Sorry it has been awhile. But, I have two chapters for you this time. Hope you like them!
(PS, I am definitely going through this and revising when I'm done with the story.)
Leo is bouncing on his new bed as Heather sets up the computer on top of his dresser. It gives the best view of the room. "Just wait until Mikey sees this place!" Leo says.
"Yes, I'm sure they will be very excited," Heather agrees, getting a message from Donnie. She types back saying Leo wants to show them something. Then she brings up the video. The three turtles appear on the screen and yell out Heather's name in greeting. "Hey guys."
"Where's Leo? Is something wrong?" Raph asks. Heather smiles as he tries to cover his soft behavior with a tough act. Heather moves back and away and Mikey gasps as he sees the room.
"Dude, your room!" He yells, "It's huge!"
"No.. no it isn't," Leo says, feeling modest.
"It looks awesome. You deserve it." Donnie looks at Leo a little closer, from the screen, "What happened to your hand?" Leo looks at his hand that is still wrapped and starts to tear up.
"I- I tried helping.." Leo says as Heather puts an arm around his shell.
"It's my fault guys. I should have been up sooner," Heather admits, "He tried making breakfast before he was ready."
"Is he okay?" Mikey asks, his bright blue eyes shining with tears, ready to spill if his brother is in pain.
"Yes Mikey, he's okay. He's getting stronger everyday. Aren't you Leo?" Leo looks up and nods. "It's just a cut. He'll heal up."
"I had a, burn too. From the stove.. but it healed, see-" Leo was in the middle of showing Donnie his elbow when he looks up and freezes.
"What is it Leo?" Heather asks. She follows his gaze to past the other turtles. Splinter is lurking in the shadows of the doorway. "Leo, look at me.." Heather turns Leo's head away from the screen, "He can't hurt you, he doesn't know where you are," she assures calmly. She motions for Raph to move over a little. He complies, blocking Leo's view of Splinter.
"So, bro, how's life topside?" Raph asks. Leo sniffs.
"Fine.. how's sewer life?" This was a usual conversation they'd have.
"Well, since you left, we've been given chores around the house."
"But as long as you are happy, I'll clean the whole sewer!" Mikey says. Leo scoffs at that, not believing his little brother. "I'm serious Leo. Besides, it can be fun at times."
"What, finding different ways to splash us when washing dishes?"
"Maybe.." Mikey says innocently. Leo starts to stand up.
"You guys shouldn't have to do that. I'll be over in a minute. Then-"
"Whoa whoa, you aren't going anywhere. We don't mind."
"But Master-"
"Dad isn't treating us like he treated you. He just understood that we were, spoiled."
".. Oh," Leo says, taking in Donnie's words. Heather helps him sit down again. Leo looks around his room. "Now I'm the spoiled one.."
"Leo, you deserve-"
"Raph, can you please turn off the video," Heather says. Leo is looking at Splinter again. And Splinter is glaring dangerously at Leo. "I think Leo needs some sleep."
"..Okay. Bye Leo!"
"Bye Leo. Talk later 'kay?"
"Make sure he gets plenty of rest. That wound needs to be cleaned-"
"Donnie!" The other two yell.
Donnie sighs, "Bye Leo. We love you bro." Leo smiles shyly.
"..I love you all, too." The screen goes blank. Leo's smile fades to a stoic expression.
"Leo," Heather tries, "Want to talk about it?" Leo shakes his head. "Okay. I'm here for you. You only have to ask." Heather gets up and leaves his door open.
That night, Heather paces in her room. Leo refused to do anything. He sat on his floor or in the kitchen all day. He wouldn't sit on the couch, he wouldn't talk, he wouldn't even eat. Heather's worried. She had put him to bed a few moments ago and he didn't want to read a bedtime story.
She walks back over to talk to him, to find him on the ground with his blanket. She watches him shiver on the floor and sadly comes to realize that there is nothing she can do to convince him otherwise unless she understands why.
'Why does he keep holding onto that part of his life?' Heather walks back to her room and tries to sleep.
Leo can still see him. That glare, his hatred. He'd find him if he messed up. He would hurt him again. Heather can't protect him. She'll get hurt too.
This is all a fake. A mask for what he truly is. He isn't a spoiled little boy in a secluded apartment. He's a slave, to serve his master. As simple as that.
He can't claim anything as his. He's lucky he got to keep his blanket. So Leo huddles in the corner of the room, watching the window until he's too tired to stay awake.
That morning, Heather got up earlier. She went to the living room and stretched. As she was finishing up, Leo walks in, looking terrible. "Hey buddy, you alright?"
