Healing

Asha:

Asha sat on the mat cross legged and breathed as deeply as her still sore ribs would allow. It had been only two months since that major clusterfuck had gone down in Manhattan. Everyone seemed to be moving on well considering. The boys were laying low. They hadn't gone on any patrols, and really there was no need. The police could handle the petty crimes for a while.

The news was all abuzz with stories of aliens and mutants. The official story was that there had been a terrorist attack, and the weapon of choice had been bio hazardous chemicals. It had killed those that it touched after disfiguring them. The government had no other information on the matter. It was surprisingly close to the truth. Of course there were conspiracy theories all around about alien encounters and government cover ups. Video evidence was next to nothing. The bird mutants were tasked with warding off all authorities and media. Even news helicopters were attacked. No one had clear footage of what had hit the helicopters. All in all, Splinter made it clear that the turtles should stay well out of sight for the time being, until all the dust settled.

She opened her eyes and stood. She took a deep breath again and let it out in a loud sigh, then walked over to the weapons wall. Asha was honored that they allowed her inside the dojo proper, let alone utilize the weapons there. Her own staff was too heavy to practice with. It was a walking stick when in her human form. Only as a lioness did she have the strength needed to wield it properly as a weapon. She chose a staff from the wall and did a few simple spins, getting the weight and balance of it. She hadn't been in a dojo practicing since the attack on her uncle's place. Standing in the middle of the room she commenced. Some simple breathing techniques, and a few stretches to start. Asha began with staff spins ranging at first from the very simple two-handed spin, to more complicated techniques. The act of spinning the staff gave her ribs a good stretch. They were just a little sore now and stiff, but otherwise healed almost completely. A large bruise still marked the spot like a bullseye. As she advanced into actual katas Donatello walked quietly into the dojo to watch. Her style was still impressive to him. She went from basic Wushu style into monkey's staff effortlessly. He watched as she alternated between light attacks that focused on agility, to heavy attacks and slams that focused on crushing and bone breaking. She worked until she was covered in sweat and breathing heavily. She bowed to her imaginary sparring partner, and only when she looked up did she notice Donnie watching intently.

"How long have you practiced the staff?" He asked, nonchalantly grabbing a staff from the wall and spinning it.

"My uncle taught me as soon as we got to this country. I was nine at the time, so ten years." Asha replied watching him get ready to practice, or spar. A smile threatened the edges of her mouth.

"Are we going to finally settle this or what?" She asked stepping to the center of the dojo.

"Settle what?" He asked raising a brow ridge innocently.

"Who's got the mightiest staff, that's what still needs settling." She said. She was pacing slowly back and forth, something she always did just before a sparring session with her uncle. The memory hit her unexpectantly and her smile first faltered, then broadened at it.

"Uh uh," Donnie was saying shaking his head. "There's nothing to settle in that regard. I'm the master here, I just wish to see how you fare against me." He said, a broad grin spreading on his kind face. He had a dangerous glint in his eyes that told Asha that he was both talking trash, and meaning every word.

"Ok," Asha said, the corners of her mouth downturned and nodding her head, taking in the challenge as well as the implication that she herself had not mastered the skill. Challenge accepted.

"First I will face you as a human, see how I do. Then as a lioness. Does that sound about fair oh great staff master Donatello?" She was glad to see an even bigger grin plastered across his handsome face.

"Your funeral." He adjusted his glasses, struck his stance, and then beckoned to her Bruce Lee style.

Donatello's strength easily overmatched her and he was taking it easy. The strikes and counters were playful at first, but became more serious as she was focusing all her attention on blocking all strikes. He was easy going, but any hit would likely actually hurt her. More and more she recognized she was on the defensive. His strikes came fast and hard, not giving her time to breathe or think. Without her own augmented strength to match him she would be beaten, it was only a matter of time.

Neither of them noticed the audience they had attracted. Mikey, Raph, Leo, April, and Splinter were watching with rapt attention. It was only when Mikey started cheering his brother on the sidelines, did they become aware of their presence. Donnie was impressed. She couldn't stand toe-to-toe in human form with an offensive attack, but she used her smaller size to great effect dodging him and blocking his attacks. She seemed to be very good at anticipating his next move. Unfortunately, he wanted more of a challenge. This was fun, but he knew if she changed it would be awesome to have an opportunity to use his real strength.

