76A/N: I am honored to receive your story requests. This tale is for Yukio87, who had a great suggestion for my plot bunny, "Leo and Raph in a fight and one of them is in danger." I hope you like it!
Chapter 1-Trouble
It was just another typical day in the lair, right down to the two eldest siblings quarreling. Donatello tried to bury himself deeper in his work from the safety of his laboratory. Michelangelo sat on the couch, too afraid to get up to grab a soda from the kitchen, least his warring brothers set their angry sites on him next. Master Splinter was unsuccessfully attempting to meditate in his room as he left his two eldest to solve their disagreement on their own.
The only sounds that echoed throughout the lair was the voices of two very angry brothers.
"I told ya Leo, get off'a my back! Nobody got hurt!"
"That's not the point Raph! You're inability to follow orders almost jeopardized our entire mission!"
"We still stopped the Purple Dragons, so what's the big deal?"
"The big deal Raphael is your constant reckless attitude. Why can't you ever follow my orders?"
"Maybe if your orders didn't stink so much, Fearless, I would follow them!"
"My orders would be just fine, Hot Head, if you would actually listen to me for once!"
"I'm done listen to ya Leo, ya ain't the boss of me!"
"As the leader of this team, I AM the boss!"
"Ya want me ta listen to ya, oh Fearless Leader, then ya gonna hav'ta make me!"
By now, Donnie had given up on trying to concentrate on his latest project. The purple masked turtle poked his head outside the door of his laboratory. Mikey's head popped up over the back of the couch. The two youngest brothers sent each other worried glances from across the room, the silent question asked between them. Should we intervene?
Raphael and Leonardo's fights had increased with both frequency and intensity as of late. Today's was proving to be the worst one yet.
"That's your problem Raph, you're always acting without thinking!"
"And ya always think too much! Ya think I'm rash Leo, I'll show you reckless!"
Oh no! Not good, not good!
Donatello and Michelangelo's eyes widened beneath their masks. The sounds of metal on metal caused the purple and orange masked brothers to race towards the dojo.
Donnie and Mikey stopped just inside the dojo doors, staring at their two sparring siblings. No sparring wasn't the right word for this. When the turtles spar in the dojo, they usually hold their punches. Nope, the two eldest brothers were flat out fighting, and with their weapons. Already Raph and Leo had drops of blood splattered along their arms and the surrounding mats. Red reminders from superficial cuts where their bladed weapons had made contact. The black and blues from strikes hitting their mark were sure to keep on appearing along the skin of the two eldest turtles in the days to come.
Mikey turned to his genius brother with panic flashing in his eyes. "Donnie, we've gotta stop them!"
Donatello nodded his head as he pulled the bo from his back. "I'll get Leo, you grab Raph."
Mikey nodded and leapt towards his enraged older brother as he yelled. The orange and green blur tacked the red masked turtle. "Raph, stop it!"
A wooden staff struck out from the shadows, knocking the blue clad turtle onto his shell. "Leo, enough!"
The only thing Raphael could see was red. So when his youngest brother tackled him, the furious turtle reacted by sheer instinct and lashed out at his foe. Blinded by his rage, Raph did not realize it was Mikey until it was too late.
The orange loving turtle let out a yelp of pain as his wrist was struck by the handle of his brother's sai.
Donnie and Leo reacted at the same time to the youngest's cry of pain. "Mikey!"
Before Leo could lunge forward, Donatello pinned him to the floor. Donnie used his full weight to press down on the bo across Leo's plastron as he growled to the leader. "No, you don't move!"
Stunned by the gentlest turtle's uncharacteristically harsh tone, Leo froze. Satisfied that Leo would stay put, Donnie hurried over to his injured brother.
Master Splinter entered the dojo just as Donnie was helping Mikey to his feet. "My sons, what has happened?"
His hands shaking as his brain processed what he had just done to his innocent brother, Raphael stuttered. "Masta Splinta,…aye…Mikey…aye…it's all m'fault!"
Leonardo didn't make a sound as he rose to his feet and stared at the scene in front of him.
Master Splinter's tail whipped back and forth as he glared at his two eldest sons. Turning his head to Donatello he began barking orders. "Donatello, assist Michelangelo."
