Here I am again!
Hope this isn't moving too fast for you guys now- I probably should've given you warning. So you know, there's two parts to the story. The first takes place in Jump City, the second in New York.
We're now reaching the close of the first part. Including this chappie, there's about four or five left. This one is gonna have a bunch of action though, which is why it'll seem fast. I've split it up to slow it down, but I'm still worried.
Anyways, I hope you won't get too frazzled- and please enjoy!
Beta read by the incredible Sewer Slider! Go read her fics!
Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT; I don't own the Teen Titans. I'm nothin' but a dreamer.
&&&&&
Slade's HideoutEvery room was darker than twilight, but Leo was able to find Slade quickly, without the use of the heat seeker, either.
As always, when he delivered the package, the turtle was silent. This time, he was so quiet that the dead, hushed away in their tombs six feet below the earth, made more noise than he did.
Slade was waiting. He wasn't watching any of the monitors like usual, but from his position, Leonardo could tell that he had been.
Walking over to his 'master', Leo made no note to the man of how much pain he was in already, whether through speech or body movement. His chest was sore where the Titan called Cyborg had pushed him, but nothing was broken. Tender, but perfectly fine.
Leo knew that wasn't going to last. Slade reminded the ninja of the Shredder, in a way. And Oroku Saki had never been one to punish lightly.
He wasn't worried about himself though. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the panel on Slade's arm, the one with the four colored knobs that controlled the probes inside him and his brothers.
God, please let them live…Bowing his head in a symbol of respect that the man did not deserve, Leo handed the jeweled breastplate over to Slade.
A soft, metallic click sounded when the plate was taken into the one-eyed man's hands. He looked the artifact over carefully. "Good, very good." He said, no hint of real pleasure in his voice. "My contacts will be pleased."
The turtle kept very still, waiting for it.
And sure enough, there it was. "Aren't you curious as to what your grade is?" Slade asked, placing the breastplate down carefully before folding his arms behind his back. The whole time, he never took that one eye off of him. When the apprentice didn't answer, Slade went on. "It was a 'C'." Slowly, he began to circle the teenager. "And while that is, by all means, a passing grade, we both know you could've done better, don't we?"
Though he was aware of him the whole time, Leo did not turn to follow him. "Perhaps."
"Be honest, Leonardo. I watched your action for months before choosing you to be my apprentice; I know you inside and out. You're a perfectionist. Was it or was it not perfectly executed?"
Leo paused. "No." He finally said.
Slade stopped, finally, speaking behind him now. "That's right. And what was it about this assignment that wasn't performed to standards? What is it that you need to work on?"
Absolute silence. Leo refused to answer, or even look at his 'master'.
Leaning in, Slade hissed. "Compassion. It weakens you. Yes, you took no mind of those in the building; you drove fear into them. That was good. And you took the hostages, like I instructed. But they should not have only been afraid of you, my apprentice- they should have been terrified." He said, voice growing louder, only to quiet down. "And then, there's the matter of your brothers."
Suddenly, hot pain seared through Leo's entire body. He'd only experienced it once, but he remembered it too well. Slade had activated the probes in the ninja's own body this time.
Gritting his teeth, Leo's knees gave way beneath him and he hit the floor. It was on a lower setting than the first time, but it still hurt like crazy. He was dizzy, but managed to keep upright.
Slade was speaking again. "When they arrived with the Teen Titans, you dealt with the superheroes simply, but you allowed your siblings to distract you. And when you fought your brothers, you weren't striking them like the threats to the mission that they were- you held your blows and dealt with them quickly. Even when I instructed you to attack without mercy!"
The pain increased. Biting his tongue, Leo could taste a small amount of blood in his mouth, but said nothing. Just take it all out on me. I don't mind. As long as it's not my brothers.
"And you spoke to them." Leo felt a hard hit to the back of his head that sent him onto his stomach. Slade kicked him in the side. The armor on the turtle's body was protective, but it was skin tight. Every blow jarred him, hurt him. "We agreed, don't you remember? You were never to speak to them again! Your allegiance is to me!"
The pain from the probes spiked- Leo nearly blacked out. When it stopped without warning, he was left almost breathless, wheezing quietly.
"Never again." Slade said softly. "This is your last warning, my apprentice. Or I will kill them."
Gently, Leo raised his body, standing. When Slade moved to hit him again, Leo caught his wrist, twisted around, and kicked him in the torso. The man backed up, but did not go down. Instead, he moved in, swinging his arm out and chopping his hand at the turtle's wrist. His appendages weren't as protected; Leo knew that that one wasn't a simple bruising.
