Alrighty team! Sunday is here again! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! And hope you all love this chapter and please continue to tell me how much you love this story!
Leo smiled happily as he entered his place after school and practice. He had stayed a lot longer at the Lair than he had intended to and now it was dark outside, but last night had been so much fun with Master Splinter and the guys. Raph was still holding back somewhat, but he did seem a little more open with them, nonetheless Leo hopped he would come around eventually. What happed with Donnie and that girl he had met, April was a bit unsettling, but Master Splinter said they would figure it out later. The young man went to place his things away in his room, however he saw Mr. West sitting at the dining room table. Hands placed neatly in front of him and a look that Leo couldn't read.
Leo walked into the dining room and set his backpack on the ground, "Dad?" He asked shocked. Then he remembered. Mr. West had said that he and his Mrs. West would be back in a week. And today was Monday. Had it really only been a week? "What are you doing here?" He continued before he realized Mr. West did live here… sort of. He was kind of always gone.
"I do live here." Mr. West said without batting an eye.
"Rarely." Leo muttered under his breath.
"I understand you won the Kendo tournament before there was a little mishap at the gym." Mr. West said nonchalantly fixing his cuffs getting straight to his point, not even asking how Leo had survived while he was gone.
Leo was used to this, "Yes I did." Was all he chose to say. Mr. West would never believe him anyway.
Mr. West nodded, "Good. I would expect nothing less." Leo rolled his eyes. Of course he wouldn't. "Listen, your mother and I are going to Germany for three months. We need to close a deal and overlook some factory business. Not something for children." He added looking directly at Leo.
Leo wasn't exactly sure what came over him, but he knew he suddenly didn't want to be the perfect obedient son anymore. "Nothing ever is." He said bitterly.
"Excuse me?" Mr. West asked looking sternly at him.
Leo wasn't going to be swayed. "I said; nothing ever is." He snapped and before Mr. West could say anything Leo continued. "You guys are always gone. I'm practically always by myself! You expect me to be this perfect son and do everything you tell me to. Get perfect grades, don't get into fights, win everything, be perfect!" He shouted angrily, everything just coming out. He was, unknowingly starting to turn slightly green. "Well, I'm not perfect! I got into a fight three times this week! And on my literature test, I got a B-! I won the Kendo tournament, not because I was the best, but because I had friends that were there to support me. Unlike you who never show up for anything!"
"That is enough!" Mr. West shouted standing. Normally Leo would've backed down by this time, but he was through letting this man dictate him!
"NO!" Leo shouted right back startling Mr. West when a burst of blue white energy exploded from his son. "You don't get to say anything! You have hardly ever been a father to me! Up until recently I didn't even know what it was a like to have a father care that you're even alive!" Leo said angry tears starting to well in his eyes as he noticed his changing state. He needed to leave. "Go on your trip to Germany I don't even care anymore!" With that Leo grabbed his Katana and stormed out of his apartment, slamming the door behind him.
Once outside he started walking. He didn't even know where he was going, just that he wanted to get away. Everyone kept getting in his way and he just wanted to run. Growling in frustration he paused and took a deep breath. A drop of water hit his head and he looked up. Catching the glint of a fire escape he smirked and raced towards it. Jumping up onto it with an easy flip he scaled it frighteningly fast and jumped onto the roof. Breathing for a few seconds he smiled as he felt another rain drop hit his head. Then he started running. As he started to speed up he felt the rain start to pour and Leo was running in the rain. He loved every second of it. He jumped, flipped, twirled, and scaled each building as he jumped from roof to roof.
When he finally stopped he was overlooking Times Square. Breathing heavily he felt his body crouch down and look at the millions of people moving about below. He still had a job to do. He couldn't let his fa-… Mr. West get to him. That man was no longer his father. Mater Splinter was. He glanced down at his hand. He was human again. Leo sighed that was too close.
"It's fun to watch them." A voice said beside him startling him. Leo looked over shocked to see none other than the girl who had given him her phone number a couple days ago! "I call it extreme people watching." She smiled at his shock before continuing, "What are you doing up here anyway?"
