#and this is my forever guy YAAYYY. and well we saw how that went for them right

[termagax]

sighs. yk i dont think it was anything they were ever planning on but i do think they would at least have had a conversation like "do you ever think about getting married" and i wonder how that would go for them

[tmnt-veelicious]

Across the Stars - Ch.5

Yaayyy longer chapterrrr !! Urrgg, mentions of anxietyyyyy !! BUT THERE’S SOME FLUFF TOO GNEHEHEH And next chapter will be happy all way through, I promise U’B

First Chapter --> HERE Previous Chapter --> HERE Next Chapter --> HERE

He knew she loved the stars. One of her dream careers had been to become either an astronomer or astrophysicist, but she quickly abandonned the idea as she knew she had troubles with mathematics. When she told him that, months ago via chatting, he had troubles seeing beyond that reasonning, only telling her that she could simply take up classes and get better... But Vee was an artist, full body and soul. Even if she contemplated the idea of a scientific life, she knew she couldn't deny her cravings for creation. She grew up with music surrounding her, her hands always eager and curious regarding instruments and rhythms. She had spent a good portion of her life studying this art form, finding her true self through various pieces and her own voice. Ever since he first heard her speaking, he couldn't deny being curious about her singing. On many occasions when she was helping him in his lab he could hear her hum some tunes, lost in her concentration, but she still had to show her full range, the woman probably shy at the idea. Tonight the sky was clear, in regard of New York's standards, offering a good opportunity for star gazing. Of course, light pollution wasn't of any help, but he made sure to bring out a portable telescope which would give them the opportunity to observe some celestial bodies. The setup completed, Donnie made his way towards the habitual window, first spotting April. The reporter was surprised at first, but that didn't stop her as she opened the way for him. ''Please tell me Vee's here,'' he asked, getting in, a bit nervous. ''Why? Are you planning a surprise or something?'' replied April, amused. He showed a small smile, lightly shrugging. ''Yes and no. Just a little something on the roof.'' ''The roof?'' added the reporter, folding her arms before her. ''Tonight's sky is clear enough for star-gazing so I thought she'd like that. … Do you think I should back up while I still can?'' April's smile was wide, pointing her thumb behind her, in direction of a closed bedroom door. ''Not at all, I think it's super cute. She's in her room, composing or something.'' Oh boy. He never saw her room before now. … Somehow that felt like a weird step, but he was glad to take it. Going to it, he hesitated for a slight moment before knocking gently, but no answer was heard. Unsure, he looked back at April who was watching, still smiling, and she simply mentionned for him to enter. With a brief sigh, he grabbed the handle, twisting it and then opening the door. He dared to glance inside, finding Vee seated in front of her piano, headphones on. He didn't know if he should get in, but the simple motion of looking in was enough to catch Vee's attention, the woman looking towards him and letting out a yelp, jumping on her seat in fear. That reaction was heard as April was laughing in the living room, Donnie on his part being as scared as her, his instinct telling him to quickly close the door. Fuck, what was he thinking?! He then heard a new laughter, this one belonging to Vee. She got to her door, opening it, her features now bright with amusement. ''Oh my god, Donnie, what the hell!'' she exclaimed. ''I'm sorry!'' he replied, chuckling lightly. The woman didn't give him more time to speak, now rightfully greeting him with a hug, the turtle's body straightening at first until he returned the gesture. This time he did not hesitate to nuzzle the top of her head, taking in her scent at the same time. … Gosh, he wanted to hold her forever. ''What are you doing here? You didn't tell me you were coming!'' asked Vee, looking up to him. ''Heheh, surprise! … I have something for you on the roof,'' said the mutant with a grin. ''Go grab your coat, we're gonna spend some time up there.'' Vee was truly curious now, doing as demanded and soon joining the turtle out of the window, April throwing a ''have fun guys'' with a knowing smile. As they got to the roof, Vee couldn't retain her gasp as she noticed the setup. A telescope was standing proudly amongst small lights scattered around, giving out a peaceful feeling to the scene. She also noticed a pile of various covers and cushions, a bottle of wine nearby. She looked at Donatello, frowning in amusement. ''… Is this a date?'' she asked. The mutant almost choked on air, quickly regaining his posture. ''I-if you want it to be? … The sky's clear tonight and I thought it'd be a nice reason to hang out with you.'' The woman giggled, making her way towards the bottle of red wine. ''Alright, genius, I'll consider this a date then.'' Donnie gulped as the other was pouring liquid in glasses. Well … he did not expect things to turn out like this, but it was good nonetheless. Vee got back to him, handing him a drink. ''Didn't know you drank wine.'' ''Not