Chapter 3

Author's note: 26 Sept. 2015. I'm currently rewriting all the chapters; I've managed to rewrite chapter 1 through 3 so far. Haven't gotten around to chapter 4 and 5 yet, I'll upload the rewritten versions as soon as possible!

"So, Leo, Master Splinter told me you're studying Japanese?" Leo looked pleasantly surprised. "Yeah, I am. You too, I take it?"
I nodded. "Yep, just finished my first course, so I'm not that good. Yet."
I laughed with my mouth full of pizza, then quickly snapped my jaws together. "Oops, sorry." Leo waved my apology away. "Don't worry, Mikey's like that all the time."
"Am not!"
"You are!" Donnie and Raph said in unison.
"So have you discussed the Edo-period yet?" I asked, turning my attention back to Leo, ignoring the quarrel in the background.
We were seated around the dinner table, loaded with plates, glasses, pizza, knives, forks, and the occasional splash of green from the broccoli Donnie had prepared for me when I revealed I'd like some vegetables. Something other than pizza, rather. Hard to kill those habits my parents fought so hard to get into my head in the first place. Be proud, OK, Mum, Dad? The turtles had eyed the steaming pieces of broccoli - or miniature tree, as Mikey had soon dubbed it - suspiciously. Leo was the first to load some on his plate, taking a tentative bite and swallowing it with some effort. His face had told me enough, and had sent me into a fit of laughter. The rest had just watched on in agony as I proceeded to spoon some of it onto their plate. And then topped it off with melted cheese, brutally stolen from one of the pizzas.
"It's better now, I swear."
"Yeah, right." Raph, as expected.
"What, are you all too scared to eat it?" A challenge always worked with David. Let's see if all men really are the same.
A twitch near his eye, then Raph speared a piece on his fork, took a bite, and swallowed with a look of utter disgust on his face. "Not that bad", he croaked. Raising an eyebrow, I shot him a grin.
"Really? Then I'm sure you'll finish that whole plate."
Pressing his lips together into a thin line, he cast his eyes down and devoted his attention to the rest of the broccoli.
His brothers followed suit.
I had burst out laughing. Way too easy, guys, way too easy.

Conversation flowed easily after that, and dinner went by in the blink of an eye.
"Boy, am I stuffed", Mikey said, patting his belly.
Raph smacked him on the head. "No shit, you had like three pizzas by yourself. Show a little decency next time, will you?"
That just earned him a blank look.
"Never mind, little brother", Raph said, shaking his head.
"Leonardo, is it your turn to clear the table?" Splinter hadn't said much during dinner, and it was strange to suddenly hear him asking such a mundane thing. Really, I only expected wisdom and encouraging words from this guy, but he's still a father. With a goddamn rowdy bunch of teenage boys to take care of.
"Uh, yeah, sure, sensei."
"Don't you wanna watch your lame show?" Raph teased. "Space Heroes is starting in ten minutes."
Leo merely shrugged, unaware of his brother's bait. Or maybe he just didn't care. "Nah, it's okay, I've seen it a thousand times already, anyway. I was gonna show Dana some books about Japan anyway, I can miss it."
"Take your time, I'm not going anywhere", I said.
"Well, you're definitely not gonna page through some dusty old books while we're here."
"They're not dusty old books, Raph! They're-"
"Yeah, yeah, I don't care. She's gotta have a little fun, you know."
"Yeah, Leo, Raph's right, save the boring stuff for later!" A thoughtful look, then: "Or never."
"Mikey!" Is it me or did that sound genuinely hurt?
"How about everyone stops making my decisions for me, huh?" I cut through the argument.
Raph huffed and looked away, while Mikey put on his puppy eyes, pout included. Leo folded his arms over his chest.
"So, what do you want to do, Dana?" Donnie ventured.
"Well, it all sounds good to me." I shrugged. "How about this? Leo clears the table, we watch Space Heroes, 'cause it sounds like science fiction and science fiction is awesome, then Leo shows me some of his books because", I punctuated this by throwing Raph and Mikey a stern look, "I am actually interested in those, which you, by the way, should be as well, since it's your father's homeland and all that but never mind, andthen we go do something else, something 'fun', as you two put it. All of us. Got it?"
Four green heads bobbed in agreement.
Boy, this reminds me of old times. A smile tugged on the corners of my mouth. In a good way, definitely.

