The Shadow's Secret│TMNT

26 || The Midst of a War Zone - Part 1

I felt his eyes on me as I set the helicopter down sloppier than usual. I sighed and shut my eyes tightly, disappointed with myself.

I couldn't meet his gaze. He knew.

When the blades stopped rotating, I robotically climbed from my seat and pulled my helmet off, running my fingers through my hair to calm it down. I turned to see Uncle Tom watching me expectantly as if waiting for a question to be answered.

Oh, shit.

"What?" I asked.

He sighed through his nose. "I said, is something bothering you?"

Ugh, if only I could tell you everything. But he already knew something was up. When my flying was like that, something had to be up. So I told the half-truth.

"Just this guy I met a few days ago."

His face darkened protectively at the mention of another male. "What about this boy?" He pressed.

"No, don't worry, he's...not all that bad."

He crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Name?"

I groaned internally. He's gonna go all Sherlock Holmes on me. "Raphael," I admitted.

"And what'd this guy do to you?"

"Nothing Uncle, I'm just confused..." I shrugged helplessly.

"About what?"

I sighed and leaned against the aircraft. "I don't know, I'm just getting mixed signals." Uncle Tom waited patiently for me to continue. "Like sometimes he's this huge, cocky asshole but he just hides behind that. He's actually really nice, and a good listener, and really fun to be around. But I'm not sure if he likes being that person around me because he always tries to hide all that behind his anger. And of course, it doesn't help when I get mad at him for being angry. But I can't help it! I just want to know if he likes being around me or if I'm just annoying. God, I hate boys!" I glanced over at him. "Not you though, Uncle Tom." He chuckled and leaned against the copter beside me.

"What did Olivia say about this boy?"

My heart faltered and I felt a cold rush along my spine. "I didn't tell her," I admitted guiltily.

"Really?" He asked, thoroughly surprised, "why not?"

"I don't know. I just...ugh, I don't know. Sorry, just don't worry about it, I'll...I'll ask his brother."

"Another boy?" He breathed.

"Well, actually three more," I said sheepishly.

"Four boys!?" He exclaimed. "Raiy!"

I couldn't help but grin.

••• 影の秘密 •••

The manhole ground against the concrete as it was lifted out of the way. Leo waved me over and I hurriedly descended into the sewers.

"Okay, this thing," I waved the tracker in the air, "is sick."

He grinned. "Donnie'll be happy to hear that you like it. He started working on something you can use to communicate with us easier."

"Oh nice, so like a mini phone?"

That would make everything so much easier.

"I have no idea, I just let him do his thing," he laughed, "how was flight training?" A groan slipped from my lips before I could even think of a reply.