really,'' he said. ''But it's always a good choice on special occasions.'' Urg, he wanted to slap himself. ''Ha, I suppose this could be considered special,'' winked the woman, next clinking her glass to his. Taking a good sip, she then went for the telescope, already leaning for the lense, taking a look towards the sky. She carefully moved the body, turning it towards the moon. ''Let's see what this baby gots,'' she mumbled, twisting the focus. In an instant she was able to see details on the celestial body, a ''wow'' of appreciation leaving her lips. Donnie came next to her, leaving a hand on one of her shoulders. ''Wanna see something cool?'' he asked. The woman looked up to him. For an instant her eyes seemed to be filled with stars... ''You bet!'' she answered, her smile never faltering. The turtle took turn with the telescope, moving it, his tongue slightly sticking out as he was trying to get the perfect position... When he found the desired object, a small ''Ah-ha'' was heard, then gesturing the woman to come take a look. At first Vee was silent, observing into the eyepiece, then a small gasp escaped her. ''That's … that's Venus!'' she said with excitement. ''There will be a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter tonight, but it's still way early before we get to see that phenomenon clearly. At least Venus is easily traceable!'' ''She's beautiful...'' sighed Vee, still looking. Just like you.... Oof, okay, yeah, at least he didn't say that outloud. The woman moved away from the lense, looking up to the sky with her own eyes. She sighed with a hum, next bringing her glass to her lips, thoughtful. ''… It's a shame New York's sky doesn't let us see the stars with ease. I've always loved doing that as a kid.'' She puffed a small laugh, looking down. ''I even remember watching meteor showers, going up north with my father. … It was so peaceful.'' Donatello was now behind her, daring to snake an arm around her waist, keeping her close. ''We could do that one day, if you'd like.'' Vee snorted, glancing back to him: ''Oh please, don't tell me we'd go with that garbage truck.'' ''As you may well know, that 'garbage truck' is one of my most awesome creations!'' bantered back Donnie with amusement. ''Also we have a van, which is way more convenient when we don't want to attract attention on us.'' ''That's better.'' Her hand lingered on his for a moment before she moved, gently pulling the turtle with her. Soon they were sitting down on the makeshift seats, sipping wine as they watched the sky, pointing out the few stars that could be seen, guessing where some constellations would be. Vee couldn't stop smiling, a warm feeling invading her. She couldn't quite explain it, but this moment felt perfect, like the rare few other ones in her previous years. A moment of peace filled with wonder, next to someone she felt at ease with... At some point she wasn't looking at the sky anymore, her eyes now on Donatello. Everytime he was explaining something, she couldn't help liking him a little bit more. The look of confidence on his features, his amber eyes glistening with his love for knowledge. Vee could spend hours listening to him, always so eager to learn more... ''The sky's up there, you know?'' Vee got back to reality, now noticing that he was looking at her with a smirk. A small laugh escaped her, bringing the glass to her lips once more. Busted... ''Sorry, I was just wondering...'' She pointed the googles on top of his head. ''What are those for? I just realized I've never asked anything about all your stuff. You're like a walking computer.'' He laughed in turn, setting his glass down and proceeding to remove his googles. The right eye had one single lense, while the left one presented three small ones that could be shifted around, probaby presenting different presets. ''Nothing too fancy. It can calculate distances, monitor vital signs and heat signatures.'' he explained as he handed the item to the woman. Vee frowned a little as she put the googles on. '' 'Nothing too fancy'? Damn, Donnie, it sounds like you sat down one weekend and just decided to build that up for fun.'' ''For some of my inventions, that happens!'' he answered with amusement. ''But I also try to think in terms of usefulness. That thing was easy enough to make. Just needed to grab a couple of camera lenses and link them to some program and-'' He trailed off the moment she looked up to him and felt his heart sink. She looked hilarious, the googles obviously too big for her, but on the other hand he couldn't help thinking how cute she looked at that moment... ''Alright then, Einstein Jr., I get it; you're the ultimate genius,'' she joked, removing the googles, showing a sly look. ''Oh please,'' he snickered. ''I just try my best with things I find in the dumpster.'' ''Nonetheless impressive.'' As the mutant was putting them back on, Vee took the chance to scoot closer to him, glass in hand, leaning towards him. At first Donnie seemed frozen, hands still up on his googles. ''… Sorry, it's just a bit cold up here,'' mentionned Vee with a timid voice. Okay relax, dude. He got an arm around her, daring to bring her closer. He didn't miss her smile right before she brought the glass to her lips. She was obviously happy and that got him in the same mood aswell. He took a sip from