Chapter 7
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No one else but Donnie was awake with me the next morning as I sat at the kitchen table, slowly sipping on my tea as Donnie shuffled around the kitchen, making himself a coffee.
After a few more hours of drifting in and out of sleep, I found that both Donnie and I were getting restless. So we decided to get up, and get our day started earlier than normal. My tea and his coffee, which I'd found he had become slightly addicted to, was just a normal every day thing for us. Just... with the others usually. I found it was very... quiet, without the others coming in and out of the kitchen.
"I wonder if Ithiell will let me add some extra programs I've designed into the interface for the-" Donnie was talking quickly and excitedly, as he sat down next to me, but I put a hand up, stopping him.
"You know the rules my love. Tea first, then talk"
"You should have coffee"
I pulled a face at him, hearing him laugh, then snort a little. I couldn't help but giggle at him.
"You're lucky I love you so much" He retorted.
I stuck my tongue out at him in response, and he snort laughed again, making me giggle again.
"Oh, you-" He went to move to tickle me, stopping when we both realised we weren't alone any more.
We both turned to the entrance, seeing Serah stumbling in, looking disheveled and a little lost as she half bumped into the counter, moving her way around it to go to the fridge. Her hair was sticking up and just everywhere, and she was wearing a large shirt that obviously wasn't hers, and I could see a hint of a pink pair of underwear just under the hem.
Seems like she'd forgotten to put on a pair of pants this morning...
"Um" Donnie instantly tensed, looking at me, then suddenly finding something fascinating in his coffee. I patted his arm, turning and watching as Serah backed out of the fridge, shutting the door and rubbing her eye a little.
"Can't find something Ser?" I said, watching as she jolted a little, looking at myself, then at Donnie.
"Oh, hi... I uh... didn't..." That's when I think she realised what she was wearing, pulling down at the big shirt and blushing.
"Sorry guys" She hid her lower half behind the counter, then slid along it to where the fresh pot of coffee was.
"So... where'd you get the big t shirt?" I started, seeing Donnie send me a look, but I ignored him. He knew where I was going.
"Oh, uh... from the stash of clothes Ithiell still had around the... uh... I mean, I got this ages ago so I could sleep in. I just... forgot to-" She was pouring herself a cup of coffee, but her face was bright red as she tried to talk her way around it.
"Are you suuure about that?" I asked slyly, feeling Donnie's hand now on my leg, squeezing a little. I ignored him, knowing this was the only chance I'd get to pay her back for all those times she embarrassed me... and I wasn't going to let it slip by.
"Uh, yeah, why?" She now leaned on the counter, still looking embarrassed as she cupped the mug that was on the bench in both hands.
"Well, you look pretty wrecked. What happened to you last night? Get in a fight with a bear or something?" I grinned at her again, seeing her avert her eyes as she took a sip of coffee. I felt Donnie squeeze again, this time a little harder.
I looked up at him as he shifted his glasses up, giving me a warning look. Instead, I shook my head and smiled at him.
"Well... I uh... had a bad dream" She tried to pat her hair down a little with one hand, half looking to the door with the other.
"Would that bad dream be called... Leo" I let out in a giggle, and her head snapped to look at me.
"How did you, I mean... I don't know what you're talking about" She said hurriedly, looking away at the last few words and doing what Donnie did a few minutes earlier with his coffee. Must have seen the future in there or something, cause she was transfixed...
"Oh come on, I know you like him, and he likes you"
"So what does that have to do with it?" She looked up at me again, and I pointed at her, crying out in triumph.
"Ah-ha! I knew it!"
I'd known it last night, but I figured Donnie didn't want her to know we'd been watching, so I played coy.
"Knew what?"
"You like him, and he likes you"
"Well yeah, but-"
"So what reaaaally happened last night, hmmm" I leaned forward, resting my chin in my palms and smiling at her.
"What do you mean?"
"Was he good? Did he rock your world?"
The look on her face was priceless, and just made up for all times she'd done it to me. It also confirmed what we had already guessed.
I heard Donnie grumble something as Serah sighed, rubbing her temple with one hand.
"Why Jade?"
"Cause I love you oh so much, and just want to see you happy" I said, getting up and moving around beside her, slinging an arm over her shoulders.
She narrowed her eyes as she looked at me, and I nudged her a little.
"Plus, paybacks a bitch, aint it!" I jumped away from her as I said this, hearing her yelp and start to chase me around the kitchen.
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I tightened the last bolt I was working on, pulling myself out from under the fighter and looking wiping the sweat of my forehead with my sleeve.
Another day had passed, and after the others got more parts for the fighter, we were all going full tilt at finishing it. Surprisingly, Rtaia and Mihra had been able to help direct us to how things should be connected, which I think helped relieve some of the stress for Ithiell.
I saw Mikey with Raph up the top, helping him weld something in place, both of them looking almost like serial killers with the welders masks on.