Leo stared at her for a second not fully comprehending that she was in fact there, but he forced himself out of it, "Running." He finally said noticing that she had some sort of jumpsuit/armor on.
She raised an eyebrow, her ever present smirk on her red lips. "On the roof? In the rain?"
Leo shrugged, "I like the rain. Feels refreshing. And as far as the roof goes," He gestured down to the street below filled with people. "They kept getting in my way." She nodded seemingly understanding, but said nothing so Leo asked a question of his own. "So am I supposed to call you 'interested' the whole time, or is there a name to the beautiful face?"
At that she seemed a little caught off guard. Either by his forwardness or something else Leo wasn't sure, but he liked being the one with the upper hand. She pulled herself together and smiled at him, "Karai." She finally said and Leo nodded. The rain started to let up a little until it was a light smattering. "Do you want to do something fun?" She asked out of the blue.
Leo looked at her, "Sure. What do you have in mind?"
"Something interesting, come on!" She cried, smiling as she raced off. Leo had no choice but to follow.
The rest of the night was actually a lot of fun. Leo laughed and really enjoyed himself with Karai. She was a lot of fun even if some of the things she wanted to do were a little questionable when it came to the law, but they didn't break it and Leo had to admit it was pretty fun playing those pranks on the cops. He had never seen someone that heavy have their feet go over their head like that before.
They were back on one of the many roofs walking back when suddenly she pulled out a hidden blade from behind her and started attacking him! Leo was so shocked he barely was able to pull his Katanas out in time to block her blow.
"What are you doing?!" He cried, defending himself. Karai said nothing, but continued her assault. They were dancing and weaving on the roof trying to get the better of the other and slowly Leo started to realize he was strangely, surprisingly, having some fun. When he practiced with the guys, they weren't quite up to his level just yet. Yes Raph had gotten a lucky shot, but Leo felt like he had to hold back most practices. Now however he was giving it his all and getting all back. Finally though he was able to knock her Tanto out of her hand and pin her to the wall. "What was that all about?" He demanded narrowing his eyes at her while he held her to the wall.
Karai said nothing, but smirked at him. Leo was getting frustrated with her, but before he could say anything else she launched herself forward connecting her lips to his. Completely caught off guard Leo released her and stood there hands useless and eyes wide not knowing what to do.
Finally she pulled back and smiled at him, "I just wanted to make sure you could hold your own." Leo blinked confused, "Glad you can." Karai continued before turning to leave, "I had fun tonight, Leo. Call me sometime soon. We can do it again. See ya." She said before jumping off the roof and racing away on another one.
Leo's face melted into a puppy dog smile. He was coming down just as hard as the rain had.
..::-::..
Raph strolled down the streets of New York with a smirk on his face. Everything was going pretty well. He wasn't really one to be sentimental, but Raph couldn't help, but feel like maybe he wasn't as alone as he always thought he was. That maybe he did have a family that cared about him was something that he didn't think he'd have again ever.
Suddenly something ran straight into him nearly knocking him to his backend. Righting himself quickly he spun around and glared at the moron who ran into him. "Watch it!" He cried.
"You watch it!" Someone answered spinning around to face him. Raph stared at him for a second recognizing him as a boy around Raph's own age. He was missing his two front teeth and had a black bandanna on his forehead. It looked like he was wearing a sweatshirt that had the arms ripped off. Paint o fall colors was spattered all over him.
Raph shook his head from his thoughts, "You're de one who ran inta me!" He continued not wanting to give in.
"Then maybe you should stay out of my way!" The guy went on getting in Raph's face.
Raph started for a second. What the heck was this guy's problem? This made him mad and he could feel his core start to burn, "Maybe you should've stayed out of my way!" Raph snapped shoving the kid into the wall. The kid didn't wait a second before lunching at him. They scuffled and threw punches at one another and somehow Raph managed to keep a lid on his anger somewhat so that he didn't give away his powers, but it was really hard. This kid was really pissing him off.
Raph then managed to shove the kid up against the wall causing the boy to cry out, but he quickly learned it wasn't from pain, "Hey watch the paint!" He snapped shoving Raph away.