his drink too, although he grimaced right after, which brought a laughter from the woman. ''I'm really not used to red wine,'' he commented, setting his glass aside. Vee tsked, moving the liquid in a circular pattern. ''That's a shame, this one's good. I'll happily keep the bottle if you don't want it. … It will definitely lift my mood for the next couple of days. Work has been a pain lately.'' She threw her free hand in the air, faking a dramatic gesture. ''I don't know if it's the cold weather, it's probably freezing those customers' brains. It's either they describe a shirt that is simply non-existant in the shop or they complain about sales or whatsoever. But I think the cherry on top was when a woman brought a piece of lingerie, stating it was a shame that we were selling that kind of underwear to girls …. It had been obviously misplaced, probably by another customer, and when I mentionned to the woman that it was lingerie and not something we sold for young girls, she simply looked confused, saying: 'Honey, I don't speak French, I just speak American'.'' Donnie bursted into a laughter, which brought an amused grin on Vee's face. ''I mean,'' she continued. ''I know I have some of my French accent coming out when I speak, but that's just plain ignorance on her part!'' ''We have to forgive the weak-minded of this world,'' joked the mutant. ''Wanna rule the world with me instead?'' added the woman, entering his game. ''I think we'd be a pretty good team.'' ''Sounds like a great plan to me!'' They had unconsciously moved closer, Donnie now hugging Vee, slightly nuzzling the top of the woman's head with a grin. He had probably been too caught up in his happiness, but even when he noticed their position, none of them moved, the warm feeling back again. This moment was perfect and, somehow, both of them secretly wished it would last forever... *** So far the day had gone through without too much trouble, the flow of customers slowing down as it was near the closing hours. Vee sighed as she proceeded to fold shirts, silently cursing the flock of teenage girls who came in earlier, ravaging the whole setup as they were searching for certain sizes. At least that would keep her occupied for the rest of her shift... Her thoughts shifted around as she mindlessly executed her task, a certain mutant invading her daydreams. As time went by, she couldn't deny the feeling that seemed to grow between them. She didn't want to rush things though, noticing how Donnie would always seem distressed at moments, especially whenever she showed him affection or hugged him. He was obviously not used to this but she guessed he was starting to ease into this, daring more and more, hugging her easily in turn, nuzzling her, touching her... Of course, the fact that he was a mutant was still a strange thought, but Vee couldn't deny the thrill of it all, curious about how it could feel with someone so different... She mostly valued him for his personality, since it was what she got to know first about him. He was everything she liked and the more time she spent with him, the better it got. She stopped her train of thoughts, a slight blush invading her cheeks. Gosh, she didn't really need to think about that right now. He was a friend. Nothing more. At least … for the moment. She didn't know what to think anymore. Vee's attention shifted when she felt someone bump into her, making the woman slightly jump. ''Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to startle you!'' She turned around, now facing a man. He seemed to be in his early thirties, showing a crooked smile as his dark eyes were now looking up and down Vee's form. ''It's fine,'' she answered, frowning a little at his behavior. His gaze was now fixed in hers, somehow creating a feeling of uneasiness. ''So... you work here?'' Seriously? Vee was wearing a badge with her name on it and she had a freaking walkie-talkie buckled on her hip... ''Why, yes, I do. Is there anything you need help with?'' she answered in a polite tone. He had this weird vibe going on, Vee noticing how stiff he looked, as if nervous about something. ''I've been seeing you around a lot lately and I was wondering if a lovely lady like you wanted to spend some good time downtown. I know a good place that has this huge party planned and-'' ''I'm going to stop you right there, sir, as I am not interested. I will ask for you to please leave.'' ''Why? I didn't threatened you or anything. I was just asking if you wanted to go out some night.'' She didn't like his tone, as if he was pushing for something... Suddenly he grabbed her arm, his hold too rough. ''Come on, doll, I know you're not from around these parts. You sound foreign, usually that means more fun, right?'' Vee yanked her arm away, now looking severe. ''Sir, you should leave now.'' ''Aw, please, we're both adults here. You should relax-'' ''I said leave now or I'll call security. This is my final warning.'' She had probably said that a bit too loud, gazes suddenly on both of them. The man seemed worried for a second, noticing the surroundings. He simply frowned, stating calmly before leaving: ''Alright then. See you later, doll.'' Vee kept her angry stare, watching him walk away, but as soon as he was out of sight, she suddenly felt weird inside, somehow scared of his words. She had no idea what