Whoa! Sorry about that! I literally didn't come home Sunday until midnight. So now I'm updating for ya! I've been excited about this chapter and the coming chapter for a long while now so please tell me how much you love it! ;D
Leo rolled out of bed and glanced over at the clock. 8:00 Am. He sighed even on the weekends he couldn't sleep in if he tried… and he had considering his late night last night. Not fair. Resigning himself to the fact he wouldn't be getting anymore sleep today he got up, showered and dressed before going downstairs to make eggs for breakfast. Leo knew he would need the protein today for his tournament. At that thought he got very excited. Looking at the clock which read 8:47 he scrunched up his face in thought. He didn't have to go to the gym until 9:30 to get ready for the competition at 10:00, but he didn't have enough time to go see Master Splinter and Mikey.
Before he could figure out what to do his phone rang. Blinking stupidly at it wondering who would be calling him, he reached over and glanced at the number. He didn't recognize it, but he shrugged and answered it anyway. "Hello?"
"Leo? Hey, it's me."
"Donnie?" Leo asked surprised. "How'd you get my number?"
Over the line Donnie cleared his throat and Leo could tell right away he was nervous. "I may have not exactly followed the law to the letter in regards to your cell phone number."
Leo just laughed. He didn't care. In truth he had been meaning to exchange numbers with Donnie and Raph for a while now. Still hadn't figured out what to do with Mikey though. "Okay what's up?" He asked while cleaning up his breakfast mess.
"Would you be able to meet me here at the lair?"
"The what?"
"The lair. It's what Mikey's calling Master Splinter's place." Donnie clarified.
"Oh." Leo glanced at the clock, 8:50. "Actually Donnie, I need to get going. My Kendo tournament is at 10 and I need to be there by 9:30."
"Oh well then we'll meet you outside the gym. Is that okay?"
"Yeah that's fine, but what is so pressing we need to meet so soon?"
"I can't tell you over the phone, but it's a surprise. Bye Leo!" With that Donnie hung up.
Leo blinked then shook his head. He would find out soon enough. Leo then pulled on his favorite blue zip-up hoodie on, then headed out the door. As he rode the bus to the gym, Leo remembered his encounter with the strange men yesterday. Maybe he would bring it up to the guys. They were supposed to be protecting the world and those guys just rubbed him wrong.
Soon the bus stopped in front of his stop and he hopped out. Leo walked the little ways to the gym only to see Mikey and Donnie waiting our front for him. "Oh Leo dude! Over here!" Mikey called waving him down.
Leo chuckled and walked over to them. "So what is so pressing we had to speak in person?" He asked.
"This!" Donnie cried holding out a small device that looked like a turtle's shell.
"And that is?" Leo asked confused.
"I call it the T-Phone!" Donnie proclaimed happily.
"Dude! I'm in charge of namin' stuff. I would've called it, the T-Phone." Mikey corrected looking at bit put out.
Donnie looked at him, "I did call it the T-Phone."
"Yeah, but I wanted to call it the T-Phone." Mikey pouted.
Donnie rolled his eyes and continued, "Anyway, I made these phones so that we could contact each other whenever we needed too." He then handed one to Leo. Leo looked at it and opened it up. It was just a regular cell phone only a bit bulkier and simpler. "When we are our turtle forms we only have three very large fingers so this way we call each other without having to worry about little numbers. I've already programed everyone's phone number into the T-Phones and we don't have to worry about bills or anything. I created our own network." Donnie finished proudly.
Leo stared at him, Donnie was a whole lot smarter than he initially thought. "Wow, Donnie this is amazing! Thanks and great idea!" Leo said placing his new T-Phone in his pocket.
"Thanks!" Donnie said before stepping aside, "You should probably head in. Mikey and I will see you in there!"
Leo looked at them a little surprised, "You guys are staying?" He asked confused.
"Of course we are, bro!" Mikey answered, "We came here to support you!" Donnie nodded in agreement.
Leo smiled at them, warmed by the gesture. Normally he was alone at these tournaments because his parents would be out of state or too busy to bother to come. "Thanks guys." He said genuinely.
"What are brothers for?" Mikey asked with a smile before Leo headed in.
..::-::..
"Come on Mikey let's go get seats." Donnie said as he and Mikey started walking inside after Leo had left. As they entered the gym Donnie noticed a certain red head and he felt an evil smirk crawl onto his face. Mikey, following behind him like a puppy, walked with him all the way to said red head, "Hey Raph." Donnie drawled startling the hot head making him jump slightly and turn around. They saw Raph's skin flash green before he calmed down as he saw who they were. Then when he saw it was Donnie and Mikey he quickly got mad again and started to change. "Raph calm down." Donnie chide. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"You didn't startle me, I was jus… practicin'." Raph said stubbornly calming down.
Mikey leaned around Donnie's tall frame, "For what? Jump starters of the month club?" Mikey then started to laugh and Raph got that look in his eyes Donnie was started to recognize as fire.
"Knock it off Mikey." Donnie snapped stopping the younger boy causing him to pout. Donnie would rather not deal with either of them changing without Leo here. Somehow they always acted better around him… somewhat… maybe he was screwed either way. Turning back to Raph who had calmed down enough not to be green anymore, he asked, "What are you doing here?"
Raph glowered, "Well I was goin' ta lift some weights, but because of dis stupid tournament everythin's closed."
"Wanna come sit with Donnie and me?" Mikey asked coming out from behind Donnie. "We're here cheering Leo on!"
Raph rolled his eyes, "Thanks, but no thanks. I got better tings ta do." He then sharply turned around and started walking away.
