Kayla raced across a rooftop a few blocks away and stopped at the brick chimney where she hid her Shadow Archer outfit. She quickly changed out of the T-shirt and running shorts she'd been wearing and into her outfit and cape. Before putting on her mask she slipped the earbud she'd got into her ear. It was connected to the police scanner so whenever a crime was reported to the cops she knew about it. As soon as she activated it they made a call, "-Report of a disturbance on 32nd. No units available."
Kayla smirked as she took off running, recognizing the address as a Diner a few blocks away. She often went there to buy donuts and cappuccino. As she neared the diner she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Glancing over she saw Nightwatcher racing up beside her. She smirked at him before focusing on running.
Finally, they made it to the diner and Raph kicked the door in, with Kayla following behind him as they entered.
"Don't get up. We'll serve ourselves." Raph joked as they walked to the kitchen. When they opened the door they saw something in the walk-in freezer tossing the food around. When they walked a bit closer they saw that it was some kind of creature. It was only about a foot tall, and it was red with horns, three claws on its hands, two claws on its feet, a long prehensile tail, and big yellow eyes with red-brown pupils. It was gnawing on a raw, frozen chicken leg.
"Aw look at you, ain't you cute." Raph started talking in a baby voice, making Kayla smirk, "Ya wanna butt-kickin, little fella? Yes you do, you do. Come on, I'm gonna dropkick you to hurty town. Come on."
Suddenly the monster growled, dropped the meat, and bit down on Raph's finger. Raph yelled and Kayla had to leapt out of the way as he fell back, punching the monster in an attempt to get it off.
"Get off of me, ya little monster!" he shouted as he stood up and started shaking his hand around. The monster leapt onto his head, wrapping its tail around Raph's helmet. It then opened the fridge door and started slamming Raph in the head with it. "Ah! You're scratchin' my helmet!" Raph shouted before he fell back, grabbed the monster, and threw it out of the kitchen. He sat up shaking his head. "Okay, THAT was different."
Kayla walked up to him, but suddenly the monster leapt back into the kitchen, climbing up her cape to her shoulders. It then latched its teeth onto her neck!
Kayla yelled and grabbed a pan off the counter, using it to smack the monster in the head. It fell off her, but then it jumped on Raph's helmet, hitting and biting it. Raph managed to punch it hard enough that it flew across the room and landed on the refrigerator door. The impact caused the fridge to fall over onto the monster.
Kayla sighed in relief, but as soon as the breath left her lungs the monster burst through the back of the fridge! It raced at her, but she used the frying pan she still held to hit him again. Raph followed her lead, sending the monster sliding across the kitchen again. As it stood watching him, Raph got an idea and pulled three smoke pellets out of his belt.
"How bout a snack, little fella?" he offered.
The monster's eyes lit up and it ran towards Raph excitedly.
"Catch!" Raph chucked the pellets at the monster, who stopped to catch them in it's mouth. It sat for a second before a there was a boom and smoke started seeping out of his mouth. The monster screamed as it began racing around the kitchen, leaving a trail of smoke behind it. It raced out of the kitchen and broke through the window as it raced down the street.
Raph and Kayla laughed as they high-fived. Still laughing, Raph asked, "Your neck okay?"
Kayla nodded. "Yeah. It mostly got my hood."
The two laughed again as they left the diner.
"Keep on runnin' ya filthy little hermit crab! That spicy meatball's on da house!" Raph called boastingly as they came through the kitchen door.
The owner, who had been sitting on the floor, scooted away from them. "Ah, big guy, please don't hurt me." in his rush he accidentally knocked the cash register on the floor.
"What? We're not robbin' you, we're helpin' you." Raph asked in confusion. Kayla stayed silent as she followed him, she wasn't as boastful as her brother.
"Okay, whatever you say sir. Please, I got kids. In college. Community college."
Raph sighed as he picked up the broken register. "Here ya go pal. Make sure this is safe."
The owner continued ranting. "Take it. Take everything. I'm not even looking. Go."
Raph groaned and Kayla grimaced. "Why does everyone got such a hard time believin' I am a good guy?! I just saved your life."
There was a loud TING, causing Raph and Kayla both to look at the cash register. Stabbed in the till was a Japanese throwing needle with a red tail. They both looked out the broken window and up on the nearby rooftop. Standing there was a familiar silhouette. One with a shell, a blue mask, and twin katanas.
They both groaned before Raph spoke, "This night jus keeps gettin' better and better."
Raph and Kayla raced out of the diner and headed down the nearest alley that lead to the busy streets. However, Leo threw four more throwing needles, forming a line in front of them. Raph and Kayla stopped and looked back. He stood there watching them.
"Split up?" Kayla guessed.
"Split up." Raph confirmed.
"Good luck."
Kayla ran back the way they came while Raph continued on the path they were going. She ran back past the diner and leapt up the fire escape. When she reached the rooftop she took off at a fast-paced sprint. A quick glace over her shoulder told her Leo had chosen not to follow her.
