After their evening training has finally ended, which ended up with Raphael being the victor (on account that Leo had allowed his brother to bring him down and win the fight) and his gloating giving him a good painful pinch in the neck by their Sensei, it was time for dinner, which is the same meal they've been having since Splinter could no longer steal food at the old grocery store when they were turning two: Algae and Worms. There are a lot of them in the sewers, practically growing within the sewers and near their Lair, which means there was no worries on how to find them if they ever ran out of the worms and algae they would save up inside their fridge and because there are a lot of worms in the sewers, along with their being a pool full of algae and worms inside of Donatello's Lab he would use for his experiments, the small family can eat as much worms and algae as they can... Which they reluctantly have no choice but to do so.
While Mikey was busy doing something with the remaining worms and algae that he has in the pot, the rest of the turtles and Splinter went into eating their share of worms and algae... Well, all except for Leo, again.
Though he has a plate full of algae and worms crawling out of the green-substance, he hardly has that much of an appetite that his brothers and Sensei have: Raph literally has an iron stomach, which means he could eat as much as he sets his mind on it. Donnie, though a bit slim but nowhere slim as Leo, could eat meals that can be two or three times bigger than the plate itself. Splinter, who can fast all day and still act like he isn't hungry, eats as if he hasn't eaten in days and won't gain a single pound from the food. Lastly, Mikey... He was an enigma; not only can he eat a lot, but he can eat anything… Literally, anything. While Raph has the iron stomach on how much he can eat, Mikey has an iron appetite to eat whatever other people would serve him to eat, even when he's been eaten worms and algae most of his life.
While the family digs in to their food, Leo simply stared down at the little creatures that are supposed to be inside his stomach and get digested already.
Swamp Moss and Earth Diggers... Again?! Not worth to be meal! Leave, hide in turf. Wait for dawn, to hunt real prey from tunnels.
Unfortunately, his stomach has something it wants to say and let out a growl that demands Leo to feed it, even if it means having to eat something that disgusted him for so long.
Just eat the Worms and Algae already; You've hardly eaten anything for days now and your body's getting thinner, meaning it's getting weaker and easier for brothers to take you down while training. Push back your pride and eat.
And to prove his conscience's point, his stomach let out another growl, which was more of a big roar, which this time gained his brothers and father's attention from them eating their dinner.
'Seriously, Leo!? You're not gonna eat, again!?' The red-bandana turtle yelled in his thoughts, glaring at his brother who sat on the right-side beside him, barely moving his chopsticks that he held in his right-hand that he was supposed to use to catch his dinner.
"Leonardo, a true warrior takes care of his body by finding whatever he can to fuel his strength and spirit, even if it's something that he doesn't want to eat. He does not neglect his health by forcing himself to starve." Splinter offered his Words of Wisdom to his eldest son, as he went back into eating the worms in front of him on his plate, though his face tells his sons of their father's dissatisfaction on eating the wriggling creatures. In response, Leonardo simply shook his head.
"I'm not hungry, Sensei." He told his sensei in a tired voice, as he stared down at his meal and lightly poked at the small-mountain of algae in front of him. While Mikey went back to whatever he's doing, though with a sad expression on his face on hearing his big brother refusing to eat, Donnie decided to try and get his brother to eat, since it was clear that Splinter's Words of Wisdom wasn't going to break through and convince him to eat, by using logic.
"Leo, it's been three days since you've eaten anything and your stomach's begging for food. You need to eat something or you'll make yourself sick, and to be honest, it growls much louder than Mikey's own stomach." He informed the older turtle, who rested his head in his left-hand and keep his gaze at the algae and worms, showing that he still won't eat. Raph would've snapped at this very moment and would've more likely to force-feed his brother, but then Mikey intervened.
"Well, if you aren't hungry for Worms and Algae, Leo, then perhaps you'll be hungry for..." He then pulled out something he had behind his back and then placed it on the center of the table. "This!" Donnie and Raph stood up out of their chairs and stare in amazement at what Mikey brought out before them, while Leo barely budged at all or registered to what his baby brother brought up.
"It's a cake!" Donnie stated, astounded by the sight before them. Raph, who got over his stunned moment, touched the makeshift cake and licked it.
"Made of... Algae." He and Donnie then saw a worm crawl out of the algae and making its away across the surface, looking for another spot to borrow itself into. "And... Worms." Letting out a deep sigh, Leo finally turned his gaze towards the makeshift cake, not looking in the least bit satisfied or interested on what Mikey to the remaining Worms and Algae.
"Mikey, what's the frosting made out of?" He sighed out his question, even when he knew what Mikey put on the cake, thanks to his strong sense of smell.
"You don't wanna know," the youngest answered his big brother. He then put on one of his biggest sunshine smiles and raised his makeshift cake in the air. "Happy Mutation Day!"
"Happy Mutation Day!" Raph and Donnie hollered back, also putting on one of their own cheerful smiles that they're finally going to be a year older than they are at that very moment. As usual, Leo simply stayed quiet and stared down at his plate of Worms and Algae.
"Ah, yes." Splinter said, also happy on having another year and birthday celebration with his four sons. "Fifteen years ago today, our lives changed forever and we became the unlikeliest of families."
At his words, the eldest son nearly scoffed at what his sensei just said to them, knowing that them being a family was caused by an accident that shouldn't had happened in the first place.
"Tell us the story, Master Splinter." Mikey asked his Sensei, who always love to hear on how they were lucky to have been taken in and raised by the fifty year-old humanoid-rat.
"Michelangelo, I have already told it many times." Splinter chuckled in amusement, along with being a little bit surprised that still, to this very day, his youngest son would still ask their Sensei to tell them on how they became a family.
"Please! Pleeeease!" Before Leo could get the chance to get up from behind Mikey and making him cease his attempt on making their father telling them the same tale of their unfortunate lives changing, it was Raph who got up from his seat and placing a hand over his baby brother's mouth to keep him quiet.
"Please. It's the only way to shut Mikey up."
"Ah, very well. Many years ago, when I was still human..." Shaking his head from the way Splinter agreed to tell them the story, again, Leo tuned them out and simply stared down at his meal.
