Just putting this out quickly, but Don doesn't know about Leo and Gracie. Just letting you know. Also this beginning bit was supposed to go out later, but if I put it out when I planned to it wouldn't work. :) Enjoy!
-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-:::-::::-::::-:::-MR-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-:::::::-:::-::::-::::-:::-MR-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-
The turtles and Master Splinter all sat around a table, eating the remains of a pizza.
Splinter watched his sons carefully as they ate, each of their minds seemingly elsewhere.
"So, boys." He said casually. "Do you have any news to tell me?"
Each of them shook their heads.
"Not even about the girls?" Splinter asked, sipping some tea. They all froze in response, but still shook their heads.
Splinter hummed.
"I'm sure that they would all be very good daughters." He smirked lightly. "And then have beautiful grandchildren."
If each turtle were drinking, they would have spat out their drinks. The turtles all turned a light shade of pink as their father moved his eyes to them.
"Well?" He grinned.
"She is beautiful." Mikey murmured. "But Ava doesn't like me."
"Lara's acting like she's got a stick jammed up her shell." Raph growled. "And it feels like Zoe is stalking me."
"Gracie is apparently better off without me." Don sighed.
Splinter rose an eyebrow to all of his sons, before looking at Leo.
"Well?"
Leo gave his master a small smile and shrugged. It was a moment before he spoke.
"Well Zoe definitely likes Raph."
"Hey!" Raph shouted. "You shuddup there Fearless, or I'ma kick the shell out of you!"
Leo just smirked and excused himself to put the dishes away.
"What is this?" Splinter smiled.
"Oh, nothing." Don grinned. "Just Zoe proclaiming her everlasting love for Raph."
"She ain't 'proclaiming' anythin!" Raph snapped.
"Well she couldn't have made it any clearer Raph. She said it to your face!" Mikey retorted.
Raph growled and sat slouched in his seat. The table was quiet for a moment before he spoke again.
"Lara is so annoying." He murmured.
"I know." Don agreed. "She told me the oddest poem a while ago."
"It's the 'Sticks and shells' one right?" Raph asked him. Don nodded.
"Sticks and what now?" Mikey murmured as Leo re-entered the room.
"Lara's poem." Raph spoke up. "It's something about sticks and shells."
"Sticks and shells will break my heart, for he will never love me." Don recited.
"Yeah, that's the one." Raph nodded. "Wonder who she's talking about."
Leo smirked. "That's easy."
"Yeah." Mikey spoke. "Even I got that one."
"One of the simplest forms." Splinter smiled.
The other two turtles looked at their family.
"What do you mean?" Raph asked.
Leo smiled as he left the room again.
"I think I may go and meditate." Splinter spoke and left.
Mikey just smirked and shook his head as he went to play on his game station.
"Sticks and shells, Donny." He spoke as he left. "Sticks and shells."
The remaining turtles looked at each other before shrugging and heading their separate ways.
-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-:::-::::-::::-:::-MR-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-:::::::-:::-::::-::::-:::-MR-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-
The next day, Zoe couldn't help but stare at her sisters in jealousy. Mikey had Ava in tears from laughter as he whispered jokes into her ear. He seemed to hang out more with Ava lately than her, but she didn't mind. Zoe knew there was something going on with them she could never get in between of, even if she wanted to.
Next to them sat Lara and Don, both in depth in their own conversation. Don must have been explaining something he made or how something worked, because even though Lara seemed to be listening with her constant nods and repeated 'Yeps' of enthusiasm, she had a look of confusion written plainly on her face.
Zoe was extremely jealous of her two sisters as they talked to the turtles that they were fond of. But mostly, she was jealous of Gracie and Leo. They had sat next to each other, each reading either a newspaper or a book, staying quite and drinking tea. They were still worried about Don's feelings, so still did not openly touch each other while he was around. Yet Zoe could tell that they held hands under the table they sat at, and that was all they needed to do for now.
Raph had still not talked to Zoe for days. He seemed to ignore her presence as he walked passed her and no longer notices her existence. Zoe had become nothing but a speck of dust to him –insignificant, and unnoticeable.
She sighed for the eleventh time that afternoon as she drank her water, and each sister gave her a worried glance. They knew she was still depressed over Raph, and wondered if they should stop coming here for a while. Zoe assured them she was fine, but how she was acting now did not help to prove her case.
Zoe wanted to see him. She just wanted to look at Raph again, to make sure he was alright. Her sisters thought it was a bad idea. And Zoe agreed with them. Looking at him made her heart thud. Knowing he no longer paid attention to her made it break.
Finally, while at the table, she stood up. Zoe couldn't help herself. She knew where he would be, and she knew he would act as if she weren't there. But she had to just take a glimpse at him. Even if her sisters knew that tempting herself would be bad news.
'But when you love someone, it's hard to let go.' She thought to herself as she excused herself from the table. Turning and walking to the training room, some part of her couldn't help but worry that it was a bad idea.
Her sisters watched her leave the table and knew where she was going. Each one looked at each other, sending silent messages. Mikey immediately caught on to Ava's facial expressions.
