The Predators' Hour [Tag: Leatherhead, Love]

Love stood there not sure what to do. Or what to say. She must have looked pretty pitiful, covered in fluids and a confused and hurt look on her face. Her ears flatened on her head and she took a step back.

Slowly she nodded. Love never handled regection well. ussually she would kill a man for hurting her, but she couldn't take on Raph.

She shrugged her shoulders then gave Raph a hard slap to the face, claws out.

Dammit, why did she have to look so pitiful! It only made Raph feel worse, but.. maybe he deserved it. He couldn't control himself, but maybe it was a stupid move bringing her away from LH lair to talk. He just didn't want to involve anyone else.. but now someone had been drawn into an even stickier mess. Donnie. God! How the hell was he going to dig his way out of this? He certainly couldn't count on Love to keep it a secret, and that was made evident when Love drew back and dragged her claws along the left side of his face as she 'slapped' him...


He could have dodged or blocked the move, but he allowed it to happen... even though it was painful for him, maybe it made her feel a little better, at least. He didn't bother retaliating, nor did he reach up to stop the bleeding from the three gashes to his cheek.


"I'll give you that one.. but keep yer hands off me.." He warned softly, still feeling horrible about this whole mess. "You can hate me.. but it's yer fault, too. If anything.. I should hate you for gettin' under my skin!" He breathed heatedly, not willing to take all of the blame...



"C'mon, let's get you back to Leatherhead.." Because as much as he wanted to be away from her, the least he could do was to see her back to safety...

No, this is all your fault. and Don's too . I don't need your fucking help, I'll find my way back on my own.

Love left the little room and slammed the door behind her, then walked off in the direction she thought they came.

Raphael blinked at her.. was she for real?? Obviously she was not willing to take any of the blame, even though it was her that cam on to him. her that continued to tease him even as he asked her not to... hell, it was all her fault! He was being nice and willing to take some of it since he did the deed, but not now! He had lost control, and she had to have known what she was dealing with!!



"FINE!" He yelled after her, still trying to get his emotions in check. Maybe he should stay the night down here and rebound... but no. That would be too close to 'Crazy'.



With a sigh he left the little sanctuary that would forever be tainted by the memory of this mistake. It was best to head back to April's. Maybe she was home by now, then again, maybe it would be a blessing if she wasn't. is face was bleeding and the last thing he needed was to be asked questions.


He still had little information on this 'Bones' guy, but all was not lost. He could always stalk Love one night, find where she was going.


Another deep sigh and he headed out, trudging though the sewers and towards the nearest manhole cover. Hopefully soon he would be welcomed by the comforts of Aprils couch.....

Love wrapped her arms around herself and started to walk through the tunnels. she hoesntly had no idea where she was going. If it cam down to it she could climb the first ladder to the serface she came to.

But the faint smell of Leatherhead hit her nose, she started to follow that sent as it got stronger.

Finally she came back to the lair, she stopped at the entrence and stood there for a bit then finally walked inside. all the water she had went through washed off some of the grim, but she stil needed a bath.

LH? you awake?

The big gator had taken no offense to being left out, if a bit annoyed because he was willing to take her in, but not if it came at a price that would be too high for him or...

The one being up til now that had shown him kindness and warmth and even when he had been dangerous forgave him, their friendship strong.

He would have to be nosy he felt, for her safety... If there was any hint of whatever it was would be a danger to her.

He had returned to his nest secure his size, him looming up out of the dark had securely planted the idea in the younger by what a couple of years male turtle to behave on his turf.

He gave a rumble at Love's voice, "I am, in my nest... Come in..." he shifts rolling off his back to hide the softer scales on instinct and so he would not be tail up in her face when she came, he need not fear she would not hear him, their heightened senses and all.

Love walked over to Leatherhead, head down and feeling horrible for what had happen with her and Raph, with her and Don, and with all she had told Raph in the heat of anger. She wanted to take everything back, none of this was Raph's fault, she was to blame, blame for the pain that she not only caused Raph, but would also cause Don.

Do you have a bath, or shower I can use? She asked quietly not looking up to meet the gators eyes.

I need to soak for a while.

Unraveling it seemed as he slid out of his nest once more Leatherhead took in her disheveled state - he did not have to ask, he could smell what occurred.

He was a bit concerned by her bites he nods to them. "I will treat them after you have bathed - they do not look too deep but better safe than sorry." He nods again his voice firm and gentle and lowering his great long head he gave her a snout nudge. "Come." The rumble of his voice filled the quiet of his Den, her home now too.

He leads off towards what once was a ledge for passengers to embark and disembark. He and Erica had put a lot of work into the bathroom. Mostly because he was a gator and loved water and she on occasion needed the ability to wash herself.

