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Three days was a long time to hide an infected wound.
Leo had gotten good at working around it. He'd learned to compensate for the burning pain where the knife had slipped between his plastron and shell.
Adapting his movements to protect his left side.
The initial injury hadn't been too deep - he'd cleaned it thoroughly, or so he'd thought.
But something had gone wrong.
Maybe he hadn't been able to reach properly to redress it. Maybe debris had gotten trapped inside. Whatever the cause, the heat spreading through his side definitely wasn't normal.
He was fine though. He had it under control.
"Again," he ordered, watching his brothers run through the morning kata. His vision swam slightly but he ignored it. He'd gotten good at ignoring things lately.
Don moved with precise efficiency, each strike exactly where it should be. Mikey added his own flourishes but hit every mark. Raph...
Raph was watching him.
Leo straightened automatically, fighting the urge to press a hand against his side. He met his brother's narrowed gaze steadily.
"Something wrong?"
Raph's eyes flickered to where Leo was ever-so-slightly favoring his left side, "Ya tell me."
"Your form is sloppy." Leo deflected smoothly, "Watch your footwork."
Raph’s jaw clenched but he turned back to the Kata. Leo allowed himself a breath of relief.
Training dragged on. Leo felt sweat beading on his forehead that had nothing to do with exertion. The fever was getting worse, but he just had to make it through the day.
Just had to keep going.
He managed to dismiss his brothers without arousing suspicion, though Raph's eyes lingered a moment too long. Leo waited until they were gone before letting his shoulders slump slightly.
Just for a moment.
The day passed in a haze of heat and dull pain.
Leo caught himself zoning out during meditation, lost time during his own practice sessions. The wound throbbed in time with his heartbeat, angry and hot.
He should probably look at it. Should probably tell someone.
But that would mean admitting he'd hidden it. Would mean worrying his family. Would mean being weak when they needed him to be strong.
And it was bad enough he’d been hit.
He'd taken down at least fifteen before the blade had found him. Still won the fight. Still completed the recon.
But he’d been hit none the less. And he couldn’t admit that.
So he pushed through. Ignored Don's concerned glance when he skipped dinner. Waved off Mikey's invitation to movie night.
Instead, he found himself in the dojo well past midnight, running through katas with mechanical precision. Each movement sent fire through his side, but the familiar patterns helped him focus.
He just had to keep moving. Had to push through. Had to...
The room tilted suddenly, the edges of his vision going dark. He tried to lock his knees, to stay upright through sheer force of will.
The floor rushed up to meet him anyway.
He lay there, cheek pressed against cool mats, trying to remember how to breathe through the waves of heat and pain.
Just... just needed a minute...
"Leo!" Raph's voice cracked with alarm as he dropped beside his brother, "I fuckin’ knew it!"
"M'fine," Leo tried to say, but the words came out slurred.
"Like hell you are." Raph's hands were already checking for injuries, movements quick and urgent, "Ya burnin’ up."
"Had it... under control..."
"Yeah, I can see that." But there was something beneath the sarcasm. Something that sounded almost like fear, "Let me see."
Leo wanted to protest, but staying conscious was taking all his focus. He felt Raph's hands checking him over with careful urgency, pausing when they found the source of the infection.
"What happened?" Raph's voice was very quiet.
"Foot ambush." Leo's words felt thick in his mouth, "Too many of them..."
"The warehouse district?" Understanding dawned in Raph's voice, "When ya were doing recon alone?"
Leo hummed an affirmative.
"And ya didn't think to mention ya got stabbed ?"
"Would've... worried..."
"Yeah, because findin’ ya collapsed in the dojo is so much better!"
Leo tried to focus on his brother's face, but everything was getting fuzzy around the edges.
He felt Raph shift, probably to go get Don, and panic surged through him.
His hand shot out, grabbing Raph's arm, "Don't..."
"Leo..."
"Just... need a minute..." But his grip was weakening, "Don't tell... don't..."
"Ya really think I'm lettin’ ya hide this?" Raph's voice was rough, "Ya can barely move!"
"M'fine..."
"You're an idiot is what ya are." But Raph's hands were gentle as they supported him, "Why do ya always gotta do this? Handle everythin’ yourself?"
"Have to..." Leo's words were barely a whisper now, "Have to be..."
"Strong?" Raph's laugh was bitter, "News flash, Fearless - passin’ out alone in the dojo ain't strong. It's stupid."
Leo wanted to argue, but the fight was draining out of him.
"Come on," Raph's voice was gruff but his grip was careful as he helped Leo up, "Let's get ya to Don before ya actually pass out on me."
Leo winced as he was pulled up, "Sorry."
"For gettin’ hurt or for bein’ an idiot about it?"
"Both?"
Raph's snort held no real heat, "Yeah well, next time just... just tell me, okay? Don't gotta handle everythin’ alone."
Leo wanted to argue. Wanted to explain about responsibility and leadership and strength.
But he was so tired. And Raph's shoulder was solid beneath him, keeping him upright when his own strength failed.
And maybe, just this once, that could be enough.