AUTHORS NOTE
Hi. I'm thrilled with all the comments I'm getting! Thank you everyone who is supporting me and my story! Now, where are Casey and April? I guess you'll find out! : 3 votes for my previous couples are still being counted so please keep voting!
END OF AUTHORS NOTE
The hammock beneath Raph swayed gently as the red banded turtle began to awaken from his deep slumber. At of all of his brothers, Raph was the heaviest sleeper. Everyone expected it to be Mikey, but nope. It was Raph.
Raph ran over yesterday's events and chuckled. Fearless could be fun if he loosened up a little. As Raph remembered the Halloween party, he smiled. Leo might have a good time there he thought as he sat up and got out of his hammock.
Raph walked out of his room after putting his gear on and went to the dojo to warm up before practice. While he was making his way over, he could make out some grunts and thuds coming from his destination.
Leo's up. Raph walked in and gave his brother who had not seen him a smirk. Leo was practicing on a dummy and boy! Raph couldn't keep his eyes off his figure! Leo kept twisting and twirling, getting shots in and sneaking around.
He is pretty good looking Raph considered as he watched his brother move. Raph shook his head. What are you thinking Raph! He's your brother! He will never look at you like that! And besides, he deserves someone better…
Raph shook his heads to clear the voices in his head and stepped forward quickly to enter the room. While he was doing so, he tripped on one of the mats then over the weights and went flying until he crashed into the wall.
"Raph!" Leo cried out as he saw his brother's dizzy figure against the wall. Leo went over and kneeled next to his brother.
"Raph? You ok bro?" he asked unsure of his brother's reactions. Raph just opened his eyes and looked up at Leo. He rolled his eyes and sat up. Trust Leo to go into leader mode.
"Raph! Ok, so… do you feel…well… like I was yesterday?" Leo asked uncertain of what to do. Don was sleeping and hadn't had any coffee, so bad idea to wake him and Mikey wouldn't have a clue so any point waking him.
Raph just chuckled. "You mean like a loopy, stuck up, pain the ass, princess?" he asked, watching as a faint blush started to appear on his cheeks.
"Shut up"
"Hey! You asked for it! Literally!"
Leo sighed and rolled his eyes, but the beginnings of a smile began to tug at the corners of his mouth and Raph knew he had won. He stood up and went over to his weights.
Leo resumed his attack on the lifeless dummy and they worked in silence. What neither of them knew was the other kept stealing glances towards them. Leo would watch muscles ripple under emerald skin as his brother did some weights while Raph would be watching his brothers flexible figure go in all different ways
After a 45 minute warm up, Leo remembered their challenge.
"So Raph" he asked casually. "Think you can beat in our little bet eh?"
Raph only blinked in utter confusion until he remembered their deal.
"No" he stated calmly. Leo's eyes widened in surprise. That was until Raph's trademark smirk was lit on his face.
"I know I can!" he said and continued beating up his punching bag while Leo closed his eyes and focused on his katas.
Raph stared at Leo. He felt something towards Leo and knew what it was. Whenever he saw his leader, his heart would jump and miss a beat as cheesy as it sounds, and whenever his brother smiled at him, warmth like fire would spread around him.
But Raph didn't want to feel this way. It made him feel weak, girly and vulnerable. He didn't like the fluttery feeling when he was happy or the cold fire when his brother complimented someone else. He didn't like it one bit.
"Morning guys" a sleepy voice sounded from the front of the door and the two turtles turned to see Don walking in tiredly. An idea struck Raph. Maybe Don can help me sort out these feelings!
Mikey came running in next and jumped on Don's back like he used to as a kid. Don smiled and raced around the dojo as Mikey got into position. He stood on his brother's shell, crouched down while Don lowered his body as well and with a massive push, leaped off the ground and into the air. Don jumped to give Mikey a boost while Mikey started doing some tumbles and twists in the air before landing.
"That was great Don!" Mikey said his smile so contagious everyone was smiling. Mikey was great at acrobatics and flexibility stuff. Leo was alright, but even he knew that he would never out match his brother's skill.
"Totally was! Now, what are we doing for training?" Don replied. "I want to get back to my new project!"
Leo nodded and told them the days plan. In the morning, they worked on katas. Raph was actually pretty good and Leo wanted Raph to know that he had noticed his succession.
"Nice job Raph! Those are coming along great!" Leo smiles. Raph's heart was a bird trying to get of a cage, fluttering here and there but finding no escape. Raph just scowled at himself before continuing. But Leo had different thoughts. Why did he glare at me? I was only congratulating him on his progress.
After a while, a loud rumble filled the air and Don suddenly started to go a bright red.
"S-Sorry guys!" he mumbled, while Mikey just raced out of the kitchen, yelling out to his brothers that he would start breakfast. Don followed him out, still red in the face but Raph and Leo stayed in the dojo.
