Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Ninja Turtles. I just like toying with the characters to satisfy my muse...especially poor Raphie.
When Life Was Simple
Leo remembers visiting New York City, New York once, back when life was simple, complete. He'd been nine years old, and his mom and dad had decided to take him to see the popular city.
Leo remembers the subway most. He remembers sitting next to his mom, his dad standing amongst the sea of bodies in the packed train car.
He remembers looking over all the people – their faces, clothes, what they were doing – and wondering... who were they? What were they thinking? The quiet ones, either listening to music, reading, or otherwise just sitting, staring at nothing in particular. What were they thinking about? Work? Friends? Were they missing a lover? Mourning a lost loved one? Were they reflecting on the past? Looking to the future? Going over previously scheduled plans? Making plans? Were they happy? Sad? Fuming? Lonely? Worried?
Were they thinking about nothing at all? Or were some thinking the same as him; wondering about the people pressed close around them?
Leo remembers seeing a boy in the aisle, down at the other end of the car. He remembers catching a glimpse of wild black hair through a gap in the bodies, and immediately searching for the owner. He remembers a strange sense of panic when he could not find the color again, then a sudden feeling of relief when at last he found the boy. A boy with raven black hair and tanned skin.
Even from a distance, Leo could tell the boy was around his height, perhaps just slightly shorter or taller than him. He stood by a tall, severe looking woman, with plain brown hair pulled into a neat bun, and a perfectly pressed burgundy suit. The boy himself was dressed in a plain t-shirt (that was certainly meant to be true black but dulled slightly in comparison to the wearer's hair) and baggy faded blue jeans.
Leo remembers the distinctive eyes that locked with his when the boy glanced his way – eyes colored with a sharp, piercing, vibrant shade of hazel, alive with defiance, but holding something back, locking it in a box hidden in some dark and forbidden corner of his mind.
Leo doesn't remember how long they held each other's gaze, but he remembers letting out a breath he wasn't aware of holding in the first place when the woman finally led the boy off the car.
Leo remembers the foreign sense of loneliness that fell over him at the loss of those eyes. He remembers coming to the conclusion that the mysterious boy was the most beautiful creature in the universe, more beautiful than anything, even an angel.
It was a very pure sense of beauty, seen and comprehended through the eyes of a still innocent child.
The boy's eyes haunted Leo. Smart as he was, he was unable to define those eyes, no matter how hard he tried. The words simply escaped him. Leo remembers wondering if there even were any words to describe those eyes. He finally settled on the idea that he would somehow tarnish their beauty by stripping away their mysteriousness with words.
During this simple time, those eyes, and their owner, haunted Leo's mind and dreams.
A year later, Leo's parents died in a car accident – and Leo stopped dreaming.
Chapter 1 – Spin of The Wheel
Leonardo woke to the alluring scents of coffee and bacon floating in from the kitchen. He yawned, then peeled back the cocoon of blankets to blink sleep bleary eyes at the digital clock on his nightstand. The bold red letters mockingly declared it to be seven o'clock in the morning. Leo groaned but quickly rejected the idea of going back to sleep as his stomach was not very keen to dismiss the idea of food in favor of a few extra z's.
He pried the covers off and sat up, sweeping a quick glance around his room as his mind started to clear. Across the room from his bed was a small closet, a wardrobe claiming the small stretch of wall to the immediate left. To the right of the closet, along the perpendicular wall, was a simple desk with a laptop and small lamp taking residence on top. To the right of the desk was a bookshelf filled with books spanning many genre. To the right of that was a single window through which morning light poured into the room. To Leo's left was the half open bedroom door leading to the hallway. On the immediate left of the bed was the nightstand with his digital clock and a small picture frame. Above the nightstand was a wall lamp; its chain dangled motionless in the still room. The walls were a light blue and were sparingly adorned with posters of Leo's favorite bands.
When the digital clock read seven-o-five, Leo finally slid out of bed. He made his way to the chest of drawers, retrieved a pair of black boxers, a loose white t-shirt, and a pair of baggy gray sweatpants, and walked down the hall to the bathroom.
When he flicked on the light, his reflection greeted him in the mirror – pale skin and warm brown eyes framed with bleached, platinum blond bangs. Leo reached up and pulled slender fingers through the straight locks. Aside from the bangs, the rest of his hair was a medium brown. He'd bleached his bangs nearly four years ago, and had kept them that way since, as a symbol of his new life.
Leo reached up again, running his fingers through the nearly shoulder length hair. It fluttered down in pieces as he removed the few feeble tangles with ease. He glanced back at his reflection, taking in the faint dark marks under his eyes. His dreams had been disrupting his sleep recently, though he could not recall what they had been about. He chalked it up to being repressed dreams about his parents, nightmares about what had happened.
Leo traced his fingers down his bare chest, feeling the scar even before his gaze slid down the mirror to follow his fingers. A four inch gash centimeters from his heart. A miracle the metal didn't do lasting damage. He frowned, hand falling back to his side. He refused to linger on it for more than a moment. He had a new home now, a new life, a new family. Never a replacement... but something to treasure and rely on regardless.
