Chapter 12

Bonds

Raphael poked his hallway into the hall for the fifth time that minute, glaring at the door that lead to the dojo. Normally he loved the dojo, it was a place to vent his anger and a place to test his skills and help his little brother improve his (mostly dragging him in there, Donnie didn't like to train unless his mother asked him to). And now it currently held an idiot who had the nerve to show up and claim to be their long lost brother *= (which, for some reason every NOONE had a problem with). Why didn't anyone care-

A sudden jerk on the mask trails tightened around his eyes, not enough to hurt but enough so that he stumbled back and jerked his head back to glare at the yanker, now innocently back at the kamado, "Ma-"

"Get over it son, Donnie doesn't need you in there breathing down his neck. He doesn't like it when you do it when he's working and he won't appreciate it now."

Raph frowned again and looked back at the doorway again, his stomach twisting nervously at the thought of Donnie being in the same room as a total stranger. He didn't like it.

"Raphael." Raph almost flinched at his mother's voice except this time her voice was soft. He turned back around to look at her. She had stopped cooking for a moment to stand by his side. Her hand reaching up to place on the back of his neck. A typical mother move, but Raph didn't care, it was already helping him relax, "Son if you go in there now, Donnie won't be able to talk to him at all. I know YOU might like that, but I can't promise that he would forgive you as easily as he normally does."

Great, like Raph needed a reason to feel guilty. To be reminded of the number of times he had to be forgiven by his little brother. The number of times he didn't even have to ask for forgiveness. He'd like to think that he made up for it by always protecting him, no. That's not why he did it-, it was his job-. He felt his mothers thumb stroke his neck lightly, almost feeling his tense muscles inn his neck relax, that was his mother for you-

"Go ahead and go get your brothers, dinner is ready."

Raph charged out of the room in a dead charge and ran right down the hall, sliding the door open. The Fearless idiot was sitting up, eyes groggy from just being woken up. Donatello was placing a bandage where Raph had shot him with an arrow, despite having a needle poked into his face he was smiling. Raph couldn't tell what they were talking about but he walked on in, "Hope I'm not interrupting anything."

As usual Donnie had his smile on his face. But Raph couldn't tell if it came from talking to Fearless or seeing him, "Of course not, to join us?"

It was an attempt to get Raph involved that was obvious. But Raph tried to ignore the smile Fearless was giving him, "Dinner's ready, I thought you might want to know

Donnie nodded and hurried to his feet, brushing off his knees and hell a hand out to Leo (dang it, he meant 'Fearless') and pulled his arm. But when Leo pulled on his own weight Donnie almost went flying forward, had it not been for Raph reaching forward and grabbing Donnie by the back of his shirt. The new weight allowed Fearless to pull himself to his feet. The two started laughing instantly as though it was a big joke, till they saw Raph's expression. With a jerk, Raph pulled Donnie away from Leos grip and marched him out by the shoulders, hissing into his ear," Would you stop talking to him?"

"Why?" Donnie whispered back trying to look back at him. His scalp resting on Raphs chest and looking up at him with light brown confused eyes.

"Just don't." Raph glanced back at Fearless, who lagged behind them (probably didn't hear what they were whispering (and his arm tucked into his kimono top, a white bandage covering the cut that Raph had delivered. But he didn't feel satisfied, because he could have just as easily lost that fight. Even though it had been a draw, he silently swore that he would win if it ever came to another fight.

Aka if Leo threatened Donnie or his mother. Raph felt comfortable with his odds in a future fight, especially with his hidden dart gun hidden under his sleeve.

Raph marched Donnie into the kitchen, Kaede was already kneeling at the low table, and gyuden was shimmering in the middle. Dam why did his mom have to make his favorite dish? He didn't even care about the side dishes. Raph knelt down and scooted over, glancing over at Donnie, and pointedly looked at the spot next to him between him and the edge his mother sat at. Right where he could keep an eye on him.

Donnie gave him a small glare before complying and nestling into the space. Luckily Donnie had enough space, one upside for Donnie being so small.

