6
"All roads taken lead us only to ourselves."
- Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls -
3 weeks later
"Can you help us or not?" Tequila asked a little annoyed. He held his phone to his ear-slit and paced around in the living room.
"We can, I told you," came the answer.
"You said that it would take a few days. Three weeks passed. Are you sure that you can help? If you can't, then please tell us, and then I will find another solution."
"He just needs some time,"
"How much?"
"I don't know. He's looking for a component."
The turtle released a sigh. "Alright. Then call me when he finished it, and then I will take the kid to you to help."
"Okay. And we are sorry, Leo."
"It's okay, April. Bye."
"Bye"
Suddenly, the lab door opened, and Tequila put the phone away as he turned towards the kid.
"Good morning."
"Good morning," Leo smiled.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine, nothing hurts."
"That's good. Let's have breakfast, then I'll check your wound."
While Tequila was examining the young turtle, Leo was thinking about the past three weeks. They were watching TV, playing Twenty Questions and training. But they weren't speaking so much. Leo wanted to know Tequila better, asked some questions, but the older turtle usually didn't answer. Tequila didn't ask anything. He wasn't curious about the younger.
"Tequila?" Leo started.
"Yes?"
"Why do you never ask anything?"
"What do you mean?" Tequila asked, confused.
"You never ask about my life, my family... you don't even know my name."
"I don't need to know. You are going to leave this place, so there's no reason for us to know each other better or get to used to each other."
"Why?"
"It would just make everything harder."
"Why?"
"That's the end of this conversation."
"I disagree," Leo stated and looked determined. "My na-"
Tequila put his finger on the boy's lips.
"I don't want to know."
Tequila knew that the information wouldn't have hurt him, but he just... didn't want to know this boy. He didn't want to start to like him. He didn't want himself to want him to stay... with him, perhaps as a friend... or as his son. The more he knew about him, the more he wanted this loneliness to end... the more wanted him to become his family... But he also knew that this boy didn't belong to him. He has to go back to his world, to his family. And as soon as it happens, he will be alone again... and forever.
Leo decided to cook something. Yes, Leonardo Hamato wanted to cook something! It happened before in the past a few times, but then there was always somebody who could stop him. But now, there was nobody! Tequila was training, so Leo was all alone in the kitchen! Leo opened the fridge and looked in.
"Hmm..." he thought for a moment. What can he cook? Um... nothing. Alright, then what can he cook without destroying the kitchen, killing someone, or making the food absolutely inedible. Tough question. He looked through the food in the fridge, and something caught his attention. "Sushi? I thought we had eaten all of them. They are so old, we shouldn't eat them." He grabbed them and decided to throw them out. He walked towards the trash when Tequila stepped in.
"What are you doing?"
Leo turned around surprisingly. He didn't expect him to finish with his training so soon.
"Just throwing out the sushi. They are too old."
"No. Put it back. We won't waste food," he said firmly.
"But..."
"If you don't want to eat it, it's fine, I will eat it."
"Okay..." Leo said defeated and walked back to the fridge.
"And don't be in the kitchen without me. You said you are dangerous here. I don't want a fire or anything."
Leo looked annoyed. "Fine..."
A scream rang through the hideout, which woke Tequila up immediately. He ran out of the lab, towards the living room, since Leo was using the couch as his bed now.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Tequila demanded as he reached the couch. The answer was a relieved sob. The older turtle understood and sat next to the weeping turtle. He put an arm around the shaking boy and started to rub his arm. "It's okay, kid. It was just a dream."
Leo hugged Tequila tightly which surprised the turtle. A hug... he almost forgot how it feels. Tequila hugged back the younger turtle and rubbed his head.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Leo didn't reply, he just cried into Tequila's plastron. He thought the boy wouldn't tell him, but after a few minuted he started.
"It was so real..." he sobbed. "Shredder to-took over the world wi-with the Kraangs a-a-and made the people their s-slaves. And then...the Sh-shredder killed my... f-family and friends. I ran away. I ran to y-your hideout, b-b-but you-you were de-dead too!" Leo cried harder at the memory. "I was a-alone. All alone. And the Sh-shredder was a-after me-e. I was s-so afraid..."
Tequila couldn't help but hug the turtle even tighter. He had similar nightmares too, but he had no one to comfort him. And it just made the situation worse. He didn't want the boy to feel what he felt. He whispered comforting words into his ear-slit and stroked soothing circles on his shell.
He stayed with the kid until Leo dozed off. Tequila didn't dare to move, so he remained in that hugging position until he also fell asleep.
Tequila was already awake when Leo woke up too. When the younger turtle realized their positions, he sat up immediately and apologized.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"You couldn't sleep because of me," Leo stated sadly.
"That's not true. I could sleep. I woke up just a few minutes earlier than you."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Tequila..." Leo continued sheepishly.
"Hm?"
"Thank you..."
"It was nothing," he waved. "Are you okay now?"
"Yes."
"Then okay."
After that, none of them said a word, but they didn't move either. They just sat on the big couch, next to each other, in silence.
But just for a minute.
"Tequila?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think your friends can help me?"
The question caught the older turtle off guard. He didn't expect it.
"Of course," he said, though he wasn't so sure about it.
"Honestly?"
"Yes. They are really smart. They just need some time, but I'm sure that they are going to find a solution."
"And what if you're wrong? What if they can't help and I stick here?"
"Don't think about it. You will get home."
"I don't know. I start to lose my hope."
"Already? Only three weeks passed."
"These three weeks were like three years to me. I really miss my family, you know. I'm afraid I can't see them again."
Tequila didn't know what to say.
"But... if it happens... and I have to stay here... then you won't throw me out, right? I can stay here with you, right?"
"If it happens, which I'm sure won't, then you will stay here with me. It can't be a question. And then, you can tell me everything about yourself... and I will tell you everything about myself. We can be... father and son if you want to."
"Thanks. You know, it's reassuring that I'm not alone here and I won't have to be. I'm glad that I have you here."
The older turtle's eyes watered at Leo's words and pulled the boy closed to him.
I wish you would stay here.
Kitsune1818: Well yes. I feel sorry for old Leo :"( hopefully little Leo can help him. His brothers are gonna get some role soon. Thanks for reviewing :)
.-I don't own the characters-.
Please review! :)
See you later~ ^^