'Another year older, and another day of being stuck down here. How is that not surprising?' He thought to himself, not paying attention to the story Master Splinter is telling his sons on the very day that changed their lives fifteen years ago. He then noticed that while he gotten to the part where he was fighting off the four strange men, that the humanoid-rat has brought out the exact canister that made them into what they are to this very day. 'And he still has that canister... Why does he even bother having that despicable garbage which caused us to become this?'
"That was the beginning of our life together." Splinter wrapped up to the end of his story, holding out one of the few things that the eldest turtle completely despise with all of his hate. "It was the mysterious substance in this canister that, in a way, gave birth to us all."
"Mom..." Mikey sighed happily, hugging the canister as if it were an actual living being and probably imagining the canister to be what he believed his 'mother' would be like if she was with them, though it was hard to tell which 'mother' Michelangelo was referring to: His actual turtle-mother, who had laid her eggs in order for the four boys to exist fifteen years ago, or... Tang Shen, Splinter's deceased wife, who perished in the fire back in Japan from Hamato Yoshi's greatest enemy, Oroku Saki.
Raph and Donnie, after staring at their baby brother with a look that tells them they were a bit disturbed and a little awkward of Mikey calling the canister their 'mom' and hugging it as if it really was a person, both turned to their big brother, who has gone quiet and still refuse to eat his food.
"Ahem," the red-bandana grabbed the blue-bandana turtle's attention by making a sound as if he was actually clearing his throat. "Leo, isn't there something you wanted to ask Sensei about? Something important?" Cerulean/Sapphire-eyes narrowed in annoyance to his younger brother for wanting him to ask their sensei what they've always wanted to do ever since they were children, which had always ended up with the same answer.
'Why bother asking him the same question, when he's just going to give us the same answer that he's been giving to us for a little over a decade?'
It doesn't hurt to keep trying. Who knows? Perhaps this will be the day he'll actually let you four go up to the surface.
Alpha will most likely refuse... However, if not for Pup, ask Alpha permission to go to surface for Kins.
Letting out a sigh and putting down his chopsticks, Leo turned to stare at their sensei, even though he refers to keep his gaze on the floor or anywhere else to avoid making eye-contact with Master Splinter.
"Sensei, now that we're fifteen, I think we're finally ready to go up to the surface, don't you?" At that, his three brothers also turned to stare at their father with smiles on their faces, hoping that this would be the very day to explore the world from above their home.
"Yes." To what the humanoid-rat just said, Raph, Donnie and Mikey cheered and were excited that he just said the one answer they've been waiting for so long. Leo, on the other hand, knew what wasn't the actual answer his brothers thought it would be.
'Wait until he finishes, you guys.' He thought to himself, knowing what's going to happen and what else Splinter was going to tell them. He then stood from his seat and went to grab his family's dinner plates, dumping out the Algae and Worms in their garbage cans and wash the dishes in their sink.
"And no." Just as Leo had thought, he hid a smirk when he heard his brothers' excitement instantly go into disappointment and all three of them bowed their heads to express their disappointment.
"Oh, man, come on."
"Lame."
"I hate when he does that."
Kins too easy to deceive, practically believe whatever Alpha say to Kins.
'Now that, I totally agree to.' Leo thought to himself, as he quietly made his way back to his seat and listen to what kind of excuse his Sensei has his reason for telling them such false hope.
"You have grown powerful, but you are still young. You lack the maturity to use your skills wisely."
"So, Sensei, isn't that just 'no'?" Donnie asked, feeling as if their father was going to try and trick them into believing they'll finally go up to the surface, but only to learn, once again, that he'll keep them below the surface.
Donatello's wise enough to understand what Father's meant in his excuse, though he doesn't seem to get what Father is trying to say to all of you.
"Yes... And no." Splinter answered, making Donnie and Mikey confused on what he's trying to say to them if they could go up to the surface or not, while Raph let out another groan from the same answer they've just gotten and Leo simply stayed quiet. "Wisdom comes from experience. And experience comes from making mistakes."
"Aha!" Leo let out a silent sigh of annoyance from his second brother thinking he just figured out what their Sensei meant so quickly, when he really knew that it's not going to be what Splinter just said to them. "So in order for us to gain the wisdom, we have to make the mistakes." Donnie then smiled to what he believed to be in the meaning of Splinter's words. "So we can go."
"No." It was a bit too quick for Splinter to answer his intelligent son, which the eldest turtle knew was going to be his answer on Don's discovery and on them having to go up to the surface or not.
'There it is, the actual answer to what Master Splinter means; trying to stall us a while longer to remain within the sewers.' Leo thought to himself.
"And yes?" Donnie asked, smiling and thinking that it was going to be one of those 'yes and no' answers that would tell him that he was at least be half-right to what their father's words meant.
"No!" The smile on Don's face instantly went away, feeling a bit down that his knowledge didn't help him on figuring out if they can go above ground or not.
"Oh...!" He groaned out, frustrated that it was obvious to him that they weren't going to go up.
Omega-Brother Donatello isn't knowledgable all the time or know everything: Does not understand everything Alpha means to what Alpha speaks about unless Alpha becomes more specific, cannot figure out why Omega-Brother Michelangelo prank or pests Pack when nobody's around to interact, does not know why Beta-Brother Raphael always has to show dominance and bully Kins... Does not even know answer to why Pup's different than rest of Pack, for last fifteen years believe Pup to be humanoid-turtle and not humanoid-wolf/turtle.
He then took quick glances at Mikey and Raph, who also had their heads down in dissatisfaction that their Sensei won't be allowing them to go up the surface. Although he was also upset that their sensei won't let them go, the eldest turtle actually prefers to stay down within the sewers instead of going up to explore the Human World above them, with his brothers he knows that he'll have to watch over and get them out of trouble if they were to cause any, like they would always do.
'I'd rather be caged or chained to my bedroom, than to take responsibility over my brothers and their actions, like I've always done for them.'
Try speaking to him. Convince him to face facts that he'll have to let you all go up and experience the Surface World, even if he's reluctant to let you ... You may not get the actual freedom you've wanted, but at least you won't have to be stuck down here if he does let you go.
