Destiny sits in the living room, reading King Lear and doing her best to distract herself. She injured her ankle during early morning patrol; she rolled it during a landing and it had been aching ever since. Splinter suggested she sit out of training and ice her ankle.

She understands. She should have been more careful, and landing on a slanted roof was a terrible idea but, man, she wants to be training. She can hear the turtles as they fight, weapons clanging, grunts echoing. She wants to be there with them. She wants to swing her uchigatana and duck and dodge and feel the burn in her muscles, but no. She has to sit on this bench, ankle propped up underneath a bag of ice.

The sounds of the fights stop. She flips a page, perks one ear towards the dojo. Are they done? Are they switching partners?

"Are you serious? I won that!" Raphael's voice pierces the quiet.

She looks over her shoulders as Leonardo storms out of the dojo, followed closely by Donatello and Raphael. Raphael is fuming, his hands clenched so tightly that his veins are visible against his dark green skin.

"You don't have to win every time," Leonardo says.

"But—"

"No buts!" Leonardo whirls around, jabbing one hand out at his brother and stopping him dead. "Mikey beat you, Raph. It happens!"

"Not in this dimension!" Raphael retorts.

Donatello reaches out. "Raph—"

Raphael shrugs his hand off. "He cheated. I should have won."

"He used the exact same tactics you've used before," Leonardo retorts. "Looks like at least one of us knows how to adapt new strategies."

Raphael's teeth grind and his eyes seem to burn with fury. Destiny can hear his heart starting to pound faster, putting her book down as she starts to stand. She knows that look, knows the warning signs, and if Splinter or Sarina isn't around to stop this before it happens, then...

Before Raphael can throw the first punch, Destiny plants herself in front of him, her back to Leonardo. Her ankle protests her standing on it, but she ignores it. She spreads her wings and narrows her eyes, meeting Raphael's glare head on.

"Don't even think about it, Raphael."

Leonardo and Donatello share a wide-eyed glance. Full names mean business. They both take a step back as Raphael's shoulders hunch.

"Leo started it."

"And you were going to finish it?"

Raphael seethes. "Of course, you defend him. You always—"

She steps forward, hands in fists, and the other two brothers take another step back. Raphael flinches, but stays put.

"Who said Mikey won? Leo?" she asks.

"No. Splinter did."

"Are you saying Splinter's wrong?"

Raphael bares his teeth. "No...but Leo started telling me off when I argued—"

Destiny steps forward again, close enough that their foreheads almost bump. "So you're being a sore loser."

"Des, you should be resting your ankle—" Leonardo starts.

"And you," she interrupts, lowering her wings enough to look at him over her shoulder, "shouldn't be insulting Raph when he's already upset. You're better than that."

Leonardo slowly closes his mouth, bowing his head. Raphael, upon seeing Leonardo getting scolded, releases some of the tension in his shoulders. Destiny looks back at him, takes a deep breath, and points.

"Release some anger on the punching bag or something. Go."

Raphael turns and storms out of the lair, ignoring the punching bag completely. Destiny lets her wings fold against her back, shoulders drooping, and Donatello points over his shoulder before silently excusing himself back to the dojo.

Alone again, Leonardo steps forward and grasps Destiny's arm. "Des, your foot—"

"Oh, screw my foot. It's not like this is the first time I've had a crap ankle," she retorts. She turns to him, crossing her arms over her chest. "You really need to work on how you talk to Raph."

"I know, I know, but he's so..."

"Raphael?"

"Yeah."

She sighs. "What am I going to do with you two?"

His smile is sheepish as he does a slow shrug. "Be kind and understanding as we continue to grow?"

"I suppose, if I must."

She smirks and as he exhales a laugh, shaking his head, she shifts on her feet and sends a stinging pain up her leg. Leonardo catches her wince. Before she can insist that she's fine, he reaches out and scoops her into his arms.

"Now, you will rest your foot and we will watch cartoons," he says.

She sighs, resting her head against his shoulder. "Okay."

----------

Raphael knocks on Taylor's window, then waits. He darts a few glances at the street below, hoping that no one will notice him before he gets inside. It's still too bright out for comfort.

He knocks again.

After another second or two of waiting, he goes to dig out his t-phone, but the curtains tug open and Taylor appears. She has one earbud in, one dangling.

"Ay, Raphael, you need to patient," she says as she opens the window.

He slips inside. "I'm pissed off."

"Hola to you too, mi amor," Taylor says, flopping onto her bed and unceremoniously shoving a stack of papers off the edge.

Raphael flops next to her, rolling over and curling into her side. "Honest feelings right now, I need you to hold me and pet my head so that I don't explode."

"Oh Dios mío, that's precious," she whispers.

"Taylor..."

She rolls over and wraps her arms around his head, bringing him to her chest, and he lets out a long breath as his arm snakes around her waist. He nuzzles against her, making her giggle.

"They're like pillows," he mumbles.

She smacks the top of his head. He smiles.

----------

"Honestly," Donatello says as him and Sarina go into their lab. He waves to Metalhead II before sliding into his chair. "My brothers can be such a pain."

"I know, darling, but I have come to think that that is just a part of having them," Sarina says. Donatello leans back, eyes closed, and she moves closer. "You did well too. You almost beat Leonardo."

"He's too good. Me and my stupid staff can never just..."

"You have your own skills, and I'm sure you just have to continue to adapt."

He blinks, looks up at her, then leans forward and wraps his arms around her middle. He rests his head on her stomach and lets out a long sigh. She smiles a little.

"You analyze our fighting styles, right?" he asks.

"Indeed."

"Can you help me figure out a way to beat Leo?"

She reaches down and pushes him away from her, just enough so that she can settle into his lap. She drapes her arms over his shoulders, lip quirking.

"Yes, but only if I get to sit in your lap while we discuss."

His face turns red. "U-Uh, yeah, yeah, that sounds fair."

She giggles and presses a kiss to the edge of his mouth.

----------

Michelangelo leaves the dojo feeling rather dejected. He thought that, by using one of Raphael's moves on him, he would finally be able to pull out a win and maybe get some praise from his brother.

Instead, he made Raphael angry and the praise he got from Splinter felt tainted because of that.

He goes to his room and throws himself onto the bed. He hugs his pillow for a few seconds, then snatches up his t-phone and dials. He rolls onto his shell, phone by his ear, waiting.

"Mikey?" Annalise asks when she picks up.

"Hey, Lisey-bug," he says. "You busy?"

"Just left photography club. I'm walking home right now." She pauses. "Are you okay?"

"I miss you."

"Aw, I miss you too. Do you want me to come over?"

"Yes, please."

"I'll be there soon."

True to her word, she walks into his bedroom less than half an hour later. She climbs onto the mattress and into Michelangelo's arms, sneaking a kiss on his cheek.

"Bad day?"

"Yeah..." He breathes against her hair, focusing on the scent of her shampoo. "I won the fight, but I feel like I lost 'cause Raph's mad at me."

"Maybe you should tell him how you feel. He isn't the most confrontational guy."

"Hm...yeah, you're right." He tugs her closer. "But for now, I wanna stay here with my girl."

"Good idea. I need a nap, anyway."

They fall asleep within a few minutes.