The resident medic nodded as he gently guided Mikey towards the lab. Mikey bit his lip to keep from crying out. Hi eyes brimming with tears that threatened to roll down his face.
The disappointed father narrowed his eyes as he faced his eldest sons. "Leonardo, Raphael, your weapons."
The two warriors hesitated for a moment, startled by the order.
Splinter's voice left no room for argument. "Now!"
Immediately both siblings dropped their weapons to the floor. The clank of metal rang throughout the dojo as the weapons fell to the ground.
Splinter glared at his eldest son. "Leonardo, your straps too."
The sword wielder fumbled for a moment as he unstrapped his sheaths, then let them slide off his shell and onto the floor.
The old rat gathered the weapons. As he turned to walk out of the dojo he barked out. "Fifty back flips, NOW! Then both of you in my room!"
In his room, Master Splinter's ears were pinned flat against his head, his hands clasped behind his back as his tail whipped back and forth. He paced in front of his kneeling sons. Raphael and Leonardo's fights have grown increasingly worse and the rat was at his wits end with the emotional teenagers.
"You disappoint me my sons. Using your weapons against your brothers?"
Leonardo and Raphael kept their eyes locked on the floor. Guilt and shame radiated off of them.
Master Splinter stopped his pacing to face the blue masked turtle, his tone thick with disappointment. "Leonardo, you are the leader. You are supposed to be in control. How can your brothers follow a leader who acts rashly and doesn't put their safety first and foremost?"
Turning his head, Splinter addressed his red banded son. "And Raphael, how can you be a part of a team, if you cannot control your anger and are going to lash out against your teammates as if they were your enemy?"
Trying to keep his own anger controlled, Splinter resumed his pacing as he continued. "Until further notice, you two are forbidden to carry your weapons. A ninja is supposed to be in control of both his body and his emotions. A team cannot function unless all of its members can work together. Until you two can settle your differences without violence, you are banned from your weapons. Am I understood?"
Leonardo opened his mouth to protest, but one look at his father's face and he promptly shut it. "Hai, Master Splinter."
Raphael was clenching his fists so tight, he was surprised he didn't crack a bone as he growled. "Hai, Sensai."
The Ninjitsu master drew a deep breath, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Your constant arguing puts not only your lives, but the lives of your brothers in jeopardy as well. Until you two can settle your differences, all four of you are confined to the sewers."
Raph and Leo kept their heads facing the floor but slipped angry glares at each other at their father's punishment.
"Dismissed."
Raphael leapt to his feet and stormed up to his room.
Leonardo was slower to rise and turned around in enough time to see the ends of his brother's red bandana tails.
The resident healer was just putting the finishing touches to the cast on Mikey's broken wrist when he heard the soft footfalls of his eldest brother approach the lab. "Come in Leo."
The blue masked turtle hesitated by the doorway. The worry for his youngest brother was etched all over his face, as he began to ask tentatively. "Mikey?"
Mikey let a small grin cross his face as he reassured his brother. "I'll be ok Leo, it's just a broken wrist."
Unfortunately, the purple masked turtle was not finding forgiveness as easy as his younger sibling. It wasn't often, but when the resident genius got angry it usually took him a long time to calm down.
And witnessing one of his brothers injured, by the hands of one of his own sibling, would certainly make the resident doctor in the lair, angry. Whirling on his leader, Donatello started ranting. "Leo, you and Raph have got to stop this. What's going to happen the next time? How bad do one of us need to be hurt before you two learn to just get along!"
Leo opened his mouth like a fish and then promptly closed it. There was nothing he could say. His smart brother was right, as usual.
Donnie turned his back on the guilty turtle as he growled. "Just get out Leo."
Mikey gave his remorseful brother a sheepish smile and nodded his head.
The rest of the evening in the lair was quiet, a little too quiet. Leonardo sat in his room, trying to meditate, unsuccessfully. The frustrated turtle let out a sigh. Why can't Raph and I just get along! He's always risking the safety of this team. He's just too impulsive, too stubborn and too reckless. How can I possibly be a leader to someone like that?
