Through An Artist's Eyes - Book 1 - Raphael x OC x Leonardo

THE LAIR || CHAPTER 9

"Holy mackerel on a cracker!!!" I shouted with the last roof jump and grunt from Raph. He just laughed at me. I amused him with each gust of wind that passed by my body. I was also shocked by how gently he held me in his arms. But he still had a firm enough grip that I didn't fall from his arms.

Before I knew it, I heard metal clanking and we were going down as he jumped down and I listened to a big and hard thump behind us. Leonardo followed close behind Raph. With my painting clutched in his hands. I heard a loud sloshing sound as we were now on the ground. I think. Or are we in the sewers? Something smells.

"Phewww, thank goodness. I think I left my stomach up there." I muttered under my breath and Raph chuckled at my reaction. He shook his head at me. The pillow cover didn't leave me completely blind. I could still see shapes and silhouettes through the pillow cover.

"I am so sorry. Do you still want your eardrums? I want to keep my heart and throat if you don't mind. I already lost my stomach," I said sarcastically. Raph and Leonardo just shared a chuckle. I crossed my arms while he walked with me in his arms. I probably looked odd with the pillow over my head, trying to look in his direction.

"Ya, whatever ya say, Alley-cat," Raphael answered me, still amused with me.

I'm glad he couldn't see me rolling my eyes underneath the pillow cover. I don't need his attitude right now.

"So, Alley?" Leonardo started a new conversation. He sounded curious about something.

"Ya, wasup, Nardo?" I answered Leonardo. He was quiet for a moment. He was probably not used to the nickname. Most will probably call him "Leo" and not "Nardo".

"We noticed that you have a photo frame on your bedside table that is turned over. Want to talk about it?" I thought Leonardo was just trying to fill up the awkward silence and find out more about me. I am an odd human in their eyes.

My heart stopped for a bit at that moment. The sensation that my heart was lodged in my throat type of sensation. There was an eerie silence before I spoke.

"Well, the photo is of me and my Mom before she passed away. She passed away almost a year ago." I answered. I felt the tears at the ridges of my eyes again. No one is going to see me as weak. To cry is a weakness in my eyes. The last time I cried before today was at my Mom's funeral.

"Sorry to hear that. Want to tell us what happened?" Raph asked this time. I felt an odd comforting sensation around them. Even with Raph's asshole attitude. They sounded concerned.

"Um, not now, Red and Nardo," I answered them. I bit my lower lip. I will not break. Not in front of anyone.

"Well, we are here if you need to talk to anyone about it," Leonardo said gently. He sounded concerned as well. He knew it very well; it's a sensitive subject in my eyes.

"Ya, not likely. I tend to keep things like that to myself." I answered Leonardo and Raph. They huffed and sounded frustrated.

After a moment, I felt Raph slow down and he pulled a metal handle, and I heard a click. After metal-on-metal clanking noises, he moved again and then placed me on the ground next to someone, as I could hear heavy breathing next to me. I could hear whispers and low murmurs around me. No more eerie silence from a few moments ago.

"Aw yeah, welcome to my crib, angel cakes and goth cakes," Mikey said and through the thin pillow cover, I could see him stretching his arms out. This was the four turtles' home. The lair beneath the busy city.

"Where are we?" I heard April's voice. I was angry again. I did not like the situation we were in. We were as good as dead with her big mouth.

"It's our fortress of solitude," Donnie answered proudly and he seemed very close to me. I leaned back slightly. I felt someone standing behind me. Not knowing if it's Raph or Leonardo.