Lea felt like her day was never going to end. Two delivery mix-ups had turned what should have been a fairly average day into utter chaos. It had taken her hours to straighten everything out and by the time she was finished she kind of just wanted to crawl into bed for the evening.
She knew that was impossible though. Not only was there still the dinner shift to help man down in the shop it was also one of their pastry chef's Ashlee's birthday and hopefully Mairead had stopped and gotten the cake for her.
She fed Dean before heading down stairs, the small dog attacking his food with gusto. Entering the service area of her shop, she greeted a few familiar patrons as she headed back towards the kitchen. Mairead was just inside the door, going through the books.
"Disaster has been averted, the great delivery debacle defeated!" Lea thrust her hands above her head in victory. Mairead looked up at her a grin crossing her face as she sat down the pencil she had been writing with. "Did you get the cake?"
"Yes, it's hidden in the back of the walk-in. Ashlee won't find it before tonight." Mairead paused a thoughtful look on her face. Lea froze about to carry on her way into the main kitchen area, but realized it looked like Mairead might have more to say. "Can we talk for a minute?"
It sounded serious, which just made Lea more curious. "Sure, do you want to go back in the office?" It was a tiny room, barely even qualifying as a professional space, but it would afford the two more privacy then speaking in a much frequented area like where they were.
"Yeah, why not," Lea followed Mairead back. Mairead flopped down in the only chair and Lea swung herself up onto the small desk in front of it. "I ran into Leonardo when I went to pick up the cake today." Lea's eyebrow rose. This was the last topic she had been expecting from her friend. She figured this was dealing with some sort of staffing issue, not her personal life.
"That's interesting." Lea wasn't really certain what to say and she allowed her bafflement to clearly be expressed in the expression on her face.
"Did you know one of his Brother's was back in the City?" Mairead's tone was semi-hostile which surprised Lea. She just shook her head at her friend's question.
"It's not something he's mentioned to me." Lea suddenly felt like she was getting scrutinized in someway. She shifted around on her seat.
"Lea we have always been honest with one another. I have been sitting here for a few weeks now watching the two of you. First he visited every couple of days, then every other day, now Leonardo is here everyday. You spend more time with him then you even do me. What's going on between the two of you?" Mairead's expression left no room for Lea to shirk around answering her question. Whatever had happened this afternoon, this was suddenly a very serious topic for her friend.
"We're friends." Lea glanced down, trying to categorize the feelings that had steadily been brewing inside of her. "I mean I really enjoy spending time with Leo. He's very genuine and kind." She felt the familiar flutter in her chest at the thought of him.
"I know Julian at the bank asked you out." Mairead's expression still hadn't changed. "I also know you turned him down flat. You had liked him and had been thinking about asking him out yourself, so why did you tell him no?" Lea sighed deeply. Elaine had been with her the day she had done the deposit and all of this had happened and of course she would have told Mairead.
"Look Mairead honestly…" Lea paused and just stared at the desk for a moment before looking back up at her friend to finish her reply. "I don't know what's going on between Leonardo and I. Sometimes I feel like maybe we are heading towards something more and sometimes I feel like things between us are perfect like they are. All I know is I really like being around him and right now that's good enough for me." The conviction was evident to Lea in her tone.
"How do you think he feels about it? Because Lea, today when we meet his Brother, he hadn't told him a thing about you. I mean, you have literally opened up your entire life to him and don't think I don't know that it hasn't cost us customers and that I haven't seen some of the crap you have had to put up with from people. I just don't want to see you invest a lot of yourself into something and end up just getting hurt." Mairead's expression was concerned and if she had to be completely honest with herself, Lea had to admit she was surprised this topic hadn't come up between the two of them sooner.
"I know a few of you here have been worrying about me. I have seen it in your expressions and the subtle hints in questions you ask me. I know I have made changes in my own life these last few weeks in order to help Leo, or to accommodate making things easier for him. I have also seen a few of you biting your tongues about your opinions about me doing this." Lea couldn't help but smirk a little as Mairead sheepishly looked up at her friend.
"What started out between Leo and I was really mostly curiosity. This blossomed into my being concerned for him as I realized the type of difficulties the different beings on our planet were facing. Only the more I get to know Leonardo as an individual the more I guess I tend to forget he and I are even dissimilar. You asked me why I turned down Julian. He certainly is a very attractive man, but he has never wordlessly understood me the way Leonardo has numerous times now since I have gotten to know him. I understand I am choosing the more difficult path, but I really do believe in the long run it could reap the richer rewards." Lea felt a certainty in her emotions for Leonardo that she hadn't allowed herself to get to in any relationship she had been in for quiet some time. She trusted him, and she made this fact no secret.
