It felt even earlier then usual this morning, setting everything up in the tea shop and getting ready for business that day. Ashlee was in the back baking, Mairead was doing the books from the evening before and Lea was getting the front end of the store set up for the breakfast rush. The rest of her staff would be arriving soon, but currently Lea was just enjoying the peace of the soft music she had playing in the back ground.
She was trying not to focus too much on yesterday. Leonardo had been prevalent in her thoughts all evening and it had kept her from sleeping until late into the night. She was thrilled, yet at the same time concerned. She usually got a little nervous at the start of any relationship. Second guessing herself constantly, but this time she was very aware that everything between her and Leo was going to be put under a microscope by a lot of judgmental people; and while she certainly wouldn't allow anyone else to dictate her actions she also refused to walk into any situation blinded.
Still just the thought of him, his warm smile and serious eyes; set her heart racing and caused butterflies to flutter through her midsection. She would be kidding herself not to realize how much he was coming to mean to her and that regardless of the difficulty of the path she was ready to stand firmly at his side.
A knock at the front door drew her attention. It was odd because it was still too early to open and the staff knew to come around the back. She was surprised to actually see the Turtle her thoughts had just been centered on standing there. Leo had never shown up at this time of day before. She crossed the room swiftly curious if everything was alright.
Unlocking the door and pulling it open she looked up at him with question. "Good morning Leonardo?" She smiled warmly at him. Pleased to see him there regardless of the reason.
"Good morning." Leo looked awkward and hesitant and adorable in a way he seemly was only capable of. He stepped inside and past her clearing his throat before continuing. "I am heading out to the Utrom's ship today. I have a report to give and Don was there all night so I figure I should probably check on him, but I wanted to stop in and let you know I was alright first." He looked at her seemly a little out of his depth; she watched his eye's track across her face. She knew what he wanted and could plainly see he wasn't certain if he had permission to take it.
She couldn't stop the smile that crossed her face as wordlessly she stepped forward pressing her lips up to his beck in a silent kiss. She had read him correctly. This time his arms slide up to grip her body almost instantly, her hands rested on the front of his plastron; It was brief and she broke away, but had to fight off a giggle as he pushed his mouth back into hers not ready for there embrace to end quiet yet. Finally both stepped back; Lea was biting her lip looking up at the man that had just been holding her; nothing but warmth in her expression.
"Is that alright? I mean I wasn't certain if you were okay with what happened yesterday and I couldn't stop thinking about everything and I was worried maybe you hadn't meant for things to go that far and I am rambling." Leonardo's speech drew to a close and he just stood staring at the woman across from him. The intensity of her feelings for the man in front of her at this moment surprised Lea. She was suddenly seized with the idea of just grabbing Leonardo's hand and dragging him upstairs to her apartment so she could properly show him how alright with all of this she actually was.
Lea took a deep breath knowing this was neither the place nor the time to completely
abandon herself to her passionate whims, but she also had to admit to herself her curiosity about Leonardo sexually was growing more and more every time they touched.
"You need to know Leonardo that you have my express permission to kiss me anytime and any place that you want to." She smiled a cheeky grin up at him. She watched his eye ridges knit in thought for a moment, before he returned her smile to her.
"Thank you." She could easily see the pleasure her remark had given him and also hear it in his tone. He cleared his throat again; she could see he was now trying to change the subject to something he was more comfortable with.
"Are you hungry?" She saved him again. She was rewarding by him breaking into another beautiful smile.
"I actually ate already, I have been up and training for a few hours now." He chuckled at the face she made at his remark.
"I could barely drag myself out of bed this morning." Leonardo was so disciplined, so controlled Lea couldn't help but admire that greatly about him.
"Tisk, tisk," He clucked his tongue at her in a playful way. "Sounds like you need someone to make certain you're getting to bed at a decent hour." Lea's eye brows rose as she blinked a little surprised at the sudden boldness of the man across from her.
"Why are you volunteering?" She bit her lip again, not able to stop the flirty tone in her voice. Leonardo paused for the briefest moment realizing what he had just implied, before breaking into his own large grin.
"Maybe." The shiver that hit her body from the tone of his voice, the two of them just stood there; the electricity between them at that moment palpable in the air, neither of them completely certain how they should handle this.
"Maybe you could just get me a tea for my trip?" It was Leo's turn this time to save her. Lea was the one that let out a deep breath, before nodding.
"Of course, I'll be right back." She strode away, trying to regain control of her senses. Leo had really caught her off guard with his last comment. Every time she though she had him completely figured out he surprised her again. She got the tea quickly along with a few other items and walked back out into the main area of the shop. Leonardo was looking out the front windows watching the city. She paused for just a moment to admire the form of his arms and shoulders, the bulk and strength of them. She had never been with a man as physically fit as Leonardo was. The idea she found really appealed to her in an odd way.
"Here you go," Leo turned at the sound of her voice. "I also gave you a frozen coffee drink and some bagels for your brother since I doubt he has been as diligent as you this morning." Leonardo looked down at the containers and bags she was offering him a little surprised.
"You didn't have to do that." His expression was touched. It made Lea happy.