"Big D is in the house! She's no match for you dude." Mikey cheered throwing both his hands up and bouncing on his toes. He loved watching Donnie fight. It was something about his calm and calculated demeanor that lulled opponents to sleep, and then WHAM! They don't know what hit 'em.

"End it Donnie! She ain't got half the skill you got." Raph shouted. Taunting Asha at every turn had become his favorite pastime. She thought he genuinely disliked her, but it was all in fun for him.

Asha was being worn out. There was no way she could keep taking his blows and successfully blocking each. She began to miss some of the low attacks, and he eventually got her down on a combo ending in a vicious leg sweep. She fell hard on her back as the tip of the staff was aimed at her throat.

The sidelines erupted in chorus of cheers on Donnie's victory. April was the only one cheering for Asha. It didn't go unnoticed as Asha gave a nod and a small smile in her direction. April smiled back and started to clap for her. Mikey nudged her.

"Whose side are you on anyways angel cakes?" He asked playfully poking her.

"Us girls gotta stick together, right Asha?" April said smiling and sticking a tongue out at Mikey.

"Yep. Gotta stick together." Asha replied over her shoulder and returning a small smile. She was trying to be a good sport, but she was a sore loser.

"I'll give you something to cheer about in just a minute." Asha said eyeing Donnie and willing her transformation. She chose to do it more slowly for effect, and to show them what she knew they were curious about. How did a change like that even look?

"Ready for round two?" She asked, again pacing with a low growl. Donnie shrugged and pretended to yawn.

"Sure since you seem to be begging for another butt kicking, I'll be happy to oblige." He said silently watching her change. It was fascinating to at last see it for himself. He was trying to figure a way to ask her to do that for him in his lab without seeming like a super creepazoid. This was almost as good.

It started with her feet and legs. Everyone could get a full view as she had nothing on but a sports bra, and a pair of loose shorts. She kneeled on all fours allowing every angle possible. April stood eyes wide and both hands clasped tightly over her mouth. She looked about ready to faint. Leo had his arms crossed over his broad chest, eyes wide but mouth closed tightly. Raph was standing in almost the exact way, only his toothpick worked furiously as he tried to act as though he saw this type of stuff every day. Mikey was standing in open amazement, alternately oohing and aahhing, and then cringing every time a bone cracked or muscle visibly shifted position.

Asha's back was elongating. It was very much like those werewolf transformations in the movies. Her feet and legs were getting longer, her collar bone seemed to break and then shift and elongate as her shoulders became wider. At the base of her back, they could see her spine extending as her tail formed, with fur gradually growing and it finally tipped with the lion's customary tuft of fur on the end. Her pretty small face was widening, her mouth gradually going into a muzzle. Her lips thinned impossibly and spread as her mouth became an almost exact replica of a lioness' face. Her human teeth receded into her gums as her fangs formed and took their place. Every once and again she cried out as the more drastic changes took place. Before too long she was done. She stood once again to her impressive full height. She discarded the staff she was using in preference to her own which was laying in the corner nearest the doorway. She took a moment to check everyone's reaction and was dismayed. They seemed to be shocked but also disgusted. Even Leo could not hide his disgust at the sight. April seemed downright ready to hurl. Only Donatello wore an excited expression, having been one of few people to have actually witnessed that. It was the first time Asha had been self-conscious about what she was. This was the last place she expected judgment. Donnie would pay the price of defeat for it too. She was angry that what had started out as fun, had become humiliating for her. What was worse is that she didn't think any of them were aware of the looks on their faces. Only Splinter seemed to sense the change in her mood. He decided to let it play out. He was somewhat disappointed to see his sons' reactions.

