literature

Fragile

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Literature Text

The cold didn't bother him tonight. He felt his body shuddering with chills and his bare feet burning as they hit the cold concrete of the rooftops. He didn't care about the cold. He was too busy running, running from everything.. Running from his brothers, his Sensei, his responsibility...his feelings.. Run, run, run, that's all he could do. That was all he wanted to do. Run and never look back...Never. He didn't care for the cold, nor did he care about the blood that trickled from deep gashes.

The blue-clad turtle bunched his muscles and then released the tension like a spring, bounding across the gap between the two buildings. The streets were dark beneath him, except for the faint glow that emitted from the streetlights. Were he to lose his footing and slip off of the edge of the rooftop it'd be like  plummeting to a dark abyss...

Leonardo's breaths came in a deep huffs and gasps, almost hysterically. He felt like he was breaking down, the walls around his heart and mind shattering like the glass of a window, letting the numbing cold of the night seep in. He was losing his grip and he knew it. He struggled desperately, trying to hold onto his fragile sanity. But it was slipping away. He grasped desperately for it, but his fingers slipped right through it and it disappeared into the darkness.

Leo's head snapped around as he became acutely aware of another presence. It lurked in the shadows, staying quite clear of him. He already knew who it was, she didn't have to show herself or even speak. She'd been following him, he was certain, but only now had she gotten close enough for him to truly sense her as he struggled through his utter turmoil.

He skidded to a stop suddenly, sending some dust and dirt spraying into the air. His eyes flashed angrily as he turned into her direction, his stormy blue-grey eyes narrowing. Now was not the time for him to be trifled with. She needed to turn around and leave him here. Let him struggle. She didn't need to be here, she needed to leave! She didn't need to be here...she didn't need to see him like this.

When she stepped out of the shadows, arms crossed over her armored chest and looking at him with some curiosity, wariness, and... concern? With that look of concern upon her face he completely lost his resolve, slipping into the dark recesses of his mind.

He started laughing, low and quiet at first then growing in volume until he was laughing almost hysterically. He wished he could see the look on her face, but his eyes were watering with the force of his laughter- literally laughing until he cried. He doubled over, large three-fingered hands resting upon his knee-pads.

Slowly the hysterically laughter faded away into nothingness and he fell silent, still doubled over. After a moment he straightened up and gazed directly into Karai's golden eyes. He saw alarm flare in her eyes. As she peered into his eyes she saw so much jumbled up emotions. Pain, guilt, anger, sorrow, anxiety, confusion... The list could go on.

"Just a little higher." the blue-clad turtle said, his voice near a whisper. "Just a little higher and he would've cut his head off." The fight before flooded into his mind again.

He'd been so impatient to get going on the night patrol, despite what Donnie and Mikey were saying. Mikey just had a feeling... a gut feeling that something simply wasn't right about tonight's patrol. He didn't want to go and protested adamantly. Donnie also had protested, but not because of a gut feeling... just because he was afraid that the Foot bot activity would be high tonight. He'd been tracking their movements and had noticed their patterns. It seemed that more and more bots were joining patrols and the most seemed to show up during the weekends- especially Sundays. Why this was happening he didn't know, but he definitely didn't want to risk getting overwhelmed.

But, Leo didn't listen. He was determined to go out on his patrol, to stretch his legs and feel the cool night air.. Raph also wanted to go, but solely for the purpose of 'bashing some heads'. Leo had then made the decision to go topside with Raph secretively, not telling Donnie or Mikey. They would just try to stop them and it would only lead to an inevitable fight.

Everything had gone well at first, the two brothers had run silently upon the rooftops, having nary a care in the world. They were enjoying their time on the surface, no matter how chilly it was up here. This was their outlet, their way to let out all their stress and unhappiness. This was their home away from home, their second life. Here they were happiest...

Sadly, that happiness was shattered when the Footbot patrol caught on to them and chased them down. Never before had the two brothers seen so many in a patrol... Donnie had been right... They shouldn't have come. They needed to retreat, Leo knew this, but Raph wouldn't listen. That 'red haze' had enveloped the sais-wielding turtle and he was fighting with all of his might. Leo desperately pleaded with him, trying to get him to stop, yelling and demanding retreat. But, none of it worked. Raph battled on. Leo couldn't leave his brother behind so he too was sucked into the head of battle.

