Kerica Note - Thank you Winged Monkey for allowing me to use some of your one-shots!!!!!
Kerica Note 2 – This was actually written on the 2010 New Year's Night
The Night
It was the New Year.
"The night is a strange thing…It keeps us secret but at the same time gives us meaning. It's the yang to the day's yin. I'm always surprised to see how many ignore the night's beauty. Few notice the wondrous formations of the stars or the changes of the moon…" Brianna mumbled to herself, "It's a full moon tonight, which I believe is a good omen."
"Why?" Leonardo looked down at her, since she was sitting on the edge of the building they were on, since they had come to watch the New York's ball drop to signify 2010's beginning. It was their turn to patrol, and the others were all laid up with something and Donatello was on hyper-drive with a brand new idea.
"It's a good omen because it means our lives will be full of everything imaginable, or close to," Bria smiled up at him then looked back down at the partying city. "They don't see the beauty in the flame of a candle," she continued, "Instead they hide behind their electric lights, determined to block out the night with their glow. They do not know that the night gives them protection through you and I, as well as Rae, Lily, and the rest of your brothers. They fear night. I'll never understand that fear."
Leo looked down at the buildings, at the people that were crowding around the parks and the streets to look at the annual fireworks that were going off, sparking the light with colorful fire and designs, making the night glow with "stars" that were brighter than the ones one could see when the lights were off. "The night may bring beautiful things, but in the shadows that we use, evil use too. Bad things happen at night as well as good things."
He closed his eyes. "Your sister seems to be scared of the light. Lily seems to not care, but is also more comfortable in the light. You, on the other hand, seem the same way." He watched her for the longest time. He could hear shouting and popping of "snappers" that children were throwing to the ground in celebration. Some people were dancing and others were singing in bad, drunken voices. The police were out; scouring the sight as well as watching the New Year unfolds. "I suppose we're most comfortable in it, because we know what really lurks in the shadows, and we try to prevent them."
Leo bit his lip. He knew better than to just assume things, however, he had a good biases for his theory. "She never asked us if she could leave the lair. She doesn't even come with us on patrol unless Raph is the one that drags her. She hasn't said anything about wanting to go anywhere." He looked at Bria. "You haven't either, but you're more active. You might ask us if you could shop around and you might tell us that you're going off somewhere in the day. Rae…she does it only if she's dragged into it. Like when Raph forced her to go to the mall with April. You tell me, what kind of person does that unless their afraid of something? Darkness and light she fears, but I think the light is the one she fears. Am I wrong?" He looked at Bria. "You know her better."
"Rae is afraid of exposure. She's afraid of the memories the light gives her. Happy times died in the light," Bria explained to him sadly, "You are mostly right. Though, I ask to go out because I don't like being stuck in the same place for days on end. There's only so much to do at the lair, ya know?"
"I understand completely." Leo nodded as he thought about what he was going to say next. There was no easy way of asking her about it. "She had a nightmare about one of those memories, didn't she?" He felt her sadness; he knew that she cared about her friend a lot, "She told you about it perhaps? Or maybe it was from your ability to see into the past that told of what happened?"
Bria sighed and looked up at the fireworks, twirling the glowing band she had found in an alleyway on the way there. "It's...very sad. It also might help you understand her just a bit more..." she closed her eyes, "Her mother over did it after completing a prophecy for someone. She got super sick, coughing up blood. Then she recovered…her father fought with her mother and hit her. Rae stayed by her mother's side until she died, but after the funeral of which Rachel had to take care of, her father ditched her." With a sigh, she continued, "In the nightmare, I'm guessing Rae at first pictured her father killing her mother. Then it turned into someone she cared for, and that's when she started freaking out."
Leonardo frowned. It made sense. He turned back to the partying and the crowds that were yelling and screaming about the New Year. It explained why she didn't like to be around them and why she always looked so tense when they sat down for dinner. She was an orphan who didn't have much. A family sit down was probably a "light" memory instead of a "dark" memory. "I don't know if I should feel sorry for her or what." He said softly. "I know your sister doesn't like pity. However, no matter if she hates it or not…" He continued as his voice saddened by what he heard, "I can see why she wants to leave the lair so badly, but also stops herself from trying to escape."
Bria nodded, "Yeah," she sighed and stood up so she could stand with him. She didn't like how his arms were folded, so she wrapped hers around the one closest to her, "You're too tense, loosen up," she smiled up at him, "It's a New Year after all. Let's make the best of it."
Leonardo blinked as he looked at her and shrugged, "Why not?" He asked with a smile, "What do you have planned?"
Brianna looked down and smiled, "There are plenty of people dressed up looking outrageous. People won't care or notice. Even if they do, they'll probably be too drunk to care." She pulled at the arm she had caught, "How about some partying ourselves?"
