Word of the day: Foible
Foibles are minor flaws or shortcomings in character or behavior. In fencing, foible refers to the part of a sword's blade between the middle and point, which is considered the weakest part.
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Leonardo heard the sound of rocks falling onto the ground. He sighed and lowered his head. He didn't need to turn around to see what it was. Casey stood there with his arms dropped at his side. He glanced between his Sensei and his mother's body. Leo could practically hear the next words that were about to come out of his mouth. "What did you...?"
He walked over to his mother and fell to his knees. The boy took her hand and drew it back, as if he had touched something hot. "She's...She's so cold, Sensei..." Casey whipped around and looked Leonardo directly in his eyes, tears burning the corner of his own. "What did you do to her?!"
The turtle set his odachi on the ground and knelt down to his level. "Jones...We couldn't leave her like that. I had to-"
"No! No, she was just here! I had my mom back, Sensei, and you just killed her?!" Casey's hands were balled into a fist, looking like he was ready to swing. Leo felt the guilt wash over him more than ever, but he was so sure this was what he had to do. He opened up his arms to welcome the boy into a hug. "She asked me to. And if we had left her or brought her back with us, things could've gone very wrong. Forgive me-"
Casey pushed Leo back and stood up, backing away. "I will NEVER forgive you! You killed her! That makes you a murderer!"
Leo's eyes widened and he shook his head. That string of his heart would just never leave. "You watch what you're saying, kid. I'm no murderer."
But the boy wouldn't give up. He hadn't heard the conversation between them, he just knew that when he got back he saw his dead mother, and his Sensei holding the bloodied odachi. Nothing could be clearer to him than that. "Murder is the unlawful killing of another person, YOU told me that! Uncle 'Tello even told me that! And that's what you did, to my own mom!"
The turtle frowned and felt his patience wearing thin. "I know what murder is. And I know I did nothing like that!"
Casey didn't care, and pointed an accusing finger at him. "YOU'RE A MURDERER! YOU KILL PEOPLE, YOU KILLED HER EVEN WHEN YOU KNEW I LOVED HER! YOU'RE A KILLER!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Leo shouted back, standing up and yanking Casey by his arm. "I loved Cassandra enough to show her mercy! She was my friend, and she asked me to kill her to save your life! Yours!"
The six-year-old furrowed his eyebrows. He was starting to feel sorry for him, but he had too much pride to let his mind convince himself that what he was saying was wrong. "Mercy my ass!"
Leonardo frowned and let go of him, turning his back from him to grab his sword. "I knew you weren't mature enough to come with me. But you chose to defy me, you CHOSE to tag along. That's nobody's fault but yours." Casey growled and wiped tears away. "S-so if I had stayed behind and you came out to kill my mom, you wouldn't have told me?!"
Leo turned back around and looked down at him darkly, wiping blood off of his arm. "After looking at what happened today...You're goddamn right."
Casey's face fell and he looked down, not knowing whether he should be angry, sad or ashamed. Leonardo looked at him sympathetically, opening up a portal back to the shelter. "One last kiss to your mom before you go. Just like I told you." The boy turned around to the body slowly, trembling. He lifted his head and wiped the water from his eyes to see her better. He brought his fingers to his mouth and kissed them, extending his hand out to her. One last kiss.
_______
Donatello lowered his goggles onto his face, dragging his tool box to the side of the table. "S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. , hand me the...the uhh...The doo-wop lookin thingy." The small robot rolled his eyes. "You mean the lighter?" Donnie made confused face. "That thing's a lighter? What kind of lame contraptions do they have in this place?"
S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. snickered. "It's a run-down shelter, Don." Donnie sighed and lifted his goggles back up. "Fineee, I'll wait until later to finish your upgraded battery." He stood up and walked around to turn the light back on, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. following his every move. He looked over at the counter and saw Cassandra's old mask, and he sighed again. "Poor Cass..." Donatello picked it up and turned it around, gasping. "I've still got the recording on for this thing! But what should I do with it?" He asked, mumbling more to S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. than himself. "Give it to Casey!" The robot said. Donnie nodded. "Yeah, sounds good."
Suddenly the door swung open wide, knocking a few things over behind it. Casey Jr. stomped in. Donnie groaned and went to pick them up. "Hey kid, knock before you enter a room, alright?"
