There is a split in Leonardo’s head, deep down where he’s hardly aware of it. On one side is Mother and Father, on the other is Mommy and Daddy. And on his bad nights, or his good nights depending on who you ask, the division haunts him, the whispers of wrongness tripping at his heels.
But it’s hard to hold on to such feelings when Mother is so often a faint whisper at the back of his mind, a whirl of frightening dreams. When Father is a flash of fiery visions and the light glinting in beady black eyes behind crossed blades.
Mommy and Daddy are different. Mommy is a teeth glinting in a mouth that sometimes looks like a muzzle as it digs into his skin, the hiss of crackling power through his skull. Daddy is strong and tall and real in his elaborate armor, in his hands that pinch and caress with equal care.
Those aren't their real names, of course. Those are secret names, one that Leo had to earn the right to call them, and even then he can only use it when they say. But even when they're not Mommy and Daddy he still adores them, because they're Kitsune and Shredder, his Master and Mistress.
He would do everything for them. He has done everything for them--he’s fought for them, killed for them, trained for them until he could barely move. And when they ask, he comes to their bed without a murmur.
Some nights it's still Master and Mistress in bed, if they're in the mood for something more businesslike. Some nights they don't want him to call them anything (don't want him to say anything, except to cry or scream). Mommy and Daddy nights are his favorite, although he tries not to make a big deal about it. He's lucky enough they let him touch them all at all.
No matter what he’s supposed to call them, the routine is the same. He strips for them, lets them adjust his limbs and touch him and turn him like a good little boy, lets them work his hole open so they can fill it with whatever they want.
Leonardo agrees to everything, no matter how much they hurt, because Mommy and Daddy know best. And they love him--they would never hurt him unless they had good reason.
So when he's summoned to their bedroom and sees the brazier flickering in the corner of his room with something dark flickering into the coals, he only hesitates with a heartbeat. Then he's straightening his back, reminding himself of how much he owes them, and crossing into the room, where Kitsune is finishing up brushing her hair.
She looks up at him with a beautiful smile. "Good evening, treasure," she says, and Leonardo's heart leaps, because he knows that tonight is a Mommy night.
"Good evening, Mommy," Leo says, carefully stripping and putting his clothes away. He lets the old weights and restrictions on his brain slip away, lets him shift into a different headspace. It's a nice, soothing feeling, like taking a hot bath.
She smiles, patting the bed beside her. "Come up here." He does as he's told, curling up her side and nuzzling up against her arm to make her smile.
Mommy strokes his head, looking down at him with the glinting look in her eyes that he's come to associate with tenderness. "Did you work hard for Mommy today?"
"Yes, Mommy," Leo says. He holds up his hands so she can get a better look at the blood crusting under his nails.
Mommy chuckles, planting a kiss on his thumb. "And have you gotten the rat yet?"
Leo squirms. "Not yet." He glances over her shoulder at the brazier, biting his lip at the flicker of flames. Talking about the rat always brings back the old grief, the memory of his brothers' faces. He wishes he could have brought them here--they would have been so 
"Oh, darling," Kitsune lifts his chin and kisses him on the nose. "It's all right. We'll get him soon, won't we?
"Yes, Mommy." Failure is not an option, after all.
Still, it's hard to keep his eyes off the brazier. "Mommy, what..."
She follows his gaze. "Oh, that? It's a surprise, pet. Nothing to concern yourself with right now." Leo wants to ask more, but he knows she doesn't like it when he whines, so he just bobs his head obediently.
"Good boy. Now, why don't you start getting us both ready before Daddy gets here?"
By the time Daddy walks in, already stripping off his armor, Leo's got his head between Mommy's legs and a finger up his own ass, carefully stretching himself. He hears the clank of metal hitting the floor, but before he can turn around Daddy's scooping him with one arm and tackling Mommy with the other.
"Put me down, you oaf!" Mommy says, slapping at him, but she's laughing, and Leonardo's laughing too. Even Daddy lets out a rare chuckle as he tickles Mommy, planting sloppy kisses all over her face.
Leo would never confess this to anyone in a billion years, but this is secretly his favorite of Mommy-Daddy nights. The part where they're all on the bed, but they're not really touching, just talking and laughing and being together.
