The walk was relatively short, and soon the dynamic duo stood in the lair. They spent most of the time talking about whatever came up. Other than that, the lair was silent. Even the steady thrum of Raphael's punching bag was still. Donatello emerged from his lab to replace Tori's bonds. This one wasn't as uncomfortable. This chair had an entire cushion on it.
"I think you're getting a little close there, Einstein." Tori leaned forward, away from the turtle.
Donatello glanced up. "I could get a lot closer," he cinched the knot a little tighter.
"Never mind. I'm good." Tori tried to move her wrists. There was the same amount of room as before. Donatello finishes with his knots, and goes back to his lab.
Tori gestures toward the retreating turtle with her head. "He doesn't like me all that much, does he?"
Mikey shrugs. "He's not good with new people."
Tori's head perked up. "There are other people you know?"
"Not really, but if we did, he wouldn't be good with new people." Mikey shrugged.
Raphael walked into the living room. "So, how was your day with Shell for Brains, over here?" He ignored Michelangelo's indignant "Hey!"
"It was alright. We watched movies. I watched him play some games." Tori said.
Michelangelo smiled, and put a hand on Tori's shoulder. "It was fun hanging with you."
Tori nods. "It was fun. I never thought of Losers like that."
Raphael rolled his eyes. "I'm glad you had a blast, but Splinter said she's with me for the next stretch."
Michelangelo leaned toward Tori and whispered "Good Luck."
She smirked, and nodded. The chair is tilted back, and Tori squeaked. "You've got to be kidding me." Tori gritted her teeth at the noise. After all, no one would describe the sound of metal scraping against concrete as a pleasant sound.
The chair clucked into its normal, upright position and Tori took in her new surroundings. It looked like a gym of some kind. There were weights of various sizes everywhere. There were a few large rubber bands, and what looks like nothing more than a thick pole rests on a large metal frame. She sighed as the large turtle hoisted several large disks onto each end of the pole.
"What are those things?" Tori asked.
He stood underneath it, and began to lift. "Manhole covers," he grunted.
Twenty minutes passed, and he's added a good hundred pounds onto the stick.
"Careful there, tough guy. The stick might break." Tori's snide remark seemed to fuel the turtle, and he lifted a little faster. He paused to add on another fifty pounds, just to spite her. His muscles strained, and she couldn't help but stare. She didn't spend much time anywhere muscles would be displayed.
She had already classified everything else in the room as boring, except the splashes of graffiti on the walls. She assumed Michelangelo had done them. Tori appraised his work thoroughly before she allowed her eyes to rest on the bulk of the hothead before her.
"You hungry yet?" Raphael paused his lifting to ask. He took a rag and wiped sweat from his face.
Tori raised an eyebrow. "You're concerned for my well being?"
"No… but while I'm looking after you, you're my responsibility." Raphael tossed the rag aside.
"Great. I'm being babysat by a grouch."
"Who're you callin a grouch, Miss Prissy Pants?" The turtle growled.
"Prissy Pants?" Tori laughed. She thought for a minute. "Actually, I could eat. Where's the grub in this joint?"
The grinding noise returned as Tori was, once again, dragged through the lair, and crashed to the floor. They, or Raphael stood in an old run down kitchen. He opened the fridge and began to dig through it. Tori sat in what she had come to call 'her chair' wondering what Raph would make.
He emerged with ham, mayonnaise, cheese, and lettuce. "You want a sandwich?" He grumbled as he dug through a cabinet in his search for bread.
"Sure… but I'll need my hands to eat." Tori looked at the table.
The turtle scoffed. "Not on your life sweetheart." The name was anything but endearing.
Tori didn't want this turtle feeding her. Not if she could help it. "Or you could put it on the table. I'll manage." A sandwich (meat, mayo, and all) was set on the table in front of her. She looked at the turtle. He stared back, interested at how she might manage to eat a sandwich without her hands.
Tori took a deep breath, and began to regret her decision to do this on her own. She pulled the food to the edge of the plate with her teeth, which was, conveniently enough, on the edge of the table. The edge of the sandwich was in her mouth, and she took a chunk out of it. It was good, for a sandwich made by a turtle. Tori chewed. Man, I never thought I would think that.
The turtle looked mildly impressed at the act, and began to eat his own food. Raphael scowled as another turtle entered. The newcomer looked at Tori, hands bound, but still managing to eat on her own.
He nodded curtly. "Tori." He smothered a smile.
"Leonardo." The brunette swallowed. She watched as the turtle dug through the fridge, and came out with a soda.
Tori took another bite, and Raphael looked at her. "That's all you got to say?"
