Chapter Text
From as long as Leo can remember, he's always been protected.
His family had been sheltered in the safety of the darkness, and they always had nothing but each other. It was always him and his three big brothers. Three big brothers who would bend hell for him. Since birth, they stayed underground, hidden from the busy streets of New York. Hidden from the people who would surely kill them on sight. Safe, and together.
But Leo always remembered being hungry, or Raph being sick. He remembered Donnie's tired red eyes watching over him and Raph, while Mikey and Sensei were off searching the sewers for something to eat. He remembered the way Mikey cried each night into Sensei's robe, begging him to teach him how he could keep his brothers safe.
It wasn't always bad though. Mikey and Donnie made it fun. Mikey would play games with him and Raph, and Donnie would teach them how to read and write and do basic math, using whatever he could find. Sensei would give them toys, shabby at best, but Leo had never known anything else. To him, those toys were top-of-the-line. The best of the best. That's all Leo ever knew. Soggy, weathered math books and teddy bears with too little stuffing. Leo was satisfied with that.
And then Mikey and Donnie began going to the surface. Alone. And things began getting a little tenser. Because Raph wouldn't stand to be left behind. Not with Leo. Not with a baby.
"I'm only a year younger! Why do Mikey and Donnie get to go topside and I don't?! " Raph had complained, stamping his foot infront of Sensei. Leo watched from a distance. He was content with his life in the sewers. Donnie usually brought him gifts, and Mikey told him stories. What more could he want? Well, sure he was curious, but if Sensei says no, then Leo won't pry.
"Raphael. Michelangelo and Donatello are your older brothers. They have lived longer, I have taught them more. They are more mature. This outburst of yours is exactly why I do not let you go with them. Also, your job is just as important. You keep Leonardo company."
"I don't want to keep Leo company! It's not fair, Sensei. Leo's whiny, and annoying. I want to go topside with Mikey and Donnie!"
Leo didn't stick around to hear Sensei scold Raph. He had never felt more alone. So, he went looking for Donnie. He found him and Mikey chilling in Donnie's lab. They were huddled together, whispering amongst themselves as they read over what looked like one of Donnie's textbooks. The cover was faded, Leo couldn't tell what it was about.
"Donnie? Mikey?" Leo asked, poking his head into the lab. Mikey looked up, and gave Leo one of those picture-perfect smiles. The ones that Mikey always had on. That was the type of confidence Leo craved. He wanted to be just as cool as his big brothers some day.
"Hey Leo, do you need something?" Donnie looked up from his book, handing it to Mikey from him to mark up and shut closed. Leo rocked on his heels. "Am I annoying to you?"
The twins paused, and Mikey looked up at him with concern etched into his face. "Leo, what're you talkin' about, dude? 'Course we don't find you annoying." He said earnestly. Leo's heart bloomed with relief, and a little hurt. "Raph thinks I am. He said so."
Mikey's expression softened, and Donnie's hardened. Leo changed up his mood instantly. "But- But- But it's okay! I don't care! You don't gotta yell at him, Sensei's doing that."
At that mention, Mikey put a hand on Donnie's shoulder, and whispered something in his ear. The taller boy nodded, and with a grunt, sat back down.
“Hey, L,” Mikey started, giving him a smile. “Forget about whatever Raph’s been saying. You know he doesn’t like to use his head.” Leo giggled at that, cause it was true. Raph thought more with his fists than his brain. Mikey outstretched an arm to him.
“Chill with us, dude. We’ll protect you from Raphzilla and his runny mouth.” He grinned, chuckling. Leo nestled in between Donnie and Mikey, as Mikey and Donnie continued to drone on about whatever was in that textbook. Now that Leo’s listening, he figures out its a medical textbook. Where’d they find that?
As long as Leo can remember, he’s been safe and sound. Nestled between his big brothers, as they went about their life.