Sequel: Angel's Child ›
Golden Angel
Chapter 14
“…Mikey, stop poking me.”
“I’m not poking you.”
Poke.
Poke.
“I said STOP poking me.”
“I’m not poking you!”
Poke.
Poke.
Poke.
Vein pulsing in forehead…
Poke.
Poke.
Poke.
Teeth clenched as hand reflexively tries to smack idiotic brother upside head…
Poke.
Poke!
POKE!
“MIKEY!”
Moving her hand in a short jab, wind pushed the orange-banded turtle off the couch.
“WHOA! What was that?”
“…Shell…”
“Did you just AIRBEND?!”
“NO!”
“YOU DID!”
“NO I DIDN’T!”
“THEN WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING?!”
“BECAUSE YOU ARE!”
“Can both of you stop?” April asked.
Both looked at her, and Artemis smiled sheepishly.
“Sorry, April…”
“But she just AIRBENDED!”
Don gave him a weird look.
“You mean the stuff they do in a SHOW?”
“Exactly!”
“…Artie?”
Everyone’s eyes were on her, but Splinter kept calmly drinking his tea.
“Uh…Maybe…Just a little…Okay, I frickin’ Airbended! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!”
Mikey grinned.
“Yes.”
“…I hate you…”
“Can you do it again?”
He gave her his patented Chibi Turtle Eyes, and she frowned a bit.
“Oh, move!”
Standing, she moved her arm in a sharp punch, knocking Mikey over from his position a few yards from her.
“OW…”
He looked thoughtful before grinning.
“COOL…”
“…You are SO easy to entertain…”
Don looked interested, and almost ecstatic.
Not only was this completely phenomenal, but it was his SISTER.
Every brother had learned their own ways around her angry looks and high-built, thick walls, without breaking them down.
Mikey’s cute look normally let him in easily, and Don just had to ask nicely.
They were the youngest brothers, and she made things a bit easier for them.
Raph had to start an argument, and once it was heated, she’d blurt out anything he needed to know on accident.
Leo seemed to have it hardest, probably because she was more afraid to let him see inside her inner walls.
He’d get her to spar, and pin her down in order to pull his way through her shields.
Raph, trying to get away from the weirdness that was his family, went to take a shower.
However…
It seemed the shower wasn’t working…
Don went down to fix the heater, and Artemis sat back on the couch.
“Questions will not be answered.”
“WHY?” Mikey whined.
“…Because I don’t have any answers…”
“…AWWWWWWWWWWWW…”
Rolling her eyes, she leaned back and put her arms behind her head.
“Deal with it.”
April cocked an eyebrow.
“Will wonders never cease?”
“Not with us.” The jade-skinned turtle replied with a small smile.
Leo hadn’t said anything, eyes still locked on her.
He’d had these long trances where he’d just stare, and now even Don was in the habit of snapping him out of it.
‘I hope it doesn’t get TOO bad…’
The sky was the deepest black, and, finally, after Don came back, they were tired enough to go to sleep.
Mikey and Raph took the couch, the latter sleeping on the back, while the other three siblings took the floor.
As the blue-banded turtle tried to drift off, he felt a warm weight on his shell.
Looking over his shoulder, he saw an already-sleeping Artemis curled up against his back, smiling slightly in her slumber, sometimes nuzzling his arm.
Mitsukai was against her owner’s shell, and seemed content.
With a soft smile, he managed to turn a bit more towards her, a flustered heat sparking in his chest when she brought him into a half-hug, one arm over his chest.
Closing his eyes, he put an arm around her shoulders.
‘Don’t worry, Artemis…I’ll protect you…’
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crimson eyes opened blearily when the source of heat she’d been snuggling against tried to move away.
With a soft noise of annoyance, she gripped tighter, eyes clenched shut.
A gentle hand pulled her arm off, and another touched her cheek gently.
“It’s alright, Artemis…I’m just going for a training run…”
The voice soothed her, and her muscles relaxed.
“Just go back to sleep…”
Another warmth cuddled onto her side, nuzzling her shell.
“…Goodnight…”
He kissed her forehead before she dozed off…
She woke up only a little while later, noticing Leo was gone and Mitsukai was scratching at the window, whimpering.
“Baby?”
A sharper whimper, meant to catch her attention.
Nodding, Artemis headed for the window.