Raph sat in his hammock with silent tears soaking his red mask. His hands were pressed against his head as his guilt grew. I can't believe I hurt Mikey! He was only trying to help. Why can't Leo just get off my back sometimes? He's always planning and trying to control everything. Can't he see that sometimes the best strategy, is just to act? Why is he so stubborn? I've gotta get outta here and get some air!
Raphael poked his head out of his bedroom. Good, it looks like everyone went to sleep. Using all of his ninja stealth the red masked turtle silently crept along the hallway until he reached his youngest brother's room. He paused by the doorway long enough to look at the injured turtle. Aww man Mikey, I am so sorry. Somehow I'll make it up to ya bro.
The guilty turtle quietly crept back the way he came and began heading to the exit of the lair. I just need to get some fresh air.
Leonardo was known for being the lightest sleeper in the family. It was a running joke that the blue masked turtle could wake up if someone sneezed, across the river, in New Jersey. Unable to fall asleep Leo's head lifted off of his pillow when he heard Raph creep down the hallway. Raph. Hearing the footsteps head towards Mikey's room, Leo stayed in his bed. But when the light sleeper heard the footsteps head downstairs he bolted out of his room. Oh no, he's not seriously going out, is he?
Raph had barely made it outside the door of the lair when Leo's hand grabbed his bicep, firmly.
"Where are you going?" Demanded the blue clad leader.
"Getcha hands off'a me Leo." Insisted the red turtle as he shook his arm out of Leo's grasp.
Leo moved to stand in front of the hot tempered turtle, as he crossed his arms in front of his plastron. "Master Splinter said we are confined to the sewers."
Raph straightened to his full height. He narrowed his eyes at his stubborn brother as he growled. "I heard Master Splinter and I ain't goin to the surface. I'm goin for a walk through the sewers."
Then the red turtle purposely bumped his shoulder into Leonardo's as he continued onward. "You ain't my keeper, now get outta my way Leo."
Leo stumbled for a moment as Raph's unexpected weight threw him off balance. As he regained his footing, he turned to look at the short tempered turtle's retreating back. Why is he always so stubborn?
Raphael's pace began at a slow jog at first but quickly picked up to a sprint as he tried to burn off some of his frustration. Usually he would vent his anger on the heavy bag in the dojo. But it was late and the red clad turtle didn't want to wake his sleeping younger brothers, especially Michelangelo. As his guilt continued to build Raph increased the punishing pace and turned down one of the lesser used sewer tunnels. All of the turtles were quite familiar with the layout of the sewers, but they still had a handful that they preferred to use over others. Tonight, the distracted turtle didn't really care where he went, as long as it took him away from the lair and away from his problems, at least for a little while.
Leonardo felt his annoyance rising with each step as he tracked his fast moving brother through the sewers. Leo took extra care to remain hidden in the shadows, yet close to Raphael. While all four of the turtles had been taught how to track an opponent, Raph was the best tracker out of the group. Leo didn't want his brother getting too far ahead of him. Wow, Raph's really moving. Why isn't he this fast when we run on patrols?
Leo hesitated for a moment as Raph turned into one of the less familiar tunnels. Wait a minute. Where is he going? We never use the tunnels on this side. Leo narrowed his eyes beneath his mask, but continued to follow his hot tempered sibling. He wasn't going to let Raph out of his sights, especially when the red masked turtle was acting rashly.
Eventually, Raphael's pace began to slow. Another mile after that he came to a complete stop. Leaning down with his hands on his knees, the sai wielder gulped in huge breaths of air as he struggled to calm his breathing. Finally observing his surroundings, Raphael realized that he was standing on a walkway in a large old sewer junction. The ceiling was covered with pipes. Rotted and brittle from years of abandonment. Larger pipes ran across the room in a zig zag pattern, the sound of water rushing through them. A look beneath the grates under Raph's feet confirmed that somewhere at the bottom of the cavern, the water pooled before draining off into the darkness.
Suddenly the red clad turtle tensed and cursed loudly. He turned to the shadows and huffed angrily as he stared into the darkness, his eyes seeking his annoying older brother.
