Nurturing Flame

Eliza waved at Medusa’s departed form and then glanced down at herself. She was in a silky top and one of few skirts that still fit her, though she had resorted to wearing it as an empire waist in order to accommodate her expanding belly. “Okay, maybe she has a point.”

The ferret headed to the Phoenix’s room, where she and Gwyn had originally been assigned before her daughter had staked her claim as Medusa's bunk buddy. Passing the snake’s room she could hear the healer talking softly and choose not to interrupt whatever story was in progress. She would make sure to let the Phoenix know her plans before she actually left.

Once in her de facto room she began sifting through her suitcase, it only took one to accommodate what remained of her wardrobe. Oh, she still had a dresser full back at the lair, but none of it no longer had a chance of fitting her anymore. A situation that she was getting severely tired of and had plans to rectify once the shipping pods with her belongings arrived in the city.

For the moment she settled. Settling meant that after disrobing she pulled on a pair of tight black shorts that came to her knees. They’d once been full leggings but had to be altered in order to accomadate her larger mutated foot structure. For a top she chose a pink cotten nightgown with a butterfly pattern that now fit as a regular t-shirt. It already had a pasta sauce stain on the chest and stomach, the same runaway meatball inflicting both, and the ferret figured she wouldn’t mind sacrificing it to whatever indignities the night might bring.

Eliza sat on the bed and wrapped her feet, as Splinter had taught her, up to mid calf. She had given up on the prospect of making shoes long ago, but the wraps felt supportive and spared her from dirt and small cuts. She put her water bottle from the night stand into a sling pack, along with her phone, and slipped it onto her back. As a final precaution she took her rings off and stowed them safely in the top pocket of her luggage. She rarely took them off but knew she would be working with her hands and didn’t want to take the chance of loosing them.

Eliza smiled as the three of them made their way into Medusa’s room. Most of it was taken up by the large bed, which Gwyn took a running leap onto, her high-pitched trills of laughter echoing through the space. Eliza’s first inclination was to tell her to knock it off but the smile on the Phoenix’s face quelled her, if the bed could stand up to Medusa’s bulk on a daily basis it was doubtful that her own much smaller daughter could do it any more harm.

“Comfy.” The ferret smirked as Gwyn burrowed into the sheets, it was much too warm for more than a light blanket this time of the year.

“Yup.” The girl beamed as she propped another pillow behind her. “But I’m not tired. I want a story.”

“A story, really?” Eliza felt just a bit exasperated. While she didn’t mind being a bit indulgent, Gwyn was definitely milking the situation.

“What’s wrong with a bedtime story?” Phoenix asked as she took a seat on the bed herself.

“Yeah!” Gwyn piped in, quickly sensing she had an allie. “What’s wrong with a bedtime story!”

Eliza let out a sigh and gave her child a hard side-eye, before moving to the bookshelves, the only other significant furniture in Medusa’s room. “You know I have no problem with you reading in bed, but don’t you think you’re a little old for me to be reading to you? By the way, have you picked what you’re doing for your book report yet?”

“Moooommmm, do I have do that now?” The girl whined, Eliza twisted her head in time for her to see the girl glomp onto the small healer and look at her with wide pleading (and entirely manipulative) eyes. “Can’t Auntie P tell me a “Children of the Phoenix” story instead?”  

“That isn’t my call. I’m not…” Eliza was going to continue but one of the twins choose the moment to shift and settle squarely on her bladder. All her children were testing her patience tonight. “...ya know what, you two figure it out. I’m going to go spend a penny.”

“You’re weird.” Gwyn crinkled her nose at the phrase.

“Where do you think you get it from?” the ferret called on her way out the door, smiling at the laughter that followed her.

After a brief visit to the restroom Eliza emerged to find Medusa in the livingroom, rooting around the sidetable and couch. “Oh, I thought you had left?”

The snake looked up and gave her a slightly embarrassed smile. “I did, but then I remembered that I wanted to share a book I’d been with reading with Razz, so I came back to get it. But now I can’t find it.”

It was Eliza’s turn to be embarrassed. “Oh, I think I put it on the hall shelf when I was cleaning up after dinner.”

Medusa went to the area that the ferret indicated and quickly found the book she was looking for. “Thanks.” she said and turned to head out the window once again.

Eliza hadn’t actually had a chance to talk to the snake-mutant alone since coming to the warehouse a few days ago and didn’t want the opportunity to go to waste. She called out before the girl could slip away again. “Medusa! Wait. Actually, there was something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.” The snake stopped and turned her body so that she was facing Eliza fully and the ferret has to fight not feel self conscious. “I’ve ummmm....”

