A.N: Ah I should probably be shot for starting a new story so close to university. But I'm planning this to be reasonably short (by my standards), around four chapters or so. We'll see how it goes. Besides I wanted a break from writing turtlecest lol. I took inspiration for this from the album Something For the Rest of Us, by the Goo Goo Dolls. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Ninja Turtles. I am not gaining any profit from this.
Something For the Rest of Us
Chapter One
He breathed in deep through his nose, held it for a few seconds, and then released it through his mouth. The long exhale misted into a grey cloud, smattering the darkness with moisture. He repeated this many times, his chest heaving with the contractions of his lungs. It was a long time before he was anywhere near normal again.
The words echoed all around him. They were loud, unrelenting, and he struggled to block them out. The almighty rage had died down now, leaving a feeling of emptiness in its wake. He could see the mistakes now, could identify when he should have stood his ground and when he should have backed down.
He sighed and leaned against the cold wood of the park bench. It was too late now anyway. He might as well enjoy the milky glow of the moon before he returned home for the lecture he knew was waiting for him. He gave a dark chuckle. How ironic that their roles should be reversed.
Since he had returned home from the jungle, life had been difficult, to say the least. He'd lost a piece of himself back there in the scorching rainforest, and no one had seemed to notice, or care. He'd returned to find his family broken and he wasn't sure if he knew how to mend the pieces.
His relationship with Raphael had suffered greatly. About Michelangelo and Donatello he needn't have worried. With them it was as if he had never left. But Raph was bitter, hating, cold. He rebelled against every order, challenged every opinion, even insulted him at any given opportunity. Things had even got violent from time to time. He shuddered at the memories.
He didn't know what to do any more. He'd hoped that after the incident with Max Winters, Raph's hostility might have dissolved. And it did, for a time. But then he forgot the harsh sting of guilt and regret, and the animosity returned with a renewed fire.
He didn't even know what he'd done this time. Things at home were bad enough as they were, he didn't need anything adding to his plate. The weight was crushing once more, and their Sensei did nothing to relieve that anxiety. If anything, the old rat had increased it: how could he lead when his second in command fought him day after day?
He didn't mean to blame Master Splinter, not at all, but just lately he'd found himself cowering in fear every time he was summoned. He could nothing right. If he wasn't perfect then his father did not approve. The slightest mistake could cost them a life. He was never allowed to forget that. He didn't even think he could now.
He missed the jungle with a fervent hunger. His leathery skin was losing its sun-worn colour and he couldn't sleep properly at night without a canopy of leaves and stars. He had felt at home there, as if he actually belonged. He had been respected, celebrated even. Those villagers loved him. It was certainly a shock to his system, coming home.
"May I sit here?"
A feminine voice pierced the silence and he jumped violently. He spun around to see a young girl stood to his left, waiting patiently for his answer. He stammered, looking around and behind him in shock. He could swear that he had heard nobody approach. It wasn't possible for a human to catch him unawares. She cleared her throat and he realised he was being rude.
"Er, yes, of course," He stuttered, blushing deeply.
"Thank you," She replied politely, sitting beside him.
Who was she? He stared at her in awe. She looked just like a normal, human girl, probably his age or slightly older. Her heart shaped face was unnaturally pale, upturned to watch the sky. Her lips were a deep pink in contrast, her Prussian blue eyes reflected the stars that wheeled overhead. Her raven dark hair hung in tight curls, resting on her shoulders. Her eerie beauty was marred by the ugly purple bruise that blossomed along her throat.
"I'm sorry, I've never been crept up on before," He admitted awkwardly, looking upwards.
She gave a quiet laugh, but didn't reply. He felt silly, sitting with her. He had thought this place was completely deserted, otherwise he wouldn't have stayed. What was she doing here? It was three in the morning, didn't she have a bed, a family? He opened his mouth many times but never dared question her for ages.
"Aren't you afraid of me?" He burst out suddenly when he couldn't take it any more.
She looked over at him and her stare made him flush. She examined the weathered emerald skin, the tough, oval shell, the bulging muscles, the large calloused hands, the shining pair of swords strapped to his back. Then she peered into his eyes. Big, round, chocolate behind a mask of blue, and found a familiar pain, a familiar burden.
"No," She answered finally, turning back to the stars. "I've seen scarier things," She decided casually.
He was taken aback, but not disappointed by her decision. She was new, intriguing. After the events at home, she was a welcome distraction.
"Like what?" He wanted to know. Maybe they could compare, he'd seen some pretty scary stuff in his time.
