Chapter 1: Prologue (Ten Years Ago)
Summary:
”I’m tellin’ ya,” the wolf yokai said smoothly. “These babies will always land ya a winning roll.”
”I see.” The bear took the smooth object in his hand and held it up for inspection. “You sure this is tainted? I can’t feel anythin’ wrong with it.”
”That’s the beauty of them.” The wolf smirked. “No stinkin’ stickler will be able to tell that they’re… special.”
”He’s lying.” Leo spoke up simply, and both yokai turned to stare at him with surprise. Leo took a few bold steps closer even though he could barely see over the top of the table. “The wolf. He’s lying. There’s nothing special about those dice.”
Notes:
Hey everyone, and welcome to the first chapter of The Shattered Lineage: Wings of Ashes!
I’m really excited for this fic, and if y’all follow my tumblr then you know that I’ve already been posting chapters for fun lol. But I hope you enjoy this separated AU, and as always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated! ^^
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Leo let out a flurry of angry chirps, stomping his feet as he stormed through the streets of the Hidden City. It wasn’t fair that Raph had been chosen over him to be Draxum’s heir. He remembered his older brother trying to reason with him as he flew out the door but he had refused to listen, and Draxum’s unbothered acceptance of him running away only fueled his irritation. He just wanted to be somebody, was that so hard to achieve? He always knew he was the least favorite of the two, but still it hurt to see Raph get chosen over him officially.
The little slider kicked a rock along the road, letting out steam through resentful clicks. Maybe… maybe if he was out long enough then Draxum would come looking for him. Maybe he would be forced to show that he cared, even if just a little bit. No way he’d let his precious little Raphael out to look, so Leo was on his own tonight.
A discontent rumble emitted from his stomach and Leo growled at his hunger. No way was he going to go back to the Nexus just because of a little stomachache. Nope! Neon Leon was not a quitter. He was going to be just fine…
Suddenly a heavenly scent wafted past his nostrils and the young slider inhaled it greedily. Oh sweet goodness… that was pizza! Where… there! Leo’s heterochromic eyes fixated on a brick restaurant, warm light radiating from the windows and a cozy scene inside. Leo hesitated, but another growl from his impatient stomach complied him to go in.
Golden warmth washed over Leo the second he opened the doors and he couldn’t help but let out a little churr of pleasure. Goodness, this was so much better than the grimy Hidden City streets. He ambled inside, eyes darting around at all the different booths. What was he supposed to do? He had heard of places like this but had never actually been outside of the Hotel and Battle Nexus. Lucky Raph would be able to go to Draxum’s lab now, but not Leo.
His gaze landed on a table with two hulking figures: a bear and a wolf. They were discussing something in hushed tones, but the wolf seemed to be trying to convince the bear of something. Leo wandered closer, eyes widening and tail letting out a little flick of admiration at the sheer size of the yokai. Not to mention how freaking cool these guys looked! Their eyes were in an even stare, not showing any intimidation or anxiety. The bear had a gold chain around his neck that glinted light every time he moved and an old black jacket that looked worn. The wolf had a crimson tailcoat that was tattered in a couple places, and he slapped a couple dice down on the table.
”I’m tellin’ ya,” he said smoothly. “These babies will always land ya a winning roll.”
”I see.” The bear took the smooth object in his hand and held it up for inspection. “You sure this is tainted? I can’t feel anythin’ wrong with it.”
”That’s the beauty of them.” The wolf smirked. “No stinkin’ stickler will be able to tell that they’re… special.”
”He’s lying.” Leo spoke up simply, and both yokai turned to stare at him with surprise. Leo took a few bold steps closer even though he could barely see over the top of the table. “The wolf. He’s lying. There’s nothing special about those dice.”
”Shut up kid.” The wolf growled, but Leo detected the panicked glint in his eyes. “This is an adult conversation.”
”No no, this kid might be on to something.” The bear leaned back in his booth. “You trying to josh me again, Haus?”
”No! These are tainted, I swear. They’ll make ya more then it’ll take to pay for ‘em, let me tell you.” The wolf slipped back into his cool tone.
”Why not hear the lad out?” The bear leaned down. “What makes ya think he’s foolin’ me, kid?” he murmured, eyes betraying amused curiosity.
”His tail and ears keep twitching.” Leo shrugged. “Not to mention all his muscles are tensed weird and his breathing is carefully relaxed, not naturally relaxed.”
The wolf shot him a glare and the bear whistled. “Not bad kid, not bad.”
The wolf yokai’s eyes widened. “You’re not seriously gonna listen to a little punk like this, are ya?”
”Oh get over yerself. I knew you was lyin’.” The bear rolled his eyes. “You think someone like me can’t feel a difference in dice? But the fact that this kid can too…”
The wolf spluttered. “They’re just well-designed…”
”Oh save the crap, Haus. I was gonna see where ya was getting these scams from but yer lucky this kid is more interestin’ than your ugly snout.” The bear glanced over at the wolf. “You’ve got ten seconds to get outta here before I tell the gang. Ten… nine…”
The wolf shot the bold slider another death-look before snatching his dice and standing up. He straightened his coat stiffly and ducked out the door. The bear sighed.
”Lookie there, forgot that now I’m gonna have to pay for his beer.” The bear glanced back Leo. “How’d ya learn to spot lies like that?”
Leo tilted his head. “I thought it was obvious.”
The bear let out a guffawing laugh. “Obvious? Nah kid, that wolf was a top-notch swindler. I’m used to him but you… how old are you?”
Leo puffed out his chest. “I’m six years old.”
The bear snorted. “Aw, you’re just a baby.”
”Hey! Didn’t you hear me?” Leo’s expression furrowed in defiance as he held up his hands, fingers splayed wide. “Six!”
”Ooh, a feisty baby though.” The bear smirked. “Don’t worry little guy, it’s impressive. Where did you even come from?”
Leo crossed his arms haughtily. “I’m not telling you. You’re a stranger.”
The bear chortled. “Oh geez aren’t you just adorable. Y’know this is a dangerous time of night. What’s a little tortoise like you doin’ out with the big dogs?”
”I’m a turtle.” Leo corrected. “And I can do whatever I want.” He crossed his arms and pouted out his lip as if daring the bear to object. The bear raised his hands in surrender.
”Sure you can kid, sure you can.” He gestured to the seat where the wolf had sat. “But please sit down! Where’re my manners? Call me Jasper. What should I call you?”
”Leo.” Leo quipped, having to stand up on the seat and lean over the table to shake Jasper’s hand.
”Leo. Nice name, kid.” The bear nodded, and Leo tried not to wince at the firm handshake. “And nice manners. Ya know how to shake a man’s hand. Yer pa must be a posh one.”
Leo winced at the reminder of Draxum and Raph being chosen over him. He shook his head and lifted his chin. “Dad’s just got a stick up his butt. And Raphie’s bein’ a puppy after him.”
The bear exploded in laughter. “Where on earth didja hear that from, kid? You’re a mouthy one, aren’t ya? Six years old, I’ll be darned.” He leaned in. “But ya got a little rebellious streak. I like that. Here, have a drink if ya want.” He slid over the wolf’s abandoned mug and Leo glanced doubtfully at the frothy brown liquid inside.
”What’s this stuff?” Leo sniffed it experimentally and his face wrinkled at the smell.
”Just a good, strong gentleman’s beer. Since Haus ain’t drinkin’ his, ya might as well.” The bear shrugged.
Leo hesitated. The stuff stank terribly but he didn’t want to seem weak. he wrapped his hands around the mug and began to lift it up.
”Por amor a... what are you doing, Señor?” Snapped a low voice with a thick accent, and Leo barely had time to register anything before the mug was ripped out of his hands and slammed back on the table. The surprised slider looked up to see a furious skeleton man breathing heavily and glaring at Jasper. “What do you think you are doing? This is very clearly a minor!”
Jasper shrugged. “Easy, Hueso. Just thought I’d offer it since it’s gonna go to waste.”
The bone man muttered a few foreign curses. “That is alcohol! This is a child. Do you have no sense of propriety?”
Jasper raised his hands in surrender. “Easy Bone Man. It’s just a sip.”
”Not in my restaurant!” Hueso snipped, gesturing towards the door. “And that was the last straw. Out. Find somewhere else to take your shenanigans.”
”Come on Hueso…”
”You should be lucky I don’t call the police for offering alcohol to a minor.” Hueso’s gaze was fire. “Out. Now. No need to pay. Just get out of my establishment.”
Jasper raised his hands in surrender. “Geez, fine. I’ll take my leave.” He picked up his fedora from next to him and placed it down on his head, looking down at Leo. “You’ll see me around, kid. Hope we cross paths again.”
”Out!” Hueso growled, and Jasper finally walked out, taking his sweet time and shamelessly eyeing the customers who were counting money for the bill. Once he was gone the skeleton sighed in relief and looked down at Leo. “Little pepino, what are you doing with that man? Where are your parents?”
Leo crossed his arms. “I’m fine.”
Hueso sighed and knelt down so he could look up at the young slider. “I do not mean you any harm, Pepino. I am only concerned for your safety.” Leo’s stomach let out a loud rumble and Hueso sighed. “And for your well-being. I will get you some food.”
”I don’t have money.” Leo snipped, and Hueso shook his head.
”No need to pay. I will cover it.” He looked Leo in the eyes. “But you should learn to not be so rude to people who are only trying to help you.”
Leo stubbornly looked away and the skeleton straightened, calling out to some zebra yokai to bring over a no-show pizza order. The waiter did so and Hueso turned back to Leo. “Do you like Hawaiian?”
At this point Leo couldn’t care less as long as it was food. He gratefully took the pizza box in both hands, inhaling the delicious scent greedily. Hueso’s face softened. “Where are your parents, Pepino? Do they feed you okay? What are you doing out so late?”
Leo gave the skeleton a pout. “You’re a stranger.”
Hueso sighed. “At least you have some sense then. But I want to make sure you get home safe. You do have a home to go back to, si?”
Leo nodded, opening the pizza box and taking a slice. The box was too big and tried to slide off his lap but Hueso kneeled down again and held it steady. Leo flushed slightly with embarrassment but still sunk his teeth into the food, letting out a churr of pleasure. He quickly devoured the slice and reached for another. Hueso watched him with slight concern. “You are so thin… have you eaten today, Pepino?”
Leo shrugged. “Yeah, a little.”
”A little?” Hueso prompted. “It is late into the night. What have you eaten?”
”Well Dad was kinda busy today and so was Mama, but Raphie made me a peanut butter sandwich.” Leo’s brow furrowed. “He didn’t eat any though. He can’t have peanut butter. Maybe I should save some of this for him.” Leo still felt mad at his brother, but now guilt was mixing in with it. Raph always was trying to take care of him, and besides it wasn’t his fault that Draxum liked him better. And he must be hungry. Hueso and the zebra waiter shared a look.
”You only had one sandwich? And is… is Raphie your brother?” Hueso asked tentatively and Leo nodded.
”Yeah. He’s my big brother. He’s big an’ strong like this.” Leo tried flexing his tiny arms but only succeeded in almost dropping the pizza box if Hueso hadn’t been holding it. Hueso hesitated.
”And your dad and mama?” he asked. “They were too busy to feed you?”
Leo shrugged. “They’re busy a lot. Raphie feeds me most of the time if he can find something in the fridge.”
”Then does he eat?”
Leo hesitated. “Sometimes. But he always makes me eat first.”
Hueso nodded solemnly. “Pepino, that is not healthy. You need to eat three meals a day. Especially at this age.”
Leo’s eyes widened. “Three whole meals? That’s a lot!” The slider had meant it in innocent admiration, but Hueso still cringed.
”Well, it is what you should be eating. You and your brother both.” His eyes searched Leo’s face. “Would… would you like to bring your brother here sometime? I will feed you both free of charge.”
”Nah, Raphie’s gonna be busy with Dad now.” Leo looked down with a frown. “He’s gonna get extra training and attention and stuff.”
”I see.” Hueso hesitated. “Do you… do you need help?”
”What?”
”Pepino, you need to eat more. It doesn’t sound like your parents are feeding you.” Hueso sighed at Leo’s blank look. “Just… just feel free to come by my restaurant any time. I assure you I will not mind, and you will get fed here.”
Leo smiled slightly. “Really? More pizza?”
Hueso nodded with a fond, bittersweet look. “Yes, Pepino. You will have all the pizza you want. Come back whenever.”
Leo’s tail started wagging as he hopped down from the booth, hugging the pizza box to his chest. “Thank you, sir!”
”Ah, there’s those manners.” Hueso straightened. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Pepino. I hope you will take me up on my offer, and you should be getting home. It is very late.”
”Okay, I will.” Leo looked down at the pizza. “Raphie’s probably worried about me. And he’ll like this pizza.”
”Of course. Pepino. Take care.” Hueso backed up slightly to give Leo space, but his expression betrayed that he was reluctant to let him go. Leo waved and practically skipped out the door, feeling much better now that he had something to eat. But once he was out the door he heard someone clear their throat and turned to see Jasper leaning against the alley wall next to the restaurant.
”Hey Jasper!” Leo chirped, and the bear smiled and kicked off the wall, walking towards the little turtle.
”Hey yourself.” Jasper placed a gentle hand on Leo’s shoulder. “Y’know, I was just wondering if you’d like to meet some of my buddies? I could introduce ya, and maybe you could help me in some… games we all play together. In these games it’s mostly trying to figure out if people are lyin’ or not, and I think you’d be great at that.”
”Oh, I was just headed home…” Leo said slowly, and Jasper nodded.
”Completely understandable, kid. Tell ya what: meet me here tomorrow night, same time and I’ll take ya to my buddies and we can all play some card games together. How does that sound?” Jasper suggested, and Leo nodded enthusiastically.
”Sure. I’ll be here. Bye!” Leo grinned in excitement and balanced the pizza box briefly on a raised knee to wave at the bear, who waved back and watched the young slider disappear into the night with a faint smirk on his lips.
Notes:
Aw, little Leo is so precious! But anywhizzle I hope you enjoyed that chapter and I’ll see ya in the next one! ^^
Chapter 2: Place Your Bet (The Present)
Summary:
The red-eared slider glanced down at his cards. A three of diamonds and an eight of clubs.
Shoot.
His heterochromic eyes flicked over to the river that had just been flipped after the flop and the turn, grimacing. Yep, he was doomed. However, if someone just so happened to have an ace and a jack of spades then…
Notes:
Hey everyone! I know this chapter is coming out really soon, but I’ve got a bunch of these backed up and got excited lol! Hope you enjoy!
As always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The red-eared slider glanced down at his cards. A three of diamonds and an eight of clubs.
Shoot.
His heterochromic eyes flicked over to the river that had just been flipped after the flop and the turn, grimacing. Yep, he was doomed. However, if someone just so happened to have an ace and a jack of spades then…
”Your bet, Leo.” Grumbled the wolf yokai sitting across from him, elbows on the table as his tail flicked behind him. Leo smirked and counted out a pile of blue chips, sliding them into the middle. “Forty to you, Travis. You know I love blue so much.”
”Forty?” The snake yokai in question hissed in irritation. “Someone’s getting cocky.”
”No way he has something.” Jasper—the bear yokai next to Leo—spoke up confidently, and Leo was resentfully aware that this was the dealer. He was no fool—he saw Jasper intentionally slip him his sucky hand. They used to be pretty close during Leo’s rise in the gambling world but once the slider realized that he was doing all the work and Jasper was getting all the money…
It had only been a matter of time before the colorful chips pitted the two of them against each other in competition.
But it took two to tango, and he had a couple cards up his sleeve for backup. Literally. Travis folded, and Jasper began counting chips. “Call and raise ya another forty.”
”Call.” Leo said immediately, then decided to poke the bear’s buttons a bit. He slid more chips into the pot in the center. “Raise ya another forty.”
There was a discontent murmuring around the table as the other players folded. Jasper glared at Leo. “Seriously? You’re playing with fire here, kid. I thought you knew how to bet.”
”Oh, I do. Best in the business.” Leo chuckled, drumming his fingers against the table in impatience. “That’s forty more to you, good sir.”
The bear grumbled and glanced down at his cards, ear twitching ever so slightly so that the slider knew he didn’t have the best hand. His confidence was purely based in the was he had tried to skirt Leo’s hand, but the slider’s big betting was making him second-guess himself. Leo used the bear’s distraction to seamlessly slip his crappy hand into his left sleeve while two new cards emerged from his right. Heterochromic eyes glanced down to confirm that he had hit the jackpot. He glanced back up at the bear. “Come on. You know you want to.”
“Why not just fold now? We all know yer bluffing.” Growled Jasper as he called Leo’s bet, and the slider chuckled. “Whose money are ya betting with? Your daddy’s? Mommy’s? Go run back to them. We all know you’re too young to be here.”
“Eh, who’s gonna know?” He took another swig of his beer. “For all you know I’m twenty-one.”
“Show an ID.” He demanded, and Leo smirked.
“Come on, we both know your too drunk to see straight.” Leo slapped down his cards. “It’s pretty obvious when you just lost to a royal flush.”
“What?!” The bear’s eyes snapped back down to the table, where Leo indeed was holding out a royal flush. His eyes went furious. “You… you cheated! You had a three of diamonds and…”
“How would you know that, hmmm?” Leo’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial hum. “You wanna get us both kicked out?”
“Cough it up, kid!” The bear grabbed Leo by the collar. “I ain’t losin’ this pot to a little punk like you again!”
”Ah, there’s that sweet little word. Again.” Leo smirked. “But seriously Jas, get your grubby loser paws off the jacket. This drip is reserved for winners only.”
”Watch that smart mouth of yours!” Jasper glared at the smug slider. “You’d wouldn’t be here if not for me.”
”If you two’ve got beef then take it outside.” Travis scoffed. “If you want to bet then pay up your ante.”
”Oh I will.” Jasper growled. “As soon as this little cheat gives me back my win.”
”Ooh, you’re one to talk!” Leo squirmed in the bear’s grip. “But it takes one to know one, ‘ey Jas?”
”You little—!” Jasper suddenly slammed Leo’s head down on the table, upsetting the stacks of poker chips and causing several protests to speak up. “Give it up!”
”Make me.” Leo bit back defiantly. Raph always told him his pride would be the end of him, but Leo always preferred the term well-placed confidence. He lifted his legs off the ground so that one end of the table was supporting his full weight along with Jasper’s combined force. The table tipped and sent both Jasper and Leo toppling to the ground in a shower of spanking-new poker chips. The drunk bear tried to scramble back up but Leo was quicker and used Jasper’s shoulders as a leverage for a back handspring.
”Well it’s been real fun but old Neon Leon’s gotta bounce.” Leo smirked and leapt over a table, knocking over a beer mug and dodging a few angry yokai that tried to grab him. He stuck out his tongue at them and began counting up all the chips he had won off the floor, stuffing them in all the hidden pockets of his jacket.
”Get the little cheat!” Shouted Jasper, and in the drunken fog of the yokai’s brains they seemed to gather that the lanky red-eared slider in their midst had done something they were supposed to be mad about. Leo snatched up the remainder of his chips and dove under two yokai that had tried to tackle him from both sides, causing the two to collide and fall in a dizzy heap. At all the commotion the yokai lost track of who they were supposed to be fighting and began throwing punches left and right, determined that everyone was after their money. He began searching for the casino worker who cold exchange his chips for cash but he saw the said yokai slamming shut his window, dialing the Hidden City Police to disarm the fight.
Leo sighed and looked around for an exit, not feeling like having Raph bail him out today. Unfortunately Jasper caught sight of him and in an instant Leo was being tackled to the ground by the much-larger bear, grunting as some chips spilled out of his pockets. He rolled his eyes at the livid yokai. “Geez, couldn’t you beat up someone your own size for once? Be a good little teddy and call a truce?”
”Nope.” Glowered Jasper. “That was the biggest pot of the game! And it was mine!”
”Ah, how far we’ve come. You really know how to make an old friend feel appreciated, dontcha?” Leo drawled, and Jasper shook him.
”Oh ho ho, hardy har har! Everything’s a joke to you, isn’t it little pal?” Jasper sneered. “Well you’re playing with fire here, kid. You had your chance to run back to Daddy but you just had to keep pushing, didn’t you?” The bear threw a punch at Leo’s face but the slider popped his head into his shell, causing Jasper’s fist to clunk painfully against the floor instead. “Hold still, you little twerp!”
”I’m running on caffiene and spite and you think I can hold still?” Came the muffled retort, and Jasper growled at him. “Oh, and a couple swigs of your beer while you weren’t looking. Good stuff. Mind if I get the name from ya?”
”You little brat!” Jasper grabbed the slider and slammed his carapace against the floor a couple times. “You can’t hide in that stupid shell forever, ya know!”
Suddenly the sounds of sirens filled the air and the confused gamblers began to scatter in a panic. Leo smirked, peeking his head out of his shell. “Ah, such a beautiful tune. Seriously it should be the top spot on Spotify. Now how about we let bygones be bygones, yeah?”
”We’re taking this outside!” Jasper hissed, picking Leo up by the lip of his carapace through the fabric of his jacket.
Leo’s head popped fully out and he began to squirm. “Hey, not cool man! I’m not a stupid kitten! Put me down!”
”Unhand the turtle.” Came a gruff voice, and Leo looked up sheepishly to see one of the yokai police officers he was familiar with. He grinned and offered a wave.
”Hey Hank! What’s up?” He chirped, and the police officer gave him a weary look.
”The fact that you know my name proves you’ve met me one too many times.” Henry sighed. “And you’re both coming with me.”
Leo swung his legs and blew a bored raspberry. He let his heels bounce off against the cool metal of the chair in his cell and looked up at Jasper next to him. “Bummer we got caught. They bear-ly got us.”
”You shut up. I’m not talking to you.” Jasper growled but then looked at the ground again at a warning look from one of the guards.
”Hey Gary, think you could put some entertainment in here?” The slider whined to the guard at the door. “It’s soooo boring!”
”Then maybe you should stop visiting.” Gary replied coolly. “You know I’d be more than happy to never see your face in a cell again, Leo.”
”Oh you’re too kind.” Leo rolled his eyes. “But can I at least…”
”We already called the Battle Nexus. Raphael should be here any moment to pick you up.” Gary informed him, and Leo sighed.
Of course he is.” Leo huffed. And he’ll probably carry me like a hamburger all the way home so he can yap in my face.”
”Good for him.” Gary crossed his arms. “At least someone’s looking out for you. Though I wish you had a father to come pick you up.”
”Nah, the Draxula never leaves his mysterious quarters underground.” Leo snorted. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a vampire at this point.”
”And that’s a problem!” Gary sighed. “What about your uncle?”
”Nah, don’t bother the Bone Man.” Leo leaned back on the seat. “Tio’s restaurant is busy at this time of day.”
Gary raised an eyebrow. “Run of the Mill is closed at this time of night.”
Leo sighed. “Yeah okay fine it is but he’s not my dad or my older brother so I don’t want to bother him. Raph’s already coming.”
Gary watched the slider carefully. “You know, it sounds like old Hueso actually cares about ya. It’d do you well to hang around him a bit more.”
