Leonardo and Donatello had stayed later then Lea had expected them to the night before. After eating they had all ventured up into Lea's apartment and sat around her living room drinking tea; both Turtles sharing stories about their adventures through the years. Lea couldn't honestly recall the last time she had enjoyed herself quiet that much.
It had been so relaxed and easy; she had managed to curl herself up next to Leonardo on her couch and had been surprised when he made no show of protesting how close she was to him. She had noticed he had been on pins and needles earlier in the evening and it had made her curious.
There was almost a hesitate warmth to him, a relaxed side she wasn't certain she had seen before. Everything with the three of them together had felt very natural. It just made her realize even more how much most people were fools to not give those who may look different then them a chance, because sometimes you would be amazed what you discovered.
Lea was fighting dozing off, leaning against Leonardo's arm when the two men had finally left. Don continued to show off his impeccable manners by thoroughly thanking her for both dinner and the company. Leo had hesitated a little before leaving and Lea had been surprised when he had gently cupped the side of her face with his palm as he expressed his gratitude. For a brief moment she had really though he was going to kiss her, but it had quickly passed, though the racing of her heart had keep her awake after there departure for at least another hour.
Now the next morning, with her jumping at every chime of the door; hoping it was the Turtle even though she knew he was currently working. Lea had to blatantly admit to herself she was falling for him. It didn't matter how different they each looked on the outside; and if she had to be brutally honest with herself anyway it really didn't matter to her that he was a mutated Turtle. She was still physically attracted to him. Her body still yearned for him to touch her, a fact that was becoming more obvious to her every time they were together now.
She could easily tell her staff and her friend's could also see the change in her. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt like this. So ridiculously happy, she was giggling at almost everything. Yet at the same time she was a grown woman and little frustrated with herself that she was allowing her emotions to run so rampant on her.
That was why she had decided to stay out front today and deal with the customers figuring she may as well put all of her positive energy to use. Only with so many people either working or staying at home to watch the Utrom conference there usual early morning rush was nearly dead. So Lea was cleaning tables and had been talking to Mairead.
Mairead for her part was being a very good friend and had only pointed out to her twice so far today that she was acting oddly. Lea was trying to shrug it off but she knew it was obvious. Later she was going to have to sit down and seriously consider what she wanted out of all of this and then talk to Leonardo about it. Figure out where they both currently stand. Still right now she tried to center on her tasks and not focus on the stray thoughts that continued to rattle through her brain.
Mairead had been sharing with her the plot of some new doctor show she had been watching recently when suddenly the whole Earth shook for a moment. Both women stopped in there tasks and looked around them surprised. It hadn't felt like an earthquake because it had been one large blast instead of a period of rumbles. Outside they could already see people milling into the street and hear distant sirens and alarms going off.
"This can't be good." Mairead stated the obvious as they both moved back towards the kitchen where they knew Ashlee would have a radio on while she baked in order to listen to music. Mairead pushed into the room first with Lea right on her heels. Both froze when they saw Ashlee standing just staring at the radio with a shocked expression on her face.
"What happened?" Mairead was more coherent then Lea at the moment. All she could focus on was the growing dread that was spreading through her like a disease.
"It's that Rally the Utroms were having. No one's really clear what happened but there's been an explosion. Something big everything is chaos down there." Ashlee looked up at her boss but Lea barely registered the concern in her expression. She could feel the blood draining from her face.
Leonardo was there, he was right in the middle of everything that was happening right now and she had no idea if he was even alive anymore. Lea reached out gripping the side of the table next to her, looking wide eyed at the two women sharing the room with her.
Mairead understood without explanation. Her mouth pursed, as she glanced around the room. She knew cell phones would be useless, because the signals would be a mess with everyone in the city trying to figure out what was going on. Mairead also knew with a certainty that Lea wouldn't be able to just sit here and hope for the best. Even if she didn't completely understand her friend's attraction to the giant Turtle, Mairead cared for her and would never wish for Lea to be in fear or pain.
"You need to leave now, before they start shutting every thing down. We are close enough I think you can make it on foot before the place is crawling with Police." Mairead was already shoving her friend back towards the rear door.
"Wait, what? I just can't leave we're in the middle of…" Lea's protest fell short under the piercing gaze of her friend.