"Yeah.. I just uh.."
"Not a morning person?" Heather suggests. Leo nods. 'He's acting different. More reserved.'
"Did someone make breakfast?" Leo asks. Heather shakes her head. Leo turns to the kitchen immediately.
"Why don't we make it together," Heather says quickly, "And let's start simple, cereal. Does that sound good?"
"Sure.. I guess." Heather gets out the bowls and cereal from the top cabinets. Leo finds the spoons. They leave a bowl and spoon for Steve when he wakes up and Leo insists he pour the cereal for both of them.
"I'll assist," Heather compromises. She acts as Leo's second hand and holds the bottom of the box. Leo gives Heather a generous amount, but only a little for himself. "Leo, you must be hungry."
"Not really. We had a lot when Mr. Wilson was here," he brushes off.
".. True," Heather says. But she knows it's only a cover up. She pours the milk since it is heavy and they walk to the dining room. But Leo almost sits on the floor, not a chair. Heather takes his bowl and sets it on the table. He hesitates before sitting next to her.
"So, Leo," Heather says as Leo stirs his bowl, "What would you like to do today? Want to learn to read a little?"
Leo looks up before ducking his head again, ".. a servant doesn't read, miss.." Heather wants to remind him that he is no servant, but his detachment from her makes her stop. Telling him off will make him worse.
"Okay, well, what about watching Space Heroes? There's another episode on soon."
Heather can see Leo is struggling with his answer. "No thank you, miss. I'm okay."
"Are you sure?" Leo nods, hesitantly. "Well, I won't force you to do anything." Heather eats in silence as Leo tries to hold back from having too much.
"May I be excused?" He asks. Heather looks at his bowl. The cereal is mostly gone, but the marshmallows are all present.
"Yes Leo, what will you be doing?"
"The bed needs to be made. Excuse me." Leo gets up and walks off. Heather thinks about this as she finishes eating and clears their bowls. She puts them in the sink after cleaning out Leo's into the trash can. When Leo arrives back in the kitchen and finds a wash cloth in the sink, it dawns on her.
'Leo didn't use his bed.' Heather goes directly to her bedroom. Her bed is made as neat as a little seven year old with one good hand could do.
"Is it alright?" Leo asks behind her. Heather looks at him. He's expecting her to scold him for his poor job.
"Uh, yes Leo. It's alright. But you didn't have to do that."
"Yes I did. But I couldn't do Captain Rogers'. His is already made."
"He does that when he gets up. I just leave mine messy until I go to bed the next night," Heather explains, covering her confusion. 'He had to?'
"I'll clean the kitchen now."
"No no, Leo. I think we should-" Heather looks up, but he's already gone.
Steve walks through the door after the day of training. Heather is sitting in the living room, her head in her hands. He sets his jacket on its hook by the door and goes over to her. He sees she's in distress.
He squats in front of her and takes her hands away from her face. She isn't crying, but she's close to it. Heather looks up at him with shiny eyes. "He isn't- he isn't doing very well Steve.." She admits, "It's been nearly a week since we called his brothers and- he just pushes farther away. I don't know what to do-"
"Heather, we'll push through this. He's going to be alright, you'll see. Now where is he?"
"He's-" Heather takes a gulp of oxygen before continuing, "He's in the laundry room again. We help him get a room that is his, that no one can take from him, and he sees that rat one time.." Heather shakes, "And he's worse than his first day! He doesn't want to do anything but clean or cook," Heather looks at Steve and lowers her voice, "His hand has been healed since Thursday, but I'm hesitant to tell him. I don't want him to get any ideas. ..I'm losing him Steve. Everyday I'm losing him." Steve pulls her into a hug.
"You can do this. You care for him, that's good. It isn't you, Heather. He's going through something," Steve assures her. Heather lets a few tears run down her cheeks onto Steve's shirt, but nothing else.
In the hallway, Leo heard Heather. He didn't hear how his hand was doing, but the rest was very clear to him. He was hurting Heather. He didn't want to, but if he messes up, Master Splinter will hurt him, somehow. 'Or he'll hurt my brothers.' Leo shudders at the thought. 'Heather will understand. I learned to.'
Aand scared slave Leo is back. Don't worry, he won't be there for long. Just read the next one and see what happens.
Hey Crystal Violeta, when I revise it, will I be able to add the first six chapters of your story up? Or should readers still go to your story to see them? I wouldn't change anything and I promise to say you wrote them. Just a thought and it is going to be a while until I revise.