"Will you spar with me?" Raph looked up at his older brother and put the weight back on the rack.
"Yeah," Raph answered. Leo was the only one of his brothers who could handle him taking out his anger physically, and he was relieved to release some of the rage that had built up inside of him.
Splinter rose from his tea and kept an eye on his eldest boys from the shadows. He instinctively recoiled when Leo knocked Raph back across the dojo, but Raph jumped right up without a second thought and charged at his brother. They landed a few blows on each other, and the more vicious the fight became the more satisfied his sons looked. Neither smiled nor spoke. Splinter's ears rang with the sound of swords clashing against sais.
"Splinter?" A soft voice broke through the steel and panting.
"Layla," He smiled at her. "They are sparring hard today." He turned back towards his sons and gestured for her to watch with him.
"I've never seen them fight like this before," she whispered, worry creasing her brows. She could see sweat trickle down Leo's body and his muscles quiver with every movement. How he charged back in even after a hard hit. "How long have they been at it?"
"At least an hour." Splinter sighed and patted her arm. "It will help them heal. It is a controlled way for them to release their anger, although, you are correct. They are fighting intensely today."
"I hope you're right. I don't want him to hurt because of me."
"It is not your fault. Come, let us leave them to it." He motioned for her to follow him to his room. She sat on a meditation pillow while he offered her tea. "I am glad to see you up and about." Layla felt comforted by Splinter's warm smile.
"I'm feeling a bit better. Although…" she trailed off. Splinter regarded her for a moment, taking note of the way she bit her lip, the curl of her hair around her finger, the tension in her shoulders.
"You can tell me anything in confidence, my dear."
"I feel guilty. And anxious."
Splinter nodded. "Perhaps it would be good to figure out why, exactly."
"I feel guilty for opposite reasons actually," she whispered bitterly. "I feel guilty for staying in bed for 2 days, but now I feel guilty because I'm just ready to move on. Shouldn't I feel worse? And Leo…" she sighed, "I want to move on and get back to normal with Leo, so I'm trying. I'm trying to but deep down I feel really anxious. I don't want to feel that way. I have no reason too. Leo's here and…and…I want to tell him how I'm feeling but when I try to, I just start to cry. I get so anxious about it because I don't want to stress him out further."
Splinter took a deep breath. "It is alright, and rather expected, that you feel anxious. You can tell him anything. He feels angry because he feels he did not protect you well enough, and that you were hurt. But that does not mean you cannot share what is on your heart with him. He wants to know."
"Are you sure? You know him better than I."
Splinter chuckled. "I am not so sure about that anymore."
"Am I dealing with it too well?"
Splinter sat with his thoughts for a moment before answering. "No. You have your own timeline for healing, as do your sisters. This is something you have gone through before."
"It wasn't as bad this time. Leo was so quick to find me."
"Perhaps that is why."
Layla sat quietly with Splinter for a while longer. Splinter finally broke the silence again. "Eventually the anxiety will dissipate. It is a reaction from your capture. I know my son will not let it happen again."
"It's so…so…frustrating. I don't want to feel anxious. I know I'm safe now." Tears poured from her eyes. Splinter took her hand and held it for a few moments before speaking again.
"When I was captured by Shredder, my boys were young. The aftermath of my imprisonment caused me much stress, and I also felt guilty for how hard my boys fought to get me back. They were very hurt in the process. I had many sleepless nights…"
Leo and Raph panted at each other, finally out of energy.
Leo patted Raph's shoulder, "Thanks." Raph nodded in return.
As he exited the dojo he heard Splinter talking quietly to Layla. His door was closed but he could just make out what they were saying. He leaned against the wall, exhausted, but wanting to eavesdrop.
I am worried about her. Maybe I'll learn something that'll help. She won't mind.
Layla laid on Leo's chest, cuddling into his warmth. The lair was chilled in the wintertime and cut through to her despite the extra blankets on the bed and the heater in their bedroom.
"Leo?"
"Hmm?"
She sat up to straddle him and kissed him tenderly on the lips. "Thank you, for everything."
"You don't have to keep thanking me sweetheart. I-" but he stopped his train of thought when he noticed a tear trickle down her cheek. He rubbed it away with his thumb. "What's –"
Layla shushed him with her finger. "I was so worried I would never see you again."
Oh, oh no she should have never worried about that. Leo wiped her tears away again and cupped her chin so that she was looking at him. "Look at me sweetheart," he commanded with a gentle yet authoritative tone. "I would never, ever, stop looking for you. I love you. I-" his breath hitched with emotion.
