Out Of His Shadow
15 long years had passed since Master Splinter had adopt 4 small mutated turtles and now they all were strong and balanced individuals and he couldn't be more proud of those 4 turtles who he called and kept as his sons. However, as he now wacthed his oldests sons while stroking his beard he couldn't stop worrying. Lately Leonardo and Raphael had start to have much more argues and even more concerning was the fact they had start to physically fight against each others. Of course Raphael had always been the first one to start and Leonardo had only defense himself.
No matter how many times Splinter had took Raphael in his chamber and talk to him, it seemed to be in vain since his strict words hadn't reach his hot-headed son. Once more he was forced to step in between his sons when Raphael pushed Leo  who almost fell on his back on the floor.
"Raphael, enough!"
Those golden burning eyes turned on his father while his breathing was still burning his trachea, his heart keeping his rushing hot blood running in his veins. When he calmed down a bit, he turned to look his brother's bright blue eyes snorting.
"Looks like Master's favorite got his ass saved once again. What a weakling you are. Tsch, and we have to keep you as our fearless leader? Bullshit."
"Raphael, language."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Raphael marched past his father and brother, heading out of lair to cool his head which had become almost every day routine to him. Lately everything about Leo had start to piss him off, specially the fact how Leo had start to breath on his neck and demand more. Fuck, he was giving his all already so what Leo really wanted?!
After climbing up those cool and moist metal ladders Raph easily lifted manhole's cover and jumped from balcony to balcony, all the way up to the roof. Cool night wind greeted him as he closed his eyes, taking a deep inhale forcing himself to calm more but it was petty hard - like usually. Sitting at the edge of the roof he swung his hanging leg gently back and forth, rolling all thoughts in his head.
"What Leo really wants from me? What are his purposes ta keep pushing me? Why he's not doing that ta Mikey and Donnie? Does he want me ta become like him? Hell no! Not in a million years! I'm me and not some fucking useless leader! Fucking Splinter junior." 
Sudden presence behind him made him stiff since he knew who it was.
"What do ya want?!" 
Body covered with lighter green skin came to sit next to him, keeping his gaze straight forward.
"Master told me to come to get you back home."
"But of course. And ya obey him right away like a good little puppy. You're so pathetic, Leo."
"Listen, Raph, I do what I was trained to do."
"In other words ya are brainwashed by Splinter. Where the hell your own free will has go? Ya could do thing how ya like. And what ya would like."
"You know perfectly well I can't. I was chosen to be leader and I will do as leader should."
Leo's blue eyes followed Raph who suddenly stood up walking few feet away from him. He slowly turned around keeping his eyes locked on his tensed little brother.
"Ya know what, Leo? I fucking hate it what ya have become. I hate it and ya! Ya were my best buddy when we were kids! We had little adventures in the sewers together! We played together, shared secrets, support each other! We were equal, we were brothers but now...! Now ya keep playing this 'I'm a leader and ya 3 are my followers. Ya do as I tell ya ta do' - game instead of being our brother! We want and need our bro back! I need him back. I want real Leo back."
Leo saw a sudden flash of sadness in those golden eyes when they were making their way down, looking the roof under his feet. Slowly Leo pushed himself on his feet taking few steps closer, reaching his hand on Raphael's shoulder.
"Raph... I'm still me and I'm here for you, you know that. I have try to be there for you like I was as a kid but you stared to push me further and further away and I got all these responsiblities what I have to fulfill and---"
"Shut up!"
His hand was slapped off on Raph's shoulder as his hot-headed brother backed away.
"I heard enough! If ya really would care about us, ya would take your leadership role more easy and ya would spend time with us like a brother but no, you're always wearing this leader status. Ya just can't sink so low and be at the same level with us!"
"Raph, honestly, I know what you're saying and I'm sorry and I understand bu---"
"Bullshit ya understand!"
Suddenly everything spin in Leo's eyes and he soon realized being on his carapace on the ground, staring strict expression on Raph's face above him.
"Do me a favorite 'leader' and go back ta that stinking lair. Go back whining ta your master how ya didn't managed ta get me ta come back."
"What? You're not coming back?" With simple swing Leo jumped on his feet, turning around on his heels keeping his serious piercing gaze on Raph.
"Ya heard me, bro. I'm ain't coming. I'm better on my own so fuck off."
When Leo was about to protest, he saw many figures behind Raph on next roof. Instant reaction was to pull his katanas out of their scabbards, nailing his gaze on his target. Raph lazily took a look over his shoulder, wide smirk spreading on his face as he released his sais from his belt, swinging them fast in his hands.
"Oh, how damn perfect time for these idiots ta show up! I can let out some steam for real."
"Raph, listen. I have a bad feeling so stay close, okay? We can't get separated."
"Pla pla pla, Leo. It's nothing like these punks are gonna beat us." His smirk turned more wider as he leaped across the air on another roof, knocking few foot clan down. Leo watched his brother, hearing his laugh of joy and somehow... it sounded so evil, sending chills down on Leo's spine. He was going to go help his brother despite the fact Raph was doing fine holding on his own but right then Leo sensed someone behind him who he never didn't want to sense.
With one fast move Leo made somersault forward in the air, landing on his feet facing his opponent and his senses had been right. All that metal and all those spikes...
"Shredder."
Evil laugh echoed slightly in that metal helmet as his enemy took his fighting pose.
"It has been a long time, Leonardo. I'm glad to see you're doing fine after our last encounter."
"And I really hoped it would had been our last one. What does it take to kill you for good?"
"You turtles can never defeat me! I'm ultimate fighter! One and only ruler! The Shredder!"
