Leonardo was on his balcony shivering, leaning on the railing with his elbows. He was cold, angry, upset, confused… A mess. Throwing blanket was gently placed on him as wind carried Raphael’s scent from his side.

“Raph.”

“I will leave if you want to be alone.”

“No. Stay.” Wrapping fabric tighter around himself, Leonardo dropped his head down. He was speechless and so was Raphael – and it made it all feel awkward. However, eventually, Leonardo’s emotions took over the turtle, hot tears escaping on his round cheeks.

“Why? … Why they had to show up here? Why they had to find me? Why they just couldn’t leave me alone? After all these years… Why?”

Raphael stood silently, not knowing what to say. Besides hearing Leonardo cry with so heartbreaking sound made it difficult to talk. After many firm swallows Raphael opened his mouth.

“None of them never wanted to leave you behind, but they had no choice.”

“Bullshit, Raphael. There’s always a choice. Father had been able to run and hide with my brothers for years! They could had do that easily while having me with them too.”

“True, but think this; Would that had been a good life? Always running and hiding, fearing? Here you have had much better life, I dare to say.”

Leonardo rubbed his eyes still crying, but he knew what Raphael meant – and he was right. This was much better life for him. “But still why, Raphael?”

“Don’t know.” Raphael simply replied as he, too, leaned against the trailing. “Perhaps they felt guilty? Wanted to find you and tell you the truth.”

“Like it matters, anyway.”

“You still hate them?”

Hugging himself Leonardo started to cry silently again. “They all hurt me too deep, Raph. Too deep and their arrival only reopened those old scars and wounds. This hurts like shit.”

And the pain was there in Leo’s voice. Moving right next to his friend, Raphael slid his hand over Leo’s shoulders on the cheek, turning Leo’s face towards him. Fast lick to moist his lips and Raphael leaned down, gently placing a kiss on Leo’s mouth. However Leonardo’s reaction wasn’t exactly that what Raph had hoped. Pulling away with a jerk Leonardo’s eyes were wide and sad.

“Don’t! … Please, no.” Turning his head away Leonardo sighed.

“S-sorry. I… I thought… I was just trying to - “

“I know, Raphael. I know. But you must know that if situation would be any other than this, I wouldn’t had said no and push you away. But right now… I’m sorry. I’m emotionally too unbalanced for a relationship. But if you can give me time...”

“Take all the time what you need. I’ll be here waiting.” Hugging Leonardo sideways Raphael pressed soft kiss on Leo’s temple. “And I will be here even if we never wouldn’t become a thing. I have swore to stand by your side, no matter what, and that I will do.”

Hugging Raphael’s arm which still held him, Leonardo sighed closing his eyes. “And I, truly, appreciate that. I can’t thank you enough.” Turning to face another male, Leonardo pressed tighter against other body, nuzzling against warm neck. Deep inhales of Raphael’s scent calmed him down, Raphael’s arms around him keeping him warm.

Pulling away Leonardo took yet another deep inhale, slowly opening his eyes. “The air… It smells different. More cold and freezing.”

“No wonder. It’s snowing.”

Leonardo’s expression changed from sad to slightly happy and excited. “Really?”

“Yeah. Small round flakes, but it’s definitely snow.”

Smiling Leonardo stepped back turning sideways, opening his mouth wide open, pushing his tongue out. Raphael couldn’t help but to chuckle a bit. “Exactly what are you doing?”

“Trying to catch them.”

“It will take a long time before you catch any of them. Wait until there comes real snowing. Then you have better changes.”

Huffing gently with small smile Leonardo closed his mouth. “I think you’re right. Should we get inside? It’s getting colder and I can’t stand cold all that well.”

“Well, you’re a turtle.”

“So are you.”

“True, but I can tolerate it. I taught myself to tolerate it when I was a kid. Otherwise I never wouldn’t had been able to fight during winters.”

“That is… Good to hear, I think. I know Alfred would hate it if he would have other turtle here, like me, who gets easily sick when first winter colds arrive.”

“So you honestly do get sick?”

“What I just told you?” Leonardo laughed slightly as he headed in his room, Raphael behind him closing the balcony doors.

