Nothing had changed too much except the fact that Shadow was in a constant state of paranoia. She never arrived to work too early to be the first one there, but never was the last to leave either. She had worked it out with herself that she would never take a cab that had been sitting in front of the building when she left work, she would wait and flag one down, taking that one home. This way, she knew that it wasn't any sinister plan for entrapment.
The rain poured as she made her way down the ladder into the sewer, landing in the water and sludge, she opened her cell phone to us the light to see where she was going. Shadow knew she was only a block away from the guy's subway home. The water from the drains and down spouts threw water in from her left side as she stayed to the right, closer to the wall. She hated it down here, hated that they lived down here. She could never tell them that, what else could they do? Coming up to the entrance, she could see a small amount of light. Shadow put her phone back in her pocket and pushed on a lever that moved a large hidden door away from the ladder to get down into the old subway station. She moved over the ladder, making her way down. Hitting the top of the stairs, she heard the trap door above her move into place, looking over to where the handle is, she smiled.
"Hey babe, whats shaken?" Mikey waved at her.
"Hey you! Whats goin on?" she said hugging him.
"Nothin, just 'bout to beat my high score on a game, you wanna hang?" he asked her as they trotted down the stair case into the main living area.
"Wheres Molly?" Shadow asked in a giggle.
"She's worken, but she's comen down. Promised that she'd stay here every once in a while." He moved from the bottom of the stairs and took a flying leap over the couch like a gymnast and landed on the other side, grabbing his controller. Walking toward the subway car of 'bedrooms' Shadow heard Mikey swear as he took his game back off of pause. It was a more quiet night for them, no rounds of the city.
The lights were on in the whole place. Donatello had explained to her how he was able to connect a generator system up so that city workers never came looking for the power that was being 'drained' or being fused away. She walked up a few steps and knocked on Raphael's door. There was no answer. She opened it to a dark room, flipping on the light she looked around that the mess that was his habitat. A messy queen size bed was to the right with a small lamp on a night stand to the left of it. A mirror was propped in the opposite corner of the room with free weights scattered on the floor in front it. A few posters were on the walls ranging from Nirvana, Buckcherry and Linkin Park. Two sets of Sai's were hanging on the same wall as the door; one set with plain black leather handles, the other set had red intertwined with the black. Shadow took her navy hoody off and laid it on his bed, she turned to go investigate.
The hall way to their practice room was dimly lit, but she heard grunting and a thud every few seconds as she got closer. Pushing the door that was opened farther, she stood with arms crossed, watching Raphael as he threw punchs at a punching bag that was hanging from the ceiling. Shadow smiled as she watched him, sweat running down his arms and neck. The muscles in his shoulders and arms flexed at every movement. They really hadn't seen much of each other the last week and lately he was on her mind. She still felt strings of butterflies in her stomach when she saw him; getting that real nervous hot rush all over her body that lasted seconds. It was funny, they weren't in any sort of serious relationship, in fact she really didn't know what they were, but she wasn't scared of any of it. The stereo in the corner ended its song and she watched his arms fall to his side, with his head down.
"Hey muscles." She said sliding her shoes off and walking out onto the mat.
He looked up at her, smirking and wiping the sweat off of his face "Whats goin on?"
"Nothin, thought I'd come see you, that ok?" she asked giving him a small smile.
"Naw, that's fine. Ya mind if I hit'da shower?" she shook her head.
He walked over and picked up a towel as she picked up her shoes to head back out of the room. The longer they had been home from the farm, the more it began feeling like a dream to her. They never seemed to be alone since they had been back. She was real cautious about how she acted toward him when everyone was around, but he just seemed to slowly revert back to the way they were, like nothing had happened.
Shadow walked back out into the living room where Mikey was now standing as he played his game, jumping when the action figure would jump. Shadow started to laugh.
"Hey Shay." She looked over to see Donny sitting in a chair, reading a magazine.
"Hey yourself." She smiled warmly at him. Setting her shoes down, she sat on the sofa behind Michealangelo, listening to him mumble under his breath like a lunatic.
"Nice to see you came to hang out." He said glancing up once again.
"Eh, I needed a change of scenery, ya know?" she put her feet up on the couch, crossing her feet and lazily played with her hair with her one hand.
"Well ya got a shitty view." Don smiled at her, nodding his head in Mike's direction, his butt only a foot in front of her.
She shrugged her shoulders "Ah well, what can ya do. Beggars can't be choosers."
"True."
"How's Robin?" she asked just idly making conversation.
"She's good. I usually talk to her a few nights after she gets home from work." He said licking his finger to turn a page.
"Ah, so there's admittance then?"
"Yea, we admit the fact that we care for one another, but it's hard when your on the opposite ends of the country, ya know?" he said looking up at her.
Shay nodded with a knowing smile.
"Yea, and in Leo's case, it's hard when you live in the same city." Mikey shot over his shoulder as his figure jumped a canyon, landing on a block.
"Cara and him aren't anything?" Shadow narrowing her eyes in confusion.