he meant at that moment and that stressed her immensely. *** There was no way Vee was leaving work by the front door. She asked if she could exit through the rear, which lead to an alley. That way she knew she'd be able to stumble on a manhole cover and then get deep down the sewers. She didn't want to walk back home that night, in fear of that man that would probably try to follow her. The scene wouldn't stop replaying over and over in her mind, knowing something seemed off about it all. Why would he insists about her coming? Why mentionning how 'foreign' she sounded? She was already at the lair, her thoughts finally back to the present. The clicking of her heels and her deep sighs must have been heard as the first thing she noticed when getting in was Donatello already going towards her, not even giving her time to remove her coat. ''Good timing! I have something for you!'' he said with a smile, grabbing her hand and walking towards his computers. Vee was at a loss for words, truly surprised as she hurried her footing, trying to match the mutant's pace. She did snort, amused by his behavior. ''Woh, slow down, I didn't even get to say hi or anything.'' They stopped at his desk, the woman finally taking off her coat as the turtle was searching for something in a box. He finally turned back to Vee with a grin, hiding something behind his back. ''Okay, what's going on now?'' asked the woman with a smirk. ''I had some spare parts laying around from when I created April's watch and, yeah, fuck I already spoiled the surprise, didn't I?'' Vee's smile grew. ''No way, you did one for me too?'' Donnie revealed the object, Vee's eyes now wide from excitement. She had noticed the same item on April's wrist many times, always curious and somehow jealous of that technology. Now that she would own one, she somehow felt that she was slowly, but surely, being accepted in the gang. ''What did I do to be bestowed with such honorable gift?'' joked Vee, trying to contain her excitement. Donnie shrugged with a smile: ''Am I not allowed to offer my friend a gift?'' He gently took her left wrist, proceeding to attach the gadget to her. It fit nicely, neither too big nor small. ''I won't say no to it, but now I have to give something in return. That would only be fair,'' commented Vee. The mutant lightly chuckled, moving so he could stand behind her, then explaining the watch's basics. It was only then that Vee realized how close he was, still smiling. She tried to keep her focus on the watch and the other's explanations, but at the same time she couldn't help leaning a little more towards him, appreciating the proximity. She liked his touch on her arm as he held it, his other hand going over the holo-screen and showing her the different tools. ''Ooooh, looks like Donnie-boy is flirtiiinnggg,'' came out Mikey's voice, suddenly near them. Donatello straightened up, an annoyed look already on his face. He turned to his brother, gesturing the watch. ''The hell you're talking about? I'm just showing her how to navigate through that watch.'' ''Whatever you say, Don Juan,'' laughed the other turtle. Then he turned to Vee, his traits softening: ''Hey what's up Vee? I saw you coming in and you looked kinda off...'' The woman was impressed at how Mikey could easily read people, even if it was just from glancing at their stances. She sighed, her memory now replaying the scene. ''It's just that something weird happened at work today.... A man came in and suddenly he was asking me to follow him to some sort of place downtown. I said no several times, even when he grabbed my arm. When I finally threatened to call security, he was gone, but right before leaving he told me 'see you later.'... I was so creeped out that I exited through the rear end of the store. I seriously think that maybe he would have tried to follow me home, I dunno...'' She stopped when she glanced up to the turtles, noticing how serious they looked. She was now feeling confused, thinking that she probably said something wrong, until Donnie moved, getting to his chair and already tapping at his computer. ''Do you remember around what time that happened?'' he began. ''I can probably get into the store's surveillance tapes and get to see that man's face. Maybe he has a criminal record or something.'' ''Oh, wait, what are you doing?'' asked Vee, frowning. ''I want to find info on that guy,'' answered the mutant, showing the same expression. ''And what for? That kind of shit happens, Donnie, there's no need to make a big deal out of this. He probably won't come in anymore.'' ''You really think we'll just stand there, arms crossed, while a friend is being harrassed?'' commented Mikey. ''I say giving that man a lil' visit and talk wouldn't be a bad thing.'' ''Guys, I don't see the point of this. He was just a creep that somehow found me 'exotic' because of my stupid French accent and probably wanted to present me as some sort of trophy babe at a stupid party. … It's not the first time I got into situations like this one. It sucks, but usually it stops after they see me get angry.'' ''There's no saying he will stop,'' added Donatello, concerned. ''People react differently and there's no saying he won't try again, either be it against you or another person.'' ''We want to help you feel safe, Vee,'' said the orange clad