Chapter 9: The Right to Bare Arms
She woke up and sat up quickly. Her heart pounded rapidly as she clenched her shirt. She was covered in sweat. Her eyes stung from unshed tears. She bit her lip to keep from scream at the frustration and anger she felt. She pressed the heels of her palms to her eyes. She sighed and looked up and got out of bed then got dressed into her new clothes then brushed her hair and got ready. She put on her high tops and walked out. It was still late she knew that but she knew she couldn't sleep.
She walked out swiped and mopped then cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen. It killed two hours. She started to make breakfast knowing Leo will be up soon. She kept herself alert as she opened the cabinet and found a box of pancake mix which she used the cookbook and box to help her make. Her first few were burnt but then she got the hang of it and bad a hung stack then made Master Splinter's tea.
She heard Leo's quiet footsteps as he walked into the kitchen. He yawned as she turned to look at him. He rubbed one of his eyes and looked at her.
"Do you always get up this early?" Leo yawns as she pours him some orange juice.
"Sometimes a bit later. It depends." she said honestly.
She serves him some pancakes and she drinks some tea and also has some pancakes. They eat with very little conversation. She enjoyed it and tried to eat slowly knowing that he will soon ask her questions. She didn't want that yet but soon she finished them and set the rest in the oven for the brother's when they woke up along with the tea.
"Come on let's digest in the dojo and meditate." Leo said and she followed him without comment.
They entered the dojo. Allie took it all in again. The dojo was gave a grayish light from above. Showing the sun was just rising. What she wouldn't give to climb up that tree. She loved high places and she wasn't sure if it was just her or the fact she was a mutant with wings. Leo walked under the tree and so did she. He sat and she followed.
"We will meditate for a little while and then we will do some exercises." Leo said in his leader voice.
She gave a nod and he crossed his legs and closed his fingers and took a deep breath in then out. She followed him and she closed her eyes with him. She breathed in thought her nose and out. Leo spoke.
"Clear your mind and relax. I know it is hard the first few times but this will help you relax and it is good for you…at least that's what Master Splinter says."
Allie tried to not think but she couldn't stop thinking when this will be over. Leo seemed so good at it. When she closed her eyes and tried to not think images of her past haunted her. She felt her breathing started to quicken in sharp uneven breaths.
"Allie? Allie!" Leo griped her shoulder.
Allie opened her eyes and saw big round pink eyes looking back at her. She hit the figure with her palm and imagined a blast of air hitting it. It flew back and hit the floor with a thump. The in a flash she saw Leo on the floor trying to sit up. She was horrified.
"Leo!" she ran up to him. "I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry! Are you ok?" she helped him sit up.
"Why did you do that for?" he said rubbing his shell. "Ugh…I think you knocked my shell out of place."
"I'm sorry. I-I thought-" she stammered.
"…Your eyes…they are…they were green…they are turning blue now…" Leo looked at them.
"…It happens…" Leo moved away a bit to get a better look at her. He rubbed his head.
He must have hit his head…she thought. She watched him close his eyes trying to get his baring. She waited for him. She was about ready to say sorry again and tell him he didn't have to train her. She wanted to…in fact…
"Leo if you-" she began.
"You said you will answer questions I had about you…I think now is a good time to answer them then we can train again." Leo said calmly.
His blue eyes looked into hers. She couldn't believe it. He was still planning on training her? She hit him. She knocked him down. For all he knew she could be working for the Kraang…she couldn't believe this turtle.
"I…I hurt you…I could have…" she didn't even want to think of the words.
"Did you know you can do that?" he asked
She shook her head. She honestly didn't. Her mind was very powerful. She was still learning things she can do with it.
"Why did you blast me like that?" Leo asked her.
She looked at him. His face was serious and a bit relaxed. She knew he wanted answers and he wasn't trying to push her for them. She liked it though she knew it was because he wanted answers and it was fair it angered her knowing it wasn't totally sincere. She decided to tell him the truth knowing there was no way around it and he was bond to find out.
"I…I thought you were the Kraang…"
"You thought I was the Kraang?" he repeated a bit of surprise in his voice. When she looked at him he was frowning.
"Yeah…" She looked down.
"Do I look like Kraang to you?"
"I answered enough questions." She said getting uncomfortable.
