Shattered Mirrors Ch6. (Home Bitter Home )

Donnie Pov

Smiling, nuzzling his beak, letting out a cheerful churr, Donnie cuddled with little Willow.

The small child thrilled of this treatment smiled brightly, churring back, yawning when she became comfortable within his arms.

"Funny she calms down right away in your arms Donnie," Leo admitted, with a hint of jealousy, why couldn't the young turtles be like that with him?

Looking up at his big brother, Donnie chuckled making Leo tilt his head in wonder, "That is because you don't show them love."

"I do too!" Leo spat becoming insulted by the statement; he does love them, why would Donnie say such a thing?

(Silly Leo.)

"Not in the way they want you to," Donnie got up placing Willow in Leo's arms.

Instantly the elder brother stiffened up, gulping hard, waiting for the fireworks, that didn't take long to happen.

"See… Donnie, she is crying…" Leo bit his lip in frustration, feeling his head throbbing again.

"Show her that you love her," Donnie sat on the couch next to Leo, watching the older brother eagerly.

Not a second after he did, Willow extended her arms, almost begging Donnie to take her back, then be left in the care of her blue clad uncle.

(Oh Willow, Uncle Leo will love you, you will see.)

"I'm holding her, isn't that enough? I even rock her…" Leo panicked, feeling the stress wash over him, he wanted to do anything, then this, why did he have such a hard time handling these kids?

(Why doesn't Leo understand? Willow is just like us. Why does he always act she is some strange thing, becoming so uncomfortable around her?)

"But you're not churring to her. Leo, she's a turtle…. she likes to be churred too, like we do," Donnie pointed out, watching Leo's face turning white, on the mere idea of that act.

Feeling his voice tremble, though he couldn't stop it, Leo felt at a lost, "Churr?! …I …I can't…"

(Leo can't churr? I don't understand…)

"Why?" Donnie tilted his head, unsure why Leo couldn't, he could, April could, even Mikey and Raph can.

"I…" Leo cleared his throat, noticing Mikey who was sitting there quietly, with an amusing smile on his lips.

The orange clad turtle leaned on the edge of his chair waiting anxiously; no one has ever heard Leo churred before.

"She wants you to Leo, do it for your niece," Donnie played with Willows toes, making the child squeal happily, only to cry when Donnie stopped.

(You can do it big brother, come on, please do it for her.)

Biting his lip, taking a breath, Leo brought the child closer to him, nuzzling his beak into her neck, letting out a small nervous churr.

As the sound reached the child's ears, it startled her.

Quickly she stopped her crying, looking at Leo very complex, unsure if he was the one that churred to her.

The seconds pass by, while a cloud of silence fell, as all eyes were on the small turtle child, waiting to see how Willow would respond to this new experience.

(Willow, please accept him… Leo needs it, as much as you need him. At least he is trying, even if he isn't perfect at it.)

Just when Leo thought she was about to continue her crying, she did the opposite, the young female churred back, grabbing his cheeks with her small hands, nuzzling her beak against his happily.

"See, that wasn't hard," Donnie smiled, watching Leo turning red.

"Well… umm… fine, but this doesn't leave this room! You got that, the both of you?!" Leo snapped his head towards Mikey, daring him to make fun of this and see the consequences that would follow.

Breaking into laughter Mikey almost rolled off the chair, startling Luke that was sleeping on his lap, "OH really? And who would I tell huh? Maybe the Foot?"

Slapping the chair's arm, Mikey roared, waving his hand, "Oh Mr. Foot Ninja, you should really consider to run! My older brother is not just a master of the sword, but his very cute feminine churr will strike utter fear into your soul.

"Feminine!?" Leo flashed a look at Mikey angrily for the insult.

Trying desperately to contain his laughter, Mikey smiled, "Well, it was on the high end there bro."

(So what, if it was high… Willow liked it… Why is Mikey making fun of Leo?)

"I… I was nervous, I have never done it before!" Leo defended himself, rocking Willow, hoping this little spat wouldn't upset her.

