Of Turtles and Lizards

You expect me to believe that?

Leo and Donnie were doing a two turtle patrol of the east side tracking down a canister of mutagen. Raph, Mikey and Casey were on the west side of the city, looking into reports of a monster sighting. They'd been wandering around for about half an hour and they still hadn't found it, though the tracked indicated it was definitely within a half-mile radius of their current position.

The sound of Krang droids made both turtles drop to their knees and peer over the edge of the building into the dark alley below. Both droids stopped and the two turtles could just about make out a quick flash of movement in the shadows. A shot rang out and one of the Krang went down. The other looked around nervously, shooting wildly into the air when a light green tail wrapped around its foot and dragged it down into the dark.

Don turned to Leo who stood with his fists clenched, eyes narrowed, a large frown marring his face. Then, completely without warning, the leader jumped down into the alley, Donatello following a little more cautiously. As soon as he landed the mutagen tracker started going crazy and he looked up just as a lithe reptililian figure stepped into the light.

"I take it this is what you were looking for?" She stated as she held out the canister of mutagen.

"What do you want Mona Lisa?" To a stranger, Leo's tone was calm and firm, but to Donatello it was clipped, hard, controlled, like he was desperately attempting to hold himself back. Wait...Mona Lisa?

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Don's POV

Mona Lisa...she's the one that got Raph hurt! My eyes narrowed and I took a good long look at her. She was small, shorter than Raph, and muscular, but not buff, just lean and slender. She certainly didn't look very threatening, but then again she had just taken down two Krang bots in less than half-a-minute.

Leo tensed as she took another step towards him, his hands flying to his katanas. He pointed one of them at her. "Don't."

I watched as she knelt down and placed the mutagen on the ground, pulling her hands into her lap. "You'd strike me even though I'm trying to help you?"

"We don't need your help." My brother retorted his grip tightening on his katanas as he edged close enough to swipe the mutagen up with one hand.

I spoke up before Leo did anything stupid. "Leo, we should go. Raph and Mikey might need backup." I could see the anger leaving his eyes as he nodded and sheathed his blades.

We turned our backs to her and started to leave when she spoke. "My feelings for your brother are real, Leonardo."

My older brother wheeled around, hands at his sides, obviously using all his effort to maintain his control. "You expect me to believe that?" he said, control slipping as his tone turned harsh.

She was still in that same position as before kneeling with her arms resting in her lap, her head lowered. In submission. I realized. She's submitting herself to his judgment. "No. But you should."

Leo tensed. "Why?"

"Because it's the truth." It wasn't until then that she looked up and I finally got a good look at her face or more specifically her eyes. They were a deep chocolaty brown that seemed to radiate a certain warmth and depth of emotion. But it wasn't her eyes themselves that made me stare, it was the way they shone. They practically glowed and for the first time that night I realized what she was here for: redemption. Not forgiveness, no, she knew that Leo would never truly forgive her for what happened to Raph, but she risked a fight just so that she could get it all out in the open. Whether we choose to believe her or not. I have to admit, I was impressed. It was certainly an honorable act. Leery as I was about her intentions, I found myself inclined to believe her.

"You used him."

There was ashort silence before she spoke quieter, more hushed. "While I admit that those were my original intentions..."

"That's all there is to it." Leo turned around once more starting to walk away, but she wouldn't have it.

"No it isn't!" She shouted, losing her calm before she took a deep breath and continued evenly. "Things change. I changed. I...liked him. He swept me off my feet." The last phrase was barely audible and at that moment my mind was made up.

"I believe you." I stated softly.

Mona Lisa's gaze snapped up in shock, obviously not expecting that. Her eyes studied me for a few moments before returning to the ground. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." I answered, trying my best to ignore the betrayal that flashed in my older brother's eyes shocked expression.

Leo stepped over and handed me the mutagen. "Go on home, Donatello."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What? No! Leo, we need to listen to what she has to say!"

"Go home Donnie, I'll take care of it." He stated calmly, a little to calmly for my taste.

"No."

"What?"

"You heard me, Leonardo. I'm not leaving until I hear what she has to say." I replied just as calmly. Leo backed down and I did a mental victory dance. I won a fight with Leo! I thought to myself. I turned back to the mutant girl, who was now smirking at my older brother. I can definitely see the personality similarities. I thought to myself as I pictured Raph standing here smirking at Leo in much the same manner.

Leonardo turned and glared at her. "I'll hear what she has to say." He said to me, then he addressed her, "But under no circumstances will I believe a word you say."

"I'm not asking you to." She replied.

"Say what you want and get it over with."

"As I already said, you are right in your assumptions that I originally intended to use him. But the next thing I knew, it had become so much more than that. It became an adventure, something new and exciting, every time we met I never knew what to expect. And then..."

"And then?" Leo prompted impatiently, which earned him a glare from the girl on the ground.

"And then I kissed him." She was silent for a few moments before continuing. "I became aware of the depth of my feelings and I was terrified. I panicked and went into hiding for a week. I tried to ignore what had passed between us, tried to forget everything. But I couldn't. I had to see him again."

"He got hurt."

"We all make mistakes." Mona Lisa stated staring up at them. "I made one taking him with me that night. I suppose he told you what happened?"

"No."

From the look on her face, I guessed that that wasn't what she was expecting to hear. "We were doing well. We'd successfully infiltrated the building and began fighting the krang. The two of us were winning, until a Krang with a missile launcher showed up. I didn't see it until it was too late. When he pushed me out of the way and took the missile himself...my world fell and crumbled around me. The battle, my revenge on the Krang, none of it mattered anymore. Everything faded into the background and Raphael became more important. You keep accusing me of using him, of not caring: do you really think I would have called you, told you where we were, and proceeded to guard him with my life until you arrived if I didn't care?"

"Are you finished?" Leo asked, his deep blue eyes turned cold and impassive.

"For now." Mona Lisa replied as she pushed herself up off the ground and walked past us, vanishing in the dark shadows of the night.