Author's Note: Gah! Yes, I'm aware I'm a day late, but I just had so much to do over the last couple of days that it took me away from my writing for a little bit. :P Summer semester is coming to a close and pretty soon, I'll be going on vacation with the fambam, which saddens me to say that the next chapter might take a while to post up here. :( But fret not, readers! I promise not to keep you waiting too long and hope I make up for it by posting this chapter - which has more Leo and Sam interactions as well as a heart-to-heart talk with Leo and Master Splinter that I just had so much fun writing. :3
Alright! Let's get on with the thank you's! Thank you so very, very much for your reviews: turtleformer66, SleepingSeeker, adventuresstime, and CrazyGeekyLove. Also, big thanks to Laurenadel Story's for your fabulous ideas! :3 Sorry I couldn't throw in the one you sent me last night about Casey and Sam, but I promise I'll be using more of your ideas in later chapters. ;) I also wanna thank AlexHamato for the idea about the constellations at the end. :)
Okie dokie! So without any further adieu, let's get on with the story!
Raph: Do we have to do this?
Unfortunately, yes. :P Master Splinter has been on my case about getting you guys so much pizzas with my reviews and figured this would be a fitting punishment for all of us. So just get on with the disclaimer and make it decent.
Raph: Fine. The Nerdfighter doesn't own the rights to any of our shit.
Raph!
Mikey: Or the right to get us more pizza with her reviews. :(
Well, if I get enough, I can still probably buy you guys pizza once in a while.
Mikey: Really? :D
Donnie: What about the right to pair us up with any more of your cute OCs you've got planned for this story?
Leo: Nice try, Don. For now, you're gonna have to wait your turn.
Raph: Easy for you to say, Casanova.
Uggh, I do not own nor will I ever own the right to the Ninja Turtles cartoons, games, comic books, blah, blah, blah, blah. Enjoy the fic.
Raph (grins): That wasn't very decent.
Shut up.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
"The Waiting Ones"
Chapter 6
The Answer Is In The Stars
Monday Morning
"Yo, earth to Sammie!"
Sam immediately tore her eyes away from the passenger's window, snapping her head up at her cousin, who looked down at her with a questionable raise of the eyebrow as they reached a stop sign. "You okay, Short Stack?"
She blocked the thoughts of last night out of her head, not even realizing that they were distracting her to the point where she was starting to zone out. With a small smile, Sam nodded her head at Casey's concerned question. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little nervous, I guess. What were you asking again?"
Casey paused for a second, giving his cousin an incredulous look until he eventually shrugged it off, thinking it was nothing. As they turned the next corner, only one more block away from the high school, Casey looked down at Sam, mentally going over his list one last time. "You got my cell number, right?"
Sam forcibly had to prevent herself from screaming at the top of her lungs in pure frustration, slowly closing her eyes as she took a deep breath. This was, what, the fourth time Casey had asked her this question? Along with a strew of other ridiculous questions like if she downloaded that GPS app on her phone that he showed her this morning or if she knew how to hail a taxi. It was all enough to drive her mentally insane as she forced herself to offer Casey a calm, gentle smile, all while building up a mental picture of throwing her cousin out the driver's side window.
"Let's go over this again, shall we?" Sam inquired, holding up her hand while she listed her options on her fingers. "I have your cell number. I have April's cell number. I have your guys' work number as well as the number to the apartment. Now, would you like me to add nine-one-one to my speed dial list or will the four numbers I just listed suffice?"
Casey couldn't help but laugh as he reached over toward his cousin and locked her in a playfully rough noogie, making Sam yelp and giggle while she desperately tried to wiggle herself free. When he stopped, she shot Casey a lighthearted glare; messy strands of hair curtaining her face, which made Casey double over in laughter.
"Buttmunch." Sam smirked, pulling down the sun visor mirror to fix her hair.
Casey's laughter immediately began to pacify as he reached over to grab his Monster energy drink. "Okay, okay, I'll admit it. I think I'm a little more nervous 'bout your first day than you are, Sammie. I just wanna make sure things run smoothly. I know how cruel some kids can be on the new kid."
Sam paused for a moment, giving her cousin a look of blatant confusion. "How?" She asked. "You've lived in the city ever since you were born, Case. How can you relate on the same level as The New Kid?"