"I know, but I wanted to." She looked down watching as he reached out and retrieved all the item's out of her hands and placed them on the table next to them. She felt herself shallow hard as he then turned his attention back to her, cupping her face between his hands he was looking intently into her eyes.
"You're really good to me." His tone almost made the statement sound like a question.
"I like taking care of the people that are important to me." She looked at him curiously, at the little half smile that crossed his face at her declaration.
"I do too." And he kissed her. It started out sweet and soft, but grew deeper, hungrier. His arms dropped down to wrap around her waist, as her hands lifted to strongly grip his biceps.
"Lea I need….oh!" The two lovers stepped apart at the sound of Mairead's voice. They both turned to see the other girl standing wide eyed in the doorway, looking a little shocked. "I'm so sorry I didn't mean to interrupt." Mairead looked a little embarrassed and turned as if going to leave but Leonardo stopped her.
"Wait Mairead! I need to go away." There was a confidence to his tone and expression and Lea realized that Leo was started to get used to the idea of them. "I'll stop in later tonight." And he lightly kissed her check, before collecting all the food items Lea had given him. "Have a nice day Mairead." He waved to the other girl as he turned.
"Be careful today." Lea couldn't stop the smile on her face as she echoed her words from the day before at there parting. She felt her heart grow tight as he bowed formally to her.
"For you I will try." And he was gone. Lea locked the door behind him, feeling somewhat floaty. She couldn't stop the sigh that left her lips.
"I didn't realize you guys had taken the step to the next level?" Mairead's tone behind Lea was surprised. Pausing for a brief moment, Lea turned to look her friend in the face.
"I hadn't expected it to happen yesterday but now it just seems like the natural path I should be taking, if that makes sense?" Lea wasn't certain how to explain the intensity of her feelings for Leo, she wasn't even certain if she had ever fallen for another human man this deeply or this quickly.
"Whatever you decide you know I got your back." Mairead's words were reassuring but Lea could hear the concern in her tone; and she could just imagine what she was eventually going to hear from her family and on a larger scale society. Still it didn't dissuade her, quiet the opposite it gave her more conviction.
"Thank you Mairead, you have always been such…." Both girls jumped back as the sound of breaking glass exploded behind them. A baseball size rock had just launched its way through the front door of the shop, landing unceremoniously a few feet from where Mairead and Lea were standing. Both woman were shocked and looked up and outside to see an older, broken down appearing car idling by the sidewalk.
They were frozen for a moment, hanging out of the car were four men all decorated in masks bearing the likeness of various movie style aliens. They revved the engine. Making the threat they were posturing obvious. "Stupid freak slut!" One of the guys from the backseat screamed. Lea just blinked, she had never had something this prejudicial happen to her before ever.
Mairead on the other hand snapped to action. Stepping forward she picked up the rock and lobbed it back out at the car. "You assholes better get out of here, because I am calling the police!" Mairead even being small stood her ground like a warrior, glaring down the men outside. Lea finally got her wits back and stepped forward next to her. Laughter and whoops echoed out of the car as they squealed away as quickly as they had suddenly appeared.
Lea tired to see the license plate number but it had been covered with newspaper. Carefully she stepped forward looking at the damage to the smashed window, trying to avoid the larger pieces of broken glass. "You alright?" She turned to look at Mairead who was still fuming.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Let me go grab my cell phone we need to call this in." The other girl stomped off, looking furious. Lea wasn't certain what she thought. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. How had such a blissful, perfect morning become such an absolute mess within seconds?
She hesitantly thought of trying to contact Leo. Figuring he would want to know what had happened, but decided it didn't seem that serious and he had enough on his plate already that day and she could just tell him when he came back later this evening. Inside a cold lump of revulsion started to form in her chest. She didn't understand why these men, these strangers felt they had the right to judge her just because of who she cared to spend her time with. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
Striding across the room to get her broom and dust pan, Lea made a decision. These bullies were trying to scare her. Trying to force her to bend to their will and not live her life the way she wants. She figured the best way to fight back was to do just what they didn't want her to do. Lea was going to continue to be with whoever she chose to and not hide it. Starting to sweep up the glass her convictions cementing even more firmly into place in her mind; Lea would not live in fear.
Leonardo paced through the Utrom base. It was a few hours until anyone could see him for his report from yesterday. All the Utroms were still beside themselves over the bombing. Everyone already realized how bad relations were, but there was a general concern now that the alien hatred was more wide spread then even they had though. Leo had a few ideas to beef up security next time the Utroms decided to try again to bridge a talk with the public, but right now with his free time he was heading down to see his truant brother.
Most of his life Leonardo had been teased by his brothers for his dedication to training in the martial arts. Even when given time off Leo was always the one that would be up at the crack of dawn to go through his usual daily routine of katas. Still personally he had always though his supposed obsession was nothing close to Donatello's when he got working on a project. Leo still stopped to sleep and eat realizing the importance for rest and sustenance for his body. Donny sometimes would go for days without either if someone didn't keep an eye on him.