“I thought you were joking.”

“No, no.” Sitting on the bed Leonardo sighed. “Every winter I get sick and I can’t get out of the bed for a week, sometimes two. I hate that time since I can feel it how worried Alfred is. He knows it’s just regular cold, but still.”

“He doesn’t need to worry about you since if you get sick this year, I’m gonna take care of you.”

Leonardo smiled sweetly. “Thank you. Now than ever I actually want to get sick – just to see and experience how you would take care of me.”

There was a blush on Raphael’s face as a thought “I could take care of you in so many ways” crossed his mind. Shaking his head he reminded himself now was NOT the time for those kind of thoughts. Sitting next to other male they both remained quiet a moment.

“Leo, listen. I wasn’t going to tell you this first, but there’s something fishy about your brothers. My guts are screaming me not to believe all of it what they said. There’s something what they haven’t said or something – and I want to find out what it is.”

“That wouldn’t surprise me at all, to be honest. Just be careful, Raphael. I wouldn’t trust on them all that much.”

“Don’t worry. I know how to keep myself safe.”

“I hope you’re not going to go do anything reckless.”

“Never.”

**

Rest of the day Leonardo remained in his room, refusing to come out as long as his brothers were in the house. Brothers, as well, were staying in the room they shared. They only came out when Alfred went to get them for dinner. Since Raphael was natural protector he was there when Alfred was dining with the visitors. Eating as well Raphael listened their light talking. They both shared turns as they talked about their childhood and life after abandoning Leo. Raphael could hear it in their voices they, truly and honestly, were sorry and regretting for letting their father leave Leonardo behind. Sorry for not finding him sooner. So much pain and regret… From that part Raphael believed and trusted on brothers, but there was something else. They seemed relaxed, but their energies were tensed. Perhaps it was Raphael’s presence? After all he hadn’t given them his best presentation when they had arrived.

Both Donatello and Michelangelo bowed to Alfred, thanking for the food. They both ate quite a lot so it made Raphael wonder when they had eat good meal last time. When brothers disappeared back in their room, Raphael stepped next to Alfred, helping him to fill dishwasher.

“What do you think?”

“About Master’s brothers?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm. They are not bad, but there obviously is something bad.”

“So you sensed it too.”

“If I have learned something while living with master, it’s to learn to sense things and trust on your gut feeling.”

“How alarming is your feeling about them?”

“Like I said, Raphael. They are not bad themselves, but there’s something bad.”

“Should we be worried about them? Or worried about Leo?”

“Just to be safe and sure, I would like to suggest you spending the night with master. I wish him not to sleep alone while we have such visitors in our home.”

“How about you?”

“I’m sure I’m fine. After all they have nothing to do with me. Master is their ‘target’ if I can use the word.”

This made Raphael think, finally nodding. It was settled. He would sleep in the same room with Leonardo, to be there to help and protect if those two tried anything. Evening went peacefully and Raphael was the last to go to bed. He made tour around the house, checking all doors and windows that they were locked. He even checked Donatello and Michelangelo. They both were sleeping calmly and, as he stared down their faces, he could see how relaxed they looked. How exhausted they both seemed to be, but mostly – they both had trails of tears on their faces. It stung old turtle’s heart. Perhaps he had been too hard on them… Perhaps, and most surely, they too were experiencing pain. Losing their brother and home, running and hiding, being lied to by their father, their father’s death, decades of searching their lost brother, then meeting Raphael and finally finding Leo who actually hadn’t given them all that warm welcoming. Yes, that was painful to one’s heart.

Closing the door Raphael sighed. He felt bad for being so nasty at them during the day. He would apologize in the morning. Taking two steps at the time Raphael climbed on second floor, silently heading in Leo’s room after checking Alfred. Leonardo seemed to be sleeping on his shell, head turned to the side and hands resting on his chest and stomach. But he, too, had trails of tears on his old tired face. Feeling sad Raphael took his hakama pants off, slowly sitting on the edge of the bed. Waiting a moment he lifted Leonardo’s blanket and crawled right next to other male, resting his head on his arm. Placing his hand on Leo’s Raphael slowly petted it with his thumb, finally getting enough courage to wipe the remains of tears’ trails off on Leo’s cheek. This, however, woke the turtle.

