The Legacy
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Chapter Six - Of Special Interest
Karena:
I longed to be able to see with my own eyes, you know what they say seeing really is believing. With my eyes covered by the compresses, I was in a world of darkness and totally at the whims of who ever now had me.
My mind went through various scenarios, all of them probably, far more likely then the story Leo had woven about being a giant mutant turtle. I doubted him in spite of the sincerity of his voice because, well come on, there just couldn't be any such thing.
Sometimes I wished I could be alone with my thoughts but it seemed I was watched constantly for there was always some one with me. Usually the one called Don or Leo, I recognized both of their voices with ease at this point. However it only raised my suspicions.
However there was one with a gruffer voice, with a Brooklyn accent that had come in once or twice. He told me that his name was Raph. I also had heard the voice of an older person whose voice was soothing and gentle. Then there had been that one cheeky youthful voice that I recalled from the day I first woke up, Leo's niece, what had he called her again? She had never returned to my room.
I sort of wished she had visited just once more, for I felt I might learn more about my circumstances from her then from the others.
I just couldn't begin to fathom that four turtles who were capable of walking and talking actually existed, and had put my feelings to the test by touching Don's arm at one point. His skin felt slightly cooler then my own and a bit rougher but that was all I was able to distinguish.
Today though I would be able to see for myself, Don had promised that he would remove the compresses over my eyes. Yeah, right watch him come up with some excuse for why it can't be done.
I heard someone enter the room " Morning Karena, I bet you can't wait to really get a look at us huh?" Don asked cheerfully.
" Yeah." I agreed simply.
" Let me just light some candles first then, and if you are up to it later today I'll take you for a walk around our home get you familiar with it, you'll probably have to stay with us a few more days until you have your strength back." Don informed me, " Though you are welcome to stay with us as long as you like." He assured me.
As he spoke I could hear him at different points in the room and then slowly drawing close to the bed.
" All right Karena it is time to remove those compresses and see how your eyes look."
With gentle hands that moved with ease he slowly took off the bandages around the eyes.
At first all I saw was a green blur and I blinked a few times, trying to focus.
Then I gasped stifling a small scream. Don gave a slight grin.
" Hey Karena, Leo said he told you what to expect." He said gently.
" I didn't think. I never thought…oh my god he wasn't lying was he?" I almost squeaked as I realized I was sitting next to a giant turtle.
" Leo isn't one to exaggerate or make things up for that matter." Don said, he smiled a bit " I know that we take some time to get used to. And this probably has been a shock to you to say the least."
" Oh yeah" I murmured unable to keep from staring at him. It was real. They were real! Suddenly all I wanted was to find out more about these strange and unusual beings that had suddenly, almost miraculously come into my life.
Michaelangelo:
Sure enough Rama was soon talking like crazy and I thought she was a chatterbox before, now she absolutely refused to shut up. She had something to say on just about everything involving her life, and she was all for letting us know what her opinions were. I was starting to wish she had an off switch or a remote.
Rama was at present colouring away in one of her books while talking a mile a minute to whoever would care to listen, or just to herself when Raph came home.
Raph was just getting home from being out all night, most likely he had spent a few hours crashed at April and Casey's place for he didn't look too exhausted from his night on the town.
He waved towards us " Hi Rama."
" It Ram-ie-la Uncle Raphiel . Not Rama." She informed him in a huffy tone.
Raph arched an eye ridge in surprise " Oh we're getting formal are we?" he asked surprised at her words.
" She decided this morning that everyone but me call her by her full name." I told Raph, " I guess she has so little control of the rest of her life she wants to control that. Either that or she feels if she can say our full names we can say hers" I grinned.
Rama got up and ran over to her uncle to give him a big hug. Raph bent to hug her back and tousle her hair suddenly I saw Rama jump away from Raph and caught a glint of something in her clenched hand.
" Ramiela drop it now!" I barked knowing she had snatched one of Raph's sais.
Rama had a thing for Raph's sais, and she had somehow learned how to get a hold of them, and out of his belt without him getting wise to her.
She had been stealing his sais since she was around three years old and by this stage of the game stole them on a weekly basis or close to it.
Rama took off as Raph lunged to grab her, she dodged left sidestepping him and laughing cheerfully as if this was a new game invented for her pleasure.
