"I can't believe it bros! After all this time, the Shredder is dead! Finally! Like, just…gone!" Mikey exclaimed as they all walked through the streets. The sun was beginning to light the streets they walked down as the moon still shinned bright, but the sun was gradually winning.
Leonardo walked along as Jade walked beside him. She didn't reach out to hold his hand or touch him. She felt her stomach get queasy as his anger and disappointment in himself raged through his thoughts. How he stepped away from his honor for a moment to make that one and final strike into Saki's stomach. The way his life seeped out of his eyes as Leo looked down at him, blood slowly dripping from his blade.
She saw it replay over and over in his head as if they were her own thoughts. She looked over at him as his face was straight, no emotion, remorse, pain, sadness. Just, straight. She wanted to make him realize this was something good, not bad. He needed to kill the Shredder or they would have died. He kept his honor intact.
Michelangelo walked by Leo with a smile, shaking his shoulder from enthusiasm to his words. Raphael slapped his brother's hand as Mikey walked past him jumping into a back flip as he landed before his walking brothers. Fiona smiled watching him as they both giggled through the street. She jumped on Mikey's back as he hoisted her up more running ahead, her putting her arms out as if she was flying.
Jade smiled to herself. She was happy, they were free. Because of Leo, they were finally free. She sighed happily as she looked over her shoulder at Jacqueline who smiled at her older sister. They made eye contact as Jacqueline stuck her tongue out with a smile.
"We're finally free Jackie." Jade said as she turned back around.
"I know, it's great isn't it?"
"Would be…" She said softly through her thoughts as she looked over at Leonardo.
They made their way back to the lair as Leonardo walked into Master Splinter's room. He slid the door shut almost silently and kneeled before his father.
"What's wrong with him?" Jacqueline asked quietly as Jade hugged her arms around herself. She shrugged her shoulders as she kept her stare on the door. "Well, whatever it is I'm sure it doesn't have to do with you." Jac said placing a firm yet caring hand on her sister's shoulder. Jade broke out of her stare and smiled at her.
"Thanks Jackie. But…" She sighed heavily looking back towards the door. "He's just so, I don't know. I feel bad for him. He's having a hard time dealing with the fact that he might have damaged his honor in doing what he did to Saki. It's not fair. Even after death that man is still tormenting him." She shook her head as she turned towards the stairs. She wiped a tear away as she made her way to his room.
She laid her back on his bed as the warmth of it consumed her body. She smiled slightly as the smell of it filling her senses as she took a deep breath. She couldn't image not waking up and having that smell around, having the warmth of his body next to hers. He was something she'd never experienced before and was different and couldn't get enough. She was always cautious when it came to matters of the heart, especially hers. But, with Leo it was different. He made her feel everything and anything she's ever wanted to in love. Safety, warmth, alive, head spinning, stomach turning, rollercoaster air lifting feeling that never faded. Seeing his eyes looking back into hers with so much passion and true meaning behind what he was saying to her. Never lies or misunderstanding just, truth.
"You have to understand Leonardo, what you did was something you needed to do. Your family was in danger. Your self was in danger. You had no other choice than to kill him."
"I know Sensei, but something Raphael said, right before." He sighed hanging his head. "He said this is exactly what he wants. But, I didn't care. I just wanted him to be dead and stop bringing so much pain to everyone around me. It seems like my whole life I have been running from this man because of what he has done or threatened to do. I couldn't…It's just, I didn't want it to go any further. I wanted it ended right there and then."
"My son, you have a very caring heart. You think about those around you and their well being. This trait is very noble and filled with honor. You should never be discouraged about you're lack of honor for doing such a noble and wise thing. He has been bringing pain into this home for years. He has had many lives and now that it is finally ended you should be celebrating with those around you instead of dwelling on the wrong deed you feel you did in your heart. Death is a part of life Leonardo. I have taught you boys this many times. You must embrace death then let it go along with all feelings of whatever they may be." Splinter said as Leonardo raised his head slowly to look into his father's eyes. "You have those around you that care deeply about you and will help you. However, if you do not ask for this help than you will never get it." He nodded his head slowly and got to his feet.