“Shh, it’s me. Go back to sleep. All’s good.”

Leonardo must had been tired since he said nothing, turned to face the other turtle and fell back to sleep instantly. Pulling blanket all the way up Raphael made sure Leonardo was fully covered and warm. Safe. Raphael had no idea how much time had passed already since he came in Leo’s room, but finally his eye lid started to feel heavy, his gut feeling telling him it was safe to get some sleep. After all Raphael was, and always had been, very slight sleeper so he would wake up even to the small sound of door opening. None wouldn’t get past him without waking him up.

**

In the morning everyone were standing at the front yard, visitors facing the house owners. They obviously wanted to say something to their brother who, in the other hand, just wanted them out of his property. Giving their last apology and thanks Donatello and Michelangelo bowed, bidding their farewells, heading to near by town.

“That didn’t go well at all.” Mikey sighed as he walked slowly by his brother’s side, who was shaking his head slowly in defeat.

“No. No it didn’t. But at the same time what else we could had expected?”

“Hmm, true. You have a point.”

Black limousine suddenly stopped next to the brothers, back window opening. In the backseat was Karai. “Get in.” She ordered with serious tone which made both turtles obey her. Sitting nervously in the car it started to move forward again, Karai’s cold black eyes on them.

“Well? I’m waiting your report.”

“It’s him, miss Karai. We found Leonardo.”

“But he’s not alone. He has butlers called Alfred and Raphael. While Alfred seems to be harmless old man, Raphael is another story.”

“Nothing more than a nuisance for sure.” Karai replied.

“I… wouldn’t take him slightly, miss.”

Giving deadly glare to Donatello she hissed, Don sinking deeper in his seat. “I did not ask your opinion or advice. Be useful and tell me more.”

And they both did. They told everything what they knew about Leonardo, how and where he lived and so on, but it wasn’t inform enough. Sighing Karai stroked her hair, Mikey daring to speak to her.

“We… We did our job. You promised to let us go after we find Leo for you.”

“True, yes. I said such thing. However -” She turned to look turtle brothers, deadly spark in her eyes. “It took you both way too many years to find him. The deal is off.”

“But you promised! We had a deal!” Don shouted, guard from the front seat turning to point at them with a gun which, sadly, was one what Don had made for her.

“Kill them.”

“Mikey, get out!” Pressing a button on his wrist band small piece of his leg prosthesis opened, releasing tear gas with smoke. Opening the door Mikey rolled our, Don right behind him. They heard how car’s breaks howled as they run in small streets to hide, but not stopping. They used shadows and whatever they could find to hide themselves as they rushed back to Leonardo’s home. They needed to get there first. Warn their brother and the other two.

**

Alfred was cleaning the porch from little snow when he spotted their earlier visitors coming. However something was wrong since Donatello was heavily leaning on Mikey who was dragging him along with him. Dropping the broom Alfred rushed to them, giving his aid to Donatello who was gasping for air. It seemed he was having issues with breathing.

“Please, help us in!”

“Do not worry, son, I will. What’s wrong with your brother?”

“He has asthma and cold weather makes breathing difficult for him. Plus all the running.”

“Running?”

“Yeah. We ran back here from the town.”

“Goodness! Why on Earth did you do that?”

“I’ll explain everything later but, please, help us in. We beg you.” There was panic, worry and fear in Mikey’s eyes and since Alfred was a gentle soul, he nodded. Hearing alarming sounds from the front yard had brought Raphael on the porch and he was NOT pleased to see those two turtles again.

“What the fuck?” He groaned as trio came in front of him, but as Raphael was quite big, he blocked the entrance.

“Raphael, be kind enough either to move or help me.”

“Why are you helping them, Alf? Leonardo made it clear they are not welcome here.”

“Brute, move or help!” The voice was new. Something what Raphael had never heard before. But then again Alfred had never yelled at him. Cursing under his breath Raphael unfolded his arms from his chest, picking Don up in his arms carrying him on the couch in living room. Mikey sat next to him, rubbing his shell.

