A/N: Hey there, here's another update because I know I owe you guys a second update to make up for last week. Anyways, this fic is almost over. I see one or two chapters left followed by an epilogue. I do want add that the first part is 1st person because those are direct memories and thoughts from Leo's past.
Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT.
My body is broken. I can't move. I can't speak. I can barely breathe. My ribs are crushing me. Tears mix with blood. I'm in so much pain that parts of my body are beginning to lose feeling. I'm going to die here.
He killed me.
Naito.
I knew he was evil. He's always wanted to do this so he could eat me. He'll sink his teeth in my flesh any moment now... but where is he? He's not here. He left me.
I whimpered. He left me to die alone.
"What's this?" A voice whispered. It was smooth and deep.
I cracked my eyes open. I could just make out a man's shape. I breathed in another wracking breath, tears ran from my eyes from the pain.
"I'll get you out of here." The man said.
...
"What did you do, Leonardo?" A deep voice whispered.
"I... It just... I snapped, sir."
"You snapped? Leonardo, this isn't good. It's going to take a lot of convincing to cover this up!" The voice snarled. "But..." It continued in a softer tone. "I should have seen it coming. All that unbridled anger... it was bound to happen. I'll teach you how to cover up your tracks. You'll be a neat little monster."
"Th-thank you, sir!"
...
"I told you to kill her, not spray her blood all over the walls in a giant messy finger painting! Clean it up, now!"
"Sorry, sir. Yes, sir."
...
"Where did you put the blood? You sly devil. You drained him dry before you cut him up. Very clever, Leonardo. Very clever."
...
"There's been a large number of murders coming from New York. Successful but messy. It almost reminds me of your first kills. Take care of the fool and make it quiet."
...
"Your twin? The one who tried to murder you? Very opportune, isn't it? Very well, go. Kill him. Make it slow. Make it quick. Do whatever you want. You've earned him."
...
I stared at the shadows as I made my way through the sewers, a child once more. Young, and very afraid. I froze at the sound of movement. I spotted a scampering rat. Good. Just a rat. I sighed and continued on my way. Today was the day. I wasn't going to go back to Naito. He was cruel. He was evil.
I didn't think of the consequences. What does a monster need me for?
I was happy again. I played with my brothers. Raph and I would pick on Mikey while Don and I would play with the computer. Mikey and I would pick back on Raph, but Raph always only went back after Mikey. I was the eldest. I was the strongest and the smartest and they all loved me.
Even Master Splinter could see it. He loved me more than the others. I was the favorite, despite my lack of concentration. I didn't want to train and meditate. There were always better things to do.
I started reading books. Not fairy tales. Not that fiction stuff either. I read books on medicine, anatomy, genetic code, everything. Nothing was unattainable.
Naito faded to the back of my mind. He became a distant memory. He became a distant fear. He was something like a boogeyman to me. Never haunting me unless I was alone in the dark. That was my biggest fear: absolute darkness. The Night itself. I was always afraid that he would find me. He force me to scavenge food for him, or eat me. I could never be certain. He had been a disgusting creature, but at one point, he had also been my twin brother. We had hatched from the same egg. We were bonded by more than blood.
As I read through my books, I began to wonder about him. Was he alive? Was he dead? Had he starved? Had he been eaten?
Never had I considered the pain he had endured as I lived amongst my adoptive brothers... until the day he tried to kill me.
He was alone and dying, because of me. I had been selfish and afraid and our vendetta began because of me. I can see now why he wanted to kill me that first time. He had every right to do it. I tried to kill him and I failed.
He tried to kill me and he failed.
...
The cycle would continue. Until we killed each other. I think we both saw it coming. Death was imminent, no matter the circumstances. But... I didn't think that I would have been the one to die. Sure, we both were dealt killing blows, but he didn't succumb... He was strong. Despite the anti-mutagen and the blows I dealt to him both physically and emotionally had near to no effect on him.
In the end, I was the one who broke down. Naito, of all people, comforted me. He wouldn't let me die alone. How could he still care after what I did to him?
I had had every intention of killing him, but I couldn't really do it.
I think I was losing it. When I had chased after Naito, I wasn't thinking rationally. I was only thinking of the kill. That's not like me. The me I used to be anyways.
Even when I gutted him, I didn't feel like myself. Maybe it was my other side that took over. The side of me that relishes death.
I don't know what made me do it. Perhaps it was me breaking free of the other's control, maybe it was just that I finally forgave Naito, or maybe it was because I knew how fragile life was. Being a person who deals out death makes me also more partial to life. I know what it takes to wring someone of their life. Maybe that was what led me to do what I did as we laid dying in each other's arms.
I removed a syringe from my belt that was filled with a liquid that would counteract the anti-mutagen. I slipped the needle under his skin and injected it into his system. At least I would get to do something good before I died.
Yet, I have to wonder. What did Naito do to drive him this far from the lair and our adoptive brothers?
...
Leo awakened. He didn't open his eyes, but he became aware. He listened quietly to the sounds about him. He made no change of his breathing or anything else of the sort. There was a near silent breathing nearby. It was even and relaxed. Leo recognized the presence of his twin brother. Naito was there, watching over him.
Leo cracked his eyes open. Identical crystalline gray eyes met his.
"Brother," Naito breathed. He looked worn out but very much alive, healthy, and still a mutant. Leo sighed. His injection had worked.
"Where are we?" Leo asked in an equally quiet tone. If Naito was speaking quietly, he would too.
