::Author's Note::

As our former author's notes have indicated - we normally use Alkaline Trio lyrics for song titles. Well, this time we cheated. The lyric is from Dan's side project - so an extension of our beloved Alk 3. No, Don't Go Away is a piece of the song 'Hollow Sounds'.

Beware, this chapter might have a mild romance rating. Within you will find some 'Loey' (as described from our friend Laugther's Tears - thank you for the smile that title still brings to us ^_^). Now, on with the chapter. Please enjoy and, if you have a moment - we'd love to hear any thoughts you might have.

Thank you so very much for reading.

V/R
- Stoic and Harley

Sing To Me Your Darkest Secrets
Part II
Chapter 4:
No, Don't Go Away

"What do we do?" Ash's eyes were on Joey as he asked what everyone else seemed to be thinking. Payton was silently looking her way. Four brothers, two birds and a rat were quietly awaiting her answer as well. There was a heaviness to the air as Daichi had boldly told them what Raph was - that he was now property of the vampire Kenshin. Joey's eyes flicked to Raph and she gave a small, almost unperceivable shake of her head. Disappointment seemed to hang in the very sentiment. In an instant, Raph had stepped back some as he didn't know quite how to take her tone. It was a wonder he didn't cut off the circulation in his hand for how tightly he held his fists, ready to hit anyone or anything that crossed his path.

"I think we should take him to Dex." Daichi answered plainly. It was Don's eyes that flickered to the bird-man, curious about the name that might lead to a person that could help them. Anything to help, they were desperate. He wished he had an answer of some sort, but he was very much aware of how little he knew about this world and how to tackle it. "Dex will know what to do."

"Dex is busy. Always busy, he has so much already to handle." Payton shot back.

"He's never failed to help when the need arises." Shiki interjected, almost in defense. Don watched their exchange with worried eyes.

"Joey." Leo cut in, taking a step forward - he was clearly beyond their brainstorming, particularly as they seemed to snap at one another. He caught her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. He trusted Joey above all the others. "What should we do?" She had, at some point, started chewing mindlessly on the tip of her thumb. It seemed as if the answer that was necessary, that was wanted and needed to come from Joey. Leo trusted her, they had survived so much that he had no qualms about admitting that he would go to her for advice in this matter. He trusted her unequivocally and he would follow through with her suggestions. Her eyes lifted to meet his and though he couldn't see her neck under the bandages that were still wrapped around her throat, he knew she had sighed internally.

"We let Kenshin take him." She finally answered, the room quiet as they waited. "If Kenshin means to take him to Japan, then we let him."

"What?" Half a dozen variations of the word rang out in the room, all of varying surprise and doubt. Raph had barked it, his aggression coming out in his voice and Mikey had squeaked some, clearly worried and guilty. Don was postively stunned and Splinter had hummed in a soft, questioning voice.

"You're an idiot." She told Raph as harshly as she could, though her voice wasn't at it's full volume or strength yet. Raph's jaw was set tight, though he stayed silent as she spoke. Her spirit was fully in tact and that made up for the fact that she couldn't shout. She turned though and moved into the living room and sat down on the couch; away from them. Leo held up a hand to Daichi and Ash both who moved to follow, to get more answers. Leo was the only one who had not openly questioned her; instead, his eyes had stayed glued, waiting for more from the woman. He bowed to them briefly as if silently asking to give him a moment to try first. He moved over to where she was and came to stand in front of her.

"Joey?" He questioned quietly, kneeling down in front of her. "Are you serious?" He asked simply.

"Yes." She responded sharply, almost irritated for the response she had been given. She had considered not explaining herself, but she seemed to buckle a little for Leo. Especially when he knelt before her - she could feel his trust. "Not because I think Raph should die - though he'd dumb enough to. But because we don't have much choice. If he runs he will always have to run, because not only will he be unsafe from Cassius, he will be marked by Kenshin. He's safer in Japan than he is here; at least from vampires. Your sensei is right about the Corvidaethrope though, particularly of Japan. He's a prize for Kenshin, a trophy. The vampire will keep him safe from their kind. It's about show now, Kenshin is a peacock and Raph is his ridiculously gaudy tail that he wants to fan and show off. Yes, I think Kenshin will want to take him to Japan and yes I think he should go - without a fight."

