A/N: Next chapter! Next chapter! I promise everything will be revealed in the next chapter. I've just had so much fun watching everyone guess at what's to come. I couldn't help myself. Sorry. Bad me. Shame on you, August, keeping everyone hanging. But, it's ever so much fun. Okay, I'll be good.
Disclaimer: see chapter one
"Want another omelette, Leo?" April asked.
Leonardo finished wolfing down his second omelette and nodded. "Yes, please," he replied.
April picked up the skillet and went over to the table, carefully lifting the omelette onto Leonardo's plate. She smiled as he began devouring it. April went back to the stove and began frying up some bacon.
"This is really good," Leonardo said, taking a sip of orange juice.
"I haven't met anyone who can eat as much as Casey," April teased. "What do you eat down in the sewers, anyway?"
Leonardo cut off another piece of omelette and popped it into his mouth. He politely swallowed before speaking.
"We eat whatever we can salvage," Leonardo answered. "I don't think I've ever had freshly cooked food before."
"You poor thing," April said.
Leonardo shrugged. "We do what we can to survive. That's the nature of living in secrecy."
"There must be better places to live than the sewers, though," Casey commented, coming into the kitchen just in time to catch Leonardo's comment.
"I really don't have much choice, Mr. Jones," Leonardo told him.
"Casey, please. Mr. Jones is my old man," Casey said.
Leonardo bowed his head. "Sorry. Casey."
Casey sat down at the table. "So, what's the breakfast topic of conversation?" he asked.
"Leo's on his third omelette," April told him, making Casey give Leonardo an impressed look. "I was just asking him how he manages to eat in the sewers."
"I dare say that's not very easy," Casey said.
Leonardo shook his head. "No, it's not. Probably the main reason why I haven't been able to gain any muscle mass."
"I thought turtles were supposed to be scrawny."
"Casey," April chastised.
Leonardo laughed. "No, it's okay, April. I'm quite used to it. My brothers are always reminding me of it."
"Still. You shouldn't be reminded of it from strangers," April said.
"We're strangers?" Casey asked. "I thought we were buddies."
Leonardo gave him a questioning look. "Buddies?" he echoed.
"Sure. You saved us, we saved you. You bunked with us for the night. And, now we're breaking bread together," Casey explained, pouring himself a glass of orange juice. "I'd call that buddies."
Leonardo looked down at his plate, feeling a warm, tingling feeling wash over him. A small smile began tugging at the corners of his lips.
"I've never had a buddy before," he whispered.
April finished up the bacon and put it on plate lined with paper towels. She walked over to the table and set the plate in the middle before sitting down. She picked up a slice of homemade bread and buttered it. Casey dropped a few pieces of bacon onto his plate along with a slice of bread.
"So, how did you end up a five foot tall talking turtle, anyway?" he asked, taking a bite of bread.
Leonardo felt his face burn at the question. "I...don't know," he answered shamefully. "I can't remember."
"How can you not remember something like that?" Casey asked.
April hit him in the arm. "Casey," she hissed.
Leonardo sighed sadly. "There are some things about my life that I...fail to recall," he confessed. "I've always been the weakest of my brothers, my sensei has yet to fail to remind me of that. While my brother, Raphael was blessed with everything a father could ever want in a son, I wasn't so lucky. Master Splinter has always said I have bad blood. Going so far as to say it was cursed. Why he would say that, I have no idea."
"What kind of a father tells his son he has cursed blood?" Casey asked in disbelief.
"I once heard Raph mention two names: Ti and Andy," Leonardo continued. "But, I haven't the foggiest idea of who they are, or why Raph would mention the names."
"Maybe it has something to do with your inability to remember certain things," April suggested.
"Maybe," Leonardo agreed. He held his head in his hands. "I don't know. I just wish I knew what made my brothers change."
"Change?" Casey asked.
Leonardo looked up at his new friends. He knew he shouldn't be giving away family secrets, but he felt he could trust these humans. After all, they did take him in and nurse him back to health.
"There was a time when we could actually be in the same room together without trying to kill each other," Leonardo explained. "My brothers were kind, generous. But, then sensei snapped and started filling Raph's head with so much poison that he became resentful, practically turning on me, Donnie and Mikey. The other two followed down Raph's path, but I still kept the honorable ways. I knew we were better than that. Where they started talking about revenge and taking pleasure in causing other people pain, I wouldn't have any part of it." He sighed. "Maybe that's why Splinter says my blood is cursed."
"Sounds to me like your brothers need to be reminded of what it means to fight with honor," April put in.
"And what better man...uh...turtle for that job than the honorable Leonardo himself?" Casey asked, patting Leonardo on the shoulder.
Leonardo shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I don't know," he muttered.