“What is it Eliza?” Medusa said calmly, seeming very much like her mother’s daughter.

“It’s just that I’ve been really hungry lately, with the pregnancy and all, and I’ve had some odd cravings. I was hoping you might help me out.” Eliza rubbed her distended stomach, the twins picking up on her sudden anxiety and becoming more active. She took a deep breath and decided to just plunge forward. “I know you’ve got plans tonight, but I was wondering if you could take me hunting sometime?”

Medusa smiled, something very reptilian, pulling her mouth back, the tops of her fangs showing.  “My plans tonight are breakable,” she said, her black eyes twinkling.  

“I don’t want you to break your plans…” Eliza asserted again.

Aries laid down his cards, leaning back in his chair so that it creaked.  “Read ‘em and weep!”

The others at the table all let out groans of protest as they threw their cards on the table.  All, except Gwyn, who smiled brightly, laying her cards down in a delicate fan.

The table burst out laughing as Aries clomped the chair back down.  “Ah, man!”

Gwyn burst out laughing swept her arm about the table gathering up the cards to become the dealer for the next round.

Playing cards had become an evening ritual, originally meant to be calming, after Gwyn’s piano practice.  Unlike at the Lair, when the girl played, The Children of the Phoenix and their mother gathered around and listened, and if they knew the words to the song, they sang along.  While none of them could aspire to be professional singers, their voices were all ‘well enough’ that no one butchered any of the tunes.  Gwyn seemed to eat the attention up, smiling as she played.

But it riled everyone up.  However, the cards did not have the desired effect of calming everyone down, as raucous laughter often rounded the table, along with a fair amount of trash talk, which Phoenix’s family was surprised both Gwyn and Eliza were rather good at.

As Gwyn was dealing the next hand, a figure popped up from the window.  A silver fox, in a pair of pants and a button up shirt, open partly at the top, emerged, crawling through with practiced ease.  “Hello!” he announced, stopping short when he saw the guests.  “Oh, who do we have here?”

Arcos shook his head has Phoenix leaned over and said, “No one uses the front door.”

“This is Eliza,” Aries motioned to the ferret across from him.  “And this is Gwyn.”

The fox gave an elaborate bow and said, “Hello Eliza.  Hello Gwyn.”

“And this,” Aries threw a card at the fox, “is Crevan.”

Arcos and  Medusa put their cards down on the table and stood up, as if the fox arriving was the cue for a change in venue.  “Be back later,” Arcos said, bending down to kiss his mother’s proffered mouth.

“Be safe,” she replied, getting a kiss from Aries and Medusa.

Crevan raised a silver eye whisker.  “We won’t have company tonight?” he asked, eyes darting from Eliza to Gwyn.

Gwyn opened her mouth.

“No,” Phoenix said sweetly, but firmly.  “You won’t.”

“Whatever La Phenix says,” Crevan replied, waving.  “Nice to meet you.”

“Where are they going?” Gwyn asked.  “Why can’t I go?” she turned to Eliza.

“They won’t be back for a long while,” Phoenix answered.  “Maybe not until tomorrow or the day after.  And it’s about your bedtime anyway, isn’t it?”  The older woman glanced at the clock, a motherly smile on her face.

“Night!” Medusa, the last one out of the window, called.  “Sweet dreams!”

“Just think,” Phoenix said dramatically.  “You get that huge bed all to yourself tonight, and you don’t have to share it with her.”

“I like sharing the bed with Medusa,” Gwyn said.

Lots laid out on the table this week. Maybe that means moving forward there will be less room for misunderstandings. Pfft! HA! Yeah right! Next week we start the Haunted Warehouse Adventures!

To Prune & Grow 13-16

“Do I have to bring my keyboard?”

“Yes Gwynevere, you are not getting out of practice for two weeks.”

“Awww.” Gwyn whined without too much heat, she knew it was long shot, but brightened again. “Do I have bring my math?”

Her mother paused in her folding and looked at her with a raised eye ridge before letting out a deep sigh. “Okay, how about we make a deal.”

Gwyn nodded her head eagerly, she'd agree to almost anything if it meant a break from schoolwork.

“You don't have to do any worksheets,”

“Yes!!” Gwyn wiggled happily from her spot on the floor where she was packing her suitcase.

“But!” Her mom qualified, holding up a finger. “You have to do two projects. One book report and one art or craft project.”

