The following morning, after he had recovered from the morning of How I ALWAYS Gotta Embarrass Myself In Front Of April, Donatello had decided to take a quick break from his lab and from everyone all together and retreat to his bedroom. Take a nap, relax the mind, everything Splinter would usually suggest.
He was so engrossed in his much needed nap that he didn't notice the arm snaking and snatching him from his precious room. He yelped in surprise as his vision swirled and it took him about ten seconds to adjust.
"What the -" he cried out just as hand clamped over his mouth. He stared at the girl in mild shock, her eyes amused and annoyed at the same time, her lips in a thin line but almost quirked. What a pleasure. Jewel.
Slowly, thirty seconds, Jewel's hand was off of Donnie's lips, and she raised an eyebrow, "What, no hi?" she asked him, her lip twitching in amusement. He shrugged at her, still in his shocked stupor, "Hi?" he tried, unsure. What? He didn't understand girls very well. Especially girls like Jewel. Oh god...more girls like Jewel...yeesh, what a nightmare.
"Better," she nodded, before clapping her hands in front of him loudly, causing him to jump in surprise as he nearly cried out again, but he bit his tongue. Ouch. "Good. You're listening." she smiled, crossing her arms over her chest as her expression hardened into something more serious.
Her expressions fascinated him. At first her eyes would brighten up sometimes, like an actual teenager. The corners would crinkle in amusement, such as when she's teasing all of them, her expression would soften into something more kind, mainly around Leo or Splinter. And sometimes they would harden into something cold and calculating. And sometimes it was just blank, no story to tell.
He continued to look at her for a couple of seconds, "You know," he started, "you should consider being an actress instead of a model." he told her. Her cold face instantly changed into surprise before morphing into knowing amusement, "Well duh," she scoffed, like it was the most ridiculous thing she's ever heard, "I'm a kunoichi, remember?"
He shrugged, "It's just a thought."
Jewel shook her head, rolling her eyes, "Whatever," she dismissed, expression hardening again, "Look, I've got something important to tell you. It's about April's dad." she told him in a serious tone that was rare from her.
He blinked wide in shock, but before he could say anything, she clasped his arm and sped him to his lab in a flash. A shrill cry left his lips, his brain spinning. He stumbled on his feet when she let go, sliding the lab doors shut. Through his dizzy mind, he spotted the mercenary typing and encrypting something in his had been sent some sort of secret message. It could've been about the Kraang again, or some virus, etc. He hoped it was just a virus or something else. He couldn't let the Kraang or Shredder come back after her.
Finally regaining his composure, gingerly rubbing a hand over his head at the girl, what the hell at the tip of his lips, when a familiar voice echoed the silent room.
"April, it's dad."
Donnie gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief, "Mr. O'Neil?!"
"I pray you get this message. I've been moved to a different Kraang facility. If you can, send help."
With that final note the video message ended, flashing back to a blank screen, waiting to be rewind again and again. A map of the city suddenly popped up on a small window on the left side of the blank screen. A blinking red dot hovered over a particular location. And that location was only just a few blocks away. Donnie's heart leapt in his throat, "Oh man," he breathed in disbelief, a shaky laugh erupting from the pit of his chest. He heard Jewel utter something, but he was too lost in his thoughts to pay any mind. He did it. They'd found Mr. O'Neil! This was their chance. The chance to finally reunite April and her father! To fulfill the promise that felt like years ago.
"Guys!" he called out, "listen to -!"
He stopped short, halting completely in his steps. Wait a minute. He was the one who found Kirby. And Jewel was the one who'd deciphered the message for him. They were the only ones on the team who could have done something like this for April. Both of them were the only ones informed about his whereabouts...
Well...Raph did say if we wanted to impress April, leave others out of it...
His eyes drifted back to April's laptop, the red dot blinking was suddenly blinking faster and faster the longer he stared. He clenched his jaw tightly, his mind reeling with options.
This was his chance. The chance to prove Raph - everybody - that he was wrong. That he did have a chance with April. To prove to her that he wasn't some nerdy mutant. Maybe...
A voice interrupted his lovesick thoughts, "Uh, Donnie? Hello? Are you still with me?" asked a mildly annoyed Jewel. He flinched, averting his mahogany on her. Herm arms were crossed tightly over her chest, leaning on one foot for weight, and she had a raised brow in his direction, peering at him in suspicious curiosity.