'Figures he'd choose to follow Nightwatcher,' she thought sarcastically to herself. She felt something wet hit her nose and looked up. Rain had slowly started falling from the sky, causing her cape to get a bit heavier from being wet.
After running for a couple minutes she looked over to her right and saw Nightwatcher with Leo in hot pursuit.
"No, Raph. Not that way. Turn around." she murmured as she turned slightly, heading in their direction. She knew Raph was approaching a dead-end. The building he was on was at the corner of the street. From where he was running the nearest building was across the street, way too far to jump.
However, Raph seemed to notice this when he leapt up onto the ledge and stopped, looking around. Kayla leapt onto the same rooftop and hid behind an air conditioner, making sure neither of them saw her. Leo stopped about five or six yards behind Raph, who looked over his shoulder at him.
"I want you to know that I appreciate your intentions, but you can't change the world like this." Leo started speaking as Raph jumped off the ledge back onto the rooftop.
"Wow," Kayla whispered to herself, "He's lecturing him. Typical Leo."
"So I'm gonna give you one chance to just walk away, and stop this vigilante nonsense." Leo concluded his mini speech. Kayla looked over at Raph, wondering what he'd do or say.
Raph pulled his chain out of his belt, the weighted ball making a loud thud as it hit the cement. He then raised it above his head and started swinging it like a lasso, a clear sign he was more than ready to fight.
"No, Raph. Don't," Kayla whispered, realizing what he was going to do.
Leo, however, had a smug look on his face. "Look, trust me when I tell you: You don't wanna do this."
Raph didn't listen. He rushed forward, swinging the chain at Leo's head. Leo easily ducked both attempts.
"Oh yeah, well I notice you've got quite a temper." Leo taunted him.
Raph whipped the chain at him again. This time Leo back flipped a few feet away from him.
"Hey, have you ever done this before?" Leo continued his taunting.
Kayla narrowed her eyes. On the one hand: she didn't like watching her brothers fight like this. But on the other hand: Leo was asking for it.
Raph whipped out both ends of the chain, but Leo leapt into the air, doing a split. The chains hit the ledge just behind where Leo'd been standing with such force they broke off chunks of the cement. Leo landed in a crouch on the ledge.
"Come on, you call that an attack?"
Raph grunted in anger as he chucked the chain again. Leo somersaulted to his left, and the chain landed on the ledge just where he had been. Raph turned around and Leo was standing behind him. Raph seemed to decide to change tactics as he dropped his chain and raised his fists, ready to fight.
"Alright, finally some excitement." Leo exclaimed as he also raised his fists.
Raph raced forward, throwing a few punches, but Leo dodged them easily. Leo then leapt into the air and spun his leg around, kicking Raph in the face, luckily the helmet probably absorbed most of the blow. But Kayla still flinched.
Raph kicked Leo, but Leo blocked it with his own leg. Raph threw a punch with each of his hands, but Leo caught both of them, causing the two to spin around to get away from each other.
This time Leo threw a punch, which Raph blocked with his forearm. He then used his free arm to punch Leo in the face, causing him to stagger back. Kayla chewed her bottom lip, unsure if she should be glad Raph hit him or not. He was certainly being smug about the whole thing, but he was still their brother, right?
Leo shook his head to clear it and raised his fists. Raph rushed him once again and they began throwing and blocking each other's punches.
"Funny thing about anger. Let it consume you, and soon enough," Leo leapt into the air, causing Raph to look around in confusion. Time seemed to slow down as Kayla watched. Leo landed just behind Raph. "you loose sight of everything."
Raph spun around, throwing his fist back to try and hit Leo. But Leo ducked down, and by the time Raph looked down Leo threw a punch upward, catching the chin of Raph's helmet.
The blow sent Raph flying into the air, his helmet flying off from the force of the punch. He landed on his front a few yards away from Leo, who started to slowly approach him.
"Goodnight dark prince." Leo spoke darkly.
Kayla felt panic take over and didn't even think as she ran from her hiding place.
"Wait! Stop! Leo, leave him alone!" her hood flew back as she slid to a stop between her brothers.
Leo jerked back in surprise. "What-Who-Kayla?" he asked in shock. Realizing her cover was blown Kayla pulled her mask off her face, letting her long hair fall around her shoulders.
"Please, just leave. You beat him, now leave." she pleaded, feeling as if she might cry.
Leo furrowed his brow and shook his head in confusion, but as he glanced past her his eyes widened.
"Raph?" he pushed past Kayla, who looked back to see Raph had stood up, his back facing them. "What?" Leo sounded utterly confused.
Raph kicked backward, sending Leo flying back into an air vent. Kayla jerked back in shock, but Raph walked until he was just in front of her.
"You are so smug, ya know dat?" he shouted, pointing his finger at Leo. "You think the world revolves around ya, don't ya? That we couldn't possibly survive without the mighty and powerful Leonardo ta guide us through our problems, huh?"
Leo wiped his mouth on the back of his wrist, spitting off to the side before he stood up, panting from the blow. Kayla crossed her arms over her stomach and looked down, feeling uncomfortable, almost as if she did something wrong.
