Within These Walls
Summary: Leonardo has kept a dark secret since he was thirteen years old. The mutagen affected him…differently. For the last 2 years he has trained in secret, but for how much longer can he control the forces inside of him which battle to break free? Will he even have a choice? Hurt Leo, sick Leo, brotherly fluff, lots of angst, super-powers, action. Alternate universe but based off the 2012 character constructions. Some mild language.
Author's Note: This was just a little story that bubbled to mind. Reviews are very much welcome and appreciated :). Please click those favourite and follow buttons too.
Disclaimer: I sadly do not own the turtles or the concepts of the show. This fic is based on my own ideas. This will be the only disclaimer for the story but please note that it applies to the whole story.
Chapter 1: The Last Day
The first time it happened was when they were thirteen years old.
It was six o'clock in the morning and as usual, the Hamato family were training in the dojo.
"Higher Leonardo," instructed Master Splinter as Leo attempted his fourth split kick, but still he missed the mark, falling awkwardly back onto the mat, on his feet but completely off balanced. He was able to jump high enough, but his incorrect form was preventing him from hitting the invisible target which Master Splinter had indicated mid-air. They had been at this all morning.
Leo sighed in frustration.
To his right and kneeling in their training positions, Raph stifled a laugh whilst Mikey and Donnie scowled at him.
"What?" Raph nagged. "He clearly sucks."
Leo sent him a glare, which Raph returned with a snicker
"It's not nice to tease," Mikey said as he pouted his bottom lip.
Don nodded in agreement before addressing his red-banded brother with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "Besides, I'd like to see you do better Raph."
Leo smiled his thanks at his little bros. They always stuck up for him against Raph, even if he didn't ask or necessarily want them to. But still, it was always nice to know that they would go against their hot headed brother for him.
Leo's smile didn't last long however, as Raph stood to tower over his brother before then storming towards him.
Leo could practically see the fire blazing in his brother's eyes.
"Fine - I will," Raphael snapped, glancing back at Don.
Leonardo looked towards his Father and the wise rat nodded, gesturing towards a spot for him to sit down next to his two younger brothers. "That is all for now, my son," his Father said before giving a slight bow which Leo returned with equal respect.
The eldest turtle sat next down next to Mikey who playfully jabbed him in the ribs over his plastron.
"Don't worry 'bout it bro," Mikey reassured, "you'll have the kick down in no time."
Leo regarded his younger brother with a sad smile. "I know Mikey, I just need to practice," he said gently, although his insides sank in disappointment, as once again, he had failed. He had been trying for the last week to perfect the kick, but had found that the move was much harder than what he had initially thought.
Mikey still was staring at him with worried eyes, so Leo returned his brother's previous gesture of kindness with equal playfulness, gently punching his brother in the arm with a closed first. "But thanks little bro."
Mikey seemed satisfied at this, his face brightening in a wide toothy grin, whilst Don leaned forward until Leo could see his face which was plastered with an expression of amusement, as his cheeks flushed red in an obvious attempt not to laugh.
Leo cocked his head towards his genius brother. "What's so funny?" he asked.
"It's just," Donnie stated, struggling to take breaths through his muffled laughter, "if you can't complete the kick, then how do you think Raph is going to go?"
Leo didn't understand. Raph was a skilled ninja in training who could do anything once he put his mind to it. "I don't follow," he told Don as he glanced forward to Master Splinter and Raphael as the red turtle took his position in the dojo, legs wide apart and preparing for the jump.
Raphael's form, stance and technique looked sound and Leo scolded himself for not being able to do the kick himself. Raph was about to out-ninja him. This was going to be embarrassing.
Beside him Donnie rolled his eyes and giggled again. "C'mon Leo, we all know that Raph might have the strength but in terms of skill, you totally trump us bro."
Next to him, Mikey nodded vigorously, making Leo blush with their high regard of him.
Don continued, "So basically, Raph is about to make a massive fool of himself."
"We'll see," Leo stated simply, not able to sell his brother out just yet, but he returned his attention to the training session, eager to watch the scene unfold.
