For Love or Freedom

Leonardo breathed out slow, his fingers sliding up over his face as he hung his head between his shoulders. He could feel the tension knotting his muscles, threatening the backs of his eyes with a dull, steady pain. Uncertainty haunted him. Slowly, he closed his eyes in a pitiful attempt at blocking out those things that he so much didn't want to think about. Raphael was gone again.
He sighed. At one point, it might have been a power struggle between them. Waiting to see which one was more stubborn, who would win in the end. Would he get away with it? Would he be caught without a comeback? But that fight had ended long ago. And it was pretty obvious who had won in the end. He still went out, still did as he pleased. Still put them in danger. And it had gotten to the point where they had a choice to either accept him and all his actions... or reject him altogether. Neither was really an option, and Leo felt very much trapped.
What he did was dangerous. To himself, to the entire familAnd And Leo was waiting in dread for the moment when that all became painfully clear. He didn't know what his brother did out there, but he wasn't stupid. He had a good idea. And it didn't comfort him much to know that Raphael probably, hopefully, wasn't stupid enough to get mixed up in drugs. The alcohol was more than enough to drug him. And sure, he was as well-trained as any of them. But how capable could one be when totally smashed? It would only take one time, being caught off guard. Sooner or later...
He glanced up at the clock. It was almost midnight. He could hear the quiet sounds of the TV from the open living room, turned down now that it had gotten so late. It was a courtesy measure, but no one was sleeping. Leonardo knew that, in spite of the relative silence. He sighed deeply and his hands dropped back to the table, coming to rest around the coffee mug in front of him. It wasn't filled with coffee. Caffeine was the last thing he needed right now. Actually, all it had was water. He might have made tea if his heart was in it. But it wasn't. He was tired, and plagued with the same constant worry that he knew he shouldn't be feeling. Why was it his problem anyways, if Raph got himself killed? He shuddered at that thought, and didn't need an answer. Stupid question.
He glanced up as he felt a familiar presence enter the room, and his eyes locked briefly with those of his master. It didn't take long for Splinter to read him. The tension was radiating from him, the tired look was in his eyes. Given the late hour and the fact that there were but three of his students at home...
"Is something troubling you, Leonardo?"
Leo sighed and leaned back, shaking his head slightly. "Iie, Sensei, it's just..." He looked away. He never finished, his mind wandering. There was a time when things weren't so complicated. It seemed like ages ago now. But he clearly remembered a time when he hadn't lived in fear.
That's what it was, really. It was fear. How ironic, as he couldn't honestly remember a battle he'd fought where he'd been afraid. There had been times he thought he would die, but that wasn't really a fear. It was just a fact. He could die at the hands of an enemy. And in a way, he expected that. But this... This was on a totally different level. He was afraid for his brother, and for his family, and for what had somehow gotten so terribly out of hand.
Ster ter sat down across from him, curling his tail around his feet. A quiet sigh escaped his lips. He didn't need to hear words to know what his son was thinking. "Raphael, is it?"
That was a pointless question. At this hour, it could only be Raphael. Again. At one point, he might've shared Leo's emotions. In a way, he still did. He worried. But he also understood that if he was not careful, such worry would consume him. He didn't like his son's late nights any more than he liked the things he likely did during those late nights. But the time had come and gone again when he could protect him and keep him sheltered from the world above. The older his sons got, he had no choice but to let them go, and let them make their own decisions in life.
"Did you hear of the political assassination this weekend?" Leonardo asked quietly, his eyes not raising from the table. "He was running for Mayor. Beheaded in the midst of a publicity stunt. In front of live TV cameras and a few dozen police." He sighed deeply. "I have to wonder why they killed him. What kind of threat he posed." A half-laugh escaped him, but it was without humor. "Kind of funny in a... scary sort of way. A dozen TV cameras pointed right at him. Nobody saw a thing. And it's not even like they shot him or something from a distance. Black shadow, right up close... blood everywhere and no chance of an ID. They're so sloppy, and yet so damned effective."
