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The portal forming came out of nowhere.
The lair wasn’t silent – it almost never was – but the sound of a portal forming were still audible over Mikey’s humming, Don’s rambling or Raph’s huffing as he demolished the punching bag.
Also, he’d have to be blind to miss the water-like substance forming an oval shape only a few feet next to him. He stopped the punching immediately, calling out for his brothers who wasted no time in coming to the living room. The shoji of Splinter’s room opened as their father joined them too. Raph’s hands went down to grab his sais, and he noted that Mikey and Don did the same. An enemy visit wasn’t likely – their home was protected with some spiritual mojo that would have alerted them – but one could never be too safe.
The portal fully formed, and they were met with the furry figure of one Miyamoto Usagi. The mutant family relaxed instantly, their weapons safely tucked away.
“Oh hey, Usagi!” Mikey cheered. “Wasn’t expecting you.”
“Is everything alright?” Donatello asked, noting the serious expression on the rabbit’s face.
“Tell me the world isn’t ending again,” Raph grumbled.
That got a smile out of the samurai. “I can assure you everything is alright. I’m sorry for coming here unannounced, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
Mikey shrugged. “Nothing much, it’s been pretty lazy lately. Sorry to disappoint though but Leo is outside on a run so you’ll have to wait.”
Usagi shook his head, the tips of his ears flopping around. “That’s perfect, actually. I’m not here to speak with him right now.”
That made them pause. The brothers glanced at each other, confused. They all got along good, sure, but they didn’t have that much in common with the samurai to just sit down and gossip about what kind of a sword was the best for different types of combat like he did with Leo, or whatever the two talked about when they were together.
“Not yet, at least,” Usagi continued, turning to look directly into Splinter’s eyes. “I have to talk to you first.” He shifted his look to include the rest of the mutant family, making it clear that it concerned everyone present.
The rabbit’s ear twitched in poorly concealed nervousness. The usual confidence of a perfectly trained samurai wasn’t gone but it was hidden under a layer of atypical uncertainty. Raph didn’t like it at all, and judging by the way his brothers frowned, neither did they.
He had a sinking feeling he knew the reason of Usagi’s visit, and he really hoped he was wrong.
Master Splinter slowly nodded. “Sure. Please follow me. Donatello, would you prepare tea for our guest?”
“Sure, father.”
The engineer went to the kitchen, while Mikey and Raph swiftly tidied up the living room and rearranged the furniture so they all could sit down. Though if you were to ask Raphael, it was kinda pointless. Something was telling him their guest won’t be staying long.
It didn’t take long for Don to return with a tray filled with a steaming teapot and some cups, and once he put the tray on the table and sat down, Master Splinter poured all of them a cup. Usagi bowed his head and thanked them, a little bit more polite than usual.
Raphael had only so much patience and courtesy, though. “Okay, so what’s up and how does that concern Leo?”
“Raphael,” Splinter hissed, reprimanding.
The ronin chuckled. “It’s alright, Splinter-san. I should’ve expected that my words would be questioned.”
Donatello scratched the back of his head nervously. “Sorry, Sensei, but Raph has a point. I, well, we think we know why you’re here, Usagi. No need to beat about the bush.”
Mikey nodded. “I mean, no offense but there’s not many reasons for you to talk to us without Leo. And you’ve been all twitchy and stuff ever since you arrived.”
Splinter sighed. “Boys, do not assume –”
But Usagi lowered his head, the tip of his ears twitching and his cheeks reddened. That was enough of a confirmation in Raphael’s book. “I guess it doesn’t come off as a surprise to you.”
Not to them, no. It wasn’t the first time someone was eyeing their brother – far from it, actually. But none of the times ended with him agreeing, for obvious reasons. All of the turtles exchanged yet another look, and promptly ignored their father’s sigh.