Gwyn thought for a moment before agreeing. “That doesn't sound too bad. But why?”

The ferret smiled and went back to folding. “This is an opportunity to spend time with the Phoenix’s kids, and I'm sure that they could teach you different things than the boys have. I know that Medusa likes to read and Acros and Aries are both very talented. Besides, if you have an assignment to do together, they might not mind having a little kid on their tails for two weeks.”

Gwyn rolled her eyes and laughed. “Do you always have to have a plan? Medusa and the guys like me just fine.” Gwyn rocked her head like a bobblehead doll. “In case you've forgotten, I'm adorable.”

Her mom laughed and stood to finish zippering her suitcase closed, tucking in stray fabric as she went. “That may be, but they've only had you in small doses till now. It's always good to have a game plan for these types of things.”

“Pfft.” Gwyn thought her mom was being silly. “You try too hard. This is gonna be fun!”

“Maybe,” the ferret said tilting her head to the side and scrunching her muzzle. “We’ll see. Are you done?”

“Almost.” The girl turned back to her packing. “Do I still get to go to the play with April and Casey’s sister?” She'd been promised a night on Broadway for her birthday since going home and seeing her friends wasn't an option anymore.

“Yes, being away from the lair shouldn't interfere with that at all. Make sure you pack something nice, maybe that purple dress?”

Gwyn went back to the dresser and picked out a few more items. April had taken her clothes shopping a couple times, mostly because Gwyn was hitting a growth spurt and desperately needed some new undergarments. As a result she had more to choose from then she had come to New York with, but not much. “That should do it.” She said with satisfaction as she closed her luggage.

“Good. Now go find someone to help you load the Shellraiser while I finish up.” Her mother turned her around and gave her a pat out the door, suitcase in tow.

Gwyn took off without a backwards glance, but waved to the Phoenix as she passed her in the hall, not bothering to stop and chat. As she entered the main space she saw Splinter leaving the kitchen and flagged him down. “Ojisan!!” She called happily as she dragged her bag behind her.

“Gwynevere.” The rat smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, in fact he looked kind of sad. Gwyn had overheard the adults arguing earlier and knew he wasn't happy about them leaving. “Ready to go so soon I see.”

“Yeah,” Gwyn twisted her sneaker against the concrete, her excitement dulled. “Mamma says we're going to take the Shellraiser, easier than walking across town with our stuff.”

“A prudent decision.” He said evenly. “I shall inform my sons to be prepared to escort you.” The rat turned away but Gwyn called him back.

“Ojisan.” It was Japanese for ‘Uncle’ a term that they had agreed would be okay for the babies to call him, so Gwyn decided she would call him that too. He seemed to like it. “Are you going to miss us?”

Splinter dropped to one knee so that they were eye to eye and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Very much.” He said softly. “But you will only be gone for a short time, like a vacation. I will be here to welcome you when you return home.”

“Okay. It’s a deal.”

Splinter nodded. “A promise.”

The woman who still sat the table was silent for a long time, her big green eyes still looking at him intently.  She had taken her hand, the one he’d been holding, and massaged it with her other one, the look on her face was something akin to chagrin.  The anger he felt at himself slowly began to inch toward her, pity as the last thing he needed or wanted.  But then her visage smoothed out, and she pushed her chair out from under her and stood up.

“I didn’t mean to imply that you had abused Eliza in any way, Splinter,” she said carefully.  Her cheeks slowly began to turn pink, and she finally looked away from him.  “And I would imagine it would be very difficult indeed to ‘abuse’ Mrs. VonHertz.”  She chuckled, shaking her head.

She came around the table, and he thought for a moment she was going to approach him, but she didn’t.  “Listen,” she took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

What deal was she going to try and make, he thought, because her body language certainly indicated that was the direction she was headed.  But again, he was surprised, so that his breath was almost taken from.

“I know you don’t like me,” she said quickly. Before he could interject, she went on, “I don’t know if I’d like you very much if our positions were reversed.  I, feel strongly about my people, and you obviously do too.  But, you aren’t going to lose Eliza and Gwyn to me,” she assured, her pale brows drawing upward, her mouth soft.  “The entire reason they’re leaving is to build them a larger space in your home, remember?”

First he was a controlling curmudgeon, and now he didn’t like her.  Did he really act so unpleasant when she was around?  Did he dislike her?  You want her, the Rat King’s voice echoed in his head again, so that his throat constricted.  No, it was his own thoughts, a memory, not The Rat King himself.  Could one want someone and dislike them at the same time?