"I love you too," she whispered as more tears sprung forth. He leaned towards her, capturing her lips in a searing kiss as his hands tightly pulled her against him.
"I love you so much," he broke away for a moment but held their faces close together, "and I was supposed," another kiss, "to protect you." Yet another breathy kiss. "And I failed," he gasped and cupped her face in his hands. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I-" She cut him off with a passionate kiss, letting her tongue silence him.
"You didn't fail Leo. You saved me," she breathed. "I love you."
He rocked her tightly while she cried. "Shh shh. Don't cry baby. I've been so worried about you," he murmured into her hair. "You just seemed so composed and you've been so quiet. And I heard you tell Splinter the reason you were nauseous was because you were anxious. And I don't know how to make that better. I just want you to know that you can talk to me about it."
"You already have made it so much better it but I-" she paused, trying to compose herself. Instead, her body betrayed her and produced another batch of tears. "I – I – I want to talk to you about it, but every time I try, I cry. And I can't articulate exactly why I'm feeling that way, or how I'm feeling. It's so frustrating."
He rubbed her back and stayed quiet, mulling over his thoughts. Finally, he peeled her shaking hands from his plastron and kissed them, before kissing away her tears, then kissing her quivering lips.
"Here's what I think. You tell me what you're thinking and feeling. It doesn't need to make perfect sense. It doesn't even need to be coherent," he chuckled softly. "Just let it out. I'll listen. I promise I'll try my best to understand." Leo gave her a reassuring smile.
She sat up and he shifted to cuddle her against his side. He pulled the blanket up around her and let his hands roam with gentle caresses.
She took a shaky inhale. "Ok well um, firstly, I was worried because of him…what happened…when he-"
"Don't say it."
"I was worried you wouldn't want to be with me anymore. And…and I feel so disgusted that he even touched me and I-"
Leo sat up rigidly, angry. He lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. "No. Never. Nothing like that would make me love you any less." His voiced and posture softened. "I want you still. Always. And I would love to be more affectionate, but I didn't want to hurt you."
Layla breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as she snuggled back down towards his side. "Promise?"
"Absolutely. I promise. What else has been bothering you?"
"I'm worried about my sisters but I'm having such a hard time even thinking about them. I feel so guilty for that. And guilty for focusing so much on myself. And then I feel like I'm a burden because you have to take care of me, and I've mostly just been laying around."
"Your sisters understand. They're focusing on themselves too. Plus, you know my brothers are taking good care of them. You don't need to feel guilty about that. I understand though. I've felt that way many times. But I know that you won't be able to take care of them unless you heal yourself first."
She nodded but stayed quiet, waiting to see if he would continue.
"And honestly I was surprised you started getting up and around so quickly. And how fast you started into our routine again. I don't want you to worry about how fast or slow healing takes. I'll be there for you." He kissed the top of her head.
"Does it make me a bad person for moving on so fast?"
"Never. You're so strong to go through something like that more than once. I admire you for making it through that. And I'm proud of you." He leaned down to get a better look at her tear-stained face. Leo kissed the tip of her nose. "I want to take care of you. I like taking care of you. I like protecting you."
"I'm worried something will happen again. That's what's making me the most anxious. When I got sick, it was because I was feeling anxious that someone would take me away from you."
Leo sighed heavily. He knew it was logical she was worried about a repeat incident, but how to make her see that he would never let it happen again?
"Sweetheart you're here with me now. And before, well you weren't." Because the Ancient One wasn't taking care of you the way he should have. Wasn't protecting you the way you needed. Leo took another calming breath. "And now that you're here with me, it's not going to happen again. They'd have to get through me. And we have so much security here. No one is able to find this place. I promise."
He felt her body relax as he detailed all the specific ways he intended on keeping her safe, all the ideas he has for her protection.
"I know you'll still get anxious about it from time to time. You just need to tell me and I'll tell you all the ways I'm going to protect you." He was rewarded with a fleeting smile from her before her eyes became downcast again.
"I know I'm probably wrong for this, but I'm so angry at sofu. He just up and left for a few days, didn't tell us where he was going, and I couldn't get ahold of him. And I don't understand," her breath caught in her throat as she wept again, "I don't understand why that had to happen to me again. What did I do- "
"Nothing, love. You don't deserve this. It makes me so angry too. So so angry, you have no idea. And I'm also angry at the Ancient One, truth be told. And angry at myself. And angry that you got hurt again. Angry that you were scared." Angry that some other man laid his hands on my girl. He stopped. This is for her. It's not about my thoughts and feelings this moment.
"Did you feel better after sparring with Raph today?"
