I See Through You

Chapter. 17

I still couldn't believe it. Val and I are dating! Man, I'm the happiest and the luckiest turtle ever!

I love her so much. I want to see her smile all the time, and I want to hold her all the time too.

I was so happy when her parents gave us their blessing. Even more when Splinter gave us his blessing.

But I still wanted to do something special for her. She told me about that Brazilian custom of the rings or necklaces, so I felt like I should follow it. She's been away from her family and from her country for so long, I'm sure she misses them. Also, I talked with Donnie about it, since he helps her every now and then with her studies and they talk a lot about her country's culture, and he confirmed it. Her family is more traditional like, so there are a few things that she grew up used to, like big meals with the whole family together, and stuff like that. I asked him more about it and he told me there was this habit a lomg time ago that the men gave their beloves ones gifts. So I decided to do something like that, but a tad different and I hope she'll like.

Currently, I was going to her house as usual. And today it would be four months since we started dating - which passed by really fast - and barely two months away from her birthday and three from her prom.

When I arrived there, I knocked on her window.

"It's open!" I heard her saying.

I opened it and got in her bedroom, her mother soon enough showed up.

"Oh, Leo. Glad to see you here."

I nodded. "Mrs. Lopes."

After that, she closed the door and Val turned to me.

"What are you doing?" I asked as I hugged her.

"Reading." She said as I felt her hugging me back.

I looked at her table. An open book full of dots. Braille.

When we pulled back, I kissed her forehead.

"Listen, I have a surprise for you." I said.

She raised an eyebrow. "I wonder what it is. Will I like it?"

"You will love it. Come on." I said as I held her hand and started to pull her towards the window.

"Cane." She said, making me stop, grab her cane and give it to her.

"Thank you." She said smiling. "Mom! Dad! We're going to the lair!"

"Okay, sweetie! Be careful!"

"Sure thing! Bye!"

Just then...

"Leonardo." Her door opened. I turned around to see her father.

"Mr. Lopes." I said as I bowed my head.

"I don't want her back here a minute after 11, got it?"

"Yes, sir." I said.

"Dad." Val said in an annoyed tone.

"I know he's your boyfriend, but I'm still your father, so let me do my job." He said as he kissed his head.

"Fine." She said.

He turned to me and winked. He knew what I was going to do. I nodded.

"Shall we?" I asked her.

"After you." She said smiling.

With that, we left, but not to the lair.

Timeskip

"Uh, Leo?"

"Yeah?"

"Where are we? I can tell this isn't the lair. It smells different and seems like it has lots of people. Aren't you not supposed to be seen?"

"Yes, I am. But you'll like this surprise. I promise."

She rolled her eyes. "Alright. Let's just get done with it. I'm excited." She said jumping a bit.

I laughed at her. Soon enough, we reached the right floor.

Then we got inside the destinated place.

"Alright. We're here." I said as I helped Val stand on her feet.

"Where are we, Leo? Is it now I get to know what the surprise is?"

Then...

"You're right on that one, Valentina." Chief Vincent said as she walked up with the surprise.

I smiled as I saw it.

Still, Val nodded as soon as she heard Chief Vincent's voice like a greeting.

"Chief Vincent." She said. "Are you part of the surprise?" She asked as she frowned.

I chuckled. "Sort of. She's holding it."

"Holding what?"

"Val, can you crouch?"

"I... Think so. Can you help me?"

"Sure." I said as I crouched first and she followed me.

Then, the surprise came closer and closer.

"Alright, Val. Now I need you to extend your hand."

She does as she's told, and her eyes widen when she feels what the surprise is.

"Is this... A dog?"

I smiled. "Yep. Val, this is Zeus. And he's a guide dog." 

She turned to me with eyes wider than ever.

"Tell me you didn't get me a dog." She said.

I could only laugh at her. "Actually... I got you a dog."

"Shut up! Really?!"

"Yeah. Chief Vincent helped to get him for you."

She covered her mouth as her eyes began to water, which made me smile at her sympathetically. She already told me so many times how much she wanted a dog, but they were expensive, or at least that's what her parents told her.

But when I talked to them, they said that they were planning on giving her one for her birthday, but they didn't know how they'd get one dog that could help her with her blindness. So it had to be an eye seeing dog, and usually those kind of dogs are big, and the apartment Val and her parents live in is not that big, even though it has two floors.

So I talked with Chief Vincent and saw what she could do.

And after three months, we managed to get Val her dream dog, although she didn't know it yet.

Still, I hugged her and kissed her head.

"Did you like the surprise?" I asked.

"*Sniff* I loved it. I still can't believe you got me a dog. And a guide one."

"It's not just a guide dog. He's a German Sherperd."

"Oh, my God. Leo... I can't believe it..." She mumbled as she leaned on me.

Then, she extended her hands and Zeus sniffed them. After that, he charged a bit forward and let her pet him and see him.

"*Sniff* He's so pretty..."

I smiled and kissed her head again as I rubbed her arm. "He'll help you out and protect you while I'm not around. What do you think?"

She laughed. "I loved it. I loved him..."

That made me smile really big. Then, I turned to Chief Vincent.

"Thank you, Chief." I said.

She nodded as she smiled. "Glad to help."

Then, I turned my attention to my girlfriend and her new dog.

"I love you." I whispered as I hugged her.

"I love you too." She said as she buried her head on the crook of my neck, her hands still petting Zeus.

I smiled as I managed to make her life a bit better, happier. That's all I want.