He licked his lips, swallowing thickly as he composed himself from running out like a deranged criminal. "Well," he started, shrugging, "there's really no reason why I couldn't, y'know.." he trailed off, brows furrowed in uncertainty. How could he put this lightly? Jewel tilted her head at him, her eyes roving him up and down, to which he squirmed uncomfortably. "Please tell me you're not suggesting what I hope you're not suggesting." she said.
He rolled his eyes at her, "Well, it's only dawn -"
Jewel scoffed, rolling her eyes skyward, "Man, you're unbelievable." she muttered, shaking her head as she began to walk over to the living room, "Guys -"
Donnie felt his eyes bulge out of their sockets, and he quickly followed after her, clutching her wrist and jerking her away as he clamped her shut. Jewel squawked in surprise, her protests muffled against his hand. She stomped on his foot, and Donnie hurriedly let go of her as he hopped up and down with one foot, biting his tongue from the pain. He cried out in pain, squeezing his eyes shut.
"Look, j-just hear me out on this," he grunted, forcing the pain away from his toe. Damn that girl was strong.
He heard Jewel scoff, "Okay, please tell me you're joking. You're joking, right?"
He didn't answer her yet, slowly releasing his throbbing foot, he face his gaze on her, huffing, "No, I'm not joking. Will you please just listen to me?" he asked, impatient. Jewel rolled her eyes again, gesturing him to go on. Nodding, he sighed, "Okay, well, it's not that far from the lair, and if April's dad managed to send out a secret message without being detected, that probably means the security isn't all that great, right? Give me one reason why I shouldn't do this." he rambled, pursing his lips tightly. Jewel's face was blank, but she seemed to be considering his argument, "Is this about impressing April?" she asked dryly, eyes flat as the ground below them.
His cheeks burned a bright red, and his palms grew sweaty, "N-No, of course not." he chuckled nervously, averting his gaze away from her. She didn't look like she believed him, but she didn't push the matter further. "Right," she said, voice oozed in sarcasm. "Okay, first of all, this has got to be one of the dumbest ideas you've ever had, okay? It really is. It's reckless, irresponsible, and," her disapproving expression morphed into something he was all too familiar with. Her dark blue orbs twinkled with mischief, and her lips curved into the devilish smirk that suited her all too well, "a whole hella fun. I'm in!"
He blinked hard, almost choking on his words, "Wha - What?" he stammered, unsure if he had heard her right. "You wanna come with? Why?"
Jewel merely shrugged at him, unsheathing her Tanto from the black sash wrapped around her waist, "'Cause I'm bored, and you're definitely gon' need backup when your plans goes into the crap, and it will," she explained, offering him a dazzling smile at the last part. His dumbfounded face fell into an unappreciated frown, rolling his eyes, "Pretty sure it'll work." he muttered under his breath. His nonexistent brows knitted together, "So, you'll help me?"
Jewel nodded firmly once, "You're gonna need it."
He weighed his options; some backup couldn't hurt. The security there might not be great, but that didn't mean there wasn't any defenses they had stored up hidden somewhere, and they could get out of there with Jewel's enhanced speed. So...
His mind made up, Donnie nodded once at her, before he took out his T-Phone, linking it up with the map on the screen. He grabbed his Bo staff on the way out of his lab, jerking his head at Jewel to follow him, and both crept their way across the lair, steps light and cautious. They reached the turnstiles without any incidents, and Donnie casted a final glance over his shoulder, staring at his sleeping brothers for a second. He made a face as he looked down and bit his lip, reluctant and unsure of himself now. Maybe Jewel was right, perhaps he was being a tad reckless.
"Hey," a voice whispered, and he turned his head up to glance at the girl he considered a sister. "Relax, we'll be back before you know it. And April can thank her shining turtle in no time," she assured him with a smirk. A grateful smile softened his features, and he mouthed 'thanks'. He sheathed his staff as he and Jewel leapt over the turnstiles, neither looking back once. He could do this. Both of them could do this. He saw that look Jewel had on when she 'discreetly' glanced over at Raph. Her narrowed eyes, the slight dip of her bottom lip, the way her jaw clenched. It seemed to Donnie that Jewel just wanted to prove to Raph that she wasn't that same girl from the Foot. That she was a better person now. Donnie believed that. She really had developed into someone better, someone willing to risk their life for her loved ones. And in a way, both of them could prove that they were smarter - stronger - than this.
