Under the Shining Lights

In The Dragon's Den

*TRIGGER WARNING* Threats of sexual violence and non-consensual touching

Raph found Madam Christel's office disturbingly comfortable, with all her pillows and blankets draped over chairs and couches. Books filled the shelves behind her desk, the wall to the left had windows viewing the street outside, and the right wall had many photos. They displayed Madam Christel with many dancers, smiling happily, some hanging from poles. Leo was in a couple.

"I must admit," The Madam started, hands clasped behind her back while she gazed out a window, "I'm furious that this happened under my watch. My sister and I pride ourselves in making sure our dancers are safe, and this was a catastrophic failure on our part,"

Almost on cue, another sheep yokai walked into the room, with Donny in toe. Her massive hair impressed Raph.

"Muriel, have you contacted Draxum?" Christel asked, the other yokai nodding. 

"He should be here soon," Muriel hummed, flopping into a chair by the windows, "I cut the line before he could scream my ear off,"

"Draxum? As in Baron Draxum?" Raph looked between them, "You guys know Barry?"

"He's our little brother," Christel explained, "He visits from time to time," She turned to her sister, "You really shouldn't hang up on him, you know how much it works him up-!"

"CHRISS!" Barry's booming entered the room, spooking all of them, "You better tell me everything-"

Barry stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of all his children in the office. The boys also looked at him in surprise, a number of thoughts running through everyone's head. Donny cracked first.

"Barry, you knew!?" He asked in utter disbelief, "Why didn't you tell us!?"

"I would have, but I have- had faith in my sister's ability to keep him safe," Barry said straightening out his robes, "And, I was compelled against my will," At that, he retrieved a torn piece of paper, "Your brother was adamant that he inform you all on his own terms. I guess he was a little late to that,"

Donny snatched the paper from Barry's hands, quickly reading it before nearly tearing it in his anger. Mikey peaked at the paper, softly gasping. 

"Aww, Barry!" Mikey squeezed Barry in a very tolerated hug, "You listened to Leo!"

"Why did you listen?" Donny pressed. Raph rolled his eyes.

"As I said, Muriel and Christel have always been very good at protecting their dancers," Barry huffed, putting Mikey back on the floor, "If it had been any other club, I wouldn't have let it slide. And besides, I wanted to give him a chance to come clean on his own."

"We'll talk about that later!" Muriel groaned, dramatically rising from the chair she was in, "Three of our own were taken from us by that- that bastard Vittoriano!"

"Vittoriano!?" Barry gasped, "I thought he was banished from the city?"

"Oh, when has he ever followed the rules!?" Muriel huffed. She stalked over to Christel's desk and picked up a manila envelope, shoving it into Barry's chest, "He's so committed to breaking rules, that he's defied logic!" She crossed her arms and returned to the window, "It is physically impossible to take pictures in the club! Yet, there they are!"

Barry carefully opened the envelope, a few photos dropping onto the floor. Raph caught one on reflex, looking at it curiously. He regretted it. The world liked to make fun of him it seemed, because he caught a picture of Leo performing. It was askew, but got a very good view of Leo spreading his knees apart with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. Ironically, Leo was more clothed than he normally was but looked like a, well, a stripper. It felt like he was making eye contact with the picture, even though the contacts made it impossible to tell.