Chapter 7: Underneath it All
Allie walked in side by side with Leo. Leo snuck peeks at her every so often curious about their mutant guest. What did she have to hide? He also noticed that she would never walk ahead of him. She either was by his side or behind him. She didn't like anybody behind her. That was another question he will find out the answer to. He intended to make her answer every question he asked her and if she didn't…well she could forget him training her.
They reached the main room where Raph was punching the dummy and Mikey reading a comic. The TV wasn't on. Leo went to go sit next to Mikey who was upside down. Allie followed Leo as she walked past Raph she heard him punch the dummy really hard. She stiffened a bit in surprise as she turned to look at him he looked by his green eyes filled with a flaming anger.
"What?" he said as he picked up the dummy which fell to the floor.
"Nothing…you didn't have to punch that dummy so hard what has it done to you." She tried to joke but it came out dead.
"And you could have told whatever you had to tell Leo in front of us." He snapped and punched the dummy again.
Leo turned to look at them. "Raph it was something she wanted to talk about in private."
Allie looked at Leo. She felt a pinch of anger at him for defending her. She didn't want anyone to defend her. She wanted to fight her own battles. She wanted to snap at Leo but know held her tongue knowing he was only trying to help.
"What is so private that she can't say in front of us then huh?" Raph snapped he stopped punching the dummy and had his fists balled up in anger.
"You wanna know?!" Allie snapped at Raph. "I asked Leo to train me to defend myself! You happy! I wanted to speak to him in private because I wanted to see what he will say and he said he will!"
Raph gapped at her. He never has seen her like this. Her eyes seem to glow with anger. He stared at her not knowing what to say. Why didn't she ask him to train her? Why Leo? And why did he care if she did. Not know what to say he turned to leave.
Allie felt horrible for hurting Raph feelings. She should have controlled her anger she could feel her blood pulsing like fire. She needed to calm down. She took deep breaths in and out and closed her eyes and counted to ten the backward to one. When she opened them Raph was gone.
"Where did Raph go?" she turned to look at Leo.
"He went to go take a breather he will be back. I never seen anyone shut him up faster than you did!" Mikey said with a huge smile.
Allie sighed and debated if she should go after him or not. She shifted her weight from foot to foot. She chewed at the bottom of her lip in thought.
"Don't go after him. He will be back he just needs sometime to cool off. He will get over it. You're safer down here then to go after him." Leo said watching the TV.
Allie sighed knowing she had no choice but to wait for Leo's brother to return. She looked at her bag and decided to go thought it. The clothes were neatly folded into the bag on the top; she saw a brush and a toothbrush still in a box with some toothpaste and a deodorant. In the corner were 2 pairs of socks with house slippers, a hair band to tie her hair up, a box of soap, and a shampoo and conditioner bottle. She saw a brand new pack of underwear and 2 bras that should fit her perfectly.
Finally she lifted up the clothes to have a look. She pulled out a long sleeve black and white shirt. The sleeves were black and the body was white. She smiled at it and set it aside. Then she pulled out a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a pair of grey high tops. She smiled and set them aside as well. She pulled out a pair of PJs next. She opened up the shirt and her throat went dry. It was a short sleeve grey and purple shirt with a cartoon elephant sleeping.
She looked at Leo how looked back at her. Her face looked a bit pale. He couldn't understand why. Maybe she just didn't like elephants.
"What's wrong?" Leo asked which made Mikey look up to see what's going on.
"Nothing it just that…I like long sleeve shirts. I don't mean to sound ungrateful because I am grateful but…" she looked at the shirt and went to look at the pants which were long. Well that's a relief.
"What's wrong with a short sleeve shirt I think it looks cute." Mikey said and took it. "Look at this cute little elephant. And it's soft Mmmm." He rubbed his cheek against it.
Allie couldn't help but smile. Mikey was really funny and adorable at times. "You do make a convincing argument but I still don't like long sleeves."
"What's wrong with long sleeves?" Leo asked tilting his head.
"Nothing I just don't feel comfortable." She looked at the shirt.
"Do you have a mutation on your arms?" Mikey asked innocently "Are they like part octopus and have suction cups?!" his face filled with excitement.