Looking back at her family, she furrowed her brow.
‘But…I have a bad feeling about this…’
“Stay here, girl.” She whispered, patting the husky’s head.
“Protect them while I’m gone?”
A happy bark, and she smiled.
“Good dog.”
Jumping out into the early dawn air, she started jumping rooftops.
The farther she went, the harder her heart clenched, and she noticed it had started raining.
Narrowing her eyes, she jabbed behind her.
Air helped her fly faster, and she almost soared through the air.
She skidded to a stop when she found some major damage to a rooftop, and looked around worriedly.
‘Leo…’
Her heart clenched again, giving a sharp pain.
Setting her jaw, she started running again.
The raindrops seemed to move out of her way, the wind pushed her forward.
‘Just hold on for me, Leo…Just hold on.’
A cry of pain echoed through the rain, and her eyes widened.
‘LEO!’
Going as fast as her legs would allow, she felt her muscles burn as she clenched her fists.
A familiar figure was coming into sight, and her eyes widened.
‘Leo…’
He fell back, and another took shape.
‘…No…’
Her feet started slapping the ground as she pushed off into the air.
“GET AWAY!”
Raindrops moved around the barely-conscious turtle, freezing to ice and shielding him.
Landing hard, she brought her hands up in an ‘Airbending’ style.
Thundering steps came from behind, and she whipped around.
A blast of air shot Hun back, and she glared at the ninja, even the ‘elite’.
“Bring it. I DARE you.”
Raising her hands, the rain stopped.
“’Cause this is going to hurt…”
Smirking, she clenched her fingers, breathing out.
The water turned to mist, and she rushed through.
‘I need to get Leo OUT of here!’
That was the only coherent thought as she brought down the ice shield and pulled the blue-banded turtle onto her own shell.
However, before she could run, someone kicked her in the side.
Crying out in surprised pain, she stumbled, somehow managing to keep her balance.
“Why do you INSIST on defying me?”
Glaring, she backed up towards the edge.
“Because I feel that’s what I need to do.”
Seeing the mist fading, she clenched her jaw.
“Stay away from him…”
“Why do you care what I do to him?”
“He’s my brother!” She snarled back, heels hardly on the ledge.
“Really? Or do you want more?”
Steeling herself, Artemis met his eyes.
“I’m never going to join you.”
With that, she jumped off, and managed to spin enough to make air.
Landing safely on a lower rooftop, she started running.
She saw Foot ninja start following, and felt the water condense around her.
‘Come on…Come ON…’
She urged herself faster, pushed herself harder.
Her legs screamed at her to stop, to put him down and rest for a while…
She couldn’t.
She WOULDN’T.
“A-Artemis…?”
“Leo, you’re okay.” She soothed, trying not to lose her footing.
The jade-skinned turtle was a bit surprised when he nuzzled her shoulder, not expecting such an intimate gesture.
“Leo?”
“I’m okay…I can still…fight…”
“No you aren’t, mister!” Artemis retorted, dodging a barrage of shuriken before jumping onto a chimney.
She used her feet to hit them away with wind before landing facing the right way and continuing her run.
“I’m sorry…”
“Don’t be. I’m here for you.”
Her breathing was starting to get heavy, ragged, a sure sign her stamina was wearing down.
But she could SEE the building…
A whistling noise caught her attention, and a dart caught in her neck.
A bit surprised, she nearly stumbled.
Her mind started blurring with her vision, her pace slowed.
‘NO!’
Pushing herself as the window came into sight, she closed her eyes.
‘I can’t give up…Not now…’
A katana was unsheathed behind her, and she spun around.
Kicking it away, she managed to shift her brother more to her side and front as she realized they were right across the street.
‘Just one good jump…’
Blowing air, it sent them both flying.
Her shell shattered the window before bouncing on the floor, and she groaned a bit as she pulled the dart out.
Everything was blurring…
“ARTIE!”
“Princess, what happened ta ya?!”
“Artie!”
“My children!”
Looking a bit to the side, she managed a weak smile…
“Don’t…worry…” She forced out, still panting…
“But…The Foot…”
Raph looked rearing to go, but Leo stopped him.
“No…Raph…wait…H-He’s back…Th-The Shredder…”
The turtle blacked out, and Artemis felt her eyes closing…
“I-I’m sorry…”
“ARTIE!”