"Yeah actually. Some exercise might help you feel better too, once you're up for it. I'll teach you how to throw a good right hook and you can lay into the dummy like I've been." He squeezed her shoulder affectionately. "The anger isn't going to go away immediately but will with time. For both of us." He looked down at her hands, balled into fists. He unfurled each gently. She had clenched her fists so tightly her nails left impressions on her palms. He kissed each palm gently, almost tentatively. She relaxed.
"Did, um, did you actually kill him?"
"Yes. And I don't regret it. I would do it again."
"Thank you," she whispered. Layla could feel some her anxiety dissipate and her eyes grow heavy. He's dead. Leo really killed him. He can't hurt me again.
He felt her slump against him, so he moved both of them so that they were laying down. Leo turned Layla so that he could spoon her and placed a kiss on her shoulder. "Goodnight, princess. I love you."
"I love you too," she mumbled, wrapping her arms around his.
Layla watched as Raph led Mina towards the garage, an arm wrapped around her waist.
"It'll be good to get out, babe. Some fresh air always makes me feel betta," he said as he kissed the top of her head.
"Maybe you're right," Mina said.
Raph chuckled at her and gave her waist a playful tickle. "Of course I am."
Maybe that isn't such a bad idea. Some fresh air. She put down her book and walked into the gym to find Leo.
"Do you think it's safe to leave? Like maybe to go for a walk?" Layla asked tentatively. Unsurely. Leo set the weights back on the rack and wiped the sweat from his neck with a towel.
He gave her a wide grin. "Absolutely it's safe. I would tell you if it wasn't. You want to get out for a bit?"
She nodded yes and grinned back at him. "If you think it's ok."
"I think it would be nice actually. I could use some time topside too." He sauntered towards her. "I'm gonna shower and then we'll go, alright?"
"Alright."
"It's a date," he whispered teasingly, tapping her nose with his finger in the same manner he had done when he first asked her out.
It was snowing lightly, and the ground crunched beneath their feet as they strolled through a park. They hadn't said anything for a while, but the silence was comfortable. It feels like a normal date, Layla thought to herself contentedly. She was glad he did not bring up their conversation from the previous night. She wanted to feel normal.
"You know something?" He broke the silence first.
"What's that?"
"I had all these ideas for dates I wish I could've taken a girl on when I was a teen. And now that I've got you, I can't wait to take you out on all of them." He chuckled deep in his chest.
"I thought a lot about that too," she grinned. "But then it would make me sad because I thought I wouldn't be able to do any of that, so I tried not to think about it too much." She looped her arm through his and squeezed up closer to him. "Now I'm very happy I have the chance too."
"Same. This was one of them, by the way."
"A snowy walk with hot chocolate?"
"Yeah."
"I really like it," her voice softened. "It's very romantic."
"I think so too," he replied as he kissed the top of her knit hat. "Was there anything specific that you've always wanted to do?"
"Mmm so many things. But I've always wanted to go to a cherry blossom festival. Even just at night. I just never felt comfortable going out to see them by myself or even with my sisters."
"We can do that. At night to be safest. Anything else?"
"I kinda want to see an aquarium. I haven't been since I was little. And I used to get so jealous of all the romantic things I would see couples doing in France. Like when we would see people take these romantic little vacations together, especially for Valentine's Day," she sighed wistfully. "Mostly, I used to just think about the little things. Like taking hikes or drinking tea together or playing games."
He chuckled again. "I'll make sure we do as much of it as we can. But we'll have to get started cause it sounds like we've got a lot of dates to pack in."
"What about you? Anything else you'd like to do?"
"I'd like to go on a little vacation with you, definitely. Just the two of us. Maybe see a drive in movie. There's so many it's hard to pick. I think it would be fun if we played games just the two of us. I'll find some for us."
Leo regarded her for a moment as she folded laundry into their dresser. His eyes trailed from her silky hair down her back before settling on her pert ass. He missed her. Her soft touch on his skin, the comfort of intimacy, her breath hot on his neck, the way she mewled and squirmed from his touch. He missed her taste. He longed to be close to her physically. Is it too soon? He asked himself. Slowly he shifted off the bed and peeled off his belt and wrappings.
"Need any help?" He asked as he found himself pressed up behind her.
She smiled and shook her head. "No. I'm alright. My side doesn't hurt so much anymore."
Despite her answer, he took her hands in his own and guided her to turn around, facing him. He grazed his thumbs over her knuckles before kissing each hand gently. He searched her face, hoping.