“Take it easy, try to breath slow and calm.”

“What the hell is going on?”

Looking up at Raphael Mikey looked sorry. “She’s here.”

“She?”

“Karai.”

“What!?” Slamming hands on the living room table made it shake, vase with flowers falling. “You brought that fucking bitch here!?”

“Yes. We are sorry, but -”

“So that was the nasty feeling from you both all along! You had this all plotted! You fucking…!”

A sound of doorbell cut Raphael off, Mikey hugging Donatello. This sight made Raphael stop for a moment. It was… more or less touching, heart breaking. Those two were honestly afraid of that woman. Cursing Raphael stepped in front of the couch, landing on his other knee.

“Look, you two. I don’t know the whole story, but after I’m done with that bitch I want to hear the story. WHOLE story. Understood?”

“You have our word.”

Standing up Raphael kept his eye on the pair. “Good. Consider yourselves being under my protection.” As Raphael turned and walked away, he felt pair of wide and stunned eyes on his shell. He couldn’t help it but he was protector to the very cord in the end. Opening the door Raphael stepped out, closing the door behind him. There was thin old woman with white hair, dressed in long black winter jacket.

“Yes?”

“Forgive my sudden appearance, but I’m sure two of my men came here. I have come to get them back.”

Raphael snorted crossing his arms on his chest. “You gotta do better than that, bitch. You really think I believe that bullshit?”

Laughing Karai rubbed her forehead. “So those idiots told you about me? I should had known. Tho I must admit I don’t feel flattered about that.”

“Just cut with the crap and get to the point since we both know why you’re really here.”

“You are impatient.” She huffed as she changed her posture. “But since you know why I’m here I want to meet the one called Leonardo.”

“He’s not here at this moment.”

“Liar. You’re hiding him in the house.”

“And what if I am? There’s no way I will let you near him.”

She tapped her chin with sneaky smile as she eyed big turtle. “Are you sure you are just his butler and nothing more?”

“He is only my butler, under Alfred’s training of becoming his follower.” Leonardo said as he firmly stepped out, wearing warm winter clothes. He stopped right next to Raphael, keeping his stern face towards Karai. “What do you want, Karai?”

“Like you don’t know. You.”

“I have nothing what I can give to you.”

“Your father promised me otherwise.”

“That was over 50 years ago.”

“And you should be in a level of super elite after training all those years.”

“Wrong. I stopped training after I was left behind by my family. Only recently I have start to do some yoga besides meditation.”

Eyeing Leonardo Karai obviously grew a bit annoyed. Since Leonardo was wearing thick winter clothes she couldn’t see Leonardo’s body’s shape. Raphael grinned in his mind. Clever bastard. He’d done that on purpose.

“Well, with some training I’m sure my men will get you in shape.”

“I’m not interested.”

“It’s not about are you interested or not.” She said as she dig out a letter, opening it. “This is the contract what your father and I did together, signing it. You belong to me.”

“Leonardo doesn’t belong to anyone!” Raphael growled, his body obviously tensing.

“Here, read it yourself.” She offered the letter to Raphael who snatched it from her hand, reading it. His heart was turning cold, but he refused to believe those words what he was seeing.

“How do I know this is not a fake?”

“It’s not.”

“What does it say, Raphael?”

“It says that ‘I, Splinter, hereby leave my home and oldest son, Leonardo, in the care of miss Karai.’ This is bullshit!”

“It’s legal document and agreement.”

Leonardo was quiet, his fists shaking. But with deep in- and exhale he calmed himself down. “What a blind old turtle could possible offer or do for you?”

“You are my property, Leonardo. Come with me and that’s a good start.”

“No!” Raphael growled. “You don’t own him! None can’t own another person!”

“You read the paper, right? It’s states clearly that -”

“Fuck with that piece of shit!” Raphael yelled as he ripped old letter in pieces, releasing them in the wind. Karai’s eyes were wide until they narrowed, anger shining in them.

“Now you did the wrong move, turtle. If Leonardo won’t come with me by his own choice, I will take him by force.”