Fearless took the edge next to Raph (better that one then the one next to his mother) and after a small prayer and servings were spread out. Raph watched Fearless over his bowl (Raph had a tendency to plow through bowls) who was eating rather clumsily. But Raph didn't care; he looked over at Donnie's bowl which was almost entirely filled with white rice. A usual routine, no matter what Raph did, Donnie never liked to eat as much meat as he did. Speaking of which, "How ya feelin' Donnie?" he asked lowly

"I feel fine Raph-"

Raph was sure though, the thing about Donnie's coughing spells was that they never happened just 'once'. He caught glimpse of a familiar small black kettle hidden behind the gyuden. Apparently (judging by that wink that Kaede just gave him,) his mother was thinking the same thing. He reached over and took the kettle pouring its contents into Donnie's yunomi who didn't fail to notice, "Raph I already took my medicine-"

"Yeah, well too bad." it was pretty much the only thing Raph had a say in. It was up to him to make sure Donnie took his medicine. And deal with the argument that followed much like now

"I feel fine-"

"And it's going to stay that way." he pushed the yunomi towards Donnie. Who glared at him weakly before taking the yunomi and sighing. Raph noticed that Fearless looked up at Donnie with that same annoying worried look on his face," Do you need to take medicine often?"

"Only when Raph gets worried." By the way Donnie is looking at Raph, he is trying to tease him, and But Raph couldn't return the humor. Because the joke was too serious, He had spent too many nights combating Donnie's fever for it to be funny.

"You shouldn't joke like that, I know I wouldn't want Mikey to do that. And I'm sure that Raphael-"

"Raph." he couldn't stop it from slipping, mostly to keep Fearless from lecturing Donnie. It wasn't in his place anyway.

Instead of shutting him up, Fearless eyes seemed to turn confused, "Pardon?"

"don't call me Raphael. I prefer Raph." Great, he shouldn't of said anything. Fearless's face was lighting up, "But that doesn't mean we're friends. Just feels like I'm being lectured every five seconds." he dug deeper into his food.

"Of course." with a small smile Leo returned to his food. Raph stomach churned angrily. It was bad enough when Donnie said it; it always meant he wasn't feeling well. Donnie wasn't a liar, but he was willing to bend the truth when it came to his health. And that small guilty glance over at him only verified that the younger kame was thinking about the same thing. He glanced over to make sure Fearless really had returned to eating before reaching out and rubbing Donnie' on the back of the neck. Giving him a smile that he hoped conveyed that he was fine.'

It must have worked because Donnie returned back to his meal, even attempting to eat the meat pieces. Raph took a slightly deeper breath in relief. It always made him feel better to see Donnie eating.

But he didn't like to see Fearless glancing over at Donnie. It was creepy, like a child who had found something. It didn't belong on someone so old. Old? Maybe.

"What do you do in your shop?"

Huh? That was for Donnie, great. More talking. He never knew a voice could be so annoying,

"I'm a assistant. But I do most of the work while Leatherhead goes out and barters, he even does the traveling."

"Leatherhead? Who's that?"

"An old family friend," It took all of Raph's will power not to smile-. Oh WHY couldn't it of been Leatherhead? he felt something jab into the back of his neck. He rubbed the sore spot and glanced back at Kaede who gave him a knowing glare. Obviously his mom (in her motherly powers) knew what he was thinking. But he returned back to the gyuden, stabbing at the pieces at his meat pieces.

,"-he's resting, but he should be ok by the time we get back."

"Really? And the guy that adopted you is there too?"

"Yeah he's there with Michelangelo. Mikey, your little brother."

little brother? Michelangelo? Where did this come from? Now Donnie had this excited look ok his face, aw man. It was going to be harder to toss Fearless's body into the river now

"So I wouldn't be the youngest?" Donnie turned and smiled at Kaede, "Do you hear that? I'm not the youngest so you guys can't cal me 'baby bro' or stuff like that anymore."

But Kaede's face twisted up slightly into a smirk, "You think so? Well, doesn't matter if you have a million younger siblings, you would still be my Otokonoko, baby boy."

Donnie frowned at his mother but it broke when se reached out and pinched his face lightly, the three laughing. But there was a word, a word that stuck out and stabbed Raph right in the air in the eye and sent his blood boiling.

"We?" he asked

Fearless blinked in mid-life and looked over at Raph with that stupid confused look on his face. "Huh?"

"You said 'when we get back'." he forced through gritted teeth, using his will to NOT tear Fearless limb from limb. His nails digging into the low table.

Fearless looked down at his meal, obviously not realizing what he had said. He felt Donnie reach over and grabbed Raph's hand. Raph knew he was trying to ask him something but he yanked his hand away. Finally Fearless looked back up at them, "L-look I-I don't know what I wanted when I first started looking for you guys-"

"BULLSHIT." he snapped, ignoring the warning look he was getting from his mother. He'd ask forgiveness later. This was something that needed to be answered now.

