Chapter nine:
Raph sighs flopping onto the couch after he and Leo finally got the three to bed. He gives a small smile to his mate who sits next to him with a smile. "Well we did it. They're asleep."
"We have maybe an hour or two to do whatever." Leo mentions and Raph nods softly.
"Why don't you two go out for a bit?" Splinter suggests getting the two to turn to him. "Me and your brothers can watch over them. As long as you two stay away from Niles border you can enjoy the nice weather. I understand that the two of you have been stuck not going out of our groups home. A nice nature walk might be just what you both need to relax a little."
"You sure?" Leo inquires and Splinter nods his head.
"I don't see why not. You two are working so hard to care for those children. Parents need a break from time to time."
"Thank you so much." Leo stands to give a bow of thanks to Splinter.
Raph gets up with a big smile on his face. "Come darling." He invites as the two nuzzle sharing churrs before leaving to head out. He takes a deep inhale of the air as they walk through the trees. "Damn. Splinter was right. This is totally worth it."
Leo chuckles warmly and the two link their hands together as they walk.
"I kind of wish we could go to our spot." Raphael sighs with slight disappointment.
"Raph that's too risky." Leo insists to Raph. He looks down and Raph pulls him a little closer. "Nile is too dangerous to be taking those risks. You haven't seen the sort of things he'll do to one of his own group." He shudders just thinking about it. "We can't put the children in more danger than they already are in."
"Yeah." Raph glances past the border of the other group opposite of Nile. He decides against venturing past. He instead brings Leo to sit under a tree.
Leo leans over partially leaning across Raphs lap. His head basically reaching Raphs shoulder.
The two share churrs as they even nuzzle each other when Raph leans down.
"Damn I love you." Raph mentions getting a slight giggle from Leo.
"I love you too." Leo responds and the two seal their lips together in a kiss.
"So this is that bastard!" A voice makes the two turtles pull apart jumping to their feet. Usagi leaps out from behind a bush glaring. He has bandages on his face close to his left eye, bandages around his left wrist that extend to his hand, bandages on his ankle and heel of his right foot, his torso littered with bandages as well, and his ears have bandages with a chunk of the top left one missing, plus a chunk torn from the middle of the outer side of his right ear. His eyes narrowed in rage and he even clenches his hands into fists.
"Usagi." Leo starts as he knows things could have been so much worse. He actually had a thought that Usagi was a deadman making him regret agreeing to pretending.
"No! You don't get to talk just yet." Usagi takes a step forward with a low growl.
Raphael has himself right between the two. He will not let Usagi hurt his mate. He snarls when Usagi takes a step closer. "You'd better back the fuck up!" He demands meeting those narrowed eyes that look to him.
"You're not better than me!" Usagi insists and looks Raph up and down. "So you, Leonardo, leave me for this piece of trash?" He snorts despite Raphs rising anger. "You've really downgraded."
"You inflate your ego so much that it's ready to burst like some overfilled balloon." Raph mentions as the two lean close enough to get in each others face.
"Fuck you!" Usagi snarls having a glaring contest with Raph. "You weren't there! You weren't there to cover his ass for those eggs! You weren't there to support him while he took care of them!"
"Usagi stop." Leo sighs softly. "You're not doing yourself any favors. Or have you forgotten that you didn't do that good of a job. Remember how Nile kicked you out because of your behavior?"
Usagi flinches and Raph can't help a chuckle feeling proud of Leo for doing that.
"I did my best to ensure that Nile would go easier on you. I took the heaviest of the blame saying that it was me who got you to pretend. I did that despite how you had acted and the things you had done." Leo takes a step closer to Usagi staring him right in the eyes. "And yet? You still think you deserve better from me? You hardly were what I needed while I couldn't be with my mate. So don't you talk to us like that."
Usagi stares at Leo for a few moments in shock before his eyes narrow with a growl. "I pushed you because it was for your own good!"
"You can keep telling yourself that. But in truth you were doing things for your own selfish reasons. I saw right through you." Leo points out and Usagi charges him.
Raph darts forward slamming into Usagi knocking him harshly to the ground. He sits on top of him using his hands to pin Usagi's hands to the ground by the wrists. "Don't you fucking dare!" He snarls sharing glares with Usagi once more.
"You just keep causing problems for yourself." Leo sighs shaking his head. "This is just like the whole thing with Nile."
Usagi wiggles trying to escape only for Raph to righten his hold on those wrists. He huffs and gives a surrender limp look.
Raph doesn't trust him and keeps him pinned regardless.
Usagi stays still hoping to convince the other to let him go.
Raph only gets up when Leo places a hand on the back of his shell.
Usagi gets up and gives a glare to the two. "You haven't seen the last of me! You'll pay for what you did Leo!" He insists to Raphs mate who stares at Usagi not afraid. "You'll see that it was me you should have been with all along!" He turns away hurrying off and disappearing into the bushes.
"We should probably tell Splinter what happened. Usagi might send Nile now that he knows I'm here." Leo admits worriedly and Raph nods so they hurry back home.
Splinter turns as they return. He has Xander and Aidan in one arm each. "Zia is playing with Mikey." He informs the two giving them a smile. "How was your walk?"
"We have a problem." Raph admits getting a worried look from Splinter.
Splinter lets Mikey play with Xander and Aidan as well then soon he is sitting in the living room. He listens to the twos explanation of what happened. He glances down in worry. "I see. Usagi must have left Niles territory in the hopes of finding you for revenge. I can't blame you two for this since you stayed away from Niles territory. There was no way we could know this would happen." He looks thoughtful for a few moments as he tries to figure out what to do. "I will meet Nile at the border." He finally decides.