The doors to the lab slid open and Leo entered. The brightly lit, disinfected room seemed so unnatural to him, but he knew his brother thrived on it. Don was across the room at a table in a position Leo was used to seeing him in, hunched over a desk, random items strewn all around him, talking softly to himself. Sometimes Leo privately admitted as much as he respected Donny's intelligence he was much happier burying himself in training then something like this.
"Hello Don, I came to make certain you're still alive?" Leonardo continued to be on a natural high from earlier this morning as his tone came out much more cheery then he was used to. Thankfully Don was so distracted that he simply looked up, barely even seeming to notice his brother was there.
"Oh, hi Leo." Leonardo watched his brother typing a few lines into the computer screen in front of him, for a moment Leo stared at whatever Don was working on but it was complex mathematical equations that held absolutely no interest to him.
"Here!" Leo unceremoniously dropped the bag and the drink he was carrying between his brother and the screen in front of him. "Lea sent these, she said you have to eat them right away or she is going to be furious at you." Leo tried to hide the half smirk that crossed his face waiting and gauging what his brothers reaction to what he just had told him would be. To Leonardo's surprise Don actually paused in his typing and looked at the items thrown in front of him before turning to look up at his older brother.
"Did she really say that?" Leo smiled openly this time; amused by the fact his bait had actually garnered his distracted brother's attention.
"No, but it did get you to look at me while we talk and she did send them for you and it would be polite to eat them." Don was already sipping at the drink, his eyes growing wide in delight.
"This is delicious!" He dumped the contents of the bag in front of him without protest and started to spread cream cheese on one of the bagels. "You know, I don't think I had dinner last night." Don's eyes were already drifting back to the computer screen and Leonardo cleared his throat to keep his attention.
"Yesterday was a mess you know." Leo leaned back against the table looking down at Donny who had started to eat the food in front of him. Don glanced back up at his brother and nodded.
"So I heard. I also heard you were alright so I didn't bother to come check." Don's tone became a little sheepish and Leonardo gave him a good natured shove in the shoulder.
"Thanks Bro." Leonardo sighed looking up at the ceiling, leaning back, both hands bracing around him on the table beneath. "Lea did come check on me though." He side glanced at his brother as he made the statement. Don's attention had started to drift towards his equations again, but he turned back to his brother interested in the new topic.
"She ran down into the middle of a bomb site to make certain you were okay? Well you must have flipped out on her." Donatello gave his older brother a considering look. Leonardo turned fully towards Donny his eye rides bunching together in annoyance.
"I didn't yell at her! Unlike all of you she handles herself with a certain level of grace and dignity." Leo's tone was sharp at the accusation he would be as overbearing as Don was implying. Donny meanwhile gave his brother a very unimpressed look.
"In other words she surprised you and you didn't think of yelling at her until later." He was already through his first bagel and spreading cream cheese on the second.
"She kissed me." Leonardo frowned. He hadn't been completely certain he had wanted to share this information with his brother, but Don was pissing him off by being so judgmental about the way he handles people. Don's eye flew back up to Leonardo's face nearly choking on the food he had just bit into.
"She what?" Donny looked like he might not completely believe what his brother was telling him. Leonardo squared his shoulders.
"She kissed me and so I kissed her back. I think we're a couple now." Don watched as his brother's brow knit in thought again and fought off a laugh. This was more like Leonardo.
"You think?" Don took a long drink of the coffee, an amused expression on his face.
"Well she let me kiss her again when I went to her shop this morning. Doesn't that mean we're together?" Don realized his brother was looking to him for confirmation. Don raised both hands in the air.
"How would I know? Leo I've never had a girlfriend either." Both men sat in a contemplative silence for a few long moments.
"I guess I have to ask her don't I?" Leo sounded a little deflated. He was hoping his assumptions were correct and he wouldn't have to further spell out to Lea that he was rather clueless about what he was doing.
"That would be your most logical course of action." Don was once again fighting off a laugh. His food finished he was now working on completing his drink. "I do have a few computer programs that can explain some things to you, you know?" Don's grin grew larger as Leo looked at him puzzled.
"Explain what to me?" He leaned off the desk arms crossing staring down at the other Turtle.
"What she is going to expect you to do if she is your girlfriend now." Don's face now consisted of a rather superior look, awaiting his brother's reaction. Leo froze, first a bit of color drained from his face and then his expression grew cross.
"I am not a complete idiot Donatello, thank you! I know what…" Leo froze suddenly shaking his head. "I have a report to give. I just wanted to drop off your food. I'll check in on you later." Leonardo turned to leave, not quiet ready to be having this conversation with his younger brother, but happy it was Don he was talking to and not Mikey or Raphael as they wouldn't allow the topic to drop.
"Tell Lea thanks for breakfast." Laughing Donny was already turning back to his computer screen eager to return to work. Leonardo glared back for a brief moment before stiffly waving.
"I will Don, try to stop at some point again today and eat something." Leo felt his words were lost to his brother who was already typing away. The doors to the room opened and allowed him back into the corridor. It was true he knew he had to give his opinion on yesterday, but now his mind was also swimming with just what he was getting himself into with this new relationship. He really hoped he was ready for all of this.