I'm Listening
Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon and its creators. I make no monetary profit from this work it is only for entertainment.
Author's Note: 2014 Movie-Verse - Rated M for a reason! This work contains sexual content, violence, and at times dark themes that will become more developed as the story continues- you have been warned. Also, I have messed with the timetable the story is set in current time, but the guys are in their mid twenties- so the events of the movie would have happened around 2004.
Sometimes, when chaos burns
like wildfires around us:
we have no other choice but
to fall in love with the warmth.
~Christopher Poindexter
Chapter 7: Thick as Thieves
Donnie settled Emma back in the chair before turning his attention back to the photos. Something had caught his eye. In the photo from her sweet sixteen he had notice that Emma and two other girls in the photo had on matching uniforms. He leaned forward to expand the image.
"What?" Emma smiled still catching her breath from laughter.
"A-are you wearing a school uniform?" Donnie glanced between the main screen and Emma, but was careful to keep his expression mild.
"Yah, that's my little sister, codename Athena, and my best friend, codename Artemis. We were only away from school for the evening when the uncles surprised me for my birthday." She smiled pointing out the other two girls in the photo.
Donnie nodded. Athena was thin and petite with delicate features. She had shoulder length loose curls, a brilliant smile, and a huge piece of cake on the plate she held. Artemis was of similar build to Emma, with long pale blonde hair, piercing crystal blue eyes, and decidedly sharp bone structure. Artemis looked devious in her "cheersing" pose with brandy and cigar. His hand glided over the image before double clicking to save it.
"Oh no you didn't!" Emma giggled lunging for the mouse.
"You're in a schoolgirl uniform!" He countered. The lanky terrapin chuckled easily fending her off.
"Well, someone's a creeper with a side of extra heavy breathing", she pouted settling back into the chair. "I suppose you have a whole collection."
Donnie snorted, but the words fell out of his mouth before he could stop them. "Its not much of a collection."
Donnie's eyes flew to Emma in shock at his slip. The young woman stared at him mouth agape, and he noticed a slight twitch from her left eye. "What?!"
Panic flooded Donnie's system. He could hear his heartbeat throb from his eardrums, sweat collected on his brow, and his mouth grew dry. "It's only one photo!" He blurted out desperately throwing his hands up in surrender.
Emma's head tilted thoughtfully, but that twitch came to her eye again. She stood, and closed the distance between them. One index finger jabbed his chest, and she looked at him with a quiet ferocity. It was impressive how someone so small could evoke such commanding energy.
"You! You mean to tell me this whole time you had a photo of me?" She ground out the words.
Don gulped, "Well, to be fair it was in the University paper, and it was only one."
She frowned, "Still, I had nothing, and that's not even a good photo! That's not fair you had more information than I did. You had a reference."
She deflated a little and crossed her arms with a huff, "It's not fair. I had nothing."
"I'm sorry", Donatello offered carefully lowering his arms.
Emma gave him a fleeting glance, but quickly looked away a blush stained her cheeks. She pouted again. "You had a visual and I didn't…"
It took a moment for the pieces of the puzzle to take form in his mind. He had an image of her. He was an adult male who was romantically interested in her. She was a smart girl, so it didn't take a great leap to imagine just how many ways he … admired the photo. She wasn't upset that he had the image, but that she had none. His cheeks flushed at the realization.
"I hope I didn't disappoint", he chuckled nervously.
"I didn't have an image, so I didn't let myself imagine what you looked like…" Emma mumbled turning her attention to her socked feet.
"Wait then, how did…?" Donnie wasn't sure how to phrase his question without digging his hole any deeper.
He watched Emma smile bashfully at his attempted question. Her gaze flitted back up to him, and she reached to toy with the tails of his mask. The worn fabric was wound around her fingertips. Gently she lifted them to his eye level and swept her pink tongue over her lips before speaking.
"Well, lets just say its ironic that you wear a mask", as she spoke in a little whisper she tugged the tails around. It pulled his mask 180 degrees so that it acted as a blind fold.
Donnie swallowed thickly, "I see. Its the perfect solution to not having a visual."