Donnie saw right through that, "Oh yeah sure you do. Which is why you're still here!" He called out at Raph's retreating back. Raph tensed for a bit, but didn't turn before he moved on and disappeared. Donnie scoffed, "Meat head." He grumbled.
Donnie and Mikey ended up finding great seats near the front and were able to cheer Leo on every time he was in a duel. Donnie tried explaining the rules to Mikey, but it was like trying to tell a brick wall to melt on command. It couldn't be done. And it didn't help that when Donnie started explaining about Leo's standing as a 3rd Dan that Mikey complained his brain hurt. Finally he gave up and said Leo would get a point if he hit the guy.
Mikey, right on cue, responded with a loud cheer of 'Go Leo! Break that guys face!'
Donnie promptly smacked his forehead.
All was going pretty smoothly until the final round. Leo had made it all the way to the finals, but was having trouble focusing. His next opponent had knocked all of the others down in 2 minutes as opposed to the timed three, the boy was massive. Leo doubted he was even the same age. He looked like he could be in collage.
..::-::..
Leo swallowed heavily as he watched his next and final opponent leave the arena. They both had 10 minutes before the final match. Leo decided he needed some water before he headed back in. Removing his men, he walked over to the water fountain and drank some before splashing some on his face. He took more and poured it on his sweating head and placed some on the back of his neck as well to try and cool off then sighed. All this gear was very hot.
"Don't stop on my account."
Leo spun around to see a girl leaning up against the wall next to the fountains. He hadn't even noticed her. Master splinter would not be proud. She was wearing what looked like a biker's outfit of some sort with a black leather jacket to boot. Her hair was incredibly short, but two strands were allowed to hang down to frame her face. Her eye makeup was interesting. Dark under her eyes and a red design on her lids.
She was… very pretty.
"You're doing pretty good out there." She went on forcing herself off the wall. "You drop your left shoulder too low though. If you hold it level you'll be able to avoid a few more blows that way."
Leo eyed her for a moment, "Thanks." He then held out his hand, "I'm Leo and you are?"
She looked at him for a bit before she started forward. She kept walking towards him until he was forced into the wall. Leo stared at this very beautiful girl that had him trapped unsure of what to do. She just kept staring at him with that very inviting smirk until finally her smirk widened, "Interested." She answered before putting a little paper in his hand. "Good luck Leo." She said before walking away. As he watched her go he saw that the back of her hair on the underside was dyed blonde. After she disappeared he looked at the little paper she had given him. It was a phone number. Leo grinned. Sweet.
"Leo!" Leo looked up to see Donnie and Raph making their way towards him and he quickly stuffed the number away. "Hey we just wanted to wish you good luck with the final round." Donnie was saying.
Leo smiled at them, "Thanks."
"Raph says he's waiting here to use the weights, but I don't buy it." Donnie went on with a smirk towards the red head.
Raph glared at him, "I was!"
"Was?" Leo teased.
"Yeah well I got nothin' better ta do." He said crossing his arms in a pout.
"Where's Mikey?" Leo asked noticing his absence and choosing to let Raph off the hook… for now.
"Oh he went to use the bathroom." Donnie answered. "He should be-"
"Guys, guys! You're never going to believe this!" Mikey cried racing towards them. "Leo, your sensei, he, he had a brain!" He cried absolutely terrified.
They all looked at him in a deadpan, "We all have brains Mikey." Leo said tiredly.
"Not all of us." Donnie supplied.
"In our chests!?" Mikey went on, not even fazed by the jab.
"No Mikey, not in our chests." Leo answered like he was speaking to a child.
Mikey glared at him catching on, "You're not listening to me!" He practically screamed hysterically. Leo promptly slapped him. On reflex, Mikey's hands flew up into a defensive position, "Did you just slap me?"
"I was trying to calm you down!" Leo defended. Captain Ryan always did it and it worked.
Mikey stared at him, "Why would that calm me down!?" He yelled.
"I think he's delusional." Donnie supplied.
"You're figuring this out now?" Raph asked with a raised eyebrow.
Leo shook his head, "Sorry guys, but I have to go." He said before he started to walk away, but was stopped by his opponent.
The other boy looked at him, "Running away so soon West?" He taunted. "Need your baby friends to come hide you?" He asked before laughing.
"I got one for you." Donnie began, "Ever think that the only reason you are still a 3rd Dan is because this is a far as your mental capacities can take you?"
The boy looked thoughtful for a second before he got angry, "I don't need to get what you're saying to know I've been insulted." He growled taking a step towards Donnie.
At once Leo was in front of him giving him a hard look, "I am your opponent Snake. Leave him alone." He said darkly. Out of the corner of his eye, Leo saw Raph and Mikey tense and stand somewhat in front of the genius. Inwardly Leo smirked in triumph. They were starting to become a team after all.
Snake look like he very much wanted to argue, but thought better of it. Instead he just glared at them more before walking away.
"What a creep." Donnie said after he was gone.
"Yeah, but a good one." Leo countered. "He's going to be hard to beat."
"You can do it Leo!" Mikey cheered.
"You're better then him for sure." Donnie added.
"If ya let dat Snake creep beat ya, I'll pound ya into de ground myself, Fearless." Raph added.
Leo smiled at them, "Thanks guys."
"Just watch out for brain thingys." Mikey added.
They all sighed and walked away. The judge called for the start and Leo got onto his side and placed his men back on. When he got the okay, Leo stepped forward and bowed. Snake did then same. They met in the middle drew their shinai then crouched. Leo stood as Snake did and they both got ready to fight.
Leo had no idea this battle would start it all.
..::-::..