Casey took a long chug from his Monster, shaking his head slightly at the rush of caffeine pumping through his system. "I may not be able to relate to them, but I've bared witness to way too many assholes ganging up on the new kids at my old school. Swirlies, shoving kids in lockers, trapping them in headlocks and hittin' them up for money. No one should deserve to be treated like shit just 'cuz he or she ain't from around these parts…." He paused, his lips pursed into a thin line as he tightened his grip around the steering wheel before instantaneously loosening it with a small sigh. He glanced over at Sam, a flicker of concern flashing in his dark eyes. "I just don't want that to happen to you, Sammie."
Sam's lips curled into a slow, warm smile as she reached over the place a comforting hand on her cousin's arm. "Relax, Casey, I'll be fine. Besides, if any bullies try holding me up for my lunch money, I'll just summon reinforcements to back me up."
Casey chuckled, remembering about the little friend Sam was telling him and April about over dinner the other night. "What was her name again? Taryn?"
"Talyn." Sam corrected with a giggle as she started gathering up her things.
"Right, Talyn," Casey repeated, coming up to the curb before putting his car in park. "Well, the fact that you've already got a friend eases my mind a little bit. Hopefully later down the road, Talyn will introduce you to some more friends. Girl friends, just so we're clear."
Sam slung her bag over her shoulder with a very unladylike snicker, looking up at her cousin as if he just told her something ridiculously hilarious – which in Sam's case, he did. "So, what, am I not allowed to make any guy friends while I'm here?" She asked.
"Hell to the no." Casey answered without skipping a beat. Before Sam could respond, his lips curved into a small smile, his eyes flicking to the side as if he were mulling something over in his head. "Unless I approve of 'em."
"Oh, wonderful," Sam said in blatant sarcasm as she hopped out of the car. "I can only imagine what guys you'd approve of to be friends with me."
Casey couldn't help but laugh as his mind instantly filtered with thoughts of the turtles – reminiscing of all the good times and fun laughs they've had with him and April. Although he still had plans for Sam to adjust to the whole move before he introduced her to the guys, his curiosity peaked every time he thought about whether Sam would get along with them or not. The guys would like her, no doubt about that, but would Sam be able to get past the whole mutant turtle thing? Hell, it took him at least a day for it all to sink in. Took April about a week. Would it take Sam as long as it took April or would she instantly be okay with the idea? To Casey, the big question really was: would she get used to the idea at all…?
The sound of the door slamming shut immediately snapped Casey out of his thoughts as Sam poked her head through the passenger's side window and smiled, saying her goodbyes and promising to be home for dinner. Casey nodded and also said his goodbyes, wishing Sam luck on her first day of school as she treaded off into the building, leaving Casey alone with his thoughts before he pulled away from the curb and headed off to another day of work.
(-)
"Pancakes! Pancakes! Chocolate chip pancakes!" Michelangelo crowed, making a mad dash out of the dojo and heading straight for the kitchen, leaving his brothers and sensei behind without skipping a beat.
The idea put a satisfied grin on Raphael's face as he dabbed at the sweat decorating his forehead from their morning training session. "Pancakes do sound good right about now. I just hope Mike makes enough. I'm starvin'."
"Likewise. C'mon, let's go make sure Mikey doesn't set the lair on fire." Donatello grinned as him and his brother exited the dojo, the sound of pans clanging from the kitchen rather clamorously.
Leonardo sheathed his katanas after the events of morning practice and walked over to grab his towel, wiping the sweat that was beginning to trickle down his face. As he did this, he felt thin, almost boney fingers squeeze his shoulder, grabbing his attention.
"Leonardo," Master Splinter spoke, letting his hand fall to rest above his cane. "May I speak with you for a moment, my son?"
"Of course, Sensei." Leo bowed, setting his towel aside – his gaze never leaving his father's presence.
The wizened rat flicked his tail absentmindedly before crouching down to his knees, sitting seiza-style while his eldest son did the same, resting his hands atop his thighs in a respectful manner. While the blue-banded turtle was more observant of his father's moods than his brothers were, Leo was finding himself having a hard time trying to read Master Splinter's thoughts as he felt the rather undecipherable aura radiate from his sensei's body. There was a moment of silence between master and apprentice until the wizened rat finally spoke up, breaking Leo's concentration instantaneously.