Leo almost let out a growl to express his anger to what his conscience had told him to do, but he held in that urge and, hating the feeling of his brothers sadness enveloping in the air and making his heart clench in pain, he went along with his conscience's plan.
"Sensei, we know you're trying to protect us, but we can't spend our whole lives hiding down here."
Splinter thought about what his eldest had said to him, turning his head to the side with his ears bent down a bit and stroking his long-beard, an expression showing the four turtles that he's either having second thoughts of his decision and was going to reconsider his plan on having them stay down or was thinking up a new excuse on keeping his sons down in the sewers.
Looks like you might as well use the Trump-Card.
That time, Leo had to jerk his head up in shock to what his conscience just said to him, which they both knew that was something he would never do, even in a situation like this.
'Okay, that's where I draw the line! There's no way I'm going to do that! Forget it!' He yelled in his thoughts.
For this one time, push back your stubbornness and do the face; you know how much Father could never say 'no' when you all do the face.
'Uh, yeah, when we were still toddlers. I doubt it's going to work on him, now that we're teenagers.'
It doesn't matter how old you four will be; you're all still his babies and no parent, no matter how old their children are, can ever stand to see the sad looks on their children's faces if refused to get what they want with all their hearts. Besides, Michelangelo still does the face and he can still gets what he wants because of the face.
'That's because he's Mikey. He can get whatever he wants because he's the youngest in the family.'
But even when he does the face, Michelangelo never gets Father to allow him up to the surface, does he?
'...No...'
If Michelangelo couldn't convince Father to let him up to the surface on his own, then how would you know that he'll refuse if you and your brothers do the face, together?
Leo knew that he couldn't come up with an answer for that, knowing that his conscience was right and has him trap to a decision on waiting for Splinter to stall or to use the trump card that would tip the scale on the debate. He nearly let out a groan of defeat when he had finally made his decision.
'Just this one time, and that's it!' He then silently turned to his other brothers, quietly tapped on the table a couple of times to get them to stare up at him and after miming out on what they should do, all four of them swiftly kneeled in front of their sensei and all did the face that he could never refuse: The sad-puppy face, the look that they were all able to put on ever since they were toddlers whenever they wanted something Splinter would refuse to give to them. While Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo had used the face many of times, Leonardo rarely uses the face and only does the face whenever all three of his brothers are doing the face and has been told by his conscience to do the face with them. Not because he wants what his brothers wanted, but because his conscience wants him to keep whatever bond he has with his brothers to be as strong as it could get.
When Splinter noticed his four sons giving him their best sad-puppy faces and knowing that he couldn't stand to see them upset or admit that his eldest son was right on them can't always hiding from the surface forever, he finally made a decision.
"Hmm..." He let out a deep sigh, flattened his ears in regret on what he was going to tell his four sons. "You may go, tonight." Immediately as they turned off their sad-puppy faces, the three youngest brothers cheered in celebration on finally getting the answer they've been waiting to hear ever since they were children. While Leo, glad that he no longer has to use his sad-puppy face anymore, closed his eyes and put on a small smile on his face, secretly holding back tears of happiness on what he just heard his sensei tell them the news he wanted to hear for so long.
'I hate to admit it, but you were right. Looks like the face has been able to convince Sensei to let us go.'
Told you it would work.
Now Alpha gave Pup permission to go above, Pup one step closer to freedom.
That, Leo frowned from what his instincts just told him, knowing that it was partially right but not entirely right.
'Well... Not really anywhere close to freedom.' He regretfully thought to himself, as he watch his three younger-brothers getting all jittery with excitement on finally being allowed to the surface. 'And, unfortunately, I'm gonna have to be responsible over my brothers and their safety, again, and take the blame for whatever stunt they'll pull or decision they'll make to have Sensei lecture me, again.'
"High three!" Mikey cried out, raising his right-hand in the air for his brothers to do their usual 'high three insignia' whenever they've accomplished something or just for celebration to bring out smiles. Raph and Donnie had already placed their hands for the high three, while Leo simply shook his head and got to his feet, making his way out of the kitchen. "Yo, Leo, high three! Don't leave us hanging!"
"Too late, already am!" Leo called out, exiting the kitchen and making his way to his bedroom for some alone time before they get ready to leave. However, before he made it to his bedroom-door and had placed his hand on the door-handle, a hand on his shoulder stopped him from going inside and turned his head to see it was his sensei that prevented him from going into the comfort of his room.
"Leonardo, may I have a few moments of your time?" Leo let out of a small breath of disappointment.
'As if you've never taken "a few moments" of my time already? Yeah, right! Like you'll actually let me have a say in this, let alone leave me if I tell you "no" or "some other time".'
Don't disrespect or argue with Alpha. Alpha will surely punish Pup if hears Pup say that to Alpha, and Pup knows Alpha can get into mind if Alpha so chooses to trespass into depths of Pup's mind.
"Can't this talk wait for another time, Sensei?" He asked, even when he knew that was going to be too much to ask from his sensei to simply let him get off from a talk he knew it was going to be about. "If it's about us going to the surface and wanting me to be sure I keep my brothers in line, you know that I'll keep them out of trouble and make sure we don't expose ourselves to the humans." He then pulled his door open and was about to walk his way out of his sensei's grasp, but the four-fingered hand held tight and stopped him from going inside.
"That isn't what I wish to speak to you about, Leonardo, and I'm afraid this talk cannot wait for another time." Knowing he wasn't going to be getting out of the conversation, again, Leo closed his bedroom door and turned himself to face his sensei, though he kept his gaze to the ground.
"Very well, Sensei." He forced out, keeping a calm-tone and face to assume he was alright but was loathing and feeling a stabbing feeling in his heart on the inside. "What is it that you wish to speak about?" 'Is it about my continuous eating habits, that you're still trying to get me to stop? My loss to Raph, because I simply let him win in order to avoid having another argument with him and getting my headache to build up even more than it already has? Me being almost a minute late for Evening Training Sessions, because I wish to write out my emotions into my journal? Or probably have you to face the fact that we can't stay down here for the rest of our lives, and somehow forced you to let us go up?'
Remember what position Pup's in of the Pack. Must listen, obey and show respect to Alpha. No exceptions, arguments or judgement.
'Aren't I a little old to still be referred to as a 'Pup'?'