His finger traced along the tabletop as he considered the news reports for a moment. Nobody knew who or what that shadow was that had so effectively attacked in broad daylight. The media was having a field day. The city was in a panic as police tried every technique they knew to pinpoint "The Shadow Killer" as the press had dubbed him. But Leo knew exactly what he was, as he was sure his sensei did as well. The assassination was painfully accurate, and the choice of weaponry, along with the fact that the killer had gotten away without a trace...
Perhaps the man had crossed Saki in business or was a threat to the Foot operations in some way or another. It wasn't exactly proper technique to do things like that out in the open but in a way, he wasn't really surprised. Saki was the kind of man who would do something like that... simply because he could get away with it. Or to make a point.
Leo's voice dropped to a low whisper as he continued. "He killed three cops and five civilians on his way out. Including a fifteen year old boy who tried to stop him."
His fists clenched, cold eyes trained on the surface of the table. These were the people Raphael chose to make himself an open target to? Without offering himself a way out? How long would it take...? His eyes closed slowly as he released the grip, and his head dropped again. "Yes," he admitted quietly. "Raphael. I'm worried about him."
Splinter sighed softly. "Raphael knows just as much as you do what sort of danthe the Foot is to us. We cannot stop him from willingly jumping into the lion's den if that is what he wants to do."
"No," Leo answered quietly, not looking up. "No, we can't. But that doesn't mean I gotta like it. And it doesn't mean that it's right."
"Of course not," Splinter agreed. "And he knows that. He will have to face whatever consequences he incurs. We can only help him if he asks for our help."
Leo sighed. "Yeah, I know," he mumbled, his voice cold. "I'm just gonna have a hard time burying him when finds out the hard way that he needs our help."
Splinter tensed just slightly, but said nothing as Leonardo stood and took the mug to the sink. "I'm... gonna go to bed. If he comes home..." He shook his head. He didn't know how to finish that. What would he do? Kill him? What could he possibly do that hadn't already been done? He couldn't change his brother. He wasn't stupid enough to think he could. "I don't want to fight with him. It's just... It's pointless. And I don't think I have the energy."
A quiet sigh accompanied Splinter's nod. "Try to get some rest. Raphael will come home, when he comes home."
Leonardo walked out of the kitchen with only a polite nod to his master, and blinked as his eyes adjusted to the lack of light. Donatello was working in a corner of the openm onm on whatever the latest project was, and his desk-lamp combined with the light from the TV - or rather, the wall of TVs - to illuminate the room. There was plenty of shadow. Leo sighed as he felt his body relax slightly at the prospect of sleep. He breathed deep, and headed toward his room. "G'night guys."
Mike's arm extended up from the couch and waved over the back of it, but he made no move to sit up. "Night, Leo!"
Don actually afforded a glance up. "Good night."
A sudden noise from near the door drew his eyes, and Leo's. Was Raph home? He glanced at the clock. The bars hadn't closed yet. But it wouldn't be the first time he'd come home "early". He looked back down at the opened computer, snapping the memory chips back into place.
Leonardo remained tense. He considered bolting for his room and avoiding a confrontation altogether. But he didn't move fast enough. The door opened. His eyes widened. Through the front door came not Raph, but a human. And not Casey or April. That was about all Leo had a chance to register. His weapons were pulled in an instant, and he braced for whatever new threat this was. Don looked up, suddenly tensed at Leo's ready stance, and his hand moved toward his weapon as he stood, even though he couldn't see the door or who might have walked through it.
The intruder's steps clicked on the hard floor, and Mike sat up abruptly. Since when did Raph wear tappy shoes? He saw his brothers, weapons in hand, and was over the back of the couch in a flash, joining the group before any move could be made. He gripped his nunchakus, spinning them instinctively, and it took him a moment to realize why they hadn't attacked yet. An intruder walking into the lair was a bad thing. He wouldn't have expected any hesitation to kill on Leo's part... except the intruder was a woman.
