A/N: Mikell: *Checks shell-head meter*
Yep, Raph's still reading a 9.8 on a scale of 1-10, 10 being "the biggest shell-head ever". *sigh*
Raph: But she was a Foot!
Mikell: Yeah, and you're being an... EEEP! *Runs away from scowling turtle*
Chapter 29 -The One for Me-
~~~
Raphael watched Austin from the corner of his eye as he circled his younger brother. She'd never watched them train before, but Michelangelo insisted, giving her a dose of his best big, blue puppy eyes.
Guess she hasn't known him long enough to get immune yet, thought Raph. Well give it time. She sticks around long enough, she'll get sick o' him.
He felt a pang at the thought of how Michelangelo would react if Austin actually did leave, but pushed it down. He was still stinging with resentment over the way Don and Leo'd cornered him as he came out of his room that morning, before he'd even had any breakfast.
***
You've just got to accept the fact that she's staying, Raph. Mikey's in love with her. He bought a ring. She's going to be your sister. Deal with it. Leonardo had crossed his arms over his plastron in that irritating "I'm the Leader, therefore this is settled" way.
Raphael growled and tried to shoulder past his brother, only to find Donatello standing in his way.
Raph. Don's brown eyes were dark with anger. You're being a selfish pig. She makes Mikey happy, can't you see that? I can't believe you still want her to leave. Mike's had a terrible time. He seems ok, but you know he's going to have bad days. He'll have nightmares, probably try to isolate himself from us. He didn't want to talk about it at breakfast, but when she rubbed his shoulders, he relaxed. Raph, none of us can help him heal the way she can. He loves her. When are you going to grow up and accept that?
Hearing the words thrown at him that Austin had used just the night before coming from his own brother was like a slap to the face. Raphael scowled.
Fine, he'd snarled, knowing that with Splinter also trusting the girl, he was out gunned and out voted, Fine. When she breaks Mike's heart, don't say I didn't tell ya so. She don't belong here. She ain't never gonna be a real part o' dis family. But if you want her here, fine, I'll put up wit' her. For Mikey.
He went down to the kitchen to find himself a bowl of cereal. He might accept Austin's presence in the Lair, but he'd be damned if he'd touch her cooking.
***
Raph threw a quick snap-kick, deliberately softening his thrust. He needn't have bothered. Michelangelo dodged, a delighted grin splitting his face.
"Raph did ya know you show me what you're about to do?" he asked, still grinning like an idiot. "You twitch, just before you kick. And when you're about to punch, that muscle in your shoulder moves. Yeah, just like that."
Michelangelo blocked Raph's hay-maker, ducking to deliver a swift blow to his older brother's lower plastron that should've knocked his wind out.
Shell, thought Raphael. He really isn't up to his full strength. Well, Don did say it would take a while.
He caught his younger brother's gaze. Frustration and grief flickered in the blue eyes. Suddenly Michelangelo wasn't smiling. He struck again, with more force this time. Raphael blocked the blow easily.
"Mikey…"
"Don't baby me, Raph," snapped Mike. He struck again, reckless, and followed with a spin-kick. He increased the pace of his attack, throwing himself into it.
"Michelangelo…" Don was turning away from his spar with Leo, coming over.
Mike didn't seem to hear him. He just kept throwing kicks and punches, until Raph, in a moment of frustration, swung out, catching him in the plastron. Mikey fell back with a grunt, landing hard on his shell.
Raphael heard a cry from the girl, but she stayed where she was, out of the way. She knew better than to interfere with a sparring match. Michelangelo got slowly to his feet. He gave Raph the smallest of bows before turning and stalking out of the dojo.
"Why'd you do that, Raph?" snapped Leonardo. "You know he's only supposed to be doing light training."
"I didn't do not'in, Fearless," yelled Raphael. "He lost it. He came after me. Or ain't yer ninja senses up ta seein' da obvious?"
Austin's soft voice cut off whatever retort Leonardo would have thrown. "He's frustrated," she said.