"Wow I didn't realize that it was this serious." Mairead's tone was soft, her expression one of surprise and disquiet. "It's not that I think Leo is a bad guy Lea, please don't get that impression. I have enjoyed nearly every conversation he and I have had together. I don't even know if he told you about the one night when you got back late because you were picking up supplies or something. Some asshole was hassling me in the back alley when I went to toss out the garage. I don't even know where Leonardo came from but he intimidated the fuck out of the jerk, yet I have never even seen him raise his voice to anyone else. I get why you want to spend time with him. I'm just worried your backing yourself into a wall and there is going to be eventual repercussions for it."
Mairead's expression was so serious. Lea really appreciated the fact her friend was attempting to see both sides of her situation. That she wasn't just throwing negatives at her and demanding change. Still Lea had never been the type of person to live up to anyone else's expectations but her own.
"Maybe I can set your mind at ease a little. I'm not about to run away with Leonardo and frankly I don't think he would if I wanted to." Lea allowed an easy grin to grace her features hoping it would draw Mairead into sharing it with her. "Leonardo is very serious about his home and his family. Why he wouldn't have told his Brother about me? He's also ridiculously private and I really think sometimes he has trouble knowing how to express himself. Mairead I know you're watching out for me because you are my friend and I love you for it; but you have to remember. This is probably more difficult for him then it is for me. I've never asked him about it, but I get the general impression that Leonardo spends a lot of time alone and he doesn't really know what to do about us, and he is probably more confused then I am." Lea chuckled a little at the last bit. Having reasoned out for herself it was more then likely true.
Mairead contemplated her friend's words for a few minutes, before with a huge sigh she stood up from her seat. "You're right you know. Leo just always seems so in control to me, all the time. I guess I haven't really though through how any of this is affecting him." Now it was Mairead's turn to fight off a little laugh. "You two really are a big mess."
"Thanks." Lea hopped off the desk her own sardonic grin crossing her face.
"He's bringing his Brother by sometime tonight, by the way. I think I kind of might have threatened him if he didn't." Mairead attempted to give Lea an innocent look, the taller girl blinked a few times before laughing out loud at her friend's remark.
"See I have nothing to worry about happening to me. I have you to take care of anyone that tries to cross me." Lea gestured for Mairead to exit the room first. It was time to return to work. Mairead just grinned at her widely.
"Damn straight!"
Presenting the birthday cake had gone well. Ashlee had been touched by the gesture and even the patrons had gotten into singing happy birthday to her. Mairead was out front finishing closing up the shop. Making certain everything was wiped down and the doors were locked.
Lea was in the backroom just off the kitchen moving around supplies, enjoying the breeze from the open door, trying to not allow herself to dwell on her earlier conversation with her friend. She knew with Mairead she had sounded fairly assured about everything, but honestly to herself she was still confused. She wasn't even completely certain about her own emotions or what she wanted out of the situation.
Bending to lift up a sack of flour, she felt a shiver run down her spine as two strong green arms lifted the item before she could, Leonardo's body dangerously close to her own. "You keep lugging all of this stuff around and you're going to hurt yourself. You should make the guys move it for you." His tone so close to her ear, just being near him it was like a tightness in her chest dissipated. She pushed her feelings away and instead flashed him a cheeky grin.
"Why do you think I keep you around Leo?" The Turtle paused while lifting a second bundle of flour and smirked at her.
"You also shouldn't just leave this door propped open because you never know who might wander in." Her lips pursed as the man across from her hefted up both sacks and easily carried them across the room to there destination. Lea felt a familiar flutter in her stomach watching the muscles in Leo's arms and shoulders tense as he worked.
She couldn't stop the sigh that left her throat, she then colored as turning away from the man she had been speaking to she realized there was a second Turtle in her doorway. He was olive in color with a less defined frame then Leonardo had.
"I'm sorry I didn't realize I had more company." She felt the heat in her face, knowing how obvious she had just been about her feelings. Leonardo for being extremely capable never really seemed to catch her subtle and perhaps at times even obvious; hints of her feelings for him. She wasn't certain about this new Turtle across from her.
"I could see you were distracted." The amusement on his expression, Lea cursed herself softly for allowing her feelings to get away with her like she had. "My name's Donatello." He extended a hand in greeting. Lea reached across to take it, out of the corner of her eye, seeing Leo getting the two last bundles of flour to place in there storage area.