Splinter was using his tail to hand some more small parts to Rtaia and Kristiana, who were still underneath the fighter, not far from where I had been. Cassie and Marco were doing something on the other side, and Ax was going over something outside the fighter with Mihra. They were both looking at something that looked like a clipboard, only more... alien. Rachel was looking over the side of the fighter for any cracks it looked like. Either that or she just had nothing to do.
Serah and Leo still hadn't joined us, and I half wondered if my playful banter with Serah earlier had made them too upset or angry to come out. Either that or...
I shuddered a little, not wanting the image in my head as I walked up the hatch and into the fighter where Donnie and Ithiell were working together.
"See, I just improved the input of-"
"Oh, very nice, but what if we used a-"
"Hmm, maybe, but wouldn't that decrease the output of the engines at-"
"You two are doing my head in" I stood beside them, watching as they worked on the half completed console, seeing they'd gotten some of the screens working.
"Hello to you too" Ithiell didn't take his eyes off what he was doing, his claws flying over the controls as Donnie occasionally tapped something here or there as he stood beside him, his eyes narrowed.
"Hey there, how'd you sleep?" I asked, and he shrugged.
"So, not good" I answered for him, going and trying to work out what he was doing. I could feel my shirt half sticking to me, knowing I'd probably need a shower later on.
"Well... we haven't heard from Jake, and that troubles me a little"
"He's probably too afraid to show his face after almost killing-"
"Whoa whoa, settle petal" I moved over to Donnie, putting my hands on his chest as he tensed a little. He looked down at me, the anger on his face dissipating when his eyes met mine, frowning instead.
"No getting mad. That's my job... if he ever comes back"
"Donnie could be right you know" Ithiell spoke up, finally looking up at the two of us.
"Donnie? Right? Oh no!" I feigned shock, tapping his chest a little and making him shake his head at me.
"If Jake has realised what he has actually done... tried to kill someone that is actually on his side... Jade or not... then it is possible he understands that the consequences of coming back here would be pretty dire"
"Yeah, like I'd-"
"Settle down ninja nerd" I put my hands on his chest again, pushing him a little backwards.
"Ha, good one Jade! Ninja Nerd!" Mikey's head popped down from the roof for a few seconds, before he yelped as I heard Raph grunt something, obviously dragging him back up to whatever he was meant to be helping with. Thankfully, Mikey's distraction seemed to have calmed Donnie down a little.
"Uh, hey guys" I jumped a little as Leo walked into the fighter, with Serah almost timidly following him.
"Hey bro-ow!" I heard Mikey yelp from above us, then "Quit it Mikey!"
"Hey Leo, late night"
"Or early morning?" I managed to giggle, hearing Donnie make a strange sound.
I shared a look with Serah, who blushed more.
"Uh, you could say that?" Leo eyed me strangely, sharing a look with Donnie, who just sighed, moving around me to continue what he was doing with Ithiell.
Serah came up to me, half looping her arm through mine and whispering in my ear "Do you have to keep trying to embarrass me?"
"Yes, yes I do" I replied, giving her the biggest grin I could as she turned to look at me, a little shocked. Not far from us, Leo was talking to Donnie and Ithiell on their progress.
"Why can't you just drop it? I mean... come on"
I looked at her, cocking my head to my side a little, still smiling "Did you? Heck, did anyone?"
She frowned, then sighed, shrugging her shoulders "Okay, you got a point there"
We turned back to the boys, seeing Leo nod, turning around and seeing the two of us.
"Hey" He did a little wave to me, then smiled and winked at Serah, before leaving the fighter.
"Now, where were we" Ithiell's hands went back to tapping away, Donnie standing beside him and starting to hum at what he was going.
"All right you, come here" I yanked her out of the fighter, then back up the hallway and into the main room, so no one else could hear us.
"All right, spill" I finally said, turning her to face me and seeing bewilderment on her face.
"Spill what?"
"You and Leo! What happened last night?"
"Oh uh... " She blushed "Well, he saw me going to leave last night, and we talked and then... well..."
"Weeeelll?"
"Jade, he kissed me"
I stared at her, waiting for her to say more.
"And then... well, I told him how I felt before the kiss, but then I went and kissed him after he told me how he felt, and uh..." She was talking so fast, it sounded like she was almost ashamed to tell me.
"Did you guys..."
"Well, I kissed him, things got heated and... you know how it goes" She fiddled with the hem of her jacket, looking shyly up at me. It was so rare to see her this way. Vulnerable, so... unsure?
"And you know, I didn't think my first time would be with... well, a turtle" She laughed nervously, and I gave into the urge to hug her a little, pulling back and patting her shoulders a little.
"So you two-"
"I...uh... yeah, in the hanger bay"
"Uh-oh" I cringed a little "Remind me to avoid whatever area..."
"You know what?" She moved her weight onto her back leg, pointing a little at me and making me move back a little.
"Uh.. what?"
"Turtles are actually pretty good at-"
I slapped my forehead.
Nope, Serah hadn't changed.
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"Almost done" Ithiell wiped his hands on a cloth as I sat beside him at the console, leaning my head back on the wall.
Two more days, and the fighter was finally almost completed. Ithiell told me the rest he wanted to do from now on, so everyone else was sent to rest and get something to eat. I however, decided to stay with him as he worked.
