Leo was practicing in the dojo, when he heard two others walk in, arguing as they did so. "I really have no time for this, Raph. I have some work I need to get done, and I need to start my shift in a couple of hours!"
"All the more reason to get some practice in, shell-head! You been slacking, and it shows."
"Blow it out of your shell, Raph."
"Don, I ain't going to take that. You get in there, and spar, or I'm going to shove that stick of yours so far up your"
"Raph! Don. Break it up!" Leo said, facing them with a startled expression on his face. "When had you started bickering like that?"
"Where had you been, Leo?" Raph shot back, staring at him with snapping green eyes. "Oh, right. Never mind."
"Raph, I'm…forget it. What is the argument about."
"Only Raph treating me like a kid. I will practice when I have more time."
"Which is never, brainiac! I don't even think you sleep anymore."
"What's it to you what I do with my time! It don't affect you."
"It does if we are fighting, and I gotta protect your shell all the time!"
"I said it before, Shove. It."
"Oh, it's on now!"
Leo watched in stunned silence as Raph swung at Don, who barely managed to duck it. He stepped back as the two fought, crossing his arms before him. A part of him, the part that kicked in when he had to strategize for a fight, had to agree with Raph's assessment of Donatello's skill. He had gotten sloppy. He was not moving as fast as Leo remembered, and he was missing some very obvious openings. Raph on the other hand was fighting better than Leo ever seen him. Leo supposed that Raph's playing vigilante had some good after all.
He let the fight, if you can call it that go on until Don was down. Then he stepped in. "we are going to start having training sessions tomorrow, 8 am."
Raph rolled his eyes, and offered his hand to Don. Don slapped it away, and got up on his own. He glanced at Leo, then back at Raph with an unreadable expression, and then stalked off. Raph crossed his arms. "Well…that went well."
"What…didn't you guys keep up with practice?" Leo asked, walking over to stand by Raph. "What happened?"
"What do you…?" Raph started to say, as he turned to face him. Then he stopped, seeing only concern in Leo's face. He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, and looked away. "Ah, shell, Leo. I…we tried for a while. Then, well, things fell apart. Mike and I still spar sometimes. But he has his job too, and, well, he ain't been the same. Don, well, ya know how he gets. Well he's been worse. He's always on the computer, and even getting him to spar…well, you seen what happens!"
"Well, let's see if we can get back to normal."
"Yeah, sure Leo. Whatever."
"Raph. I'm worried about you guys. I'm only trying to help."
"Yeah? Well...Yeah, I know Leo, I know." Raph looked away again. Leo smiled slightly, seeing him trying to control his temper like this. Ever since their fight that led to Leo's capture, Raph's been far more proactive about trying to control himself. Leo approved and appreciated the gesture.
"What happened? Really?"
"I guess, no I know what it is. Don was trying to be both him and you and he just, well, he's just became the worst of both. You know what I mean?"
"Not really, but I'll try to. Can you explain?"
"Ah, shell! I don't know! It's like...It's like he suddenly became as nagging as you on your worst day. But so snippy and condens...it was like he...he is always a bit of a know-it-all, you know. But it only got worse. And he worried all the time. Surprised he ain't got an ulcer ta be honest. I tried to help, but he always got uppity if you tried to offer any help, and we were always fighting. Now...I don't know if he knows how to go back to being old Don, ya know?"
Leo nodded, and sighed. "I think I'm starting to see." He said softly.
"Yeah well, I hope so. Cause I ain't going to try to nursemaid him no more. If he don't show up tomorrow, I ain't responsible."
Leo watched Raph storm off, with one thought buzzing in his mind. "Why do I have to be?"