Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT.
Also, trigger warning for this first bit. I've removed the original, more graphic parts, but it's still somewhat uncomfortable. Can easily be skipped if you prefer to.
A chill tore through Karai's body, and the thirteen-year-old pulled the duvet tighter around her. She didn't want to admit it, but she was afraid. Her father was mad at her – she knew he was, even though he hadn't shouted, or even hit her as hard as he could – but she could just tell. His eyes looked angry, despite the fact his voice had been even when he ordered her to wait in her bedroom.
The door creaked open, and the Shredder stood in front of her. "Karai."
She ducked her head fearfully. "Father…?"
He advanced on her, and when he stepped out of the shadows, Karai realised that he wasn't in his armour, but in the uniform he wore during their training sessions. She wondered why he wasn't armoured, considering how rarely she saw him in anything else.
"You understand what you have done wrong, don't you, child?"
"I am sorry, father," she whispered, fighting back tears.
He slapped her across the face and she whimpered, a single tear breaking loose. "Sorry is not good enough!"
The girl bravely raised her eyes to meet his, and something in his expression softened. She was a miniature Tang Shen glancing up at him, and it was pleasing. He gathered her small frame into his arms and held her awkwardly. She took a chance and wrapped her arms around his neck, grateful and relieved when he pressed her against him. The little girl began to cry into his shoulder, and he smoothed his hand down her back under her nightdress, making her giggle at the tickling sensation.
"No... NO!" Karai jolted upwards with a scream, shaking with terror.
She scanned the room thoroughly, curling her body in on itself for protection. The room was dark and unfamiliar, which she found ridiculously comforting; if she was lying on a bed in a strange room, then she probably wasn't in Shredder's lair. The girl still shuddered, though, at the images of her nightmarish memory.
"Hey, Karai?"
She yelped in terror, before recognising it was only Casey sitting on the bed next to her. She took a shallow, staggered breath, and he rubbed her back soothingly. "What's the matter?"
Liquid trickled down her cheeks, and Karai realised with a start that she was crying. "I-I…"
Casey used the cuffs of the borrowed jersey she wore to wipe away her tears, smiling at her. "Calm down, Karai. It was just a bad dream."
Continuing to sob despite her best efforts, Karai shook her head. "No… No, it wasn't…"
"It was," he promised. "You're safe here, honest."
The girl blubbered incoherently, scrubbing at her eyes with the sleeves again in hopes of retaining some dignity. Casey just gave her a warm smile and a pat on the shoulder, guiding her in for a comforting hug when she didn't stop weeping. "Shh, shh…" He leaned in to whisper to her, "Hey, you know what I do when Angel has a nightmare?"
"It wasn't a nightmare," Karai snivelled, "it was a memory. A horrible memory."
He sighed. "I lift her into my lap, then kiss her on the cheek," Casey performed the actions as he listed them, "and I give her a cuddle, then assure her she can tell me all about it if she wants, but if she doesn't then that's fine too, 'cause I'm still gonna be here for her."
Having at last recovered from her crying fit, Karai gave him a watery smirk. "I didn't think you had it in you, Hockey Mask."
"Yeah, well, just keep it on the down-low, alright?" He winked at her. "Can't have the guys finding out."
Karai chuckled quietly, subconsciously reclining against his chest. They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, until it occurred to Karai how intimate their position was. "This is insane," she said to herself.
"What is?" asked Casey, wrapping his arms tighter around her.
"The fact that I'm in such close contact with somebody I know nothing about."
"Hmm…" The boy twisted her in his embrace to face him. "Well, I live with my dad and my sister, I play on the school hockey team, and I wanna be either a professional hockey player or a bounty hunter when I leave school."
She grinned. "Fascinating."
"What about you?" He inquired. "I mean, I brought a girl I know nothing about into my home and let her sleep in my bed, then started telling her a bunch about me... Don't you think I deserve some info?"
"Depends on who you're planning to tell," she answered strictly.
He shrugged. "Uh, myself? Maybe my journal, if that's cool with you?"
"Journal?"
"Don't change the subject."
This time, Karai outright laughed. "Fine. The first weapon of my own I ever received was a juji-ken sword, my favourite colour is either black or silver, and I really wish I'd had enough time to get my motorbike when I broke out of Foot HQ."
He raised an eyebrow. "Motorbike?"
"Yeah." She smiled fondly. "I only learned how to ride a few years ago, but I love it. The wind whipping past you, the speed, the stunts… the freedom…" Her eyes met his. "It's exhilarating."
"Huh. Might have to show me sometime."
"If I ever get a chance."
"You know, I'm pretty sure Raph has some kind of motorbike…" commented Casey.
"Yes, and I'm pretty sure there's no chance in hell he would ever let either of us use it," replied Karai dryly.
His lips quirked. "Probably got a point there."
She stifled a yawn with the back of her hand, and he snickered. "Wanna go back to sleep?"
Karai swallowed awkwardly. "I don't think I can," she admitted.
"Uhm…" Casey hoped he wasn't blushing too badly. "Do you want me to, like… stay here with you? In the, uhm… y'know, here?"
She would've laughed at his nervousness if the question hadn't made her nervous, too. "I… Would you mind?"
Her eyes widened at the same time as his, so presumably she was just as shocked as him. "Well… No, I wouldn't. I mean, it doesn't have to be awkward, does it? It's just two… friends? Are we friends?"
Karai examined the position they were in. "I hope so, otherwise this really is awkward."
He swatted her head playfully, before lying down with her. She turned on her side so her back didn't hurt, and he gently cuddled her. The girl fell asleep soon, apparently still quite worn out from her earlier escape. Casey couldn't help finding her adorable in slumber, even though he knew she would most likely punch him if he told her. The teenager relaxed against his pillow casually, feeling his own fatigue settling into his bones as he drifted to sleep.