Emma reversed the action slowly till his mask was set back into place, and his golden green eyes opened to her. She traced his jaw with a clever smirk. A sharp tug to the fabric still tangled in her hand made him lower his head through the haze of mental images she just created.
She leaned closer to brush her lips at the hinge of his jaw, "I was all by myself." Her voice was soft and breathy.
He nuzzled into her neck to hide his shocked expression. Rich honey acted as a balm to his nerves, and he scooped her up to embrace his sweet vixen for a moment. Then, he set her down on the desk which was built for his height, and made it much easier to claim her lips. The kisses were warm and comforting. She leaned into his touch when he cradled her skull with one hand. The thought of his sweet Emma pleasuring herself alone was enough to make his knees lock, but blindfolded! His mind couldn't even decide how to position her for the fantasy, or even calculate how many she might have tried.
The images poured into his mind like water. Her velvety fair skin peppered with sweat. Lips forced open with the small cries he had learned only last night. One hand working in slow movements between her lush thighs. The other roaming to test and tease the multitude of other sensitive flesh her body offered. A chur caught in his throat- Aphrodite indeed.
He pulled away, and took deep controlled breaths taking in her rich scent sharpened with the beginnings of her excitement. The added spice didn't do much to calm his blood, but in a way it did help ground him because it meant she was real. She was there. He nuzzled at her collar bones to reinforce it. Her fingertips came to play across his jaw to follow the pattern of his scales to the back of his head the motion coddled him closer. He found her eyes closed with her lips quirked upwards.
"Honey bunny! I made tea…" Mikey's announcement tapered from his position next to the still swinging door. His mouth falling agape at the sight of Emma perched on the desk with Donnie standing between her legs and his face hidden in her neck.
Donnie growled as he rose to his full height, and Mikey shrank backwards. The younger tried to take a step back, but Donnie follow taking a purposeful step toward the youngest. Mikey let out a nervous giggle.
"Easy Donnie", Mikey urged attempting another step back, but was again followed. So, Mikey turned to the more rational of the two at the moment, and focused on the blushing Emma. "A little help honey bunny?"
The nickname seemed to snap the cord hold Donnie's frustration back. The taller lunged, and Mikey gave full chase tearing across the lair with his brother in hot pursuit. In moments like this, Mikey truly enjoyed his ability to judge the danger of a situation- especially with his brothers. In his current mood Don was not to be trifled with, and Mikey knew he would have to outmaneuver his fastest brother to stay out of reach. It had been a long time since Don had done anything like this. He was always too busy making their life livable, but now… now there seemed to be a little play returning to the workaholic. That was good, but walking in on him with Emma- the likely source of his brother's... energy- was not a good way to provoke it.
However, he knew Don all too well, and after a few laps between the tunnels and the lair his unnervingly rational mind would kick in. They would laugh about it, but for now he had to keep just out of his brother's reach till he cooled off! Fortunately, Don had been so preoccupied with Emma that he hadn't put on most of his gear, so at least Mikey didn't have to worry about a barrage of gadgets to avoid. He lept into an open vertical tunnel, and looked up to find Donnie had followed. This would be fun!
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Meanwhile, the two older brothers had rushed to the living room of the lair just in time to see their younger siblings tear out into the tunnels. The looked to each other, then back to the exit, and finally both slowly turned around to see Emma standing in the lab's doorway clearly confused. Their eyes met again and a silent argument ran between the two over who would go deal with the human. Leo was surprised when Raphael took the first step towards the lair, and he allowed his hulking brother to make it halfway up the stairs toward the lab before his better judgement kicked in. The eldest followed closely, but if what he thought had happened, then he dreaded the conversation. If anything Don should be the one to explain this!
Raph lumbered into the lair to find a befuddled Emma standing a few steps back from the doorway. At his entrance she looked up at him and then over to Leo as he paused in the doorway. Again the brothers looked from the girl to each other, and Leo took the lead with a sigh. Her scent was rich, so if he hadn't been sifting for it he wouldn't have caught the faint spice that was ever so slightly stronger than normal. Yup, Mikey must have stumbled in on them, but from the look of Emma it would appear that they were not "in the middle" of anything. Maybe Donnie just snapped? None of them had ever brought a woman home, and they became territorial during mating season… it wouldn't be a terribly huge jump.
