Well it's been another long stint of no updates, but here's the next one. I hope you enjoy!
Liz creeps through the tunnels. She reaches her hand out and feels her way along the wall. It's pitch black down below, especially since it's so late. She can easily tell the time of day now even if she hasn't quite adapted to the lack of light. Her mutant eyes however do help. They keep her from tripping over trash washed down below by rain water or kicked by careless passerbys. Some might call it gross – the grime beneath her feet and traced along the wall, but she calls it life. It's no worse than all the other hell she's been through.
She finds her way to the nearest manhole and climbs. She swallows hard. One foot in front of the other, one foot, one. She reaches the top and shoves the cover to the side. She doesn't hesitate or look both ways, she simply leaps out onto the streets. Her eyes widen. The streets are void of all life and startlingly bright with the remains of flames. Dear God. What has Slash done?
She takes slow mechanical steps down the street. She turns her head from side to side to take it all in. All the while she wonders where on earth he could be in this mess. All this destruction, it looks old. She snorts and something like a smile flits across her lips. To think, he was that close to finding her – just above her head – and he didn't even know it. Still doesn't know it. She tenses and grimaces. Have to keep going. Have to find Slash.
Liz wraps her arms around herself and ducks her head slightly. Even with the flames lighting the scene there is somehow an oppressive air about her. She swallows hard. Was it wrong to have done this? Should she really be out here looking for Slash? It is the first time she has been truly alone in months. There is no guardian – no Slash, no turtles, no anyone.
Liz jumps and squeaks as a mouse skitters across her foot. She utters a strained laugh and shakes her head at herself. Relax, relax, relax. She lifts her head and gasps. Her eyes widen and her throat constricts. Two shadowy figures loom over her. Her heart races and she takes trembling steps backward. Then she sees it – "M-Micheal?" She coughs. "Rick?" A smile breaks over her lips.
Rocksteady nods. "Long time no see, huh Lizzie." He grins.
Liz chokes out a laugh. "You're telling me." Her expression becomes strained. "A lot…has happened." She bites her lip. "I could have really used your guys help." She pulls at her arm.
Bebop perks. "Heeey," He squints his eyes in the darkness. "Your clothes, they're…different." He reaches out and gently takes hold of the fabric. He runs his a thumb over it. "How come?"
Rocksteady chuckles. "You go shopping Lizzie? I thought you hated that."
Liz jerks back. She scowls at Rocksteady. "No." She says through grit teeth. "I…" She averts her eyes. A shiver runs up her spine as memories flash across her mind. "Things happened."
Bebop's brows knit together. "He got you again, didn't he?" It appears like a question, but it his tone makes it impossible to be anything other than a cold, hard fact.
Liz clenches her hands into fists. She glowers at the ground in order to hide the tears gleaming in her eyes. "He was terrible." She chokes out. "Just like you said. And I…there was nothing I could do."
Rocksteady sighs. "Sorry you had to go through that Lizzie." He rubs the back of his neck. "If we had known, we'd have definitely come for you." He offers a halfhearted smile.
She lifts her gaze and gives the same smile in return. "It's ok now." I'm ok now. "Some people helped me get away and soon I might find my friend again." Her eyes spark with true life and spirit."
Rocksteady and Bebop make a soft sound of acknowledgement. "Your friend huh?" They say beneath their breaths, almost as if meant for the both of them only.
"Huh?" Liz lifts her head to get a better look at them.
Bebop shakes his need. "Nothing." He glances at Rocksteady and looks back at Liz.
Liz raises a brow. There was something there – something that passed between them just now. And, now…the air, it's so much thicker. She swallows hard. Their eyes too, the light that once took residence there has fled all of a sudden, replaced by a darkness not unlike the state of the city.
"Hey, Lizzie," Rocksteady flashes a smile at her. "You've been alone all this time, right?"
Liz's brows furrow. She shakes her head slowly.
Rocksteady ignores her response. "So why don't you come with us?" He extends his hand, watching her expectantly, intently.
Liz stares for a long moment. But there is no choice. She shakes her head and takes a slow step back. She opens her mouth to explain, but only empty air feels it. Her throat squeezes tight and her body trembles slightly. No. This isn't right.
Bebop scoffs. "No?" His eyes narrow. "Why the heck not?" He crosses his arms.
Rocksteady nods once. "Yeah, Lizzie, what's wrong?" He tilts his head as he stalks forward. "We're family." He lips twist up into an unnatural grin. The darkness within his eyes grows. "And family always sticks together."
"No…" Her voice is a breath on the wind. "No, you liars. You…" She continues to step back.
"That's it!" Bebop lurks forward. He grabs for her.
Liz shrieks. She jumps back and nearly falls over. She sways and upon gaining her balance turns hard on her heel. She makes a beeline to the nearest manhole. But…where was that? She gasps. Her flurried mind blends everything together. She doesn't know which way is which. All there is is a staggering darkness converging on her from every side.