" Rama drop it!" Raph bellowed.
" Ram-A-LA" she yelled back over her shoulder as if trying to teach Raph how to pronounce her name correctly.
I edged my way around the chairs keeping my eye on her, I didn't want to startle her into hurting herself accidentally " Ramiela if you don't drop that sai right now," I warned her sharply " You are going be in the biggest trouble you have ever been in."
" No!" Rama spat out, " my sai." She declared as she went to make a run out of the living room.
Damn but that kid could be so stubborn. Raph moved to the right, I kept to her left and we closed in around her.
Rama glanced quickly from her uncle to me, knowing she was surrounded and she stopped in her tracks stomping a foot, a pout coming to her face as she tried to spin the sai in the same way she had seen Raph do numerous times, of course she didn't have the hand placement right and the sai slipped from her fingers.
Raph dived in scooping her up in one arm and getting his fallen weapon with the other hand. He handed Rama over to me with a wicked grin " All yours daddy."
" Don't remind me Raph" I growled as I took her from him.
Rama whimpered a bit and cringed in my hands as I packed her into the dojo, I placed her down in a corner.
" Stand up on your tip toes with your arms above your head and keep them there" I ordered her.
" Daddy?" Rama choked out.
" Don't you daddy me. Do as your told young lady" I snapped and she quickly went into the stretch.
" You are not allowed to touch weapons, any weapon unless Leo permits it during your lesson." I reminded her firmly as I noted she was starting to sink down to flat feet. " On your tip toes."
She ducked slightly and started to cry but obeyed my order. I kept her in that position for a couple of minutes.
" Now stand properly but stay in that corner. I don't want to see so much as one toe coming out" I insisted.
" Yes Daddy" Rama replied miserably through her sniffles.
I sighed inwardly, I really hated punishing her. I didn't care to act the bully or ogre with my own daughter and when she started to cry it just made it all the harder to remain firm. Her tears always made me feel as if I ought to be comforting her and I often had to force myself to not give in.
She had to learn not to touch our weapons. Weapons were off limits and it didn't matter that we carried our weapons on us during every waking hour, we could not afford to keep them locked up out of her reach, not the way we lived. So Rama had to learn to respect the weapons and leave them alone.
Rama though seemed determined to play with Raph's weapons and I had tried numerous forms of punishment to get her to ease up on her weapon stealing to no avail.
I watched her wondering what I could do to get my point across to her, as I silently ticked off the minutes in my mind.
" All right you can come out of the corner and sit down" I finally told her.
She obeyed hesitantly sinking down to the mats and looking up at me, her eyes all red from her crying " Sorry daddy" she whispered softly.
" I'm sure you are sorry Rama that is why you continue to do it on a regular basis huh?" I asked her, " You are old enough to know better Rama." I insisted.
Rama tried tucking herself into her shell, something she often did when she knew I was really angry with her and she wanted to hide from me.
I glowered at her watching her squirm on the mat " You have been told you can't touch any weapon. You do not touch any weapon for any reason. Weapons can hurt you Rama they are not toys" I scolded her, " What is even worse is you took off running with Raph's weapon and you could have fallen and hurt yourself on it badly."
Rama nodded her head and gave a heavy shaky sigh. She sat dejected at my feet a forlorn expression on her face as she listened to my ranting at her.
" Now I don't want you taking Raph's weapon again." I informed her curtly before taking a few deep breaths. " You are going to do fifteen summersaults, I'll count them for you. Then you can stand on your head for a bit." I said " After that I am going take Franklin and your Elmo away from you for today. You can have them back tomorrow morning if you behave."
Rama gasped looking up at me with a wide eyed look. I'd never taken away her favourite toys before but I figured if it broke her of this bad habit then it would be worth it.
" I also want you to apologise to Raph."
Rama busted out into a fresh round of tears " No daddy, I be good."
" Prove it Rama stop taking Raph's sais" I snapped, " Now start your summersaults." I ordered briskly.
Rama wiped her eyes with the back of her hand before doing her rolls, she could do ten with ease after that it got more difficult, so extras were always demanded when it was a punishment. It was Rama's version of the flips Splinter had us do in our teens.
