5

"The vast majority of adults have never met themselves."

- Mokokoma Mokhonoana -

Leo was sleeping again. The painkiller did its job. Tequila was sitting next to the couch, in the armchair. It was only five o'clock in the afternoon, but he felt that it was a long day. He met too many people today. He didn't plan this. He wasn't used to it anymore. He sighed and threw his head back. A little rest won't hurt him either. But as soon as he closed his eyes, the memory from the morning started to play in his mind.

Tequila stepped inside carefully. It was years ago when the team worked here together. He walked ahead slowly. Silence filled the area as he was walking. But in the next minute, he heard as a door opened.

"Leo!" said a cheery feminine voice. The turtle stopped. He felt as the woman ran towards him, and as soon as she reached him, she hugged him. And with that hug, the time froze for a minute as well as Tequila. He didn't know what to do. Hug back? Push her away? Or just stand there like a frozen chicken? Hm, the last one was the most likeable for him. He waited until the woman let go of him. "I'm so glad that you came! How are you?"

"Been better..." he said coldly. "What about you?"

"Well, I'm fine, as much as I can be."

"That's good... um, I'm not planning to stay long. Can you help or not?"

"We can help, but Stockman needs time to build the portal, and he needs information about the child's dimension."

"Alright. I just wanted to make sure before bringing him here," he explained, slightly nervously. It was long time ago when he talk to her.

"I understand."

"I have to go, he's waiting outside."

"Invite him in, then," she smiled.

"We don't have time now. He needs some medicine, but nothing serious," he explained.

"I can examine him," she offered.

"Thanks, but I already did. He's going to be okay. But thanks... for everything."

"Oh, don't mention it," she waved.

"Really, April. I appreciate it," he said quietly, then turned around. "We'll come in a few days," and with that, he left the area.

As he stepped outside, he immediately felt that something was wrong. He heard fighting. As he got closer, he heard talking.

"Did your father teach you this honor stuff?" asked a familiar voice. It belonged to a dangerous woman who was his friend in the past.

"Yes, he did. But as I see, your father didn't!"

Tequila was surprised to hear such courage from the child, but it made him smirk. It must have piss Karai off.

As he reached them, he felt as she was bringing her sword down at the kid, but before it could hurt him, Tequila blocked it.

He opened his eyes, though nothing changed. He reached for his face and took the glasses off. He rubbed his eyes slowly and decided to get a nap in a real bed. He rose to his feet, but as soon as he stood up, an afterimage came in.

"Did you get a son or what?"

"What if I did?"

Why did he say that? He shouldn't have. But... it didn't matter. It was better than explaining to the enemy what's up.

"You couldn't even deny it."

What did she mean? Because the kid was talking about honor? Or because he was a turtle too?

"But my..."

"Your what?"

"Um, nevermind."

And what did the kid want to say? Well... after all, he didn't say anything, so it couldn't be so important... right?

Wait! What if he got injured? He was weaponless, injured, and a CHILD! Against Karai who was an armored, well-experienced adult ninja! Though he knew how to fight when he was a kid, that didn't mean that every kid knows. Especially in that shape what he was in. Perhaps he wanted to tell that something hurts, but he was too afraid to tell. He must have been rude or too cold... He didn't even ask if he was okay! Oh, man. He wasn't good with children. He got so used to being alone, that he didn't even know how to act around others anymore.

He walked to the cot in the lab. He stepped to the kid and put his hands on his shoulders. He was looking for injuries. He felt his arms and upper plastron over, then he moved his hands to his sides. As he was trying to find out if he was okay, he forgot that he already had an injury, and he pressed the wound on his side accidentally.

"Argh!" Leo snapped awake and brought his hand over his wound while he sat up.

"I'm sorry," the older turtle said.

"Why did you do that?" Leo asked in a half-annoyed, half-sleepy voice.

"It was an accident. I wanted to make sure that you are okay after the fight with Karai."

"You could have asked me."

"I didn't want to wake you up," Tequila rubbed the back of his head.

"I see, but don't touch me over next time while I'm asleep, okay? That's weird, you know."

"I didn't want to overstep. I didn't mean-"

"It's okay. I just don't like it when someone's touching me or something while I'm sleeping, even if they are want to help. It's just my whim, sorry."

"I understand. I won't do it again. But then, tell me if you are injured right away."

"Okay."

"So? Did Karai hurt you?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Umm..." Leo looked away.

Tequila sighed. He knew. "Show me," he ordered and reached his arm out towards him.

"It's not big, nothing serious," Leo said, then took his hand and brought it to the small wound on his face. Tequila felt it and hummed.

"You should have told me," he flicked the younger's forehead. Leo rubbed it with his hand, and a whined a bit, so Tequila could understand that he glared at him. Tequila cleaned the wound, then put a plaster on it.

"Do you want to sleep back or eat something?"

"Hmm..." Leo thought for a moment, but a second later his stomach grumbled which made the answer for Tequila.

.-I don't own the characters from the cartoon-.

It's a little short, and nothing big happens, but the following chapters will be more intense. (I hope).

Please review, your words and opinion make me happy and also help me :)

If you are curious about something, then just ask me :D

Thanks ^^