April reached over and took his hand. "Leo, it seems to me that your brothers have forgotten what honor is," she said. "They need to be reminded. You can show them that they can fight and still be honorable." She cupped her hand over his cheek, lifting his head up. "You've demonstrated it, last night when you fought off those Foot soldiers."
Leonardo lowered his gaze to the table. He knew she spoke the truth. He just didn't know how he was supposed to remind them. His eyes fell on his swords, which were propped up against the couch in the living room. April could see the gears turning behind Leonardo's eyes. He had a plan. Leonardo looked back at his new friends.
"Thank you, April. Casey. I will show them. I'll remind them of what we used to fight for," he said.
"Good for you, Leo," Casey cheered. "But, finish your breakfast first. Can't go fightin' on an empty stomach."
The lair was just as dark and foreboding as when he left it the night before. Steeling himself, Leonardo stepped across the threshold, half expecting Raphael to ambush him as soon as he entered. He was pleasantly surprised when no one jumped out at him. Pulling at the strap across his chest, Leonardo walked further into the lair.
"Was half expectin' ya to not come back," sounded a sudden deep voice.
Leonardo jumped and spun around, eyes turning upward. Raphael leaned on the catwalk railing, eyes glaring and dangerous. Donatello and Michelangelo came out of their rooms, both looking like they wanted to de-shell him.
"Why have you returned?" Splinter asked, also appearing out of his room.
Good. Now, that the gang's all here, Leonardo thought. He looked up at Raphael. "I challenge you to a duel, Raphael," he declared.
There was a short silence until Raphael burst out into a fit of laughter.
"You're jokin', right?" the red masked leader asked. "Tell me you're jokin'."
Leonardo shook his head. "No, Raph. I'm not," he replied.
"Dude, you can't even beat Donnie," Michelangelo said.
"Like you're any stronger," Donatello interjected.
"And what brought on this suicide idea?" Raphael asked. "Cause, I'm actually quite curious."
Leonardo swallowed thickly. "I've had time to think. And, I've come to the conclusion that your reign of terror needs to stop."
The humor vanished from Raphael's eyes. The amber orbs narrowed slightly, igniting into a blazing firestorm. He pushed off the railing.
"Alright, then. You wanna fight?"
Leonardo cried out as Raphael vaulted over the railing and slammed his fist into the floor where he had been standing. The brother in blue whipped out his swords just in time to catch Raphael's sais.
"Then, let's fight," the eldest snarled.
Michelangelo, Donatello and Splinter watched as the two brothers battled it out. It was interesting to see Leonardo's resolve. Donatello had to wonder where his blue masked sibling found his inner strength. However, it was painfully obvious that he wasn't going to win this fight. Splinter watched on, disturbed by his youngest son's fighting style. The boy fought as he had when he was younger. It seemed Leonardo had tapped into his lost strength, but Raphael was still going to be the victor. Leonardo knew the rules. When they issued a challenge it was a fight to the end. There was no room for weak links.
Leonardo grunted as Raphael delivered a hard kick to his chest. His swords tumbled to the floor as he fell flat on his shell. Raphael put a foot on his brother's chest, chest heaving, eyes burning. Leonardo looked up at his brother, panting for breath. This was his chance. He hadn't intended to win this fight. So, he would give Raphael a choice.
"You know the rules," Raphael said.
"So, that's it, then," Leonardo panted. "You're going to kill your own brother? Your own flesh and blood?"
"Why do you hesitate, Raphael?" Splinter asked. "Finish it."
Raphael gave his father a quick glance, but Leonardo's voice drew his attention back.
"It doesn't have to be this way," Leonardo said. "Life doesn't have to be a constant death match."
"Raphael!" Splinter snapped.
"Splinter says," Raphael started.
"Splinter says. Splinter says," Leonardo said. "When are you gonna think for yourself? That's what a real leader does."
Raphael stumbled back as if he had been struck. He didn't know why, but his brother's words rang with an air of truth. He looked down at his weapons. For the first time in years, he didn't know what to do. He had always done what Splinter told him. He followed orders, that's what he did. He led his brothers the way Splinter wanted him to lead them.
"You don't have to be a blood thirsty tyrant, Raph," Leonardo said, his voice a low whisper. "You can fight with honor."
"I..."
"Raphael, inside. Now," Splinter commanded. "The rest of you, make yourselves busy."
Like a well trained dog, Raphael followed Splinter into his room. Leonardo pushed himself to his feet and picked up his swords. He didn't know if his words had any effect on his brother, but at least he tried. Donatello and Michelangelo disappeared into the brainy turtle's room and closed the door. Leonardo sheathed his swords and headed for the dojo.
Only time would tell.
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