Work Text:
“Well, you heard him, fellas! LAST ONE STANDING GETS TO GO WITH POPS!” Raph bellowed, and everyone immediately jumped into the fray.
As they fought, kicking and punching, and biting, Leo was desperate. All of them had spent time with Dad lately, everyone but him. And if he won- then, then-! Dad would have no excuse not to spend time with him!
As everyone gradually collapsed, Leo's heart soared. He was at the top of the pile! He'd won! Finally, finally-!
“Looks like ol’ Leon is the winner!” He exclaimed, dazed and falling forward slightly, but before he could sit up, a weight stomped onto his shell, slamming a foot on his head.
“Alright!” April exclaimed, “I get to go!”
What.
“Wonderful!” Splinter exclaimed, and was that relief in his voice. . .?
Leo shook his head, clearing the memory and trying to force all the anger away with it.
Because it just- it wasn't fair.
They'd all spent time with Splinter, and had some kind of nice moment. But Leo? Nothing.
His Dad hadn't picked him for anything. And when he finally, finally had a chance, someone swooped in to steal it. Again.
It's not fair.
It really wasn't.
April hadn't even fought with them.
And, look, Leo knew she was strong, she could hold her own in a fight well! But they all knew she couldn't have won that one, they were mutant soldiers. If she had fought, Leo would have won.
I would have beaten her easily.
And that was the thing, wasn't it?
Leo clenched his teeth, glaring down at the comic he was slowly crumpling between his hands. He'd been so close. And April hadn't even joined the fight for it! She just- swooped in!
Always stealing.
That really was the case.
Any time Leo had much of anything, someone had to come in and just. . .take it. Or be so much better at it, that everyone just assumed he was the one copying or forgot him in the first place.
“Purple is the funny one!”
“Mikey, you're so talented!”
“Raph's plans always work!”
“I get to go!”
Leo squeezed his eyes shut, hands clamping onto the paper so tightly that they started shaking.
He was so angry-
No.
No.
No. He wasn't going to be angry about this.
April was their friend, their big sister. She'd done a lot for them all.
She was an older sibling for Raph and helped to divide all the responsibility with him, she was Donnie's best friend and always encouraged him, she was Mikey's encourager and always provided him with more art supplies.
And she. . . tolerated Leo.
And steals from me too
Leo let out a slow breath, hands shaking. He threw the comic to the side, staring down at his shaking hands. Was that pink around them-
A knock interrupted his thoughts, making him look up.
“Hey, Blue Boy!” April greeted, walking into his room after pushing aside the curtain, “Donnie told me to come and grab you! He said there's Hawaiian pizza and he needs a hoodlum to come and eat it.”
Leo snorted, pasting on a bright smile despite the rage bubbling beneath the surface, “Alright.”
April held her hand out, clearly offering a hand up, and Leo-
He grabbed her hand, prying himself up. And clenched his hand, squeezing-
“AUGH-!” April cried, trying to yank her hand away, “LEO! LEO! OW!”
Leo gasped, yanking his back, what am I-!?, “April! I'm sorry! I didn't realize I was squeezing so hard! Are you okay!?”
April hissed out a pained breath, socking him on the arm with her other hand, “Ouch! Be careful! I'm not a freaky mutant like you!”
“No,” Leo agreed, gently taking her hand and examining the dark bruise and swelling that was already starting, “You're definitely not.”
April went home in a wrist brace.