"Watch and learn Lame-o-nardo," Raph jeered, bending his legs and ready to jump at the call of Master Splinter.
Their Sensei lifted his walking stick and brought it down to the ground with a loud crack, "Haijime."
Leo watched as Raph sprang forward and instantly he saw his hot-headed brother's mistake. Raph had leaned too far forward in the jump, obviously putting too much power and brute force behind his leap, when really the manoeuvre required more skill, agility and technique than strength.
Raph let out a yelp as he flipped forward mid-air, losing his centre when he split his legs apart to hit the target. He tumbled back to the ground, landing flat on his shell.
Mikey and Don exploded in laughter, clinging on to each other and holding their sides.
"You got owned dude," Mikey joked, rocking back onto his shell to lie flat as his hysterical laugh filled the dojo.
Leo couldn't help the smirk that sneaked onto his lips. Besides, Raph was fine, sure he would have a bruise, but no harm was done.
Raph clambered off the floor, growling at Mikey and Don. "My foot slipped," he explained hurriedly, the fire returning to his eyes. "It wasn't my fault. Watch – I'm gonna do it again."
"You sure Raph?" Leo playfully asked. "Think you pretty much demonstrated everything we needed to see." Leo added in a smile to let his brother know that he only meant it as a joke, but that didn't seem to matter.
Raphael took a step towards him, fists balled and ready for a fight.
Master Splinter frowned, "That is enough Raphael. Training is over for today and I do hope that you all took a lesson from this."
Leo bowed towards his Sensei whilst Mikey and Donnie also followed. Raph though, stood with his back against Master Splinter whilst Leo noticed that his face was scrunched in annoyance and his eyes were still blazing.
"This dispute is over Raphael," Master Splinted firmly stated, "I will be meditating in my room if any one of you has need of me."
The door slid shut behind Master Splinter as he left the dojo. As soon as it was closed, Raph whipped sharply towards Leo. "You think ya so perfect huh, Fearless?"
Leo stood silently, placing a hand on Mikey's shoulder as his youngest brother looked as though he was halfway between crying and yelling.
"What? Cat got ya tongue Leo?" Raph continued, his words layered with poison. "Or are ya now too high 'n' mighty to talk to me as well?"
"That's enough Raph. You heard Splinter – this is over," Leo said, his voice stern but calm.
"No! This time I ain't backing down. You've always thought that you're better than me. All you care about is looking good in front of Sensei! Being a perfect little student! Do you even care about us?!"
Leo knew that Raph was just trying to rile him up, but what he said hit a chord. "What?" he breathed.
"You heard me Fearless," Raph taunted using the nickname in plane malice rather than affection. "Ya don't give a shit about us 'cause we're all so beneath you, isn't that right? C'MON LEO – admit it!"
Behind Leo, Mikey let out a whimper and he could hear Don muttering comfort words to him.
Leo's breath hitched. He really tried to keep his anger in check, but this time Raph had gone too far.
He balled his fists and took a stance in the dojo, showing Raph that he was up for a fight.
Raph threw up his hands. "Finally! Or do you not think I'm worthy, huh?"
Leo lost it. He launched forward, slamming into Raph's plastron with a force that knocked his brother back a few paces, but not enough to make him fall. Angry and frustrated, Leo was still calculating and careful. He didn't want to hurt his brother, he would never hurt any of his brothers. But sometimes, the only language Raph spoke and understood, was that of fighting. Moves and counter moves.
Raph reacted, drawing his Sai and whipping them at Leo, advancing forward whilst slashing at Leo's arms and chest.
Leo was quick, but not quick enough, earning a gash across his cheek and a cut to his right shoulder. The injuries were only superficial, but the warm blood flowing down his cheek wasn't the best feeling – it was unsettling. Unsettling, as he had dealt with his hot headed brother before, but never with weapons drawn. This was an entirely different playing field and it was going too far.