It wasn't long before he heard that horrid cry of pain. His own pain and wounds were long forgotten as he whirled in his red-clad brother's direction in time to see a foot-bots sword slash across Raph's collar bones, just below his neck. If Raph hadn't stepped back... He would've been beheaded.

Leonardo's resolve melted and fear struck his heart. He'd seen his brothers wounded in battle before but this.. this was different. This was his fault. All his fault... He should have just listened to Donnie's logic and respected Mikey's gut feeling... This was all his fault... His mind somersaulted over itself and he found himself breaking down, guilt over-weighing him. He'd failed as the leader, he'd failed as the big brother

But, he hadn't had time to dwell on this... He'd had to take Raph home. It'd been a harrowing escape, but he and Raph had made it out alive, both wounded, one worse than the other.

Donnie was furious beyond belief, as was Splinter when he was told of Leonardo's rebellion. He'd commenced in giving the blue-clad turtle a harsh lecture. as Donnie worked on Raph, Little did he realize he was only making things worse, making the walls in Leo's mind break down more and more. He felt as if he was losing his sanity.

Now here he was, shaking like a leaf, voice cracked and eyes wet. Karai still stood before him, though her expression was beyond confused. "What do you mean, Leo?" she asked quietly, moving closer to him. Who's head would've been cut off? It was obvious that something was wrong here.

When Leo shook his head violently, tail masks whipping about his face and shoulders she decided to stop prying. She'd intended to bother him tonight, toy around with his feelings to see what responses she could get, as she had many, many times before. But all mischievousness had been lost, replaced by the urge to soothe and comfort the distraught mutant.

She stopped in front of him, placing one hand on his shoulder. "Leo?" she asked gently, surprise taking over her features no as she saw a tear streak across his face. She stepped forwards again, leaning in and pressing her lips against his face, kissing his tears away, His large three-fingered hands lifted, clutching hers desperately and intently, as if he was afraid that she was going to leave him.

She continued kissing his face softly, although the tears were gone and he let her, eyes close, face scrunched up in both physical and mental pain. She gently looped an arm around him, going to sit down,guiding him carefully beside her.

Only now, as the two huddled together did she notice how cold he was. Oh, that's right, he was cold-blooded... He shouldn't be out here in the cold like this. But, there was no warm, safe place she could take him to, but to try and guide him back home. But, she didn't think that he'd let her. He was so fragile, so upset that she was almost afraid to move him.

He clung to her hands as if they were his life force. She let him, even though his grip was starting to make them ache. They sat there, shoulder-to-shoulder, not moving. She didn't move and neither did he.

It was so similar to the predicament that she'd had earlier in the fall.. Leo had caught her in a moment of weakness and had comforted her, holding her until the hurt was gone. Now she was doing the same for him.

At some point she dozed off against him, then fell into an even deeper sleep. But, when she awoke some time in the wee morning hours... She found herself curled upon the ground... and he was gone.

How could a love so fragile keep clinging on, holding on for dear life? How could a sanity so fragile, so close to breaking and shattering, stay together?

Life is fragile, hearts are fragile, minds are fragile.. But it's the way of the universe. The only thing you can do is hang tight and try your best to enjoy the ride.
Weeeee finally more inspiration for Leorai XD.

I promise I'll try to make a happy fic at some point LOL.
© 2014 - 2024 HayleyWolf
Comments5
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MelancolyHills's avatar
No need for happiness, sadness is were it's at Love 
Also, if I may suggest something, watch how much you write about one thing: "He didn't move and neither did she." I don't think you needed that sentence, the one before was very strong. Also, I shall now share some advice my Writer's Craft teacher told me: "The road to hell is paved with adverbs." like: "he ran quickly." I've never seen anyone run slowly Nod that wasn't in your story, but it's a good example.

never the less, I really enjoyed this story, well done Hug