Leo was used to eating alone. Waking up so early usually guaranteed he was alone. What he was not used to was having someone cater him when he ate. He'd barely mentioned oatmeal before Mikey rushed passed him and into a side door before reappearing moments later with a steaming bowl of oatmeal.
Blinking at the bowl Leo looked up at Mikey. "Wh-what are you gonna have?"
Mikey shook his head. Leo had been about to speak when a familiar voice met his ears. "Slaves don't eat with their owners. He'll eat later."
"Karai." Was the simple greeting he gave her, nodding in acknowledgement without turning around.
She frowned, hand on her hips at his neutral tone. Not about to let him ignore her she came and sat near him, leaning against the table as she watched him for a moment, making sure she was in full view.
"Good Morning Leonardo."
Like him she wasn't wearing her armour or fancier outfits like at the feast. Instead she wore a casual, and slightly more revealing outfit, that clung to her body and emphasized her curves.
She only raised an eyebrow at Mikey and that was all the slave needed to quickly rush off to get her usual breakfast, not needing to be verbally told.
"So, is my slave serving you to you're liking? Or do I need to remind him of his position in the world?"
As she spoke Karai's eyes shifted, glaring at Michelangelo as he set down the plate of toast in front of her.
"Actually, he's been serving me just fine." Leo tried to keep his voice even, not wanting to show the anger that bubbled underneath his words. "I can see you've got him well trained."
Once he'd placed the plate in front of his mistress he moved back away from the table, tensing up when he noticed the glare. Was he in trouble again already? He lowered his eyes and kept his head bowed in submission.
For a moment Karai glared at her slave before turning back to Leonardo who was watching her. Smiling pleasantly at the mutant Karai spoke. "So what plans do you have today? Shall I accompany you into the nearby village? Maybe go for a short boat ride along the river? Or a walk amongst the cherry blossoms?"
Leo felt a slight pang of annoyance. Everyone of Karai's suggested was dimly romantic.
"Actually I was planning on seeing your army. I believe one of your commanders offered to spar with me at the feast, and I intend to take him up on it." Leo referred to the only mutant on Sakis payroll, the turtle who had approached him before.
"Perhaps Some other time though." He politely declined her offers.
A faint flicker of disappointment flickered across Karai's face. "I shall hold you up on that Leonardo. However I will accompany you for a time. I have to go that direction anyways."
"Very well." Leo supposed it wouldn't hurt to spend some time with her, despite her obvious flirting she could be useful in finding out more about Saki and the kingdom. The two of them made light conversation as they finished their breakfast, Karai acting as if Mikey wasn't even there.
Once breakfast was finished Leo stood up, Karai mirroring him. Glancing back Leo noted that Michelangelo seemed to be finishing chewing something before standing straight backed and ready. Looking back at Karai Leo spoke in as pleasant a manner as possible. "Shall we?"
Karai nodded, gesturing for him to follow her out of the dining hall and down the corridor. Again Leo glanced behind him, noting how Michelangelo had bowed his head while following.
Slowly Karai led him out of the palace, all the while talking and bragging about the number of rooms it had, how long it had taken to build, how many slaves they owned, ect.
Nodding and murmuring when it was polite, Leo mostly ignored what she was saying. But that did not stop him from looking around as Karai led him from the palace and through a small garden area and towards a large training ground adjacent to the palace.
The troops were apparently finishing up their morning training, being led by Raphael and a thickly built human with a purple tattoo of a dragon covering most of his left arm.
The mutant didn't notice that he had an audience, barking an order for a group of his men to attack him at once, proving that he was the superior fighter as he tested their skill.
For a little while Leonardo watched the human. And while he showed some skill and technique it was clear he relied more on his physical size and strength than anything else.
As he watched the other mutant train Leo scanned him; taking in his broad chest and shoulder as well as his muscular arms and legs.
Despite his dislike of Saki Leo could not help but admit, the turtle wasn't ugly to look at. As he watched the turtle moved, looking up and catching his eye.
As soon as their eyes met the darker turtle smirked, shifting his stance as he seemed to find new fire to make quicker work of his troops, but with less skill.
Clearly he was just showing off, trying to impress the representative for the council, but Leo could tell that he did have a natural talent for fighting.
As the last of his soldiers feel Raph laughed. "Come on. You all can do better than that!"
He got only a weak groan from his troops as they slowly limped off the practice field. Growling at them slightly annoyed Raph turned and gestures to the visiting mutant turtle. "What about you? Care to test your metal against a real warrior? Or are you scared that being the council's lackey has made you soft?"
Leo raised an eye ridge at the obvious bait, but unlike the other turtle who he could see would be easy to get a reaction out of, he had more self control.
Still, there would be no harm in taking this turtle down a peg or two. "Armed or unarmed?"
Raph shrugged. "Which ever you need princess. I'll take you down regardless. Wanna make things interesting?"
"Princess?" Leo scoffed, that was a something that the swordsman could honestly say he'd never been called before. "Interesting how?" He was curious to see what this warrior was planning.
He made the short walk towards Raphael, leaving Karai to either watch or leave. He gestured for Mikey to stay to the side, not wanting him to get caught in an crossfire once they started their fight.
Raphael smirked. "If I win you have to declare that i’m better then you are for everyone to hear."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "And if I win?"
"IF you win, you get to choose my punishment." Raph smirked, clearly overconfident in his victory already.
For a moment Leo thought of how he could use this to his advantage. He was sure he could use this to help gather the information needed for his mission.