Although it made him want to cry out in pain, he ignored it and turned to the opposite side, jamming his elbow under Slade's chin. The minute he had him, Leo wasted no time in kicking the man again. His foot landed on Slade's arm; the ninja hoped that the control panel would be damaged, but he knew that was far too much to wish for. His blow had been far off target in the first place.
It also didn't appear to have injured. Using that same arm, Slade brought up his fist and hit Leo square in the mouth. There was more blood, but the teenage didn't pay too much mind to it. He spat most of out on the floor and waited for the next attack- one that never came.
"Very good." Slade said. The subject had changed in an instant, spoken with fists and physical attacks. Leo had begun to understand that when Slade had kicked him. Also like Oroku Saki, this was this man's way of training. But clearly, training was over. "Another thing I hate in my apprentices is weakness; cowardice. I would hate to think that that was all that lay underneath such fine skills." He nodded. "There will be more later. Go."
Nodding his head, Leo began to walk away, holding his wrist as straight as possible. It was probably sprained. He'd take care of it.
"Oh, and Leonardo?"
"Yes?" Leo asked hoarsely.
"What I've told you- tell me you understand."
"I understand… master."
&&&&&
Titans TowerAngrily, Raph kicked an empty cup lying on the floor. It went flying, sent in the direction of the kitchen, where Beast Boy and Mikey were sitting. Turning, the shape-shifter managed to catch it before it hit him in the face.
Gulping, he set it down on the table. "He gonna be all right?" He asked Michelangelo.
The typically cheerful turtle looked at his new friend dejectedly. "Raph's just mad. He hits things when he's upset. But he'll get to sulking around pretty quick."
"Don't worry." Beast Boy assured him. "Your bro wasn't saying all of that stuff 'cause he wanted to. Nobody likes working for Slade. Not that much, anyways. But Leo didn't mean it."
"We know that." Don said, speaking as he entered into the kitchen like a shadow. "But if he's that determined to protect us from Slade, then he might not even let us come near him."
A crash from the living room made the three turn their heads. The last thing Raph had kicked had been sent into a vase. Glancing at it, Raven saved it from a death against the floor and set it back up on its mantle. The other three Titans were watching him cautiously.
"Well he's coming back whether he likes it or not!" Raph shouted.
"Please." Starfire said soothingly. "No more of this fury. It is solving little of your problems."
Feeling a little guilty, the turtle stopped, but the anger was still burnt into his features. "Yeah, well it's making me feel a lot better." He mumbled.
Robin placed a hand on his shoulder. "Listen, we're still going to help you get you're brother back. But there's nothing we can do until we know where he is."
Nodding roughly, Raph frowned. "Yeah, but the minute we do…" He trailed off.
"Well," Cyborg began, "we may not have to wait that long."
Don walked over. "What do you mean?" He asked.
The android grinned. "I didn't just knock your bro down 'cause I felt like it." He explained. "I tagged him with a small homing device. Slade won't be able to detect it."
Immediately, the faces of the three brothers lit up. Mike jumped out of his seat. "You serious? Where is he?"
"Hold your horses." Cy told him. "Give me a second." As he typed in a bunch of info into a small console on his arm, he found himself crowded by most in the room.
Raph watched as a blipping dot appeared on a little screen. It was about ten miles away from Titans Tower- a separate dot on the screen.
The red-banded ninja grinned. "What the hell are we waiting for?"
Robin was quick to bring them back to reality. "Nightfall." He said. "Whether he suspects anything or not, Slade will be wary for several hours now no matter what- on the look out for us or the police, in the chance that Leonardo was tailed."
Donny raised a green hand. "Unless he thinks were coming. I mean, he knows we mainly go out in the open at night in the first place." He explained, referring to himself and his brothers. "Otherwise, he wouldn't have even found Leo."
Turning to the others, Cyborg suggested, "Maybe earlier in the evening, then?" He asked. "Give Slade some time to slack off, but not too much so he can suspect us comin'?"
Nodding, the Boy Wonder explained the plan. "Yeah. Around six or so."
Scratching his elbow, Mikey looked at them. "Why don't we wait until he sends Leo out on another job? He seems to have a lot of them, anyways. And then we can just grab him."
