Shades of Michelangelo: Part one.

authors notes: got the idea for this from the song of the same name and some ideas I've seen about mike being an artist. Also just my idea on an AU where Splinter and Shredder have a reason to reconcile .. but then danger comes from another source.
Any how hope you like this. Don't own the song don't own the characters.. this is fan fiction written purely for the sake of my sick amusement.

PC 2012

"-With a stroke of love, on the canvas of my soul. I'm painting a perfect world with shades of Michelangelo. Its a promise made, to every heart that knows. We can live in a perfect world, with shades of Michelangelo." - Belinda Carlisle

She knew something was strange when she heard the noise out side of her house and caught a whiff of paint from her own open window.

It was well past four am in the morning and all of her own work was well on its way to drying for the night. There was no way that the paint smell could be coming from inside her house so there was only one other explanation. Someone had to be doing some kind of painting out side of her house.
One set of robe, flash light and slippers later and she was heading down the steps of her town house to check the back porch.

She stepped quietly out and stared at the two mostly silent forms there. She turned and looked to see what they were doing and that is what caught her eye. She clicked on the flash light and both of the forms froze.

"That's really great work, " she smiled at them.
"awww man," The dark haired boy said and held up his spray paint can guiltily.

The other boy, now that she was getting a good look at him was extraordinary to say the very least, and was also holding a spray paint can.

"Awww crud," he sighed, "Sensei's gonna kill me."

The woman pulled her robe closer and stepped down the steps.

"Please don't be scared, "She smiled, "I smelled paint and came to see what was going on."

The dark haired boy looked really embarrassed, "We're really sorry Mam, we ahh.. didn't think any one lived in this town house any more.. so were..."

That's when Casey Jones noticed that the woman wasn't paying attention to him any more but to the Graffiti that he had put on the side of her once clean town house.

"this is really nice," She smiled again, "I'll tell you what.. I'll give you 50.00 each to finish this tomorrow afternoon after school. How's that grab you?"

She turned and both boys were staring at her totally dumfounded.

That was when it clicked with Casey that he knew this nice lady from some place. She was one of his teachers.

"Your Miss Kincaid," He pointed at her, "The new art teacher at school."

She turned back to him, "I am."

Then she grinned, "What happened to, "art is for sissies" Mr. Jones?"

"Well... I mean, " he stammered, "art IS for sissies. Stuck up museums, snobs that tell you only what they think is good counts... that kinda stuff "
"oh I see," She nodded, "So no one ever told you this was art too son ?"
"No," both boys answered in unison.

"Well it is, " She told them directly, "and I pay for good art. And I will pay you 50.00 each like I said to come finish this. Right now though .. its freezing cold. And I know the Krylon wont stick as well. So why don't you boys come in and have some hot coco. Then tomorrow you can come back when its nice and hot and take care of this."
"Seriously?" the second boy added, "Your just gonna .. like.. let us into your house with out saying anything nasty?"

She shook her head, "young man. This world is too full of insanity and insensitivity for me to add to it. I am not going to knock two up and coming art geniuses just because the world at large says I should."

The art teacher turned and headed back up the steps, "So do want that hot coco or not?"

Casey and Mike nearly trampled each other getting up the steps and into the young teachers kitchen.

A few moments later they were at her table with a plate of cookies and a large mug of coco each. Neither of them paying any attention to it because they were both too busy staring at the works of art all around them.

"Wow," Casey twisted his head to get a look at more in the other room, "Miss Kincaid I can see why they wanted you to be our new art teacher. This stuff is amazing!"

Mike was doing his best to get in everything too, "He's right Mam , this is all so incredible. "
"Well thank you boys," She grinned, "But anyone can become an artist. It just takes time and dedication. You two boys seem to be well on your way Casey and...?"

Mike blushed, "Sorry mam, My name is Mike."

She nodded, "Well if you boys would like to, I can give you some more art lessons. You can pay for them by doing yard work and things. if your interested."

Casey proceeded to look away, "Id love to Miss Kincaid but I don't know if I could manage with hockey practice and school."

The teacher shrugged, "Well then you will just have to pay more attention in school, but don't worry, "She winked, "Your secret is safe with me."

She then turned and looked at Mikey, "And what about you Mike? Would you like to take some painting lessons?"
"WOULD I!" he nearly yelled.

Then proceeded to launch him self across the table and hug her, then got serious again and let go.

"umm.. I will have to get permission from my father though," He told her, "If he says its ok then I will 100% want to come and study art with you."

