Silence and stealth had been some of the first lessons that their Father had imparted on the brothers when they were younger and no one had taken it to heart more then Leonardo. Now the darkness enveloped him like an old friend, he moved with such speed and precision that he could control every sound he made. He took his position at the entrance of the building, allowing out one long, deep breath feeling a total calm take over his senses.
He knew what he needed to do, the mission he was set to accomplish and he was ready for it. He counted out the allotted time in his head, drawing his katana, finding a solid stance in preparation at the end of his tally, he finally let go and kicking forward forcefully sent the front door splintering into the building.
Music still pounded around the room, but the occupants had frozen, across the way Leonardo could see Donny had burst in the side window and Mike had similarly broken in the back door. There was that secondary pause, in which the three brothers exchanged looks, each choosing where to start there battle, before the air around them erupted into chaos as the shock wore off the guys in the building.
Then everything just became the natural flow of combat. Leo had spent his entire adult life and most of his childhood either engaged in or training for moments like this one. He felt almost too comfortable as he took on several group members at once. They did have guns, but were so unskilled at strategy and fight tactics that the improved weapons weren't as much of an issue.
Using the hilt of his sword, Leonardo slammed the blunt object into the head or face of every opponent he was engaged with. Breaking some bones, but having yet to actually kill anyone and instead rendering them unconscious, glancing around himself between bouts Leo was able to see his brothers also following his suit and that the numbers in the room thanks to there speed and stamina were swiftly dwindling.
"Heading up!" Leonardo leapt above the TV the guys had been playing video games on and using some boxes stacked along the wall ran across and jumped up to the catwalk to the second floor room. He paused long enough to look behind him and see that both Don and Mike were still doing quiet well in there own battles. Michelangelo smashed a guy in the face, glancing up and grinning at his older brother as he did. Leonardo felt secure in the fact his brother's knew where he was headed and made his way down to the room.
The door was already open and it seems like most of the occupants had already joined the fray when the noise of it had broken out. One man was still inside, short with dirty blonde hair he appeared to be trying to destroy documents. Leonardo could think of numerous reasons for this action, but at the moment none of that was important to him.
The thug didn't even hear Leo enter or cross the room until his katana was poised at the base of the back of his neck. "Is Justin Bartkowiak here?" Leonardo's deep, commanding voice reverberated in the room, distracting from even the sound of the fighting below them.
"Fuck you!" The guy didn't move, knowing just how perilous his current situation was, but still wasn't going to hand over the information easily. The venom in his voice was obvious. Leonardo was barely fazed, pressing the tip of his sword into the man's skin just slightly more allowing him to know he meant business.
"I don't want to have kill anyone here today if it isn't necessary, but I need that information I'm asking for more then I need you alive." Leo could see the sweat forming on the neck of the thug in front of him; he was silent for a long time as if weighing his options.
"I might know where his apartment is. How about I tell you that and you let me go." There was still too much self assurance in the idiot's tone. Leonardo didn't like it.
"How about you tell me right now and I'll allow you to live, you have to the count of five and I'm done with this conversation." Leo never even made it to three before the goon blurted out everything he needed to know. Making a quick mental note of the location Leonardo swiftly stepped forward and using his sword hilt once again slammed it into the area the tip had just been pointed in.
Making a soft groan the thug crumbled to the floor, Leonardo glanced at the papers he had been shredding before he had entered and his eyes grew wider for a moment. They were plans for another bomb, a huge one. Leo didn't bother reading everything but he figured it was something else Reed would be quiet interested in.
Turning away from the table; Leo noted that the sound of combat from below had ceased. Walking from the room, Leo was pleased to see his two brothers already tying up all the idiots they had defeated below. Leonardo leapt wordless back down to the first level landing gracefully and walking over to where Michelangelo and Donatello already were.
"There's one more above, if you wouldn't mind getting him and a bunch of papers that look really important on the table in the room." Leo tossed Mikey his cell phone, "Call the number for Reed in there. His group should be ready to come in, just tell him where we are." Mike nodded, but Donny gave him a curious look.
"And what are you going to do Leo?" The concern in his voice was evident and Leo couldn't help but smile.
"Justin wasn't here Don, but I did get his location and I want to pay him a personal visit." Everything seemed to be going right along as Leo had planned for it to, with the exception of having to make the extra trip to find the man he was looking for. Still it was a plan change that he didn't mind.
"Just be careful Leo, you never know what these guys could be doing, or what kind of weapons they could have." Leo looked over at Michelangelo watching him talking on his phone explaining everything to Reed in length.
"Don't worry about me Don. The last thing I want right now is to take a stupid risk." Turning to look at his brother he grasped his shoulder. "You guys did really great tonight, thank you." Don's eye ridge rose for a moment before he broke out into a smile.
"You almost sound like Sensei when you say that Leo." His voice was soft and it caused Leonardo to pause for a moment.
"You couldn't pay me a greater compliment." Turning Leonardo nodded one last time at Mike before taking off at a jog out the door. He knew his brothers could easily handle the rest of the clean up here and that he would feel better once he knew that, this Justin guy was out of the picture and wouldn't be threatening Lea in anyway, anymore. Leonardo leaped up the nearest fire escape and took to the roofs covering more ground faster that way.
