Leo slept hard that night and resisted the pull of wakefulness the next morning as his senses began coming back to him. He attempted to burrow further into his pillow, only to realize several moments later that his pillow smelled like Raph because he was actually attempting to burrow his face into Raph's shoulder.

He opened his bleary eyes and looked down the lines of their bodies. He had ended up halfway on top of Raph's plastron, with one of his legs resting comfortably between Raph's legs, and with Raph's heated arm still wrapped around his middle. He swallowed hard at the sight of them entwined in such a way and wished he could go back to sleep to prolong it, especially since he was fully aware that Raph was already awake.

Instead he lifted his head and met Raph's wide awake eyes with a shy smile as he did his best in the confining hammock to back off of Raph and return to his own side. Raph didn't exactly smile in return, but he did appear to be watching Leo closely, though for what, Leo wasn't sure.

"Sleep well?" Raph finally asked.

Leo nodded and groaned lightly as he stretched his legs out as straight as he could get them.

"Good," Raph replied as he continued to watch Leo thoughtfully. "Although, you certainly don't half-ass sleeping in." He continued when he saw Leo's confused look. "Ya missed yer meditation time with sensei."

Leo jerked upright at that news and swung himself sideways. It was an attempt to search out Raph's clock, but he only managed to earn a loud shout from Raph as the hammock swung precariously before throwing them both to the ground.

While Raph groaned as they hit the concrete floor, Leo's own fall had been softened by Raph's body and he now found himself planted squarely on top of the other turtle with their plastrons sandwiched together. Leo watched as Raph's face twisted in a grimace as he rubbed at the back of his head.

"Sorry. I'm sorry Raph. Are you okay?"

Raph groaned once more and the sound vibrated through Raph's plastron and straight to Leo's in a way that made Leo's breathing immediately quicken. He was concerned for Raph, but he was also acutely aware of just every part of Raph's body that he was currently touching, from their plastrons right down to their thighs.

Leo watched as Raph opened his eyes to glare at him and his mouth to speak. But then Raph closed his mouth and said nothing, seeming to decide instead to just stare up at Leo's face as if reading it, making Leo wonder what thoughts his face was revealing. He couldn't possibly mask it right now, though. Not when this felt so nice. And goddamn it, if Raph's legs shifted between his thighs one more time an actual churr was going to roll up his throat. He could feel the beginnings of a rumble in his chest and -

"Are you guys fighting?"

Leo's knees and hands immediately hit the ground so that he could push himself up off Raph at the first sound of Michelangelo's voice. He was standing in the next instant with a hand out as an offer to help Raph up.

"No," Leo finally answered as he pulled Raph to his own feet. But then he immediately wondered if he should've just said yes. Yes was believable. What good reason did he have for being sprawled out on top of Raph on Raph's bedroom floor?

"I bet Leo he couldn't get in the hammock without tipping it. And I won." Raph's voice was smug as he walked past Leo and headed towards the door. "Breakfast ready?"

"Yeah," Michelangelo said, already turning to lead the way back to the kitchen, "although you better hurry up. Leonardo has already eaten half of it by himself."

Leo watched them both leave and moved across the room to hurriedly pull on his gear and be thankful to have a moment to collect himself.

Once he arrived in the kitchen, he eyed Leonardo warily as he took his own usual seat next to Raph. Raph was already chewing and Leo offered Mikey a thanks when a plate of food was set in front of him.

"You're an excellent, chef, Mikey," Leonardo said. "Honestly, we wouldn't dare eat anything Michelangelo cooked for us."

Mikey beamed back at him and quickly offered him some more food.

"No, honestly, I think three platefuls is enough," But he smiled at the smallest turtle before he turned his attention to Raph and Leo across from him. Both were being quiet and appeared to be forcing all of their attention on the plates in front of them. "I was surprised to not see you first thing this morning, Leo. I hope I didn't overstep my bounds by asking if I could join you and your father?"

To this, Leo did stop eating, and raised his gaze up to Leonardo. "No," he said, assuredly. "I merely slept in."

Leonardo nodded, reading the honesty in his own counterpart's face. "Well, then I hope you didn't oversleep because of a poor night's sleep. Perhaps because you were sleeping somewhere unusual? I'll understand if you want your own room back if I'm still here tonight."

Leo quickly shook his head, vaguely aware that Raph had stopped eating and was now side-eyeing him. "The room is all yours while you're here. I have no complaints about my sleep last night."