Leo rolled his eyes. “I already work there. We’re cool, but I’d prefer to keep him out of this.”
Gary shook his head in disappointment but fell silent, and Leo kept his eyes on the door. Of course he knew Hueso cared about him, but it wasn’t the skeleton’s job to take care of him.
Not like he needed anyone to take care of him anyway.
Suddenly the door to the hallway swung open and Hank ushered in a large snapping turtle who Leo know all too well. He gave a wave to his irked older brother. “Hey Raph.”
Notes:
Whelp, looks like old Neon Leon’s in a bit of trouble! I wonder how Raph and Leo’s dynamic has evolved since they were tots…?
See ya in the next chapter! ^^
Chapter 3: Mere Investments
Summary:
Leo scowled but stopped squirming. They travelled in silence for a couple more steps before Raph spoke up again. “Raph just doesn’t get it, Leo. We were raised in the exact same home with a genius warrior alchemist and a rich aristocrat and yet you still act up like this. What do I have to do to get through to ya?”
”I’m not answering that.” Leo muttered.
”Well ya should! How did we end up so different?”
”You tell me, Mr. Favorite.” Leo snipped. “Gee, I wonder why if we were treated the exact same that you spend all your time training with the Draxula while I hang around the Nexus all day, hmmm?”
Notes:
Okay this is the last chapter I posted on Tumblr so it’ll probably be a day or two before my next chapter lol! But welcome to chapter 3, y’all!
As always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated! ^^
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
”Don’t you ‘hey’ me, Leo.” Raph growled. “You’re in big trouble, ya know that?”
Leo rolled his eyes. “Good to see you too, buddy.”
Raph sighed and turned to Gary. “Thanks for lookin’ out for him, Officer, and sorry we gotta keep showin’ up here.”
Gary shrugged. “Hey I don’t wanna see him here anymore than you do. Just try to keep an eye on him, alright? I think he was drinking.”
Raph shot Leo a death glare and the slider scowled at Gary. “Snitches get stitches.”
”Leo!” Raph scolded. “Ya don’t threaten an officer!”
”I wish I could say I wasn’t used to it.” Gary sighed. “Just try to keep him out of trouble, alright?”
Raph nodded. “I will. Leo, get up. You’re coming with Raph.”
”Back to the dungeon.” Leo huffed, and Raph stepped into the cell to slap him upside the head. Jasper was watching them with narrowed eyes, and Raph gave him a warning look.
”Whatcha lookin’ at? I’ve seen ya hanging around the Nexus.” Raph stepped in front of Leo. “You messin’ with Raph’s brother?”
”Raaaaaph!” Leo whined, tugging at his older brother’s arm and face heating up. Jasper watched them with an unamused expression.
”Why not take your little animal back to his doghouse. And chain him up this time.” Jasper sniffed, and Raph’s eyes flashed with anger.
”Watch yer mouth! Yer lucky it’s late and Raph doesn’t feel like bustin’ yer face.” Raph gave one more glower before picking Leo up with a hand gripping either side of his shell and lifting him in front of his face. “We’re havin’ a talk once we get back home.”
”See? Hamburger!” Leo complained to Gary, who only raised an eyebrow as Raph sighed and carried him outside. Once they were out in the Hidden City the snapper tucked his younger brother under an arm and began his journey back to the Nexus Hotel.
Leo huffed as he was carried, hearing Raph let out angry, indistinguishable mutters and chirps as he walked. The slider sighed at the irritation stink and wriggled. “Geez Raph! I can walk.”
“You shut up!” Raph snapped back. “I don’t want to hear another word outta you until we get back to the Nexus.”
“Oh come on!” Leo whined. “I was doing fine!”
“Oh, so you meant to be locked up in the Hidden City Jail for a bar fight at stinkin’ casino?” Raph scoffed. “You were being reckless and foolish. Again. All those guys were drunk silly, Leo! They coulda seriously hurt ya!”
“Please, I could’ve taken them in my sleep.” Leo rolled his eyes.
“Ya gotta stop doing this, Leo.” Raph muttered. “I won’t always be around to bail ya out, y’know.”
“I don’t need you to bail me out! I’m doing fine!” Leo smirked and reached back to pull a couple wads of cash from his pocket that he had swiped from Jasper. “Better than fine.”
“This isn’t a joke, Leo!” Raph snarled. “First off, it’s illegal. Second off, it’s doubly illegal for you as a minor. Thirdly, you could get addicted to any of that crap you were doin’. Fourthly, all those guys are bigger and stronger than ya and could beat you to a pulp. These guys ain’t fooling around, y’know! They’re bad people.”
“At least they don’t carry me like a throw pillow!” Leo writhed in Raph’s grip. “Seriously, put me down!”
“Nope.” Raph hoisted Leo up higher, squeezing him a bit tighter just to make a point. “You’ve lost walking privileges for the night. Raph’s strappin’ you down to your bed if you try to sneak out one more time.”
“Well if you were asleep like you should be then you wouldn’t’ve noticed!”
“Raph was asleep.” Raph grumbled. “My big brother senses were tinglin’.”
“Oh come on, we both know that’s not a thing.” Leo muttered, letting his arms dangle limply.
“Then how do ya explain Raph bein’ awake? I plead my case.” Raph said smugly.
“SERIOUSLY PUT ME DOWN!” Leo growled. “This is humiliating. And did you even wash after training with the Draxula? My shell is literally stuffed into your armpit.”
“Well cope, because Raph ain’t givin’ ya a chance to run again. And don’t call Draxum that. It’s disrespectful.”
“Ew!” Leo whined. “You are so gross!”
“And you smell like smoke, beer and new poker chips.” Raph retorted. “Now shut up.”
Leo scowled but stopped squirming. They travelled in silence for a couple more steps before Raph spoke up again. “Raph just doesn’t get it, Leo. We were raised in the exact same home with a genius warrior alchemist and a rich aristocrat and yet you still act up like this. What do I have to do to get through to ya?”
”I’m not answering that.” Leo muttered.
”Well ya should! How did we end up so different?”
”You tell me, Mr. Favorite.” Leo snipped. “Gee, I wonder why if we were treated the exact same that you spend all your time training with the Draxula while I hang around the Nexus all day, hmmm?”
Raph stopped in the middle of the path. “That’s not fair, Leo.”
”Never said it was. That’s the point.” Leo quipped. “How does it feel to be chasing after the Draxula like a puppy?”
”Raph doesn’t—!” Raph took a deep breath. “I see what you’re doin’. You’re tryin’ to get under Raph’s nerves. Nice try, but the joke’s not funny.”
”What’s funny is that you thought I was joking.” Leo muttered under his breath, and Raph stiffened but didn’t say anything about it.
The rest of the walk back to the Nexus was spent in silence, neither brother feeling up to talking. At the top of the stairs Raph hesitated.
”Look Leo, Raph knows that ya got beef with Draxum, but seriously try to be respectful. He wasn’t in a great mood today, and he’s up waiting for us. Don’t make things worse than they have to be.”
”I’m not the one with a pole up his butt.” Leo snarked. “Old Draxula’s the one with beef.”
”See? That’s the exact kinda smart-talking that I’m asking you not to do.” Raph pleaded. “Seriously Leo. Do you want to get punished again? Is that what you want?”
”Oh right, I put his valuable investment in danger. How inconsiderate of me.” Leo rolled his eyes, and Raph’s jaw clenched.
”You’re not just an investment to him, Leo. He’s your dad.”
”Then maybe he should try acting like it.”
”Why do I even bother?” Raph sighed before the doors slid open and Big Mama hurried out.
”Oh my little turtly-boos!” She flew over to them and cupped Leo’s face in her hands before looking up at Raph. “Are you two okay, sweeties?”
Raph’s eyes softened. “Yeah Ma, we’re fine. Leo here just got a bit banged up is all.”
Big Mama clucked her tongue. “Oh tsk tsk, Little Lee you shouldn’t worry me like this! Draxy is waiting for you and…”
”Have they arrived yet?” Called a deep, irritated voice from inside. “My patience is wearing thin. Raphael bring Leonardo here this instant.”
”…And he’s like that.” Big Mama sighed. “But no matter, I have some chamomile tea brewing and I hope that will calm him down a smidget.”
”Thanks Mama.” Leo offered a grateful nod at the only member in his family that actually seemed to believe in him. “I owe ya one.”
”Oh pish posh sweetie. That’s what mothers do.” She pinched his cheek affectionately before stepping to the side. “Now go get this fizzywinkle sorted out with Draxy. He’s waiting for you in the parlor.”
”Thank you.” Raph nodded gratefully before carrying his brother inside and over to the parlor, where Draxum was standing with his arms crossed. The warrior alchemist looked at them with an unreadable expression as Raph set Leo on his feet.
”Well, Leonardo?” Draxum asked in a low voice. “Care to explain why the police had to wake us up at this hour?”
”Not really.” Leo muttered, but Raph elbowed him in the side and he huffed. “Fine, I got into a fight. It was no big deal, Sir. No one was hurt.”
”A fight?” Draxum pinched the bridge of his nose. “And where, pray tell, was this fight?”
”I think you know the answer to that.” The slider mumbled. He had gotten nabbed by the Hidden City Police for gambling and underage drinking enough times for Draxum to have a good guess. The sheep yokai sighed.
”Yes, Leonardo. I know where I think you were, but I would like for you to say it out loud.” Draxum leaned forward slightly. “Unless, that is, you are too ashamed of your actions to do so. In which case I would like a full explanation of why you chose to repeat such an offense.”
Leo grumbled slightly. “It was at a casino.”
”Which one was it this time?”
”I don’t remember. I just heard of it over a conversation and decided to give it a whirl.”
”That was not your decision to make!” Draxum snapped slightly before composing himself. “You are designed to be a warrior like your brother. You have one mission in life, and that is to train and eradicate the human threat for all yokai kind. Is that understood?”
”Right. An investment.” Leo nudged Raph who stiffened.
”In essence. I simply don’t understand why you can’t act more like Raphael. He trains for hours every day diligently and is not only respectful but also has a clear sight of his mission in life.” Draxum praised. “You I simply can’t understand.”
”Yeah, there’s a lot you don’t understand about me.” Leo shrugged. “But anyways this conversation has been really fun but I’m feeling kinda tired…”
”You do not walk away from speaking with me!” Draxum scolded. “You will show me the respect I deserve as your creator. Understand?”
”Yes, Sir.” Leo offered a sloppy salute.
”Good. Now I’ll have to teach you a lesson, but you’ve proved the task to be difficult.” Draxum rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I’ve already given you extra training, grounding, diminished rations… why can’t you simply take what I teach you and learn from it?”
Leo shrugged. “Sorry, Sir.”
”If you were sorry then you would learn.” Draxum snapped in irritation. “Do you know how much financing was put into a mere drop of mutagen only to have it destroyed? You and your brother are all that is left of my experiment and all of the yokai are counting on you to be everything they need to save them from the human threat. They are depending on you, and you are letting them all down.”
Leo clenched his jaw and refused to respond.
”Very well, perhaps this will help.” Draxum gestured for Leo to follow him. “Right this way, Leonardo.”
Raph started forward as well, concern evident in his Raph-chasm. “Draxum, Sir, may Raph come too? I just want to…”
”I commend your loyalty to your kin, Raphael. It is the mark of a true leader.” Draxum shook his head. “But I am afraid this doesn’t concern you, so go get some rest. Leonardo will be fine.”
Raph gave a stiff bow in defeat and watched Leo trudge off with Draxum. The sheep yokai led him to the back kitchen and ordered him to sit down. Leo did so, and Draxum nodded. “Wait here.”
”If you insist.” Leo rested his elbows on the table and sat his chin in his hands. Draxum left him for a moment before reemerging from the wine cellar with a tall bottle of vodka. He sat it down in front of Leo and gave the slider an intense stare.
”You think I can’t smell that you were drinking?” Draxum inquired, and Leo gulped. “It’s clearly become an unhealthy pattern for you. You’re lucky that your DNA contains enriched healing efforts.”
”Yeah. Yay.” Leo narrowed his eyes, not liking where this was going.
”And it also means that it takes far more for you to get drunk. But if you insist on defying me in this way then you can go ahead and chug this bottle.”
”Vodka? Gross!” Leo shrank back, eyeing the offending bottle with nervousness tingling his chest. “Um… how many shots is that?”
”Approximately sixteen. Give or take.” Draxum responded coolly. “With your particular genetic make-up it should be enough to make you feel the harder-end of the effects but not enough to be lethal. Now drink.”
Leo hesitated, beginning to sweat slightly. “I mean… I don’t think this is necessary…”
”Go on. You should be grateful that I am punishing you in something you supposedly enjoy.” Draxum gestured to the bottle. “I can only hope that after you feel the effects it will dissuade you from drinking again. Now you aren’t leaving this kitchen until that bottle is empty.”
Leo shuddered at the thought of the hard alcohol, eyeing the bottle with dread. But he refused to be seen as weak in front of Draxum, so he popped the cork and began to chug.
Notes:
Ack, why do I just love writing Raph and Leo’s dynamic? Brothers to the end! And hehehehe Draxy that’s not how you parent…
Thanks for reading, and see ya in the next chapter! <3
Chapter 4: The Counsel Strikes
Summary:
Leo shivered in his bed, skin looking way too pale. Raph sat next to him on the mattress, watching him with concern. He wished he could say that he couldn’t believe that Draxum would resort to such a punishment but unfortunately he wasn’t surprised and he hated that fact. He felt so useless. Leo had woken up a couple times in a ragged state of confusion and distress, breathing irregular and raspy. Raph did his best to kept him comfortable until he fell into a fretful sleep once again, but he still felt a pang in his chest at the knowledge that his brother was suffering. He gently brushed his hand against his brother’s forehead, checking once again for a fever.
Notes:
Hey everyone, and welcome to a new chapter of Wings of Ashes! Little change of POV here, and I hope you enjoy!
As always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated! <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Leo shivered in his bed, skin looking way too pale. Raph sat next to him on the mattress, watching him with concern. He wished he could say that he couldn’t believe that Draxum would resort to such a punishment but unfortunately he wasn’t surprised and he hated that fact. He felt so useless. Leo had woken up a couple times in a ragged state of confusion and distress, breathing irregular and raspy. Raph did his best to kept him comfortable until he fell into a fretful sleep once again, but he still felt a pang in his chest at the knowledge that his brother was suffering. He gently brushed his hand against his brother’s forehead, checking once again for a fever.
”How is he, Raphie?” Whispered Big Mama’s voice from the door, and Raph forced a smile. He knew better than anyone that Draxum didn’t want Big Mama to be informed of his teaching methods and he didn’t have the energy to risk punishment.
”A little better, Ma.” Raph murmured. “He must’ve gotten drunk at the casino.”
Big Mama clucked her tongue. “I simply can’t understand how this little skirmiwinkle with gambling started. I never let him into the hotel casinos!”
”But you did teach him how to pay cards.” Raph pointed out gently, and Big Mama sighed.
”True, but it was only to pass the time. After all you were always training with Draxy and I couldn’t stand to see him moping around the hotel so pitifulaciously.” Big Mama came over and placed a thin hand on Raph’s shoulder. “Thank you for looking after him, Raphie. You’re a good brother.”
”Thanks Ma.” Raph looked down at Leo. “I try.”
”I’m sure Leon knows that, sweetie. He’s just hurting.” Big Mama soothed, and Raph huffed slightly.
”I can’t be everywhere at once!” He whined slightly. “All of yokai kind are depending on Raph to train hard and destroy the human threat. That was the reason I was created. But Leo needs his brother to bail him out twice a week from that stupid police station. I don’t get why he can’t just stay asleep in his room like a normal kid.”
”I know it’s hard, Raphie. I know.” Big Mama gave him a quick hug. “But I’m sure this little fiddly phase will pass soon enough with proper guidance.”
”Maybe.” Raph muttered without any enthusiasm. The gambling had gotten more and more frequent and he was starting to get seriously concerned that it was turning into an addiction. Combine that with the drinking…
Hopefully Draxum’s punishment would help.
Leo stirred with a distressed little chirp, and Raph and Big Mama immediately faced him. The slider breathed heavily as he groaned and struggled to push himself up. Raph gently placed a hand on his arm to prevent him from straining himself. “Shh, it’s okay, Lee. Just go back to sleep. Raph’s here.”
Leo whimpered, completely out of it, and nuzzled Raph’s arm. He wrapped himself around the muscular limb like a koala and let out another chirp. “R…r…raph…Raphie…”
Raph’s heart clenched. He always knew Leo to be clingy when sick and it reminded him of the innocent little turtle tot he used to be. He let out a low rumble to comfort his brother and gazed at him with soft eyes. “It’s okay, Leo. Raphie’s here for ya, and dontcha forget it.”
Leo buried his face into Raph’s arm again and the snapper turtle sighed. “I hate seein’ him like this. He shouldn’t have that that much alcohol. It’s dangerous.”
”I know, Raphie. I know.” Big Mama looked at her two sons with compassion. “I wish he wouldn’t drink at all.”
Raph bit back a retort that is was Draxum who got him like this. He remembered the warrior alchemist coming up to him, Leo limp in his arms and shivering. The sheep yokai had unceremoniously shoved the slider into Raph’s hold and told him to take him to his bed. Draxum had then disposed of an empty vodka bottle and Raph had felt his heart stop in fear. Thanks to their genetics Raph didn’t think that this dose was lethal but it most certainly wasn’t good for anyone’s body. The snapper had taken his little brother to bed and hadn’t left his side since.
He could still remember being little tots, Leo obviously fawning after Draxum’s approval even though the warrior took a better interest in Raph’s larger skeletal structure. It didn’t help that the yokai was completely neglectful as a parent and often forgot to feed his so-called children. Raph’s heart always hurt when he heard Leo’s stomach growl but then got told by Draxum to suck it up and just wait a little longer.
Big Mama was often working at the Nexus and assumed that Draxum was taking care of his creations, so way too many times Leo had come up to his older brother with tears in his eyes and complaining of a stomachache while Raph had no idea where the food was. Luckily he figured out a way into the kitchen without getting caught and would rummage the cupboards like a scavenger before footsteps drove him away and he brought his findings to Leo, letting the little toddler eat first before Raph took what was left.
Once he was chosen as Draxum’s heir then the warrior began to feed him more hardy meals to gain his strength, Raph assumed that being around his father as a reminder had something to do with it. But Leo still wasn’t getting fed as often as he should and Raph tried to hide away some food for his little brother who seemed to be ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for Draxum. But then Leo had stopped complaining as much from hunger and Raph came to the sad but grateful realization that the slider was finding food somewhere else, probably that pizza place that he had visited after Raph was chosen and he had run away. Raph felt a pang that he couldn’t provide everything his little brother needed but also had a sense of relief that someone out there was taking care of him.
Raph sighed and looked down at that same slider who was now suffering from alcohol poisoning and clinging to his arm. Leo had been through so much… and although sneaking out had gotten him fed it also had gotten him mixed up with gambling somehow and Raph hated himself for not putting an end to it sooner. Leo was his little brother and his responsibility. Why couldn’t he just be good for Draxum and train like he was supposed to?
Big Mama checked her watch and sighed. “It’s almost time for another Nexus fight. Rapha dearest, would you please inform me if he gets any worse.”
”I will.” Raph nodded, offering his mother a weak smile. “Thanks Ma.”
”Thank you, sweetie.” Big Mama stood up and offered the pair one last look before exiting the room. Raph sighed, knowing Big Mama had to leave but still worried to be alone in case something happened.
He looked down at Leo with a soft expression. “Don’t you worry, Lee. You’re gonna be just—“
Suddenly an alarm blared from the communicator Raph had left on Leo’s desk and the snapper scrambled to pick it up. Leo whined sleepily, gripping Raph’s arm tighter and causing the snapper to feel a pang of guilt. He tried to keep his arm still and reached out to grab the communicator, pressing the talk button.
”Yes, Sir?” He asked, and he heard Draxum’s urgent voice on the other end.
”Raphael, the Council of Heads have sent a little spy called Agent Sixty-Four to steal a valuable vial of the final ingredient to my mutagen! We are so close to creating an army to destroy the human threat and it could all be lost if it gets away! Awake Leonardo and stop it!” Draxum ordered, and Raph looked doubtfully at his hungover brother.
”Draxum Sir, I don’t think Leo is capable of helping right now…” He began, and heard Draxum scowl.
”He is created to fight, so he is going to fight! Wake him up!”
Raph felt his chest clench but didn’t dare to defy Draxum. He gently shook Leo, getting only a disoriented groan in response. “Lee? I know you want to sleep but Draxum needs us…”
When Leo didn’t wake up Raph sighed and paged Draxum again. “Sir, I’m going after the suspect now but Leo isn’t waking up.” He quickly silenced his pager with a grimace and pried Leo off his arm. The slider began to whimper so Raph handed him a unicorn plushie Big Mama had given him to cuddle instead before hurrying out of the room.
Once outside the room Raph was met with a tall violet portal he knew would lead him to Draxum’s lab. He took a deep breath and stepped through, hearing the portal wink out of existence behind him. Inside the lab Draxum had two of his hired guardsmen chasing around what looked like a little dog-thing, brightly colored with yellow, blue and red fur. The little Agent Sixty-Four suddenly disappeared in a flash of blue sparks and reemerged up on the balcony, skirting along the rail towards the exit. Raph immediately threw a sai at the railing below it, timing it with perfection and causing the little creature to stumble as the rail snapped beneath him. In that moment of confusion Raph and the guardsmen scaled the stairs and began advancing. Agent Sixty-Four hissed at them and disappeared again in a little flurry of electric blue.
”He’s headed for the surface!” barked one of the guardsmen. “We’re gonna need cloaking brooches.”
”Those are pretty expensive, Boss.” Hinted the other, looking back at Draxum, who sighed and strode over to a cabinet.
”Use these.” He ordered, sending Huginn and Muninn up to deliver the brooches. “And if you damage them in any way then that’s coming out of your paycheck.”
”Gee, thanks Baron Draxum.” the first guardsman rolled his eyes and darted out the exit, followed by his comrade. Raph began to follow but Draxum called him back.
”Not you, Raphael. Humans are unpredictable and you are too valuable to risk going up into their world.” The warrior’s eyes narrowed. “However you came late. Why the delay?”
Raph hesitated. “I… I just wanted to make sure Leo was okay before I left…”
”Unacceptable.” Draxum growled. “You are supposed to be a warrior, as is he. And despite your efforts he wasn’t even able to get out of his bed?”
”No, Sir.” Raph looked down. “He was still out of it.”
”He needs to learn that pain is something to be conquered and pushed through. I can’t have a warrior that lets something so small get in the way of a victory.” Draxum sighed. “But I commend you coming here to help. At least one of you is living up to my expectations. Come down here, we need to prepare a cage for the agent once he is caught.”
Raph hesitated. “Sir, shouldn’t someone check up on Leo…?”