Saying nothing she assumed her stance. Donnie did too. Looking at her now, he could see she was angry and...hurt? Why would she be hurt? Dismissing it, he refocused on the sparring session. Asha bowed and immediately began. Unlike Donnie, even though the staff was her weapon of choice she rarely kept her feet on the ground. At times she almost used it as a sort of pole vault, planting it then using it to springboard into aerial kicks. All of her jumping around made it difficult for Donnie to anticipate her next move. It was his turn to be on the defensive. In her lion form she was much more formidable, her strength almost a match for his own. He felt free to attack with abandon, no longer taking it easy. Then, just as he was becoming accustomed to her more aerial attacking style, she switched and began using the staff more like a spear. Instead of doing the customary strikes, she was now using the end of the staff in short powerful jabs to his head and neck area. She had adjusted her style well in recognizing some attacks would not work on his unique body. Asha did not waste time on rear attacks. Frontal attacks were only made when using the staff as a spear, the point having more pounds of pressure per square inch when applied that way. She saw that his plastron, while strong, was not as hard as his carapace and could possibly be attacked. She had no intention of hurting him, but only letting him know that she too had mastered several staff techniques, and was adept at all of them. Donnie was becoming more and more frustrated. She was using her feline body against him in peculiar but inventive ways. Mostly he noticed she kept her tail wrapped tightly around her waist during a fight. However, this time she was also using it as a misdirection tool. He knew that cats used their tails as leverage when attempting a jump or maneuver that required great balance. So she would unwrap it, stiffen it as though she were attempting to jump or go to one side, then quickly switch directions and feint the other way. He had fallen for it twice now, and couldn't afford to do so again. Asha was becoming more aggressive, but she was checking herself every step of the way. She didn't want to get out of control and take this from sparring to fighting. Both she and Donnie's blood and competitive spirits were up, and they didn't need anything to work them up any more than they were already. So when the peanut gallery erupted every time Donnie countered or landed a blow, Donnie's brow ridge would furrow. Asha took this as his annoyance with them, and thus he was distracted by it. Perfect. She used the opportunity to end the spar. Taking a bit of a running start, she was poised again to do an aerial high kick, or so she wanted Donnie to believe. He bought it as she saw him ready to defend against it. She went low though instead of high and managed a sweep much in the same fashion he had done to her not a few minutes before. He landed hard on the mat with her staff pointed at his throat.

The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. April hadn't cheered for her since watching the transformation. So much for girl power Asha thought as she unceremoniously threw her staff down, and stormed from the dojo, shoulder checking Raph much to his disapproval on her way out. She hopped the turnstiles and stalked through the sewers looking for a place she could escape their disgusted looks. She looked back to see if anyone had followed her. No one had.

Leonardo:

Leonardo seemed to be doing fine. At times he would take long walks in the sewer alone. He had been doing some extra meditating with Splinter. If someone had asked, he wouldn't have been able to explain why killing Karai had affected him so deeply. He had killed other people, but this was different. He had reached the other side of some rite of passage that none of them knew existed. He had fought to the death another warrior, not just beat up a thug or one in a group of foot soldiers. When he thought no one noticed he would take her katana out and just stare at it. For the first few days you couldn't pry it out of his hands. Now he only handled it once a week or so. He relived the memory over and over of her final moments. Every time he expected to shed a tear, but they never came.

Today he was feeling better than he had in a long time. He had gotten up that morning, had a good workout, ate a good breakfast, played some video games with Mikey and had a light-hearted argument with Raph about whose butt was better, Beyoncé's or JLo's. They had to agree to disagree. He had gone to Donnie's lab to see what his next to youngest brother was up to, but didn't find him there. Then he heard familiar sounds from the dojo. As he made his way across the lair to check it out, he saw that Mikey had also heard and was making his own beeline over there. Raph was in the kitchen with April looking for something to eat, when Leo passed him. Without stopping all he had to say was 'action in the dojo' and Raph was there.

They all crowded around to see what was happening. Leo wasn't too surprised to find that one of the combatants was his brother. Donnie's passion didn't lie in fighting for the sake of fighting, they all knew that. They also all knew that as skilled as they were as ninjas, not one of them could handle that staff like Donnie could. It was just naturally suited to him, as if he were born to have that weapon. This was a new Donatello ever since Asha had come around. Donnie spent a little more time practicing than he usually did. Leo would find him in the early morn muttering to himself and attacking his imaginary sparring partner with reckless abandon. On a couple of those occasions, Leo had stopped to just observe Donnie's style. It was really fluid, something he hadn't paid attention to before. They had always sparred against one another on many occasions, but Leo was always too focused on the fighting to take time out to be a casual observer. Leo guessed that Asha's weapon of choice also being the staff, was the catalyst that got a fire lit under Donnie's shell. Good. Sometimes the starting QB needs the threat of his backup to get him motivated. Backup QB is what Leo thought of Asha's style in comparison to Donnie. However, her taking him on, even having the nerve to take him on as a human was either hella confidence or sheer stupidity. Leo couldn't decide which.

