Full Summary: The boys' Mutation Day is on the 19th, yet they don't see the big deal. Twenty-four is nothing special and with their brother away, what would be the point? Even so, Nia is determined to throw a wonderful party. Will her good intentions turn array? Or will Raphael find there's a cause worse celebrating after all?
Genre: Family, Romance, Humor, Hurt/Comfort
Rating: Teen for slight language, crude boy humor, and some mild sexual insinuations.
Author's Notes: Here you have it, the book of the month. This mini-book will focus on Nia and Raphael and the next step in their relationship. ;) For those who don't know, Nia is a character introduced in "Finding Balance", tied to Raph, a sister and daughter to the clan. Melody is a more recent OC who's married to Don.
Disclaimer: TMNT belongs to Nick/Eastman/Laird. Nia Hamato/Anders and Melody Hamato/Gray belong to me. I'm in no way making any money. Thanks.
Chapter 01 - The Plan
Hamato Raphael held a slip of pale green paper about the size of a postcard. Around it ran a deeper green border, thick and dotted by white. Inside the curved border was a centered collection of black and yellow text below four cartoon turtles. But they hardly drew Raph's attention—not like the large 'MUTATION PARTY' font at the top.
"An' Nia already sent 'em?" he questioned to his purple-masked brother on the couch's other end.
"Yeah," Donatello answered with a light shake of his head. "She ensured the hard copies were delivered directly and the digital ones were sent through encrypted emails."
"So how do the normal folks know how ta decrypt 'em, Genius?"
"I included a worm program to scan facial recognition through the computer's camera once the email's opened. When it has confirmation, it'll unlock. If it doesn't, it won't."
Raph stared blankly at Don's small smile—so subtle and unsuspecting it was scary. "Ya could make a lot 'a money doin' bad business."
"Good thing I was raised right, huh?"
"No kiddin'. So what about the traditional ones?"
"Nia instructed they burn the evidence when possible."
"I don't get it. Why would she go through the trouble 'a makin' these things when she coulda done everything over a phone call?"
"Said it wasn't the same. You know how she is, Raph; she's a feely person."
"A true artist." Despite the glaring information on the paper, Raph smirked, aware of exactly how much care went into its crafting.
"We head to the Farmhouse on Thursday. The highest it's supposed to get is forty-nine, so we should pack clothes."
"Dude, I'm so done with winter," Raphael muttered as his brother rose from his seat.
The genius collected several other samples, rejects, of Nia's invite designs on the coffee table's surface then added, "Spring's coming up—right after our Mutation Day."
"An' it'll still be too cold for comfort 'til the end 'a April."
"Can't help there, Bro."
"You could build a weather machine!" a hyper voice added. Before Raph could blink, a bright flash of orange and green hurled towards the Lair's living room from the stairs, swaying when they stopped on a dime. "Woah."
"Mikey, watch yourself," Don chided while the youngest Hamato drew a deep breath. "You're still recovering."
"It was a cold, Donny," Mikey whined.
The brown-eyed mutant frowned at the animated hands that took the invites. "It was a sinus infection and you should be resting."
"Gosh, you sound as bad as your mate."
Mikey's sly smirk brought a spread of dark coloring to Don's face and a deep laugh to Raphael's throat. How Leatherhead spoke of Melody to them hadn't gone unnoticed in the past two months. At first, the reference seemed awkward. But after a few flustered retorts from Don, Mikey and Raph knew they had new ammo for teasing. And, boy, did they use it.
"She's worried about you like I am, alright?" the genius said with difficulty, and he frowned as Mikey stole the papers. "You know how the car ride will be when she's with both you and Splinter in the Battle Shell."
"She's not gunna ride with Nia and April?"
"Nope."
"Man!" Grimacing, Mikey lowered his gaze to the various invites he held up like a deck of cards to hide behind. "I won't get to do anything…But if we had pizza that would make it better."
"You've been banned from it for over a week," Don said as if mauling over the idea to be torturous.
"Please, Don, make her let me!" The orange-masked mutant abandoned the cards on the carpet in seconds, so he could grip the lab coat Don wore, their faces dangerously close. "I can feel my sanity slipping without the cheesy goodness."
"Guess we could order some before we leave April's on Thursday."
"Yes! And maybe they'll send that cute delivery girl again."
"Ya need ta stop stalkin' girls, Mike," Raph remarked.
Mikey met the hothead's smirk with pressed lips. "First off, Nia was a hunch. Secondly, if you want to see a real stalker, look to Don. He's the one that watched Melody for months, leaving her things like a grade-schooler."
"I am not a stalker!"
"Thirdly, wanting to see more of someone isn't stalking. It's hopeful thinking."
"An' where do ya think it'll go, Mikey?" Tone now serious, Raph frowned. "Ya should watch what ya hope for."
"Whatever," Mikey countered dismissively. He released Donatello then flicked a hand in Raphael's direction. "You two got girls. Guess you've forgotten what it's like."
"Mike—"
"Michelangelo."
Instantly, the Nunchaku master froze under a stern weight that cut off Donatello's words. The three dared glance at the five-foot-eleven cyborg exiting the Lab's hallway. Her full lips were down-turned deeper than usual and she stalked across the living room with a common-place power through her black cyber suit.
