Candy opened the curtains a sliver, and seeing it was Raph, followed hastily with the window. As he was climbing in, however, Leo dropped into view down the grappler line and she nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Raph!" she hissed, "You didn't mention you were bringing - "
"Move," Raph whispered, abruptly. Given what had happened this morning, he didn't want either he or Leo to be exposed for a second longer than they needed to be, even under cover of night. He clambered in as Candace stepped back. Leo followed lithely, swiftly closed the window, and drew the curtains again behind him.
He turned to face Candace, drew himself up to his full height, and folded his arms over his chest. Raph fought a fierce interior battle not to roll his eyes. Did he really need to swan around doing Space Heroes Pose Number Five, thinking he was all rugged and imposing? Ugh.
Besides, Raph had a feeling Candace wouldn't be much impressed.
"You the genius?" she asked, arching and eyebrow and instinctively mirroring Leo's posture.
Leo darted his eyes at Raph in accusation. Raph could almost hear his sarcastic scolding.
"What did you do, Raph, draw her a family tree?!"
"Sorry," Leo said, evenly, "Wrong brother. Raph, why don't you introduce me to your friend?"
Raph again fought the urge to say or do anything sarcastic - make a wrong move, and Leo could easily put the kibosh on the whole thing, and that'd leave Candy and Mona in the wind.
"Leo, Candy, Candy, Leo," Raph mumbled, gesturing between them.
"Candy," Leo repeated, "Nice to finally meet you. I'm Leonardo. I understand you've been very hospitable towards my younger brother."
Raph bristled. To anyone who didn't know Leo, this would have sounded perfectly polite, even charming: but Raph knew his brother. He might as well have said, "Ah, 'Candy,' what a lovely stripper alias. Hey, thanks for getting my younger brother plastered on the reg. Did I mention I'm five minutes older than him, which mysteriously makes me the boss of everyone forever?"
God, he was such a tool sometimes.
"Hey there, Leo," Candy replied. She was addressing Leonardo, but she was shooting daggers at Raph, instead. "I'm a little surprised to see you."
"I understand," Leo replied coolly, "We're also a very private family. Keeping secrets is such an importantskill…don't you think?"
"Definitely," Candy said, turning from Raph the give Leo the stink eye. "The trick to it is knowing who you can trust and who you can't."
Leo frowned, and -
Oh hell no, did he - did he seriously just flex?!
"God, it's like a cockfight between two Mother Hens," Raph finally burst, stomping past them into Candace's kitchen, "I need a beer."
Raph could feel Leo's furious scowl burning a hole in the back of his head as he rooted around in Candace's fridge. Whatever. He wasn't about to watch them circle each other all night. This was supposed to be in-and-out, and being above ground was making him antsy for the first time in a long time.
He was just closing the fridge with a noisy rattle of bottles, when he heard a soft cough, and he turned, startled, to see Mona standing in the hallway.
"Hello, Raph."
He took a moment to observe her strange apparel. She was wearing fraying, multi-colored leg warmers and flip flops, which he found bewildering, and a blue skirt, which, upon closer examination, was actually another bed sheet. At least this one wasn't bloodstained, which was some kind of improvement, he guessed. She had a hot pink halter top on, "Candy's" printed across it in fancy cursive, bits of the faded white lettering flaking away. Raph could see it had actually started life as a normal T-shirt, but Candace had cut it up and sort of re-tied it artfully, so it'd fit. She capped off the weirdness by tying the sleeves of one of Casey's ratty old hoodies around her waist. He must've left it here a million moons ago. He didn't really wanna think about why Candace was still hanging on to it. Her hair was in a bushy ponytail - she looked like something Lisa Frank would've hallucinated.
She seemed to realize she was oddly dressed, or had surmised it from his confused gaze. She picked at Casey's hoodie, nervously.
"Didn't exactly pack a bag," she muttered.
Raph immediately felt like an asshole.
"Naw, it's - y'look nice," he said hastily, then mentally kicked himself.
Great. Now Candace and Leo are BOTH gonna think I'm perving on her or somethin'. Perfect.