She was young, probably about seventeen. Her dark blond hair was pulled up in a clip behind her head, but it looked like it could be quite long. She wore hoop earrings, just enough makeup to hide any blemishes on her tanned skin, red high heels, and a long, beige trenchcoat tied tightly around her waist. How the hell did she end up in their home? It couldn't have been an accident - the lair was well-hidden - bo oro ordinary person could have followed any one of them. Perhaps a ninja, but there was something that didn't ring true about that. A ninja would not come so... unprepared.
"Who are you? What are you doing down here?"
The girl jumped back suddenly, startled by the voice. Her eyes adjusted, and a choked scream caught in her throat. "Omigod!"
Splinter's ears twitched at the sound of the unfamiliar voice. He tensed, and moved silently to the mouth of the kitchen, watching at a distance as Leonardo's weapons lowered slightly, his stance relaxing. The young woman beyond him pressed back against the wall, hands flat against it.
Donatello half-arched an eyeridge as the jacket parted slightly, her shoulders pressed back against the wall. Whatever it was she had under that was red, lacy, and awful low cut. He didn't comment, but any thoughts of her being a threat were pretty quickly put to side. But that being the case, what the hell was she doing down here? He reached back, slipping his weapon back into its place. Mike's chucks came to a halt, and Leo resheathed his weapons. She watched him with wide eyes. It took her a moment to realize she was coming close to flashing him, and she quickly latched her arms over her chest again, considering the option to make a run for the door.
Mike grinned at the lace, and the frightened look on her face. "Hey," he greeted casually. "You're either really lost or... well... really lost."
"How did you get here?" Leonardo demanded, not at all amused.
Her eyes were wide, darting back and forth between the three figures that she knew were not Raph. She didn't like this. Not at all. Bad move, coming down here. This wasn't like she'd planned. And she wasn't about to stick around and see what else could go wrong. She turned and kicked off her shoes as she bolted out the door and into the tunnel again.
Mike raised an eyeridge as he watched her make a run for it. He turned and grinned at Don. "I think she's lost. What do you think?"
Donatello shook his head slightly in disbelief at his brother's non-chalant attitude about this intruder. Leo afforded a brief glare, and darted after her. She might be innocently lost, but he highly doubted it. And at any rate, they couldn't let her get back to the surface if she knew the location of their lair. Not until they at least had an idea ow shw she'd gotten here.
Mike grinned as he watched Leo head out into the sewer and moved to lean against the doorframe, arms across his plastron. He couldn't really see anything out there, but he knew she wouldn't get too far. She was running scared. "Hey, Mike."
He turned and glanced at Don as he knelt and picked up a worn yellow flashlight off the floor. He wasn't sure when she'd dropped that, but she obviously had. It didn't belong there. "She didn't come completely unprepared," Donatello mused.
Mike's eyes lingered on her shoes, as his brother checked to see if the flashlight worked. Nope. Must've broken when she dropped it. Mike knelt and picked up the simple, red high heels. How the hell did she walk in those things? And through the sewer tunnels, no less. She was either very talented or very stupid. Maybe a bit of both.
A few hundred feet away from the lair, the girl sprinted into the darkness. She didn't get far before she realized she hadn't the slightest idea where she was or where she was going. She kept running anyways, wishing like mad she could go back and tell herself what a stupid idea this befobefore she did it...
She cried out as she stepped on something sharp, and nearly fell. Okay. She'd reached a new level of stupidity. Why was she running through pitch blackness, with no shoes, in the sewer of all places? True, this area seemed fairly secluded and certainly didn't have the smell she'd thought the sewer would. But she could still only imagine what might be down here. She froze in place as her mind stopped there and she realized just how dangerous this was. There could be rats down here, rusty metal, god knew what else. She could die down here. She had a better chance with... them. Whoever they were.
A hand around her arm brought her thoughts to an abrupt halt, and she screamed for just a second. He pulled her back, against his chest, and his arm clapped over her chest, holding her still. His other hand went over her mouth so that he could avoid being deafened.
"Relax," he ordered, his voice gentle. His grip was firm, but he knew he wasn't hurting her.
She gasped, instinctively trying to jerk away from him. Pointless. She knew that. He was strong, and on his home turf. She was hurt, startled, and lost. She gave up struggling after very little consideration. Hooo boy... this gos going to be fun trying to explain. She didn't fight, but didn't speak. She could feel blood run down the arch of her foot from her heel, and it hurt like hell. But she didn't make a sound.