Somewhere Donnie was screaming at them to stop and Mikey was crying, but Leo painfully blocked out the commotion as he switched from defence to offence, twisting his hips and following with a quick pivot on his feet as he crouched low and whipped his leg around to knock Raph flat on his shell, sending his Sai clattering to the ground.
Leo saw his opportunity to end the fight quickly before it got out of hand and he sprung up before Raphael even got the chance to move off the floor. With his knee, he pinned Raphael to the ground, immobilising him.
"Get off me Leo, or I swear ta God-"
"You'll do what, Raph?" Leo asked, slowly calming down, his voice returning to its normal cool and collected tone. "Hurt me? Attack me?" He could feel the blood dripping down his face and he wiped some of it away, smearing the sticky red liquid across his hand, "Yeah, you already proved that you would."
Raph looked away, avoiding looking him in the eye. Maybe because of shame. Maybe because of anger. Leo wasn't sure anymore when it came to Raph. They used to be close – best friends even. But now…the turtle pinned beneath his weight was an entirely different person. A stranger.
"I'm going to get off you now," Leo said, "you cool?"
Raphael breathed out and nodded.
Leo stood, releasing his brother from under his hold. Raphael quickly scrabbled onto his feet.
Leo then turned to face Donnie and Mikey, fearful of what they would think of him. Maybe he had acted wrongly. He shouldn't have allowed Raph to get under his shell, he shouldn't have allowed the anger to get the better of him. He shouldn't have fought back. Suddenly Leo was regretting his decisions and he looked up to face his younger brothers, bracing himself for their hateful expressions.
However, Don only smiled at him, his eyes so full of love and respect, whilst Mikey just stood with his mouth open slightly in awe with only remnants of the tears that had slid down his face.
Donatello was the first to move, breaking the silence with a change in topic, in an obvious attempt to distract their youngest brother and release some of the tension, "C'mon Mikey – lets go make breakfast."
Leo smiled his thanks to Don, who nodded in return. They tended to do that a lot – understand each other with a simple gesture. Leo found it warming how he could silently communicate with his brothers, expressing feelings which sometimes could not be put into words.
Mikey's eyes gleamed and his attention was suddenly snapped towards Donatello. "Can we make pizza? Is there such a thing as breakfast pizza? Oooo, we could put bacon, eggs and syrup on it. That would be like bacon and eggs on toast - but with pancakes! PIZZACAKES!"
Donnie frowned, but nodded. "Ahhhhhh, sure Mikey. Whatever you say."
At this, the youngest brother bounded out of the dojo, swinging his nunchucks like a maniac and making gleeful whooping noises. Leo watched on warmly as Don started to follow. His genius brother reached the door and glanced back, "You coming Leo?"
"Yeah, someone has to keep Mikey away from the chilli sauce. You remember what happened last time he made-"
"Please don't remind me," Don groaned, holding his stomach.
Leo just chuckled and placed a hand on Raph's shoulder who was standing awkwardly beside him. "How about it Raph? Want to help?"
His brother shrugged his hand off, still looking away. "I'm gonna train some more."
"Suit yourself," Leo replied, and he and Don left the dojo leaving Raph to cool off and probably take some of his anger out on the punching dummy.
Donatello turned to Leo once they were out of the dojo and earshot, taking him by the shoulders. "Are you alright?" he said, eyeing the bleeding gashes on Leo's face and arm.
Leo smiled at his brother concern. "Yeah, I'm just going to get cleaned up. You can start breakfast – I'll be out in two seconds."
Don looked at him with his impassive brown eyes, concerned and obviously weighing his response. "I should really take a look at those cuts. Without the right care, they could get infected. We do live in a sewer remember."
"I promise that I'm fine Don, they're just scrapes," Leo replied as he shrunk out from under his brother's hold, giving a nod and walking to the bathroom to wipe the blood off his skin. He looked back at Donatello, "Really, you guys start on breakfast. I'm okay."
Leo continued into the bathroom, blissfully unaware that this was the last time he would ever be okay.
This was the last time he would ever consider himself normal.
This was the day his life would change forever.
To Be Continued…
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