TMNT My First Mistletoe CH1

TMNT My First Mistletoe
Speaking: Ji
Chapter 1 Not my Holiday.

   Christmas music rang through the frosty air. Kids were playing in the parks throwing snow at each other, making forts, and snowmen. It was a great time of this year, that I don't really remember celebrating much a couple of years ago, when I wasn't together with Raphael all the time. Leatherhead and I wouldn't really celebrate it, more like New Years was our holiday, besides birthdays, and even fathers day.

    I had no idea really what christmas was about besides snow, presents, tress, and shiny lights up and down the streets. Though my hands were in mits, the frost pricked me through the material. I put my hands to my mouth and blew into them then rubbed them together. The cold wasn't my favorite, it made me tired. I guess it was because it was so relaxing to watch it float down to the floor. "Ji!" I turned around to see Anocari and Donnie behind me. They both wore coats down to their knee's. Donnie wore a long purple scarf over his mouth. A skycap covered his bold green head and long puffy pant tucked into snow boots. Anocari wore a little lighter clothes but still tucked into a warm coat and long puffy pants. She wore boots but they were more like spring boots then winter boots. They carried a bunched of bags in there hands and on their arms. Christmas shopping was also a big part of christmas that I didn't understand next to caroling. Never will I understand going up to peoples door and singing.

   Anocari ran over with a huge smile on her face, ear to ear. She was plotting something I could tell. I didn't dare to ask though. "what are you doing out her? Christmas shopping?" She asked elbowing me. I took a step to the side and smiled. "No...just getting air. I see you two have been busy." I said. I noticed that Donnie's arms were going limb from all the bags on his arms. "Yeah...very!" He said with a bit of sarcasm in an undertone. Ano glared at her husband. "Here Don." I reached out my arms. He placed some on the bags on them then stretched. "Thank you...How do you women hold so many bags with feeling as though your arms are going to fall off?" He asked looking down at the red lines going across his arm.

    Ano placed her pointer finger to her lips then winked at Don very innocent like, almost as though she was trying to mock me. "Its a secret." She said. One Don was down pouting Ano turned her attention back to me. "How is Leatherhead?" She asked. I cocked my head from side to side. "Same ol' same ol'. Not much of a Christmas guy, but he still decorates. The lair is like a giant sun to me." I giggle. Ano laughed and nodded her head. "I bet, well since your here and holding Don's bags, can you help us?" I knew I didn't have a choice even if I said 'no' so what ever Ano asks me to do I just do it. I pulled up the fur of my coat up past my chin and nodded. Ano noticed I was cold and gave me her scarf. It was very soft. I wrapped it very tightly around my face. Ano, of course, laughed at me. She got bumped in the shoulder by Don before she stopped.

    We walked through central park with small smiles on our faces. The lights were a little to much for me and I ended up getting a headache. Luckily the lair entrance wasn't far. The empty warehouse seemed to be getting older. Once we got to the door Don handed me the rest of the bags. He opened the door and became a gentlemen. He held it open for us, and smirked as we walked past. Ano pinched his cheek and kissed him. Don tried to take the bags back from me but I didn't want him too. His arms were very red from the straps. "Doctors orders." I said with a smile. He shook his head and snatched ten bags from me. "Well doctor, you have a head ache you could faint at any moment, you should carry heavy things. Besides the guys will kill me if I don't.." He said with a smile. I almost forgot that he also had Medical experience...well, knowledge. Don could stitch up a wound or clean cut, but save a life...thats to be seen. I wasn't doubting him or his ability to learn faster then anyone I know just, I guess im skeptical.

    As we walked out of the elevator I saw Raph chasing Mikey and Klunk. "Don't hurt my baby. Run Klunk! Run!" I raised a brow and noticed Avolla's Aura walking toward us. "Hello Avol! Happy Holidays!" I said. She seemed surprised to see me at the lair. "Hello Ji. Good to see you." Leonardo came up behind her and smiled. I bowed my head. "Ill take those." He said once he saw the bags. He took them very softly from my hands. I took off my mits. The air in the lair was very warm and comforting.

    "I'll get that aspirin for you." Ano said as she walked passed me, releasing a hand from my shoulder. Avol looked to me a little concerned. "Aspirin?" She asked tilting her head. "I got a bit of a headache." I said.

