Mikey pulled Amber closer to his chest still half asleep and slowly making his way to the land of the living. He nuzzled his nose into the crook of her neck planting a kiss that woke her. Amber stretched and rolled over to face him.
"Good morning," she sighed wishing she could sleep a little longer.
Mikey brushed the hair from her face admiring her sleeping features. He let his hand drift lower down her back. His face fell when she rolled back over and sat up.
"You have a tournament today," she said pulling up her hair into a bun.
Mikey sat up and wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her back against him. "A little pre-game never hurt," he muttered against her neck.
Amber brushed him off and stood. She couldn't help but giggle at his pout. "I'm starving. Please tell me there's some alien pancakes around here."
"I think I can manage that. The square should have vendors by now with food."
"Perfect," she said taking his hands and pulling him up and out of bed. "Let's go!"
Mikey passed money to a merchant and turned to hand Amber the food, but she wasn't there. The square wasn't too crowded so he could see her a few stalls down conversing with an alien. She had the same look when she talked about the new exhibits at the museum: eyes wide, exciting talk and hand movements, and a huge smile.
He couldn't get over how beautiful she looked.
He was so distracted he didn't notice Raph till his brother was standing beside him. "Is anyone else up?"
Raph shook his head, "I saw Drea and Mira a bit ago, but I think everyone else is still sleepin'."
"Look at this!" Amber said shoving the small tapestry in their faces. "I've never seen anything like it. This fabric is so different from Earth." She let out a wistful sigh as she put the artwork in her bag, "Maybe one day I can put together an alien cultural exhibit."
Mikey handed her the food they came for.
"When's the tournament start?" she asked happily eating the crepe like pastry.
"A few hours, but we have to get to the area early."
Amber took a seat next to Donnie carefully setting her snacks down. "Are you not competing?"
"No, my competing days are long over. I just come for support," he explained taking the concession snacks she offered.
"I don't blame you. Looks intense," she replied looking down into the area where barriers were raising, and players were dropped in.
Donnie let out a breath, "That's an understatement."
"How long does it take?"
"A few hours, then the finals are tomorrow."
"Where's Slinter?"
"With the Daimyo," Donnie explained pointing across the arena to the box.
She slurped her gunglak surprised that it tasted to good.
"Weird, right?"
Amber nodded trying to figure out what the drink reminded her of. "Weird, but. . .good?"
Donnie nodded in agreement. "A lot of the food here is like that."
"I'm sorry Rosie couldn't come."
"It's alright. Even if she didn't have work, I doubt she'd come."
Amber chuckled, "You're probably right. I have to admit you two surprised me."
"Surprised me too," he agreed already missing Rosie and her antics.
"I haven't seen her so happy since we were kids."
"But I thought you grew up in foster care?" He winced hoping he didn't offend her.
Amber was taken aback for a second surprised Rosie told him. "It wasn't all bad when we were kids. But when we got into high school we were separated." She noticed him looking embarrassed and gave him a nudge, "My point is, you're making her happy."
"I think it might be the other way around," he admitted quietly but was drowned out by the crowed cheering.
"Its starting!"
Jess stared down at the cell Leo battled in not paying attention. Despite her promise to Ryu she couldn't stop thinking about Russo and what he may want.
Lila was sitting beside her and miss took her frustration for worry. "He's fine."
"Huh? That's not what I was thinking about."
"Then what's on your mind?"
"Russo," Jess huffed wishing she could let it go. "Ry said it would be like making a deal with the devil and I can't help but feel like he's right." Before Lila could say anything, she added, "Not to mention that Laker is still alive, and I don't think we should've left."
"Relax. Chiefs mole gave the all clear. The NYPD can handle it for a few days. We're not even on Earth!" she exclaimed gesturing to the various alien life forms around them. "That's so crazy. Let just enjoy this break."
Jess relaxed knowing she was right. She watched as Leo advanced with a small smiled that fell when Lila have her a teasing nudge.
"Should've worn your cheerleading uniform."
Jess scoffed.
"I bet he'd like it too," she grinned.
"I liked you better in a suit and all serious," Jess grumbled and stood.
"Where are you going?" Lila called half laughing.
"To get concession!"
Jess glared at the long line annoyed.
"Aw, come on. I was just teasing," Lila said leaning on Jess's shoulder ignoring the brunettes glare. "But why haven't you two moved forward? It's clear you like each other."
"Honestly, it's hard to do anything personal with everything going on. Sometimes I forget we've nearly kissed twice," she sighed moving forward with the line. "With planning for the gang war and sabotaging Dragon shipments I've hardly had time to think let along start anything with Leo."
"Hopefully, it won't be so stressful soon."
"Don't jinx it."
They finally stepped up to the counter and ordered their food.
"One gunglak please." The Alien behind the counter slid her the drink earning a sideways glance from Jess. "Mikey said it was really good. Like a grape soda but alien."
Jess slid the alien behind the counter the money Donnie had given then and scooped up her snacks.
They went back to their seats. Jess handed the rest of the money to the kids.
"The semi-finals are starting!" Amber said over the crowed. "Go, Mikey!"
Jess stood in the square off to the side clapping her hands to the beat of the drums. The performers in the center danced and threw flower into the watching crowd.
