Twenty-Five:
Having him sit so close to her that she could pick out the tiny scars on his face felt beyond nice. She felt like a silly little girl. His eyes were such a brilliant blue she found herself staring at them only to be stirred by a smile or him checking if she was okay. She blushed; knowing all too well that she wasn't taking any notice of what he was saying, it was more how he was saying it. If only she hadn't been so darn tired and gone to sleep then she could have carried on enjoying the experience. Oh how she had grown to love the sound of his voice, it was so smooth, so deep, yes she could happily listen to him all day, every day, but eventually she'd conked out and so she heard him no more. In her dream world things weren't quite so pleasant. There was no Leonardo and his beautiful blue eyes, instead only darkness and something that had amber eyes which glowed like fire.
On the live screenplay, Tatsu had watched this girl claim victory over the Demons; their dark power was meant to be unbeatable so how was this even possible? How could someone change so radically and inherit such power? Olivia Taylor - the digger's wife - the pathetic little woman who he'd learned had been in a fake marriage and had chosen that life - pathetic, weak mortal being. But she had been chosen as the Spear's Positive Guardian, and the role she'd inherited far outweighed his expectations. He had understood it to be someone who would find the second scroll and may, perhaps may, hold things up a little should he/she get involved. He had not heard of any powerful being with wings. If that ridiculous researcher had not been destroyed by the Demon, he would have personally strung him up for not relaying this vital piece of information. He was supposed to know everything that there was to know and he had never said 'wings' once.
"This is NOT acceptable!"
Upon calling, the six Demons had returned to the Spear, and now they were re-acquainted with their holding cages the shrieks and wails doing nothing to hide the anger and disappointment they were feeling - if indeed Demons did feel. Tatsu felt the same. He did not voice it in exactly the same way they did but instead chose to sate his feelings by another method. In the next set of minutes they were fed. The meal consisting of Clan Soldiers who had failed to live up Tatsu's expectations namely those ones who had been unable to locate a soul befitting for the final Demon.
"Please Master Tatsu, please" This last soldier was crying, weeping like child, his entire body shaking as he had watched the creatures tear off limbs, bite and chew flesh, sending blood splattering to the sides of the glass cell all whilst knowing he would soon face the same fate.
"Throw him in"ordered Tatsu with a gesture of the hand. He smiled to himself as the screams became louder; the young man fought with everything he had and rather than tell him not to bother Tatsu rather enjoyed the show. He turned to address the remainder of the Clan who all watched with blank stares; holding in whatever fear they had; nobody wanted to show that they were afraid, nobody, or they knew that they too could be next: "All I ask is one more soul, one who represents best the sin of Wrath and in a City like this how can there be not one being who is suitable"
He was greeted with silence. Several soldiers were thinking that Tatsu himself would be very suitable but none of them said this out loud.
"You have nothing to say to me? Your Master, your Sensei!?"
Soldiers stood firm, their eyes unblinking but still the silence remained in place.
"Very well" He spun around and went to leave.
"Sensei" A soldier suddenly appeared in front of him, he was unmasked, young, and he looked on edge "Forgive my stopping you like this"
Tatsu glared and crossed his arms: "This had better be worth it boy"
"It's The Seventh. I know of a suited soul. He was there"
"Get to the point!"
"Sorry Master" He gave him a photograph "It's the largest one of those mutants. He has so much rage, so much fight. I am certain he will be a good match and we can capture him using the Dragons as bait"
Tatsu looked at the Turtle in the photograph and then at the soldier. Yes. He remembered that anger. Surely it would be worth a try and to take out one of those freaks in such a painful way would be well worth the effort.
He grunted and passed back the picture: "Very well. You will do this as soon as possible. Fail and you know what will happen" He indicated back towards the cages where one Demon was licking the blood off the side with a long forked tongue.
"Aye sensei" The soldier bowed. He would not fail.
Her scream woke up everyone but Leonardo being the closest was the first to get to her, before he could say anything she'd latched onto him sobbing and shaking. He nervously held her, placing one hand on the back of her head but kept the other one away, not really being sure where would be appropriate place to put it. After the others had been reassured and returned to their bedrooms: Michelangelo had left with a big smirk plastered on his face and Leonardo decided then and there that he would be another brother who would have to be firmly dealt with; it was only Raphael, strangely, who wasn't on his list.
"Sorry..." She moved away and sniffed "Bad dream" He passed her a tissue. She took it and wiped her eyes and nose.