”He’ll be fine. Do you think I would permanently harm one of my own experiments? I know the exact measurements of alcohol he can tolerate as well as other poisons and physical damage. He will heal quickly.” Draxum turned away to his desk. “He is only being dramatic, but we won’t be enabling that behavior by taking time to reward his antics. Now come down here.”
Raph grimaced but nodded and walked down the stairs to the desk. “Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir.”
”Good.” Draxum nodded. “Now let’s get to work…”
Leo groaned, feeling an uncomfortable wave of nausea push him into consciousness. He dry heaved slightly, throat burning as he struggled to keep his sick down. He looked around his room dizzily, noticing that he was alone. He barked out a humorless laugh. Of course the Draxula wouldn’t take precious time to try to aid him in the punishment he had given. At the very thought of the vodka Leo felt bile rise in the back of his throat. He had already been feeling the effects as he chugged, but when he tried to stop Draxum had held the bottle in place as the foul liquid gushed ruthlessly down the slider’s throat. Things got hazy after that, but he remembered enough to feel a bitter resentment against the sheep yokai.
Leo let his head fall back against the pillow, trying to will the softness to soothe away the massive headache that was pounding. He held his unicorn close to his chest as the confusion was gradually replaced with awareness of how awful he felt.
He huffed in irritation and struggled to push himself upright. He really, really didn’t want to face Draxum right now, or anyone else for that matter. Who knew how long he was out for? Or worse, who knew how many training sessions he had missed?
Leo forced himself out of bed, but the second his feet landed on the floor he promptly crumbled and collapsed against the ground. He scowled as his headache flared from the movement and began to drag himself towards the door. He needed to get out of there until he was coherent enough to actually fight back against any punishment Draxum threw his way for being lazy.
The slider reached up for the doorknob and missed by a foot, grumbling at how difficult this simple task seemed to him at the moment. He tried again, trying to align his shaky hand with the swaying doorknob. At long last he gripped the cool metal and turned it with what little strength he had, tumbling out into the hallway. He smirked slightly at his victory and used the wall to help him stand since no way was he going to be seen crawling on the floor like some dog.
He slowly inched his way along the wall, stars dancing around his vision as he struggled to walk straight and remain next to the supportive wall. Climbing out the window was definitely out of the picture at the moment, so Leo’s only hope was to sneak out a back door.
Maybe Tio Hueso would have something to help him at his restaurant.
Notes:
Raph’s such a softie for Leo, and if only the slider would be that affectionate when he was in his right mind! And that Agent Sixty-Four seems familiar…
See ya in the next chapter!
Chapter 5: Lost Innocence
Summary:
”I said to shut up!” Jasper snarled and reared back his fist for another punch.
”Aw come on, Jas.” Leo eyed the fist warily. “You wouldn’t fight a guy who can’t fight back, would you?”
Jasper’s eyes narrowed. “I would.”
”Ohmigosh, that turtle is getting mugged!”
Notes:
Hey everyone! Welcome to Chapter 5 of Wings of Ashes! ^^
Hope you enjoy! As always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Leo felt a gentle shaking and groaned, trying to ward away whoever it was trying to lull him out of peaceful slumber. The prodding continued and the slider suddenly put together that the last thing he remembered was headed to Hueso’s and he startled, falling off the couch with a thump. He grumbled slightly and rubbed his head, blinking his eyes open to see his skeleton uncle watching him with a concerned look.
”Careful, Pepino.” He murmured. “What happened to you? One of my waiters found you collapsed out near the back door.”
”Hey Bone Man…” Leo tried to offer his signature smirk but winced as the bright lights hurt his eyes. “Hehe, it’s kinda a funny story…”
Hueso stiffened. “Pepino, any story that ends in you losing consciousness is not funny. Do you need medical attention?”
”Pfft, me? Aw Tio, you know nothing can hold down Neon Leon for long.” Leo chuckled, letting his eyes fall shut again.
He heard the exasperation in Hueso’s tone as he sighed. “Well at least tell me what I can do to help you and why you collapsed in the first place. And why you smell of alcohol.”
Leo huffed. “How in the world can you smell that with no nose?!”
Hueso sniffed. “I am a yokai, not a skeleton. There are things you don’t understand.”
”Still weird.” Leo shrugged. “But it’s no big deal Tio… honestly don’t give it two thoughts. I just need a minute.”
Hueso narrowed his eyes. “Were you drinking again, Pepino?”
”Nope, not me.” Leo side-eyed his uncle. “But if I was would you by chance have that stuff you gave me last time?”
Hueso sighed and stood up, going over to a cupboard. “You need to stop doing this, Pepino. You worry me.”
”Thanks, Bone Man.” Leo grinned gratefully as Hueso withdrew a bottle and handed it to him. He immediately popped the cork and took a sip, noting the distinct taste of coconut water and pear juice. Hueso watched him drink carefully.
”Don’t upset your stomach by chugging it, Pepino. Just take small sips.” The skeleton advised. “I’ve never seen you… intoxicated to the point of collapsing. Did something happen?”
Leo hesitated. “Did something happen? I appreciate that you think it was anything more than me losing tracks of shots, but I wasn’t exactly thinking straight.”
”The fact that you so readily admitted that makes me think that you are lying.” Hueso knelt down so he could look up at his sobrino, concern evident in his eyes. “What really happened? You know you can trust me.”
Leo offered a cocky grin. “Oh come on Tio, you don’t really think I could come up with a lie in this state, do you?”
Hueso didn’t flinch. “I do.”
Leo’s expression faltered slightly. “Oh… well it doesn’t matter anyway. Things happened and yida yada and now I’m a bit off. No biggie.”
A flash of disappointment flashed across the skeleton’s face and Leo looked away. Hueso was silent a moment before he slowly stood. “You know how I worry about you Pepino, but I cannot force you to be honest. I can only hope that one day you will trust me with the truth.”
Leo nodded tightly, clutching the bottle tightly in his lap. A part of him wanted to open up to Hueso about Draxum, but he didn’t want to be seen as weak. He could handle the abuse because he was created to be a warrior, not a wimp. So as much as he wanted to let Hueso in and let the skeleton hold him while he cried all the tears he had held in over the years he refused to. Besides, who was to say Hueso would even stay if he knew the extent of Leo’s home life? So instead he looked up at his Tio with a careful smile. “Thanks for worrying Tio, but I’m fine. Just had a wild night at the casino.”
Hueso clucked his tongue. “What kind of casino lets a minor inside?”
”I mean it wasn’t… like… technically a legal casino… “ Leo intoned, and Hueso gave him a hard look before sighing and turning away.
”Look Pepino, you will destroy yourself if you continue down this path. Please, for your sake, find better uses of your talents. You’re a bright kid, and I hate to see that go to waste.”
”Thanks for the pep talk Bone Man, but you’re not my dad. I can take care of myself.” Leo teased slightly, but Hueso still flinched at his words.
”I know I am not your father, Pepino. But I still care.” Hueso told him softly. “Have you eaten today?”
”Well if by eaten you mean been hammered in bed, then yep!” Leo smirked as Hueso gave him a look. “I was out cold for most of the day, Tio! What did you expect me to do?”
”I’ll put in an order for pizza. But don’t eat it until you’re feeling better, ¿bien?” Hueso gave him a look. “Greasy foods aren’t good for you right now. Your skin is far too pale and I’m still on the fence about calling a doctor. Are you sure you’re feeling better? No lingering nausea or dizziness?”
“Nope! I’m cool as a cucumber! Frío como un pepino.” Leo winked, ignoring the waves of illness that still made his legs shake. Hueso was busy, and Leo really didn’t want to be coddled right now. “But don’t bother with the pizza although I appreciate the offer. I honestly should be headed out…”
”Out? Where is out?” Hueso crossed his arms. “Out to somewhere legal, I hope.”
”Pfft, where else would I go to?”
”I don’t think you want me to answer that, Pepino.”
”Probably true. Anywhizzle, I’ll be to work on Thursday and then you can see for yourself proof of life. How does that sound?” Leo looked at his Tio with bright eyes, struggling to keep up his facade. Hueso’s eyes narrowed but he turned away in defeat.
”Very well. But if you show up hungover to my establishment then you will be facing my furia absoluta. Understood?” The skeleton asked firmly, and Leo offered a salute.
”No problemo, Tio. See ya around!” Leo nodded fondly at Hueso before turning on his heel and walking slowly towards the door, trying his hardest not to step sideways. Once he made it to the office door he offered his concerned uncle one last wave before casually striding through the restaurant he knew so well. He winked and nodded at all his co-workers to ease off their worry at Leo having been in Hueso’s office and slipped out the door and into the Hidden City streets.
”Geez, how long was I out?” Leo muttered in surprise, noticing the waning daylight. “Nighttime already? Raph’s gonna kill me.”
The slider groaned at the thought of going home. He was still resentful towards Draxum for his punishment although he had to admit that it had worked ever so slightly and at the moment he didn’t feel like seeing another shot of alcohol as long as he lived. He knew the urge would likely come back, but at the moment he just wanted a break from life. What better than a quick little jaunt through the Hidden City?
He nodded decisively and winced as his lingering headache flared in protest. He slipped into a back alley and began to make his way down street after street, enjoying the freedom he felt. The air was cool not but enough to be uncomfortably chilly, the sky was a mix of fading pinks and navy blue, and a slight breeze blew pleasantly through the narrow alleyways. A small smile tugged at the slider’s lips as he contemplated just staying out here forever and never going back to the Nexus. Of course Raph would worry realistically, and so would Big Mama, but would they really miss him? The Draxula would be upset at the wasted money he spent in creating Leo, but it would only be sweet revenge. Let him suffer the loss and realize that Leo wasn’t just an experiment but a son that he failed. Leo sniffed in bitterness.
As if Draxum would actually realize that.
The slider kicked a pebble along the alley. How much money had Draxum actually spent in creating him? Perhaps if he made enough money in gambling he could somehow buy his freedom and leave his wreck of a father behind.
”Nice to see ya, kid.” Growled a voice from behind him, and Leo whipped around to see Jasper watching him. “Ya walked right past me, Leo. Ya got yer head up in the clouds or something?”
”Geez Jas, could you be any creepier?” Leo rolled his eyes. “Seriously I bet you could get a premium membership for Creepers Jeepers Incorporation. Who even bailed out your ugly mug?”
”Very funny.” Jasper pushed off the wall and stepped closer, causing the slider to step back slightly. “I’ve got connections to help with this sorta thing. But you still never gave back all that money you made me lose plus the cash you pickpocketed. You think I didn’t notice that?”
”Eh, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Leo shrugged casually even as his eyes darted to either end of the alley, trying to figure out which was closer. “But I’m not really in the mood to chat sooo…”
”Too bad, kid. Looks like it’s a bad day for both of us.” Jasper stepped closer. “Where’s the cash?”
”Look Jas, I’m not in the mood.” Leo backed up further until his shell bumped against the brick wall of one of the buildings.
”Aw, is the little guy feeling scared?” Jasper mocked, striding even closer.
”Just need my beauty sleep from busting you up in that fight… the other day? Yesterday?” Leo flushed slightly when he realized he didn’t quite know what day it was.
Definitely not Thursday though. Otherwise Hueso would’ve mentioned it.
”Can’t even remember the day? How much did ya drink?” Jasper scoffed. “Even now you’re looking a little pale.”
”Hey, we both know I beat you in looks any day.” Leo quipped back. “But ya know what? I didn’t bring any money with me so looks like we’re square? Clean slate?”
Jasper shook his head with malice. “Nope. There are other ways you can pay.” The bear yokai cracked his knuckles. “I’ve been needing to get out some steam anyway.”
”Crap.” Leo dove out of the way as Jasper lunged, landing on the rough asphalt and feeling his head pound at the sudden movement. He hissed slightly as stars swam in his vision, the distraction allowing Jasper to grab the lip of his shell and drag him back. The bear slammed the slider against the wall, gripping his jacket tightly.
”Dude… don’t wrinkle the fabric…” Leo mumbled, and Jasper only growled at him and tightened his grip.
”That was pathetic. Even for you.” Jasper sneered. “You barely toppled over. You hungover still?”
”Heh… bear-ly…” Leo chuckled dizzily.
”I’ll strangle you if you make that stupid pun again.” Jasper snarled, landing a heavy punch to the side of Leo’s head. The slider’s face snapped to the side from the blow, hissing slightly.
”Lucky blow…” Leo muttered, and Jasper landed a second punch.
”You just don’t know when to keep that stupid mouth shut, do you?” The bear scowled. “Well a broken jaw will fix that, punk.”
Leo looked up at Jasper with weary, dizzy eyes. “I’ve been working on ventriloquy… you think a broken jaw can stop me from yapping? Because I assure you that I will most certainly yap.”
”I said to shut up!” Jasper snarled and reared back his fist for another punch.
”Aw come on, Jas.” Leo eyed the fist warily. “You wouldn’t fight a guy who can’t fight back, would you?”
Jasper’s eyes narrowed. “I would.”
”Ohmigosh, that turtle is getting mugged!” Exclaimed a youthful voice, and Leo blearily turned his head to see a young box turtle with an orange mask pointing at them, eyes wide and innocent. There was a soft shell standing next to him and watching the scene with bafflement. “We’ve gotta help him!”
”Scoff, Angelo you do not just interrupt a mugging without a plan! That’s how you get mugged, he explained very very—that’s two very’s—calmly!” The soft shell hissed.
The box turtle crossed his arms. “Lou Jitsu never looked at a crime with fear! We’ve got the squills, Dee!”
Leo chuckled slightly at Jasper’s fists—when did he grow three?—hovering in front of his face. “Looks like they beat you to the punch, heh…”
”Not another word outta you, punk!” Jasper hissed before turning to the newcomers. “Beat it, kids. This is none of your concern.”
”But… but we can’t just let you rob him!” The box turtle pouted, and Jasper rolled his eyes.
”This isn’t a robbery. Now beat it before I beat you.” Jasper threatened. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”
”Sooo… you just randomly beat up other people for fun as like an evening activity? Not worrying at all, nervous chuckle.” The soft shell tried to drag his companion away from the alley. “Come on Mikey, we’ve gotta find April…”
”Right! Maybe she can help!” The box turtle brightened, and the soft shell groaned.
”Face palm, no! This is a strange city with strange people and for all we know that could just be normal for them!” The soft shell gestured emphatically to Leo and Jasper, who growled.
”You’re wearing my patience thin, kids.” The bear snarled. “You wanna be next? Is that what ya want?”
”Who, us? Nope not us!” The soft shell began, but Jasper suddenly yanked open the dumpster lid to slam Leo inside. The slider let out a weak protest but the lid slammed efficiently shut, effectively cutting off his hearing and view. Sure it smelled like crap in there, but at least the trash bags were semi-comfortable and he wasn’t getting punched anymore. He let out a little churr and closed his eyes.
”Cowabunga!” Came a battle cry from the younger turtle, and Leo heard the soft shell cry out after him right before Jasper let out a yelp of surprise and anger. Leo smirked at the thought of those turtles giving Jasper a taste of his own medicine, but a part of him thought he should help and not let two inexperienced yokai fight his battles for him.
”Mikey no!” Shouted the soft shell right before the box turtle let out a cry of pain. There was the sound of something revving up. “Fibonacci!”
Leo groaned. Why should he care? Those two turtles were in the wrong place at the wrong time and didn’t run when they had the chance. But still it was because they were worried about him. Unlike a certain sheep yokai he knew.
Leo scowled as his conscience refused to let this go and took a deep breath, trying to soothe his pounding headache. Then he flung open the dumpster lid and leapt out, landing in a fighting stance he used in the Nexus and watching as the box turtle sat stunned on the ground and the soft shell blocked Jasper’s fist with some technologically-advanced bō staff. Leo whistled in admiration of the weapon before narrowing his eyes to try to block some of the burning light.
”Hey Jas!” He barked, and both the bear and the turtle turned to look at him in surprise. “These turtles didn’t order beef with you, but I see on your receipt that you paid for a knuckle sandwich!” Leo smirked at the play on words even as Jasper rolled his eyes.
”That was terrible, kid!” Jasper growled.
Leo swayed slightly on the asphalt before regaining his balance and glaring at the bear. The box turtle looked up at him in worry. “Hey, are you okay?”
”I should be asking you the same thing, little guy.” Leo winked and suddenly hurled himself at Jasper, leaping up and kicking his face in a practiced move. Jasper’s head snapped back from the force and he glared at the slider, who was now clutching his head from the effort.
”Big mistake, kid!” Jasper growled.
”How did you do that?!” The box turtle hurried over to Leo with starry eyes and tail wagging furiously. “That was so cool!”
”Not now Angelo!” Warned the soft shell, twirling his bō in his hands. “Bad guy, remember?”
The box turtle turned back to his companion with a surprised look, looking like he had almost forgotten about the fight in his admiration of the kick. “Right, sorry Dee!”
Jasper backed up slightly, looking at the three turtles with an angry, conflicted expression. Leo smirked, knowing that the bear wasn’t liking the odds. Jasper preferred his fights to be one-on-one with a smaller opponent, or at least have more fighters on his side. Now being on the opposite side of that was getting to him. He growled slightly and jabbed a finger at Leo.
“This ain’t over, kid!” He snarled before snatching his fedora off the alley floor and storming away.
”Wait, did we actually win?” the box turtle turned to the older soft shell with shining eyes. “We won, Dee!”
”Sigh, Angelo this wasn’t some fun little activity! We still need to find April!” The soft shell turned to Leo. “Oh, right um… are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you require medical assistance?”
Leo shook his head with a smirk. “Nah, I’m good. I had him right where I wanted him, although I suppose you did adequately too.”
”Adequate?” The soft shell barked indignantly.
”What’s your name?” The box turtle bounded up to him. “I’m Mikey, and that’s Donnie.”
”What… Angelo you do not just give your name to strangers!” The soft shell—Donnie—spluttered.
Leo chuckled. “I could already tell your names were something along those lines by you literally calling each other that, you know. But it was really nice meetin’ ya and now I really gotta bounce…”
”Where are you going?” Mikey pouted slightly, watching as Leo stumbled slightly. “You’re hurt! And we didn’t even get your name!”
”Me? Hurt? Nah, I’ll be fine in a bit. Don’t worry, buddy.” Leo winked. “And although I appreciate the help, maybe next time take Donnie’s advice and don’t mess with people like Jas, yeah? They aren’t messing around, you know, and they tend to hold grudges.”
”Finally, something you say that I can agree with.” Donnie nodded decisively.
”But why was he mad at you?” Mikey titled his head. “You don’t look much older than us either.”
Leo chuckled. “Me? I’m used to them, but if you’ve got a home to run back to then I suggest you do it now before Big Ugly comes back with some friends.”
”We’re looking for our friend.” Mikey explained. “She fell through some portal thingy and wound up here.”
”T.M.I., Angelo. T.M.I..” Donnie muttered.
”But maybe he can help us!” Mikey defended when Leo shook his head.
”Sorry Mikester, but I’ve got places to be.” Leo ignored his headache and offered a wave as he walked backwards out of the alley. “Nice meetin’ ya! Take care!”
”He didn’t even give us his name!” Leo heard Mikey whine as he rounded the corner and he sighed. What innocent kids.
Hopefully they wouldn’t get themselves into more trouble.
Notes:
Whelp, looks like Leo has finally met some familiar characters! I wonder how this will play out…
Thanks for reading! See ya in the next chapter!
Chapter 6: Did We Save A Villain?
Summary:
”If we ever have to trade in weapons for anything and somehow get compatible with mystic energy, dibs on the sword.” Leo whistled in appreciation to no one in particular, but then suddenly he heard the loud groaning of metal cranking open. The slider barely had time to look up before suddenly he was assaulted by three falling bodies. He grunted in pain as he hit the ground before the intruders were scrambling up and gaping at the armory.
”Oh, it’s like magic and science had a baby!” Came an admiring voice that made Leo freeze. No was was that…
Notes:
Hey everyone! Welcome back to another chapter of Wings of Ashes! ^^
Hope you enjoy the chapter, and as always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated! <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Leo crept back into the Nexus, feeling much better but still slightly woozy. To his great relief he didn’t bump into Raph or the Draxula on his way to his room, and hope blossomed in his chest that maybe no one noticed his absence.
Until he opened his door.
”Leo!” Exclaimed Raph the second the slider entered, and suddenly Leo was nearly crushed by a giant bear hug. Raph let out a couple of distressed clicks and chirps before pulling away and noticing Leo’s busted-up face. “What the shell happened to you?! Where’d ya go?”
”Nah, don’t worry about little ol’ me, Raphie.” Leo chuckled nervously, wincing as Raph ran a finger along the bottom of his black eye. “Just got into a bit of a spat…”
”You got into a fight? In this condition?” Raph’s face turned angry. “Are ya completely brain dead? Last time I saw ya you were hungover silly! And your skin is still pale…”
”I was fine Raph!” Leo ducked out of Raph’s grip. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Raph looked like he was about to say something more when his communicator went off and Draxum’s urgent voice crackled through. “Raphael, grab Leonardo and get to the lab. I require your assistance with Agent Sixty-Four and Leonardo can keep watch.”
Raph glowered at Leo. “You’re lucky I didn’t get a chance to tell Draxum you were gone yet. But since you’re awake you gotta come help this time.”
Leo groaned. “I already got into a fight today!”
Raph stopped and fixed Leo with a dead stare. “You just don’t get it, do ya, Leo? We were created for one mission, one purpose. And you can’t even do that right.”
”Geez, call me a screw-up without calling me a screw-up.” Leo rolled his eyes as if Raph’s words didn’t sting. “Why not say to my face that I’m a worthless little failed experiment, huh? Go on, I can take it.”
”That’s not what Raph said and you know it, Leo!” Raph growled. “But we can discuss this later. You get to Draxum’s armory and I’ll head to the lab.”
”Yes sir, Mr. Leader!” Leo quipped, and Raph gave him a disappointed look before leading the two of them outside and over to the large violet portal. Upon stepping through Leo immediately turned on his heel and sped over to the armory, not feeling like seeing Draxum just yet.
”Keep it cool, Leon.” He attempted to convince himself. “It’s all gonna be okay. Just guard this super secret room that no one knows about and everything will be—OH MY GOSH THIS IS SO COOL!”
Leo’s jaw dropped upon entering the armory. He was only ever called to Draxum’s lab when something big was going down and hadn’t even visited all of it in person (although he had memorized maps of various places for missions). At the sight of the glowing weapons on the rack radiating mystic power he could feel himself almost swoon. That sword at the top was almost too pretty to use, and that’s probably why Draxum kept it down here. But it was still one of the most beautiful sights Leo had ever seen.
”If we ever have to trade in weapons for anything and somehow get compatible with mystic energy, dibs on the sword.” Leo whistled in appreciation to no one in particular, but then suddenly he heard the loud groaning of metal cranking open. The slider barely had time to look up before suddenly he was assaulted by three falling bodies. He grunted in pain as he hit the ground before the intruders were scrambling up and gaping at the armory.
”Oh, it’s like magic and science had a baby!” Came an admiring voice that made Leo freeze. No was was that…
”Hey there!” He called out coolly from his place on the floor, and Donnie, Mikey and some yokai in a human cloaking brooch turned to him in surprise. “Long time no see.”