He was enjoying himself until the atmosphere changed. Until she changed. Leo was horrified. Why would she do that in front of others? It looked like a horror show, and it also looked painful as her bones broke audibly and repeatedly. Did she think that she had something to prove? Maybe she felt like she needed to be a freak to hang around freaks. The thought of that kind of pissed him off. He knew he was doing the same thing he always got on Raph about, but he couldn't help it. He didn't like being mocked either, if indeed this was what this was. As Leo took a glance around, he saw that everyone had the same look on their faces. He didn't know if it was all for the same reasons, but none of them seemed to like it. Only Donnie wore another expression, but that was only because Donnie liked discovering, learning, and witnessing new things.

When she won the second round she stormed out. Leo resisted the initial urge to follow her, until Splinter gave him the silent go ahead. He followed her easily as. She made no attempts at stealth. She was still a lion as Leo could tell by her unique scent while in that state. He found her pacing in a large cavernous part of the sewer that he and his brothers liked to call The Grand Canyon. He noticed that was a habit of hers when she was anxious or awaiting something, she paced the floor.

"Go away Leo!" She roared at him. She could just split his shell for the look he gave her, was still giving her.

"No, master told me to find you. It wasn't hard." He said slowly taking steps towards her.

"I wasn't hiding from you, so of course it wasn't hard." Asha said, growling and trying to hide the fact that tears from falling. She was losing that battle. The tears were coming, and she was unsure from which well of emotion they were springing. She was embarrassed she knew for sure. She questioned her decision about allowing them to see her changing. Had she committed some unknown faux pas? She didn't know, and she hated not knowing what to do or how to repair it.

Leonardo stepped closer to her and reached for her arm to stop her from walking off. Asha jerked away from his grip, but Leo didn't let it go at that. He grabbed her and held her arm tightly. Gently he reached up and cupped her chin, turning her face to him. Leo saw her tears and instantly felt bad. How could he think she was mocking him? She allowed him to hold her. He saw she was struggling to look him in the eyes, and she was working her nerve up to speak.

"I disgust you don't I." Asha said sadly.

"What?! No no no." He said, shocked that she believed she had offended them by the fact of her being what she was.

"The way you all looked at me, like you were puking in your mouths or something." Her crying was making her voice hitch, and it was beginning to be difficult to understand it. Her natural growling while in this state was more pronounced by her crying.

Leo fought the urge to draw her in and gently kiss her. He wanted to wipe her tears, and replace her sadness with passion. Over the last two months, he had become surer that wanted to at least try this with her. Not only had she proven her loyalty and battle prowess, but he was noticing the way she never argued with him. She always dipped her head in a sign of submission, and was even doing so at this moment. Leo didn't understand that behavior, but it made his chest swell. A beautiful woman was submitting in different ways to him as a leader, and more importantly as a man. Maybe even as her man. That thought excited him greatly.

"It's my fault. It was stupid. I was thinking it was something that it's clearly not. I'm sorry." Leo said still cupping her chin in his large calloused hand.

"Change." It was almost a command. No, it was a command. Soft but sure. Without a second thought or protest she began to change much more quickly this time. After she was done they still stood facing each other. He was still cupping her chin. Leo looked down into her face. Asha was looking up at him with tears still on her cheeks, but she wasn't crying anymore. Cautiously, he wiped them away. She made no move to turn her face or stop him. Emboldened, he inched his face closer to hers. He felt her tense a little, felt her heart start to race, but she still did not stop his advances. Leo first kissed one tear, then the other. He watched her for any sign of resistance, and when she closed her eyes he felt his own heart jump. Slowly he trailed tender chaste kisses down her cheeks to her mouth. Still cupping her face, he lowered the other hand to her waist and squeezed gently pulling her body closer to him. It took him a moment or two to understand how to place his large wide mouth on her small one, but eventually he figured it out. A shiver traveled down his central scutes as she tentatively placed both hands flat against his plastron.