Pup's still minor and still learning, meaning Pup's still a pup and right now, Pup must listen to Alpha.
It took every once of Leo's Will and inner strength to not let out a growl or let his anger get the best of him, as he kept his gaze to the floor and silently waits for his sensei to speak to him, which he finally did after two minutes of silence going on around them. He heard Splinter let out a deep sigh.
"Leonardo," he started. "Why do you refuse to look me in the eye when all I wish is to simply have a few moments of talking with my eldest son?" He received no answer from his eldest son, who still refuses to meet him eye-to-eye, another sign and gesture to show his respect and submission to his sensei. With a calm, blank face, Splinter placed a hand underneath Leo's chin and lifted his head up, though he still refused to turn his gaze to meet his sensei's Reddish-Brown eyes. "Musuko, will you please look me in the eye and not act like I'm going to strike you if you do meet my gaze?"
'No, I don't want to meet your gaze.' He thought to himself, feeling the headache building up and his heart clenching as if someone's trying to make him suffer in his self-hatred towards himself. 'I don't want you see the anger being held through my iris', or to see you try to read me like a book... But most of all, I don't want you to see my fake-eyes that you believe I've been born with but had actually been changed from that substance your 'birth-giving canister' bestowed upon me. Me showing my submission and not meeting your gaze, it's a reminder that I'm not who you all believe me to be and that you shouldn't trust me.'
Nevertheless, Pup, Alpha still your Alpha and Pup do what Alpha tells Pup to do.
Finally being able to calm his beating heart and hide his anger, Leonardo slowly turned his gaze to stare into the eyes of his sensei, who smiled softly at finally being able to meet his eldest son eye-to-eye.
"Arigatō, watashi no musuko (Thank you, my son)," the rat thanked his son. He then removed his hand from Leo's chin, knowing that his son won't have his eyes turn his gaze. "Now, as for my question I wish to ask you... Are you happy?" Surprised by the question, Leonardo wasn't sure what to say or how to react, except by cocking his head to the side and staring up at his sensei with a confused look on his face.
'That's it?' He asked himself, his anger melting away and his headache easing the ache off of his mind, but still throbbing and making him unable to have a clearer head on what he should say. 'That's all he wants to talk to me about, if I'm happy? What sort of question is that?! Of course I'm happy!... Aren't I?'
That is a good question... Are you really happy, especially now that you can finally go up to the Surface World like you and your brothers always wanted? Or are you just simply saying that, because your brothers are the ones truly happy and are pretending to go along with what they're doing?
Ignoring what his conscience said to him, Leo made up his answer.
"What do you mean by that, Sensei? Of course I'm happy," he replied. "I mean, why wouldn't I be happy?" He put on his best kind-smile, a smile that wasn't too big to be obvious that he's forcing himself to smile but just enough to hide away his displeasure on not knowing if he truly is happy or not. Though he had to play innocent and pretend that he isn't one of the best liars in the family, there does come a time where Leo would actually be able to make something up and lie about it in order to prevent his family from getting anywhere closer on noticing his estrange behavior isn't from being a moody teenager like his brothers are. And at this moment, he was making up a lie and he knows from the worry look in his sensei's eyes, he's not going to get caught on lying. He then put on his own worry-look on his face, though he mostly puts it on whenever he sees the worry or sadness on any of his family's faces, which he at times wonder if he really is worry for his family or it was just a mask that he randomly puts on whenever they were upset. "Is there something wrong, Sensei?"
At his question, Splinter simply let out a deep sigh and shook his head, a gesture and sign to Leo that there is but doesn't want to talk about it.
"Iie (No), my son. I simply wanted to check up on you... You just appeared to be a bit unhappy lately: You haven't eaten in the last few days, Raphael has been able to beat you during Evening Training, and your brothers and I had noticed you've been spending much more time in your bedroom and less time with us in the Family Room most of the day."
'Oh, really? Gosh, I haven't noticed.'
Don't go placing the blame on him; he's just doing what any normal parent would do: Worry about their kids and their safety. Do not make him feel as if it's his fault you're acting like this.
Leonardo quickly made up his answer.
"There's nothing to be concerned about, Sensei. I've just been drowsy from our late night Family Time and I got this headache that's been bothering me lately." It wasn't a complete lie, which means Splinter won't be sensing his chi or aura to signal the rat that he's making it up and is all in the clear to go up to the surface with his brothers. The worry in Splinter's eyes instantly decreased, though they still held a few of that worry on hearing his son being more tired than usual and about the headache getting in the way of his son's concentration during their Training Sessions.
"Hontō (Really)?" Splinter asked, wondering if the condition his son told him he was in would effect him on having a good time and unable to keep his brothers in line while up to the surface.
"Hai (Yes), Sensei, but my headache is already going away and I'm still awake enough to still go up with my brothers." Splinter knows it was wise to never underestimate his son's strength and ability to keep up with his brothers, but that wasn't what makes the rat worried about.
Whenever he allowed his sons to go explore the sewers and tunnels when they turned into their double-digit age, his three younger sons would always be together and are the ones to always return to the Lair an hour or two before five o'clock. However, whenever Leonardo goes off to explore, he would always go off by himself and return to the Lair a few minutes before Evening Training Session starts. Now that he's allowing his sons to up to the surface, on their own, and despite them most likely wanting to see everything of New York, he was more concerned about Leonardo not returning home on time with his younger brothers and something else that truly terrifies him ever since the boy was ten years old.
'But that won't happen,' the rat thought to himself. 'He hasn't tried to pull it off ever since his brothers and I caught him trying to do 'it' when he was ten. Besides, his brothers will be with him and they won't let him get the chance to pull it off. I should have nothing to fear about Leonardo doing anything funny, not while he and his brothers explore the city that sits above our home. This is, after all, what he's been wanting to do for so long... Right?' "If you believe you can last as long as your brothers, Leonardo, then I see no reason on preventing you from going up top." Happy to hear that his sensei won't keep him cooped up and is still allowing him to go up top, Leonardo put on his real smile on his face, a smile that he rarely puts on when he truly is feeling happy, then bowed in respect to his sensei and went to grab the door-handle to his bedroom.