"Enjoying yourself?" Leo asked, gently setting a hand on her shoulder hoping to not startle her too bad.
She still jumped. "I am actually."
He looked out at the crowed watching as Andera and Mira were pulled in by the dancers along with others in the crowd. As a vendor passed, he grabbed a wreath of purple and white flower and set them on Jess's head. "You can't join without these."
Jess adjusted them so they weren't falling in her face. "What do they mean?"
"They're meant to represent the link between dimensions."
Jess grabbed a similar wreath and set it on his head. "There. Now you can join too." Andrea grabbed her hand dragging her into the square. She took Leo's had as Andrea did, pulling him into the square with her.
After a while Leo stood off to the side to catch his breath. Jess still danced with Andrea and Nikki. Her hair loosely braided with interwoven flowers. She was so beautiful. He could hear her laughing over the chatter of the crowd and couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her happy.
He wondered if he ever had.
He was so distracted he didn't realize she was coming towards him.
"I'm so tired. Do you think you can get your goyji friend to open a portal?" Jess asked out of breath and wiping the sweat from her forehead. The wreath on her head mostly baren now.
"I know a better place," he said taking her by the hand and leading her out of the square.
Jess followed him a little suspicious when they entered the surrounding woods. He led her down a rough path.
"Where are you taking me?" she huffed after hoping down from a third boulder.
Leo pulled aside vines for her to walk through. "We're almost there."
"Better be. We just went down the whole mountain."
"Almost," he grinned. "It's a spot we found out second time here."
She gasped when they stepped out of the tree's and foliage. It was the base of the waterfall. The out crop of the mountain created a grotto that shimmered with the setting sun. "It's beautiful," she breathed crouching down to look at the flowers growing between the rocks. She shot up when she heard a splash.
"And warm."
Jess bit back a smile when he turned around. She pulled off her clothes but hesitated at her underwear. But she looked up the mountain and grimaced at the chaffing the climb back up would be if she left them on, so she slipped those off too.
She got in the water quickly and wrapped her arms around herself feeling silly and moved to the more shadowed area. At least the water was warm as promised. "This is nice."
"I'm glad you like it."
"Do you think I'm stupid?"
Leo reeled back wondering when he'd given her that impression. "Not at all," he said moving to sit beside her on the submerged rocks. "I'm just worried. Going to Russo is dangerous."
"I know. I can't stop thinking about, but I know it's the right thing to do."
"I trust you, but we're a team."
Jess let out a tense, frustrated breath and pushed off the rocks and swam closer to the waterfall. "You keep saying that, but this isn't your problem. It's mine."
Leo followed after her. "I want to help you, Jess. At the very least you're family. Maybe you're not used to that, but we protect our own." He smiled when she looked up at him from the corner of her eyes. "And at the most, I care about you. You don't need to fight this on your own. I won't let you."
She looked away to fruitlessly hide her blush.
Leo turned her chin back to him. "I mean it."
"I know," she muttered looking up at him and remembering what Lila had said earlier. Summoning up as much courage as she could she leaned up and kissed him.
He wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer.
"Leonardo."
"Goyji!" Leo yelp pushing Jess behind him. "What is it?"
Jess peered around Leo to glare at the bubble like being wondering if a sharp stick would pop him.
"You and Lady Jess are late for tonight's feast. Would you like me to summon a portal?"
"Yes," Leo bit out struggling to remain respectful. "Just give us a minute."
The goyji nodded and waved his paddle disappearing a moment later.
Jess decided to salvage what was left of the moment by kissing his cheek. "Thank you. I had fun."
Jess threw herself back on her bed dramatically while in the mists of telling Lila what happened at the waterfall. "It was perfect," she whined. "And then it was ruined."
Lila tucked away her dirty clothes and zipped her bag back up. "But you guy's kiss. That's progress."
Jess rolled over and hugged her pillow. "Yeah, I guess, but now it's gonna be awkward between us."
"You don't know that. Even if it is, you can't do anything about it now, so go to sleep."
Knowing she was right Jess snuggled under the soft blankets still very much upset.
Jess clapped as petals were thrown from the balconies about raining down on Leo, the metal around his neck shimmering in the light. He walked up to her with a smug smile. "I told you I would be fine."
Jess smiled and brushed the petals off his shoulders. "I didn't doubt you for a second."
"Are you excited to be going home?"
"I could go without the portal."
He chuckles, "I'll be there to catch you."
Nikki watched the interaction with a scowl.
"Still hate him?" Andrea asked giving him a nudge.
"As long as she's happy," he huffed. His attention shift to Ryu when he and Mira approached them.
Andrea glanced between the two glaring at each other. "Hey, Nikki, remember how I told you that Ryu and Mira talked?"
"Yeah, I remember," he replied not looking away from Ryu.
She rolled her eyes and pulled him away. "Look, a portal!"
Nikki followed her through the portal only to be met by flashing red lights.
I ain't gonna lie. I don't have the energy to edit this so I'm gonna pray it's readable. . .Pretty sure it is. I'm honesty sick of this portion of the story. When I first wrote it I loved it but this it al got deleted so I had to rewrite from memory.
Anyway, thanks for reading! Haven't gotten any reviews on the last few chapters which makes me kinda sad. I love hearing from all of you. Remember to follow so you get an email notification for updates!
