Chapter 21

Trust

Calypso wrinkled her snout as she looked at her four sisters, who were cleaning the kitchen. They didn't see her, watching from the doorway, and she chuckled a little as she listened to their gossip.

The four ninjas were in the dojo, training hard. Nerissa was still somewhat sullen about not being allowed to participate in the battle nexus.

Andromeda chuckled as she murmured, "Three days to ourselves…what ought we to do?"

"Good question." Eos nodded.

Daphne chuckled," Maybe we should arrange a date between Calypso and Leatherhead!"

Nerissa groaned," That's probably not the smartest idea, Daphne."

Andromeda nodded, adding," And if you give those two trouble, Daphne, I'm going to beat the crud outta you."

Daphne rolled her eyes," Puh-leeze! Those two are perfect for each other and they're both too solitary to get together on their own!"

Nerissa responded sharply," If it's meant to be, it will be. Don't rush them!"

Eos suddenly blurted," Isn't anyone, like, overwhelmed? I mean, we four have superpowers, there's yet another mutant turtle out there, and Calypso has a chance at love. Has the world gone crazy?"

Andromeda suddenly cracked up.

She bent over double, laughing hard. Eos, Daphne and Nerissa stared at the redhead, who tumbled to her shell, still laughing.

"Um, Eos, quick! Get that straight jacket we ordered!" Daphne nudged Eos.

Andromeda took in breath, explaining between giggles," Are you mad?! The world was always crazy, Eos!"

Eos sheepishly muttered," Yeah, but now, it just got a little crazier."

"Oy vey! You can say that again!" Nerissa groaned.

Calypso pulled out of the shadows, thinking silently. Daphne was not going to rest until she had played cupid. Calypso covered her face with a hand as she snuck out of the Lair.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered, blue eyes squeezed shut.

Leatherhead paused as he considered the DNA samples. So far, he had categorized the different reactions that the gamma mutations had invoked from the blood of the different turtle girls.

Nerissa's reactions were purely defensive. Her powers were not aggressive; they were for running and avoiding detection.

Eos's power was also defensive, a built-in way of escape from danger.

Andromeda's power, though a defensive reaction, was aggressive. Her body til it was pure, unadulterated strength. enabling her to take hits and more then return them in kind.

And Daphne…hers was by far the most complex. It was all aggression. Her ability to cause cardiac arrest in others was not only aggressive it was severely violent. Leatherhead recalled as she had greeted him, her large, amber eyes friendly and warm. Her ability almost went against her own, cordial nature. But…for some reason, as he studied her DNA, he saw something that suggested there was something else in her blood. A different mutation that was still dormant. It had not manifested yet. And yet, what could it be?

The mutant croc shook his head as he placed the different reports in some files and shut down his computer.

"Those poor girls…" he murmured. Though it would no doubt prove useful for them to have their abilities, they had paid dearly for it with their innocence.

"Excuse me?"

Leatherhead was so startled by the tone that he nearly destroyed the table his computers were on with a blow of his tail.

He whirled back around to try to catch the computers as they fell, but missed. His eyes shut and he gritted his teeth, waiting for the loud crash, but he only heard a soft thump.

Opening his eyes, he saw the computer, clutched in the claws of Calypso. She groaned slightly as she set the computer carefully onto the floor and then stood up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." she murmured quietly as she picked up the computer and placed it back on the table.

He swallowed," I, I was not startled just-"

"Leatherhead, you nearly fell over when I spoke. I would classify that as being startled, to say the least." She replied wryly as she inspected the computer for damage, turning to him, she added," I came because I wanted to find out what exactly my sisters are capable of. I have not been able to speak to Donatello about it, because Eos is always hanging off his arm." Calypso added with a chuckle.

Leatherhead tried to calm down. In truth, he was terrified. She was standing there, her expression unreadable except for a slight uplifted corner of her mouth that seemed to express faint amusement on her part.

"Um, yes, Donatello has spoken a great deal of Eos. I do believe he is quite infatuated with her."

Calypso agreed," That sounds about right. So, can you tell me what exactly Daphne is capable of? She has not said a word about what she can do, though it was clear she manifested her powers during the rescue of her father."

