Disclaimer: Don't own'em. Wish I did, but I don't.
A/N: Okay so this one's going to have a lot more meat to it. I've been considering it for a while. The muse hit me and I wrote for three days straight. (Well, almost. I did sleep.)
So, a quick refresher for those just joining us. 1. The guys are in their fifties. 2. Everyone's a turtle except Sarah, Kala, Cat and Jamie. 3. Mira is Don's daughter, Kaz is Mikey's son, Yoshi is Raph's son, and Shinta is Leo's son - eldest to youngest respectively. Thanks for joining us in volume 21 in the series!
BTW, YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!
Yoshi rolled his massive shoulders, his eyes narrowing on his prey. He didn't know what these punks thought they were doing and he didn't really care. Word had gotten around by now that this area was protected by a large group of vigilantes. The purple dragons had fled the area long ago. They were now scattered in small nearly harmless group around the city. But recently this new group had moved into their territory. They called themselves The Crew.
Yoshi assessed the six thugs beneath them loading a truck with electronics. They're a crew of morons, if you ask me! No one comes onto our turf! He growled. "Let's go already!"
Kaz's hand tightened on the handle of his kusarigama. "There's too many, Yoshi. We need to wait."
Below them one of the men started the truck's engine. Yoshi snarled, his hands gripping his tekko-kagi. "They're gonna get away!"
Kaz frowned. There was something odd about this gang. They didn't carry guns, but they wore a strange eye-piece that glowed slightly in the dark. Something about their behavior made him think there was more to what was going on than simple burglaries. He wished they'd had more time to observe this new enemy. He had also wanted to wait for some of them to move inside the store before attacking. It was just the two of them against the six. But it didn't look like they'd have much choice. "Alright, let's go!"
Yoshi needed no more prompting than that. He leapt down the fire-escape, landing on the alley floor in three smooth moves. He stood at the end of the alley, blocking the gang's escape route. Five pairs of eyes turned to stare blankly at him in the dim street light. He lifted one tekko-kagi, the light behind him glinting off the four metal claws. "You, punks, picked the wrong neighborhood." He smirked as he saw one pair of eyes disappear at the rear of the group. Kaz was on the ground, moving. His older cousin was fast, faster even than him though he'd never admit it out loud.
The four men still standing made to rush Yoshi where he stood. He dispatched the first with a solid kick to his opponent's nose. The man stumbled back his face covered in blood. Two more attacked him simultaneously. Yoshi blocked them, digging his metal claws into one's shoulder and slashing the second across the chest.
Kaz was on the fourth. The chain of his kusarigama wrapping around the knife the man was wielding and yanking it away before catching the man with an uppercut that sent him crashing into the alley wall. Suddenly the tires of the truck squealed as it launched into reverse. They'd forgotten about the sixth man. Kaz's heart raced. The truck was headed for the end of the alley, trying to make a getaway. The problem was there was a very large obstacle in its way. "Yoshi! Look out!"
Yoshi had just tossed away the second thug and turned in time to see the truck barreling down on him. He gasped but the impact he felt wasn't from the truck. He crashed to the ground on the other side of the alley with a heavy body laid across him. He was vaguely aware of tires squealing and the truck hitting the opposite wall across from him. His savior groaned as he pushed himself from the ground.
Kaz gawked as K-three appeared and yanked the driver out of the cab. His gaze shot to the end of the alley where he watched his father push himself off the ground. Mikey glared at him. "Damn it, Kaz! We've talked about this! You two can't go off on your own!"
Kaz's temper rose. "You used to be out here when you were younger than us!"
"There were four of us, Kaz! Four! It's too dangerous to be out here in pairs! You could have gotten Yoshi killed!" Mikey was furious. There was no need for this rash behavior, not when there were six more capable adults to help.
Kaz opened his mouth but K-three put up his hands to stop them. "Could we have this discussion elsewhere? The cops are on their way." In the distant sirens could be heard.
Mikey scowled and pointed up at the roof. "Home! Now!" Kaz scowled back, but turned to leap onto the fire-escape begrudgingly. K-three sighed as he watched Mikey follow his son up. He turned to Yoshi, who was rubbing the back of his head and offered him a hand up.
The seventeen-year-old frowned as he took it, coming to his feet. "It ain't all his fault."
K-three shook his head as they started for the ladder. "It doesn't matter, Yoshi. He's older. He should know better."
When Kaz climbed onto the roof, Mira was waiting for them. She'd thrown the shurikens that had blown out the truck's tires. Now she looked between Kaz and Mikey, their pain reflecting in her eyes. She could feel the rift that was growing between them and she wished there was something she could say to make the situation better. But she knew no matter what she said they'd continue to fight. It had been happening for weeks now.
