I could hear footsteps overhead. I paused momentarily to remember which room was above the kitchen: Raph & Adalida's. I made a small face at the thought. Of the four of us, Raph got the girl first? And considering one of the things he told us earlier... I went back to making breakfast. I really didn't want to be thinking about them being in the same room.
Moments later, I heard footsteps from someone coming in the kitchen. I turned, expecting Adalida, bout found Raph at the table. "You're up early." I grinned, remembering the "morning turtle" comment.
He nodded, acknowledging that he'd atleast heard me, but made no attempt at replying.
My grin dropped. "Hungry?" I asked, trying again.
Again, Raph didn't answer, and I suddenly got the feeling maybe he hadn't changed as much as... "Was I really as awful to Splinter as I think I was?" he asked.
I blinked. Well, he completely caught me off-guard with that one. I briefly thought he was just joking, but the look he gave me said he was serious. Unfortunately, I had no idea of how to answer him. "Why're you asking?"
He sighed and his serious look turned into one of defeat. "Never mind, Mikey. It ain't your problem."
Let me just say the defeated look on his face didn't match the tone of his voice, which sounded like he was irritated. Something in the back of my mind said that Raph might be returning to his old self, but I couldn't really believe that. But, I was wondering if maybe it had something to do with offering to say something at Sensei's gravesite later today. I frowned and kept tending to breakfast, dearly hoping for Adalida to be the next to join us.
"Morning, guys." Leo. He isn't who I asked for.
I looked toward the ceiling. 'Please don't set him off... please!'
"Mornin'," Raph muttered.
"Hey, Leo," I greeted, then turned slightly to see Leo sit opposite Raph. 'Oh no.'
"You're up early for a change," Leo commented.
Still watching them, I saw Raph look up at Leo and give him a plain glare.
Leo shrugged. "What?"
"Not today, Leo," Raph grumbled, then sat back and crossed his arms over his plastron.
Leo looked completely confused. "But I didn't..."
"Leo," I cut in, giving him a glass of orange juice, "the pancakes'll be ready in a minute."
"Okay, Mike," Leo said, then took a drink of the juice. He looked at Raph again, but didn't say anything.
Adalida came through the doorway next. "Morning, fellas." She sat next to Raph and gave him an odd look. "All right, what happened?"
Suddenly, I felt the need to run for cover. Why?
Leo shrugged again, but still didn't say anything.
"I don't wanna talk about it. Not now," Raph said. "Can we please just eat?"
I let out a small sigh, then stacked the pancakes on one large plate. 'Close one.' I put the first batch on the table and began to make the second for everyone else and myself. Maybe one of these days I should try sleeping in...