Asha felt the heat rise within her. No man, human or otherwise had ever kissed her in this way. At first she couldn't believe this was happening. She'd thought about it so many times, how his lips would feel, how his hands would feel on her body. Now that it was happening, it was exquisite. He was gentle and seemed almost as nervous about the whole thing as she was. Asha leaned her head to the side to allow more access to her mouth. Leo groaned as his grip tightened on her waist. He let go of her face and placed his other hand on her waist as well, pulling her even closer to his plastron. He had never in his life been this close with a woman, and had never ever kissed one. Never had he imagined that a woman would willingly allow him to touch and kiss. When Asha wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, he couldn't help but moan in her mouth. They only separated long enough to catch snatches of air. She was straining on her tip toes, and he was starting to feel the awkwardness of how far he was bending down to kiss her. He resisted a mighty urge to lift her, wanting her to wrap her legs around him and never stop kissing him. He knew that it would be going too far too fast. So the next time they came up for air, he stood to his full height. His tail ached badly for the release of his manhood but he denied exit. He would have only let it out if he wanted to send her running for the hills and not look back. She looked up at him, cheeks in flames. Then she embraced him as best she could and laid her head on his plastron.

"Thank you." Asha said simply.

"For what?" He asked, genuinely inquiring.

"Everything Leonardo." They remained in that position for a while. Her trying to wrap her arms around him, and he cradling her head and stroking her hair. Breaking the long embrace, he looked down at her and smiled.

"Ready to go back?"

"Yeah, let's go. I'm hungry anyway." Asha said, trying to take his hand in hers, but it ending up the other way around. Leo wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they strolled back to the lair together, all right with the world once again.

Raphael:

He walked over casually and helped Donatello up off the mat. Splinter left the doorway, now that the action was over. He went into his room. Let the young have their fun, and let the old watch their soaps in their room, he thought with a smile. Perhaps they can sort this out among them without his interference this time. April remained standing there, still getting over the sight of Asha's change. Just like watching a real live horror film. She wondered why Asha ran off. They were building a friendship, feeling each other out. Asha was a mystery. Sometimes she was all super social, laughing and making jokes, telling stories, and play fighting with the guys. Other times she was aloof and estranged. She would become quiet for extended periods and introspective, often choosing to be alone at those times. April couldn't figure out if it was because of recent events, or if that was just her personality. Turning towards the entrance of the lair, she thought she heard footsteps. It must be Leo and Asha, she thought. April turned her attention back towards Raph and Donnie.

"Got your ass kicked by a damn girl Donnie. What the hell man?" Raph joked as he gave Donatello's hand a tug.

"Yeah, a girl that just happens to be a mutant lion." Donnie said, rubbing his plastron where Asha had landed a few well-timed hits. There'd be a sore spot there for a day or so for sure.

Raph shot him an annoyed look. "She ain't no mutant. She's somethin', but she ain't no mutant."

"Whoa dude she is a mutant. Didn't you see her change, or were you too busy worrying about if you were next on her list of people to fuck up today?" Mikey said, giving Raph a mock look of concern before sliding his eyes to Donnie and giving a playful wink. Watch me get him going, the wink said.

"Shut the hell up Mikey. Just try to make sure you ain't on my list you little freakazoid." Raph said, pushing Mikey back a little harder than he intended.

(Gotta keep some type of control. This ain't about your brothers right now.)

"What's wrong with you Raph? Just because she never encountered mutagen as we did, doesn't stop her from having a genetic mutation that allows her metamorphosis. Hence, she is a mutant." Donnie said, replacing his staff on the weapons wall and heading towards the showers. Raph grabbed his shoulder, turning Donnie towards him before he left the dojo.

"So, you like this chick?" Raph asked, actually curious. Donnie shrugged.

"Why not? She has been an ally to us in battle. She's funny, we all get along with her except for you. Now that isn't all that strange considering how anti-social you are, but it's pretty bad off even for you Raph. You do nothing but ridicule her every day. Most of your so-called jokes have to do directly with her mutation. This is something you would never tolerate if the tables were turned."

