Chapter Text
“Hey Leo, you awake?”
The turtle in question groaned softly as he rolled over blinking owlishly, “I’m always awake dude. What’s up?” He asked, propping himself up on his elbows as he looked down at his brother laying down on an air mattress placed on the floor.
It has been just a few days after they had finally rescued Sandro from the prison dimension. And while it might’ve been better to have him stay in the med bay for the time being in order to make sure everything was at least physically okay, Sandro had always felt more comfortable and safe when bunking with Leo. And well, with how the past few days have been- who were they to say no?
“I dunno, I can’t sleep.” Sandro mumbled softly, pulling the comforter up closer to his face.
“Pfft, relate.” Leo snorted, finally sitting up, “Anything on your mind.”
Sandro just shrugged in reply, “It’s nothing super big it’s just that I-“ his voice got quiet as if he was pondering whether to continue or not, “I didn’t really think you guys would come back for me? We were up there for so long I figured you’d just eventually forget about me. Especially with y’know the fate of the world at stake or whatever. I guess it’s just that, I went in and didn’t really think I’d ever come out.”
Leo suddenly felt frozen as feelings of guilt surged through his entire body
“….What?” His voice beginning to crack, “You thought, you thought we’d leave you there?” He asked in a desperate hushed tone
“I mean- kinda?” He said, turning his head to avoid Leo’s intense gaze, “It makes sense right? Fate of the world at stake and all, didn’t think it would be worth the risk y’know?”
He only got silence in response.
The sound of blankets shifting is what finally cued Sandro to look back up toward his brother as he watched him climb off his bed and settle next to him on the air mattress. Sandro slowly sat up curiously, studying the expression on Leo’s face whose eyes were fixated on his hands between his lap.
“Sandro.” Leo finally spoke up softly, gaining his brother's attention, as he turned to make direct eye contact, “I know that as a whole, our relationship with you has always been kind of rocky. But, we would never abandon you, okay?”
Leo’s eyes were filled with nothing but determination and promise, it didn’t make sense.
“Why though?” He asked quietly, “I’m nothing compared to you guys, I’m not smart like Donnie, or a battle strategist like you, or strong like Raph, or heartfelt like Mikey, I’m just.. I’m the fifth wheel, a loser right? you guys don’t really need me around and everyone knows it so why would you bother even-“
“I’m gonna stop you right there.” Leo interrupted, placing his hands on both sides of his shoulders, eyes staring directly into his, “Sandro, it wouldn’t even matter if you were the least talented person on the entire planet, you matter to us because you’re our brother, and we care about you regardless of what you do, you’re important to us because we just love you. And the end of the world would never come between us not giving up on you.”
Sandro blinked in surprise before suddenly feeling his eyes start to well up, “I love you guys too.” he whispered quietly
Leo smiled softly in response, “C’mere dude.” he said, arms opened wide.
Sandro found himself cuddled up in his brother's arms in less than a second, hugging tightly, head resting within the crook of Leo’s neck.
They sat like that in silence for a few minutes before Leo spoke up, “Hey, do you wanna know a secret?” He asked quietly.
Sandro shifted his face up slightly in response, “Yeah?”
“I’m not really as cool as you think I am.”
“…What?” He asked incredulously, pulling back to look at his brother, “Of course you are! You’re the coolest person I know! What are you talking about??”
Leo gazed back at him fondly, “Look don’t get me wrong, I know I’m totally awesome and obviously the best brother, and my fashion style is superior to everyone else but honestly man?”
He huffed out quietly, taking a moment to collect his thoughts, “Y’know I don’t really like talking about it cause it’s kind of embarrassing but honestly? I wouldn’t really be any of that without you guys. If we’re being completely transparent, I kinda amount to nothing on my own.” He said, a sad smile making its way on his face.
“That’s. The most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard, and I’m supposed to be the dumb one.” His brother deadpanned
Leo blinked in surprise. A little taken aback, that was not the response he thought he was gonna get, “ Dude I just bared my heart and soul to you and that’s what you say back?”
“Well what else am I supposed to say! Did you want me to agree with you?” Sandro exclaimed back
“No! I mean- ughh, no!” Leo groaned out in frustration, “That wasn’t the point I was trying to make.”
“Than what was!”
I don’t know!” He yelled throwing his hands up dramatically before dragging a palm down across his face with a sigh, “I guess, my point is just that I wouldn’t be where I am now without you guys okay? I need you, all of you.” He said pointedly, looking up to meet Sandro’s eye.
It wasn’t long before Leo suddenly felt his body careening to the side as Sandro threw his entire body weight around him, landing with a soft grunt.
“We need you too Leo. Don’t forget that okay?” Sandro’s voice whispered quietly, and he wrapped his arms tighter around his body.