His hand came down, and he released her. He could smell blood, and knew she was hurt. Down here, that was more dangerous than she knew. He ignored it for the moment, watching her. In the darkness, he could only faintly make out her form. He was sure she couldn't see him.
"You didn't have to run," he informed her. "For that matter, it's not a very smart thing to do down here. We're not going to hurt you. I just want to know how you got down here."
"I..." she stammered, struggling for words.
He sighed. "C'mon... let's get that cut bandaged up before it gets infected."
She blinked, caught slightly off guard. "How... did you...?"
He slipped an arm around her, under her arms, and slowly led her back toward the lair. He could've easily picked her up and carried her back, but at the moment, he wasn't sure that would be very well-received. As it was, she was calm. A sort of tired resolve had come over her as she began to consider what she was going to tell them. She didn't fight as he led her back, limping slightly. Her only fear was in what she might step on on the way back through the darkness. But they moved slow, giving her a chance to feel out every step. He knew she wasn't comfortable here, even if he knew the path back to the doorway was clear.
Michaelangelo cocked his head slightly to the side as he saw the dim shadows return down the tunnel. He smiled as he got a good look at her, and held up her shoes, one on each finger. "Think ya lost these, babe." His smile fell as he saw her limping.
Leo held back the urge to roll his eyes at his brother as he guided her over to the sofa, supporting her weight easily. "You okay?" Donatello asked. She looked up at him as she was set down on the sofa, but wasn't entirely sure she wanted to answer. Not yet. He seemed friendly enough but...
"Go get the herbs and bandages," Leo ordered. "Who knows what she stepped on out there."
Damn. A new thought sent another wave of uneasiness over her. If Raph had lied about his "family", he didn't want her to know. She wasn't entirely sure what he was going to do when he saw her here. Probably get mad. She sighed. That was so not what she'd been hoping for.
Mike turned to get bandages and whatever else might be a good idea to get, but Donatello was already gone. He shrugged as he turned back, eyes running over the girl. Pretty. His eyes started at the cut, where he was sure they very well should have, but then traveled upward, over her long, bare legs... The coat was parted to mid-thigh by the way she was sitting, and there was still no hint of fabric. He grinned to himself as his eyes traveled up further over her full chest - he could see that even through the coat - smooth neck, pretty facial features. Her hair was a bit ragged now since her run, and almost ready to fall out of the clip. But it didn't make her any less attractive. A hand connecting with the back of his head snapped him out of it. "Ow! What was that for?"
Leo looked up from the floor and gave his brother a firm, not-quite-scolding look. Don grinned slightly as his hand lowered. "{Stop staring.}"
He handed the first aid box down to Leo, and stepped back to a safe distance, his own eyes wandering but far less appraising. Leo sighed and merely shook his head as he set the box down beside him. He allowed a brief look at her, but kept to business. He had priorites. First to take care of the cut, and then to see just what she was doing down here, and how she had managed to get down here in the first place.
The girl looked up, and blushed just slightly as she realized she was surrounded. She felt Leonardo lift her foot and tensed, uneasy. She pulled back instinctively, watching him. "I... I can take care of it," she stammered, struggling for a sense of dignity. "It's not that bad."
Leo just shook his head, not letting go of her foot. was was well aware of how easy it would be to see under that coat from how he was positioned, but he didn't look up in spite of his curiosity. The cut was the priority. It wasn't as bad as it looked, but it wasn't going to be easy for her to take care of by herself and he doubted she had any knowledge of herbs or at least not enough to be able to apply them to the wound properly. "Please. Allow me."
She watched him, slightly distrusting, not entirely sure she would have allowed him if he'd been asking. But it wasn't a request. He wasn't letting her go. She sighed deeply, and chose not to fight him.
"When was the last time you had a tetanus shot?" Donatello questioned.
She thought for a moment. "Two... three years ago?"