For some reason it makes him think of a time when he was with Mommy and Daddy (was it Mommy and Daddy) on a bed like this, back when he was so much smaller. And they'd stroke his face and kiss him, but only on the forehead or cheek, and it was nice in a way he couldn't name--
But then they're looking at him, and Leo's remembering the taste of Mommy's warmth in his mouth, and the loosened feeling in his ass, the flicker of fire in the corner of his eye. He pushes the fantasy to the corner of his mind.
"And you, child," Daddy asks, reaching and pulling Leo close. "Are you ready for us?"
Leo bows his head. "Yes, Daddy." This is what he's for, after all. This is the love he deserves from them.
And it's fine, really. He ends up perched in Daddy’s lap, firmly seated on his cock with his shell gently resting against Daddy’s muscular, hairy chest. His own cock dangles between his legs, untouched, but that’s okay. They’ll get to it eventually, and besides, it’s not good to spoil a child.
He’s got his head down, nosing into Mommy’s open robe like a little mouse, licking and sucking at her nipples while she squeals and laughs and moans. Mommy has such a pretty laugh. As he works he bounces up and down, letting out little sighs as he feels Daddy's grunts of pleasure ripple through his bones.
They go on like that for a bit, Daddy reaching around him so he can touch Mommy between the legs. Leo's thighs start to ache a little, but he relishes the pain, grateful to the chance to hone his riding skills.
He lets Mommy and Daddy both kiss him on the lips, drinking in the sweet tastes of their mouths. They purr soft words, mostly to each other, but sometimes they give them to him. He clings to that as their fingers scrape down his neck and bury themselves in his hip, making little marks that will always feel so strange when he looks at them in the mirror later on.
Mommy lets out a familiar groan, rippling with a sudden spasm of pleasure, and Leo smiles. He knows from experience that Mommy's only started feeling good tonight, and soon Leo and Daddy will be able to feel good too.
But then Mommy’s abruptly pulling away, and Leo lets out a startled whine. Did he do something wrong?
Thankfully, she just offers up another fond smile. “My sweet, greedy little kit,” she croons, squishing his cheeks and shaking him gently. He giggles, relaxing into her touch.
“Tell me, treasure,” she says, her eyes glinting yellow in the low firelight (or maybe that’s just her). “Do you love us?”
Leonardo blinks. “Always, Mommy,” he replies. What else did she expect him to say?
“With all your heart?”
“With all my heart.” He’d give them hearts if they asked, collect whole sacks of them torn from their enemies’ chests.
“Would you do something for us, to prove how much you love us?” she asks. “You’d have to be really brave.”
Leonardo nods vigorously. “I’m brave, Mommy!”
“Good boy.” She plants a kiss on his forehead before getting off the bed and moving to the far corner of the room, where the brazier awaits.
Then Daddy’s moving, thrusting and pumping in him, and Leonardo’s distracted by the rippling waves of pleasure. Daddy’s big, strong hands caress him as he hums in Leo’s ear, gently teasing his cock before moving to tease and stroke his thighs.
Leonardo churrs the way he knows Mommy and Daddy love, arcing his neck so Daddy can sink his teeth in. He growls playfully, shaking Leo until he squeals.
Then all of a sudden he’s being pulled off Daddy’s cock and being tipped face-first onto the bed. Leo scrabbles at the covers, whining at the loss.
“Hush,” Daddy says, placing a hand on his shell to keep him still. Leo can hear him whispering to Mommy, discussing grown-up things. Then Mommy says, “Turn him over, I want a better spot.”
When he’s flipped over, the first thing Leo sees is the iron stick glowing in Mommy’s hand. He sucks in a breath at the sight.
Mommy smiles at his expression. “Ah, treasure. You promised to be good to us, yes?”
“This,” Daddy explains, taking the iron from her, “Is the marking of our clan. It shows that you belong to us, that you love us and we love you. And we’ll never let you go.”
Leo blinks. “Will….will the others get it?” is the first thing out of his mouth, for whatever reason. He’s not quite sure how he feels at the idea of Alopex and Karai receiving this same option.
Mommy laughs. “Oh, no, kit. This is a gift especially for our baby.”
Leonardo squirms with pleasure at that, but can’t help wondering… “Will it hurt?” He saw what fire did to the others, all that time ago. He knows how cruel it can be.
“You’ll be fine, chunin.” Daddy reaches up and brushes a finger along Leo’s temple. “We know how to take care of precious things.” Leo shudders at the memory of the rat, of grief and loss and terrible pain that only his Mommy and Daddy can soothe. “As long as they prove their worth to us.”