"Thank you Sensei."
"You're welcome my son."
Leonardo left his father's room as he walked into the main room. Michelangelo and Fiona were dancing to some thumping music in the corner as Raphael and Jacqueline watched from the couch with smiling faces. Jacqueline perched on Raphael's lap, as he held her body close to his.
Donatello and Lexine were in the lab as Donnie tried to figure out the formula Jacqueline had given him. Leonardo walked in as Lexi smiled at him weakly. She knew he was still feeling a little uneasy. She could feel his exhaustion from emotions and built up stamina from the seeming never ending day.
"Have you figured this out yet Don?" He asked as he leaned over his brother's shoulder. Donnie shook his head as the computer screen lit his face.
"No, something isn't adding up. Its right until towards the end and then it just repeats itself."
"Seems like his trying to run us in circles." Lexi added crossing her arms.
"Possible." Don sighed. He leaned back in his chair as Lexi massaged his shoulder gently. Leo smiled as started for the door.
"We should all get some rest." He said as Don nodded his head getting up from the chair.
Leonardo left the room as Raph and Jac were gone from the couch where now Fiona and Mikey sat. Fiona laying her head down, using Mikey's lap as a pillow. He pulled the blanket over her body as he smiled down at her running his hand slowly over her hair. She sighed happily in her half a sleep state, snuggling closer to his warmth.
"Night Mikey." Leo said as he climbed the stairs. Mikey gave his brother a head nod as a yawn cut him off from words. He laid his head back on the couch as it didn't take long for his exhaustion from the night's events to take over his tired body.
"I'll sleep down here Donnie, you can have your bed." Lexi said as she turned off his computer. He stood in the door way, stretching as he watched her lean over the chair and click the screen off. She turned with a smile as he smiled back.
"You had an emotional day and that kind of stress is bad for your back. It could cause numerous amounts of pain and muscle tension so you should have my bed." Donnie rambled as she walked towards him.
"Ok, but…Only if you can keep me company." She said as she watched her hand slowly glide down his arm lacing her fingers with his. She smiled lifting her eyes slowly until they met his. He felt his knees go weak, as he almost stumbled, holding onto the door panel with his other hand.
Sleep in the same bed with a girl? Never in a million years did he think this could ever happen to him. Ever! He smiled and nodded his head as his mind was too busy trying to steady his thoughts to form a constructed sentence. She smiled and walked past him, dragging him with her as they made their way to his bedroom.
She sat on the edge of his bed as he pressed his back against the door, closing it slowly shut behind him. He looked over at her as she smiled patting the space next to her. He took a breath as he released his grip from the door knob sitting next to her. She kept her smile on her face as she looked towards him putting her hand over his. She could feel the slight shake of it as she placed in hers.
"Don't be nervous Donnie." She said softly, as he swallowed hard to her voice trying to bring himself to look up at her from his stare on the floor. He clenched his eyes tight, before bringing his head up to look at her. Her eyes were soft and beautiful as her blonde hair curled slightly from the after effect of sweating earlier that evening.
She pushed herself up his bed, turning down the covers as she slipped between them. She lay back, pulling down her jeans as she threw them on the floor. He watched them land as he couldn't help but look at them wide eyed.
"I can't sleep in pants." She shrugged. He didn't blame her. This whole sleeping with clothes thing was new to him and uncomfortable so far. "You can get comfy Donnie, this is your room after." She smiled. He sighed softly and lifted his shirt above his head tossing it on the floor with her pants as she smiled, running her eyes over his body quickly before he laid back down in a sigh. He kept his jeans on as she chuckled to herself looking down at him.
She wished he wasn't so shy around her. After everything they've been through together. She couldn't help but want to just… she wanted him. She wanted him to just forget about his shy qualities and just grab her and kiss her. Do something to show that he felt the same way about her.