“As you’ve said, there is no need to stall, then.” Usagi straightened up, looking directly at their Sensei. “I’m unsure of how it’s done on Earth, so I kindly ask you to excuse any mistake I may make. Where I’m from, it’s a tradition to ask the family for a permission first. Splinter-san,” his eyes shifted to the red-masked ninja, “Raphael-san,” then he moved to the other two turtles, addressing them based on their birth order, “Donatello-san, Michelangelo-san. I’m asking for your permission to court Leonardo.”
“Permission granted.”
“No.”
The atmosphere shifted in the instant, all heads turning to him. He shifted, not comfortable with all the attention, but willing to stand his guard. Donnie’s sudden grimace disappeared, while Mikey pressed his lips into a thin line, and Raph knew he could count on them to support his word.
Usagi, though, looked shocked. Raphael could see where the confusion came from; they were on good terms. Trusted allies and friends, and Master Splinter did ask him to help their brother that one time. There was no reason to deny his request, not really, and definitely not with such vehemence.
But Raph knew his brother, as did Don and Mikey.
Splinter, the one who voiced an agreement before his voice drowned out their father’s words, frowned. “Usagi-san is a skilled warrior and an honorable person, Raphael.”
He lifted his hands in a universal peace sign. “I ain’t t denying that, Sensei. I like him just fine.”
The rabbit shifted, face scrunching. “Have I done something to offend you? Or do my words seem ill-intention?” He tilted his head. “I’m sorry if I come across as rude, but I’m trying to see where I went wrong.”
Mikey shook his head. “It really isn’t you, dude. You’re a cool guy, and we’re glad Leo has a friend like you.”
“It’s just – that’s all it is to Leo,” Don continued, turning to their father. “You know how he is, Sensei. Love and relationships and… courtships aren’t his thing.”
Their father breathed out deeply, and at was at that moment he knew they lost this undeclared battle. Splinter was trying, and he respected his sons’ life decisions (most of the times), but Leonardo’s complete lack of romantic interest for anyone has always been something he didn’t quite understand.
None of the turtles really knew why was that such an issue in their father’s eyes, seeing as he was, by all intents and purposes, a single father, but it seemed to worry him.
Frankly, Raphael didn’t care. He had great respect for their Sensei, but he respected his brother a little more. He himself hated when people tried to tell him how he was feeling, who was he to do the same to Leo?
Still, they couldn’t give up just yet.
Splinter curled his tail around himself. “I’m aware of your brother’s thoughts regarding this topic,” he said, leveling the turtles with a firm look, “but I believe Leonardo should decide for himself.”
Raphael crossed his arms over his plastron. “He’s gonna say no, and you know it.”
“Then it’s going to be his decision,” Splinter replied. He turned to Usagi, who was watching the conversation unfold with obvious uncertainty. “Excuse the dissension, Usagi-san, that was uncalled for. You have our permission to court Leonardo. Unless you two want to add something, my sons?”
Both Donatello and Michelangelo sighed, shaking their heads no. While they agreed with him, they knew any further argument would be useless. Splinter was their father, after all, and while Usagi extended the question to them all out of courtesy and familiarity, only Splinter’s decision mattered, especially seeing as Leonardo was the eldest.
Fucking weird-ass customs from a different world.
The samurai hesitated, thrown off by the very obvious disagreement of the siblings. Eventually, he bowed. “Thank you, Splinter-san.” Slowly, he turned to Raphael. “Do not fear, my friends. I will respect Leonardo’s decision.”
He got up. “You don’t need me here anymore. Bye.”
And – okay, it may have been more curt than Usagi deserved. It wasn’t the samurai’s fault that he was in love with their brother. But how could he not get angry at the situation when he knew that Usagi’s question was going to only hurt Leo?
His brothers hurried after him, although they were significantly more polite with their parting. “Leo should be here any minute,” he heard Donatello say, and then all of the turtles met again in the kitchen.
