Chapter Text
”Raph… I can walk now…” Leo intoned, but the snapper only shook his head, tightening his grip and letting out angry little clicks. They walked in silence a little ways longer when Leo squirmed again. “Raphie it’s okay…”
”Draxum gave you a shock collar.” Raph seethed, and Leo gulped. “That level of electricity coulda killed ya.”
Leo snorted. “Oh please, I was fine. Just a little… shocked, heh.”
”Don’t joke about this Leo!” Raph snapped, stopping abruptly and glaring down at his little brother. “And what was that whole act in there? Ya were acting like you loved Draxum and thought he was incredible. Where’s that level of acting been, huh? Ya got starved for three days and not for the first time, ya got a shock collar, ya had to chug that alcohol… Lee what the shell? Why can’t ya act that way with Draxum?”
”Pfft, no reason. This just sounds like a fun challenge.” Leo smirked. No need for Raph to know the truth.
The snapper scowled. “Leo, I’m scared for ya! Draxum’s gettin’ impatient and ya know it. When are ya gonna stop actin’ like ya got a say in what he does?”
”When I feel like it.” Leo shrugged. “And I’m in a generous mood today so don’t worry about little old me.”
Raph sighed. “Raph does worry, Leo. And ya know it. But just keep up that act and you’ll be fine I’m sure.”
”Yep. Just fine.” Leo bit back a retort that Raph’s definition of ‘fine’ was being treated like a good dog instead of a bad one. The snapper nodded and began walking again so Leo spoke up. “So… can I walk now?”
”Nope.” Raph held Leo a bit tighter. “You’re gonna let me coddle ya until we get back to the Nexus. Raph doesn’t like that ya had to get shocked for something that wasn’t yer fault. He doesn’t like it one bit.”
”Stop being dramatic. I can handle anything.” Leo grumbled, but he still couldn’t stop a slight churr as he nuzzled a bit closer into his big brother’s plastron. That electricity had hurt a lot more than he cared to admit and his skin was still crawling. Raph noticed this of course and let out another sigh.
”Sure ya can, Lee. Just let Raph hold ya for now.” The snapper murmured. “If it makes ya feel any better ya can say that yer doin’ it for me.”
They were silent for a bit before Raph spoke up again. “Raph’s proud of ya, y’know.”
Leo looked up in surprise. “What?”
Raph glanced down at his brother. “Ya did good. Raph wasn’t able to keep his cool like you were, and even though ya got shocked… ya still completed the mission. Good job.”
”Eh, guess so.” Leo shrugged, stomach flopping. Raph’s chasm furrowed.
”Ya guess what? I was tryin’ to compliment ya.” Raph told him softly, and Leo tried to ignore the full-body shudder that ran through him at Raph’s words.
”Thanks I guess, but team effort, heh.” Leo chuckled. “It’s no big deal. Just doing what old Draxula wants. Yay.”
”Okay Lee, there has to be more to that. Why can’t ya just take a compliment?” Raph frowned, and Leo rolled his eyes.
”What, ya wanting me to do a little dance or something? Gush over the fact that I know how to speak English to Draxy’s new recruits? Maybe I should bake a cake—once I can even find the ingredients.” Leo snorted. “It’s not a compliment. I was told to do something and I did it. That doesn’t count as an accomplishment in my book.”
”Regardless, ya did what Raph couldn’t.” Raph tried to press. “You’re skilled with words, Lee. You can keep calm under pressure. Raph’s proud of that. Proud of you.”
”Just stop, Raph.” Leo scoffed, feeling his lungs squeeze at the praise. “I didn’t do anything special. Let’s just get back to the Nexus.”
Raph looked like he wanted to argue more but could sense how uncomfortable Leo was getting. With a sigh the snapper agreed and they continued their journey in silence.
”You both are back. Excellent.” Draxum nodded in approval as the two turtles stepped into his lab. “How was the mission?”
”It went smoothly.” Leo spoke up when he saw Raph try to speak first. The snapper looked at him in surprise and Leo ignored him. “The other turtles are beginning to trust us, however the soft shell is more cautious than the box turtle.”
”Excellent. It appears that Raphael was right about you after all.” Draxum stepped closer and Leo resisted the urge to flinch. “And it appears that I was correct in giving you proper motivation. Well done, Leonardo. I am very pleased with you.”
Leo bit his tongue as Draxum took off his glove to unclip Leo’s collar. The warrior frowned slightly at the redness around Leo’s neck and glance up at the slider’s heterochromic eyes. He then turned to look at Raph, who was clenching and unclenching his fists. “Raphael? Did Leonardo try to escape from you?”
”No, Sir.” Raph grit out. “We got in a fight and Leo was forced away from me and got shocked. It wasn’t his fault, so maybe you could change the settings…”
”No need, Raphael.” Draxum shook his head. “Leonardo knew the terms of the collar and should have stayed closer to you. Besides, now he knows that it works and will try harder in the future.”
”Leo knew the terms, did he?” Raph’s eyes snapped to Leo, who avoided his gaze with all his might.
”The mission was successful, Sir.” Leo pointed out, but Draxum sighed.
”It wasn’t a failure, that’s for certain.” The alchemist’s eyes narrowed. “But it wasn’t a success until those experiments are back where they belong: with me. Besides there are still my mutagen-filled mosquitoes on the loose and I need you both to catch them.”
”Wait, what? You… you mean just Raph, right?” Leo asked hopefully, and Draxum very nearly laughed at that.
”You are finally useful to me, Leonardo. This is who you are meant to be.” The warrior pocketed the collar. “Now that you are finally an efficient warrior, you will accompany Raphael on his missions. Of course you will wear the collar as well, but if you do not misbehave then you will not get shocked and will eventually forget you even have it on.”
”You think I could forget I have a dog collar on?” Leo muttered, but fixed his tone as Draxum raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Sir.”
”That is what I like to hear, Leonardo.” Draxum turned away.
”But what if our mission requires us to be apart for some reason?” Raph blurted, and Leo cringed. “What if we gotta fight someone… or chase someone… or—“
”I appreciate your concern for your team, Raphael, but as a true warrior Leonardo will either find a way around his handicap or power through the pain.” Draxum glanced back at the slider. “I created you both with accelerated healing, and the shock will not kill him. You can handle a little discipline, can’t you, Leonardo?”
Leo hesitated, but when Draxum’s eyes narrowed the slider nodded. “Yes Sir. I can handle it. You can count on me.”
”Good boy, Leonardo.” Draxum nodded. “I knew you would be an excellent warrior once I found the proper motivation for you, and I was correct. You are both dismissed now.”
Raph clicked angrily under his breath as he walked through the portal Draxum formed for them. “Motivation my shell. It’s a freaking shock collar.”
Leo watched his big brother exit through the portal with a pang in his chest. Raph was already upset about the collar, so it was a good thing that he knew that the shock wasn’t Leo’s kryptonite. The shock was meant to paralyze him if he misbehaved, but that wasn’t Leo’s motivation to obey Draxum.
It was Raph himself.