Leo led Raphael through the sewers until they reached a secret place he frequented when he wanted to be alone and to reflect and away from the chaos of the lair and his family. He let go of Raphael's hand and the emerald skinned turtle took in his surroundings. It was sparse with a desk, a bed, cupboards, a sink, a small mini bar and a couple of tatami mats. It'd have to do until they could maybe find something better or maybe they could knock down some walls to make more rooms.
Leo sat down on the bed and said, "Make yourself at home. It's not much, but it'll do until I can think of something more suitable for us and our potential kid."
"That stuff ya said back at the lair. Did ya mean it? 'Bout us bein' awesome parents together."
"Seemed the right thing to say," Leo said with a shrug. "What was I going to say? That'd we'd be crappy parents and give him that satisfaction?"
"That's not what I meant," Raphael hissed. "I meant 'bout us together as a couple."
"We're not a couple. We're exiled and thrown together, because of your deceit and rotten turtle luck. We're penniless and homeless and all you're concerned about is whether we're a damn couple! You're not even apologetic about your actions. You think I'll just forget all of that and we'll be one fucking happy family! I have news for you, Raphael!" Leo yelled, his sapphire eyes blazing. "Life doesn't fucking work that way."
"Yer cute when yer riled up," Raphael teased.
Leo's eyes flashed and he snapped, "This isn't funny." He gestured around him and said, "Look at what we have now. A mere room to call our own. No food. No money. No family. We can't get jobs or a decent place looking like this. We're fucked. Do you grasp that? And what if we have a little one? How the hell are we going to support it? Have you considered that? I feel a headache coming on." Leo pinched the bridge between his eyes and sighed.
"Ya knew that when ya dragged me outta the lair. Why did ya do that then?"
"Because I'm still your older brother and responsible for you. It's also my fault when you screw up and I'm also responsible for the possible circumstances. I didn't use my head, like I should have! I went with my hormones, like a lust fuelled teenage boy, instead of….."
"Which ya are. You may be older than yer years, Leo, but yer still a kid."
"That's no excuse. I've been trained to be a pinnacle of control, to set an example to my brothers, to lead the team, to….I failed. I failed my family and especially Sensei, who's always been good to us. I'm a terrible son and brother."
"Ya ain't," Raphael said softly. "Ya were just actin' like a normal teenager, Leo. One who was in love. Ain't 'nothin' ta be ashamed of. Sensei's the one who should be ashamed for not bein' more understandin'. Look, I know we're in a pickle, but it ain't all bad, Leo."
"Really? How isn't it all bad, Raphael?" Leo demanded.
"Well, for the first time in our lives we're free ta do what we want. No damn rules, no curfews, nothin'. We can do what we want. I don't know 'bout ya, but it's kinda liberatin' knowin' that I don't gotta listen ta that old rat no more."
"That 'old rat' took you in and cared for you like his son. Have you forgotten? How can you be so disrespectful?"
"Yeah, and that's all he did, Leo! Trainin', more trainin' and for what? Ta fight his enemy. He never gave us hugs or cuddles. Never lovin' words. Never soothed me when I was ill or had a nightmare. We relied on one another. All I got were harsh words and criticism. That ain't a dad, Leo. And what did he do for ya? Trainin', ceaseless meditation, taught ya ta always keep yer feelings ta yerself, so ya were like a stone most a the time, ripped ya away from me by givin' ya the leadership position. We were best pals until he did that. He lectured ya when ya failed, instead of bein' encouragin', told ya that sex was immoral and that ya should give up on the idea of love. How's that bein' a dad, Leo? Basically all he did was teach us and train us and give us a damn roof over our heads. Ya know that, so stop glorifyin' him and makin' him ta be the Dad of the year!"
Leo sighed. His brother had a point, but whatever Splinter had done or didn't do didn't change their predicament.
"We're still in deep shit, Raph."
"I know. Look, I got us into this fix and if ya wanna go home, go. I'll find a way of lookin' after myself. I'm sure Splinter will eventually forgive ya if….."
Donnie suddenly appeared and carried a large suitcase. His brothers gawked at him in amazement.
"How'd you find us, Don?" Leo asked.
"Tracked your cell. I've brought a few things. Your weapons, some food, clothes, a blanket and more importantly, money," Don said, forking ten grand over to Leo. "It's all I have right now, but it should be enough until I can get more if you use it sparingly."
"Donnie, yer life savings?" Raphael said softly, stirred by the gesture. "Ya don't have ta."
"You need it more than me," Don replied. "I want you to have it. Please. It's not much, but it's…."
"Thoughtful and wonderful of you," Leo said, his eyes misted over. "But aren't you disgusted by the idea of us being together?"
"I don't care," Don said and shrugged. "I was surprised, but if you guys are happy, that's all that matters. Love is love. I'd better get back before Splinter notices my absence. Look after yourselves and do stay in touch. I love you."
"Love ya too," Raphael said, wrapping his arms around Donnie. "Thank ya. I don't know how I can ever repay ya, Don."
"Just be happy, Raph," Don said and pulled apart.
Leo hugged Don. Then Don smiled, said his goodbyes and left.
"That was so awesome of Donnie, Leo," Raphael said. "See, he don't got a problem with us bein' together and is happy for us. So, why are ya so against it? We're meant ta be together. Don't ya see? We can use this as a new beginnin' for us, go someplace. Maybe take a boat somewhere. Japan. Ya've always wanted ta see it. How 'bout we go there?"
"You haven't heard a word I said," Leo said irately. "I'm your brother. Brother and we're not….."