"They're all over the place." Donny replied rolling his eyes, shifting he put on leg up on the end table near her head. She made a 'yuck' face and grabbed his toe as he smirked at her.
She jumped a little as she felt movement from her side, looking over she saw where Raph had sat down practically on her feet.
"Mike, ya mind turnen this shit off so we can watch a movie?" he asked scowling at his little brother.
"Lemme finish this level… almost done." Mikey said as he began to dance around with the game. Shadow laughed watching him, like he was a little kid.
Raphael sat, one arm on the back of the couch, the other propped himself up on the arm. His legs were wide apart with feet on the floor. Shadow shifted her legs to make room for him, he looked at her and gave her a wink. She smiled at him. Donatello noted the exchange from his magazine, setting it down.
"What movie we watchen?" he asked looking at his brother and Shadow.
"I'll watch anything, just… nothing scary, please?" she begged as she chewed on her bottom lip.
"I wanna watch somethin' crazy funny!" Mikey said as he turned his game off, turning, he smiled at Shay and sat down on her legs.
"Aw Mikey." Shadow giggled as she pulled her feet up. He put an arm around her pulling her close.
"I sure hope Raph and Molly don't find out about our love affair. It would be devastating." He whispered in a horrible 'Homer Simpson' style whisper. Shadow laughed even harder.
Raphael crossed his arms and leaned back on his side of the couch even more. "Pshh, yea, affair, what ever. You'd get yer ass handed to ya."
"Ah dude, don't get to upset over bein replaced, I can't help my handsom looks." Mikey smiled nudging Shay, she turned her head to Donny who was just smiling like a kid at Christmas.
"Dude, put the movie in'en get away from'er." Raph shoved his brother up off the sofa.
Putting his arms up, Mikey stood "Hey now, I didn't mean to ruffle yer feathers bro, Shadow's prime, grade A though!" he giggled.
"Mike!" Raph yelled as he stood. Mikey took a step back and grinned.
"Whoa Raph, chill man. You ok?" Donny asked sitting up straighter in the chair.
Shooting his head over at his other brother he just glared. Rolling his shoulders, he cleared his throat and sat back down, leaning back into the couch.
Shadow sat quietly, she watched Michealangelo squat down and put a movie in and turn to sit in the old swivel chair on the other side of Raphael.
There was a moment of silence.
"Roid rage will get you no where Bro-hammer." Mikey said, Raphael lunged off the sofa at his brother, they both managed to flip the chair over, toppling onto the floor. Mikey screamed like a girl as his older brother lay on him.
"Seriously, shut up dude. I'm not in da'mood tonight!" Raphael he glared, pushing himself up off of his brother.
Mike smirked and winked at Donny "Anyone want anything to drink?" he asked as he moved to the kitchen.
"OH I do, here Mike, I wanna make some popcorn." Shadow moved to get off the couch and followed him.
Donatello regarded his temperamental brother for a moment. Raphael was sitting again with his arms crossed, slouched in the sofa.
"You ok man?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
Raphael's whole head rolled to look at him."Hu? Yea, fine." He grumbled.
"You don't seem fine. Haven't seen you this strung out in a while. You and Shay not fight'en or anything are ya?" he asked shaking his one foot.
"Naw, we're… ya we're fine. " he paused, lowering his voice.
"You want Mike and I ta leave ya alone?" he asked, thinking he had the root to his brothers tantrums.
Raphael looked at his brother again. "Why?"
Donatello shook his head, he was either about to get it bit off, or get no response.
"Come on Raph, ever since you and Shadow started hangin out, your mood's been better. Your not as brooding as you always were. Don't get me wrong, I'm not picken on ya or nothin here, but, I haven't seen ya smile in like years, and now ya do… sometimes."
Raph was quiet, looking at his brother a second. Donny always was the one to pick up on all the little details, but he knew something.
"So why do ya think we should be alone?" Raph asked, his voice gruff and arms still crossed.
"Well, I… " he started and took a breath. "I know what its like…to start to have feelings for a friend, when, your not sure if they feel the same way." He glanced up at his brother from his hands.
Raphael just stared at him. Wondering how he had ever picked up on it. He had never uttered a word to any of them about it. Not even that he thought she was attractive, fun, crazy, nothing. A giggle was heard from the kitchen and they could hear the microwave running. He cleared his throat again, leaning over toward Don.
"Look," he started in a serious tone "she'en I, we…." He heaved a breath and looked down. "I got feelens for'er Don. I can admit that, but, we don't know where'er if it's goin anywhere." He whispered to his brother. Raphael's eyes for the first time in his life looked lost. Donatello nodded his head knowingly. He was in the least, shocked that Raphael opened up to him. He expected a 'fuck you' and his larger brother to get up and stomp away.
"We?" he asked, not trying to push to hard. He knew that when Raphael was pushed, and he knew it, he would turn and run from the conversation, especially of the emotional kind.
"Yeah, We." Raphael said looking down from his brothers' eye contact.
Donny sat a moment, nodding. "Raph, did… did something happen between you and Shay?" Donatello asked, his voice hushed, bringing his foot down, he leaned forward on his knees with his elbows. Raphael huffed a sigh and wrapped a hand around the back of his neck. Donatello took that as a 'yes'.
