Mutants in New York

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Vicky blushed. There was no hiding the red tomato cheeks as she floundered a moment.

"Well, I, I mean...." God woman! Get it together! He's complimenting you and you're acting all stupid!

Vicky took in a deep breath and tried again. Still blushing. "I don't mind at all." She managed without stuttering. "As a matter of fact, I'd love to come by and check your place out."

She smiled genuinely at him. The ease of which she was able to talk to him still honestly astounded her. And he seemed very honest about his intentions with his practice and care concerns. That alone made something inside her melt a little. He sounded like a wonderful person overall. But, she still barely knew him. And besides, a man this good is usually already snapped up by some lucky chick that definitely wasn't her.

Then she noticed that both of their meals were pretty much finished and they would have to go their separate ways soon. She sighed softly as she gathered her trash. -------------------------------

Leo nodded at her when she suggested coming by. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Slipping a card from it he slid it over to her. "That is for my studio, all the information is on the card. If you want to make sure I am there, just call the number on the card and there will be a message stating what hours I am available." He smiled as he left the card on the table for her to pick up at her leisure. "Well it looks like our meal is finished. You my personal number and now my studio, if you need to get a hold of me you shouldn't have any issues. I will talk to my brothers about the scrap and get back to you with a time and date that they are available. Knowing them it will be relatively soon." Leo stood up and put all their combined trash on the tray and took it over to the trash can, putting the tray on top with the rest, he headed back over to the table and offered his hand to Vicky to help her up. He was a gentleman after all and it would be rude to do otherwise.

"Thank you for the pleasant company." She smiled at him. He nodded with a "Likewise." and a small smile.

They said their goodbyes and Vicky drove home, still thinking of the gentle turtle with glorious blue eyes.

.

.

*Why* did this have to be so difficult!

Vicky puffed up at her bangs to get them out of her eyes as she glared at the pile of crap. Leo and his brothers were already on their way and Vicky was trying to pull a few pieces out that she thought Leo's little brother might like. The metal peacock plant holders were easy. That had been separated already from everything else. But the butterfly and teddy bear ones somehow ended up on the bottom of old furniture and other crap.

Right now, her biggest hurdle was this broken boxspring dad had wanted to use the wood for a project he had wanted to do, but never got around to it.

Vicky sighed, then pushed the tears away. If she started now, she wasn't sure she was going to stop.

Instead, she redirected her pain into frustrated anger. Grumbling under her breath, she marched determined towards the pile just as she heard the heavy vehicles arrive. Vicky gripped the stupid boxspring and pulled with everything she had.

First it wouldn't budge, then with a crack it broke free all at once. Vicky's eyes grew wide in surprise as the entire pile shifted. Then the boxspring crashed into her, knocking her on her back and covering her. There was no missing the cacophony of noise that followed as most of the junk fell ontop of her. A single hubcap bouncing and rolling towards the four brothers as they got out of their trucks.

"A little help, please?" Vicky's muffled voice came from under the pile after she heard the doors close.

And was someone laughing?

Mikey chuckled and nodded his head. Raph looked suspicious and somber.

"So, this some kind of outreach we are doin or what?"

Leo cleared his throat. "No this woman is prideful, she has just fallen on hard times and it isn't like we don't have the time and resources to help. I figured this was a good way to offer help without it seeming like a hand out or charity."

"Well I am always down for some good scrap so you can count me in. I have been meaning to take a trip to the junk yard, this saves me time." Mike twirled a nunchuck and smiled at Leo. "So is she cute?"

Leo rolled his eyes at Mike and looked between Raph and Don. "It would go faster if we all went but I understand if neither of you want to go."

Donatello shook his head. "I am fine going, I don't really use scrap as much as I used to, but it does help with prototypes and gives me something I can use I don't have to worry about breaking. I could use some time away from my lab and get a little fresh air anyway. I am fine going." Raph huffed a deep sigh. "Fine I'll go, only to make it go faster. We can take the trucks and I'll do the heavy liftin." He smirked and looked at Leo for a few moments. "So.. Is she? Cute I mean."

Leonardo groaned and rubbed his face. "She is pretty, not that it matters. Though I get the feeling she might try to punch anyone that flirts with her."

