Author's Note: This chapter is a bit quicker, and I try to keep the situation light. Pun intended.

Dealing with fire was something Leo didn't expect to be so wary. At least, Casey made it worry-worthy. That boy was a danger-magnet. And fire was a danger- a tool only to be used in the most necessary of instances. Because at any moment, it could drift and overcome you and overpower you and destroy the very things you hold dear and scar not only your skin but also your life without hesitation or a drop of mercy...

So Leonardo had quite a lot on his mind to see Casey struggling with a matchbox over a large cardboard box of cotton with spilled oil onto the table next to the wooden barn wall and wearing nothing safe. Leonardo was far worse off- he was holding the clay pot and waiting for Casey to light it.

After a minute of Casey muttering to the box, and a dozen broken matches later, Leonardo announced, "Casey it's cold."

The boy stuck his tongue out at the side, managing to speak, "Uh-uh." His tongue returned to its rightful place, "I got these just an hour ago!"

"From where exactly?"

"Kitchen cabinet,"

Leonardo's eyes narrowed, and his smile stretched to one side, "Casey- they're cobwebs on the box."

"So? It just means it was in an old storage place,"

"The box is falling apart."

"It could still light!"

"You've broken almost all the matches,"

"I've got some more,"

"They wouldn't light,"

"Well I'm betting they would!"

"Wouldn't."

"Would."

"Wouldn't."

"Darn right they would."

"I highly doubt it,"

"You highly doubt everything,"

Leonardo arched an eye ridge, "Now what's that supposed to mean?"

Casey huffed, throwing another piece of matchstick onto the table, "It means you always find faults in everything."

Leo shook his head, missing the way his bandanna was supposed to fly around him, "That's not true!"

Casey paused, and lifted his eyes to catch Leo's, "It's true blue. You're always pointing out what could go wrong in missions,"

Leo scoffed, and folded one arm, "It's my job to make sure you all are safe,"

Casey rolled his eyes, taking a pair of matchsticks to attempt to light them simultaneously, "That's hypocritical of you Blue,"

Leo choked on what could very well be his own spit, "What? Me? A hypocrite? How?"

Casey rolled his shoulders, crouching forward to concentrate on the task at hand, "You say you're pointing out faults to protect us when we're on missions, but when it comes to your stupid solo-missions. You always end up getting hurt. Stupidly hurt- that you could usually avoid when we're around."

Casey bent his neck lower, eyes squinting, "You're a hypocrite because you're always focusing on safety and blah-blah-blah carefulness, but when you do stupid stuff, you always forget to watch your own back- er… shell. And that's stupid of you Leo. You're acting stupid."

Leonardo literally winced, and he murmured a soft, "Ouch…"

Then Casey spared a glance to Leonardo, and rolled his eyes, "Truth hurts Little Boy Blue."

The boy twisted his head, making his hair fall onto his shoulders. And warning bells went off in Leonardo's head when he saw that the boy's dark locks fell right into the way of his match. The action was involuntary, the turtle brushing Casey's hair away from his face and tucking it behind his ear.

Casey paused, and Leonardo moved his hand to do the same to the other side, with Casey ramrod all the while. A beat of silence, then the boy whispered, "Thanks,"

"Anytime."

Leonardo turned to the back, and jabbed a finger in the pile of cracked pots, "We ought to sort these out first."

Casey agreed, and they found their way over to the pile of pots. Most at the front were in good condition, so they made themselves useful to pick them out. While they inspected the clay pots, Leonardo let his thoughts wander.

Wait… Did Casey just call him…

Leo asked with a hint of annoyance, "Did you just call me Little Boy Blue?"

Casey shrugged again, sending a small glare to the turtle, "Well you ain't bigger than me,"

Leo folded both arms this time, "Still could kick your but,"

"Psh- yeah, but I'm taller,"

"Height has nothing to do with this,"

"Still means you're little,"

"Am not,"

"Are too,"

"Am not."

This could go on forever. And as an older sibling, Casey knew it from heart. But it didn't mean he would let Leo win.

"Are too Blue!"

Leonardo's eyes twitched, and Casey couldn't help but grin at the way the turtle whined, "I am not little!"

He couldn't resist, "You're short."

"So's Raph!"

"Raph's got a temper,"

Leonardo spluttered, "What's that got to do with anything?"

Casey replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "It means he could hold his own,"

And the boy jammed a finger against Leonardo's plastron, "And you can't."

Casey added, "Cause you act stupid."

Silence… wasn't necessarily a bad thing. But when Leonardo fell silent, a prickle of fear ran up Casey's spine as though he had crossed some line. But all worry washed away when Leo avoided his eyes and said, "I do not."

Casey's grin just couldn't be contained, "Do too."

And so their pointless conversation carried on well into the night. But at least in an hour's time and enough wasteful 'arguments', some of clay pots had been rendered proper. And you know what? Both of them were smiling. Even though Leo knew that they weren't even halfway done. And that the dawn would probably catch them both unprepared, but for once, maybe it wasn't so bad.