"Couldn't have been too terrible a night's rest since you and Raphie were fighting first thing this morning," Mikey added cheerfully.

"Don't call me that," Raph growled while Leo simultaneously insisted again that they hadn't been fighting.

"Fine, you weren't fighting," Mikey said with an eye roll. "You just had him pinned to the ground."

Leo's mouth opened and then shut. He still didn't have a good excuse anyway, not that his brain was being extremely helpful, except to re-visual himself on top of Raph.

"It can be fun to get in a little physical activity in the morning," Leonardo said, pulling the attention back to himself while he kept his own eyes on Raph. "You want to show me your moves Raph?"

Leo choked on his toast.

"Sure." Raph leaned back in his chair and whacked the back of Leo's shell a few times until he stopped coughing. Then he rose from the table and turned to head to his room for his own gear. "I'll meet ya in the dojo in a few."

Leo forced down some water from the glass Mikey handed him as he did his best to glare with his watering eyes towards Leonardo.

Leonardo who was pointedly avoiding his gaze.

"Well, it looks like I've got a distraction while we wait for Donnie." Leonardo rose from the table as well and headed back towards the dojo.

"You okay, bro?"

Leo dropped the scowl as he turned his head in Mikey's direction. "That depends."

"On?"

"On how long you think it'll take Donnie to get here."


The fun thing about sparring against Leonardo was that he had the same mannerisms and tells as Leo. A right shoulder drop meant he was about to try to sweep with his right leg. A subtle but noticeable to Raph grip tightening on sword handles meant he was about to go on the offensive.

Raph could hold his own against these things. What he couldn't hold up against was Leonardo's extra weight and strength, which put Raph to the mats repeatedly. He wasn't giving up, however, and he was back on his feet after Leonardo released him from yet another hold.

Leo had strongly suggested that the two fight with weapons as logically it made sense to get some weapons training in. What he didn't mention was that he thought if their hands were busy with weapons, they couldn't be busy touching each other through the spar. However, Leonardo still managed to use his legs to pin Raph more often than not.

"Well I can see why you were so preoccupied last night on the phone," Karai stated as she seated herself along the sidelines next to Leo. "Is that supposed to be you?"

"Yes," Leo said flatly.

He was doing his best to maintain a level tone as he silently seethed on the inside. Could Raph really not take Leonardo down at least once? Was he falling under this guy on the mats repeatedly on purpose? And if the stubborn mule would just concede instead of popping back up like a jack in the box, they could all quit and go find something

"Hey!" Leo jumped as Karai poked a finger sharply in the side of his neck.

"I've been talking to you. Where's your head at?"

Leo turned back to the mats. "No where. Training."

"Uh huh." Karai turned towards the center of the room as well and watched Raph and this much larger Leonardo spar. "So, was he on like growth hormones? Steroids?" She couldn't help but smile as she teased Leo. "Think he comes from a land of giants?"

"You're not funny," Leo said dryly, despite the fact that Mikey was chuckling from his other side.

"Still, that guy looks like he could literally carry Raph off with him if he wanted." She watched Leo glance at her, his expression clearly wary.

Their silent conversation was interrupted by another loud grunt as Leonardo managed to pin Raph to the mats yet again. Leonardo grinned down at Raph, an uncharacteristic facial expression when it came to serious sparring, but he couldn't help but enjoy the way Raph's green eyes sparked back at him in defiance.

"You give up yet, little brother?"

"Not your little brother."

Leonardo chuckled, and continued to stay right where he was on top of the other turtle. "You know, you're damn adorable, especially when angry."

A growl rose up Leo's throat before he could stop it. Then his his eyes narrowed in angry disbelief. Because Raph, who was trying to look indignant at the comments, couldn't quite pull it off with his skin flushing that way.

"Hey, I'm the adorable one!" Mikey chimed in as he jumped to his feet and headed towards the other two.

Mikey's approach finally moved Leonardo to release Raph. "Yes, you are as well," Leonardo said, placating the smaller, freckled Mikey with a smile sent in his direction.

"Leo, listen," Karai said in a low voice meant for just the two of them. "You were the one who told me to get off my ass and make a move if I wanted Shini to stay here with me instead of going back to Japan."

Leo's attention moved back to her face now that Raph was free from the Leonardo giant. His eyes were still angry and his voice came out as a lowered growl, but Leo couldn't help to say, "And I was right about that."

"Yes, you were oh mighty fearless leader. And Shini and I are very happy now. And since I owe you one, let me return the favor. You might want to get off your ass if you want to keep Raphael here."