Looking at her flip flops again, he realized they were probably the only shoes in the whole house that fit her new feet. And it's not like she could throw on a pair of jeans, with that tail - that explained the Flashdance leg warmers…it looked like Candace had just literally cut the sleeves off every sweater she owned and stuck 'em on her sister's legs.
With a pang of pity, he recalled the first time sensei had made them switch weapons, how off everything had felt; he couldn't even imagine what Mona was going through - it was like switching your entire self.
"I told you to stay put," Candy scolded.
"I heard voices," she said, noticing Leo for the first time. Raph watched as she suppressed a slight frisson of shock, before straightening up, and marching right up to him.
She stuck her hand out firmly.
"Hello," she said, "You must be Raphael's brother. I'm Mona - Mona Lisandrello. I see you've already met my sister, Candace."
Raph had to admit it - he was impressed. He knew she was scared, could tell by the slight waver of her voice - but he had a feeling she regretted being so freaked out by him earlier, and was determined to do better this time around. He tried again to put himself in her shoes - if he was running for his life from the law, and had just been turned into some kinda of freaky monster - well, a different freaky monster, whatever - he doubted he'd have that kind of composure.
Leo seemed to be drawing the same conclusion, because he actually gave a fraction of a smile as he shook her hand.
"Leonardo Hamato," he said, "Nice to meet you, Mona."
"Nice to - oh!" she interrupted herself, in concern. Her hand automatically went half-way to Leo's face, and he leaned back suddenly.
"Sorry," Mona hastily apologized, retracting her hand and blushing, "I wasn't thinking, I just - are you okay? What happened?"
Leo blinked in surprise, then remembered the stitches in his lip.
"Oh. That."
His eyes darted to Raph involuntarily.
"It's nothing."
Raph shifted uncomfortably as Mona followed Leo's glance. She turned back to Leo.
"I hope I haven't…made any trouble for you, I didn't - "
"It's fine," Leo said, smiling reassuringly, "Completely unrelated. Raph tells me you've had a little trouble yourself, lately?"
Mona laughed abruptly, and Leo's brow lifted in surprise.
"Yeah," she said rubbing her temple with one hand, "Yeah, you could say that. How much has Raphael already told you?"
"Not much. Just that you needed our help."
"We can fill in the blanks when we get back to the lair," Raph interrupted, crossing to the window and peering through a gap in the curtains, surveying the street below. He took another swig of beer.
Leo made a small noise of annoyance in his throat which Raph ignored.
"'The Lair?'" Candy repeated, dubiously, "What is that like, a club?"
"No," Leo said, tersely.
"Hrm. Sounds like one'a those creepy sex dungeons in the Village."
Raph sputtered on his beer. Mona giggled, and looked away.
Smooth. Reeeeal smooth.
"I assure you, it is pretty much the complete opposite," Leo said, rolling his eyes, "It's…like a safe house. You can lay low, disappear for a little while. You'll be alright there."
"Wait, 'disappear?'" Candy looked at Leo aghast, "You want us to just leave?! Hell no! Who's gonna run the bar?!"
Leo blinked in surprise. He turned on Raph.
"I thought you talked to them."
Raph pawed at the back of his neck.
"I…uh…"
"About what, exactly?" Candace asked, folding her arms belligerently.
"You didn't tell them," Leo said. He rubbed the spot between his eyes, and readjusted his mask.
Raph hunched his shoulders defensively. "I just said I'd come by later, an' it was important."
"Tell us what?" Candace asked, furiously, "That's why you came? To drag us back to your…Lair or whatever?!"
Leo snapped in frustration, "We came here because Raphael was concerned for your safety! The NYPD put out an APB for mutant lizards this morning."
Candace's face blanched at this new development, and she stalked towards the coffee table where her cigarettes and lighter lay in wait.
"And that's just the cops," Leo continued, relentlessly, "I guess you missed the news that mutants are being shot down in the streets, now?"
Raph winced, and looked away, the hollow feeling in his ribs intensifying. With a wave of nausea, he wondered how many pieces they already him in.
I didn't even get to say goodbye.