He didn’t dislike her, he decided, but a much more troubling thought settled in on him.  She frightened him.  Her very presence in his life unsettled all kinds of things--the comfortable relationship he’d developed with Elizabeth, Gwyn’s attentions.  His boys’ world now stretched even farther than it did before her arrival, for she seemed to have connections with more mutants than they had thought existed.  It had been a very long time since he had had an outburst like the one only a few minutes before, or since he had been so taken aback that he was at a loss for words.  She upset his control.

And he did not like that.

“Yes,” he answered her question with a small nod, placing his hands behind his back.  

“You’re welcome to come to The Haunted Warehouse whenever you want to,” she said, making her way to the kitchen entrance.  “It isn’t really haunted.”  She gave him a soft, conciliatory smile.

“Thank you,” he replied, not sure how else to respond.

She nodded, then turned to leave.  Just as she reached the exit, she turned back, her smile much more mischievous.  “And if you want a woman, Splinter, I can hook you up with one.”  She looked him up and down appreciatively, so that he took a step back.  “I can think of quite a few women who would jump at the chance to put their arms around a man like you.”

Ideally a ninja should be prepared for every possibility, a master doubly so, nothing should surprise him. Yet, surprised, was an understatement of the circumstance Splinter found himself in. Shocked still would be a more appropriate description.

He found himself unable to process what the Phoenix had said, even after playing it over several times in his head. His tongue felt thick when he began to thaw from his frozen state.

“She… I… I'm not… I mean she's not...” He sounded like a fool and the agitation he felt towards himself worked to snap him from his befuddled state. He withdrew his hands from her and cleared his throat, taking a moment to sort out what he wanted to say. Actually he didn't WANT to say anything but apparently clarification was in order.

“I believe you are under a false impression Phoenix.” Her eyes looked into his and he had to fight the urge to look away from their intensity. At a loss to express his own thoughts, he recalled the words that the ferret had said in the hall. “Elizabeth has made it very clear that she is not mine, or anybody else's for that matter.”

“You act like she's your woman.” the little healer challenged. “Like she belongs here.”

“She does belong here!” Splinter pushed away from the table, unable to remain still while his thoughts were in such turmoil. “They are our responsibility, but it is more than that. Elizabeth has brought a new kind of life to our home, a comforting atmosphere that we have not had before. And Gwynevere,” Splinter stilled, a smile softening his features. “she takes the space her mother has created and fills it with joy.”

He looked at the Phoenix, his mood sobering. “You say you don't intend to take them away, but you cannot know if tragedy will come for them while in your care. It is…” he swallowed, his throat feeling thick with emotion. “hard for me to think of losing them, to you or to fate.” he sighed, “But it seems that I have no more say in the matter.”

Splinter felt defeated and wrung out, unused to letting his emotions be seen like this. He was ashamed of his outburst and wanted to crawl away to the comfort of his darkened room and meditate. However, there was one more point to clarify.

Splinter’s words tumbled in her ears, but it took a moment for them to reach her brain.  Why is he telling me this?

The feel of his fingers on her hand was disconcerting.  When he offered his palm to her, she considered refusing, and had to fight with herself not to.  She didn’t really need any balm. In fact, the little prickles that indicated her healing power was working had already started, and would most likely have her hand good as new before they left.  But he’d gotten the balm for her, come back, offered his hand out, after she’d called him nasty names.  Well, not that nasty.  I’m sure he’s been called worse.  But then, she’d been called much worse than ‘impossible’, both behind her back and to her face.  She she’d placed her palm in his.

The warm pressure of his ministrations sent tingles up her wrist that had nothing to do with the little golden ants that might be gathering there.  He rubbed with the second pad of each finger, lifting the tips to keep the claws from scraping her.  The pressure was consistent and seemed to rub in just the right places, so that her shoulders dropped and she sighed slightly.

Then he began speaking of his wife and daughter, while at the same time she wondered why someone rubbing her hand would feel so nice.  Had it been that long since someone had touched her in a compassionate way?  She couldn’t remember.

Even in a loving union...Perhaps she had misread the relationship between Splinter and Eliza.  While the ferret had insisted that there was nothing romantic between the two of them, and both of their actions seemed to confirm that most of the time, there were times like this one, when Phoenix felt thrown off, like she couldn’t figure out what everyone’s role was in this great play they were all acting in.

Then, he’d stopped rubbing, and just as she was about to withdraw her hand, he’d pressed down with his thumb, indicating she was to keep it there.  She thought he’d start with another round of balm, which smelled slightly minty, but felt soothingly cool on her hot skin.