"Like ghosts," She murmured off-handedly. He gulped nervously.
"You see ghosts?" Strangely enough, he could believe her capable, even though he'd never believed in the supernatural before.
"This city is crawling with them," Her almond shaped eyes roamed the park before them, staring as if she genuinely watched figures move silently in the night.
She had such a chilling aura he couldn't help but shiver involuntarily. Without a doubt, he believed her. The way she surveyed her surroundings carefully, the way she froze for a second as if one had passed too closely, it was all too real. This girl could see the dead.
What on earth was he getting himself into? He'd had his fair share of the weird and unexplained, but he'd never paid much attention to the idea of spirits. Heck, he'd even been named the Ghost of the Jungle by the villagers in the rainforest, but that was because he was a ninja, because he was one with the shadows.
"You're alright now," She observed brightly, looking him over. She must have been able to tell he was starting to get freaked out.
"I beg your pardon?" He asked in confusion. She gave him a wide smile that lit up her entire face.
"You were very upset earlier. You're alright now," She repeated.
"Er, yeah, I was...wait. You were watching?" He frowned in disbelief and she laughed again.
"Only for a little while. I come here often," She explained, rubbing her bare arms.
"You must be freezing," He commented, noticing she was only wearing a plain black summer tee. "Here," He made to take off the thick scarf wound around his neck but she shook her head.
"No, don't bother. Thank you, but I can see you need it more than I do. I am a mammal after all," She grinned and he laughed in return.
"Yeah, being a reptile does have its disadvantages," He acknowledged cheerfully.
It was easy to be around her, he realised. He didn't feel like he had to hide or be on his guard around her, even with her interesting talent. He'd never interacted with anyone his age before, not counting his brothers, and he found he enjoyed it. He enjoyed rediscovering who he was.
"Who did you argue with?" She wanted to know, initiating a more sombre mood. His smile faded.
"My brother," He said sullenly, remembering the bitterness. "We don't seem to be seeing eye to eye recently,"
"You used to be so close," She said quietly, watching him curiously.
He pulled a face in suspicion. It hadn't been a question, it had been a statement. How on earth would she have known that? There was more to her than met the eye, he was sure. She seemed so certain, so knowing.
"Yes. Before I took a training pilgrimage to Central America. Since I've come home he's been...difficult," He elaborated slowly, forlornly.
"I think he's jealous. You experienced freedom and he didn't. That's got to be hard," She sympathised gently.
"I know that, but that isn't my fault. I didn't ask to be sent away," He shrugged, fiddling with the threadbare ends of his scarf.
"He doesn't see that you need help. And you can't blame him, you never ask for it, do you?" She responded, eyeing him with a compassionate look that made him shiver.
"You seem to know an awful lot about me," He noticed cautiously. Frustratingly, she gave yet another laugh, as if she knew something he didn't.
"I'm a very observant person, and you're easier to read than you think," She grinned, looking cheekily up at him. He gave her a half hearted smile then looked away. He found himself wanted to shudder if he looked at her too long.
"What brings you out here? Aren't you cold?" He wondered, searching for a change in subject. She obliged, noticing that talking about himself made him uncomfortable.
"I come here to clear my head sometimes. I have difficulties with my younger sister too," She shared with an understanding smile he was grateful for.
"Being the eldest is hard," He admitted with the slightest blush.
"I know," She replied simply.
Nothing else was said for a while, and they were happy to sit in each other's company. He was relieved to find someone who could understand and agree with him, even if she scared him a little. She seemed to know quite a bit about him to say they'd just met, and he wasn't entirely sure it was just good guesswork. She was too certain of her answers.
Not only that but she held herself with an ethereal grace he'd never found in a human before. She moved as if constantly aware of many presences, eyes forever darting around the vicinity, watching the actions of invisible people. She gave him the creeps. He was not usually so easily freaked out, but then he'd never met anyone like her before.
"I should go," He said reluctantly at last.
"They will be waiting for you," She nodded, getting to her feet with him.
"It was nice meeting you. I'm Leo," He announced formally, holding his hand out for her to shake. She giggled but did so anyway.
"It's good to meet you Leo. Will you come back sometime? I liked talking to you," She smiled widely, fingering the bruise on her throat absent-mindedly.
"Maybe. It depends on...what's happening at home," He pulled a face, he was really not looking forward to what was waiting for him when he got there.
"Things with Raphael will get easier, I promise," She assured softly.
"I hope so. Well, goodbye then," He offered her a small smile and turned to leave the park.