"Sure." He mumbled, plopping himself on a couch cushion. Leonardo stood at the door solemnly before walking away. Something had gone wrong. S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. and Donnie glanced at each other. The turtle nudged him forward. "Go cheer him up, or something. I'm gonna go talk to Leo." He pat the robot's head before getting up and walking out the room, closing the door behind him. S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. gulped and looked at the child nervously, scooting towards him. "Uh, hey. I'm S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.." Casey looked at him and smiled, which was enough to calm S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.'s nerves. "Hi. I'm Casey Jones Jr., my mother is Cassandra Jones." Then his face fell and he lowered his head. "Or...Was Cassandra Jones, I guess..."
S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. noticed the sudden change in his behavior and hoisted himself up, sitting next to him. "What happened to her?" Casey shook his head at the memory of it. "Master Leonardo killed her. He said that she wanted it to happen, that it was mercy." He trembled and his shoulders slumped. "I-I don't even know what that word means..." S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.'s eyes widened slightly. "I knew Leo for a long time before I got rebooted a while ago. And when it comes to his heart, nothing's changed. He'd never kill anyone without a reason."
Casey shrugged, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "I don't know anymore. I had her back, even for just a second. And he took her away again...Forever, this time."
The robot put a hand on the boy's arm. "Leonardo is the greatest ninja ever. Everything he does, he does it for his family. Mercy means that even though you have the power to do something bad to someone, you show love instead." The boy sniffed and raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. nodded. "Yeah!"
Casey gasped and contorted his face in anguish. "I called him a murderer like, twenty-eight times!"
S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. laughed. "I'm sure he forgives you! And hey..." The robotic turtle put his fist up. "You're a pretty cool kid. I think things are gonna start getting better." Casey smiled softly and bumped his fist. "Thanks, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.."
The robot stood up and handed him Cassandra's mask. "Donatello thought it'd be a good idea to give this to you. Y'know, cause you deserve it." Casey took it from him gingerly, as if he might snatch it back. He stared at it and held it close to his chest. It belonged to him, now.
_______
"I don't get it...He didn't believe you??" Donnie questioned, holding the punching bag in front of Leo. "No, he didn't. And it's not like I expected him to, but to call me a murderer? That is one thing I should've seen coming." Leonardo threw another punch. Usagi sighed from behind him. "I mean...Did you tell him that Mikey saw into the future? That if you hadn't, he probably could've died or whatever bad thing could've happened?" Leo shook his head. "No, that'd just bring Mikey into it, too. He doesn't deserve that mental abuse from a six-year-old."
"Ah." The rabbit giggled and fiddled with the edge of the fabric on his sash, which was tied around his waist. "I don't think he meant to hurt your feelings, Leo. You probably just hurt his, first." Donnie pointed to him. "Bingo."
Everyone went quiet when a boy with a mask walked in without saying a word. "Uhhh...Hi?" Donnie said, attempting to break the awkward silence. Casey lifted it up and waved nervously, walking right past him to get to Leonardo. The turtle looked down at him, waiting. Casey exhaled quickly before getting down on his knees, bowing so deeply that his head touched the floor. Usagi smiled and glanced at Donnie, who glanced at him and then Leo. "I see respect has been bestowed upon your name, Nardo."
Leo forced a serious face, the corners of his mouth just barely forming into a smile. And Casey began to speak. "I'm sorry for how I raised my voice at you earlier. I was just scared and confused, and I didn't know until today that...Sometimes killing is a mercy. Please forgive yourself, and forgive me, too."
Usagi smiled and nudged Leonardo. "Brings back memories to when I had first met your father, doesn't it?" Leo sighed contentedly and nodded. "Sure does."
Donnie grabbed his arm and shook him slightly. "Awww, look at him! He's just sitting there waiting all patiently like the good kid that he is! C'mon Leo, tell him he's forgiven!"
Casey smiled to himself. Leo saw this and began to play around, pursing his lips before letting out an exasperated breath. "Ughh...Maybe?" Usagi and Donnie gasped, shaking him harder. "Pleaseee? If the little one cries, then I start crying! Forgive him, Leonardo-san!"
"FOR MY HONOR, LEO!"
"Pleaseeeee?" They both pleaded. Leo snickered and reached down to put a hand on Casey's head. "Yeah yeah, I forgive you, Jones." They cheered and lifted the boy up, pulling him into a group hug. Casey giggled and threw his arms around them. Leo hoisted him up onto his shoulders. "I like the new mask, by the way. Really suits you." Casey smiled and wrapped his arms around his neck. "Thanks, Sensei."