Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Chapter 11-Nightime Run In
"And just where do you think you are going Raphael?"
With one hand still on the doorknob, Raph looked over his shoulder. Leonardo stood behind him with his arms crossed in front of his plastron. Raph hid his embarrassment at getting caught trying to sneak out of Foot Headquarters with anger.
"What's it look like I'm doing Leo?"
Recognizing the tone, Leo huffed as he uncrossed his arms and took a step forward.
"You heard Master Shredder Raph, when we aren't on a group mission we're confined to headquarters."
Raphael glared at his older brother. "What are you, some kind of Shredder Junior now?"
Meeting his younger brother's gaze Leo's voice held a trace of venom at the insult. "Don't call me that."
"Then don't start acting like him."
Leo's eyes narrowed. Raphael recognized this Leonardo, the brother whose stubborn streak could turn him into a cold block of ice. But ice could melt, if one added a little fire. And Raphael wasn't called a hothead by his older brother for no reason.
"Look I'm going crazy cooped up in here all of the time. I've got to get out."
Continuing to glare at his younger brother Leo's silence prompted Raph to continue.
"Leo, you and I both know something about all of this," Raph gestured around, "being here among the Foot Clan, following Master Shredder's orders, it just doesn't feel right."
To the outside observer, Leo's face would have looked impassive. But Raphael knew his brother, the flash in Leonardo's eyes gave him away. Raph had struck a cord inside Leo. And Raphael was right, something about their current situation didn't feel right. Master Shredder was hiding something from the two of them.
Leo turned his gaze to the floor, attempting to bring order to his internal confusion. Raphael stepped forward and in a caring gesture he reserved only for when they were alone, Raph grasped Leo's chin in his hand, forcing Leo's gaze to meet his own. The ice was warming up, and now it was time for Raphael to melt it.
"Look at you bro, you're exhausted. You dream every night about shadows that chase us around. And an unknown force literally threw you right out of your own mind during your last meditation."
Leo's tough façade melted away. It was his fault that Raphael was trying to sneak out.
Leo closed his eyes. "I'm sorry I've upset you Raphie."
Shaking his head, Raphael removed his hand. "Nah bro. Don't be. Not for something like this. Something's happened to us."
Leo's eyes snapped open. Suddenly Raphael's reason for trying to sneak out made a lot more sense. "You're going to try and find them aren't you?"
Raphael's shrug didn't surprise Leonardo. Despite everything Master Shredder had told them, these mysterious turtles and the human vigilante Casey Jones were their only lead.
"You heard the orders Raph. We're aren't to leave the building."
Raph crossed his arms in front of his plastron. "And when have you ever known me to follow the rules?"
For a fleeting moment, Leonardo felt like Raphael and he have had this argument before. At another time and place. Somewhere damp. Raph was trying to leave to go somewhere. To go meet someone. And Leo was there to try to talk him out of it. But then as fast as it appeared, the feeling was gone. Leo shook his head. He couldn't deny it, he was curious too.
Leo sighed in defeat. "We can't be out late."
Grinning, Raph opened the door. "Whatever you say Fearless Leader."
Once they reached the rooftops, Leonardo quickly lead the two of them away from Foot Clan territory, least a fellow clan member spot them out and tattle to Master Shredder. With every jump across the rooftops, the two black clad ninja felt a little lighter. They hadn't run into any ninja turtles yet, but the night was still young.
The sound of breaking glass rang into the night, quickly followed by the chime of an alarm. Leonardo halted in his tracks, with Raphael pulling up alongside him. Leo titled his head for a moment, then pointed.
"Over there." Leonardo once again took the lead. With them safely out of range of the clan's area, there was nothing to stop them from taking a little action.
Raphael spun his sai once before storing them and following his brother. He always enjoyed pummeling someone.
The two turtle peered down from the rooftop to see a group of thugs trying to load up a pick-up truck with their stolen goods.
"Hurry up dudes! The cops will be here any minute! Hurry! Hurry!"
Leo soundlessly removed his swords from their sheaths. Raph held one sai in each hand, spinning them once before he tensed, ready to pounce. But before either brother could jump down a jubilant voice called out.
"Didn't anyone ever teach you boys that it's not nice to steal?"
A blur of orange and green leapt out from the darkness. Right behind him came a second blur, this time of purple and green.
The two foot ninja watched as the two colored turtles fought the thugs, neither turtle drawing their weapons until one of the men pulled out a gun and open fired. As soon as the shooting started the two turtle ninja stopped holding back. The orange turtle moved fast, a whirlwind of fists and wood as he quickly used his nunchaku to knock his opponents unconscious. The purple turtle's skills were just as impressive, as he used his bo to thrust and spear at specific points on the human body until the remaining thieves fell unconscious.
"They fight well. Very well." Leonardo shot his brother a look of concern. "And you're certain they didn't mean you any harm last time?"
Raphael quickly pulled out his sai and twirled them once before giving Leonardo a shark like grin. "Only one way to find out."
"Another group of thugs ready to lock up and throw away the key." Michelangelo gave a little dance. It always felt good to send bad guys to jail. "Donnie high three!"
Grinning Donnie met his brother's hand in mid air. The sound of sirens drew closer. "We can't stay here Mikey. Come on."
Leading the way Donatello quickly leapt up the fire escape and landed on the rooftop. The two turtle ninja had only jumped over one rooftop when Donnie suddenly stopped.
"Mikey, wait." Donatello pulled his bo from the holder on his shell.
"What is it bro?" Following his brother's lead, Mikey removed his nunchaku.
"We aren't alone."
Two dark figures slowly emerged from the shadows. As the two foot ninja entered the light, moonlight shimmered in the steel of their bladed weapons. Their very sharp looking bladed weapons.
Michelangelo gulped. "So uh, you two come in peace, right?"
Leonardo sized up the two colorful turtles before him. The turtle on his left was wearing an orange mask that wrapped around eyes that held equal parts of joy and fear. His skin a dark teal color, his body carrying muscle tone and definition suggesting he was a fighter, much like Raphael and Leonardo himself were. At the belt on his waist sat two nunchaku with orange handles. The purple turtle on Leonardo's right was an olive shade of green. His eyes a warm brown that displayed a complex combination of awe, concern, and hope. Leo raised an eye ridge at the strap draped across the turtle's plastron. The black clad turtle didn't know why a ninja would need to carry a man purse, and right now it didn't really matter anyway. The only thing that did, was getting some answers.
Leo stopped in front of the two turtles and swiftly returned his swords to the sheaths on his shell. The motion immediately diffused the tension in the air, and the remaining 3 turtles all followed suit.
"We've come to talk."
A/N: Well that should be an interesting chat, right? For those who have reviewed, thank you! And if you are thinking about reviewing, I bribe with virtual treats...virtual pumpkin pie (or apple if you don't care for pumpkin, or pecan if you don't care for apple, heck just pick a pie that you fancy) to those who do!