Mona's eyes were wide, and Raph noticed her jaw start to wobble. Moving slowly, so she could see his intent, he held up a hand and put it firmly on her shoulder, in what he hoped was a calming gesture.
"It's not safe here," he said, meeting Mona's frightened brown eyes apologetically.
He went back to surveying the street through the slightly parted curtains.
"Are you sure?" Mona whispered, wringing her hands, "I mean - they haven't found us yet, maybe - "
"They will," Raph said, suddenly tense, "In fact…uh…"
Raph leaned back, parting the curtains a bit further with a green digit.
"Either'a you expecting a wedding cake?"
They all froze and stared at the window. Leo finally stepped forward and turned off the nearest lamp. They were cast into the dim light from the hallway. Raph backed out of the way to let him look. He stared out into the night.
"See it? Over by - "
"I see it."
Leo let the curtain fall again.
"How long?"
"Just pulled up. But nobody got in or out, they're just - "
Leo held up a fist, and by instinct, Raph immediately fell silent.
"Who's ready for another beer?" Leo asked, casually. He turned to Candace and mimed writing on his palm.
Candy's eyes went wide. She pointed to the kitchen, and they noticed the dry-erase board on the freezer.
"Help yourself," Candy said, trying to make her voice even.
"Thanks," Leo said, "Julio, why don't you see if there's a game on?"
"Julio?" Raph mouthed silently, quirking an eyebrow. Leo rolled his eyes, and pointed emphatically at the TV. Holding his hands up defensively, Raph turned on the TV and cranked the volume good and high.
"What the fuck?" Candy whispered in a low voice.
Raph tapped an ear and pointed at the window.
They might be listening.
Mona let out a small whimper involuntarily, and wrapped her arms around herself.
Raph felt a bit guilty. Maybe he was overreacting. Maybe it really was just a bakery truck.
Sure. With no cake to deliver.
Maybe the guy is just coming home for the night.
And is planning to sleep in his truck.
Leo arrived and sat on the couch, putting the marker board down on the coffee table. He uncapped the marker with his teeth, and hastily scrawled:
Any other way out of here?
He dropped the marker and looked at Candy pointedly. She picked it up.
Fire ladder in bedroom closet. A Throw-and-go.
Leo grabbed the marker back.
Basement? Sewer access?
Candace furrowed her brow.
There's a delivery door to the basement, back alley. There might be a manhole back there.
Leo chuffed softly, and took the marker back. He circled the words "might be" and added a couple question marks, making eye contact pointedly at Candy.
She thought for a minute, then nodded, more certain.
Leo wiped the board impatiently with the heel of his hand, and quickly drew a square, labeling it "Bar." He added the main street in front of the bar, and a small rectangle, labeling it "Van." He drew a few small circles, with lines around them, like miniature suns. He pointed to the little sun he'd just drawn, and then to the nearby lamp he'd just shut off, making sure she understood.
Streetlights.
Candy nodded in understanding. He passed her the marker, and indicated the blank area behind the box labeled "Bar."
"Draw," he mouthed. Candy nodded jerkily, thought for a minute, and then started mapping out the alley in back of the building.
Leo turned to Mona and pointed at her.
"Pack" he mouthed. He held up his finger and thumb and pinched them, indicating "small." He mimed brushing his teeth, then chopped his palm with the heel of his hand. It was kinda like a fucked up game of charades, or Pictionary.
Just the essentials.
Mona nodded jerkily, her eyes round.
Leo pointed at Raph, then hooked his thumb at Mona. Raph nodded, and followed her to the bedroom. Mona ran to the bed and stripped the pillow cases off the pillows. She opened the top drawer of Candy's bedside table and dumped the whole contents into the pillow case. Raph could see some pill bottles, what looked like a journal, and some miscellaneous papers fall inside. Mona raced to the dresser, and started shoving clothing into the pillow case. When it was full, she tossed it to Raph, grabbed the other one, and was about to move to the closet, when Raph heard the door creak.
