Dagger From the Mirror (ROTTMNT/TMNT 2012 Crossover Fic)

Opposing Views

"So what was so important that I just had to meet you guys here tonight?" Casey asked, crossing his arms over his chest and raising one brow, "I had practice tonight! You guys don't normally make me miss those unless it's an emergency."

"Trust me, Case," This world's Raph said, chuckling. "You're gonna think it was worth it."

Leo watched as Raph and Casey argued a bit more over this, their world's April cutting in once or twice to assure Casey that Raphael wasn't lying. Both Mikeys had chosen to stay home to help the new Raph get used to the lair and being in control of himself again, and, for some reason Leo couldn't understand, Donnie had stayed behind as well; a strange decision in Leo's mind since Donnie loved to watch Casey get confused, but he supposed the portals were more important in the long run. He couldn't blame Donatello for wanting to stay home to study them. It'd help them in the long run anyways.

So for now, it was just himself, his world's Raph and Casey, and both Aprils.

Because just as she said she would, New April had lived up to her promise to come with Leo's group to meet Cassandra. She stood with them now with a cross look on her face, scowl never quite vanishing from her lips. Ever since they had decided that they were definitely going through with their decision, she had barely spoken to anyone besides her Mikey and Raph. That wasn't to say she was being rude; no, she still answered Leo and his world's team's questions. She replied when they addressed her—she wasn't ignoring them—but she wasn't starting conversations with them on her own anymore either. The friendship they had gained with New April seemed to be on hold now... Leo just hoped it wasn't gone forever. She was a strong ally and a good friend, one who seemed to have a strong recognition of common sense (something the rest of his team lacked at times). He'd really hate to lose that.

He needed someone he could trust to use their head when times got rough, and he knew this new April was someone he could trust.

"Leo, I thought you said she'd be here by 11:45," Raphael hissed out, catching his older brother's attention with a glare. Leo glanced down at his T-Phone in his hand and frowned. Cassandra had promised that, yet now it was 11:55, and the girl was nowhere in sight.

"I told you you couldn't trust her," New April muttered so quietly that Leo almost missed it. Still, he winced.

Being a little late didn't mean anything, right? Even if Cassandra was planning on betraying them, doing so so soon seemed off. It would be smarter to wait a bit longer to earn their trust first (and she definitely hadn't earned that yet). Not to mention, why would being late mean betrayal? If this was a setup, she'd be here early to set the trap, not late—it didn't make any sense.

But seeing his team begin to look around nervously combined with New April's knowing glare, Leo started to doubt himself.

What if this was a trap? What if he just led his entire team into danger without knowing? Was it too late to stop it? What if-

"Sorry I'm late, got caught up with something."

Leo nearly sighed in relief when he heard the Foot Recruit's voice, and turned around just in time to see her jump down from the building besides their own. Landing swiftly on the roof next to them, she rose to her feet and removed her mask. She looked at each of the individuals present with a hand on her hip and an unamused frown.

"So, what did you want to show me?"

Leo sent a reassuring smile to New April, who seemed to take it as an "I told you so" instead of the gentle encouragement he meant it as. She scowled. This world's Casey did too.