thanks, as always, to my beta gladrial

Casey Jones slumped with a groan on his sagging couch and pushed grimy fingers back through lank locks of dark hair. He'd just come off a fifteen hour shift and he was feeling it, from his toenails to every root in his scalp.

He flicked the television on with the remote and cycled through until he found an appropriately appealing game – basketball, in this case – and twisted the cap off his beer bottle, took a swig, then yawned and settled into the cushions, blearily watching.

A quiet rap came from the shuttered window.

"C'm in, man," he called wearily from his prone position. Before he could even register how weird it was for Raphael to knock first, the lithe and muscled figure was standing by the television set, hemming politely.

Casey glanced up, blinked then started upright. "Leo? Man, are you – I mean, what – uh – " He managed to stop himself from outright asking what the turtle in blue was doing there, but there was no concealing his shock. Sure, all the turtles were his buds and all, but it was no secret that he mainly palled around with Raphael. In the few months they'd known each other, he'd only seen the others a handful of times. And of all of them, Leo only just squeaked in ahead of Donatello as the turtle least likely to seek out his company.

Which could only mean – something was wrong.

"What is it?" he said urgently, swinging his legs over the couch, putting his beer bottle down on the unvarnished floorboards, ready to spring into action, no matter his sore bones and sheer exhaustion. Shit – had his hotheaded little buddy got himself some kind of trouble?

Leonardo held up a three-fingered hand, an apologetic smile on his otherwise solemn face. "Everything's fine," he said calmly. "I just came over to talk."

And suddenly, Casey's stomach plummeted into his boots, unlaced but still on his aching feet. Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit. They'd been busted. He shoulda known this was coming. No way they coulda kept that kinda secret, not in a family of freakin' ninjas. Now his goose was cooked for sure.

Affecting outward nonchalance, Casey shrugged and plucked his bottle up from the floor in lazy fingers. "Sure man, whassup?"

And just to emphasise his total unperturbed cool, he swung his legs back up onto the couch and kicked his boots off where they plopped to the dusty floor, one after the other.

Leonardo lifted a brow ridge, but otherwise did not react. He simply continued to stand there, dappled in shadows thrown by the flickering set, impassive and resolute.

"I'd like to talk to you," he began, calm and steady, "about – " and all of a sudden he hesitated and the merest flicker of uncertainty crossed his features. " – you and Raphael," he finished rather quickly, then glanced awkwardly to the side as though he couldn't help it.

Abruptly Casey remembered that this lean, powerful warrior with his imposing demeanour and commanding air was just a kid, at the end of the day.

"Aw man, Leo," Casey groaned and smothered his face beneath one hand.

Leonardo had recovered from his momentary lapse and once again fixed stern dark eyes on Casey's recumbent form.

"Did you think I wouldn't find out?" he challenged the older human man, rolling his shoulders back and gazing imperiously down his snout as though to compensate for his slight falter.

"C'mon, Leo, I didn't mean any harm." Casey took a swig of his beer, glanced at the frosted bottle in his hand and sighed. This is just what he needed. Lectured on responsibility and appropriate conduct by a fucking fifteen year old kid. Turtle. Whatever.

Leonardo was only further piqued by his dismissive supplication. "That is unacceptable, Casey. Or have you forgotten my brother is only fifteen?"

So are you, Casey thought with silent rancor, but wisely held his tongue. It wouldn't be beyond the 'fearless leader' to forbid him from having contact with Raphael again, if he pissed him off enough. Leonardo might've been young, but he took his position as guardian of the family very seriously. A bit too seriously, in Casey Jones' considered estimation. He was pretty much of the mind that Leo could benefit from partaking in the same recreational activity that he had introduced to Raph now and again. Hell, he could even join Casey and Raph sometime. Sure, he was a bit of a tight screw, but Casey knew how to loosen a fella up. "Aw jeeze, Leo," he spoke outloud. "I just figured – I dunno. Better to try it first time with a pal than a stranger, ya know?"

Even by the sole illumination of the television set, Casey could see Leonardo's jaw stiffen and there was an unmistakeable shift in shadows as his muscled arms tensed. Woops. Clearly not the right thing to say.

Leonardo's shoulders rose, then fell as the turtle grasped control of himself with a deep, calming breath. When he spoke, it was with a deliberately restrained voice. "It's not that I'm opposed to – it – in principle. But Raphael is just way too young to be starting anything of that nature. We trusted you, Casey. We trusted you with our brother."

Agitated, Casey sat up straight, dropping his beer bottle to the floor where it thunked dully against the wood, entreating Leonardo with his palms up.

"It's only every now and then Leo - I take care of him, man, I swear! I wouldn't let him get hurt. C'mon, you gotta understand how it is – it's what kids do!"

Leonardo took a step forward, and even if he was only fifteen, Casey flinched a little. Though the young turtle's face remained composed, his dark blue eyes blazed cold fire by the silver screen, and anyone could see: Leo was really, really pissed.

"You're a grown man, Casey!"

But Casey was plenty irritated himself by this point. It wasn't like he was putting Raphael in any danger! Everything took place in a controlled environment. And they never got too carried away – it was just a good time, that's all. Shit, Raphael needed some way of blowing off steam. Poor kid had a rough time of it – so what if they had some fun!