Wheeling around, he withdrew his sai, and let out a sigh when he saw it was Leo, clutching the markerboard, and Candace looking wild-eyed behind him. Leo pointed to the bed, and he and Raph sat next to each other looking at the make-shift map. In his peripheral vision, Raph saw Mona toss Candy the other pillowcase. Candy started on the closet, and Mona left the room, presumably to raid the bathroom. He didn't like her going off on her -
Leo pinched him hard on the arm to get his attention, something he hadn't done since they were kids, and Raph was tempted to pinch him back. He turned back to the map. Leo pointed at two little suns, and a round circle labeled "manhole." He took a shuriken out of his belt, pointed to his chest, and the little round suns. Then he pointed at Raph, and the manhole.
I'll get the lights. You get them underground. I'll cover you. Stealth mode.
Raph nodded, standing. He sighed in relief, as Mona reentered, carrying two toothbrushes, a wad of bills in a dripping ziplock, and what looked like some picture frames. She threw these into the other pillowcase, turned to Leo and nodded.
They all nearly jumped out of their skin as there was a loud pounding at the door.
"NYPD. Open up, please," called a loud baritone.
Leo closed his eyes and sighed softly.
"I suppose the main stairway is the only way to the basement?" he whispered.
Candace nodded.
Turtle Luck.
"NYPD!" the voice hollered, even louder, "Candace Lisandrello, we have a warrant to search the premises. Open up!"
"Welp, here we go," Leo groaned sourly. He unsheathed his swords and made for the door, "Raph: 'Lovely Assistant.'"
"No way," Raph snarled, "I'm not lettin' you - "
"DO IT!" Leo hissed, in a tone of voice that brooked no argument.
With an almighty bang that shuddered in the floorboards beneath them, the police began breaking the door down. Leo took a deep breath through his nose and calmly walked out to the living room.
"Fuck!" Raph cussed, "Candace, get the ladder. We're takin' the scenic route."
"What is that, 'Lovely Assistant?'" she hissed as raced past him to grab the emergency ladder from the closet.
Raph's guts twisted with anxiety, the familiar flow of adrenaline making his muscles twitch as he snuffed the lights, and yanked open the blinds, eyeing the distance to the nearest street lamp.
"He's gonna distract them while I make you disappear."
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Leo flicked the hall lights off as he passed, so the sterile blue glow of the blaring television was the only light in Candace's apartment. The door frame was already splintered and creaking - one more good hit and they'd be in.
"This'd be a real stupid way to die," he mumbled to himself. He unleashed a few smoke bombs from his belt, along with a flash-bang for good measure, and crouched low behind the sofa. It would do fuck-nothing to stop a bullet, but at least it might help to hide him from view for an extra few seconds.
Damnit, Raph.
He couldn't really fault him - though she was rough around the edges, Candace was obviously good people, and she and her sister were clearly in need of their help. But, as usual with Raph, he had followed his heart rather than his better judgment, and now they were in way over their heads.
There was another bang, the door broke in half and flew open, and that was the end of Leo's thinking time. He flung the smoke bombs and the flash-bang, ducking back behind the couch.
"There!" one of the cops, yelled, "He's - "
But that's all he had time for before the blinding flash and the cloud of smoke erupted.
"Gas!" another called.
"Open fire!"
The apartment was rent with the deafening sound of firearms discharging, and the terrifying scent of gun shot residue cut through the more comforting smell of Donnie's smoke pellets. Leo grabbed a shuriken, and threw it poorly, so it clattered noisily against the far wall.
"There!"
The hail of bullets shifted direction.
Time to move.
Leo had killed people before - they all had. He didn't like it, but he comforted himself that in every single circumstance, it had been one hundred percent necessary. He always made little mental contracts in his head - split second, one-sided agreements between him and his foes. "Take one more step towards Mikey, and you're done," or "Reach for that gun, and I'm taking your hand." Once they did - well, it wasn't his fault. They broke the contract. He knew it wasn't rational, but it made it easier to do what was necessary.
He'd never killed a cop, though. And he really didn't want to start tonight. He liked cops. Raph hated them, of course, but Leo always thought that maybe…in another life…
Worry about this life, first.
