Broken

Chapter 14- Been Strong for Too Long

POV: Raquel
Me and Kendra sat in her room for a while.
I turned over to look at the clock hanging on the wall.
1:45 am.
I was so fucking tired. I rubbed my eyes. I've been up for more than 16 hours. I haven't even rested since Leo and I escaped. Kendra was on the brink of falling over on the bed. Her eyes a blinked furiously to stay awake.
I didn't hear the groans and painful grunts downstairs anymore. I can only think the the surgery went well. It wasn't long before I heard creaking footsteps coming up the stairs. Jackie peeked her head around the door and stepped in with a warm smile.
I suddenly felt fully awake. I quickly jumped off the bed, making Kendra almost bounce off in the process. I heard a growl of annoyance behind me as I ran up to Jackie.
"Did you do it? Is Leo okay?" I didn't mean for my voice to sound so desperate.
"Shh, relax honey, Leonardo is fine. He's downstairs on the couch, resting."
All my worries and thoughts for Leo just washed away at that moment. My heart leptospirosis when she said he was alright and no longer had a bullet embedded in his shoulder. A relieved exhale of my breath I've been holding in left my lungs.
"Oh, thank God. Can I see him?"
"He should be awake."
I rushed right past Jackie and hopped down the stairs. I stopped halfway down and looked over the stair rail.
Leo was sitting comfortably on the couch, with a box of Ritz crackers next to him, stuffing a handful of crackers into his mouth as he wanted TV. The screen light of getting screen danced across his face. His expression was calm and content. A thick bandage was wrapped around his shoulder, and halfway down his arm. His arm was snuggly tucked into a sling.
I smiled.
"Hey you."
Leo blinked out of his trance on the television and looked up at me. His blue eyes sparkled and a grin brightened his face. I didn't give him anytime to speak as I came down at the speed of light and let myself fall into him, making a note not to hit his shoulder. He grunted as the weight of my body fell forcefully on his lap. I wrapped NY arms around his neck and buried my head in the crook of his neck.
Everything fell silent, with the exception of the voices and background music from the TV.
I didn't move. I didn't breathe. I was just hanging on him as if my life depended on it. The calming sound of his steady breaths, inhaling and exhaling, soothing me. The familiar feeling of his smoothed, scaled skin took over the feeling on my fingers. I nuzzled deeper into his neck, taking comfort in his presence on me. Leo didn't speak for the longest time, but I felt his eyes glued on the back of my head. He took in a breath and sighed through his nostrils, sending little strands of my hair vibrate, tingling the back of my head. His left arm reached around my back, gently rubbing circles over over my lower back. I felt his lips faintly touch the top of my head and planted a kiss. He rested his cheek atop my head, I giggled at his cute actions.
"You're living it up down here huh?" I teased.
He laughed. "Oh yeah, eating crackers, watching TV, I'd consider this heaven after all the shit we've been through."
"Tell me a out it. How's your arm?"
"Eh, it's a bit sore, but otherwise okay. " Leo rolled his shoulder and adjusted his sling.
"Did she give you stitches?"
"Yep, though I barely felt it."
"Don't lie," I snickered, "I heard you from upstairs."
I slightly punched his plastron, which I instantly regretted afterwards as I held my throbbing knuckles to my chest.
"I said I barely felt it, doesn't mean I didn't feel it at all!"
"Bruh!"
"What? "
I shook my head, laughing. "Nevermind."
Leo rolled his eyes and turned back to the TV. The sound of familiar voices and chain clattering caught my attention.
"What are you watching?"
"Um...Ghost Rider."
"Ooh! I love that movie!" I tossed around so I could sit forward in his lap. He wrapped  his good arm around my torso and pulled me close to his plastron.
We both sat in comfortable silence as we watched the movie.