The three turtles turned to stare at her. She returned their gaze steadily. "He's weak from what he went through, and he's feeling frustrated. He knows he's not up to his full strength and he hates feeling weak, especially in front of you."
Raphael opened his mouth to make a sarcastic comment, but Donatello was nodding.
"That makes sense," he said. "None of us like the feeling." He glanced at Raphael.
Leonardo's dark eyes were unreadable.
"Come on, Leo, you know how hard you work to get back up to speed after an injury. And Raph, I practically had to tie you down after that Foot attack when we were teenagers, remember?"
"I'll talk to him," said Leonardo, starting for the door.
Donatello caught his arm. "Leo, you know how Mikey is. He wants to be alone right now."
"You're right, Don," said Leonardo with a sigh. "Come on, let's get back to it."
"I'll go," said Austin.
"He wants ta be left alone," snapped Raphael.
"It's different with us." She met his amber gaze steadily, standing her ground. "He can be weak with me without losing his pride. You're his brothers, his team. You count on him to be strong. With me, he can let his guard down."
"Yeah, an' look where dat got 'im," growled Raph.
Austin ducked her head, tears stinging her eyes. She wasn't about to let the hot-headed turtle see her cry. She turned away, heading for Michelangelo's room.
"Raph…" Leonardo spoke, but Raphael shook his head.
"I'm goin' ta work on my bike," he growled, stalking out of the dojo.
Leonardo and Donatello watched him go. "Ready, Don?" asked Leo finally.
Donatello gave him a grim smile. "Bring it, bro."
***
Michelangelo sat on his bed.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. How could I let my temper get away from me like that? Have I lost all my training in just a few weeks? Sparring with Raph used to be fun. Getting him all worked up and dodging his attacks… I felt like such a hatchling out there. I couldn't keep up. What if I can't fight any more? How'm I gonna be part of the team? How'm I gonna protect Austin?
He heard a soft knock at the door. "Go away, Leo," he muttered.
"It's me, Mike. Please, may I come in?"
"Austin?" He got up and opened the door. He wrapped one arm around her waist, drawing her into the room before closing the door behind him again. He pulled her against his plastron, nuzzling her hair. A few strands stuck to his face.
"Mikey…"
"Oh, man, I'm sorry, Austin. I'm all sweaty." he let her go, embarrassed. She drew back and looked into his eyes with a smile.
"Michelangelo, what am I going to do with you?"
He smirked, and she laughed. "I'm all yours," he said softly.
Austin giggled. "You're terrible."
"Yep. The terrible Turtle Titan, Battle Nexus Champion!" Michelangelo's grin faded. "Not that I could beat anything now." he grumbled.
"Mikey…"
"It's true." he turned, stalking away from her. "I'm pathetic."
"Well, if you're pathetic, you'll let me have my way with you," she teased. She took him by the hand. "Come on."
"What? Austin, I don't wanna go back downstairs right now…"
"I know." She tugged at his hand and he reluctantly followed. She led him into the bathroom, closing the door.
Michelangelo was watching her, looking a bit apprehensive. He swallowed hard and Austin winced at the way the bruises around his throat moved. She turned on the water.
"When's the last time you washed your shell?" she asked softly.
"Oh… well, I dunno…" he stammered.
Aducci's idea of a bath had been to hose him down from outside the cage and leave him shivering on the wet tile floor to air-dry. Fortunately he'd only done that once, but Michelangelo shivered at the memory.
"Let me help you. Please, Mike?" she asked, taking his hand. "It'll make you feel better. I promise."
Michelangelo blushed, but let Austin help him into the tub. He sank into the warm water, surprised to find that it really did help the aches that had taken over his muscles. When the water came a third of the way up his plastron, she turned it off. Fetching a washcloth from the cupboard, she soaked it in the warm water and began washing his shell. Michelangelo gasped as the warm rag made circles over his back. He could sense the vibration through his shell, the way the rag caught at the roughened whorls, and it made him shiver.
"Ooooh," he moaned. "That's almost as good as your shoulder-rubs."