She was silent for a while, as she tried to think of a reply, staring at their hands and realized she had no place from which to search for one.  What was happening now was like when she died the first time, there was no background for it, nothing to draw experience from.

So she drew from the only other place she knew.

Some nice Splinter feels for your Father’s Day! Our favorite rat-daddy needs some more love. 

To Prune & Grow 9-12

Splinter could hear the ferret’s approach, in fact it was impossible to miss, her pregnancy making her footsteps heavy to the ninja's ears. He paused at the bottom of the steps so that she wouldn't have to climb them.

“I know that you have your reasons for wanting me to stay down here.” He nodded but held his peace, he was still upset that he had been outmaneuvered in their conversation. “I get it, I really do.”

“You do not understand the danger.” Splinter started but was quickly interrupted.

“No, Yoshi, I do. More so now than ever.” In a change from her confrontational attitude in the kitchen, her voice went soft and her eyes were gentle. “I know that I can't defend myself. That two very unique lives are dependent on my very existence. The Phoenix knows that too and I trust her and her children to keep me, Gwynevere and the babies safe till I come back.”

He saw the faith and sincerity in her statement and it cracked his ever present barriers enough for him voice the question that had been plaguing him. “Will you come back?”

“Yoshi,” she hemmed and dropped her gaze. “you're being silly.”

“That is not an answer. What is to say that you not will choose to stay with her.” Splinter frowned. “She would take you all.”

She huffed but looked amused rather than upset. “We are no one's to be taken or kept. However if it will make you feel better, you should know that I put my house under contract last week.”

Splinter felt the stirrings of relief but needed confirmation. “What does that mean?”

“It means that no matter what, I'll be staying in New York.” She tilted her head to the side and squinted. “weeellll, for the next two years at least. I just couldn't bare to sell, but it's under lease with a management company and my belongings will be packed and shipped here very soon.”

He felt a small degree of tension leave him but wasn't completely placated. “It is still unsafe.” He grumbled.

The female mutant actually laughed in his face. “You are a curmudgeon aren't you.”

Splinter huffed and crossed his arms.

“Yoshi,” Eliza said placing a soft paw on his forearm. “If I’m gonna start living here instead of just staying here you need to give me some space. And I'm not just talking about a converted maintenance room.

“I have my reasons.” He stated, past sorrow coloring his tone.

“I know you do. I have my own reasons too and even if you don't like them, you still need to respect them.”

Eliza squeezed his forearm and started to walk away. After a few paces she stopped and turned her flexible neck back towards him. “You know, maybe if you told somebody your reasons for a change, they might actually be willing to work with you.” She looked at the kitchen meaningfully. “Try it sometime, you might be surprised.” She left with shrug of her shoulders and walked towards the bedrooms, calling out for her daughter as she did so.

Splinter mounted the steps to the dojo with a heavy heart and a worried mind. He retrieved the balm he wanted from his room and returned to kitchen where the small woman was seated still.

He seated himself across from her and held out his hand, waiting for her to allow him to examine her burn. It took far too long as she looked as his hand, so much so that he felt his patience wearing thin.

Before he snapped a rude comment in her direction she gave him her hand and after a quick examination he began to massage the ointment into her reddened skin.

As he did so the urge to follow Eliza’s council tickled his consciousness. So far logic and subtlety had not worked with the Phoenix, maybe empathy would be a more productive path.

“After the birth of my daughter, my wife and I had many happy months together.” He began without preamble. “But we were at odds on how and where our little Miwa should be raised. My wife wanted to come to America, to live a modern life. I had great loyalty and respect for my ancestors, a duty to carry on the ways of my clan.”

The little healer, still holding the gel pack to her hand, shook her head.  “At the rate you're growing we'll be lucky to make it through the summer. We’ve got six weeks, max.”  She felt the urge to start yelling again, that she was right, that Eliza would be fine up above, that he was being a controlling curmudgeon.  Well, she could probably come up with something better than curmudgeon now that she had time to think about it.

But something on his face stopped her.  It was the annoyance of hearing Donnie’s explanation.  It wasn’t the anger he had displayed when yelling at her or trying to stop Eliza from speaking.  It was something akin to consternation.  It lasted only a moment, so that if she’d looked away, she would have thought she imagined it.  But she saw his face moving, from annoyance, to discomposure, to the passive calm that he affected most of the time.