Raven shook her head. "Because every time he goes out, Leo has to where some sort of transmitter. Slade can see and hear everything your brother does. He'll know we're there, and if he thinks we can take his 'apprentice', he'll activate the probes in your bodies."
Mikey winced. "That sucks. But won't he do that whether we go to his hideout or grab Leo somewhere else?"
"Yes." Starfire said. "But if we are with Slade, we may be able to destroy whatever device it is that he uses to initiate them."
In a mood again, Raph crossed his arms. He didn't like this- didn't like waiting. Especially when they knew where Leo was. The red-clad turtle had always been one for acting on opportunities, even without a plan.
It was one of the few places really in which he and Leo differed. But what a big difference that was.
"Fine." He finally said, walking away.
He'd wait. Whether he liked it or not, he'd been in a thousand situations before that required him to.
Time needed to move faster, though.
&&&&&
Slade's HideoutAt five forty-seven, as the sun began to set in the late fall days; Slade went to collect his apprentice.
Always a man of security, every room in his new fortress was installed with a camera. Leonardo had taken temporary residence in one of the empty rooms, but he hadn't slept at all, despite the fact that he could certainly use the refreshment.
Rather, he'd just sat there quietly. Occasionally squirming around to accommodate his injuries.
Finding him, Slade entered the room, standing above the turtle. On the floor was the metal band he wore on missions- it had been taken off. After a few moments, Leonardo looked up at him.
"You will have to trust me at some point, my apprentice." He told him. Slade knew well why the teenager refused to drift off into slumber. "Even if you don't, you can't go on for much longer in this manner while continuing to perform to standards- not if you want to keep those three alive, anyway."
Leo looked away. Those wheels were turning again.
Getting down on one knee, Slade met him at eye level. "Let me see your wrist." He commanded.
Glancing back at him, Leo kept all body parts close to him. "I can take care of myself." He said.
Slade knew that. He'd learned quickly that all four of these unique turtles knew basic medical care. The ninja had his wrist, injured by his master, wrapped already. It seemed that he'd found some old bandages that had been left behind when the clinic had been cleaned out.
He nodded. "Let me see it." He ordered once more.
Reluctantly, Leo brought his hand out.
Finding the beginning of the bandages, he unwrapped it. With a gentleness he rarely ever used, the man took looked the injury over. Yes, it was clearly sprained. Slade tisked. It would be a while before his apprentice would be able to perform as usual with it.
Wrapping it up once more, the man in black and orange stood. "Come with me." He said.
Looking away, Leo picked up the headband and got to his feet. Without the drowsiness that he no doubt inhabited, he followed.
Slade took him to another room- the first one he'd brought him to when he'd given him his armor. Searching through everything there, he soon found a small plate, also black. "Yes, this is it."
Bringing it forward, he snapped it on Leo's wrist, right over the bandages. The turtle winced slightly, but remained still. "What is it?"
"A guard for your injury." Slade explained. "It's tight, so you won't be able to move your hand as much. But it's strong- it'll protect it and allow it to heal properly. You'll still be able to use your katana."
Nodding, Leo experimented with it. The guard started two inches below his wrist and ended just below his thumb. He'd be able to have a tight grip on his sword- would be able to swing it, slice, and block. Twisting it around in his hand would not be possible for a while, but that was fine. Just as long as he got the job done.
And as long as no one noticed the injury.
A beeping sound alerted Slade to his monitors. A few shadows could be seen, but that was all. The man stared at them curiously. Often, around this part of town, several rambunctious and energetic boys would mess around, as boys had a tendency to do- playing their games of fantasy and ignoring the looming threat in the building that hid them from their friends.
But usually, you could see more than their shadow.
Slade frowned. "Leonardo, I do believe we might have some company. Scout the building. If you find a threat- no mercy. Bring it to me. If it's nothing more important than bunch of stray kittens or loose teenagers, then come back inside."
Nodding, Leo began to leave.
"Leonardo?"
"Huh?"
"Haven't you forgotten something?"
The turtle flinched a little. It was something he clearly hated, considering that he'd called someone else by the title for sixteen years. That was why Slade kept pushing it- Leonardo had to accept that he was his master now, and not that rat.
"Yes… master." Leo said quietly. Then he disappeared into the hallway.
&&&&&
Starfire hovered above the building. Raven was by her side; Beast Boy as well, a little bat flying in the air.
Below, she could see Robin and the others. The leader of the Teen Titans spoke to her over the Communicator. "There's only one entrance." He said. "Slade has all of the windows boarded up. Going through the door will be too obvious."