The address Leo needed to go to was across the city in Brooklyn. Still from years of practice runs, he effortlessly found the quickest and simplest way to reach his desired location. Stopping on the roof across from the building it took him a few moments to get his bearings and decide which window was the one to the apartment he was looking for.
Lights were on inside the assigned room and the window was curtain-less, giving Leonardo the impression that Justin probably lived there alone. At least within his experience of watching April and Casey, woman seemed to prefer to have window coverings once they moved in with a man.
The city around him seemed fairly peaceful, just the usual traffic noise and random blares of different types of music. Leo leapt from one fire escape to the one positioned on Justin's building, climbing until he was crouched outside his window, listening for sounds inside. Slowly, carefully Leonardo leaned up, peering into the room before him. He could see the television on across the way, the illumination he was seeing was the light in the kitchen area. A table sat directly under the overhead lamp and it was strew with so much tech stuff that he kind of wished he had brought Don.
By the television was a couch. Raising himself a little more Leo was able to see the occupant of the room sprawled across it. He couldn't see the expression on Justin's face, but from the steady rise and fall of his chest he was fairly certain he was sleeping. This was good for a few reasons, it would make the element of surprise even easier for the Turtle and thankfully it meant no one from the warehouse had alerted him of what had just transpired.
Turning his attention to the actual window Leo was currently peering into, he was also pleased to see that it was rather old; and while he could see it was locked currently, the way this lock was designed it would be fairly easy to open. Pulling a small pocket knife out of his belt, Leo flipped open the blade and slide it into the small crack between the wood and the lock. It took him a bit of concentration and few swipes but slowly the window moved to the unlocked position.
Stowing the knife away again Leonardo pushed upwards on the window, slowly and deliberately, in case it made any loud sudden noises. Leo managed to slide the window up enough for him to enter the room without it alerting the occupant. Now inside Leonardo could hear the drone of the TV and the late night horror flick that was playing. Drawing one of his katana he crossed the room, looking down at the sleeping man he had came hunting for.
Justin was snoring lightly as Leonardo viewed him. Getting a proper look at his face, Leo was certain this was the correct man. Staring down at him, at the person who had taken Lea's entire life from her, he felt a fury boil in his gut. Still the Turtle pushed it away. He didn't want to allow rage to control this moment, if it did he would just end up murdering this idiot in his sleep and that simply wasn't Leonardo's style.
Leo kicked the side of the couch hard, sending a jolt through the man sleeping there. Justin sat up quickly and found that Leonardo's katana was suddenly pointed at his chest, right above his heart. The Turtle coldly glaring at him as the man looked around frantically for a moment like he wasn't certain what was going on and hoped maybe he was dreaming still.
"I think you know who I am." The eerie music and frantic pleas of the film playing behind him added to the atmosphere of the room at that moment. He watched Justin swallow hard, his face twisting into fury.
"How did you find me freak? Use your alien technology to hunt down the stupid human?" Justin was breathing hard, his expression furious, both men hating the other for vastly different reasons.
"Your friend's told me where to find you, when I took out your entire water front cell." Still Leonardo allowed no emotion to creep into either his tone or expression. Justin's face turned a shade paler then it had been a moment before.
"I don't believe you." The man wanted to have convection in his voice but Leonardo could hear the doubt wavering there. Without a word, but while still keeping his weapon trained on his enemy, Leo reached down with his other hand for the remote and flipped it to an all night news channel.
The raid was breaking news. The same reporter that had been at Lea's apartment the night of the fire was now talking about the bust the NYPD had just made, what caused this event to be particularly newsworthy was the fact there had been plans found there to blow up several prominent building throughout the city. Leonardo raised an eye ride watching the look of defeat that momentarily crossed Justin's face.
"So you took down one group of us, other sections will just pick up the slack." Leonardo noted that the man lacked the conviction in his tone he had just had a few moments before.
"No you won't, because I won't let you. I have foolishly sat by too long thinking it was proper for the human's to handle all of this on there own. You changed that. You brought this war to my front door. You hurt my family." Justin continued to glare at Leonardo and the Turtle felt a slight waver of passion enter his tone.
"So what are you going to kill me now?" Justin looked down at the sword and back up at the man holding it. Leonardo shook his head looking down at the thug like he was an idiot.
"No, I'm going to make certain you end up going to jail just like the rest of your cohorts. I just want everyone in your organization to now know you are not untouchable. I can and will destroy any of you when I choose. The quickest way to get me to come after you is going to be to come anywhere near anything or one that's mine." Leonardo leaned down so that he was staring Justin directly in the face. "If any member of your group so much as looks at her again, prison will seem like a cakewalk compared to what I have planned."
Justin swallowed hard the fight taken out of his appearance; he looked down at the table behind Leo. "What gives you the right to lay claim to anyone freak, this is my planet, my city and you're not wanted here." Leonardo frowned, studying the boy before him for a moment.
