the lazarus job - tmnt (2)

eight

Leo  appeared impressed; his eyebrow ridge reached up as he lifted his lips with a small smile. 

"Do this often?" He mused. Nadia couldn't hide the smile that appeared on her face so she shrugged and admitted, "It's an easy trick." 

Leo humphed but spun his head around when Mikey laughed. It seemed as if most of the tenseness in the group fell shallow when they saw Mikey balancing what looked like a ball on his toes as he stood on one foot. 

The children around him, all with smiles and wide eyes of glee, watched in awe as Mikey jumped to the other foot while successfully transitioning the ball to his other toes. He grinned at the loud laughs of the children and only made them laugh harder when he kicked the ball up and caught it on his head. 

"He's good with kids," chuckled Florence when she noticed Nadia surprised look. "It's always been like that with Mikey." 

Nadia gave Mikey a short smile before saying softly, "My sister would love him." 

Florence found herself asking, "How old is she?" 

Nadia looked down to the dirt and pursed her lips. "Eight or nine by now." 

"By now?" It was Leo's turn to be curious as he turned around and looked at Nadia. 

The lump began to form in Nadia throat, causing the girl to clear her throat and look up to the massive hut made of blue and white string and green jungle vines. She blinked multiple times before swallowing and looking back down. 

"I haven't seen her in a few years." 

The conversation was immediately shut to a close when the flap of the hut in front of them opened. Nadia tensed, her eyes now frozen to the hut as a woman walked out. Behind her, Mikey snort when he saw that she had no hair and a head that was shinier than Nadia's prized blade. 

The woman wore a strapless dress made of vibrant colors. It looked like velvet as it dragged on the floor but what surprised Nadia the most was when it remained as clean as a freshly washed cloth. 

The woman blinked her solid white eyes and looked down, assessing the multiple strangers in front of her. 

"Your names," she spoke loudly as if she was ordering the information. Nadia, not fond of orders, hesitated a moment before she opened her mouth and answered. 

"Nadia Jaymes. Behind me is Florence Carter and the rest are the turtles; Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, and Donatello." 

The woman narrowed her eyes and lift her chin, causing the massive nose ring to dangle as she stared down to the group of nineteen year olds. 

"Do you come armed for war?" 

Nadia widened her eyes and practically sputtered her next answer, afraid that they had taken their appearance the wrong way. 

"N-No," she said quickly. "We were attacked by assassins from Kuldor." 

Multiple gasps came from the villagers as they all looked to one another in fear. Murmurs grew louder by the second before the woman simply glared at the villagers who silenced once they noticed her look.