Ella tensed instantly as fear shot through her at the realisation that not only was she not alone but in the company of an enemy, before a sudden brightness blinded her. Shielding her eyes with her right hand, she looked back tentatively when she heard Dark Don's voice again, as he said in an amused tone 'Better?', and started to back away. Noticing his smirk grow wider she felt something touch her, breaking eye contact to look down, she saw his armoured tail slithering around her feet.
Dark Don's amusement continued to grow while he watched Ella's startled reaction as she tried to kick his tail away from her, wrapping it firmly around one of her lower legs to prevent her from leaving. Chuckling as she tried futilely to pry it off with her own tiny bloodied hands, content in his complete control, inclining his head a little as she met his gaze sharply. Hearing Dark Don laugh slightly made Ella's aggravation rise, her head snapping up to glare at him, green eyes narrowing further as she saw him regarding her smugly.
'Let go!' she said in an annoyed tone making him raise an eye ridge before asking 'And why would I do that?!', his lips parting in a slight grin. He took a moment to properly look at her as she glared silently back at him, eyes raking over her, noting the multitude of small scrapes and cuts she was covered in. Her hair was a ragged mess and her face was dirty from the dust, though his attention was drawn towards her right shoulder, it bore a bloody bandage but was otherwise bare.
Whatever had caused the wound had ripped through the straps of her top and bra, but aside from that she'd apparently escaped sustaining any major injuries. He'd read up on human physiology briefly, recalling that their skin was easily punctured and they were a warm blooded species, scornful at how fragile they were. Especially in comparison to him and his brothers, highly offended by the fact that a particularly poor specimen of said species held absolute dominion over them.
But as his eyes took in the image of her soft contours and pale skin, he had to admit he was slightly curious what she felt like and how much effort it would take on his part to add to her abrasions. All of a sudden he noticed her expression change from irritation to surprise to something else, a look he'd seen before when she'd been worried for the safety or feelings of the Turtles, before she broke eye contact and looked away from him.
Mild surprise of his own mixed with his amusement at the notion that she might be concerned for HIS welfare, lips curling at her naivety, they were enemies after all. But then she'd also shown a ridiculous amount of compassion to Dark Leo, when his big brother was their captive, reaching out to him despite constant stonewalling. It was the only instance where he agreed with Raphael, their joint opinion being that she was a fool, considering that the first time his brother had met her he'd threatened to decapitate her.
Ella looked Dark Don over as he did her, assessing his condition and weighing her chances of escape, when she saw it. Her eyes growing wider in shock at the dark puddle beside him, eyeing the tautness of his left arm as he held his side, also noticing the odd angle of his right leg she looked away unsure of what to do. Knowing she had her first aid pouch on her but also that if the roles were reversed he would, at best leave her to die or at worst watch and taunt her while she did.
The words of Master Splinter echoed in her head as she debated what to do, 'How others treat you is their karma, how you react to them is yours.', helping her make her choice. Watching her face with interest as she wrestled with some kind of conflict, Dark Don raised an eye ridge again as she looked at him, clearly reaching a decision. 'You're bleeding!' she stated, making him give her a sardonic look at the inanity of the observation, holding her eyes as he replied dryly 'Yes, I had noticed!'.
'I have some bandages that might help, but you have to swear you'll let me go.', pointing down at his tail, 'And why should I?' he asked in another amused tone. 'What have you got to lose?' she replied evenly, 'You mean, besides my hostage?!' he retorted quickly, his lips parting in an evil grin to reveal his sharp teeth. Enjoying the brief look of anxiety that ran across her face, watching as it darkened in renewed agitation, before hearing her respond shortly 'A 'hostage', that won't be any good to you if you're dead!'.
Finishing in a flat tone, 'If you want to bleed out then obviously that's your prerogative, but I thought at least YOU would be smarter than that!'. Ella frowned more when Dark Don closed his eyes and chuckled slightly as he shook his head, before reopening them again to look at her. Replying 'Your goading attempt was as simplistic and clumsy as the shellhead you've chosen to be with!', her eyes widened briefly before she narrowed them again in agitation.
Ella was momentarily thrown, suppressing the desire to demand what the hell he meant by that, choosing not to rise to the bait. Merely replying coldly 'And that, is MY prerogative!' adding irritatedly 'Meaning...it's none of YOUR business! Now make your choice, either let me help you or don't!' staring him down. Surprise rose in Dark Don at her controlled reaction having been so sure she'd snap, she hadn't replied the way he'd anticipated, piquing his interest.