10. The Worst of all my Failures

The cold sunrise over the city soaked into Ibis's bones as she walked along the concrete path to Ardyn's apartment building. She'd gotten a little sleep after her talk with Leo the day before, and had even seen him entering her apartment at nightfall. She hadn't stuck around to watch how things went, Ardyn wouldn't have approved. But she was eager to see if they were able to return to their confused pining again.

Leo seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. Though stoic and cold, she could tell he had a heart under all of that by the way he spoke so protectively about Ardyn, even when he was upset with her. He'd been firm but fair with Ibis during their meeting, and she appreciated that. Even if the life Ardyn chose didn't have Ibis in it, she was determined to be happy for her.

Ardyn's friends were an interesting bunch. She'd gotten better acquainted with the smallest, Mikey, on her way out of their home the day before:

Leo had slipped the blindfold back over her eyes when she stood up, much to her dismay. He'd grabbed her forearm- surprisingly gently- and started to lead her out of the makeshift kitchen.

"I'll take her back!"

Ibis turned her head to point her ear in the direction of the voice. It didn't sound like the big one that she'd decked the previous night, and it definitely wasn't Leo.

"Take her to the south maintenance hatch. Keep the blindfold on," Leo instructed. "The whole time."

"You got it!" the voice chirped.

Leo's cool grip released her as another, clumsier grip took hold of her. She stiffened, earning a laugh. "Don't worry, angelcakes, I'll take good care of ya!"

She was hefted up and over his shoulder, earning a grunt. She gripped over his shell for something to hold onto, feeling a some sort of mechanism with wheels strapped there.

"Go easy on 'er, Mikey."

Ibis knew that voice. It was closer to her now. She hadn't heard him walk up, but now that he had spoken, she could pick out his heavy footsteps before her. Perhaps he was hoping to get back at her for the bruise on his face. She scoffed to herself.

"Precious cargo, comin' through!" Mikey answered in response, giving a little skip.

Ibis grunted at the impact of his shoulder into her gut, "Easy, Sunshine."

He gave a throaty little giggle at the nickname.

There were a few moments of no conversation, just Mikey humming and every once in a while giving a skip or dance-step. Despite the discomfort of having his shoulder pressing on her gut, it made her smile. He reminded her of Ash, always happy and making others feel it too.

Raphael followed quietly behind, though she could feel his eyes on her. It was starting to wear on her raw nerves.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," she grumbled, resting her chin on her crossed arms over Mikey's shell.

Mikey turned to look back, Ibis assumed at Raphael.

"What're you talkin' about, angelcakes?" Mikey asked her.

"Just because I can't see you doesn't mean I don't know you're looking at me," Ibis clarified, snarky.

"You jus' don't make any sense," Raphael finally said.

"You're a giant turtle in shorts who can talk and knows karate, and I dont make sense?"

Mikey gave a throaty giggle.

"It ain't karate, it's ninjutsu," he snapped.

"Like I'd know the difference," Ibis responded.

"Karate's for kids, angelcakes. Only big, buff, handsome guys, such as myself, do ninjutsu," Mikey flexed the arm that wasn't gripping the back of her knee to keep her in place.

Ibis cocked a small smile.

Raphael let out a growl of a sigh, "Why'd you go through all the trouble of comin' down here?"

"Well, like you no doubt overheard when I was talking to Blue-"

"Leo," he corrected.

"Whatever," Ibis grumbled without lifting her chin from her crossed arms. "I want to make sure Ardy is taken care of. Like you said, you don't turn your back on family."

Raphael didn't respond. She couldn't tell if he was satisfied with the answer or not, but it didn't really make a difference. It was the truth, so it would have to do.

"We'll take good care of her!" Mikey assured, still bubbly despite the tension.

A smile pulled at Ibis's lips, tugging on the healing wound there, "Thanks, Sunshine. It means a lot."

"We ain't doin it for you," Raphael snapped.

"I know that," Ibis responded sternly. She took a breath to steady herself. "You cared about her long before I got here."

They must have reached the exit, because Mikey stopped and set her on her feet. Though it was Raphael who took off the blindfold. She met his gaze somewhat apprehensively, not really knowing what to expect.

"Hatch is up there," he nodded up above her.