Leatherhead nodded," That is understandable, considering what she can do. Under great stress, she had the ability to somehow telekinetically cause others around her to go into cardiac arrest."

Calypso paused as she processed this and shook her head, murmuring," No wonder she did not speak of it."

Leatherhead added," it's amazing to me that her genetic reaction to the gamma mutations produced this violent adaptation, but perhaps, it is because she is not naturally violent that she received the most violent mutation."

Calypso wryly responded," Oh, yeah? So, the gist of it is that, when she was being experimented on, her body adjusted to allow her the ability to successfully defend herself?"

"Yes." Leatherhead replied, awkwardly examining the table. It was chipped in a new place now.

Calypso felt bad for her rather thoughtless entrance, but at this point, she was feeling more awkward then anything else as she asked," So, what do you do all day? I haven't seen you at all around the Lair."

"Mostly, I research different things. I help Donatello with some of his inventions and repairs, and he helps me with mine."

She frowned slightly," If you are so close to your brothers, then, why do you live apart from them?"

Leatherhead was quiet.

Calypso squirmed slightly and added," If it's personal, you don't need to tell me. I don't mean to be nosy."

"You deserve to know. I can't control my temper." Leatherhead growled softly.

She raised a brow.

"YOU? You have trouble with your temper?"

Leatherhead nodded, feeling ashamed.

"But, I haven't seen you exhibit any temper whatsoever! In fact, you seem so… well, gentle." She said quietly.

He looked up.

"Do you remember when we first met?"

She nodded slowly," Yes…not exactly great first impressions," she chuckled slowly.

He nodded and explained, " To tell you the truth, it was a rash act that brought me out. I heard Andromeda and Daphne arguing, and I grew annoyed…only the fact that you and your sisters were NOT human is what made me stop. What brought be to my senses."

Calypso frowned as she quietly replied," You went through something, didn't you? You don't seem to be disposed to violence."

"I have always had a temper, as Michelangelo and his brothers can attest."

Calypso wrinkled her snout as she sat down," So you live alone…because you cannot control your temper?"

Leatherhead felt ridiculously embarrassed for some reason.

She looked up at him," Don't you get lonely here?"

Leatherhead snorted sarcastically," What do you think?"

Calypso stiffened as she murmured," I'm sorry. That was a thoughtless thing to say."

The big mutant croc immediately felt remorse and murmured," No, no, I'm sorry… Do you see now, why I live alone?"

Calypso smiled softly," No one should live alone… I'm glad you at least have brothers, who live nearby."

Leatherhead nodded," Me too. Tell me, Calypso, what happened when you met your sisters? Did it go well?"

She smirked," Depends on your definition of "going well". I was on the run, when they met me. I somehow managed to stumble from Florida to New Mexico. Don't ask me how, because I honestly don't know. I was starving, scared and angry… but I think I was mostly confused. I didn't know what was going to happen to me, and after all I'd gone through, I felt more of a beast then a person. And the hunters were always on my tail. I couldn't shake them. Later, Nerissa found out it was because I had a tracker, attached to my head. I never found it, because of my hair. But, I was looking for a place to hide. There was practically nothing, only sparse brush and a few areas with hills. It was quite misty, when they finally caught up to me. I was hiding, trying to blend in with my surroundings, you might say. Very hard to do when your scales are white and stand out against a dark ground. As I hid, I heard a soft voice call out," Hello, anyone there? I'm a friend, I won't hurt you."

Calypso laughed quietly in the midst of her narrative as she turned her pure blue eyes to Leatherhead's golden ones.

"This made me laugh to myself, seeing as I'm a giant croc and could easily harm a human without a great deal of stress. But at this moment, my attackers found her."

Calypso paused and then looked away, softly continuing," I tell myself that I didn't know any better. But I can never manage to forgive myself for what I did. Or rather, what I did not do. I stayed where I was, as the young girl was held at gunpoint. I thought she was a human, but she wasn't. I found this out as I heard my attacker snarl," Stay where you are, freak." To my complete surprised, however, three others like the girl came out of hiding and completely disarmed the man. They threatened to eat him if he tried to hunt them down and then left him, tied up with a dismantled gun.