But he couldn't keep that smug grin to himself as he and Jewel ran through the familiar passes, "We'll see who's sadorable."
And he could hear that smirk from the girl a mile away.
With soundless thuds, Donnie and Jewel landed on the roof of some water tower, both positioned in a low crouch. The sun peeked over the edge of the towering skyscrapers, the whites of their eyes aglow in the steadily fading darkness, signaling that it was almost dawn. The secret Kraang facility laid across the opposite street. The facility that held April's father. Jewel tilted her head in confusion. Huh. Not exactly what either were expecting. It was some old garage, with a sign on the door that read 'ZIGA'S Auto Body: Transmission Alignment Collision Tune Up'.
"A car shop? That's the base?" Jewel said quietly, her tone ringed with bewilderment. Donnie took out his T-Phone, checking the map to be sure they were in the right place, Surely he must have made an error, right? Huh. No mistake on his part. According to the coordinates, they were standing directly above the supposed base. "Huh. Doesn't seem very Kraangy." he mused aloud, voicing Jewel's thoughts. She hummed in wordless agreement. "Well," she started out slowly, '...appearances can be deceiving. I guess..." she trailed off uncertainly.
Both leapt from their perch on the tower, swinging themselves onto the ladder of a fire escape, sliding down to the pavement below them, landing without a hitch. They kept their bodies low, steps light as a feather, silent as the wind itself. Casting narrowed gazes cautiously, Jewel lightly shoved Donnie to the crusted green metal door, keeping a lookout. He examined the lock in his palm, and he smirked to himself as he picked at it. This thing was so ancient that even Mikey of all people could pick it, even Raph when he's in one of his temper tantrums.
Quicker than Jewel could say 'Yoo Hoo!', Donnie hauled the door up, poking his head inside the garage. It was dark, clammy, and had some sort of smell, but hey, it was empty, right?
He unsheathed his Bo, casting a glance at Jewel, who had slipped her mask on. He grinned at her, a teasing, gap-toothed grin as he gestured the inside, "Ladies first," he jeered. She rolled her eyes at him, walking past him as he slid the door shut behind him. Midnight blue and brown eyes swept across the spacious room as they trotted inside. Ancient, flickering light-bulbs lightened the place up just a tad. Barely. Donnie noted the rows of rows of old cars piled atop each other, taxis, limos, and a few Hondas. And some set of old and crooked tools lying discarded on the dust caked floors, and air tanks stacked up on the other side of the room, crusty and brown with age. Jewel made a face, "Good god does this place reek of desperation and despair." she said in disgust, her voice so quiet that Donnie barely heard her.
"I'll say," Donnie muttered under his breath before he felt his muscles go taut as he heard something clang loudly behind him. Gasping, his spun around as he held out his staff in front of him, Jewel's hand erupted into a small flame, engulfing her hand. The room was tensely quiet, and when nothing else happened, their muscles calmed just a tad, Jewel scoffing under breath, muttering a curse in Spanish.
The purple clad turtle heaved a faint sigh of relief. Stupid tools, he thought to himself. That scared the crap out of him. He thought for sure there was a Kraang bot here. He kinda felt...vulnerable, almost, maybe. The silence was long and deafening; it felt like something could come out and snatch him into the daunting shadows, disappearing into a cloud of mist...
"It is the one of the ones called the turtles and Fire Queen."
Both turtle and girl froze, and his heart leapt into his throat. Both spun around to find a Kraang droid, its blaster pointed at them.
Jewel blinked hard in confusion, her face twisted in disbelief behind her mask, "How the hell did we not hear that thing coming?" she asked incredulously, "Are we losing our touch?"
He ducked his head in seconds before the Kraang could blast any of their insides out. He swung his staff hard against the wirsts and head of the stupid robot, sweeping the droid off its feet, falling to the ground with audible thud. He saw a control panel to his right, and faster than he could blink, Jewel immediately set fire to the large red button. A forklift holding a car dropped down the unfortunate Kraang. The pink bubblegum alien squealed in helpless anger as it flailed its tentacles, trapped to the floor.