"There is a saying that the Japanese are familiar with back home, my son. Deru kui wa utareru. Do you understand what that means?"
Leo nodded his head once, keeping his posture straight. "The stake that sticks up gets hammered down."
"Hai." Master Splinter nodded. "A ninja's most powerful ally is the art of masking one's emotions. Jubilation, depression, frustration – while these feelings separate us from inanimate objects with no sense of emotion, they are also tools that could be used against us in combat. When one wears his heart on his sleeve, it opens him up for attack, making him vulnerable and effortless to take down." He paused, raising his hand to stroke his beard. "It may also cloud one's judgment and distract him while in the midst of battle."
"Forgive my interruption, Sensei, but I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about." He flinched slightly at the raise of his father's eyebrow, causing the blue-banded turtle to bow his head in forgiveness. "I'm dutifully aware of masking one's emotions during the heat of battle as well as letting one's own thoughts cloud their judgment. It was one of the first lessons you taught us while training us in the art of ninjutsu."
"Then why did you seem so distracted during practice, my son?" Master Splinter asked, using his cane to help lift himself up from the ground before tapping slowly toward his son. "Your brothers may not have been able to notice the differences in your strikes or stances, but I am your sensei—your father. Something has gotten a hold of your thoughts and is gradually eating away at your concentration. I can sense it in your aura. Please, Leonardo. Tell me what is it that troubles you."
"I—" His fingers curled, his arms shaking as he grit his teeth, forcing himself to breathe in and calm his nerves. "I can't…."
"Leonardo." A warning, not a command.
"That's just it, Father, I can't." He looked up at his sensei, his eyes pleading and flashing with fear – fear that he had disrespected his teacher in the worst possible way by not being able to answer a direct order. "I-I wish I knew what it is exactly that's bothering me, but I'm just as confused as you are. I mean you no disrespect providing such an excuse, but it's the truth, Master Splinter. I have no idea what—what this is and it's driving me insane."
Another flick of the tail caused Leonardo to flinch, as if waiting to be struck with Master Splinter's cane for showing such weakness and vulnerability. While both he and his brothers were well aware that their sensei would never intend of physically harming them on purpose – although he had swiped at their hands when they were younger as a form of discipline whenever he caught them doing something they weren't supposed to – Leonardo couldn't help but react in such a way. It was Master Splinter who bestowed him the honor of the leader; the one to look after his brothers in the line of battle – to lead them through the line of victory all while remaining sturdy, alert, and tactful. Master Splinter chose him because he was the only one who carried these traits on sturdy shoulders. And yet here he was, watching the honor of leader his sensei had gifted him with shatter right before his eyes as he bowed shamefully right before Master Splinter's feet.
He recoiled once more, not expecting his father to speak in such a placid manner. "Have you tried meditating, my son?"
"Hai, Sensei." He bowed. "I've tried meditation, resting, even spending time with my brothers hoping it would take my mind off of things. But—but nothing seems to be working…."
Master Splinter mulled his son's words over while he stroked his beard, humming in thought. "You spoke of an absence while you were away for your training, correct?"
Leo nodded, purposefully avoiding eye contact with his sensei. "I thought it was because I had been away from my family for too long. I felt better—more at ease when I came back, but … but I feel as though that only filled half of the void that had formed while I was away for my training. That last piece of the puzzle is still missing and I have no idea what it could be. I'm with my family again—my friends … so what else could it be?"
This time Leo didn't cringe when his sensei reached a hand toward him, placing it comfortably atop his shoulder, causing him to stare into his father's eyes.
"In due time, I am sure you will come across what it is you are searching for, my son." He smiled, letting his hand fall back to his side. "However, do not let it be the center of your thoughts, for they will only cloud your actions and do both physical and mental harm upon your self-being. When the time is right, what you are searching for will reveal itself to you. When that will be, I cannot say. Only time will tell, my son. You just have to be patient."
"Hai, Sensei." Leo bowed, feeling as though a small weight had been lifted from his shoulders as he allowed himself to arise from the floor, awarding his sensei with a gentle smile. "Thank you, Father."
Before Master Splinter could open his mouth to speak, there was a loud clang coming from the kitchen, followed by a series of curse words spilling from Raphael's mouth that made Master Splinter's ears perk up. Leonardo found himself cringing again as he glanced over his shoulder and shrugged, watching as his sensei let out a small chuckle before tapping his way out of the dojo.
