A/N: So, just gonna post this one chapter to start off. I'm about ten chapters in already and it's barely gotten to the core of the story. I doubt it would be my typical twenty chapter crutch. Finally. Still, could definitely use some encouragement right now. Life has gotten away from me during this disaster of a year between furloughs and hiring freezes. Hopefully, something gets done so the world can get back to normal. Until then, I'll try to keep whittling away at this new beast of a story.NOTE: This is part of an ongoing series and directly relates to events in the stories preceding it. I'll try to keep things from getting confusing, but keep that in mind. You might note some OCs hanging around fairly early on. If you want to know more about them, check out the earlier stories in the series. For now, enjoy. Or better yet, strap in and prepare for the ride. ;)
Precarious Ruse
Time was a slowly moving torture. It left Leonardo restless as he gave the small digital clock by his bed another hasty glance. This was taking too long. His fingers twitched with the need to check his shellcell one more time. Maybe he just missed her call? Did he forget to turn the volume back up? No. He shook his head, forcing his hand to remain at his side. He already checked all that five minutes ago. He'd know if it rung. He just needed to be patient a little longer.
Why was this so hard? Patience usually came so easy for him. It needed to. It's what made him a good leader. So why was he pacing his room like a caged animal? He forced himself to stop in his next rotation and focused on breathing calm into his restless spirit. Breath in. He needed to reign this in. Breathe out. He was better than this. Breathe in. He had control over his emotions. Breathe out.
Her face. His attempts crumbled as he pictured her. His heartbeat fluttered as he remembered the last time he saw her face to face. He could still feel her stolen kiss even months later. The feeling unnerved him. He wasn't like this. If only she had stayed long enough to understand the confusing emotions she left him with. One kiss and she was gone, leaving only a promise to call him. It wasn't enough, but she did follow through. It was one of those same calls he was waiting for now. Each time he was forced to wait felt more difficult. But he waited.
For over two months, Melody played a dangerous game with her old assassin organization. The risk of them discovering her true intentions was a constant fear each day she remained with them. If they found out, it would be a death sentence. Melody had made that very clear. And yet she persevered in the hope of saving the professor's daughter. It was a risk Leonardo wished she wouldn't take. They could find another way. They had to. He couldn't stand the thought of losing her now.
He was so tense with anxiety, that when his phone did ring, it startled him. It rung twice before he regained his composure. Quickly, he snatched the phone off his belt without even bothering to glance at the caller ID. It had to be her. Everyone else knew better than to call him at this time. So, with a calming breath, he voiced his greeting.
"I don't have much time to talk," Melody began. There was something in her voice that set Leonardo on edge immediately.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" He asked, resuming his restless pacing.
"I believe so. I can't be sure until I see it myself," she replied. "Things are complicated right now, though."
"Are you alright?" He had to ask. It didn't matter that he was breaking the rules of their arrangement. She sounded unusually evasive.
"Of course, I am," she heatedly insisted. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Right. Stupid question. With Coatl's ability to hack phone calls, she couldn't answer honestly even if she wanted to. He gripped the phone tight enough for the ridges of it to dig into his skin. "I hope things stay that way," he said, busying himself with reorganizing his bookshelf for the hundredth time.
"Yeah, I'm sure it will." The cracking of her voice was back. Something was definitely wrong.
Leonardo paused in the process of straightening his ink supplies. "…Is he there?"
"He's nearby." The false cheer in her voice had the opposite effect on Leonardo's nerves. "We're going out soon. I can't talk long."
The sudden rage that flared within him was barely held at bay. He crushed the brush in his fist.
"I'm happy," she continued. "You don't have to worry about me. I still love you, pepaw. You're family."
'Don't mess up the ruse. I'm her 'grandfather' in these calls. They can't know about us. As long as Taipan doesn't hurt her…' "Good," Leonardo said, barely keeping the anger out of his voice. He breathed out the rest of his rage before he could continue. "I'm glad you're happy. Don't forget to keep in contact."
"Of course. I wouldn't want you to think you need to send in the calvary." Her forced chuckle sounded pained.
"You know I will if you miss these calls," he said, continuing his part in the ruse. "Remember that."
"I won't," she practically breathed. "Things are different now. I'll never forget." Then her voice lowered so he could barely hear her. "I'm sorry."
"Mel…" The name escaped him without thinking. "Stay safe."
"Of course. I should go." The hesitation in her voice was barely disguised.
"Alright." Leonardo frowned, his grip on the phone still tight as if he could hold her in place.
"I don't… I have to…" She fought for the right words. "It'll be fine. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. You know the situation. I need to do this."
"Yeah." He glanced towards the door. "I know."
"Don't be mad. I'll be fine." She didn't give him a chance to respond before continuing, "He's here now. I'll call you again later."
The call disconnected, leaving Leonardo fighting to control his rising emotions. Taipan was with her once again. They were together. The rational part of him knew she had no choice but to play nice with her ex-boyfriend. If Taipan knew she was no longer under his control, her cover would be blown. Still, the thought of that man anywhere near Melody sickened him. Though Leonardo only knew him for a short time, Taipan left a lasting impression. The man was abusive and dangerous to cross. His treatment of both Melody – his then girlfriend – and April during her capture was distasteful and vividly displayed his disrespect of woman especially. He was a controlling, quick-tempered monster of a man. And now he had Melody back in his grasp.