"Something like a mutation…" she mumbled and didn't look at Mikey. "I guess I can wear it to sleep and wear the shirt when I am out of my room." She went into the bag and her eye filled with joy she pulled out something from the bag. It was a grey sweater with a hood. "Perfect! My problems are solved. I would have hated to ask her for something else."
Leo couldn't help but look down at her arms. They were skinny and normal looking he didn't get why she wanted to hide them. Maybe Mikey was right maybe she was covering up more mutations that might be on her body. After all she used the coat to keep them from not knowing about her wings. Who's to say there wasn't more she was hiding.
"I'm gonna go tell April thank you again for all this stuff." She looked around the room."Ummm…"
"She is in the lab with Donnie and Casey." Mikey pointed to the door the leads into the lab.
"Thank you!" she smiled and leaves the two brothers alone with her bag and clothes.
Donnie sat at his desk mixing chemicals and April talk to him and Casey stood to the side looking around and listening. Allie watches April for a moment talking to Donnie she smiled warmly. She never expected April to be so kind.
Allie looked around the lab again. Leo showed her the lab but she didn't go inside before. She knocked on the metal door. It echoed and made everyone turn around to look at her which made her uncomfortable.
"Hey mind if I come in?" she asked to nobody in particular.
"I don't see why not." Donnie said and Allie walks in and looks around as she approaches them.
Donnie watches her curiously. Her wings opened up a bit when she is happy or relaxed. He noticed she did that and they tightened against her back when she was nervous or uncomfortable. She walks up to April and smiles at her.
"I wanted to thank you again for the clothes and stuff. I really am grateful." she looks at Donnie. Donnie smiles at her and April and gets back to mixing his chemicals.
"You're welcome." April smiles
"So how did you meet the turtles ummm...?" Casey speaks up.
"Allie. Just call me Allie." Allie smiles at him. "Raph saved me from the Footbots.
"After he saw you stealing…again." Donnie said not paying attention to her.
Allie opens her mouth then closes it and smiles at Donnie. "Yes I suppose that is true."
She walks around him and touches a red chemical. "Hmmmm…" she sniffs it.
"Hey put that down that is dangerous!" Donnie gets ready to get up.
Allie turns and puts a drop in the mutagen and it explodes into a puff of red smoke. She smirks as he coughs and the air clears. She looks at him with a serious face.
"I stole because I had no choice…when I stole I looked for the worst products. I never stole what I didn't need."
"Why would you still if you have a family that will give you want you want." Casey said in a nonchalant tone.
She looks at Casey and blinks. "Mutants like me…don't have family."
"I'm sorry to hear that…" April looks down. "My father was mutated into a bat…and I don't even know if I have a mother now…"
Allie looks at her then looks away. "I am sorry for your loss…"
Donnie looks at Allie in a whole different light. She didn't steal because she wanted to. She stole because she needed to eat. He felt guilty for making her into a monster. She didn't hurt anybody. Not that he knew of anyway. Then he realized something. How did she know that mixing that chemical with the mutagen wouldn't cause something dangerous to happen?
"Allie how did you know what you did wouldn't cause a huge explosion?" Donnie looked at her.
Allie shrugged. "I guessed." Donnie looked slightly annoyed.
"You realize…you can't mix chemicals liked that right?!" Donnie shouts.
"Well you shouldn't accuse people of anything until you know the whole story." she looks up at him.
Donnie relaxes a degree knowing she was right. April puts a hand on Donnie's shoulder and he relaxes more and smiles at her then turns to go sit down.
Allie watches them and smiles knowingly. Then turns and talks to Casey. Casey is holding an iPod and Allie tilts her head and looks at it. He is playing some rock song and bobbing his head to it. He looks up at her then looks down at his iPod.
"You wanna listen?" he holds out an earpiece.
"That is for music?" she asks which makes Donnie and April's head whip around.
"You never heard of an iPod?!" April said shocked.
Allie stiffens her wings tighten against her back. Donnie watches her. "No…"
"It's been around for years how can you not know what an iPod is?" Casey asks
"…What are you listening to?" she asked as him.
She is able to change the topic so quickly Casey explains the band and some music and smiles. She nods and listens to him talk about songs and she will say a band name or a music artist. Donnie watched her. He knew she changed the subject whenever she didn't want to answer a question. He wondered if that was another one of her powers. Nah couldn't be…could it?