"Liz!" Rocksteady's voice resounds. His large footsteps echo through the empty city. Bebop's match his perfectly.
Liz grips at her chest. So…tight. So…hard to breath. Why? She used to be so good at this. WHY!? Her foot catches on rubble and she sprawls out on the street. Her arm scrapes a stray debris and electric pain shoots through it. She sucks in a sharp breath and seizes it in her other hand. So…bad. So…
Rocksteady surges forward and grabs at her.
Liz leaps to her feet, but it's too late. She can't even scream as he seizes her by the throat.
Rocksteady holds her high above him. "See Lizzie? You had to go and make things complicated like you always do. You couldn't just accept our act of kindness." A fire flares in his eyes. "And now I have to hurt you." His voice cracks ever so slightly as it rises into a scream.
Liz tugs at his vice grip, but she can't pry even a single finger away from her throat. She breathes harshly inward, but it does her no good either. Her vision is beginning to blur in and out. Her head spins and their voices are fading. What…do they even want?
Bebop walks forward, into sight. "You see Liz, we need you. We need the money. And there is a major bounty on your head." He snorts as he laughs. "Of course, alive."
"Be thankful." Rocksteady levels her with a surprisingly soft look. "We couldn't kill you. Not even for the money." He thrusts her to the ground, releasing her.
Liz drops. She crashes into more debris and gasps. She gulps in air, coughing terribly as the air rushes into her deprived lungs. She looks up at them, but she doesn't see. Her face is contorted with fear, but her eyes are hollow, glazed over with a haze of death.
Rocksteady's eyes narrow and the fire returns. "But you are coming with us." He points a gun at her as a threat, even if an empty one. In her scattered mind she won't be able to tell the difference anyway. "Baxter is the boss."
Liz's chest tightens. Her heart skips a beat and then kicks into overdrive. No. No, no, no, no, no. She scrambles back on all fours. A series of whimpers and whines obscure all the pleas that flurry through her mind and jumble in her mouth.
"Sorry, Lizzie." For a split second Rocksteady actually looks regretful, but it is gone as soon as it came. He reaches for her again.
Liz throws her hands up over her head and curls inward. NO!
A whoosh of wind blows through the area a loud thud resounds. Huh? A low growl floats to Liz and in the next instant there are crashes, pained howls and screams, and then unsettling silence. Debris crunches beneath someone's feet as they approach. Approach!? No, not again. Liz trembles fiercely.
"Hey," A soft yet simultaneously rough voice says. To her? "Are you alright?"
Liz's brows knit together. But…that's not Micheal or Rick. Out of curiosity Liz tentatively lifts her head and peers through her fingers. What? The figure before her is a sea of white. It's tall, even taller than Donnie. There are wrappings on its legs and arms, and…its face. Liz's eyes widen. It is almost just like the turtles, only this creature's mask doesn't seem to be of cloth. Painted perhaps? Or…born that way?
Alopex crouches, coming close to eyes level with Liz. "Did they hurt you?" She tilts her head and her ear flicks slightly with the question.
Liz stares with wide eyes, her mouth hanging open slightly. It's stupid and completely out of bounds. But she can't help it. She throws herself at this creature – person? – and locks her hands around its neck. She buries her face deep within the ocean of fur. "Th-Thank you." She blubbers. Her body shakes and her lips quiver. "Th-Thank you s-s-so much." She chocks on her words.
Alopex starts and sucks in a soft breath, but she easily settles into place. Her eyes soften and she looks down at Liz with tender understanding. She rubs her back. "It's nothing." It's what I do. Ever since that day – that terrible day – she's dedicated her life to stopping scumbags like them.
Liz slowly comes down. She sniffles. "Are…are they dead." She tenses.
Alopex lets out a breath. "No." She's not one to kill, not unless it's a last resort. "But they are out cold. So you'll be alright."
Liz nods. She pulls away from this person and looks them dead in the eyes. There's something eerily familiar about them. Not as if she has seen them per say, but…heard of them, perhaps? "Hey," She wipes her hand over her face. "Can I-"
"Woah!" Alopex gasps. "Your arm." She reaches for it, careful to avoid the injury, and draws it near. "You messed it up pretty bad."
Liz's eyes bulge as she lays eyes on it. A deep streak runs from her wrist halfway up her arm. She cringes and barely stifles a groan as the pain courses through her arm once more. She had almost completely forgotten about in in the face of her impending doom.
Alopex looks around her. Empty buildings – the result of the rampage of that monster – but none of them stores that will help her. Just like back then. Only there's no tech geek her to run off and break into one. She sighs. "Alright, I can at least help."
Liz blinks up at her. "Really?" She manages a tiny smile. Getting rid of this horrible pain would be wonderful.