For a few seconds, there was silence. Then he groaned and sat down on a chair, not even bothering to hide his anger anymore. “I don’t get why it’s so hard for him to just – refuse on Leo’s behalf,” he grumbled.
Don and Mikey sat down next to him, their anger showing too. “Me neither,” Don huffed, frustrated. “Leo’s been out to us for ages.”
“We talked about it, once,” Mikey said quietly. “About Usagi, I mean. He said he was glad he had a friend like him, because he felt like he didn’t need to hide anything.”
They stared at each other in silence. Mind made up, he got up, the chair screeching on the ground, but before he could get out of the kitchen to argue with Master Splinter, their guest be damned, they heard a cheerful: “Usagi! Hi!”
Raphael froze mid-step, letting his hand fall down. He closed his eyes and breathed out.
Leo was going to get disappointed, again. And so, so hurt.
Their voices quieted as they moved to Leo’s room, and Raph returned back to the chair. Mikey stood up, searching through their cabinets. “I’m making hot chocolate,” he explained unnecessarily. “You want some?”
“Yeah. We’re gonna need it.”
It didn’t took long before they heard voices in the communal space again. Leo, Master Splinter and Usagi, and then it was only the two mutants. Don peeked out of the kitchen to see that the samurai was really gone, and when he glanced up, he only saw the tails of Leo’s mask as the eldest retreated to his room. Master Splinter was nowhere in sight.
“The coast’s clear,” the inventor announced.
Raph grabbed two mugs of hot chocolate and together they walked to Leo’s room. His door was shut, making them grimace. But when Mikey knocked, Leo still answered with a fake smile that didn’t reach his eyes at all.
The smile dropped the moment he saw the three of them standing there with their mugs, the realization that they knew what has happened hitting instantly. He stepped aside and let them in, accepting the mug from Raphael.
They huddled up on the ground, just sitting in silence and sipping their chocolate for a few minutes. Eventually, Leonardo sighed up, placed the mug down and his his face in his hands. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Why does this always happens?”
He threw his hand around his shoulders, shaking his head. “I dunno, Leo. It ain’t your fault.”
“It’s not,” Donatello agreed instantly. “You can’t influence feelings.”
“If I –”
“No, forget that thought,” Michelangelo interrupted him immediately. “Whatever stupidity it was, forget it. You don’t hold our preferences against us. The fact that your preferences are non-existent doesn’t make you any less valid, okay?”
“But I –”
Raph slapped a hand against Leo’s mouth. “Hell no, don’t be stupid. We love you the way you are, okay? And we know you love us, and that’s all that matters. You shouldn’t change who you are for the people you care about.”
Leonardo glared at him, removing his sibling’s hand from his mouth. He stayed silent, though, and that was a win. They all knew what thoughts were running through Leonardo’s head – some bullshit about being broken, about there being something wrong with him.
There wasn’t. He was an idiot at times, and he was far from perfect, but there was nothing wrong with him. He didn’t need fixing, didn’t need “someone to love” by his side.
“I just want to have a friend,” he whispered. “And Usagi said he accepts my decision, that nothing will change, but that’s never true. Things are never the same after this.”
They said nothing, not wanting to make it worse. Feelings were complicated, and in the end always, always changed the way people acted.
Leonardo groaned, throwing his head back. “This sucks,” he declared, in this I’m so done with this bullshit tone that made them laugh.
“Wouldn’t say it better, bro.” He grinned at him, happy when Leo grinned back. Just a little, but it was a start.
Leo looked at them, and when he smiled, it was real this time. “Thanks for the chocolate.”
He didn’t need to say anything else. They understood well what was he telling them. They couldn’t do much about people falling in love with their brother, but they could be here for him every time he inevitably rejected them, ready to throw hands. They might not get it, not completely, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there for him.
In the end, the only thing that mattered was that Leonardo was happy. He did the same for them. Being here and supporting him was the least they could do.
“Anytime, Leo.”