He grinned, "Looks like you could use a tune-up!" he said as he looked at Jewel, nudging her with an elbow. "Huh? yeah! Right? Am I right?" he smirked at his own joke. Jewel just rolled her eyes at him, shaking her head in amusement. "Yeesh. And I thought Leo's puns were bad." she teased as slipped off the bottom half of her mask to reveal her jeering smirk, before slipping it back on. Donnie scoffed. "Oh come on. My puns aren't that bad."
"Better than Lion Boy."
"Well you have bad taste."
"That's not what Jordan thought last night."
He raised a brow, shaking his head in disgust. She didn't need to point that out. He spun his staff expertly, wearing his still smug grin. "Yeah, well who's the hero now?"
There smiles instantly dropped.
"HO-LY COW!" he screeched, him and Jewel ducking left and right - even tucking his head into his shell - to avoid the streaks of the sudden laser fire. Popping his head back, Jewel literally had her hands on fire, and was met with three more droids glaring back at him, armed with their blasters. Those eyes reminded him of Shredder sometimes. He gulped audibly, "No response necessary!" he squeaked, snatching Jewel's arm and diving both of them behind the cars for cover.
"Okay, none of this makes sense," Jewel whispered as she and Donnie were perched on top on one of the lights. "These bubblegum rejects have to be one of the most clueless things I've ever met. Except for Mikey."
He'd actually let out a genuine laugh for the first time that day. Sometimes she was funny. "Yeah," he whispered back. He was glad Jewel was here with him; he didn't realize he would need the company, how lonely he would be. No jokes or terrible puns to be made fun of, or someone who can joke with him. No wonder why Leo liked this girl so much. She was fun and carefree to be around. She was the type of girl who could make you forget all about your troubles. She was like this fun, rebellious little sister he'd never had. Plus, he now had the insight to the mind of girls, total scores for April if he ever needed girl advice from Jewel.
They leapt from their hiding spots and rolled themselves to the wall, pressing their backs. "Okay, all we have to do is find out where they're keeping Mr. O'Neil, then get out of here without the Kraang noticing." he whispered the rest of his plan to her. She gave him a curt nod, her eyes narrowed and focused. Turning a corner and pressing his back against the cool wall, he spotted a door at the end of the hall as it opened up, and another droid spat out of the room. Seems important for a quick looksee, don't'ya think?
Risking a glance at Jewel, who seemed to be thinking what he was thinking, she nodded back at him, her eyes full of mischief and slyness. Grinning, he took out his T-Phone, Jewel quickly snatching it as she waved and took a selfie of herself with a sexy smirk, before tossing it back to him. Instantly, he slid the device across the room, he and Jewel watching as it came to a stop in front of the droid as it began to ring. It tilted its head in confusion, bending over and picking it off the grounf, staring at the picture of the waving and smirking pyrokinetic...only seconds before the same pyrokinetic appeared, slamming her fist into its face as it thunked against the metal door.
Donnie came over and plucked his phone from the still hand. "It's from me," he said as the alien began to scqueal in pure rage, and Donnie swung his staff like a golf club, sending the creature flying and smacking against the opposite wall. "And that's for you!" he finished triumphantly, watching smugly as the wad of pink rage slid down the wall, landing with a splat.
He and Jewel laughed as they shared a high-five; his eye twitched as his hand stung just a tad, sometimes he forgot about her enhanced strength. "Score Three for the Dynamic Duo. Man we are on a roll today!" Jewel boasted. He only laughed and nodded at her, "I couldn't agree more."
Huh. Were they actually going to get away with this? Man, somebody pinch him!
He clutched the Kraang's head and pressed it against the scanner, the doors swished open and both stepped inside the room. The doors hissed behind them. The room was dark, round, flowing with the purple fluorescent glowing from the control panel in the center, and lined along the walls were several balck and white surveillance cameras. He hummed to himself; it seemed like the prison - Jewel told him, she's seen one, don't ask - as they monitored their prisoner trapped in their cells. His eyes scanned for each one, all but one were empty.
Bingo.
Donnie gasped, "Mr. O'Neil!"
Kirby was huddled in the far corner of his cell, his head buried between his crossed arms, knees hugged close to his chest. He felt an ache at the sight of the man. From all the pictures he had seen, the man's eyes were usually lighting up with joy, his smile big and wide, just like April's. To see a man so tired, so foreign, so broken and shattered to pieces...
