Entwined
Chapter 36: Sorrow
Duck. Sweep. Kick. Jab. Flip.
Rae used her good arm to wipe the beads of sweat from her head. Mikey had offered to spot her in case she needed help with her slowly mending arm, but the kunoichi suspected he simply wanted to be near. Not that she minded, of course. The orange banded ninja was always welcome company. They'd bonded over the past week and a half or so over a mutual love of art, and Rae had grown accustomed to Mikey's famous pizza soup. He had agreed to letting her feed herself very carefully, much to the amusement of the others. In return, she often could be found tidying his room or making sure he had fresh bedding and clean masks and wraps. Rae grunted slightly with the extra effort it took to perform a specific flip, bringing her back to the present and making her glance over at the turtle leaning against the wall.
Baby blue eyes watched the lithe woman's every move, attentive to the possibility that she could hurt herself and need assistance at any moment. Under that, Mikey was amazed at how agile she remained with only one functional arm.
OoO
"Clarissa, I need you to sit in the office with me today while I write up a female employee. Are you available?"
Gray eyes glanced up over the paperwork she was logging at the receiving work station. Dave, one of her favorite bosses. Nodding, Rissy quickly finished the log and signed off.
"Dare I ask what we're writing someone up over?"
"She's been a problem when you and Reni are off, and we can't babysit her."
Gray eyes widened in surprise. "It's one of our girls?"
"Yes, Kaylee. She won't stay off her phone and isn't completing her work. I know you're good friends with her, and I hope this won't change that. It's just, there's no other female management available right now and since I'm a guy, I need to have someone to witness that I'm not making a pass or anything funny like that."
"I understand, I just wish you would have told me. I could have helped her."
Dave shook his head. "I know, but you're still recovering. I didn't want to stress you with things that happen when you're not here."
Man, this isn't going to go over well with Kaylee at ALL.
OoO
"I think Rissy hates me."
Raph stopped mid push-up to stare at the dejected blonde as she took a seat on his bed.
"What on Earth would give you that idea, Princess?"
"She took me in the office to be wrote up because I was checking in with you. It's not fair, she's always checking in and so is Reni."
Raph stood and took a seat next to the petite woman, leaning back against the wall and stretching a leg out. "I don't think she hates you. I think she just had to do her job."
Kaylee wiped angry tears away and glared at the large turtle next to her. "So you too? I came in here hoping I could count on you to understand. I don't feel safe anymore since the attack on the store. I was kidnapped, right from under Reni and Rissy both! They can't protect me, their promise was a lie!"
Green brows quirked. "Promise?"
Kaylee sighed and hugged her knees. "When I was first breaking up with my ex, they promised that as long as they were there, they would fight to protect me. It seems so silly, but I really believed they could take on the world."
Green eyes softened as they watched the distressed blonde. "Hey, I'll always be here for you, Princess. Any time you need me, all you gotta do is call."
OoO
Reni frowned. On the kitchen counter was a note for her saying Rissy needed to talk to her in private, and a deep purple hyacinth flower.
Purple hyacinth means 'sorrow'. Did something happen?
Shrugging, the emerald eyed woman made her way to the lab in the cellar.