Raphael stepped closer and silenced him with a passionate kiss, his hands cupping Leo's face. "Shut up, Fearless," he said, looking intently into Leo's eyes. "We ain't biologically related, so ain't no sin bein' together and yeah, I know I deceived ya and I'm sorry 'bout that. I really am. But I love ya and ya love me. What we got is real, no matter how it came 'bout. Ya can't deny that, but yer tryin', because ya think it's dishonorable and wrong. It ain't! How can love be wrong, Leo?"
"Lovers don't lie to one another, Raphael."
"So I fucked up, but would ya have loved me if I'd told ya the truth from the start?"
"Most likely not."
"I felt like I had no choice, Leo. I felt like it was the only way of gettin' ya ta love me for real and now ya do, so I'm sorry, but I also ain't, because yer now in love with me and ya want me as much as I want ya and...It's so fucked up, but at the core of it, our feelings are still real, right? I know they are. Ya didn't pull away when I kissed ya and ya weren't mad and…. I genuinely love ya, Leo. I'd do anythin' for ya," Raphael said huskily and kissed Leo again.
Butterflies fluttered in Leo's plastron at the kiss, which soon intensified, and he pressed up against Raphael, their plastrons, grinding against one another's and creating a wonderful, sensual friction. Both churred and Leo couldn't deny Raphael was right. It was a huge fucking mess. One that shouldn't have happened, but he was in love with Raphael/Natasha. Damn it. He loved him/her fiercely, an all-consuming love that felt so right and not sinful. Not at all. Love wasn't a sin after all. Their love was real. He could forgive the deception as long as Raphael never lied again. They could make it work.
Raphael broke the kiss and said breathlessly, "Does that mean ya agree with me, Leo?"
"No. Kissing is my way of disagreeing," Leo said sarcastically. "I can't deny I'm still not upset about your deceit, Raph, but I can try to forgive it if you promise not to lie again and I'm willing to give us a try. A real try with no lies and only honesty, communication and trust. I love you. I've never loved anyone so much."
Raphael's golden eyes shone with happiness and he said, "Oh, Leo. I'll always be truthful. I swear. No more secrets. I love ya incredibly and will honor ya all my life, but there's somethin' I'd like ya ta do."
"What's that?"
"I'm a chick now, so stop callin' me Raph, okay?"
Leo smiled and said, "I'll try. Will take some time, though."
"Let's…."
Leo's cell rang again. "Hello?"
"Leo," Donnie said animatedly. "You'll never guess what I heard. Put Raph on speakerphone."
"What?" Leo said and did as his brother said.
"Well, the news was on and…"
"And what, egghead?" Raphael said. "Spill it."
"Well," Donnie said. "There was a Bill passed and I knew one would potentially be passed, but I wasn't positive, so I said nothing, so you guys wouldn't have your hopes dashed."
"Out with it!" Raphael said impatiently.
"Okay, okay, hothead," Don said. "We have rights. Starting now, which means…."
Raphael's eyes shone with happiness and he said excitedly, as he flung his arms around Leo's waist, "Which means we can get an apartment and have a good life. No more damp and smelly sewers. Hello, freedom and air and….Baby, just think how awesome our life's gonna be!"
"And this is really true, Don?" Leo said. "No hoax? For real?"
"Yep. I'm going to apply to uni and Mikey can study to be a chef and….We could all buy a place topside. It's cheaper than all of us renting individually."
"But me and Leo wanna be alone, Donnie!" Raphael chimed in. "And have ya got plans ta take Splinter with ya?"
"No. He doesn't want to go. Raph, I understand you want Leo and you to be alone, but for the foreseeable future and until we're all adjusted topside, I think we should remain a family. The four of us. You guys will have your privacy, but at least we'll be able to watch out for one another and have each other's backs in case of danger and it'll be so cool. We could get jobs too. Leo would be an amazing cop and Raph, well, he'd be good at auto repair or something and….. Leo, you're quiet. Not happy about it?"
"I am, just floored. Never thought it'd happen. What does Mikey think?"
"Overjoyed. So, what do you think of a place together?"
"Makes sense, but Donnie, do you really think we'll fit in to the human world? We're still mutants."
"It's worth a try. Beats living down here. I'm game."
"Me too, as long as Leo's on board," Raphael said. "Leo? Come on. Please?" Raphael begged, looking intently into his brother's eyes.
Unable to refuse him, Leo nodded and said, "All right. I'm in."
"Cool," Donnie said. "I'm going to check out the apartments online. Will call you later. Ciao."
"Ain't that incredible?" Raphael said, his arms still around Leo's waist. "We're gonna live topside, like real people and get real jobs. Well, ya. Ya'd be a fantastic cop. I'll stay at home and will be yer lovin' wife and make ya meals and cook and clean and look after the babies."
"Thought you were against that," Leo said with a smile.
"Well, I was, but yer givin' me a chance ta be yer mate and I wanna return the favor by bein' all ya need and want," Raphael said tenderly and planted a kiss on Leo's lips. "I want ya ta see that I am the one and that I can make ya happy and make ya feel that ya don't never want no one else. That I'm always gonna be enough for ya."
"You don't have to be a doormat either, Ra…Tasha, okay? It's a partnership. Not a dictatorship and you're not a slave."
"Only in bed sometimes then?" Raphael said with a wink.
"Kinky, huh?"
"Uh, huh. I think ya are too and always have been. Ya just hid it well. We could do that."
"We will," Leo said and kissed his mate. "Let's get some rest for now. Donnie will call later and…."
"Then we can move on with the rest a our lives," Raphael said and grinned.
They climbed into bed and snuggled up against one another, Raphael resting his head on Leo's plastron.
This is perfect, Raphael thought, as he closed his eyes. Me and Leo are a couple for real and we're gonna live topside and have the best life. I couldn't be happier!
A/N Now I could end the story here. They're giving things a real try and are happy, but what fun would that be? How will they fare in human society?