"Well I got a news flash for ya, we got along jus fine without you!"
"Oh and THIS qualifies as just FINE?! Dressing up like it's Halloween every night? Risking the safety of our family? Come on, what were you two thinking?!" Leo shouted back, seemingly getting over his shock.
Raph threw his finger out, pointing it at Leo. "Don't push it Leo. You can't leave home and come back expectin' us ta fall in line again, like your little soldiers."
Kayla stepped back as her brothers subconsciously began circling each other.
"Hey, I was training! Training to be a better leader! For the two of you. Why do you hate me for that?"
"And who eva said I wanted ta be LEAD?!" Raph shouted back. "I'm betta off callin my own shots, now get used to it."
Leo pointed at him. "You. Aren't. Ready. You're impatient, and hot-tempered," Leo ducked his head, "and more importantly," he raised it again to look at Raph, "I'm better than you."
Kayla narrowed her eyes shook her head slightly as she looked at Leo. She couldn't believe he just said that. She looked over at Raph to see what he'd do.
Raph threw his head back as he chuckled darkly before he pointed at Leo. "Oh, ya know somethin', big brother, I'd have ta disagree with you on that one." Raph pulled out his sais, and waved one at Leo as if motioning him forward. Kayla widened her eyes. She looked back at Leo, thinking he'd walk away and refuse to fight his brother.
Leo shook his head and narrowed his eyes. "Don't do this, Raph."
Raph glared back at him. "I'm done takin' orders."
Leo shook his head again, before pulling both his katanas out of their sheaths. Both brothers stood ready to fight.
"No! Stop!" Kayla ran until she stood directly between them, holding her hands out on either side of her. "Please, you can't do this! You're brothers." She looked back and forth between them.
Raph was the first to speak. "In case ya forgot, he gave up bein' our brother a long time ago."
(It Ends Tonight By: All-American Rejects)
Kayla looked at Leo pleadingly. "Leo, please. You have to know this is wrong. You're the leader. Are you really willing to fight your own brother like this?"
Leo looked down for a moment. "If Raph wants a fight, he can have one. I'm not about to walk away."
Your subtleties, they strangle me
I can't explain myself at all
And all the wants and all the needs
All I don't want to need at all
Kayla's arms dropped to her sides, her whole body suddenly feeling very heavy. "I can't believe this." she murmured, almost to herself. "I can't believe you two are really willing to throw everything away and fight each other like this." she slowly took a few steps back so she wasn't between them anymore. "If you really wanna fight like this, fine. Go ahead. But I'm not stickin' around ta watch."
The walls start breathing
My minds unweaving
Maybe it's best you leave me alone
A weight is lifted on this evening
I give the final blow
When darkness turns to light
It ends tonight, It ends tonight
With that Kayla spun around and leapt over to the next rooftop. As she raced away she heard the sound of clanging metal behind her, showing that her brothers had started their fight.
A falling star
Least I fall alone
I can't explain what you can't explain
You're finding things that you didn't know
I look at you with such disdain
As Kayla raced around the corner of a skylight she slipped on the rain-slicked cement and barely caught herself with her hands. She climbed back to her feet and continued on her run. She didn't really have a plan on where she was going, but she soon realized that her feet were subconsciously carrying her home.
The walls start breathing
My minds unweaving
Maybe it's best you leave me alone
A weight is lifted on this evening
I give the final blow
When darkness turns to light
It ends tonight, It ends tonight
Before too long Kayla's chest was heaving and her legs were burning, but she just used the pain to push herself faster. She couldn't tell if the heaving in her chest was her sobbing or gasping from the run. Nor could she tell if the water trickling down her face was rain or tears.
Just a little insight
Won't make this right
Too late to fight
It ends tonight, it ends tonight
Now I'm on my own side
It's better than being on your side
Her throat started burning from breathing so hard and she felt her heart pounding in her chest. Her rain-soaked hair was flying behind her along with her cape and hood, but her bangs were sticking to her forehead, a few pieces falling over her eyes.
It's my fault when you're blind
It's better that I see it through your eyes
All these thought locked inside
Now you're the first to know
Kayla finally slowed to a stop next to the familiar brick chimney where her clothes were stashed. Ducking down behind the chimney, she changed out of her soaking wet Shadow Archer outfit and into the T-shirt, running shorts, and tennis shoes she'd been wearing earlier, which were unfortunately wet from not being covered.
When darkness turns to light
It ends tonight, It ends tonight
Just a little insight won't make this right
Too late to fight, it ends tonight
It ends when darkness turns to light
It ends tonight, it ends tonight
Kayla was still breathing heavily as she leapt down into the nearest alleyway. She looked around before heaving the manhole cover up, jumping down, and sliding it back in place. She pushed herself into a run, despite her shaking legs and aching chest.
Just a little insight won't make this right
Too late to fight
It ends tonight, it ends tonight
Tonight
Insight
When darkness turns to light
It ends tonight
Finally Kayla slowed down when a familiar set of pipes came into view. Out of memory, since her brain wasn't really functioning, she pulled the second pipe and entered the lair.