"Oh is that your excuse, then do it again, let's hear it," Mikey grinned widened in glee, egging Leo on, he found this intriguing to see Leo so defensive like this.

Such an event like this doesn't occur so often, for no one gets under Leo's skin so simply, and over a subject like this at that.

"Mikey…" Leo started, then stopped turning his head towards the slamming of the lab door, which also caught the other two brothers' attention as well.

In a heap of hot tears April ran up the stairs disappearing above.

(April?! Why is she crying?)

"Did something happen?" Mikey quietly asked, looking at Leo for an answer.

Getting up, Leo was about to pass Willow to Donnie, only to have the younger brother shake his head, not taking his eyes off of the staircase, "Please can I go to her."

(Say yes, she needs me Leo.)

Biting his lip, Leo sat back down, "Ok Donnie, I will be up there in a moment then."

(April I'm coming.)

Donnie nodded quickly, making his leave with much haste. What happened in the lab? Why was April crying, did that alligator hurt her? If so, why didn't Raph do something?

Donnie swore he saw his older brother enter not to long before hand, making him feel better on the notion April was in that room alone, considering Raph wouldn't let anything happen to his mate.

Yet something did…

(Raph, why are you not going after her? April is clearly upset and you're not around… What would have happened, that you wouldn't take the moment to comfort her?)

Slowly opening the door to April's room that she occasionally used, the thick aroma of fear, mixed with stress, with a dash of saltiness, invaded his nostrils.

The room was cast in darkness; luckily Donnie could make out April's figure on the bed.

(She is really upset.)

Closing the door behind him Donnie made his way to her, even she by now should have noticed him, yet didn't respond.

Gently placing his hand on her shoulders, April's sobbing grew louder, as she pulled her head from her pillow looking into his brown eyes.

Tears streamed down her face, her expression was a mix of confusion and doubt, instantly she flung into his arms, trembling against him.

"April… what happened?" Donnie whispered, trying his best to steady his voice, to sounded supporting.

"Nothing… Donnie, please don't ask…" April whimpered pressing herself tighter into him.

Sighing Donnie didn't argue, fearing what she would tell him, besides he didn't want to upset her anymore than she was.

Sitting on the bed, fully, Donnie swooped April up, laying her on his lap, holding her, rocking her, giving her small churrs to soothe her nerves.

(If you don't want to talk about it, I am ok with that. Either way I will not leave you alone my beautiful mate.)

Comforting her the best he was capable of, Donnie didn't let her go, what felt like hours, suddenly a knock came from the door, reminding the turtle that his older brother did mention he would come around to check on her.

(I know Leo said he will be up here later… but what if it isn't him?!)

Placing his attention to the door, Donnie watched it nervously, only to settle down, once he realized it was Leo after all.

The blue clad brother, with a worried expression on his face, tried to hide his thoughts from his younger brother, but was doing a poor job at it.

(What is wrong with Leo?)

"Sorry to disturb you both, but April may I have a word with you alone?" Leo walked up to the bed, reading April's face that had signs that she hasn't stop crying.

"I…" April only said shyly, not wanting Donnie to go.

"It will be brief, I promise. It's just that this matter is best to be discussed in privacy. Sorry Donnie," Leo insisted waiting for April to answer.

(Why? I want to stay, April tell him I have to stay.)

Sighing April twirled her hair around her finger, giving in, "Donnie can you please leave for a second, I should talk to your brother."

"But… April…" Donnie protested, biting his lip.

(Don't send me away…)

Smiling sweetly April warmly stroked his cheek, "Thank you Donnie for staying with me, I will be fine, it's Leo remember."

(So?)

"I know that… Okay April… But," Donnie fidgeted staring into her eyes, reluctant to leave, regardless if it was Leo he was leaving her with, "Can I come back later and stay with you longer? Please."

"Sure, in a bit," April smiled weakly, kissing him on the head, before he took his leave, that took much effort on his behalf.

April POV

Once alone in the room, the male turtle took a seat on the edge of the bed, looking at his hands, like he was contemplating on how to start the conversation.