“I’ve kept three giant mutants hidden for almost twenty years,” she tried to say gently, but it didn’t come out that way. Her voice was tight, like she was holding in a painful hiss.  “I can hide a pregnant ferret mutant for two weeks.”

Splinter frowned, his gaze finally falling back on the human woman across the table. “ I have no doubt that you can keep Elizabeth hidden,” he replied coldly.  “And it would appear,” he turned back to Eliza, “that if we are to be expedient in enlarging your living space, that blasting would be in order.  And we don’t want,” his gave Phoenix a surreptitious glance, his voice silky, “anything that is not good for the babies.”

Phoenix again felt a tug to poke him, to remind him not to speak to her in such a way, but she held her tongue.  Eliza had made it clear that she didn’t want, or need, her help in making her point.  In fact, Eliza had done a magnificent job in making it--and she hadn’t had to say much of anything.

“No,” she said, bringing her hand to her mouth again and blowing on it, “we don’t.”

She noticed Splinter’s ears move to the side and downward, then he sighed.  Looking back at the human he said, “Let me get some salve for your hand.”  Without another word, he strode toward the entrance.

Eliza was shocked into silence by the bickering, she supposed she should be grateful that they both had her well being in mind but at the moment she was just pissed. The ferret slapped her hands on the counter and pushed herself up from her seat. She then took the few steps to the fridge and opened the freezer.

“Ice pack please.” She said evenly and Mikey’s mutated cat handed one over with a pleased sounding ‘meow’ “Thank you.” she replied before closing the door and handing the cold gel pouch to the Phoenix.

“Now.” She said giving both the healer and the ninja master a stern look. “If you two are done with your custody battle, it's about time you listen to what I have to say.”

“Elizabe…”

“Uhun!” The ferret pointed her claw at Splinter practically snarling when he showed his teeth at the gesture. “It is my turn. I know you don't like the idea of me going above ground, but I promise it will be fine. And if you haven't noticed, I am not fine. I am stressed out.”

“And stress is not good for the babies.” Phoenix piped in but quieted back down when Eliza frowned at her.

“The point is I need a change of scenery.” Eliza took a deep breath to try and calm herself but the conspiratorial whispers from she doorway set her on edge again. Whipping her long neck around caused all the children to freeze wide-eyed. “Don't you all have somewhere else to be.” There was a stampede to flee with plenty of pushing and shoving for good measure. “Not you Donatello.” The lanky teen gulped and pointed to himself as Mikey laughed mockingly before departing with her daughter in tow. “Would you come in here please?”

“Yes, Mrs. V?” He said as he entered the kitchen cautiously.

“Have you come up with a plan for expanding the lair?”

“Well… About that. It’s proving a little tricker than I had hoped.”

“What do you mean Donatello? You assured me that it could be done.” His father asked, and though she didn't appreciate Splinter inserting himself into the conversation she didn't call him out on it either.

“Oh it can Sensei, but the maintenance room I was going to convert is about 50 ft further down the track.”

“That is not that far.” Splinter took a sip of his tea.

“It is when there is 16ft of bedrock between it and the lair. They must have started to expand this station but stopped half-way. I might have to blast even just to make a narrow hall. The only other option is to not have it connect to the lair at all.” Donnie explained.

“That is not an option.” The rat declared and Eliza raised an eyebrow at him.

“Why not? I wouldn't mind the separation.” Eliza huffed.

“It would not be safe.”

The ferret shared a look with the healer and they both rolled their eyes at the over-used argument.

“You know what else wouldn't be safe? Having a pregnant woman in a blast zone.” Eliza said sassily, ignoring the annoyed look Splinter gave her.

“That’s not good for the babies,” Phoenix said again.

“How long would it take you to finish the construction if you could blast through without worrying about the dust and debris?”  Splinter blatantly ignored the healer’s comment.

“About a week, and another week to make sure it was liveable.”

“And if you had to bore through?”

“Two months.”

“I don’t mind the imposition,” Phoenix interjected, looking up from her cup.  If she caught the maneuvering in his voice, she gave no indication of it.  She shook her head, her cheeks beginning to turn a bright pink.  “I mean, it isn’t an imposition.  We have lots of room, and no one knows we’re there.”  She huffed, her brows drawing up.  “Well, people know where there, but they’re all mutants.”

Splinter noted that apparently only two were playing this game, because if The Phoenix was playing, she was bad at it.  He mused that her three children must pull the wool over her eyes on a regular basis as to their less desirable behaviors.  Most likely, Eliza was also.  He worked to keep his face calm.  “All the more reason,” he said gently, turning to her, “that she should remain, safely, underground.”

