Drowning in Life

by Sinead Rivka

First TMNT story, don't flame, please. April and Casey are planning their wedding, and of course, you're going to need bridesmaids. Ones that won't freak out at the Turtles, who are Casey's ushers. So Master Splinter comes up with a plan. Ch. 3 up.

2. Chapter Two

Drowning In Life
By Sinead

Chapter 2

.o.O.o.

Tori had gone out to shop for the groceries and a few necessities that the household would need. It was one of the things that she did for them that April had done. In the month that she had been off-and-on residing with the group, she had taken on a lot of the "duties" her friend had once done for them. But at the moment, April was busy with her wedding preparations. Victoria also had a few things she had needed to get for herself. While she was doing one of the vital womanly sports (shopping), Splinter had the boys run through a fast and hard sparring exercise, watching their movements carefully to reassess their strengths and weaknesses.

Odd, though . . .

Raphael was usually so absorbed in the moment, in fighting, that he had to run laps afterwards to unwind and allow reason to come back into his mind. There would be some days where he would be so wound up that it was literally impossible to get him to calm himself down. He was still the best in hand-to-hand combat, and that was his love-- fighting.

Regardless, he was oddly distracted.

As was Leonardo. He had taken Raphael's place as being so absorbed in his fighting that he was unintentionally getting too close to Michelangelo's skin with his swords. There was something heavy upon his mind that he did not wish to address . . . thus, the true ferocity that he could fight at. The nunchaku were oddly good in knocking the swords away, and in the expert hands of the party-loving turtle they had taken on lives of their own. Michelangelo and Donatello were the only ones who hadn't been affected by what was currently driving the other two seemingly mad.

Sighing, Splinter made the decision upon what was best for his sons to practice in for the next week.

"Oooiiii! Good!"

All movement stopped, save for one last swing of Leonardo's sword. Thankfully, Raphael was paying close attention and trapped the sword with one of his sais. He and Donatello had been about to run through the middle of Leonardo's fight, and even though their master had called the fight to a halt, he never let his guard down. His reddish-brown gaze slowly slid to meet the brown gaze of his brother. "Ya done, Leo?"

Odd that his words were an echo of the leader's own words when Raphael couldn't help himself . . . Leonardo pulled his sword back. Splinter noted this with a nod, and spoke again before Leonardo could snap back with any type of biting comment. "Donatello, run the obstacle course fifteen times, stretching and doing a lap between runs. Michelangelo, preform all your kata five times from simplest to hardest."

"Awww, that's gonna ache in the morning . . . sure, Sensei," Mikey said with a sigh.

"Raphael, you and I will talk. Leonardo, fifty laps of the compound." With a clap of his hands, three turtles dispersed. Raphael looked guilty. Chuckling inwardly, the old rat took his son's dual sai from willing hands, looking over the metal as he began to walk in silence to the Japanese-themed room he enjoyed. He would have to ask Casey to receive another order of weaponry soon.

Closing the door behind him with a wince, he knew that he must have done something really stupid in order to have another talk with the master. Raphael turned back around to see Splinter smiling kindly. "You are distracted by your thoughts today, my dear son. It is an event that I am amused by, yet pleased with. Come. share some tea with me."

Ordinarily, Raphael knew that Splinter only shared tea while showing Leonardo how to lead by talking about fighting strategy and about interpersonal relation between the brothers. Truthfully, it was Leo and Raph that fought the most, the hot-tempered turtle knew, and so it was hardly fair for Leonardo to be considered the "mediator" between any of those who were fighting. Donny and Mikey got along fine, and didn't need anyone to mediate their arguments. If anyone was to have that skill sharpened, it would have to be Donatello. He almost never lost his temper.

"Why share tea with me, sensei?"

"It is a wonderful way to relax, and as you are in a frame of mind to accept the idea of it, I hope that you will accept the offer."

