TMNT - Worlds Change

Three

Leo POV:

I tried to keep Venus relaxed, but I think my brothers scared her a little. Especially...

"Hey Venus, would you like some food?" Mikee offered her some snack foods with his mouth stuffed.

"Um. No, no thank you." She sat quietly with her legs drawn in.

"You sure?" Mikee was trying so hard to be nice. She shook her head.

"I'm sure. I usually can't eat for a while after a vision." I sat forward a little in my seat.

"So that's what it was? A vision?" I asked the question gently, trying not to frighten her. Though dangerous, she was also delicate. She nodded.

"It is because of my sister Athena." She seemed reluctant, but I needed some answers.

"How is that?"

"Well... We hatched from the same egg, twins. One of the others was taken from the experiment. When Master Shredder discovered the two of us, he decided to train her with similar abilites to those of Donatello." I nodded.

Donnie looked up from his work.

"Why not Raph's? He is more physical." He said. She glanced at him. Maybe she was just scared of Mikee. She seemed to respect Don.

"He wanted a stratigist.  He gathered the weapons choices from battles, times you were captured, even..." She grew suddenly quiet, looking away from Don and me to stare at the floor, "our first real battle."

She was quiet a moment. "Do you remember the time, when Stockman's mouser bots wrecked your old home?" I glanced at her, startled a little.

"Well... it was kind of traumatizing. It was our home." She sighed as I said this. She turned, gently moving the strap of her scabbier. A long gash ran across her shell.

"That day was the day I got this. Crushed for several hours under the rocks that filled the tunnel. Shredder and my sisters dug me out, taking me back to our home. My sister Iris healed the shell, and I was trained harder. I had been sent to kill you in the distraction. I failed." She gently moved it back, not looking at me.

"And now you failed twice. But that's good, right?" She seemed to debate that. I smiled softly as Mikee brought her a cookie. She smiled softly, politely taking it. He quietly walked over to Raph. I leaned in and whispered.

"He isn't too bad. Mikee I mean. He really is just trying to be kind. No matter how silly he is." She giggled softly.

"And are you not, Leonardo? Silly?" I blushed a little, not knowing why the question flustered me. It made her smile as I rattled my brain for an answer. That smile...

"Earth to Leo? You in there bro?"

"Hmm? Oh! Sorry, um. Just distracted a moment." I looked up at Donnie, who saw right through that stumbled response. I glanced at Venus, and could tell she was blushing too. "So what were you saying, Don?"

"I was asking if you had any ideas on how to find her sisters?" Donnie just smiled like normal, but I could see the struggle he was having not say told you so.

"I think he's a little busy with one girlfriend." Raph jeered. I glared at him. Don covered for me.

"Low blow Raph. But anyway, how about a bio signature search?" I smiled gratefully and nodded. He went straight to work, getting machines together and computer screens whirring with images and charts. Venus seemed almost sad.

"Athena would love this. All these monitors and computers and knowledge." She looked away from it all, the smile that had played over her lips moments before, gone.

"Venus, you know were going to find your sisters, right? We will get them away from Shredder and bring them here. Safe." I gently touched her shoulder. She smiled at me, fainter this time.

"Yeah Venus, We all know what it's like to have part of our family missing." Don smiled back at her and went to work. She glanced at each of us, our memories so clear to each other that it was hard to think she didn't already know.

"Thank you, Donatello. And you as well, Leonardo. It is... difficult for me to grasp. I'm supposed to lead them. Not leave them to be rescued." I could tell it pained her. Her pride was hurt that she wasn't strong enough. I understood. But Raph didn't.

"Oh I get it. You think you're Miss Perfect of your siblings. Just what we need. Another one." He stalked off. I sighed.

"I'll be back soon. Donnie will find them. He always found me." I walked after Raph, knowing where he would go.

Venus POV:

I watched him walk off, a familiar sense of part of me walking away. That was strange. I turned back to watch Donatello with his work.

"Can I ask you something, Donatello?" He seemed very happy to help.

"Sure. What can I help you with?"

"Is Raphael always like this? Or is this because of my sudden appearance?" He chuckled softly.

"No, this isn't his usual thing. But it isn't you that caused it if that's what you're worried about. He is hot-tempered and when a situation bothers him he takes off. It's just a coping mechanism for him."

"So... I bother him?" He whirled around, flustered.

"No, no! It's not that. The situation worries him. Leo distracted, damsels in distress. And usually no one can overcome Leo the way you did so that freaked him out a little. It's not that you bother him at all." I thought it over for a moment.

"Alright, so he is ok with me. He is just bothered by how easily I defeated your leader. That makes sense, I suppose. He reminds me of Bellona. His counter-part. She is... Hot- tempered as you put it."

"They will get along great." Donnie said smiling.

Leo POV:

"What are you doing up here, Raph? Is it her?" I sat down over the edge beside him.

"She's dangerous, Leo. She's threat to all of us. You saw what she could do against you, against all of us. Don't you think she could snap again at any moment?" A weary tone filled his voice. 

"Yeah. She could. But she also could be fine. She's one of us, Raph. If it were me, would you turn a blind eye?" He stood abruptly.

"That is different! You're my brother, we have to take care of each other." I smiled.

"And she is someone's sister. Don't you think they are worried? That they are looking for her? What if we could bring them to our side? 8 on 1 is a lot better odds that 4 on 1, don't you think?"

Raph sighed. He knew I was right.

"I still don't trust her. But I will help."
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We returned to the lair as the sound of beeping emanated through the open doorway.

"We got a hit! Central Park!" Donnie hovered over the keyboard, hands flying over the different keys at lightning speed. A cheer came from Mikee as I rested a hand on Donnie's shoulder.

"Great work, Don. Let's get ready to head out." I turned as the others headed out to the battle shell. Venus was standing off to the side, both happy and worried.

"Should I follow you then?" She seemed much more timid than when we first met.

"I think you should stay here, Venus. You are still recovering. I will bring your sisters back to you safe and sound. I promise."

"How will they know I sent you? They will not trust an outsider without proof."

"Do you trust me?" She seemed slightly startled by the question.

"Y-yes."

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"Hey, where's Venus?" Mikee looked up at me. 

"She's going to stay behind to let us handle it. Let's move."