The desk itself is big, big enough accommodate the papers and pencils and computer that Master Shredder needs for his work, because even the Foot Clan is a business like any other in some respects. Weapons, too, for all the way in the Foot Clan is a business like no other.

The crawlspace, however, is a little cramped. Leo may be slim, and slimmer still after month of Master's careful diet, but his shell is still bulky. He has to hold perfectly still if he doesn't want to scratch anything up. He wouldn't be able to get out without damaging the desk or asking master's permission.

That's okay. He's good at holding still, always has been, even before Master's special training. He's learned to be still on freezing ice, on burning metal, on shards of glass, on whatever his Master commands. Next to that, the carpet under his knees is nothing.

Right now he's in seiza, kneeling between Master's spread thighs. His eyes are open, even though there's not much to see down here except the occasional flicker of movement from Master at work. But he keeps them open anyway, so that when Master looks down he'll see that Leo is fully present and alert, doing his best to tend to his jonin's needs.

Leo's keeping his mouth open, too, to accommodate his master's cock. The heavy, reassuring weight of it rests on his tongue, the hairs faintly tickling his scales. It gets a little tiring hold his mouth open all the time, but he can bear it. He can bear a lot of things for Master.

He resists the urge to lap or sniff at its wonderful taste and smell; his orders are to wait before he starts pleasuring his master. It wouldn't do for him to be distracted from the important work of running the clan by a greedy chunin.

So Leo just sits as still as he can, letting himself be soothed by the sounds of Master at work. He listens to Master talk with his underlings or exchange carefully worded calls with his allies, doing the best to learn all the things a good chunin needs to know.

And when nothing happens he just sits, firmly ordering himself not to squirm. Master was kind enough to have Leo put the plug inside him when he got under the desk, so that it jostles in a very noticeable way whenever he shifts around even a little. A reminder, to keep him in check.

It helps that he's worn out from a long, hard day of fighting and training for the clan. Master had summoned him to his office right out of the showers, and he'd barely had time to put the plug in when he arrived (letting Master see him do it, of course) before being ordered into the crawlspace.

Leo's a little worried about falling asleep, to be honest, even with the plug in him and the weight of Master's cock. Every once in a while he'll find his eyes fluttering closed and have to pinch himself awake, sometimes hard enough to draw blood.

But everyone once in a while Master will pause to look down on him, and then Leo won't need the pinching at all. Nothing wakes him up like the tender brush of Master's hand over his head, occasionally scratching the back of his neck or toying with his mask tails. Sometimes he'll accidentally let loose a happy purr of contentment, but Master won't mind, because Master is kind and forgiving.

It's been a while since any of that, though, and he's started to wonder if Master has forgotten he's there. He shoves the rebellious little thought to the back of his mind, but it comes wriggling back anyway, and he's so distracted with it it takes a few seconds for him to register the door opening again.

And then he hears her voice. "Grandfather," Karai says, and Leo tenses. He can feel her sitting down on the far side of the desk, close enough to touch him if it weren't for the thin barricade of wood between them. She's speaking Japanese, tension ringing through every syllable.

"Karai." Master reaches down to rest a soothing hand on Leo's head. "What seems to be the matter?"

But Leo already knows what she's come to complain about before she spits the word Leonardo like a curse. He remembers being startled by that the first time they crossed paths after he'd joined the clan, how her hate made him want to flinch. He's almost--almost--used to it by now.

"He's insolent," she complains. "A slovenly, vicious little beast who'll bring the clan to ruin if he's not kept in check." Leo fights down a sudden urge to growl; he's been working his ass off for the clan one way or another, same as her. It's not his fault she can't look after Master's needs the way he can.

"I was trying to find him earlier and no one knew where he was," she complains. "For all we know, he's already lost his courage and gone running back to his fa--"

"Mind your tongue," Master says, a sharp edge crackling in his voice. Leo's clenches his jaw before he can stop himself, heart pounding. How dare she? How dare she? To not only accuse of him running back to the animal that murdered his brothers, but to refer to Splinter as his father? When Master is the only true father he would ever want?

"Leonardo has executed his duties to the clan faithfully and without complaint," Master says. Master is sticking up for him. Master believes in him. It dawns on Leonardo that his jaw is still clenched, his fingers pressing into his Master's skin, and he hastily relaxes them. If Master thinks he's doing things right, he must continue to do so.

"I see no reason to rid myself of such a valued servant," Master says, his voice steady and final. Leo would wrap that voice around him like a blanket if he could.

Karai pauses. "There....there is something else, Master." Maybe it's just an act, but she sounds genuinely hesitant.

"Is there? Speak your mind, granddaughter. I don't have time to waste on whinging."

"The men--some of them are talking about you and him. His bruises..." She pauses. "They--there was talk when Alopex first appeared, but this time it is different. Worse." Leo's heart stutters in his chest, even though it shouldn't matter, even though nothing matters except his master's approval.

Still, he can't help glancing down at his thighs. There are marks there, however faint, ones that creep up his thighs where the wrappings don't cover. And the bite marks on his neck--the scarf covers them, but someone might have seen him changing. He'll have to be more careful.

"Who?" Master asks, delicate in a way that promises pain. A part of Leo (the part that sees Raph in her fire, Donnie in her cunning) can't help worrying for Karai. He does his best to push it away."

