Eyes behind glasses widened in fear as 4 men approach him with evil smirks on their faces.

“Okay, bookworm. Give us your money, laptop, phone, everything valuable.”

“I.. I can’t! I need them for school.”

“Listen, pal. You either give them with smile or with tears.”

Hugging his bag younger male shook his head.

“Tsc, have it your way. Let’s get him, boys!”

Closing his eyes waiting the first hit and pain he screamed help from the bottom of his lungs.

–

During the fall her mind was blank before she silently and suddenly landed perfectly on the ground between young man and the gang members. Her instincts took control as her eyes glowed in the dark alley, surprising attackers. Not a second passed when Reonel already had a hold on the bat, her elbow buried deep in closest guy’s stomach.

Hit was hard and came out of nowhere, dropping the guy instantly on the ground. Leader screamed instructions to his members who attacked on Nel in turns. Chain whistled as it went just next to her head. Her arm rolled around the cool iron before she yanked hard, rolling rest of the chain around her fist. Locking her eyes on the guy who was coming towards her after the yank she squeezed her hand into a fist – and hit the face as hard as she could. Guy screamed in pain falling backwards with broken nose, few teeth coming off from his bleeding mouth.

Next guy came at her with a knife. Luckily the knife shined in dim light so Nel dodged it easily, capturing attacker’s arm between her muscular arm and side, delivering one hard kick between the guy’s legs. He froze in pain as he fell on the ground gasping for air, hands between his legs.

Now turning her focus on the leader she couldn’t help but to smirk. Adrenaline rushing in her veins she never hadn’t felt so good. This excitement and action made her feel so damn good! The sound of gunfire made her come back to reality as she stared smoking gun.

Luckily guy’s hand had been shaking too much so he missed Nel when firing. However the fact this guy had been such a loser and tried to shot her made her furious. Another gunshot made her fall flat on the ground during dodging. Hearing empty click sounds over and over again made her look up. The gun had jammed.

Smirking she got on squat and jumped high in the air, delivering hard kick right on the guy’s face sending him hard against the wall behind him. Walking at him Reonel took a hold on his shirt raising her fist.

“You fucking losers. Attacking on innocent ones just so that you idiots can have their stuff and money! I should beat you for that!”

Looking at the bruising and bleeding face it became harder and harder to hit him again so Reonel dropped her arm, releasing her hold on him as well.

“Take your idiots with you and leave. I don’t want to see you or your pals causing any harm ever again.”

Not wasting time this man stood up shaking, heading towards his friends who he managed to help up and take with him. Watching them go Reonel couldn’t help but to feel more and more happy and proud of herself and eventually she screamed and laughed, jumping on her spot in half shadow.

“Oh my God, oh my God! I can’t believe I beat them, ahah! I did it! I did it! I---”

While jumping she turned around seeing this young man still sitting on the ground staring at her with wide eyes. She froze and they stared each other few second in silence when her eyes spotted a phone what he was holding.

Reaching she snatched it from him hold, he desperately reaching after it.

“Please don’t break it! I – I need it for school and I just got it from my mom!”

Ignoring young man’s pleading Nel started searching for video or photos about her and the fight. When she found none she turned to look at him suspiciously.

“Tell me; Did you take any photos of me or did you film the fight?”

“No! No I didn’t. I swear! I was… I was too fascinated to watch your fighting.”

Blushing a bit she looked at the young man slowly giving his phone back to him.

“Y-You what?”

Standing up carefully not to scare her or anything he nodded, pushing his glasses back better on his nose. “You were amazing! I have seen girls fighting like that only in the movies. Not in real life. You have some skills.”

Chuckling a bit she smiled. “Thanks. My parents have taught me.”

“I’m sure they are proud of you.” Reaching his hand towards her he introduced himself. “I’m Jake Hamilton. Nice to meet you.”

Green hand was already lifting but suddenly she pulled it back into the shadows.

“I… I can’t let you see me. I’m… I’m not human.”

“I know. I mean I just saw you fighting and despite the fact lighting isn’t the best one in this alley, I saw your green skin and shell.”

“Then why haven’t you freak out yet?”