The unfamiliar urge to break something threatened to overwhelm him. He really needed to dispel this feeling before he ended up doing something Raph would do. That would just be asking for trouble. Especially now that his brother had calmed down considerably since meeting Kimberly.
He sighed before opening his door, giving the area beyond a cursory glance, before heading towards the dojo. He was hoping to avoid running into anyone. Lately, that was an easy task. Though their normal schedule usually meant his brothers would be hanging out by the television at this hour, now that was a rare occurrence.
Donatello was the worst culprit. He hadn't seen his brother in weeks, even though he knew Don never left the lair. He saw evidence some days that his brother had left his lab on occasion, but they seemed to keep missing each other. A wave of guilt hit him then. He really should check up on him.
By the time he reached the dojo's door, the soft grinding of the lair's front entrance drew his attention. He turned in a start, expecting to see Raphael returning from April's. Instead, he caught someone else attempting to sneak home. "Mikey?" Leonardo called out, knowing the relief of calming katas was now out of the question.
The addressed turtle stiffened before giving him a guilty look. "Uh, hi, Leo. Didn't see ya there."
"Where have you been? The sun couldn't have been down long enough for a run."
"Don't worry about it, bro," he said with a yawn. "I think my bed's calling my name." He turned to head towards his room.
"Hold up." Leo's voice stopped him. "Were you out all day? I didn't see you for morning warm-ups."
"Come on, Leo. You know Don and Sensei don't go to those anymore and Raph's too busy planning his wedding to stay focused." He brushed him off. "I'm not missing much. Don't worry about it. If it really bothers you, just hit me up after my nap and we can spar a bit. Right now, I really need to catch a few z's."
Leonardo sighed as he watched him go. It scared him how right Mikey was. Even his sensei barely left his room lately. If they planned on saving that girl, something had to change. They had to be at their best. Otherwise, they would be doomed to fail. It was a fact that was starting to get to him these past months. He needed to fix this before it was too late.
Melody quickly slid her phone into her pocket as the door behind her opened. She didn't look at him. She couldn't. Not yet. It was too soon. Instead, she frowned at her reflection in the mirror before her.
"Are you ready, mi amante?" Marcio's voice sickened her, but she kept her expression stoic. "You were supposed to meet me downstairs fifteen minutes ago."
"I had to call Pepaw. You know he gets worried," she responded.
"Ah, sí. We wouldn't want any trouble from your abuelo." His half-scared face appeared in the mirror behind her.
"Exactly." She absently brushed her bangs more completely over the left side of her face. "It would be a security risk to our organization."
"We would have to dispose of him if he were to even glimpse a hint of what we do here."
Fear settled in her gut. "That's why I call him so often now. So he doesn't try to come find me."
"Good girl." He moved beside her, lightly brushing a hand against her stiff shoulder, inciting the already frantic beat of her heart. "You realize what's at stake here."
"I do."
"Krait demanded I kill you for your cowardice. I convinced him to stay his hand. Do you remember why?" His smile was deadly in its intensity.
Her breathing hitched as she felt his hand graze her cheek. Memories of her first night back with Snake Eyes flashed like nightmares before her. "Because I'm yours."
"Sí, muñequita." He pulled back the hair she so desperately tried to hide behind and she flinched at the fresh scars now visible in the mirror. "All it took was a matching scar to remind you. I wish it didn't come to that. I despise taking away a woman's beauty, but you did this to yourself. Now I know you will never betray me again. Fear is always the best motivator, isn't it?" He was close enough for her to feel his breath against her skin.
"I shouldn't have left. I was weak." Her voice didn't betray her frantic emotions even as she wanted to scream. She couldn't stand to look at her damaged reflection. She needed to turn away. But she was frozen
"Weak and stupid. But that's why I'm here to remind you." He lingered only long enough to plant a kiss against her neck before he stepped back from her. "Now come. I will not wait for you much longer. My patience has its limits. You know that very well by now, I'm sure."
"I'm coming." She forced her breathing to even out as he stepped out the door. In a panic, she hastily brushed her bangs back over her scarred eye. 'I can do this. I'm a survivor. I'm not a coward.' She stood, forcing just the right amount of confidence into her posture. 'I feel like I'm betraying my feelings, but he can never know. He would kill you. So, I have to pretend. I'm sorry, Leo. Don't judge me. I'll come back to you. I just need to survive.' She brushed away the tears from her eyes before she followed her ex-boyfriend out of the room.
Spanish translations:
Mí amante: my mistress/lover
Abuelo: grandfather
Sí, muñequita: yes, little doll
A/N: Uh, yeah... Taipan's evil. Hate the guy. We can all hate on him together. Leo's right to worry. So there you have it! Now don't leave the review box drooling like that. It demands sustenance. The only thing that quenches its thirst is a good tasty review. Coincidently, reviews also encourage starving authors to write more. ;)