Layla gave him a soft smile at his ministrations. She longed for him to hold her like that again but was having difficulty initiating. And she knew he had put intimacy on the backburner while she was healing. This is his way of asking.
When she didn't pull away, he traced his hands up her arms, eventually caressing her shoulders as he pulled her into an embrace. Swaying sensually, one hand snaked its way down to her hips while the other stroked her tresses. Layla traced her hands up his plastron before wrapping them around his shoulders. She caressed his taught muscles. She ached for him, and she could feel her pussy dampen at his touch.
He held her in that tight embrace for a few moments longer before trailing his lips down her neck and shoulder.
"I want to try something tonight," he whispered before pulling back to search her face once more.
"Be gentle?" She knew he would be, but she needed the reassurance.
He cupped her face in his hand and ran his thumb on her cheek. "Of course, princess. I'll be gentle," he murmured. His eyes were heavy with lust, but his smile was reassuring if not a bit smug.
He peeled off her clothes slowly, almost reverently, taking his time to appreciate each new exposed portion of her silky skin. Her nipples hardened in the cold air and in response he ran his fingers over them, causing them to stand out even more. She shivered both from the chilly lair air and his touch. Leo trailed feather light kisses over her collarbones and down her chest, taking his time to gently suck on each taught nipple. She moaned softly and grasped onto his mask tails.
Normally he would smirk at making her come undone, just for him, but not tonight. Tonight, their first time, was serious for him. He continued his path downward, easing her out of her pants before placing a kiss on her underwear. He could feel how wet they were already, the scent of her arousal heady and making his head spin. His cock throbbed underneath his shell for her. She let out another soft moan at his kiss, and he hooked his fingers underneath her thong to pull it off.
Now Layla was laid bare before him and she shuddered again. She was dripping for him, an all-consuming ache that only he could satisfy coursed through her body. She anticipated that he would continue his kisses but instead he stood up and kissed her mouth reverently. He had yet to kiss her so deeply and fully since her rescue and so he poured all his love, all he had, into that kiss. She gripped onto his plastron and returned the intensity, hoping that he could feel how much she loved him and how much she wanted him.
"You're so beautiful," he crooned and cupped her face in his hands again before diving back in for another kiss.
He guided her to the bed, kissing her once more. She was laid on her back, and he used his hands to trace paths over her entire body, peppering her with soft kisses. He stopped at every bruise, whispering how sorry he was. Tears stung her eyes. "Leo, you don't have to apologize."
He paused and hovered over her before kissing her lips tenderly. "I need to."
Leo sat back and pulled her ankles on his shoulders before kissing the bruises left from her restraints. He licked and kissed his way up her thighs, taking his time for each one. She shifted underneath of him impatiently.
He finally was at her center and parted her pussy lips with his large finger. He traced his tongue languidly up her folds until he rested on her clit.
"Leo," she breathed and once again grasped at his mask, encouraging him. Her body rolled underneath his tongue and he held her hips steady with his hands. She breathily moaned his name, her toes curling as he lapped her folds. Slowly he inserted his large finger into her, his thrusts matching the rhythm of his tongue. Layla's eyes rolled into the back of her head at the feeling of his finger stretching her and she let out a small cry of pleasure.
He could feel she was close when her legs started to tremble and thighs closed around his head. Leo paused and gave her soaking pussy a kiss. He found it difficult to stop himself before she came, as he found lavishing her almost addictive. She whimpered when she felt him leave her so close to the edge. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he hovered over her again, and took notice of her pout.
"Not yet beautiful," he rumbled in her ear. She tugged off his mask so she could admire his features fully.
The tip of his cock glistened as he lined it up with her entrance. His hand cupped her cheek as another rested on her hip. She reached for his lips and gave him a scorching kiss. Her hands snaked around his neck. That was all the permission he needed to keep going.
His cock glided gently into her, and he stopped once the tip was in. He groaned and closed his eyes for a moment.
"Slow," she choked out, immersed in the feeling of his cock filling her throbbing pussy. The stretch was almost too much for her to bear, but he prepped her well and an intense wave of pleasure caused her to arch her back to accommodate him even more.
"And gently. I know, love. I won't hurt you." He sat back just enough to see her face as he continued to enter her carefully. It was one of his biggest fears, hurting her, and he watched her face closely for any signs of discomfort. They locked eyes as he filled her, until at last she closed her eyes and pulled him close to her. Her mouth fell open with a mewl. As much as he wanted to pound into her, to fuck out all his frustrations until she was screaming his name, he also wanted to make love to her gently.