Leo was digesting her words, taking them as they came and trying to rationalize them. "Is there any way to break this deal?" He asked quietly, knowing they were being watched but not wanting the others to hear for fear that they would interject. Leo wanted facts and a way to accept or challenge her plan. The more he knew, the more he could analyze and see the strategy in. Or simply call her out for a rash and bad idea. She didn't have to answer, he knew from the look on her face, but she shook her head 'no' softly. To which Leo nodded. "I understand then. If there is no way to stop this from happening...we must let it and keep Raph safe until we can save him for real. You know, Daichi mentioned that Kenshin is looking for you now. Could that be true?"

Joey's tongue flicked out of her mouth and stroked her bottom lip briefly. He was sure it was a nervous reaction, though one she wouldn't admit to. "Could be." She confirmed passively.

"Why? Why would he want you now - he has Raph." Leo challenged.

"Leo..." she shook her head and sighed. "I don't know if you've noticed but I piss off just about everyone. I can think of a hundred reasons, none pleasant, of why he'd want me."

"You know what I mean." He reeled her back in as she deflected and he caught it, calling her out just as quickly as she would him. He was not above honesty with the fae. "Do you know why he would want you?"

There was a long pause and she looked at him directly as the stillness of the air around them absorbed her hesitation and his anticipation. "Yes." She spoke slowly, carefully. "There are two reasons. I'm a target for Cassius now. You and I, he sees us both as responsible for his partner's death. But he's always been after me and now you're safe because of Raph's bargain - so I'm the likely target. And if Kenshin can claim me, then he gets to dangle me in front of Cassius's face like a toy. And the other...it's speculation, but just as likely." She was interrupted though as Raph took a step forward, clearly spent on waiting.

"What are you two babbling about? I'll go. Whatever." He snapped, though his eyes were still settled on Joey as if he was trying to figure out if that was the right answer. As if he was trying not to be scolded more for his mistake. A mistake that, to Raph, he could rationalize and that made it worse. Everyone saw it as a dumb idea, he saw it as the only available option.

"Yeah, you will. You don't have a choice." She told him, her tone and expression were stoic. "I'm going with you." Leo's eyes cut to her and his mouth opened slightly but no words came out. She hadn't turned to look at him but her hand came up and her fingers lightly pressed his jaw up to close his mouth. "That's an expression reserved for Mikey. I know you're brothers and all but..." She smiled and her eyes finally flicked over to Leo briefly. "If he means to take Raph, he can't stop us from going too."

"Us?" Don took a small step forward, his voice peaked in a note of curiosity and panic.

"I didn't stutter did I?" She asked Leo who was still staring at her, unblinking. She let her head round toward Don. "Yeah, us. All of us."

"Joey-" Shiki took a step forward and Daichi's hand came to rest on his lover's shoulder, which halted his challenging words.

"Not you princess. Us. You stay, with him - I couldn't dream of separating you two." She cocked of a lazy smirk as she nodded toward Daichi. "Payton and Ash too, with Splinter-san." She offered a little bow toward the rat. "We'll need eyes and ears here but Cassius will be furious and lash out by whatever means he can. If Kenshin isn't here to protect you like his deal with Raph says, Cassius might find a back handed way to go after you three. A way to defy the treaty - vampires are territorial, but not above cheating the system if it serves them. You'll be safer in Japan - all of you. And me. Me too. I'm not ready to die."

"No." Daichi argued. "There are dangers there too."

"Not immediate though. The Flight won't be looking for us. As long as you, specifically," she poked Raph in the plastron as she climbed to her feet, "mind your manners and don't draw attention to us, they might not even know we're there. Besides, there is none that the Corvidaethrope hate more than the fae. They might scoff at me, but we'll stay out of each other's way. I'm aware of them. I'm sure Akira-san remembers me."

"It's not Akira you should worry yourself with. You know this. Akira is a puppet." Daichi bowed his head. "Tokyo, he is the threat."