"Sure." Alopex returns her smile. She begins untwining the wrapping on one of her arms. "It's not the best, but it's better than nothing." She pushes Liz's sleeve up and carefully wraps the binding around Liz's arm. "There."
Liz holds her arm up. She'll definitely need to get it cleaned up more or else it might become infected, but for now it should be fine. "Thanks." She looks up at the person, forcing her attention away from the wrapping. It's so thin that she knows the blood must be soaking through it, staining it crimson. "But, um, I wanted to ask," She tugs at her sleeve. "Who are you?"
Alopex opens her mouth to respond, but doesn't get it out. She jerks her head up, her eyes widen, and her ears stick straight up on her head. Shit. She leaps to her feet and spins hard on her heel.
Liz starts, but quickly reacts. She springs to her feet and lurches forward. She snatches at Alopex's arm. "Wait!" She quivers slightly as her desperation overflows. "What's wrong?" Then she hears it. His voice. She throws a glance over her shoulder and sees all four of them moving like speeding bullets toward her. But his words…they only make her face contort in confusion.
"What the hell are you doing anywhere near her?" Raph bellows. "Get away from her!"
Huh? Liz blinks over at his furious face. The others too, they all wear expressions with varying degrees of fear, concern, and anger. They're frenzied. All but Donnie.
Donnie comes up short. While the others continue their charge toward me, he freezes. He stares with wide eyes and slack jaw. His normally gentle, calm eyes are clouded over, leaving his face empty of anything but pure shock. It's as if time has stopped for him. Him and…I peer back at the person next to me. Him and her. What?
Alopex stands stock still. She swallows hard to press down the overwhelming surprise and most all the ecstasy. Her fingers tingle and twitch slightly with the urge to go to him. But she knows better than that. Even if there are residual feelings, buried somewhere deep within the mountain of contempt they all hold against her, it can just never be. She lost that chance – they lost that chance – when she broke all their hearts with her betrayal.
Liz gasps. Her hands reflexively snap open and release Alopex as she makes the connections. This person…they're the one Donnie is so in love with. This is Alopex. She turns to Alopex. "You-" But it is already too late. Liz is left with her mouth hanging open.
Alopex sprints. She doesn't look back. She flies up the nearest fire escape and out of sight. However, she does not leave. She peeks over the edge and peers down at the turtles as they converge on the girl below. She can only wonder why. Do they love her now? Is she Alopex's replacement?
"Liz!" Raph cries. He rushes toward her and practically runs her over. He scoops her into his arm and holds her close. "Are you alright?" He moves her at arm's reach and looks her over. His eyes bulge as they lock on the wrapping twisted around her arm. "Who did that to you?" He grazes the wound with his fingertips. He glares daggers over her shoulder at the patch of purple in the distance.
Liz offers a pained smile. "I'm fine, really." She averts her eyes and curls her fingers around her wound. "It's just…that was her, wasn't it?" She grimaces. "Alopex."
Raph stiffens. His lips twist into a snarl. "Yeah." He says through clenched teeth. "That heartless monster."
Liz gasps. "No." She shakes her head firmly. "You're wrong." She scowls. "She's the one who saved me."
Raph stumbles back from the force of the shock. No. No freaking way. He narrows his eyes and as much as he tries he can't contain the twitching of his hands. But if that's true…then who…?
"You don't know them." She lets out a breath and hangs her head. "They're just…" She shudders. "People I used to know."
Leo is the second fastest. He grips her shoulders and looks down into her deep blue eyes. "Are you really alright?" He holds his breath.
She smiles softly. "Yeah." However, her smile cracks at the edges. After a moment she throws herself at him. She locks her arms around him and rests her head in the crook of his neck. "Thanks though. Even though she saved me…I'm glad you all came."
Leo chuckles. "No problem." He wraps his arms around her and holds her close.
Liz pulls out of his hold a second later and turns to Mikey. "I'm ok." She answers the worry contorting his face. She touches his shoulder lightly as an afterthought.
Once his brother is assured, Raph can't hold it in any longer. "Are you crazy?" He clenches his fists. "What the heck were you thinking – going out like that?" He looks hard at her. "You could have gotten maimed by that madwoman. Or any other of fifty mutants."
Liz returns his hard gaze. As she opens her mouth it is not her voice which fills the air.
"She has been." Donnie says as he finally reaches them. He carefully takes her injured arm in his hand. His heart skips a beat. His eyes widen and he trembles slightly as he lays eyes on the wrapping. There was a day long ago where she did the same for me. Back when things were so much easier. He shakes his head to break out of the daze and inspects the afflicted area with a clearer mind. He unwraps it and grimaces at how far the injury stretches. "Let's go back." He can't help but look over his shoulder where Alopex once was.
Liz follows his gaze, but there is nothing there. She frowns. Oh well. She looks back to him. "Yeah," She stifles the truth of her disappointment over Slash behind a mask of physical pain. "I…don't want to have to look at it anymore." She shudders and grimaces.