turtle. ''We protect the streets, that's our job!'' Vee sighed with a growl, pinching at the base of her nose, inbetween her eyes, as she slightly leaned onto Donnie's desk. She only looked back up as she heard the turtle tap back at his keyboard. Jeez. FINE. ''Okay, since I can't obviously win in this,'' she started. ''Let me at least help.'' ''I just need a time stamp and a description of the guy,'' replied Donnie, his eyes still on his screens. ''No. I want to help,'' insisted Vee. ''If he comes back to me tomorrow, I'll follow him and you guys will follow us. There's something fishy about that guy and maybe there's more to it than we think. If I can help resolve things faster, the better it is.'' The tall mutant swiftly turned his chair around, pointing a finger towards the woman, as if scolding her. ''No.'' ''Oh, come on,'' argued Vee. ''I'm not as helpless as I look. I can defend myself.'' She had emphazised that fact by playfully landing her hand against Donnie's shoulder in a karate motion. He only showed a blank stare, totally not convinced. Instead he gently took her wrist. ''We don't know what could happen and I will certainly not risk your well-being for a moron such as him.'' ''You know, Don, that's not a bad idea Vee got.'' added Mikey. ''You're not helping there, Mikey,'' replied Donatello, squinting at his brother. ''Think about it though! If we're following them, I don't see how she could be in trouble. As soon as something weird happen, BOOM, we get into it and that's all.'' ''Two in favor against one, I win,'' finished Vee, a smug look on her face. Still holding the woman's wrist, Donnie's thumb circled on her skin, frowning as he was thinking. He puffed a sharp breath, unable to resist her eyes and that victorious smile of hers. ''I hate you,'' he said sarcastically. ''… Fine, but Leo and Raph are coming too and if something wrong happens, I take the watch back.'' Vee faked being shocked: ''You miscreant! If you do that, you won't receive your gift.'' ''Oh you're already his gift, alright,'' commented Mikey with a smirk. ''MIKEY!'' *** (Vee): I can see him outside. He's probably waiting for me. Vee was well aware that she wasn't allowed to text while at work, but tonight she made an exception, wanting to be prepared for any circumstances. As soon as she spotted him pacing around in front of the store, she knew he was there for her. (Donnie): We're on our way. Do you end your shift soon? (Vee): In ten minutes. (Donnie): We might get there just in time, otherwise don't forget to activate the beacon on your watch PLEASE. (Vee): Don't worry, mom :P !! I won't disappoint. (Donnie): Don't do anything harsh... I'd never forgive myself. Vee tried to hide her smile, somehow touched by his concern. There was no denying that she was stressed as fuck about the whole situation, but she wanted to keep herself strong. Maybe she wanted to prove herself that she was worthy of hanging around the turtles, but on the other hand she knew that idea was stupid and unecessary. It was too late to back up now... When her work ended, she almost hesitated before going through the entry door, her stomach twisting in fear. But she pushed forward, starting to walk as if nothing was wrong. Until she felt an arm get around her shoulders. ''Hey doll, told you I'd see you soon.'' Vee furtively pushed a button on her watch, knowing it would give her position for Donnie to see. ''What do you want?'' asked the woman dryly. ''Geez, you don't sound nice anymore.'' ''That's because I just finished working, I don't need to act nice anymore.'' ''Aww, come on, can't you crack a smile for me? I want to bring you somewhere fun.'' Vee tried not to breathe in too much, the man smelled as if he hadn't taken a shower in days... She moved, getting his arm off of her, although she showed a small forced smile. ''Alright, lead the way. But I don't need you to touch me...'' ''Fine, doll. But soon you'll find yourself unable to resist those hands.'' His answer, plus his grin, only brought a disgusted shiver down her spine. God, she hoped the guys were already following her... Along the way, even if Vee had asked him not to touch her, he would always try to sneak a hand or an arm around her waist, the woman always moving away, throwing him a glare, the guy only laughing in response. It took a little more than fifteen minutes to get to the place: an apartment building that would seem abandoned at first glance, but the few streaks of colored lights that escaped the windows and the deep basses of loud music quickly translated the fact that this was no relaxing environement... Vee didn't want to get in there. She knew the turtles wouldn't be able to help her if she got inside, so she quickly tried to find an escape, noticing a small alley inbetween the building and the next, mostly used to store trash bins. This was her salvation. ''Hey, before we get in there,'' she began, trying to keep her tone cool so it wouldn't shake. ''Do you mind if I take a smoke? It's been hours since my last one.'' She didn't smoke cigarette. She saw the man smile. ''Mind if I join?'' Urg, she wanted to vomit. ''Yeah sure, I don't have any fire on me anyway so I was going to ask you...'' She lead the way, unconsiously walking fast, wanting to get deeper in the alley, where the shadows were. If only she had a clear sign