Of Turtles and Lizards

A Matter of Trust

A lizard stood alone on a rooftop staring up at the beautiful night sky, her thick, wavy hair billowing gently in the cool winter breeze.

Raphael watched her from above, standing on the roof of a nearby office building. His bandages were almost all gone and most of his injuries had healed. His shell still had some dents and scratches, and he had a small cut on his cheek that hadn't quite healed yet. The red-clad turtle jumped down onto the roof Mona Lisa was currently standing and snuck up quietly behind her.

The mutant girl turned and when she saw who it was she made a run for it, only to be held back when a large, three-fingered hand grabbed her wrist.

"Mona Lisa, please. I'm not going to hurt you. I wanted to thank you."

"Why should you? What could you possibly have to thank me for? Leading you on? Breaking your heart? If anything, I was the one who got you hurt!" She yelled at him, desperately trying to hold back the tears that threatened to run down her cheeks.

"Maybe, but you kept me alive until my brothers got there. Thank you." A long silence passed between them before the turtle whispered quietly. "My friend Casey told me what happened between you and Leo that night. Is it true?" The only thing he got was silence. "Is it true? You were just using me?"

Mona Lisa nodded; eyes lowered, bottom lip trembling slightly as small tears rolled down her face.

"What changed?" he asked.

Chocolate brown eyes stared at him in confusion.

"You wanted to use me against the Krang. If you'd stuck to your plan, you would have left me in that laboratory. What made you change your mind?"

She moved to stand directly in front of him, staring up into his beautiful bright green eyes. "I found out I cared more about you than I did about getting my revenge."

His eyes bore into hers searching for signs of deception, and found none. "Why do I believe you when you say that?" His gorgeous green eyes sparkling in the moonlight, glowing like a cat's.

"Because I'm telling the truth." She stated meeting his gaze, and for a moment Raph could see a reflection of the night sky sparkling there.

The hand that was gripping her wrist finally released it, before taking her hand in his and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I know." The turtle tugged on her arm and pulled her in closer, their faces only inches apart. "I'm going to trust you." He wrapped an arm about her waist pinning her to his plastron. She clung to him, laying her head gently against his plastron.

"And I swear to you, Raphael Hamato, you won't regret it."