He was given a choice to decline? "O' course, Master Splinter." He took the proffered handle-less cup, sipping the hot liquid carefully. It . . . was good. Very smooth, balanced in flavor, and even the aroma was calming. "Hn . . . no wonder Leo goes outta his way t' get at this stuff. Wouldn't drink it 'round 'im, though . . ."

"Because your pride will not allow you to, I presume." Splinter chuckled, reaching over to rest his hand upon the green-skinned shoulder. "And because you are who you are, unable to allow yourself to relax for fear that you would be ridiculed."

That hit too close to the mark, and Raphael flinched slightly. "I don' like bein' controlled."

"You feel the Leonardo tries to do that to you."

"Feel? Know. He don' like bein' disobeyed."

"So you disobey out of spite?"

"No . . . I disobey 'im when I know that he's bein' stupid."

Frowning at the verbiage, but knowing that his son did indeed have a point in that Leonardo sometimes got out of hand when trying to lead or command his "troops," Splinter raised a bushy, grey eyebrow and changed the topic. Leonardo, while by far more mature than others his age, was still young. "Would you care to allow me the knowledge of why you were distracted during the exercise today?"

Raphael paled . . . then gulped and stared at the sensei. Smiling, the old rat nodded, then continued. "She came to me, you know."

"A-about?"

"The accidental . . . intrusion yesterday. She was worried that it would get out, and was also just as distracted as you are now about it." Splinter reached over and rested his hand upon Raphael's brow, leaning in close as any father would. "She is more worried for your sake than her own."

This shocked the eldest of the turtles. "What? Why? I'm the one--"

"Yes, yes, I know. You are the indeed the one who walked in on her. However, both Donatello and Michelangelo are quite protective over Tori, and they would see you seeing her in such a situation a blemish upon her honor, no matter what she may say."

"But you said that she don' hate me . . ." For some reason, it was important to Raphael that she not hate him. He couldn't figure out why. That bothered him to no end. Unless it was his brothers, he didn't care if someone hated him or not.

"How could she hate you for an accident?"

The door slid open to reveal Tori, dripping wet from a sudden downpour during her groceries excursion. She blinked in shock at seeing Raphael, but didn't say anything. Splinter motioned from one to the other. "Now you are even. Two doors opened, each upon private matters."

Tori barked a laugh, then shook her head carefully, not wanting to drip upon the tatami matting. "Sensei, that's a great way of thinking. I'm stealing time for myself topside once I'm dry."

"Alone?" Raph asked quietly, his dark gaze steady upon her light amber one.

She smiled, knowing that the protector in him mystified him even as it rose to the surface. "No . . . a few friends and I are going to the movies. I'm going to be home around midnight."

"What right do you have to call this place home," Leonardo's angry voice echoed from the hallway behind the young woman. He had followed her from when she entered, keeping back to watch before engaging.

For once, Splinter yelled, instantly upon his feet, anger lining his movements. "Leonardo! Kneel!"

A semi-cowed but still unrepentant turtle walked into the room, shouldering past Tori, and knelt beside Raphael. Their master and father glared at the one in whom he had seen the markings of a great leader. "I have guided you to be fair, kind, patience, and above all, open-minded to change. This anger I do not forbid to you; the expression of it I do forbid." He paused, and his voice lowered. "Consider Victoria as you would April, who is not only my daughter, but your sister, Leonardo."

"Considering that I've only met her maybe a month ago? Hardly enough time to call her even a friend, never mind 'family'!"

Donatello and Michelangelo, both panting, sweat-covered and only half-done with their assignments, had run to the origin of Splinter's roar. They paused at the door of their father's room, keeping their haggard breathing as quiet as possible. Leonardo's embarrassment was complete.