"Yup." Tori said around her small mouthful of food.
"Your manners are horrible." He commented.
"Yours aren't all that great either."
He propped his elbows on the table after his older brother left the kitchen. "So, what was that about back there?"
Tori cocked her head, "With Leo?"
"No. Not that, I mean with those guys earlier."
"Why do you care?" Tori asked coldly.
"Look, we saved you. Don't you think we need some sort of an explanation?"
Tori sighed. "You better get comfy then. This is gonna be a long story."
She relaxed, and tried to think of a good place to start. "They were sent to bring me home." Tori caught his look of confusion. There goes the simple answer. "I guess the best place to start is the beginning. I wasn't always like this. Sarcastic. I used to be sweet. That me is long gone." Tori chuckled humorlessly. "When I was little, I used to play with my dad. My mom used to play with us. Things changed a lot since she died. I didn't really understand that I was missing something. Eventually, the pain left me. My dad wasn't so lucky. He still cries when he thinks no one can hear him. He caught me one time and made me promise not to tell anyone."
She smiled sadly. "That was when we moved. Our lives were already destroyed. My mom had held us together. When she left, Dad couldn't stay. He would go out all night. His temper rose, and mine went with it. I began using my favorite weapon in my arsonal. Sarcasm. I enjoyed using it whenever I could, and eventually, I couldn't stop. No one could tell if I was being sarcastic or not. We moved, and I was enrolled in school. I became the new girl that everyone avoided."
"My reputation grew. My anger drew me to make threats whenever I was irritated. People thought I was serious. I had no friends. Eventually I was suspended for standing up for a stranger. The idiot saw me coming, and ran for the hills." Tori shrugged. Her face was streaked with tears, and Raphael sat there awkwardly listening. "Dad decided to take up a 'friend' on a business offer. He was drowned in it, and no longer had time for his 'little girl'."
She wiped her face on her shoulder, furious at the fact she was crying. "I couldn't take it anymore. I gathered what I couldn't live without, ran , and didn't bother looking back. My dad sent some of his 'buddies' after me. I managed to make it on my own for a few days before they tracked me down. I was cornered when you guys showed up and got me out of there." She sniffed. "I don't think I ever thanked you for that."
"It's all good." Raphael patted her back. "Can't say I know how that is, but it sounds harsh." He put his hand in his lap, waiting for her to continue.
Tori's eyes shifted away from the turtle. "It's not too bad here. Donnie isn't that bad. Mikey makes me laugh, and you remind me of a giant teddy bear." She laughed at the offended look on his face. "I don't know about the other two yet, but I want to."
Raphael chuckled, "I'm fine with that. Just don't expect me to squish any bugs for you."
"What?" He cut Tori's bonds, but didn't respond.
Tori turned around. There stood Leonardo. "Tori, Mikey wants to play a game with you. Raph. Come with me." Raphael sighed as he followed his brother into the next room.
Raphael saw Tori sitting next to Michelangelo before turning to his older brother. "Whataya want, Leo."
"You got the intel?" Leonardo asked.
"Yeah."
"Good. Splinter said it's my turn. I'll see what else I can dig up." Leonardo turned to leave. "Don't forget to tell Master Splinter."
"Alright, Fearless." The surly turtle walked away.
LINE BREAK
Leonardo walked out of the room to find Tori and Michelangelo playing some ridiculous word game. "Hm… What beats pizza?"
"Uh, Fire." Mikey said.
"Water." Tori pointed dramatically.
Mikey buffed his nails on his plastron. "Easy, lava."
"Uh, Space?" Tori asked.
Leo coughed. They turned, and Mikey spoke first. "Oh, hey, Leo. What's up?"
"Nothing much. I'm supposed to look after Tori next."
Tori smiled. "Sorry, Mikey. Looks like we'll have to finish that game later." The turtle smiled and waved as the pair left. The smile dropped when they left.
Tori, as she had with the others, started off brash. Not giving any information whatsoever. She barely spoke until Leonardo suggested a game.
"Depends on the game, shell face." Tori said.
Leo thought for a moment. "What would you like to play?"
"I'll teach you the game I played with Mikey." She adjusted her sitting position, all she could do was move her legs. "You start with something, and then the next person says something that could beat what the first person said. It has to be something that can be explained. Oh, and you can't say the same thing twice. Here, I'll start." Leonardo looked confused.
"Fire." She said.
"Water." Leo replied.
"The sun."
"Clouds."
"How do clouds beat the sun?"
"They block it out."
Tori thought for a minute. "Fair enough. Wind." The pair went on like this for a while.