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Leonardo never thought that dying could be so peaceful.
He always thought that when his time was up, it will hurt. He was so sure of that. After everything he’d done, after all the lives he’d taken, why wouldn’t it hurt? He’d seen his enemies fall, he’d been the one to deliver the last blow so many times, and never in his life had he seen someone die with a smile on their face.
Even back then on Shredder’s spaceship, when death was inevitable, both his body and mind hurt.
And yet now, somehow, there wasn’t any pain.
Only peace.
“It’s alright,” he whispered, trying to keep the grip on Donatello’s hand tight and strong. “It’s alright, guys.”
The battle had ended. His brothers were surrounding him, kneeling on the ground next to him. Their hands were colored red from how they tried to tend Leonardo’s wounds, but it soon became obvious that the damage was too extensive.
“It’s not,” they argued, their words already heavy with sadness and tears. “Leo,” Mikey urged, “please, hold on. Please.”
“It’s okay,” he repeated, trying and failing to raise his free hand. “You’re safe. We did it.”
He wished he could say his goodbye to his father. To April and Casey and the rest of their friends, of the family they’d made along the way, but he couldn’t bring himself to care that much.
He had his brothers by his side. They were healthy and unharmed, and that was more than enough.
“We did it,” Raph breathed out, taking Leonardo’s hand into his. The older turtle smiled, blue eyes shining.
Donatello and Michelangelo snapped their heads toward Raphael, gasping incredulously. Second later, their postures changed, and the oh-so-intense expressions of desperate hope crumbled. Leonardo wanted to wipe that looks of their faces, wanted to do something to see his brothers smile instead of cry, but he couldn’t find the strength to do so.
“You’re safe,” Leonardo muttered again, blinking. They were. They had to be. He couldn’t leave them if there was danger. “Safe?”
“We are, aniki,” Donatello whispered. “You don’t have to worry, Leo. We’re safe.”
He let out a deep breath, closing his eyes in relief. He did it, he fulfilled his promise and role as the eldest. He kept them safe.
It was harder to force his eyes open, but he needed to tell them one last thing. “Love you.” He looked them in their eyes, one by one, and they instantly reached out to clasp his hand. Leonardo stared at the fusion of greens, merged together like it was supposed to be. Like they were supposed to be.
“We love you too, Leonardo.”
Their voices were hushed. They were crying. Maybe he should be crying too, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. He had known his whole life that he will die in a battle, protecting his brothers. He was prepared.
And they were safe.
Fighting was all he had ever known. Yet the knowledge that he won’t have to fight anymore didn’t bring him unease, just… peace.
He stared at his brothers, feeling their touches for the last time, remembering their love for eternity. The world started to dim, all the sounds and colors fading away, until only three figures remained.
His brothers.
His world.
“It’s alright, Leo. We love you. You can rest now, aniki.”