Don nodded, and didn't pursue the conversation. Mike perched on the arm of the couch, his eyes flickering just briefly to the TV and the forgotten movie. She was much more interesting at the moment. "Soooo... you got a name?" he prodded. "How'd you find us? We uh... don't get too many visitors down here. 'Specially ones wearin' high heels."
Leo relaxed a little as Mike began to talk to her. If anything could make her more at ease, his hyper, talkative brother could. She blushed and looked down. As she did, she realized her jacket was open a little too far up her leg. She jerked it closed and gasped as a sudden stinging pain caused her foot to jerk back instinctively. "Ow!"
Leo winced slightly and let her go. So much for Mike distracting her. It took her a second to realize what, exactly, was causing the pain, and she gave her foot back. "You could've warned me..." she mumbled.
Leonardo kept his eyes down. "Sorry..."
She relaxed slightly, taking her eyes away from the figure at her feet just long enough to catch Mike's gaze. She looked away quickly, her hands clenching tight around the edges of her jacket. "I..." She hesitated again, not sure how much was really safe to tell them. Raphael hadn't told her about them. Had he told them about her? "My name's Ivy," she whispered. "I didn't mean to startle you. I didn't think... there'd be anyone here."
Don and Mike exchanged brief glances. Did that mean she'd been here before? When was this? Mike felt a quick stab of a very big "uh oh" at the prospect that someone might have at some point brought her down henannnannounced, and she'd just somehow found her way back. And since the three of them were all very much confused, and it didn't sound much like Splinter's MO... He chuckled in spite of himself. Raph was gonna get so busted for this one.
Leo listened as he finished cleaning the wound and went about applying an herbal dressing to help keep it clean and fight any infections. She was nervous - any of them could see it - and there was something she wasn't telling them. Perhaps she had known of their home for a while now and hadn't told anyone. Or maybe she had told someone. At any rate, she'd come down here looking for someone, and he wasn't it. He knew most women didn't walk around town in a coat, high heels, and thin red lingerie. Judging from the fact that the lingerie they glimpsed was red... well...
"Weeellll..." Mike teased. "You were expecting... what? You certainly, heh, dressed up for it, whatever it was."
He pried very carefully, wondering just how much she'd admit Th They'd never get anything outta Raph, so she was the only ammo he'd have for future blackmailing potential. Not that he thought her appearance here was in any way secret enough to use as blackmail. But he couldn't wait to see the look on Raph's face when he mentioned her name.
She shifted slightly, pressing her knees tight together. She was suddenly very nervous. "I..."
Leo didn't say anything, his unhappiness with his wildest brother growing by the second. If she'd come down here looking for Raph, then he'd seriously compromised their security. Who knew who this girl could be working for?
Mike leaned forward slightly once he realized she wasn't going to continue. "Well...?"
A noise at the front door attracted Mike's attention away from the interrogation. Leo tensed, slowly rising from his crouch. His hand reached up for his katana again without thought. If she'd been followed, who knew who could be out there...
The door opened.
It took Raphael all of five seconds to realize he was being "waited up for". Moreover, by his whole family. And... Oh. Shit. Ivy pulled the jacket tighter around herself and shifted her gaze from Raph's. This was not how she envisioned this happening...
Raph's eyes eyes widened at the sight of her, completely ignoring Leo and his preparation. He didn't speak, eyes locked on the woman for a long moment. It took him a minute before he was finally able to hide his shock. He glanced to Leo and almost casually questioned, "Friend of yers?"
Leo didn't rise to the bait. His hand lowered from his weapon, eyes locked on his brother. "Explain Raphael," he ordered, his voice flat.
Mike snickered quietly. This was going to be interesting, as long as it didn't get out of hand. On an up note, Raph didn't carry the smoke and alcohol smell of the bar on him. He didn't figure they'd take each others heads off in the presence of a lady.
Raph's eyes narrowed slightly. "Explain what? You accusing me of something?"
Ivy kept her mouth shut, biting her lower lip as she watched the scene unfold. This wasn't good, but she couldn't go anywhere, even if they let her. "She knew where to find us Raphael," Leo informed, his voice totally emotionless. Inside, he was nearly sick. This was... betrayal. He couldn't think of another word for it. "I can only think of one of us who could have shown her."