"Good," she said softly. He could hear the smile in her voice. "You need to relax. You were too tense in there, too wound up. You weren't taking advantage of his weaknesses."
"I told you, I'm a failure," said Mike, without much heat. He leaned forward so that she could reach lower on his shell.
"Don't be silly. You were locked up for over three weeks. It's not like you could exercise properly. And that ridiculous diet… It's going to take some time to get your strength back." She used the rag to sponge his shoulders, each touch a caress, until he was nearly boneless, slumped against the edge of the tub.
"I shoulda busted out the first night," said Michelangelo softly. "I wasn't in the cage right away. He was trying to put a collar on me." He shivered. Austin leaned forward, resting her hand against his shell, and rubbed circles against his shoulder, firm and reassuring.
"That awful chain thing?"
"Nah. The first one was just leather. He wanted me to wear it like some kinda pet dog."
"I should've killed him," muttered Austin under her breath.
"I didn't want to hurt him," said Michelangelo softly. "Splinter taught us not to kill, not to deliberately injure someone unless we were in real danger. I underestimated him. I thought he was weak. Next thing I know, he's got me in a cage, trying to feed me turtle chow." He shuddered. "I'll never eat Fruity Pebbles again."
"Oh, Mikey." Austin leaned forward, wrapping her arms around him from behind, pulling him back to rest his shell against the bathtub, his head landing against her thigh as she leaned forward. Michelangelo pressed his head back against her. She saw tears leaking down his cheeks. He sat like that for a long moment.
Austin shifted, coming around to the side of the tub. The tiniest of whimpers escaped Michelangelo as she moved, but she kept her hand on his arm, so that he didn't lose her touch. She began washing his plastron, paying special attention to the edges where the sensitive skin sat in folds, where dirt could accumulate and cause irritation. She gently brushed the rag over his injured neck, hearing the hiss of his indrawn breath. She met his eyes. They were swimming with tears.
"Austin…"
"Michelangelo, you're safe now," she said softly. "If he ever comes near you again, I will personally tear his heart out."
His arms came around her again, and she leaned over the tub, nearly falling in on top of him. She grunted softly as he squeezed her still-healing arm, and he let her go immediately.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I forgot about your shoulder."
"It's ok," she said softly. She leaned forward to kiss him. For a moment he melted against her, letting her lips play against his face, but then he tensed, drawing back.
She stared at him, hurt and confused.
"Sorry," he said again. Something like shame crossed his features.
"Mikey…"
"It's just… I…" He sighed deeply. "You deserve better, Austin," he said softly. "You deserve a human man. Not someone who… who people want to lock up in cages. Or dissect." He shuddered. "You deserve a normal life."
"Hamato Michelangelo!" Austin stood up, her hands on her hips and her eyes flashing. "How dare you?"
"What? Austin, I…" Mikey stood up, the water draining off him in little cascades.
Austin stepped back to let him clamor out of the bathtub. She fetched a large, fluffy towel. She opened it, and wrapped it around his shoulders. He flinched away, but Austin drew the towel tight, and pulled him closer.
"How dare you presume to know what is best for me?" she asked fiercely, glaring into his eyes. "After all we have been through, how can you believe I would want anyone else? How can you believe I would want any other man? Michelangelo, if you don't love me…"
A small noise of protest escaped him. He looked stricken. "Austin, no, I…"
"If you don't love me," she continued, putting her finger to his mouth. "Then say so. But don't tell me to find someone else. I won't. I never will. I love you."
His arms came around her, drawing her so close it was as if he were trying to pull her into his shell with him. She wrapped her arms around his shell, returning the embrace as if she'd never let him go.
"'m sorry," he whispered. "I just… I never want to hurt you, Austin. I want to protect you. I… I want to be strong enough for you."
"You are strong," said Austin fiercely. "And you're getting stronger. You're going to be ok, Mike. And as long as you want me, I'm not going anywhere."
A/N: Happy ending?... Not quite yet.