"Emma are you alright?" Leo questioned softly as he approached her. When her eyes focused on him that lingering spice faded entirely. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Emma nodded, "I'm more worried about them."
Raph shrugged, "Probably just a territorial thing. Donnie would know the word for it."
Emma's head cocked in silent question.
Leo guided her back to the computer chair she had been in before. "How much has Don explained about our differences physically?"
"A few things, but I have a feeling I will be learning for a while", Emma still seemed honestly missing the point. "Is there something specific that I missed?"
"We are still more animal than human in many ways", Leo began. "Our senses are stronger than any human, and scent specifically can be very important … in certain situations."
Emma blanched, "I must be disgusting?!"
"Nah, you smell edible dollface", the largest brother offered smugly.
Leo pinched the bridge of his muzzle, "Raphael you can't just tell people that!"
The red banded turtle only shrugged, and focused on the again calm Emma. Who was patiently looking between them.
Leo attempted his most cordial voice, "You smell of honey and spiced tea- probably established from consuming them over your lifetime. It is very nice, and easily distinguished. Humans also produce pheromones which we can pick up on in the scent like…"
Emma's mouth made a small "o" shape, and she ducked her head.
"We all get territorial from time to time for lots of reasons", Raph added. Emma nodded, but kept her eyes on her lap.
"Mikey takes great joy in "poking the bear" if you will, and if there were also certain hormones present… then, Don might feel the need to draw a line in the sand with Mikey", Leo kept his voice calm but his smile was forced.
"Or cram his head back into his shell for a while", a wicked smirk curved Raph's mouth upwards.
"So, this was my fault?" Emma looked up at Leo with a guilt stricken expression.
"Well, only if you started it", Raph chuckled darkly taking a seat.
"Yah, it was my fault then…", she blushed and tapped her index fingers together.
Leo mumbled, "Aphrodite indeed."
Emma swatted his forearm with a little growl to show her disapproval. It was something like watching a kitten pick a fight with a grizzly. Leo looked genuinely surprised, and couldn't hold back his snort of laughter. He managed a quick retort while holding his hands up in false surrender, "It was probably mostly Mikey's fault to be honest."
Raph smirked, and moved to stretch back in his seat, "I knew she was a keeper."
Emma rolled her eyes at Raph, but sighed, "What now?"
"Mikey will probably run him down to avoid Don when he's like this, so it could be a while", Leo frowned.
"You gotta watch the quiet ones", Emma giggled.
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When Don came to the lab door he was terrified to find not just Leo's scent, but also Raph's. They were both in there! He paused at the cracked door and listened for a few moments before entering. They were talking pleasantly.
Leo's voice sounded playful, "You went to private school in the Alps?"
Emma giggled, "Yup, I spent four year at the academy which was both a secondary school and a finishing school for young ladies."
"What did the lady study?" Leo was using his most charming voice.
"Besides getting my diploma I studied, archery, horsemanship, fencing, and I was V.P. of the model U.N." Emma sounded distracted.
"Well, aren't you well rounded?" Raph teased.
"Fencing? Did you ever try your hand any other swords?" by the sounds of it Leo was trying way too hard to act casual on that topic.
Emma snorted, "A few, but personally I'm not a fan of the style needed for the Katana. I'm better off with a rock to be honest." Again he noted her distraction, and the soft marble like clicking that followed her words.
He could distinguish Leo's huff, and Raph's snickering. Don had not expected to find them behaving so amicably. Despite his knightly nature Leo had grown to find woman to be tiresome. One too many screaming damsels more interest in running away than offering thanks for their rescue had cooled his Lancelot behavior to more of a stoic warrior. Raph was well Raph, and rarely had patience for anyone at anytime. So, one could imagine his surprise not just to what he heard, but also to what he saw when he pushed the door open.