Pushing Leonardo behind him Raphael took his fight stance. “You can try, bitch, but I won’t make it easy for ya. I have sworn to protect Leo with my life and that I shall do.”

“As you wish.”

“Not so fast!” Suddenly Donatello and Michelangelo appeared right next to Raphael, on his both sides. “You have keep ruining our lives long enough. You pulled our family apart, you made us leave Leo behind. There’s no way we will watch by second time and let you take Leo away from us.”

“But he hates you fools, have you forgotten?”

“Maybe so, but we can’t and won’t stand by and watch. He can hate us the rest of his life, but… We love him. Always have, always did and always will. Nothing changes that, even if he never wouldn’t return that love back to us.”

Leonardo listened silently standing on the background now with Alfred who had come to get him further away. His throat felt tight… So damn tight. Alfred rubbed gently his shoulder, bringing much needed support. Hitting fist in his palm Raphael growled.

“Okay, witch, here’s the deal. Either you leave now peacefully and we won’t break every bone in your body. If you decide to stay, be ready for your own funeral.”

She snorted as she took her fighting pose. “Big talk. Let’s see how much of it is true.”

“Mikey, Donnie. Stay out of this. She’s mine.”

Before either of the brothers could say a word of warning Raphael was on Karai already. He was fighting better than Karai had expected so she was slightly surprised, putting new gear on in her fighting style and skills. Raphael still was good at staying at her speed. They exchanged blows and kicks until Raphael managed to deliver heavy punch on her face. Karai jumped backward, wiping blood from her nose. The look on her face told Raphael she was hell pissed – and Raphael felt so darn good about that so he smirked widely.

“What’s wrong? Broke your pretty nose?”

“Hmh.” She stood, spitting some blood on the snow, throwing her jacket off. Raphael froze as his eye saw red logo on her fighting suit – instantly bringing him a flashback from the night when Casey had fell down to his death from the roof. The guys who had attacked on Casey wore the same symbol! In a second new fury turned in full bursting flame, teeth gritting together, fists shaking.

“You… It was you and your men back then! On the roof that night! You killed my best friend!”

Apparently Karai had no idea about this, or then she didn’t remember or played as if she didn’t know, since her eyes widened in shock when Raphael came at her once more, new fury in his eye. It was something what made her senses scream and to avoid the turtle at all cost – so she ended up dodging Raphael’s hits which infuriated big turtle even more. This Karai saw quickly, smiling to herself.

“Raphael! Calm down! You can’t fight if you can’t control your emotions!”

Raphael heard Leonardo loud and clear, but his mind was already locked on fierce mode and it wasn’t that easy to switch it off.

“Hmh, fool.” As she landed next to her vehicle her guard threw her katana which she easily catch. However Raphael was not intimated by the sword. He had fought and brought so many opponents down with his bear hands while the others had used weapons against him. He was used of it. But in his fury state he didn’t see or sense all that clear and it became clear soon that Raphael was being pushed down. That fury inside him ate so much of his energy and focus, leaving Karai play with him.

Stopping to pant Raphael leaned against his knees, Karai landing behind him. “So much talk and so little action. You should be ashamed.”

Growling Raphael spun around, aiming his massive fist towards her head, but this woman was fast with her moves. She dodged easily with a sidestep, blade cutting Raphael deep on his right side. Gasping and hissing suddenly Raphael fell on his knees, holding his bleeding side. Shit! Shit, shit, shit! Stupid turtle, stupid! Karai stepped closer swinging the blade, splashing blood off from it on the ground.

“I must admit you fight well, but your temper is taking you back so many steps that you become ridiculous. You’re shameful. Perish.”

She didn’t even get to raise her katana when nunchuck flied towards her. She saw it from the corner of her eye so she easily blocked it with her sword. Michelangelo and Donatello were holding their weapons, having enough.

“You two really want to do this?”

Both of them nodded. Lifting blade on her shoulder Karai sighed deeply. “Fine. I had no idea all turtles are so stubborn.”

And the fight went on. As Don and Mikey managed to lure Karai away from Raphael, Alfred rushed to his friend’s side. However Raphael refused to leave or even move. Instead he whispered while laying on his spot on the ground. “My sais… Go get me… My sais. Or even one. My room… hurry.”