”Ohmigosh, it’s you!” Mikey hurried over. “Did we squash you?”
”I think a more pressing question is what are you doing in some wacko scientist’s evil lair?” Donnie crossed his arms and raised a—yes Leo was pretty certain it was—sharpie eyebrow.
”Y’all know this guy?” Asked the girl, and Leo scrambled to his feet.
”Eh, we’ve run into each other here and there.” Leo shrugged.
”Once.” Donnie grumbled, and Leo rolled his eyes.
”It’s hard to tell. Anywhizzle you three aren’t supposed to be in here, so why not run off to stop some other mugging?” Leo snatched his odachi off the ground and held them up. Mikey’s face positively lit up as his eyes widened.
”Are those swords? So cool!” The box turtle’s grin stretched across his face. “Are you gonna help us free April’s dog-thingy?”
”Mikey, those swords are being pointed at us!” Donnie raised his bō. “Low blow, you ingrate.”
”I’m sorry, what? Mugging? Ingrate? What’s going on?” The girl—April, supposedly—shot Donnie a glare. “Who is that, Dee?”
”Gosh, cloaking brooches are expensive, and that looks like a good one if it’s so hidden.” Leo’s heterochromic eyes did a quick look over the girl to try to find any piece of suspicious jewelry. “Where are you hiding it, anyway?”
”I’m sorry, what?” April’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you…”
”Guys look!” Mikey pointed at the rack of glowing weapons and Leo cringed. “How about we take the glowy ones? My nunchucks are toast.”
”No, don’t touch those!” Leo barked, darting forward to get between Mikey and the rack. “You aren’t even supposed to be here!”
”And you are?” Donnie stepped forward with narrowed eyes. “Did we seriously save a villain from a villain?!”
Leo bristled slightly, cool demeanor faltering. “We’re not villains! We’re the saviors of yokai kind from the human threat!”
”From the what now?” April raised an eyebrow.
”You know, from the human threat. Humans? Ring a bell? The creature you’re disguised as?” Leo rolled his eyes and gestured to her human form. “Live above the hidden city? No? Nothing?”
April seemed to be at a loss for words. “Um… I am a human.”
Leo laughed. “Right, and I’m a dolphin. No human has ever found their way into the Hidden City. Ever.”
”Except for that pizza delivery guy.” Mikey spoke up.
”Imitation crab mutant.” Donnie corrected.
Leo blinked. Once. Twice. “Wait… what mutant?”
”Scoff. The one Boss Man just mutated.” Donnie huffed, but frowned at the look on Leo’s face. “Um… you know? Tall ugly mutant?”
”The Draxula’s not a mutant.” Leo mumbled. “But if’s he’s making more…”
”The Draxula? Is that seriously his name? It fits, heh.” Mikey chuckled, but for once Leo didn’t laugh.
”I didn’t hear anything about that!” Leo snatched his communicator out of his jacket pocket and tried to connect with Raph. The snapper didn’t reply and Leo huffed slightly. Draxum was already making more mutants? His mutagen was finished? So… he was making more of them? More experiments to fuel his army?
Without ever having cared about the two he already had?
Leo stared at April. “So… you’re an actual human? Like an honest-to-goodness person?”
”Geez, I thought you guys were weird.” April muttered to Donnie. “Now looks like I’m the weird one.”
Leo took a tentative step closer, eyes narrowed as he inspected this human girl. “Hmph. You don’t seem like much of a threat to me.”
April’s face scrunched. “Um… thanks?”
Leo glanced over at her before pinching the bridge of his beak to think, not even noticing how Donnie snatched a glowing violet crystal from it’s stand. Focus, Leo. You’ve got three intruders, one of whom you were told is a threat to the yokai’s very existence. Draxum’s gonna forget about you in the wake of greater mutants. Stay cool…
”Cowabunga!” cried Mikey in delight, and Leo’s eyes flew open to see the young turtle with his hands on the mystic kusari-fundo. Leo began to start forward in alarm when he realized that the mystic energy seemed… compatible with the young turtle. What…?
”Um…” Leo stepped a bit closer. “You.. good there buddy? No burning? No tingling? Nothing?”
”Nope! This is cool!” Mikey swung the weapon in a circle, causing Leo to duck under the chain. “Why?”
Leo shook off his shock and offered a grin. “Nothing important.” A part of him told him to stop this robbery but the other part wanted revenge on Draxum for leaving him out of plans. He smirked and stepped back, letting Mikey have some fun. “Glad you like it. But seriously you should put that back…”
”Well he needs a weapon.” Donnie pointed out. “To fight your boss. I kept telling him to make his nunchucks out of high-grade titanium but nooo…”
”Um… okay I’m really confused right now.” April looked over at Leo. “So are we fighting you or what?”
Leo shrugged. “I guess you probably should, but I don’t feel like busting your little naive faces today. Tell you what: put the kusari-fundo back and get out of here and maybe I’ll be gracious enough not to tell Draxum. How does that sound?”
”We have to save the dog thingy!” April crossed her arms defiantly.
”Right, the elusive dog-thingy.” Leo eyed the rack for a second, debating on if he should try it. Tentatively he stepped closer and sheathed his odachi. He then reached out for the shiny blue sword, carefully doing a mental check for any weird symptoms. To his surprise he didn’t find any and he lifted the sword from it’s placement.
Leo whistled. “Geez, what has old Draxula been hiding? This is sweet.” He turned over to his comrades with a smirk. “Tell you what: we can sneak in, free the cat thing and then you three get out of here. What doesn’t hurt Draxum won’t kill him.”
Mikey’s eyes widened. “You mean it?”
Leo shrugged. “Eh, we aren’t on good terms right now ever since he made me chug that stupid vodka.”
Donnie’s jaw dropped. “What…”
”But that doesn’t matter anymore! Right now I’ll help you get your little pet thingy and I won’t have to deal with letting intruders into the armory.” Leo swung the sword in his hands, getting a feel for the weight. “But if we get caught I don’t know you. Got it?”
”Sure! Thanks!” Mikey grinned.
”Such loyalty.” Donnie drawled, and Leo shot him a glare.
”He doesn’t deserve squat from me.” Leo snipped as Donnie’s words hit a sensitive spot, but at the inquisitive look from the soft shell he chuckled. “I mean… ugh just come on.”
Leo stealthily led the trio out of the armory, motioning for them to crouch low on the balcony. He glanced out at the lab to observe Raph talking with Draxum as the scientist held up a mosquito filled up with mutagen. “Finally,” Draxum was saying to Raph. “After all these years I can continue my work…”
”Okay, here’s the plan.” Leo whispered when suddenly he heard a surprised exclamation from above him.
”Leo? Whatcha doing?” Asked Huginn, and Leo looked up to glare at the gargoyles.
”Shh!” The slider hissed, and Muninn flew down to perch on his shoulder.
”You’re supposed to be watching the armory! Boss is gonna kill ya!” The gargoyle exclaimed. “And who are these?”
”Draxum’s gonna kill you?!” Mikey’s eyes went wide.
”It’s an expression, Mikey.” Donnie scoffed, then he hesitated as he glanced over at Leo. “Ahem, it is an expression, right?”
Leo shrugged. “If he’s making more mutants then I don’t know anymore. But he’d have to catch me first. Now you two shush!” He snipped at the gargoyles. “We’re just here for that little dog thingy.”
”Agent Sixty-Four?!” The two chirped loudly in unison, and Draxum and Raph’s heads snapped up toward them as Leo ducked out of view.
”Who’s up there?” Raph barked, and April glared at the gargoyles.
”Little snitches!” She then suddenly leapt off the balcony. “TIME TO GO! APRIIIIIL O’NEIIIIIIIL!”
”Did she just use her own name as a catchphrase?” Leo muttered.
”Ohmigosh she just ran in!” Mikey exclaimed loudly, Donnie having to hold him back.
April leapt through the air and landed on the dog thingy’s cage, trying to gnaw through the vines with her teeth. Huginn and Muninn flew down to yank her off the cage and into the air.
”Let go of me!” April thrashed and the two gargoyles struggled to hold her as they fought through the lab.
”April!” Mikey cried out, leaping off the balcony and reaching out for his friend. Donnie gasped and suddenly his shiny purple shell turned into a jet pack, zipping off the balcony to catch the box turtle.
”How’d ya get past Leo?” Raph raised his sai. “Did ya hurt him?!”
”Erm… get back here you little twerps!” Leo called out, leaping out of hiding and darting down the balcony stairs.
”You let intruders get past you, Leonardo?” Draxum’s eyes narrowed. “With my mystic weapons? And what are you doing with my sword?!”
”Um…” Leo struggled for a lie.
”Your name is Leo then!” Mikey called out happily. “Cool name!”
Leo glared at him. “We’ve never met before, remember? And um… Draxum Sir my swords broke and this was the only alternative I could find in such short notice!”
”Do you think I am a fool? I can see your swords sheathed behind you! But how are you holding the mystic odachi?” Draxum stepped forward. “That is full of mystic energy!”
”Let the dog thing go!” April shouted from her fight with the gargoyles, snapping Draxum out of his musings. The warrior alchemist withdrew from hidden pockets some shiny purple orbs that Leo knew all too well. He gasped and tried to backtrack when Draxum threw the orbs onto the ground and suddenly purple vines shot up, entangling him and the others. He yelped in surprise as he slid down it’s surface.
”Leo!” Raph shouted in worry, charging forward before Draxum held him back.
”He will be fine, Raphael. You have more brothers now.” Draxum then slammed more orbs on the ground, resulting in the ground splitting open and the vines throwing their riders into the air. A loud roar sounded from the crater and suddenly a large mulberry-colored robot broke through and loomed over them. Leo gulped.
”Um, Draxum Sir? I’m still over here…” He began, but felt his chest clench when the warrior’s eyes narrowed.
”I know.” Draxum glared up at his creation. “Get me my experiments!”
Leo froze. Experiments? As in… plural?
He glanced over at the other turtles in bafflement. Wait…
”Are you guys mutants?!” Leo yelped before the robot stomped forward and aimed a punch to the slider. Leo dodged and slid under another punch, cleanly slicing off the robot’s leg.
”Leonardo, do not attack my robot!” Draxum barked.
”Well seeing as you don’t care if this thing kills me I’ll take my chances!” Leo quipped back. “And what’s that about these guys being your lost experiments? Looks like you don’t need me anymore!
”Leo shut up!” Raph pleaded. “Just get over here!”
”I’m just trying to protect Draxy’s priceless little investments!” Leo snarked back, voice sour.
”Cowabunga!” Mikey shouted, tossing his kusari-fundo through the air and effectively chaining up the robot. “Donnie, cover me!”
”Already on it!” Donnie activated some rocket blasters on either end of his bō, grimacing as it began to spin in an uncontrollable spiral towards the robot. “No no no HEADS UP!”
The tech-bō smashed against the robot’s face and rebounded, landing in Donnie’s satisfied grip. “Never mind I nailed it!”
At the blow the robot finally collapsed, knocking Leo and the intruders over as it glitched and fell still. Leo groaned and sat up, rubbing his head as he glanced around to make sure the others were okay.
”Accidentally impressive…” Draxum murmured thoughtfully. “With a bit of training you could finally be the team Raphael deserves to lead.”
”Okay, ouch!” Leo protested. “But since this big robot thingy is down then no hard feelings, yeah?”
”You of all people should know that Baron Draxum never forgets.” Draxum glowered at the slider. “And you were supposed to be fighting for me, not them.”
”Okay yeah but I was kinda in a pickle there…”
”No buts! If you were to be destroyed then you would go down as a warrior!” Draxum snapped just as April suddenly dropped down and began pounding Huginn and Muninn. Draxum sighed and used the orbs to create strong pseudo-fists, shooting out a web-like cocoon to entrap April and send her tumbling at Mikey and Donnie’s feet.
”You did not just do that to our friend!” Mikey swung his kusari-fundo. “Cowabunga!”
Draxum leaned to the side to avoid the flying orb but froze when the chain went taut. He glanced around in surprise in time to see the spiky ball at the end come alive with mystic energy.
Mikey froze. “Oh, magic weap—AHHH!”
The kusari-fundo suddenly sprang into action, dragging Mikey around the lab as it bounced higher and higher, finally diving toward Draxum. Raph shoved the warrior out of the way just in time to take the hit, grunting as he crashed to the ground.
”Raph!” Leo cried out, a sudden fear arising in him at seeing his brother hurt. He rushed forward to help when Draxum sent a cocoon his way. On pure instinct he swung his sword to chop the cocoon orb in half, realizing too late how his sword crackled with blue mystic energy. He froze as a swirling blue vortex suddenly opened underneath him and he fell through with a yelp.
”Woah woah woah WOAH WOAH!” Leo exclaimed as he felt his body zap through the air and reemerge through a second portal right above the first. He then began falling through on an endless loop. “Get… me… off… this… RIDE!”
”You can activate the mystic energy as well?” Draxum stared at Leo as Donnie slid next to him.
”And that’s why I like fighting the old fashioned way.” He said smugly. “With impossibly futuristic high-tech weaponry!”
The soft shell’s tech-bō turned into a jet-powered fist as he twirled it, and suddenly it surged forward to punch Draxum in the face. The scientist flew backwards just as Raph finally got up with a glower on his face.
”Hey! Get back here you—“ Raph began to tackle Donnie when suddenly Mikey’s wild kusari-fundo knocked them apart like bowling pins. Draxum stood back up, eyeing the scene with distaste.
”You fight like untrained buffoons! And you Leonardo are the worst of the lot!” Draxum stepped threateningly towards the slider who was still falling endlessly through his portals. “At least they use teamwork and under me could become great warriors!”
”Don’t you… think we… could talk.. about that… later?” Leo gritted out through his falling.
”You disrespected me and let these intruders steal my weapons. You disappoint me.” Draxum growled. “Does that wound like a warrior to you? You should be better than these idiots!”
”We are literally right here.” Donnie crossed his arms, and Draxum rolled his eyes.
”Oh right. I almost forgot.” Draxum suddenly shot out another orb, effectively trapping Donnie and Mikey in a cocoon. Mikey nuzzled Donnie affectionately.
”We don’t spend enough time together!” The box turtle grinned.
”Oh PLEASE not now Mikey! If you haven’t noticed we’re kinda trapped here.” Donnie huffed.
”How are we gonna save the dog thingy now?” April cried out.
”You failed me. Again.” Draxum snarled. “Twice in a single day and I can’t even say that I am surprised. Perhaps if you were here Raphael would’ve been able to catch Agent Sixty-Four before he got to lure a human here!”
”Why are y’all so against humans?” April protested, but Draxum paid her no mind.
”Wait Sir!” Raph exclaimed, scrambling to his feet. “Leo might’ve messed up a bit, but at least you found your long-lost experiments! That’s somehtin’, right? And you already punished him earlier…”
”I did not ask for your advice, Raphael!” Draxum glared at the snapper turtle, who froze in his steps. “Leonardo needs to learn to listen, and not to steal valuable mystic weapons!”
And with that he used one of his enhanced-strength fists to punch Leo out of his loop, sending the slider flying until he hit the wall hard and crumpled on the ground.
”Ohmigosh Leo!” Mikey exclaimed as Leo’s vision swam with stars. He struggled to his knees and glared up at Draxum. Wrong move. The warrior kicked Leo back down. ”You will look at me with submission and respect like your brother. Understood?” Draxum asked coolly, and Leo sniffed.
”And you’ll look at me like a person and not an object. Understood?” The slider bit back dizzily, earning himself a backhanded slap.
”Leonardo, you need to listen to me.” Draxum growled, and Raph anxiously stepped forward.
”Lee I know you’re mad, but it ain’t worth it.” The snapper said in a voice thick with concern. “Ya already got busted enough today.”
Draxum stiffened. “What was that, Raphael?”
Raph hesitated, realizing his slip up. “Um…”
Draxum glared at Leo with malice. “You snuck out again?!”
”Hehe funny story…” Leo chuckled nervously but was silenced by a heavy slap that made Leo’s jaw pop. The slider spat out the blood that gathered in his mouth from biting his tongue despite knowing Draxum would hate it. “I said it was a funny story! You’re lucky I have enough wit to make up for both of us.”
”Shut up and show some respect!” Draxum kicked the slider again. “You’re now one in four rarity, not one in two! And I have the mutagen to replace you in a heartbeat so learn your place!
”That is so seriously messed up that you’re just willing to hit him like that.” Donnie observed bluntly. “Was this supposed to make us want to join you or something?”
”Don’t hurt him!” Mikey squirmed in his cocoon.
”Someone has got to call Child Protective services or something. Mutant Protective Services?” April frowned in consideration. “Seriously, there’s no way he’s older than me and I’m still a teenager.”
Draxum glanced over at them. “The way I choose to train my warriors is none of your concern until you join me. You turtles will soon learn how to respect the great—“
”Um… hate to interrupt, he said in a totally convincing voice and everyone believed him…” Donnie’s voice grew tense. “But the lab is about to explode sooo…”
”Wait what?!” April’s gaze snapped up towards the mutagen container which now had cracks running down the glass with some strange light radiating from the top. A couple support beams crashed down on Agent Sixty-Four’s cage, allowing the little creature to teleport over to April, Mikey and Donnie. “Little dog thingy, can you get us out of here?”
”We can’t leave Leo!” Mikey protested, but Baron Draxum was already creating a portal.
”Not now Mikey!” Donnie snapped, and suddenly the four of them disappeared in a flash of blue.
”Come Raphael!” Draxum barked, and Raph hurried over to scoop up Leo in his arms before darting through the portal after Draxum just as the lab exploded in a flurry of sparks and smoke, effectively freeing the mutagen-fulled mosquitos from their confines and releasing them over the Hidden City.
Notes:
Question: what happens when you mix mystic weapons with untrained turtles?
Answer: chaos.
Hope you enjoyed that chapter! See ya in the next one! :D
Chapter 7: A Slider Too Close To The Sun
Summary:
”I did not create you to be my son!” The warrior almost roared. “I created you to be a weapon! And you have done absolutely nothing in your pathetic lifetime to make me glad of it.”
”Then maybe you shouldn’t have tried to create me like a freaking Frankenstein monster!” Leo quipped.
”I wish I hadn’t created you!” Draxum snapped, and Leo fell silent. Raph watched the scene with a helpless sort of expression, refusing to look Leo in the eye. “There! I said it! But the money put into the mutagen in your blood is something I can’t get back, so I’m going to break you into a warrior or so help me!”
Notes:
Hey everyone! Welcome back to a new chapter of Wings of Ashes :D
A bit more character study in this one, and I hope you enjoy! As always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated ^^
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Draxum gripped Leo’s forearm, yanking the slider out of Raph’s arms and almost tossing him into his bedroom. Leo landed on the floor with a grunt before scrambling up and darting to the far side of the room where he glared at Draxum. “Hands off!”
”The audacity! The disrespect in front of potential warriors!” Draxum seethed, stepping closer and causing Leo to emit an animalistic hiss. “You lost my experiments, a valuable weapon, Agent Sixty-Four, my mutagen mosquitoes and exploded my entire lab! Not to mention a mystic crystal, my scanners inform me.”
”Okay I didn’t see that last one.” Leo muttered, and Draxum scowled.
”I knew you were an incompetent warrior, but I didn’t think it was possible for someone created for one mission to fail so miserably.” Draxum snarled. “You were created with a simple, simple purpose in mind! One job! Your entire existence is to eradicate the human race and to liberate yokai kind! How is that so difficult for you to understand?”
”Well maybe if you didn’t treat me like some poker chip and acted like a halfway decent father then I’d actually care!” Leo spat, and Draxum’s expression grew absolutely livid.
”I did not create you to be my son!” The warrior almost roared. “I created you to be a weapon! And you have done absolutely nothing in your pathetic lifetime to make me glad of it.”
”Then maybe you shouldn’t have tried to create me like a freaking Frankenstein monster!” Leo quipped.
”I wish I hadn’t created you!” Draxum snapped, and Leo fell silent. Raph watched the scene with a helpless sort of expression, refusing to look Leo in the eye. “There! I said it! But the money put into the mutagen in your blood is something I can’t get back, so I’m going to break you into a warrior or so help me!”
Leo panted heavily, giving Draxum eye-daggers. “I hate you.”
”You think I care what you feel like? You can think what you will, but you will end up respecting me.” Draxum turned on his heel. “You’re staying in this room until I say so. I will install a lock, and if you even attempt to escape again then I will chain you here or wherever else I see fit. This is not your room and you are entitled to nothing. Consider even this bed a privilege. Understood?”
”Will I get a meal plan at least?” Leo snarked, and Draxum huffed before stepping outside. “But it’s not like you even cared to feed me my whole freaking entire life!”
Draxum disappeared down the hall, ordering Raph to close the door. The snapper turtle hesitated, looking over at his hurt brother. Leo stared evenly back, rage and pain warring in his expression. He stepped forward with a sneer. “Well? What are you waiting for? Shut me in and leave me like I know you wish you could! Be Draxum’s good little puppy!”
Raph’s jaw clenched. “You might annoy the shell off me Leo, but I will never want to leave you behind. You better not forget that.”
”Sure you don’t. Just get outta here.” Leo turned away and crossed his arms, hearing Raph sigh and finally close the door. The slider waited until he heard the heavy footsteps grow faint before he finally allowed the emotions he’d been holding down to well up. Tears choked his throat and he let out a sob, angrily digging at his eyes.
”S-stupid Dr-Draxum!” He sniffled, kicking his bed frame. “S-stupid freaking m-mutagen and s-stupid freaking experiments and s-stupid…”
Leo’s words were taken over with angry clicks and hisses as he sank down onto the floor, using his bed to block the view of the door in case anyone came in. He slammed a fist on the floor next to him as angry tears clouded his vision. What even was the point of life? He wasn’t fulfilling his purpose—just gambling and drinking and existing because what else would he do? Actually feel alive? The only time he felt anything other than the Draxum-shaped ache in his heart was when he was high and winning big bucks. Even the bar fights were relieving because adrenaline blocked out all thinking about his life… or failed purpose of a life…
Honestly he was surprised Draxum hadn’t beaten him. That was the usual punishment for when he was mad at this, but Leo guessed that he didn’t want anything to do with the slider at the moment.
Strangely the silence hurt worse than any punch could.
Leo grit his teeth together, trying to get a grip on reality. Why was he even upset? This is what always happened. He was trapped in this endless cycle of rebellion and abuse and he would never get free. He hated who he had become, but in reality he couldn’t even picture himself any other way. He just always was a miserable wreck and would always be a miserable wreck.
He had been hurt by Draxum, and for the love of him he couldn’t seem to stop hurting his brother in turn.
He knew it wasn’t Raph’s fault. None of it was. Did he wish his older brother would stand up to the warrior scientist? Maybe, but the snapper was so set on his life’s purpose that he refused to see Draxum for what he truly was. Raph had always been there for Leo though, and now Leo was being nothing but a bitter jerk in return. He hated that he was acting that way but couldn’t seem to help it. There was so much anger and hurt churning in his stomach and all that darkness needed an outlet—even if it wasn’t in the least fair to Raph.