"Thank you, Sensei." After saying his thanks to his sensei and without a second of hesitation, Leo went into his room and closed the door, locking it just in case one of his brothers try to barge in. He then made a quick grab for his sketchbook, which was placed beside his journal on a small desk that stood on the left-side of his bed, and quickly flipped through the pages to his recent drawing that he recently started to work on: It was a drawing of an open plain, with the field of grass being drawn with some shades of greens from some of Leo's colored-pencils, the sky in a mixture of blues and whites and the clouds having some grays into the mixture of their image. He also added in a few wildflowers into the field, a little stream in-between the first two hills from at the right-side of the paper, even a few oak trees in a couple of spots into his drawings.
He smiled at the progress of his artwork, which has been inspired from a certain dream he had a few nights ago: He found himself within the darkest-tunnels of the sewers, no lights to guide him the way out but his eyesights allowing him to see better within the darkness, thanks to his wolf-DNA within him. He was all alone and couldn't hear, nor smell out his brothers or sensei, and yet, he was okay with that and wasn't a bit scared of being alone within the darkness. Then, as if someone has found the light switch, a large flash of white-light popped up from behind the turtle, acting like a beacon to help the turtle out of the darkness. At first, he was a bit hesitate on following the light, since Splinter had told him and his brothers some stories of people who follow a bright-light at the end of a dark-tunnel always mean they're dead and are leaving Earth for their eternal rest in a new world, but the light was so beautiful to the turtle and couldn't help himself but walk towards the light. When he made it towards the light and walked into it, he was shocked to find the light has taken him out of the sewers and to a place of such beauty: Fresh plainfield of grass gently swaying with the gentle breeze from the wind, wildflowers releasing their glorious scent of nature and life, strong trees standing out tall and proud and reaching towards the light-blue sky as far as their green-leaf covered branches could reach, fresh stream water glistering its way towards the far horizon of snow-covered mountains...
A few tears of happiness came out of his Cerulean/Sapphire-eyes without warning, but he didn't bother to wipe those tears away; that dream of his was so perfect, so beautiful, so unspoiled, it was hard to find the right words to describe how he felt about that place from his heart. To him, that place was Heaven... That place was freedom, itself.
That dream, it was so wonderful. If such a place truly exist, we should find it and once we do, we should bring the rest of the family to witness its glory and wonders.
'Yeah... if only it truly does exist...' Leo thought to himself, as he finally used his left-hand to pull up his mask a bit to wipe away any more tears that were to come out of his eyes, not wanting his brothers and/or sensei to know he's been crying for something that'll seem ridiculous and idiotic to be crying over a simple dream. Luckily for the turtle, none of his tears got on to his drawing or left any tear-stains into his mask, meaning that his family won't be knowing about his little crying-moment for a dream he wished to come true but knows it'll never happen. He then heard a couple of knocks coming from his door, stopping him from drawing the wildflowers he was working on.
"Yo, Leo, you ready? It's go time!" Once again, it was Michelangelo that came to get him out of his bedroom and ready for their first time up to the surface.
Still not what Pup wish to get. Not true freedom, not the actual freedom Pup wants. Alpha most likely has Pup in charge to watch over Kins, while Omega-Brothers and Beta-Brother keep Pup on toes as Kins fool around the surface.
Leo let out a deep sigh from his instincts' words.
'You don't have to remind me that; I already know what's going to happen,' he thought to himself.
"Leo, did you hear Mikey? It's time to go!" That time, it was Donatello that called out from outside of his bedroom door, who almost sound like he was going through his own Mikey-like stage.
"Yeah, I heard. I'm coming out!" The eldest turtle replied back, quickly scribbling a few words onto the bottom-left corner of his drawing before placing it back on the bed and getting to his feet. After unlocking the door, he exited his room and swiftly made his way towards the living room, with part of his mind going back to what he has written into his drawing: "In a Dream of an Illusion..."
"You are going up to a strange and hostile world." Splinter told his four sons, walking as if he were their general and then standing in front of them as their commanding officer. "You must maintain awareness at all times."
Alpha must always be firm and strict, enforcing Pups to listen to every words.
"Hai, Sensei!" The four turtles said in a unison, then quickly turned to make their gateway.
"Stay in the shadows." Splinter added, stopping them from running off.
Alpha must always remind Pups; never forget training to protect or defend themselves when not under protection of Alpha.
"Hai, Sensei!" The four turtles said again, getting back to their spots in respect and showing they're still listening to their sensei, before trying to make their gateway, again.
"Don't talk to strangers!" Splinter quickly added, ceasing the boys, again, from running.
Every parent must inform their children to never talk to anybody who they don't know.
"Hai, Sensei!" For the third time they said, standing back into their spots and trying to get away from another of their father's adding lecture and warnings.
"Everyone is a stranger!" The fourth time Splinter stopped his sons from getting away, his worry as a parent making it hard for him to let them go from under his watch and not within the sewers with him.
...Every parent has to be overreacting and remind their children of some things they already know of?
"Hai, Sensei..." The boys groaned out, this time lazily staying put where they stood in front of the mutated-rat, before making a run towards the old-subway's turnstile. They actually thought they were going to make it out, without another lecture or warning from Splinter, until...
"Make sure you go before you leave! The restrooms up there are filthy!" The four boys halted in their steps, now feeling embarrassed and very irritated of their father holding them back from getting up to the surface.
'Seriously... Is embarrassing your child for nonsense reasons or trying to keep your pups by your side, something every parent and/or Alpha supposed to do?' Leo asked to himself, almost blushing from what Splinter told them on the last sentence.
...Yep!
Pretty much...
'...And I thought my brothers are the only that pests me enough to get on my nerve.'
"SENSEI!" The four boys called back to the rat, a way of telling him to stop worrying over them and to let them go already. Knowing that he mustn't hold them back any longer and it was time to let them have their fun, Splinter let out a deep sigh and smiled at his sons.
"Good luck, my sons." That was all they needed to hear and as fast as their legs could take them, they leap over the turnstile and cheered in excitement.
"I am so pumped!" Donatello exclaimed.
"Surface time!" Raphael cried.
"This is going to be epic!" Michelangelo hollered.
