A/N: I've been thinking about doing this for a little while, but I wasn't sure. Read and review. Let me know what you think.
It was a hot, humid June night in New York City. Perched high upon a rooftop, watching the stores below closing for the night- the clerks fiddling with keys, the window lights the only brightness visible inside- were four brothers. This was the usual routine, making sure everyone got out all right, watching for purse snatchers catching a hapless coed off guard... But tonight all was still.
"Come on guys," one yawned. "Let's hit the park; this place is dead." He absent-mindedly twirled his sai, waiting for the others.
"Wait, wait. There's still a light on in the dance studio." The one leaning over the ledge pointed to the large brick building with his nunchucks. His brother grumbled, pacing now.
"Who knows what's going on in the rest of the city? The stores are all locked up; the people are outta there. Let's get out to where the real action is!" he complained impatiently.
"OK, Raph. We hear ya. Why don't you guys go ahead, and I'll catch up as soon as they close up?" The brother leaning on his bo staff was looking for an excuse to avoid fighting and spend some time quietly on his own. He hated getting involved in the confrontations unless necessary. The others agreed and silently leapt down and towards the park.
Donatello turned back to the street below him, growing dark and desolate now. He decided to get a better look at the studio, since that was his main focal point anyway. If anything was going to happen, he ought to be close, he reasoned. So, he casually and gracefully maneuvered to the building across the street from the studio, close enough to see over the lower window coverings and into the main floor.
At first, he saw only the hardwood, and then, he saw a flash of movement, vibrant and intriguing. He'd seen plenty of stuff on PBS, but nothing up close before. Staying in the shadows, he pressed closer, crossing the street and taking up a new post on the fire escape, where he could see in a side window.
He was watching two people spinning, and then they stopped. The woman pulled away, miming the man's lead with the air and doing the move again, alone. He watched carefully, nodding, and then stepped up to attempt the move. They glided along the floor, stopping in an elegant pose. Both smiled, and the woman patted his back. The two parted now, and the nameless man nodded, gestured, and talked for a few minutes, his female partner returning the conversation. He finally waved and exited the front, walking towards the parking garage.
Donatello went back to watching the floor. There, the lady was standing at a bar and stretching her legs and arms. He watched, fascinated by her concentration, as she stepped out to the floor, mimicking the movements at the bar in the open air with balance and grace. He couldn't hear the music, but he could watch her move and see the story without the sound. The joy, the drama. A few times, she stumbled, catching herself and rushing to make up the steps, blushing as though she were in front of an audience.
She had long lines, not entirely thin, but curvy with wavy golden brown hair tied into a ponytail. She never faced him long enough to reveal her face, but that didn't matter to Donny. It wasn't her face that he wanted to see; it was her dancing.
"Earth to Donny!" squawked the communicator at his waist. He looked down, sliding down the wall to sit and talk to his older brother. "Where the heck are you? It's been half an hour. They're never in that late practicing."
"I know, but tonight they are," he replied. "I'll be there as soon as she's done. I'll call you to ask where I can meet you." There was a pause and now a different voice, the one of his younger brother emerged.
"Ooooh! I see. She's not done, huh Donny?" Donatello sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"It's just some college girl practicing late after a lesson. Come on, it's me," he reminded them. There were a couple of chuckles on the other end.
"True. Never mind then. Catch you later." And then he was alone again. Don was still for a moment, thinking.
It'll always be me. Just me. No interest in anything but the technical. Is that what I am? Just some loner? Well, you're alone right now, aren't you? He lightly hit the back of his head against the brick wall, frustrated, and rubbed his face with his hands. He had no time to continue these thoughts because a car with no lights on had made its was down the street, hit the brakes at the building and backed up. It pulled into the ally next to the studio and parked, the people inside still.
"Finally," he mumbled, assuming this was the lady's ride home. He heard the door open, and she pulled it shut behind her, checking the lock and turning. Don pulled out his radio and prepared to find his brothers, when he noticed her hurrying past the car and rummaging in her bag, producing… a bus pass. She was headed towards a stop a couple blocks over, oblivious to the dark car, probably assuming it was empty. Uh-oh.