Raph was stunned into an uneasy silence. Donnie was always assumed to be the very passive brother, even to the point of being timid, but in truth Donnie was anything but timid. He was non-confrontational but never timid or afraid to speak his mind to his brothers, even Raphael who was known for getting in his brothers faces over sometimes minor discrepancies. Donnie just stood there facing Raph. For a moment more he took in Raph's reaction, and when the latter made no reply Donnie took that as his cue to leave. Raph made a feeble motion to stop him, but then decided against it. Raph looked over at April and Mikey for their take.

"Dude, you gotta lighten up on her. Asha's cool, just give her a chance." Mikey said, slipping an arm around April's waist and gently pulling her close to him. He took any opportunity to touch her, even absentmindedly as was happening now. Another thing that drove Raph insane every time he saw it.

"It's all in fun, damn. I'm just takin' jabs at her a little s'all." Raph said shrugging a bit. It was only half the truth. He meant most of the jabs he made. For whatever reason she just rubbed him the wrong way. It took him a while to figure out why until it hit him one day, when she just sashayed topside to find a job in broad daylight. No hiding for Asha the "mutant".

"No it isn't just fun Raphael, you can't stand that girl and you don't waste an opportunity to tell her so. She hasn't done anything but try to be nice as far as I can tell. In fact, you two have some things in common, but you wouldn't know that because you're too busy calling her Puss in Boots, or Thundercat or a million other lame names and wise ass remarks." April said with a little more than simple annoyance in her voice. She was pretty much disappointed in Raph's behavior with Asha and this was the perfect time to say so. Raph looked at April in wide-eyed shock. She had never addressed them with anything but concern and affection since they met. On very very few occasions she was a little abrupt, but this was criminal the way she was talking to him right now. He was too taken aback to even be mad right now.

"Don't give me that look. You need to get your head out of your shell and start acting like you were raised with more manners than a barnyard animal." April said. She was satisfied to observe the look of shame that spread across his face, even if it was for only a split second. She turned on her heels and followed Mikey out of the dojo.

Raph was standing there silent. His shock at being addressed in such a straight forward manner, giving way to anger. They didn't even try to see his side, despite the fact that he not really presented a valid reason for his clear dislike for their little guest. Just then he heard Asha and Leo's voices as they entered the lair. Raph looked at them from the dojo doorway. Leo had an arm around her, and Asha was encouraging the contact. They were just two peachy keen peas in a pod. Raph had seen enough. He came storming out of the dojo to address the object of his irritation.

"So, we back from our little excursion are we?" Raph asked glaring at Asha and crossing his arms over his massive chest in an attempt to intimidate her.

"Raph…" Leo tried to warn, but both Raph and Asha motioned him to be quiet. Leo hesitantly stepped back keeping an eye on his brother, ready to put a stop to it if he decided to get crazy.

"He's a big boy Leo, whatever he has to say to me let him say it. Apparently he's been itching to get something off his chest for a while now." Asha said eyeing Raph warily, and slowing entering a defensive stance just in case.

"Yeah, yeah I been wantin' have some words with you Thunda'cat."

"My name is Asha."

"Your name is whatever the hell I say it is." Raph said, bristling and daring her to challenge the statement. Asha didn't argue the point. She wasn't afraid of Raph, but she understood there was something more important to be said here, and if they get into a fight the point would be lost. She would rather hear him out than get into a pissing contest with him.

"Like I thought." He said smirking at his small victory. Asha stared unwaveringly in his eyes, which was beginning to make him slightly uncomfortable.

"Just say whatever it is you have to say, and quit hiding behind your stupid machismo. Or are we too much of a baby to use our words to say what we think? Cause trust me, for all this shit you like to talk, you don't wanna bang with me big boy." Asha chanced that last part. She knew it could easily derail the conversation to the pissing contest she was trying to avoid, but couldn't let it go unchecked. Uncle didn't raise no punks.

Raph bristled again. He was hiding behind his anger and for no good reason this time. Who was she to him? Nobody in particular. He'd just spill it and let the kitty litter fall where it may.

"You're a fake mutant."