As long as…. He knows what they mean, the way they would be hurt and betrayed if he refused, how he would fail them. And Leo refuses to fail anyone the way he failed his brothers.
“So will you do it?” Mommy asks, and now there’s a bit of an edge to her voice. She’s getting impatient.
No, a voice screams in his head, so sudden Leo almost jumps. But he...he can’t say no to Mommy and Daddy, can’t he? He already promised, and he loves them so much.
“Okay,” he says, squaring his shoulders. “I’ll do it.” From the way their eyes light up he knows he’s made the right decision.
“Good boy. Now, spread your legs.” Mommy dabs something on his right thigh and then settles in behind him, propping her hands on his shoulders. Her fingertips dig into his scales with just a hint of claw, keeping him steady.
Daddy approaches with the iron held high and Leo gulps, keeping his head high. He can do this. He can be brave for his Mommy and Daddy, because he loves them with every inch of his being and there is nothing he would ever deny them.
Leo sees a bright blur of metal and...
There’s a sharp flash of pain, but it’s gone in a few heartbeats. Daddy keeps it there for a few seconds longer, and then takes it away.
“Good boy,” he says, and just like that, it’s over. 
“You did so well, sweetheart,” Mommy croons, planting little kisses along Leo’s neck as Daddy puts the iron away and banks the fire. “We’re so proud of you.” Leo moans at the praise and the touch, whimpering as she brushes a gentle hand along his cock.
The brand on his thigh is a dark, dull red. The Foot logo seems upside down when he peers at it, making it right-side up to anyone who sees him coming. It looks like it should be screaming in pain, but it honestly doesn’t feel that bad.
"A good branding doesn't hurt," Mommy explains. "You should be grateful your daddy takes such good care of you.
Leo nods, because he is grateful, he's so lucky.
So when the tears start dripping down his cheeks, it’s quite a surprise.
“Kit?” Mommy asks.
“I’m sorry,” he says quickly, wiping at his eyes with hands that he’s horrified to realize are shaking. “I’m sorry, it didn’t even hurt, I don’t know why I’m, I’m.” He lets out a hiccuping gasp followed by a wave of nausea and struggles to shove it back down.
“What’s going on?” Daddy asks, looming over the bed. Leo flinches at the obvious anger in his eyes and the hard set to his mouth, bowing his head in shame. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I can’t…”
“He’s having a reaction,” Mommy says briskly.
His hands are scrabbling, twitching, and when he looks down he sees them digging dangerously close to the brand. Off, off, off a voice chants in his head, but that doesn’t make sense. Why would any part of him want to reject this gift?
Leo’s nail scratches the edge of the mark, and he lets out a pained whimper. “No,” Mommy says firmly, grabbing his hand.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry….” He’s shaking all over, and for a heartbeat he doesn’t know who he’s apologizing to. “I’m sorry, Mother--”
“Don’t.” Mommy’s hand clamps over his mouth, forcing his head back. She tightens her fingers, the edges digging into his cheeks, painfully sharp.
Then she’s squeezing his head, and he’s letting out a soft gasp as a wave of lightheadedness sweeps over him. Leo slumps back with a groan, sagging into the sheets.
He hears Mommy and Daddy talking over his head, their words fractured and meaningless.
“....pushed him too far, Saki….”
“......worth it for the look on the rat’s….”
“....suppose he does look quite beautiful that way….”
“.....Come, let’s enjoy…..”
Someone brushes a hand along his undamaged thigh and Leonardo jolts back to full consciousness with a gasp. “Mommy?”
“Hush, treasure.” She and Daddy are leaning over him, pressing their hands along his thighs, his face, his cock. “It’s all right.” She trails a soft string of kisses down his thigh.
There’s a bandage wrapped neatly around his leg, protecting it while it heals, and Leo blinks at the sight. He thinks he’s supposed to feel...something….over the sight of what’s been done to him, but all he feels is a deep sense of peace.
“We’re going to take such good care of you,” Daddy says, nudging his hardness up against Leo’s leg. He gasps in pain, but it's okay, because they’re looking at him with the kind of hunger he knows means love.
“You’re ours,” Mommy chimes in, running her hand against his chest. “You’re ours…”
The light flickers low as they both engulf him and her voice fills his ear, his world.
“And now the whole world will know it.”