“But Raphael you can’t -”

“Please, do it.”

Alfred nodded and rushed towards the house, Leonardo stepping in his way at the entrance. “What’s going on? Where’s Raphael? How is he?”

“Don’t worry, sir. He’s fine and has a plan.” Pushing Leonardo gently out of the way Alfred rushed in Raphael’s room, leaving worried Leonardo stand alone. No. Something was wrong, he could feel it. Raphael was not fine. His energy was weaker and it stayed still…

When Alfred arrived to Raphael’s side he noticed how Donatello was sitting on the ground, his prosthesis cut in half beneath the knee. That was no good. His eyes turned on Mikey who, thanks to his agility which hadn’t fade during the years, was doing good. Bending down Alfred gave Raphael his weapon who hid it inside his brown jacket. Without a word Alfred went back by Leo’s side who was hugging himself, worry shining on his face.

“How they are doing? Do I need to step in?”

“Absolutely not, sir! They are doing fine and like I said our brute has a plan. Just… Please, stand here and have faith on them.”

Leonardo only nodded, following the energies movements with sounds.

**

Coughing Raphael eyed Mikey but since Mikey was so far away he noticed Don who was looking at him. With few hand signal Raphael managed to deliver his message to Don who, thank God, realized it.  It took time, but at some point Don got a chance to signal Mikey to look at Raphael, who signaled Mikey to push Karai towards him. Not giving out any signs of having conversation with other turtles Mikey started to push Karai back. She seemed slightly surprised, but she allowed Mikey to play, letting him believe he had chances of winning. However, Mikey tripped at some point when he was just so close of delivering Karai to Raphael. She laughed as she looked down at the shocked turtle.

“You turtles get so clumsy when cold weather comes. Perhaps I was wrong – I will not do anything with turtles which can be used only on summer time. I just kill you all here and now.”

“Think again!” Donatello held small smoke and tear gas bomb in his hand what he had managed to save from his cut prosthesis, throwing it at Karai. She easily cut it in half, but since wind blew on her direction, smoke with gas came right on her face. Her eyes filled with tears as she coughed and blinked, trying desperately to see.

“That was dirty move, you bastards!” As she threw more insults Raphael stood up slow, hand reaching towards her neck. Karai gasped when strong fingers took firm hold on the back of her neck, squeezing hard while three pointy blades pierced her left side. Blades sank all the way in her body, her horrified eyes turning to look Raphael’s eye over her shoulder. That eye… It was bright, burning and bloodshot, full of fury, need for revenge, need for protecting. Raphael was trembling, his hold on her neck remaining tight and firm, as well as his hold on his weapon. Slowly she dropped her sword, picking up something in her belt’s pocket. With her last strength she threw small bomb towards Raphael’s head and, with instinct, Raphael turned his head closing his eye. Bomb hit his head and so nasty sound came out of it, making his right ear ring. This, however, angered old turtle even more. Pulling his sai out of her, Raphael forced it back in her side on another spot with a twist and force. Now she dropped on her knees, puking blood.

“Mistress!” Her guard was now coming to her aid, but she rewarded him by sliding his throat open with small hidden blade.

“You f-fool… Deserves you right...” Turning to look at Raphael she laughed silently, then looking at Donatello and Michelangelo. “Well… fought… turtles...” And she collapsed on the ground. On the background, in panic, the driver took off with the limousine, not looking back.

As Mikey checked her pulse, to be sure of her death, Raphael stepped back panting hard, his right side covered in blood. He felt weak, dizzy and there was buzzing sound in his ears. Turning to look at Leonardo who, now, was rushing towards them with Alfred, Raphael smiled with whisper; “Over my… dead… body...”

Everything turned in slow motion as he fell backward, hitting the ground hard. He heard nothing anymore, but he saw Leonardo running to him, falling on his knees right next to him, fearful and desperate look on his face. Raphael smiled at him tho. He had fulfilled his promise to protect Leo – even if it would cost him his life. Slowly Leonardo’s face became more blurry, slowly everything being covered with darkness.