Chapter Text
Leonardo had always been his father’s perfect little soldier. His brothers knew how often he trained, how hard Splinter worked him. They watched as the eldest distanced himself gradually as the training became more and more time consuming. Leo spent almost every waking moment in the dojo training, with or without Splinter.
The older brother they knew and loved slowly disappeared. By the time the four of them were allowed to leave the lair, he was all too different.
Mikey had been thrilled to hear that Leo was leading them on a patrol topside, it was like a dream come true. Finally, they had their older brother back.
His dreams were crushed when he realized how hardened Leo behaved. How he barely acknowledged any of them. How he couldn’t bring himself to look them in the eyes. How his hands trembled when any of them drew near.
But the night came and went.
When they returned to the lair, Leo immediately went to the dojo to report to Splinter.
Mikey went to his room, clearly trying to hide the tears forming in his eyes.
Raph stood beside Donnie, absolutely fuming.
“That asshole. How dare he? He thinks he’s better than us- Splinter Jr-“ Raph snarled, not truly speaking to Donnie.
“Raph,” Donnie cut in, eyes narrowed, calculated, “Calm down.”
“Calm down!?” Raph glared at Donnie, “I can’t just- ugh!” He stormed away without another word.
It became a nightly routine. Leo trained the entire day, they patrolled at night, then Leo reported to Splinter. At some point, the two middle brothers realized that there was no hope, Leo wouldn’t interact unless he was spouting commands.
Mikey on the other hand, held on to that minuscule flicker of hope that he’d managed to keep alight throughout the years.
By some stroke of luck, Mikey happened to be in the pit watching TV when Leo decided to make himself some tea.
Mikey had planned on ignoring it, knowing he would get some lame response, but every bone in his body insisted otherwise.
As he watched Leo start to retreat back into the dojo, Mikey called out.
“Leo?”
Leo paused, glancing at his youngest brother. He searched Mikey’s face, waiting patiently, but expectantly.
“Um,” Crap, Mikey had thought this far ahead, “Do you… wanna watch Space Heroes with me?”
Leo looked mildly surprised, but he took a small step closer, “What’s Space Heroes?”
Mikey overcame his initial shock in record time, he grinned a huge, lovable grin and began his in depth explanation.
As he info dumped, Leo slowly grew closer and closer. Eventually he was sitting on the floor behind the couches, eyes wide as he hung on Mikey’s every word.
When he finished, Mikey looked at Leo, he’d avoided watching his older brother for fear of judgement. To his surprise, Leo looked absolutely enthralled. Mikey was about to speak again, to say that the show was still on and they could watch it, but a harsh voice ripped away that chance.
“Leonardo.”
Leo stiffened, immediately jumping to his feet and turning to Splinter.
“Sensei,” He acknowledged, dipping his head, “I’m sorry, I was just-“
“I do not want to hear excuses. I have been waiting for you,” Splinter’s narrowed eyes seemed to bore into Leo.
Leo’s head dropped even lower—if it was even possible. Mikey noticed his shaking hands. Before Leo could open his mouth to apologize again, Mikey spoke.
“Sorry Sensei, I begged him to let me talk about my show. It’s not Leo’s fault.”
Splinter skeptic gaze shifted to Mikey, then back to Leo. “You are not to be distracted by such things. I taught you better than this,” He scolded, “To the dojo.”
Leo clenched his hands to stop them from trembling, “Hai, Sensei.”
Mikey watched miserably as Leo followed Splinter to the dojo. The faint glimmer of hope he had flickered.
After that, Leo was very cautious about being around his brothers. Unless they where topside, Leo left the room as soon as anyone but Splinter entered.
It wasn’t until the next incident that all four of them were in a room together.
It was after Slash had severely injured Mikey and Donnie. Raph and Leo had to support their brothers as they made their way back.
As soon as they arrived at the lair, Leo was horrified to see Splinter waiting for them. It was like he knew, he knew Leo would screw up.
Raph, on the other hand, was incredibly relieved to see Splinter, “Sensei! Donnie and Mikey are hurt-“
Splinter ignored him, approaching Leo instead, “How is it that you are completely unharmed while each of your brothers are not?”