"You were specifically asked to welcome her when you did not wish to, Leonardo. Donatello and Michelangelo are, by their very nature, kind and will bringing new friends and family into their hearts with open-arms. You and Raphael are not. It is essential for you to take your time in trusting, which is also a good trait. However, in this case, it is not." He drew himself a bit taller, the tip of his tail twitching in agitation. "Victoria being here is a challenge to you both in separate ways. To you, Leonardo, she is an intrusion upon what you believe your family's space to be. She is also a blow to your pride as a leader, in that she assessed a situation more accurately than you had, rescuing you from further injury. Raphael, she threatens to soften you, you feel." The stern eye was only for the two before him. "Do not fail me, my sons, in rising to, then above the challenge that is before you." He looked at those assembled. "Donatello, Michelangelo! Back to your assignments! Tori, you know your way around the city. If you are not home before midnight, I will ask Michelangelo to find you and check in with you. Leonardo, start your fifty laps over."

Dismissed, they all walked, or stormed, off in their separate directions, all silent, thinking upon what had just transpired. Raphael sighed, dismayed that their father had seen right through him. "Mas--"

"Actually," the rat said, a twinkle in his eye, "I asked her to come so that I may enjoy her cooking skills and witty conversation."

". . . what? Damn, how long have ya known 'er, anyway?"

Kneeling, chuckling at the look upon his son's face, the ninja master poured another cup of green tea for himself. He distinctly and in a manner that indicated he wasn't going to answer that question, continued on with his talk with Raphael. "Aaah, laughter. Yes, I am well aware that it was possibly cruel to reveal your current weakness in this situation. However, my son, it was necessary."

"But I don't want to do anythin' 'bout her! I wanna fight! that's all I wanna do with my life."

"Yet!" Splinter raised a finger as he interrupted his son. "To appreciate the thrill of the fight, you must always have something of the opposite to compare it against. You have family, yes, but do you truly have companionship?"

"Sure," he replied in an off-hand manner. "Casey."

"Ah. He is good for your fighting spirit, but not for your at-peace spirit." Splinter sipped at his tea. "And once he is married, things will change for you all. The group dynamics will shift. Besides, you are to be Casey's best man at this wedding. Do you remember what the best man does? He escorts the maid of honor. Raphael, that is why she was allowed to know you and your brothers."

Raphael began to awaken to the true scheme behind things, and even though he didn't particularly like the facts, that Casey and April were getting married and would be even more involved with each other, he accepted them. But a new thought came to his mind, causing him to lean forward, asking, "You gonna match-make f'r Leo, too?"

"Mm. She, like Victoria, is a great friend to April. And she will infuriate your brother to the point of where he and she will love. You? Just a date, my hotheaded one. Nothing more will I ask of you save that you allow yourself to open up to her only a touch. She is an individual that I have never before seen an equivalent of, and I am honored that she chose to come and stay with us to become used to your ways."

"So that things'll go smoothly at th' weddin'."

"Precisely, my son. She is . . . ah, you could call her the damage control."

Raphael threw down the last of his tea, then handed the cup back to Splinter, standing. "I'm goin' out. Can't let 'er get into trouble. April would chew us out."

As he left, Splinter smiled. He knew that his sons all had a protective streak within them. Raphael's was expressed in a more fiery way than the others. It was a good feeling to know that he had not failed his tempered son, knowing that the training and guiding had only fortified that deep wish to keep his family and friends safe. Even if it had to be done in methods that the sensei didn't approve of.

.o.O.o.

She was indeed late. Michelangelo was sent out, and just as he saw her, he felt Raphael walk up beside him. Turning his head, he blinked his baby blues. "Dude . . . you so got off on the training assignments today."

Grunting, Raphael crouched, looking down at the street, seeing Victoria beside April and a few other young women. "Not really. He had more of a mental exercise for me to do. Didn't like it, either."

"Bummer. Why?"

"That's f'r me to know, Mikey."

Watching his elder brother, Michelangelo knew that Raphael was oddly silent. But at the same time, the red-banded one was calm. Shrugging, looking back down at Victoria, the youngest asked, "So . . . mind me askin' what you really think of Tori?"

Not replying for a long moment, Raphael thought it over. Then, with a sigh, he said, "I . . . Mikey, this goes only t' Donny, got it? Or I'll beat you bloody if I hear dat you've let Leo know."