The trio sat around a low table adorned with a chess set which his brothers must have moved from the living room. A quick glance proved that Emma was wiping the floor with Leo who sat across from her. Emma rested on a cushion with his largest brother next to her. His figure loomed over her to watch her take another piece from the board. A small piece of wood lay in his lap and a carving knife in one hand. The wood appeared half finished. Raphael sat close enough that his knee pressed to Emma's when he turned to look back at him. Making him look like some kind of guard dragon to the raven haired maiden he was next to.
"Look who finally showed up! Tell me how many pieces is Mikey in?" The red banded turtle chuckled pointing the carving knife in the younger's direction.
"I kinda lost him, but I'm sure he'll turn up by lunch time", Don offered peering at Emma, who had not turned to face him.
Donatello sent a pleading look to his eldest brother who in turn gave Emma a gentle smile, "I think I'll go try to hunt Mikey down. Raphael, why don't you help me?"
Raph chuffed, "Use whatever excuse you want. I think you just didn't want to lose to a girl." The largest reptile left the carving and knife on the low table before rising to follow Leo out of the lab.
Don carefully closed the door behind them, and the click of the lock echoed in the room. Emma finally turned to look at him, and sighed. He all but ran to her when a small smile curved her full lips.
"My brother's were kind to you while I was … out?" Don offered taking a seat where Raph had been.
Emma nodded, but those piercing mercury eyes were so forlorn, "Was it my fault?"
He scooped her up and into his lap on instinct. He tucked her safely away in his arms he murmured to her, "No, never…"
"So, it was just Mikey bursting in? Not my scent?" Emma relaxed into his plastron tucking her head under his chin.
Alarms of a whole new nature went off in the young genius's head. Had his older brothers told her? Oh, what in the hell had they told her? One look down at her waiting features confirmed his suspicions. "What have my brothers told you?"
Emma quietly walked him through her newfound information, and Don smiled down at her. He shook his head, "No, it was Mikey… and the not so gentlemanly thoughts I was having." He offered a sheepish smile.
Emma nodded and playfully added, "You smell like coffee. How do I get some of that?"
Don laugh deeply, and for a moment needed to catch his breath. "I will make a fresh batch at lunch, and bring you a cup, I promise."
Emma smirked at him, but a yawn interrupted her clever expression. "Nap?' she yawned again.
Donatello couldn't think of a better way to spend his afternoon, and made his way to his bedroom to settle them in his bed. Emma took the pencil from her hair, and it fell in waves around her face. Once she settled back into their waking position she began to ask questions. He answered them as best he could, and gently began to explain that he was the first to bring a girl home, and that they would like be the guinea pigs for the rest of his siblings on the subject.
"So, we make it up as we go along?" She mumbled with sleep pulling at her voice.
He nuzzled her from his position behind her and stroked her arms with his free hand. "Yup."
One of the upsides of fall was the shortening days. Their lunchtime was nearly around 4pm, and dinner around 8pm which allowed them to have a daily schedule conducive to their late night work. However, in fall and winter they could leave so much earlier since the darkness fell so much faster. In those short few hours the purple banded turtle learned so much. Emma tended to hum when she drank coffee, and was all too happy to interact with all of his brothers during the meal. They exchanged stories with her about scars of all things. Leo explained the one across his eye was from the first time he fell holding his swords. Raph told her about how his lip was split open in a brawl with Leo, but that he still won. Mikey regaled her with how his chin had been split during a dangerous skateboarding flip.
Emma surprised all of them when she smiled and told them, "I'll let you pick: foot, leg, or stomach?"
"Leg!" Mikey chirped completely oblivious to his brothers stunned silence.
Emma frowned, and lifted her right pant leg to rest above her knee. It only reveal what appeared to be untouched porcelain skin. Yet, after a moment of close inspection a small circular indentation could be seen on the side of her calf, and she rolled her leg to show a matching one on the other side of her calf. "That is from the only time I feel out of a tree, and took part of it with me. I landed and made it all the way across the garden before my mother stopped me to pull the thin branch out of my leg. I wasn't allowed inside until it stopped bleeding." Emma was giggling at the memory.