And now he was getting what he deserved. So old Draxum thought he could starve Leo out? Heh, the old buzzard underestimated his stubbornness. What was a little hunger compared to the mental agony he endured every day? Hatred could combat that little mortal need nicely.
Leo took a deep, shaky breath and curled up on the ground. There was nothing he could do now but wait.
Raph flopped down in his own bed with a sigh. Why couldn’t Leo just behave? The things Draxum had said to him were inexcusable, but if the slider hadn’t provoked him then he could’ve remained in blissful ignorance.
The snapper sucked in a sharp breath as he recalled the hurt look on his little brother’s eyes and felt a sense of protectiveness swell in him. He was all Leo had and he had just… let Draxum abuse him like that. But Draxum was their creator. Without Draxum they wouldn’t even be alive. After all Leo had been running his mouth like usual…
Raphie I’m hungry. Tormenting memories of Leo’s suffering whispered through his brain as he thought about his younger brother.
Raphie why does Dad hate me?
Raphie please don’t train today… I miss you…
Raphie Dad hit me. It hurts.
Well? What are you waiting for? Shut me in and leave me like I know you wish you could! Be Draxum’s good little puppy!
Raph groaned and slapped his pillow down on his face repeatedly. That little slider was going to be the end of him. Gambling and drinking and smart-mouthing everyone he met no matter how it could turn to bite him in the tail later. But he was still Raph’s brother. Why was everything so confusing?
Raph stared at the ceiling, numbly taking in every detail. He was created to be a warrior, but what kind of a warrior was he if he couldn’t even save his brother? Leo was a slider too close to the sun and Raph felt powerless to do anything but watch his little brother’s false wings slowly burn into ash until he plummeted for good. In all honestly, how could he even help Leo at this point? They needed to fulfill their purpose by eradicating the human race and then…
Then what?
Act as security for Draxum? Retire? What was next?
For Leo it seemed like a prison cell, either literally or figuratively in the clutches of addiction.
”Raphael.” Came the sudden voice from his doorway and Raph scrambled bolt upright to see Draxum standing there with a concerned look. “You didn’t hear me knock?”
”Sorry Sir.” Raph stood and offered a little bow of apology. “I was lost in thought. Do you need me?”
”I do.” Draxum stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. “I have a mission for you of utmost importance. Unfortunately I cannot trust Leonardo right now, but perhaps after he is more submissive he may join you.”
Until he’s starved to obedience, Raph thought but didn’t say, gritting his teeth together. “I understand Sir. What is the mission?”
Draxum’s eyes lit up with a peculiar glint. “You saw those other mutants of mine? I had perceived them to be dead, but now I want them back. I will shape them into the warriors that you deserve to lead. The warriors that Leonardo never was and hopefully will be after more… severe methods. Do you understand? Go find those turtles on the surface and bring them back to me.”
”Sorry, did you say to go to the surface?” Raph blinked. “But I thought…”
”The game has changed, Raphael.” Draxum interrupted with a grimace. “Not only has a human found her way into the Hidden City, but also they seemed concerned about Leonardo’s health. It makes me suspect that they naively see you both as… perhaps victims in this situation and not entirely associated with me. Lean into the brother narrative and get them to trust you. I may not be able to convince them to join me after Leonardo’s rebellion today, but if you help them to see the importance of their life’s purpose then perhaps they will cave.”
Raph hesitated slightly, recalling how Draxum was correct and the newcomers seemed to care about his little brother. “So… you want me to go to the surface and retrieve the mutants?”
”Correct.” Draxum nodded resolutely. “But this mission will require more than strength, Raphael. You need to convince them that we are on the right side here. It will require communication and consideration as well as keeping your wits and now allowing yourself to be influenced by their human friend. Are you up for it?”
Raph took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes Sir. Consider those turtles your newest warriors.”
Notes:
Raph? Negotiating and coming up with a plan? I’m sure that won’t backfire at all and they won’t need another mindset!
See ya in the next chapter! <3
Chapter 8: Different Skills
Summary:
Raph sighed and ducked back into the shadows of the alley, darting towards a fire escape and gripping the cool metal bars tightly. He hoisted himself up and scaled the frame of the building until he was on a roof and safely away from prying eyes. Groaning, he peered over the edge of the building to see if he could see… well… anything. Would the turtles just wander around among the people? Would they be disguised? What was he even looking for?
Suddenly Raph heard a swishing sound and dove to the side on instinct, causing a golden chain to wrap around thin air. The snapper traced the kusari-fundo’s chain back up to its owner, spying the sheepish box turtle who chuckled nervously. “Oh, hehe. You’re faster than you look.”
Notes:
Hey everyone! Welcome to another chapter of Wings of Ashes! ^^
As always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated, and I hope you enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Raph grumbled slightly as he was dumped out into an alley and scared away a rat. It was day three of his search for those turtles and although the surface had been exciting the first couple times he was now growing tired of his mission. Not to mention he was getting more and more worried every day he didn’t see Leo reemerge from his bedroom and wanted nothing more than to check up on his little brother.
The snapper turtle slipped over to the edge of the alley wall, glancing out into the night with wary eyes. Sneaking around New York? Easy. But he had never actually been given a mission to track down others before and was finding it more difficult than he thought. Where would a pair of mutant turtles hide? Were they staying with that human girl? Elsewhere?
Raph sighed and ducked back into the shadows of the alley, darting towards a fire escape and gripping the cool metal bars tightly. He hoisted himself up and scaled the frame of the building until he was on a roof and safely away from prying eyes. Groaning, he peered over the edge of the building to see if he could see… well… anything. Would the turtles just wander around among the people? Would they be disguised? What was he even looking for?
Suddenly Raph heard a swishing sound and dove to the side on instinct, causing a golden chain to wrap around thin air. The snapper traced the kusari-fundo’s chain back up to its owner, spying the sheepish box turtle who chuckled nervously. “Oh, hehe. You’re faster than you look.”
”Ugh Angelo I told you not to risk it!” The soft shell next to him face-palmed, and Raph swallowed hard. What were their names again? Angelo didn’t feel right…
”Um… hey fellow turtles!” Raph waved casually, trying to force his tense expression into something that resembled a smile. “Um… what’s new?”
”Geez. You’re as bad as Donnie.” The box turtle commented, and Raph glanced at the soft shell.
”I um… I come in peace… Angelo?” Raph tried, and the soft shell gasped indignantly.
”Hey! Only I can call him that!” The turtle in purple sniffed.
”Oh sorry… D…” Raph hesitated, not wanting to offend them further.
”Yeah, that’s Donnie.” The box turtle offered. “And I’m Mikey.”
”We have GOT to work on your stranger-danger skills Miguel.” Donnie muttered.
”Come on Donnie, what’s he gonna do with our names? Tell Draxum?” Mikey pointed out.
”Cool names!” Raph tried out another smile. “I’m Raphael.”
”But that’s so long.” Mikey whined. “I’d fall asleep just trying to say it.”
”Never fear Angelo.” Donnie tapped a button on his wrist tech and suddenly a clear video of their fight at the lab showed up in hologram form. The soft shell casually sped it up until pausing after Leo cried out Raph’s nickname in fear. He played that second a couple more times and turned off the projection, finally noticing how Raph’s jaw was almost on the ground. “What is it, Raph?”
”What… how did ya get a video of Raph’s brother?” The snapper’s expression morphed into a glower without thinking, protective instincts going into overdrive. “Did ya tap into Baron Draxum’s security or something?”
Drat. Donnie immediately stepped in front of Mikey defensively at Raph’s tone and held up some technological bō staff that Raph recognized from the fight. “I record everything. Deal with it.”
”You record everything? You’d better delete any footage of Leo right now.” Raph tried to keep his voice even but he could feel his muscles tensing. “I mean, don’t ya think it’s a little creepy or weird?”
”I prefer the term safe.” Donnie snipped back. “And what are you going to do about it? Take it from me?”
”Donald!” Mikey whimpered. “It’s okay, we don’t have to fight…”
”Why’d you even come after us?” Donnie taunted, eyes blazing. “Come to bring us back to the Sheep Creep? Is that what you want?”
Raph hesitated. “Raph wasn’t…”
Donnie tapped a few more commands into his wrist tech to now display a montage of Raph sneaking around New York. Raph spluttered. “You were followin’ me?!”
”Well we’re the heroes of New York!” Mikey protested. “Of course we’re gonna follow you to make sure you don’t hurt anyone. And hope that you’d bring Leo.”
Raph tensed at the mention of his brother. “Whatcha want Leo for? You hurt him and I’ll break you, got that?”
”Watch your mouth!” Donnie hissed. “No one threatens us.”
”Well Raph just did.” Raph growled, mind taken over by defensiveness of his younger brother and heightened by the knowledge that he was still starving in a room. “And you’ll leave my brother alone, ya hear Raph? Leave. Leo. Alone.”
”We’re gonna save him from you!” Mikey shot Raph a glare, and Raph hesitated slightly at the sight of the sweet box turtle’s anger. “You were hurting him!”
”You ain’t takin’ Leo anywhere!” Raph stepped forward. “Or so help Raph…”
”That’s it!” Donnie’s tech bō transformed swiftly into a metallic fist Raph remembered all too well. “Fibonacci!”
Raph leapt out of the way as the fist shot at him, rolling on the ground and hopping back up in a defensive stance as the fist shifted direction and drove towards him again. His eyes sharpened and he swung a closed fist around to smash the projectile into pieces midair. Raph remained alert for a few more seconds to ensure his enemy was down before remembering the turtles and whipping around guiltily. As expected they were nowhere to be seen, and Raph had failed.
Raph gulped and crept into Draxum’s office, the violet portal winking shut behind him. The warrior alchemist turned from his stance at his desk and nodded at the snapper. “Raphael. How did your mission go? I hope it was better than the time we had over here.”
Raph felt a flash of concern. “What happened, Sir?”
”Leonardo tried to sneak out his window.” Draxum huffed, fists clenching at the memory as Raph’s stomach flipped.
”Is… is he okay…?” The snapper intoned, worry stink painfully obvious as Draxum sighed.
”He was a fool. He was too weak to scale the wall and ended up falling into the bushes that Big Mama pays good money to keep manicured. But don’t worry about him. He is now chained to the bed and won’t cause any trouble.” Draxum turned back to his desk.
Raph hesitated. “Sir… if he was so weak then don’t you think…”
”I am not withholding any food from him, Raphael.” Draxum snipped. “All he has to do is submit and he will be fed. It is all his choice. But enough about your brother—how was the mission? Did you find my other experiments?”
Raph winced. “Well… yes…”
Draxum stiffened. “I can tell by your tone that it did not go well.”
”I’m… sorry Sir.” Raph ducked his head in shame. “I messed up and take full responsibility.”
”Of course you do. Who else would take it?” Draxum turned back with an irritated look in his eyes. “What happened?”
”I… Raph panicked, Sir.” Raph murmured. “I was already on edge but then they snuck up behind me and… and one of them had recorded me an’ Leo. They had also followed Raph and mentioned that they wanted to take Leo away from us.”
Draxum grumbled slightly. “So you lost your temper? You had one job—to convince the turtles you were not an enemy—and you lost your temper?”
Raph gritted his teeth and refused to flinch as Draxum strode over. The snapper quickly knelt down and bowed his head in shame. “I’m sorry Sir. I failed you.”
Draxum frowned in consideration, slowly lowering the hand he had raised to slap the incompetent warrior. The scientist mused slightly, “I trained you to be a fighter, not a negotiator. I should’ve been more prepared. Now I’ve lost two of my greatest creations because you were incompetent.”
Raph knew that Draxum was really deprecating himself but still felt a pang of guilt. He failed all because he couldn’t keep a cool head against two teenagers. He wasn’t suave! He was a deadly weapon trained to eradicate an entire species of creature. He didn’t have any experience with…
Raph hesitated slightly, an idea striking him. There was, in fact, someone he knew that was able to manipulate his way into dangerous situations, who could crack a joke no matter how much he was threatened, and who was able to gamble with adults. Besides, as much as he hated to put his younger brother in danger at least he would get fed. “Sir… what about Leo?”
”What about him, Raphael?” Draxum snipped.
”Well… he’s the most level-headed kid I know.” Raph pointed out. “He may not be who you intended, but he’s smart as shell and can sweet-talk his way out of any situation. He works with top-notch negotiators.”
”You mean he gambles with thugs and swindlers.” Draxum sniffed.
”But they’re all older than him.” Raph offered, a little hope blossoming in his chest as he saw that Draxum was considering his words. “And he handles them all with ease. Also… those turtles seemed to care about him, as you said yourself Sir.”
”True…” Draxum hummed in thought. “He’s unreliable, reckless and untrustworthy. But there are… fixes for that…”
Raph shuddered slightly at the thought of Draxum’s ‘fixes’ but didn’t speak up. Leo needed food soon or he could get seriously hurt. Just thinking about how hungry his brother must be made Raph step up his argument. “And I can keep an eye on him, Sir. He will go on my honor. If he gets away then you can punish me for it.”
Draxum’s head tilted as he considered Raph’s offer. “You’d be willing to be Leonardo’s guardian? At least you I can trust.”
Raph nodded enthusiastically. “Yes Sir, you can count on me. I won’t let him get away, and in turn he will get you your warriors.”
”Very well.” Draxum finally nodded. “I’ll retrieve him myself. Time to put my failed experiment to use.”
Notes:
Yeahhh… Raph’s not exactly the best negotiator, especially when Donnie’s around! A big threatening-looking stranger who tried to fight you… not the best look buddy :’)
See ya in the next chapter!
Chapter 9: Draxum’s Gift
Summary:
”Leonardo, face me.” Draxum ordered, and Leo refused to reply. “Why do you still defy me? I gave you a direct order and I expect you to follow it promptly.”
Leo felt irritation rise in his chest, sour mood only heightened by his intense hunger. “You? Nah I don’t care about you. Now if you had some pizza, then I’d consider it.”
”You have a mission.” Draxum sniffed. “But your disrespect is beginning to make me reconsider.”
”Did anyone tell you your voice is like nails on a chalkboard?” Leo snarked. “Like seriously I don’t get why you’re still talking to me right now.”
Notes:
Hey everyone! Welcome back to another chapter of Wings of Ashes! ^^
I hope you enjoy, and as always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Leo breathed heavily, nausea sweeping over him in protest to his empty stomach. He had pretty quickly given up on yanking the heavy metal cuff around his chafed wrist and was now just trying to focus on steadying his rebelling body. His head was filled with pins and needles as he shivered yet again, but then he heard the telltale clicking of his door being unlocked. The slider raised his bleary eyes to see Draxum standing there looking like he had just smelled something rotten. There was surely a joke to be made in there somewhere but right now Leo didn’t even care, instead blatantly turning his back on the warrior alchemist and hearing a sharp sigh.
”Leonardo, face me.” Draxum ordered, and Leo refused to reply. “Why do you still defy me? I gave you a direct order and I expect you to follow it promptly.”
Leo felt irritation rise in his chest, sour mood only heightened by his intense hunger. “You? Nah I don’t care about you. Now if you had some pizza, then I’d consider it.”
”You have a mission.” Draxum sniffed. “But your disrespect is beginning to make me reconsider.”
”Did anyone tell you your voice is like nails on a chalkboard?” Leo snarked. “Like seriously I don’t get why you’re still talking to me right now.”
Draxum sighed and Leo heard some sort of shuffling. He was tempted to peek around but didn’t want to give his father figure the satisfaction. “Leonardo, listen to me. I am running out of options and you are only making things harder on yourself. Now get up.”
There was a little crack that made Leo jump, and he finally turned to see Draxum holding a leather whip. The slider’s breath hitched slightly at the sight. “So… so what’s that for? I have rights you know! Like… like yokai rights…”
”Correction: you have no rights here.” Draxum let the whip snap again. “And you are not a yokai—you are a mutant. Nothing more than a manageable monster created for weaponry. The sooner you learn that the better. Get. Up.”
Leo jerked on his chain again desperately as Draxum advanced, panic beginning to seize his throat. The warrior continued. “You have two DNA streams in your veins: that of a mere animal—a species to be tamed or hunted—and that of a human—a species to be eradicated. Not a drop of yokai blood in you which makes you a step above dirt. Do you hear me? You need to submit.”
Leo’s mouth went dry at a third warning crack from the whip. “Look Drax, I don’t think Mama would approve of this…”
”Unfortunately for you both she has no say in how I treat my experiments.” Draxum replied cooly. “This is what I want from you: you will bow to me and call me Master. Your tone will be respectful and submissive. You will acknowledge that you are a mutant and nothing more than a weapon.”
Leo grit his teeth. “Not happening. You can’t just—“ Leo couldn’t help but cry out as the first snap of the whip hit his shoulder. Draxum raised an eyebrow.
”Care to finish that sentence?” The warrior said calmly.
Leo hesitated, eyeing the whip. His eyes sharpened and he blurted “Youcan’tjustmakethedecisiontocreatelifeandthentreatitlikedirtyouabsolutebuzzard!” Before leaping onto his bed as the whip cracked under him. Draxum’s eyes narrowed as he struck again and Leo dodged.
”Hold still and take your punishment like a warrior.” Draxum growled. Leo made a show of yanking desperately at his chain and Draxum stepped closer to be just outside of Leo’s reach but close enough to have a good shot. The warrior snapped the whip at his creation and Leo suddenly moved. He slid under the weapon to reveal the chain was longer than Draxum remembered, Leo having bunched it behind him to make himself appear trapped. Leo then snatched Draxum’s wrist and used his own to wrap the chain tightly around the warrior’s arm. Draxum didn’t even have time to react before Leo jumped up and kicked Draxum’s side and caused the yokai to collapse with a grunt onto the remaining chain. Leo then hopped over his body and held his own wrist to the ground to effectively pin Draxum down.
Draxum and Leo both breathed heavily as they looked at each other, Leo looking shaken from dizziness while Draxum’s expression slowly changed from anger to an impressed look. “There it is. That is how I trained you.”
Leo kicked the fallen whip away, avoiding Draxum’s gaze and refusing to answer. Now that the element of surprise was over the warrior could easily escape the weak turtle’s chain but instead he remained looking at Leo in thought. “You didn’t run at me with blunt force. You deceived me into thinking you were trapped and then pounced. You fought more with your mind than with your strength.” Draxum yanked the chain off him and Leo was jerked forward with a grunt, mind glitching with pins and needles. Draxum brushed off the rest of his bonds and crouched next to the slider. “Imagine what you could do at full health if you actually tried.”
”Shut up.” Leo muttered, and Draxum chuckled.
”Do you not understand that I am praising you? You impressed me, Leonardo.” Draxum pointed out, and Leo’s chest clenched.
”Praise… praise from you means nothing.” The slider turned his head away, and Draxum sighed.
”What I am saying is that Raphael might be right and I underestimated you.” Draxum frowned in thought. “However you are still completely unmanageable with this attitude.”
Leo turned back to watch Draxum, not liking his tone. “So?”
”So I came prepared.” Draxum fumbled at a pouch on his belt, finally withdrawing a slim black… choker? Collar?
Leo scrambled upright as the warrior yanked off his glove and placed his thumb on the circular device on the front. It gave an approving beep and unclipped. Draxum tossed the device at Leo. “Put this on or I’ll do it for you.”
Leo hesitated briefly but his head was spinning from the previous flurry of movement and he didn’t feel like getting held down. He slowly reached up and settled the collar around his neck, Draxum helping him clasp it. “This is a tracker, Leonardo. If you even attempt to run away then not only will I know but Raphael will take the punishment. Understand?”
Leo’s head snapped up at that last part. “Raph? Why Raph?”
”You do not seem to be reacting properly to punishment. I realize that this is because you refuse to be seen as weak and believe you can handle anything. But if someone else takes the punishment for you then you might be more… compliant. I can assure you that I will make you watch.” Draxum explained. “But don’t worry—you will get a warning beep if you get too far from Raphael’s pager. It will then shock you twice if you continue: the first will be enough to hurt and the second will be enough to render you motionless and will send an alert to your brother.”
”A shock collar? Seriously?” Leo chuckled nervously. “And what if our mission requires us to be further apart?”
”You have not earned that right. You will remain with Raphael.” Draxum snapped. “This is the only way I can ensure that you will not rebel on your mission.”
”Riiight… the mission.” Leo hesitated. “Um… what is it?”
”You and Raphael are to go befriend the turtles and convince them to return to me.” Draxum raised an eyebrow. “Raphael informed me that you would be more successful than he was and for his sake I hope you will not disappoint.”
Leo’s mouth went dry. “Don’t hurt Raph if I’m not good enough! That’s ridiculous. Punish me.”
Draxum chuckled. “I need you to listen. It appears that your brother is your only weakness and it is my own fault that I have overlooked that fact over the years.”
Leo glared at him. “You’re sick.”
”I’m efficient.” Draxum swiftly unlocked Leo’s chain and stood up. “Come, Leonardo. I will drop you off with your brother so I can connect your collar to his pager and then you will leave immediately.” When Leo didn’t move Draxum turned back with a raised eye brow. “Leonardo? Rebelling already?”
”I’ll go.” Leo said in a low voice. “But if something goes wrong and you so much as touch Raph then I’m gonna make you pay. Count on that.”
”We’ll see about that, little turtle.” Draxum turned away again. “We’ll see.”
Notes:
Oof, Draxy and Leo don’t look like they’re doing too good…
See ya in the next chapter! ^^
Chapter 10: Nothing Like Bonding Over Pineapples
Summary:
“Eh time is relative.” Leo waved off the skeleton’s concern. “But… y’know could we take a Hawaiian?”
Hueso let out a deep sigh. “Of course Pepino. Make yourselves comfortable.” The bell rang and Hueso glanced over to see who it was. His eyes widened. “Pepino, do you have other siblings as well?”
”What?” Leo whipped around to lock eyes with Donnie and Mikey. He internalized his surprise and offered a casual wave. “Look who it is! Hey guys!”
Notes:
Hey everyone! Welcome to another chapter of Wings of Ashes! ^^
Hope you enjoy, and as always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Raph glanced nervously over at Leo, who was swaying as he walked. “You good Lee?”
”Yeah.” Leo said a little too quickly. “No need to worry. Let’s just get up to the surface and get this over with…”
Raph gasped and caught Leo as the slider stumbled. “Nope. You’re eating. Now.”
”Not a good idea in the Hidden City…” Leo hinted but Raph still looked around to see if there were any restaurants nearby.
”You know this place Leo. Where’s a safe place to go with um… with your whole situation.” Raph asked, wincing slightly as he was forced to acknowledge that Leo had enemies. Leo hesitated slightly before grumbling. “Run of the Mill Pizza.”
”Pizza? Sounds good to Raph.” Raph nodded and held a steady hand on Leo’s shoulder in case he stumbled again. “You sure it’s safe there?”
