𝒰𝓃𝒸ℴ𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓉𝒾ℴ𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 | 𝖡𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖨𝖨 | TMNT

Chapter 8 | No Expectations

𝟛𝕣𝕕 ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟 ℙ𝕆𝕍~

"It is all over the police scanner, they are hunting you. What happened up there?"

💙 "Tell him, Raph. Tell him how you broke rank and got us all exposed. For the most selfish reason." Leo grabs the vile of ooze from Raph and shows Splinter.

❤️ "The Foot were gonna get their hands on it," Raph growls as he gently sits Akari in a chair. She woke up on their way back to the lair, but she's still a bit disoriented.

💙 "You didn't know that!"

💜 "Stealing from police headquarters... There's no scenario where you wouldn't get caught."

❤️ "Maybe if you hadn't lied to your own flesh and blood..."

💙 "Oh, wait. The way you lied to April? And now she's taking the fall for your mess." Leo turns towards Akari and points an accusing finger at her. 💙 "And you! If you didn't lie to her too, none of this would've happened. But you let her believe this plan would work. Now look at where we are!"

❤️ "Don't yell at her, Leo! She just took a fucking bullet for us!"

💙 "She could've gotten killed! She's being reckless—You're all being reckless!"

"Raph is right, Leonardo. If you didn't keep secrets from us, we wouldn't have had to run around, trying to do things in secret ourselves."

💙 "So this is my fault?!"

"YES!! Are you finally getting it through your thick skull?! Or do I have to say it again?!"

💙 "Say ONE more thing!! I dare you!"

"Leonardo!" Splinter yells at his son in disbelief.

Akari chuckles darkly before clenching her jaw, hot tears begin trailing down her rosey cheeks. In this moment, she feels as if she could just shatter into a million pieces. "I've been up for nights, wondering where you've been. And I've already been through about seven scenarios, just wondering what changed your mind—Knowing very well you told me we'd talk, and it happens every time." Leo clicks his tongue in annoyance as he looks away from Akari's burning gaze. He knows she's right. All he's done is avoid her and any possible conversations with her. "I wish I had no expectations—I wish I could get it through your head. With no confrontation, I really wish we could talk about it instead. All these tears that I cry, while I'm turned to the side, and you're in the same fucking room. I wish I had no expectations, but I expect, you expect, we expect."

🧡 "Akari—"

"No, I don't mean to pry. I don't need no play-by-play. All I need from your side, is for you to communicate." Akari grows angrier with each passing second. The pain from her wound long forgotten as she stands and slowly approaches Leo. "Respect for my time! Respect for my space! Respect for my energy! 'Cause I've been waiting here all night, for you to talk to me, and you haven't once thought of me."

💙 "That's not true." Akari sighs heavily as she turns away from the stubborn turtle. Her heart aches more than it ever has before. She feels like she's lost Leo for good this time. 💙 "And of course I respect those things, but—"

"I wish I had no expectations! I wish I could get through your head! With no confrontation, I really wish we could talk about it instead! All these tears that I cry while I'm turned to the side and you're in the same fucking room! I wish I had no expectations, but I expect, you expect, we expect." With a final sigh, Akari turns and limps her way towards her bedroom, not wanting to show her tears any longer.