A/N: So this is loosely set in the 2012 universe, more of a blending of the 2003 and 2012. With Leonardo being a little older and really all of the brothers being a bit more mature. Karai is the Shredder's daughter, not Splinter's in this take. I like my stories with a touch of darkness, romance kissed with tragedy and hurt, so don't expect anything fluffy.

"Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime." Mineko Iwasaki

"The things we love destroy us every time..." George R.R. Martin

The Tender Trap

Chapter One – Trouble Brews

She was grace and deadly stealth. She was delicate and fearsome cunning. He'd never seen anyone more breath-taking. Out of the shadows she stalked him, circling. Every move calculated. He watched her body as she moved, fascinated and mesmerized. Her black eyes glittered, rivaling the stars above them. Her katana gleamed. At once she pounced, fast and sure in her attack. Leonardo blocked, deflected her blade easily. Then again. Their movements becoming more like a dance as arms spun over head, feet shifted, heads bobbed, legs tensed and released. Breathing evenly, steadying his rapid heartbeats, he kept his head low, mind focused, anticipating and bracing, deflecting her oncoming blows. A half-smile crept across his mouth. Easy.

Then, just as he felt the battle won and he the obvious victor, her legs shot out of nowhere, catching him across his ankles, knocking him back onto his shell, knocking the wind from him. She stepped on his wrist, pressed down, forcing his hand to release his weapon. He gasped in pain. She tilted her head a bit and smirked. She brought the tip of her blade to under his chin. It bit into the soft flesh and he clenched his jaw. She stepped over him, straddling him and crouched over his chest. The blade replaced by her hand. Before he could react her mouth came down hard against his. She kissed him roughly, pressing his head back hard.

He felt a sudden splash of icy water so cold it hurt, startling him awake. He fought, blinking and sputtering, against the tangle of blankets wrapped around his legs. His brother's laughing voice was suddenly next to him.

"Hey, sleeping beauty! Wakey, wakey!" Michelangelo jumped back, laughing hard, empty bucket in hand, as Leonardo sat up in his bed growling fiercely.

"Mikey!" He snarled. "You're dead!"

Michelangelo bounced back a step, wiping his tearing up eyes with the back of one hand, still giggling hysterically.

"C'mon, man! How often do I get an opportunity like this? Leo, you never sleep late!"

Leonardo glowered at his brother, then glanced at the small alarm clock. He did a double take when the time registered. He ran a hand over his wet face. He gathered up the blanket and used it to dry off the rest of the water. He bunched it up and threw it at Michelangelo who made a show of lifting his foot as if terrified for it to touch him. Leonardo frowned. Over an hour past when he normally got up. Was he sick? A piece of the dream fluttered across his mind's eye, then evaporated. He swallowed dryly. His face a careful blank mask.

"I know, shocking, right? Anyway, Splinter and the others are waiting in the training room."

Head down, he gazed up at his grinning brother. "I'm coming. Just give me a sec, okay?"

Michelangelo tossed the bucket in the air and caught it behind his back. Leonardo was neither amused or entertained. Michelangelo shrugged.

"Just be glad I ran in here first, bro. Raph was gonna come get you for Splinter and I'm pretty sure he was gonna use some form of punching and hitting to wake you." He pantomimed punching in the air in front of him. Leonardo just huffed through his nose, unimpressed.

Michelangelo left then and Leonardo stood. He gathered up his gear, strapping the belts around his waist, hoisting the straps across his shoulder. This was the first time he'd ever been late for training, let alone sleeping in. Even when injured, he was usually first of his brothers out of bed. Simply a habit that formed over time from nervous anxiety of keeping the lair protected and his family secure.

It was the first time for him to have overslept. He frowned. What troubled him more, however, was the fact that this wasn't the first time his dreams revolved around a certain female foot soldier, by the name of Karai. Since he first fought her on the rooftop a few weeks ago, he couldn't get her out of his mind. Uneasiness coiled in the pit of his stomach. This was going to be trouble.

He sighed deeply as he headed for the training room. His face betraying nothing of the turmoil he felt inside as he entered and was immediately assaulted by the jabs and sarcastic comments lobbed by his brothers.

"About time you decided to join us," Donatello smirked over his shoulder as he spun his bo.

"Go back to sleep, Leo, you're still as ugly as ever," Raphael sniped. The others laughed. Leonardo ignored the jibe.

He shot a nervous glance at Master Splinter who said nothing, he bowed in front of him and turned to begin. Leonardo felt his eyes on him the entire time, observing his actions, taking in his every move. Inside Leonardo's face grew warm, outside the mask he wore endured.

...