If she had not caught his tone before, she certainly caught his patronization now.  The uncertain look left her face in an instant.  Her brows dropped, her lip pursed, the bottom one protruding slightly.  Squinting, she said, “Don’t speak to me like I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

He leaned forward, his pretense of calm gone, his expression was a ratty match for hers.  “I am not--” he said in staccato.

“--Yes.  You.  Are,” she seethed, reaching across the table and jabbing her finger in his forearm with each word.

He slowly looked down at his arm.  Had she just poked him?  She had just poked him.  He supposed that she meant for it to hurt, but it didn’t.  He wondered, in the back of his mind, if she was really strong enough to be able to hurt someone physically.  He raised his head to glare at her.  She had leaned forward in her chair, both of her hands on the tea cup.

“Mrs. VonHertz is to stay here,” he said through a clenched jaw.  “It is my job--”

“It isn’t your job to do anything with her!”  Phoenix’s voice rose with each word.  “It is your job to take care of your kids!  She’s an adult, she can do whatever she wants!”

“She does not know--” his own voice rose as he stood up.

“--she knows plenty!”  Phoenix popped up from her chair, spilling the tea over  her hands.  She winced as the heat seeped into her skin, but she didn’t stop.  “She knows she’s tired of being trapped down here, in a sunless sewer with a bunch of men who don’t clean the bathroom.  Oh, don’t try to deny it!”  She held a finger up as he opened his mouth, “I’ve been in every stall in that bathroom!  My toilets are clean!”

Had she just held her finger up at him?  She held her finger up at him. “This has nothing to do with the toilets!” Splinter yelled.

The light from the other room became darkened as figures gathered at the entrance to the kitchen.

“No!” she yelled back.  “It has to do with you being a controlling curmudgeon!”

A gasp came from the doorway.

“A what?” Splinter’s voice dropped to a mutter.

Phoenix leaned even farther forward and replied, “A. Controlling. Curmudgeon.”

“Woman--” he roared.

“My name isn’t woman, Yoshi!”she spat out the last word like a curse.

“Phoebe!”  Her name reverberated through the kitchen.  “You are--” he stopped himself, taking in a deep breath.

“Say it,” she snarled.  “I dare you.  I dare you to call me a bitch.”

He stopped, as if he’d been slapped.  Blinking, he stood back up, a look of shock on his face.  “I wasn’t going to say that!”

“Then what were you going to say?”  She put her hands on her hips.

“I was going to say you are impossible!”  He snapped his hands behind his back before he did something with them he would regret.  Like poke her in the forearm.

The sass and side eyes are pretty thick this week. Good news. It’s only going to get worse. ^_~*

In other news, we are very excited to share new art done by the amazing @shellsweet. Definitely recommend her as an artist. Very nice and wonderful to work with! As for the end product, well you can judge for yourself. 

Eliza and Gwyn both came out absolutely amazing!! Momma ferret cuddles!!!

Not for personal use. Commissioned by @lydjachan, co-mod of @nurturingflame

To Prune & Grow 5-8

She raised her brows, smiling again.  He remembered she liked milk with her tea!  “Really?” she breathed, as if he’d just offered her a diamond.  Her family never had milk unless Chategris provided it for them, and she knew very well that when the cat mutant had it,  it was stolen.  It occurred to her that Splinter and his boys probably didn’t have any either, before Eliza’s arrival into their home.  While dumpster diving only provided sour milk, the grocery store had plenty of fresh.  Money and a human daughter provided a great deal for people who could not allow themselves to be seen in public.

Then she remembered why they were there.  As he stood up and turned to fridge, she turned to Eliza, her smile fading.

She liked Splinter when he was like this, not just because he was accommodating, but that certainly helped.  But he was sweet, in his own gruff way, like how he remembered she liked milk with her tea.  He had no reason to remember that, he didn’t take milk in his tea.  In fact, he had a very ritualistic way in which he drank it, she realized with a start.  “Oh,” she moaned, guilt eating at her shoulders as they dropped.

Splinter turned with a speed that surprised her, one moment he was facing the fridge, and in a blink, he was facing her and Eliza, the milk jug in his hand, the liquid inside barely sloshing.  His eyebrows were raised in concern, his golden eyes wide, but then his brows dropped in confusion.  “What is the matter?” he asked slowly.

Phoenix bit her lip, glancing at Eliza again.

Splinter turned to the ferret mutant, his brows up once again, the soft expression on his face slowly disappearing.

