"Hey, Raph.. I want to tell you something. I like you. Like, "like" like…" Raph's eyes widen in realization and he leans forward, and his lips are hot and welcoming…

Leo graciously twisted in the air and delivered the last slash across his last imaginary opponent's throat. The kata was getting better with every try.

The cheesy conversation with his imaginary brother, on the other hand, was still as lame as it could be.

Leo gritted his teeth with irritation and started all over again.

Dodge, block, slash, slash, leap, block… If only it was this simple to rehearse his confession!

Being the Leader, Leonardo was quite content with decisions making. He's given it a long consideration and accepted the fact that he could no longer stand the suspense of not knowing if his brother felt something for him too. He's been catching the slightest hints pro and contra for several months and decided it was worth spilling his guts for some clarity.

And once he met this strategic decision – to open his heart to his brother, - the rest seemed pretty mechanical.

And yet, there he was two weeks later without any significant progress.

His imaginary speech was lame. Any mental picture of their conversation that he could construct screamed "CREEEPY!" and made him want to hide in a cupboard – something he'd never done even as a tot.

And leap – and twist – and slash. Done. Like his imaginary kata opponent, Raph was unaware of what Leo had in store for him.

Maybe he should wait for the inspiration to come and then just flow with it?

That sounded like hiding in his shell to him. Besides, hadn't one of the great minds once said that the best improvisation was the one you rehearsed for a month?

Current plan involved waiting for Raphael to return after one of his nightly skull-bashing runs and go for it if Raph wasn't too pissed. Not much of a plan but the best he's got. The obvious flow was that it depended on the hothead's unstable moods.

Two nights were already wasted because Raphael was either drunk or too angry, and now Leo was spending the third night away waiting for his brother.

"Maybe by this time tomorrow I will be waiting for my lover to return.."

OK. No more torturing himself. Leo sheathed the blades and settled down to meditate. He will wait for his bro and spill his guts. Plain and simple.

The night was already speeding toward its end when he finally heard the hiss of their Lair's door. Leo took a deep breath and went to meet his doom.

Raph was leaning on the wall just by the entrance, his stance wary, his eyes closed. Leo took in the details of his brother, like Raph's left hand still clenching the hilt of his sai, blood dripping from both his blades, red spots on his plastron, a small trail of red running down his thigh… A lot of blood, actually. Leo's heart clenched though he could see no wounds on Raph.

A warm feeling that filled him whenever he was looking and his younger brother mixed up with fear. How many times did Leo dream about Raph motionless form on the ground, red from his own blood? Those nights, he would wake up in silent anguish too scared to even scream. Deep in his heart he feared that it was only a matter of time before those nightmares come true and Raph's odd chances would turn against him.

Looking at his sibling bloodstained figure now, Leo felt his gut clench in the anticipation of the future pain.

"Where have you been?" he demanded. Leo's voice sounded harsh and Raph's eyes snapped open.

"Topside!" – somehow it sounded more like "F*ck off!"

Leo cursed inwardly. This wasn't too good a start.

"All this blood.."

"Ain't none of it mine."

Raphael was looking at him with a silent challenge. The timing wasn't right, but how could Leo back down from this dare?

Sighing, he stepped closer.

"Raphael, I need to talk to you. I've given this matter a proper consideration and this cannot go on the way it is now. I believe you also feel that there could be something more between us than just being brothers. Being what we are, it is either we choose one of us to settle with or end up alone. Loneliness is something even you wouldn't like. I know you're not always happy with me, but I care for you deeply. And if the things between us could work out, I want to give it a try. That is, if you want me too…"

Raphael was looking at him with a slightly concerned look on his face. The silence grew. Leo shifted uneasily. "So what do you say?"

Raph blinked. "Yeah, Fearless. Whatever you say."

He edged around Leo and headed to the stairs. This was not the reaction Leo was expecting.

"Wait! Where are you going?"

"Shower. Needa wash it off." Raph sounded without looking back.

Leo stared at his retreating shell. "Raph! Were you even listening?"

"Sure, bro. Being reckless blah-blah-blah, putting family in danger blah-blah… learn responsibility blah-blah. Yar right. Ya always are."

With that, he disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Leo to collect his jaw from the floor.

Leo stood transfixed for a second, then his palm cupped his face. This was an epic fail. Raph put him on spam-filter. COULD YOU BELIEVE THIS MORON?