TMNT FANFIC: Reborn

Please

Leo sat by his cot, clutching his stuffed rabbit close to his chest as he watched his mother sleep in her armchair. She had been shifting clothes from her basket into separate draws when Leo had noticed she'd started to sway a little, yawning every now and then.
He felt a pang of guilt in his chest, knowing that he was one of the reasons his mother was so drained.
Heat rose in his cheeks as he stared at his brothers, who waddled around the room, interacting with each other in broken sentences.
He often wondered why he was unable to participate in feats such as these, and found himself on the receiving end of some harsh words from his brother's.
However, Leo knew he was progressing as he was beginning to recognise certain phrases and titles such as 'momma', 'Raph', 'Donnie', 'Mikey' and 'brothers'.
There was one man in their household who he wasn't able to name. He would leave every morning and return each night, clenching onto the same bottle.
Leo stared up at the clock, sensing that the particular time he'd been anticipating was on its way.
Every evening, his mother would sit with him, soothing Leo with the same lullaby while she jabbed a sharp spiky thing into his arm.
Despite the pain, this was his favourite part of the day. It was the time he felt loved. The time he received the same amount of affection as his brothers.
Speaking of whom, Donnie, Raph and Mikey had crowded around him, having noticed their mother's slumped form.
"'eo," Mikey chirped, tapping his brother's head. "Come."
Leo tilted his head slightly, looking towards the eldest for some clarification. Raph just stared back at him, jerking his head slightly to coax Leo over.
"'eo," He frowned, glaring at the immobile youngest. "No!" Raph shoved Leo's head to the side, sending the smallest's body toppling to the ground.
Leo whimpered, but softened his cries as not to wake their slumbering mother.
"Say Donnie." Donnie chided next to him, helping his blue eyed brother sit up once more.
Leo opened his mouth, but merely mewed in response. He despised how pathetic he sounded in comparison to his brothers, and knew that if he were able to utter at least one word, his mother would serve him the attention and love he craved.
Leo was tired of being alone.
"No! Say Mikey." His blonde haired brother demanded, stuffing his head towards Leo's.
"Go'way Mikey." Raph spat, moving towards the youngest once more. "..I'm Waph....say Waph.." All he received was a blank stare.

Leo yelped at his head hit the ground, struggling to get up as Raph sat on top of him.
"Say it." The eldest growled, brows furrowed. But it was then that Leo caught sight of something in his brother's eyes that he'd never seen before. Longing. There was a look of sympathy marking his features momentarily...an understanding between the two. "Please.."

"Raphael! Get off your brother right now! He has enough problems with his chest as it is and doesn't need you crushing him any further." April barked suddenly, springing up from her chair. She picked up both Donnie and Mikey, carrying them out of the room before returning.
Raph looked at Leo one last time as April snatched him from the ground, tears welling in his emerald green eyes.
"Please.." He murmured, eye contact unwavering, only broken once the door clicked shut.
Leo remained on his back in the dark, arm curled around his bunny as he waited for his mother to return.
Minutes turned into hours as he lay in that position, unable to move.
Thinking over Raph's words, he opened his mouth once again, allowing one words to slip past his lips.
"Please.." He whispered, imagining the sound of his mother's applause as his eyes closed.