Leonardo Pov
The loud voices of my family is enough chaos to make me roll my eyes, and the comforting sense familiarity seeps into my pores. When I enter the kitchen, the sound disperses into silence. Six pairs of eyes target me, and the awkward sensation of being the center of attention makes me squirm and itch to peel away my own skin.
Sliding onto the stool between Raph and Donnie, I glance around, my eyes wandering over everyone else's.
I don't speak, I'll give them the luxury of asking me questions before I apologize.
"Where the fuck have you been?" Raphael demands through clenched teeth. His curse earns him a sharp glare from our father.
"I was at mine and Karai's old apartment," I confess smoothly, spinning my engagement ring round and round and round on my finger. Every time I see the band, a smile forms on my face, growing from ear to ear.
It's as if my family is speaking to one another through facial expressions, sending secret messages despite my obvious presence.
"What were you doing there?"
I chuckle, staring up at the ceiling, suddenly realizing just how stupid my decisions had been. "Drinking my brains out."
"Wait, are you serious?" I hadn't realized it up until now, but this entire time Donnie hasn't looked up from his phone. Now, though, he's standing up, sliding the object into his back pocket. "Why?"
"Why?" I snort, furrowing my brow, because an explanation shouldn't be necessary. "I was told that my fiancé—the love of my life, might I remind you—was going to die, and for once in my lifetime, I couldn't do a goddamn thing to save her."
"Well, maybe referring to her as the love of your life is stand extreme . . ."
My eyes shoot over to my father, who's hand is clasped over Claire's. They narrow at him, and anger begins to boil in my veins. Suddenly, the only thing I'm seeing is red. "Are you questioning my love for her?"
"No!" Raphael leaps into the argument, resulting in me gifting him with a razor sharp glare. "It's just, you haven't even been together for a year and you're already planning a wedding. Don't you think your moving a little fast?"
"Of course not!" I shout. My voice echoes, reverberating off the walls, shaking the ground beneath our feet. "Look, I know that we're putting a lot of stress on you all by being here, but I promise that we'll be leaving shortly."
"It's not about that."
"Then what is this about?!" I demand, exasperated. "Because right now, I feel as if everywhere I turn, I meet another wall of hate, and I honestly just need to know what the hell I need to change to make everyone happy."
Mikey steps forth, saying the calming words he nearly always has to offer. "You don't have to change a thing, Leo, we'll love you no matter what. But, we also need to know what's going on with you. You don't tell us anything anymore, and that scares me. I feel like we're losing you." He adds the last part with a small, cracked voice. Tears are gathering in his eyes as he stares up at me with a tall posture.
"Mike . . ," I trail off, walking forward. I pull him into my arms, letting him cry into my shirt, just as is allowed Karai to do only a short while ago. "You're not losing me, trust me, it's going to take more than a few major family issues to shake me off your tail."
When my baby brother pulls back, he smiles, and lifts a fist for me to bump. I do.
Slowly, one by one, people leave the kitchen. Raph mutters under his great has he stalks out, his hands buried deep in his pockets. Donnie follows close behind, silent as he types away on his phone. Claire exits while lecturing her son, my father trying to intervene. And finally, Mikey leaves me, a smile plastered on his face.
But then I'm alone, and I'm okay with that. Because I know that I have my whole life ahead of me. And tonight, I will start living it to the fullest.
Karai Pov
The soft hum of hangers scraping against the metal bar holding my clothes is the soundtrack to my life as I sift through my various outfits, trying to find the perfect one for tonight. I have no clue as to where we are going, and I'm afraid of over dressing or, more likely, underdressing.
I stop when I come across my rarely worn tight, sleeveless light blue dress, decorated with small sun flowers. Grinning, I pull it out of the closet, and lay it down on my bed. The memory of buying this comes running at me, like a a racer bent of receiving first place.
We'd take a day trip up to the mall a few miles south of the city, Leonardo and I. When we came across this dress at H&M, Leo insisted on my buying it, claiming to believe I'd look stunning in it. If only to humor him, I bought the dress, but it's only ever sat in the closet, collecting dust. Until now. I tear the tags off, tossing them into the trash can behind me.
After slipping the dress on, I walk into the bathroom and stand in front of the mirror, studying myself. As I'd suspected, the clothing shows off my body curves, clinging to my humble form nicely. Wearing this, I can see myself for what I really am: beautiful. Leonardo has always said it, but now—staring at my collar bones, and hips, and even my face, powdered with just enough makeup—am I too, witnessing my attractiveness.