"April about what happened in the lab, between you and Leatherhead," Leo slowly started watching April in the corner of his eye.

(How much does he know?)

"What about it," April pulled one of her pillows pressing it against her chest firmly.

"Well, I talk to Leatherhead and got his side of the story. So I think there are some things you should know about him."

(Is Leo defending him after what he did?!)

"KNOW ABOUT HIM!" April blew up, trembling in a heap of anger, "You told me he was trustworthy LEO! He attacked me! He went nuts on me! Yet you act like this means nothing!"

Taking a breath, Leo sat there calm, showing no signs of any emotions, letting April to cool down before he continued," I understand that and he even admitted in doing so…"

(He admitted it? Yet you still act fine over this? What the hell!)

"So because he admitted that he hurt me, means he gets scott free!? Just like that!" April growled, throwing her pillow at Leo's head.

With a sigh, Leo took the hit from the pillow, not bothering to dodge it or catch it, even though it would have been a simple task, "That's not what I am implying."

"Then what are you implying," April crossed her arms narrowing her eyes at the blue clad turtle that she put much trust in.

(This has to be good Leo or I swear!)

"If you stop interrupting me, I will get to that," Leo pointed out, lashing out at her, sounding a bit harsher then he attended to come across, making April retreat quickly, closing her mouth in response.

(…)

Rubbing his head Leo let out another sigh, he had to watch how he acted towards April, it wasn't the same as when it came to Mikey or Raph, though her temper at times matched Raph's on many levels, he had to admit.

"Leatherhead has some issues and no I am not stating it's an excuse for his demeanor towards you. In truth, I thought he was over them, I guess I was wrong, so please accept my apologies for this. You see in the past Leatherhead was abducted by a madman that did things to him. After that he was having trouble controlling his instincts, mainly his anger. When provoke he would lose all self control, reverting to a beast… I guess it's the best way to describe it."

Sitting back on the bed, April chewed on her nail, deep in thought.

(So someone tortured him? Even so, why didn't Leo mention that, or dare to leave me alone with him, he is a stranger after all to me. Damn it, Leo that was not fair that you did that, regardless you were protecting him as a friend!)

"You thought he had this issue, under control? Is that why you fail to mention it?" April looked up at Leo.

"Yes, I would have said something, if I only knew… I'm sorry April, this is my fault. I should have questioned him on this matter before ever allowing him to be alone with you."

"Well, you should have… but I know you wouldn't have intentionally put me in danger."

"April, Leatherhead isn't a danger…" Leo started only to be interrupted.

(Not a danger? Really? How dare you say that! He is!)

"No excuses Leo! I don't know him, nor does Donnie at that. So in turn, I think it is best he is not left alone with the children or me. As for Donnie, please don't allow him alone with Donnie!" April pleaded with Leo, knowing it was his decision not hers in the end, when it came to Donnie.

(Leo please don't leave him alone with Donnie, think about your brother, not your ideal of Leatherhead. Donnie's safety is more important, he can't protect himself, if this alligator tries to hurt him!)

Biting his lip, Leo slowly nodded to her request, "Then I will set the rules, if he wishes to be allowed to come to the lair, he will be restricted to the lab only if I, Raph or Mikey are not around. He will not be allowed to be alone with you, Donnie or the kids otherwise. Is that satisfactory, to you April?"

"Yes, thank you Leo," April let a breath out of relief, though she didn't like the idea the alligator was there period.

"Good, I will tell the others and make sure it is carried out. April, I hope this event didn't tarnish our relationship, or your trust of ours," Leo asked worriedly.

(Why would he ask such a thing?)

Going towards him April wrapped her arms around the turtle, placing her head on his shoulder, "No, it would take more than that, for that to happen. Leo, for future reference no more keeping such secrets in the dark. We have a family to take care of and have to think about their well being before all else."

Patting her on the head, Leo sighed, "I know, I promise. For now, give Leatherhead a chance, he can still help Donnie."

(… I will never give him a chance… I don't care if he can help Donnie, I don't trust him. Something about him scares me, why does this fear with him, seems so familiar?)