"Hey. What's wrong Aves?" He asked.
Ava looked at Mikey, the concern clear in her eyes."We're worried about Zoe." She spoke.
"Why?" Don .
Ava looked at her sisters, before speaking. "Zoe has a great fondness for Raph."
"You know, I'm a bit worried with you sharing our secrets to them all the time." Lara interrupted.
Ava ignored her sister as she continued. "And as you can see, Raph seems to have been ignoring her as of late."
"Yeah." Gracie said. "We're all worried about her."
Gracie felt Leo's fingers rub the back of her hand gently, and she took a sip out of her tea to hide the gentle smile that had grown on her face.
"Well, we have noticed Raph spend a lot of his time in the dojo whenever you guys show up." Don concluded.
"Yeah. That's were Zoe seems to be now. At the door of the dojo or around that area."
"D-Did you say 'dojo'?" Mikey stuttered.
Ava nodded. "Yes, why?"
Mikey gulped. "Oh no."
A loud cry was heard out in a part of the sewers, and all of the girls stood up and ran to find the source. Don and Leo took one look at Mikey, who had seemingly gone pale, before following. Mikey shook his head and ran quickly after them.
Zoe was found on her knees, crying. When she opened the door to the dojo gently, just to see a small part of Raph, a bucket of white gunk fell on top of her, covering her entirely. Her sisters had surrounded her as she sat on her knees in the mess. Each one of them held her as she sobbed, not worrying about getting whatever it was on their clothes. Lara stood up and looked at the turtles that had entered.
"Who did this!" She yelled. "Who the shell did this!"
Mikey meekly raised his hand, his face looking at the floor.
"You jerk! I'm going to turn you into turtle soup when I get my hands on-"
"Lara." Ava spoke calmly. Lara turned around to face her sisters, who stood up beside her. Ava placed a hand on her shoulder, her eyes blazing. Lara understood and nodding, turning back to Gracie who was murmuring comforting words to her sister.
Ava turned to Mikey. "Why?"
"W-why?" Mikey stuttered under her piecing glare.
Ava scowled. "Why."
Mikey gulped. "Well... It wasn't for Zoe."
"Who was it for?"
"Raph." Mikey murmured.
Ava glared at him. "Maybe next time you should think twice about trying to hurt your family."
"I didn't think-"
"Exactly. You don't think. You don't think about the consequences of what you're doing, or what would happen if things didn't turn out right or-"
"Hey!" Don interjected. "Don't talk to my brother like that!"
"Don't talk to my sister like that!" Lara retorted as she stood up quickly and joined the three, Gracie following close behind.
"Come on guys," Leo spoke. "Why don't we just-"
"Shouldn't you have more control over your team?" Ava interrupted.
"My team!" Leo growled.
"Mikey shouldn't behave so childish anyway!" Lara argued.
"Mikey can behave in whatever he wants!" Don yelled back.
"How old even is he?" Gracie crossed her arms. "He behaves like a five year old!"
"I do not!" Mikey shouted. "Geez, it was just a joke!"
"Oh yeah! Well how come most of your jokes turn out so badly?" Lara snapped.
Ava nodded. "Yeah, first Gracie and now Zoe. I'm starting to think you just have it out for my family!"
"Oh yeah, Little Miss Bossy!" Mikey yelled. "What's up with you! Following Leo around and then coming onto me as if we're some kind of trend you're following. You'll be hitting on Don next month!"
"Oh please, Ava's about as interested in Don as I am!" Gracie retorted.
"I'm right here; you don't have to act like I'm not in the room!" Don shouted back.
"Yeah, Gracie, can't you be nice to him just once!" Leo argued.
Gracie's mouth dropped open. "You two-timing slug!"
"Turtle." Mikey interjected. "We aren't slime balls like you."
"Oh please, you guys live in the sewer!" Ava growled back.
"What are we supposed to do? Go out on the surface and end up being experimented on? Oh, you all would just love that!" Don cried.
"It'd be better than seeing you all and coming back smelling like a dump-pit!" Lara snapped.
Master Splinter's nose twitched as he heard the argument going out in the hallway. He sighed as he stood up and headed out. As he walked out, he could see his sons arguing with the girls. He opened his mouth to speak, but someone had beaten him to it.
"HEY!" Raph shouted over the argument. All heads turned in his direction. Zoe stared at him, her eyes watering again.
"As much as I love a good fight," Raph spoke, crossing his arms. "What the shell is goin on here!"
Everyone stayed quiet, staring at the red turtle. Mikey gulped, rubbing the back of his head. Don looked at the floor while Gracie turned her head to the wall beside her. Leo and Ava stared at Raph, their stares unwavering, but both were unsure of what to say. It was then that Raph noticed the girl in the white gunk on the ground.
He stared at her for a moment.
"Zoe?"
Zoe began to cry again. She stood up and ran from the hide out, humiliated from what Raph saw.
"Zoe." Ava said.
Gracie murmured "Oh no" before the rest of the girls ran out to follow.
Mikey, Don and Leo all had grim looks on their faces when they realised what had occurred. Raph looked at the three with confusion and Master Splinter sighed.