I twirl, feeling giddy as excitement for tonight pours into me, as if I'm an empty pitcher, ready to be filled with lemonade. I collect two necklaces, one being short, and other rather long, and place those on my body, along with my pandora bracelet.
Ready, I grab my purse and zip into the hallway.
Leonardo is in the living room, watching tv with all but one of his brothers. I presume that Donatello is in his office, as usual, but I don't have the time to ask.
"Is this okay?" The attention is brought to me as I call down from the balcony overlooking the downstairs. I move towards the stairs, walking at a careful pace.
Leonardo stands, his jaw dropped as he overlooks my body. He starts with my feet, admiring my heeled sandals before his eyes wander further to my bare legs, and then to my dress, and finally, me face. Our eyes lock, and he begins to walk towards me.
On the couch, Raphael grunts, turning back to the tv. But Michelangelo's eyes stay on me and Leo.
"You look beautiful," Leonardo compliments, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Thanks." My face is hot with blush as he takes my hand in his, and begins to lead me to the front door.
"You ready to go?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
Leonardo Pov
Karai slides into the booth across from me, a curious grin on her face as she lifts her menu. "Bar Louie? That's the best you could come up with?"
Replying with a mischievous smirk on my face, I say, "I figured you could go for a drink, and I just so happen to know that this place has a wide variety to chose from."
"You know me so well," Karai purrs, tilting her head in a seductive manner.
"I sure do hope so. After all, we are engaged." When saying this, I place my right hand over hers, and lean across the table to press a quick peck to her lips. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Passion shines in her Amber eyes, looking like the sun against the stormy world we dwell in. I can't help but tell myself repeatedly every time I gaze into those glimmering orbs, that she is the only pure thing in the universe, and she's all mine.
Dinner goes smoothly, complete with a crispy appetizer, scrumptious main courses—we exchanged foods when we tasted our original pick—and finally, alcohol.
"Where now?" Karai asks me as our fingers lace together. I stride right past our car, and start heading across the street.
"I figured we'd go for a walk in the park, grab some wine on the way there." I quirk my eyebrows, walking in the direction of a street vendor. His cart is customary of only alcoholic beverages and smokes, unlike his partner a few feet down, who's offering out hotdogs; two for the price of one.
"Red Wine, please."
"Actually," Karai smiles slyly while intervening in my order, "We'll take a bottle of scotch instead."
Quickly, before I can object, Karai pays for the bottle, cracking it open while dragging me away.
"Scotch?" A chuckle shadows my question, comes before a follow up, "Since when do we drink whisky?"
"Since I decided I wanted to get drunk and stupid with you." Swiftly, I watch as Karai takes a swig from the tall, once-filled-to-the-brim canister. A sigh of refreshment is the only sound other than the American noise that I can process as we walk, hand in hand.
"We're gonna get wasted faster with this stuff," I state almost reluctantly when Karai hands me the bottle. Still, I oblige, taking a long sip of my own. As the bittersweet alcohol runs down my throat, my inner flesh burns, and I'm instantly feeling a dizzy sensation set fire in my already throbbing head.
"I don't like to waste time."
I smirk knowingly, and lean down to press a kiss to cheek. Lingering with my nose inches away from her neck, I inhale her perfume deeply, allowing the strong scent to swim around me. "Cherry blossom?"
Karai jerks away, her face hot with blush. "I-I'm sorry, but it was just out on the counter and I was super excited for tonight and-" I cut her off, not desiring any form of an excuse.
Hastily, my arm wraps around her waist, pulling her closer to me. "You don't have to be sorry, it's okay. I think it makes you smell nice. If I have any problems with your outfit, it outta be your makeup."
"Why?"
"Because I think you're dashing enough without it, and I want to see the real you, not a bunch of powder pasted on your face," when saying this, I swipe a loose grand of hair away from her face, revealing more of her luscious features.
Karai rolls her eyes and heaves a hardy laugh. "I'm not beautiful, Leo, I'm a mile from it."
"But you are. And everywhere we go, all the guys turn to stare are you."
"That's not true."
"It's completely true."
"Is that why you're with me, then, because I'm beautiful?"
"Oh, Karai," my legs stop moving and I pull her into a tight embrace, "my love for you goes far deeper than appearance. Your attractiveness is merely a bonus factor."
Her lips connect with mine forcefully the second the last word exits my mouth. I don't hesitate to kiss back; I never have with her. She's intoxicating, the way she clenches the fabric of my shirt in her fists as she yanks me towards her. Her chest is pressed tight against my own, her body leaning on mine.
There's nothing in this world I could ever want more than her.