Leonardo, as usual, stayed quiet and simply described his happiness from within his mind.
'It's finally happening... It's actually happening... There's absolutely nothing that could take away my cheerfulness!'
"Look both ways before crossing the street!" Instantly, the smile on his face went away and was replaced with a scowl, thanks to his sharp-hearing that allowed him to catch one last warning from their sensei.
...You were saying?
'Spoke too soon, I guess.' Leo thought to himself, leading his brothers towards the direction to where the closest manhole-cover was at... Which was in fact the one, and only manhole-cover, that he tries to reach to and make his escape at, ever since he was seven.
Don't get so down. Be happy! After fifteen years living down in the sewers, you're finally going to get your wish! You're finally going up to the surface!
May be true, but this isn't type of freedom Pup wants or asked for. This not the freedom Pup crave for!
'Urg, you think I don't know that? I'm also unsatisfied that this isn't how I want to gain my freedom!... Although...' He paused in his mind, as he and his brothers made it to the ladder and started to make his way up. 'With all of us going up to the surface at this very moment and given time that we know more about the Surface World, I might be able to know where my brothers will be going and when I do leave the Pack, I'll know every hiding-spots for me to use when watching over them if danger were to ever come.'
...Excellent and well-thought-out planned, Pup.
Hate to admit it, but that is a very good idea. I doubt that even Donnie would've thought about doing that, considering that you'll all be sightseeing for a good while and get distracted by the many wonders of the Surface World.
Once he and his brothers finally made it to the manhole-cover at the top of the pole ladder, Leo's heart instantly raced in a fast rhythm.
'Well... Here goes nothing.' With his hand on the cover and having to no longer feel the guilt and confusion that has always prevented him from leaving his family, Leonardo pushed the manhole-cover up.
Now on the Surface, New York City...
As soon as part of the cover was lifted from its spot and but still held down a bit, Leo quickly scooped out part of the area around him, in case any humans were around that might see them coming out of the sewers. Seeing no humans around and after quietly placing the cover off to the side, he finally came out of the hole and gets to fully see what was around him and he has to say... It wasn't that very impressing: Trash littered out all over the ground and against the brick-walls, graffiti markings, old and new, completely marked up every wall he sees around him, rats running all over the place in search for food. Heck, there was even a homeless guy, sleeping on a tossed-out mattress and not knowing there are four giant, mutated-turtles standing right beside him, without a care in a world as he sleeps the night away.
'Huh... So, this is the Surface World our Sensei used to live in fifteen years ago?' Leo wondered in thought, staring out to the other buildings on the other-side of the street and anywhere else that he hasn't already seen that could gain his interest, which wasn't very much. He then smirked and shook his head. 'Not very much has changed since we were last here, fifteen years ago. I mean, even though I was two weeks old when I was still living in the Pet Store, I can still remember what the area around us were like when we were about to taken to Sensei's home before we became humanoid-animals, which looks like nothing really changed.
"It's so beautiful." Leo turned to stare at his baby brother, who doesn't seem to care that the trash are littered the ground and street or part of the buildings have been vandalism by the Graffitis.
'Well, with Mikey being... Err, Mikey, I shouldn't really be surprised that he would think that up here is "beautiful", let alone not being able to recall his past life as a regular turtle.'
"Well, let's go explore the city, you guys!" Raph called out, already going on ahead of the group to lead the four of them to wherever the wind takes them.
Beta-Brother Raphael thinks ready to lead Kins? Not ready for responsibility.
'And who do you think should lead? Mikey gets too sidetracked very easily, along with having a short attention span, and Donnie will want to observe as much as he can of his new discoveries of the city, which includes to whatever kinds of electronics that he finds to be intriguing.' Leo thought to himself, as he brings up the rear of their small-group as he walks on the sidewalk. He then ceased his walking, when he noticed Donatello being too busy at gawking at some computers being held out for display from the inside of a store through the glass.
"Look at all the computers!" The genius turtle stated, astonished at the high-tech electronics that he wished to obtain that would make his job in the lab much more easier and look more like a lab should be as. "Is that the next generation cadmium processor, with quantum encryption?" Raphael, who stood behind his younger-brother, decided to humor his brother.
"I don't know, Donatello. Is it?" He sarcastically asked, which should be a clear sign to tell that he thinks whatever his genius-brother is so intrigued about is lame and for nerds with no spines.
"It is!" Donnie replied back, too excited to even notice Raph not taking his interest by heart or to even argue to his brother on teasing him.
"Guys, guys! Check this out." Michelangelo's voice brought the eldest and the two older turtles from their attention to the computer-shop, to where their youngest-brother stood in front of a another building that claims that a Fortune Teller works inside of it. In front of the window, was a a light formed in the shape of a human-hand. "A hand made out of light." The purple-light of the human-hand turned off, being replaced by a blue-light within the center of the hand, this time in a form of an eye. "Now it's an eye made out of light." Just like the hand, the blue-lights of the eye went off and the purple-light of the hand came back on. "And the hand again!" Then the eye came back on. "Now the eye's back!" And then the hand flashed up to life, again. "Now the hand!"
Having enough of his brother's inability to give it a rest and to get it through his mind that the hand and eye will keep flashing like that, Raph grabbed for Mikey's tail-mask and pulled him away from the window.
"Come on, genius." He told his youngest-brother, having no trouble on dragging the orange-band turtle away from the window.
"The eye!" Was all Mikey could say and once he was away from the shop of the Fortune Teller, his attention span at the lights were gone. Leonardo chuckled quietly at what came before him, shaking his head on having to be right
'Like I said, too intrigued and too distracted that has them unable to truly lead the group.'
...Well, what about you?
Leo stumbled a bit to what his conscience just asked him, a bit surprised of the question being tossed to him, but staying firm on the sidewalk, while keeping an eye on his three brothers, who all stood in the middle of the street.
'"Me"? What about me?'
Since you basically ruled out Donatello and Michelangelo at being leader, and since we all know Raphael's too brash and arrogant on being the best, it seems like you are the only logical choice on leading your brothers.
Leo let out a deep sigh, then lifted his head towards the stars out in the night-sky.