Leo glanced sideways at Raph and smiled. Raph looked at him and smiled back. They both walked out of the dojo when Raph suddenly pushed Leo lightly to the left. Leo glared playfully at his brother and shoved him back. This went on for a while until Leo poked out his tongue, shoved his brother and ran.
"Oh no you don't!" he heard Raph's mock growl and turned to see his brother racing after him. He squeaked and hid behind the lounge, only to be captured by Raph's hands seconds later.
"Okay! Okay! I give up!" he yelled as Raph lightly started to tickle/punch him. Raph just chuckled deeply and stared at his brother who was underneath him. Leo stared back and gave his younger brother a shy smile. Raph and Leo leapt away from each other when they heard their younger brother calling them in for breakfast.
They ran in quickly ate a quick breakfast and Leo told them they have free time until 11:30am to do some sparring. Don walked to his lab, Leo went to his room and Mikey went to his comic book collection while turning on the TV.
Raph followed Don. He trusted Don not to tell and he knew that the nerdy kid would have some sort of scientific reason.
Don mildly glanced at Raph before saying anything.
"So you finally came to me about your little Leo problem hey?" Don smirked as Raph went bright red.
"H-how did you know?" he asked, all confidence gone. Don turned and smiled at his brother. He pointed towards the lab door as if saying, we'll talk there.
As soon as the lab door was shut Raph grabbed Don and pushed him against the wall. Thank God this room was sound proof.
"How the shell do ya know Don?" he growled in his brother's face, anger sparking the air.
Don rolled his eyes. "I won't tell you unless you let go of me" he stated calmly. Raph growled as he released his brother of his grip. Don walked over to his computer and started typing in some nonsense on a graph page or something. Whatever it was looked sciency.
"Now, I know this because of all the signals you've been displaying" Don stated as though it was simple. "As in you don't fight with him anymore which could mean that you want a change of relationship. I mean, after defeating winters statues you have been pretty close."
Raph though this through and gave a half nod to Don who took it as a meaning to continue his hypothesis.
"You're also now very caring about Leo. And you always volunteer to go get him or to patrol with him and by the time you get back, you're both smiling like you had the best time of your life. Oh! And one more thing. I only confirmed my suspicions about you liking Leo yesterday when you were helping him. You did everything to make sure Leo had a good time. And when he didn't want to sleep alone, you stayed beside him. So that's how I confirmed my suspicions" finished Don with a proud look on his face as though he had solved world hunger
Raph just stared in shock. Yikes! Don knew that because of some of things I'm doing? Clever turtle. He thought bitterly.
"So what should I do?" Raph asked. Don looked and smiled. Don knew that the sooner Raph told Leo, the better for their family.
"Tell him."
Raph's eyes were the size of bowling balls.
"What?" he basically screamed. Don flinched under the glare that he was receiving.
"Unless you want someone else to or maybe die without telling him of course" he added dryly but Raph's gaze had turned into one with pain. Don took pity on the turtle and sat him down. Raph didn't notice a thing as he was too caught up in his thoughts.
"Bro?" Don said gently. Raph just shook his head and buried his face in his hands.
A muffled noise came out and Don asked him to repeat.
"He's gonna hate me." He whispered.
"No he won't! He'll understand" Don protested. "Now, you get out of here and go do what Raph does to let out stress while I'll go back to my project" Raph just stood up and walked away, mumbling something that could have been a thanks. Don smiled. Leo and Raph? Perfect for each other!
Raph just went to the dojo and started to do the kata's that they had been practicing earlier on. He never noticed the shadow that was watching him. When he finished, a small clapping broke out. He turned and saw Leo walking towards him.
"Nice job Raph!" Leo smiled and put a hand on his brother's shoulder. Raph nodded his thanks and begin to head towards the punching bag. Leo's voice out him to a stop.
"Raphael? Why are you ignoring me?" Leo sounded hurt. Raph just turned and gave a smirk.
"Just getting ya all tense for our sparring match later on." He said and Leo gave him a returning smirk almost as good as Raph's.
"Really? How do you know its
Working?" Leo asked teasingly. Raph only narrowed his eyes and he walked back before leaning close into his brother.
"Because you're acting superior" he whispered. And then walked away not looking back. Leo just rolled his eyes and sat down in a meditating position until Raph gave a sudden yelp. He turned to see his brother was clinging onto the punching bag.
Confused, Leo walked over until he saw a very large huntsman spider strolling along the bricks. Leo laughed and Raph glared at him
"It aint funny Leo!" he flinched as the spider faced him (Kinda)
Leo sighed and got a piece of paper and cup. He managed to capture the spider and, with Raph following, he took it outside the lair far away. Once it disappeared into the sewers Raph relaxed a bit. They began to walk home when they Raph stopped.
"What's wrong?" Leo said confused. Raph didn't respond "What's wron-" he was cut off as he saw what Raph has seen.