"Hell kill you. Hell likely come with his group for war against you. I'm sorry for bringing this upon you." Leo tells Splinter who looks up to give him a look of assurance.
"You are not to blame for this." Splinter assures Leo who blinks at him for this. "You wanted what was best for your children. And you tried to keep us safe even by staying away from the border, as well as staying inside focusing on your children. Nile and Usagi should take more blame for the actions they will decide is appropriate." He glances to Raph. "Get some of our strongest that are not battle hungry. We'll keep watch on every part of the border while I wait to be able to speak with Nile. Setting them in a line so Nile can't sneak past us. Then come back here. You'll be standing guard over the house protecting your mate and children."
Raph nods his head then hurries off to get those members.
Splinter turns back to Leo. "You stay here and watch your children. We can handle this." He instructs and Leo nods his head in understanding. He gets up and heads off with that to go get ready to face Nile.
Leo heads to where Mikey and Donnie are with the kids.
The two turtles look to Leo with the kids distracted by some toys.
"Splinter is going to face Nile." Leo sits down by his children and gives the short version of the whole story. He turns to Mikey who places a hand on his shoulder. He finds sympathy and kindness in the other's gaze. "I never wanted things to happen this way."
"It's not your fault. Don't worry we won't let Nile get to you or the children." Mikey assures Leo who nods his head softly.
Awhile later...
Splinter spots movement on the other side of the border. He watches as Nile approaches it leading what looks to be all of his fighters in his group.
Nile approaches the part of the border Splinter is at. He stops when they are face to face barely a few steps apart.
The group with Nile slow to a stop waiting for instructions.
"You lied to me." Nile growls glaring at Splinter who doesn't even flinch.
"I had to. To protect that boy from you." Splinter informs Nile. "Look at how you're responding to all of this. I do what I have to for the good of those that I lead."
"You're sheltering a traitor!" Nile snarls moving so close to Splinter that their breaths could almost mix. His glare is murderous. "He broke the rules for a member of your group. And yet you shelter him instead of chasing him off? Or handing him to me? All I asked was for him. Those children had no choice in the matter."
"Leo is a sweet turtle." Splinter tells Nile. "Much sweeter than I would have expected from your group. I am not going to chase him out. I would be chasing out those children as well as their father. I cannot allow children to go homeless. Would you have given their father shelter if he came to your side to be with those kids?"
Nile huffs at the question. "I'd punish the parents and raise the children myself. They decided to allow themselves to break the rules far enough to have kids together."
"Nile. I doubt that I'll be able to get you to see reason. However I am willing to try." Splinter keeps his gaze locked with Niles own. He doesn't get another word in before Niles speaks.
"You don't want war. And even though I should just attack right here and now I have an offer. You surrender the parents over to me and you can raise those children if you want." Nile narrows his eyes at Splinter. "That is my only offer. If you refuse it now that will mean war."
Splinter has to pick his words carefully. He doesn't want to start a war, however he refuses to hand even just Leo over to Nile. He sees Leo as a part of his family now and family look out for each other. "You don't want to do this Nile. This isn't worth it."
Nile growls low and dangerous. "If you're not with us then you're against us."
"You do not get to dictate what I or my group does. You know that Nile." Splinter has to jump back just after saying that as Nile lunges at him. He barely misses the snapping jaws.
Others that were guarding the border charge from both sides, with those from the line Splinter had made coming to help, as an all out fight begins.
Nile charges Splinter snapping at him again.
Splinter swings a kick hitting Nile square in the snout. He leaps at Nile when the other rears back a little from the hit. He manages to get on top using his full body weight to try to push Nile down. His tail wrapping around one wrist yanking that hand out from underneath the other. He might be able to get Nile to retreat and the rest will follow. He keeps focused drowning out the sounds of the others fighting. He knows that the teammates will help others if needed. He is almost thrown off managing to cling to Niles neck as the other throws himself upward. "Surely you don't actually want to hurt Leo." He tries and Nile huffs while shaking to try to get Splinter off.
"I raised him myself! And he never really became what I had hoped! I never wanted to hurt him! I helped him! And he runs away to be with a mate he broke the rules for!" Nile swings and finally Splinter is forced to let go.
Splinter flies in the air landing on the ground on his feet slightly skidding. "I understand you're hurt from what happened. If Raph, who I raised, left for your group to be with Leo I'd be hurt too. However I do also understand that they have the wellbeing of their children to think about." He jumps to dodge Nile swinging his tail at him. "They want both parents to be there for their children instead of one raising them alone. They support each other in fantastic ways. I'm not saying you can't feel hurt because Leo left. However at least try to understand his perspective. He left so the children could know their father as they grew up. He never wanted to hurt you."
Nile growls tensing his muscles to prepare for another charge attack. "What? Did he tell you that?! Or are you making it up!? I bet he even shared our group secrets!"
"No in fact. He has told us very minimal about your group." Splinter looks with honesty which does surprise Nile. "He has not betrayed you the way you think. Yes he changed to another group, but he doesn't go sharing stories about before he came to our group. He came for the childrens sake. He wants them to be know their father personally. I could tell it wasn't an easy decision for him to decide to leave."
"You're lying! I don't trust you." Nile blows angry air out his nostrils.
"Am I?" Splinter inquires staring back at Nile unwavering.
It does give Nile a moment of hesitation.