Chapter 1

Fists flew back and forth with so much ferocity that one would think the sparing match had turned personal. When it came to Leo and Raph, that could very well have been the case. Both of them certainly looked like every landed hit was taken personal. My legs had begun to grow numb in my crossed legged position off to the side of the mats but I didn't dare move to uncross them in case it distracted either of them. My chin rested in the palm of my hand and my eyes tracked their movements like a cat watching a bird it'd like to prey on, but like a house cat I was trapped behind the walls around me, only able to watch from the sidelines. I wanted what they had, the skill and strength they possessed when fighting. They had an entire lifetime of practice where I had only a few months under my belt and was like a new lamb learning to walk for the first time. My arms weak and my legs trembling after every session they allowed me to train. Casey, my uncle wasn't fond of them teaching me but there wasn't a lot he could do other than make grumbled remarks to deter them from being to rough on me. His coddling ensured that I couldn't learn the way they had, with pain fueling their efficiency. Without them genuinely sparing with me I wasn't able to progress past throwing a decent punch and defensive maneuvers to avoid ever needing to go on the offense. Leo dropped low and swept his leg wide, knocking Raph down onto his shell, an angry curse flying from his mouth as he rolled to his side and back onto his feet while Leo, ever the honorable ninja let him regain his footing. His graciousness had his brother fuming even more and when he resumed his attack it came faster being spurred by anger at the older sibling besting him. I smirked, as much as Raph loved to push everyones buttons it was always nice to his own being pressed. Casey and Raph having their own friendship outside the group had created a wedge between the turtle and I that we couldn't seem to get past, where the others welcomed me into the family. They were only a few years older than I was but they hardly let me forget it.All five of them acted as if I was some green young thing that needed to be coddled and protected. Casey's worried eyes were only matched with Raphs constant disapproving ones. But all five of them were like a band of guard dogs I couldn't seem to shake. I must have drifted off in my thoughts because when Leo was slammed into the padded ground with Raph's knee at his neck, I jumped at the sudden defeat. Leo tapped out but I could see the annoyance in his face as his brother let him up. When I stood my legs burned with pins and needles and I shook them out one at a time."Good match." I said to Leo as he walked off the mat shaking out a sore spot in his shoulder."You wanna go for a round?" Leo asked giving me a knowing smile.I matched his smile and nodded, kicking off my shoes and pulling off my hoodie as I followed him back onto the mat. "Casey said no sparing when he's not here." Raph said catching my arm as I walked past, pulling me out of range of the circle.I tugged at my arm but he held fast, his fingers tightening around the soft skin there reminding me just how strong the turtles were without even trying. My lean arm was easily overtaken by his wrapped fingers and I'd not be let go unless he wanted to. "Since when do you care about anyone's rules?" Leo asked."He doesn't, he just wants to boss someone around." I said pulling away again even though I knew it was futile. "Besides, he's never around so how am I supposed to learn?" A note of bitterness crept into my voice even though I tried to sound careless."Come on Raph, let her!" Mikey encouraged from his spot in front of the punching bag. He'd pulled his headphones off once he'd saw Raphael bristling like a mother hen and come to my aid. I would hug him with gratitude if the ogre holding me would ever let go. "You know what? Whatever but when Casey comes in here and beats the hell out of you for accidentally hurting her, don't come crying to me." He said letting go and making for the door."He could try." Mikey muttered, not fully wanting Raph to hear.I took my place in the inner circle and noticed Raphael had paused at the door and decided against leaving, turning and resting his shell against the doorframe instead.I hated that it made me nervous and wished he would leave. I could feel his judgmental eyes on my back as I turned to Leo. "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you." He was trying to be reassuring but it only fueled my annoyance. I propelled myself forwards and threw a right hook directed straight at his face as hard as I could without breaking my form. He dodged easily and he cocked his eyebrow in response.It was a little aggressive sure, but it was nothing compared to how they trained with each other. Leo followed my lead and I begged him with my eyes to give me a real fight. God I wanted to fight. My hearted pounded with the need for it, I wanted to hit something..I wanted to be hit. I hadn't fully expected him to take me up on my silent pleads so when his fist shot out and clipped me in the shoulder, it knocked me down with ease. Raph shoved away from the wall but I snapped at him that I was fine and sprung back to my feet. The pain felt good, it set my blood on fire and I was eager for more. My fists itched to connect with something other than a punching bag. As we circled each other Mikey came into focus, he gave me an encouraging thumbs up before motioning to his under arm, he lengthened his fingers and made a mock jab at the soft spot between his breastplate and armpit. Giving me silent direction to attempt the pressure point geared attack.Leo was allowing me ample time to figure out my next move and as much I appreciated the extra few moments it also made it all to easy to spot when I did strike. My hand didn't even come close to him before he shoved me past him, my own momentum sending me crawling on the mat to keep my face from connecting with it. I was up and making my second attempt before he had fully turned and surprise flashed on his face that I was already coming at him again. He grabbed my wrist and twisted earning a small cry of pain from me as I had to go to my knees and arch my back to bend with the way my wrist was."Stop!" It wasn't Raphael who'd protested this time, it was Casey. He stalked onto the mat looking murderous."I'm sorry, it was a reflex! She's fast...I-""I told you guys you not train with her when I'm not here." He fumed eyeing us both. "I'm fine." I said hoping my cheeks weren't red with embarrassment at his overprotectiveness in front of the turtles. I smacked his hand away as he tried to help me stand."He barely had me, it's not like I'm actually hurt." Leo looked guilty when Casey shot him an exasperated look. "They are four times your size Miya, it doesn't take much for them to hurt you." "We'd never hurt her." Leo said frowning."All it takes is one slip up, you guys are too strong to be sparing with her like that. And even if you couldn't snap her arm like a twig, I told you no." Casey's words were heavy with authority, the way a parent would scold a toddler.Leo cast his eyes down not being able to argue with that."You said no?" I snapped. "I'm almost twenty." "Then act like it, you don't need to be learning to fight like them because you won't ever use it like them. You can stop a mugger or some asshole at a bar, that's good enough." I clamped my mouth shut before something I couldn't take back came out and settled with a steely glare.Mikey whistled and clamped his hands loudly trying to break the tension."Who's hungry?"