Mikey returned the heated look behind her single blue-gray eye by smiling meekly. "H—hey, Doc."
"Don't call me that," Melody countered, raising her strong, square chin. "Don't you know the meaning of bed rest?"
"But how can I rest when the excitement of a party is about?"
The cyborg rubbed a robotic finger beside the beauty mark on her high, right cheekbone. "Yes, the party…"
"Come on, Mel," Don interjected, gently bringing Melody's hand down from her half-metal face. "Nia's been putting a lot of effort into this. Besides, haven't you ever wanted to go to a party?"
"I have been to parties," she countered flatly.
Don sent her a look. "Gangster gatherings you crash don't count."
"Well"—the young woman took a step back, turning her head aside—"I've never had anything worth celebrating before."
"What about now?"
Melody remained silent, though she smirked. Somewhat.
"I bet she doesn't wanna go because she can't dance," added Mikey easily. To emphasize his point, he Pop Lock danced around the cyborg, cheeky, until he caught her heated gaze.
"Don't tell me what I can't do," she seethed, full of emotion.
"Uh…"
"I have something to finish up with Splinter. But you're on." After a noisy snort Melody spun then stormed down the Lab hallway like she had lost a bet. It wasn't until a passing of silence that Michelangelo spoke up.
"What just happened?"
"You earned yourself a dance off," Donny replied, grinning.
"Melody dances?"
"A lot better than I can."
"That ain't sayin' much."
Don sent Raph a pointed look that the hothead only chuckled at while standing. Passing his brothers, he approached the kitchen table littered by Don's stray building materials. A thick watch-like device called out to him from a small cardboard box and he slipped into it, activating its flat screen display to check for battery life. Full. Good.
"What's that?" Mikey questioned once the hothead turned.
"Stealth-Mode Watches," Donny answered. "It's a project I've been procrastinating on for years."
"How does it work?"
"It generates a shield of reflected light in a surrounding seven-foot area. Though when I finalize it, I want a suit to accompany it, so the surface area is concentrated, natural. Right now there's a slight distortion that can be noticed if someone looks hard enough."
"Wait,"—Mikey gripped Don's arm—"does this mean we can go Topside during the day?"
The genius partly shrugged. "At the rate Bishop's picking through the city, I figured we could use all the advantages we can get."
"This is so awesome; like something out of a comic!"
Raph left his brothers by the table, shaking his head at the youngest's geek moment before heading for his clothes at the Lair's entrance.
"Where you going, Raphy?" Mikey asked from behind.
"To test one," Raph replied, not glancing back.
"Oh, say 'Hi' to Nia for us then!"
The Stealth Watch worked perfectly, from what Raphael could tell. Not that he let his caution ease; he kept as concealed as possible while making his way to Columbus Square. However, it was relieving to know there was a cover over his shell, just in case. By the time he reached Gavin's home, a pit formed in his stomach at the thought of where his girlfriend was staying. And bypassing the first level window to keep a low profile felt akin to walking past the gallows.
But he maintained strong resolve, gripping the building's rough texture until he reached the tall window of Nia's artist loft. The space beyond it was long and narrow, with high brick walls and a bed at the far end that led downstairs. Raph found it cramped because of the easels, side tables, dresser, canvas cloths, and mounds of paint supplies littered over the wood floor; yet he knew a sky light, the two-story height, and the loft's large window kept the human's claustrophobia away.
That said, what little room existed didn't bother Nia. Not in the least.
Raphael eyed the female's backside, which was turned his way with a long paint brush in one hand and a colorful towel in the other. Her pear-shaped figure swayed in a white smock, rousing a smirk as Raph opened the window for a better view. She didn't notice him when he reclined in the windowsill; his Stealth Watch remained activated, and the music blaring on a local boom box kept her preoccupied with its strange rock.
"And we'll be movin' on, an' singin' that same old song," Nia sang—not quite in harmony with the low-vocal Joan Jett but not off-beat either. Her bare foot stomped against the stained canvas her easel sat on. Then her wide hips swung with the motion, her paintbrush now used as a make-believe microphone. "Yeah, with me, singin' 'I love rock 'n roll, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby! I love rock n' roll, so come an' take your time an' dance with me!''"
Raph's grin widened when the young woman ran a hand over her messy up-do suggestively while screaming 'Ow!'. Her fun expression and the way she tripped while twirling brought down any level of sexiness, but he couldn't deny the excitement of watching her body move—ungraceful moves and all. She continued her antics through the following guitar solo until she began twirling the dirty rag while singing into the paintbrush.
"Said can I take you home where we can be al-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!"
Raph flinched as Nia hit a side table in surprise, her gaze set on him. "Careful," he noted gruffly. But he earned a light glare from teal eyes.
"H—h—how long have you been there?" Nia cried, approaching the boom box on the dresser and turning it down.
"Little bit. Guess this thing ran out 'a juice."
She whirled at the hothead's grunt. "What thing?"
"Nothin'." Discreetly, Raph pulled his sleeve over the device.