"M-My original intent was to bring you back home. Like how I promised father."

"A father who has been out of our lives for 10 years!" he almost enjoyed the horrified look on Fearless's face, as though he had been found out. "And here you are like a faithful dog at his bidding-"

"He didn't want me to come here he wanted me to wait till he was better, but I began to remember you, you and Donnie and I knew I had to come-"

"Doesn't change the fact that a spoiled brat like you has no place here," Raph knew he was shouting but he didn't care," You should of just stayed home you stupid-"

"RAPHAEL."

Kaede's voice broke through his. His voice cracking a bit. He didn't care if Leo was glaring at him, or was angry. Right now he was looking at his little brother. Donnie. Who he always strove towards protecting and keeping him from danger.

His little brother who was now looking at him horrified. As though he had changed into some cruel heartless creature.

He couldn't take it.

Raph took his bow and dumped the remains into Donnie's bowl, "Eat all of it, and make sure to take your medicine."

"Raph-"

"If you don't I'll make you drink a kettle full before bed." without even being able to look up Raph turned and stormed out of the room. Without even pausing he stormed right out the back door and slammed it behind him. Luckily the rain had stopped a while ago, but her didn't care. He stomped out through the mud. Raph thought about going out over the fence, but he couldn't, he couldn't leave his family alone with that blue-masked fool. Raph sat down on the step and pulled up the hood of his shirt over his head. The day was getting to him He needed to calm down-

"Raphael! Raph!" Great it sounds like Fearless was looking for him. Though if Leo opened the door, Raph could claim that he 'scared' him and tore his head off purely out of instincts-

"Leo its ok! Calm down." Sounds like Donnie had followed him, great. So much for his plan.

"I'm so sorry Donnie, I-I didn't mean for this to happen," Yeah sure he didn't and Raph hadn't been planning his death since he first saw him. What a load" I-I was going to tell you, but-but-"

"I know."

Wait what? "How-" good thing Raph wasn't the only one confused. IT was a nice change

"I figured it out, why else would you come all this way? Mom probably figured it out too, Raph's not as logical as we are." Raph had to remind himself later to noogie Donnie into the ground, or lock up his workshop. Either one would have Donnie crazy and running for mom (or rather, banging at the door to his workshop like a rabid tokage).

"So, so does that mean you'd come with me-" the words came out so fast that Raph wasn't sure what he was saying at first. He was about to turn and break down the door when another voice came through

"No."

Raph turned his head to look at the door, he could practically see the look on Leo's face. Dam what he wouldn't give to see it in person.

"I'm sorry, "Donnie added, " But even if I did, I wouldn't go without my Kuma-ni."

There it was the name that brought a smile to Raph's lips. His badge of honor.

"You're very loyal to him."

"Well, yeah. He's my big brother. I'd do anything for him."

Raph smiled even harder. That was Donnie, his baby bro. He was so proud to call him that too. As embarrassed as Donnie got over being called "Baby bro." by Raph or "Baby boy." by their mother.

"So," Fearless paused, "He has been a good brother to you?" why would he ask that? Did he WANT Raph to drill into his head? Did he really think that poorly of him? Not that Raph cared, he didn't give a dam if Fearless thought he was the best prize wining animal at the whole fair.

"Yeah, he's always been there for me. For as long as I can remember he's always watching my back and protecting me. The least I can do is try to do the same and listen to what he has to say." not that Donnie did that last part often. But he did try

There was another pause, "Listen, Donnie, do you want to talk more? I can tell you about Mikey ad what I know about our father."

"No." pause, "Thanks, but I'd like to get some sleep."

"Oh." Fearless sounded hurt, but Donnie could probably hear that too, "Ok, sorry Donnie." Raph could hear a louder set of footprints walk away.

"Leo?" Dam it Donnie! He was this close to finally getting Fearless away from him

"Yeah?"

"Before, in the apartment. You called me Otouto."

"did I?" Fearless sounded confused, even embarrassed, "I'm sorry, I guess something's don't change. I promise not to call you that again."

