A/N: Long time no see! Here we are with the next drabble!
I OWN NOTHING! AND CLASH OF THE MUTANIMALS WAS AWESOME!
Enjoy!
Control
He didn't have to open his eyes to know where he was. But they slowly opened anyways, and they widened to green saucers when he found himself looking up at…nothing?
A beam of light suddenly shone down upon him, blinding him as he let out a pained cry and shut his eyes, turning his head away from the gleam. He would have brought up his arms, but he soon found that he couldn't. Looking down, he saw that he was strapped down tightly to a silver table…
Wait…oh no…
His breaths coming out in short, panicked huffs, he struggled against his restraints, but it was no use. He couldn't get free, no matter how hard he fought. Even so, that didn't stop him from trying as he bucked and thrashed against the thick, black straps over his chest and legs.
"It is no use, mutant."
He stopped suddenly, his eyes widening further, and his blood running cold. Slowly, he turned his head, to find the Shredder stepping out of the darkness and into the beam of light that shone down upon them. He was closely followed by two more figures, one larger than himself and the other crouched on all fours…
Slash…and Rockwell…with their eyes white and their expressions blank…
"Slash! Rockwell! Snap out of it!" he cried, straining against the straps once more as Shredder chuckled darkly. The man sauntered his way over to stand in front of the trapped turtle, his discoloured eyes glaring down at him forebodingly.
Without warning, Shredder lashed out and grasped his chin, turning his face to look up at him despite his resistance. His green eyes were narrowed, but they were alight with fear that not even he could restrain this time. Shredder chuckled again. "How pathetic," he said, his grasp on the turtle's chin tightening. "You are no warrior. You do not possess the right to claim the title of the ninja. Not yet, at least…"
He blinked. "Huh?"
Holding out his free hand, Shredder turned to Rockwell, who obediently complied as he handed the ninja master a squirming green creature…
He froze. Oh no…oh hell no…
With the worm in his hand, Shredder turned back to the red clad turtle just as Slash came up behind the table and grabbed his head, keeping him still as he began to thrash again. "Soon, you will be mine again," he sneered, nearing the creature to his face and tightening his hold on his chin. "Soon, you will be a part of the Foot permanently…my son."
He gasped in horror.
No…no…not this again, he couldn't do this again, please god no!
Despite his struggles, despite his the tears pricking behind his eyes, the screeching worm crawled onto his forehead, it's pincers raised…
And Raphael screamed in agony as it began to burrow into his brain…
It was late in the night when Leonardo heard it.
It'd been a long, crazy – and admittedly scary – evening for him, his brothers, and even the Mighty Mutanimals. They'd all been exhausted, physically and for some mentally, so Master Splinter had kindly offered the Mutanimals to spend the night here in the lair, an offer which they couldn't refuse, and so graciously accepted. The four other mutants had all gathered in the living room in the pit with spare blankets and pillows, and were now sleeping soundly (though Leo was certain everyone could hear Pigeon Pete murmuring about pizza crusts in his sleep).
Leo had briefly woken up after hearing Michelangelo creep out of his bedroom earlier to go and sleep with Leatherhead, which he had no real qualms with, so he simply smiled to himself and went back to sleep. However, not even an hour after that was when Leo was woken up again, but not to the sound of an opening door.
It was the sound of muffled screaming.
His eyes snapping open, Leo wasted no time as he leapt out of his bed, shaking off his blanket as he tugged his door open. His brother's room was the one directly opposite to his, so he darted towards the door in record time and thrust it wide open.
He found his second brother, Raphael, sat up in his bed with half of his blanket tangled between his legs and the other half pooled on the floor. His face was covered by his large hands, and his green eyes were wide open, full of fear and tears that streamed down his cheeks. And his screaming…his terrible, ragged screaming…
Oh no.
His heart pounding, Leo flew across the room and climbed onto the bed, throwing his arms around his little brother and holding him close to his chest, squeezing him as tight as he dared. Raphael didn't seem to realize he was being held, and continued to scream against Leo's plastron. He was still dreaming, even though his eyes were open. He was too far gone…
"Raph! Raph, listen to me! It's okay!" Leo said, bringing up a hand to cradle the back of Raph's head, his eyes squeezing shut. "It's alright, you're safe now. Calm down!"
Raph's screams began to die down, turning into ragged gasps for breath as he leaned into Leo, burrowing his face against his shoulder as he trembled violently. Leo dared not let go of him now, and only held on tighter as he gently stroked his brothers' head. "It's okay, Raphael," he said, his voice soothing and calmer now that Raph had ceased his screaming. "It's alright…everything's gonna be okay. Deep breaths. You're in control. You're okay."
It took several moments of listening to nothing but Raph's harsh breathing, feeling his heart thump rapidly against him, before the red clad turtle finally let out a slow, shaking breath. "…L-Leo?" he murmured against his brother's shoulder.
Letting out his own breath of relief, Leo nodded as he slowly drew backwards, looking his distressed brother in the eye as he smiled. "Yeah, Raph," he said quietly. "It's me. You don't have to worry; Shredder's not coming anywhere near you with that mind control serum again, not as long as I'm around…"
He could see the hesitation in Raph's eyes, the lingering fear, even as he looked up at his older brother and grasped his bicep, his grip almost desperate. "B-but, Leo," he began, but Leo shushed him further as he brought up a hand and laid it against his face gently. His blue eyes were unwavering yet reassuring and full of love as he looked his younger brother straight in the eyes.
"As long as I'm still breathing," he said, "I will never let Shredder hurt you, or anyone else again. I promise. Okay?"
Biting down hard on his bottom lip as he shut his eyes, Raph nodded as the tears began to trickle down his face again. Frowning sadly as he watched his brother succumb to tears, Leo leaned in and pressed their foreheads together, his other hand cradling the back of Raph's head as he closed eyes.
"…I was scared…" Raph whispered brokenly.
Leo forced back the lump in his throat, using his thumb against Raph's cheek to wipe away the tears. "I know."
Outwardly, Leo retained his composure, keeping calm and collected for Raph's sake. But inwardly, Leo was seething with rage.
The moment he saw Raphael – his impulsive, hot-headed yet passionate, unconditionally loving little brother – stand by Shredder's side with his usually fiery green eyes white and blank of any emotion at all…it coursed a fire through Leonardo's veins. A fire that continued to burn even now, with every intention of unleashing its wrath upon the man who had reduced his brother to a sobbing mess…
He swore that night, no matter what or how long it took, that he would put an end to Shredder. He swore, with every fiber of his being, that he would never let that monster lay a finger on his family again.
Even if it meant that Leo had to go down with him…
A/N: Poor Raphie...
And Shredder, you'd better watch out! You mess with Leo's brothers, you mess with the Lion!