K-three and Yoshi joined them a moment later. She gave her mate a quick glance, before turning to her younger cousin. "Are you okay, Yoshi?" He gave her a small nod, but remained silent. She frowned as Mikey started to lead the way back to the garage.
Kaz only grew angrier as he followed his father across the rooftops. Why wouldn't anyone listen to him? He'd tried several times to tell his father and uncles that there was something strange about this new gang, but none had seemed particularly interested in hypothesis. It was terribly frustrating. At times it seemed his family simply dismissed him all together. Mira was the eldest, but K-three had somehow become their unofficial leader when he wasn't even technically a ninja. One couldn't argue that the Turtleoid wasn't skilled though. His marksmanship was excellent with both a knife and an arrow.
And even though Yoshi was younger than him, they seemed to rely on him more because of his strength. He sighed inwardly. But that wasn't Yoshi's fault. He just happened to be the son of the largest of the brothers. And if truth be told, he was Kaz's best friend. They broke rules together more often than they followed them together. His younger cousin was always ready for a brawl and maybe that was why he didn't mind letting him tag along on these little midnight escapades.
On normal patrols it was usually the four younger turtles working as a team, while one brother would accompany them to keep an eye out. But he'd noticed the odd pattern in The Crew and wanted to investigate them further. Something big was happening. He just couldn't put his finger on it.
They leapt silently onto the roof of the garage and Mikey pressed his thumb to the lock to deactivate the alarm. Then he jumped down, followed by Yoshi. Mira placed her hand on Kaz's shoulder. "He was worried about you."
Kaz roughly shoved her hand off. "We were fine."
K-three scowled, as much from his roughness with his mate as for the obvious lie. "You were not fine, Kaz. You should have just told us you wanted to go on a patrol. We would have gone with you."
Kaz glared at the older turtle. "You know what, I'm sick and tired of everyone telling me what to do! And that includes you!"
K-three couldn't help the half growl that left him. But below, Mikey called up to them. "Kaz get down here!"
It was Kaz's turn to growl as he jumped through the trapdoor. His patience was wearing thinner by the minute. He brushed past his father into the garage, heading straight for the elevator. He hit the button and the doors opened just as the rest joined him. Yoshi glanced between the two brooding males and knew that if his uncle was this mad, his own father was more than ticked. And sure enough as the doors opened they were greeted with a living room full of unhappy faces.
Leo glared at Yoshi and Kaz, his arms folded across his chest. "Explain yourselves."
Kaz glanced at his father, but Mikey didn't meet his gaze instead going to stand beside Kala. Kaz snorted, meeting his uncle's gaze. "I wanted to check out this new gang. Something is definitely up with them."
"And for that you put yourself and Yoshi, not to mention the rest of us, at risk?" Leo's gaze was cool, demanding a better explanation than the one given.
Kaz frowned. "It was only supposed to be for recon."
"But it didn't end up that way, did it?" K-three was still a bit miffed at the way the twenty-year-old had treated his mate.
Kaz spun on him, but Yoshi spoke first. "It ain't all Kaz's fault. I was there too."
"Yeah, and you're gonna have to deal with the consequences too." Raph half growled. Beside him, Cat frowned, her gaze shifting between her spouse and child.
Leo shook his head. "No topside for a month, either of you."
Kaz's jaw dropped and then his eyes narrowed with fury. "That's it! I'm sick of you all treating me like I'm a child! I'm an adult!"
"Then start acting like one." Mikey ground out.
Kaz turned his furious gaze back to his father. "I am! I'm trying to tell you something, but none of you are listening!"
"No, you're not! If you were acting like an adult you'd realize that what you do affects the rest of us! As a member of this family you-"
"Maybe I don't want to be a member of this family anymore!" Kaz turned and stomped off down the hall.
Mikey groaned, dropping his face in his hand. Lately all it felt like they did was fight. He just didn't understand why Kaz was acting like he was. Kaz appeared again from the hall, a duffle bag over his shoulder.
Kala's face paled. "What are you doing?"
Kaz dropped his cell onto the side table and snatched a holo-band. "I'm leaving."
"What! You can't!" Kala was in a near panic now.
Mikey stiffened. "You are not just going to walk out of here!"
Kaz glared. "Yes, I am." He started for the elevator.
Kala gripped her spouse's arm. "Mikey do something!" But he was out of ideas. She turned to the head of the family. "Leo, please stop him!"
Leo shifted. "If you leave, you're putting the rest of us in danger."