"I know you're there Leo. You ain't the only ninja in this family."
Leonardo walked out from the shadows and onto the edge of the walkway. Leo's hands were held out in a sign of peace, his plastron heaving up and down as he regained his breath.
Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Raphael's frustration was written all over his face. "Why're ya followin me Fearless?"
The blue turtle let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm not here to fight Raph."
Feeling his anger rising again, Raph spat out. "Then whaddya want from me, Leonardo?"
Leo tensed at the use of his full name. Leo didn't mean to start arguing with Raph again. He had only followed him to make sure his hot tempered brother would be ok. But Raph just always seemed to push his buttons. Leo felt his own anger rising. Why is Raph so stubborn! Tired from his run through the sewers and stressed from the day's earlier events, Leo felt his famous control starting to slip.
Leo growled in frustration. "Want? What do I want? Do you really want to know Raph? I want you to listen for once. For you to control your impulses and think. You don't listen to me. Or to Master Splinter. Shell, you don't listen to anyone. Just what is your problem?"
Raphael huffed angrily as he clenched his hands into fists. Why is Leo so stubborn? "Problem? Ya wanna know what my problem is Leo? You. My problem is you. You walk around like you're better than the rest of us. You're always practicing and meditating and planning. You've always got to be so perfect. Leonardo, the perfect son. You ignore the rest of us. You're always bossing us around. I never asked for you to be the boss of me."
Raph turned to walk away after his last remark, which caused the already unraveling leash on the blue banded turtle's patience to snap. The frustrated eldest began to vent his frustrations to his stubborn younger brother's retreating back.
"I never said I was perfect Raph. And Master Splinter made me the leader when we were still kids! You think I want to spend all my free time training? You think I like not having a life? Donnie has time to dream and build. Mikey has the freedom to be a goofball. And you have the freedom to roam the streets with Casey busting heads. And what do I do? I have to worry. ALL THE TIME. Because if anything happens to any of you, it's my responsibility. It's MY FAULT! And when you don't listen to my orders, it just makes everything so much harder!"
Raphael had spun on his heels at his brother's outburst. Leo's eyes were wild. The red masked turtle had never seen his older brother loose his control like this before. The words pouring out of Leo's mouth, the carefully guarded secrets that were suddenly spilling forth, everything Leo said and did started to make a little sense now.
Then Raph's eyes narrowed as his own stubbornness kicked in. And he's always kept these feelings to himself. Why didn't he ever say anything? Raphael shouted at his brother, his voice echoing throughout the sewer walls. "Shell Leo, WHY DIDN'T YOU EVER SAY ANYTHING?"
Leo's eyes widened. Always the vigilant ninja, Leo had been surveying their surroundings as he argued with his younger brother. And that last outburst was just enough to cause the old, fragile network of pipes above their heads to break free from the ceiling supports with a loud snap. The sudden rush of water causing more pipes to break free from the increased strain. Pipes and water that were falling very fast and heading directly for where Raphael was standing.
Raphael saw his brother's eyes widen at first in shock, and then quickly shift to fear, as a loud snap rang throughout the tunnels. The startled turtle looked up in time to see pipes and water rushing towards him.
"Aw shell."
The red masked turtle jumped up to the left, out of the way of the falling debris, only to land on a large pipe that could not support his weight. Another loud snap echoed in the air and the tunnels fell into darkness as pipes and debris ripped the electrical lines from the ceiling. As the cave in picked up speed, Raph felt himself starting to fall before he could jump to another pipe, his hands reaching out for anything to grab onto.
Leo's hand reached out and grabbed his wrist, his calm voice carrying from the darkness. "Raph, I've got you."
No one ever knew how Leo managed to do half the things he did, but at that particular moment Raph didn't care. He was very thankful for his brother's magical Ninjitsu skills and for saving his shell.
Unfortunately the sewer fairies were not on the side of the two eldest brothers this evening. Another loud snap echoed throughout the tunnels. The pipes were raining down on both of them heavily now. Raph heard a grunt from his brother and then they were plunged downward, tumbling into the darkness.
A/N: Ah Leo and Raph, always getting into trouble. Virtual berries with whipped cream to those who review.