LEO'S POV:
"Leo..." Mikey whines. "I don't want to pair up with Raph. He'll beat me to death."
I cross my arms. "No he won't. And it won't be for long. An hour and a half of partner patrol and then we can go home."
"I don't see the point in partnering up for patrol if there's more crime out there than usual. Don't we need each other to fight off the surplus crime?" Don asks, crossing his arms as well. I sigh. Does everyone have to complain?
"Who says there's more crime than usual?"
"Uh, the Headquarters," Mikey reminds. "Duh. You wouldn't know that though since you're always staring at Lexi and not paying attention. Lover boy."
I roll my eyes. "Let's just get on with this, okay? I'm just trying this out for once. Anyway, if there's more crime in a particular area, you can always call on your Shell Cell."
Raph snorts. "Yeah. Let's just call you up while we're fighting the Dark Angels."
"You think we'll get to fight the Dark Angels?" Mikey asks. His voice sounds suddenly hyperactive.
"Hopefully not," Don says.
"And there's a thin chance that they'll be out tonight or anytime soon. Serena says that they've been suspiciously out of sight. Either they're planning something and they don't have time to lash out on innocent individuals, or their plan is to make us curious enough to look for trouble with them," I explain, looking over the ledge.
"Wow, you have been listening."
"Let's just get this over with," Raph mutters. "Come on, Knucklehead." As Raph leaps away, Mikey catches up with him.
Don and I take off as well, in the opposite direction.
"It's been an hour," I announce. "Looks like it should be clear for tonight."
"Uh, Leo," Don says. I glance over at my brother. "I think you spoke too soon." I follow his gaze and my eyes land on a small group of Purple Dragons. I recognize a few of them from Profile reports.
"Good."
"Good?" Donnie repeats. "How is that good?"
"It makes things less suspicious," I explain, bringing out my katanas. "Let's go."
As we near the Dragons, we notice that it's a boy we recognize that they are surrounding.
"Kylan?" Donnie whispers. "Out of all the people they could have trapped...Kylan? That can't be a coincidence..."
"It probably isn't," I agree.
As soon as I let myself into the light of the alley, one of the guys catches sight of us. Another takes hold of Kylan's shirt. Kylan tries to struggle, but I can see the grip tightening. Kylan's face is changing colors as he struggles to breathe.
"Eh, would ya look at that," one of them sneers. "I spy a turtle or two that have no chance."
"I knew they'd come out of the shadows eventually," Another says, crossing his arms.
"Release him and we won't harm you," I warn.
"Aw that's cute," one of them mocks. "Ya think we're let him go just 'cause you showed up? We were waiting for you ."
"What do you mean waiting for us?" Donnie asks.
"We've seen ya hanging around blondie," he responds.
"How does she relate to this kid in any way?" I ask reasonably.
"Don't play dumb, turtle boy," one sneers. "We've seen it."
"Everyone just assumes that because we're Purple Dragons, we ain't smart. If ya ask me, we the smartest of all. And that Foot Clan don't know what they're askin' for." He shakes his head. "They just don't know."
"Why are you in such a small group? Where's the rest of you?" I ask, glancing around the alleyway. From what I know, there aren't any others hiding. Purple Dragons aren't quiet or stealthy-they can't hide from us for this long. Yet what do I know? They've surprised me a number of times tonight.
"Ya really think we would'a blended in if we all came? We can handle fightin' ya alone." He shoves Kylan to the ground.
That's when it begins.
I swipe a few off their feet with my katanas. Donnie does the same. One of the main Dragons smirks and dodges all our hits. One comes up charging at Donnie and he pushes him back with his staff. We've knocked them all to the ground pretty easily, except for one who has taken hold of Kylan. He begins to drag the boy away, when smoke fills the air. And it isn't mine. Purple Dragons don't use smoke bombs...
As the fog fades away, Karai's figure begins to clear up. Her black hair is a mess in the wind and there's a strange look in her eyes. An untamed look: like a wild animal trying to hold back the urge to jump out at its prey.
"Hello, Leo," she greets with a small smirk on her face. "Look like your friend needs a little help."
But I don't take my eyes off of her. I'm always suspicious when Karai's around. But she stands perfect still. No Foot Ninjas. Just her and her wild eyes.
"Why did you do that?" Don asks, crossing his arms.
"What? A friend can't help out a friend?"
"You aren't our friend," I growl, helping Kylan up. He scrambles to his feet.
"Whoa, Leo, Donnie...I don't even know what happened. I was just walking and then-" he stumbles with his words. I can feel him shaking. Karai snickers.
"Where'd you find this one? The circus?" she teases, jumping down from the ledge.
"Why are you here, Karai?"
"I want to compromise," she responds. Her voice almost sounds too casual-like it's blowing in the wind so freely that it doesn't make a single sound.
"Karai, we've been over this. I don't compromise with villains," I state sternly.
"Not even for your brothers?" she asks, cocking her head.
Donnie and I freeze.
"What do you mean?" When I ask that, Karai grins. She's almost resembling a child right now. She sits on the ledge, swinging her legs back and forth like a young child playing on a playground. "Karai." She looks almost in a daze...like she's physically there, but not mentally.
"Off a ledge. Only a little bitty rope is holding them," she explains.
My eyes widen. "Tell me where they are."
"But what fun would that be? Why should I tell you?" she quizzes, crossing her arms. Don's mouth sits wide open. I charge at Karai and before she can defend herself, she falls backward onto the ground. I corner her and strike my katana blade inches from her face.
