing can replace a traitor!" Leonardo yelled.
Before he could blink, his blue bandana slumped to the floor in neat halves. A trickle of blood flowed directly between his furious eyes. Their pale glow contrasted acutely beside the crimson, ablaze with hatred.
Shredder held the blades attached to his arms up threateningly, "Meddling baka. You assume too much. Do not think I cannot break that zealous confidence of yours. I know your weakness. I know exactly where to pin each one of you revolting reptiles."
Leonardo stiffed, then screamed, "Where are they?!"
Shredder paced calmly in front of his hostage bound heavily to a chair in the center of the blank room.
"Tell me!" Leo raged. His eyes followed the Shredder's movements venomously.
"In their own hells."
"Take me! I'm the replacement. That's all you need," Leo panted with exertion, "Just let them go."
Shredder halted issuing raspy chuckles, "Very honorable, Leonardo, yes, but not necessary."
"You would know nothing of honor," the turtle spat.
"Perhaps," Shredder growled, "You need some lessons of your own."
Leo leaned against the chair's back at a loss for a response.
"What-"
Before he could finish, one of the walls of the room began to retract. A window slowly appeared from behind it. Leo leaned over so far that the blood on his forehead began to drip directly onto the concrete below.
A large gathering of Foot soldiers in usual ninja garb around a center being had caught his interest. He immediately recognized his brother.
Raphael staggered as weapons battered him relentlessly. A soldier shoved him to the ground with a foot still on the bulk of his shell. Raph let out a savage howl as the soldier's sai bit into his shoulder adding to the many cascading wounds.
Leo couldn't suppress a shudder. "No…please. Don't."
Shredder flicked a switch in response and suddenly voices filled the room.
"Feel that?" a young voice shouted, "Relish the pain. It's the only thing keeping you alive now!"
Background voices cheered in the room in sequence with the wild crowd in the window.
Leo's heart seemed to stop hearing his brother's replying groan.
"I didn't want to kill him, kid," Raph's voice broadcasted weakly.
"It doesn't matter. My brother is dead, and you're responsible!"
Raph's throat restricted with coughs. He could feel dust mixing with blood as he breathed against the ground, "Shoulda…thought of that," he paused to cough more, "before joinin' bastards like the Foot."
The young man seemed to ignore the comment, "And now to regain his honor! To regain honor for all the lives of our members you stole." He held the sai up high for all to see.
The gathering shouted and clattered weapons even more violently.
Leonardo watched in horror. Taking an instant look around, he noticed Shredder had slipped away. Bunching his leg muscles strenuously, he managed to scoot the chair closer to the window.
Raphael could see the trembling sai pointing right at him in the corner of his eye. His eyes then swivled straight ahead at the floor as if uncaring. With a slow exhale, he allowed his muscles to relax against the pavement. This is it. He had this coming sooner or later.
The young man's rage seemed to falter feeling the mutant submit underneath him. Sweat sloshed between the sai handle and his hand. He thought of his little brother. A young spitfire willing to defend all he believed in. His life was empty with out him, but the soldier could at least fill that pocket with honor by avenging the deceased boy. He abruptly mashed his palms to the weapon in a downward thrust.
There was a sudden explosion causing the sai to slip in an opposite direction intended before it clattered loudly on the floor. The gathering looked up shielding eyes against hailing glass shards. A form plummeted to the ground screaming followed by another crash.
All was still.
Raphael reached his hand out toward the sai while everyone's attention was diverted. It made a soft shiing sound against the concrete.
The young soldier flipped around just as metal tore through his chest. He gave a silent gurgle before collapsing.
The rest of the Foot focused back on him. Raph turned in a circle, letting his arm holding the sai sweep outward toward them, "Anyone else want their honor back?"
No one moved.
Raphael continued turning, "That's what I thought. Not so tough now, are ya'."
A figure parted through the throng and slinked behind the mutant, katana poised for the kill. All eyes but Raph's saw him.
"Come on," the turtle gloated further.
He spun around hearing a crackling ga-chiing!
Two katana's were trapped in an 'X' formation directly next to his face.
"Don't encourage them Raph!" Leo smiled behind one of the blades. He dropped down and swept the daring soldier's feet away. The enemy then sagged like a sack of potatoes having knocked his head against the floor.
"I didn't call for back-up," Raph gave a joking sneer.
The two turtles put their shells together for protection and met the soldiers' hurdling attacks.
"You're getting it anyway!"
They erupted in a flurry of motion. Punches, jabs, uppercuts, thrusts, kicks, flips, and dodges. The energy only seemed to intensify as the brothers whirled and parried. The enemies began to lag having either been disengaged or abandoning the fight all together and eloping.
The fighting finally halted as the brothers stood amidst cluttered bodies.
No one was left.
They knelt together gasping for breath.
"I think my shoulder is broken. From that, uh, entrance," Leo clutched the offending arm.
"You call that an entrance?" Raph chuckled, also checking himself over.
"What? Are you saying you could have done better?" Leo played along.
Raphael looked thoughtful for a moment before finally saying, "Nah, you did good. At least on the visual effects."
Leonardo laughed and looked over. His brother was staring intently at him.
"And Leo?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."