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They were walking through the sewers. There was tension between them, Karai could feel it. She could feel Shini’s apprehension, her nervousness, and her worry. Karai hated it, but there was nothing they could do.
They climbed the ladder to exit the sewers, sliding the manhole cover away with ease. She pulled herself up, and then grabbed Shini’s hand and helped her out. Her motorcycle was just a few yards away, and they silently walked to it. Karai passed her her helmet, then put on her own. They climbed on, Shini grabbing her waist, as she twisted the key to start the engine.
Karai kicked up the kickstand. She revved the engine, but then at the last second, Shini spoke.
“Karai, I… we need to talk, when we get home.”
Home. She and Shini had gotten an apartment a few weeks ago, not far from the Shredder’s old lair. She remembered moving in, and putting their clothes in the same closet. She remembered the first night they’d laid in their new bed, holding each other close. She remembered slowly undressing her, and Shini doing the same. She remembered every little moment they shared, and hoped that they could still have that. She hoped she could still have her.
“Yes, we should.” She said simply, then took off.
The drive was short, but she wished it was longer. She’d come up with what to say, then. She’d come up with something that made sense, that didn’t make her come off as a freak. A monster.
She’d seen the way Shini looked at her when she mutated, trying to save Leo from Tiger Claw. She saw the look on Shini’s face as her skin turned white, as her eyes turned green, as her arms and hands became snakes. She saw the horror on Shini’s face in the basement of that weapons store, and she couldn’t get it out of her head.
Shini was afraid of her, she knew that now. She’d kept the fact that she was a mutant secret, because she didn’t want to make her afraid. She didn’t want to lose Shini over this. They were a couple, and couples were supposed to share things with each other; important things. But she couldn’t share this, or she didn’t in the past, because she didn’t want things to change. She didn’t want Shini to think of her differently.
But now it was too late. Shini knew. And now she was going to leave her, because that’s all anyone ever did.
They pulled into the garage of their apartment, leaving their helmets on the bike. Karai reached into her pocket and pulled out the key, letting them into the building. She held the door for her girlfriend, as if that would make a difference to what she knew was coming. Shini said a quiet thank you, and they entered the building, going to the elevator.
They stepped inside the elevator, and Karai pressed the button for the seventh floor. Cheesy elevator music started to play, and she would have laughed if she wasn’t so nervous.
The elevator dinged and they stepped out, walking the short distance to the door of their apartment. Karai unlocked the door and entered, Shini following. She and Shini slipped off their shoes and set them on the mat by the door, finally moving deeper into their apartment. Karai threw her keys on the counter and made her way to their room, Shini not far behind.
She moved to her side of the bed and began pulling off her armor, the cuffs on her legs, thighs, and arms first, then taking off her gloves. She moved to take off her metallic corset, pulling and tugging and trying to get it to unclasp, and she was just about to have a breakdown about it, and now tears were welling in her eyes, and–
“Karai, let me help you.” Shini said, coming to stand behind her. Karai let her arms fall to her sides as Shini pulled it off, throwing it to the floor where the rest of her armor lay.
“Thanks.” Karai mumbled, then continued taking off her clothes. She went to their dresser and pulled out a pair of shorts and an old t-shirt, slipping them on quietly. She could feel Shini’s presence behind her, watching her. She usually loved it when Shini looked at her, but now all she felt was shame.
“You turned into… something, tonight.” Shini said carefully, and Karai kept her back turned, because she couldn’t look at her. She couldn’t look her in the eye and do this.
“A snake mutant.” Karai said, bowing her head. She kept quiet for a moment when it was evident Shini wouldn’t respond. “I didn’t want you to know.”
“I realized this.” Shini said, “You still should have told me.”
“Yeah, I know.” Karai said, an edge to her voice, “I know I should’ve, but I didn’t.”
“Why?” Shini said, and Karai knew this was it. This was the kind of thing that broke relationships, and she hated it because she loved Shini so much and didn’t want to lose her.
Karai finally turned around. Shini was sitting at the head of their bed, black t-shirt on, black shorts to match. She looked beautiful, and she was going to lose her.
Karai licked her lips. “You– you think of me differently, now. I saw the look on your face when I mutated, and– and I saw how afraid you were.” She took a deep breath, preparing herself. “I didn’t want you to think I’m a monster.”
Shini looked up at her, dark brown eyes shining. Karai looked away, down to the floor where her armor lay. She almost wished she hadn’t changed, because that way she could leave. She could go live with the turtles, because they didn’t think she was different. But she was, and they were the only people in the world who didn’t.
Shini ran her hands through her hair, something Karai knew she only did when she was stressed. “Karai. I don’t think of you as a monster, I never have and I never will. That will never change.”
Karai wrapped her arms around herself. “You were still afraid. The look on your face… it haunts me.”
Shini let out a breath. “I was afraid, Karai, yes. I was afraid for you. I thought– for a moment I thought they’d done something to you, and I couldn’t stand the thought of you hurt. I was afraid because I didn’t know you had this ability, but I think I was more shocked than anything.”
Karai sucked in a breath, then let one out. She walked to the bed and slid under the covers, then shuffled a little closer to her. Shini did the same, then wrapped an arm around Karai’s waist.
Karai rested her head on Shini’s shoulder, and Shini pulled her closer. “Thank you.” She whispered, closing her eyes. Shini chuckled beside her.
“Of course.” She said, “I think it’s cool how you can transform at will. Maybe, another time, you can show me.”
Despite everything, Karai smiled. “Maybe I will.”