“Eliza was thinking,” Phoenix said yammered, gripping her cup of tea so tightly that her knuckles were turning white, “that she could be out of you and your boys’ hair while you guys were fixing up her and Gwyn’s space.”

“Was she?” he asked smoothly, eyes still on the ferret.  

Eliza gave her friend a sour look though she didn't see it, focused as she was on her mug. Splinter placed the milk before the Phoenix calmly before taking his customary seat. He gave no further comment, instead waiting for one of the women to elaborate.

Eliza rolled her eyes from the Phoenix as she poured the milk into her tea, back to him, affecting a casual smile in the process. “Yes, yes I was actually,” she said, her voice slightly pinched. “I just thought that construction might go faster if Gwyn wasn't asking Donnie questions every five minutes, annoying Leo, making Raph mad, or distracting Mikey.”

Splinter took a sip of his tea, trying to remain calm, though he was incensed. How dare she try to manipulate him, did he not have four teenage boys? Did she truly think he would not see through such a ruse. Well, two could play at this game.

Seeing the picture on the phone, Phoenix felt a stab of jealousy.  She wasn’t exactly sure what caused it.  Was it that her own children were no longer that age, where they delighted in such little things as papermaking?  Was it that they were now too old to be absorbed in her in such a fundamental way as Gwyn seemed to be with Splinter in the photo?  Was it the fact that the photo existed, an item she had precious few of, and none of them candid shots such as this?  Or was it the fact that a father figure was involved with a child, something her children never had?  She shook her head, dispelling the feeling with a sigh and smiling up at her friend as she left the room.

Eliza was correct, Splinter was in the kitchen, preparing himself some tea.  He raised his eyebrows as they entered, as if their appearance truly surprised him, before lowering his head in a small greeting.  “Ladies,” he said smoothly.  “Would you care to join me?”

“Yes, please!” Phoenix said brightly, skipping forward.  She had no idea where the man got his tea, or what made his preparing it so good, but it was the best stuff she’d tasted in a long, long time.  If they could a sweetener down in the sewers, it would be perfect…

Though it was not unusual to see the two women around the lair, it was a surprise for them to join him, usually preferring to keep their own company during The Phoenix's visits.

He smiled and motioned to the little healer to take a seat, his heart wavered just a bit to feel the exuberance she seemed to exude with her girlish skip. He turned to retrieve a second mug from the cabinet only to bump in Eliza who was already there. “Pardon me.”

“No problem, I was just getting myself a glass too.” She smiled cordially, before holding out the very vessel he was planning to retrieve, “You two enjoy your tea, I have some sweet herbal brewed in the fridge already.”

“Thank you.” Splinter replied rotely, inwardly he was put off balance. This was the most interaction she’d had with him nearly all week. Eliza didn't leave the room either, but started to flit here and there, as she often did when in the kitchen, but still managing to stay engaged in the light small talk as Splinter prepared tea for himself and The Phoenix.

“Is there anything you require?” he asked, placing the steaming cup in front of the small woman. At the same time, as if by magic a small plate of cookies and peanut butter crackers, one of his favorite non cheese snacks, appeared on the counter.

Phoenix raised her eyebrows, as if she’d heard the ferret mutant incorrectly.  “Your daughter is our secret weapon?”  It was usually she who was saying such things, and sicking Medusa on someone was not something she would do lightly.  But then again, Phoenix’s daughter could eat people.  Gwyn had no chance of doing that.

Eliza stooped and slung her arm over the shorter woman, ignoring the twinge of discomfort as the new position allowed to one of the twins to kick her in the kidney. “My dear sweet Phoenix, you have no idea just how much that girl has our venerable ninja master wrapped around her little finger. Hold on, let me show you.” Eliza pulled her phone from her pocket and quickly swiped through her pictures till she found the one she wanted. “Look at that and tell me that she couldn’t get away with murder.”

Gwyn was sitting next to Splinter at a low table observing intently as the rat was in the process of folding paper. Perched precariously on his head was a completed paper crane while Gwyn had an origami flower tucked behind her ear. It was the epitome of a candid moment where the subjects were unaware they were being observed, just enjoying the activity they were absorbed in. The smile curling Splinter’s muzzle however, was unmistakable.

Eliza felt some of her annoyance drain. “If Gwyn wants to go on a sleepover, I very much doubt that Yoshi would be able to put up too much resistance. But, maybe we should keep it as our ace in the hole.” The ferret stood straighter as Phoenix looked at the picture, rubbing her belly in an attempt to settle the babies before they became too active.