The conversation continued and Leo texted Vicky to set up a time for them to arrive and shared it with his brothers so they could put it on their calendars.

The time arrived and they hopped into two of their larger trucks, meant for hauling large or heavy items around, and headed to the location Vicky had sent.

When they arrived Leo squinted at the sun and looked around. He heard some noises then a loud crash. They all ran towards the sound and Mike chuckled a little at the small voice asking for help coming from under the pile. He received a glare from both Don and Leo.

The brothers began helping move junk off the pile to free Vicky.

"You could have waited." Leo admonished once Vicky was free. "I told you when we would be here. I am just glad you aren't hurt."

Her attention was firmly fixed on getting a better hold on her take out. This place just opened up, and it was packed with people wanting to try out the Asian cuisine, and of course the large variety of Boba they had.

She had the bag secured, but the drink carrier was a different story. Someone bumped into her arm, and the flimsy tray of course immediately toppled out of her had.

Full of chagrin she watched as it seemed to fall in slow motion, the liquid goodness slamming into the ground. The cups immediately split, splashing the drinks up and then back down. Right onto a pair of large feet.

Oh no......

"I'm so sorry!" The hurting, tired and now embarrassed woman looked up into the owner's face, and into the bluest eyes she'd ever seen..... Never had she seen that gorgeous shade in person before. "I'm really not having a good day, and I just made your's worse."

Leonardo had finished his morning classes and had a craving for the new boba tea spot that had opened up. The food was delicious, light, and actually somewhat healthy. The boba teas were slightly less healthy, but the sweetness was welcome. He had showered at the studio and slipped on some casual clothes. It felt inappropriate to wear his yoga gear out and about. Leo prided himself on looking professional. It was bright out and his shades were only barely making it bearable. He really hoped the place wasn't too crowded, he had wanted to sit down and enjoy his food. However, since this was a new establishment it was always packed it seemed. Sometimes there were lulls, but not for long. As he strode to the door he frowned, yep, packed. Well he would just have to get it to go. Stepping into the crowded restaurant Leo was surrounded by people. He was still trying to figure out where the end of the line was when he bumped into someone. As he looked down he saw their drink splatter all over his shoes and a little on his pants near the ankle.

"Me personally? If it's a place where I could feel safe, and honestly truly relax and let go of things? Not have to worry about anything traumatizing happening..... Leonardo, that security alone would make someone like me interested. I can't speak for others, but I myself would search out a space like that. How many out there refuse to seek help like therapeutic massages just because they can't let their guard of strangers down. I say spread your practice. You have a loyal customer base, spread that umbrella and I'm sure word will get out that it's a safe place to go."

Still forming her thoughts into words, she leaned back in her chair and looked absently over his head into some unknown void. Her eyes seeming lost within a different part of her life. Searching for her own life experiences to help lay the entire picture out in front of him.

"But, the danger of expansion is, how much can you personally oversee? Will you still be able to protect your clients if your attention is divided even more? You will have to risk hiring staff, and hope they turn out decent. Train them what to look for, and also be firm with the dreaded 'Karens'. You would have to make it perfectly clear that profit isn't what is driving you, the well-being of those who visit your establishment is. Also, hire security. Someone who knows how to be firm, but also compassionate. No nonsense, but understanding that some folks genuinely break down in places like that out of fear of past events happening again. It's something a lot of places don't really get the mix right. If I personally were to be interested, that is what I would look for in a place. Hell, if you could provide that, I definitely would be curious enough to at least poke my head in the door. I don't want high class 'spoil me', I want the comfort from being safe and being able to fully decompress."

Vicky lowered her gaze slowly again to meet his eyes. "No one ever really caters to the past trauma victims. It's always about profit. Customer service is nice because they have to be, or they lose out financially because rich, spoiled, customers are mad because they get told no. It should be called 'ensure profit service'. But what about those of us who literally have no place to go......"

Vicky then blushed, suddenly lowering her gaze from his. She didn't mean to dive that deep, and she wasn't entirely sure her words were the type of words she should be throwing onto the table. It seemed more directed to her individual preferences than what he was actually asking. She would love to go to a spa, but she was simply too scared. For many reasons. She only chipped at the top of that ice berg.