Casey was well aware that when Karai originally went to sleep it was almost two in the morning, and while he didn't actually check the clock during her breakdown he assumed that must've been around four, but he still didn't expect to wake up at literally eleven to Angel pounding on his door. He could only thank his lucky stars that it was Saturday and he didn't have school.
Karai was still in a deep sleep at his side, his arms curved over her body and holding her close. She had apparently kicked off the borrowed tracksuit bottoms at some point in the night, though thankfully the jersey was more than long enough to cover her up. He squeezed her gently before he released her and opened his door. "Yeah, what, Angel?"
"Dude, it's almost lunchtime!" The small girl flailed her arms for emphasis. "Dad's already gone out, and I've been alone for three whole hours! How were you still sleeping?!"
He ran a hand through his messy, matted hair. "I had a late night, okay?"
"How come?" She tilted her head. "I thought Leo didn't like overworking you humans on patrols?"
"There wasn't even meant to be a search last night," Casey admitted with a laugh, before thinking to add, "Oh hey, but I'm really glad I did, though. Come look at this."
Tugging his sister by the hand, Casey led Angel into his room and gestured to the figure sleeping in his bed. He watched as Angel's wide eyes studied the girl he had recovered home. "Casey… Is that…?"
He smiled. "I found her hiding out in an alley after she escaped from the Foot clan. Brought her home, patched her up, and got her to sleep. Piece of cake." Casey laughed breathily. "But I gotta say, kid, you found someone with your spirit."
She nodded proudly. "I know, right? We got along so well 'cause we thought exactly the same. Well, obviously hers was a little more ninja-y and stuff, but we had the same kind of ideas."
"You two sound like me and Raph," commented Casey casually.
Angel smirked, then leaned over to stroke Karai's head. "I missed you, Rai-Rai."
"I missed you too…" she slurred sleepily.
Both siblings gasped. "Karai? You awake?" Angel whispered.
"Mm-hmm…" she hummed, her eyes still closed.
Within seconds, the talented kunoichi found herself smashed in a bone-crushing hug that her body was too weak and aching to return. Angel didn't seem to care though as she continued to cuddle her lost friend, blabbering about how much she'd missed her. Karai was taken aback, however, when the smaller girl whacked her across the back of the head.
"Ow!" she exclaimed. "What was that for?"
"Abandoning me for no reason in the middle of an alien invasion!" shrieked Angel, scowling fiercely.
Karai heaved her sore body into a sitting position, ignoring the dull pain throbbing through her. A fond smile was etched into her face. "I'm sorry, Angel. I thought I'd kill you; I didn't want to hurt you."
She pouted. "Well, you did." Suddenly, her face lifted. "Wait, how come you're… you know?"
"Human?" Karai guessed. "It's a long story. I'm just glad I have sapience again."
As Angel began to chatter excitedly with a half-asleep Karai, Casey collected the bloodied and dirty clothing Karai had shed the night before and set them up in the washing machine. The two girls were still talking away even after he finally managed to successfully toast some bread and spread butter and jam over it. He would be the first to admit his culinary skills were not fantastic.
"Wow, Ang', I think this might be the longest you've ever spoken to someone without a sarcastic comment," he joked as he re-entered.
Angel squeezed Karai's miraculously scale-free hand in her own. "Hey, I can be sarcastic with Rai-Rai; she doesn't mind."
"I think I would be quite a hypocrite if I did," she teased gently, though she ran her thumb over her friend's knuckle comfortingly. "But no, I don't."
The duo then returned to their previous conversation with ease, and Casey couldn't help noting how comfortable and relaxed they seemed around each-other. He knew his own sister well and was aware that she typically had walls up between her and anyone that wasn't him, and from stories he had heard his impression of Karai was similar, but there was something… familiar about the way they interacted, which made him smirk.
But he did end up interrupting them eventually, with an amused, "Hey, sorry to cut the girl-talk short, but Karai, you might wanna go eat something."
Her lips quirked. "Based on your cooking last night, I don't think I do."
He glared at her. "… Just go eat."
She rolled her eyes at him, but stood wearily and left the room, promising to Angel over her shoulder that she would be back soon.
Throughout the day, Casey found himself surprised at how easily Karai slipped into their daily routine. She bantered casually with them as they ate, watched the television with them, and didn't even use up all the hot water when she showered. He checked over her wounds and re-bandaged them before heading out to hockey practice that afternoon.
Karai raised an eyebrow once she realised Angel was staring at her. "Can I help you?"
Angel gave her a small smile. "I didn't know your eyes were golden."
The young woman felt her heart warm at the little comment, and she extended one arm to her friend. Taking the hint, Angel cuddled closer to her, wrapping her in a tight hug. "I really have missed you, Rai. I was worried you were dead."
"I'm… not exactly great with apologies." Karai rested her chin atop Angel's head.
She giggled. "No worries; neither's Casey."
"I can imagine. Have you ever met Raphael?"
She shook her head. "I've never met any of Casey's turtle friends - or April, actually. He said he might introduce me one day, but I doubt it." Angel tilted her head up to meet Karai's eyes. "By the way, thanks for telling me about 'em. I always wondered where Casey ran off to at night, since his 'midnight hockey practice' excuse was a load of junk."
"'Midnight hockey practice' was his excuse?" She gave the girl an incredulous look. "I thought he was more intelligent than that."
"…Why?" Angel tilted her head innocently, before giggling to herself. Karai laughed back, feeling blessedly at ease with the girl. She had to admit, after the weeks she had spent imprisoned in Foot HQ, a nice day with a friend was wonderful.
