|Full Summary|
Growing up under the weight of someone else's expectations, or title, even, can be a quite difficult thing.
Growing up hearing of the legacies and the world of humans . . . and not only that, but everything their brothers have done . . . it caught up to them.
The Hamato brothers saved the world. They have purpose.
"So what about us? Are we just . . . gonna stay in this stupid sewer all our lives? Let's go up. I know you're curious too." Dark, calculating eyes studied those of mischievous intent.
"Because I'm going whether you come or not."
And all those years later, even the famous 'Ninja Turtles' still hadn't defeated their old ties.
They find it out the hard way.
Safe No More.
Prologue:
Leonardo animatedly pointed his katana at a white van, stocked full of mutagen containers.
"We have to get hold of that van!" He announced, moving in a fluid fashion around the robotic form in front of him and taking it out with a simple slash at the neck.
"How do they even get all this stuff?" Raphael demanded with a haughty sigh, kicking his opponent in the upper torso, a following troop toppling over right behind him.
"They invented it, Raphael. Use your head, would you?" Donnie whacked a droid over the head with his staff, sending a look towards his red-banded brother that could only be called 'grouchy'.
"Oh, yeah? Say that to my face, D-"
"Can we do this later?" Mikey protested, his voice growing higher in pitch, as he faced the oncoming fleet and as Leo broke the lock on the back of the van with the hilt of his sword.
Michelangelo tucked and rolled under the heavy legs of the growing Kraang army, and stumbled forward to be caught with a firm grip on his arm (Raphael).
"Uh, what exactly is our plan here, Boss?" Mikey asked, backing up cautiously to fall in line with Leonardo.
Raph and Donnie followed his lead, weapons at hand and ready for order, and all that was needed to ask orders was a glance toward the eldest.
"Get in the van!"
"What? No candy?" Mikey joked, earning a look from his Leo and a quiet chuckle from Raph.
"Just go!" Leo's exasperated tone drove the other three into action. Each scattered towards the van without delay.
Mikey went over the hood of the car, latching onto the roof; Donatello flew into the driver's seat (an uneasy expression plastered on his face), Raphael slid into passenger, and Leo latched onto the side, using the open door as a handle.
In seconds, it was apparent how little practice Donatello had at controlling a vehicle.
"THIS IS WHY DONNIE DOESN'T DRIVE!" Mikey screamed at Donnie's first turn, which nearly blew Michelangelo off the side.
Mikey dug his the blades of his kusarigama into the roof, barely succeeding at obtaining a notable grasp. He was a slip away from flying off the roof of a speeding car.
"Hold on tight!" Leonardo commanded, wracking his brain for any sort of legible idea.
Donnie pulled the car into a side alley with an unhealthy 'screech' of tires, and brought them out on a different street with the Kraang not far behind.
Every turn loosened Mikey's grip.
"Gah!" That shriek brought Leonardo back to his senses easily, and his narrowed eyes rested on his youngest brother.
"Quick! Get in the back!" The command surprised Mikey and even in the predicament that he was in himself, he had next to no desire to be placed in the truck of an unruly van with vile upon vile of mutagen.
"With the mutagen?! Donnie's driving! What if-?"
"NO WHAT-IFS RIGHT NOW." Raph growled from inside the van.
Michelangelo took a breath, and edged down the side, using the blade for accuracy.
The back of the van blew open as soon as he touched the handle and the packages inside shifted from the wicked turns that Donatello was wielding.
"AH!" A single vial sprang at him, not shattering, but knocking Mikey off the speeding van and into the front window of a beat up shop on the corner of the street.
Donnie slammed on the brakes and all rocketed out of the car with weapons ready to defend the additions to their mutagen collection.
"Way to go, Donnie!" Raph hissed as they ran to the shattered window, avoiding the shrapnel, and peering in, missing the 'Daisy's Pet Store' sign above the front door.
Mikey groaned and pulled himself up off the tiled floor, being careful to brush the glass pieces off of him and avoid whatever was left on the floor.
"I'm okay, Don, thanks for asking." He shot a glare to the tallest, who wore a similar expression.
The mutagen vial had flown out of his hands and backward into a small aquarium. Or, what remained of the aquarium.
Two young, mutagen covered turtles regarded the four brothers before something odd happened.
Their limbs grew longer, their bodies became upright, and watching it stunned the four brothers.
'This was us sixteen years ago. . .'
The two newly mutated turtles seemed to become more self aware, their eyes growing wide with confusion and they looked at the four for some sort of communication.
"Leo. . . . LEO!" Donatello's glare quickly melted into pure panic.
The mutant with bright blue eyes stared at Donatello's finger pointed at his counterpart, and in turn shoved her off the stand, then looked back to the group for approval. Leo was at a loss for words.
"Oh. . . no."
A/N: I left this the way it was because of ties I have with Mikaracat in 'And Into My Fire, You Shall Fall'.
Not the best writing I've done, considering I was something like thirteen when it was published, but I certainly have better plans for this story. Patience will be necessary to tolerate my DEFINITELY 'going-to-be-late' updates, but bare with me, friends.
This is a journey I want to talk nice and slow.