    "Raph! Stop! Get off! He didn't mean it!" I looked to the main floor of the lair. Raph was on top of Mikey trying to get ahold of Klunk. Mikey looked up at me and smiled. "Hi Ji!" He said. I waved to him as Raph looked up. He seemed surprised as well, this I could understand. I told him that I was going to spend Christmas with Leatherhead along with New Years. I guess he took it as though I wasn't going to visit him or something. He got off his brother and walked over to me. "What are you doing here? You said you were going to spend-"
    "It was just a stop by..." I said interrupting him. He rubbed his neck and step about twenty feet from me. "Oh..." Ano walked over to me with a glass of water and aspirin. "Whoa..you two ok?" She asked. I took the water from her and the aspirin. "Yeah..." I said. I took it quickly then gulped down on the water. Raph and I haven't seen each other in a while let alone spoken to each other. I didn't want to be distant but I haven't spent anytime with Leatherhead since Raph and I got together. "You going to stay?" Avol asked. I handed the glass back to Ano and shook my head. "No, I have to get back to L.H." Ano frowned. "You haven been with us for a good month. You can stay for an hour to help decorate. Who else is going to keep Raph from eating the cookie batter." She said in a whisper. Raph perked his head up in a cat like style and stared at Ano with a very intense glare. "What?" I giggled. "Ano I would love to but-" Wrong move to protest. She got behind me and pushed me down the steps. "Come on! Besides, you need to talk to Raph, it seems as though its very awkward between you two. You need to loosen things up a bit." She wiggled her arms after she let go of me. "Go help him with the tree." I looked at her confused. "I don't know what you mean." I said. She stood in shock. "Have you never decorated a tree?" She asked. I shook my head. She shook her head as well then just shooed me away. "Just go do what Raph is doing." She said.

    Raph was putting something small and round on the tree. My powers made the tree look like a star and not a plant. He looked over to me and cocked his head, wanting me to come over. I guess the silence had to break sometime. Raph and I usually survive on texting when not spending time with one another. I haven't even done that. "So...its not a stop by?" He asked trying to make conversation. "I guess not. Ano is saying I should stay and talk to you."
    "Hmm..bout what?" He asked and handed me a small ball with glitter on it. I rubbed it with my thumb to get a picture in my head. "Hang it on a branch." He instructed me. I reached out to the tree and felt for a stable branch to hold the ball. A thin hook was at the top of the ball, im guessing that is how you hang it. "I don't know really...I guess because we haven't been talking." He nodded and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Look you explained it to me and I understand. I will not lie and say I haven't missed you but like I said I understand your reasoning. Its ok." I leaned into him and sighed. I loved how understanding he was with me. "But doesn't mean I don't feel bad." I said back. He kissed my forehead then began to pet my hair. "You shouldn't. Hey look...baby Mikey..." He said. He picked up a flat clay like ornament and put it close to my face. I saw Mikey faintly hold a old bear and a nun-chuck by his feet. "Dorky looking doesn't he?" I laughed. In my head I made an Aww sound. He looked cute as a baby turtle. "Wheres you?" I asked. He shook his head. "Oh no! this man...was an ugly baby."

    "I second that!" We heard Ano yell across the room. Raph raised his fist to her and shook. "One day Anocari!" He yelled back to her. "You said it!" She said back, "I was just stating that I second your state. You were an ugly baby, and there is still no change..." She said placing her finger to her chin, inspecting him. Raph ignored her last remark and focused back on me. "Well, I don't like your ugly, nor do I think you were an ugly baby." He sighed and knelt down to the box holding more ornaments. He pulled out another square clay ornament and gave it me. I looked closely. Raphael wore a grumpy face and reindeer antlers on his head. His arms were folded and his cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunk. I covered my mouth before a huge 'Pffft' came pouring out. "Whats with the...antlers?" I asked I shook his had and growled a bit. "Ever since that year Master Splinter put those antlers on me, my brothers force me to wear them every year."

   On que, Mikey swoops in and plants antlers with tiny bells on Raphs head. He stood there frozen with a grumpy look on his face. "Happy 25 years Raph!" Mikey yelled running away, scared for his life. I giggled and took the antlers off of his head and placed them on my own. I tilted my head back and forth to make the bells ring. He smiled at me as I danced around with the antlers on my head. I walked back over to him and took them off. "They look cute on you..." I said and put them back on his head.