"Well, I—I—I don't like those kinds of surprises, ya know," the human retorted. Her voice wavered with the same hot embarrassment that lit her pale face, although Raph saw little reason for her defensiveness.
"What are ya upset about?
"Did you have fun watching me make a fool out of myself?"
The red-masked mutant frowned, studying while girlfriend fiddled with her frayed, dark hair. "Ya were havin' fun. What's wrong with that?"
"Come on; I—I looked stupid."
"No." Raph chuckled, closed the window, and then neared Nia, who he wrapped his thick arms around. "Ya looked cute."
"Liar," she grumbled, still flushed.
"Hey, I promised ta be fully honest, remember? If I thought ya looked dumb, I'd tell ya."
Nia blew a loud puff of air against the mutant's bomber jacket, but quickly smiled, glancing up with deep-set eyes that skipped Raph's heart. "You have no problem with girls who can't sing and dance?"
"I like yer voice an' the way yer body moves, so"—the sai master strengthened his smirk until his girlfriend grew sheepish in a way that he loved—"I got no problem with it."
"T—then I guess I don't have a problem with a creep watching me from the window."
"Hey, I'm yer creep."
Nia giggled into the peck Raphael placed on her lips and wrapped her arms around his neck for a hug. When she pulled back, the Chūnin was quick to capture her lips again, drawing her pelvis close to his. He hadn't seen her very often in the last week and the message emanated through the sensual motion of his mouth, his hands. Teasingly, his fingers danced over her hips before entwining in the human's coarse hair, where they remained when the couple parted and gazed at one another.
"I miss you too, Raph," Nia said softly.
The red-masked mutant grunted, gaze set on the dark hairs between his fingers. "Ya need a shower," he remarked flatly.
The human groaned. "I know. I've been so busy."
"Hum…I could take one with ya."
"Raph!"
"What?" Raphael chuckled at the way Nia pushed him. The force was far from devastating, yet he stepped back as the young woman folded her free arms. "It'd make it more fun," he added with a suggestive smile.
Still, his girlfriend didn't seem to appreciate the tease. "Y—you know how I feel when you jest about that stuff," she stated sullenly.
"Hey; it was a joke." Mostly.
"That's what upsets me. You should treat it with more respect; not like it's something cheap."
'Cheap?' Raphael felt the muscles in his face ease under the wounded glare from glossy, teal eyes. He kept quiet, surveying her hurt, except it pissed him off that she saw him in such a way.
"I don't think it's cheap, Nia," he retorted in controlled words.
"Then pl—please stop making jabs about it. Until I'm—"
"Ready. Got it."
"Raph"—the human frowned—"it's important. It's my first—I—I don't want it—it's—"
"Believe it or not, I get it, a'right? So let's drop the subject 'cuz we both know how it'll end."
Being so curt wasn't Raphael's intent; it cut into Nia with shards of guilt from many similar arguments. Since he couldn't explain his mixed feelings on having to wait, he tended to be the one that ended their awkward conversations. And to be honest, it made him feel like the bad guy when Nia backed down like a kicked puppy.
"Sorry, Raph," she whispered across the thick air.
"Don't be…so," his eyes landed on the easel his girlfriend had been dancing at, "what ya paintin' now?"
"Oh, don't look!" Nia darted to the piece with raised hands like it needed saving. She recovered a tarp from the ground then whipped that over the easel, though the mutant found it hard to believe any information could be gathered from such abstract shapes and colors on canvas.
"I take it's—"
"A surprise," Nia finished with upturned lips. "Yo—you'll get it at the party."
"Speakin' of, how many invites did ya send?"
"Ju—just a few. Gave one to Don to give to, uh, Leatherhead. April has one. Mikey and I sent one to Silver Sentry. Then there's Tabi, Sven, Ernie, Star, Phil, Hugh, and"—the young woman paused the count on her thin fingers—"Mister Williams."
"Williams?"
"I don't want him to be another Daddy."
Raph paused so the words sunk in. "Ya know he won't come."
"That's why I asked Hugh to convince him." Voice low, the black-haired human tugged at the hem of her paint-stained smock.
She meant well, but Raph sighed anyway, saying, "Nia, none 'a this was necessary. Twenty-four ain't that big a deal an' Leo…he ain't here. Ya don't gotta—"
"Yes, I do," Nia interjected heatedly. Her gaze softened as her boyfriend approached and when they stood face to face, her insistence heightened. "We need something fun to look forward to. It's been all tests and eggshells a—and missing Leo. I swear Donny's not sleeping and there isn't—I want to do this, Raph. I want…everyone to smile wide again. I want them to have some light…"
"Ya can be such a mother hen, ya know?" questioned Raphael to break the silence. His arms snaked around the young woman's waist and he rested his forehead against hers, a small smirk on his wide mouth.
"It's been too heavy recently," she muttered, vision set on the zipper of his jacket.
"Guess I can't refute that."
"So will you go along with the plan?"
The red-masked mutant met Nia's hopeful eyes with heart-felt care then hugged her tighter. "Only if we get ta eat some hummus."
She smiled in turn, returning his embrace. "Deal."