Raph stumbled back and looked up at said wall. On it was a giant skull eating a purple dragon. The hot head couldn't help, but stare, "Did you do dis?" He asked giving the kid an eye.
The kid shrugged and righted his clothes, "So what if I did? You got a problem with it?" He snapped glaring at him.
Raph shook his head and couldn't hide the smirk, "Nope." This in turn startled the kid who obviously wasn't expecting that answer. "Dis is really good!" And he was being honest. It wasn't Da Vinci amazing, but it was still pretty darn good for a punk kid.
The kid blinked, "Really?" He asked walking calmly up to Raph who was still admiring the work.
Raph nodded, "Yeah, you got some talent. But I gotta ask." Raph began turning to the kid and thumbing behind him at the art, "Why dat picture? What's it supposed ta mean?"
The kid smirked, "It means, no stinkin' Purple Dragons are going to be messin' with my town any more cause Casey Jones is the cleanup crew now." 'Casey Jones' said motioning to himself.
"You do realize how stupid dat is right?" Raph asked looking at him in a deadpan. The Purple Dragons were the toughest street gang in New York!
"Yep." Casey said with a confident smirk and nod of the head.
"And nothin' I say is gonna change dat."
"Yep."
Raph shrugged, "Whatever." He then turned back to the wall looking at it before he heard the sound of a spray can being opened and shook.
Looking over he saw Casey doing just that with his ever present smirk, "I got more cans."
Raph joined his smirk, "Gimmie the red one." Casey smiled and tossed it to him. "I'm Raph by de the way."
"Casey Jones." Casey answered.
Raph snorted, "I know. You already told me, ya bone head."
For the next few hours Raph and Casey spent their time tagging the alleys and Raph was a little surprised that he was having a good time. Casey he found was very similar to him. He seemed to have the same mindset and understood that sometimes you just didn't talk about stuff no matter what people said. In fact he was having such a good time that he lost track of it.
Glancing at his T-Phone his eyes widened, 'Oh crud.' He thought before turning to Casey, "Hey sorry to be ditchin' ya, but I gotta go." He tossed Casey his spray can causing the boy to catch it.
"It's cool." Casey said with a shrug. "I'm planning on patrolling central park tomorrow night. Meet me at The Pond! On the corner of W 59th St. and 5th Ave.!" Casey called as Raph ran off.
"Will do!" Raph called waving back, 'If he doesn't kill me first.'
..::-::..
Mikey strolled happily down the street, he wasn't sure which one, eating a large bucket of ice cream. He had gone to the store with the intention of buying a gallon of the delicious treat for everyone, but he just couldn't resist the temptation of the sweet, mouthwatering, sugary goodness! So he popped the lid, borrowed a spoon from some restaurant, and went to town. He didn't get very far when he heard a soft noise coming from behind him. Startled he spun around only to see nothing.
Shrugging it off, after all, it was New York, strange noises were commonplace here, he moved on. Not two seconds later he heard it once more. Mikey spun around, but again he didn't see anything. Getting slightly frustrated he stated home once more, but fives steps later he heard it again. Mikey narrowed his eyes and concentrated on the fluttering like feeling that his core gave off and he felt himself calm and time seemed to slow. Taking a deep breath Mikey spun around and aimed his spoon dripping with ice cream at his stalker.
He was startled to see no one was there, but then he heard a soft meow and looked down to see a cute little orange and white stripped cat. The cat started licking at his ice cream covered spoon hungrily.
"Aww!" Mikey said kneeling down to pet the cat as he allowed it to eat his ice cream. "You are so cute! Do you have a home little kitty?" The cat paused to look up at him and mewl pitifully at him. Mikey's face fell as he gave him another bite, "That's okay little guy. I didn't have one for a really long time either. Now I do though!" He added happily. He and the cat sat there for a few minutes eating the ice cream together before Mikey came to a decision. He stood and picked up the little cat and smiled as it purred and rubbed under his chin, "I'm taking you home, little Ice Cream Kitty." The cat seemed to smile. He headed back towards home, but paused for a moment when a thought occurred to him, "I wonder if Master Splinter likes cats?" Mikey looked down at his new friend who then licked his cheek and shrugged, "Oh well guess I'll find out."
..::-::..