Remember. [TMNT 2012]

Chapter 6; Elizabetta

Song: Okay - As It Is

"What's wrong?!" Michelangelo asks urgently as he appears by my side.

   "M-my mom," I stammer. I can feel tears flooding my eyes. It's embarrassing, but there is no way I can stop. "And my brother. They were in that building."

   I still can't stop denying it. Are they really gone?

   "What?" Leonardo steps forward and stares at me intently. "How do you know?"

   "We were kidnapped by black-robed figures," I explain. I feel myself choking up, no matter how hard I try to stop it. I slowly begin to recall more of what happened, though the images aren't very clear. "I remember them going into that strange building with me... We were forced into a circular jail cell. After a while, a weird blue man with a brain in his stomach took me from the cage. I felt something hard hit my cheek, and everything went black..." The last few words crack so much that tears start rolling down my face.

   "Do you remember anything else?" Leonardo presses urgently.

   My throat closes up, so all I can do is shake my head. I don't know why I told them that. They don't care. They're just turtles. But my heart longs to confide in somebody, so it just spilled out.

   Leonardo and Donatello exchange glances, while Michelangelo rubs my shoulder. "It's ok, Lizzy. Just let it all out," the orange-clad turtle coos delicately.

   Raphael comes into the room. "Leo, come on. Let's get this show on the road." His gaze catches my eye and he asks with more confusion than concern: "Why are you crying?"

   "Her mom and brother were in the Kraang facility, too," Leonardo replies to the red-clad turtle.

   Raphael's eyes widen and fill with burning hot fire. "Well, let's hunt down those Kraangdroids and teach 'em a lesson!"

   "I agree!" Michelangelo says as he squeezes my shoulder and lets go.

   Though my face is still wet with tears, I muster enough strength to speak up. "I'm going with you," I sniffle.

   "What do you know about fighting the Kraang?" Casey snorts.

   "Yeah, you'll just get yourself killed," Raphael adds with a dark glance at me.

   I suddenly lose the urge to cry. It's replaced with a feeling of indignation. And anger. I'm not a ninja, but I'm definitely not a weak little girl.

   I wipe the tears off of my face with my sleeve. "I want to go with you," I repeat as firmly as I can.

   Leonardo looks at Donatello. "Should we bring her with us?" he asks.

   Donatello offers me a sympathetic look. "I would advise against it. You still can't recall everything that happened. If we take you out and you get hurt, you might never be able to remember. And we need to know why you were in that chair so we can help you. And besides, if you're contagious then going out could risk other lives." When I still don't look convinced, he adds, "You need to stay here. That's the best thing to do right now."

   I am fuming. "My mom and brother didn't deserve to die! I want revenge!" I insist as my eyes start to tear up again. I half want to believe that they aren't gone, that they are safely at home waiting on my return. But deep down, I know that isn't the truth.

   "And we will help you get just that," Leonardo says smoothly. "But this isn't an attack mission. We are only going to scavenge the rubble for anything important that might have been missed. You can get revenge another time."

   Raphael and Casey let out harmonies of disappointed awes, while I stare into Leonardo's dark blue eyes. He returns the look steadily.

   "I want to get revenge on whoever killed my family," I whisper, willing him to understand my heartache.

   "I will do everything I can to contribute," Leonardo promises softly without breaking eye contact.

   All I can do is trust him, even if it's crazy to think he cares about my feelings at all. Then again, he is a talking ninja turtle. Things can't be any crazier.

   I am still upset about being left behind, however. Without another word, I stomp out of the laboratory and into the room I'm staying in. I lean against the wall and shove my pillow in my face. That's where I let out the remainder of my tears, both of grief and anger.

   It isn't even two minutes later when I hear footsteps and a voice.

   "Hey, dudette, don't cry." It's Michelangelo. He takes a seat beside me and removes the pillow from my face. His blue eyes sparkle with sympathy. "If there's anyone you can believe in, it's Leo. He's the most reliable turtle around."

   I stay silent. Michelangelo may trust him, but I have no reason to. Leonardo is forcing me to stay caged in their lair like an animal until Donatello figures out what's wrong with me. Suddenly, I want nothing more than to go home and sleep in my own bed. Even if my family isn't waiting for me, at least I'll be away from the turtles.

   Michelangelo touches my chin and makes me look him in the eyes. "I'll help you, too," he promises. It's the first time I've ever heard him talk in a soft voice. It's oddly nice.

   I smile grimly. "Thanks, Mikey. Now, go catch up with the others. They're probably waiting on you," I add bitterly, still annoyed that Leonardo made me stay behind. They're probably kicking the butts of whoever killed my family right this moment.

   Michelangelo shakes his head. "No, they're not. I told them I'd stay here so you wouldn't be lonely."

   My smile becomes slightly less fake. I look at him, wondering how an oversized turtle can be so thoughtful.

   "Have you ever seen Space Heroes?" the orange-clad turtle asks suddenly.

   I raise my eyebrows in surprise. "Yes, it's awful!"

   Michelangelo gasps. "No, it's not! It's the best show in the whole world!"

   I shake my head, but I'm enjoying the change of topic. "It's so stupid and boring. The plotline makes no sense."

   "That's because you haven't paid attention to it!" Michelangelo grabs my wrist and pulls me to my feet. "Let me show you."

   "I am not watching that horrible disgrace for a television series," I laugh, but I don't struggle against him. Truth is, I'm glad he's trying so hard to cheer me up.

   Michelangelo ignores my protests and drags me out into the main room. He sits me down on the couch and flips the television on. "You'll love it, just watch and listen closely," he tells me. His happiness is so contagious.

   I dry my face off on my sleeves and lean back into the couch. I pull my knees to my chest and focus on the television screen.

   Michelangelo and I laugh and make jokes about the comedic parts. We also gasp and fall silent when something serious happens. I slowly find myself intrigued.

   I have to admit that the show isn't too bad. Once you look past the jokes and strange characters, it's actually addicting. There's a whole storyline that makes your head spin just enough to keep you watching.

   Once the first episode is over, I look at Michelangelo in resignation. "Alright, that was pretty good," I say reluctantly. I'm not about to admit I was wrong. Come on, cut a girl some slack.

   Michelangelo seems to understand, though. He grins widely at me, his sky-blue eyes glowing. "Then let's watch another!"

   I let out a fake groan of annoyance, but I can't help smiling a bit. I really, really want to see what happens next.

   Michelangelo puts on another episode. We continue laughing and gasping together. As we do so, I find the walls I put up for Michelangelo falling down. He doesn't even know me, yet he's putting all his effort into making me smile. And despite the horrendous news I just found out, his antics are working. His goofiness is drying my tears up better than a tissue ever could. I even find myself trusting Michelangelo.

   Just a little bit.