But the sound was just so DISTANT right then…
It was like falling asleep…
“I’m not poking you.”
Poke.
Poke.
“I said STOP poking me.”
“I’m not poking you!”
Poke.
Poke.
Poke.
Vein pulsing in forehead…
Poke.
Poke.
Poke.
Teeth clenched as hand reflexively tries to smack idiotic brother upside head…
Poke.
Poke!
POKE!
“MIKEY!”
Moving her hand in a short jab, wind pushed the orange-banded turtle off the couch.
“WHOA! What was that?”
“…Shell…”
“Did you just AIRBEND?!”
“NO!”
“YOU DID!”
“NO I DIDN’T!”
“THEN WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING?!”
“BECAUSE YOU ARE!”
“Can both of you stop?” April asked.
Both looked at her, and Artemis smiled sheepishly.
“Sorry, April…”
“But she just AIRBENDED!”
Don gave him a weird look.
“You mean the stuff they do in a SHOW?”
“Exactly!”
“…Artie?”
Everyone’s eyes were on her, but Splinter kept calmly drinking his tea.
“Uh…Maybe…Just a little…Okay, I frickin’ Airbended! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!”
Mikey grinned.
“Yes.”
“…I hate you…”
“Can you do it again?”
He gave her his patented Chibi Turtle Eyes, and she frowned a bit.
“Oh, move!”
Standing, she moved her arm in a sharp punch, knocking Mikey over from his position a few yards from her.
“OW…”
He looked thoughtful before grinning.
“COOL…”
“…You are SO easy to entertain…”
Don looked interested, and almost ecstatic.
Not only was this completely phenomenal, but it was his SISTER.
Every brother had learned their own ways around her angry looks and high-built, thick walls, without breaking them down.
Mikey’s cute look normally let him in easily, and Don just had to ask nicely.
They were the youngest brothers, and she made things a bit easier for them.
Raph had to start an argument, and once it was heated, she’d blurt out anything he needed to know on accident.
Leo seemed to have it hardest, probably because she was more afraid to let him see inside her inner walls.
He’d get her to spar, and pin her down in order to pull his way through her shields.
Raph, trying to get away from the weirdness that was his family, went to take a shower.
However…
It seemed the shower wasn’t working…
Don went down to fix the heater, and Artemis sat back on the couch.
“Questions will not be answered.”
“WHY?” Mikey whined.
“…Because I don’t have any answers…”
“…AWWWWWWWWWWWW…”
Rolling her eyes, she leaned back and put her arms behind her head.
“Deal with it.”
April cocked an eyebrow.
“Will wonders never cease?”
“Not with us.” The jade-skinned turtle replied with a small smile.
Leo hadn’t said anything, eyes still locked on her.
He’d had these long trances where he’d just stare, and now even Don was in the habit of snapping him out of it.
‘I hope it doesn’t get TOO bad…’
The sky was the deepest black, and, finally, after Don came back, they were tired enough to go to sleep.
Mikey and Raph took the couch, the latter sleeping on the back, while the other three siblings took the floor.
As the blue-banded turtle tried to drift off, he felt a warm weight on his shell.
Looking over his shoulder, he saw an already-sleeping Artemis curled up against his back, smiling slightly in her slumber, sometimes nuzzling his arm.
Mitsukai was against her owner’s shell, and seemed content.
With a soft smile, he managed to turn a bit more towards her, a flustered heat sparking in his chest when she brought him into a half-hug, one arm over his chest.
Closing his eyes, he put an arm around her shoulders.
‘Don’t worry, Artemis…I’ll protect you…’
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crimson eyes opened blearily when the source of heat she’d been snuggling against tried to move away.
With a soft noise of annoyance, she gripped tighter, eyes clenched shut.
A gentle hand pulled her arm off, and another touched her cheek gently.
“It’s alright, Artemis…I’m just going for a training run…”
The voice soothed her, and her muscles relaxed.
“Just go back to sleep…”
Another warmth cuddled onto her side, nuzzling her shell.
“…Goodnight…”
He kissed her forehead before she dozed off…
She woke up only a little while later, noticing Leo was gone and Mitsukai was scratching at the window, whimpering.
“Baby?”
A sharper whimper, meant to catch her attention.
Nodding, Artemis headed for the window.
Looking back at her family, she furrowed her brow.