Swiftly, silently, he charged - he had a very small window of opportunity, the smoke already dissipating. With a swift slash of his katana, the barrels of two pistols clattered to the floor. Perfect strike.
"Shit!"
The cop taking point cursed, stumbled back into a crouch, "Fire, goddamnit!"
The next wave took aim from the hallway. Leo tucked and rolled behind the door frame waiting for them to advance. He sheathed his katana and readied his next shuriken.
"SHOTS FIRED, SHOTS FIRED," one of them was hollering from the hallway, "10-10 SHOTS FIRED, REQUEST IMMEDIATE BACKUP, OVER!"
That's right. Stay in the hallway. Wait for back-up. If you just stay in the hallway -
A pair of hands aiming a gun crested the doorway, and a well-aimed shuriken sunk deep into the slender wrist.
"AAAHh!"
The gun went off automatically in her grip, and then clattered to the ground. Leo felt a twist of guilt as he heard the woman's scream. April had told him it was sexist, but he really, really hated hurting women. Didn't matter if they were Foot, didn't matter if they had a knife to his throat. It just felt wrong…especially hurting a female cop. Karai had told him more than once than his patronizing chivalry was going to get him killed…Leo swallowed the reply that he would almost rather get killed.
He made a mental apology to the female cop, as she cursed in horror at the blade blossoming from her flesh, and was dragged backwards by her partner.
"MASKS!" bellowed the voice from the hallway.
Damnit. This was gonna hurt.
A canister belching smoke was hurled into the apartment, and Leo immediately felt his eyes burning. He hastily took his last semi-clean breath before the cloud of tear gas could reach him, and holding his breath, tucked and rolled into view.
"THERE IT IS! OPEN FIRE!"
Leo hastily kicked the cannister back into the hallway, though a fat lot of good it would do, if they had masks. Fluidly, he lept to his feet, threw open the fridge door, and ducked behind it for cover, as another hail of bullets -
FUCK!
Leo grunted in agony as a bullet impacted his thigh at the last second, like a searing hot baseball bat. Man, if there was anything Leo hated it was getting shot. He'd rather get stabbed or sliced a hundred times than get shot.
"WE GOT HIM PINNED!"
Leo's lungs were starting to protest - in his adrenaline-fueled state, his body was burning through oxygen like it was going out of style. He was going to need to breathe, and soon. It was time to either surrender or make a dramatic exit.
He voted dramatic exit.
Planting both hands inside the fridge, he gritted his teeth, planted his feet, and with a roar of pent-up breath, lunged with all his strength.
The fridge only flew about a foot before crashing and tipping over, but that's as far as it needed to go before crashing into the cops who were closing in on him. His grazed leg was searingly painful, and he'd just done something bad to his shoulder, but this was all the chance he'd get.
Keeping low to the ground, he flung another smoke pellet, and darted down the hall, hoping beyond hope that he'd bought enough time for Raph to have vanished with the girls. Entering Candace's room and slamming the door, he roughly tipped the dresser over behind him, so it landed in front of the door with an almighty crash, barring it shut. His shoulder howled in painful protest at the action - yep, felt like a rotator cuff. Ugh, that was gonna take months to feel normal again.
He took a deep breath, and immediately coughed, his lungs burning and his mask damp from his streaming eyes - he'd tracked some of the tear gas in with him, but it wasn't too bad yet.
Plus, not dead. There's that silver lining.
Raph and the girls were gone, but the window was open, the escape ladder dangling.
His thigh muscle started trembling involuntarily, and he spared it a quick glance.
Oo. Bloody mess.
Ladder climbing was going to be an experiment in endurance.
He untied his mask hastily and tied it viciously tight around the oozing fleshwound, gritting his teeth against the pain.
The bedroom door jumped on its hinges.
"FREEZE! NYPD!"
A hand appeared around the door, trying to force it open, and seizing his opportunity, Leo flung his body into it, breaking all four fingers at once.
"GAAAH! MUTIE FUCKER!"
Leo allowed himself a small grin. He didn't enjoy breaking bones the way Raph did, but he had to admit to himself that breaking the bones of someone who called him a "mutie fucker" had a certain appeal.
