It was just one of those rare moments where they were getting along. Truly getting along. Not the kind of getting along just because they’d had sex a moment ago, either. But actually, really getting along.
Curled up and cuddled together, the two lovers stared up at the sun peeking through the grates above their secret spot. The city was just overhead, the bustle of human activities masking any sound of their own activities. It was warm here, cozy as the two had spent some time and effort into making this secret getaway their own.
They had just settled into a comfortable silence before Leo turned in Raph’s arms, staring at the bigger turtle, chin resting on his plastron. There was an odd little smile playing on his lips, one that had the hothead’s heart beating faster. “What?” he demanded.
The older brother shrugged, before his smile widened playfully. “Tell me a secret.”
“A secret,” Leo pressed, unconcerned by his lover’s lack of enthusiasm. “Something nobody else knows.”
Staring down into the sparkling eyes of his brother, feeling that odd pull in his chest, the turtle deadpanned. “I’m sleepin’ with my brother.”
Leonardo rolled his eyes. “Something nobody knows, Raph. That includes me.” When the younger ninja remained silent, Leo sighed. “Fine. Guess I’ll go first. I love dark chocolate - ”
Raph cackled obnoxiously just to mock. “Ain’t no secret, bro. We all know that.”
“You didn’t let me finish,” Leo snapped, before leveling out his tone. “I love dark chocolate so much, I actually keep a hidden stash in my room.”
A beat passed between the two before Raphael burst out laughing. This time it was more from surprise and true amusement. “You what?” he grinned, noting the rather attractive flush that came to his brother’s face at the admission. “Seriously?”
The older turtle shrugged, drawing lazy patterns with his finger on the other’s plastron. “It’s true,” he held strong. “Now your turn. Tell me something.”
No it was Raph’s turn to feel his skin flush. Staring into those big blue eyes that twinkled up at him expectantly, smiling all on their own, left him flustered. Unsure. Because when Leo looked at him like that…
Mikey liked to claim that he was the cutest of them, the prettiest. From his light green scales to his adorable smattering of freckles to his sky blue eyes, the youngest like to monopolize the aesthetic compliments. And while the light blue eyes held a certain appeal, Raphael would never call them beautiful. They were too pale, too open, like the sky. There was no mystery to them, no depth. The translucency of the sky had never charmed Raphael much, he preferred the cool darkness of the ocean.
Looking away from the eager gaze boring into him, Raph stared up at the light filtering through the grate. “My favorite color…it ain’t red.”
When he plucked up the courage to glance back down at his brother, Raph found Leo blinking up at him. And slowly, a stunning, adorable, hopelessly dorky smile lit up the leader’s features, smoothing away the severity and heaviness the turtle usually bore. Blue eyes glittered with humor and something Raph had never been able to figure out.
“Not red, huh?” Leo let out a quiet laugh. Raph was unable to stop himself from reaching out and caressing his brother’s arm with his thumb. “I bet its green, isn’t it?” he teased.
“Could be,” the younger shrugged noncommittedly.
“How very conceded of you,” Leo smirked.
The leader laughed, the happy sound bouncing off the concrete walls, the echo settling in Raphael’s bones. While not normally one that liked being laughed at, the big turtle found himself content with his situation. Content to have his brother laughing at him. Because right now they were getting along. Right now, they were sharing secrets. And Raphael hadn’t known how badly he’d wanted to know something as stupid as Leo hiding dark chocolate in his bedroom. Or how badly he wanted to see the waves of mirth and warmth in oceanic eyes.
