45 "Sometimes you have to think of yourself as a priority." Leo y Donnie

Leo groaned noisily. He hated to wake up in the middle of the night. Why? Why couldn't he just sleep all night without waking up? That wasn't fair! He needed some rest, but waking up like this wasn't the best way to get his extremely needed rest.

The oldest turtle got out of his bed. He was a little thirsty, and maybe drinking water would help him to get asleep earlier. He went out of his room and walked through the kitchen. While going there, he saw light coming out from Donnie's lab. He could also hear his brother in purple talk… probably to himself.

Leo frowned. He knew it was late. When would his brother go to sleep? He also needed rest… maybe more than Leo himself. Okay, drink water, could wait. His brother went first. Leo changed his destination and walked towards Donnie's lab. Once arrived at the door, he opened it. The big door screeched, surprising the turtle inside the lab, who as fast as he could turned to see who was there. His attitude relaxed when saw his brother there.

Leo frowned. Even having his mask covering his eyes. He could see his brother's eyes were red, and he had eye bags under them. His brother needed desperately to rest, but on the other hand… he seemed to stubbornly refuse to take it.

It was Leo's duty to get his brother to have some rest.

Taking a deep breath, the oldest brother entered the lab, he decided to get his self-imposed mission accomplished. It went unnoticed to Leo how his brother followed him all the way until Leo was at his side. Donnie was looking at him with fear, maybe guessing what Leo was about to say to him. But it didn't matter. Leo decided to make his brother go to bed, wanting him to do it or not.

Leo tried to smile as kind as he could… quite difficult to do it, his brother had a miserable appearance… well, he had to say something, he couldn't just stay there without talking-

"Hey, Leo, what's up?"

Okay… his brother was faster than him to start talking, now he only had to answer, nicely.

"Donnie, have you even realized what time it is?"

Oh shell, this was everything but nicely. Great job Leo.

Donnie's eyes opened wide. He turned to look for a clock and his eyes opened even more when he saw what time really was.

"Oh shell…" he muttered then turned to look at his brother "I didn't know it was too late… sorry Leo…"

Leo smiled sympathetically. His brother was a kind soul, and it was obvious he felt terrible when he realized he was bothering another person.

"Hey don't worry Donnie, that's what older brothers are here for. Now, you've to go to bed." He said kindly but also with a hint of rigor in his voice to show he wasn't joking.

"B-but Leo… I'm so close to finding a retro mutagen… I… can't stop now…" tried to say Donnie in order to convince his brother to allow him to continue working. But the older turtle wasn't willing to let his younger brother win. No way.

"Donnie… you have to. It's obvious you need some rest."

Donnie looked away; it wasn't difficult for Leo to guess his little brother was trying to come up with an excuse that would allow him to continue working on his experiments. The turtle with brown eyes looked at him with begin eyes.

"Yeah, maybe but-"

"Donnie, stop." Leo cut him off before Donnie could say anything. He knew his brother would use every possible way to stay in the lab instead of going to his room, and Leo wouldn't let this happen.

"Look Donnie, sometimes you have to think of yourself as a priority." He said tenderly. Donnie looked at him with wide eyes. Maybe he didn't expect this answer… well it was pretty obvious he didn't expect it, and now Donnie didn't know what to answer.

Oh shell, why didn't Leo record this moment? To leave his genius brother without knowing what to say wasn't something that happened daily.

Leo heard his brother leave out a sigh. Welp, with what excuse would he come out?

"Well… I know Leo, but how can I do that when this is my fault?"

Leo's eyes opened wide. His fault? His? Oh no, Leo wouldn't let Donnie carry this blame only him. This wouldn't be in any way fear.

"Excuse me, your fault? I think you mean our fault." He replied, crossing his arms on his chest and looking at him with a hard look. Donnie looked at him for a moment and then looked away, as if he couldn't make eye contact with his older brother. Leo took a step forward.

"Have I to remember you all of us were there? We are all responsible for what happened that night."

Donnie instantly looked at him.

"But Leo I-" he tried to reply, but once again, the older turtle cut him off. Would this become common?

"Yeah, yeah, I know if there's someone who can find a retro mutagen, this turtle is you. But even geniuses need their rest, and this is what you're going to have now."

Actually, Leo would be more than happy to help his brother to find a cure to all the mutations that happened in the city because of them, but he wasn't as smart as his brother. He wouldn't even know where to start for… and… well, Leo was ashamed to admit sometimes they didn't help his brother, giving him more work to do than he already had, for example, having to repair the toaster over and over again because he especially broke it every time, he used it. But on Leo's defense, the toaster hated him, sometimes with just a little contact, the toaster broke itself without Leo having used it.

Leo saw his brother was looking at him, he seemed to don't know what to say, Donnie seemed defeated…

"Oh shell… could I be here just a half hour more?" he tried to negotiate.

Leo was fast to answer.

"No."

"… a quarter?" he tried again.

"No way." Said Leo again shaking his head.

"Five minutes?"

Okay that's enough!

"Donnie!"

"Fine, fine, I'll go to bed." He finally said totally defeated. He stood up. Apparently to go to bed. But Leo knew his brother better than that.

"Yes, you are. And I'll let you know I won't leave your room until I'm sure you're asleep." He said with a big smile. Donnie looked at him alarmed.

"Wait what?! That's not fair!"

Leo's smile increased. He knew his brother would pretend to go to bed and sneak to the lab again when he thought nobody would see him.

"I know, but this is what older brothers are for too." Leo answered happily.

Donnie faced him with serious expression… Leo had to do a great effort to not laugh. Even trying to look serious, the truth is that Donnie's appearance made it difficult to take him seriously. Suddenly Donnie closed his eyes, he seemed defeated… just seemed.

Walking crestfallen, Donnie headed to his room with Leo following him closely. The genius turtle went directly to his bed and once he was laying down he turned to see his older brother.

"Leo you don't have to be here anymore, I'm on my bed, I'll stay here,"

Leo shocked his head. There was no way he would do this.

"Sorry not sorry Donnie. I won't leave."

"Fine." Answered Donnie looking away.

Leo smiled. His brother was truly stubborn, but so was Leo, and he wouldn't let Donnie win.

Leo stayed there for a while, he didn't know exactly how much time it was, but at some point he heard his brother sigh.

"Leo…?" said the tired turtle almost in a whisper.

"Yes Donnie?" asked Leo with a kind voice.

"I love you."

Leo smiled. He knew it was true, but to hear his brother say that always made him happy.

"I love you too little bro. Goodnight." He answered while leaving the room.

His brother was now sleeping peacefully.

Mission accomplished.