    After decorating the tree Avol asked me to help with the cookies. It was a little weird sometimes to be around Avolla because she doesn't really talk much. "Hey Ji?" I looked up from my day dream. I was playing with the cookie cutters while she made the  dough. "Can you mix this batch while I cut this one?" She asked pointing to each batch of dough. I nodded and got up from my chair. I went over to the mixer and stared at it confused. "Um how?"
    "On the left side is the lever to make the mixer go at a certain speed, can you put it at max?" I looked to the left side of the machine. Next to the lever was number from one to 10. I put the lever to 10 and stepped back. The mixer went out of control and cookie dough went flying out of the bowl everywhere. It flew into my face and hair. It even reach Avolla. I hurried and shut it off as fast as I could. Cookie dough was all over the walls and all over us. Avol and I looked at each other in pure shock. Slowly we began to laugh very hard. I wiped some dough off my cheek and put it into my mouth. "Well, we now know it taste good!" I said still laughing. The cookie dough was still thin and liquid not very stuck together. Splats of dough was on the walls, cupboard and floor. "What happened?!" Avol screamed. "I put it to max like you asked!" I screamed back. We just continued to laugh. Avol couldn't speak she was laughing so hard. "The cookie max is 4!" She yelled. "I didn't know!"

    Ano came running in. "What happened in here?" She asked trying not to laugh. We both looked at her holding our arms out from our bodies. "Ji thought cookie max was 10!" Avol screamed still laughing. Anocari walked over and slipped on cookie dough. We both laughed even harder. Cookie dough fell from the contour onto her head. "Ahh! My hair!" She screamed. She glared at me as I couldn't help but laughed. She picked up a handful of cookie dough and through it at my face. I froze and looked down at Ano as she stood up. "Don't laugh!" She said. I smirked and stuck my hand into the bowl of cookie dough. I quickly threw the handful at Avol and ran to the other side of the kitchen. It went from her face down to her belly. She didn't move as I laughed in the corner of the kitchen. "We are not starting this!" Avol stated. "Yes we are!" Ano screamed and threw cookie dough at me. I dodged her fire and ran near Avol. I stuck out my tongue at her then licked my lips of sweet cookie dough.

   We made a rule to only grab cookie dough so we don't make more of a mess then we already have.  We ran around the kitchen and even ran outside. The boys watched as Avol chasing me for pouring the whole bowl on her head. I got behind Leo and jumped back and forth from one side of him. He was confused and tried to look to me. I held his shoulders forward to block Avol from getting to me. "What are you two doing?!" He asked. Im guessing he didn't hear what happened before this escalated. I finally ran away from my hiding spot and back into the kitchen. We both slipped on cookie dough. We sat there laughing as we were prime targets for Ano. She took two hand full's and wiped them across our face the flicked her fingers for extra sprinkles.

   After the fight was set and done we explained ourselves to Master Splinter. I took full blame for seeing it was I who threw first. The girls helped me clean up and the boys sat there laughing, Mikey even got out the camera. The after math wasn't fun, but it was fun in the moment.

   Leatherhead even called me wondering were I was. I told him I was helping Anocari with something and he left it at that. He asked me to come home and help him with something. I didn't argue, I had to leave anyway. I went over to Master Splinter and apologized again. He didn't take it too seriously and gave me a smile. I then found Raph sitting on the coach drinking something. I sat down next to him and cuddled up. His body was warm, and I certainly did want to leave. He rubbed my head and didn't say a word. "L.H called" I said, "I have to go home now." He took another sip of his drink and leaned his cheek against me. "Ill walk you." He said. He seemed to be upset and I didn't blame him.

   He brought his drink with him and sipped on it the whole time. He held my hand very loosely and seemed to want to let go. I stopped walking and stared at floor. "Whats wrong?" He asked. I squeezed the finger that was left in my grip. "Im sorry..." I said. He took a step closer to me holding my hand back. "For what?...You haven't done anything wrong-"
   "Don't tell me that! I have been ignoring you and I know it. You know it, and Im sorry. Just because ima be with Leatherhead for New Years and Christmas doesn't mean I cant talk to you and im sorry that I haven't." He smiled and pet my cheek to stop tears. "I missed your voice the most." He said to me, "It's so beautiful...it warms me, comforts me." He lifted my chin to him and kissed me simply. Slow, nervous kiss. He didn't know how to kiss me at this point, but I took it. Just a kiss, just one simple kiss was enough to comfort me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and just stayed there. I kissed him more, not wanting to let go. "I love you..." I said once we broke. We touched foreheads and looked into each others eyes. "Trust me when I say this," He kissed my nose then lips again, "I love you more..."