"Tell me."
Her eyes dart from my blade to her face. "Fine. Just a few buildings down. They're probably dead by now though, so don't get your hopes up." I don't know what to say. What am I supposed to do? Hold her captive? Thank her and tell her to have a nice day?
I slide my katanas back. "You don't seem like yourself, Karai...are you okay?" I don't mean to ask that, but it slides out from my mind and through my mouth.
"I'm fine," she drags. "Now get out of here." Still, no Foot ninjas emerge. I glance over at Don. We help Kylan climb with us and we quickly locate Raph and Mikey, who are tied together off the building.
"Hold on, guys!" I call.
"Leo, don't!" Raph shouts, but it's too late. I blink and suddenly I'm surrounded by Foot Ninjas.
"Are you kidding me?" Don exclaims. "Why didn't we expect this?"
I growl and take out my katanas. "We aren't exactly having a bundle of luck today..." I respond.
A few ninjas lunge out at me and I dodge them. With just Donnie and I fighting, how am I supposed to set Raph and Mikey free? I take out my Shell Cell and dial Emmeline.
"Hello?"
"Hey Em." I toss a Foot across the roof with a swing of my katana. One comes up from behind and I dodge his punch. "We're kind of in some trouble right now. We're on patrol fighting the Foot. Raph and Mikey are tied up. Think you guys could give us a hand?"
"Where are you?"
"Um..." While dodging one, I peer into the distance and find Tony's Pizza. "We're right across from Tony's."
"We'll be right over."
"Wait Emmeline," I grunt. "Tell Lexi not to come. I don't want her getting hurt."
A new voice pops up. "I'm not staying, Leo. I'm gonna help. Hang on, okay?" The call ends.
I groan and slide my phone away. But as soon as I do so, one of the ninjas trips me. I crash to the ground and hit my head on the roof. I groan and hop back up, dodging just in time to avoid getting my head cut off.
"Are they coming?" Don calls. One comes up from behind him and I shout to turn around. He whips around and dodges. The ninja who had been creeping up on him begins sliding off the roof. He almost loses his balance, but quickly regains it.
"Yeah," I call back.
"I think that my contribution would really do us some good in this fight..." Raph announces.
Mikey squirms. "I really wouldn't mind being down here if I weren't tied to this guy." He motions his head towards Raph.
Raph glares at him. "Well you ain't the best person to be tied to either!"
"Can you guys chill for just two minutes?" Don pleads, knocking down some ninjas with his staff. "We're kind of trying to save your lives here!"
"Need some help?" A voice asks. I turn and see the Kings and Casey.
"That would be appreciated," I respond, knocking another ninja down. Rose heads towards the edge of the roof where Raph and Mikey are tied. She pulls out a knife and begins cutting them loose.
"Wait, what happens when you cut all the rope out? We'll fall to our deaths!" Raph points out. Rose looks panicked and I glance towards Lexi, who is getting ready to fight.
"Lexi will help you guys up," I suggest. That way, she's less likely to get injured.
Lexi glares at me. "I wanna fight!"
"Lexa, I'm gonna say this once and only once: listen to your boyfriend!" Raph exclaims. Lexi reddens a little (I can't tell whether it's from embarrassment or anger). She heads to the edge of the roof, and latches onto Raph's arm while Rose cuts. I turn my head too late to see a knife thrown towards me. It scrapes against my arm and blood begins to trickle.
"I would have been able to prevent that, Leonardo!" Lexi exclaims.
"I doubt it."
"You wanna bet?" Her eyes sting with challenge.
Rose looks exasperated. "Lexi! Hold the rope tighter. And Raph's arm. We don't want him to fall."
I try to ignore the pain in my arm as I dodge another knife. Why are they all throwing knives at me?
From the corner of my eye, I see Benj fighting off one of the ninjas. One comes up from behind him without him knowing. I'm about to warn him, but Casey does instead.
Another knife is thrown just inches past my face. I watch where it lands and my eyes widen. It heads straight for Rose and Lexi. Rose turns and sees it just in time. She screams and jumps back, nearly falling off the roof.
Lexi helps cut the last bits of Raph's rope off. He doesn't waste any time before springing into action. When they cut Mikey away, he has to regain his balance before he joins the fight.
A few more knives in my direction, but I manage to dodge them well. I'm in the middle of knocking down a ninja, when I see Karai. When had she gotten here? She still has that crazy, wild look in her eyes.
In her hand is a knife. She's going to aim it at me...she's going to try to kill me. That's my first thought. But I'm proven wrong. She lifts up her arm and it's unmistakable that she's aiming for Lexi.
"Lexi!" I shout. The next thing I see is the knife flying through the air, still aimed at her. And the next thing I feel is an excruciating pain in my chest. It's pain I've never felt before. Burning. I feel myself crash to the roof. I can't get up.
"Leo!" Lexi's voice screeches. I hear footsteps coming and a scream.
I'm lifted up.
I hear the sound of a smoke bomb and I fall into darkness.
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A/N: Heyyy lol I don't usually do cliffhangers, so I thought, "Why not?" If you're confused, Leo jumped in front of the knife that was headed towards Lexi, which saved her life. Haha out of all the knives thrown at him, it's the one that wasn't actually thrown at HIM that injures him the most(': but okay like I said, starting this chapter, a bunch of stuff is gonna be happening! I'm SO excited for this upcoming chapters! I hope you like them ^.^