‘But…I have a bad feeling about this…’
“Stay here, girl.” She whispered, patting the husky’s head.
“Protect them while I’m gone?”
A happy bark, and she smiled.
“Good dog.”
Jumping out into the early dawn air, she started jumping rooftops.
The farther she went, the harder her heart clenched, and she noticed it had started raining.
Narrowing her eyes, she jabbed behind her.
Air helped her fly faster, and she almost soared through the air.
She skidded to a stop when she found some major damage to a rooftop, and looked around worriedly.
‘Leo…’
Her heart clenched again, giving a sharp pain.
Setting her jaw, she started running again.
The raindrops seemed to move out of her way, the wind pushed her forward.
‘Just hold on for me, Leo…Just hold on.’
A cry of pain echoed through the rain, and her eyes widened.
‘LEO!’
Going as fast as her legs would allow, she felt her muscles burn as she clenched her fists.
A familiar figure was coming into sight, and her eyes widened.
‘Leo…’
He fell back, and another took shape.
‘…No…’
Her feet started slapping the ground as she pushed off into the air.
“GET AWAY!”
Raindrops moved around the barely-conscious turtle, freezing to ice and shielding him.
Landing hard, she brought her hands up in an ‘Airbending’ style.
Thundering steps came from behind, and she whipped around.
A blast of air shot Hun back, and she glared at the ninja, even the ‘elite’.
“Bring it. I DARE you.”
Raising her hands, the rain stopped.
“’Cause this is going to hurt…”
Smirking, she clenched her fingers, breathing out.
The water turned to mist, and she rushed through.
‘I need to get Leo OUT of here!’
That was the only coherent thought as she brought down the ice shield and pulled the blue-banded turtle onto her own shell.
However, before she could run, someone kicked her in the side.
Crying out in surprised pain, she stumbled, somehow managing to keep her balance.
“Why do you INSIST on defying me?”
Glaring, she backed up towards the edge.
“Because I feel that’s what I need to do.”
Seeing the mist fading, she clenched her jaw.
“Stay away from him…”
“Why do you care what I do to him?”
“He’s my brother!” She snarled back, heels hardly on the ledge.
“Really? Or do you want more?”
Steeling herself, Artemis met his eyes.
“I’m never going to join you.”
With that, she jumped off, and managed to spin enough to make air.
Landing safely on a lower rooftop, she started running.
She saw Foot ninja start following, and felt the water condense around her.
‘Come on…Come ON…’
She urged herself faster, pushed herself harder.
Her legs screamed at her to stop, to put him down and rest for a while…
She couldn’t.
She WOULDN’T.
“A-Artemis…?”
“Leo, you’re okay.” She soothed, trying not to lose her footing.
The jade-skinned turtle was a bit surprised when he nuzzled her shoulder, not expecting such an intimate gesture.
“Leo?”
“I’m okay…I can still…fight…”
“No you aren’t, mister!” Artemis retorted, dodging a barrage of shuriken before jumping onto a chimney.
She used her feet to hit them away with wind before landing facing the right way and continuing her run.
“I’m sorry…”
“Don’t be. I’m here for you.”
Her breathing was starting to get heavy, ragged, a sure sign her stamina was wearing down.
But she could SEE the building…
A whistling noise caught her attention, and a dart caught in her neck.
A bit surprised, she nearly stumbled.
Her mind started blurring with her vision, her pace slowed.
‘NO!’
Pushing herself as the window came into sight, she closed her eyes.
‘I can’t give up…Not now…’
A katana was unsheathed behind her, and she spun around.
Kicking it away, she managed to shift her brother more to her side and front as she realized they were right across the street.
‘Just one good jump…’
Blowing air, it sent them both flying.
Her shell shattered the window before bouncing on the floor, and she groaned a bit as she pulled the dart out.
Everything was blurring…
“ARTIE!”
“Princess, what happened ta ya?!”
“Artie!”
“My children!”
Looking a bit to the side, she managed a weak smile…
“Don’t…worry…” She forced out, still panting…
“But…The Foot…”
Raph looked rearing to go, but Leo stopped him.
“No…Raph…wait…H-He’s back…Th-The Shredder…”
The turtle blacked out, and Artemis felt her eyes closing…
“I-I’m sorry…”
“ARTIE!”
But the sound was just so DISTANT right then…
It was like falling asleep…