"Well, that's a relief" I let out in a yawn, surprised when Ithiell let out his own yawn.
"Might have to leave the actual mission for tomorrow. I don't know about you, but I am beat" He yawned again, scratching the back of his head a little.
"Do you think they've... found the..." I yawned because of his yawn, shaking my head and instead opting to get up and walk around the almost complete fighter.
It was alot bigger than Ithiell's original fighter, and this one had a couple of smaller rooms, one for what I guessed for medical emergencies, and the other...
Well, lets just say it was built for a long stay.
Either way, it was simply amazing what we'd all been able to do, in just a few days. Working together, pouring blood, sweat and tears into it...
Figuratively speaking.
"All right, that calibration is done, I've got one more to do, but that can wait" He turned around as I turned to him, both of us locking eyes.
"Ithiell..."
"I know, right now we have to save the city. After that... after that..." He sighed, shaking his head, and I could see a small glistening at his eyes.
"Ithiell" I went over to him, and he let me hug him, returning the hug and sighing again.
"Jade, I'm... I'm scared. What if she... what if we..."
"Don't do this to yourself Ithiell. Remember the promise" In spite of my strong words, I felt tears spring to my own eyes, knowing what it would do to both of us, but knowing we had to keep going, no matter what the outcome.
"I know, I wont" He pulled away, turning around and grabbing his tools, patting the console before we both left out the hatch.
"So" He started, putting the tools back on the table, turning to me and smiling "Leo and Serah, hey?"
"Apparently so" I smiled at him, stretching a little as he shook his head.
"Four teenage mutant turtles, and four teenage human girls. What could go wrong" He snickered a little, and I just looked at him.
"Oh come on, that was funny"
I rolled my eyes, slapping him a little as he went past, following him towards the tunnel.
"I do wonder though..."
Ithiell stopped, turning to me a little.
"Wonder what?"
I blushed a little, shaking my head. It felt silly, and I knew it would sound silly...
"Come on Jade, tell me what you're thinking" He nudged me, and I blushed more, knowing Ithiell now wouldn't give up on it.
"Well, Leo had a crush on me a few months ago... you don't think he's like, using Serah to..." I trailed off, twiddling my fingers and looking up at the fighter, blushing a little.
"No Jade. I think, no offense, that Leo just saw all his brothers being happy, and he felt a little left out. Then you and Don had your little falling out, and he spent time with you..."
"Oh... so he didn't actually like me"
He shook his head, putting an arm around my neck a little.
"Oh, he liked you. I just don't think he realised what he was doing at the time. Plus with all that was going on at the time... I think he just wanted some form of happiness"
"But... could that mean Serah..."
He laughed, moving away from me and going back to the bench, doing something.
"Now you're being silly. I've been...distracted... but even I could see how he looks at her. And even moreso, how she follows him around..."
"Like a puppy" I supplied, smiling and shaking my head a little. That girl...
"So I don't think you have anything to be worried about"
I frowned "If he hurts her, I'll elephant squash him"
Ithiell laughed... a sound I don't think I'd heard in a long time... then came and put an arm around my shoulders, starting to walk towards the tunnel.
"I'm sure you will"
We fell silent and his arm slipped off my shoulders as we walked towards the tunnel, before Ithiell stopped again, smiling a little.
"Uh... Ithiell?'
"Well, I wonder if... if Kristiana and Mikey have..."
"If they've what?"
"Wonder if they've been intimate" Ithiell grinned at me, and my jaw dropped.
"Why in the... what would make you think of that?!"
"To get that response"
I slapped his shoulder a little "Oh gosh, now you've got me wondering... oh the images"
He laughed again, slapping my shoulder a little and heading into the tunnel.
"So, back to Leo..."
"Leo?" I looked at him, and he smiled at me.
"Leo and Serah are together now?"
"Well... I... uh, I guess they are. I mean, they admitted their feelings, had a smooch... Serah walked into the kitchen the other morning looking like a train wreck..."
Another laugh, and I couldn't help but smile at him. This thing with Serah and Leo seemed to be doing him some good of all things...
"Jade" A hand in front of my face made me blink, bringing me back to the present.
"Oh, sorry"
"You zone out alot, maybe you should ask Rtaia for something to help you sleep"
"You first"
"Either way, I'm glad they got together. If...they're together" He shrugged a little "Whatever they are, its been a long time coming"
"You think so?"
He snorted "Oh yeah, they tension between them was even buggin me"
We fell into silence, and I noticed his face fall suddenly, stopping at the last step, looking almost like he wanted to cry. But I knew what he was thinking, and moved to hug him a little.
"Don't worry, she'll be fine. They both will" I couldn't stop the sudden shaking from my voice, hearing him sigh. I forced myself to put on a brave face, moving back and looking straight into his eyes.
"We deal with this first, then go get those two bludgers"
He nodded, smiling a little "You got it"
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Sorry this chapter wasn't that long guys, either way, I hope you liked it anyway! :D
Please let me know!