Chapter Text
Leonardo slid of out of the huge warm bed, away from the warm form beside him. He didn't want to move from his side, but he needed to speak with the Elder. He had been troubled by his meetings with him lately. He had tried to figure out why exactly he couldn't be considered the Leader just yet. After spending a month thinking and speaking with his partner, his only option was going to ask the Elder himself. He needed to go early in the morning before the village woke up.
Leo rocked and stood up, hearing his partner shift around in his bed, "Where're you going?" Leo couldn't hide the smile as he looked back into sleepy hazel brown eyes.
"I gotta go speak with the Elder. Stay here and sleep." A grumble from the other terrapin let Leo know he wasn't going to have any fight from him.
He moved over towards where he lay his fabrics down before slipping them around his waist. He contemplated putting on a fur for the cold, but he was sure he wouldn't be out of the heat for that long. He went through the door leading from his bedroom to the rest of his hut and out of the front door. He looked up at the moon, shocked that it was still so high in the sky, even if it is this early in the morning. Leo sighed and shuddered just a little from the cool breeze that swept across his skin.
He pushed forward towards the road that led up onto a hill and towards the cabin of the Elder. On the way there, Leo thought of his life and how he's gotten to where he is now. Living at the top of the food chain in a village of terrapins. His village, Atlantica and the turtles who inhabit it. His people. He wanted so badly to be the one in charge, despite the way it could wear down a man's psyche. He wanted to protect them. He just couldn't trust anyone else to do it.
He managed to convince his father to choose him out of his siblings to be the one to take over. His siblings didn't object as they wanted to lead simple lives. They never could understand how he could want such a hard job as it was. He came upon the cabin of the Elder and pushed onward a little quicker as he felt the chill of the early morning start to really nip at him. When he knocked against the door and was let in, the sky was lightening towards a gray color.
"Morning, Elder."
The old rat, who was the village Elder, gazed at the taller terrapin before moving to sit back at his place in front of the fire. Leo followed and sat in front of him.
"What is it troubling you, Leonardo?" He saw Leo look at his hands in his lap as he tried to figure out a way to say it without appearing unintelligent for not figuring it out on his own. The Elder noticed, "Spit it out."
"Elder, I...I want to know why it is that you do not consider me the leader of this tribe yet?"
Leo raised his head to meet the Elder's gaze full on. The black beady eyes stared back at the turtle, revealing nothing yet knowing everything.
"The matter is quite simple, Leonardo. Your people have a tradition. The tribe leader must take at least three life partners. The reason is to have three people you trust the most and talk to the most to have around you. These people you may or may not mate, but it is not illegal if you so decide to. You must do what you did for Donatello for two more members of this tribe. Then, in front of everyone, I will announce you the official leader of Atlantica."
Leo stared at the Elder, wanting to punch himself for forgetting such a basic rule. As a leader you need three people who you can trust to take over in case you must leave or have fallen ill suddenly. You must have three people whom you trust with your life, because that's what you're doing essentially.
Leo remembered his father had two male and one female, all of whom he mated with. Leo remembered the way family life went. They all were like parents to him and his siblings. He couldn't have possibly imagined life any other way.
"Thank you, Elder."
The old rat nodded, "Any time, Leonardo. I understand you better than you think and I do not ridicule you for not figuring that out sooner. You always believe it is something bigger than what it really is. It's your nature. And I do not blame you."
Leonardo offered the old rat a smile before nodding to him and standing to leave. The trek down was colder, but easier now that he had a little more light to work with. The sky was grayish pink and no one was up except farmers and him. He knew if he didn't get home soon, he'd miss Don before he went to check on the sick and elderly in the village.
He jogged the rest of the way down and towards his own cabin. He pushed into the place and closed the door behind him quickly to keep the cold out.
"Don!"
"I'm in here!"
He followed the voice back through his bedroom towards his bathroom. It was inhabited by a huge wooden tub with steaming, bubbly water and a terrapin. He smiled as Don waved a bar of soap.
"So...what did he say?"
"Well, basically I was being stupid."
"No he didn't." Don smirked as he rubbed the soap over his shoulder and arm, working up a lather.
"Well I went and asked him why I wasn't considered Tribe Leader yet and he told me it was because I haven't officially chosen three life partners just yet."
Donatello nodded and held the bar out to him. Leo grabbed it and stood behind him as the soaked terrapin stood in the tub. Leo started to rub the soap over his shell, lathering it up.
"Well, he didn't say you were being stupid."
"Yeah, but I forgot the simplest rule of them all!"
"It's because you're busy." Leo had reached the bottom of his shell and he was bending over to let him get at it better, "You have the Foot tribe to worry about..."
"Bunch of troublesome humans."
"And you got Purple Dragon tribes trying to threaten us."
"Another bunch of troublesome humans. I believe they're in cahoots..."
Donatello nodded and stood up and faced Leo, "Yeah well, we can't do anything about it until we have proof. And then the Elder won't authorize an attack if they're not directly messing with us."
Leo nodded and put the soap in his hand before moving over to the chair and grabbing a towel. He dipped it in water and made Don turn around to rinse off his shell.
"Yup. What're we gonna do 'til then?"
"Well..." Don looked back at Leo, his hazel eyes twinkling, "That big bed in there is feeling kinda lonely, especially when you aren't around."
Leo's face lit up with a small smile as he pulled Don's head back to kiss him deeply, "Well I guess that means I should get started on becoming Leader, huh?"
Don smiled and kissed him gently, "Not for just that, but because you need it. Okay?" Leo frowned a little as he realized what Don was getting at. Sighing, he stepped away and grabbed a larger towel to hold out for him to step in.
"Come on. You got sick turtles to go see about." Don smiled and stepped into Leo's arms as he wrapped the towel around him, as if he were a toddler.
"Just think about it, okay? Not just for being Leader."