Raph watched him for a moment, determining his anger and just how much of a threat he was at the moment. After brief debate, his eyes turned to the girl on the couch. He struggled for a moment with her name. Fuck it. He couldn't remember it. "Who, exactly, are you?" he asked, his voice carrying none of his usual sarcasm.
Ivy flicked a glance towards him for a moment, then quickly away. He was pissed and... it scared the hell out of her. "Ivy." Her voice was barely a choked whisper.
Raphael nodded slightly, thinking. Yeah, that rang a bell. A biker bar... hotel... a hell of a lot of alcohol... He considered it for a moment, and remembered. He laughed quietly, without humor. "Ivy. Right. What the fuck are you doin' here?"
Don raised an eyeridge, glancing at her, then back at Leo. His brother still waiting for some kind of explanation. He was hiding his emotion rather well, but Donatello could feel the tension radiating from him. Ivy shifted uncomfortably under his scathing gaze and knew she'd better answer pretty damn quickly before this tension became explosive. "I... was hoping to see you again."
Leo tensed. I knew it; she does know him.
Raphael laughed out loud. He was still a little stunned and confused by this. He had no idea how she'd gotten down here. "See me again? If I wanted to see you, I'd come to you." He turned to leo and glared. "Look, I know what you're thinking and you're wrong. So don't even try and pull your 'we should stick to the shadows' bullshit. I didn't bring her down here."
"Then how exactly did she find us, Raphael?"
In spite of the use of his name, the question was aimed at both of them. Ivy shifted slightly. She was doubly uncomfortable now. There were two of them breathing down her neck, and it was getting ugly very fast. Raph's thoughts were a bit of a blur. How the fuck did she get down here? Who the hell did she think she was?
He growled low. "Ask her. I got nothin' to do with this."
Leo turned to the woman on the couch, looking past Mike in the process. "Well miss? How exactly did you know where to find him?" His tone was exceedingly polite, but made it clear he was expecting an answer.
Ivy swallowed. "I followed him down here."
Raph's eyes narrowed. A sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach told him he had a good idea how she'd pulled that off. He'd been more smashed that night than he remembered being in a very long time. It was a week ago, and he remembered being surprised he made it home when he woke up the next morning. He didn't remember the walk. The last thing he remembered involved licking butterscotch schnapps off of her chest, then waking up in his own bed with the worst hangover he'd had in his life. But he wasn't about to offer that ammunition to his brother. He turned away, instead and walked a few steps. "Aw fuck." It was clear he wasn't really leaving, but he stayed turned away.
Leo watched her, nodding slightly. "I see. And how..." He raised his voice so he was addressing Raphael's retreating form. "... did she manage that, Raphael?"
He was trapped. He was so trapped. He knew he was trapped. Leo was expecting an answer that would likely bring a good dose of humility with it, and he wasn't about to give it. She'd followed him, and he hadn't noticed her, and he was supposed to be a ninja? How could he not notice that? He didn't need to hear the words come from Leo to know they were there, and perfectly valid.
He turned his attention back to her, trying to avoid his brother. "So, what, you planned it? You are seriously fucked up, you know that?" Ivy watched, not about to say anything more than she had to, afraid of what might happen if she wasn't careful of what she said.
"I asked you a question Raphael."
He spun to Leo, sudden anger overwhelming him. It wasn't just at Leo. And it wasn't just at Ivy, either. A lot of it was at himself, in addition to both of them. "Shut up, Leo. Just shut up, okay? I don't need you stickin' your nose into this right now. Just back off." He was overwhelmed, and his brother wasn't helping matters any right now.
"I'd say I lost the choice on sticking my nose into it the second she walked through the door, Raph," he shot. "I am not backing off. This is exactly the kind of danger you going out and getting smashed-"
"What I do is none of your goddamn business, Leo!" he shot, cutting his brother off. He spun, turning fully to face him. "And for as convinced as you are that this is all my fault, we can't keep secluded our entire fucking lives, you know. Ain't like she's the first person we had down here and I'll be damned if she's the last."