Leo couldn’t really explain the feeling that came over him at that statement. Though, if he didn’t know any better, he’d say it almost felt like he wanted to cry.
“Okay.”
They laid in silence like that for the next couple minutes, both content to just sit in the comfort that was each others arms.
---
Comfortable silence only lasts so long between the two most talkative brothers however, especially when one of them still had a few swirling thoughts that refused to go away unless answered.
“Hey Sandy?” Leo eventually spoke up from the floor, shaking his brother slightly just as he had begun to doze off
“Hm?” Sandro replied noncommittedly
“What did you mean when you said you were a loser?”
“Mm, what about it?” He asked tiredly, eyes still shut
“You know you’re not right?” Leo asked, as he began to prop himself up with his elbows, disturbing Sandro from his comfortable napping spot, getting a disgruntled groan in return
“Not a huh?”
“A loser.”
“Hm? Oh, yeah. Yeah I know.” He replied lazily, ready to fall back asleep
“Hey- what no?? Dude come on don’t give me, that look at me.” Leo said as he started propped Sandro back up, the slider fully back awake now
It wasn’t very often that Sandro just openly admitted to big insecurities like the ones he had. Sure he usually was more emotionally intelligent alongside Mikey and voiced his needs much more than Leo or Donnie ever did. But that made Leo all the more determined to get this talked out right, otherwise he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep that night.
Because yeah the emotional talks weren’t exactly his forte, but he knew how to navigate them. And he also knew that he never wanted to see another brother sacrifice themselves for him again.
He was the leader. He needed to keep everyone safe, which included making sure they were all aware that they were needed on this team.
And even if Sandro understood that they’d always need him as a brother, Leo also needed to make sure he knew that he wasn’t dead weight on the team and that his skills were valued too.
Because he knew what it felt like when you didnt know that.
And he wasn’t going to allow Sandro to deal with it either. Not if Leo could help it. So- he was going to do what he was best at.
“Come on dude just give me like five minutes and I’ll let you go back to sleep capiche?” He said teasingly, as he reached over to pat on both sides of his brother's cheek’s, “Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!” He sang-song repeatedly as he hands smacked against his Sandro’s face harder and harder with each one
“Ack- Okay! I’m up stop it!” Sandro giggled back slapping his brother's hand’s away, “ What?”
Leo laughed out, smirking playfully as he finally settled back into his spot pulling away, “I just need to tell you something.”
Sandro leveled him with look that supposedly was meant to be interpreted as a “ Really?” But his rising smile was quick to give him away, always one to put up with and regularly join along with Leo’s antics, “Well do it quickly because I was just getting comfortable”
The remark of which, only made Leo crack a wild grin in response, “Then buckle in hermano because I’m about to give you the greatest motivational pep talk of your life!” He exclaimed loudly as he jumped up into a standing position
“You my good brethren,” He started out, pointing down at Sandro, “I say are not a loser, nor a fifth wheel but actually the coolest big bro ever, donttellraph, my number one and most dependable wingman, the turtle with the best aim on the team, and actually one of our best ninpo users on the field, if I do say so myself. Which I do, and as the quote-unquote battle strategist of the team plus the leader I believe that gives me authority over everyone else’s opinion so if they say otherwise they can suck it.” Leo ranted proudly, his grin getting bigger with each point, “You get all that in your head Sandy? Or do I have to say it all again?”
Sandro, whose attention had become completely enraptured by his brother, felt both a strong surge of both immense appreciation and confidence upon hearing the speech, as he stared up in stunned awe but also a hidden sense of pride within his chest.
Because even if Sandro continued to look up to Leo in more ways than one, a part of him would always watch him as the older sibling that he was, in that seeing him grow as a person was an incredible thing to watch.
Leo was going to make a fantastic leader.
“Yeah,” he replied wobbly, urging the tears that threatened to fall back, “I got it” He said, smiling with a toothy grin
“Good.” Leo said out of breath before flopping back down next to him, “And just so you know- because no one ever really talks about it cause honestly it was lowkey a little traumatic for everyone but- the way you used your antigravity to pull the krang back through the portal was one of the coolest fucking things you’ve ever done.”
Of course, they were all pushing the limits of their ninpo then but Sandro had seriously manifested one of the biggest power boosts Leo had ever seen.
The effect his ninpo had on their surroundings would’ve been really something to marvel at if only everything hadn’t been so terrifying at the time. Leo could still remember watching in shock as Sandro’s clouds slowly transformed into a swirling storming tornado as the air around them suddenly turned charged and electric and the smell of ozone pierced the atmosphere.
Leo had been the only one there to fully experience it.
Leo had also been completely powerless to stop it as all of his senses stopped working and he could do nothing else but just watch in shock.