Lately, she had been thinking that he hasn't reacted because he just doesn't want her. This has happened before, many times. She saw the sighs and they were extremely apparently in Donatello. He avoided eye contact if he could. He barely touched her. But, those times he did it was caring and filled with so much just emotion she couldn't help but push all her doubts away. He had to just be shy. Maybe she could fix that? She smirked slightly as she moved her hand down his side slowly. He squirmed and in a quick reaction grabbed her hand. She looked up at him as she saw goose bumps appear slowly over his skin.
"You're ticklish." She smirked taking her free hand and running it over the spot again. He twitched and moved away from her in reaction as she giggled slightly. He held both her hands now as she leaned down kissing his chest softly. His grip loosened for a moment as he regained thought back into his mind gripping them.
"W-what are you doing?" He asked clearing his throat as she slowly moved her nose down the side of his body. She smiled from his slight twitch again and kissed his skin once more.
"Donnie, do you like me?" She asked picking her head up. He looked down at her in pure confusion. Like her? Was she kidding! Not only was she beautiful, she was smart and beautiful. She was in his bed with him, and even though he was not a turtle like he had been before, she still was around him. She had told them when they first kissed that even if he was a turtle it wouldn't matter. That right there could have made him fly around the room with happiness.
"Of course I like you. My only worry is that you don't like me, the real me." He sighed softly. She smiled and kissed his lips softly. His hands went weak in hers as she lifted them above his head on his pillow, gripping them into the softness. She moved her body on his more as they kissed.
"I like you a lot, no matter what you may look like." She said softly, pulling away from his lips. "I want you to be comfortable around me. Trust me like I trust you. I trust you with my life Donatello. That's saying a lot." He nodded his head and sighed softly as she kissed his lips again.
Raphael laid his body along the length of Jacqueline's as he kissed slowly down the nape of her neck. Gliding his lips slowly over her bare shoulder as she smiled, closing her eyes as she let sounds of pure happiness leave her lips.
"Next time we split up, you wanna give me a heads up first?" Raph said against her ear as a smile appeared on her face.
"Life is more fun with surprises." She said as he pulled back looking at her.
"For who? You scared the shit outta me back there! I didn't know if you were ok, I didn't know if you needed my help. I was…"
"Worried?" She said with a smile as he sighed putting his head down on her shoulder.
"Yeah, somethin' like that."
"Huh, does this mean you've gone soft Raphael?"
"Yeah, yeah." He said looking back at her. "Just…don't get used to it."
"Oh I wouldn't dream of it." She said with a serious face as she leaned up and kissed him.
Leonardo sat on his bed with a soft sigh as Jade looked up at him from her stare on his ceiling. He put his katanas down under his bed as he lifted the shirt up over his head tossing it on the floor. Jade smiled as the candle light bounced along his toned back. She lifted her body up slowly from the mattress as she put her legs on either sides of him, pressing her chest against his back.
He looked over his shoulder taking her hands in his as they searched his body, moving slowly up to his chest. She kissed his shoulder blade softly, putting her forehead against his skin and breathing in his scent. It was the same as it was before. It was Leo and she felt her heart flutter, then her legs quiver to him running his strong hand along her thigh gripping it and pulling her into his body more.
"I'm not mad at you." He said softly.
"I know…" She said kissing his skin again. "I didn't think you were."
"When Hun said, I mean…I was looking for Raphael because I knew you could handle yourself. I will always protect you Jade, you know that right?" He asked as he turned towards her. She smiled, placing a hand on his cheek.
"Of course Leo, I know." He hung his head in a sigh as her smile slowly faded. "What is it?" He shook his head, lifting it up as he wrapped his arms around her pulling her body close to his. He pressed his lips tightly to hers as she kissed back, gripping her fingers into his biceps. He pulled away with a breath.
"I would do anything for you. I would die for you. I would go to any lengths to keep you safe. I want you to know that."
"I do Leo. I know, I would do the same for you." She smiled as his face didn't lighten. She could help but feel her heart beat start to race as he pressed his lips tightly to hers again. He put his body weight down on hers as he laid her back against his mattress.