Somehow, my perfectly good plan was ruined and we ended up watching Up. "'Cause it's funny to see Raph cry", Mikey said, punching his brother's shoulder. Who got a headlock on him in seconds, threatening to pull his head out of his shell if he didn't take that back.
Maybe I should've stuck with Leo's books after all.
"Finally, some space", Donnie said, stretching his legs.
"Leo, don't you want to sit on the couch, too?" I wondered aloud. "The floor can't be very comfortable."
The blue-masked turtle shrugged. "I'm used to it, don't mind me."
I threw a look at Raph and Mikey, who were still trying to wrestle each other out of their shells. "Do you think we'll ever get to actually watch the movie?"
Leo and Donnie exchanged a look, then: "We usually just start without them. Once they figure out the movie's started, they normally stop their bantering and come watch."
I grinned. "Sounds familiar."
"It does?" Surprise in Leo's voice.
I nodded. "How so?"
"I have three brothers, actually."
"Really? But they're not with you?"
I shook my head. "No, they were sent somewhere else, after our parents died. It was hard enough to get my aunt to accept one of us into her house." A bitter laugh followed my words. "Although 'accepting' might be too strong a word. God, I feel like Harry Potter sometimes, only I'm not even capable of doing magic."
"Harry Potter is a fictional character whose parents died and who was sent to his aunt and uncle, who hated him, especially when he turned out to be a wizard and was sent to Hog-"
"I know who Harry Potter is, Donnie", Leo cut off his brother.
"Right. I forget I'm not the only one that reads around here", he said sheepishly.
They directed their attention back to me. "So, she doesn't treat you well, huh?"
"No, not really. Well, I mean, she takes care of me - I've got clothes, and food, and shelter, and she pays my school stuff, and all that, but she's not very.. friendly, you could say."
"I was wondering why you didn't need to let anyone know where you were tonight", Leo said softly.
I shrugged. "It's a good thing, sometimes. I mean, how the hell should I have explained I'd gone into the sewers to eat pizza with some turtles? I think she'd have me locked up in no time."
Leo laughed, then rubbed the back of his head. "Fair enough, I'd say." The serious expression returned to his face. "But are you sure you don't need to let her know you're OK? I mean, she's got to be wondering where you are, right?"
"I'm sure", I said, giving him a smile, "but thanks for worrying. It's been a long time since anyone's done that."
"Sure, kiddo, no problem." He smiled, then: "Now move over, I've decided to upgrade myself to the couch."
"I was wondering when your butt would start to hurt," I said, shuffling closer to Donnie, taken care not to move my injured ankle too much. "Wanna start the movie?"
Donnie raised his voice. "Hey, idiots still hugging each other there, get over here so we can start!"
"Fine!" Raph's voice, slightly out of breath.
"Raph, let go!" Mikey, slightly panicked.
"Nope", and proceeded to drag his younger brother with him to the television pit, giving Leo a questioning look.
"What, the floor is no longer good enough for the great Leonardo?"
He flashed a grin. "Nope, took you dimwits way too long, figured it's your turn to be uncomfortable."
Raph groaned, then dropped an unsuspecting Mikey and flopped down beside him.
"Looks like this is our place now, Mikey."
But his brother had already turned his attention to the bowl of popcorn.

Five minutes into the movie, I looked away from the screen to watch the two brothers on the floor. Mikey was moving his hand from the bowl, looking for some popcorn, turning the bowl upside down when he didn't find any. Raph, on the other hand, was completely and utterly focused on the movie, hands balled into fists in his lap, upper body leaning towards the screen. No such things as tears were visible on Raph's face, but the fact he was blinking so rapidly he might send himself into an epileptic fit put a grin on my face. I leaned over, as close as my stretched leg let me, and put my mouth next to his head. At least I think this is where his ears are.
"About to cry, tough guy?" I said, not really trying to keep my voice down.
It was funny, the way he froze completely, going still like a statue.
Until that one tear slid down his cheek.
Damn it.