The Tamaranian nodded, floating back down to the ground as she closed her Communicator. "But Robin," She said, "our options are few."
Frowning, Robin glanced at Beast Boy, who'd by now changed back to his normal form. "Beast Boy, go see what it looks like."
Saluting, the changeling grinned. "On it!" He shrunk down until he was a mere spider.
"Ugh." Raphael muttered, taking one step back.
His brother, Michelangelo laughed. "What's a matter, Raph? Afraid of the yucky bug?"
Immediately, the green spider shot up and changed back into BB. "Yucky?" He asked, annoyed.
"Beast Boy!" Robin hissed.
"Oh. Right." He said, shrinking back down.
Growling lowly, Raph hit Mikey in the back of the head. Starfire giggled softly.
Soon, the shape-shifter returned. "There's this waiting room." He explained as he changed back. "But after that is a long hallway. Everything looks clear."
Nodding, Robin moved forward. "Okay, then. Let's go in."
Behind him, Don turned back to his brothers. "Quietly, if that's possible." He told them with a small smile. But the look in his eyes reminded Starfire of ones she used to see on her home planet.
A 'Desist, or you will suffer the consequences', kind of gaze, but with a friendlier aura.
As they moved, Cyborg took a good long look at each place they were at. "My sensors aren't pickin' up anything." He whispered.
Raven shook her head. "That's unusual. Slade tends to keep on top of his security."
They heard the footsteps, soft and cautious, far too late.
In seconds, Leo was in front of them, one sword in hand. The first time she'd seen him without the metallic band on his face, Star could see his eyes were brown, like his brothers. And the area around his mouth was bruised.
"Damn it." He muttered. "Why are you guys here?" He asked voice as low as theirs.
Raph stepped forward. "You should be able to figure it out, bro. I told ya this wasn't over."
Grinning, Mike looked him over. "Hey, you don't have that transmitter thingy on! C'mon, Leo- Slade cant see what's going on. You can come with us!"
Shaking his head, Leo took one step forward. "He's not an idiot, Mikey. He expects me back any minute, and when I'm not, he'll know something's wrong. He'll know that I disobeyed him again- and when he finds that out, he'll kill all three of you!"
Sadly, Starfire watched as the grip on Leonardo's katana turned almost white, he was holding it so hard. So afraid, he was…
Donatello placed his bo away. "Leo, these are the Teen Titans. They know how to get those probes out of us."
Leo quickly looked at them. "You can? You can help them?"
Cyborg nodded. "Yeah, the equipment's set up back at the tower. All we have to do is destroy whatever it is Slade's using to activate them-"
"Forget it." Leo said. "I've tried to get to it already- he won't let anyone close."
Beast Boy grinned. "Dude, no offense, but you're one guy. He's gonna have a harder time when eight people are trying to get it."
"And in the time we're trying, he can kill my brothers." Leo said softly. He shook his head. "No… we can't risk it. You shouldn't even be here. I'll get it eventually, and we'll have this discussion all over again when I do. But for now, you need to go. I'll tell Slade it was just a bunch of kids smoking, or something."
Raph moved forward fast, tapping Leo hard in the plastron. "We ain't leavin', bro. What part of that isn't getting through your head?"
"What part of 'You will die' isn't getting through yours?"
The two stared at each other for a long time. Finally, Mike and Don moved forward too. "Leo," the purple-clad turtle said, "we're not going unless you're coming along."
"Please, Leo?" Mike pleaded.
Frowning, the elder turtle turned to the Titans. Robin frowned, hesitated. "I promised your brothers we'd help get you back. I'm not breaking that."
Leo back up a little. "I don't have a choice." He said. "I won't risk their lives."
He looked up. Starfire could see the katana shifting and moved into a defensive position.
Cyborg did likewise. "Don't you think you're doing that if you take them to Slade?"
"I'm not." Leo said. "I'm getting all of you out of here."
"No, my apprentice." A voice sounded. "You'll stay right where you are."
Flinching, Leonardo straightened in fear. He looked at all of them. Why didn't you go? He mouthed.
Slade's form became apparent as he moved from behind him. He took in the scene, as unmoved as ever. "Well, won't this be a barrel of fun?"
&&&&&
(sings) And another one bites the dust!
Before I go into the full lyrics what did you think? I personally liked it. Don't know why.
Anyways, the next chappie promises to be full of actiony goodness.
So please review!