In corner of the sewer near the pipe lay a mangled piece of fur. No. a g=dead dog. Leo rushed over and saw that the animal had died only a couple of days ago. Raph followed when Leo suddenly recognized who it was.
"Hunter" he said so softly Raph almost didn't hear it.
"Huh"
"Hunter" Leo repeated fear rising up as memories started to swarm him
Flash back
"Come on Leo!" Raph yelled as they raced their way through the sewers. Leo and Raph had just spent the day exploring the various channels of the sewer and were now returning home to the lair. Don and Mikey were going to meet up with them 2 tunnels from where they currently were running along.
They were racing. As usual. Everything between the two young turtles was a competition. They were each other's opposites and although different, were very close. They kept running until an unnatural growling sound erupted from behind. Leo grabbed his brother and they hid in a pipe. It was small and confining but hid them well.
A large dog with dark brown fur was prowling around the sewers, trying to distinguish the scent of his prey from the smell of the sewage. He growled as he became frustrated with his search. He then turned his head in the direction of the turtles
Leo was shaking so Raph grabbed his hand. Leo looked up. As the turtles grew older, they had learned to speak without words. Their eyes and body language spoke for them. They would tell jokes and stories with the use of a few gestures and expressions, the other knowing exactly what they were saying.
At that moment Raph pulled Leo's hand to wear his heart was. Leo looked at his brother and read the message that shone in his brothers eyes.
Calm your heart beat to match mine, that way you will relax and we can get out of here.
Leo took in a deep breath and did his best to match Raph's heart beat by slowing his own racing one. It didn't take long and soon Leo had a plan.
He told Raph through hand signals: he goes one way, and Leo will go the other, and then cross so the dog is confused. After they did that, they would throw stones at the dog and bolt back to a secret passage to the meeting place. Raph smiled and squeezed his brother's hands. Leo smiled back.
So they put the plan into action. Raph went one way and Leo went the other. The dog barked and started to chase, but was confused in which one to chase. Raph had nearly reached the pile of stones when he heard his brother scream.
"RAPH!"
He turned and saw his brother crouched against the edge of the wall with the dog closing in on him, snarling and barking saliva in all directions.
"Leo! I'm coming!" Raph called as he raced across the sewer. The dog had reared up and was launching those powerful jaws downwards, ready to go for the kill.
Leo scrunched his eyes shut, waiting for the searing agony to fall upon him but it never came. Leo slowly opened his eyes, only to look up in astonishment and horror.
Raph had managed to get between Leo and the dog and blocked the dog's murderous bite by rasing his hand and taking the bite on his arm. He tensed and screwed his face in pain but kicked and punched with his other arm.
Leo watched as the dog whimpered and yelped as it ran away and he watched the blood drip from his brother's arm. He reached up and grabbed Raph's face.
"Why did you do that?" he asked tears pouring out of his eyes.
"Because I couldn't see you in pain. I don't want you to get hurt" Raph said wiping the tears from his brother's face. Leo just hugged his brother tight, afraid that he might lose him. Raph returned the hug and they both headed home...
End of Flashback
Leo reached out to Raph's arm and traced the scar that was still visible after all these years. Raph just watched his brother. Even when he was that age, he had a small crush on his older brother though how could he ever tell him? Some secrets are just best kept.
Raph smiled. "I couldn't bear to see you in pain" he repeated the same words that he had told Leo all those years ago. Leo looked up with tears and hugged his brother.
"I hated Hunter. But I never thought of the day he would die" Leo whispered. Leo had a fondness for animals great and small, but Hunter was the one animal he couldn't like. But now, Leo patted the dead creature.
"I hope you are happy now." He said gently before standing up. Raph stood as well when Leo suddenly smiled and lunged. Raph was shocked and then remembered with a jolt. The bet! Now of all times?
He smirked and they battled with Raph landing on top of Leo. Leo just reached a hand up and rubbed Raph's cheek. Raph smiled at the gesture and stood up offering his hand to his fallen opponent. Leo took it and stood up. They then stared at each other until Leo pushed his brother.
"Race you home! Last one there's a Mikey"
"I aint a Mikey! Let's go!"
And with that, they ran only to collide with two human figures.
"Leo? Raph?"
April and Casey were staring at them in complete relief.
"Oh thank God you guys are alright! When Don didn't respond to my email, I got worried!" April exclaimed embracing Leo in a hug while Casey and Raph fist pumped.
"That was because Leo went from Fearless Leader to fearless fruit loop overnight" a voice sounded behind them and they turned to see Don walking behind them. "Come in and I'll explain" he said and they all followed into the lair.
The flash back was related to a photo I found and I had to include it! I hope all enjoyed! Bye! I am thinking of doing some music one shots, but I need some votes! They can be based on this and not based on this. I am open to suggestions! Signing out!