“How could I freak out? You’re my savior. Without you I most surely would be ailing pile of human flesh and blood on the ground right now.”

Taking a step forward fully coming into the light Jake offered his hand again. After few more moments of hesitation Reonel stepped into the light as well, taking a hold on Jake’s hand. The shake was firm but gentle at the same time. A good handshake.

“Reonel. My family mostly calls me Nel.”

Now that he was closer to her she could eye him better. He had black hair nicely done on top of his head in the same way as Elvis had which made Nel smile since she loved Elvis and his music. And he even looked pretty much like Elvis! Only difference was he had glasses. Clothes were normal and clean but no any fashion clothes. Looking into his eyes made Reonel feel all warm since he had so very calm and beautiful chocolate mix caramel colored eyes.

She could had stay there just staring at him but she suddenly remembered her father.

“Oh no…!” She pulled her hand free, rushing to ladders Jake right behind her.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“I’m sorry but I have to go. My father… I don’t know what happened to him so I… I have to go.”

“Please, wait a moment. That’s all what I ask.”

Not wanting to be rude Nel stopped and waited, soon receiving piece of paper with phone number on it.

“I would like to meet you again so text or call me. I want to get to know you. Maybe next time we could meet in more better place and situation. Park, perhaps?”

Feeling joy filling her whole being she nodded. However she had no place where to hide this piece of paper. Luckily Jake came up with an idea. Using a piece of tape he placed paper inside of Reonel’s shell behind her head. Promising to send him a text later Reonel climb up on the roof but for safety reasons she waited and watched Jake collecting few of his fallen stuff and leave. Now that road was truly clear she dared to move forward heading to manhole cover and into the sewers.

She hadn’t been this far away in the sewers but she knew which direction she should be going on the ground so she simply started to go forward in sewers in that direction. While gently jogging forward she couldn’t stop smile coming on her face over and over again. This new feeling was amazing and confusing. Besides April and Casey this young man, who was probably 18-20 at the most, had been the only man, and human, who she had ever met. And his eyes… They were full of kindness. She knew it was dangerous to have any contact with humans but he couldn’t be a bad person.

Reonel also knew her parents would get furious if they knew so she decided to keep this all to herself. Seeing light at the end of darker tunnel young turtle came into a wider area which had 4 different ways to go. She still knew, kind of, which way to go but she wasn’t exactly sure which one of the left side roads would take her home. Hearing a sound from behind Reonel turned around in fear she might had been followed but she saw none. Instead she suddenly felt tight grip on her shoulder which made her scream once.

Jumping away she turned around with raised fists but when she saw big turtle with emerald green skin she sighed and jumped to hug her father.

“Daddy! You’re okay! I was so worried!”

Wrapping an arm around her Raphael tapped small shell gently.

“I ain’t that easy ta kill or beat.” Pushing her away he captured her eyes with his own. “Ya really took your sweet time. Ya made me worried. Are ya okay?”

Starting to study her she tried to explain she was fine but when older turtle noticed blood on her knuckles his heart missed a beat. Grabbing on her wrists he lifted her arms more up to have a better view.

“Ya said everything’s fine. Then what is this?”

“Um.. I… Um...”

Squeezing her wrists Raphael’s expression turned more strict and serious.

“The truth, Reonel.”

“I… I had to do something, dad. There were these guys who were going to beat a young student. I… I couldn’t walk away while hearing him screaming for help.”

Sighing deep and loud with growl Raphael eyed her.

“Ya got hurt?”

“No. I’m fine, honest. They are the ones who got hurt. It’s their blood after I hit them in the face.”

Staring deep in her eyes Raphael finally backed away releasing her.

“Your eyes aren’t lying. However it’s better if we clean your hands before going home.”

Wiping Reonel’s knuckles on the stripes of his bandanna Raphael made his child to promise she wouldn’t say a thing about this to Leonardo. He would eat both of their heads if he knew. This Reonel promised and she was forever grateful Raphael didn’t ask anything else. But she, however, was also too excited not to tell her father about the fight and what moves she had used and done on the guys.