He tucked and rolled to the window, as bullets flew through the flimsy door of the wood. The speed of the action saved his life, but he nearly passed out at the wave of agony it send through his bullet wound. Sirens were wailing outside, and he knew he had a matter of minutes to get underground.
"Out of the way," said a cold, calculating voice from the hallway.
That didn't bode well.
Leo started clambering painfully out the window, his stomach doing flip-flops at the sight of the ground below.
There was a thunk on the door, then an increasing electronic whine, and suddenly, the door to Candace's bedroom and his make-shift barrier of the dresser exploded in a burst of pink light.
Pink?! That's…
Leo started lowering himself down the ladder as fast as he could go - his leg simply wouldn't cooperate, so finally he just let it dangle, and did all the work with his arms, wincing each time his injured shoulder bore his weight.
He was almost down, when a face appeared in the window above him.
It was only a split-second glance, but he was startled by his appearance. Drawn and pale, with dark hair and a receding hairline, he wore a skinny black tie and a black trench coat, regarding Leo impassively from behind an impenetrable pair of dark sunglasses, not a hint of emotion on his face - not fear, not anger, not even nerves.
This guy's no cop.
He reached a black-sleeved arm out of the window and leveled a -
Kraang pistol?! Shitshitshitshitsh -
Leo forced himself to release his grip on the ladder, and fell the rest of the way. He tried to cushion his landing as best he could, but couldn't help but cry out as his wounded leg crumpled beneath him, and he sprained his ankle on top of everything else. He fell backwards onto his shell with a loud crack. He hoped it wasn't as bad as it sounded. Pink laser fired hissed on the ground next to him, and Leo hastily flung himself against the building, forcing the figure above to have to lean out further to make his shot.
"OVER HERE, ASSHOLE!" roared a familiar voice, and Leo winced in frustration.
Just once, Raphael. Follow a direct order just once in your damned life…
The figure in the window turned and fired in the direction of Raphael's voice. He was obscured by the shadows, but Leo could just make out his silhouette as he darted out of the way, illuminated by the light of the pink laser fire.
It was as good a chance as he was going to get. Leo took out his last shuriken, aimed carefully, and threw.
His aim was off - he'd meant to stick it clean through the man's wrist, like the cop before him, but instead, it stuck into the side of the Kraang weapon instead. It sparked and hissed, crackling with pink electricity, and the man threw it away, as if stung. It exploded in mid-air halfway down to the street, with a blinding pink flash and a sear of heat across his face, strangely dry and hot against the wet tracks of his tears from the tear gas.
Welp, that works.
Leo eyed the manhole that was meant to be their exit route, and saw it was still shut. The sound of sirens was almost on top of them.
"Around back," he heard the man yelling above him, "They've gone around back! Move!"
Damnit, Raph.
Keeping to the shadows as best he could, Leo hobbled over to the dark alley where Raph was hiding. He was grateful Raph had remembered to kill the streetlights - he was out of shuriken.
"What's wrong with you?," Leo hissed painfully as he finally arrived, "Why aren't you -"
"Bolted shut," Raph panted, "S'one of the new ones."
Leo groaned. Normally this would just be a minor nuisance - a matter of going a few tunnels over, or taking the roof top route, or of Donnie dragging out a clunky tool and unscrewing the heavy bolts.
Tonight, though, it was a real pain in the shell.
"The girls?"
"Hiding up ahead. Can you run?"
Leo hestitated for a fraction of a second to evaluate his injuries. In that time though, swirling blue and red lights lit up their alley.
"Fuck it," Raph said, bending down.
He threw Leo over his shoulder in a fireman's carry, and headed swiftly down the alley. They had just rounded the corner when a piercing bright searchlight illuminated the alley behind them.
"NYPD!" a gruff voice squawked, distorted by the speaker, "STOP!"