"That is a pretty reckless idea, don't you think?" Leo asked with a raised eye ridge. He watched them down on the street and rolled his eyes. "Even the ones who are dressed outrageously would see a turtle and scram. A good way to crash a perfectly nice party," He looked at her. "If you want to go down there and enjoy yourself, go ahead. I'll watch you from here or from a closer distance if I can manage it."
Bria rolled her eyes and pulled hard enough he lost his balance, but the next roof down wasn't too far and she made sure they landed safely. "Be reckless once in a while, Lionheart!" she grinned at him and pulled him along determinedly.
Leo used his heels to stop her from making her go any farther, pulling her back in the process, "It's too reckless."
Bria smirked, 'Two can play at this game…' she stopped pulling and he stumbled, but she "fell" forward and kissed his beak. She grinned when he blinked and took advantage of him being in shock. Going behind him she shoved his shell forwards and jumped when he finally ended up down in the alley. She caught him when he tried to get away, and kissed him again, "Come on, Lionheart," she grinned and dragged him along and into the light of the party.
The kisses had been quick, but they heated his cheeks to perfect temperature. He didn't have time to muse over it since he was being dragged into the light to have fun and "loosen up" as she said. Perhaps it couldn't hurt to be reckless once in a while.
Raphael heard laughter coming from outside and then the door opened, and in came tumbling Brianna and Leonardo, just completely laughing their head off about who knows what, and Bria was attempting not to drop a bag, "Who's up for some Baileys Irish Cream?!" the Knight sister called grinning.
"I am!" Rachel sang as she happily slid down the railing. "Did you use a fake I.D or did you get a hobo to buy it for you?!" Her eyes were sparkling gleefully.
"I am!" Rachel sang as she happily slid down the railing. "Did you use a fake I.D or did you get a hobo to buy it for you?!" Her eyes were sparkling gleefully.
"Fake ID of course!" Bria laughed hysterically.
"You like liquor don't you?" Mikey asked as he looked over at Rae.
"Of course I do." Rachel turned around as she grabbed the bag that Bria was holding. "Oh wow." She gushed as she rummaged through. "I'm going to enjoy this."
"I can already visualize the hangovers everyone's going to get," Donny sweatdropped.
"Hey now!" Bria grabbed the bag back, "Hold your horses," she chided.
"No fair!" Rachel pouted. "Fine," She folded her arms. "I suppose I'll bring out the glasses to you so you can pour it out and if needed me and Mikey can make the snacks that go with it. Besides that, I don't know why we should hold back. That is to be drunk." She pointed at the bag.
Bria rolled her eyes, "I not holding back, silly, there are different flavors in here!" she grinned, "Not everyone likes everything, though."
"Then set them up on the table." Rachel rolled her eyes as she went into the kitchen to get the glasses. "And make sure to tell them how strong the liquor is."
Brianna giggled and closed the door once Leonardo got fully inside with another bag. She took both and set them next to the table, placing out many different flavors, sorting them as well, "It's just as strong as any other I'm sure, but it's to be ENJOYED. It's not like sake or beer," she said very firmly to everyone.
"Alrighty," Bria said when the bags were empty, "Original is in the middle. Chocolate is on the left side of the table, Caramel is on the right side, and two bottles of coffee, one for you, Rae, and one for you, Donny-Don. Rae, share a little with Raph, see f he likes it. I bought this third bottle just in case he does, but if he doesn't split it between you and Don."
"It also can be used in cocktails." Rachel replied with a smile. "Drinking it straight would be pretty good. Is this the only alcoholic beverage you got?" She clicked her tongue. "I guess I'll have to drag you to a bar and get you really, really drunk." She smiled. "Anyway." She poured a little in one cup of the coffee flavored one and handed it to Raph. "Try it." She encouraged. "The original is probably better. The chocolate will have to taste nasty. It never mixes, no matter how much one wants it to."
"Hey!" Bria pouted, "I like the chocolate one! No way either you getting me to drink beer, either, sis. I refuse!" she huffed and grabbed a cup, pouring our a bit of Original to Lily since she hadn't tried it before certainly. She poured out a bit of Chocolate for herself and looked at Mikey, "What do you want, Mikesters?"
"You already are drinking it." Rachel muttered.
"I think the chocolate one would be best." Mikey replied with a smile. "Thanks."
Donny watched as Rae poured the coffee one and handed it to him with a smile. "Thanks." He told her as he accepted it. Leo was a little more skeptic and decided to pick the original. He wasn't adventurous yet.
Raphael took a sip of the coffee one and blinked, "Whoa...very intense flavor!" he licked his lips, "But very good."
Bria smiled and handed him the third bottle, "Since Coffee's only for you three, once you get going you can just drink out of your respective bottles," she grinned.
"YES!" Rae shouted with a laugh, "Awesome."
Bria giggled and looked at Leo, "I told you being reckless wasn't so bad."
"It wasn't," Leo admitted with a grin as he took a sip of his cup, "Thanks."