Her expression suddenly changed, and Leatherhead realized, with a shock, that he could actually read her expression like a book, as she continued, from this point on. It was like she was opening up…becoming less closed. He listened attentively as she explained,

"I had never seen anything like that before. Those three girls, instead of running, had protected their companion. I followed them, wishing I could be part of their group…but I was afraid they would reject me, especially as I did nothing to help their sister. A few days later, I was once again cornered. And this time, there was no escape for me, as I was tranqued and thrown into a cage. When I woke, however, four green faces looked down into mine. Andromeda warned me not to hurt them, or she'd give me a reason to fight. Eos scolded Andromeda's brash talk as Nerissa told me that she did not expect me to thank them. I was quite ashamed when Daphne made the connection that I was the cause of her being held at gunpoint. Though unintentional, I led my hunters to them. Back then, I was unable to speak as I do now.

She added hastily," I could talk, but I stuttered a great deal, I did not know many words, my accent developed from being around my sisters. I learned fast under their care. I expressed my sorrow and gratitude to them, as much as I could. Daphne had taken a fancy to me. I will never know why, but she demanded that I owed them, and that I should stay and become their sister. I didn't know how the others felt about it, but I felt that at least I had ONE sister. It was enough for me."

She sank into a thoughtful silence. Leatherhead remained quiet as he considered her story. Calypso then continued slowly,

"It wasn't long before I was able to prove my worth to them. I not only helped to find food, but I also helped in fighting against attackers and wild animals. The one who took longest to trust me was Nerissa. She is the most protective, out of the four, and she guarded against me, until one day, I risked my life for them. Then, she put her complete faith in me. It was shortly after this, that we were caught and sold to the Zoo… which is where your brothers come in."

Calypso chuckled wryly," I was so shocked, I doubt that I was even thinking straight, that night, when I met you. I should have sensed you, before you came crashing onto our path."

"And I was not thinking clearly either, otherwise, I would have known that you were not humans." Leatherhead frowned slightly as he asked," So, you grew up…without a family?"

"Yes…you might say that. Before I met my sisters, I had never known kindness. I knew it existed…just not for me." Calypso said wistfully as she looked off to the side. She added with a faint grin," Daphne taught me to look at the bright side of things. Andromeda taught me that not everything is exactly as it seems. Nerissa taught me loyalty and Eos taught me to love life and to dream." She added hastily," Don't get me wrong, I have yet to master these lessons, but I understand them. I just need to live them."

Leatherhead, by this time, had sat down next to Calypso, listening to her story. His sharp mind pondered as he wondered what kind of mutation she had gone through…and what sort of hell she had lived in before she had come to know family.

Calypso took a long breath and looked over at him," so, now you pretty much know all about me, Leatherhead. Compared to what my sisters know, you know enough about my past to write a book."

"Why don't you tell them?" Leatherhead asked softly," They would understand."

Calypso shrugged softly," Somehow, I can't. I don't want them to know."

"Yet, you told me." Leatherhead pointed out, now feeling both confused as well as mildly flattered. She had chosen to confide in him…

Calypso was silent as she thought about what he had said. Finally, she spoke," It's hard to bear a secret. I have grown to become adept at hiding my past. But everyone needs someone to talk to. I'm sorry I burdened you with all this."

"Well, I did ask. And you could've bitten my head off, but you didn't. I am honored that you trust me with your past." Leatherhead told her gently as he stood up and helped her to stand as well.

Calypso smiled, almost timidly, as she replied," as Eos once told me, we mutants must stick together."

Leatherhead paused as he thought about her words," Michelangelo once said something similar to me. That young turtle, Mars, he is also alone."

Calypso wrinkled her snout as she wondered," Where in the name of Hades did he come from?"

"I do not know. He said that his past did not matter. I feel sorry for the fellow." Leatherhead admitted.

Calypso cocked her head slightly and asked," Why?"

Leatherhead replied," When we spoke to him, I felt his distrust. It was so strong, stronger then his surprise. What has he gone through?"

Calypso shrugged," I do not know, but if I could learn to trust, then he can, as well... But I highly doubt it is Daphne he is dreaming of."

Leatherhead frowned soflty as he questioned," But, if it is not Daphne...then who?"

So, here's a chapter that focused more on Leatherhead and Calypso. Calypso would rather talk to Leatherhead on her own then have Daphne set her up for a most embarrassing time. ;)

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