They each grimace in turn. That's right. It slips all their minds at times how she is about blood.
Donnie bandages the wound over again. It's better to hide it from her sight than to have to deal with the fallout. Obviously. "Come on." He wraps his arm around her shoulder and leads her on.
The other three follow close by. Raph, however, is the only one unsatisfied. He crosses his arms and stares intently at her profile. He gnashes on his lip and unconsciously clenches and unclenches his fists. A few minutes later he can no longer contain it. "You didn't answer me."
"Raph." Leo says in a low, warning tone.
It's no use. Raph continues, "What the heck were you thinking? What was the point of running out here and nearly getting yourself killed? Huh?" His heart pounds as he braces himself for the answer. He'd never admit it, but he needs it. He needs to know what possessed her to do everything she has done tonight.
Liz throws a sidelong glare his way. "Nothing."
Raph gasps. "What?" His anger pulses. "Nothing? Are you kidding me?" He laughs, but it is strained. "You risked your life for nothing?" He shakes noticeably.
"Raph," Donnie's tone is sharp. "Enough."
Raph snorts and shoves his head down. He trudges ahead of the others, leaving them in the dust. He leaps through the manhole and does not wait. He goes straight home.
Leo sighs. He shakes his head. "He's so hardheaded."
None of them bother catching up to Raph. They keep in stride with Liz all the way back to the lair. Only then do they split up. Mikey and Leo head for their rooms and Donnie takes Liz to his lab to tend to her wound. He finishes with ease and smiles down at her. "There you go."
Liz smiles in return. "Thanks." She reflexively moves her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear – hair that no longer exists. She falters and snaps her hand back to her lap, but she does not lose the light in her expression. "It feels much better now." She touches the injury lightly.
Donnie nods. "Good." He glances toward the doorway and then back at Liz. "But, uh, how'd you get it in the first place?"
Liz casts her eyes down. "Bebop and Rocksteady." She sighs.
Donnie raises a brow. "Bebop…and Rocksteady?" He frowns. Not any mutant they know.
Liz nods. "They're just…people I used to know." She feeds him the same line as Raph. "Well, not people anymore. A rhino and a…pig?" She shrugs to herself. "But they…they hate me. I guess…" Or at least don't care anymore.
Donnie stares for a long moment. He blinks and breaks the daze. He presses his lips into a flat line and thinks to himself. He goes back and forth, then decides, "It's not just Raph who wants to know you know." He braces himself.
Liz scowls. "No." Her voice is surprisingly firm. "I won't tell you." She shakes her head a single time. "I…can't." Not after the way she saw them react to Slash. It would only cause trouble for everyone.
Donnie blows out a breath. "Alright," He shrugs. He turns to leave. "I'm going to bed." He throws a glance over his shoulder as he rounds the corner. "You should too." Then he's gone.
Liz stares for a while at the place he once stood. She drums her fingers on the table. It is late. It was already late when she snuck out. She yawns and rubs at her eyes. She hops off the table and wanders out into the main area. The couch calls to her, but instead of heeding the call she looks over toward the corridor of their rooms. Or what she assumes must be their rooms.
She lingers, swaying back in forth in her indecision. Gradually she leans more one way than the other and finds herself gliding across the room and toward the corridor. She trails her fingers along the wall as she passes door by door. For a fraction of a second she wonders how she'll ever know whose is whose but then she sees the letters on each one. "Oh." The bright red R catches her eye. That's it.
She stands stiff before the dark door. It looms over her without even needing to be larger than her. She bites her lip and begins to fiddle with the hem of her shirt. Actually… She scurries back to the couch and shimmies out of her pants and shirt. She is not in the mood to be picked at over something so insignificant. So she folds them up and shoves them under the couch. A shudder runs up her spine at the sudden cold, but it's nothing really. She looks herself over. Really this is almost nicer than wearing anything, especially since those things are ruined now anyway.
She tiptoes back to his room. Again the bright red catches her eye. She presses the side of her face to the door, trying to hear a single sound. Nothing. She lets out a breath and frowns. It hasn't been long though. Donnie was done with tending to her pretty quickly. No way he's asleep yet. Not when she irritated him so badly. In a breath she grabs the knob and pushes it open, giving her no option but to see this idiocy through.
Raph snaps his head up and tenses as his creaking door catches his attention. Even in the shadow though he can see who it is. He groans and twists himself around so that his legs no longer hang over the edge. He sits with his back to her and his legs stretched out to the headrest. "Get. Out." He crosses his arms and shoves his head down.
Liz doesn't hesitate. She walks further in and gently closes the door, shrouding them in an even heavier darkness. "Raph," She whispers. She makes her way around the bed in order to see his face. "I know you're mad."
"Oh yeah?" Raph rolls his eyes. "What was your first clue?" He shakes his head.