"What?" Leo said
She looked at him closing her eyes then opening them. She didn't want to answer anymore. She didn't want to get into this. And knew if she answered anymore she will be telling him everything.
"Three questions a training and it is just between you and me." She answered.
Leo thought about this. It will be fair enough. He nodded to himself.
"Fine three questions a day."
She and Leo shook on it. She looked down at his chest. Her eyes widened. She pointed to his chest.
"Your…your chest!" she gasped.
Leo looked at his chest and saw there was a almost star shaped black mark. It looked like soot on his shell. Leo arched an eyebrow as he tried to dust it off with his hands. Allie became worried when it wasn't coming off.
"We…we have to get that off of you! Does it hurt?" Allie touched it worried.
"Just a bit sore..." Leo watched her touch it. She looked up at him with concern.
"We can train a little then worry about getting this off. It was were the blast hit me but it might just come off if I rub it off." Allie didn't look convinced.
"Really I am fine." Leo assured her.
"Ok…let's get training then…" Allie said.
Leo spent the next hour training her doing simple exercises. He was surprised she can keep up. She didn't even break a sweat. Not to mention she was a quick learner. He checked his T-Phone for the time and decided to stop the training for today because Allie kept worrying about the soot which he still couldn't get off.
They left the dojo and he went to the bathroom which she followed him inside she left the door a bit ajar. Leo jump a bit when he saw her by the door.
"Ummm…what are you doing here." He felt slightly uncomfortable.
"I am gonna help get that soot off of you. It is my fault so I am going to help." She looked determined.
He knew she won't leave. So with a sigh he found a rag and ran it under the water in the sink and rubbed some soap in it and she took it. He sat down at the edge of the tub by the toilet and she sat on the toilet cover. His legs spread apart so she placed her legs in the space between them so she didn't have to stretch to scrub. And she began to scrub his shell.
Raph woke up closing and opening his eyes. He saw Spike's… (Slash now) old pillow he used to sleep on. Raph felt himself smile at the memories of waking up to his old friend. He got up and stretched then rubbed his eyes. He got up and stepped out of his bedroom and saw Donnie walking toward the bathroom still looking half asleep. Raph waved at his younger brother who yawned and waved back. He must have been up again on one of his experiments. Raph and is brother's woke up many times to Donnie in the middle of the night working on something or another. It was normal for them.
Raph decided to go to the kitchen to find breakfast and look for Leo and Allie. Just as he turned to walked toward the kitchen he heard Donnie scream. Raph leaped into action and to the bathroom where Donnie stood a shocked look on his face. Mikey opened his door nun chucks at the ready. Raph made it there last. He saw Leo in the tub. He must have fallen back.
But all Raph saw was Leo's face and his legs. A wing covered the rest of him. Raph saw Allie's wing covering the rest of him She was on her belly also in the tub. She turned to Donnie angrily.
"Get out!" she shouted.
What the hell was going on?! What were they doing in the bathroom together? Raph saw Leo get up as Allie got up with her. Her wing was still on his chest. Allie looked at Raph a hint of worry on her face. What happened?
"Why should we? What the hell are you doing Leo?!" Raph snapped.
"Nothing… we will be out in a minute." Leo answered calmly.
"Nothing?! You guys are-" Raph began but Mikey cut him off.
"Dude were you guys making out or something in here." Mikey began.
Raph looked at his younger brother in shock. He couldn't believe that Mikey knew the term making out…Wait! Making out?! Could that be possible? Were Leo and Allie dating or something? What happened to Karai? Didn't he like Karai?
"No!" they said in unison.
"Then what were you doing!" Raph felt his anger boil over and he didn't know why.
Allie looked at Leo her eyes almost pleading. Leo frowned at her and sighed and looked at her then turned to his brothers. Raph crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes waited for Leo to explain.
"I have to tell them…" Leo said looking at her saddened.
Her eyed filled with fear she looked ready to plea to him when he spoke up to his brothers. Leo got up and Raph saw a burn mark. It looked like soot but he can tell it has been scrubbed with soap and water.
"Allie was curious about the smoke bombs and so I gave her one to throw and she threw it and it hit me and exploded." Leo said
Allie looked a bit surprised. Raph wasn't really buying the story. Allie saw the look on his face and she tried her best to give him a blank stare to cover her surprise. She wanted to hug Leo. She could trust him she knew she could!