"That's good that you are respectful to your family that way young man," and she turned to Casey, "and that you want to take care of your team like that." Then turned back to mike, "But that will be fine young man. I can even meet with your father if you like and tell him some about what I will be teaching you."
"that would be great miss Kincaid!" mike hugged her again, "I bet he will just love you too!"
She laughed, "Ok .. well its almost five am.. and I to teach tomorrow and Casey has class. So you guys had better finish your drinks and hit the road. "

The laughed for a few more moments and then finished up the coco.

as they were about to leave she motioned them back.

"hey guys I forgot to give you your payment for the mural."

They stopped in their tracks and looked at her as she went back up into the house and reappeared with a back pack and wallet.
"Here you go, " She handed one 50.00 bill to Casey and one to mike. "Come back this afternoon and finish this up. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Oh and you can leave your paint here if you like. I promise to take very good care of it."

The boys stopped and looked at each other again and then turned and smiled up at the pretty young art teacher.

"Thank you!" Mike told her and then ran up the steps and hugged her again, "We'll see in the afternoon!"

She hugged him back and then both boys took off and she waved.

A few moments later they were down the nearest man hole and Casey stopped and looked at Mike.

"What are you going to tell Splinter?" he asked the turtle in the orange mask.

Mike looked down for a moment and then back at Casey, "I'm going to tell him the truth Casey. I really want to take these art lessons from Miss Kincaid. The only way I'm going to get to do that is if I'm honest with sensei."

Casey looked thoughtful for a second, "Yah I guess that makes sense. Let me come with you and I'll help convince Splinter."

"Thanks man," Mike smiled back and they headed off to the lair.

About half an hour later:

Splinter was staring down at the 50.00 bill that his youngest son had just handed him and was trying to make sense out of the confused and hastily told story that the little turtle had just blurted out.

"Can you repeat that Michelangelo, " he saw Mike open his mouth and take a deep breath, "SLOWLY."

Mike visibly deflated for a second and then he took another breath and began again.

"So Casey and I were doing a painting on what we thought was an empty town house," he paused and Splinter nodded, "Cus like if someone moved in they'd probably just paint over it. Well it turns out it wasn't empty."
"Yah," Casey added, "Someone lives there now."

Mike nodded, "A REALLY pretty lady who's an art teacher. Well she came out and saw our picture. She said she would pay us if we finished it for her and then offered to teach me to paint. To teach me like a real art teacher."
"Then as we were leaving," Casey chimed in, "She came out and paid us to finish the painting, Just like she promised."

"So we came back here because I want to ask, " Mike got his puppy dog eyes, "Can I PLEASE take art lessons with her sensei!? PLEASE?"

By this point all of the other turtles were gathered around staring at Mike and Casey and boggling over the story that the two boys had just rapidly told twice.
Splinter seemed to be considering the situation.

In the mean time, Raph made a face and looked at his lil brother.

"Why do you want to study painting any how ?" He shook his head, "What point does it have that someone painted, or did art? That's not going to help us with our training or.."

That was when Raph noticed the VERY large glare he was getting from Splinter.

"Art is very important Raphael," Splinter frowned, "History is recorded in it. The great deeds of the past. The hope for the future is also expressed in art."

Leo blinked at Splinter, "So you don't think Mikey taking art lessons is a bad idea? Even with a stranger?"
Donnie nodded, "Yah we don't know this lady very much, she could be someone working for the Shredder or the Krang."

"She's not," Casey told them, "She's the art teacher that just started at my and April's school. Her name is Miss Kincaid."

"Please Sensei?" Mike begged again, "I really want to learn to do this. I really wanna see if I can learn to paint the same way this nice lady paints. Please? She said you can come meet her."
Splinter looked at Mike, "I will meditate on this and consider it during the day my son. I do think however, this would be a good thing for you Michelangelo. Learning to paint will help you learn to focus in a way that I may not be able to teach."
"So your going to let him?" Leo asked, "Seriously?"
"I am going to consider it while I meditate Leonardo," Splinter replied, "But I think it might be a good thing if ALL of you were to learn some painting with this young woman if she can be trusted. "

Mike suddenly looked very smug and the other boys got mildly horrified looks on their faces.
"I will let you know this afternoon when the time comes for Michelangelo and Casey to return to work on the mural for the young lady."

"Hai sensei," All for said in unison.

"in the mean time, " Splinter reached out and returned the money to Mike, "I believe this is yours Michelangelo."

"Yer letting him KEEP it?" Raph gapped.

Splinter proceeded to smirk, "Well if he decides to study art he will need some decent supplies. "

All the other guys groaned and Mike beamed, pretty certain that by the end of the afternoon, he was going to be an official art student.

Post chap notes: That's all for now! hope you like! more to come soon! PC.