Rachel rolled her eyes as she took a bottle from the side and turned to Raph and smiled to herself as she took a drink. Well, it wasn't so bad to do this. It's been a while since she had gotten a good buzz. "You should have bought some vodka and Kahula. I could have mixed a good drink with these." She smiled as she took another sip, "But it's not so bad drinking it straight."
"It's the only kind of alcohol and some wines and sake that I like," Bria told her as she mixed a bit of caramel in her chocolate, taking a sip and shuddering with the strength but smiled to herself and kept drinking.
"Poor Lil," Bria swooned as she watched the neko knocked out on one of the other couches, in the lap of the purple-banded ninja, "Never 'ad liquor so I didn't expect 'er to 'old it well…Don, too, though he lasted longer."
"You're not doing a very good job at holding yours." Rachel responded as she took another swig of the bottle. "I wonder if this is what the heroin people mean by being high. I'm seeing stars. Oh! That's not as bad as eating. God, people who have pot eat like a lot! Did you know that?"
"Naw…didn't know that at all," Bria laughed and fell to her side, landing into Leo's shoulder, careful not to drop her glass, "Never been interested in drugs, thanks."
"I think you had enough." Leo said as he took the glass away from her and set it down. He had quit after he felt a buzz in his head. He knew better than to drink himself into oblivion like the rest of his family did. "Come on." he said gently picking her up, "Let's you get you into bed."
"Hey, Fearless, let her stay!" Raph objected, "She brought them, I bet she's interested in listening to us!" he waved his bottle around but slid back into the couch.
"Yesh, yesh! I don' wanna sweep yet! I'll miss something!" Bria protested, struggling to her feet.
Leo sighed, "Then lay down on the couch. You're going to fall over like you're proving that you're about to do." The leader replied.
"Hehe," Rachel grinned wildly. "I bet she would miss something. Donny's passed out, Lily's sleeping, Mikey's just quit for now. And then I suppose me and Raph are just the talkative ones." She was just about to pick up the bottle, but Leo was faster. She merely smiled, "Hey fearless, I have a question for you."
"I doubt you're going to remember the answer with how drunk you are, so asking me would be pretty pointless, wouldn't it?" Leo asked with a raised eye ridge.
"Just answer," Bria murmured leaning cuddling into his side.
Rachel smiled a bit and then looked over at the window, "You've been kissed recently, haven't you?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Leo asked with a slight surprise. What kind of girl was this chick? She obviously hated being in romance, but it was like she was thriving on it. It was if she was trying to push him and Bria together.
"It doesn't." Rae replied as she pressed a finger to her lips. "I was just merely curious if it was true. You're face says it all. Did you know the I don't really have to touch anyone to tell their fortune? Palmistry, tarot, water reading, all are effective ways of telling the future. It's pretty much procedure to know all of them. Not everyone can rely on visions, but even the future itself is riddled. I just wanted to know your ties that you and Bria were going to have. Now that I know..." She reached over and grabbed the bottle. "I don't have to worry much for now. But I suspect that I will. I am her sister. Like you said, I probably won't remember any of this."
"Do you always ramble while drunk?" Leo asked as he sweatdropped. Oh he felt bad for any bartender that had to listen to her. She talked and barely allowed pause in that paragraph.
"Actually, yesh, she does," Bria yawned as she rested her head on his lap, "I've 'ad to come drag 'er off and I gaw paid to do so," she snickered.
Rachel smiled, "But I suppose you have the right to know about my ties to your family, don't you? Leader and all, you don't trust me. Though you trust my sister, I am someone to not trust." She grinned a little widely. "To be honest, Leo, you can't trust me." He narrowed his eyes and her smile turned sad. "And to be honest, I'm the most trustworthy. A paradox." She shrugged. "Here I am the most dangerous person but its also here that I'm most safest, another paradox." She looked at the bottles. "To be honest, Leo, I don't expect this simple crush to go away any time soon, but I'm also not expecting to stay." She watched him. "You're confused."
"That's because you're going around in circles again." Leo said with a shake of his head. "You're very weird when your drunk and I doubt you know half of the things you're saying."
"If that's the case then I'm a ranting lunatic," Rachel nodded in agreement, "But tell me something Leo, are you not the same way?"
"Keh, my head's dizzy from all Rae's ramblings…I'll do you a favor Fearless and put this in the fridge then head to bed myself," Raph stood up, stumbling to the kitchen, and stumbled back towards his room. His door shut and loud rumbling/snoring came a moment later.
Leo watched him for a while and turned to Bria who was knocked unconscious on his lap. He stood up and decided to put her to bed. "You…" He paused in his words. "Probably won't remember any of this when you wake up." He cradled Bria and left.
"No." Rachel murmured. "But someone will," She went over to the couch and decided to sleep there. "Hey, Mikey, you up? If you are, stumble over here. The couch is big enough for us both."
Michelangelo did what he was told without really much thought and climbed on to the couch. He wrapped his arm around her waist and nestled himself deeper into the couch, "Thanks."
"Anytime," Rachel replied gently as she let her eyes close, "Little brother."