He scowled deeply; oh they were going to pay. Big time.
Jewel's eyes quickly caught something move in one of the cells. Without Donnie looking, she stepped a bit closer, taking a quick look. Was there another prisoner? It was a boy, she noticed. He looked to be a tad older than her. He had light brown skin, wild black hair, though she couldn't tell what the color of his were - he appeared to be sleeping. But she did see a long red scar on his left eye, and another red color in the shape of a fang under his right eye. His face was angular, his build looked muscular. As she began to take another closer look, an alarm blared off the walls, startling her and Donnie out of their own musings.
She looked up at the ceiling, her gaze travelling back down to the boy - who wasn't there anymore. She tilted her head in confusion, eyes narrowing just a bit. Weird.
"You are aware this is a detention center?"
Donnie and Jewel looked up at Kirby, looking at them worriedly, "Huh?"
Jewel began to scan the whole room as Kirby gestured to it. "You just locked us in a cell."
Jewel closed her eyes calmly, drawling out a loud groan, "Oh you have got to be kidding me!" she snapped, banging her head against the metal repeatedly. Donnie's face dropped faster than a rock in the Hudson Bay, "A-Affirmative." he sighed. He and Jewel must've been so tired that they forgot once the doors were shut, they were automatically locked. Damn it. And this mission had started out well, now it was just a nightmare. He gnawed at his lip, turning to the door. "Um...I think I can get us out -"
The Newtralizer's - dubbed by yours truly, but don't tell Mikey, he's protective of that - suddenly engulfed the glass window from the other side, a snarl hissing through his sharp fangs.
"I hate you all."
"GYAAAAAAH - EVENTUALLY!"
He, Jewel, and Mr. O'Neil were backed up against the other wall side by side. And Jewel gulped, "Um...Donnie?" she squeaked, her eyes wide and fearful.
He swallowed thickly, "Y-Yeah?"
"Uh, I think this solo mission was definitely a terrible, terrible idea."
"Couldn't agree more - and that's not helpful!"
"It's not supposed to be!"
Kirby tapped Donnie on the shoulder, breaking the quarreling of the two teens as he faced the older man in the small room. "Um, Donatello? Julia?" he rubbed the back of his neck, "Uh - are you two sure you know what you're doing?"
"Of course!"
"Oh hell no."
He snapped his head to the only girl in the room, glaring daggers at her, "That's not helping!" he snapped, his vein bulging.
She shrugged uncaringly, "Then find a support group."
He smacked his forehead in frustration, "Okay, don't take this personally, but how does Leo deal with you?" he asked. frustrated beyond belief with this mission, and it felt like dull ache was brushing the base of his skull. Jewel chuckled humorlessly, "Honestly? I don't got a clue."
Donnie turned - thank goodness for his brothers - to find a pair of baby blue eyes narrowed, filled with pure and utter betrayal.
"You named something without me?" he repeated accusingly, and Donnie made a face, exasperated. Mikey looked over his shoulder, "and you let him name something without me?"
Jewel blinked at him, her eyes flat as board, "Oh for Christ's sake, does that really matter right now?" she asked in exasperation. Okay, somehow, through no fault of their own - don't give us that look - Julia and Donatello had single handedly managed to get nearly all the members of their small family pissed off with them. Raph was mad at Donnie for ditching them to prove a point and bringing Jewel along, Leonardo was just disappointed with them, and Mikey was mad at them because Donnie named a new villain without him and Jewel just did nothing. This had to be their worst day. And it was still early, That's bad, even for Jewel and Donnie.
Thundering pounding doors resonated through all their ears, shaking them to the very core - though Jewel conveyed no emotion other than a subtle twitch of her arm. The Newtralizer was still outside, ready to rip them into shreds, roaring and howling in pure rage. "We've gotta get out of this prison!" Leo said, sowrds ready in hand if the alien creature would get through.
"Technically it's a detention center," Kirby corrected, ignoring the eye roll to the heavens from Jewel - he was used to her by now, he was her psychologist - "The difference being -
Raphael rolled his eyes, "Not now Donnie - oh."
Kirby raised a brow at him, staring at him if he'd just grown two heads, while Jewel snickered under her breath, "Sorry Mr. O'Neil." he apologized sheepishly. He turned his gaze on Leo, face flat as board, "Great," he droned, "Now there's two of them."