"I know Daichi. I know my evil dictators...Stalin, Hitler, Castro, Tokyo-san." She mindlessly ticked off her fingers, but straightened in her spot and let her expression turn serious. "Don't worry. If we stay out of their way, and we will, they will stay out of ours. You're very far removed from you Japanese heritage." She commented snidely with a half taunting tone. "Your kind, in their natural habitat, are xenophobic in their arrogance and dominating, self-ego-stroking, better-than-thou mindset. They won't care unless we give them reason to. Capice?"

"Are we really going to Japan?" Mikey asked, his head turning to his sensei, almost asking permission. It was the most animated he'd been in days. Mikey was still plagued with the memory of dropping Raph's only hope for survival. Furthermore, he partly blamed himself for Raph's deciding to go to Kenshin for help, he might not have done it had Raph hope for living longer.

The old rat was square in his posture and all attention went to him in that moment. Splinter's eyes were settled on Michelangelo. He seemed pensive, thoughtful and as if he were truly considering it. "Yes." He said finally, with a little bow of his head as his hand rested gently on the top of his walking stick. "I agree with Joey. Though I would urge caution, I trust that you four will act responsibly. There is no choice in the matter, you must go...but be as safe as you can. I trust that you will leave as four and return as four as well."

That was all that needed to be said for silence to fill the air and anticipation, both excited and terrified, as the fate of their future descended upon them all.

"You really think this is a good idea?" Joey tried not to jump when Leo's voice cut through the night air around her. She figured she was safe on some random roof to be alone with her thoughts for a little while before they would be off to the foreign nation of Japan. She had a lot going on in her mind and she wasn't really sure she could sort through it when surrounded by all the noise of his home. She failed and knew he caught sight of her when she went momentarily stiff and her eyes shot open. She scowled at him momentarily before settling back and looking at the sky overhead.

"Some greeting. Do you ever relax?" She asked, recovering from her surprise having been interrupted.

"Not when my family's involved. Or those I care about." He took a few steps closer and knelt down next to her, the pads of his knee guards scraping the rough surface of the roof.

"That's sad and sounds pathetic." She sat up, perching herself on her elbows. "If you don't stop and enjoy things for you sometimes too, you miss a whole fuck-ton of awesome." She reached over and took his hand tugging on his arm. "Lay with me." She let her voice soften some, though it still sounded gravely on the recovering vocal chords and padded gauze around her neck. "Don't give me a speech about how dangerous it is to let our guard down. I'm asking you to lay beside me for a minute. If we die, in those few seconds it takes for you to take a load off then it was worth it - because you died without stress on your mind and impending doom in your heart. Come on." She openly taunted but at the same time meant what she said.

He did exactly what she asked him not to do. "It's vulnerable...weak...to let our guards down, Joey. What if someone were to stumble upon us, laying on the roof with no mind to their presence? Where would we be? Most definitely dead - you say that now, but if it actually happened, you wouldn't be so passive." Leo shot back, his eyes surveying the rooftop.

Her eyebrows crinkled up and she groaned. "Can you not do that? Yeah, that right there. The part where you ruin this." Leo hesitated, his eyes drawn to Joey as she lay back down. He sighed for a moment, considering her words and the tone to them - almost irritated and sad - for how he was fighting her on it. "Besides...what are you so afraid of, Leo? The world is always going to be a big scary place. You can't constantly be alert...it'll kill you faster if you're focused too hard. You might have a stroke."

Leo was quiet for a few moments before he gave in, shifting on his knees so that he was able to lay back against the flatter part of his shell, looking skyward. Her hand was still in his, as she had taken his to tug him down to lay. He only noticed it once he was listening to the wind whipping across the rooftops and the sound of the city below. It felt nice, warm and comfortable, as her smaller fingers lay against his large ones.

"I see an elephant...what do you see?"

"What?" he asked, his head tipping in her direction; confusion etched on his face and heavy in his tone.