Despite the fact Raphael tried his best to be and look strict because she had done something what he didn’t like, he was also smiling since he was damn proud of her. She was great ass kicker.

–

“Where have you two been!? It’s been over 3 hours since you left! Something happened, right?”

It was amazing how those blue eyes could be so strict, demanding and scary. Raphael sat deeply on the couch while Nel took a seat next to him keeping her head down while Leonardo lectured them. He loved and cared too deeply about them not to lecture them. Raphael especially heard it how he shouldn’t had left Reonel alone and this also started to made Raphael heat up.

Jumping up both were soon beak to beak as they yelled at each other so Reonel took this as her chance and sneaked into her room. Digging piece of paper out of her shell she saved number in her shell cell, hiding paper inside of her poem book. It was late and she couldn’t help but to worry about Jake so she texted him.

“Hi, this is Reonel. I hope you’re okay and didn’t get hurt or traumas from that what happened.”

She waited anxiously and soon her phone peeped. Eagerly she opened new message.

“Hi. Thank you for your concern. I’m most fine, thanks to you.”

“I’m relieved to hear that.”

“I’m glad you happened to be there. Say, would you be able to come to meet me again at the park this weekend? Maybe in Saturday evening?”

She wanted to reply yes but instead she said; “I’m not sure. My parents don’t know about you and they keep saying humans are dangerous. I’m sure they won’t let me come.”

“How about little sneaking out then?”

“My parents will kill me if I do that.”

“You can tell them about me then so they can come to blame me.”

There was no point in continuing this so Reonel gave up chuckling. “Okay. I will see you in Saturday evening. Where I need to come?”

“How about Central Park?”

“Okay, sounds good. In what time?”

“What suits you?”

“Maybe around midnight. After everyone’s asleep.”

“Sounds good. Meet you there then. Good night.”

To that she didn’t reply anymore. Laying on her bed she thought about all this. She just, literally, had agreed to go on a date with a guy who she didn’t even knew. But then again could it be count as a date? 2 persons just going out together. It’s not a date as long as the two are not dating, right? Then she started to think her parents. They so would kill her if they knew… And someday they most surely would know. And that was scary.

Not thinking it anymore than that she took a book and started to read, soon falling to sleep.

–

Days went by and more closer Saturday came, more nervous and excited Nel had become. Leonardo, with his super ability to see differences, had noticed her behavior changing and for that reason he called her in dojo for private conversation.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

Sighing he stepped closer. “Don’t lie to me, Nel. I have noticed your behavior changing.” Looking his quiet daughter made him think.

“Did something happened while you and Raph were out? Something what I don’t know about?”

“Nothing happened, mom.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“Then what is it?”

“I...” Blushing she lowered her head, letting out a lie. “I think my heat season is starting soon...”

Blush colored her mom’s cheeks shutting him up for a while. Ever since Reonel had become old enough to have heat seasons Leonardo had decided it was the best for her if she was at April’s when she was in heat. Being at home, surrounded by 4 male turtles, wouldn’t probably be the safest place for her.

“When exactly? You know your grandfather isn’t… Isn’t going to live long anymore. Those medicines aren’t working so well on him anymore either. I would hate it if you wouldn’t be here to say good bye before he goes.”

“M-maybe in Sunday or Monday.”

“Okay. But you know what to do when your heat really starts.”

“Yes. I have pack my bag already and I will inform April later so she knows I’m coming.”

Smiling Leonardo petted her head. “That’s my girl.” Smile faded away as soon as it had appear. “But you know you can tell me about anything. I’m your mother.”

“I know but there’s still things what I rather keep to myself.”

Looking at Leonardo in a hinting way made old turtle blush hard. Lifting his hands up Leonardo took a step back. “I don’t even wish to know such private things. There goes a line between what I want and don’t want to hear.”

Laughing she hugged him, placing a kiss on his cheek. “I love you, mom.” Receiving hug and cheek kiss back Leonardo returned the same words.

–

Saturday night finally came and she was most nervous turtle ever. She had hide long jacket under her mattress what she took with a cowboy hat. She took her shell cell and left her room. The lair was quiet as she headed to the front door, slipping out of the lair.