Undiscovered Power
~
It was funny how the death of one person can bring content and ease to the hearts of the group right now having a party in the sewers. Of course, Shredder was no normal man, so his death was not one that people mourned, except perhaps his Clan, and even that was doubtful, they were not people with hearts. It took some getting through to Raph's head that they had defeated the Shredder. Perhaps his illness had left him with an after-effect of denial, because he seemed to think at first everyone was making it for, and that everyone's bruises were from a serious street brawl. After the time it took to convince him the Shredder was actually gone, he complained of a headache and told everyone to shut up. They did do for three seconds, and then they broke out in laughs and started talking. Splinter even encouraged his son to 'lighten' up, and that they had reason to celebrate.
"We haven't had anything to really party about," Donny explained to Prida. "Shredder made sure our lives were far from happy."
"I'm still having a little difficulty accepting this," Raph mumbled from the couch. He had his arms crossed, but his mood had lightened considerably. "I was kinda thinking of a spectacular defeat involving all four of us." He was a little down though because their first major defeat, and over Shredder too, had not included him.
Leo turned around from talking to Casey. "Look, that was a real shame, Raph, a real shame you couldn't be there – but it's happened, and for the better good."
Donny turned back to his conversation with Prida, and continued the one they had been having about her house.
"But the Foot still know where I live," she pointed out.
"A lot of them had been taken in by the police, and with no orders from Shredder I highly doubt they'll plan any kinda attack on you," Donny explained. "I'm pretty confident you can return to your house."
Prida paused a moment before she nodded and looked down at her hands, and started fiddling with a bit of bandage material she had cut off Donny's dressing.
"Well then I've got some cleaning to do before my sister gets back, which is in a week," she sighed.
"Hey, I'll help," Donny volunteered kindly with a smile. "And since Raph's been no help to anyone he can too."
Raph looked up. "What's that?"
"You've got an appointment at Prida's house with the vacuum cleaner," his brother told him.
"Damn," Raph looked back down.
Mikey and April entered the room by descending the ladder, with a pizza box each. It was their dinner for the rest for the day, and an extra pizza was for the special occasion.
"Hmmmm, steaming pizza, guys," Mikey announce as he opened the box, let it steam, and placed it on their small table. "Want some, Raph?"
"Sure, pass some over," he answered, holding his hand out.
"I guess everything's getting better," Leo said with a smile, as Mikey handed Raph a slice of steaming, oozing cheese pizza.
"Yep," Mikey sighed contently. He held up his slice f pizza. "To our triumphant battle against The Shredder!"
Those with pizza slices followed his lead, with a chorus of, "Our triumphant battle!"
()()()()
Donny's wounds were beginning to heal already the next day, and Raph seemed to be improving greatly. His fever was gone, and all that remained was the occasional cough and lose of appetite. Everyone who fought yesterday was back to full strength, and their happy moods felt good. Their party the previous night included some music from Mikey's old collection, more pizza, and a happy atmosphere. Today, everyone woke a little later. April and Casey had returned to April's apartment last night, but Prida had remained in the sewers. Everyone was up and about now, as it was noon. There had been no practice, no meditation classes, no nothing except free time to think about what happened yesterday. Leo seemed to be reacting to his victory different to what they would have expected. He had been happy yesterday, happier than his brothers had seen him in a long time. Leo didn't need to jump up and down or shout to show he was happy, unlike Mikey. He could express it through his body movements and expression, which his brothers had come to know so well. Yet today, he seemed distant, and when asked if her was happy, he replied with:
"Yes, of course I am, the Shredder is gone. But . . ." He trailed off and turned away from Mikey to look at the sky. He and his brothers were at Prida's place, and Leo and Mikey were in the attic, which had a dusty window that looked out onto the block at the back of the house. The day was normal outside, and the sky held only fluffy white clouds which Leo stared at.
Mikey leaned over to his brother. "But?" He asked.
Leo sighed and shook his head. "I don't know why, Mikey, but it doesn't feel . . . real. Maybe I had been expecting the same kind of defeat as Raph had in mind, and maybe I'm just a bit disappointed. I'm glad he's gone, but, for us ninja, who have been trained to defeat this man . . . it just seemed a little disappointing, that's all. I mean, the location was in a park, in broad daylight, and the main plan was just to get April back – I mean, we didn't even have Raph there with us, and, you know, this was a family thing, between all four of us . . . Ah dunno, I should be happy – and I am, really." He smiled at his brother. Mikey knew what Leo meant more than he thought, but Mikey couldn't dwell on the things that should have happened in the final fight. It was over, he was happy, end of story, or so he hoped.
Mikey put a hand on Leo's shoulder. "I know what you mean bro, I understand. You, Perfectionist, don't surprise me that you wanted a proper fight. But it happened, and we're happy, that's what matters now, 'cause it's the future, not the past."
Leo's eyes had wandered to the floor as his brother spoke, but as he came to an end, Leo looked up and smiled at his brother.
"You're right, Mike, thanks."
Mikey gave his brother's shoulder a pat, and moved towards the trapdoor ladder that led into the attic.
"C'mon, Prida might want some more broken stuff hidden up here, let's go see."
They moved out of the attic, climbed the stairs to the first floor of the house, and made their way downstairs to find Don and Raph lifting a fallen shelves cabinet back against the wall in one of the back rooms. The house was almost back to being clean. There was still one more room to tidy, and one of the windows that had been smashed was covered with a plastic sheet.
"How are you going to explain the window to your sister?" Leo asked as Prida appeared from the front room and dumped a box of broken ornaments in his arms.
Prida stopped moving about and put a hand on her hip, giving a breathless sigh. "Errr, I dunno, I'll say a bird flew into it?" She wiped her brow with the yellow dusting cloth and shrugged.
Mikey glanced at the room in which the broken window was. "That's gotta be some bird."
"Ugh, well, I'll say some kids were playing in the streets and accidentally threw a ball at it," she tried again.
Mikey gave a nod. "Better."
Prida disappeared off into the untidy room, as Donny and Raph sat down in the kitchen. Donny was pinching his forefinger, trying to get rid of a splinter, with his tongue between his lips. Raph rested his head on his fist.
Prida called from the other room for someone to help her with a shelf, and Leo put the box down on the floor and disappeared to aid her. The shelf was long, but all they had to do was hoist it up and prop it back onto its wall stands.
"Thanks," Prida huffed, and wiped her sweaty hands on the duster she was still carrying.
Leo nodded and returned to the box he had out down. He picked it up and walked back towards the attic to deposit the box with the rest of the stuff. Prida came back out the room and joined Don and Raph in the kitchen, and Mikey, who saw the free moment, joined them, and leant between Raph and Donny on the kitchen table.
"So, guys," he said, "about Leo's birthday . . ."
~
Short for once, thanks for reviews.