"And I'm sorry." She clasps her hands at her chest. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Raph snorts. "You didn't scare me. You just annoy the heck out of me." He spins himself around so that he is facing his door once more. "Donnie's gonna have to put a tracker on you or one day we're never gonna be able to find you ever again."
Liz lets out a breath and rolls her eyes. "Oh really." She sets her hand on the edge of the bed and makes her way to the foot of the bed once more. "Then why did you hug me when you saw me?" She lifts her hand and stares at the fingers as if his answer does not matter to her in the least. From the corner of her eye, however, she watches him.
Raph fumbles. "I-I," His voice stutters without giving him the chance to contain it. "I don't care what you think!" He snaps. "You're just a stupid girl who does stupid things for stupid reasons."
Liz giggles. She lifts a hand to try and cover it.
"It's not funny!" Raph trembles noticeably. His nails dig deep into his skin of his arms.
"Raph, don't be so angry." She sinks down on the bed beside him. "I'm ok, alright?" She lays her hand on his shoulder.
Raph snacks her hand away. "Don't touch me."
Liz gasps and cringes. She jerks her hand to her chest and clutches it. She bites her tongue to stifle the whine.
Raph freezes. "I…I didn't…"
Liz ducks her head and eyes him with uncertainty. She trembles slightly.
Raph growls deep in his throat. He lurches forward and snatches a cup from the floor. He pitches it at the wall and it shatters instantly. His chest heaves as he breathes heavily in and out. He glowers at the floor, his lips curling into a snarl.
Liz's brows knit together. "Raph," Her voice is a breath on the wind. "Calm down." She slides her hand over to his and curls her fingers around his palm. "It's ok. You didn't mean it." She runs her thumb along his hand.
Raph's breathing steadies. Hid wild eyes settle. "But it's…not." There is no conviction in his tone. His shoulders slump. "I…" His brows furrow and he frowns.
"You get angry to hide your other emotions." She finishes the sentence herself. "I know. And then stuff like this happens. But if you'd just admit the way you feel, even just to yourself, things like this wouldn't happen." She frowns. "It's ok to be afraid."
"Sorry." He grumbles. He slips his hand out of hers. "But I don't do scared." He sighs. "I just don't get why you won't tell me why you left." He lets his head fall and rest on his knuckles. "If you just leave whenever…how am I supposed to protect you?"
Liz smiles painfully. "Oh, Raph," She leans over and rests her head against his.
Raph stiffens. He opens his mouth around empty words.
"Thank you." She murmurs. She wraps her arms around his arm and hugs him lightly. "I'm glad someone cares. That you care." She sighs and a smile flutters over her lips.
Raph's cheeks flush and he jerks his head as far from her as possible. "You're so stupid." He perks as he notices something. Her skin is touching his – not too strange – but it is a part of her arm where clothes should be. "What…what happened to your clothes…?"
Liz shrugs. "I know you think they're stupid." She giggles. "And I didn't want to make you more mad."
Raph stares for a long moment. Then he sighs. "Liz…"
Liz yawns. "I'm tired."
Raph scoffs. "Then go to sleep." He pauses, then adds, "Out there." He points with his free hand.
Liz frowns. "Do I have to?" She says almost absentmindedly. "It'd be nicer…to not be alone." She lifts her gaze and meets his intense green eyes. "Don't you think?"
Raph sucks in a soft breath. He tilts his head and his brows furrow. "Are you afraid?" He searches her face for the truth.
Liz shrugs. "Are you?"
Raph sighs. No use. "Yes." His voice is so quiet he can barely hear it. He reaches his arm up and around her shoulder.
Liz smiles softly to herself. She pulls out of his hold and slides her arms from around his. She takes hold of him as she leans back and lays across the bed. She takes him with her. She nuzzles in close to him, her body molding to his.
Once she ceases movement Raph dares to slip his arms around her and hug her close. He lays his cheek against her head. He doesn't close his eyes though. He can't. He watches her intently until finally he can feel her steady breathing of sleep pulsing against his skin. Then exhaustion washes over him like a wave and his eyes flutter. He runs his fingers across her injured arm and lets his touch linger before resting it completely over the spot. "I was so afraid…" Then his consciousness slips and he sleeps.
…
No one asks about her coming out of his room and they probably didn't even notice to be honest. Even though they were ever aware of her this slipped past their radar. No wonder she was able to sneak past the dorks the other night to search for Slash. She wants to do the same tonight, but she knows better. They will all be on high alert as far as the exits go. So she waits.
A week slips by without incident and then, on the eighth day, she makes her move. She slinks across the lair, looking over her shoulder every other step. She holds her breath and listens intently for even the smallest of sounds that might indicate she is being followed. She can't afford that after all.
Only a few more steps. Only a few more-
She squeaks and stumbles as she runs into something. She blinks twice and shakes her head, revealing a person before her. Her eyes widen.
"What do you think you're doing?" It's Donnie. He crosses his arms and raises a brow.