"How old are you? Mid-twenties would be my guess." Justin turned to look back at Leo confusion now on his face. "I've been here a lot longer then you, and I've done a hell of a lot more for this planet then you ever will. I don't lay claim you simpleton. She's mine because she chooses to be; because I have something you will never understand while you are on your corroded, ignorant path. I have honor. That's why she picks me. That's why I will do anything I can to protect her and keep her safe; and I want you and everyone else in your backwards organization to remember that."
Justin refused to look at Leonardo anymore. His mouth set down to a line, his brow creased. Leonardo hoped maybe his words somehow affected some small area of this man's mind. Maybe got him to realize somewhere in his brain that what he was doing wasn't right. It probably wasn't that good of a chance that was what had happened, but there was always hope. Leo never would have thought he would have the life he did now; it really made him realize that anything was possible in this universe.
"Stand up!" Leonardo took a step back to allow the man in front of him to get to his feet. "Turn around." Justin glared at the Turtle again, but didn't say anything further as he followed his instructions. Leo had brought a thin long rope with him just for the purpose of securing captives. Tying Justin's hands behind his back, Leo glanced down at the coffee table and saw the one other item he had needed.
"I'm going to use your cell phone." Justin stood stone faced, looking away and out towards his kitchen. Leonardo picked up the phone and was suddenly thankful for the fact he had memorized Reed's number in case he ever had an emergency. Reed picked up after a couple rings and Leonardo explained to him that he had one more detainee and where he was currently. Reed promised to be right down and the Turtle hung up.
"You can take a seat if you like. The NYPD should be here shortly." Justin stomped around in a circle and flopped back down on his sofa. Leo allowed his weapon to relax at his side but kept it drawn just in case his captive decided to run for it.
Malcolm Reed arrived within twenty minutes of Leonardo calling, which he guessed considering the night he was probably having was actually pretty good. The cop took one look at the guy tied up on the couch and one look at the Turtle and a huge grin broke across his face.
"I'm guessing this is the shithead from your girlfriend's crime scene?" Leo didn't even have to say anything for Reed to know he was right. The cop crossed the room his eyes drawn much like Leo's had been when first surveying the place to the mess of tech on the kitchen table. "Holy fuck, Leo, do you know what you have here?"
The expression of surprise on Reed's face garnered Leo's attention. In the short time he had known the cop he hadn't seen many things shock him. "My brother was always better with mechanical things then I was?" Leo looked at the police officer with question.
"Now I'm no expert on the matter, but this looks like components to build a couple of different bombs." Reed stopped to look at Justin as he finished his declaration. "Leo this asshole isn't just the one that spotted you and your girl, I seriously think he's also the one that built the bomb that blew up her place." Reed wasn't about to touch anything, but he craned his neck around trying to get a better look at what was on the table. Grabbing his walkie talkie off his hip, he called in. Knowing they would need the bomb squad down here as quickly as they could move.
Leonardo's eyes flashed with a deep rooted anger. His fists clenched as he fought the desire to simply grab the front of the man's shirt sitting in front of him and shake him until some sort of sense settled into his ideology of life. "You call me a freak! I might not be human but I have never destroyed the life of an innocent. Never taken everything from them, that they poured there blood, sweat and tears over! You are the monster! You are the creature that would kill your own kind for no more reason then they have a different opinion then you do." Leonardo forced one long deep breath out of his chest trying to calm down his rising emotions.
Justin had pressed himself silently back against the couch and the Turtle got the impression for the first time he really understood the power of the adversary he was dealing with. "You're very lucky tonight. Lucky I didn't know any of this until Reed was already here. Lucky I'm going to walk away now, but never forget me; because I won't you and if I ever hear about you building another bomb and destroying another life you won't be able to hide from me." Leo's tone was deadly calm as he turned finished with this conversation before he did something he would regret.
He started walking back towards the window he had originally entered from but paused as Reed called out his name. He realized the cop had watched most of his exchange with the criminal and was now studying the face of the Turtle. "I just wanted to say. What you did tonight Leo, I've never seen anything like it. The efficiency of you and your family, all I can say is we are damn lucky you're on our side." Reed cleared his throat, almost as if he was waiting for Leo to say something in reply, yet the Turtle just silently held his gaze.
"Don't worry about any of these assholes anyway. With all the new laws protecting off-worlders and against anti-terror none of them will be seeing freedom for a very long time. Thank you Leonardo, I owe you one. Fuck the whole goddamn city does." Reed crossed the room and extended his hand towards the Turtle in the gesture to shake. Leo looked down at the humans offer and swallowed, pushing away his anger realizing it was useless. His mission was complete and this terror organization was done.
He grasped Reed's hand firmly and felt the ghost of a smile grace his beak. "I've protected this city my whole life and I don't plan to stop anytime soon. Thank you for your help." Reed looked at the Turtle a little confused, but Leo didn't expand on why an alien would have been there for that long and instead turning away from the cop, he'd let him finish his job. Stepping out the window back onto the fire escape into the fresh air there was only one thing Leonardo could focus on. Just how much he wanted to get back to the woman he had wanted to spend time with all day and how the journey home had never seemed so long before. Leaping up and across to another fire escape higher on the next building Leo started on his way.