The height of the building was beginning to mess with his head, the openness of the city was beautiful but the ant sized vehicles below him turned his stomach. His eyes were wide, watching his brother's leap from one buildings edge to the another. The dark night sky threatened to swallow his brothers as they chased each other across the solid surfaces. He stood frozen in his spot, mouth dry and throat knotted, his eyes began searching - counting - his brothers. One, Mikey laughed like a mad man as he bounded over the edge, landing perfectly on the other side. Two, Raph grinned following the youngest, landing on his heels. Raph chased him down, finally catching him with a soft punch to the shoulder. "You're it!" He exclaimed, dodging his brother's arms and pivoting, running away. Three, Leo smiled quietly watching the two, completely left out of the game. He was amazed when Mikey jumped back onto the solid ground shared by Leo and Don.
"Tag!" He exclaimed, voice still resounding on the building walls in its high pitch. Leo grinned following the youngest, determination in his eyes. Mikey cleared the empty void between the buildings effortlessly. He was the best jumper of the four. Leo followed, making a mad dash for the cement edge, foot scraping the surface. He pushed himself from the edge, feet dangling below his body and his arms out stretched reaching for the edge. Don's mouth opened but no sound came out, his stomach twisted on itself was he watched his oldest brother miss the building. His feet felt heavy and refused to move. Leo hung from the building, fingers grasping at whatever they could, feet swinging wildly trying to find a ledge. Raph rushed to the edge and dropped to his knees. He barked something at Mike, Don couldn't hear. He watched as Raph wrapped his hands around Leo's forearms and began pulling him to the surface, the buildings outer wall tearing at his plastron. Leo was breathless as Raph released his grip. He sat on the flat ground, catching his breath and tending his wounds. Mike knelt beside him and wrapped an arm around Leo's shoulders. Finally air returned to Don's lungs as his throat allowed him to breath. Everything turned into a blur as he ran towards the buildings edge. "DONNY!"
"We were kids." Leo's voice was deeper now. Don nodded, eyes surveying the rooftop. The night wasn't as dark as it had been then. More buildings were built, more lights were used, more people lived here now. He stood in the center of the rooftop, frozen. Leo stood a foot away, watching his brother's chest rapidly rise and fall. Panic was starting to return to Don's body. His mind was crippled in fear.
"I know." He whispered. Leo nodded still keeping a protective eye on his brother. Don tried to shake the feeling and slowly made his way to the edge of the building. It wasn't the same one, that one was gone, a taller one rebuilt in its place. His eyes widened as he dared to peek over the edge. The streetlights cast tiny rings on the ground broken by the streets curb. His stomach flipped as a car drove past, no bigger than a bug. Its headlights illuminated the street below, tiny broken white lines running down its middle. Don swallowed hard, trying to get past the knot in his throat. He looked straight down now, his entire perspective shifting. Everything seemed to fall away, the ground falling out below him. His head started swimming, his eyes blurring. Vertigo set in. Don managed a soft whimper as his body crumbled below him, knees scraping the rough roof. Leo rushed to his brother, wrapping his arms around Don's middle and pulling him away from the side. His breathing was heavy and his pulse rapid. He clenched his eyes closed, fighting the dizzy feeling. Leo sat behind his brother, arms still wrapped tight, and began gently rocking his trembling body.
"It's okay Donny." Leo cooed softly, trying to calm him. He nodded raising his chin off his chest. His breathing slowly began to return to normal, his body stopped shaking.
"I can't." His voice was barely above a whisper. Leo nodded, not wanting to push his brother. He slowly stood, offering a hand to Don. His fingers gently wrapped around his brother's wrist as he helped him off the ground. Don finally choked out a sigh, following Leo to the fire escape. He tightly wrapped his fingers around the cold steel as they made their way to the ground, the building slowly growing taller above them.