"Goodbye Leo,"
He had only taken a few steps when he froze and his blood ran cold with realisation. He'd never told her Raph's name. He spun on his heel to question her but she was nowhere to be seen. Impossible. Did he imagine her? No, he couldn't have, she was real enough. Just so, bizarre. He shuddered violently and went on his way, sprinting to reach the safety of home, lecture or no.
Master Splinter was waiting for him when he returned, just like he knew he would. I had been worse than he'd imagined, the guilt and the anger. He couldn't help but feel frustrated again. So Raph was allowed to escape and blow off steam but for him it was forbidden. But he had squashed down the bristling fury, repented and obeyed instead.
Lying in bed afterwards, he hated himself. Yes Master Splinter, no Master Splinter, how high Master Splinter? He couldn't even bring himself to argue with the old rat about what to have for breakfast. Everything he did revolved around his Sensei's words and actions. He could never disobey him, because it had been drilled into his head ever since he could remember.
Disobey and they will die.
He huffed to himself, rolling over and beating his pillow into a more comfortable position. His brothers meant the world to him, but couldn't he have a voice of his own? No wonder Raph hated him, he was such a coward. Raph was rebellious, brave, opinionated. Everything he wanted to be.
He found himself wanting to sneak out again, to find her and sit with her. She had calmed him, even understood him. He would never find that here. Mikey had been playing his video games when he had emerged from Splinter's room earlier. The youngest gave him a sympathetic smile, but he didn't understand.
She did. She had a younger sister, she knew the pressure, the guilt. He didn't even ask for her name. He groaned in annoyance. How stupid. He was never going to see her again anyway, but it would have been nice to know her name. Still, it helped knowing someone out there knew how it felt.
He wondered how she had received that ugly bruise. It looked like it had been applied with some force. He had had many like it from years of fighting, and knew those to the throat were particularly painful. Yet it was none of his business. She would have told him if she wanted him to know.
He dreamt about her that night, and every night after that. She was even scarier in his dreams, magnified by his imagination. She spoke to spirits, laughing with them, even arguing with them. Sometimes he could see them, twisted, grotesque images of every Foot soldier he had ever killed. They poisoned her against him with lies and hatred. He often awoke in cold sweats.
He didn't return for many nights though. His mind was forever plagued with thoughts about her however, and he found himself distracted, even forgetful. His memory had gone completely when asked to perform the simplest of katas. He had even been snapped out of bouts of daydreaming, something that had never happened before, even when he was a child.
He was ashamed to think so much about her. He had better things to do. Besides, he'd only met her once, briefly, and perhaps never will again. This was pathetic, allowing himself to become so absorbed in her. He had to concentrate on leading this team, he had to repair the rift between Raphael and himself, he had to-
"Leo!"
He blinked and looked up from his breakfast, realising everyone was staring at him with varying levels of curiosity and exasperation. He looked away with a blush. This was happening far too often lately, and it had to stop.
"Honestly Leo, this distraction is not like you. Are you sick?" Donatello wondered, observing him closely over his cup of coffee.
"I'm not sick Donny," Leo muttered uneasily, feeling very much like he was being scrutinised by a psychiatrist.
"Then what's wrong bro?" Mike asked pleasantly, piling pancakes into his mouth as if he hadn't eaten in days. Raph flinched and moved his cornflakes out of harm's way.
"I just have a lot on my mind, that's all," Leo replied casually.
"You'd have thought eighteen months in the jungle would have cleared ya mind," Raph commented snidely.
"Please don't start today Raphael, I'm not in the mood," Leo responded, getting up to put his dishes in the sink.
He valiantly ignored his brother's reply about having a stick up his ass and continued to the dojo for some meditation before practice. He knew it would be of no use. His futile attempts at achieving peace of mind were so rudely interrupted with images of her. His ghost whisperer, he had taken to calling her.
He'd told no one about her. For starters, he didn't think anyone would believe him. A young girl that didn't shriek and bolt at the sight of him and could talk to ghosts? How absurd. And how could he explain how she knew so much about him? Splinter would give him a lecture about secrecy for sure.
No, this was best kept to himself. It was his problem, he would deal with it. It would go away, eventually. He would forget all about her and everything would go back to normal. He needed to focus on more important things, like Raph and the team.
There would be no more thoughts of the ghost whisperer.
He hoped.
To Be Continued
A.N: Well there's the first chapter, I hope your interest is piqued hehe. Please review, it would mean a lot to me. I don't think the next chapter will be too much of a wait, despite my looming university classes, as I am full of creative juices for this story lol. Thank you for reading, see you next time!