”Yeah. But are you sure we couldn’t…”
”Nope. We’re eatin’ now.” Raph followed Leo’s finger and began leading the slider along. “Did Draxum give you anything in that room.”
”What do you think?” Leo scoffed, and Raph cringed.
”Okay so it’s been a few days.” Raph sighed. “Raph doesn’t get why you didn’t even fake submission to eat. You coulda seriously hurt yourself.”
Leo didn’t respond. They’d had this conversation numerous times and Leo was sick of explaining how he couldn’t let Draxum win. He couldn’t just… submit and give up. His pride wouldn’t let him, and although it would probably be the end of him someday it was the only thing keeping him sane. Too soon they reached Hueso’s and Leo hesitated at the door. Sure Hueso’s was the safest restaurant in the Hidden City for him but at the same time he didn’t want to introduce Raph. But there was no way he was going to put his oldest brother in danger so they walked inside. A cheetah waiter glanced over and immediately brightened and waved. “Hey Leo! Good to see ya!”
Raph visibly stiffened and Leo forced himself to smile and wave back. “Hey Jace! Long time no see.”
”You missed your shift.” Jace tsked disapprovingly. “Boss was really worried. Wouldn’t stop watching the door.”
”Yeah yeah, I had something come up.” Leo said with a chuckle. “I’ll tell him I’m good—“
“Pepino!” Hueso suddenly surged forward from his office and began shaking Leo by his shoulders. “Where have you been?! You missed your shift! I’ve been worried sick!”
“Good to see you too Bone Man…” Leo murmured, head spinning. “But hey do ya have anything to eat before I collapse? L.O.L.?”
“No one says that in normal sentences. And have you not eaten?” Hueso began dragging Leo back towards the kitchen when Raph growled and pried them apart, giving the skeleton a death glare. “Hey, hands off Raph’s brother!”
“Hermano?” Hueso blinked. “Pepino, is this your brother?”
“I might not know what ‘Pepino’ means but that had better not be an insult.” Raph snipped before hesitating and turning to a sheepish Leo. “You know this guy?”
“Hehe, yeah. Um… Raph meet Hueso, Hueso meet Raph.” Leo glanced anywhere except the gazes of his brother and uncle.
“You are Leonardo’s brother?” Hueso’s face immediately softened.
“Yeah. But ya still have yet to mention how he met you.” Raph’s eyes narrowed.
“Raph it wasn’t at a casino!” Leo hurriedly spoke up. “I met him here. He’s a friend.” Leo frowned in thought. “More like a grouchy uncle.”
“Well perhaps I would not have to worry over you as much if you actually took care of yourself.” Hueso grumbled.
Raph hesitated, slowly putting the pieces together. “You said Leo missed his shift… Lee do ya work here? Is this who’s been feeding ya?”
“Yes, Pitahaya, I have been feeding him.” Hueso nodded, and Raph’s chasm deepened.
“Pita what?” The snapper glanced down when Leo chuckled and placed a hand on his arm.
“Consider it a term of endearment. But ya know speaking of food…” Leo hinted, and Hueso nodded.
“I will make you both something.” Hueso agreed. “And when was the last time you ate? Be honest Pepino.”
“Last night.” Leo said casually, and it would’ve been convincing had Raph not said at the same time, “Probably about three days ago.”
Hueso’s eyes widened. “Tell me you are joking.”
“Eh time is relative.” Leo waved off the skeleton’s concern. “But… y’know could we take a Hawaiian?”
Hueso let out a deep sigh. “Of course Pepino. Make yourselves comfortable.” The bell rang and Hueso glanced over to see who it was. His eyes widened. “Pepino, do you have other siblings as well?”
”What?” Leo whipped around to lock eyes with Donnie and Mikey. He internalized his surprise and offered a casual wave. “Look who it is! Hey guys!”
”Leo!” Mikey exclaimed with delight and started forward when Donnie hurriedly snatched him up and set him back next to him.
”And he’s with an enemy, Mikey.” The soft shell reminded, narrowing his eyes. “You guys here to fight or something?”
Leo shrugged. “Eh, we’re here for pizza. The only thing we’d be fighting you for is the rest of the ham.”
”Is it rotten or something?” Mikey’s face scrunched. “Seriously, what’s that smell?”
”Don’t talk about Raph’s stink!” Raph, struggling to keep himself still and cool headed, snapped. Leo chuckled.
”Can’t really blame them, Big Guy. But anywho what are you two doing down here?” Leo patted Raph’s shoulder comfortingly.
”We just came down to explore a bit.” Mikey told them. “And hoping to find you. And um… save you from… um… him.” Mikey hesitated, realizing how awkward the situation was.
”So… do you need help or…” Donnie intoned, and Leo shook his head.
”From who, Raph?” Leo laughed. “Oh that’s rich. You do look pretty threatening, buddy.”
”He did threaten us.” Donnie pointed out bluntly, and Leo shrugged.
”He’s a bit high strung, pish posh, but the point is he’s chill.” Leo said casually, and Raph nodded quickly. The snapper glanced down at Leo’s completely relaxed stance, trying to figure out how he was so calm. “But we did order a Hawaiian. You guys can have some if you want.”
“Seriously?” Donnie crossed his arms. “No way.”
“What? Why?” Leo gasped and placed a hand to his heart. “Please don’t tell me you’re one of those weirdos who won’t eat pineapple on pizza.”
“He doesn’t like the texture.” Mikey piped up, and Donnie rolled his eyes.
“No fruit should ever be that stringy. Besides, fruit and pizza are absolutely incompatible.” Donnie defended, and Leo smirked.
“Oh come on DonTron. Every reasonable person knows that a tomato is a fruit. Therefore fruit is already on pizza. Therefore more fruit shouldn’t be a problem.” Leo shrugged.
”DonTron?” Donnie spluttered. “No way.”
”Aw it fits perfectly! You even have a metal shell on. Don’t tell me you’re not some sort of Turtle-Transformer.” Leo teased gently, and Raph was tempted to tell him to cool it but it seemed to be working. Slowly but surely the other turtles were relaxing from the banter.
“Well we aren’t all sharing one pizza, are we? I mean, how big are they?” Mikey spoke up, and Leo and Raph looked at each other.
”Yeah, duh. You must be hungry.” Leo’s smile quickly returned and Raph didn’t mention how an entire pizza could feed the two of them for a while. “Tell ya what: me and Mikester can share the Hawaiian because he is clearly pineapple-deprived and you and Raph can share something else. Sound good?”
”I haven’t had Hawaiian in forever!” Mikey grinned. “Sure thing!”
Donnie and Raph looked at each other, neither feeling like talking. Donnie’s eyes narrowed and Raph cleared his throat. “Um… meat lovers? Supreme?”
”Whatever. I don’t care.” The soft shell quipped, and Raph inwardly groaned.
”Hey Jace, could you tell the Bone Man to add a meat lovers pizza to the order?” Leo called, and Jace nodded. “Tell him I can pay for it.”
”We can pay for our own pizza.” Donnie stiffened slightly, but Leo waved him off.
”Nah, my treat.” Leo pulled out a wad of cash from one of the pockets on his jacket and Mikey’s eyes went round.
”How’d you get all that money?” The box turtle looked up in admiration.
“Old Draxum’s not as bad as he seems ya know.” Leo winked, and Raph glanced at him sharply. “He provides for us as his warriors.”
”Oh yeah? Where was that worldview last time we met?” Donnie asked suspiciously.
”Eh, I was just having a bad day. Y’know we all have those.” Leo shrugged. “Isn’t that right, Raph? Draxum always provides for us?”
”Um…” Raph stuttered slightly, not expecting to be brought into the conversation. “Um… yes. Right. Of course.”
”How convincing, he said very sarcastically.” Donnie drawled. “And I suppose that that’s why Leo looks like he could pass out any second?”
”Just a little hungry.” Leo waved off the concern. “No biggie. Just need a bit of delicious Hawaiian pizza to nourish my system and I’ll be good to go.”
”You’re terrible.” Donnie sniffed, but finally allowed Mikey to bound up to the slider. Leo slung an arm around the little turtle and began to lead him to a booth.
”I think we’re all gonna get along great. But why not sit down, yeah? I can smell the pineapple from here.” Leo teased. “And meanwhile why dontcha tell me a bit more about yourselves?”
”How do we know you aren’t just going to manipulate us to going back to the weird Sheep Man?” Donnie asked suspiciously.
Leo chuckled. “Just don’t go anywhere with us if you’re that worried. Unless you think Draxum’s hiding underneath the booth.”
”Come on Donnie!” Mikey piped up. “Please? These are other turtles like us!”
”Exactly Donnie!” Leo copied the pout playfully. “I mean we’re basically brothers!”
”I’m sorry, say what now?” Donnie stiffened.
”Well Draxum’s the one who mutated you two.” Leo rolled his eyes. “What, did you think you just popped into existence? Big bang part two? Part human part turtle just went poof?”
”We… never really thought into it.” Donnie admitted.
”Well now ya know. Old Draxula mutated all four of us, which makes us…” Leo smirked down at Mikey, who looked like he was about to explode with excitement.
”Ohmigosh you’re our brother!” The box turtle almost squealed. “Donnie we have other brothers! This is so cool!”
Donnie was frozen and Leo could practically see the gears turning in his head. “So… so technically that wack Draxum is our… father?”
”I guess you could say that.” Leo nodded, secretly analyzing Donnie’s reaction. The stiff muscles indicated a sort of aversion or past pain related to parental figures. “You know, I’m sure he’d be proud of your tech. I mean, look at that shell! I’m assuming you made that?”
”Scoff. Of course I did.” Donnie sniffed. “You see many battle shells just laying around?”
Leo whistled. “That’s pretty sweet if you ask me. You might be a soft shell but you innovated to protect yourself and become a more efficient fighter. That’s what Draxum likes to see.”
”Whatever. Doesn’t matter what some villain thinks.” Donnie muttered, but Leo didn’t miss the subtle changes in his expression. “Besides, we already have a father.”
”Wait what?” Leo blinked in surprise. “Did you… like… okay I’m outta joke juice. How do ya have a dad?”
”Splinter!” Mikey chirped happily. “He’s a mutant rat. He raised us.”
Leo hesitated slightly. How on earth could there be another mutant? After all, the only people in the lab at that time had been Draxum, the turtles, Huginn and Muninn and…
Raph and Leo looked at each other. Was it possible? Could it be that…
Lou Jitsu was alive?
”Cool.” Leo responded casually. “Anywhizzle you could either have your little rat man or a crazy awesome warrior alchemist.”
”Hey! We’re not just going to… choose someone over dad!” Mikey pouted slightly and Leo backtracked.
”Or… option C, which I was obviously about to mention. Both. Old Draxy is thrilled that you guys survived, and if that’s not love then I don’t know what is.” Leo smirked as Hueso brought the pizzas over. “Oh yeah, now this is what I’m talking about! Nothing like a good old family reunion over Hawaiian pizza.”
”Will the torment never end with you?” Donnie groaned, and Leo winked.
”It would’ve ended sooner if I didn’t see that it got under you skin so amusingly.” Donnie spluttered and Leo quickly continued. “But enough about the Draxula. Bon appetite.”
Notes:
Looks like Leo is already a better negotiator than his brother! But Donnie still seems a bit suspicious…
See ya in the next chapter! Thanks for reading! ^^
Chapter 11: Maze of Distrust
Summary:
”Oh yeah, nothing like a little family bonding activity.” Leo whistled as they trotted through the maze
of death. Mikey had gotten excited by the prospect of a game, and who was Leo to say no to him? Besides, it’s not like anyone would actually die in here. Old Neon Leon wouldn’t let that happen. “DonTron an arrow is about to fly next to you.”Donnie spluttered and ducked as the weapon flew ahead of him. He glared at Leo. “And why, pray tell, are we even in here if it’s this dangerous?”
Notes:
Hey everyone, time for a bit of Minotaur Maze! However this Leo is no stranger to the Hidden City…
Hope you enjoy! As always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
”Oh yeah, nothing like a little family bonding activity.” Leo whistled as they trotted through the maze of death. Mikey had gotten excited by the prospect of a game, and who was Leo to say no to him? Besides, it’s not like anyone would actually die in here. Old Neon Leon wouldn’t let that happen. “DonTron an arrow is about to fly next to you.”
Donnie spluttered and ducked as the weapon flew ahead of him. He glared at Leo. “And why, pray tell, are we even in here if it’s this dangerous?”
”Seriously Lee I don’t think this is a good idea…” Raph murmured, but Leo rolled his eyes.
”Easy Big Guy! I’ve done this maze plenty of times.” Leo suddenly yanked Raph back. “Careful of that tripwire.”
Raph blinked in surprise at the tiny trap. “What were ya doin’ in here Leo?”
”Ooh, that’s so cool!” Mikey piped up, eyes wide as he watched Leo use the tip of his odachi (normal now because no way was Draxum going to trust him with his previous mystic weapon) to cut the wire. Leo glanced over at the box turtle, a strange feeling in his chest. “You did this maze by yourself? How old were you?”
”Um… I don’t know.” Leo frowned in thought. “Maybe… seven?”
”Way past cool!” Mikey’s eyes were filled with stars, but Leo didn’t miss the way Donnie shot him a glare. What was eating him? He couldn’t help it if the box turtle found him… someone to look up to. And was it so wrong that he liked it the tiniest bit? He’d never had anyone look up to him before.
Most people looked down on him.
”Well y’know Mikester, it’s just kinda something I did on a dare. No biggie.” Leo said casually, side-eyeing Donnie. “I wouldn’t recommend it. I actually ended up spraining my ankle…”
”So that’s how ya did it?” Raph yelped, and Leo winced. Whoops. “Ya told Raph you tripped on a cat!”
”Scoff. You didn’t even know the real reason your own brother injured himself?” Donnie drawled, and Raph shot him a glare.
”He’s a good liar!” Raph snapped, and Leo subtly kicked him. The snapper hesitated, realizing his mistake. “Um… Raph meant…”
”Nope. Heard you loud and clear.” Donnie interrupted.
”Donnie, stop being mean!” Mikey whined. “These are our brothers!”
”And supposedly that sheep man is our father but you won’t see me cutting him any slack!” Donnie quipped back. “Angelo, we need to be cautious!”
”No offense.” Mikey told the other turtles, trying to make up for Donnie.
”No no, I meant a lot of offense.” The soft shell huffed. “Raphala there threatened to beat us and Leo is clearly a reckless rebel with a problem of lying.”
”Woah woah easy there tiger.” Leo teased gently. “You don’t have to go anywhere with us you don’t want to go to. Raph’s just really overprotective of me, and of course you two as well since you’re our brothers.”
”Dee they’re being nice!” Mikey pleaded.
”Heya DonTron, could I talk to you for a second?” Leo asked, and Donnie hesitated. “Don’t worry, Raph won’t hurt Mikey and they’ll stay in your sight.”
Donnie narrowed his eyes but allowed Leo to lead him a couple of steps away. The slider lowered his voice. “Okay, what’s wrong? Talk to old Leon.”
”What’s wrong? What’s wrong, he asks.” Donnie huffed. “Angelo is naive and you’re preying on his innocence. So yes, I have a big problem with that and with your ‘act’.”
”What? We’re not preying on anything!” Leo hesitated. “Sure he’s naive, so good thing he has more people to protect him, right?”
”I can protect him myself.” Donnie sniffed. “And I’m going to protect him from you.”
”Why me?” Leo gasped in mock offense. “I’m just a little turtle wanting to make new friends! It’s pretty lonely with just me and Raph. And Mikey seems to have zero stranger-danger sense, so good thing you both ran into us and not some Hidden City wack! What, did you two live under a rock all your life?”
Leo had meant it as a gentle joke, but Donnie answered him seriously: ”We lived in the sewer underground.”
”Oh.” Leo faltered slightly. “Well, sorry about that.”
”Don’t be. You’re not fooling me about the whole ‘oh Draxum is amazing’ shtick.” Donnie huffed. “Good parents do not just punch their child across a room.”
”It was just a bad day…”
”That’s another thing. You mentioned alcohol.” Donnie glared at him. “You are very clearly a minor.”
”Okay I’m not perfect. So?” Leo asked, and Donnie sighed.
“Okay… you do realize that you’re underage, right?” Donnie growled. “And Mikey is even younger. You can’t just… talk like that in front of him! And then say some father figure is amazing while he physically abused you without batting an eye! Mikey’s impressionable!”
“Okay… so? Just tell him no.” Leo said slowly, and Donnie scowled.
“You just don’t get it.” The soft shell groaned. “Look, you don’t hear him at home. He thinks that you’re cool. He told me so after the fight. He thinks everyone is a friend, but for some reason he’s especially attached to you.”
“So what?” Leo defended. “We just met! It’s not like I asked him to…”
“He’s watching you!” Donnie snapped, and Leo shut his mouth. “It’s not just you doing whatever crap you do in your messed up life, okay? Mikey is watching you, and what do you think will happen if he starts seeing drinking as cool or abuse as normal, huh? What then? Wanna drag him down with you?”
“No of course not…”
“Then get your dum-dum act together and stay away from my brother!” Donnie’s eyes were blazing. Leo snapped his mouth shut, uncharacteristically at a loss for words. Donnie huffed and stormed away to where Raph was letting Mikey climb onto his shoulders with a shy smile on his face.
”Geez, you’re tall!” Mikey chirped. “Hey Tello, look who’s the tallest now!”
Leo took a deep breath, trying to act like Donnie’s words didn’t affect him. He plastered on his classic smirk and rejoined the other turtles. “We should probably keep moving, the walls are gonna start closing any minute.”
”Say what now?” Raph blinked. “The walls are… what?”
”Come on, let’s go left.” Leo urged. “Right will take us to the pizza-supplies-assassins.”
”Scoff. Pizza supplies?” Donnie crossed his arms.
”Yeah, hehe. But the thing is they aren’t… inanimate. Frankly terrifying.” Leo chuckled slightly at the sight of Donnie’s brain buffering. “But anywhizzle left should take us right to the pizza. Madam Minotaur knows me by now and…”
”Leonardo!” Came an irritated female voice as they rounded the corner. On the top of the Minotaur statue stood a petite yokai glaring at them. “How many times do I have to tell you to not come back!”
”I thought you said she knows you.” Donnie muttered.
”Yeah. Knows me, not likes me.” Leo murmured back before offering a casual wave. “Hey there, Emmie!”
”I told you not to call me that!” The Minotaur yokai huffed.
”But it’s perfect! Minotaur starts with ‘M’, and ‘M’ can be spelled ‘em’, and then Emmie!” Leo explained, but the Minotaur banged her head on the side of her statue.
”This is the best pizza in the world, you stupid kappa.” She growled. “I can’t keep making it for you!”
”It’s not my fault that I know your maze like the back of my hand!” Leo hesitated. “Okay well maybe it is, but still you shoulda made it harder.”
”Nope! No pizza for you!” She sniffed. “It’s saved for those who appreciate it! And you used your knowledge to help others through my maze as well? You can’t play tour guide with this! The maze is meant to be hard!”
Leo yelped as suddenly a thick green vine shot at him and wrapped itself around his torso, yanking him into the air even as Raph roared. “Leo! Put him down!”
”Don’t worry Raph! I got her right where I want her.” Leo called back, ignoring the way his voice squeaked at the end when the vine tightened. He turned sheepishly to the Minotaur. “But say, why don’t you punish me and give these guys some pizza, eh?” Leo offered, knowing that he was fully capable to get tossed around a bit.
This wasn’t his first time annoying Emmie, after all.
”They entered as well and allowed you to cheat them through! Weak, pathetic gluttons.” The Minotaur growled, and Leo’s stomach dropped when he saw vines shoot out towards his brothers.
”WAIT WAIT WAIT NO!” Leo didn’t care if it was feral—he bit the vine. The Minotaur howled and Leo smirked, knowing for a fact that in order to properly use the vines she was mystically connected to them. “They didn’t do anything! Punish me!”
”Yes, punish him!” Donnie snapped, tech-bō threateningly held out toward the vines. The Minotaur sighed.
”Fine, but if any of you cheaters show your faces around here again then all of you will get—augh!” The Minotaur roared as Raph stabbed her vine with a sai. She glared at him. “Little wretch! That hurts!”
”Raph it’s not worth it…” Leo winced as he was squeezed.
”Give Raph back his brother!” The snapper roared. “No one messes with Leo and gets away with it!”
Leo gulped. “Um… buddy that’s a bad idea…”
”Oh?” The Minotaur smirked. “So it’s him you care about? That certainly changes things…”
”No no no he really hates me—ack!” Leo stifled a cry of pain as he was suddenly slammed into the wall.
”Leo!” Mikey shouted worriedly.
”Don’t encourage her…” Leo’s voice was cut off by a vine wrapping around his throat. He gagged and glared at the Minotaur, who sighed.
”That’s what I hate about you, you little kappa.” She huffed. “Look at those eyes. Those are the eyes of a fighter, not of someone apologetic. Ever heard of ‘pride comes before the fall’?”
”Leo stand down!” Raph commanded. “As your leader I command you to look sorry!” Leo rolled his eyes and was suddenly smashed into the opposite side of the arena, away from Raph.
Beep.
Leo’s stomach dropped at the sound from the collar. He began to squirm but was unable to speak due to the vine around his neck, which also happened to be pressing the collar tighter into his skin. The Minotaur chuckled. “Oh? Wanting me to let go, little one?” Leo looked at her with pleading eyes, trying with all his might to get her to see that she was also in danger. “But you still have that stupid defiant—“
Suddenly she shrieked as the shock stung her vine, dropping Leo before catching him again. The slider gasped for air, grateful for the release of the choking but throat on fire from the electricity. He began to fight desperately against the vine. “Let me go!”
”What happened?” Raph barked, ignoring how Donnie tried to wave away his worry stink. “Leo are you okay? Raph’s coming!”
”Get over here!” Leo shouted, nerves going haywire as he remembered Draxum’s description of the second shock. But then vines stretched out to block the snapper’s path and Leo’s heart dropped to his feet. “Emmie seriously you’ll get hurt…”
”I don’t know what you did just then child, but it was a serious mistake!” the Minotaur hissed. “How did you shock me! Tell me now!”
Raph’s eyes widened as it clicked. “Shocked? What’s shocking ya?”
”The shell did Draxum tell you?” Leo scowled before suddenly he was unable to keep himself from crying out as electricity shot through him painfully and at a level ten times worse than the previous one. The Minotaur screamed as her vines went limp and sent a senseless Leo plummeting toward the ground. Raph let out a shout of fear, but Leo heard it as if through cotton. Suddenly he felt hands grip his arms and he was swept up away from the ground. His loopy eyes glanced over to see Donnie, shell turned into a jet pack.
”You’re welcome.” The soft shell muttered, but Leo couldn’t even respond. He tried to come up with some sort of pun about a ‘shocking experience’ but his stinging body refused to cooperate or allow him to speak. At least the Minotaur seemed to have the same consequence though—she was laying on her statue in a daze. Donnie sighed and carried Leo over the vine barricade to get him over to Raph. “Dum-dum.”