"I-It's ok." Donnie sounded embarrassed, sheepish, "I don't mind. If I have any memories of you, it might help me remember." Raph could practically see the smile grow on Fearless's face. Dam it, Donnie if he had just shut up. But he tried to keep his breathing level. He didn't want to take his anger out on Donnie, none of this was his fault. Raph listened for the two footsteps walk away, waiting a few seconds before sliding the door open. He could see Leo (dam it, he meant FEARLESS) . Standing leaning his forehead against the hallway wall. Raph knew something on his mind, and he knew he couldn't care less. Without caring if Fearless saw him he walked over to where his room way and slid the door open.

Just as he had promised, Donnie was lying on his futon, blanket pulled over him and his over-clothes lying in a folded stack by his side. Yeah, he shared a room with his little brother. He really didn't give a dam if they were too old for it. (and he punched anyone who suggested it). He already knew his little brother was asleep and stepped in, sliding the door closed behind him. Raph walked over and knelt down by Donnie's sleeping form. He pulled the blanket further up Donnie's small shoulders smiling at his little brother. He raised his hand to put on Dons scalp but he hesitated. Not wanting to wake him up. If there was anything he could depend on in the universe, it was Donnie. Loyal as anything with a smile on his face. But it always broke his heart when Donnie got into his coughing fits or fell ill. It was the one thing he couldn't protect him from.

Donnie's face twisted in his sleep as he pressed his face into his hand and coughed lightly . Raph frowned, waiting a bit to make sure Donnie was asleep before reaching forward and pressing his hand against Donnie's forehead. Yup, warmth. Not enough to be considered a fever, but enough to make Raph frown. ' Probably didn't take his medicine at dinner. Raph scowled slightly and sat up, grabbing his blanket and pulling it over Donnie before heading out of the room.

(#)(#)(#)(#)

Leo didn't bother to look over at Raph when he came back into the house. He already knew how his immediate little brother thought of him. He listened as Raph slid into the room Donnie walked into but kept his eyes closed. This wasn't how this day was supposed to go. Leo closed his eyes and tried to let the cool wood of the hallway wall. He didn't know what to do now. Or what he wanted. How could he of promised his father he would bring his brothers home? How could he be so selfish, and he had abandoned Mikey to do so. How could he do that to him? His aka-chan, his poor aka-chan. He could feel his throat tightening angrily his heart racing and angry tears filling his eyes. Leo couldn't break down, he couldn't-

"Leonardo."

Leo turned his head and saw Kaede standing there , why didn't' he hear her approach? His eyes were so blurry he couldn't even read the expression on her face. But she was probably pissed as hell. He would be too, if he had found out someone had come to take his children away. He wanted to beg for forgiveness, to swear on his honor that he'd slit his-

He felt a hand take his arm and pull him away from the wall. Leo awaited the screaming or head slaps he had come to expect from her. But he felt arms wrap around him hugging him. Leo tensed at the contact, wondering if she was going to break him in half. But He felt her hand slide up and stroke the back of his head lightly. Leo tried to look up at her but his face was caught in her shoulder, "K-Kaede sensei."

"It's alright, calm down gakusei. You're going to make yourself sick if you keep acting like this."

"Like what?" he asked

"Like the world will fall apart if you act your age."

Leo wanted to argue. But he couldn't help but admit that it felt nice to be held. He had done it for Mikey hundreds of times. Dorinbo used to do it to him when he was a child, but Leo hadn't gone to him in a long time. He always felt too proud to. And in that moment it was all he wanted. He didn't succumb to tears but he pressed his face into Kaede's shoulder. Already he could fell his anger and grief draining away. He didn't know why it felt so nice,, but it brought back old feelings. Back when his mother was alive. Feeling safe and protected. When he was finally calm he pulled away. Kaede releasing her hug. Leo took a moment to wipe his eyes and look up at her. Her face was kind, sympathetic, "Better?" she asked

He nodded, "Yeah, thanks. How did you know to do that?"

" I raised 2 boys for ten years. And one of them used to get angrier then that on a daily basis. 3 times on a good day."

Leo smiled meekly, taking in another breath. He could see a yunomi on the ground and wondered where it came from. But He put that aside, "I'm sorry Kaede-sensei, I didn't mean to bring so much trouble into your home"

"This home has seen its fair share of trouble gakusei. You just happen to be it this week. "

"But-" he stopped his sentence at Kaede's knowing glare. Leo glanced back at the door that Raph and Donnie had gone into. But his thoughts on their mother. Kaede wasn't that old, probably not even thirty. And he had to know, "How did you find them?" he half expected Kaede to push off his question again, yet-

"It was ten years ago. I was about 19 at the time. I had taken up bounty hunting to help pay for the dojo, since I didn't have any students at the time. Needless to say I enjoyed it. I even obtained a 'nickname' on the job. One you might be able to guess."

