26. Cigarette

Leo had just finished his meditation in the dojo and came out to a very quiet lair, especially considering it wasn't very late in the evening. There was a crack in the doors to the lab and some light pouring out, so he knew where Donnie was, most likely with April, given the door was slightly open.

Casey and Raph had mostly likely gone out as it was dark enough for them not to be seen, as for Mikey and Karai he had no idea where they were or if they were with each other. Both of their bedroom doors were closed, which could mean that they were both in their rooms.

Stretching out his muscles as he walked over to the couch he noticed a note placed on the table in front of the couch, on top of all the magazines that littered it.

I've gone out for a run, I'll be back before midnight.

- Karai

It was unusual for Karai to leave a note to explain where she was, but she did usually tell someone, so this could mean she hadn't told anyone where she was going. Leo didn't like that and although he knew that Karai could more than look after herself, he wanted to make sure that she was okay.

He knew it might take some time to find her, but he decided to go to her most well known locations, places where she often went when she went out for a run as well as the more common places they went on patrol.

It didn't take long to find her on a rooftop in Chinatown, sat on the edge, looking down, a cigarette between her fingers.

"You know those can kill you." Leo said as he walked across the rooftop to her.

"It's not like I smoke them often." Karai said, taking a drag as the turtle sat down next to her.

"You shouldn't be smoking at all."

"I can't drink, I can't smoke...what can I do?" Karai smirked at Leo.

"You can talk to me...about why you're out here."

"I just needed some time away from the lair...and one of these, I'm pretty sure father knows I smoke, but it doesn't mean I need to do it in front of him or where he might stumble across me in the sewers."

"Why do you need to smoke?"

"To help with stress." Karai admitted as she put out the cigarette.

"You know there are better ways to deal with stress."

"Don't lecture me, just because you don't smoke doesn't mean you're a better person than me."

"I wasn't saying that…" Leo said, frowning at how standoffish Karai was acting towards him. He knew things weren't brilliant between them but he thought that he and Karai could have a normal conversation without one getting angry or annoyed.

"I know...I'm sorry…" Karai said, putting her face in her hands and Leo was unsure of what to do. He wanted nothing more than to place a hand on her shoulder or give her a hug, but didn't think that would be received well.

Before he could try and comfort her in anyway, her heads tilted sideways and rested it on Leo's shoulder, her soft hair tickling him slightly. Her hands were still covering her face and Leo waited for her to speak again, for the time being he enjoyed the feel of Karai so close to him.

"I don't even need to be stressed, I'm just causing myself to be."

"What do you mean?" Leo asked.

"All this stuff between us, ever since our fight I've just been stressed, first because I thought that you would want nothing to do with me and now…"

"Now what?"

"Now it's because I've ruined everything." Karai admitted and Leo felt something in his chest, he wasn't sure what it was and guessed it was a mix between hope that Karai actually had feelings for him and some uncertainty, she could be talking about something else.

"Everything?"

"Everything between us." Karai confirmed.

"You haven't."

"Really?" Karai laughed, sitting back up and moving away slightly from the turtle. "After all I've done to you? Hurt you? You'd really put yourself through a relationship with me." She said, her expression angry but Leo stayed calm.

"I've hurt you too." Leo said, brushing a hand against her shoulder. "We're not perfect and we've got a lot to talk about...but I've wanted nothing but a relationship with you for as long as I can remember." Leo said, being completely honest with Karai and hoping she would be the same with him.

"You've always attracted me, the way you are, the person you are, your skill, loyalty, honour, I've never met a person like you. You've saved my life and I owe everything to you...you welcomed me into your family after all that I have done...I don't deserve you."

"Karai…" Leo began to say, stunned by her words, "that's ridiculous, what happened in your past doesn't have to dictate your future."

"How can I ever make up for it?"

"You are...all the good things you've done since and all the good things you will do in the future."

"How can you still like me after everything I've done to you?" Karai sighed, resting her head back on the turtle's shoulder.

"I'll never stop liking you Karai, I care for you too much." Leo said and the two sat in silence for a few moments before Karai once again raised her head and held Leo's chin in her hand, pulling his head around to look at her.

"I want this...but I want to do it right." She said and rested her forehead against Leo's. "I just need some time." She said and Leo nodded, fighting the urge to kiss her, she was so close to him.

The two enjoyed the closeness of the other for several more minutes before they decided to go home. Karai allowing Leo to hold her hand through the sewers, only letting go when they reached their home.

Leo slept well that night, knowing that he and Karai were more than good and hoped that they would be officially together soon.