"Your mom sounds like a bitch", Raph chuffed.
Emma only laughed harder, "A lot of people would agree with you. One had to truly know my mother to love her. She didn't believe in wasting precious resources like time and patience to lull someone into comfort."
"But you're so sweet?" Mikey cooed from across the low table in the lab.
Emma shrugged, "I take after my father."
"Why were you in a tree in the first place?" Leo asked gathering another helping of rice onto his plate.
"I was reading", Emma smiled.
Donnie bit back a sigh to avoid further teasing from his brothers. All he needed was to give them more ammo after his display earlier that day. He settled for suggesting Leo finish the abandoned game of chess. It was worth it just to see Leo's eyes bulge, and to see the panic cross his eyes. Leo was a good sport, but never enjoyed losing- least of all with an audience. The gentleman in him would oblige the now very excited girl who was happily making space on the table for the board.
That was how the evening continued. Emma defeated Leo, and moved on to slowly conquer the chess board again against Donnie himself. Raph had nearly completed the carving- it was in simple detail of a woman… with rabbit ears. All of this was a joy to watch for Mikey. The youngest had managed to find his way back in time for the meal, and enjoyed the time spent lounging about. I was a nice break from their normally rigorous schedule of training in the mornings and chores in the afternoon. He noticed how she not only touched Donnie with a calm and casual air, but also offered small bits of affection to each of his brothers. She smiled easily, and was eager to hear stories, and offer up her own.
For reptiles living underground there was nothing quite like basking in the sun. For young men deprived of social interaction Emma was like a ray of sunshine, her temperament warm and playful. Emma also had a profound effect on Donatello- aside from his territorial behavior. The shyest of the brothers was prone to stuttering, winding himself up on every possible negative outcome before even beginning a conversation, and physically holding his lanky form in a way that showed his discomfort. Yet, with Emma leaning into his side Don sat up straight, smiled broadly, and confidently told a story with an arm around her waist. True she was clearly interesting in Don, but they could all bask in her sweet warmth for the day. The youngest turtle sprawled himself over a few cushions to enjoy the scene.
Finally, it was late enough for them to move out for the night. They gathered in the lab to explain to Emma how they would take her home. She called and gathered that her sister and cousin, the girls she had called earlier, were going out. Which would make dropping her off much easier. She rattle her address of to Don who entered it into the system on his wrist to direct them.
Leo frowned and held out a strip of black fabric, "I hate to do this, but we need to blindfold you for at least the first half of the trip…"
The eldest had braced for an argument, but he was hardly prepared for her to blush darkly and have a fit of giggles. Don supported her half crumpled form as her laughter continued, and smiled meekly at his eldest brother. Don took the blindfold, and carefully secured it around Emma's head. She was doing her best to stifle her giggling, but the black fabric against her fair skin only made her blush more prominent. Despite his best efforts Don couldn't wipe the rather wicked grin from his lips.
"Do I want to know?" Leo sighed looking between the two.
"Nope", Donnie smirked and scooped the young woman into his arms with a little toss. Pulling a little squeak from the girl, and a resurge in her giggles as they began their fast pace move toward the surface.
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Author's note-
So, first thank you so much to EVERYONE who has reviewed, commented, followed, favorited, left kudos, etc! You mean the world to me, and the constructive reviews have been so helpful! I am so incredibly grateful, and I can't believe how many reviews this is getting. You are all wonderful!
Second, I am so sorry this was late! Only a couple of days this time though! I'm getting back into it now ^.^ I really struggled with this. I just can't tell if it's really good or really boring -.-
My lovely Dragon has now destroyed all my mistakes, despite a cold.
Reviews are incredibly important to me because they are my only real way to gauge the audience. I welcome all feedback, so please let me know how I did! Thank you so much for reading!
Love,
Violet Blak
P.S.
I have written a little bit of rather explicit smut that goes as a side piece for this story, but since it is so explicit I am not posting it here. It will be available on my AO3 and AFF profiles. If you are interested the links to those are posted on my profile page here on ^.^