"Come, Leonardo. I have a feeling we will be sending Michelangelo on another McDonald's breakfast run once again."
Leo chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly as he laughed all while following behind his sensei. "You gotta give him the effort for trying, Master Splinter. At least he didn't set the—"
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
"Big fire! Big fire!"
"Mikey, ya braindead numbskull! I told ya the stove was set too high!"
"I thought it'd make the pancakes cook faster!"
"Both of you just shut up and go get the fire extinguisher before the whole lair catches on fire!"
Leonardo let out a long sigh, his hands covered over his eardrums as he glanced down at Master Splinter, who also was covering his ears to prevent himself from going deaf over the blaring noise of the fire alarm. With a meek smile, Leo leaned forward, raising his voice so that his sensei was able to hear him through the piercing sounds of the alarm.
"Another McDonald's breakfast run?" He shouted.
It didn't take long until the wizened rat tapped his way out of the dojo toward his sleeping quarters. "I will go fetch my wallet."
(-)
Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!
The word had become like a mantra to Sam as she dashed across the now empty hallways, the squeaking of her Converse echoing annoyingly through her eardrums. She was late. She was so very late, having gone left instead of right while on her way to her first class. She could've sworn the gym was on the left wing of the school, but apparently that lead to the math and science buildings. Jesus Christ, the first day of school and she was already ten minutes late! This was definitely not the impression she wanted to make with her teachers, especially when she was such a good student!
As she made one last sharp turn, Sam's eyes widened happily when she saw the double doors with a sign hanging over them that spelled out 'gymnasium'. Without skipping a beat, Sam raced down the hall, slamming through the doors with the gracefulness of a linebacker, doubling over and trying to catch her breath.
"I'm here! I'm here! Samantha Jones, the new girl! I'm here!" She puffed, feeling thirty pairs of eyes stare at her as if she had barged in guns blazing with the intent to shoot up the school. With a meek smile, Sam immediately straightened herself up, clearing her throat in a discomfited gesture while her gym teacher flipped through her clipboard, her fire-red, caterpillar eyebrows knitted together in thought.
"Jones, was it?" The rather butchy woman asked, her icy blue eyes skimming through her clipboard.
"Y-Yes, ma'am." Sam nodded nervously.
Her flaming red hair tied up in short pigtails bounced slightly as she nodded her head with a grunt, flipping through pages before she spoke. "Alright, since you came in late, we'll fill you in on what ya missed. I'm Coach McGuire and I do accept tardiness, Miss Jones. But, seeing as you're new, I'll let it slide just this once." She jotted down something on her clipboard, not even taking a moment to glance up at Sam before she pointed a beefy finger in her direction – her eyes still locked on the clipboard. "You'll be on Colbert's team at the far end of the gym. Set your bag up on the bleachers and get yourself ready before I blow the whistle."
Before Sam could say anything, she immediately nodded and did as she was told, taking quick strides toward the bleachers where everyone had set their things.
Strange. It was the first day and already they were kicking it off by delving right into things? Nobody even had their P.E. clothes, yet Coach McGuire was still going to make them get all sweaty in their brand new school clothes?
With a shrug of her shoulders, Sam set her backpack down and walked toward the far side of the gymnasium where a group of girls were huddled together – all talking and laughing with their buddies, making Sam the odd one out with no one to make small talk with.
She sighed to herself, her shoulders slumping slightly until she felt something tap against her elbow in a friendly gesture, causing Sam to turn around curiously.
"What's up, Baby Blue?"
Sam felt a sense of familiarity as she stared into striking sea green eyes, noticing the girl's choppy, layered blonde hair that frame her face and curtained past her shoulders by a few inches.
Her memory instantly flashed to the skater chick she came across the other day as she snapped her fingers. "You're that girl from Sunday."
"Jackie Colbert, at your service." The blonde chick bowed, giggling as she straightened herself up, her bangs brushing over her long, mascara-coated eyelashes. "You're name's Sam, right?"
"That's what everyone calls me." She smiled.
Jackie grinned, standing akimbo as she motioned toward the other team. "Well, Sam, I hope you dodge and throw balls as well as you skate, 'cuz we're up against one helluva competitor."