”Leo!” Raph scooped Leo up in his arms as soon as the soft shell landed, eyes looking over him worriedly. “Lee talk to me. What happened?” Suddenly his communicator went off and the snapped huffed before grabbing it and squinting at the message. When he saw Leo’s coordinates he froze. “Hold up…”
Leo chuckled weakly. “Heh, looks like it works.”
”Draxum told Raph it was just a tracker!” Raph let out a strangled roar as he gently began to try to find a release on Leo’s collar. Leo whined and jerked away.
”Raph no it’s fine.” Leo’s head was filled with worry of Raph taking the punishment of his collar coming off. “It was my own fault anyway, haha.”
”I knew this maze was a bad idea.” Donnie grumbled, but his eyes were fixed on the collar Raph was fingering. “But seriously what happened?”
”Ohmigosh Leo!” Mikey’s eyes were wide. “Are you okay?”
”Thanks to Donnie.” Leo’s voice slurred, jaw still not wanting to cooperate. He offered the soft shell a lopsided grin. “We make a good team, eh DonTron?”
”It’s not a team if you get yourself into a mess and I get you out of it, dum-dum.” Donnie sniffed. “But… but what was a tracker? What’s going on?”
Raph and Leo looked at each other. “Don’t worry about it, Don.” Raph murmured. “But… but Raph wants to thank you for catching Leo.”
”Don’t thank me. I wasn’t just going to let him splat on the ground.” Donnie grumbled, but Leo didn’t miss the slight relief in his eyes.
”Aw, you were worried about me Don!” Leo teased. “I heart you too.”
”Shut up, Nardo.” Donnie huffed, but Leo gasped in delight.
”A nickname! I knew it!” Leo snickered and Donnie flushed.
”I… scoff I didn’t mean to. And it’s not a nickname.” Donnie muttered. “It’s a term of… efficiency. It’s shorter than Leonardo.”
”But it’s not Leo, aww!” Leo continued to chuckle, but Donnie turned away.
”Let’s just get out of here.” The soft shell grumbled. “But… I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to get together again.”
”Brotherly bonding!” Leo cheered, but Donnie shot him a look.
”Or ‘keep your enemies close’.” Donnie started toward the maze’s exit. “I haven’t decided yet.”
Notes:
I kinda feel like Donnie would be struggling with his feelings a bit, not trusting Leo and Raph but at the same time wanting to believe that there were more people who cared about him (especially with Leo’s praise and comments in the previous chapter). Besides, he’s a hero so no way was he about to let Leo fall.
See ya in the next chapter! ^^
Chapter 12: Kryptonite
Summary:
”Raph… I can walk now…” Leo intoned, but the snapper only shook his head, tightening his grip and letting out angry little clicks. They walked in silence a little ways longer when Leo squirmed again. “Raphie it’s okay…”
”Draxum gave you a shock collar.” Raph seethed, and Leo gulped. “That level of electricity coulda killed ya.”
Leo snorted. “Oh please, I was fine. Just a little… shocked, heh.”
Notes:
Hey everyone, and welcome to a new chapter of Wings of Ashes!
As always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated, and I hope you enjoy the chapter <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
”Raph… I can walk now…” Leo intoned, but the snapper only shook his head, tightening his grip and letting out angry little clicks. They walked in silence a little ways longer when Leo squirmed again. “Raphie it’s okay…”
”Draxum gave you a shock collar.” Raph seethed, and Leo gulped. “That level of electricity coulda killed ya.”
Leo snorted. “Oh please, I was fine. Just a little… shocked, heh.”
”Don’t joke about this Leo!” Raph snapped, stopping abruptly and glaring down at his little brother. “And what was that whole act in there? Ya were acting like you loved Draxum and thought he was incredible. Where’s that level of acting been, huh? Ya got starved for three days and not for the first time, ya got a shock collar, ya had to chug that alcohol… Lee what the shell? Why can’t ya act that way with Draxum?”
”Pfft, no reason. This just sounds like a fun challenge.” Leo smirked. No need for Raph to know the truth.
The snapper scowled. “Leo, I’m scared for ya! Draxum’s gettin’ impatient and ya know it. When are ya gonna stop actin’ like ya got a say in what he does?”
”When I feel like it.” Leo shrugged. “And I’m in a generous mood today so don’t worry about little old me.”
Raph sighed. “Raph does worry, Leo. And ya know it. But just keep up that act and you’ll be fine I’m sure.”
”Yep. Just fine.” Leo bit back a retort that Raph’s definition of ‘fine’ was being treated like a good dog instead of a bad one. The snapper nodded and began walking again so Leo spoke up. “So… can I walk now?”
”Nope.” Raph held Leo a bit tighter. “You’re gonna let me coddle ya until we get back to the Nexus. Raph doesn’t like that ya had to get shocked for something that wasn’t yer fault. He doesn’t like it one bit.”
”Stop being dramatic. I can handle anything.” Leo grumbled, but he still couldn’t stop a slight churr as he nuzzled a bit closer into his big brother’s plastron. That electricity had hurt a lot more than he cared to admit and his skin was still crawling. Raph noticed this of course and let out another sigh.
”Sure ya can, Lee. Just let Raph hold ya for now.” The snapper murmured. “If it makes ya feel any better ya can say that yer doin’ it for me.”
They were silent for a bit before Raph spoke up again. “Raph’s proud of ya, y’know.”
Leo looked up in surprise. “What?”
Raph glanced down at his brother. “Ya did good. Raph wasn’t able to keep his cool like you were, and even though ya got shocked… ya still completed the mission. Good job.”
”Eh, guess so.” Leo shrugged, stomach flopping. Raph’s chasm furrowed.
”Ya guess what? I was tryin’ to compliment ya.” Raph told him softly, and Leo tried to ignore the full-body shudder that ran through him at Raph’s words.
”Thanks I guess, but team effort, heh.” Leo chuckled. “It’s no big deal. Just doing what old Draxula wants. Yay.”
”Okay Lee, there has to be more to that. Why can’t ya just take a compliment?” Raph frowned, and Leo rolled his eyes.
”What, ya wanting me to do a little dance or something? Gush over the fact that I know how to speak English to Draxy’s new recruits? Maybe I should bake a cake—once I can even find the ingredients.” Leo snorted. “It’s not a compliment. I was told to do something and I did it. That doesn’t count as an accomplishment in my book.”
”Regardless, ya did what Raph couldn’t.” Raph tried to press. “You’re skilled with words, Lee. You can keep calm under pressure. Raph’s proud of that. Proud of you.”
”Just stop, Raph.” Leo scoffed, feeling his lungs squeeze at the praise. “I didn’t do anything special. Let’s just get back to the Nexus.”
Raph looked like he wanted to argue more but could sense how uncomfortable Leo was getting. With a sigh the snapper agreed and they continued their journey in silence.
”You both are back. Excellent.” Draxum nodded in approval as the two turtles stepped into his lab. “How was the mission?”
”It went smoothly.” Leo spoke up when he saw Raph try to speak first. The snapper looked at him in surprise and Leo ignored him. “The other turtles are beginning to trust us, however the soft shell is more cautious than the box turtle.”
”Excellent. It appears that Raphael was right about you after all.” Draxum stepped closer and Leo resisted the urge to flinch. “And it appears that I was correct in giving you proper motivation. Well done, Leonardo. I am very pleased with you.”
Leo bit his tongue as Draxum took off his glove to unclip Leo’s collar. The warrior frowned slightly at the redness around Leo’s neck and glance up at the slider’s heterochromic eyes. He then turned to look at Raph, who was clenching and unclenching his fists. “Raphael? Did Leonardo try to escape from you?”
”No, Sir.” Raph grit out. “We got in a fight and Leo was forced away from me and got shocked. It wasn’t his fault, so maybe you could change the settings…”
”No need, Raphael.” Draxum shook his head. “Leonardo knew the terms of the collar and should have stayed closer to you. Besides, now he knows that it works and will try harder in the future.”
”Leo knew the terms, did he?” Raph’s eyes snapped to Leo, who avoided his gaze with all his might.
”The mission was successful, Sir.” Leo pointed out, but Draxum sighed.
”It wasn’t a failure, that’s for certain.” The alchemist’s eyes narrowed. “But it wasn’t a success until those experiments are back where they belong: with me. Besides there are still my mutagen-filled mosquitoes on the loose and I need you both to catch them.”
”Wait, what? You… you mean just Raph, right?” Leo asked hopefully, and Draxum very nearly laughed at that.
”You are finally useful to me, Leonardo. This is who you are meant to be.” The warrior pocketed the collar. “Now that you are finally an efficient warrior, you will accompany Raphael on his missions. Of course you will wear the collar as well, but if you do not misbehave then you will not get shocked and will eventually forget you even have it on.”
”You think I could forget I have a dog collar on?” Leo muttered, but fixed his tone as Draxum raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Sir.”
”That is what I like to hear, Leonardo.” Draxum turned away.
”But what if our mission requires us to be apart for some reason?” Raph blurted, and Leo cringed. “What if we gotta fight someone… or chase someone… or—“
”I appreciate your concern for your team, Raphael, but as a true warrior Leonardo will either find a way around his handicap or power through the pain.” Draxum glanced back at the slider. “I created you both with accelerated healing, and the shock will not kill him. You can handle a little discipline, can’t you, Leonardo?”
Leo hesitated, but when Draxum’s eyes narrowed the slider nodded. “Yes Sir. I can handle it. You can count on me.”
”Good boy, Leonardo.” Draxum nodded. “I knew you would be an excellent warrior once I found the proper motivation for you, and I was correct. You are both dismissed now.”
Raph clicked angrily under his breath as he walked through the portal Draxum formed for them. “Motivation my shell. It’s a freaking shock collar.”
Leo watched his big brother exit through the portal with a pang in his chest. Raph was already upset about the collar, so it was a good thing that he knew that the shock wasn’t Leo’s kryptonite. The shock was meant to paralyze him if he misbehaved, but that wasn’t Leo’s motivation to obey Draxum.
It was Raph himself.
Notes:
Okay, gotta love Raph! And yikes I hope things get better for these two, not just ‘slightly-less-bad’ TvT
See ya in the next chapter! ^^
Chapter 13: Dealt Cards
Summary:
Leo hated feeling trapped.
He hopped off his bed as his breathing shallowed, kicking the chain under his bed and cringing at the sound of metal scraping against the wooden floor. Of course one cuff was hooked around his bedpost and he couldn’t do anything about that, but at least it was mostly out of sight. Why couldn’t he just be like Raph and accept that this was his life? That this was what he had been given and he should be content with what he had? That he should be grateful to Draxum for even being alive in the first place?
Maybe the main difference was that while Raph was content to play with the cards he’d been dealt, Leo was more inclined to cheat his was to a better hand.
Notes:
HAPPY OPEN THE FLOODGATES EVERYONE!!! And welcome to Chapter 13 of Wings of Ashes! ^^
As always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated, and I hope you enjoy this chapter! <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Leo laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers on how to fall asleep. The slider groaned, vexed to no end at how his brain was simultaneously exhausted but refused to sleep. He gently reached up to feel the tender skin around his neck, sighing at how it was still sensitive to the touch.
Nights like this weren’t uncommon for Leo, but now the stakes were higher. Usually he would just sneak out the window and hop from window ledge to window ledge down the side of the Nexus until he was free and could go gamble away his worries, but now that he knew Raph would get punished if he was caught…
Leo scowled and turned over in his bed angrily. His eyes fell on the cuff and chain still attached to his bedpost that Draxum hadn’t bothered to remove, moonlight glinting off the metal tauntingly. Yet another reminder of how he was trapped here in this life with no hope of freedom.
And Leo hated feeling trapped.
He hopped off his bed as his breathing shallowed, kicking the chain under his bed and cringing at the sound of metal scraping against the wooden floor. Of course one cuff was hooked around his bedpost and he couldn’t do anything about that, but at least it was mostly out of sight. Why couldn’t he just be like Raph and accept that this was his life? That this was what he had been given and he should be content with what he had? That he should be grateful to Draxum for even being alive in the first place?
Maybe the main difference was that while Raph was content to play with the cards he’d been dealt, Leo was more inclined to cheat his was to a better hand.
The slider huffed to himself and stalked to the door. All this thinking was making his brain hurt, and if he couldn’t go out into the Hidden City maybe at least he could try to sneak a drink from the Battle Nexus.
Leo could hear Raph snoring as he passed the snapper’s room, envious that his older brother could sleep through anything. He stilled briefly outside his door, the thought of snuggling with his brother for comfort like he did as a toddler strangely alluring. He was sure Raph would let him. Shell, the snapper would probably be honored that Leo was actually coming to him for help again. But Leo wasn’t a child anymore and he refused to sink so low as to depend on someone else to help him.
He’d always been the one to save himself. Raph was training nonstop after they turned six so he wasn’t around, and Draxum never cared anyway. Big Mama obviously had a soft spot for him but she was always busy working at her Nexus and had this skewed idea that Draxum was actually taking care of the two lives he had brought into existence. Hueso probably would’ve stepped in had Leo asked, but after being let down so many times Leo had vowed that he would never need anyone but himself ever again.
Leo huffed quietly and ducked his head as he trudged on past Raph’s room, dismissing the idea of going in. He had always been his own hero and that wasn’t going to change now. A couple shots and he’d be feeling loads better, he told himself, and so continued down the hall to the elevator. It opened up to reveal an octopus yokai who looked up at him in surprise.
”Lobby.” Leo muttered, not in the mood to be polite. The octopus glanced at him in concern but still pressed the correct floor.
”You okay, Leo?” He asked softly. “Shouldn’t you be asleep?”
”I’m fine and I don’t want to talk about it.” Leo snapped, then hesitated as a look of hurt flashed across the octopus’s face. “Sorry I… sorry. Just need a bit of space right now.”
”That’s understandable.” The yokai nodded politely, and Leo offered a weak smile that barely lasted a few seconds. Most of the bellhops in the Nexus knew him from all those times he would sneak around for entertainment when he was bored as a kid, and Leo appreciated their loyalty at not telling anyone about his little escapades. It turned out that an underweight and obviously neglected toddler made them have compassion on his boredom, who knew?
Soon they reached the lobby and the octopus gave Leo a kind salute before the elevator doors closed behind him. Leo took a deep breath and glanced around to make sure he was alone. He then popped open an air vent and weaseled his way inside, expertly pulling it closed once again with his toes.
Inching his way through the vents was an arduous task but it was all worth it once he reached the main bar, watching various yokai play cards and watch the Battle Nexus on the big screens. Leo glanced around the room until finally spying a vent next to the counter and making his way over to it.
Leo waited for a particularly gruesome hit in the Nexus to make the crowd go wild before swiftly popping open the vent, sliding out quickly, and slamming it shut behind him once more in practiced precision. He offered a surprised cheetah barista a friendly wink before popping up and striding into the crowd as if he’d been there all along.
”Ooh, is this Texas Hold ‘Em?” He asked, leaning over a table where a couple of yokai were playing a casual game of poker. “I’m quite the virtuoso myself. Mind if I join?”
”Beat it, kid.” Growled a fox. “No clue how ya got in here but ya got to pay to play.”
Leo’s face twisted up in a scowl. “How dare you assume my age! Can’t a guy go gamble in peace while the wife takes the kids out for a bit?”
The fox rolled his eyes. “Nice try, kiddo. No way you’re old enough to be married.”
Leo sniffed and pulled out a thick wad of cash, watching with concealed smugness as the fox’s eyes went round. “And you call yourself a gentleman but discriminate by looks. Shame be upon you, Sir. I thought you knew all turtle yokai look younger than our age.” He rifled through the cash casually and started to stalk away. “I guess I’ll be taking my business elsewhere.”
”Hey, wait up there Sir!” The fox called out. “I’m sorry, you must’ve found the fountain of youth or somethin’ to look that good for your age. I wouldn’t guess a day over seventeen, not a day I tell ya. But by all means join us and enjoy your day off.”
”Well I’m not even sure I want to play as such a table.” Leo huffed.
”My deepest apologies, Sir. Tell ya what: I’ll get ya a drink on my tab to make it up to ya. I’m a decent yokai and I’m sorry for offendin’ ya.” The fox gestured to the seat next to him and flagged over a gazelle as Leo turned his face away subtly. “Yer finest beer around the house if ya would, on me.”
The gazelle yokai nodded and hurried off as the table cheered. Leo smirked and sat down. “Good form. Maybe I’ll stay after all.”
”Of course. Starting bet is at ten bucks right now.” The fox watched hungrily as Leo peeled a couple bills from his collection and thrust them into the middle.
”Geez, that’s a high ante.” The slider shrugged. “But I’ve seen higher. Deal me in, would ya?”
The goat yokai nodded and began to deal around two cards to each gambler. Leo grinned as the familiar thrill of the game began to numb out his anxiety and he glanced at his cards thoughtfully. The gazelle brought his beer and he took a swig of it eagerly, the bitter taste dissolving into tingly euphoria once it reached the back of his throat. As the turn followed the second round of betting Leo started to get confident that none of these patrons even knew the game of poker that well and were only passing time. All of them seemed decently easy to read and were drunk silly, sometimes cheering and pumping their fists at a good match in the Nexus while carelessly revealing their cards to Leo.
”…ripped limb from limbity limb.” Came a familiar chuckle, and Leo’s head whipped around to see Big Mama leading around none other than Mikey and Donnie. Leo nearly spat out his beer at the sight of those two, slamming the mug back onto the table and upsetting some coins. Big Mama said she rarely visited the bar because she was busy supervising the fights, but it looked like Draxum’s runaway warriors were getting the tour of a lifetime. What were those two doing with his mother? Did they want to get re-captured by Draxum?
”Nice hat. Mind if I borrow it for a bit?” Leo muttered to the ditzy owl yokai next to him, and without waiting for an answer from those confused eyes Leo snatched the fedora right off the yokai’s head and shoved it hard onto his own. He snuck a glance behind him to see Big Mama and those turtles leaving, a sense of dread building up in his stomach. What was Big Mama saying to them? What use could she even have for two mutant turtles that she couldn’t ask her own sons for?
”Flush.” Announced the fox yokai cockily, slamming down his cards and causing a grumble of discontent around him. “Got me a hand in spades.”
”Full house. Better luck next time.” Leo muttered, distractedly throwing down his own cards in front of the gawking fox and pulling in the pot of cash. “And it’s been fun gentlemen, but this turtle’s gotta bounce.”
”Woah woah woah, ya can’t just play a couple rounds then leave when you’re ahead!” The goat growled.
Leo sighed. “Who’s gonna stop me? A bunch of drunk amateurs?”
”Take that back!” The fox’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Or I’ll beat that face so hard not even that wife of yours will recognize you.”
”You kidding me? These good looks are immune to clobbering.” Leo snipped back, already shoving his earnings into his pockets and sidling away. “But you can keep the coins. There’s gotta be a couple dollars in there and they slip outta pockets too easily. Not to mention they’re noisy and I prefer to stick to the shadows. You’re welcome.”
The fox hissed and lunged forward, but Leo easily dodged and darted away towards his escape vent. He slipped inside before the fox had even gotten up and left the tumultuous scene behind him as he squirmed through the ducts and followed his mother and brothers.
Notes:
I wONdEr wHaT BiG mAmA cOuLD pOsSIbLy hAVe plANnEd! ;)
See ya in the next chapter! ^^
Chapter 14: Misconceptions
Summary:
”Scowl, Nardo you cannot just scare us like that!” Donnie snapped, then cleared his throat as Leo’s smug grin spread. “…Is something I would say if you had scared me, which you definitely did not. But you scared Angelo and that’s still bad enough.”
”Whatever you say, DonTron.” Leo snickered before giving Mikey a quick squeeze back. “And it’s good to see you too, Mikester.”
”What are you doing here? Do you know Big Mama?” The box turtle asked, and Leo shrugged.
Notes:
Hey everyone, and welcome back to a new chapter of Wings of Ashes! Things are getting intense XD
Anywhizzle I hope you enjoy! As always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
”So then, my little turtly-boos, you can see why I’m concerned.” Big Mama in her spider form told Donnie and Mikey, and Leo bristled briefly in his vent. “If we have all these mutants running around it could be quite, shall we put it, catastrophalous. I’m sure that you, purple one, could come up with some device to make use of my webs with your wondiferous little mind.”
Donnie visibly straightened, a sort of greedy look in his eyes as Big Mama complimented him. Leo whistled softly in his hiding spot, wondering what could’ve made him this desperate for adult approval, but at the same time Big Mama’s words didn’t set right with him. Why on earth was she calling mutants such a big problem? He was a mutant, for crying out loud! And she loved him like a son.
More than Draxum ever did, at least.
Draxum. That had to be it. She was trying to get the bugs for Draxum! Hadn’t that been Raph and Leo’s new mission anyway? Why she didn’t come to them was confusing, but maybe she just wanted to help another way. That had to be it. Leo nodded in relief, glad that the complications were cleared up.
”Thanks for helping us!” Mikey chirped happily. “This’ll be a piece of cake!”
”Right. We need to capture all the oozesquitos lost in the Hidden City so no more escape into the human world or mutate the local yokai.” Donnie was already busy tapping into his wrist tech. “And also, how might I acquire some web?”
”With this bucket, dearie.” Big Mama handed the soft shell a bucket, and when Donnie held it out she spat out so much web that he flew backwards and was stuck to a wall. Mikey winced and hurried over to help him down.
”Ohmigosh, you okay, Dee?” The box turtle fretted, and Donnie shuddered, breath visibly shallower as Mikey attempted to wipe off the web coating his skin. “Gosh, this stuff is sticky…”
”Apologies, but I’m sure that now you have more than enough.” Big Mama dabbed daintily at the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief and offered a pleasant smile. “Now off you go. Get Mama those bugs!”
Leo felt his chest twinge slightly at Big Mama’s words, but he refused to acknowledge the emotion. Did he wish that Big Mama would spend more time with him and Raph and maybe speak up to Draxum? Maybe. Was she instead spending time with some mutant turtles that she didn’t even know instead of with her own sons? Also maybe…
She was always so invested in her Battle Nexus, even more so than her sons even though Leo knew she loved them. So why was she bothering herself with Draxum’s plans or these new turtles?
The slider shoved away his thoughts and weaseled his way through the vents, watching as the two turtles strode out of Big Mama’s office and made their way to the end of the hall. Donnie was still stiff as Mikey gently tried to wipe off the remaining web, all the while murmuring soothing words.
”I’ll hold the elevator.” Leo called, and smirked in amusement as Donnie nearly jumped out of his skin and Mikey dove into the soft shell’s readily-protective arms. He hopped down from the vent and wiped off the dust and cobwebs from his jacket, jabbing a thumb into the elevator button. He glanced over at the two turtles with a chuckle. “So, how have ya been?”
”Leo!” Mikey happily dove at Leo to give the slider a hug.
”Scowl, Nardo you cannot just scare us like that!” Donnie snapped, then cleared his throat as Leo’s smug grin spread. “…Is something I would say if you had scared me, which you definitely did not. But you scared Angelo and that’s still bad enough.”
