Title: Hot Dog Stand (2k12 turtle's – young)

Rating: K

She had a really tight grip on his wrist for a girl. Leonardo could have easily pulled out of her grasp, but he didn't want to hurt her. He also didn't wanna jostle around and drop his ill-gotten prizes, he and his family needed them. He was nervous being caught like this. This was the city that never slept, and he was just on the edge of the shadows. If she tried to force him out into the light, he would have to disengage from her.

"How did you know I was here?" Leo asked timidly. He was super curious. He'd picked this particular stand because the vendor was blind. He'd still used his stealth to come up from behind. He thought he had been exceptionally quiet, but apparently he hadn't.

"I heard you young one. How do you think I can do business out here and not be robbed blind?" The lady said smiling vaguely in his general direction, her cheeks slightly pushing up the dark glasses she wore.

Leo was dumbstruck. He was trying to pay attention to so many things at once. His most pressing issue was the people walking along the busy street. The vendor positioned her cart near the entry of the alley he came from. This provided the cover of shadow he needed, but now said vendor was turned almost completely around facing the alley. No doubt her customers would try to see who she was talking to just on instinct. He couldn't allow them to see him. He was thanking his lucky stars right now that the woman who had him in her grasp was blind.

"You can go ahead and laugh, it was a joke after all," she said still smiling.

Leo wasn't in the mood to laugh. He was in the mood to run. There were now about four or five people gathered around the vending cart, and they were starting to rubberneck. The lady must've felt him tense.

"I can see you don't want to be brought into the light of day,"

"It's night," Leo corrected, reminding himself of Donnie. He was reminded that his family was waiting for him back home. He needed to end this soon.

"It's always night to me, but point taken young one," the lady said chuckling a bit at the strange boy she had in her hand. She could feel the rough scales of his wrist. If he had a visible skin condition this was most likely why he didn't want people to see him.

"If I let go of you, will you promise to wait for a minute or two? I wanna talk to you since this is the third time you've been here. I figure you owe me at least that much courtesy right?" The lady said in such a way that it left Leo no choice but to comply.

"I promise," he said promptly as she let him go. His first instinct was to run away, but he had given his word and his father had taught them that men stood by their word.

He watched as the vendor lady made quick work of her customers' orders. Her fingers knew their business well, as they moved deftly across the small surface, making the hot dogs without a single mistake. Soon all the patrons were gone, and she took the small open/closed sign from around her neck and hung it on the front of the large umbrella that covered her cart.

She washed her hands with some water from a bottle she had, wiped them dry then stuck one out for Leo to shake. She was facing almost the complete opposite direction of him and he had to smile and chuckle at the sight.

"You gonna leave a blind woman hanging young man?" She said amicably. She didn't seem to be overly sensitive about her condition.

"Hehe, over here ma'am," Leo said as he politely turned her to face him. Before he realized what he was doing he'd already placed a large three-fingered hand on hers. She didn't flinch although her mouth turned down in a concerned frown. Leo winced at his carelessness, but was put at ease when she gently placed her other hand over his. Leo gave a slight tug to pull her just a little further into the alley. Sensing no danger, she willingly allowed herself to be pulled the short distance.

"You sound young, and very polite. How old are you son?" She asked. She felt for the top of his head, then realizing she was much taller, she squatted down in front of him and hoped it was at least close to eye level with the strange youth.

"I'm nine, and thank you ma'am," he said.

"Have you got any family? Parents or brothers and sisters or something?" She asked him. Her voice was kind and laced with concern. She must've thought he was a homeless child or something.

"Yes," Leo said a bit reluctant to reveal any information about his family. If sensei had stressed one thing, it was that they were to remain a strict secret from the outside world. "I have some brothers and a dad," he said feeling like he owed some sort of explanation.

"Mm," she said nodding with the edges of her mouth turned down as if in thought.

"And would your father appreciate you stealing?" She asked. The question managed to be non-accusatory but it made Leo put his head down in shame anyway.

No, his father would not approve of it. However, Leo didn't want to tell her that his father had been really sick for the past almost two weeks, and he and his brothers had fed him what they had, and eaten the rest. They were desperate now. It was usually sensei who risked going above ground to get them food. Leo didn't know where master Splinter went to get food from, but he had just picked the first place he felt would be easy for him to get to. It hadn't really occurred to him that Splinter mostly dumpster dived for their food.

"No he wouldn't" Leo said trying to keep the misery out of his voice. He couldn't show he was weak, even if this lady seemed really nice.

For a while the lady said nothing. She also never let go of his hands and that was making him very uncomfortable. He had never had anyone but his family actually touch him. She made a few brief passes of her hands over his arms and face. He tried to move before she could graze his shell but he was too late. He froze, waiting on her to scream and react like people normally did when they realized he didn't just have some disease. She only pursed her lips, seeming to come to some conclusion or decision. Leo didn't know what she was thinking, but he was getting antsy and wanted this to end soon so he could get back.

"I-I'll pay you when I can ma'am. I'm sorry I was stealing from you," Leo said trying to placate the woman so she would let him leave.

"No," she said shaking her head. "You won't pay me because you can't. If you could pay money you would have. I understand now why you didn't want to be seen. I also know that you're not a bad boy. I get the feeling you don't want to steal. Am I right?" She asked smiling sweetly.

"No, I don't like to steal, but….we're hungry," and that's all he could say before he almost cried. He hated stealing and was staunch against it, but this was necessary. He would pay her back no matter what she said.

"I tell you what, you come here and I will give you what's left over okay? I stop selling around one o'clock in the morning. You think you can do that?" She asked and Leo's face brightened.

"You would do that?" He asked, awed at the kindness of this human that didn't know him. She could've called the police but she didn't.

"Yes, I would do that. Only there's one condition you have to fulfill. You think you can do something for me?" She asked and Leo's stomach fell. He knew there was a catch.

"Yes," he said with fear lacing his voice. He was trapped.

"Could you please tell me your name? You can call me Ms. Carrie," she said. Leo brightened again. This was easy enough.

"My name is Leonardo ma'am, I mean….Ms. Carrie," he said happily.

"Oh that's a strong name for a strong young man," she said rising to her feet with Leo's help, and finally releasing him. "I've held you long enough. You go ahead home and take care of your family. I bet they're waiting for you right?"

"Yes ma'am, and thank you. I really appreciate it," Leo said waving, then feeling stupid because she couldn't see it.

"I waved!" He said too loudly. The ring of her laughter filled the dark alley as she waved back.

"See you tomorrow Leonardo," she called back to him while shooing him with a gesture. His high pitched little boy laughter reminded him of the son she'd lost two years before. His name had been Leonard. What a small world, she thought to herself as she wiped a happy tear away.