Liz opens and closes her mouth around empty words. She shakes her head. "I…" She clasps her hands behind her back and sways on her feet. "I…I was just…"
Donnie frowns deeply. "You were just going to go out there. Again. And for God knows what reason." He sighs. He runs his hand over his face. "Maybe you really are crazy." He says it half to himself.
Liz fumes. "I am not." She puffs out her lip. "I…have my reasons." She averts her eyes and swallows hard.
Donnie tilts his head to try and catch her eye. It's no use. She's adamant in avoiding him. "You know we only want you to be safe."
"Yes." She murmurs. "But, I…I need this." Finally she looks straight at him. "Please."
Donnie bites his lips. He'll regret this. He's sure of it. But… "You better be back before Leo is up." He shoots her a sharp look.
Her face lights up like a Christmas tree. She leaps forward and throws her arms around him. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
Donnie musters a tiny smile as he pulls away from her. It's hard to truly be happy though. For this only means one thing. "Yeah." He shrugs.
Liz senses something amiss. She searches his face for the cause, but all she can grasp onto is a bottomless sadness and regret. Any other time she would have pried, but tonight she must use every moment to search for Slash. So after laying one last touch to his shoulder she runs. She runs out of the lair, the tunnel and up to the surface.
Donnie watches for a long moment, a moment far too long to be safe. It's just…he really hates to do this. It's been so long…so very, very long. He doesn't want to do it because he knows deep down he does and to do so will mean opening up old wounds for the both of them. Yet now…he has given himself no other choice.
Slowly, mechanically he walks to his lab. He moves by heart to the secret compartment and opens it with a pounding heart. Before his eyes lays the t-phone – the one specially made to communicate with only one person. Her. With a trembling hand he clutches it and lifts it to his lips. "You there?" He curses himself as his voice wavers. "I know it's been a while, and…" He grimaces and imagines she does the same. "But, I…I need you to do something for us, no, me."
Liz walks with careful steps, as if the very floor might fall from under her. After all the destruction the city has endured it very easily could fall. Who knows? Donnie. She ducks her head as his face flashes through her head. She feels bad for ditching him and surely causing him great worry. But…he did say she could. So…why waste an opportunity.
A sharp sounds comes from behind her – ruble? – and she jumps. Her heart leaps into her throat and her eyes bulge. She whirls around to face whatever it is, coming face to face with a wall of white. Her. "You're…Alopex." She finally finds a chance to ask.
Alopex smirks. "The one and only. Although," She taps her chin. "I'm surprised anyone in there would tell you that."
Liz presses her lips into a thin line. "Yeah, well, they didn't really." She rubs the back of her neck. "I had to figure it out on my own really."
Alopex snorts. "Figures. Well, props for that." She holds out her hand in a clenched fist.
Liz raises a brow at the offering. She frowns as she looks up at Alopex.
"What?" Alopex shrugs. "It's a fist bump. Y'know?"
Liz shakes her head.
Alopex sighs. "Oook, then." She perks as she fully takes in Liz's appearance. "Hey, what happened to your clothes?" Her brows furrow. "You had some the other night didn't you?"
Liz nods. "I just…" She tugs at her now barren arm. "Felt strangled, I guess." She comes up with the best thing she can think of. At least this is a half-truth anyway.
Alopex contemplates her for a moment, then shrugs. "Works for me. And honestly you look better this way." She flashes Liz a smile.
Liz gives a tiny smile. "Thanks…" She perks as a thought dawns on her. "Um, not to be rude or anything, but what are you doing here anyway?" Somewhere in the pit of her stomach she feels she already knows.
Alopex makes a soft humming sound. "He told me not to say," She grins. "But I never was good at listening." She chuckles. "So I'll tell you – it was Donatello. He asked me to watch over you. To make sure you were safe out here."
Liz blows out a breath. She knew it. "Why'd you call him that?" She latches onto this strand out of everything.
"Hm?" Alopex's ear flicks.
"Donnie. You called him his full name." Liz frowns. "How come? I mean, I don't even do that. And I know you know him better than me." Her voice gets softer all of a sudden as she says, "I know you care more. You…love him after all." She peers up at Alopex's brilliant gold eyes. "Right?"
Alopex stiffens. She narrows her eyes and clenches her hands into fists. "Things happened." Her voice is coarse. "We don't talk anymore. The end." She stomps forward. Her ears press hard down on her skull.
Liz ducks her head. "I-I'm sorry…" She hurries along after Alopex. "I didn't mean to…" She doesn't bother finishing the thought.
"It's fine." Alopex sighs. "Just…don't mention him again. Alright?" She watches Liz intently from the corner of her eye.
Liz nods. "Ok." She fiddles with her fingers.
"Hey," Alopex says after a long period of tense silence. "What are you doing out here anyway? Donnie said you were looking for something, but he didn't say what." She half laughs. "Kind of sounded like he didn't know actually." Imagine, Donnie not knowing something.