"Don't worry. I'm glad I was here, if Mikey had been first, well, you know how his hugs are. Far too long and far too familiar" Leonardo turned on the side light by the bed and as he sat again she realised just how much she wanted him to hold her again. He made her feel safe in a way no one ever had before and right now she needed all the reassurance she could get.
"Do you remember what it was about?" And there was that voice - those eyes. As he looked at her she felt her stomach do that little flip thing she had only ever had with James but then..
She shook her head.
"Nothing at all?"
The amber eyes. The voice. The dark voice, whispering...calling her name...coming for her.
"I think it was just all what happened, I wasn't prepared" His hand was on-top of the bedspread, inches from her leg. A thought popped into her mind: oh how delicious it would be if that hand made it's way under the covers and touched her skin, if that mouth found it's way onto her own and kissed her.
She sucked a breath, suddenly feeling very hot and embarrassed she moved her legs up towards her chest and hugged them.
You want him.
The words were in her head before she could even think.
Tell him.
"No!" It was in that moment she realised she'd said that out loud. He was watching her intently as if trying to figure out what she was thinking, he then made a move as if to reach to touch her but she jumped and backed further away "Sorry, I..."
He dropped his head, awkward, and then quickly stood up "No, I should be the one who's sorry.." Think Leo think.
Then she panicked, was he going to leave her? She couldn't be alone, not after that, not ever "Don't go!"
He stilled but remained in an upright position.
"Please. I just don't want to be alone"
A look of confusion crossed his face.
"Sorry" She dropped her legs back down straight and patted the mattress "Please stay with me"
Without saying anything he lowered himself back down as she continued: "It's just all so messy. In my mind. I am trying to straighten it all out but sometimes it gets all...muddled you know"
He looked concerned: "Do you want anything? Water? Tea? I know you like that brown stuff so we, err, got some in for you"
"Just for me?" Her heart felt like it was going to burst. He shifted his weight and looked away, almost like he was nervous. "That's so kind" She touched the hand on the mattress with her own, his skin was cool and dry, he watched her in silence as she moved her fingers around the widest part of his hand and held it, she was now so close and it was almost like they had gotten closer without trying. He picked up the hand in his own and as he put the other one on top of it as he smiled, conceding defeat.
Eventually, they settled side by side and he'd read a book whilst she slept. Over time her head dropped and went to rest against him, first shoulder and then plastron. And as he too had drifted off he couldn't remember another time when he had felt so contented.
The sounds of someone - probably Mikey - woke him. That was the first thing he connected with, and the second was Olivia. She had her back to him, her body molded up against his own. It hit him like a smack from Raph: they were spooning. Shit. This was something that very close friends did. His hand was resting lightly on her hip, his snout lost in her hair and boy did she smell good. Her wings were so soft against his plated chest, she felt wonderful being this close. Then he suddenly realised something else and he shot up with speed, the blanket in his grasp he ran out as fast as he could go, heat filling his already flushed face before bumping head long into Splinter.
"Slow down my son! Whatever is the matter?"
"Can't stop dad, sorry" Once in the relative safety of the bathroom he could breathe...and calm down.
"Ey? What's the rush bro'?"
It was Michelangelo. The door was bolted. Phew. He could still breathe.
"Err nothing. Desperate that's all, you know how it is"
"You sure that's all? You and Olivia looked awfully cozy this morning, I got some lovely pictures of you too!"
Yes, he was definitely going to kill Mikey: slowly and painfully.
"Go fry your head in a pan before I come and do it for you" snapped Leonardo.
He heard a chuckle and the sound of footsteps retreating away. Ten minutes later; once he felt perfectly in control, and relaxed, he joined the others for breakfast. Olivia looked so pretty. She caught his eyes and smiled.
"You two are so sweet" gushed Michelangelo, chin rested on his hands. Leonardo's face turned to thunder as he hit his brother over the back of the head "Ow!" A light pink colour had flushed the girl's cheeks and she tried to hide behind her hair. She was blushing. Leonardo noticed she did that a lot. But surely...
"No violence at the table!" shouted Splinter before turning his attention to Olivia: "So sorry my dear, my children have no manners"
"It's okay" She nibbled at the corner of her piece of toast and Leonardo found himself staring at her again - he kept telling himself not to stare but somehow he couldn't help it. Clocking Michelangelo watching both of them he turned to Donatello desperate to draw attention away.
"Where's Raph?"
"I shouted him" explained Michelangelo as he finished his milk "Think he's out for the count. You try if you want but I woke him from a deep sleep once before. Never again"
Splinter arose from the table "I shall go"
Michelangelo wiped his brow "Thank shell for that!"