Up here he lead her to a small passage, the door of which glowed with the luminous fungi that he used to light their home, he almost entirely filled the space in his standing state so he shifts to the gator belly crawl and his length - all seventeen feet of it became more apparent. He stops in the passages to point each door out now with his snout. "In this room the toilets." His snout bumped what was once a 'gents' room. "And this one where you will find a fixed up old large spar and shower. The water works but it takes a while for it to warm, there should be a small radio in there to listen to, it works... Erica has brought things down here over time you will find shampoo, brush and toothpaste and a hand dryer that we fixed so it points outward and will blow from the moment you switch it on to when you switch it off." And another low thud as his snout touched the 'ladies' loo. He began to back out so Love could go in and inspect this all for herself and take her time.

Love thanked the gator then got to work on filling the tub and gathering shampoo and things. Once the water was warm enough, Love slipped into the tub and laid back letting the water flow over her. It was relaxing, though she was still tense about what had happen.

After laying in the water for a bit she started to scrub herself down with the nice smelling shampoo. of course she couldn't get her back, which actually upset her even more. All she wanted was a mate that would stick by her and maybe wash her back!

Love stood in the tub til the water was too cold for her. She then stepped out and dried off. Her fur poofed out sticking up everywhere.

She didn't brother with a brushing and just walked back out to LH.

Finding him, she sat next to him and broke out in tears.

The great gator had retreated back to his nest.

And there in the bowl shape of the soft and the misc items was where the cat joined him.

That did not bother him, many a time had Erica when she snug down to sleep over had curled up with him. Her burst of emotion thoug...

He rumbled and said nothing closing arms about the little female and drawing her into a hug Erica told him she found most comforting, his big jaws along Love's back and her against the soft smooth belly scales low comforting rumbles leaving him as he relaxes on his back clawed hands on her back, he had the little first aid kit to handle her bites.

But first he'd let her cry it out or talk to him if she wished. Then handle those.

the hug was welcomed and Love leaned against Leatherhead. When she finally got herself under control she spoke up.

I really like them both. Raph and Don. Raph made it clear that I had to pick, or that's what I thought. So I got with Raph. Even though he kept telling me to stop. I thought that he just was sacred he would hurt me or something. But I don't know. I mean, if he really didn't want to be with me like that, he would have just walked away, right?

Then I got angry when he said he didn't want to be with me, I said things I shouldn't have. I hurt Raph, and Don. I wanted both of them now I have no one. She took in a deep breath.

I guess as a mutant I should have more important things to worry about. But I'm just so very lonely.

"You speak as a mutant whom was once human -" He grabs a cloth from his nest and rubs over her fur - mindful to be gentle, drying her. "For those of us whom began as animals... or perhaps us males... or maybe it is both?.... we find it harder to deny the animal when it take over - the beast might have wanted what you offered and taken it... it does not mean the man also did." He was careful with his words. "If he asked you to stop you should have listened, even as a mutant you were lucky to come away with only bites and probably bruising physically. Erica as a human was lucky once a time ago to escape a bestial moment of my own with a broken arm and punctures from my teeth."

He words were kind.

His hands even kinda rubbing and drying her fur. "I cannot speak for the young turtles but you cannot force it - and it sounds like you have done damage, there will be hurt." His deep soothing rumbles vibrating throughout his body and up into her on his chest and belly his big jaw lifting away as he focuses on the drying.

"As a mutant there is indeed more important things to worry about, but worrying about finding a life mate is too important..." He himself thought about it a lot - because as a mutant gator... a big one the likelihood of it seemed... so very unlikely. "But you are no longer alone."

Love couldn't help a smile as Leatherhead started to dry her off. She let out a soft purr.

Yeah, I was human once. A man named John Bishop made me. It was a little hard to get use to at first, but i think I've handled things well.

Love's tail twitched as he dried her off.

I should have stopped. I want to appologize to Raph. But I don't think he would give me the time of day now.

she looked up at him and smiled. I'm glad I'm not alone anymore. I'm lucky to have met you. Thank you, for listening, for giving me shelter, for taking care of me.

"Ahhh yes, you seem to be fine - though such a thing is no doubt traumatic - the mutation I mean... and the new sensory overload." Leatherhead nods tossing the now wet old shirt he had used to the end of his cart, and pulling loose another to dry over her arms and head carefully - especially over her ears.

He listens again and chuckles, "There is the possibility you will get to apologize some time, but the damage may be too great. Try not to think of it too much, what has happened is done." He could not offer consolation of course - because the reverberations of this will no doubt be felt for some time. Love was going to have to live with it. But it did not mean he would not try to sooth her thoughts for the moment.

"You are welcome," Rumble rumble, big deep friendly rumbles. "We have both been lonely, you more so perhaps, as I have a close friend." He was not sure she would want him to dry her front and tail so he tosses this cloth again and gestures to the heaps of misc soft materials around them, "You may use anything you find in here, Erica comes down all the time with new stuff and once a month to help me... us... clean all this and get it dry to keep out bugs - hmmm let me see those bites." he shifts them a bit reaching for the little kit. "They don't look too bad - you were lucky, as you are aware we mutants are quiet strong."