Raphael dropped me off at the door and Leatherhead greeted us. He seemed to be in a good enough mood to say hi to Raph. Leatherhead told me to go inside and sit down. He shut the door and began to talk to Raphael. The lair was still bright. My head only began to hurt more.

I decided to go to bed and rest for a bit. Later I would ask Leatherhead to turn them off. I couldn't take any more aspirin so I just laid down.

twenty minutes went by before a webbed hand touched my shoulder. I opened my eyes to Leatherhead. "Tired?" I nodded and sat up. I rubbed my eyes and fixed my already messy hair. He patted it down with soft strokes of his huge hand. "Raphael has left, he says he will text you later this evening. He is hoping to go on a date soon by my guess." He told me. I shrugged not really knowing how to respond to that. "Do you want to go on a date with him?" He asked me. I thought for a minute. "It has been a while. I would love to but im hanging out with you!" I stated. He laughed at me and shook his head. "Just because you are going to spend Christmas with me doesn't mean you cant go out. I know you like to." He winked trying to be a funny old croc referring my rebellion stages. . "Don't do jokes..." I said in response, "Yes I would like to go out...but not today...or tomorrow...or the next day..." I plopped my head back down on the pillow and began to groan. The headache was getting to me and I just needed sleep. "Well he wants to go out tomorrow. I told him I was okay with it, but he needs your confirmation if you truly want to go." Leatherhead was starting to dent my mattress. My legs were pinned under his tail. I think he was doing it on purpose because every time I would try to ditch the conversation he would shift his tail and his body. He was crushing me. "Ji, ive even notice the awkwardness between you and Raphael. Every time I mention him you look away and change the subject. Why? I know this holiday is awkward for you but-"
"Im fine uncle. Raph and I already talked about it. Its settled." I said with frustration. "To him it is...to you there's still something you keeping from him. It's eating at you." I pulled the covers over my head and did my best to move my body away from Leatherhead. I heard him sigh.

The matters finally flatted when he stood up. "Your being distant to us all Ji. Everyone...is worried. Sleep well." Tears rolled down my face and a bottle of fear opened in my stomach. Once the door closed I didn't hold back my tears or my pain. I let it flow. I knew Leatherhead was at the door hearing me cry, but I didn't care. I felt safe in my room.

An hour goes by and small tears are still trailing down my face. I wasn't exactly crying but the after effect of crying, where your ok but tears just haven't stopped flowing. Where the pain still hasn't left your system. It was the same every year for me. I felt...weird on Christmas. New Years was fine, but Christmas. Was the holiday of tears for me. Maybe it was because I knew that it was the holiday of family, and I didn't have that. Leatherhead was my family yes but real family. My father, he was never there. Those Christmas' when I was 8 images of me holding a torn teddy bear in my puny hands, looking out the window still in hospital clothing.

My back was still in pain, my eyes felt heavy. I stayed up all night waiting for someone...anyone to bring me a gift, to bring me love...comfort, warmth...something. I wanted something for Christmas...preferably my mother. I cried that night the same way im crying now. Christmas was never the same since then.

As Leatherhead said he would Raph called that night. I felt as though I should have picked up...but I didn't. I let the phone ring over and over. It someone how help me daze off. The constant ringing of bells, and trains, mice, and tiny sewage water falls
seemed to push me into half slumber.

Foot steps echoed into my ears. A creaky door opened and shined light onto my cheek. I groaned and rolled over. "Is she awake."
"She said she was tired so I would expect she is..."The voices where muffled. 'Hello' I could not speak. My body froze in place and two heavy force pinned me down on either. "Allow me..." I don't understand. Who is above me, pinning me down to my bed. Rough fingers pulled my hair away from my cold face. "Allow me to st-" It's voice faded. My mind was so tired and weak from to many tears, to much stress. Those two things really get the best of me.

A warm body with cold feet curled up next to me. It held the back of my head to a pit of a neck. This warmth was familiar and this warmth was something I have been craving since that Christmas morning when I was 8. It pet my head with no force. "Ji...no more crying..." You know my name? "Im here now, no more crying."How do you know me? "I love you Ji..."

You love me?....