She turned in the direction he'd indicated. Sure enough, there was a maintenance hatch above them. A ladder with three steps was bolted securely below it, but rust had taken its toll on the old thing. The last rung was well out of any normal person's reach.

"Ah. Great."

"Don't tell me ya need help getting out too," Raphael scolded.

Mikey didn't say a word, watching the exchange curiously.

Ibis lowered her brows to glare at him. He'd come to this one on purpose. It was a test, to see how many buttons he could push of hers before she retaliated again. She was trying to turn over a new leaf, and he was going to fight her the whole way.

A smug grin was forming on his lips as Ibis took in her assets. She had become very self-sufficient in her years of work. She absolutely did not need his help to get out.

She took a few steps back, gauging the jumps in her head. Raphael and Mikey watched curiously as she took off in a sprint and launched herself at the wall.

A ledge was easy enough to grip and climb up on, and from there the remnants of the ladder were well in reach. She leapt from the ledge and gripped the ladder firmly, then climbed the rest of the way up to the hatch. It took a little elbow grease to open, but less than a minute later she was climbing up into a back alley.

Mikey's chuckles could be heard echoing through the tunnel.

She leaned back over the hatch, "Thanks for the lift, Sunshine. See ya 'round, Red."

She turned to go. The sounds of the city echoed off the walls of the alley, bustling and uncaring.

"Hey, Sparky!"

She turned around to see Raphael's head and arm poking out of the hatch.

"Yeah?"

He seemed to debate his words. "Give Shredder hell."

Ibis's mouth pulled up on one side, "Sure thing. Sorry about the shiner."

The look he gave her might've been a smile if he wasn't fighting it so hard. She gave a casual salute and turned to go.

...

Raphael sat in his room the next day. Leo has made sure to go over and smooth things out with Ardyn last night, and hadn't come back until nearly dawn. He wasn't an idiot, he knew Leo wasn't just talking with her all that time.

It infuriated him. It was Leo who had said Ardyn was off-limits. He had set that rule. Now he was the one breaking it.

Ardyn had been closest with Leo the past while, though Donnie was the one she spent the bulk of her time with. Maybe he was just too much for her. He was rough all along his edges, without a doubt. He had a temper, undeniably.

But what made Leo so goddamn special to her?

He was ridiculously uptight, controlling, and arrogant. Ever since Master Splinter had put him in charge of the team, he had pranced around in his high horse. The two of them never butt heads as much when they were kids, but now? It was damn near constant.

He pulled Ibis's knife from his waistband and looked at it. The craftsmanship was admirable. The black wood handle had deep red metal fastenings, and the black blade was recently sharpened. He had hesitated when the time came to give it back to her. It was selfish, but he wanted something to remember her by. The shiner wouldn't last forever, but he'd never forget how he got it.

He'd never been hit like that before.

Whether he liked her or not, he respected her. She'd held her own all this time, and didn't take any shit. It was admirable. How could someone like her share any blood with Ardyn? They were so different. Ardyn had her own venom, for sure. But where she was at her most dangerous when she was scared, like a wild animal, Ibis had an underlying fire. Like she didn't necessarily need a reason to raise hell, only an opportunity. He was almost sorry to see her go, especially knowing she wasn't going to come back.

He would fight tooth and nail to be there when she fought Shredder. If she was as dangerous as he thought, she might give them an opening to attack.

"Leo!"

He stood alert. He knew that voice.

Pocketing the knife, he stepped out of the room. Sure enough, Ibis was in the lair again. But this time, she looked terrified.

"Ibis?"

She turned to look at him. The color had left her face. God, she looked sick. Like she was at death's door and leaning on the bell.

"Mikey, what's going on?" Leo emerged from the doorway of the dojo. Anger crossed his features, "You brought her back here?"

Ibis took staggering steps forward and all but collapsed on him, gripping his arms with white knuckles.

"You have to help her-" she choked out between thick breaths. "...gone. Apartment trashed- she's gone!"

"Slow down, Ibis. You're not making any sense, I need you to take a deep breath-"

She threw his arms off and gripped his shoulders, a wild look in her eyes, "Ardyn is gone."

A cold fear swept over Leo's face, and Ibis dropped.