Lov finished drying off as Leatherhead looked over and treated her wounds.

Your friend seems nice. I have a human friend. Well kind of a friend. He the reason Raph was here in the first place. His name is Bones and he works for a few people, gathering fresh organs for people who can't afford to pay hospitals for transplants. I usally clean up after him, or sometimes he gives me real food. my favorite is the pork gyozas.

His knowledges hands worked fast, listening to her with a chuckle at her remark about his friend and fave food. "Erica is a good friend, I have been lucky to have had ten years of solid friendship with her so far, here's hoping for many more years..." he did not have to do too much to most of the bites, just clean them and add a few small butterfly stitches to slightly deeper indents.

"I prefer roasted meats of course. And loooove... Have a strang addiction to Cheetos." this was said sheepishly as he was not quiet sure how he had formed such an addiction.

Though he was curious, "what do you mean gets organs? Fresh organs, like how? From willing donations?" he asked finishing the bites and placing the kit away.

Love sat perfectly still while he worked. then once he was done, gave him a thankful head bump. She couldn't help but giggle at his love for cheetos. Then the big question came about her friend. How to explain this one? May as well tell the truth.

No, They are not willing. And they never survive. He steals organs and gives then to the highest bidder. Raph aims to stop him. I don't really understand his need to help humans so much.

"That is cold to say Love, you were once human, because you are mutant now does not mean you can so easily dismiss your beginnings. Humans are not perfect but then you get people like my best friend and are reminded that nor are humans bad." Leatherhead rumbles gently snout rubbing to her ears for her grateful head bumpies.

"And this person you speak of must never know of this place, you must never tell him of I or lead him unintentionally into our secret Den -" He says firmly. "Never and also nothing of my human friend either. Not her name, not what she looks like." Leatherhead had never intentionally hurt a human. There was a few he had come across doing bad things in alley's as a child and young teen himself to which he had hurt them to stop them. But what she described was butchery, cruelty ... something disgusting ...

And perhaps for the first time in this entire evening Leatherhead was a wee bit annoyed that no one thought to talk to him about this.

But also glad Love admitted it freely.

He dithers for a moment disgusted by her words and pitying, she was after all raised that way, yet he too by the age of ten had been big enough to kill and eat humans and in fact big crocodilians did in some parts of the world... yet he never had. "It is easy to blame the predators we are, and you your upbringing ... but we cannot, you said yourself you learned, and knew it was wrong, yet you choose to resume eating humans - you must accept and assume responsibility in its full capacity of choosing to do so... including feeling remorse for whose knows how many lives such acts you have perpetrated have been affected, changed, ruined. None of that can be taken back by a promise, and nothing you can do will make it right, but at least you are willing to break the cycle."

He does not tell her to go away - the nest was warm and cozy and he had not troubles with her remaining with him in it for the remainder of the wee hours if she choose to. "Thank you."

Love just nodded and then smiled at her new friend. she gave him another head bump then rolled her on her back.

Tummy rubs!

Hmmmm

He wondered if changing the subject was her way of avoiding feeling remorse or if the big cat just did not care - which was not promising for someone trying to keep a promise.

Buuuuuut he too did enjoy a good belly rubs!!

Again the rumble that escaped him seemed to fill the space webbed clawed hands almost could encircle her waist easily descended upon her belly and rub careful to keep his stubby up strong and sharp claws away from her skin.

Love purred and smiled as she got her belly rubbed. she then turned over and pounced on Lh's head.

Your turn! she was trying to get her mind off of things. Off of everything! With Raph and Don and Bones and humans. yummy yummy humans. So she went into play mode. Though she was feeling a tad bit tired. She didn't want to sleep yet, sleep meant she would have to go into her own room and away from the scaly comfort of her new friend.

Chuckling and growling in play the big gator gave himself a gentle shake to dislodge the mutant cat and pin her against the edge of his nest to nuzzle his snout against her belly very gently nipping here and there big teeth harmlessly scraping and lightly pinching her skin here and there.

mindful, always mindful the the bulk and strength and size he possessed.

His happy playing rumbling rolled vibrating his chest and snout, playing with her.

"My friend - sometimes sleeps over there..." He lifts his head to snout point to the end of the old carriage that was his nest where a matress was over a board and seats with some pillows and blankets. "When she stays down here... or sometimes if cold right here in the nest with me - you may also... I understand a new place can be daunting for some time."

Love giggled and pawed at his nose. Then he mentioned that his friend would sleep in his nest with him. Of course this was his friend of ten years, but then he said she could too! This guy was very giving.

She sat up and smiled. If you don't mind. I would love to share your nest with you. I know it's safe here, but new places are a bit scary.