"Just lackeys, passing in the corridors," Karai says quickly.

"And who was 'passing in the corridors with them,' Karai?"

"I would never say such a thing!" Karai cries, and despite everything Leo believes her. She may be vicious at times, but not on this level. "I have the utmost faith in you, grandfather. But if the rumors about that beast continues to undermine you in such a way, then--"

"Then what? You deny me the right to take what is mine?" Master leans forward, and it takes everything in Leo not to choke as his cock hits the back fo his mouth.

"...Grandfather?" Karai says carefully.

"Get the names of the men telling such tales," Master says. "They'll have to learn the price of turning their thoughts where they are not wanted."

Karai sucks in a breath. "You can't really be..."

"I have spent centuries between worlds," Master says. "I have explored things beyond your imagination, and I have grown beyond my fears and constraints long ago. You would be wise to do the same, daughter."

"Grandfather," he can hear Karai shifting about anxiously, "I have no love for Leonardo, but the state he is in....you know he cannot agree--"

Thunk. Leo jumps at the sound, Master's cock very nearly slipping out of his mouth. For a second he thinks the sound will be followed by the thump of Karai's body hitting the floor, but instead of she lets out a soft gasp. Whatever Shredder must have gone very knew her head, perhaps even...yes, Leo can smell the faintest trade of blood in the air.

"The only reason that you still stand is that you are my granddaughter," Master hisses. "I have not waged wars, built a kingdom, conquered death itself to be denied by anyone, not even you."

"Yes, Master Shredder," Karai replies, her voice quieter than Leo has ever heard it.

"Go to your grandmother," Master says, his voice sounding a little calmer now. "She will help you remember the names of the men and with....other things."

"No," Karai says, her voice trembling. "Please, Grandfather, you can't, I'm not like--"

"You will," Master shoots back. "Or I will be forced to reconsider just how much I want her to take."

A pause. Then a stilted "Hai, Master Shredder," as Karai rises to her feet and presumably bows. She leaves without another word.

Leo knows he should be jubilant over her humiliation, but all he feels is hopelessly confused. Why would going to Mistress Kitsune bother Karai so much? What does she think he can't agree to? And...and why did it almost sound like she pitied him?

His thoughts are scattered when Master suddenly stands up, pulling his cock away. Leo is not ordered to come out, so he remains where he sit as he listens to Master Shredder moving around the room, tugging the knife out of the wall and locking the door. He pauses to take some things off the desk before settling back into his chair.

Then, finally, he looks down at Leo. "Well, you're quite the little mouse," he says, a rare smile on his lips. "I am very proud. Come up here."

"Thank you, Master," Leo says, fighting the urge to groan with relief as he climbs out, finally stretching his cramped lives. He move to stand, but Master pulls him into his lap instead. Leo lets out a little yelp, eyes flickering back to the desk as he notices that it's been carefully cleared. His cheeks flame red. Oh.

"I am sorry about what Karai said," Master murmurs, turning Leo's chin so that their eyes lock. "It was not her place."

Leo bows his head. "It's all right, Master." He can feel Master twitch underneath him and recognizes his cue, carefully leaning down to run his fingers along the thickening length. Master tilts his head back with a soft sigh, face open in a way so few have seen it.

He would normally drink in the sight, but now Leo hesitates. "Master?" he asks carefully.

Master blinks at him. "Hmm?"

Leo glances over his shoulder. "What...what was Karai talking about, exactly?"

Something flickers in Master's eyes, but it's gone so quickly Leo probably imagined it. "Oh, that? Just stuff and nonsense. You know how she gets when she's angry. She says thing she doesn't mean or understand." He runs a soothing hand down Leo's shell. "But if you like, we can speak about this to Mistress Kitsune tomorrow."

Leo bites his lip, remembering Karai's fear--and, and something else, back at the edge of his mind. "I...."

"It would do you good," Master says, a bit of an edge to his voice. There is no denying him.

And why would Leo deny him, really? Doesn't his master love him, protect him, take care of him? Didn't he stick up for him with Karai? Didn't he save Leo from the rat and give him a chance to avenge his brothers and forget a new life?

He bows his head. "Yes, Master."

"Good." Master says it, which means all is right with the world.

Then Leo's letting out a gasp as he's tipped backward onto the desk, his shell hitting the desk with a loud clonk. He winces. "The wood--"

"Leave it," Master says shortly, reaching between Leo's legs. "I have more pressing matters to deal with at the moment." Leo gasps as he feels the plug slipping free, as Master's hands grab and stroke greedily at his flesh.

"Wrap your legs around my waist," Master commands, and Leo barely has time to obey before Master is shoving in, filling up his loosened hole and melting anything else could he say into a desperate churr.

"So sweet," Master huffs, thrusting so hard Leo's head thuds against the desk. "My sweet, good little boy. My little whore." He nibbles on Leo's neck and Leo arches into the touch, into the words.

He's a good boy, a good chunin. This is what he needs, to serve at the pleasure of his Master and gratefully receive whatever pleasure Master generously offers.

So if something strange and nameless throbs painful at the back of his mind, if Karai's words flicker in and out of his consciousness, if he finds mysterious tears gathering at the corner of his eyes as they gaze up at the ceiling...it doesn't matter. Not really.

Leo’s right where he belongs.