"Maybe not but every person we bring down here is a threat Raphael, if you were even slightly more selective than a god damned cat in heat, we might-"
"Yeah, and she's such a fucking threat, ain't she?" he yelled back. "Might kill us all in our sleep, right? She didn't come down here to kill us, she came down here to get laid, Leo. She ain't a fuckin' threat until you make her one." He knew that was weak. He knew damn well how weak his argument was. But he wasn't about to back down.
"And you know that how, exactly?" Leo had by this time pretty much forgotten she was sitting right there. "She may not be a threat, but did you consider who else she might have told? Does this clan mean so little to you Raphael, that you're willing to throw it away for the sake of getting off?"
He was so angry he was shaking. True, Ivy really didn't look like a threat, looking back and forth between the two of them, not daring to say a word. But with that threat nullified, all of his anger was free for his brother. Raphael was mad, but his thoughts were a blur. The words were there, but they weren't coming out like he wanted them to.
"Why's she got any reason to tell anyone else, huh? I ain't fuckin' stupid, Leo. Not like I'm going out and sleepin' with fuckin' kunoichi 'n shit. She's just some chick who knows a good lay when she sees it. End of story. And it don't concern you!"
"It concerns me the minute she walked into our home Raphael! How exactly did she manage to follow you, huh?" Raph growled as his brother stalked toward him, getting in his face. His hands went for his weapons, but he didn't pull them. It was more an instinctive self-assurance than a threat aimed at Leo. He was pissed, but not pissed enough to cause any real bodily harm to his brother. "Even you should have noticed someone behind you!" Yet.
His eyes narrowed as he considered the safest way to answer that. "I dunno, Leo." His voice darkened, taking on a sadistic, dangerous edge. "What if I did bring her down here? The fuck do you think you'd do about it? What if I brought her down and fucked her on our kitchen table? What would you do about it, huh?"
Ivy's eyes widened slightly, and she stared in shock. Raph's words stung her, but she was more frightened of Leo at the moment. She wanted to stop this arguement, but knew better than to get between two riled up males. At the rate they were going, she was bound to get her head bit off if she tried. No wonder he lied to me about his family if his home life is like this...
"Other than having my opinion of your intellgence confirmed once and for all?"
Raph growled again. "The hell do I care what your opinion entails? I'm gonna fuck who I want, when I want, where I want and there ain't a goddamn thing you can do about it. And you know it. And I think that fact alone pisses you off a hell of a lot more than the fact that this girl happens to be here now because of it."
Leo's voice dropped, almost to a whisper. "Its nice to know where your opinion of your family lies Raphael. Thank you for sharing it. I'll be sure to take the proper precautions so your recklessness doesn't put the rest of us in any more danger than it has to."
"Yeah, you do that, Leo. Tell you what, you want me to leave? Stop putting you in danger? Fine. I don't have to sit here and take this shit from you." He turned away. "Fuck you Leo. And that ain't got nothin' to do with my fa." ."
"No, it never does, does it?" Leo shot back. "Whatever Raphael wants, regardless of the consequences, either to himself, or others, he gets, right? You are such a spoiled little child Raphael. When are you going to learn to grow up?"
Raph stopped dead at the door and gave every ounce of concentration toward not spinning around and attacking the son of a bitch. He. Hated. Being patronized. And Leo knew it. He was pushing his buttons. And he was about two steps away from pushing him clear over the edge. He turned slowly, head lowered, a low, animalistic growl sounding low in his throat. "Don't. Fucking. Push me. Leonardo."
Don tensed, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Mike's hands come to rest on his weapons. They both knew those words hit hard. He knew there was probably going to be bloodshed here. And while neither one of them were stupid enough to even think of getting between Leo and Raph, the fact that they were both armed and ready if it should turn out to be a fight to the death offered the slightest bit of reassurance.
Leo recognized all the warning signs. He'd seen them all, countless times before. He wasn't really sure if he cared right now. "Don't put the clan in danger, and I wouldn't have to."