Liz purses her lips. "Nope." She gives her head a sharp shake. "If Donnie's off limits then so is this. Consider it…under the same category." She chooses each word carefully. She doesn't want a misinterpretation. Still, her feelings, they are strong. Just…not that way.
Alopex makes a soft sound of acknowledgement. "Sounds fair."
Liz spreads her arm out in front of Alopex. "Not that way." She points the direction she wants to go. "This way." She takes large strides and pulls in front of Alopex for an instant.
Alopex easily catches up. She doesn't have to hurry her speed. Her legs are long enough so that such strides come naturally. "Your arm,"
Liz perks. She tilts her head toward Alopex.
"Can I see it?"
Liz sighs. This means stopping again. She just wants to find Slash! Still, it's an innocent request. She holds her injured arm out to Alopex.
Alopex looks it over. New bandages. Of course. Her eyes cloud over. It was probably hard for Donnie too – looking at something so familiar. Not just that, but touching it as well. "It looks much better." She says half to herself. She smiles.
"Yeah," Liz draws her arm back to herself. She runs her fingers over it. "Donnie's a good doctor."
Alopex grimaces and looks the other way. "Yeah…" She looks out to the horizon. She sees that dark alley where he fixed her up for the first time. But certainly not the last. She subconsciously touches her shoulder. The one wound he never did fix. The one that was nearly her last.
Liz watches her for a long moment. "Hey, um, we should be going now." She moves her hands back and forth in a shooing motion.
Alopex blinks and breaks the daze. "No," She shakes her head. "Wait. There was a reason I asked you about your arm. And not just to make sure you were alright." She can't help but be amused by the confusion that slowly spreads across Liz's face. "I wanted to tell you that it's bad to get into those kind of situations."
"Well, yeah," Liz makes a face. "I know that. But-"
Alopex holds a hand up. "Let me finish." Once Liz closes her mouth Alopex continues, "Even though I will follow you and protect you no matter what, it wouldn't hurt to be able to defend yourself at least a little. Don't you think?" She raises a brow.
Liz frowns deeply. "Yeah, but I…I mean, I don't really know how to fight."
Alopex chuckles. "Obviously." She walks a few paces ahead and turns around to face Liz. "So I figured I'd teach you." She strikes a defensive pose.
Liz's mouth gapes and her eyes widen. "W-What?" She searches Alopex's face for some sign of folly. But...nothing. "I…" She pulls at her arm. "I don't really…"
Alopex sighs. "Come on, you can't tell me you like being attacked and getting the crap beaten out of you."
"Well, no, but-"
"Then it's settled." Alopex claps her hands together. "Since those idiots are bent on sheltering you, I'm going to teach you a bit of self-defense."
"O-Ok." Liz rolls her foot in tiny circles on the ground. She watches it intently. I guess…
Alopex looks Liz over. She hums thoughtfully to herself until her eyes catch on Liz's tail. "Alright, so first things first – what do you know?" If she had to bet she'd say next to nothing by the way the girl handled herself the last time. Still, surely some animal instinct lies within.
Liz shrugs. "Nothing, I don't guess." Heat rises to her cheeks as she says it aloud. Why? It's never bothered her before. Then again, no one has ever pointed it out before either.
Alopex lets out a breath. "Then lesson number one – animal instincts."
Liz blinks at her. "Animal…instincts…?" Her mind flashes back to that night she attacked April. She has embraced her fury and used everything she had to attack. Was that what Alopex meant. She grimaces. If so she isn't sure she wants to experience that again.
Alopex ignores her unsettled expression. "I know it sucks, but you're not human anymore. But instead of lamenting that, use it to your advantage." She approaches Liz and grabs one of her hands. "You much like me have claws. Don't be afraid to use them." She runs one of the claws across her fur and bright red seeps forth.
Liz gasps. She jerks backward and nearly falls over herself. "W-Wha'd you do that for?" Her chest tightens and her breathing hitches. She trembles slightly.
Alopex eyes her curiously. "Oh," Alopex smiles painfully. "I get it. It isn't just because you don't know how to fight that you don't. You choose not to-" She shakes her head. "No, you actively try to avoid it. You…are terrified of the blood." She lightly touches the slit in her skin.
Liz scowls. "N-No." She gnashes her teeth together. "That's…not it." She grimaces.
Alopex holds her hands up. "Easy. It doesn't matter, really. It just means I have to be more…clever." She circles Liz. "How about your tail then. Ever used that to knock someone senseless."
"I…" Liz lifts a finger to her chin. She flashes back to that first day. She was in the elevator and the Kraang were spilling in, ready to drag her back and serve her purpose as 'Experiment B92'. And that day…somehow…she'd used her tail. But it also caused her to crash through the glass, so… "Once."
Alopex watches her eyes glaze and then the life gradually return. "Then I assume you have little to no control over it." She leaps back, leaving a space between them. "Still, try it. Hit me."
