Chapter Text
Leo groaned as he felt someone shaking him awake. Blinking off sleep, he saw his younger brother crouching down, concern on his face.
“Hey man, sorry to wake you up, but Ace just called. Seems like that fuckhead of a Foster Father kicked her out again.” Leo was awake instantly, climbing out of bed.
“How long ago?” He asked, looking outside. He grimaced as lighting lit up his room, followed by a roll of thunder. Of course the fucker would kick her out on a night like tonight.
“Five minutes tops.” Raph replied as Leo pulled a shirt on. The younger turtle waited for him to get ready, shifting nervously from on foot to another. “I told Don, Mike’s dead to the world.” Leo nodded, pulling on his shoes and grabbing his wallet and keys.
“Good. We shouldn’t be too long.”
A few minutes later he found Raph’s friend huddled under a bus stop, drenched and shivering, her ears pinned close to her head and tail curled around her waist. Leo’s heart twisted as he pulled over, Raph climbing out to help her with her stuff. It hurt seeing his younger brother’s best friend looking like this, no matter how many times it happened.
Raph settled her in the back seat that was covered in towels, wrapping her in one as he talked softly to her, pressing his face to hers.
Leo held back a snort as he watched Raph fuss over the little mybrid mix. Raph was stupid for the little vixen, even if he didn’t say anything about it.
“He hurt you?” Leo asked as the younger turtle settled in beside her. She shook her head.
“He-he tired, but couldn’t. Millie heard him yelling at me and came to see what was happening. You know he doesn’t want to look like the bad guy in front of her.” The eldest turtle nodded as he moved back onto the road.
“Usagi’s on duty tonight, I’ll call him once we get home. At least warn him.” He sighed, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as the rain continued to pour down. The vixen in the back was quiet, and Leo could hear Raph muttering softly to her, a quick glance in the mirror tell him he had her pulled close, her head tucked under his chin.
The light was on when they got back- Don must have woken up after they had left. Leo helped Raph with April’s things, ignoring her protests that she could help as well.
There was the faint scent of coffee in the air as Leo headed to the kitchen, Raph taking April to the guest room that only she really used.
“We’ll have something for you to change into when you get out.” Raph said as he shoved her into the guest bathroom. “Now warm yourself up before you get hypothermia or something.” April made a sound of protest, but Raph just closed the door, joining his brothers in the kitchen.
Don was nursing a cup of coffee, Leo making his own, when he came in. Raph went to the fridge, digging out leftovers from dinner and a few other things before tossing them on a plate and into the microwave.
“She okay?” Don asked cautiously. Raph was known for his temper, especially when it came to April. He growled, muscles tense as he held on to the counter.
“Physically? Fine. The Fucker is an ass, but he knows better than to hit her. Mentally? This is what- fourteen, fifteen families that have left her since her Dad died? She can’t take it anymore.”
“She won’t.” Leo assured from over his own coffee. “She’s going to stay here with us. Everyone in that department knows we’re the one she comes to every time this bullshit happens. She’s old enough to be an emancipated minor, and I’ll work with our lawyers to write out a contract to rent the room. That way she won’t have to wprry about working while still at school.” He looked out the window, the rain finally having subsided. “Dad tried to do that before he died, but they refused because of his illness.”
“I never knew that.” Raph muttered softly, making two more mugs up.
“Yah, it was a pretty stupid reason.” April answered as she came into the kitchen, wrapped in a robe, heading straight to the coffee, taking it from Raph as the microwave beeped.
“Sit down and eat.” He scolded her pushing her into a chair, getting the plate. April took it eagerly, ears twitching at the smell.
“I will never refuse Mikey’s cooking.” She muttered, stuffing her face. Leo studied her, frowning as he noticed the faint hollowness of her cheeks, side eying Don, who had a similar look on his face.
“So when did they last feed you?” He asked casually, studying the coffee.
“Two days maybe? I have a lunch account, so I can get food from school, but…” She trailed off, realizing what she was saying.
“Two days?” Leo said, trying to keep his voice even. He stood, placing his mug in the sink as he tried to keep his temper.
“You two are staying home tomorrow.” He told Raph and April. “We’re going to Child Services first thing to get what we need straitened out. I’m sure you can handle Mike, right Don?” The other turtle nodded.
“No problem. I’ll get what homework they miss.” Don yawned, putting his own mug in the sink. He looked to April. “You’re okay, right?” The vixen smiled, nodding.
“I’m fine now. Just need a good night’s sleep.” She assured him. “Thank you Don.” He nodded, heading out of the room to sleep before school started.
The room was quiet as April finished the food, Raph sitting close to her. He took her free hand, squeezing it.
“I’m sorry you were kicked out again.” He whispered. April smiled at him, resting her head against his pastron.
He held her close, pressing his face to her hair as Leo quietly left the room.
“It’s okay.” She assured him. “I’m with you and your family, everything will be fine.”
He held her close, pressing his face to her hair as Leo quietly left the room.