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“What took you so long?”
The question was silent, barely audible. Raphael’s voice not louder than a whisper, raspy and aching. But it served its purpose, for it made Donatello and Michelangelo lift their heads and look at the newcomer.
“Leo?” Mikey uttered, scrambling on his feet only to collapse on the ground. Don and Raph were by his side instantly, trying to steady him, but the ninja had eyes only for their eldest brother. “Leo, you came.”
The leader didn’t move closer. He stayed at the entrace of the room, staring at them through the bars of the cell they were locked in.
“Leo?” Michelangelo repeated, nervously.
Raphael shifted on his feet. “You are here to break us out, right?”
“No,” Leonardo answered softly. “Not today, I’m not here to break you out.”
They stilled. It was the firt time they saw him since they were separated, first time since they were thrown in this cell and left to rot, and that was nearly a month ago. Nearly a month ago and in the meantime, the three turtles were stuck in this confined space, living off poor food rations.
“What?” Raphael gripped the bars. “You’re not – why not?!”
Leonardo took a step closer. “It’s not the right time.”
“What does that even mean?” Donatello demanded, coming to stand next to his older brother together with Mikey. “You’re walking freely and I know you can break the lock. We can escape!”
He shook his head. “No. We can’t.”
Finally, Leonardo stepped out of the dark and into the light provided by a torch attached on the wall next to the bars. As one, the turtles gasped, backing away. Shock and disbelief filled their hearts, and the brotherly bond between them and Leo stretched out and twisted, the feeling as sharp as Leo’s blades.
The elbow and knee pads were different; black instead of brown. He had bandages all the way up from wrists to shoulders, and he had them on his legs, too. His mask was black, as was the wrapping on his katanas. They barely noticed any of this, though, because they couldn’t get their eyes of the Foot insignia displayed on his new shoulder plates.
“Leo,” Raphael managed to say, “what did you do?”
The eldest looked them right in the eyes. “What I had to.” He lifted his hands and just now did they notice the he way carrying a tray. A tray filled with food, more food than they’d seen in the last month.
Michelangelo shook his head violently. “No!” he yelled. “This can’t be true. Leo, you can’t be serious.”
Without answering, Leonardo kneeled, opening the small door on the bottom part of the bars. The hole was just big enough for the tray to fit in and he pushed it through, closing the opening. He stood up directly in front of the bars. “You’ll get more food from now on, I promise.”
He was so close to his brothers. So close and yet so incredibly far.
“This isn’t happening,” Mikey muttered. “This is just a nightmare.”
Oh, it was a nightmare, but not just. It was very real, and they all knew it.
Raph hit the bars. Leonardo didn’t even flinch. “Why?” he growled, but it was more desperate than angry.
He didn’t look away. “You know why.”
Donatello’s hands fell limply by his sides. “He told you he’ll spare us.”
“He told me he will let you live,” Leonardo agreed. “He told me he won’t hurt you. He didn’t – and he won’t.”
Don gritted his teeth. “As long as you abide by whatever deal you have.”
“Yes.”
Michelangelo blinked, trying and failing to keep the shakiness out of his voice, “He agreed to let us live if you become his soldier?”
For the first time, Leonardo averted his eyes. “No.” He stepped back without elaborating. “Enjoy your food. I’ll be back tomorrow with more. Be strong, otoutotachi. I’ll get you out. Just give me some time. Please.”
He started walking away, his posture completely controlled.
“Leonardo!” His brothers called after him, desperately demanding answers. From the moment they saw him, they knew that their brother had exchanged his soul in order to save them. They needed to know how much he sacrificed. They needed to know how much he hurt.
“What did he do to you? What did he offer?”
The ninja stopped with his hand on the door. “He promised he will spare you.” He turned his head, the blue in his eyes shining with suppressed emotions. “He promised he will let you live. That’s all you need to know.”
Then he was gone. The door behind him closed with a loud click, silencing his brothers’ protests and screams.
Taking a deep breath, Leonardo looked at the Shredder standing at the end of the hall. The commander nodded aprovingly. “Are you ready for the ceremony?”
He forced the words out of his throat, trying to ignore the wrongness of them. “Yes, father.”
Oroku Saki smiled. “Then let the Foot Clan finally meet my heir.”