Evangeline drew in a deep breath, gently easing her shoulder straight out. Her body was healing, slowly, but that didn't mean she was going to lay around. Settling on her back, Eva braced her hands flat on either side of her head and pulled in another deep breath. Gradually, her legs lifted off the ground until her back curled. The air Eva had drawn in released as her shoulder ached, holding her legs in a horizontal position over her face.
"Didn't Donnie say to take it easy for a while?" A familiar voice stated, nearly startling the young woman off balance.
"I don't see you upholding that example" Eva retorted playfully, letting herself roll into a sitting position. A light smile graced her lips when a three fingered hand lowered itself to her level. Effortlessly pulling the female to her feet, Leo took the other and lifted it.
"How is your shoulder?" he asked, extending her arm fully, his other hand cupping the appendage. Evangeline let him, watching the terrapin roll her arm in a complete circle, resisting a flinch.
"It's healing. A little sore, but nothing I can't handle"
"I'm glad, considering you're lucky to be alive. Why didn't you tell me about the androids? Or jumping out of a fourth story window?" Leo asked, letting go of Eva's arm when the young woman sighed and stepped away to take a sip from a cup on the coffee table.
"If you recall, that night wasn't exactly the best time to bring something like that up" she stated looking up at the large mutant male. Leo flinched at the memory. It definitely wasn't his best moment.
"You're right" he admitted, however a small smile crept in once the turtle remembered something else about that night. From the look on her face, Evangeline must have been thinking the same thing as she gazed up at the mutant. Her hair was continuing to grow out, with it now being at a point where the young woman was able to pull it back into an awkwardly short ponytail, little tendrils that were too short falling around her face. Leonardo couldn't help reaching out to brush a piece out of her eyes.
"Ah, sorry, I-" He caught himself, pulling back, or at least tried to. Eva's hand was quicker, grabbing hold of his to press her cheek into the palm. It was calloused, but warm for a mutated reptile.
"You're allowed to touch me Leo, I'm not going to run away" She reassured, stepping closer to him. Eva didn't want to press too much, but at the same she was, after all, a female. Unfortunately it was in her basic instinct to have the need for his physical affections, however much she tried to resist it.
Leonardo, as much as he himself tried to deny it, was in fact a hot blooded male through and through. With Eva standing so close he could smell her floral body wash mixed with the light amount of sweat from whatever exercises she had been doing. Unfortunately for him, that meant an extra amount of estrogen pheromones lingering in the air to inhale. Leo had to swallow, hard, fighting back his most basic of instincts.
Seeing Eva starring up at him, her hazel eyes completely unafraid of the mutant standing in her home, coupled with her intoxicating scent, it was enough to make his blood burn. His thumb graced across her cheek bone, drawing Evangeline closer.
Was this ok?
It felt right.
Everything felt right.
Having Eva so close, felt right.
Maybe Raphael was right. He was overthinking things.
The world faded away as Leo leaned down, for once letting his instincts drive his actions.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING
Reality snapped back like a rubber-band. Leonardo drew a deep breath, resting his forehead against Eva's. The young woman whispered a curse toward the interruption as the phone continued to ring relentlessly. Who could be calling at a time like this? Leo watched the petite female leave his embrace to answer her cellphone.
In the meantime the mutant stepped into the kitchen for a well needed glass of ice water to clear his head. Another familiar reptile pulled himself onto the counter.
"Hey Zeus, long time no see" the turtle greeted, giving the iguana some chin scratches. Over time the two of them had come to get along quite well. He had started to see why Eva enjoyed their company so much.
"Leo..." Evangeline's voice sounded from behind him, her tone throwing off his thoughts.
"What's wrong?" Leonardo asked, taking immediate notice of her sudden mood change. Her expression was solemn, and deeply troubled, something he didn't like at all.
"I...I'll be going out of town for a while"
"Wait, Evangeline left? Just like that?" Mikey questioned, slightly horrified at what his older brother had told them once he returned to the lair.
"Someone close to her passed away, that's all she would tell me" Leonardo stated, taking a seat on the sofa, "You know how private she is about her life outside New York. Eva said Donnie would know what to do with the building while she's away"
"Of course, but how long will she be gone?" Donatello asked, looking up from his project at the nearby desk.
"A week? Possibly more if something happens" their leader replied, thoroughly worried at the last part of the repeated statement. He didn't like the way Evangeline had phrased her explanation. She'd seemed extremely troubled, and for some reason, almost fearful.
"I wouldn't be too worried. She's going home, couldn't be that bad" Raphael stated, flipping channels on the television.
