"You're distracted," Shiva noticed and paused receding her strike on you, ending training. "Again."

You didn't deny it, it was written all over your face, "Sorry." You mutter downward clenching your wrapped fist.

Cassandra stood aside watching. "You have to be patient."

You shoot a seething glare, those were not the words you needed. You pivot your left towards her, quickly culling when Shiva stepped in between. Her face calmed yet her glare was cutting. Your frustration vanished and meek shame covered.

"Forgive me, sensei," you drop your eyes. "I-I didn't mean it."

"It's understandable. However, you indeed need to be patient." Shiva agreed to rest a hand upon your shoulder. "As frustrating as it may be, you cannot rush a river's current. That said, I assume it hadn't worked?"

You shook your head, lifting your gaze to hers. "I tried. But the spell…it's tricky. I've seen her once tap it twice, she muttered something but I wasn't able to hear."

Cassandra and Shiva swiftly exchange glances.

"Like what?" Shiva inquired resting a hand on your shoulder.

You took a moment to think about it, just as you opened your mouth a whispered voice called out to you. You pause and turn in the direction it came, it was familiar. Pressuring setting on your shoulder Shiva turned to you back.

"I'm not sure," you disclose regrettably, "she says it so fast. So quiet. It could be anything. "Does," you shift your attention to Cassandra, "your friend know anything else I can use? That might work?"

Cassandra opens her mouth to answer when a sudden knocking sound came. It wasn't from in here it was from out there. You could tell. You tried ignoring it but it came again and again.

"We'll have to continue this later," Shiva said.

Your venomous scowl darkened on your face, "I hate this." You bared, slipping out a low growl. "How much do I have to wait?"

The knock came again, Shiva commanded your attention, "One must be patient. As tendons as it seems, use this time to reflect. For rebirth. Cumulating these feelings. It will come. When the time is right, you'll be able to unleash them. Do you understand?"

Begrudgingly you nod with a sense of sorrow, and vacuum eyes briefly. You muttered quietly, "I don't to be alone."

Cassandra heard it walked over and smirked to herself quickly. "Until next time, alright?"

You turn to her kind eyes and nod. "Yes. Next ti-"

"May? May?" The knock was now accompanied by Will's distant voice.

You grunt turning towards it for a moment and turning back around finding Cassandra and Shiva gone.

"May? Hey, you okay? May?" Will knocked again on your closed door, for what seemed the tenth time.

You hadn't answered. He was tempted to turn your doorknob but discarded the idea. If this was going to work it had to be natural and trustful. Also, his eagerness edged him on.

He knocked again and waited. Lifting his hand again he gets ready when you finally open the door with a deep scowl and dark eyes. Contrasting Will's bright and warm smile.

"You're up. I was worried you might be asleep or something."

You said nothing and realized you were actually looking at him. Quickly you drop your eyes to the side to his dismay.

"Everything okay in there?" He asked cheerily.

You said nothing, only responding with narrowing eyes and a frown. It quickly vanished when you realized you remained on him longer than you wanted and shifted them to the floor. You pulled the hood of your sweat jacket over while pulling on strings to obscure your vision.

Will's smile dipped slightly. But kept the cheerfulness in his voice.

"It's good to see you again. Since you're up I need your help with something." He thumbs over his shoulder downstairs. You said nothing, so he added, "please."

You disliked that word but it worked. With your head and face still covered let out an elongated sigh and nod.

Will beamed, "Great! Let's go!"

From the small opening in your hood, you watched him turn and walk downstairs. He paused mid-way and turned back to you waiting. As much as you wanted to go back into your room you promised and it would dishonorable if you retreated from it. Master Splinter would be ashamed.

So you hyped yourself up and pushed your legs forward to the stairs. Once you reached the bottom you scan the floor to see what it was Will needed help with. You found nothing except Will sitting at the table with a smile, a deck of playing cards, and a plate filled with eclairs. Across from him was a pulled-out seat which he gestured towards.

"Excuse me?" You rose a brow and crossed your arms. "I am supposed to be helping you with something. Not playing games."

He cleared his throat, "This helping. Helping me play this game or a game. Plus you promised to help."

"Not with a game."

"Can't a helping be a game?"

"No."

"Says who?" He arched an amused brow.

You had no rebuttal and conceded. Will held out his hand to the empty chair across and waited for you to sit. You plopped disgruntled into the chair, your arms remained crossed over your chest and your brows pinched.

Will picked up the cards and began shuffling, you didn't lift your moody eyes once from the floor or said a single word. He didn't mind and hummed merrily.

"Let's play something simple, Slap Jack!" He suggested, passing out the cards. "It's a simple game. You know how to play right?"

You gave a nod and clenched your jacket. Once Will finished you gathered your pile and set them straight. Will gestured for you to go first, so you flipped your top card over, it was a two. Will's was a five. You both repeated the motion until a Jack came and Will(with enthusiastic effort) slapped it, taking the pile. He flipped another card starting it again. You add a card. He added a card. It went on a bit longer than the last one, again Will slapped the pile and took it. You continued until all your cards were gone.

"There. I played." You push the chair back and get up, "I am done. Can I return back to the room?"

"Sure," he agreed, collecting the cards, "if you agree to 52 pick up."

"52 pick up? Sure."

A devious smirk quietly spread on Will and before you know it, he released all the cards. They scattered across the floor, on the table, and all around. You were stunned and turned a fuming look at Will. He simply shrugged his shoulders with a chuckle.

"You agreed." He said nonchalantly taking a macaron, and gesturing to the cards. "Cards won't pick up themselves." You grumbled under your breath and started picking them up when suddenly some disappeared and reappeared elsewhere in the shop. You stop and turn to Will, he simply shrugged, "Oh, yeah they're magic playing cards forgot to mention that. The longer you take to pick them up the faster they teleport. So you better hurry."

You realized what was happening and what he orchestrated, a part of you was brimming with anger while another part of you remained surprised. Another card vanished and reappeared elsewhere, followed by another and another. You managed to swipe a few before they vanished, Will remained seated and watched you race around the room to get the cards. He had to admit your reflexes were top-notch, the way you made sure to avoid anything priceless and breakable. It was quite entertaining he had to admit, he ate another macaron.

You nearly had all of them, there were just a few left and they were vanishing and reappearing rapidly around the room. You felt a bit dizzy, but kept calm and restrained your rising frustration. You had to remain clear-minded and focused. There was a way to end this. You close your eyes for a moment and within your mind replay what you've seen. There was something to these cards, you just knew it. One moment they're on the floor, next across the room, then near the table, and suddenly someplace random. It continued and continued and...that was it!

Your eyes snapped open, it was a pattern! No, a sequence! That's it! A card vanishes and instead of diving for it, hurry to the spot close to the window and the card appears. You grab it before it vanishes again, just a few more to go. Will looked on approvingly, you got it.

It didn't take long before you gathered them all and completed the deck.

"Done!" You set the deck before Will promptly with a bit of smugness. "All the cards."

"So you did. Well done," he claps taking the cards and setting them aside, "See wasn't that fun?"

You tug a bit on the sleeves of the jacket and reframe from meeting his eyes, "Can I go to the room now?"

"A deal is a deal," he relented and stood, "Come on."

"I can walk there myself," you said firmly, stepping in front of him and stopping him. "You can stay here. I do not need a babysitter."

Will stroked his bread thoughtfully, "True you don't need one. However, I think it's fundamental to spend time with a growing-"

The sound of your door slamming echoed through, you had left him during his deep-thought monologue. Will walked to the stairs, looked up, and smiled.