A Tale of Two Reptiles

Quiet Before the Storm

New York City was quiet. New York City was never quiet. Except tonight. And it was sending a cold, prickly feeling up and down Leonardo's spine. He'd been searching for Mona Lisa for almost two hours. He'd found her footprints in a muddy alley and he was tracking her. But it was slow going and the turtle just couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.

His eyes were white with determination as he moved from one building to the next, dodging obstacles and evading the populous.

It only took him another thirty minutes or so to find her. The lizard mutant was sitting on the roof of an old warehouse. Leo didn't like the look of it. It was dark and secluded, which should have been a good thing, but Leonardo just couldn't shake the feeling that there was something bad about to happen.

After a long moment of consideration he jumped over onto the building, standing about three feet behind her. She turned to face him slowly, and it seemed as though she had been expecting him.

"So..." she began, breaking the ice awkwardly.

"I came here to apologize. I never should have...I guess what I'm trying to say is...Well..." The blue-masked turtle floundered and stood there in silence feeling ashamed and annoyed at himself.

"No, Leo if anything I should be the one to apologize. My overreaction hurt the family more than your words hurt me. I see that now."

"No! Mona Lisa I...Uh! Why is it so hard to-Look, I was tense, nervous and worried. And I took it out on you, and you'd done absolutely nothing to deserve it. I had no right or reason to speak to you that way, and under any other circumstances I would never have lashed out in such a manner. I apologize and I hope that you will forgive me."

Her chocolate colored eyes met his for the first time that evening and she spoke, "It wasn't your fault I was the one who-"

The eldest turtle cut her off, "But I was the one who said it. I'm sorry Mona. I never meant to hurt you or anyone else, especially Raph."

"Leonardo, you were worried about your brother, I understand, you don't need to keep apologizing. I think we've both done that enough. There's just one thing I have left to settle and I want your absolute honest and truthful opinion on this: What are your thoughts concerning my relationship with Raphael?"

Leo stared at her for a moment, but he soon looked away and took a moment to think good and hard before answering her question. He put a hand on her shoulder, noticing the way she tensed at the touch. "Mona, Raph loves you. You mean everything to him. I swear that from this moment forward I will never come between my brother and the one he loves ever again. You love him too. I can see it in your eyes. Whatever resentment had been between us, its long gone. It has been ever since I've seen how much Raphael cares for you and you for him. I told you, I lashed out, heaven knows I've been through this same scenario with Raphael on more than one occasion. But...even then, I always knew that Raph would come back. You didn't. My actions this time almost cost me my life, and my little brother's love."

"I'm not going back if you don't want me there, Leo."

Dark blue eyes glanced down into hers. "Let me finish." She gestured for him to go ahead. "This family needs you just as much as it needs Raphael." Mona stared at him, surprise evident on her face. The turtle slowly came closer pulling her into a gentle hug and she stiffened. "You'll always be welcome in our family..." he paused and then whispered, "I'd be proud to call you sister."

The mutant lizard slowly returned her boyfriend's brother's embrace and wiped the happy tears from her eyes. "Thank you, Leo."

"Anytime Mona." The uneasy feeling returned, and Leonardo was certain they were being watched, but he turned towards her with a small smile, "Let's go home."

Mona Lisa nodded.