"Remember what Master Splinter said a long time ago? Something happened to make her act the way she does, just like anyone else. Maybe home isn't all that great" Don pointed out, still fully concentrated on his microscope.
"Either way, one of us will be sure to stay with you Donnie" Leonardo interjected, laying his head back on the couch. His heart was still pounding from earlier. The image of Evangeline's eyes starring longingly, almost hungrily, up at him still buried itself deep in the male's memory. He had to reel in, get back under control.
It had been a week and a half since Evangeline left. In that time Donatello had decided to stay in the apartment to look after the multitude of animals with each of his brothers dropping in to check on him. There had been no word from Eva, no call, no message, nothing.
"I'm getting a little worried" Donatello admitted one morning, taking a sip from his coffee cup, "We haven't heard anything and Zeus is getting testy without Eva around. Apparently I don't fix salads to his liking"
"She'll be back. Eva wouldn't just up and abandon everything she's built here" Leonardo reassured from his spot in the recliner. What the leader wasn't saying, was how much he was worried. Evangeline wouldn't just leave, right? Bits of fear had began to grow, giving Leo an unimaginable amount of anxiety at the very thought.
"I would call her, but her phone's been out of service" Don mumbled, giving into a sigh. His shoulder ached. Even with its progressive healing, the damage that had been done would likely be permanent. The turtle genius would never wield a BO-staff the same again.
The sound of a car outside suddenly alerted the two turtles, followed by the monitor relaying the click of the front door's lock. Glancing at one another, Leo and Donnie rose from their seats as the apartment's door opened, allowing Evangeline to step through.
"Eva! You're back!" Donnie exclaimed, rushing over with his brother in tow.
"Don...it's good to see you're doing better" Eva greeted with a soft smile, however, the young woman's normally sharp, concentrated eyes betrayed her. Leonardo couldn't ignore how dull, and listless they were, as if the person before them were merely a shell.
"What's wrong? I know you went to a funeral but you seem a bit..off" Donatello was the first to speak up, obviously taking immediate notice as well. Luckily their less sensitive brothers weren't there to possibly agitate the situation.
"I'm just tired Don, its ok, really" she replied, placing her hand on the turtle's shoulder.
Donatello and Leonardo exchanged glances, silently discussing what to do. The slight narrow of his older brother's eyes was all the purple favoring turtle needed as a signal.
"I'll be taking my leave then" Donnie stated, shooting his brother a look of his own before placing a hand on Eva's shoulder as well, "Get some rest when you can"
Evangeline watched Donatello leave, sighing at the look Leonardo was giving her. Now really wasn't the time.
"Leo, please, I'm not in the mood for an interrogation" she softly pleaded, trudging toward the coffee pot. A gentle hand, however, caught the woman's hand.
"Let me" Leonardo uttered, redirecting Evangeline to have a seat on her own couch while the terrapin made her a cup of hot coffee. Donnie's silent message had definitely been right.
"Thank you.."
The eldest nodded, taking a seat beside the female, of course with some comfortable distance so as not to overcrowd her. Evangeline, on the other hand, had different plans. Normally she respected Leo's want for space but right now was not that time. Eva felt drained, and needed something, or someone, to hold onto.
Inch by inch, she closed the gap, pushing to curl against his plastron, holding on tight to the warm cup. Leonardo lifted his arm, replacing it on the back of the couch. He'd never seen Eva in such a state. Her face was paled, but not sick, and the normal fire that fueled the personality he'd come to respect and love, was hardly a set of embers. A husk, a shell, those were the best words to describe her right now.
"Eva, what happened?" he asked, trying to keep his breathing steady. Now wasn't the time to lose his head.
"I..I'm such a coward" she nearly whispered.
Ok, now he was worried!
"What? What makes you think that?" he asked, thoroughly bewildered and taken aback.
"I'm a coward. All I've ever done is run away" Evangeline breathed shakily, the cup in her hands beginning to tip, "I ran away...I ran away and..."
Leo felt his very core begin to panic as her shoulders started to tremble and her head dipped. Thinking quickly, the terrapin took the mug and set it on the table, not wanting either of them to be burned.
"Eva, you're not a coward" Leo softly stated, awkwardly placing his hand on her back. What was he suppose to do in a situation like this? Had he been more prepared, it could have been different! He watched in horror as little droplets fell onto her pants, feeling a mixture of sorrow and anger well up within him.
What happened while Eva was away to return to him these broken pieces of the young woman he cared for? Leonardo watched her hands ball into tight fists and her petite form curl.
"I'm here" he whispered, not knowing of anything else to say that might help, wrapping his arms firmly around her crumpled body. That's when the walls shattered.