that the guys were here... Alas, knowing they were ninjas, the 'no sound' part was to be expected. ''Hey doll, wait for me, don't go too far.'' The man was about to reach for Vee's arm, wanting to slow her, but his hand was promptly slapped away by a pole, more precisely a bo staff. Four forms were now circling the man, weapons in hand. Vee felt Donatello's hand on her shoulder, massaging it in a comforting way before he begged her silently to step back. ''What the fuck. Who do you guys think you are?'' barked the man, holding his hurting hand. ''Your worst nightmare,'' said Raph's voice, now walking towards him, revealing his form into the light. The guy looked horrified, his eyes round. A katana blade was suddenly pointed towards him, forcing the man to step down to his knees in fear. He was now seeing all four turtles, his body shaking, not knowing if he had to scream. Leonardo got before him, his blade still out. His stance screamed power and authority. ''What's the deal with that place?'' he asked, slightly nodding to the loud building with his head. The man opened and closed his mouth, unable to speak all of a sudden. ''Hey, dude, just answer the big meany turtle, will ya?'' tried to ease Mikey. ''I- I don't understand,'' babbled the guy. ''What the hell's happening? Did that bitch drug me? What-'' He felt the tip of Leo's katana dangerously close to his throat, the leader's piercing blue eyes going through him like daggers. ''You better choose your next words carefully. … You will answer my question and then your next stop is the police station.'' ''I ain't snitching on my buds.'' Raph suddenly kicked the human down, making him lie on his side. The mutant was now hunched over the other, his foot holding him down. ''Listen, punk, we're not really the most 'patient' type of people. You better speak right now before I smash yer nasty face.'' The guy was terrorized, trying to wiggle his way out, but the mutant's weight was enough to keep him in place. ''OKAY, okay! We bring girls here and then they get drugged and taken to places. I don't know where, but I don't give a fuck, the job pays well. Please don't kill me!'' he ended with a squeak. Vee was disgusted. Just thinking about what would have happened if she entered that place... She felt her stomach twist, all the stress coming up. It was only after the guy was knocked unconscious, following his revelation, that she rushed behind a large trashbin, suddenly puking. Her whole body was trembling, her breath choking. She knew it was dued to anxiety and fear combined. She thought she was strong enough, but she always tended to overestimate her will and for that she hated herself... She soon felt a hand on her back, a soft ''hey'' being said. She knew it was Donatello and right now she wished she could vanish. ''I-I'm sorry,'' gasped Vee, trying to think straight. ''I was j-just so scared, I-'' ''Vee, stop, look at me.'' She felt the mutant turn her around, now cupping her face so she could look at him. She did not want to cry, she wanted to be strong, at least for now. ''You don't have to be sorry about anything,'' he said, always calm. ''It's over now. Focus on me. We're here, together...'' She focused on his touch, her emotions stuck in her throat. She wanted to get lost, away in his arms. To feel his hands around her, to hide her from the world. The only thought that invaded Vee's mind was about how big of a moron she was... ''Donnie...,'' called out Leo's voice, coming towards them. Vee wanted to die. She didn't want the leader to see her like this. She simply got closer to the tall turtle, hiding her face against his plastron, hoping it would hide her and the upcoming tears. ''I'll get her home,'' simply said the purple clad turtle. ''I was about to suggest the same. I'll contact chief Vincent about this place. If she needs some sort of testimony from Vee, I'll see what I can do.'' Vee didn't catch any other parts of the conversation, her mind blanking at the simple idea of confronting the situation once more. The only thing she felt was Donnie's touch again, soon making their way out of this hellhole. The woman didn't even look back to the man once, knowing it would only make her sick again... *** The apartment was plunged in darkness. Of course April wasn't there. Vee had a hard time stumbling inside from the window, but she didn't waste a second as she walked across the room, turning on a light and proceeding to close the curtains. She seemed frantic, anxious. She only stopped when Donatello got to her, trying to catch her gaze. ''I … I need to take a shower. I feel so gross,'' mumbled Vee, her eyes diverting to the floor. ''Will you be okay? Do you need help?'' At first she had been surprised by his question, but knew he hadn't asked with bad intentions. He looked genuinely concerned and, frankly, Vee couldn't have asked for a better person to be by her side right now... ''No, I'll be fine. … I'll leave a crack to the door though, just in case. I don't fully trust myself right now.'' She didn't give him time to answer, proceeding to walk towards the bathroom, removing her coat and boots on the way. Once she got to the small room, she took a good look at herself in the mirror. She looked horrendous. Her tone was paler than ever, the circles under her eyes darker. The fact she could still feel