Chapter 6: Her
Raph still wasn't entirely convinced this was real—maybe that metal bastard had knocked a screw loose. Hell, maybe he was dead! But damn if it wasn't the best dream he'd had in ten years!
She was taller—much taller—her face was thinner, more mature, her scales lighter. But her eyes were the same, those huge silver eyes. Hell, even her irritated pout was the same!
She didn't speak, she just reached up, grabbing Raph's bandana and, with a flick of her wrist and a smirk, she tossed it over the edge.
Raph blinked, too stunned to do much more than watch the red fabric fall away from him—for a second, then—
Son of a—!
His brow curled down in annoyance.
"Now we're even," she said smugly, her voice rich and feminine—not the same.
Raph scowled, but she didn't seem to notice… or care. She just looked him over, cocking an eye ridge. "Wow! Steroids?"
"Funny," he grunted, unamused.
She breathed a laugh and her smile softened.
"Mona?"
It was Mikey who spoke her name, his voice unusually somber.
Grinning, Mona looked away, her body shifting into a more casual stance, hip cocked to one side, arms relaxed. "Long time, no see, Mikey."
Raph heard Mikey chuckle uncertainly and then he was there, lifting her off her feet in a fierce hug. "Where you been, Pillsbury?"
Returning the embrace, Mona laughed, that same carefree laugh.
Raph felt his heart constrict in his chest, waiting to wake up. Afraid to wake up.
"I hate that nickname!" she scolded, whacking Mikey in the back of the head but grinning all the while.
Donnie approached slowly, eyes wider than usual behind his glasses as Mikey set her down. "Mona?" The word came out choked and quiet.
Mona smirked, shaking her head as she closed the distance between them. "Damn, Donnie," she chuckled, "you were supposed to be the small one!"
Donnie snorted, pushing up his glasses and looking at his feet with a shy smile.
"Group hug!" cried Mikey, smashing Mona into Donnie and hugging them both.
"Mikey!" Donnie huffed. But he still returned the embrace, eyes pinching closed behind his glasses as he pulled them close.
A corner of Raph's mouth lifted as Mona giggled. He still wasn't entirely convinced this was real—maybe that metal bastard had knocked a screw loose. Hell, maybe he was dead! But damn if it wasn't the best Mona dream he'd had since—
Leo stopped beside him, his expression carefully blank.
Raph smirked, understanding completely.
"Leo!" Mikey called unnecessarily, considering the ding dong was less than six feet away. "Look who it is, dude!" He wrapped a playful arm around Mona's neck and draped the other over Donnie's shoulders.
Mona choked when he flexed with a grin and she promptly bit him.
Raph grinned as Mikey yelped, stumbling into Donnie and sending them both toppling into the snow.
Looking pleased with herself, Mona approached Leo with a smirk, but he continued to stare through her, his expression void of any emotion.
Mona's mischievous smile turned more serious and, stepping forward she reached up, placing a hand on either side of his face. The action was as familiar as it was bittersweet and Mikey and Donnie fell silent behind her.
Growing up, Mona had taken to grabbing their faces when she felt she was being ignored. At the time it had been annoying-as-hell! But now—
Raph swallowed the sudden lump in his throat and Leo shuddered, his breath rushing out in a cloud of condensed air, blue eyes suspiciously bright as he leaned down slightly to press his forehead to hers.
Mikey snorted. "Dude, really?" Shaking his head with a put-upon sigh, he grabbed one of Leo's arms and proceeded to maneuver them into an awkward hug.
Mona giggled all the while and even Donnie let loose an amused snort. But Leo was smiling now and Raph was just damn glad it wasn't him!
"Way better!" Mikey declared when he was done.
Leo huffed in amusement before pulling her into a real hug.
"I can't believe how big you are!" Mona chuckled. "You used to be lanky!"
Mikey laughed. "Dude, I totally forgot about that! Lanky Leo!
Leo choked on his laugh as they separated. "Thanks for that."
Mona shrugged an unapologetic shoulder and smiled.
"Your turn, Raphie!" said Mikey from somewhere behind him.
Raph's torso jerked forward when Mikey gave his shell a solid shove and he shot his little brother a look over his shoulder.
Mikey raised his hands with a toothy grin and stepped back.
Laughing, Mona launched herself at him and Raph grunted with the impact, wrapping his arms around her in an effort to steady them. He felt the itchy black material of her jacket against his neck and the cool press of her cheek against his.
Real!
Raph closed his eyes, picturing that damn candle floating away from him on the Hudson, the tiny light bobbing on the water until it disappeared. He curled his body around her protectively, arms pulling her closer against his plastron, head bowing over her shoulder. He felt her arms tighten around his neck, felt her face press against his collarbone.
Heard her gasp.
Raph's eyes snapped open and he released his hold, afraid he'd hurt her. But Mona didn't let go, if anything, she held tighter.
And then he felt the warm slide of a tear against his shoulder and she hiccupped against him.
Feeling suddenly stupid and uncertain, Raph settled his hands on her shoulders and looked up. His brothers stared back at him, their expressions more emotional than Raph would have liked. Damn it! And standing behind them were April and Vern, looking windblown and confused.
A part of him could relate.
In the distance, he heard the unmistakable thrum of an approaching helicopter and frowned.
Mona jerked and stepped away, wiping at her eyes with the backs of her hands.
Mikey groaned. "Now what?"
"We should find cover," said Leo, looking around.
Grateful for the interruption, Raph automatically reached for his sai.
Mona was moving along the edge, reaching into her jacket. Before they could figure out what she was doing, she'd raised a hand over her head.
Pop!
A flair hissed into the air above them, burning a glowing orange hole in the twilight.
What the—?
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