Leo heard the soft clatter of dishes from down the hall. Shaking off the lingering thoughts, he splashed his face with cold water and set about brushing his teeth and changing his clothes. He made a quick stop at his room to drop his dirty clothes in the hamper before making a beeline from the kitchen.
Once in the kitchen, the scent of coffee was more fragrant, the scent of bacon more mouth watering. The weaker scents of toast and scrambled eggs were also detectable now.
The kitchen itself was cozy – small, but with plenty of room nonetheless, with oak cabinets, reddish-brown walls, gray marble counter tops and mismatched red, black, and silver appliances. A counter in the middle of the room served as a bar-like table.
Leo walked in, savoring the wonderful scents, and pulled back the chair at the closest end of the "table" before sitting down and promptly slouching over, folding his arms in front of himself on the marble and resting his chin on his arms.
"Donnie, can I just say how amazing you are?" he moaned in a dreamy tone.
The person he addressed was Donatello, his adoptive younger brother, who was currently engaged in flipping strips of bacon in a fry pan.
Donatello turned his green-hazel eyes to Leo, a small smile in his eyes as well as on his lips.
"You just did, Leo."
He brushed back some of the shaggy, dark brown bangs that draped down into his eyes with the hand that was not occupied with a spatula. Leo grinned in reply.
"Oh Don, you know it's true," he teased, a sly smile on his lips. Don chuckled in response, having returned to fixing breakfast.
"Perhaps. But surely you don't just love me for my cooking?" Don's hand flew to his chest in a symbol of mock hurt. Leo let out a short laugh.
"It's more than that of course. But I swear, you could get anyone to fall for you. Your culinary skills just seal the deal."
Don grinned, his back still facing Leo. He transferred the bacon to a plate then reached for the pan of scrambled eggs, scraping the eggs into a bowl. He turned off the stove and carried the plate of bacon and bowl of eggs to the counter. He held back a laugh at the look Leo was giving the food.
"Why, Leo. I'd ask that you please refrain from drooling on the table." Leo's eyes flicked up to Don's. He gave a faux pout as an answer.
Donatello shook his head at his brother's antics. He put out plates and silverware for himself, Leo, and their father, who entered the kitchen as if on cue.
"Good morning my sons," he said, taking a seat at the counter opposite from Leo.
"Morning, Father," was the response echoed by both boys.
Splinter, as he was called by most, if not everyone he knew, was the adoptive father of both boys. He was a middle-aged businessman with graying hair and a warm smile. He had adopted Donatello first, then Leo six years later. Leo had been fourteen at the time, Donnie, thirteen and a half.
Don prepared a cup of tea for Splinter, setting it down by the man with a smile. Splinter returned the gesture and sipped at the tea while reading the morning newspaper. Don prepared a cup of coffee for Leo and a cup of tea for himself. Usually they were all content with tea, but Leo had taken a new liking to the stronger beverage.
Leo smiled and took a long drink from the mug. Don took a seat near Leo and started to put food on his plate. While he had prepared the tea and coffee, Don had also gathered up the toast he had prepared, and some butter, and had moved them to the counter.
"So what's really up with you anyway? You seem different," Don said to Leo, as he took a bite from a piece of bacon. Leo was in the middle of buttering a slice of toast. He gave a sigh and shrugged his shoulders slightly.
"I don't know. I'm just tired I guess. I've been having nightmares again... I think. I can't actually remember what they were about."
Donatello listened to his brother's response, a contemplative look on his face.
"Have you been stressed over anything recently?" he asked.
"Not that I know of."
Don hummed and took a sip of his tea. Before he could voice a reply, Splinter set down his paper and addressed them.
"Leonardo, Donatello. I have news to tell you. I have business to attend to in New York City. It might be a permanent position that I am being offered."
Leo and Don blinked at each other, then looked back to Splinter.
"So... we're moving?" Don asked. Splinter's reply was a simple nod. "When?"
"I hoped to move in before school started, so that the two of you would not have to transfer into the middle of class."
Leo gave a small nod in understanding. Splinter knew it would be hard enough changing schools as seniors in high school. Having to transfer after school started would just seem cruel.
"So we should start packing soon?" Leo asked quietly. Splinter's smile was a little sad.
"Wait, so you've already found a place?" Don piped up.
"Yes. I found us an apartment. It is close to the school you will attend, as well as to where I will be working."
Don lowered his gaze to the counter. Leo rested a hand on his shoulder in comfort. While they weren't exactly popular at their school, they still had a small group of friends. Splinter knew this would seem hard at first.
"I am sorry my sons. I would not have accepted if it could have somehow been avoided."
"No, we understand," came Leo's quiet voice. Splinter gave a small nod before standing. He took his cup of tea and left for the living room to watch his soaps.
Leo offered Don a small smile, which was mirrored after a moments pause.
"Things will work out Donnie. I bet this will be a really interesting change."
"Yeah... I bet it will."