Naito laid on a bed across the room. He had risen onto his elbows and gazed at Leo with as worried and relieved an expression could be. The vibrant markings that once adorned his features were gone, leaving emerald green skin in its place. Naito bit his lip and glanced at the door.
"Our adoptive family."
Leo stiffened. He had forgiven Naito, yes, but they hadn't even been able to tell the difference between him and Naito. How could he forgive them for forgetting him? He knew Naito had some ill harbored feelings towards them as well. He wanted to continue pondering it over, but a look from Naito drew him out of his thoughts.
"What?" Leo asked.
"Do you still plan to..." Naito trailed.
Leo frowned. He glanced at his hands and back to Naito. "No. I ended my vendetta, just like you did. But that doesn't mean I'll forgive them. I forgave you because... well I realized I was wrong. I'm in control of my senses now."
Naito nodded and glanced at the door. He still had the more heightened senses of the two. His gaze narrowed. "They're coming in. Please keep silent and play the pity card if they talk to you."
Leo nodded. He would let his twin lead. He didn't know the adoptive family as well as Naito did. He was content to play along, but if they started in on him, he would not sit by idly.
The door opened and Mikey stepped in. He held a tray with a bottle of water and a bowl of soup. His eyes lit up at the sight of Leo awake. He quickly made his way over, ignoring Naito's calm gray gaze.
"Are you feeling okay? I made some soup for you. Donnie said he can't wait to talk to you. What were you doing for twelve years? How'd you get that scar? Where've you been? Did you miss us?" He babbled noisily as he set the tray next to Leo.
The scarred turtle fought off a growl that rumbled dangerously in his throat. How did Michelangelo have the audacity to ask such a question?! Did he miss them?!
Naito sensed the anger that boiled dangerously.
"Michelangelo, he is not ready to speak." Naito spoke gently.
Mikey whirled on his older brother. "What do you know? You're just a killer! You have nothing to say, so shut up! Leo can speak for himself!"
Naito's expression remained calm and patient, but Leo could tell that his brother was a whirling mass of tense emotions on the inside. So that was what it was that drove Naito away. His family had found out about the monster. Leo had to feel sorry for his brother. Leo didn't have that sort of problem. No one cared if he killed. Bishop had encouraged it.
"He's my twin brother, and he knows more about me than you ever will." Leo finally spoke, his voice was harsher than Naito's and Mikey cringed when he spoke.
"I spent twelve years away and Naito is the only one who knows what I went through. I will not forgive any of you for replacing me. None of you even realized I was gone. Naito is my only brother and I will be leaving this place when I am recovered. I suggest you tell your brothers how I feel and leave me alone." He spoke evenly with an edge to his voice.
Mikey stared and bit his lower lip before nodding and shuffling out of the room.
Naito gave Leo a look. The younger turtle frowned. "What? He shouldn't have talked like that to you. He doesn't know anything."
Naito sighed. "Please don't hurt any of them, either physically or emotionally. You never change. Always hotheaded."
Leo rolled his eyes. "Do you want to come with me? We can leave this cursed place and be who we truly are."
Naito looked at him with a sad expression. "As much as I would like to put it all behind me, I have a responsibility to them."
Leo shook his head. "Suit yourself." He said, dropping back into the bed. "I don't see why you wanna be stuck with them."
"I don't see how you want to be stuck with Bishop."
Leo rolled his eyes and glanced at his brother. Naito had a serious expression on his features. "He tried dissecting the others and I."
Leo waved a hand dismissively. "He wasn't going to kill you. He's cut me open plenty of times, all for the betterment of science." He rapped on his plastron. "Nothing's missing."
Naito's expression didn't change. "He's dangerous, Leo. Be careful."
"Whatever. I'm going to sleep. Make sure your brother's don't stab me while I sleep."
"They won't. They're not like us."
...
Naito kept his shell to the wall as he watched over his twin brother. Despite everything, Leo actually made him happy. Naito glanced at the door at the sound of muffled voices. He didn't know what was going on behind that door but he knew one thing. They were going to kill him.
They were going to banish him from the clan. Denounce him... and kill him. It was a dishonorable type of death. Splinter had chosen it well. He wanted to clean the bloodline.
Donatello did not seem happy about it.
Michelangelo was quiet.
Even Raphael was hesitant.
Master Splinter was all too eager. Naito frowned. Had Leo's return reignited an old hatred?
Naito sighed. He didn't want to die, but by the law of retribution and his honor, he damn well deserved it.
Naito glanced at Leo's sleeping form. He smiled sadly. He couldn't tell Leo.
Leo would kill them if he knew.
Naito wasn't sure how they had so suddenly formed such a close bond so swiftly. Leo used to hate him with a passion. Perhaps it was their sharing of an egg. Perhaps it was the near death experience they had suffered at each other's hand. Naito stared hard at his brother.
Maybe it was because they had both felt the same hardship.
Abandonment.
Death.
Betrayal.
Naito glanced at the door. It wouldn't be long now. He could hear Splinter completing a ceremony that would name Raphael as the next succeeding son.
Naito closed his eyes with a small smile.
He didn't know why death always made him feel so much more at ease.
A/N: Yeah, that's a taste of Leo's personality. Having been raised by Bishop, he grew a rather dark sense of humor. He is intelligent and more scientifically inclined while his temper often makes him act rashly. So, will he find out that Naito's gonna be "put down"?
Please review? 9_9