Liz blanches. "W-what…no. I-I can't…" She shakes her head. Won't.
Alopex plants her hands on her hips. "Come on. I'm trying to help you here." She chuckles. "And trust me, there's no way you'll hurt me. I kicked that rhino and pig to the curb the other night, and they had guns. So go ahead." She smirks. "Knock me dead."
Liz takes a tentative step forward. She swallows hard. She swings her hips and her tail lashes out, but nowhere near Alopex. She squeaks as her tail keeps going and wraps around her own body, knocking her feet out from under her. She falls flat on the ground.
Alopex snickers. She walks forward and towers over Liz. "See?" She grins. "Told ya you wouldn't hurt me. Although," She rubs the back of her neck. "I kind of expected you to at least hit me."
Liz scowls up at Alopex. She sticks out her lower lip as she untangles herself. "It's not funny."
"Yeah, it kind of is." Alopex holds a hand out to her.
Liz grips her hand firmly, not letting up on her glare.
"I can help you though." Alopex gets right to the point. "See, you're going about it all wrong. You're still thinking like a human." She shakes her head. "Which is going to end badly – like with you on the ground." She can't hide the spark of amusement in her eyes.
Liz puffs out a breath. "Oh yeah?" She dusts herself off. "So how am I supposed to go about it then?" She averts her eyes as a flash of regret passes through them. "Being human is the only thing I know…"
Alopex frowns. "Easy." She reaches out and clamps her hands around both of Liz's hips. "Don't move them. That's what gives you an uncontrollable momentum. Your tail alone has power enough to get the job done."
Liz eyes her with uncertainty. A bit too close, but…um, ok. She shakes away her conflicted emotions. "But, I…don't know how to move it on its own." She scowls at the irksome appendage. "It only moves when it wants to. Hitting the fridge and chairs."
Alopex can't say she understands that feeling. She was still a fox beforehand after all. She was master of her tail easily enough. It was the human aspects that confounded her most. "Just focus. Look at your tail as another limb – no different than your arm. And how do you move that?"
Liz grumbles. "I don't know. It just moves when I tell it to."
"Then tell your tail too." Alopex shrugs. "Focus on it. And tell it to move." She watches Liz with intensity.
Liz lets out a breath. Oh well. Here goes nothing she supposes. She forgets everything else – where she is, who she is with, or that anything exists but this stupid tail – and she swings with all she's got.
Alopex jumps, but it is a second too late. She yelps as the tail smashes into her mouth and sends her flying across the street.
Liz shrieks. "Oh my gosh." She throws her hands over her mouth. "I didn't mean too! I'm so, so sorry." She rushes over.
Alopex props herself up on her elbow. She coughs and spits blood to the side. "Nah," She wipes the back of her hand across her mouth, cleaning away the dribble of blood flowing from the corner. "That was nothing." She stands easily and even smiles at Liz once she face her. "And pretty damn cool too." She gives a thumbs up.
Liz blinks twice. "Wh…What…?" Slowly she lets her hands fall to her side. Is this woman crazy? How in the world did Donnie ever fall for someone so reckless? It doesn't seem his type. More Raph's!
"Chill girl." Alopex pats Liz on the shoulder. "I mean, I did tell you to give it a whack. And boy did you give me one." She chuckles. "Strong too. Way stronger than I thought you could manage."
"Uh, well…thanks?" She manages a feeble smile. Alopex seems convinced that what she did was awesome, so she supposes she should be proud. I guess.
"But it definitely took way too much concentration." Alopex nods to herself. "We'll have to work on that." She taps her fingers to keep track of her thoughts. "Uh-huh. Yeah. Well! That's for later though. We have plenty of time after all. Looking for whoever it is."
Liz stiffens. What? What did she just say? "I…I never said I was looking for a person."
Alopex snorts and rolls her eyes. "I'm not a fool. No thing in this world could be worth all this effort. So obviously that leaves a person. Or…" She shoots Liz a sharp look. "A mutant."
Liz averts her eyes. She shoves her head down and looks hard at her feet. "Don't make me hit you again." She says under her breath.
Alopex laughs. "I'd like to see you try. I'm far too fast for you. For now at least." She turns and begins walking. "But don't worry," She waves her words away. "You'll get it before you know it." She throws a smile over her shoulder. "With me as your teacher."
Liz rolls her eyes, but she smiles nonetheless. "If you say so." She hurries after Alopex. It is nice having a protector at least. And a nice one at that, even if a little crazy. A little like Raph. Still, she frowns. If Alopex is following her around at all times up here, that means she'll see Slash. She shudders. Could that ever end well? She can't help but feel no – not ever.
What did you think? Sorry that it took forever. It was so much fun writing Alopex again though. I've missed her more than I thought. I especially like how opposite on the personality spectrum Alopex and Liz are. Please review!