The Leader Gave Me Hope: The First Book of the Freeformers Series

• Arguing •

Unedited

The laboratory was silent, despite the five teenagers within that would normally cause uncontrollable noise. Raph's black eye wasn't fully concealed by his mask, the swelling obvious beneath the fabric. Mikey iced his neck, wincing each time he had to turn to watch his third oldest brother tending to the team's wounds. Donatello was pretty beat up himself, bruises visible on his arms and legs where he'd received impact during the talk with Karai. Leo was by far the most injured. Blood still oozed from the puncture wounds in his shoulder, and though he made an impressive effort to hide it, he grimaced each time Donnie pierced his skin with the needle to make another stitch.

Faline watched the brothers, completely unscathed and unable to make sense of her emotions. No one had spoken since entering the lair, though Raph hadn't hesitated on the hasty car chase home to give Fae an earful, complete with angry curses and the harsh Brooklyn accent that occasionally crept into his voice when he got particularly riled.

Of course, she felt she deserved it. Watching Leo's cringing while Donnie dabbed at the injuries she'd inflicted with disinfectant, her heart ached. How could she? How in the world could she have harmed him — her only true friend, as of yet? Her stomach twisted into knots, remembering her vision narrowing and the panic that had arisen when she realized she no longer had control.

Fae also felt a twinge of exhilaration, of pride to have finally mustered the courage to rebel against what she'd been told (even if the person she'd disobeyed was Leonardo). So she'd broken a couple of rules — if it wasn't for her, she reasoned, the Turtles would be much worse for wear now. Had her defeat of both Bebop and Rocksteady completely slipped their minds? As for Karai... well, she had it coming, holding Leo hostage like that, even if it had all been an act, as Fae had later been told.

She was nervous too. Undoubtedly, a lecture about her actions was fast approaching by the leader, and she would be reduced to a pile of apologies and regret, all her pride and triumph forgotten as she tried to reconcile. Why? She wasn't apologetic or contrite. She was confident that despite her small mishap, her presence during the mission hadn't been detrimental. Hell, Fae was convinced she'd helped to defend her friends!

But seeing Leo glance at her every so often, ocean blues full of disbelief, his mouth set in a thin line of disappointment, made her heart sink. She'd tricked him. Fae had gone behind his back, and she knew how vexed he got by being fooled.

She hated to cause him any feeling other than tranquility. She thought to back to that silent vow she'd made to never cause him strife (these damned inner promises were going to be the death of her), after feeling his agitated energy all those weeks ago in the marma she'd performed. And Mikey might have given her a small low-down on his history with Karai.

How he'd been so adamant to convert her to the Hamato Clan.

How betrayed he'd felt when she'd vanished, back to the Shredder.

How long he hadn't spoken — weeks, according to his younger brother — once he was sure all hope of Karai's return was gone.

How much happier he'd become since his and Fae's paths had crossed.

Faline steeled herself before her guilt got the best of her. She felt she was right in her choices. She wouldn't — no, couldn't give up her sureness, no matter how much her decisions were now eating at her. No matter how much she'd want to give in to Leo's imploring blue eyes that seemed to engulf her in a sea of serenity. No matter how distracted she'd be by his personality reflected in his impressive physique — lean and perfectly proportional with gentility, muscles strong and sure, ready to defend her well being or envelop her in an embrace.