"And you aren't going to be able to focus or care about anything else until you know Leonardo is alright I can tell. There is no point in arguing with me about this." Mairead's hands went to her hips, her tone final. "Anyway you think I'm not capable of looking after this place for a few hours?"
It was her final declaration that really made Lea realize she was being foolish not going. Her friend was right. Her mind was swimming with nothing but fear for Leonardo. She had finally realized she was starting to feel something for him and now she dreaded she may never be able to actually tell him.
"Thank you Mairead, I owe you one." Lea tossed the apron she had been wearing onto a counter as she headed back towards the door on her own.
"You probably owe me about twelve by now but whose counting." The friend's exchanged smiles. Pushing open the door Lea stepped out into the open air. Everything around her almost seemed electrified. A feeling of trepidation settled firmly in her stomach. Taking off at a steady jog she just hoped when she arrived she wouldn't be crushed.
"Keep those people moving! We need to this area to be open!" Leo felt like he had been doing nothing but yelling for the last fifteen minutes. One second he had been keeping an eye on a guy standing off by himself fiddling in his pockets a lot, the next moment it was like hell had opened; The blast had sent him rocking to one side and it was only his years of training that had kept him on his feet. Then fire and chaos everywhere.
His first priority had been to make certain every Utrom was out of harms way and on one of the emergency transports they always had at ready just in case of a situation like this one. That task finally taken care of Leonardo was now hunting around for Karai. He was fuming. He couldn't be everywhere at once and he felt the Foot should be skilled enough to be able to seek out bombs set by terrorist nut bags. Karai's men had faltered badly here today and she was going to get a large piece of his mind about that fact.
Finally after what felt like forever he saw her across the crowd. She was talking to a higher ranking cop; Leonardo started to stride across the space, willing to wait to be able to converse with her next. He was nearly to her when he paused. Certain he had just heard someone yell his name. Looking around his eyes were drawn to a ruckus happening off to one side of him. He felt mild shock which he quickly pushed down and away. Lea was valiantly battling between two police officers trying her best to either reach him or get his attention.
He couldn't reason why she would be here. "She's with me, let her through!" One of the cops looked back at his commanding tone and exchanging a glance with his partner the two stepped away to allow the small woman to break through. About ten questions sprung into Leonardo's mind that he wanted to ask her, but they all fled away as to his surprise she didn't just walk up to him. Instead she ran and threw herself against him, tightly holding him, her face buried against his plastron. Her distress palpable in the air.
"You're alive!" Her tone, her demeanor, it only took the Turtle moments to realize she had been worried about him. So much so she had actually left her shop and braved this insanity to make certain he was alright. His heart felt tight, a little bit of anger at Karai melted away. He made a shushing noise, touching Lea's hair, his other arm wrapping around her waist. She glanced up at him and he realized she had tears in her eyes.
Leonardo glanced around, this felt far too personal to be conducted in front of half of the city. Turning his arm still around her waist he led Lea off towards the side. "Come on it's more quiet over here we can talk." She followed next to him without hesitation; walking past Karai he felt her hazard a curious glance between him and woman at his side. He looked back at her coldly still pissed off about her people's incompetence and not wishing her anywhere near Lea.
The subway entrance to Rockefeller Center had been closed for security during the event and the empty walkway provided a small dip down and a little privacy, Leo stopped moving and finally really looked at the woman next to him. "I'm fine you didn't have to come all the way down here just to check on me." He wanted to put her mind at ease, he hated to see her worried about him; even as he had to admit to himself a part of him really liked the fact she was.
"You must think I'm a complete idiot, running down here like a lunatic. I mean you have so much going on I'm so sorry." Lea looked apologetic and Leonardo felt like an ass because he obviously wasn't expressing himself to her correctly. He reached up to touch the side of her face. Losing himself for just a second in her dark eyes.
"You don't understand I…" He didn't get to finish his thought. At his touch Lea stepped forward. He had never been tall by human male standards and Lea was a bit shorter then average herself, so she barely had to reach up as her arms wrapped around his neck and her mouth pressed desperately against his beak.
He froze his eyes flying open wide. Out of every reaction he had been expecting out of Lea, this avenue hadn't even crossed his mind. He wasn't certain what to do. A woman had never kissed him like this before. Her scent, her body pressed so tightly against his own, it felt like heaven. Every annoyance of his day was worth this one moment in time, losing everything within the emotions they felt for each other. Still he made no move himself and instead stood there rather stupidly.
