Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT.

Song for this Fic: Iris as performed by the GooGooDolls

Leo and his brothers are 32 years old. Tony is 37.

**Warning** This fic contains something that may be disturbing to some. Please if you choose to read do not flame this fic but rather comment concerning the quality of the writing.**

Chapter 8: Danger

Ian's POV

I've been here a few weeks and already I've found myself shivering every time Oroku Karai or her son, Kyogen, stalk by.

Kyogen, he gives me the chills, he's pure predator, his two toned eyes snapping as they scrutinize every line and angle of us underlings who are practicing the Katas we are forced to learn.

My body hurts, my mind has become a blur of commands and strict schedules and I stand at attention, limbs trembling in line with the others waiting for our instructor to enter for the day's training.

I feel the color drain from my face when Kyogen strides in, clad fully in black with only the fire red symbol of the foot on his Obi around his waist showing any color.

I stifle a moan of horror when I realize he is in a sour mood.

Oh God save me…if I survive this, if I ever get home…please let my mother forgive me.

Then distantly I wonder why he is in such a bad mood, from what I hear he destroyed the home of our greatest enemies the other night.

I don't have time to wonder long as he snaps out an order for us to begin.

By the time he allows us to leave I am covered in bruises and limping heavily as are many of the others in the group.

Despite my fear of the others here I find myself lingering in the soothing heat of the hot shower in the locker rooms. My sore muscles relax and I sigh resting my forehead against the cool tile.

Suddenly I get the feeling I'm being watched and jerk around, slip on the slick tile and crash to the floor with a yelp.

I groan as I grip my head and blush as I hear a soft snicker of laughter.

I slowly look up and freeze when I make eye contact with of all people….Kyogen, wearing nothing but a towel draped over his shoulders and scrutinizing me with his two toned eyes.

His pitch black hair is falling across his face, slightly obscuring his golden-brown eye.

My brain freezes in shock when I realize that his towel isn't covering him at all…does this guy have no shame?

My cheeks darken into a blush and I jerk my gaze away as I scramble to my feet and search around for my own towel.

When I turn around I notice his head is cocked curiously and there's a hint of mischievous intent in his gaze.

I clear my throat awkwardly.

"Um…hi," I state lamely, "….Sir."

He only smiles in reply before turning and walking away without a word.

Okay….officially a little freaked out…

Kyogen's POV

When I returned home the other night after destroying the home of my mother's greatest enemies I was punished.

My mother declared that I was a complete fool, she had known that they were not in New York and my "foolish actions" will have caused them to go into hiding.

As she put it "You may have cost us everything you insolent reject!" one minute I'm her pride and she's showing me off in front of the New York community at banquets then next I'm an ignorant reject.

What do you expect mother dearest? I'm only a year old, how was I supposed to know that when you said to destroy them and told me where they lived that destroying their home wasn't on the agenda?

I snicker at that thought.

The words cut deeper than I expected and they hurt almost more than the sting of her sharpened nails on my cheek.

But after I turned back to her I managed to scrape together the chance to save myself.

They'll be on the run though Mistress, they don't have a safe place to hide anymore…they are vulnerable.

It was my saving grace, but it did not save me from spending the majority of my day training the new recruits as punishment. At least forcing all of them to work until they dropped brought me some satisfaction. Then there was the one the others call "Ice" because of his blue-grey eyes…for some reason I feel drawn to him.

Attracted even…I wonder…perhaps it is time I learned to explore that side of myself?

I muse over this as I change into my more casual clothes for the evening before leaving the locker rooms.

…after all, technically I'm an adult am I not entitled to explore my desire for physical contact?

Men, women, both…I see beauty in both genders.

But he intrigues me…especially after I startled him.

My thoughts trail back to my origin, to how I came to be as I reach my rooms and after my door is closed I turn to the large decorative mirror hanging on the wall.

I wanted to remove it when I was first brought here, I didn't like seeing my reflection after I saw myself for the first time.

Mother dearest refused, stating that it was once her father's and I should feel privileged to have it adorn my wall.

I stop midstride and allow myself to shift back into my hybrid form, despite what I've been taught about hating this appearance…I kind of like it…

I'm the most unique thing you'll ever see.

My skin is pale greenish-tan, sort of dappled looking; I have a thin, flexible plastron across my stomach and chest the color of dusty-gold, as well as a small carapace molded into the shape of my back the color of dark umber. My hands and feet look human enough save the color and my face is as well. I actually have very faint freckles in this form, just slightly darker than my pale skin.

Black hair falls into my face covering my left eye, the green one, as I move.

My two different colored eyes, only one is normal the other is animalistic in coloration…so wrong…and I can do nothing about it.

I sigh, shoulders dropping after I look at myself again.

Disgusting…

Then a pang of sorrow and loneliness…who would want me like this…in my human form maybe but this?

I'm a freak…just like mother says…

Anger and pain well up inside me and before I can stop myself I lash out, my fist connecting with the mirror.

It shatters and as I pull my hand back blood rolls down my arm and drips from my knuckles, I can sense the pain.

I know it hurts but for some reason I feel…better.

April's POV

Casey and I have just finished prepping the farm house when the guys pull in and I meet the tired and shaken group as they enter. I managed to buy a small crib for Azalea and found a set of cots for Sadie and Fae. Casey puts the last of the groceries away before joining me on the porch.

Leo looks worn out and worried, his golden-brown eyes clouded with concern as he walks in leading Tony who is carrying a sleeping Fae.

As the others head to their perspective rooms Casey and I set up I stop Leo to talk to him in private.

"You guys doing ok?" I ask softly.

Leo nods mutely.

"Best as could be expected I guess," he sighs, rubbing a hand across his face tiredly.

After I pat his shoulder I point the way towards what room Casey sent Tony and Fae to before encouraging him to rest.

"Get some sleep Leo, we'll figure this all out tomorrow," I comfort.

He nods and slips down the hall to the directed room and slips inside Tony exits a few minutes later looking concerned.

"April," he stops me as I go to enter the kitchen, "Is the room we're in one that Splinter used?"

I pause, blinking as I try to remember, then I go a little pale when I realize it.

"Oh God…Tony I didn't even think…I'll ask if Don and Ellie will switch with you guys…" I ramble.

He shakes his head and holds out a crumpled and age-stained wad of paper.

"It has Leo's name on it," he whispers.

As I take the paper I can see Leo's full name, wrote out in Splinter's handwriting despite the crumpled nature of it.

Tony and I share a look of worry.

"Don't…Leo can't see it…if Splinter…it-" Tony stops mid-sentence looking distraught, "I didn't open it…just…"

I nod.

"I'll hide it," I whisper.

A/N: All kinds of things going on here…what did Tony find that he doesn't want to show Leo?

P.s. There's a Leo pinup on my Deviantart account (Ecanusiofiel- formerly warriorforchrist), link on my profile to my DA account should still work.

Also random quip/question: Why is it that all of the really good TMNT artists on Deviantart have the guys partaking in incest?! Seriously…even if they weren't blood brothers they were raised as brothers…it's WRONG in about 95% of the societies that I've researched during the course of getting my History Major. Just bothers me to no end, I could care less if they are gay (as you can tell by this series) but…incest? Really? I mean the statistically likelihood that all four of them are gay is low at best, slightly increased if they were blood relatives which would make the attraction to each other incest by default. Just a mini rant sorry…