He was constantly watching her. She could feel his eyes staring at her back.
What had she done?
Did she seem like a threat to him? Whatever the case was, he never came forward to reveal the reason. His constant vigil made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end, but she chose to act as if she didn't notice. Maybe if she feigned ignorance he would stop. Finally answers came, one day when she had come to drop off some of the guys stuff. Being teenagers, they continually left a mess at her house after their pizza parties. Coming into the lair, she found all was quiet except for a light in the dojo. She knocked and called out to make her presence known before crossing over to the entrance of the dojo. He sat under their tree meditating. "Oh hello Master Splinter, are the guys here? I just came to drop off some of their stuff."
The rat master opened one eye and looked her up and down. "I regret to say my sons are out on patrol of the city."
The girl nodded, "Ok, then I'll just leave this in the kitchen for them so they'll see it when they get back." She turned to leave.
"Miss T!"
She stopped, that feeling beginning to creep back onto her neck.
But she put on a smile and turned to face him. "Yes?"
The sensei was standing now, he came closer but stopped a respectable distance away. "I wanted to apologize if I have made you feel.. uncomfortable."
Oh God had he read her mind?! She didn't want to make him feel bad, she just wanted him to stop staring. "I can tell you have noticed my constant vigil over the past few weeks since you have come to know us."
She nodded slowly, not sure what to say.
The sensei reached up and rubbed the back of his head, an action uncommon for the usually poised sensei. "... You remind me very much of my late wife, Tang Shen. She had many of your same mannerisms. She also cared very much for others and had a beautiful smile..." he trailed off there.
The girl stared at him.
... He had been admiring her?
She looked up at him. The embarrassment and another emotion she couldn't quite pick out spread across his face. He was an older man, not very old, but around his 60's. She was well into her 20's now, still trying to figure how to keep her head above all that had happened plus normal life. But still...
"... I take that as a compliment Master Splinter. From stories I've heard, your wife was a wonderful woman. So, it is an honor to be thought of so... warmly." She bowed slightly to him.
"...yes." The old sensei looked as if he had more to say, but could not seem to speak the words. Finally he managed to speak. "W-would you care to join me for some tea, Miss T?"
Slowly the girl nodded. "I'd like that."
...
Splinter could tell, the young lady was a bit nervous. She had tried to pretend not to notice his unconventional watch over her, but some quick glances back at him had signaled her knowledge of his presence... and her feelings of discomfort.
At first he was unsure why he was constantly drawn to this girl. She had only been introduced to him and his family about a month ago, maybe a little less than that. But as she continued to get to know and interact with his sons, he knew. The girl reminded him of someone from his past... someone who was long gone. Tang Shen, his beautiful wife.
It fit.
The nervous giggle at the end of a corny comment from Michelangelo. That smile, that reassured Donatello to continue in his demonstration of his new invention. The patience shown toward Raphael and Leonardo when they fought. The girl- or rather young woman, was even in the same age range as Tang Shen had been when they had been married... and when she had died. Slowly, his heart began to burn for her. But his mind fought him at every turn. This was unprecedented, she was NOT Tang Shen and he was no longer in his 30's like he had been when they had married. He was an old man, lusting after a young woman many years younger.
But then...
He had sent his sons out on patrol to gain some peace and quiet and to deal with his raging thoughts. There had been a knock at the entryway and a call, a sign the person wanted to make their presence known. It sounded like-
The sound of shuffling feet stopped in front of the dojo entrance.
"Oh hello Master Splinter, are the guys here? I just came to drop off some of their stuff."
He opened one of his eyes, and his suspicions were confirmed. The subject of his meditation, was standing in front of him. He informed her that his sons were out at the moment on patrol. She looked a little disappointed. "Ok, then I'll just leave this in the kitchen for them so they'll see it when they get back."
She turned to leave.
His thoughts of meditation had left him- she was here! Right in front of him!
'SAY SOMETHING!'
"Miss T!"
The girl stopped, her frame stiffening.
So, she had noticed his staring.
He had made her uncomfortable. But still she turned to him and smiled. "Yes?"
He stood, coming closer by stopped a little distance away so as not to frighten her. "I wanted to apologize if I have made you feel.. uncomfortable."
For a moment the her face showed shock, but slowly she calmed herself.
He had to say something to put her at ease.
"I can tell you have noticed my constant vigil over the past few weeks since you have come to know us."
He saw her smile falter slightly.
'Say something to fix this! Compliment her! Explain yourself!'
He felt like the young 30 something man again, trying to woo the woman he loved. He felt himself absent-mindedly rub the back of his head.
"... You remind me very much of my late wife, Tang Shen. She had many of the same mannerisms as you. She also cared very much for others and had a beautiful smile..."
His insides felt like they were being torn apart. This was not right! He should not be making advances toward someone so young, or anyone for that matter!
The girl was silent, staring up at him, seemingly judging how she should handle this advance on his part.
He could feel his face betraying his feelings. What would she say?
"... I take that as a compliment Master Splinter. From stories I've heard, your wife was a wonderful woman. So, it is an honor to be thought of so... warmly."
"...yes."
A compliment?
He felt his face flush under his fur. She believed he was complimenting her? Maybe this was a sign... of something good.
He had to know for sure though.
"W-would you care to join me for some tea, Miss T?"
Slowly she had nodded. "I'd like that."