Leo searched for an explanation, anything that would take Splinter’s anger away from him. He found none, at least not quick enough.
Splinter slapped him.
Leo’s eyes grew wide, Mikey and Donnie—who were barely hanging on to conciousness—gasped, even Raph looked horrified.
“You are responsible for the well-being of your team. Their injuries are because of you,” Splinter snapped, “Go to the dojo. I will handle their wounds and then we will discuss your incompetence.”
Leo was gone in seconds.
He wasn’t seen again until later that night. He looked exhausted as he entered the lab.
Raph glared up at him, watching Leo as he made his way to the cots where Donnie and Mikey lay.
“What are you doing here?” Raph growled, “I thought you were training.”
Leo nodded, blankly looking over Donnie and Mikey before looking at Raph. “Master Splinter told me I could check on them.”
Raph snorted, “Of course he did. Think for yourself for once.”
Leo didn’t reply, he stared at his hands for a moment before once again glancing at Raph, “You should get some rest.”
“Get out of here,” Raph snarled.
Leo left.
-
Leo’s behavior was something that everyone chose to accept. Even when April met the turtles and realized how different Leo was, the others dismissed it. She never questioned it again.
When Raph brought Casey to the lair, he never once saw Leo.
One day he and Raph were playing video games in the pit, Casey had just absolutely obliterated Raph. He stood up, ready to flaunt his victory, only to meet Leo’s eyes as he emerged from the dojo.
Casey’s eyes widened.
“Dude,” He exclaimed, “Who the heck are you?”
Raph glanced over at Leo, his gaze hardened and he pulled Casey back down.
“It’s just Leonardo.”
“What! You have an entire other brother??” Casey couldn’t tear his gaze away from Leo, who looked concerningly lost. Casey raised his arm to wave, but Raph smacked it down.
“Ignore him, it’s what he does to us,” Raph spat, casting an annoyed glare at Leo.
Leo hesitated a moment, before quickly retreating into the dojo once more.
“Dude, is he okay?” Casey asked.
Raph shrugged, “He’s fine. Not that I care.”
“He looked exhausted,” Casey eyebrows knit together in concern.
“He trains nonstop,” Raph grit his teeth, “Always sucking up to Sensei is a full time job.”
Casey opened his mouth to ask another question, but Raph clenched his hands, cutting him off.
“Can we drop it?” He growled.
Surprised, Casey nodded, “Sorry.”
After that he tried to bring it up with the others, only to get a similar response. “Leo’s just like that.” “Leo’s always busy.” It wasn’t until he caught Leo alone one day that Casey started putting the pieces together.
Casey expected to make a quick trip to the bathroom, but his plans failed when he stumbled into Leo.
Leo looked like a deer in headlights as Casey stood in the doorway. The eldest turtle was carefully bandaging his wrist, hovering over the sink as he did so.
Casey noticed to wound, “Woah, dude are you okay?” He approached, ready to help.
Leo backed up, his spooked expression holding steady.
“Sorry,” Casey stepped back, “Just trying to help. What happened?”
Hesitating for a moment, Leo weighed his options. Finally he replied, “Training injury. I’m fine.”
Casey looked doubtful, but maybe this was a chance to pry, “Your bros say you’re always training. You must really like it.”
Leo’s eyes dropped to the ground for only a second, “Yeah.”
Casey felt the tension, maybe he should let it go… nah, where was the fun in that.
“Sounds like Splinter’s pretty harsh on you though,” Casey mused.
Leo tensed up at that. He immediately made his escape, weaving past Casey, “I have to go.”
Casey frowned, watching as Leo left. It hadn’t gone quite as well as he’d hoped…
Unfortunately, Casey didn’t get another chance to talk to Leo. One thing led to another and they were suddenly in the middle of an alien invasion.
Splinter was gone.
Leo was in a coma.
Holed up in April’s family’s farmhouse, they struggled to grasp the situation they were in. Eventually each of them settled into a comfortable routine and they waited.