After the punishment had been handed out I got her to sit down on the mat and kneeled beside her " You know what you did wrong right Rama?"
Rama nodded " I took Uncle Raphiel's sai" she admitted.
" Right and…?" I encouraged her
" Not sposta" she finished staring at the ground. She was hunched up in a ball and refused to look me in the eye.
" If you know it is wrong and you know that you shouldn't why do you even do it Rama?" I wondered.
Rama shrugged giving a negative shake of her head " I dunno."
I sighed " I think you do know Rama, for some reason you aren't saying" I corrected her but I also knew that I could not force it from her. It seemed I was still at a stalemate as to why Rama stole Raph's weapons in the first place.
" All right you go apologise to Raph now and I am going put your favourite toys away until tomorrow" I told her shooing her from the dojo.
Rama slowly got to her feet and walked by me suddenly she stopped and turned back looking at me " Daddy?" She asked in a shaky voice
" Yeah babe?"
' You mad at me? You don't love me now?" she sniffed.
I smiled a bit " Yes Rama I am mad at you" I confirmed, " But honey I will never stop loving you no matter how mad I get, I will always love you" I vowed.
She gave me a weak trembling grin as I came over to give her a hug. " Now off you get."
I hoped this lesson would end her weapon stealing, though I doubted it. She had seen us after battle a few times bloodied and cut up, though I tried my best to keep her from seeing the worst of it. I also knew this was a part of her life and she would have to learn it one day.
I exited the dojo to find Rama snuggled up close to Raph seeking some comfort from her Uncle after the torture I had just put her through.
" Want to go play at the playground Rama?" Raph offered.
" Ramiela Uncle Raphiel, and I don't wanna play there now." She sulked a bit.
Raph nodded understanding then spied her colouring book and crayons " Hey want to colour with me instead?"
Rama looked up at him " Yeah colour." She agreed, then she paused " Uncle Raphiel is there really sun and grass and flowers?"
" Sure there is kid. Your dad has brought you flowers once in a while right?" Raph said.
" Yeah, but daddy never brought me grass or sun."
Raph gave her a strange pitying look " The sun is far up in the sky no one can get it and bring it down to you Rama and grass doesn't look like much when you pick it. One day you will go topside and see them." He vowed.
" I wanna see 'em." Rama said, " Why can't I go topside now Uncle Raphiel?"
" It isn't safe for you. You are too little and topside is a big place very scary things can happen up there so we have to wait until you are older." Raph explained.
" Why?" She moaned.
" Just the way it is kid." Raph muttered reaching out with one hand to stroke her hair.
….
By lunchtime Rama was back to her cheerful active self. She had a way of ignoring me after I punished her.
I was in the midst of preparing lunch when Don and Karena came into the kitchen. Don had obviously been giving her the tour of our humble home. Her bruises were still showing wonderful colours and her eyes were mere slits, where she was unable to open them fully due to the bruising around them.
She was about five four in height, looked like she had green eyes and she did have blond hair that came to her shoulders with a slim build. She was probably a fairly pretty lady under regular circumstances.
" Hi there Karena, nice to finally meet you. I'm Michaelangelo" I held out my hand to her " I just happen to be the head cook of the household, which is for the best, because if any of my brother's cooked we'd end up with food poisoning" I teased.
I could see Rama watching the woman warily, but with some curiosity as well. Considering her contact with humans was fairly limited, she probably had good reason to be feeling both emotions.
" You know while I had my eyes covered I learned everyone by voice but I can't say I recognize yours. Though I'm glad to actually see you."
Don chuckled " I don't think she really believed Leo."
" Can you blame her Donny?" I raised an eye ridge, " So how badly did you react when you saw Don's mug?" I joshed.
Karena shrugged " Well, I didn't believe what I heard from Leo but I was sort of just used to your different voices and I think that made it a bit easier for me."
Don grinned, " She didn't go into hysterics nor did she faint. So all in all I'd say Karena's reaction was one of the most relaxed I've seen."
" Good!" I declared, " Sorry I didn't get in to visit you too much Karena. I kind of have my hands full with my daughter, and she isn't the sort to let others rest too much" I explained, " Don here felt it was more important that you recuperate."
Karena gave a warm smile as she glanced at Rama. Rama stared at her suspiciously then she smiled " I'm Ramiela what is your name?"
