Chapter Text
Leonardo was nervous. The last time he had hung out with Karai and Shini, it had been a disaster of monumental proportions. Donatello had ended up getting hurt, and his father, well, Leo, didn’t want to remember that. But maybe tonight could be different.
Staring down at the bathroom counter, Leo looked at the carefully constructed headpiece he had made for himself during Christmas. He had kept it a secret from the others, too nervous to wear it in front of them while also being afraid that his sewing skills weren’t exactly the best.
Taking a deep breath, Leo looked at himself in the mirror. Blue eyes were framed with black eyeliner and a bit of green blush that Shini had gifted him. He glared at himself in the mirror before stabbing a recently dried blue fingernail at his reflection.
“Listen to you! YOU are going to put this on! Go out there! And HAVE FUN tonight!” He scolded himself. Grabbing the headpiece, he gently placed it onto his head. The carefully constructed rain-dropping gems were resting on the right side of his head. His hands shook a bit when he saw himself in the mirror. He was beautiful!
Taking a deep breath in through his nose and letting through his mouth, Leo reached for the bathroom door, stopping mid-turn of the nob.
He suddenly felt like he was going to vomit. Why were his legs shaking? Why can’t he breathe!? Is that his knees hitting against one another!? Oh god, how long has he been standing here staring at the door?
“ NO, I can’t do this! OH god, I look so fucking stupid. What am I thinking wearing this!” He screamed, flinging himself from the door back over to the sink and pushing his face right against the cold glass until he was eye to eye with his reflection!
“What is this? What am I doing?! What’s Raph going to say?! I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THE LEADER OF BIG BROTHER, AND HERE I AM PLAYING DRESS UP! DRESS UP FOR KAMI SAKE! WHAT 19-YEAR-OLD STILL PLAYS DRESS UP! OH GOD, AND WHAT WOULD MASTER SPLITER SAY!?” This time, Leo’s heart nearly hurled itself out of his chest, tears weld up in his eyes.
Thoughts piled up in his head. How his late father would think this is childish or how he should put his wants and needs behind his clan and responsibilities.
Suddenly, his head felt like it would explode. He felt too dizzy to stand and slunk down to the cold tile floor. The dark thoughts could have fully consumed the young terrapin without an impatient banging at the old door.
“ LEO! Is that you screaming in there!? What are you doing!? You’ve been in there for over an hour! I have ta piss!” Jumping, Leo didn’t know what to do he was already dressed and wouldn’t have time to hide everything! Almost falling on his face, Leo flailed around a bit before taking a deep breath, smoothing out his clothes, and clearing his throat.
“Uhm Yah Raph, I’m in here; sorry. Just give me a second, and I’ll be out!” An aggravated groan came from behind the door, and an added thump against the door to let Leo know just how bad Raph had to use the bathroom.
Swallowing hard, Leo began his dreaded shuffle towards the door.
The pounding had started up again, along with some colorful swears from Raphael. Closing his eyes, Leo decided to get it over with, like tearing off a week-old bandaid.
He yanked open the door, almost sending his inch-shorter brother tumbling to the hard ground. Instead, Leo managed to catch the darker turtle.
That’s when all hell broke lose
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Now Raphel has a pretty good memory.
He remembers Leo’s favorite color and Donnie’s favorite food; he remembers when Mikey decided that play dough was just like cookie dough and ate a whole container.
So yah he would say he’s got a pretty good memory.
So why is it he doesn’t remember a complete and utter stranger that looks like his brother had walked straight into their home, past Donnie’s security, past Mikey sitting in the pit, past him waiting for the bathroom, and into the bathroom where his brother is SUPPOSED TO BE—.
Raph takes a moment to let his brain catch up. Then, he realizes that he is leaning on top of the stranger before he flings himself off of them and into the wall behind him and screeches as high as his voice will go.
“ WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU AND HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE!”
The strange flinches before grabbing his face, wrapping their hands around his mouth, silencing him! Someone was trying to kidnap him!! He tries to struggle against them, kicking and screaming, but doesn’t have his say. He left them in the dojo! The person is firm, which means they may have taken out Leo! Raph tries to fight harder, screaming past their hand for Donnie and Mikey.
Suddenly, the stranger is tackled off him by a flash of orange and a battle cry. And a three-fingered hand is in his face to help him up.
He takes it shakily and runs into the bathroom expecting an unconscious Leonardo, only to find the bathroom covered in nail polish, makeup, and perfume bottles.
Raphael stands their mouth agape, unable to register what he’s seeing. So he turns and looks back into the hallway, where the stranger is screaming at Michael and Don. The two of them have their heads bowed sorrowfully.
Mikey is mumbling something, and the stranger pinches the bridge between their eyes. At this point, Raph takes the time to look at them—blue eyes and freckles. Awkwardly turned knee expression that looks like a mother talking to her kids… OH MY GOD ITS LEO!