"Jesus, Leo," Casey blurted, springing to his feet to edgily pace the threadbare rug strewn before the television set. "What's the big deal about a coupla beers now and then?"

Leonardo hadn't even flinched when Casey stood, but now his face dropped with shock. "What?"

But Casey was already on his way to being worked up, well and good. "I mean, c'mon man, kid like Raph is sure to get into that shit anyway. When I was his age I'd go get soused and tear up the joint! Ain't it better he have an adult 'round to supervise?"

Leonardo was staring at Casey with round, aghast eyes, his jaw ever so slightly dangling. It was as near to unguarded as the human man had ever seen him. "Did you just tell me you let my fifteen year old brother drink beer?"

"Well, yeah!" Casey huffed, still carried on the tide of his indignation for a moment before Leonardo's abruptly changed demeanour registered. He came to a halt. "Wait – what?"

Leonardo's eyes were beginning to blaze again, narrowed and glaring up into Casey's face. "I cannot believe you, Casey Jones. Providing alcohol to a minor."

Casey was too confounded to be further enraged, shifting from foot to foot and eyeballing Leonardo incredulously. "Ain't that what ya came over to talk to me about?"

Abruptly, the fire in Leonardo's eyes snuffed out and the turtle looked edgily to the side. "Ah, well – " he faltered, prompting Casey's thick black brows to shoot up.

"Whoa, wait – that wasn't it? Then what the hell, Leo?"

For all that he strove to appear impassive, Leonardo was clearly uncomfortable; he stiffened and darted his gaze from side to side. "Well, just that – well – I mean – "

The young turtle was so uncommonly flustered that Casey eyed him apprehensively, a feeling of dread gathering in his gut.

"Leo - ?"

Leonardo pressed his lips together, heaved in a resolved breath. "Well, you two – seem – so close – "

And all at once the penny dropped.

"UGH, Leo! The hell?" Casey leapt back as though stung, face contorting into an agony of horror.

"I had to check!" Leonardo blurted defensively, lifting his chin high, hands in fists by his sides. "I have a responsibility!"

But Casey continued to squirm, wresting a hand through his tangled hair, his face screwed up like he'd been sucking on a lemon.

"UGH, the fuck – with Raph? With a dude? C'mon!"

Leonardo blinked primly. "Well, I'm not judging. That part, anyway."

Casey just whirled around, still trying to cope with the accusation that had been levelled at him.

"Leo! Bro! I mean - you really think I'd – " and Casey flung out his arms, his face twisted in a grimace of wounded incredulity. " – he's fifteen, man!

"Well that doesn't seem to matter when it comes to getting him intoxicated!" Leonardo fired back, arms folded across his plastron.

Casey snorted. "Oh yeah, cos a coupla beers is on the same level as statistical rape!"

"Statutory," Leonardo replied.

Casey gaped at him. "Wha?"

Leonardo blinked again. "Statutory rape."

"Shuddup!" Casey cried.

"I have a duty to my brothers, Casey." As dauntless as Leonardo was attempting to sound, even Casey could see he was more than a little abashed, avoiding eye contact and shifting his weight. "Raphael's been acting – suspicious."

"And gay sex was the first thing you thought of?" Casey challenged him, and Leonardo jutted his chin a little higher, striving to appear righteous.

"Well – I – well – "

If it hadn't been for the circumstances, Casey would be enjoying Leonardo's uncharacteristic fumbling a whole lot more.

"Look, I promise you, I am not gay for your underage brother, Leo, okay?" Casey flopped back onto the sofa, wiping the back of his wrist against his sweaty forehead. "Or any guy for that matter. Not that I got an issue with it," he hastened on, palms up. "Just. Y'know. It ain't me."

Leonardo stood still for a moment, inhaling deeply and glancing off to the side as though trying to decide something.

"Okay. Fine," he said at length, his voice stiff, his posture rigid.

Casey once more retrieved his beer bottle from the floor and lifted it to his lips, determined to ignore the bruised thump in his chest.

"Good," he replied brusquely. "Now. Ya mind leavin'? I ain't tryin' to be rude or nothin', but I'm bushed."

Leonardo unfolded his arms, hesitated.

"Well," he began, though he no longer sounded quite so assertive as when he had arrived. "There's still the matter of you supplying my underage brother with alcohol, Casey."

Casey groaned loudly and let his head tip back against the armrest, other hand clutching the bottle on his chest, where it pressed cold and hard through the thin fabric of his tank.

"Don'tcha think you've busted my balls enough for one night, Leo? Tell ya what, come back tomorrow when I've had a decent night's sleep and enough time to forget you thought I was ballin' yer fifteen year old mutant turtle brother, and you can ream me out all you like for the beer."

And with that, Casey let his arm flop across his eyes, deliberately blocking Leonardo out.

Leonardo was silent for a long, long moment. Casey tuned in on the muted sounds of the basketball game, still flickering across the set.

When Leonardo spoke again, it was quietly, and from the window. "Maybe you shouldn't mention this – talk – to Raphael."

Casey snorted loudly, tipped the bottle towards his lips. "Oh don't worry about that, pal. That one's all on you."

When the silence dragged on another few minutes, Casey shifted his arm and peered towards the window. Leonardo was gone.

"Man," Casey grumbled, settling back into the couch. "My life's gotten freakin' weird lately."