"Fuck," he groaned and dropped his head into her shoulder. "You're so – you're so tight sweetness." And she was. Now I know why everyone is so preoccupied with sex. He thought to himself wryly. Her tight wet walls gripped around his aching cock. He waited for her to adjust to his girth before moving.
She hooked her legs around him as best she could. He started to thrust slowly and she nearly whimpered.
Leo immediately stopped and looked at her face. Was that a whimper of pleasure or pain?
"You alright?" He panted.
"Mmhmm," her breath hitched and she bit her lip, something that always drove him wild. "Keep going – please?"
Please. Fuck that's incredible. Leo almost lost it right there, hearing her beg for him to keep going. Hearing her ask him for it. I want to hear that again.
He thrusted again, slowly, enraptured in every second of the sensation. Her walls were clamped around him, damp and slick. She whimpered and moaned, and her nails scratched at his shoulders. They held each other tightly and she gave his shoulder small kisses. His breathing became more ragged and he let out a few moans of his own as he lost himself in the sensation of being inside of her.
"Faster." She was already so close to her edge when he ate her out, and her body throbbed for release. Leo obliged, picking up his pace but not pounding into her. He was still gentle. At his adjustment, she wantonly cried out and clutched onto him even harder. His hand found her breast and kneaded the palm sized mound in his hand.
"Mmm – Leo – fuck." The words tumbled out in short gasps between moans. Hearing her call out his name was a fantasy for him. "You feel," she gasped, "so good." She could barely articulate but wanted him to know just how amazing he felt inside of her. She wished she could tell him how perfectly he filled her out, how his cock somehow hit all the right spots. But he had reduced her to a mumbling gasping mess and the only words she could choke out were half sentences.
Leo grasped her hand and intertwined their fingers. He kissed her again, needily, then peppered her neck and collarbone with licks and pecks.
"I love you," he mumbled into her ear.
"I love you too," she whispered back and kissed his neck. He pulled her in for another searing kiss and let his tongue explore her mouth as his pace intensified.
He wanted her to come first, so he reached his free hand down towards her clit and drew circles in a rhythm that matched his thrusts.
"Mmm – ah –" she gasped and moaned and arched her back. Leo kept the pace steady. Her walls clenched around her as her juices soaked his cock. He was so close and her moans nearly drove him to come before he wanted to.
"You're mine," he growled into her ear as his pace intensified.
"All yours," she whispered out as she clung to him, matching his rhythm with her hips.
His breathing was ragged as he neared his own edge. Suddenly he could feel her spasm around him as she cried out his name and clutched onto him. Her back arched and her toes curled in the air. Her legs shook and clamped around his waist. Leo pulled his face back, he wanted to see what he was doing to her. He watched her come, the sight of her lovely face lost in bliss causing him to reach his own orgasm.
"Fuck, Layla –" he growled and shuddered as he filled her, grasping onto whatever body part of hers his hands found. His whole body shook and he buried his face in her neck. Panting, breathless, he nearly collapsed on top of her but his shaky arms held him up.
Layla traced her fingertips up his neck and cupped his face as he came down from his orgasm, lovingly stroking his cheeks and peppering wherever she could reach with feather-light kisses. Her hands were still trembling and her breathing still ragged.
After a moment he wrapped her in his arms, his cock still buried inside of her. Her scent filled his nostrils and a light sheen of sweat glistened on her skin. They both lay there, his weight on top of her, panting.
Once he regained his composure, he rolled over onto his side, bringing her with him. She kissed him lazily.
"I love you Leo," she whispered as she buried herself into his plastron, his cum trailing down her thighs. "So very much."
"I love you too sweetheart," he kissed her hair and tucked the loose strands behind her shoulder. He stared at her, his eyes tracing her beautiful form and tousled hair, reminding him how lucky he was to have her. "Nothing hurts?"
"No, just a little sore. But in a good way," she smiled, her eyes hazy.
Leo breathed a sigh of relief and caressed her back, letting his shaky hand trace up and down her spine. His other hand intertwined their fingers together. He brought her hand up to his lips to kiss it. As much as he wanted to drift off to sleep, he took notice of the large wet spot on their bed and the trail of liquid dripping down both their thighs. A towel wasn't going to cut it this time. He sat up and picked her up with him. "Shower or bath?"
"Bath," she answered, still looking rather dazed.
He stood up, dizzy, and so steadied himself before he brought her with him, taking stock and feeling just a little ego boost at the fact that her legs were still trembling. It was late, likely no one was up, so he threw one of his t-shirts over her before carrying her bridal style to the bathroom.
"We ought to get our own bathroom," she mused as he filled up the tub.
"I think I can make that happen."