'You both know that I have no intention on being leader, especially since Master Splinter is the leader of our family and I have no means on wanting to take his place as Alpha. Besides, Raphael has always wanted to be leader for such a long time and I have no rights on taking that away from him. And who knows? Maybe he'll gain some knowledge and experience on how to lead us, while we explore the city or if we ever come across a threat.'
"Ah!" A scream broke through his lost in thoughts, which from how Leo could guess, Raph has decided to playfully scare a human-teenager, who came to a halt when he saw three large-turtles standing in his way of the road, and made a quick drive back to where he came on his vehicle, not noticing a box that was sitting in the back of his motorcycle has fallen out from the back and now left behind on the road.
More like Beta-Brother going to be threat, then encountering threat.
Holding in a groan, the blue-masked turtle quickly made his way to his three brothers, glaring at his red-masked brother who showed to have completely enjoyed scaring the human, as if he enjoyed pretending to be a monster to the human.
"That was kinda fun." Leo nearly face palmed himself at his brother's remarks.
'Yeah, like you always having to roughhouse or chase Mikey all over the sewers, is your way of having fun.' "We're too exposed out here." While keeping his hearing out for any sound that would alert him if any more human were to come out, Leo swiftly have his eyes look for anywhere that the four of them will be able to hide and not be too exposed for any humans to see them.
Too much lights! Find spot where lights don't brighten so!
'Urge, I know that, but so far the only spots where there aren't any lights are the alleys and I doubt that the guys would want to stay hidden with places that are covered and reeks of garbage.' He also tried using his sense of smell to give him some sort of idea to where human-scents are to least hang out at, but because of the hundreds, maybe even thousands of scents going up in the air and around him, it was too much for the turtle to try and pick one scent to follow or to guide him. 'I guess there was a good reason on why I didn't leave home when I was still a child; this city's a major jumbo of messes, I can't even think clearly with all of this noise going on.' His eyes then looked up to the rooftops, where after he took a few sniff in the air for the scent of the roofs and seeing how there are no lights being lit above, Leo finally found their temporarily safe haven from the streets of the city. "Come on." He told his brothers, leading them to the other side of the street and using a fire escape ladder to swiftly climb up to the top of a building.
Once on top of the roof and no longer on the streets of the city, Leonardo could finally catch a breath of fresh air, which still held the many scents of the city but not as suffocating or intoxicating than the streets now below them.
'Hmm... Much better,' he thought to himself. 'It may still be very noisy and too much smells going around, but at least up here isn't too bright or hard to catch a breath.'
Pup get use to atmosphere of city, eventually. Probably take time, but will master environment of city around Pup and better control over senses.
And speaking of control... Nice Leadership you did back there, leading your brothers off the street and onto the rooftop. You sure you don't want to become leader?
'Yes, I'm pretty certain that I don't want to be leader.' Leo thought to himself, slowly making his way towards an edge of the rooftop and staring down at the street below him. A couple of cars passing by, a few humans walking normally on the sidewalk and minding their own business, an alley cat and a couple of stray dogs digging into the garbage cans in search for food or making themselves comfortable in their new territories.
If you don't mind answering a question: What was that of you back there, giving an order to your brothers to follow you, when you claim to not want to lead?
'...I don't know. Instinct, I guess, or maybe because of my role as the eldest son to keep my younger-brothers in line, just as I always had to do when being forced to watch over them and being the most responsible one in the group.'
"'Pis-zaw'?" Michelangelo voice brought Leo out of his conversation with his conscience and instinct, though he continued to keep his gaze down to the street of New York.
'We'll discuss about this later,' he thought to himself. The eldest brother then turned his gaze to the left, glancing at his three brothers studying over the white-box Mikey picked up off the road that was left behind by the human-teenager Raphael scared off.
"Should we open it?" Donnie asked, unsure if whatever was inside the thin-box is harmless or could be dangerous to him and his brothers. Leo had to only sniff once in the air at the box and knew instantly that the box held no danger to them, which had also made his stomach growl louder from the smell the turtle inhaled.
'That's odd,' he thought to himself. 'All I did is sniffed at the box's scent, and it has already reawakened the growling of my stomach... Could whatever that's inside of the box actually be dangerous, and is having its scent covered in order to not be detected as a threat? Might be best to warn them.' "It might be dangerous, so be careful." He cautioned his brothers, before turning his gaze back to the city before his eyes. Within seconds, he heard somebody, who he assumes to be Raphael, considering he was the toughest and bravest of the bunch, opening the box and no longer had the box was open did the eldest turtle also heard the sound of sizzling and hissing.
"I think it's food." Donnie suggested, no longer afraid of the object sitting before him and his brothers when he saw it wasn't a living-being but still uncomfortable on not knowing if it's safe for them to be around it or not. Keeping his eyes over the city but keeping his hearing towards his brothers, Leo was relief to know that whatever the youngest-turtle picked up off the street wasn't considered to be dangerous to them.
'Human-food, huh?' He thought to himself, which had once again made his stomach growl in demand for food. 'No wonder it didn't smell dangerous and has made my stomach growl; Algae and Worms don't hold any sort of scent near to whatever this "Pis-zaw" food has... Although, we can't know for sure if this human-food is good for us, unless one of us tries it out.'
"It's not like any food I ever saw." Raph stated, wondering on what those red-spots are supposed to be all over the yellowish-white stuff of said food.
'And of course, if there's one person I know who has the guts to try out new things...'
"I'll try it."
'It's Mikey.'
You're not worried of him trying it? Human-food could be poisoning to you four.
'If it was poisoning, I would've brought out Musashi and Kamiizumi before one of them could lay a hand on the box to open it and then slice up both the human-food and box into pieces for only the birds to eat.'
"Mm! Mm." Leo smirked at hearing the satisfaction of his youngest-brother enjoying the human-food.
'Anyway, from the sounds of Mikey scarfing the human-food in just a couple of bites, it's safe to say that the food isn't poisonous and seems to be the best food Mikey has ever eaten in his entire life.'
"Uh, yuck. You guys won't like it. I'll take the rest." In an instant, both Donnie and Raph immediately grabbed for a piece or two of the food their baby brother just eaten a piece of, wanting to know what the human-food tastes like, for themselves.