"I'm sorry man, that's your business." Don leaned back in his chair. He could see that his strongest brother was struggling with weight of his own heart and thoughts. Raphael glanced at him and nodded his head. "Yea."
"Sorry man." Donatello gave a small smile.
"No Donny… yea, stuff… happened." He made eye contact. "And I'm only tellin ya this because, well… ya kinda understand." Don put his hands up, as if saying physically 'Hey, I do understand'.
"But ya tell a soul, and I'll kill ya myself." Raphael said pointing at him.
He put his hands up again in defense. "Hey, I'm the last person you gotta worry about. I still don't wanna breath a word about Robin around April, she thinks we're only friends. How do you explain to somebody that their sister, or… daughter means more to you." He looked up, his tone was hushed.
Shadow and Mikey walked back into the room. Raph leaned back onto the couch, looking back at the T.V, while Donny stood.
"Hey Mike, lets go play that computer game I got in my room…" He said moving toward the back of the couch.
"I thought we were watchen a movie?" Michealangelo whined in confusion holding a soda in one hand, chips in the other.
"I can't beat the level, and well… just get your green ass moven."
"Ah… ok." he turned and looked at Shay "Just ah, yell when Molly gets here." He smiled at her and turned on his heal and jogged after his purple banded brother.
Shay walked around the other side of the sofa, setting the popcorn down, she reached for the remote and pressed play; the lights went out, Raph knew that Don had done it.
"You know this place can be a little creapy with the lights out." She said in the dark, looking in Raphael's direction. He nodded, the only light that was on, was a floor lamp on the other side of the swivel chair, miraculously enough, Raph and Mike hadn't knocked it over earlier.
She pulled her legs under her, as he shifted closer. She was happy that they were alone; of course assuming it was a coincidence. The movie trailers began; she glanced over to her right, and caught him looking at her.
"What?"
"Nothin." He leaned over pulling her to him.
She breathed deeply. "I've been thinken about you."
He stayed quiet.
"Is there something I've done?" she sat up looking at him, a few inches from his face.
He looked at her, studying her face. He shook his head.
"Then why do I feel like I have the plague? You just… " he pushed her back on the couch, leaning into her, he smiled.
"I've been think'en about ya too. I just… I'm frustrated, ya see? I don't know what ta think."
"Think about what?" she whispered, her back pressed into the sofa. He moved over her, his weight on her, he put his head down over her shoulder, nuzzling her neck.
"Thinken 'bout us." He replied pulling his head back up to look at her, "'bout if your crazy enough ta'actually like me?" he never took his eyes from hers.
"Raphael " she said his full name "I like you. I…I think about you all the time. I can't concentrate at work, I think 'bout you when I'm try'n to fall asleep, when I eat, when I shower. So yea… I'm crazy." She smiled at him, feeling brave.
"When your in da'shower hu?" he asked with a devilish grin on his face. She smiled back up at him, as he leaned forward to kiss her. They pecked and she pulled away.
"So what gives then hu? Why the stand-offish-ness hu? And the shitty attitude?" she said batting him on the shoulder with her hand.
"I dunno, guess part'ah it's a cover. Hidden my own feel'ens from myself, but I guess I just don't know what'ta say to everyone else though… ya know?"
Shay nodded, playing with a bit of his bandana as it fell over his right shoulder.
"Well, don't go hidden those feelings from me. Especially if I have the same ones." She picked up her one hand, and tapped him on his nose with a finger. She smirked at him, as he swatted her hand.
He leaned down, their lips meeting again. The kiss was slow and soft, tongues touching in a rhythmic pattern. She snaked her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer to him. After a few moments, his hands began to wonder down her frame, over her breasts, down her stomach and finally rested on her small hips. He brought his left arm back up, putting his weight back on his elbow beside her shoulder. Pulling away, he looked down at her, she smiled, leaning up once more and kissing his neck.
"Where have you been all my life?" she asked teasing him. He let out a rare laugh, rolling behind to spoon her on the couch, they settled in to watch the rest of the movie.
Mikey walked from Donny's room to the living room. He had just got a call from Molly asking to be let in. He slowed his pace as he noticed the credits from the movie were rolling on the T.V. The fact that it was quiet intrigued him as he made his way around the front of the old couch. Michealangelo's eyes widened as he saw his brother and Shay nestled into one another, sleeping soundly. Not bothering to wake them, he moved up the stairs to greet his girlfriend. Molly made her way down the ladder and kissed him. He smiled and put his finger up to his lips and pointed to the living room. Her mouth dropped as she looked at the sight before her. Taking her bag in his one hand, and her hand in his other, Mikey lead them quietly toward his room, neither of the making a noise.
"What do you suppose that means?" she whispered as they walked threw his doorway.
Setting her things on his bed, Mikey grinned "I dunno. It's probably nothin, but it'd be fun if it were something!"
She cocked her head at him "Fun?"
"Yea, to see Casey's reaction… that would be the best part!" he giggled as she smacked him on the arm.