At first Leo wondered just HOW he was supposed to guess that. But then he saw the smirk on Kaede's face and it hit him, "YOU were the NightWatcher?"

"The original. I liked the nickname so I let it stick. Anyway, I was commissioned by the police to go after this Mountain bear named Hatoshi. He had already killed a hundred people and didn't look like he was slowing down. Leatherhead had tried to sway me to turn it down, but I was a teenager. I was 'invincible." Leo could hear the sarcasm in her voice. As though mocking her youth, "I left the city and tracked him into the Akai Forest. Like all Mountain Bears, he was all mad and strength, and pounds of muscle. I was definitely outmatched, and I was on my knees before I realized that. I was about to accept my death when I felt the urge to open my eyes, I thought maybe it was my last bit of courage telling me to face my death." Leo saw the edges of Kaede's mouth twitch lightly, " I didn't' expect to see a child standing with his back to me, a small baby boy with his arms out, if I didn't know better Id' say he was trying to protect me. I saw the bear had no qualms about taking the child's life and found myself grabbing the boy with one hand and yanking him over and throwing my kama at him. I covered the babies eyes so he wouldn't see the bears head roll off its neck. I was pretty relieved that I wasn't going to die that day but then I realized the boy in my arms was shaking, " Kaede laughed softly, "The poor baby had no problem facing down a rabid beast, but I guess I scared him pretty badly when I grabbed him. I was able to calm him down but I began to wonder what the baby was doing out here. SO I started to call out in hopes of finding his parents. But I didn't expect to find anything. I certainly didn't expect getting a stone cracked against my head."

"what?!"

"Yup." Kaede reached up and felt her temple just over her left eye, "You can still feel the scar. Like I said, I was pretty surprised, my vision was blinded for a moment before I felt something slam into my leg. I half expected to see the bear come back to life, but not another child, with clothes as torn up the one in the my arms, only with a red mask. He was screaming at me to let 'Donnie' go I didn't know what he was talking about. But i was able to get a grip on him. He tried to fight me at first, but the one he had called 'Donnie' took his hand, and he calmed down. I learned the red=masked child was named 'Waph.' I corrected that later when I saw their names sewn inside of their clothes. Raph showed me the tree they had been living in, I didn't exactly know what to do, I knew I couldn't leave them there. I decided that I would take them back to the city and ask the temple to take them in. I convinced them to come with me, well, Donnie convinced Raph. I don't know how though, as far as I knew at the time, the baby was mute." she gave Leo a sad smile, "To be honest I thought their families had abandoned them. I'm glad to find out I was wrong. Anyway, i was able to buy a wagon and we were on our way. But Donnie began to cough weakly, which seemed to make Raph really upset. But he couldn't' explain why, I simply thought he was cold so I held him and we went to sleep. I was surprised the next morning when Donnie had a fever and was coughing even harder. We got to the city and I sent word to Leatherhead for him to meet me in the dojo. When we got there I wrapped them both up in some children gi's But I couldn't get Donnie to stop coughing. Raphael practically dragged me to the kitchen and kept pointing to certain jars. I realized eh was trying to tell me to make something. so I mixed it up. And, at the boys instructions, boiled it. I have him the cup and he ran back into the room where Donnie lay. He pulled the baby into his lap and helped him drink it. His coughs stopped immediately, I was more then relieved. I don't know how, but I looked at those two boys and the last thing I wanted to do was drop them off at a temple. But I was scared, I was just a teenager and I didn't know if I could handle two boys. The two boys fell asleep and I was pulling a blanket over them when Raphael woke up for a moment. Just barely, his eyes were so heavy and tired. His hand grabbed mine." she paused for a moment, Leo had a feeling she was reliving the moment herself, and was abut to ask what it was when she answered, "she laughed slightly, "I freaking melted at that tiny hand. I decided that I had found the 'wild boys' for a reason. And that if I were to give them up now it would truly break my heart. So I decided to officially be their mother, and they decided to be my sons. And I've never regretted it."

Leo felt his stomach twist; he knew that his little brother had been in the Akai Forest, but this. He tried to focus his thoughts together and wrap them around the thought of them being all alone, "How did they survive? How long were they out there?"

