Chapter 7

I pulled off my hoodie and stood in a T-shirt and athletic shorts feeling more than a little uncomfortable. He'd closed the dojo doors and told his brothers to mind their business when they questioned why they couldn't join. "You're not going to murder me or something, are you?" I joked."Stand in a defensive position." He ordered.Maybe it was the way he expected complete obedience in the dojo, but I obeyed without hesitation, something I hoped he didn't notice. I was used to him trying to take control of a situation, but not me, personally. Most of the time his words were dressed up in annoyance or self-righteousness. 'Come here.' He'd said the night he carried me over the city. Why did I want to obey then too? The slap to the underside of my arm came quick and surprised me out of my thoughts. "Ow!" "Too low. Hold it higher." He said, walking in a circle around me. He was all serious, not a hint of amusement in his eyes. I felt embarrassed having his eyes assess me like this, I had zero to no skills compared to him, and I felt ridiculous. "Stop blushing." He said coming to stand in front of me. There was a ghost of a smirk on his lips now. "I'm not blushing." I said lowly but felt my cheeks heat farther at his amusement. When he slid his foot in between mine and kicked my left one gently to spread my legs a bit, I chewed on my bottom lip in apprehensiveness. "Relax. I don't bite." He teased darkly, mirroring my previous sentiment from the other day. "Maybe I do." I grumbled as he corrected my feet farther. He paused, and I saw the muscles in his neck jump as he clenched his teeth. "Try to avoid my hits. Stay on your feet if you can, but mostly try to evade me." He said clearing his throat. I was about to ask what he meant, but his hand shot out, smacking me in the chest so hard I had no chance to keep my balance."I thought I said to stay on your feet." I growled and ignored the ache, springing back up. He didn't even let me get back into position before knocking me down again. "Plant your feet. Try and anticipate how I'm going to hit and correct your fall." "That doesn't make sense!" When he went to strike me again, I back-stepped out of reach but tripped over my feet, sending me sprawling backwards. He grabbed me by the wrist and hauled me back up. His hands slid to my waist, rooting me in that spot before he smacked the back of my knee."Bend your knees a little. You're too stiff." His breath tickled my neck as he leaned in to correct my posture. "A breeze could knock you over." Oblivious to whatever was happening in my head, he continued instructing me before taking his position at my front. He stepped forward, and I flinched, stepping back quickly. "See, you're already learning. Your body is taking preventive measures so you don't get knocked down again." His praise was short-lived, and he lunged at me, sending his fingers into my thigh. I cursed and went down on my knee. "I said try to evade me, not stand there and let me attack you." I rushed him, my anger outweighing my obedience but he took me down quickly. I groaned and rolled onto my hands and knees.When I got back up, he swiped my legs out from under me, my head smacking into the mat on impact. He kneeled down and leaned over me."Tell me to stop, and I will." He said, hardly breathing heavy at all while my chest heaved in effort. I expected to see smugness in his face, but I only saw a calm patience. I frowned and smacked the mat in frustration before rolling back to my feet."Come on." I barked, refusing to back down. He didn't hesitate, clipping me in the shoulder. My leg muscles screamed when I tensed them and forced myself to stay up but the second hit was already coming, and I landed on my ass easily enough. "Don't just stand there, if you've been hit, you need to get away from the attacker." He said when I got back up for the millionth time."And how am I supposed to do that?" I asked, wiping the sweat that rolled along my hairline."For now, a simple back step will work." He held his hands up as he walked towards me, showing me he wasn't going to throw any blows.He placed his hands on my upper arms and held them tightly. "Right foot like this." He said as he stepped us back with one foot. "Left foot like this." His left leg slid across my upper thigh as he pushed it back, directing my legs to copy his as he showed me the footwork. I ignored the zing that had gone up my leg when his ran across mine and tried to focus on what he was showing me. "Again." Right foot first, left foot next, slide it behind the right so I'm back in defensive position. I looked up at him curiously."Why are you teaching me?" I felt the fingers on my arms twitch."Because you need it." He said letting go. "I saw it in your face last night." I blinked in surprise."Saw what?" "That you need an outlet, or you're gonna be a hell of a lot worse off than you are now." Could he really read all that from a little crying? "I'm fine." I snapped, lunging at him.He shoved me forwards, propelling me with my own momentum and grabbed me by the back of my shirt, flinging me back. I tripped over my feet and landed on the ground. He was there in an instant, hauling me up but this time he didn't shove me back; he craned his neck so our noses almost brushed and spoke lowly like he didn't want anyone to hear. "I can see it on your face, you like the pain. You want me to hurt you." I growled and threw a punch aimed at his face. He grabbed my wrist and twisted so I had no choice but to follow or hurt myself. He ended up behind me, wrenching my arm behind my back as I struggled to free myself.His arm snaked around my front and pulled me against him to hinder my fight."You want to feel pain on the outside, like you feel on the inside. It feels good." He breathed in my ear."Shut up!" I snarled stomping on his foot as hard as I could. He made a noise of pain and let go. I whirled around and my fist connected with his face. My hands went up to my mouth in shock."I'm so sorry." I said through my fingers as he opened and closed his mouth, flexing the muscles in his jaw. "No, you're not. You just surprised yourself." I realized he was right, I wasn't sorry for hitting him, I was just shocked at my own ferocity. "I'd give that a four out of ten. I thought we taught you how to throw a punch?" He said as if I hadn't just clocked him in the side of the face. "You're not mad?" The Raph I know wouldn't take a hit so calmly from anyone. "I've spent the last hour knocking you around. I know you, I knew eventually you'd catch one on me." He'd said things I never dared to admit, and I'd punched him in the face."Why are you doing this, really?" I asked, feeling way too exposed."I told you, you need an outlet, or it's going to eat you up inside. And I'm not letting that jackass you've been seeing be it, so if you want to punch me in the face, go ahead. You want me to knock you down until you can't be knocked down anymore? Fine by me." We stared at each other, and I was so shocked I didn't know what to say. "So, you feel better?" He asked.I did. I really did. It felt like I could breathe easier. "Yeah.."He smirked knowingly. "What about Casey?" He shrugged."Who's gonna tell him? Them?" He asked, gesturing to the door that I hadn't noticed was cracked.Three pairs of eyes watched us before being caught and slamming it closed."But if you want me to teach you, you're gonna stay away from those shithead friends." I frowned. There's the fine print."Maybe I'll just get one of the others to teach me then." I said crossing my arms. "No one's teaching you but me." He snapped, rejecting the idea completely. "Says who?"He leaned down close enough that when he spoke, I could see those damned golden flecks in his eyes again. "Me."