Chapter Text
When Cassandra woke up, she was back in her own bed. She looked around, still groggy from sleep, and searched for the blue bandana. She knows she fell asleep holding it…
Casey glanced at the door, where it normally was, yet there was no blue on her door.
She began to panic and threw back her blankets and pillows. Maybe it fell under the bed?
Casey laid on her stomach on the floor and peered underneath the bed. She pushed aside a few boxes and stay toys, yet still no bandana.
Her stomach sank as her heartbeat pickup its pace. This was bad…
Casey ran into the living room and threw back couch cushions. Maybe she dropped it on the couch in her sleep?
“Cassandra! What are you doing? You’re making a mess!” Mrs. Jones rushed in, looking at the disaster Casey was making.
“I can’t find Leon’s bandana!” Casey looked under the couch and coffee table.
“Of course he leaves me to deal with this alone.” Mrs. Jones muttered.
“Sweetie, about Leon…” Casey whipped her head around to stare up at the older woman.
Mrs. Jones began sweating under her intense stare.
“Your father and I talked, and we think it’s best that you…” she struggled to find the right words, “keep your distance from him.”
Casey began to glare at her. The audacity!
For years, Casey’s mom had been trying to get her to socialize. Any get-together, birthday party, celebration, or event with other kids, it was always “why don’t you go play with the other kids?”
The one time she meets someone and actually makes a friend, her mother wants her to stay away!
“Why?! I finally have a friend! Aren’t you happy?” Mrs. Jones sighed. Of course she was happy, she was thrilled! But her daughter’s safety was more important.
She just wished Casey would listen and understand!
“Of course I’m happy Hun! I just… don’t think it’s smart to befriend someone you don’t know.” Casey huffed and crossed her arms.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Oooh, she was sassy today, wasn’t she?!
“It means… there are people out there who aren’t who they say they are.” Mrs. Jones tried to take calming breaths. She’s just a child who doesn’t understand the world yet.
“What does that even mean?” Okay… patience slowly snapping…
“That means… that people lie about who they are. They will fool you and this ‘Leon’ might be one of those people.”
“But he’s not!”
“Really? How old is he?” Casey was stumped they never actually told each other their ages yet…
“Exactly. Now, I want you to stop with the letters today. No more. That’s final.” Mrs. Jones matched her child’s attitude and crossed her arms.
Casey scoffed and stormed into her room.
This was ridiculous! There was no way Leon was like that! Casey glanced at the letter still sitting on her desk. She still hadn’t set it out.
Whatever, she was strong and smart! She could easily take down any danger! Besides, she could prove Leon wasn’t a threat after they talk a bit more.
The only issue was her mom would probably be watching the tulips now looking for letters. She had to move the letter location.
She glanced at her window and smirked before writing something extra on her letter.
Casey carefully cracked open her door and heard her mom in the kitchen the sound of sizzling caught her attention, she was probably making breakfast since the power was back on.
Perfect gap. You can’t see the tulips from the kitchen.
Casey ran out and quickly set out the letter before running back to her room. On the way, she caught a glimpse of something in her parent’s bedroom.
Taking cautious steps forward and slowly opening the door more, Casey saw something in her parent’s tiny trash can by their bedside table.
It was blue… same shade as Leon’s bandana…
She looked inside the trash can and sure enough, on a stack of old discarded magazines and newspapers, was Leon’s mask!
Yes! She found it!
She sprinted out and quickly hid the bandana under her pillow. If her parents saw it, they’d surely get rid of it again.
Hopefully Leon got to the letter soon and followed her instructions.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Leo had went back to Cassandra’s apartment as soon as he could, but since the Lair had flooded from that storm, it took a bit longer than he would’ve liked.
But he still made it! After a bit of convincing to Mikey, he finally agreed to cover for Leo. Maybe a bad idea, but he was desperate and his littlest brother was his only option.
His twin sucked at lying, actually couldn’t do it to save his or his tech’s life, and his big brother would try and stop him; maybe even tell Splinter.
Leo smiled when he saw that there was a letter waiting for him. Only issue, was he heard footsteps approaching from inside the apartment.
He had two options; A) wait for whoever it was to leave then grab the letter, or 2) snag it before they could spot him.
Of course Leo went with option 2.
He ran to the letter, grabbed it, and scurried back to the shadows on the platform just off to the side and above the window.
Just as he was fully submerged in the darkness, Casey’s mother poked her head out and look and the tulips.
Leo held his breath and pressed himself closer to the side of the building.
“Hm… maybe she will actually listen this time…” She muttered before shutting the window.
Leo finally allowed himself to breathe and he slumped against the wall.
Unfortunately he can’t relax long, there’s no way Mikey can hold off the others for long. So Leo had to go home asap.
When he got home, the first thing he did was sneak into his room. He didn’t search for Mikey because he was likely with the others and he was instructed to tell them he was in his room.
It’ll be like he never left.
When Leo got to his room, he shut the makeshift curtain door and sat on his bed. He unfolded the letter and read it.
“No I like lite blue. How old are you anyway? Ill tell you wen you tell me.
Ps put the leters on my windo. Mom doesnt want us riting. But I don’t think ur weard. That much.”
She liked Blue too! She has good taste.
Leo was about to grab a piece of paper and wrote back when his curtain was thrown open.
He jumped and flung himself to face the entrance; letter hidden behind his back.
Raph eyed him with suspicion.
“What are you doing?” Leo gave him an odd look.
“Taking a breather from the crazy family. Do you need something?” Raph continued to stare, as if he could glare a real answer out of him.
“No… but Pops was getting worried. Just… come out soon.”
“You got it Raphie!”
Raph gave him one last glance before leaving his room.
Leo breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the letter in his hand.
This will be hard to keep up, but he’s up to a challenge.
And this challenge he won’t quit.