Jewel shrugged, "Could be worse," she smirked behind her mask, "we could be stuck with two Raphaels."
Leo chuckled while Donatello and Michelangelo outright laughed, shaking their heads in amusement while Raphael merely glared holes into that girl, as if he wanted to vaporize her with his almighty glare as she continued to taunt at him. Kirby merely shook his head in amusement, smiling at the five.
After approximately five minutes of lovestruck gaping on the floor, Donatello managed to catch up to Jewel in the tunnels.
This day hadn't started out the way he wanted it to, but boy did he love that hell of an ending! April...she...she kissed him! Finally! Well, it was on the cheek but he'll take what he can get. Though he was partly embarrassed with the way Raphael put on his little...show. April absolutely beamed at him, her crystal blue orbs lighting with gratitude, her smile sending his heart racing faster than a rocket. His cheek still tingled with the touch of her sweet lips.
"Jewel wait!" he called after her. She turned around to face, taking the mask off, revealing her nonchalant smirk as she folded her arms across her chest as leaned her weight on foot, "What Dr. Wackledoodle?" she greeted him teasingly.
He rolled his eyes skyward; good grief, before shrugging at her, "I just wanted to say thank you for coming along. Really couldn't've done this without you." he thanked, offering her a smile. She seemed to be taken aback, her smirk faltering before it returned lopsidedly. She waved a hand dismissively, "Gee, don't get all cheesy on me, D. It was no trouble." she rebuffed with a scoff.
He shook his head, "Still. Thank you."
"You're welcome. But I do have one question, though."
He blinked, his smile fading slightly, "What's that?"
"Why'd you wanna go all Batman for this mission? Were you tryin' to impress April or something?" she asked him, her expression twisting into something more calculating and curious as she tilted her head, awaiting for his response.
Immediately, his cheeks burned a light pink as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Well, Raph kinda embarrassed me during training this morning."
"So?"
"April saw..." he trailed off, biting his lip, "And, uh, Raph told me I don't have a shot with her." he finished awkwardly, pursing his lips tightly.
Jewel stared back at him. Her eyebrow was raised, her eyes disbelieving as she continued to stare at him blankly, making him squirm under his gaze. Was this how Leo and other guys felt when she stared at them like that? Finally, she threw her head back, laughing. He started, eyes wide with the deer caught in the headlights look.
She laughed for a couple of more seconds, before smiling back at him like he was the dumbest guy on earth. "Of course you have a shot with her. She talks about you all the time." she said.
He blinked. Twice. "Wait, what?" he stammered, not sure if he had heard her right. She nodded, smirking, "Yeah. She talks about you a lot. Donnie this Donnie that yada yada yada." she rolled her eyes at the memory, shaking her head, "But yeah. And Raphie's just sayin' that 'cuz he doesn't think he has a chance with his blonde and shining armor."
Donnie said nothing for the next couple of seconds. What? Jewel thought he had a shot. His brothers didn't seem to think so. Hell, he wasn't even sure if Splinter thought he had a chance. Donnie was a mutant turtle - they all were. None of them had any chances with girls. They wouldn't look at them twice. They'd scream, they'd yell, and they'd run away, calling for help. He didn't blame them. They weren't exactly the best looking teenagers.
Some of that belief changed when April and Jewel came into their lives. April with her sweet personality, kind eyes, gentle fingers when she was patching him up after a rather gruesome mission. Jewel with mischievous eyes, that rebelling smirk, her majestic yet fierce moves. Girls that Leo and Donnie both stupidly fell for when they weren't supposed to. And then Gwen came into the picture. With her big eyes, that cynical smile and her fighting personality. A girl that was Raph's type.
But she actually thought he had a shot with April? He thought she was just mocking him the whole entire time. Like everyone else was. "Really? You think I have a shot? Why?"
Her eyes looked at him up and down, before softening just a tad, "'Cause some girls like guys who are genuinely nice. Someone who's decent. There's not a lot of guys that are like you and Lion Boy. Girls like that in a guy. And I'm pretty sure April's not that shallow." she told him, her voice akin to something was kind and true, like she was speaking fact, so sure of herself.