”Whatever you say, DonTron.” Leo snickered before giving Mikey a quick squeeze back. “And it’s good to see you too, Mikester.”
”What are you doing here? Do you know Big Mama?” The box turtle asked, and Leo shrugged.
”Eh, here and there.” The slider bit his tongue. “Just was dropping by. You know me, just scouting out the town.”
”Really? Just happened to be in a hotel we were in?” Donnie’s expression froze. “Wait… Big Mama isn’t involved with Draxum… is she?”
”What? Oh nah.” Leo’s brain whirled as he struggled to find a way to throw off suspicion. “I was just… hanging out. For fun.” He made eye contact with Donnie and gave him a purposeful look, briefly tilting his head to gesture at Mikey. “But y’know I would prefer to not talk about what I was doing. I was just exploring. And I saw you earlier…”
Donnie stiffened, and Leo could see that the soft shell had gotten the hint that he was referring to the Nexus bar. A secret, supposedly-embarrassing truth to take attention from a lie… a classic move. It worked like a charm as Donnie glanced at Mikey and sighed. “Fine, I suppose Dr. Feelings there would say it’s not good to pry.”
”Ooh, Dr. Feelings?” Leo grinned down at Mikey. “That’s a cool persona. But say, what are you two doing here? I gave you my reason.”
”We’re trying to capture all those oozequitos Draxum released.” Mikey explained, and Donnie face-palmed. Mikey hesitated, face falling. “Oh… oh but um… do you have to fight us now? Because um… Draxum’s your dad or whatever…”
”Oh no no no.” Leo quickly intervened. “Not at all! In fact, I was trying to catch those mutagen-mailmen myself. But oozequito has a cooler ring to it.”
”You… were?” Donnie frowned.
”Yep! Draxum doesn’t just want anyone mutated, you know. He does it with the utmost precision and morality.” Leo said casually. “He wants warriors. He doesn’t just want to traumatize and hurt everyone.”
”He wants to ‘destroy the human threat’.” Donnie drawled, and Leo hesitated.
”We’ll discuss that later. Point is that you want the oozesquitos and I want the oozequitos so why not team up?” Leo offered, raising a hand to cut off Donnie’s protest. “I mean, you might have all the cool gadgets but what you need is a guy who knows the ins and outs of the Hidden City. You need someone with a little je ne sai quas. Someone who can…”
”Yeah yeah, we get that the someone is you.” Donnie interrupted, gears in his brain clearly churning. “But how do we know you won’t steal the oozequitos and leave us in the dust?”
Leo gasped, a hand flying to his chest. “Me? ¿Tu hermano? I would never…”
Donnie raised a sharpie eyebrow. “You know your begging means nothing to me, right? I’m not a softie like Angelo.”
”That really hurts my feelings!” Mikey whimpered, then realization dawned. “Ohhhhh, you have a point. Carry on.”
Leo held out a hand mysteriously, a look of poetic determination on his face. “Then come with me. We can do this, together. Do you trust me?”
”Not even a little bit.” Donnie sighed. “And I don’t know what movie that was from, but life isn’t like a—“
”This is totally like a movie, Dee!” Mikey interrupted excitedly. “I mean, I’m sure we can work something out.”
Donnie hesitated. “Fine, here’s the deal. We carry the bugs, you lead the way. Got it?”
Leo saluted. “Sounds like a plan, my man. Anywhizzle, let’s go catch those bugs!”
”Also noticed you don’t have your choker on today.” Donnie commented casually, and Leo froze. “What’s that about?”
”Eh, didn’t feel like being too fashionable when exploring through dusty vents. Besides, when did you take such an interest in my awe-inspiring style? Jealous much?” Leo quickly saved, and snickered as Donnie spluttered. “It’s hard to breathe in those things, let me tell you. But we can talk more on the road. For now, vamanos hermanos!”
Raph yawned and stretched in his bed, a strange feeling nagging at the back of his mind. He tried to ignore it and nuzzled back into his pillow instead, letting out a churr at the comfort of the blanket’s warmth. The feeling started up again and he groaned, blinking his eyes open and glancing at the clock. Why on earth was he up this early…
Raph gasped and scrambled up, panic shooting through his nerves as he shoved his blanket off. Leo had to be in trouble, it was the only explanation. It had happened before, and it was some phenomenon Leo refused to believe and Raph couldn’t explain. But surely the police would call or Leo would stumble past his door busted up and drunk silly or some other shenanigan Raph would have to deal with. But before he could even get fully up his door was slammed open and Draxum strode in, eyes livid.
”Raphael!” The warrior snapped, and Raph gulped. Draxum was clutching Leo’s collar. “I have a mission for you. Now.”
”Sir, is Leo…” The snapper began worriedly, and Draxum scowled.
”He’s gone rogue.” Draxum growled. “He’s working against me and trying to catch my bugs for Big Mama instead. Find him and get this collar back on him.” Draxum tossed the collar at Raph, who caught it with a sinking feeling in his gut. “Last time I’m letting that ungrateful rebel go unchecked. Finally, finally I complete my mutagen to create warriors and he still defies me? Well, perhaps he doesn’t realize that with my hard work he is no longer a one-in-two rarity, but a replaceable tool. Find him and collar him.”
Raph stared at the collar in his hands. What was Leo up to? Why would he defy Draxum like this? “Sir, I’m not sure Leo knows that you and Big Mama…”
”We have a deal to raise the two of you, but beyond that she is nothing more than a ridiculous weasel trying to make money for her pathetic Battle Nexus.” Draxum growled. “We are not allies, and even if Leonardo was not aware of that fact he should know to only take orders from me and not her. Find him. Now.” The warrior growled when Raph hesitated.
The snapper clenched his jaw but nodded, standing up and bowing. ”Yes Sir, Baron Draxum. I’ll retrieve him and he won’t make the same mistake again.”
”You say that too much, Raphael. And yet here he is.” Draxum turned and stalked out of the room. “I will not be disrespected in this way again. Stakes have changed.”
Raph swallowed hard as fear squeezed his lungs. Oh Leo, what have you done?
Notes:
Oof, looks like Leo and Draxum were NOT on the same page about Big Mama! Surely this won’t go horribly wrong…
Thank you for reading! See ya in the next chapter! ^^
Chapter 15: Different Kinds of Weapons
Summary:
Big Mama flinched back, and Mikey let out a worried whine. “Leo… you’re hyperventilating…”
Leo whipped around to glare at the frightened box turtle. “YOU THINK I GIVE A FLYING CRAP?! Draxum’s going to beat my brother!”
”HEY!” Donnie let out an angry hiss, protectively hugging Mikey tightly and putting himself between the livid slider and his trembling sibling. “Don’t you dare shout at him!”
Notes:
Woo hoo, time for another chapter of Wings of Ashes!
Hehe it’s been a crazy couple of days with me starting my first job and then my twin going missing then being found and stuff but all the more reason to escape through fiction lol! This fic in particular has been given a lot of inspiration when I was trying to zone out so here you go lol XD
Hope you enjoy, and as always comments and kudos are greatly appreciated! ^^
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
”Aaaand, voila!” Leo triumphantly slammed the jar lid down after Mikey slid the last of the oozequitos inside. “That’s how it’s done, gentleturtles!”
”Thanks Leo!” Mikey chirped happily. “We wouldn’t’ve found this alleyway if not for you.”
”Scoff, I probably could’ve managed.” Donnie hesitated. “But your advice was not entirely un-useful, Nardo.”
”Wow DonTron, you really know how to touch someone’s heart, don’t you?” Leo rolled his eyes jokingly. “But anywhizzle lets get these bugs back to Big Mama and then mission complete! What a team we make, am I right?”
”Best in the bug busting business, baby!” Mikey agreed, high-fiving the slider. But then he frowned slightly. “But wait… weren’t you collecting the bugs for Draxum?”
”Good observation, Angelo.” Donnie glanced at Leo. “Are you really going to just… give us the bugs?”
Leo shrugged. “Eh, we can get them later. Technically I’m not here on a mission, I was just kinda having fun around town. Big Mama is relatively easy to fight if it comes to that, and I’d prefer not to get into a spat with you two again.”
”Well, as much as I don’t wish to fight Baron Draxum again, I have to concur that we can’t just let you steal from Big Mama.” Donnie’s eyes narrowed.
”She’s just a nice spider lady! She’s trying to protect the city!” Mikey whimpered, and Leo hesitated. Oh bless his pure, naive heart.
”Or… of course I could just pretend that I saw nothing and go on with my life.” Leo offered a conspiratorial grin. “Your call.”
”You’d just… lie to your own dad?” Mikey’s eyes grew round. “We’d never lie to Splinter!”
”Yeah yeah, never in a million years.” Donnie drawled. “It’s not our fault he was asleep in front of his TV when we found this Hidden City, and of course we would tell him if he specifically asked, but since he doesn’t know about this place then he won’t ask.”
Mikey shot him a glare. “But we aren’t hurting anyone!”
”Don’t worry buddy, neither am I.” Leo slung an arm over Mikey’s shoulders compassionately. “Look, now that Draxum figured out how to re-create mutagen then he can make more. No problem there. Then we can go back to being brotherly enemies and call it good.”
”Ah yes, brotherly enemies. The fascinating oxymoron.” Donnie hesitated. “Or, you know just thinking out loud here he said very convincingly…”
”Oh just spit it out, DonTron!” Leo snickered. “Whatever’s going on in that giant forehead of yours I’m sure I can take.”
Donnie shifted his weight, prompted on by Mikey. “Well, you could… perhaps… just a thought… not go back?”
”Woah, left turn!” Leo’s gaze snapped over to the soft shell. “What do you mean ‘not go back’? I thought that we established that old Draxula is my dad. I mean, would you two ever leave your own father?”
”Well… we had already been talking about you, Lee.” Mikey intoned, riding piggyback as Leo carried him through the Hidden City. “Draxum, like, really doesn’t seem like a good dad. We were there when he attacked you that first day…”
”He didn’t attack me. He disciplined me. There’s a difference.” Leo pointed out, and Donnie let out a huff.
”You are correct that there is a difference, but according to my observations he leaned more towards the abusive side.” The soft shell said firmly, and when Leo hesitated Mikey piped up.
”Sorry Leo, I know it can’t be easy to hear that.” The youngest shot Donnie a look. “And ‘abusive’ is kinda a strong word. It’s okay if you don’t want to think about that right now, but please… if you ever do need help you’ll tell us, right?”
”Aww, thanks bud.” Leo smirked at Donnie, shoving down the pang in his chest. “I’m surprised that ol’ DonTron is okay with that.”
”We’re heroes. That’s what we do.” The soft shell sighed. “It also appears that you are family and… and well Hamatos never give up on family.”
”Hamato?” Leo perked up. “Sorry, what? Why do you have a last name?”
”It’s our dad’s surname.” Donnie scoffed. “Why else would we have a last name?”
Leo bit his tongue. Hamato? Not… Jitsu? It was fascinating, but he decided not to press. Instead he flashed his most award-winning smile and chuckled. “Yeah yeah, I can be a dolt sometimes. But thanks for the offer, even if I won’t be using it. Looks like we’ve got that in common, huh? You won’t give up on me, but I won’t leave Raph. Funny how things work out.”
”Won’t leave Raph? So if Raph was out of the picture, or we got him to come too, would you leave?” Donnie piped up, immediately picking up on Leo’s phrasing. Leo cringed and could’ve kicked himself.
”What? Oh… oh no I also love Draxum too. Just brought up the brother thing because you started that train of thought.” The slider quickly backtracked. “We do just fine. But what do you know, looks like we’re here!”
”Ah, how convenient for you to leave the conversation.” Donnie muttered, but Leo steadfastly ignored him as he winked at the bellhops, who immediately let him in. After a couple more hallways were passed and employees let Leo go the soft shell spoke up again. “It almost seems like they know you, Nardo. Didn’t you say you were just exploring?”
”Yeah well, I’ve explored this area before.” Leo smirked. “Who wouldn’t trust this handsome face?”
”Me.” Donnie replied instantly, but Leo didn’t miss the way his voice was warm with banter, not an actual accusation.
Leo rolled his eyes playfully. “Yeah yeah, looks like I had to use my lightning wit to convince you of my greatness.”
”Oh but of course, he said very sarcastically.” Donnie’s expression turned more smug. “And if I had the chance I most definitely wouldn’t make some turtle-sized shocker to make your ‘lightning wit’ more bearable.”
Leo stiffened, and Donnie’s face fell. “Um… awkward chuckle, that was only a joke. I of course would never conform to such a primal form of control, and I thought that that was clear without me having to confirm it. And you wonder why I clarify, Angelo!”
”Well sometimes it’s obvious!” Mikey protested, and Donnie stiffened.
”Right, it should be obvious.” The soft shell turned back towards Leo. “It should be very obvious that that’s an unacceptable way to treat someone, especially family.”
”Yep, it is.” Leo shook off his apprehension. “Just was thinking about that time I was messing around with an electrical inlet to see if I could be Thor. Fun fact: it didn’t work.” The slider chuckled and turned away, holding the elevator open for his brothers to enter. “You should’ve seen Raph’s face! It was absolutely priceless. But let’s get these up to Big Mama and then everything should be perfect.”
Soon enough they reached the top floor, and Leo hesitated. Big Mama was clever enough to catch on if he pretended not to know her, right? Besides, she’d be proud at his initiative. He took a deep breath and stepped out of the elevator, carrying Mikey and walking beside Donnie as they made their way to the violet door at the end of the hallway. As their feet padded down the carpet Leo could feel unease rising in his throat, causing the slider’s eyes to sharpen and his thoughts to race. What were these strange feelings? For some reason his mind kept going to Raph, but Raph was likely asleep right now and wouldn’t even know he was gone.
And ‘brother senses’? Pfft, yeah right.
A bellhop gave a curt bow and opened up the door to Big Mama’s office, allowing the three turtles to walk in. Leo chilled slightly at the sight of Big Mama facing away from them and towards her window, hearing her posh voice chime out, “Well, have my little turtly-boos returned with presents for Big Mama?”
”Yep!” Leo spoke up first, holding up the bugs. “One order of oozequitos for the finest yokai in town, ma’am!”
Big Mama whirled around at the sound of his familiar voice, and Leo inwardly shrunk at the white-hot shock branded on her face. All eight eyes were blown wide as she stared at him, and Leo awkwardly cleared his throat. “Um… sorry I know I’m new here but I just wanted to help out my brothers. Hope that’s okay?”
Leo flashed a grin, hoping she’d take the hint, but for some reason the normally-clever spider ignored the easy out. She instead crawled out of her chair and towards him, voice lowering. “Leon? What on the entire green earth are you doing?”
”You… know him?” Donnie’s gaze snapped to the floundering slider as Leo tried to figure out what had Big Mama so riled up.
”Um… sorry but you must have me mistaken for another incredibly handsome turtle. ” He tried. “I was just helping out these two…”
”Sweetie, whatever would Draxum say?” Her many eyes creased with concern. “Darling you shouldn’t be in the middle of this whole fizzywinkle!”
”Sweetie? Darling?” Mikey’s face wrinkled in confusion. “Leo what’s going on?”
”Hehe, well, you see Mama…” Leo began, and inwardly cringed as both Donnie and Mikey startled. “Um… well… didn’t the Draxula want the bugs? Or didn’t you want them too…?”
”So she is working with Draxum!” Donnie yanked Mikey off of Leo’s back and glared at him accusingly. “You lied to us!”
”It’s complicated um… well you see…” Leo winced at the betrayed look on Mikey’s face and he turned to Big Mama. “I uh… I kinda thought I was helping…”
Big Mama sighed in worry. “Oh, Draxy will be so upset. But you were right on one thing, I might inform these two other turtly-boos.” The spider yokai turned to Donnie and Mikey. “I’m not working with Draxum. And sweetheart, you need to leave now.”
”What?” Came three surprised replies, and Leo stared at her as if she had just announced that she was secretly a dolphin. The slider spoke up again, mind reeling for an exclamation. “Um… riiiiiight Draxum has nothing to do with you…”
”This isn’t a trick darling!” Big Mama crept forward. “You need to go. Draxy wants the bugs for his own purposes! And I for mine.”
”Why would you…” Leo stiffened. “Wait… wait wait wait that’s not accurate, right? Please tell me I’m thinking about this all wrong.”
”Thinking about what wrong?” Mikey squirmed in Donnie’s grip as the soft shell subtly started for the door. “Leo what’s going on?”
But Leo wasn’t listening. The guilty look on Big Mama’s face told him everything he needed to know: she wanted to create mutants for her Battle Nexus. It was the only possible explanation. She wanted to ruin a normal being’s life, or bring a human-like consciousness to a blissfully ignorant animal and make them into a monster.
Make more weapons to be used.
Because that’s all that mutants were to Draxum, and apparently to her too.
It made Leo sick.
He tightened the grip on his bugs, eyes wide. “No… no. You can’t do that. I… how could you, Mama?”
”Let me go, Dee!” Mikey wriggled hard but Donnie was adamant, watching the exchange with wary eyes.
”Angelo, stop it! It sounds like Draxum is involved!” He warned, but Mikey glared at him.
”We can’t give up on Leo, Dee!” He protested, and Donnie hesitated.
”But we can’t force him to come with us!” Donnie shot Leo a look. “Nardo, tell us what’s going on.”
Leo took a step back from Big Mama. “No I… no. Please don’t do this Mama. You don’t understand.”
”It’s just business, darling!” Big Mama pleaded. “My champions are treated with the utmost luxury and respect. They would have a good life, I swear it! Just give Mama the bugs, and everything will be okay.”
Leo’s heart clenched. Was she serious? Did she really think that being some sort of Frankenstein was a good thing? Not only did Leo not want any more mutants to suffer like he had to, but he couldn’t help but feel almost as if he was being replaced. She was saying that her mutants would have a good life, did she? That she would take care of them? Well she had two sons already that she’d done a grand total of nada for, and Leo had always assumed it was because she was busy with her Nexus.
But now she was willing to create more warriors on a whim, and he would get left in the dust.
After all, that’s what he had always been.
The one left behind.
Never quite as strong as Raph, and never quite as pliable as Draxum preferred.
Just some freak who was part animal and supposed to destroy the other species in his bloodstream.
Pathetic.
And he was certain that once Big Mama created better fighters that he would be forgotten, because after all there was that ol’ trick of supply and demand. He would be one of many and no longer wanted.
Heh, like he was ever wanted in the first place.
He knew better than that and was stupid to hope otherwise.
He couldn’t help but sneer slightly now, trying to shove away the immense pain in his chest and cover it with a semblance of humor. “Oh yeah sure, just make more sons, why don’t ya? Shower them with luxury so at least they might be good pets for you! Then this bad dog can go crying back to Draxum!”
Mikey and Donnie’s jaws dropped, and Big Mama winced. “Dearie, that’s not fair. You’re my son and I love you.”
”You love that Nexus of yours more!” Leo snapped. “I thought you and Draxum were working together!”
”We had an agreement regarding your custody, but nothing more. But I swear that I love you to the moon and back!” Big Mama soothed, but Leo was having none of it. He held her gaze furiously for a few moments before letting out a low chuckle.
”Oh, this is rich. Just rich.” He chortled manically. “Me and Raph were just new toys for you to use in your Battle Nexus when we were tots, weren’t we? Thats why you were never there. That’s why you never cared.”
”That’s not true!” Big Mama protested.
”All those times me and Raph tried to downplay everything to prevent any fights between our ‘parents’, it wouldn’t have mattered, would it have?” Leo glared at the bugs in his hands. “And these stupid bugs. You and Draxum just want more objects for you to use, just for different reasons. Oh ho ho, even better. You wanted more slaves to do your bidding.”
”Leon!” Big Mama tried to reach for him, but Leo dodged her arms. “That’s not true! I thought you knew that me and Draxy weren’t working together!”
”Well I didn’t!” Leo growled, backing up towards the door. “I thought that I was helping him! Now thanks to you, Raph’s gonna get hurt!”
Big Mama flinched back as if slapped. “What?”
”Who’s gonna hurt who now?” Mikey’s eyes went round. “Leo what—“
”It’s Draxum, isn’t it? I knew it!” Donnie’s eyes darted. “That’s why you aren’t leaving!”
”I’m taking these to Draxum.” Leo hissed. “And you’re not going to stop me if you really love Raph and I. Understood, Big Mama?”
Big Mama hesitated. “Sweetie, I know that you’re hurt right now and scared, but if we could just talk…”
”We’re past talking! Raph’s safety is at stake, and I was so stupid to believe that you were different! I thought that you were the one who cared and I was protecting you! Learn something new every day, am I right?” Leo’s throat went dry as he pictured what Draxum might do to his brother and his breathing shallowed. Would it be whipping? Shocking? Something worse? Leo’s eyes sharpened. “I’m not gonna let Raph get hurt, you hear me? You stay away from me and my brother!”
”You’re being rash right now. You’re really going to let one little misunderstanding change all those years I was so good to you? Do you not see how—“ She tried, but Leo let out a hiss.
”Oh yeah, how you taught me cards because I was bored or how you gave me somewhere to go when I was upset. Big whoop. Do you know who was actually there for me, huh? Raph!” Leo snarled. “Raph fed me when he could! Raph comforted me during nightmares! Raph helped me with any injuries from practice or punishment! So if you’re willing to try to take these bugs from me even though it will get him hurt then you’re not my mother!”
Big Mama flinched back, and Mikey let out a worried whine. “Leo… you’re hyperventilating…”
Leo whipped around to glare at the frightened box turtle. “YOU THINK I GIVE A FLYING CRAP?! Draxum’s going to beat my brother!”
”HEY!” Donnie let out an angry hiss, protectively hugging Mikey tightly and putting himself between the livid slider and his trembling sibling. “Don’t you dare shout at him!”
”You leave me alone!” Leo nearly shouted. “Go run back to your daddy! I bet he misses you, huh? I’m going to go save my brother!”
Mikey looked completely shaken, head shrinking halfway into his shell. A flash of hurt covered Donnie’s face for an instant before it reverted to anger. “You know what? You’re right! My brother comes first over your ungrateful, dum-dum butt! I can’t believe we even offered to help you!”
”Donald… please don’t… don’t shout…” Mikey whimpered, but Donnie gripped him tighter.
”We need to go!” Donnie growled. “We need to go now—“
Suddenly the window shattered with a crash and everyone jumped, Leo’s stomach sinking with dread as Draxum stepped off his vine and into the room, Raph close behind him. The snapper’s frightened eyes found Leo and he started forward, but Draxum held up a hand to stop him. His eyes narrowed as he stared heavily at Leo, eyes cold and punishing.
”Ah, Draxy. We were expecting you.” Big Mama’s eyes narrowed. “But you really need to learn to use the dimbly door.”
”Well you need to learn to use real words.” Draxum sniffed before pointing an accusing finger at Leo. “And that creation of mine needs to learn that his actions have consequences.”
Notes:
Hehehe, looks like poor Leo just learned the truth the hard way TvT But seriously bud, don’t yell at Mikey…
Thanks for reading, and see ya in the next chapter! ^^
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