Biting my lip, I tried to get up from the couch without injuring my ankle any further.
"Where are you going?" Leo whispered.
"Eh, getting something to drink."
Right, that's not weird at all, getting myself something to drink when I haven't even known them for 24 hours.
He studied me for a moment, then stood up from the couch as well. "Let me help."
"I'm fi- Whoa, OK", I said, suddenly in Leo's arms. They really don't want people to have a choice, do they?
As I was carried to the kitchen like some sort of princess - or a sack of potatoes - I caught Donnie throwing us a worried look. Raph hadn't moved, hands still clenched into fists, the muscles in his neck taut like ropes. Mikey was obliviously happy in his own little world, still looking for popcorn with one hand.
"So, wanted to get away from Raph, huh?" he asked, putting me down gently.
"I didn't mean to hurt him", I said, instantly defensive. "It was meant as a joke!"
"Easy, easy!" Leo held up his hands. "Not blaming you for anything. Dana, he'll be OK, he grew up with us, remember?"
I plucked a strand of hair from behind my hair. "I know, but that's... different."
Leo cocked his head. "Why?"
"You're his brothers."
"So?"
"Siblings can do stuff like that."
"Why?"
I frowned. "Do you really need me to spell it out?"
His eyes clouded over for a minute. Then: "No, probably not."
"Good. I figured you'd be the least socially handicapped around here", I replied grinning. "Geez, and you haven't even seen Donnie acting all weird around April!"
"Who's April?"
"Oh, she's a friend of ours. Human", he added when he saw my face, "just like Casey."
"Casey?"
"Yeah, Raph met him, a couple of months ago. They hang around here a lot." Leo's face brightened. "You'll probably meet them soon! Hey, what's the sad look for? What'd I-"
I said nothing, waiting for the implications of that statement to sink in.
"Oh."
I nodded. "I'm going back tomorrow."
"To your aunt?"
"Hm-hm."
He frowned.
"Do you have to?"
I started. "Don't really have a choice, do I? She's bound to ask questions already, being gone one night - if she thinks she can find even a minor reason to punish me for anything, she'll interrogate me like an FBI-agent. And I need to go to school tomorrow. I'm behind on homework as it is."
"Hm-hm."
"Why do I have the feeling you didn't hear a word of what I just said?"
"Ah, I don't know, might have something to do with the fact that I wasn't listening."
I punched his shoulder."You brute! Is that how you treat your friends?"
He laughed, holding up his hands in defence. "Alright, alright, you said something about school! Happy now?"
I swatted him again. "And my freaking aunt, idiot! She's gonna beat the hell out of me if she ever finds out where I spent the night!"
"Oh, it is that late already?"
"Leo, stop getting off topic!" But I couldn't keep the laughter from my voice. It felt too much like bickering with my brothers, especially with David; too much like home.
I saw my smile mirrored on his face; unfortunately, it quickly disappeared as another frown took its place.
"Does your aunt really beat you?" All merriness gone. Serious, threat-facing mode. Leader mode.
"No, of course not, weirdo! I was just kidding, she's not that bad. We just don't get along."
He regarded me suspiciously, then seemed to accept my words, although reluctantly. Older brother mode.
Leo jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Ready to go back?"
I ran a hand through my hair. "I don't know, what am I supposed to say? I have a feeling a 'I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, Raph' isn't really gonna work with him." I looked up. "What should I do?"
"Do you want to know what we always do when we make Raph feel bad?"
"You make it sound like there's a protocol or something."
Leo laughed. "Guess you could say it's an unspoken one. Wanna know it or not?"
"Sure, let's hear it."
"We give him a punch, say 'sorry about that', then offer him a slice of pizza and we're all best buddies again."
I stared at him. "Really?"
"What?"
"That works?"
"Why wouldn't it?"
That left me at a loss for words. Mutant or human, boys don't change, apparently.
"Fine, let's give it a shot, then. Where's that damned pizza?"
"On the table, Your Majesty."
"Hey, what are you calling me that for? I'm not- Damnit, Leo, start warning me before you lift me up like that!"
He grinned. "My apologies, princess."
I smacked him on the head. "Knock it off!"
"Of course, Your Grace."
"LEO!"
My shout elicited a response from Donnie, who looked over from the TV pit where the movie was still playing. Making his way across the room, he called out softly: "M'lady, whatever is the problem? Is my brother's caretaking not to your liking?"
I groaned. "Not you, too!"
He grinned, then made a ridiculous bow. "I'm truly sorry, Your Majesty, to inform you that I have not the slightest idea what you are referring to." In that pompous voice like an announcer of court, he continued: "I believe we were searching for a slice of pizza, to regain the favour or Sir Raphael, were we not?"
"Not fair, playing without me! I want in!"
Inwardly giving up, I looked around and grabbed a spatula from the counter. "Sir, present yourself."
Mikey's face lit up like a flashlight. "Naturally, princess. I am Michelangelo, at your service." And, just like his purple-clad brother, bowed.
"Are you a knight?"
"No, My Lady."
I raised the spatula and touched Mikey's right, then his left shoulder. "Stand up and join our company as a knight, Michelangelo."
"Wooh!"
I raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, thank you very much, Your Grace."
I inclined my head towards him. "Now, gentlemen, I have a plan..."