"Not at me you ninny, up there. I know I don't look like an elephant." She smirked and he saw that her hand was pointed directly up. He followed her finger's imaginary line to a dark cloud overhead. He felt one corner of his mouth turn up. She was an enigma to him, he figured it was the fae part that he would never understand but she had a certain whimsical nature he couldn't quite get. More than anything, he was intrigued by that special nature she had. She was something he could never be and that was more exciting to Leo - he wanted to understand more and was an eager student for the unknowing teacher.

"It looks nothing like an elephant Joey, that's clearly a giraffe." He let his eyes drift back over to her, a smile had enveloped his face and it amused him even more when she looked his way, a bit of surprised horror lined on her face.

"You're teasing me." She noticed in stark honesty, her dark eyes were round and glassy under the moonlight. He chuckled slightly and shook his head.

"No, I'm serious. That's not a trunk - that's a neck." He said, pointing where she had and she wrinkled her nose in protest before giving him a hearty shove to the shoulder in retaliation though it didn't move him from where they lay. It did draw a laugh out of her; an honest and playful laugh that indicated that she seemed to accept his explanation in her own way. There was something magical about that too - how she could so easily accept what he saw too, and how there was such vast variety in a puffy cloud of precipitation. She managed to get a chuckle out of him too as he ducked down a little to hide from her 'attack'.

When the bubbling laughter subsided and it was just the native sounds around them once more, she took in a deep breath. "I'm not much for caution Leo. I never have been. In fact, I'm down right unpredictable and a severe pain in the ass. I know it. I know I act on instinct and sometimes sporadically. We're likely going to be going back to the country that I fell in love with a doll. I think you know, if not you're pretty dumb, but I know you're not dumb. You've replaced him wholly...I wonder if there is the possibility that he was just a stand-in until you sauntered by." She paused and Leo wasn't sure if he was breathing as he digested her words. He had never felt like he did in that moment. He had thought it might be the case, hoped even, but he wouldn't let himself entertain the idea. Affection and relationships distracted from their goals, from his goals - furthermore, they were impossible for them to really maintain and keep. However, he would be a fool if he didn't acknowledge that she had managed getting to him as well - that he had the same sort of fondness for her that burned viciously in his chest. He had just been trying, with all his might, to ignore it.

Right then, however, he would find it difficult to smother the flame that was igniting in his body from her confessions.

"I have no expectations and I'm asking for nothing from you by the way of returning it. But can you please take my affection? It's such a burden for me." She leaned her lips very close to the side of his head, where his head took in sound and processed it. "I'm retarded for you. Leo, I'm in love with you." She told him softly. "I'm not much for yielding, to anything or anyone. But sometimes I have to stop and let myself be selfish enough to see it or I'd miss a fuck-ton too. A mega fuck-ton, in fact." She leaned up a little bit so she could capture his lips and he did not fight her. Instead, he welcomed the feel of her warm lips on his cool skin, hoping she would close that distance because he didn't have the courage to do so. There was not a person on the planet that could steal his courage and bravery the way that Joey could, but she reduced him to nothing more than the raw and vulnerable parts he worried about mere moments before.

Leo had never been loved by anyone that wasn't obligated to do so in his opinion, but Joey - just then - made him feel warm and important. Loved for who he was, not for what he had to do. He wanted nothing more than to show her that she had given him that and that he hoped to offer her the same back. He might not be Yuki and have the capacity to walk the streets with her. Her whimsy made it so she saw the world differently, and he was far from 'normal'. The few short weeks they'd known each other, teasing each other and protecting one another as well, had challenged them and opened a slew of opportunities for perspective. She knew him, she had seen him in his worst moments and yet she still chose to love him. Or perhaps she didn't chose and that made it all that much more magical.

When their mouths parted, with the tingle of her skin on his still lingering there, he reached up to stroke her shoulder lightly. "I've already taken it. It's not a burden for me Joey, let me take your burden. When your world is too heavy, my back is strong enough to carry it. I promise, if nothing else, to defend it. With my life because, as I'm sure you probably know too - as you're not dumb either - you're one of the few people I care about who keeps me from relaxing."

"Aww, you care about me." She taunted, breaking the cozy moment but didn't dare budge to give any more space between them. Instead, she sank in against his plastron, looping her arms around him though they hardly reached the whole way. "Yes Leo, I think this is a very good idea."