"Well it should come off with soap and water." Donnie said eyeing the spot.
"I think it's almost out now we will be out of here in a few minutes." Allie said looking at Donnie. "Breakfast is in the oven and if one of you can bring the tea to Master Splinter I will be very grateful."
"Come on dudes let's leave these love birds alone." Mikey laughed at his own joke as he put his arms around his two brothers and winked at Leo as he turned them to leave. Raph eyed Allie and Leo on the way out.
Once they were gone Allie let out a breath she didn't know she has been holding. She looked at Leo and smiled a kind smile. "…Thank you…"
"No problem I am a turtle of my word." Leo said as he took the cloth and began to scrub again.
Allie watched Leo and smiled. She felt horrible about what happened. She let out a breath and decided to share something personal with him.
"…Hey Leo?" she got out of the tub.
He stopped scrubbing and looked up at her. "Yes?"
His blue eyes showed concern and confusion. She closed her eyes and let out a long breath. "Since I blasted you…I think it is fair if I give you a free question."
Leo watched her as she opened her eyes he felt caught in her intense determined stare. She looked as if she was preparing for him to hit her or something. She must hold a lot of secrets… Leo thought. He decided on one that has been bothering him since yesterday.
"…Can I see what you are hiding under your sleeves?" Leo saw her tense then close her eyes.
She turned her back on him. Leo thought instantly he had hurt her feelings but before he could apologize she turned around both her sleeves were up. Leo's breath caught he couldn't believe what he saw.
Up bother arms going past the pushed up sleeves all Leo saw were scars. Cuts and what looked to be burn marks all over. Some looked to be deep cuts. Leo stared in awe. It wasn't a mutation nothing he expected. Questions flew fast in his mind. The one the screamed the loudest…
"What happened to you…?" Leo whispered as he stared at her arms.
She closed her eyes and with a stern look she pulled her sleeves down. "I said one free question."
"Well that will be my next question tomorrow morning." Leo answered looking into her eyes.
Allie tensed up again. Leo can tell right away she didn't want to answer that question. He felt bad for saying he would ask tomorrow. He needed to give her sometime and warm up to him she already showed him something she refused to show anyone else. He was the only one she showed as far as he can tell and he wanted to be someone she can trust with her secrets and inside he felt it was his responsibility to keep her secrets. Although he didn't understand why.
Allie didn't say another word as she helped clean the blast mark from his shell. It came off after ten minutes of scrubbing.
c e h V T %;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'Raph was sick of her secrets. Her brothers can treat her nice all he wanted. He didn't care at this point if she had a pretty face. She could be planning something. He brought her into this home but she was hiding things and weather they were personal things or not it didn't matter he wanted to know what they were.
"I don't feel comfortable giving my back to anyone. I let you guys walk in front of me because I am not a very good fighter. Does that answer your question Raphael?" She stretched out his name.
She was clearly upset about this. All he could do was keep quiet. He knew that the answer made perfect sense. It was a smart to do. He wouldn't have his back to people he just met either and they had weapons. She didn't have any he knew of. He felt a bit bad that he opened his mouth but he refused to give her the satisfaction in knowing he was wrong. He also knew there had to be more to it than just that.
"You are still hiding something." He walked past his brothers to his room not bothering to say goodnight.
"Don't mind him Allie he is in one of his moods." Donnie said trying to make her feel better.
However she still felt bad and it hurt her because she did hide things. She wanted to go into his room and tell him everything but…she didn't know. She just decided to try and shake it off.
"I understand."
She walked behind them and everyone but Leo went to their rooms. Leo's was the last one. He stopped with her at her room.
"Make sure you are up early we will train before they walk up." Leo said
"That is no problem." Allie almost laughed.
Leo gave her a funny look. "Ok well goodnight."
"Goodnight…" she smiled and Leo gave her a wave and turned to walk away.
She watched him walk into his room and a flash went thought her.
"Don't be scared it will be all over soon. I will see you later."
She almost screamed. But saw she was back in the lair. She tried to calm herself down. She went into her room and closed the door. She wanted to cry but the tears wouldn't flow. She already knew it was going to be a restless night.