After a small period of time Lea pulled back, looking down at his arms still at his sides and back up at him. A look of shock at her actions and apprehension at the fact she had just literally thrown herself on him and he didn't even seem to care. "I'm so sorry Leonardo I must look like such an…"
Desire seized him and he didn't suppress it like he usually would have. Grabbing the woman next to him roughly he turned her, pressing her tightly up against the wall they were both near. He felt and heard the growl that left his throat as he mashed his beak back against her lips.
She succumbed to him, there was no other way he could describe her reaction. Her body warm and inviting as she once against wrapped her arms around his neck. Hesitantly she parted her lips, her tongue touching his beak and with another growl he deepened the kiss. She intoxicated him, for a moment he actually forgot where they were, he wasn't certain he had ever had something like this happen to him before.
Finally both gasping for air they pulled apart, foreheads still touching his hands to his embarrassment he realized where tightly holding her ass; he quickly moved them to her back. "I didn't mind that you came down here looking for me and I also didn't mind the kiss. "He pressed his mouth to the side of her face; now that he had opened this gateway and allowed this familiarity between them he couldn't deny how much he liked it. "I just don't want you to worry about me."
"I care about you Leo. How can I not worry about you?" Her question was earnest; her gaze searching his. Lea reached out to run a finger along his mouth, biting her own lip. Leonardo took a deep breath feeling a twitching in his tail; he cleared his throat suddenly realizing he needed to regain control of himself.
"It's going to take a lot more then a screw loose with a bomb to hurt me. I promise you that." He ran his finger along her cheek, feeling the desire to kiss her drawing him near her again. Instead he let out a long, somewhat painful sign. "I should probably get back out there. They are going to be looking for me. Do you want me to walk you back to the edge of the crowd?"
Leonardo knew he had to take control of himself at this moment. Rushes of emotions he wasn't used to hampering were pounded him. He had so much to do still and she was so terribly tempting leaning against the stone wall staring up at him.
"I'll be fine I'll just scoot away off to the side. You just go and do what you need to." Reaching out she squeezed his hand. Leo sighed again, really not looking forward to the mess he had to help clean up.
"This is probably going to take quiet sometime. I doubt I'll be by tonight." He could hear the regret in his tone and he didn't mind it. She had risked a lot to come here. To open up herself to him, the least he could do was allow her to see that she indeed meant something to him also.
"I don't envy you any of this that's for sure." She offered him a small rueful smile. "Just stay safe. I know how big and bad you are, but remember I'll be worried." She pouted up at him; leaning in close again she kissed his chin. Leonardo just stared at her for a moment, his mind attempting to whirl through everything he was feeling. His sense telling him this was neither the time nor place. He still had a lot to do and now, he knew she would be waiting when he was finally done.
"Be careful getting back to your shop and I will be extra careful while cleaning up this mess," and he finally couldn't stop himself he captured her mouth with his again. Soft and sweet, lingering feelings shared between the two. Nuzzling her cheek one last time he turned to walk back up into the insanity; but first he paused and just looked at the woman he was leaving for the moment. The feeling he felt in his heart while looking at her, it was intense and new. He waved a little awkwardly not certain what else to do and she returned it as he disappeared into the crowd above.
Lea's head fell back against the concrete. Barely able to breath, her emotions feeling as powerful as the explosion that had started this chain of events. Had she expected all of this, certainly not. Did she regret one thing that had just happened between Leo and her, not for a moment. Her fingers rose to touch her lips. She had never in her whole life been kissed like she just had. The rawness of it, the passion; she giggled to herself realizing just how much trouble she was in.
She froze her pleasant bubble burst by this odd feeling of being watched. Leaning off the wall looking around she caught a man's face, peering down at her from in-between some barricades from up above. As soon as he saw she had seen him, his face disappeared from her view. A cold shiver went down Lea's spine as she thought just how creepy that had been. She tired not to dwell on it and instead focus on how Leonardo had made her feel just moments before. Realizing she probably wasn't in the safest place to be daydreaming she decided maybe it was time to head back to her shop.
She pushed back through the crowd. Still thinking about everything that had just happened; perhaps had there not been as many people and had she not been as distracted she would have realized that the man who had been watching her was now following her. He kept his distance but he kept the woman in sight until she reached her destination. Looking up at the tea shop darkness covered his expression. Plans brewing in his head he slinked away.