His reminiscing was stopped short however as Sandro responded in turn
“I didn’t even know I could do that!” He exclaimed loudly, “I just knew that- well it was like I blinked and bam! Tornado!”
The unspoken cutoff meaning was heard clearly through the proud claim however
I just knew that I couldn’t let you do that
I just knew that I had to keep you safe
I just knew that I couldn’t let you go through with it
I just knew that it had to be me instead
Leo huffed as a small smirk emerged on his face, the dum-dum had totally stolen his hero moment.
Him and his brother had always tended to be on the same wavelength afterall.
Stupid.
“I do think we’ve all collectively gotten really good at using our ninpo though.” Sandro added in softly which only elicited a long groan in response
“ Ughhh whatever! Sure we’re all good, ignore the fact that Donnie’s is literally just gun, I mean where’s the creativity right? Sure it’s badass and an unfairly OP, but anyone could up with that.”
“I’ve always thought that-“
Another loud groan, “Why do you all suck at taking compliments! I’m trying to be nice,”
Of course, the outlandish and loud complaining was just for show as Leo snuck a quick glance over to see Sandro grinning and laughing wildly at his antics.
He’d truly do anything to keep him smiling like that.
.
.
.
Although that still didn’t exclude Sandro from getting teased on like everyone else.
“I’m really glad you finally decided to move on from those salami sticks though bro, because let me tell you, it was starting to get embarrassing and those things were definitely starting to rot”
“Hey!” Sandro shouted out in offense, throwing a pillow aimed spectacularly for Leo’s face, “You of all people don’t get to judge me. Not when you and Mikey have also fought with lunch meat before too. Plus fish. So you can’t tell me my salami sticks didn’t pack a mean punch, it’s not my fault you can’t use them properly” Sandro argued, “Besides I wasn’t even the first to weaponize them! Don’t you remember what April did to that robot in the Stock N’ Shop?”
“...Okay fair but that’s April! April can turn anything into a weapon. Besides, you didn’t have to keep them afterward! April didn’t!”
“I liked using them sue me! It’s not like you can find any weapon equivalent to salami sticks” Sandro argued
“April literally uses a bat.” Leo deadpanned
“It’s not the same! A bat’s too stiff but the salami sticks had a top-tier spring back and it fit in my hands really well! Not all of us got to get magical mystic weapons and Donnie won’t let me within three feet of any titanium weapons, I worked with what I had.” Sandro pouted.
“I still can’t believe that a salami stick last as long as it did, especially compared to that metal pipe Donnie gave you once.” Leo snickered
“I just prefer prosciutto there’s nothing wrong with that.”
A bark of laughter echoed through the cart as Leo tried to bite his tongue to prevent anymore sound from escaping lest he wake up the rest of their family, “You’re so weird dude”
“Whatever Leo, you’re weirder!” Sandro laughed smacking a palm into Leo’s face to get him to stop
Despite his defense of his previous choice of weaponry however, Sandro was very grateful for his new throwing stars. They were a lot easier to carry around and Donnie regularly applied a bittering agent coating that prevented Sandro from being tempted to chew on them so it all worked out in the end
A soft ping suddenly sounded from Leo’s phone as the screen lit up signaling a notification and interrupting their collective giggles.
Leo roughly shoved off Sandro’s hands smirking as he reached for his phone.
Fivehead:
Could you two possibly get any louder? You’re going to wake up Raph.
Leo snickered quietly in response as he typed back a quick apology and thumbs up before turning back to his brother.
“Donnie says we’re too loud,” He said teasingly, “I think he’s more concerned that Raph’s gonna come for his ass first before getting to us though”
Sandro laughed back, “Time for bed then?”
“If you’re ready to go back to sleep now sure.” Leo smiled softly
“I’m good, promise” He assured, as he began to shuffle back under his covers
“Glad to hear it man” Leo nodded before climbing back into his own bed.
Right before he was about to shut his eyes he heard his brother ask one more thing.
“Leo?”
“Hm?”
“Thank you.”
He smiled to himself, “No problem Sandy.”
The pair ended up sleeping soundly through the night without any other interruption.
---
A wet substance dripping upon his face is what eventually ended up waking Leo at 9 in the morning as he gruffly wiped a hand across his face in annoyance and cracked open his eyes
“What-” He sounded looking around for the source before eventually craning his neck up and finding the source of his rude awakening.
There laid his brother, floating up against the ceiling, comforter still hanging off his body as loud snores and drool slowly escaped from the sleeping turtle's wide-open mouth
“ EUGH GROSS ! Sandro!! We talked about this!” Leo yelled loudly as he chucked a Jupiter Jim figured at his brother while hurriedly trying to get all the remaining drool off.
Things were finally starting to turn back to normal.