"GO!" I shrieked. Still nestled in Leo's arms, the three brothers sprinted towards Raph. Mikey was the first to reach him, and body-slammed him to the ground. "Got him, got him!" he yelled.
"What the- Mikey, get off of me!"
"No can do, bro."
"What?" he protested, attempting to sit upright, but Donnie had arrived at the scene as well and was helping Mikey holding him down. "What the fuck are you guys up to? Seriously, I just wanted to watch the-"
"Now!" I shouted.
And with that, Raph was ensnared in his brothers' arms, with me watching from the couch where Leo had carefully put me down a moment before, a smile ghosting over my lips. Really, everyone needs a hug sometimes, even if they don't want to admit it.
"Dana? What are you doing over there? Come join!" Mikey called out. I gestured towards my ankle.
"Figured it would be safer here."
"No worries, we'll just come to you!" he said optimistically, and proceeded to lift a struggling Raph off the ground and walked over to the couch. Leo and Donnie quickly followed, and the four brothers collapsed on top of me, carefully steering clear of my ankle, in a heap of limbs and laughter.
In all the chaos, Raph had found a way to pause the movie and had now devoted his attention to cursing his brothers for interrupting the film. I was pretty sure, though, that I saw a light in his eyes that had not been there before, and a smile on his lips that he managed to get rid off just before his brothers focused their attention on him.
You're not that hard to read, after all.
Slowly, the laughter died down, and breathings resumed their normal pace. I found myself being squashed in between Raph on my left and Donnie on my right, who was now trying to get Mikey's foot away from his face. Seeing my chance, I turned my head towards Raph.
"Raph?"
He grunted.
I planted a kiss on his cheek.
His head snapped around, eyes widened yet hard.
"Sorry about before," I offered.
He blinked, then his face softened.
"'S OK, kiddo."
I touched his arm, then quickly withdrew my hand. Don't push it, he just forgave me. Don't ruin it.
I sought Leo, found his dark-blue eyes. Smiled apologetically for ignoring his advice, then grinned.
He grinned back.
I hardly noticed the turtles getting up from the couch, or that I was slowly being covered by blankets. Someone shoved a pillow under my head and carded a hand through my hair, then sat down on the couch and put my feet in his lap, handling my twisted ankle with care. My eyes must have closed, because I sensed the light of the TV being turned on through my eyelids.
Then I was asleep.