Leonardo Smith, a sixteen-year-old, and his younger brother Michelangelo Smith, a five-year-old, were playing a Simon toy in Leo's bedroom. Mikey was currently playing. Leo was watching with a smile as his little brother laughed and giggled at the game.

"I'M SO SICK OF YOUR SHIT!!"

Leo yelped as his bedroom door slammed open, revealing his father's angry, red face. Leo's eyes widened and he jumped in front of Mikey to protect him. Mikey jumped with wide and scared eyes, the Simon flying out of his hands.

William Smith, a thirty-five year old drunk and abusive father to Leo and Mikey, stormed over to Leo and grabbed the collar of his shirt. Leo started hyperventilating as he stared into his father's rage filled eyes.

"You think you can just leave your chores undone and take whatever you want without asking?!" William bellowed.

Leo almost gagged as he smelled the beer in his father's breath. He gulped and shook his head. "N-No, sir."

William flung Leo across the room, making Leo smack his back into his desk and fall to the floor. Mikey shouted Leo's name in fear, then shot his gaze to his father who looked over to him when he called for his big brother.

"Did I say you could talk?!" William snapped.

Mikey whimpered as he stared at his father in terror. William stalked over to Mikey, wanting to teach him a lesson for speaking when not allowed.

Leo groaned as he pushed himself up. He looked up and took in the scene playing out before him. His eyes widened and he rushed to his feet, darting over to pick Mikey up and take the punch his father threw.

Leo winced but did not speak for fear of being hit further. Leo's father got angry at his eldest son for taking the hit meant for the youngest, and backhanded Leo. Leo's head whipped to the side. He took a deep breath and looked up at his father before racing out of his room and down the stairs, Mikey being carried in his arms.

"GET BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE BITCH!!"

Leo tried to keep calm for Mikey's sake. Mikey was clinging to Leo with as much strength as he could muster, his terror taking over. Leo sent a reassuring smile to Mikey, the latter giving a weak one back. Leo looked around for something to use in defense, finding the floor littered with beer bottles.

He picked one up and held it as his father finally reached the two brothers. As William was about to shout, Leo chucked the glass bottle at his father then bolted out of the house and down the street. William screamed and dodged the bottle, chasing after his children.

Leo panted as he ran through back alleyways and down streets. He just could not shake his father. Then he got an idea. He sped up to get further away and turned down an alley by a place called Murakami's. He set Mikey down and grunted as he pulled up a manhole cover. He set it down beside the hole and gestured Mikey to climb down.

"But, Lee-Lee, it's stinky," Mikey whisper-whined.

"I know, L'il Mikey. But you gotta trust me on this," Leo pleaded.

Mikey nodded and started climbing down. Once he reached the sewer ground, Leo jumped down and took Mikey in his arms, running through the sewer tunnels.

Somehow, their father knew where they went and climbed down after them, continuing the chase through the sewers.

Leo twisted through pipelines and ran through tunnels upon tunnels. The further away he got Mikey and him away from their father, the more hopeful he felt. Leo glanced ahead and felt a jolt of relief at seeing an entrance to what looked to be a massive room. He could hide Mikey and himself there.

Leo ran as fast as he could, his sneakers splashing through the sewer waters, as he raced towards the entrance. He pushed through the turnstiles and fell to his knees.

"ARGH!! YOU TWO CAN'T HIDE FOREVER!!"

Leo let out a shaky breath and pulled Mikey closer to himself, finally relieved that they had gotten away from their abusive-drunk of a father.

At this moment, Leo finally let the tears fall, sobbing into his five year old baby brother's shoulder. Leo winced as his jaw and back started hurting.

"Why... Just make it stop... Please," Leo muttered.

Mikey patted Leo's back in comfort. The two brother sat in the supposed empty subway, one crying while the other comforted.

Within the Lair

Hamato Raphael, a fifteen-year-old mutant ninja turtle, and his twin brother Hamato Donatello, were watching TV when, all of a sudden, a human boy ran into their home and collapsed to his knees, holding a very small boy in his arms.

The two turtles glanced at each other, then shot to their feet and took out their weapons as they heard a shout.

"ARGH!! YOU TWO CAN'T HIDE FOREVER!!"

Raph and Donnie wondered if that was related to the two humans in their home. Raph gestured at Donnie to put their weapons away. The two twins walked over to the two humans cautiously. Donnie watched in concern and caution as the older boy starts crying, while Raph watched, anxious and tense.

As Leo was crying, he felt as if he was not alone. His head shot up and his eyes widened as he saw the two mutated turtles walking over to him. He flinched back and curled around Mikey.

"Please, don't hurt me," Leo whimpered, staring in fear at the two beings in front of him.

Raph and Donnie stopped advancing and stared in confusion at the human boy. What brought this on? Donnie slowly crouched to show he was not going to attack. He raised his hands to show the two boys to calm their nerves.

"We won't hurt you. We promise. Right, Raph?" Donnie soothed, turning to Raph.

"Right," Raph agreed, albeit reluctantly.

Leo and Mikey stared in suspicion at the turtles. People always hurt them, so should not they?

Leo tensed and turned his head to the right as he heard scrapes against the floor, almost like footsteps, heading out in the area/room they were in. His eyes widened at the sight of a giant rat walking out of a room.

Splinter, a.k.a. Hamato Yoshi and the twin turtles' father, was currently training April O'Neil with Casey Jones watching from the sidelines when he heard something strange coming from the living room/pit in the Lair. He paused the training, told the two teens to stay put, and walked out of the dojo. He walked over to his sons, staring with hard eyes at the two human boys huddled on the ground.

"What is the meaning of this?! Humans?! In the Lair?! Explain!!" Splinter demanded an explanation.

Leo's eyes widened and his breathing increased in fear as he watched the angry rat yell. He scooted back and curled around Mikey more, flinching as his bruised back hit the turnstiles.

Splinter turned to the two human boys and watched, feeling conflicted, as the human boy's breathing sped up. He walked towards them, only to freeze in his tracks as both boys flinched away from him.

He continued his trek towards them and placed his hand on the older boy's shoulder.

Negative affect.

Leo tried to scramble away from the humanoid rat, trying to protect Mikey while also panicking. He made sure Mikey was safe from any harm, putting himself over Mikey to be able to take the hit he knew was coming.

"Please, don't hurt him. Don't hurt me. I'll be good. I'll listen. I promise," Leo whispered.

Raph, Donnie, and Splinter watched in concern and sadness at the display of the two boys. Splinter backed away from the panicking boy and watched as the little one tried to comfort the older boy.

Donnie was about to answer, until he heard two gasps. The three mutants turned towards the sound and saw April and Casey staring at the other humans in shock.

"L-Leo?!" April gasped.

Leo's head shot up as he heard the sound of his friend's voice. His eyes widened as he saw the only two friends he had, April and Casey. Tears still fell from his eyes from his recent crying fit, and have yet to stop.

April and Casey frowned sadly as they saw this familiar display of behavior from their best friend. April and Casey calmly walked over and spoke gentle and soothingly to Leo.

Leo watched his friends walk towards him, trying to comfort him. The Hamato family watched in confusion, wondering how they knew each other. Raph moves forward to ask this, but stopped as he saw Leo flinch away and curl more around Mikey.

Mikey hugged Leo around the neck and rubbed his big brother's head, knowing this soothes his brother. Leo took in a shaky deep breath and turned to Mikey. Mikey smiled at Leo and buried his head in Leo's chest. Leo responded with a weak smile and laid his head on Mikey's shoulder.