Leonardo crossed his blades in front of him, staring into those red shiny eyes. Man if he hated something, it really was those red eyes and everything else about Shredder. At times Leo had found himself wondering how Shredder always had managed to come back. Was he immortal?
His focus turned sharp again as his opponent moved before dashing toward him. Luckily it was a straight hit so Leo easily blocked it and other few attacks before kicking Shredder on his stomach, making his slide backward a bit holding painful area.
"You have improve, Leonardo. That rat has managed to teach you something new?"
"He has teach me everything what he knows but there are movement what I have improve or make up myself." Satisfying smirk spread on Leo's face. "Are you surprised?"
"Ha... ha... hah hah HHAHAHHA! No. Just amused you fool think you can beat me with those skills of yours."
"You know I have beat you many times before."
Angry growl was heard as Shredder launched toward Leo with greater force once again and the hit was so powerful, coming from so difficult way right above that Leo didn't had a change to block it perfectly so the force of the impact made him fall on his left knee as he fought to keep his katanas above his head, keeping that sharp sword of Shredder's away from his head.
"Hahaha, fool! It ends here and now, turtle! Without you your brothers are totally lost!"
"N--NO!"
--
Raphael threw the last unconcious body on the floor until he heard Leo's scream. With speed he turned to look behind him only to see the moment where Leo's katanas fell out of his hold and Shredder's blade cut down on the front side, Leo's painful screaming filling the air, turning Raphael's heart cold.
"LEO!!"
Faster than ever he jumped back on the first roof rushing to battle, jumping in the air kicking Sherred away from his brother. Taking fast look of Leo told him instantly he was hurt, there was lots of blood on Leo's thighs while he was bending slightly forwad holding his face's left side.
"Ya okay, bro?"
But he got no answer so he made the decision while turning his gaze back on his enemy.
"Leo, listen ta me. If ya can walk, take your katanas and go back home. I got your back."
"N... No. I can't leave you behind. M-master always says... N-never leave a brother behind."
"You're hurt, fool! Go, I will follow ya after I have deal with that metal bucket."
"Why are you doing this? You said you hated me."
Raphael swallowed keeping his gaze locked on its target before speaking.
"I hate ya, yes, but you're also my brother and for that I... love ya... Now go."
Leo stood up shaking bending down to take his swords when he discovered something wasn't right with his left eye. M-maybe there was just too much blood in it so he couldn't see well with it. He took last look of his brother who stood still so firmly, being more than ready to kick Shredder's ass.
"Just so you know... I hate to do this, but..." He stepped right next to his short tempered brother placing his katanas once again in front of him. "I'm not gonna go and leave you here, Raph. What kind of brother I would be if I would save only myself?"
"You would be smart one, turtle."
Fast look from the corner of his eye told Raph everything. Leo was so focused on Shredder so he wouldn't notice if Raph would do something so he raised his hand behind Leo's head and hit him once hard, making his brother fall on the floor on his face unconscious.
"That should take care of that. Okay, you metal head! Let's go! I'm gonna kill ya for hurting my family so many times!"
Shredder stood up straigh spreading his hands to his sides laughing.
"Do your worst, puny reptile."
Raphael growled deep in his throat as he took more tight hold on his sais, launching toward Shredder, making weapons class over and over again between hits, kicks and dodges. Battle between those two were long and pretty equal which was kind of shock to both of them but still, Raph couldn't deny the fact his body was turning tired despite the fact he had good stamina. Blocking Shredder's hard and powerful hits had drain so much of his strenght that this battle must be ended as soon as possible.
Like a miracle there appeared to be rope right next to Raph's feet so he bend down catching it with speed, throwing it at Shredder's feet who somehow managed to get his ankles tied, falling on his back. In a flash Raphael jumped in the air both of his sais pointing down at Shredder's body. In mere seconds Shredder managed to lift his sword as Raph landed on him, piercing Shredder's armor at stomach's area, stabbing him over and over again.
--
Leonardo was coming back as he heard his brothers voice and when those eyes opened, shocked gasp left him. His brother was on top of Shredder, stabbing him in the stomach over and over again spilling blood all around, repeating "Die! Die! Die!".
"N-No, Raph! Stop! That's enough!"
But he did not listen. His steady and blood covered arm rose for the last time, piercing Shredder's throat. The rumble of thunder above their heads and slowly increasing raining calmed his tremling body and wild mind as he slowly stood off on Shredder's lifeless body but then something just... made him bend down and take his helmet. Something was just weird and he couldn't tell what it was. Like if that helmet was telling him to take it.
"R-Raph...?"
Silent trembling voice of Leo's made Raph turn his head toward his brother who was further away but he didn't take any step toward him, help him. Instead he turned fully to face his brother holding this helmet in his armpit taking steps backward at the edge of the roof.
This confused Leonardo who raised his hand toward his brother who took last step before stopping, giving a weird look what looked like if he said; "I'm sorry" before he turned around and jumped into the night with Shredder's helmet.
Soon a group of Foot soldiers appeared on the roof and they took a look of injured Leo who desperately tried to keep his katanas in his shaking hands but those ninjas weren't interested on fighting him. Instead they went to Shredder's body, picked it up and carried it away while thunder rumbled loudly above them once more.
Leonardo sat up, slowly turning on his knees and getting on his feet coming at the end of the roof, looking around. No sign of Foot or Raph. He wanted to call Raph but it would had been dangerous and he could had been spotted so instead he took his swords and left back to lair, constantly rolling those same questions in his mind.
"What on Earth really happened? Is Shredder really dead? Why Raph took his helmet and left? Where is he? What he's up to? Is he going to come back?"
The more closer the lair he came, the more his worries rose since he also now would have to tell everything to his father.
******