She wailed, tears pouring from her eyes as if a dam had finally given way under too much pressure. Leonardo felt like his very soul was breaking as he listened helplessly to the sounds that came from the woman in his arms. Her small fingers had opened to grasp the edges of his plastron as if she would fall to pieces should they let go.
"I'm sorry..!" she cried, "I'm so sorry!"
For a moment, Leo nearly asked why, however until he realized that the apology wasn't directed toward him. Leaning back, the mutant only held her tighter, burying his face into her messed hair. How long had she been holding this in? The entire week? No. More than likely, much longer than that.
This carried on for what seemed like forever, until Eva's cries turned into whimpers, which then melted into an exhausted sleep. Leonardo delicately wiped away a strap tear that still lingered on her lashes. Just what exactly had happened to result in her reducing to this? To be returned to him so torn apart. It made his blood boil just thinking about it.
Careful not to wake her, Leo lifted Eva's tired body and carried her to the bedroom. Surely sleeping in her own bed would bring some peace of mind. Leonardo planned on returning that evening either way, considering what he had just witnessed, the mutant didn't feel comfortable leaving for too long. On top of that, some mediation might help the both of them. Taking one last moment to brush some hair from her forehead, Leo leaned down to place a peck to the tender skin.
"Sleep well"
He mustered all of his ninja training in order to sneak out of the building and back into the sewer to head home. Upon re-entering his home, the eldest drew in a deep breath. Maybe a nap would calm his nerves.
"Hey Leo" Donnie's voice called from his lab, "I need to talk with you"
Ok, maybe not.
"What's up Don?" he asked, walking in, finding his younger brother's laboratory in full action. Donatello sat at his computers, clad in full safety gear that included goggles, a thick mask, and his lab coat. Across the room various chemicals were splayed on the table, including one on a burner and another carefully being mixed and dripping into a beaker. If anyone could pull off a mad scientist recreation, it was definitely Donnie.
"So, I've ran simulation after simulation. I've managed to hack what's left of the company's cloud. Hell, I've even searched every employee background to be safe and I can't find anything to prove myself wrong!" Don grumbled, running his hands over his hairless scalp.
"No offense little brother, but I'm not really in the mood for riddles" Leonardo stated, already thoroughly confused. Why would Donnie, of all turtles, try to prove himself wrong?
"That "creature" we saw in the video? Rather than try and defrag the entire footage I isolated a single image and focused solely on that" the purple-masked turtle explained, pulling up the mentioned photo.
Leonardo almost had to squint. Even with the enhancements, it was still difficult to completely make out the picture, however, what was visible was the familiar face of what seemed to be Evangeline, caught just right in the glare of red light.
"Don, that can't be right. You yourself said it would be nearly impossible for someone her size to do that amount of damage" Leo pointed out, not taking his eyes off the image. Something about her wasn't quite right. The Evangeline on the screen, her eyes were sharper, and her face was more pulled in, more relaxed.
"It is, but I've ran every other possibility. There were no records of any other mutants or specimens in that building. All of the employees? Completely clean" Donatello argued, groaning out loud, "I already had my suspicions but until now I didn't have any solid evidence"
"Then, how?"
"I don't know. The only way would be to run tests and see if there are any abnormalities. If she would let me" the younger sibling explained, rubbing his neck, "One thing's for sure. You know how to pick'em Leo"
"Ha-ha, very funny. Don't you have some chemicals to mix?" Leonardo scoffed halfheartedly, walking over to a bubbling beaker, "What are you working on anyway?"
"Well, I found a curious formula the company had been tampering with and decided to reverse engineer it to find out what they were trying to do with our DNA" Don relied while adjusting his lab safety gear, "Though I'd feel much better about it if you stepped back a little, after all, I don't know how it will react when exposed to-"
Before either ninja could react the beaker suddenly crackled and exploded, splattering the thick concoction everywhere. Both turtles yelped in surprise, doing their best to shield themselves. Donatello, with the aid of his goggles and mask, was able to wipe most of it away. Leo, however, wasn't so lucky.
"Ack, what the hell?" the blue-masked turtle grumbled, brushing the goop from his eyes, spitting the bitterness out of his mouth, "Please tell me that was just some harmless hair growth serum or something"
"Well, um, I'm not sure. It could be nothing!" Don replied worriedly, grabbing a flushing agent he kept handy, helping his brother as best he could.
"Great" Leo grumbled, "I'm going to take a nap then go back to Eva's"
"I don't know if leaving is a good idea. I don't know what sort of side effects that stuff might cause" Donnie warned, nervously collecting samples before they could dissolve away.
"I'll be fine. Just do what you do best Donnie" the leader reassured, waving off the warning as he left the lab for his room.
Today couldn't get any worse.