Ever the curious one, Sam turned around in the direction Jackie was focused at and instantly, she felt her heart leap into her throat. Staring back at her were the familiar stone cold, dark brown eyes of the ice queen she had crashed into at the skate park – Renee, she remembered Talyn telling her. Although she didn't seem upset about the events of last night, judging by her rather placid, almost baby doll-like face, Sam figured the crash was still fresh in Renee's mind as she immediately turned away from her gaze, standing with her arms crossed while patiently waiting for Coach McGuire to blow her whistle.
Feeling bold, Sam walked toward Renee, her shoulders tensing nervously as she approached her. It was strange how she watched Sam move toward her with such placid eyes and yet still make Sam feel as though her gaze were boring into her soul; tearing straight through her heart in a laser shot of antagonism.
Maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all.
"Uhm, hi," Sam squeaked weakly. "You're Renee, right? The girl from the skate park."
"Yeah." She spoke nonchalantly, her voice soft and almost angelic – although Sam swore she could hear the harsh frostbite in her tone.
She shifted from foot to foot in a nervous gesture, trying to prevent herself from staring down at her Converse before she gulped down the tension in her voice. "L-Listen, I'm really sorry I crashed into you the other night. I wasn't paying attention to wear I was going and that was incredibly dangerous and stupid of me. I take full responsibility for any injuries you may have gotten and promise you it will never happen again."
Her smile slowly began to falter as the seconds dragged on by without Renee saying a single word. Feeling as though her apology wasn't sympathetic enough, Sam was ready to continue on with her admission of guilt until Renee turned her back on her, her arms still crossed over her chest.
"You might wanna get back to your team before the game starts. It'll save yourself from becoming target practice."
Dumbstruck, Sam continued to stand her ground, watching blankly as Renee joined the rest of her team as if nothing had happened. Before she could even open her mouth to say anything, the piercing sound of Coach McGuire's whistle echoed throughout the gymnasium, making Sam jump, startled.
"Alright, ladies, backs against the wall!" Coach McGuire barked, waiting until both teams were firmly back against the opposing walls, all staring determinedly at the row of dodge balls that separated them into two divided groups.
"Now I want a clean game here, ladies! No aiming above the waist and no thirsting for blood. I want as little injuries here as possible. S'why we separated you from the boys. Now … begin!"
The sound of thirty pairs of shoes slamming against the gym floor reverberated off the gym walls as Sam focused on grabbing a dodge ball. Immediately snatching a red rubber ball before some other girl managed to lay a finger on it, Sam hurriedly started to back away, bobbing and weaving as the balls began to sail through the air like cannon fire.
"Sam, look out!" Jackie shouted, making Sam's neck snap in the direction she was motioning at before she instantly ducked – a red rubber ball sailing right over her head.
"Thanks!" Sam grinned, straightening herself up as she scanned the perimeter for any targets.
With a devious smirk, she spotted a girl who was wide open as she pulled her arm back and let the ball sail from her grasp. However, the girl must have caught her line of attack at the last second as she quickly stepped out of the way, revealing another girl standing right behind her.
Sam's eyes felt as though they were going to pop right out of her skull.
THUNK!
A whistle blowing.
"Penalty! One more and you're parking it on the bleachers, Jones." Coach McGuire barked, turning her attention at the girl who was now rubbing her head in pain. "De la Rosa! You alright?"
The sound of Renee's harsh groan made Sam quiver where she stood as she felt intense daggers being shot her way in a fierce glare, feeling too afraid to look Renee in her dark brown eyes that were probably awash with anger.
"Yeah. Peachy, Coach."
Shit.
Monday Evening
"School teacher by day, stripper by night. She just had a long day dealin' with snot-nosed brats on the first day of school and now she's out with her boyfriend to grab a few cocktails and get a little tipsy. They haven't been datin' long and she figures tonight's the night she's gonna let him get to second base."
Donatello raised a confused eye ridge as he glanced down at the couple, watching them enter into the nearest sports bar before letting his head droop with a sigh. "Do your accusations always have to involve sex and strippers?"
Raphael shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly. "The game is called 'That Guy Is a Gigolo', ain't it?"
"In this case, shouldn't it be called 'That Girl Is a Stripper'?" Mikey pointed out.