"If I win, then you answer my questions. Any questions I ask you answer completely honestly, holding nothing back, no matter how personal or if it goes against your position."
Raph’s smile faltered for a moment. He had access to some very private information. Narrowing his eyes Raph nodded. "Deal."
Leo smiled. "Good. Then I'll go easy on you and say unarmed."
He started to remove his weapons, before remembering what Donnie had said about letting Mikey feel useful. He walked over to the slave and kindly asked him to remove his straps and weapons belts, saying that he was to look after them while the swordsman wasn't using them.
Mikey jumps at his task, quickly unfastening and removing his Master's swords before holding them tightly against his chest. He knew from past experience that setting them down without instructions to do so was a grave insult. And so he held them, his grip almost whiteknuckled as Leo gave him a small smile.
At the expression something flashed through Mikey. So kind of warm pulse he’d never felt before. Leo.......had smiled......at him.
But a moment later he was pulled back to reality as Leo turned and moved into the large practice circle. He watched as Leo bowed to Raph who mirrored his movement before both turtles stepped into their combat stances.
Leo stepped back on his right foot, looking over his opponent for any faults in his stance he couldn't see any, but from the little he'd seen of him and the human they were well suited to brawling. Taking all this into consideration he decided that a frontal attack wouldn't work, so instead he rushed into the fight from the side.
Even as Leonardo rushed towards him Raph acted; ducking as Leo's leg swung where his head had been before. sweeping his own legs Raph moved so as to sweep Leonardo's legs out from under him.
Leo landed with the leg he'd kicked with, spinning out of the sweep before he was tripped by the other. He grinned as he saw that Raph was now poised low to the ground, taking advantage to charge him before he could right himself or stand fully from his position.
Raph's eyes widened as Leonardo lunged at him. He was off balance, meaning her had no way to dodge or avoid the turtle's body. He grunted as Leo's weight slammed into him. Sending them both to the ground in a heap.
Working as fast as he could Raph moved, rolling away from Leonardo before jumping to his feet; only to turn and see that the other had done the same
"Not bad." Leo commented as they began to circle each other, impressed that the thicker built turtle was athletic enough to match his speed and break his ground hold.
His eyes once again scanned every inch of the darker turtle, taking note of the visible scars, mostly on the left side, so he guessed that the other favoured the right.
Without giving the other much warning he faked an attack to the right, only to hit him hard from the left, catching him against his side where their natural armour was weaker.
Raph grunted in pain, but a smirk spread across his face as he quickly grabbed Leo's ankle. But his moment of triumph ended as Leo twisted; his second foot pushing off the ground before slamming hard into the side of Raph's face
Leo used it to his advantage, riding the momentum to put his weight behind his foot as he brought the other to the ground again, his foot hooked into Raph's neck.
He landed low, twisting around face the floored warrior. He wouldn't have much time to pin him, but hopefully he had winded him enough to get an advantage.
His plan worked perfectly, pinning Raph against the matt Leo smiled as Raph struggled weakly against his grip. "Its over. You lost."
Raph gave a last ditch effort, using his weight to his advantage to flip them over, but Leo used the momentum to get Raph into a stronger hold. Pinning the warrior with his arms and legs, the swordsman had the upper hand and left the other without much chance to move.
"Are you done?" Leo asked, a teasing tone in his voice.
Despite Raphs struggles he couldn't move enough to get out of the others hold. He growled darkly and Leo thought that he was going to stubbornly refuse the failure, but after a few minutes of trying every way possible to break free he stopped struggling.
"Fine. I yield."
A moment later the grips on his ankles and wrists vanished. Staggering to his feet Raph growled in humiliation. He was a general! And hed been beaten in less that 5 minutes.
Forcing himself to look at his opponent Raph spoke. "So.....what questions do you want answered?"
Leo remained silent, his eyes drifting back to look at Karai and Mikey for a moment before speaking. "Not now. In my chambers later. Wouldn't want to humiliate you further in front of your men."
Raph's eyes narrowed, his hands balling into fists and relaxing, clearly angry in his humiliation but he was trying to remain calm. "Fine. I'll meet with you later."
Leo nodded, watching the other turtle barely containing his emotions. He guessed that he would probably take it out on a few of the troops once he left.
Making his way back over to Mikey, he had the slave redress him in his weapons.
Mikey moved as fast as he could, his heart hammering in chest as he worked to quickly rearm his Master. Once he was done he stepped back, noting that once again a odd shudder ran through him when Leo smiled at him.
A moment later Karai spoke. "I have to train now. Care to help me?"
Leo could not help but smirk slightly as he turned to look at the Human girl. "Sorry, but I was going to have Michelangelo show me around the local village. Be dutiful in your training."
And before Karai could respond, he left Mikey following closely behind him
Once he was outside of the palace walls he turned to address the slave directly, resting a hand against the others shoulder to make him look at him instead of the floor.
"Mikey, when we're out here would you mind walking besides me? I don't know this area and I'd like you to be my guide, but you can't do that when you're behind me." Telling him to walk besides him because he remembered how uncomfortable Mikey had been walking in front of him.
Mikey remained frozen for a moment. Then slowly he moved, standing beside Leonardo. "Is.....is this ok Master?"
"Yes, that fine." Leo assured him, and once again the reassuring smile made the slave's heart flutter, unused to being shown that kind of kindness.
Once Mikey had told Leonardo which way to go they both set off for the village.