Raph's eyes narrowed into slits. "You tell me one time when this clan wasn't in danger, Leo. We're fucking science experiments waiting to happen, living in a goddamn sewer, hiding out from a much larger and more powerful clan... My social life is the least of your worries if you wanna protect this clan."
"Your social life is a large part of what makes protecting this clan so difficult. How many of your other girlfriends followed you home? Who do they work for? Who are they related to? Who do they know?"
"And is it any of your business?"
"You go out, get pissed, and could lead a fucking army back here, and you'd never know until it was too late," Leo continued, undeterred. The fact that he was swearing alerted him to just how angry he was at the moment.
"Risk ipartpart of life. You'll understand that if you ever decide to have one."
Leonardo glared at him. "Look. I don't give a damn if you're out risking yourself." Liar... "But you have no right to risk the rest of us every time you have an itch to scratch."
Raph wasn't sure just how much more of this he could take. He had to get the hell out of here before he ended up killing his brother. "Fine! She's a threat. You want me to fix it? You want me to put the clan out of the danger I've put us in?"
He was away from the door, around Leo, and beside the couch in a second and a half. Another half second found his weapon unsheathed, his hand on Ivy's forehead, pulling her head back against his plastron and baring her throat. "This what you want, Leo?
Ivy's eyes went wide. She didn't move. She didn't dare breathe. Don tensed noticeably, and Mike's jaw dropped. Everyone in the room was caught totally off guard. And Mike he knew that the fact he was standing in arm's reach of his brother didn't mean a damn thing if he wanted to slit her throat.
But Raphael held still, challenging his brother. Leo watched him in shock. His brother was angry... he didn't know just how angry. And she was a logical target to begin with.
"Or do you want me to leave," Raphael growled. It wasn't really a question. His voice lowered, almost to a whisper. "I said don't fuck with me. I meant it."
Leood tod there in silence, watching. He wasn't about to challenge his brother at this point. Raph jerked his weapon back, shoving her forward slightly, and walked to the door, his fist still clenched around the handle. He didn't speak, didn't make eye contact, just walked, determined. If he stopped, it would be to cause serious bodily harm to his brother, and probably himself in the meantime. He didn't care. He wasn't thinking. He just needed to get the hell out of there.
Leo remained silent, watching him go, listening as the door slammed behind him. Ivy stared, shaking slightly, struggling to breathe. She felt funny. The adrenaline in her veins was something she had not felt before. At least, she'd never felt it to such an extent before now. He... could've killed her. He was so angry. She couldn't help the wash of pity that came over her. She'd never in her life seen someone so unhappy. She totally understood now why he'd avoided questions about his family, and why he'd lied to her.
It wasn't his fault. He knew that. She was the one who'd gotten him drunk. She was the one who'd followed him. But this brother of his... the way he fired those insults at him... She realized he would've attacked him no matter what the cirtanctances could be. Raphael was the scapegoat in this family. This "clan" as they called it. A surge of anger rushed through her as she looked back at the figure still watching the door. Why was he so mean to him?
"Are... you okay?" She started, and looked to the one beside her, with an orange band around his eyes. He offered a weak smile, but he was obviously still a bit shaken by the scene that had just unfolded.
She didn't have a chance to answer before a cold, emotionless voice interrupted her. "I think that perhaps it is time for you to go home." She looked up and tensed as she saw Leonardo watching her. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you to keep this place a secret." His voice was flat and matter of fact.
Ivy nodded slightly, more than a little intimidated. "I...won't say a thing. To anybody. I promise."
"Good. Mike? Make sure she gets home safely. She's not dressed to meet with strangers."
She felt her face get hot as he turned and walked away, just like that. That was it? Just a barked order, and he walked away? And Mike obeyed. He stood, and offered her a hand. She took it hesitantly and rose, making sure her coat was kept tightly around her barely-dressed body.
She tried not to put too much weight on her foot as she struggled with her shoes, leaning on Mike a little. He slipped an arm around her waist, modestly high, and exchanged brief glances with Don as he led her to the door. Don only stared, and glanced over his shoulder as he heard a faint click... and Splinter's bedroom door closed.