"A dark day has fallen upon our home." He spoke. "One we may find difficult to recover from. But we must recover, or forever lose a part of our family."
Leo turned to him. "Family, sensai?"
"Yeah." Raph spoke. "Those girls... they're like April and Casey. They're family."
He swallowed and looked at the ground in thought of what he said, before turning back into the dojo.
"Family." He murmured as he left. "We're family."
-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-:::-::::-::::-:::-MR-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-:::::::-:::-::::-::::-:::-MR-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-
Leo looked around to make sure no one was in the room before he picked up the phone. After the second ring, someone picked it up.
"Hello, Gracie speaking."
"Gracie, hey. It's Leo." He spoke nervously.
"Oh, um. Hi Leo." Gracie replied, speaking in the same tone.
"I just..." Leo sighed. "I just wanted to apologise for... what happened today."
"Don't worry about it." Gracie assured. "We were all involved. So... I'm sorry too."
Leo let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding. "Good. So are we fine now?"
Gracie bit her lip. "Um... well the thing is Leo..."
-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-:::-::::-::::-:::-MR-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-:::::::-:::-::::-::::-:::-MR-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-
Don was in his lab, his head in his hands when he decided to see what the girls were doing. He couldn't help but worry about what they were doing. Especially after the argument they all had. He needed to make sure no one got hurt.
Turning on his video feed, he could see Gracie on the phone, her hand twirling around the cord and tears beginning to escape from her eyes. Don watched in curiosity, before finally deciding to turn up the volume a little.
"I think we should... put our relationship on hold for a while."
Don frowned at this, but continued to watch as she was listening to her reply.
"I just think that... after all that happened we shouldn't see each other for a few days, weeks, at least until this whole thing blows over."
Gracie rubbed her forehead before pulling a hand back through her hair.
"I know we just got started Leo, but if we spend too much time with each other, we'd get sick of it."
She gave out a small smile and leaned on the wall beside the phone.
"I love being your girlfriend too-"
Don gulped.
"And I know I'm going to miss you so much, but I just think we need a break. No, this is not a 'break-up', I just want to pause our relationship for a while. Please Leo, try to understand."
Don froze. 'Leo.' He thought. 'There could be other Leo's. Just because this guy's name is Leo doesn't necessarily mean that it's-'
"Leo, I just want to sort this out just in case it gets worse. And if Don finds out, he'll be heartbroken."
It was then that Don knew. Leo, his brother, had been in a relationship with Gracie. Behind his back.
"I know Leo. I don't want to hurt him either. It's just so hard, you know? If only Lara would..."
"Lara?" Don murmured. "What does Lara have to do with anything?"
Gracie sighed. "When everything gets better, then maybe we could go out again."
Don watched as tears began to fall from her eyes.
"Ok Leo, I've got to go." She choked, wiping her eyes. "Bye."
She waited for a moment for him to say goodbye, before hanging up. Grace sat her back on the wall for a moment, before sliding down to the floor. She began to sob.
"What have I done?" She wondered out loud. "I love him. I know I do. I just... I just don't want anyone to get hurt."
She cried into her hands for a moment before pulling them back in realisation.
"But I hurt Leo. I... I basically broke-up with Leo. Oh gosh, what have I done!"
Gracie stood quickly before running out of the view of the camera and into her bedroom.
Don stared at the screen for a moment then got out of his chair and walked into the lounge. There he saw Leo on the couch, his head in his hands. The same pose Don had before he watched the video.
He sat down next to his older brother and watched him. Leo felt the couch move and he turned to look at his little brother. He then sat back on the couch and sighed.
"I don't know what to do Don." He murmured. "For one of the rare moments in my life, I don't know what to do."
Don examined the floor for a moment before turning to Leo.
"I know."
Leo stared at him.
"Know what?"
Don took a moment before speaking. "About you and Gracie."
Leo watched his brother for a moment then sighed.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Don spoke. "She wasn't interested in me. I know that. I have for a while. Yet, now that I think about it..."
Don hesitated.
"I was never really interested in her either."
Leo became confused.
"What?"
"I think... that just because she was fascinated in the same things that I was, made me fascinated by her."
The brothers were quiet for a moment, waiting for the other to speak but both unsure of what to say.
Finally, Leo gave Don a small smile and wrapped an arm around his brother's shoulders.
"Thanks Don." He murmured.
Don smirked and copied Leo's actions.
"No problem bro."
-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-:::-::::-::::-:::-MR-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-:::::::-:::-::::-::::-:::-MR-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-::::-
All sorted out. Well, mostly. The next one was sort of written out already, but I'm going to have to re-write bits so that it fits in properly. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed ( I know I did, considering I managed to get this all written out nine days before my birthday so I was set for the 11th. )
Anywhoo, happy birthday to me! I'm 18! Whoo! Legal drinking age in Australia and such. But I don't plan on being a hard partier. Unlike most people my age, I'm not interested in getting 'off my face'. Only because I manage to have fun and completely forget what happened the night before without the consumption of alcohol.
In the words of Envy – "LUCKY ME!"
Anyway, byes!
~MR
