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[b][center][color=C5E44B]TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES[/color][/center][/b][/h1][/sup][/color][indent][sub][COLOR=C5E44B][I][B]NEW YORK CITY[/B][/I][/COLOR][/sub][/indent][indent][sup][right][COLOR=C5E44B][b]TURTLE LAIR[/b][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][INDENT][hr][/INDENT][INDENT][INDENT][INDENT][color=DARKGRAY]After the brief, somewhat casual meditation, Mikey and Leo arrived in the living room to find their brothers on the tattered couch, with the first-aid kit laid out on the coffee table. Donnie was just finishing bandaging Raph's other hand while talking his ear off about ways to reduce the swelling. Mikey had anticipated a straightforward check-up, one in which his brother's hands would be swiftly examined and wrapped up before he could get Leo for the party. But it became apparent that the injury was more serious than he had assumed. And Leo, ever the overbearing turtle, was already eager to demand answers before Mikey could say something.    
 
[COLOR=00AAE6]"What happened to your hands?!"[/color] he barked, voice tinged with frustration more so than concern. 

Raph gazed at his hands, resting idly on a throw pillow, and shrugged. [COLOR=E3331C]"I had them wrapped."[/color]

[COLOR=00AAE6]"Yeah, no duh, Raph,"[/color] Leo pinched the bridge of his nose and let out an exasperated sigh, [COLOR=00AAE6]"but why?"[/color]

[COLOR=E3331C]"Wouldn't you like to know."[/color] Raph retorted, meeting Leo's gaze directly as he spoke. At that moment, Mikey sensed the familiar tension brewing between his brothers, a prelude to yet another impending petty argument. It was a weekly spectacle that had become nothing more than a nuisance, played out almost the same tiresome way every time. One would get irritated by the other, usually over training routines or after sparring, before insults are hurled back and forth for quite a bit. And then, it would inevitably fizzle out, and both of them retreated to their rooms to cool off. That was what should've occurred. Instead, Leo inhaled deeply and shifted his attention over to Donnie, determined to get to the bottom of things.

[COLOR=00AAE6]"Donnie,"[/color] Leo began, casting a glare at him, [COLOR=00AAE6]"what happened?"[/color]

Mikey immediately recognized his brother's go-to tactic: intimidate to interrogate. Leo loved to play this card whenever he suspected his brothers were hiding something from him—or worse, from Sensei. And while it wasn't necessarily a horrible approach, the execution was, as always, painfully cringe. Raph burst into uncontrollable laughter the first time Leo tried to use it, and since then, outright dismissed any subsequent attempts. As for Mikey, the turtle simply charmed himself way out of trouble and slipped back into his brother's good graces. But when it came to Donnie, his sensitive nature made him easily susceptible to Leo's intense scrutiny. 

Mikey knew it was time to step in.

[COLOR=FFA500]"Leo, bro, ease up—at least until after the party,"[/color] Mikey chimed in, his voice playful to lighten the mood. [COLOR=FFA500]"The food's gonna get cold."[/color]

Leo's glare softened as if he were weighing the request. Usually, it would've been more difficult to make him change his mind on something he's dead set on doing. But then, after a moment, he sighed and stepped back from his brothers. Leo folded on the spot. [COLOR=00AAE6]"Sorry,"[/color] he said somberly, directed more so toward Donnie than Raph. Mikey instinctively wanted to ease his brother's concerns

[color=AA1BDD]"If it helps, he didn't break his hands—the knuckles are bruised. He just has to apply ice every few hours and keep them elevated for a few days."[/color] That was his version of reassurance. 

[COLOR=E3331C]"And I'm sure Senesi won't let me sit on the sidelines. He'll probably make me meditate or read up on Bubishi [i]again[/i],"[/color] Raph rolled his eyes as he got up from the couch. And that was going to be the best he was willing to provide.

[COLOR=00AAE6]"He better."[/color] Leo. [COLOR=00AAE6]"Now, I want to see what culinary you put together this time around."[/color]
[hr]Hey[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]
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