He couldn't help but smile, "Gee, thanks Jewel." he said, his smile morphing into a smirk, "Does that apply to Leo, too?" he asked in a teasing manner. She frowned at him, rolling her eyes, "Yes, it applies to Lion Boy." she grumbled. Donnie chuckled, "God, when are you two gonna get together already? You two are really obvious. Even you," he laughed, earning a half-hearted punch in return.
"Shut up," she warned, narrowing her eyes, "And the answer's never." she called as she began to walk away, slipping her mask back on. He frowned after her retreating form, "What? Why?" he called, her form fading slowly and and slowly that he almost hadn't catch what she called out.
"'Cause nothing makes sense about me and Lion Boy."
Gwen swiftly climbed up the fire escape, running up to the girl sitting cross-legged on edge of a water tower, leaned back. She quickly climbed the ladder, walking up to her best friend. The blonde raised a brow; her mask was laid in her lap, her hands picking at it unconsciously, her face was blank, but her midnight blue orbs shone with guilt, and there was somehting else laid beside her.
A manilla folder.
Gwen furrowed her brows in confusion, "Jewel? What's wrong?" she asked in concern as she took a seat, the manilla folder now between them. She had received a text earlier during wrestling practice. Jewel sent her the coordinates and Gwen rushed over here as fast as she could. She told herself it was probably nothing big. Maybe it had something to do with the Foot or Kraang. That's what Gwen assumed.
But...something was off.
After a moment or two, Jewel pursed her lips, "I did something really bad, Gwen," she said, her tone uncertain, unsure. Alarm bells rang in Gwen's head. Okay, something was seriously wrong. "What? I don't -"
"I put a mind control device on Kirby."
Gwen stared. "What?"
Jewel sighed heavily, closing her eye before she turned her head to her, "Shredder told me to put some kind of mind control on April's dad. Something about luring her in for the Kraang." she explained matter-of-factly. Gwen blinked, unsure on how to respond. Wait. What was she supposed to say to that? "Why?" she asked.
The mercenary clenched her jaw tightly, harshly gesturing to the folder, "That." she said through gritted teeth. Gwen raised a brow, pond water eyes travelling down to the folder, hints of paper cracking through. "The folder? What about it?"
Jewel's eyes narrowed at her, expression hardened, "Those are files on my mom." she finally said, glancing at the folder just as Gwen's eyes widened a fraction. "Wait, seriously? Uh -" isn't Jewel supposed to be happy? Gwen didn't even know she wanted to learn more about her mom. She's always been so indifferent to the subject. "Ha-Have you read it?" she stammered, biting the side of her lip.
Jewel looked down, shaking her head, "I closed it as soon as I opened it."
"But don't you wanna know something about her? I didn't even know you did."
She shrugged, "I don't - I mean - I do, but I'm not sure what I wanna know. I mean...what happens if I'm the reason she's dead? I don't know if I can handle that. And I don't even know if Shredder was legit about it. Who knows. Maybe he's just screwing me over just to do his bidding."
Gwen shook her head, placing a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sure you're not the reason she's dead. This kind of stuff happens to people. And maybe the files are true. Wasn't Shredder your dad's friend?" she asked, watching as Jewel offered a small smile that didn't quite match her eyes, "More like an acquaintance." she corrected, frowning again, "But Shredder's a manipulative liar. Who knows what he says is true." she said bitterly, her eyes darkening at the thought the crazed ninja master.
The blonde tilted her head, forehead wrinkling, "Then why'd you do it? Mind control Kirby, I mean."
Jewel stared back at Gwen again, her face blank and dull again, "Gwen, if you had weird powers that came out of nowhere, and if you're mom was dead for no reason, wouldn't you wanna know somethin' about her? More than just the stories your dad told you? Maybe just a chance to learn more about her? Some kind of connection." she asked, her tone was intense, and a little angry, and Jewel's eyes welled up just a little.
She sniffed angrily, "What happens if she had powers just like me? What if I got them from her? What if they're the reason why she's dead, what if I'm the reason? The variables of complications don't add up." her voice was now bitter, her jaw clenched.
Gwen sighed; she wasn't sure how to relate. She wasn't close to her parents, and both were in jail. She just lived with her step-father and step-sister. She was somewhat close with them. But if Gwen were in Jewel's shoes...yeah, she'd do about anything to learn anything about a dead relative. "Yeah," she answered quietly, "I would."
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