Donnie pinched the bridge between his eyes in frustration, letting out a long sigh. "Never mind. I'm done playing."
Leonardo rolled his eyes at his brothers as he scanned the busy streets of downtown Manhattan, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity. While the slow periods seemed to have come to a close now that the weekend was over, it kept Leo and his brothers rather busy, having already taken down two robbers and a group of gangbangers trying to strip people's cars for parts. Already two hours into their patrol, Leo and his brothers figured a short break was in order to regain their strength before they delved into the streets of New York once again. However, Leo was feeling rather anxious, his hands curling and uncurling almost frantically before stepping away from the rooftop ledge.
"Alright, my battery feels recharged. Ready for round two?" Raphael asked, stretching his arms before pulling out his sais, ready for battle.
Leo, however, offered his brother's a rather sheepish look before wetting his lips to speak. "Actually, I think I'm going to turn in early tonight."
"What, why?" Donnie asked, his voice etched with concern.
Leo lifted his hand and brought it to his stomach, indicating a small ache as his face morphed into a painful grimace. "I think I ate too much this morning. My body's not used to eating that much grease."
"Didn't seem to stop ya from shovelin' down those Sausage Egg McMuffin's," Raphael retorted, making Leo shoot him a lazy glare.
"You sure you don't wanna squeeze in one more fight, bro?" Mikey asked, twirling his nunchucks absentmindedly.
Leo shook his head, providing his brothers with a weak smile. "What I need right now is rest, Mikey and I'm sure I'll be fine. I'll see you all back at the lair, okay?"
"Uhm, okay. Feel better, Leo." Donnie called out, watching as his brother disappeared into the night, leaving him and his brothers in an aura of blatant confusion.
(-)
"Viola! Le dinner, she is served!"
Sam rolled her eyes at Casey's horrible French accent as she pulled down the sleeve of her sweater, making sure her the bruise she had gotten while playing dodgeball this morning was completely covered. "You do realize this is Chinese food, not French cuisine. Right, Case?"
"Details, details. Just dig in, Short Stack and enjoy the grub," said Casey, reaching over the table to grab some spring rolls to add to his plate.
"Sorry I wasn't able to cook tonight, Sam. I had no idea that meeting with the art museum collector was going to take so long."
Sam waved off April's apology and smiled, reaching over to grab a helping of orange chicken. "Don't sweat it, April. I wouldn't want you coming home exhausted and then have to worry about cooking dinner. Take out is just as good."
Casey wolfed down his beef and broccoli like a starving hyena before he glanced over at his cousin mid-chew. "Speaking of sweating – aren't you roasting in that sweater you got on, Sammie? It's like seventy-nine degrees in the apartment."
Sam forced herself to look as normal as possible as she tugged the hem of her sleeve, trying to focus on her plate as she scooped up a forkful of fried rice. "Guess I'm still adjusting to the change of weather. It doesn't start getting this cold in Northampton so early in August. Heheh."
Casey looked at Sam with a rather suspicious raise of the eyebrow until he mentally shrugged it off before changing the subject – taking a stab at his broccoli with his fork before shoving it in his mouth. "So how was school? You do alright on your first day?"
"School was great!" Sam piped, mentally cursing herself for sounding way too eager than she intended to, which she hoped didn't make her sound like she was lying through her teeth. "I, uh, I have one class next door to Talyn after lunch, so she got to show me where my trigonometry class was."
"That was nice of her." April smiled. "Did you two hang out after school?"
"Nah, she goes to the Film Club right after school." Sam informed, reaching over the table to grab another helping of spring rolls.
"You should invite her over sometime," said Casey, also reaching for the spring rolls. "Any friend of Sammie's is a friend of—"
"Ouch!"
Sam immediately retracted her arm back, wincing in pain at the light bump of her cousin's arm. She hadn't been paying attention at Casey's incoming reach as they both simultaneously grabbed for the spring rolls, which caused him to accidentally bump her right where her bruise was.
Casey and April's eyes were immediately on Sam's, both wearing twin looks of blatant confusion.
"Sammie, you alright? Did I hurt ya?" Casey asked, leaning over to check Sam's arm before she coward back, her voice shaking in agitation.
"I-I'm fine, Case. Really, i-it's nothing."