"Turtle's honor." Mikey looked up, saw Raph's most serious face, and swallowed. "And on Splinter's honor, too."

Raphael indicated that they move up a few buildings, then crouched carefully right beside the parapet that ran around the edge. During those few moments, he thought over his words. "She fits in with us. It's like I knew that she was supposed to be around our group from th' beginnin'."

"You like her."

Glaring suddenly at his younger brother, Raphael digested the words, but then sighed and nodded, unable to say much other than affirming it. "But that goes no further than you."

"Yeah, bro." Michelangelo rubbed at his head. "But I know that Splinter's gonna have someone be my date . . ."

Watching her in silence for a bit longer, the twain saw how she and April broke off from the group with smiles and waves. Simultaneously, they dropped down to follow the two young women from street-level, creeping up on the two from around a corner.

Gone.

A voice spoke behind Raphael, not truly startling him, but causing him to spin and begin to raise his fists in a defensive manner. Victoria stood with her arms crossed over her chest casually, a kind smile upon her face. "You've been obvious to me and April, at least."

"Where's . . . ?"

Mikey walked up with April on his arm, grinning like a schoolboy.

"Oh."

"Come on, then," the red-headed bride-to-be said as Tori allowed Raph to proceed before her. "We've got some stories to tell Master Splinter. Urban legends being born about you and that kinda thing."

He nodded once, well aware that he was partially responsible for at least half of those modern myths, lifting a manhole cover for them. "You tell April 'bout th' problem wit' Leo?"

"Ah . . . I was leaving that until she and I were kinda alone . . ."

April sighed, shaking her head. "Raph, you always have a problem with Leonardo."

"Actually . . . his problem is with me, this time," Victoria said as Michelangelo started climbing down first. He would be the one catching them after the drop, if there was indeed one. "You see . . . he feels that I've intruded upon his familial territory. The area that belongs solely to the Turtles, Splinter, you, and Casey."

"Oh . . . yeah, he did that with me," April said, shrugging it off and starting her own descent. "He really warmed up after a few days, though."

Tori followed her closely, listening to Michelangelo talk before she had the chance to. "Sorry, April, but this time, Fearless Leader's just plain mad at Tori for being around. See, she also kinda bruised his honor by helping us escape from a thug-squad." Michelangelo dropped to the sewer floor, raising his arms to catch both young women as they dropped down. "I mean . . . he's got a real problem with Tori bein' our new sis and all. I'm still kinda shocked that Splinter 'adopted' you so fast, though . . ."

Tori chuckled, moving out of the way to let Raphael drop down and land beside her in a crouch. She shook her head. "You know how he visits April and Casey a lot? You know, for movies and TV specials and how he just goes up there to share company with them?"

"How do you know all that?" Raphael asked quietly, frowning as usual, but not angry at her for knowing.

"Because I had been house-sitting when she went on vacation to Japan a while back, and was returning the key. And I walked in on them trying to usher the sensei into a spare room while he was entranced in watching Samurai Fiction."

"Wicked! I bet he wasn't too happy about that!" Mikey crowed.

"Indeed, I assure you I was not. Nor was it an accident that she 'found' me. April had spoken to me about the wedding as soon as her plans started to come together."

Gulping, the youngest son bowed his head in semi-shame at the shadow that detached itself from the wall, walking forwards with careful steps. His smile was radiant. "Michelangelo, you are perfectly correct in your assumptions. Do not be ashamed of that."

"Yes, Master. So, uh . . . when was this that you met Tori?"

Walking back with them, Splinter smiled. "It was just after our partial alliance with the Foot, ten months ago. And I am pleased to say that Tori did not react as April had."

"Hey! I was still afraid of rats, thank you! It's not easy to get over a fear in three days flat." April laughed, then shook her head. "It was really funny, though. Tori looked as if she had seen a kitten or puppy or something equally cute."