" My name is Karena. How old are you Ramiela?" She asked sitting down at the table a few chairs away from Rama's chair.
" I'm four." Rama told her proudly as she took a bite of sandwich.
" Really, four is such a fun age. Are you going be going to school soon?"
Rama scowled and looked towards me " Daddy what school?" she asked quickly.
" School is where you go to learn things Rama and in another year or two Don will start teaching you all kinds of school lessons" I explained, " he will teach you to read, write, learn math, history, science, and other languages." I concluded.
Karena turned to glance at Don " You are going teach her all of that?"
Don gave a shy grin and shrugged " Well we can't exactly send her to regular school and so I get to be her teacher for home schooling purposes."
" Don't be so humble Don." I smacked him on the back " Don here, Karena happens to be a real genius. He could probably put university professors to shame."
" Mike!" Don snapped suddenly.
" It is true bro," I declared.
Karena laughed, " It seems like you have it worked out."
" Well Ramiela does need an education and as Mike pointed out" Don glowered at me, " I sort of won the honour by default."
" Once Rama is in school I can get time to myself" I gloated cheerfully.
Leo entered the kitchen " That free time might just be taken up by Don telling you what trouble your daughter has been getting into." Leo smirked, " She is a handful of trouble that is for sure."
" I not trouble Uncle Leonardo" Rama flatly denied his words.
" I know you don't mean to be trouble Rama but you can be very stubborn. Now can I expect better out of you this afternoon?" He asked arching an eye ridge as he looked at her.
" Maybe. And it Ramie-LA!"
" Rama not so loud there is no need to yell" I chided her quickly, " Leo might I suggest you call her by her full name, she might be more cooperative for you, though I can't promise a thing" I offered tactfully, " As for you Ramiela you best behave for Leo I have had enough trouble out of you for one day."
I knew Rama only wanted Leo to call her by her full name but it didn't mean his lack to do so gave her the right to be disrespectful towards him.
Rama had ignored Leo this morning refusing to do anything he asked of her, when I had asked her why later her only explanation was " He don't say my name daddy."
Rama was a very stubborn child at times and this was clearly going to be one of her stubborn points.
Leo went and kneeled by her chair " I will try my best to call you by your full name Ramiela but if I forget, and call you Rama instead, by mistake then I ask that you understand and be patient" Leo smiled at her, " Just as I have to understand and be patient with you when you have a bad lesson. Okay?"
Rama nodded humbly almost looking ashamed, as if she hadn't thought of that, " Okay Sensay Leonardo. I try to be good. You try me name."
" You have a deal Ramiela. Shake." Leo offered his hand.
My daughter, with a huge smile and fully displaying my sense of humour, ignored his hand as she flopped around on her chair shaking her whole body.
Karena laughed at the sight holding up one hand over her mouth but unable to prevent some of her mirth breaking loose.
Leo rolled his eyes and stood up glancing Karena's way " It is good to see you up and about Karena" he gave her a warm welcoming smile.
Our leader ever the conservative.
I saw something in Karena's eyes a slight flicker of interest. Ah, the poor girl, if she only knew the number guest that had fallen for our leader only for them to give up the chase feeling thoroughly rejected.
Leo's calm noble almost gallant air had girls falling for him. I think the only guest we ever had that wanted nothing to do with Leo, was Shay. Shay wasn't Leo's type and she had no interest in him either. She found him far too stuffy and bossy. Come to think of it I hadn't even been Shay's type at first.
Karena would soon learn what all our guest had learned before her. Leo our fearless leader had no time for a relationship. He would never allow himself the privilege. Such a thing was far down Leo's list of priorities. He had a job to do, and if Leo was firm on one thing it was sticking to what he knew he had to do.
TBC
Lenni: A chapter with sai stealing as you love it so, and because it is time. Reading it a zillion times? Geesh now I feel deeply honoured. A gratitude for your insight.
Reinbeauchaser: Ah yes the road blocks to life and things that end up frustrating parent and child. I recall my sister being very worried for my nephew when he wasn't speaking at his level, only to catch him practicing words later on his own, the inspiration for Splinter's insight and Don's problem in his childhood. Splinter is just made for snuggling. A gratitude for your insight.