Sam's words seem to fall on deaf ears as Casey curiously reached over and grabbed Sam's arm, lifting her sleeve up only to be rewarded with the sight of a nasty purplish-yellow bruise.
April brought her hands to her mouth to cover her gasp while Casey's teeth gnashed together and his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "Sam, who did this to you?"
Sam pulled her arm back in a fierce jerk and yanked down her sleeve in a huff. "We played dodgeball in P.E. this morning. It wasn't anybody's fault, I just wasn't paying attention and—"
"—Sam, that bruise is the size of Texas!" Casey shouted, his chair scooting back as he shot up from his seat. "Who did this to you? I swear to God if they think they're gonna get away roughin' up my cousin, they got another thing—"
"—Casey, stop!" Sam barked, her eyes narrowed in frustration as she got up from her seat. "This is exactly why I hid this stupid bruise from you. Because I knew you'd act like—like this."
"Like what? Concerned? Concerned for my baby cousin's—"
"I'm not a baby, Casey!" Sam shouted, making Casey stand his ground, taken aback. "In case you've forgotten, I'm sixteen—a junior in high school. I'm not a helpless little three-year-old who's always running to her daddy whenever something goes wrong. You're not my dad, Casey and I can handle tough situations by myself. So do me a favor and just leave me alone."
She slammed her shoulder roughly against Casey's as she stomped out of the living room, heading for her bedroom before slamming the door shut, leaving an aura of tension in her wake. Casey stood, unable to form words at the moment as he glanced over at April, who in return offered him a meek frown. With a frustrated sigh, Casey ran his fingers through his dark mop of hair as he collected his plate and finished his dinner in the living room with the blare of the TV filling in the silence.
(-)
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Sam let out a frustrated growl as she kicked the ladder of the fire escape, causing it to rattle and shake. She knew she had crossed the line lashing out at her cousin like that. After all, she should've been grateful he actually cared about her safety and well-being. Hell, she probably would've done the same thing if she had suspicions that her younger cousin was maybe being bullied because she was the new kid at her school. But what good would that do? That only gave Casey the excuse to pry into her life and be her little bodyguard. This was high school, not daycare where you run and find the nearest adult to fight your battles for you. No, Sam was sixteen; a junior. No matter the situation, she had to deal with herself – prepare herself for the real world where she was going to find herself having to fight her own battles—no one to protect her.
Sam wiped the tears that began to brim her eyes, sneering in frustration at her lack of control to keep herself from crying over something that was her own fault. With a soft sigh, she sat herself in a curled up ball, her chin resting on her knees in defeat as she let the tears trickle down her cheeks. Shutting her eyes, she allowed herself to get lost in her thoughts until the faint squeaking noise above her snapped her out of her thoughts.
Across from the apartment complex was a boarding home where the owners liked to use clotheslines to hang and dry their laundry. Sam figured one of the owners was pulling in the towels that were left to dry, but noticed a small towel was being pushed toward her, stopping one it reached over her head.
Curiously, she picked herself up and glanced over on the other side, noticing that someone was seated on the fire escape across from her. She couldn't make out the features of the person's face due to the darkness that shrouded them in the shadows, but Sam managed to catch the light wave the person sent her way, feeling the kindness radiate toward her.
"It's not a tissue, but it'll have to do."
Sam's eyes widened at that familiar voice, glancing over at the towel before turning her attention back at her guardian angel, her heart palpitating against her chest in excitement. "What are you doing here?" She asked.
The figure leaned against the railing of the fire escape almost casually, his wrists resting atop the bar while his hands hung nonchalantly. "Doing my job."
"Looking out for me? I thought angels were only supposed to appear when the person they sought out to protect was in danger."
"You may not be in danger, but you're clearly in distress."
Sam stood taken aback, glancing back up at the towel before she unhooked it and held it in her hands. She could already feel her tears drying up from the harsh coldness outside, but before she could use the towel to wipe away any lingering tears, her guardian spoke once more.
"Something troubles you." A statement, not a question.
Sam laughed quietly to herself, setting the towel aside. "It's nothing. Just me being my usual stubborn self too oblivious to notice when someone is merely just trying to help."
"I see."