"Are you insinuating--"

"No, Splinter! Nothing like that! I'm not saying that! I'm just saying that she melted when she saw you!"

"Because I knew that he was a great guy when I saw him. Kinda like the older uncles that you just wanna snuggle," Tori defended herself, holding her hand out to give the old rat a hold so that he could walk safely over a bit of slippery rocks. With a smile, he took it, grateful that she thought about him so easily, wanting to look after him as he had looked after her, guiding her in secret . . .

.o.O.o.

Nine Months Prior

.o.O.o.

Having watched movies and getting to know this odd sensei for a month had been something straight out of an odd storybook for Victoria. She had gotten to know Master Splinter, just as he had gotten to know her in return. So as April and Casey went out on a date, Tori and Splinter had a dinner together in April's apartment. It was chili, not too spicy, with a side of toasted homemade bread and butter, and some corn on the cob. It was one of the foods that Tori made easily, without any hassle or problem.

"You eat like a little bird."

Swallowing her food, Victoria laughed, then looked at the sensei with an open face. She set up no walls between them. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"That while my sons are all kappa, you are the tori, the bird. Perhaps I should call you by taka or suzume."
"Taka would be nice. Hawk."

"Yes, but you also possess within yourself the gentle nature of a sparrow, the suzume. Mm. Tori will suffice."

Smiling at his way of thinking, enjoying hearing him talk his way around things, Victoria decided that she really did want to know more about his family. "So . . . you have four sons total, right?"

Eating with a fastidious nature, Splinter nodded, wiping his whiskers off after every third bite or so, loath to have his fur dirtied in any fashion. "Leonardo, who is my eldest, then Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo."

"And Leonardo leads them," Tori said before shoveling chili onto the bread and into her mouth.

"Yes indeed. He has the greatest markings of a leader . . . yet as Raphael is close in age, he, too, shows great skills in that area."

"So they must butt heads."

"Indeed," Splinter chuckled, sipping at his glass of ice-water. "Raphael has a temper so very hot that it often consumes him. He does not like to be led, and is not a follower. Leonardo feels he has to help Raphael control his temper, which, in most situations, comes to the point of where they fight. Raphael does not wish to face his temper with anyone beside him. He prefers to fight alone in most, if not all, situations."

"Even when his greatest enemy is himself."

"Especially then. For he believes that it shows weakness to admit to not being able to control something he feels he should be able to.

Nodding, Tori paused, then asked, "What of Donatello?"

"Arguably the most intelligent of the four. Inventor, computer genius, and the most patient. He prefers to defend than attack, which I feel is a good trait in him. Although there are other times where I have to push at him in order to make him lash back."

"You fight them?"

"Aaah, alas, only sometimes. I am indeed growing older, and it sometimes takes a toll upon this old body to fight as I had in my youth."

"You make Donatello sound like he's the most calm of the four."

"He is." Sitting back, smiling, he added, "Michelangelo is the 'funny man,' always wanting to make his brothers smile, lighten up, and not take themselves so seriously. He is the one who has always been able to keep things light while his brothers were dark."

Pondering a forkful of chili, she asked, "Is there some reason why you are sharing all this with me?"

"Other than you had asked, yes. You are April's maid of honor, and my son Raphael was asked to be Casey's best man. I wish to prepare you for them. You are to know them before they will know you."

"Isn't that a bit unfair?"
"No . . . not if it is to be a test of their maturity and adaptability." Smiling, Splinter sipped at his water before setting it down carefully. "I wish to prepare them for an unpredictable life. They have a comfortable place right now, and that is not a place I wish for them to stay in."

"Who do you think will react the worst to me?"

"Either Raphael or Leonardo. As of right now, I have no knowing. Both have tempers, yet Leonardo's is firmly held in check by his compassion for all living creatures. Perhaps he will take to you, perhaps not. All I do know is that you and Raphael must be able to deal with each other for April's wedding."

"Sensei, I promise to you that I will do my best to be at peace with all of your four sons."