Leo jostled painfully against Raph's shell as he ran. He could hear Raph wheezing slightly under his weight. He hated being carried like this, but couldn't argue that it was faster. Raph turned sharply down the next alley, and Leo felt a surge of panic as he nearly slid off of his shoulder, but Raph just grabbed onto him with a grunt, and hoisted him back up like a sack of potatoes. Leo huffed as Raph's shoulder knocked the breath out of him, and he coughed, his lungs apparently still mad about the tear gas.
"Tell me you got it open," Raph bit, harshly.
He skidded to a halt, and lowered Leo to the ground. Leo turned, to see both Mona and Candy struggling to drag a heavy manhole cover aside.
"Move," Raph barked. He crouched down, and heaved, the muscles of his shoulders and tendons in his neck flexing.
Without another word, without even looking, he jumped down into the manhole. Leo involuntarily reached a hand to stop him - they didn't even know how deep it -
There was a muffled splash from down below.
"Jump!" Raph called a second later.
"Are you crazy?!" Candace hissed.
Leo heard the squawk of a policeman's walkie not nearly far enough away…out of time.
Unceremoniously, he grabbed Candace roughly around the waist, picked her up, and lowered her half-way through the manhole.
"What are you!? - "
"On three," he grunted, "One, two, three." He dropped her. She yelped briefly, and then he heard an answering grunt from below that told him Raph had caught her.
Leo turned to grab Mona, but she was already hugging her arms tight to her chest, walking up to the manhole.
"One, two, three!" she recited in a quavering voice, and with a frightened squeak, stepped into the darkness. There was a soft clang, and a louder grunt from Raph.
"Shit," he cussed from below. "Okay, c'mon Leo!"
But Leo refused to jump. If they didn't cover the manhole back up, they'd be on them in seconds.
Sure. That's the only reason.
He stepped onto the ladder and almost cried out as his thigh and ankle threatened to collapse under him.
Other foot, genius.
He switched his stance, climbing painfully down a few rungs, and started dragging the cover shut. His shoulder joined the chorus of body parts wailing for his attention, but he needed his good arm to hang on to the ladder. With a final grunt, the lid fell closed over his head.
He stood there for a moment and panted, contemplating how the hell he was going to climb all the way down there with one good arm and one good leg.
"C'mon," Raph ordered in a tense whisper below him. Leo heard him softly clap his hands, and could picture just where he was, spreading his arms wide. "One, two…"
"Three," Leo hissed, and fighting his better judgment, fighting the small voice deep in his chest that screaming "no no no no," he let go of the ladder for the second time that night and fell, gravity swallowing him in its terrifying embrace, flipping his stomach upside d-
"Oof!"
He landed in Raph's arms, as he knew he would - but it did nothing to soothe the hammering of his heart.
All these years, and I still hate heights.
He barely had time to recover, when Raph was hoisting him over his shoulder again.
"Up," Raph snapped, "Get up. Now."
"She hit her head," Candace whispered, angrily.
"So get her up!" Raph snapped back.
He chuffed in annoyance, and knelt down. Leo could only see the back of his shell, but he could tell from Candace and Raph's grunts that they were dragging Mona to her feet between them. She groaned in pain.
"You can say that again," Leo thought, with strange, groggy amusement. He winced against the searing agony in his leg.
Cue laugh track. Roll credits.
His vision started to swim, and his stomach surged with nausea.
"This way," Raph whispered.
The tiny holes in the manhole cover above them brightened, and began flashing blue and red. Not a second to spare.
They began hobbling along the sewers, not speaking. It took a while for the sound of sirens to fade. Leo concentrated on his breathing, tried to focus his eyes. He could feel himself starting to drift, and he wondered vaguely how much blood he'd lost. He felt himself slipping from Raph's shoulder, but he was powerless to do anything to stop it.
"Shit," Raph cussed, "Leo, yer - Leo!"
His voice sounded far away already, echoing strangely - he wasn't sure whether it was from the tunnels, or…
His ears felt like they were full of cotton.
He closed his eyes.
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A/N: I was avoiding this for a while…bad writer's block, and I haven't written a lot of fight scenes before, and ::::excuses redacted::::. Finally I just decided to go for it, and fix it later if it was awful. -_-; So…hope it's not awful. LOL.