"I'm Lea! It's nice to meet you Donatello. Leo has told me a little about you. You like computers and things right?" Donny glanced over at his Brother eye ridge raised before replying. Leonardo had always been a stickler about any of them giving anyone information about their family. Things had changed.
"Yes I am the geeky Turtle as my Brother's enjoy defining me, and please just call me Don. Donatello sounds far too formal." Lea watched Don stand slightly awkward in the doorway and realized how completely rude she was being.
"Please Don, come into my shop." Lea giggled, waving him in with both hands a silly smile in her face. "Would you like some tea?" Don did step the rest of the way inside, looking around the room a little uncomfortably like he wasn't completely certain what to do with himself.
"Do you happen to have coffee?" His caffeine shot from his drink at Starbucks earlier was staring to wear off. Lea nodded.
"Yes I wouldn't be surprised if someone just threw on a new pot actually, for everyone as we close down. Leo would you like something?" Leonardo had finished her job for her and crossed the room to rejoin them both.
"I'll just have my usual." He smiled at her and she nodded.
"Are you guy's hungry? I can make you sandwiches?" Lea turned about to exit when she noticed Leo gesture towards his Brother with his head. Wordlessly Don slammed the door shut as the three of them exited towards the main part of the shop. Lea glanced up at the Turtle walking next to her and had to stop herself from grinning.
"I have been working all day and actually haven't had a chance to eat, so I would greatly appreciate some food." Lea patted his arm as her and Leo exchanged smiles, before both turning to Donatello.
"I actually would also, please." Lea was nothing if not always impressed by the manners displayed by her new non-human friends.
"Certainly, you guys can grab any table you want and I will come back out with your drinks." Her staff had finished cleaning and Lea assumed was goofing off or working back in the kitchen now, leaving the dining room free for just her and her guests. Lea excused herself walking back towards the kitchen and Don couldn't help but notice the line of his Brother's eyesight and just want part of the leaving woman's body he was admiring.
"Lea seems nice." Leo blinked before turning to reply to Don's remark.
"Yes, well she is very good to me and I appreciate everything she does, even if I don't understand why." Leonardo's brow knit in thought and Don had to fight the desire to just shake his head at him. He had watched Leonardo execute some of the most ridiculously complex battle strategies imaginable. It seemed preposterous to him that his older Brother could not see what was clearly staring him right in the eye.
"Leo, I'm not even an expert on the matter; but I think it's pretty obvious why Lea is so kind to you." Don gave his Brother a considering look. He watched Leo's eyes widen every so slightly, before he cleared his throat suddenly.
"I usually sit over here." Don smirked as the other Turtle tried to change the subject, but followed him to the table he had indicated. The two sat and were quiet for a moment. Lea came bustling back out with tea and coffee for them and some form of flavored ice tea drink that Don could only assume was for her. She exited again promising to return quickly with their food. The silence continued for a few moments.
"You think she likes me?" Don recognized the blank expression now gracing his Brother's face. If he seemly had no reaction, it would give the impression the answer to his question didn't matter much to him. Don knew better.
"I deduced it Leo. While as I have stated I have very little experience personally in matters such as the one you are currently in. I have long been an observer of human interactions and it's rather blatant Lea is using every skill procured by a human female to entice the male into wishing to mate with her." Don took a sip of his coffee a superior look gracing his features.
Leonardo meanwhile very nearly choked on his tea he had just started to drink. "She is doing what, to get what?" If it was possible Leo would have been coloring at what his Brother had implied now.
"Here are the sandwiches." Lea returned with the food and Leo, suddenly sat up ramrod straight a mildly panicky touch to his expression. Don just continued to work on his coffee fighting off grinning.
"Thank you very much Lea." He took the offered food item from the woman then noted as she slid down in the booth they were seated in; Right next to Leo, her body obviously pressing up against his.
"So what were you both up to today?" Lea bit into her sandwich and Don had to question if she was really completely oblivious to the current state his Brother was fighting being in.
"I was just closing some details of a mission I just went with the Utroms on; nothing exciting." Don's face lit up when he too bit into the food and realized it was delicious. Having been living off of deep space rations with the Utroms this was really a treat.
Lea glanced over at Leonardo who had yet to touch his plate and he swallowed hard once before replying to her. "I was just checking things over for the Utrom Rally in Rockefeller Center tomorrow, I'll be helping out with security for the event."
"Well both your day's sound much more interesting then mine." Lea laughed in the good natured way. Don continued to watch the two across from him curious as the meal progressed. He suddenly really wished his Brother Michelangelo was there, as he was certain he would know exactly what needed to be done. Still this was not what he had expected to come home to, thing's certainly were changing.