POV: Leonardo
This was nice. Just this one moment, here watching TV, Raquel in my arms. It felt so normal, like nothing ever happened. I remember having moments like this, back at home with my brothers. We'd all be sitting in our living room watching action movies, gourging ourselves on pizza and popcorn. Mikey's childish behavior always lightening the mood, Raph's rough housing with me, Donnie always pointing out the actors of each character and blabbering about how they made the special effects...and Dad, always being the one to endure our antics while he'd try patiently to watch with us. Even April and Casey would stop in for movie night...
I want to go home, be surrounded by my brothers again. I want everything to go back to how it used to be. I wish none of this ever happened.
If only I could've seen the signs of the ambush when we were separated by the Foot clan...and Quinn.
That fucker should not even exist...along with the rest of them. Carlos Quinn, Eric Sacks, they never done anything good. These past few months have been the worst ever. Everything has been nothing but bad luck.
But...Raquel...
Without this "series of unfortunate events," I never would've met her and experienced these feelings I share for her.
But was everything really worth it all?...
I bit my lip, I felt guilty for even thinking that. I mean, I love her. I'd give her everything, but...GAH!
I was always taught to repress these kinds of emotions, to think with my head before my heart.
If I would listen to my better judgement, it would probably say it probably would've been better that this whole thing never happened. I would be back at home with my family and Ray would never have been kidnapped or mutated for that matter. She would be living her normal life back with her parents, who I'm sure is missing hear to no end. In normal circumstances, she's perfectly capable of handling herself without me.
But, now if I listen to my heart, I couldn't bare the thought of not knowing a girl like her that has loved me for me, and will probably be the only one who ever will, for being there for me in the hardest time in my life. I want to be forever by her side; as a friend, or brother, or maybe even a lover, or even all of the above. I know we'll figure something out. Hopefully we'll be able to find my brothers and we can finally go home. But even so...nothing will ever be the same again.
"My brothers..."
If only I could've fought harder for them that night...
I felt torn in two.
"Leo, please don't cry." Raquel's small voice spoke up and stared up at me with big hazel eyes.
"What do you mean?"
I wiped under my eyes to feel something wet on my fingertips.
"You miss them don't you?...Your brothers."
I nodded as more tears threatened to leak out from my eyes. My eyes stung and my breath began to hitch. Raquel looked upon me with pity and sympathy in her eyes.
"Everything is going to be okay, I promise."
She took a hold of my head and hugged it tightly. I quietly sobbed into her shirt as she brushed her fingers over my head.
"I'm-I'm s-sorry." My voice kept breaking, "I'm sorry f-for acting like this..."
I was ashamed for feeling this way and for crying like a child.
Raquel rested her head on mine. "Leo," She began, her voice was soft and understanding. "You don't need to be sorry for crying, it's okay to cry."
"No its not! It shows weakness and I can't show any weakness, especially now."
Ray turned to look at me straight in the eyes, looking like I just said something offensive.
"I don't know who told you that Leo but that's a bunch of bull crap! Crying is not weakness Leo. Sometimes..." She sighed, "...sometimes people who cry mean that they've been strong for too long. And you've been nothing but strong through all of this."
I looked at her, taking in all of her beautiful features. She gave me a kiss on the nose and wiped the remaining tears from my face.
I knew she meant what she said.
I could truly feel the love shown by her that was emanating from her entire being. I felt warm inside and started to calm. I furiously rubbed at my eyes with my good hand annulled her closer to my chest.
"I know you're right, but being a leader, I was taught to set those emotions aside, trained as a ninja, I'm supposed to only focus on the task at hand with a clear head. Not letting my emotions get in the way, so that everyone gets out safe."
"Well, that maybe so, but this situation is a little bigger than that for both of us. It's not uncommon to snap under the pressure."
"Guess so..." I murmured, staring at the shaggy carpet below.
"C'mon, it's past 2:00. We should get some sleep. You sleeping on the couch?"
"I don't have much of a choice."
Ray giggled, "Point taken. I'm bunking with Kendra."
Ray crawled off my lap and headed upstairs. Before she made it all the way up, she stopped in mid step and turned back to me with a bright smile.
"I can't wait to see your brothers. I'm looking forward to meeting them."
I smiled and let out a quiet laugh.
"I can't wait either."
"Goodnight Leo...I love you."
"Love you too Ray, sleep well."
She nodded and finished her path up the stairs for the last time for the night. I took an arm pillow and layed my head on its soft surface, letting my eyes close with ease.
I can't wait either...