The wind often blew in odd directions in New York City. It carried messages as it wove through the streets. A storm is brewing. Tonight the world burns. However, tonight, the wind carried two dark shadows. Both seemed intent on reaching their destination. The wind blew across their faces, trying to turn them back the way they came, to avoid the clash rising up on them. To avoid the pain the man in armor would cause. To avoid the time it would take for wounds to heal.
Karai glanced at Leo as he ran, his form perfect as he leapt carefully from rooftop to rooftop. She wished she didn't have to deceive him this way. However, she knew she couldn't defeat Shredder on her own. Maybe, just maybe, if she let him win once, she could destroy him while the others kept him distracted. Even after all they had done to help her, the revenge of her mother was more important. Karai shook her head. Maybe there was another way, and...why in the world did she feel so torn?
"You okay?" Leo's calm voice pierced her mind. She kept her eyes ahead so that her expression wouldn't deceive her.
"Fine. Going over my oral speech."
"Friendly."
Leo looked at Karai again. Her hair blew in her face as she ran, her pale skin capturing the moonlight perfectly. Her eyes matched the night, both dark and sharp, blending in with the shadows. Leo sighed inwardly. If he could turn back time and save her sooner he would have. Now it was too late. Still, he was happy she was by his side. Just a year ago he wasn't sure if she would survive her mutation intact. That was behind them.
Karai caught Leo staring at her and smirked. He blushed furiously and turned his eyes back ahead, coming face-to-face with a chimney. Leo ricocheted off the bricks like a ping-pong ball, sliding across the roof a couple feet before coming to a stop. He groaned, already feeling a bruise form on his face. Leo could hear Karai laughing at him, like 'that's what you get for staring.' He sat up, angry that he had let himself appear so careless in her presence. His face was a bright red from embarrassment and the fact that Karai was doubled over wasn't helping. But, she did have a beautiful laugh.
Their eyes met and Karai let out one last chuckle before Leo stood up. She glanced at him.
"Would you like to make any other stops along the way, Leo?" She asked, a teasing tone to top off her voice. Leo responded by blushing and running across the rooftop. Karai followed, still smiling. He was such a dork. No. I can't think like that. She wiped the smile off of her face and followed her friend with the mask replaced. She wasn't going to let Leo of all people see. Karai would never let anyone in. Especially someone she didn't deserve.
Leo, oblivious to Karai's conflicting face, was repeatedly mentally slapping his forehead. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Had to pull a Donnie didn't I? Right in front of her. Ugh. She must think I am out of my mind. Or helplessly in love with her. Leo almost stopped running at the last one. Yes, he had had a crush on Karai for a long time, but did he truly love her? His mind was always a muddle around her. He could barely think straight. The nearest entry to the sewer interrupted his thinking. Not wanting to clumsily drop from the fire escape because he was watching her lithe figure, Leo simply jumped down. Soon, Karai stood beside him.
"You sure you want to see them?" Leo asked her.
"How else am I going to convince the others about attacking? Besides, your brothers aren't that
awful." Karai jumped down into the darkness, lost for a moment until Leo landed next to her. She let out a breath of relief she didn't realize she had been holding. Get yourself together. Karai thought as she entered the darkness. A cold hand grasped hers and her eyes widened in surprise. Without thinking, she closed her fingers around Leo's. The last thought she had before they began trekking through the sewage was, Father.