Sam glanced up at her guardian, taking note of the formalness in his tone before she continued to speak. "I—I had an argument with my cousin. Some girl I accidentally pissed off shot a dodge ball right at my arm and it formed this big old nasty bruise—"
"—Are you alright?" She could sense the worry in her guardian's tone, which made Sam smile while her cheeks stained a light pink.
"I'm fine. My cousin flipped out though and I sort of—retracted. I know he was only voicing his concerns, but—I don't know. When I was younger, I didn't mind it at all when he would look out for me any chance he got, but now … it's just—"
"—Makes you feel helpless."
Sam nodded, glancing down at her shoes in guilt. "I guess I want to prove to myself that I can handle certain situations on my own. I don't always need someone hanging over my head to protect me because it'll only make me weak later on down the road. Nobody's going to always be there to hold my hand when the going gets tough."
"True. But that doesn't necessarily make you weak when asking for assistance." He leaned away from the railing, bringing his arms up and crossing them over his chest. "In the heat of combat, one simply can't go rushing into battle unless he or she knows what they're up against. Five against one is almost always going to end in torment for the latter. That's why it's common for people to form bonds, so that they may help one another in their time of distress."
"You've got a point there." Sam chuckled lightly, glancing back up with her evergreen eyes twinkling in mirth. "Kind of like how you just helped me right now. By turning my frown upside down."
She couldn't really tell from the darkness that separated her and her guardian, but she could've sworn she caught him shift almost modestly, as if her words had brought a blush to his face. With a small giggle, she leaned over the railing, resting her head on one of her hands. "You know, I still never got your name the other night. If we're going to keep meeting like this, don't you think I deserve at least a name from you?"
Her guardian shifted nervously, glancing to the side as if mulling over the idea. "I—I can't do that, Sam."
"Well that's not fair." She grinned. "You know my name but I can't know yours? At least give me a small hint. The first letter? Something that rhymes with your name? Something!"
Her guardian glanced up in her direction before his attention shifted up at the stars, his head scanning back and forth. In a city like downtown Manhattan, the luminescence of the street lights and flashing billboards was enough to overpower the twinkle of the stars that shone overheard, but one was still able to see a star or two here and there. With a raise of his arm, her guardian pointed upward, making her glance up at the few stars that shone as bright as they could.
"There's your hint. You can find your answer in the stars."
Sam raised her eyebrow in blatant confusion as the stars winked down at her. "The stars? Like, constellations? Are you named after a constellation?"
"Well, my name doesn't derive from a constellation, but there is one that poses as the shortened version of my name. The longer version of my name derives from a Renaissance painter and that's all I'm going to say. You'll just have to guess."
"Renaissance painter and constellations." Sam pondered, thinking back to any Renaissance painters her teachers may have brought up in her history classes over the years. What painters were in the Renaissance period anyway? And weren't there, like eighty different constellations? All she knew were the ones that fell into the zodiac category.
She hummed in thought, staring back at her guardian while she squinted her eyes in contemplation. While she was too brain dead to go over the list of Renaissance painters, she figured she'd just spout random zodiac signs, thinking she'd knock out at least twelve guesses before she had to whip out her phone and Google 'Renaissance painters with constellation names'.
"Uhh, Scorpio!"
Her guardian shook his head.
"Aries?"
Another shake.
"Taurus? Libra? Gemini? Leo?"
She noticed he stopped his movements at the mention of the last constellation as he let out an almost inaudible chuckle before hoisting himself up the fire escape. Sam opened her mouth to stop him from heading off, but her guardian simply waved, wishing her good night before disappearing into the darkness, leaving Sam dumbstruck where she stood.
"Leo," she whispered to herself, pulling out her phone and Googling the name along with the line 'Renaissance painter'; her phone instantly showing her pictures of the Mona Lisa as well as other paintings by the great Da Vinci himself.
Her eyes widened slightly as she glanced back up, hoping her guardian was still within seeing distance before she looked back up at the stars, watching them glimmer and twinkle in her wake as her lips tugged into a small smile.
My guardian angel. Leonardo….
Author's Note: And that's a wrap! :D Sorry if my Master Splinter sounds a little out of character. I think that was the only thing that bugged me about the chapter seeing as I've never really wrote Master Splinter's dialogue before. But other than that, I really enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope you all enjoy reading it. :D Let me know your thoughts in your reviews!
DFTBA!
(Don't Forget To Be Awesome!)