"No way!" Donnie protested, stopping the youngest-turtle from taking away the food.
"Back off!" Raph ordered, quickly grabbing his own piece of the human-food in case Mikey somehow gets away with the rest of the food. Soon, all three of the younger brothers are munching away the human-food before them, devouring their own picks of the pieces in mere seconds. "I never thought I'd taste anything better than worms and algae, but this is amazing!"
"I love it up here!" Mikey cried out into the sky, not caring if the humans are to be able to hear them up on the rooftop or not, as he went back into eating the human-food. Leo smiled at hearing his brothers enjoying their very first human-food, happy to know that their time up in the city is so far going better than the three turtles expect it would be.
Sounds like Omega-Brothers and Beta-Brother having hell of a fun time up on surface, especially on how Kins are scarfing human-food as if it was Kins very first kill Kins had in weeks.
'Yeah... It sure does sounds like it.' Then, for the third time, his stomach let out a big growl, practically begging its owner for food that his three brothers are eating away with glee. The moment his growl let out its desperate cry for food, the munching from the three younger turtles ceased and Leo knew that his stomach is the cause for the sudden silence. 'Ugh, forgot about my stupid, stomach problem.'
Well, if you had eaten the Worms and Algae, like you should had, then your stomach wouldn't be growling for food.
'Yeah, and if I had eaten any Worms and Algae today, I would've been puking my guts out and Master Splinter might've kept me inside the Lair! You know very well of my refusal on eating Algae and Worms every day, let alone why I eat less than the others do.'
You may have a reason and point to your choice of action, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't try to eat a little more than you would normally eat; you're going to destroy your body and will eventually end up being weaker than your brothers, if you continue on this nasty habit of yours.
"Weak"? Pup nowhere near term "weak". Pup can easily take down Beta-Brother Raphael and be on equal battleground with Alpha, but Pup chooses to hold back true strength and keep hidden from Pack unless Pup goes up against foe with brute strength. As for Pup's eating habit, may be causing Pup to tire out quicker than Omega-Brothers and Beta-Brother, but at least trained self to last without food much longer than Kins or Alpha.
"Hey, Leo, get over here and try out this food, man!" Raphael called out to the eldest brother, who hadn't moved from his spot ever since they came up to the rooftop.
"Yeah, Leo, you've got to try this Pis-zaw food, man; it's, like, the greatest food ever made in existence!" Michelangelo added in, who was trying to reach out one of the last two pieces of the food but ended up getting his hands slapped away from the pieces by Donatello.
"And you might want to hurry and eat this stuff, before Mikey eats the rest of it." Rather than listening to Raph and Donnie, Leo simply turned his gaze back to the left-side to stare at his three brothers, then down at the two slices of the human-food that appeared had used to be whole, and turned back to stare at the city.
"No thanks, you guys. Mikey, you can have the rest of it." Excitement sparkled within Mikey's eyes and went to grab the two remaining pieces of the human-food, but Raph swiftly grabbed the two slices before the youngest turtle could devour them and stomped his way towards his big brother.
Oh boy. Should've just went over and eaten the human-food, because now you're gonna have to, once again, face the wrath of Raph's Temper Tantrums.
'I know, but even if I did came over to eat it, which I'll probably be doing in the next ten seconds or more, I'll end up coughing that stuff out of my stomach and my stomach will be growling for food. So, whether I do eat or not, my stomach will keep growling and I'll still be able to keep up with my brothers.' Not putting up any resistance when the rough-hand came on his shoulder, Leo allowed himself to be pulled away from the ledge and to be face-to-face with his anger-issued brother.
"Sorry, bro, but you ain't getting out of not eating, this time." He then turned to Donnie and Mikey, both of them coming up from behind and each grabbing an arm of their blue-banded brother in case he tries to get away from what's going to happen, which wasn't the eldest turtle's plan in the least. "We can't have a great time exploring the city, without you experiencing your very first human-food that isn't Worms and Algae." He then held up one of the slices to Leo's face, smirking when Leo's stomach let out another mighty growl at the sight of food in front of its owner's eyes. "Come on, Leo, you know you want to try it."
"I don't know if Leo actually wants to, but I know that I want to if he doesn't." Mikey warned, his grip on his big brother's arm shaking and loosening the longer he doesn't takes a bite out of the slice. If Leo had eyebrows, he would've most likely raised one of them in annoyance at his three brothers trying to get him to eat human-food, when he wasn't even planning on getting out of the situation.
Well? Go ahead, and take a bite. It's about time you four do some fun together, an event that involves all four of you on wanting to do an activity, instead of playing just for the sake of your brothers.
...Hate to admit it, but do what Pup's Conscience told Pup to do. Take opportunity to truly bond with Omega-Brothers and Beta-Brother, by doing something Pup and Kins can agree on doing together, which is to explore Human City before Pup... Do so, for the sake of Pack.
It seems that everyone, even his Instincts, are wanting him to do something that he hardly does with his family: Have fun, and to be happy. Though this isn't his way on being truly happy, since he knows this isn't the same as gaining the freedom his heart still craves for, Leo was going to do what his other dream has been for as long as he could remember, which is to truly bond with his brothers and to explore the city before them. So, letting out a deep sigh of surrender and staring up at the slice of the human-food in front of his face, Leo smiled at his brother and, after easily pulling his right-hand out of Mikey's grip, he took the slice and at that very moment, he was going to enjoy every single second he has with his brothers by wondering the city.
Sure, this wasn't the way that the turtle wanted it to be on his first time above the sewers and no, the city isn't as cleansed or an actual perfect place to be living in as the Lair, but New York City, alone, is no doubt going to be one of Leo's most greatest adventure and discovery to ever come across with or encounter in his entire life.
TBC
I know they used their left-hands when they were eating their worms, but I'm going to have Leo be Ambidexterity (both left and right-handed). I also don't know what turtle hands are called, so I'm sticking with 'paws' for the time being. And don't worry, next chapter will have where they meet April O'Neil (just like in the episode) and there very first fight/battle/mission.
I'm not very good with what Splinter would say in his Words of Wisdom.
FYI: I'm not very good at describing fights, so I'm not sure how that's going to turn out but I'll do my best on it for the next chapter.
R&R