"What?" Everyone asked simultaneously. Donnie was just now coming from the showers, and even he had to question his ears.

"Yeah, you're fake. You come down here and you chill with us as if you know how it is to have to hide from society. Then when daylight hits, you take your little fake ass up top and act like you're human like the rest of them." He was shaking as the words came out. It was finally getting out in the open just what he thought of her. It was making him angry to have her stand there and just take it. She was looking at him as if she actually wanted to know what made him tick. She didn't even seem offended, and he was trying to offend her too, not just simply state his case.

Asha didn't say anything just yet. She wanted to wait for the other end of it that she knew was coming. His brothers were waiting around with baited breath, trying to figure out if this little tryst would remain verbal or not. Asha would try her best to quell her own temper and not try to fight. Changing back and forth was tiring as it was, and if she did it again it would be like the second or third shift. She really wasn't in the mood.

"The other thing that bugs the shit outta me about you, is who the fuck are you?" Raph said, flexing his muscles habitually as his feelings formed themselves into words and spewed forth from his mouth. This was the most he talked to anyone about how he felt, especially if they were pissing him off like she does. The only other person he would break down to was master Splinter, and that's because he loved him and respected him too damn much to even think about getting violent in his presence.

At that Leo rolled his eyes and let out an audible groan. Asha measured her words carefully in her mind. She wanted to summarize what she thought he whole deal was and repeat it back to him, just to make sure she understood his gripes against her.

"So, your deal is that a) you think I'm not a so-called real mutant because I can switch forms back and forth, and b) you don't know much about me, as in my past. Does that about sum it up?" She asked, looking at him directly so he would know she really wasn't trying to be sarcastic.

"Well, yeah. In a nutshell I guess." Raph said, sort of calming down and rubbing the back of his head absently. Suddenly he was a little embarrassed about his outburst. Just a little.

"Ok. To address the first issue, why the hell would you think I didn't understand about hiding who, what I am from people? I'm not human no matter what the outside looks like. My community has all but gone extinct from trying to blend in and become something they're not. Werewolves are mythical for goodness sakes." She watched as he just stood there. He was scowling as usual, but he was actually trying to listen to what she was saying.

"We've been reduced down to B-movie horror films with bad special effects dude, and that's just the lycanthropes. The rest of us are virtually unknown except in local lore and legend. I struggle everyday to cope with my baser instincts. My very nature is to stalk and hunt, kill…." Asha swallowed before she spoke the last word. She thought back to that day before she was exiled, "…consume them." Asha completed the sentence with slumped shoulders, seemingly defeated by that last admission. Raph shifted his weight from foot to foot, trying not to look at her directly, and popping another minty toothpick into his mouth. The other was long forgotten. Mikey would vacuum it up later that night, cringing as it rattles up the tube.

"So I don't wanna hear how you're butt hurt over me being able to hide in plain sight of them. I'd be killed where I stood too, if they could know, could see what I really am and how much potential danger they're in with me around." Asha said suddenly a bit angry about the whole conversation.

"Be lucky that you do have human friends who think the world of you and could give two shits that you're a turtle, have a shell, two toes, three fingers, and a funky ass stank ass attitude most of the time. Now you seem like a cool person Raph, but I don't wanna hear this shit again. You wanna know something about me, you ask me." She said starting to walk off, then pausing to say something else.

"By the way, you are the ONLY one is this room that doesn't know my backstory because you never bothered to ask. I'll gladly tell it to you one day. Just let me know when you've got your head from up your shell, and we can talk big boy." With that she sauntered to the kitchen, leaving Raph speechless. A rare feat indeed not to be repeated for many moons. A half a smile crept across his face. He decided he liked her since she stood up to him.

"Yeah, well the next time you decide to run off like a bat outta hell, at least have the common decency to bring me back a beer, Thunda'cat." He tried to sound serious but was chuckling to himself. Suddenly, just like that the tension that had been so thick dissipated into nothing but giggles and playfully rolling eyes.

A/N: This was gonna be a one shot, but it's getting long and I haven't given Mikey, Donnie's, or Splinter's POV. I will add one more chapter to this. Just going to show everyone's relationship to each other, and their interactions. I'm gonna try to leave LeAsha for another story.