the disgusting taste of bile in her mouth made her gag, suddenly grasping the counter's edge, hunching over the sink. Her legs shook once more, same for her arms sustaining her. A part of her wanted to scream, but only a strangled gasp escaped her, next cursing loudly in her native tongue. She caught the sound of someone getting to the doorframe, her eyes lazily looking up to the mirror, catching Donnie's reflection watching her. Vee sighed, trying to stand back up, removing her glasses and rubbing a trembling hand to her face. ''I don't understand,'' she started, her voice shaking in turn. ''Why am I reacting like this? It's not the first time I've dealt with scumbags.'' The mutant simply moved in, getting behind Vee, his arms now keeping her close, petting her lightly as he nuzzled the top of her head. ''I should've listened to you,'' she continued, her hands grasping his hold as some sobs escaped her. ''I thought I could do it without problem. W-what was I thinking? I'm just a stupid piece of shit filled with anxiety. Why do I try t-to be someone I'm not?'' ''Vee, don't say that,'' whispered the turtle. ''You're not stupid, you're amazing. … What you did demanded a lot of courage, I'm proud of you.'' ''But you were the one to be opposed in the first place!'' ''And that's why next time I won't give up my point. … You wanted to do this, fine. Now it's done, here are the results.'' He sighed, taking a pause, not wanting to sound harsh. ''… I was scared for you, Vee. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you were to get hurt because of me.'' He felt her body shake, her teeth chattering from both cold and fatigue. Letting out a soft hum, he dared venture the tip of his fingers under Vee's shirt, lightly touching her stomach and skin. ''… I'll help you. Please, you can barely stand.'' he said gently. ''I don't want anything out of this, I'll leave your underwear on.'' A soft chuckle escaped Vee's lips, somehow finding his demand funny. She agreed, her body feeling heavy anyway. He softly lift the woman's shirt, not wanting to do any harsh movements. He caught himself glancing at her reflexion, noticing her black bra and how her little bats tattoo on the left upper side of her torso contrasted so much with her pale skin. Still behind her, he couldn't help slowly trailing his fingers against her sides, then seeing a third tattoo; a treble clef behind her right shoulder. He tried to hide his gaze as he nuzzled her head once more. Her scent was intoxicating... He got to unbuttoning her pants, slightly hesitating before he slid his thumbs to the rim, then taking the clothing down, leaving the underwear in place. He found her fourth and final tattoo, snowflakes on her right calf. There she was, half-naked. A part of him wanted to run away. Why was he doing this? But the other didn't want to leave her side. She needed his help, and he couldn't deny that he wanted to take care of her... He removed the hair tie on top of her head, soon letting the bun fall into a cascade of long light brown hair which got to the middle of her back. She was perfect. She looked exhausted, but still perfect to his eyes... ''Warm up the water, I'll soon be there with you,'' he said, letting her move towards the shower. He tried to hush his thoughts, prefering to focus on his gear he was now removing. He finally found himself in his underwear, even his glasses and mask removed. He sighed, emptying his mind as he joined the woman under the hot stream. He did not waste time, starting to wash her hair, his fingers carefully getting through any knots he could find. He could hear Vee let out a hum in approval, simply bending her head towards him, closing her eyes as she let herself get taken care of. A weird thought told him he wanted to kiss her at that very moment. That it would help her feel even more better. But the rational side of him slapped that idea away, knowing this was nothing more but a wild dream he could never achieve. Lost in thoughts, he only got back to reality when he started to hear a voice, singing softly. He knew it was Vee, a slow melody leaving her lips: ''It's quarter to three There's no one in the place except you and me So set 'em' up, Joe I've got a little story you ought to know

We're drinking, my friend To the end of a brief episode Make it one for my baby And one more for the road

I've got the routine So drop another nickel in the machine I'm feelin' so bad I wish you'd make the music dreamy and sad

I could tell you a lot But you've got be true to your code Make it one for my baby And one more for the road

You'd never know it But, buddy, I'm a kind of poet And I've got a lot of things to say And when I'm gloomy You simply gotta listen to me Until it's all talked away

Well, that's how it goes And, Joe, I know you're gettin' anxious to close So thanks for the cheer I hope you didn't mind my bending your ear

This torch that I've found Must be drowned or it soon might explode Make it one for my baby And one more for the road That long, long road...'' Donnie's heart was now beating fast, knowing this was the first time he truly heard her sing. He wanted to hear her voice for eternity, let it envelop his whole being with its low tones. Her voice had been husky, like a warm blanket on a cold day. Velvet, like smoke coming out of a burnt candle...