"That I am not sure, by the look of their 'nest' I'd say they'd been there a while. My guess would be atleast 4 months. It looked like they had been using roots for Donnie's coughing."

4 months.

His little brothers had been alone for 4 months? It didn't sound right, it sounded impossible. Especially since Donnie fell ill so easily. Raphael had only been 7 at the time and he kept Donnie alive for 4 months as they struggled in the forest?

"You underestimate him."

"Huh?" Leo looked up at Kaede, once again she had that motherly look on her face that said that she knew something he didn't, He also had a feeling that happened a lot

"Raphael, I do not know what he was like before the Forest but since the day I met him he has been nothing short of protective of his baby brother." she looked over at him with a smile," don't get me wrong, he gets angry and looses his temper quite easily. And there are times I have to intervene, but. As angry as he gets, he always shoves it aside if Donnie needs him. When Donnie's sick he sticks to him and holds him till it goes away. And if I can't be there to calm him down, Donnie holds his hand till his anger goes away. They are, and always will be, there for each other."

Leo exhaled the breath he didn't realize he was holding. Despite the anger and frustration he felt towards Raphael, in that moment he was sure he would of hugged him tightly. And would of begged for his forgiveness and thank him for taking care of Donnie. He had to thank Kaede to. But, when he looked at her, again. He realized he didn't have to.

After all, Kaede was their mother.

"I will talk to them."

Leo blinked in confusion, wondering what she was talking about till it slapped him right in the face, "You will?!"

"Yes, but the decision is ultimately there's. They probably wont go with you for very long but it's important they at least meet their birth family.

Leo's heart started beating wildly in his chest, was this happening? Was this a joke? But he had a feeling she joked rarely. Was she really helping him? He wanted to hug her and praise her to the heavens when her eyes fell on Raph and Donnie's bed-room door, "Are you going to keep eavesdropping forever son?"

Leo heard the door slide open behind him and turned to see Raphael standing there, his face stoic and grave. He didn't even look at Leo but at his mother. Leo's eyes bounced between them, just like at dinner, he had a feeling that they were talking without words, maybe even arguing. But after a bit Raph sighed sadly, "Donnie's head's a little warm, I was getting his medicine."

"Good. I was bringing some over anyway," she nodded towards the yunomi on the floor.

Raph mumbled his thanks and picked it up, walking back into their room. Before he could stop himself he ran in after Raph, who was now kneeling by Donnie's sleeping form, "Is he-" but Raph shushed him, gently reaching down and putting his arm around Donnie's shoulder and lifted him into a sitting position. Donnie moaned in his sleep slightly, resting his face against his holders shoulder, mumbling incoherently. Raph gently jerked the shoulder Donnie was resting on, "Wake up Donnie, just for a bit,'

Donnie moaned again, "Kuma-ni?"

"Yeah its me, come on you need to take your medicine."

"'lready did-"

"You need to take more, you didn't take any at dinner."

"-feel fine,"

Raph set down the yunomi and pressed his palm against Donnie's forehead, "This says otherwise. Just take your medicine so that you can go back to sleep."

Leo watched Donnie mumble something again, but he must of agreed. Because Raph picked up the yunomi again and placed it in his sleepy hands. Donnie took the cup to his lips and downed the cup. When he was done Raph took it out of his hands and laid him back down. Pulling the blanket back up to Donnie's chin. Leo still couldn't believe that this was the same guy who had tried to kill him, who was now feeling Donnie's forehead again with a concerned look on his face, but it turned to relief. Leo thought back to the medicine that Raph had just given Donnie, the medicine that he told Kaede how to make. How did he know about it? Raph wasn't much of a doctor, even back when they were a family. So how did he know-

Then it hit him

Mother.

Not Kaede, but their birth mother. He could vaguely remember their mother making medicine for Donnie. Maybe Raph had watched her make it so many times that he memorized it? It didn't matter how, he was only grateful that he did.

"Raph-"

"I hate you."

Despite those words Leo found himself feeling unsurprised, "I know."

"The only reason I'm even CONSIDERING it is because Ma wants us to. And I'm not even saying we're going."

"I know." dam, couldn't Leo say anything else!?

Raph glared over at him again, "SO we'll TALK about it, only for mom."

Leo nodded slightly; he glanced behind him to make sure that Kaede wasn't behind him before stepping out and bowing sliding the door shut.