Kaz paused with his hand on the elevator door, holding it open. He didn't say anything but shot Yoshi an apologetic look, before stepping inside. His guts twisted as he heard his mother behind him. "Kazzey, please!" He kept his back to her and his eyes clenched shut. Kala started for the door, but it shut before she reached it. "No!" Tears ran freely down the Neutrino's face. Mikey caught her in his arms and she turned to him, pounding on his plastron. "Why didn't you stop him! Why!"
Mikey didn't fight her, only pulled her against him. "He wouldn't have listened to me."
Leo could see the pain in his brother's eyes. "He's right, Kala. Kaz has to make his own choices and his own mistakes."
This only made Kala sob harder. Mikey squeezed her and she sagged against him. "He'll come back." He whispered in her pointed ear.
Mira turned and buried her face in K-three's chest, seeking solace from the pain her aunt and uncle were feeling. He wrapped his arms around her breaking the empathic connection, but somehow it didn't make her feel much better. Sarah frowned at Kala and closed her eyes, leaning into Donnie's arm. She didn't have to be an empath to know the pain of separation from her child. Don slipped his hand into hers, entwining their fingers and giving her hand a gentle squeeze. He knew the pain as well. Standing at Leo's side, Jamie frowned an arm wrapped around Shinta's shoulders. It was better to let the guys handle these types of situations. They tended to understand where the frustration came from for the younger turtles. While it was something she was only starting to grasp in the past two years.
Leo's gaze shifted to Yoshi. "Why does he think there is something going on with this new gang?"
Yoshi frowned with a small shrug. "I don't know exactly."
"Is there something particularly odd about their behavior?" Don asked.
Again Yoshi shrugged. "Don't know. There don't seem to be nothin' different about 'em. They're all in the teens and twenties. And I ain't seen none with weapons, besides knives." He rubbed the knot on the back of his head, thoughtfully. "But they all got this weird look in their eyes."
Raph frowned. "What do you mean?"
The teen waved a hand. "It's like the lights are on, but nobody's home."
Don lifted an eye ridge. "Robots?" He was beginning to think maybe the Foot was back.
Yoshi shook his head. "Nah, I got one good in the shoulder. They bleed. They ain't robots."
Leo rubbed his chin, processing the information. Nothing Yoshi or even Kaz had said seemed to indicate anything truly suspicious. It was likely the gang was just hopped up on some kind of drug or something. "Then we'll just keep an eye on them for right now. Maybe even increase patrols for a while to make sure they don't get out of hand."
"And no more takin' off on your own." Raph growled, his eyes fixed on his son. "Next time, it'll be me that comes to find you."
Yoshi's eyes narrowed but he said nothing. He'd learned not to pit his will against his father's. It never seemed to turn out well for him, especially when Leo normally backed him up on decisions. He glanced at the elevator and for a moment wished he'd followed his cousin. But as the family began to disperse, his mother approached him. Her emerald eyes held concern as she reached for him. "Are you okay, Yoshi?"
His demeanor softened. There was something about his mother that always melted his rough exterior. "I'm fine. Just a bump on the head." He didn't tell her it was caused by nearly being flattened by a truck. There was no need to worry her more than necessary.
Raph stepped up behind her and put a hand on his son's shoulder. "At least it wasn't somethin' worse. Now go get some sleep. You know what's gonna happen tomorrow."
Yoshi sighed. "Trainin' until I drop from exhaustion."
Raph half smirked. "Yep."
With another sigh the teen moved off to the bedroom he and Shinta still shared. The eleven-year-old watched him go with a frown. He knew his cousin would likely be in a foul mood for days. He looked up at his father and stepmother. "I think I'll sleep on the couch."
Jamie made a face, but Leo nodded. "Sure." He'd been there with Raph a thousand times. He knew what it was like to share a room with a hot-headed teen. They'd been lucky not kill each other at times.
Shinta left to collect his pillow and blanket, and Jamie turned to Leo rubbing his arm warmly. She could feel the worry pulsing off him. "Will he be alright?"
Leo shook his head, not meeting her eyes. "I honestly don't know."
Mikey had coaxed Kala into their room and held her tightly as she continued to weep. She clutched at him. "What if something happens to him?"
He bit his lip hard, fighting back the sting of his own tears. "It won't. He's smart. He's got your brains after all." The small joke did nothing to settle his wife. He sighed. "He's a ninja. He can handle himself. I know, I've seen him."
"But he's out there by himself!"
"We've all gone off on our own before. Like Leo said he has to learn from his mistakes."
She trembled. "But what if he doesn't come back?"
"He will."
"How do you know?"
"Because we're his family and this is where he belongs."
A/N: Uh, oh! Looks like we got trouble in Turtle Town... I will thank you in advance for all your beautiful reviews!