He almost forgot to rinse her off. The shower over, he was the first one out, reaching for towels. It took him no time to dry himself, only so he could carefully drape her in turn, next lifting her in his arms as he walked to her room. At first he wanted to turn on the light at the ceiling, but Vee stopped him, saying she wanted to switch something else on her nightstand. He found what she meant, then a couple of little soft lights hanging around the ceiling brought to life. They were like stars, giving out a warm yet not so bright glow to the surroundings. He loved it... As he settled her down on the bed, he noticed her wall filled with notes and sketches, his heart skipping a beat as he knew he did the same, although his method was less clean than hers. He kept his questions for another time, prefering to slide down in bed next to the woman, their attraction almost immediate. She was so small against him... A masterpiece nonetheless. She seemed more relax, at least the shaking had stopped. He could feel her soft breathing against his skin, her hands shyly put on him. He couldn't help leaving one of his around her waist, massaging that part slowly, taking time to appreciate how soft her skin was... That wild part of him wanted to caress her everywhere, worship her, but he groaned internally, knowing this wasn't the time for such thing. Vee was his best friend, he couldn't do that to her. ''You have a nice voice,'' he dared to comment. He could feel her smile. ''Sorry you had to witness the Disney princess part of me,'' she joked lightly. ''… Singing helps me relax.'' ''You should sing more often then... I wouldn't mind hearing more.'' A soft giggle escaped the woman's lips, her body stretching, sticking closer to the mutant. Donnie froze for a moment. How could he interpret this? He wanted to believe she liked him as much as he did... ''I'm glad you're here, Donnie,'' murmured Vee. His heart was about to explode. ''I feel safe whenever you're around,'' she continued. ''I can be myself, I don't have to build any walls... You have no idea how much that means to me.'' He unconsciously nuzzled her head once more, a multitude of feelings invading him. Without thinking, he dared to press his lips lightly against her, leaving a gentle kiss. He slowly trailed down, finally kissing her forehead. And then he stopped, suddenly realizing what he was doing. ''Uh, oh gosh, sorry, I didn't mean to-'' he started, nervous. Vee's eyes met his, suddenly lost in a green ocean. She didn't look distressed nor disgusted by what he did. She rather moved her hand to cup around one side of his neck, many thoughts crossing her mind. To the turtle's surprise, she started to lean in, only to feel her soft lips against his cheek, leaving him speechless. All what he had read about desire, those damned butterflies in the stomach kind of feeling, now he knew it was true. He couldn't move, he couldn't do anything. Her kiss seemed to last forever, his cheek almost starting to feel too hot dued to all his blushing. When he finally noticed her back before him, she only showed a smile, still looking relaxed. ''Now we're even,'' she simply said, then returning to her previous position against him, her eyes now closed. He didn't want to answer, he didn't want to ruin this moment. Instead he prefered to hold her a little closer, hiding his face in her hair, a smile never leaving him. She was perfect... *** He woke up with a slight startle, wondering how long he slept. The traces of light coming from behind the curtains was a clear sign that the day was already up, the turtle grumbling as he knew he'd have to be careful when getting out to head for the lair. Then he remembered Vee. She was still sleeping, almost turned over on her stomach, her hair sprayed out across and around her in a beautiful flow. He could still feel her lips on his cheek, the thought alone bringing a new smile on his features... He was almost tempted to let his fingers trace her bare back, wanting to feel her softness once more, but this time he prefered to step out, careful not to wake her up. He silently cursed when he remembered his clothes and gear were still laying around in the bathroom, the mutant then heading to the bedroom's door so he could get to them. And as soon as he opened the door, he met face to face with April who just got back. Both were now silent, frozen, April quickly looking up and down, noticing how the turtle was only in his underwear. Shit. ''It's not what you think,'' he began, getting out and closing the door behind him so their voices wouldn't wake Vee. ''Hey, I'm not mad. It's okay if you guys had some fun last night,'' she grinned, continuing her way towards the living room. ''No, please, April, don't make it weird. … Nothing happened.'' She was now frowning, slightly concerned. ''Then why are you coming out of my roommate's bedroom in nothing else but underwears? You're giving mixed signals here, Donnie.'' The mutant sighed, knowing the whole situation was a mess. He finally got a hold on his pants, swiftly putting them on and finally looking back at the reporter as he was knotting his mask around his head. ''Can you please sit down? … We need to talk.'' As he saw the woman take place on the couch, Donnie sighed once more as he took his glasses. This was going to be a long morning...