Out On Your Own

Aries Zodiac

Don't own the Turtles or anything involved with the X-Men saga. Actually, they're all a bit peripheral. This is a Turtle story and Mikey-centric at that. .Oh, and I don't own the 'blink and you'll miss It' reference to the West Wing either.

It was two months after the first outburst of public hysteria over the existence of mutants. The outburst which in a way had freed Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo and their Sensei, Splinter. And which in a way made them prisoners. For now they were known about, they were hunted by some of the humans that they'd helped protect for so long. Fanatics, purists, racists and people caught up in the general excitement. then the announcement from the White House that mutants were also people and to be counted as citizens of the United States. There had been long talks between the leader of the mutants (or one faction of them anyway), Professor Charles Xavier and President Bartlett and so far they'd agreed that mutants should not be treated as sub-human.

Try telling such lowlife scum as this pack of yobs, thought Michelangelo furiously as he felt them gather behind him as he walked back towards the Lair. It was night time but vigilante groups were still forming to patrol the dark streets and attack random people. He shouldn't really have gone out on his own but he needed air- and this area was usually safe enough, especially now that the Foot had been disbanded.

"Hey! Hey, you! Why are you hiding from us? What are you hiding?" demanded one, a youngish man with a slight accent. Michelangelo silently filed away the information. If it did come to a fight then taking out the leader first was important.. He was wearing his trenchcoat out of habit as much as anything else though he shouldn't really have to by law.

"I'm walking." he replied, without turning around. Wasn't the best answer but it was true and he wasn't going to waste more words then necessary on these…morons.

"Turn around when you speak to us!" demanded the first speaker. He could feel that the other end of the alley had been cut off and his eyes narrowed as he considered his options. Looked like it was going to come to a fight. Fine. He wondered briefly if this was how Raphael felt all the time. He turned around, letting the light of the torch shine on his face.

"Shit!" he heard one of them yelp as they saw him. Okay, talk his way out- try to get them to see sense? Or fight?

"Is there a problem?" he asked, politely, with a certain sarcastic undertone. They didn't seem to notice as the leader, recovering faster then his mob, stepped forword.

"Yeah, there is a problem, freak! You lot- you mutants. Honest people don't want you on our streets. Now, we're gonna teach you a little lesson."

Okay, fight it was. Without moving his body, he let his face settle into a feral grin as he ignored the leader and looked pointedly at the next in line, behind the speaker.

"Oooh, shit…." gulped the second guy, backing down a bit, causing confusion in the ranks. Mobs were so easy to break if you just got a second at them. They weren't the brightest creatures in the world. He moved his head slightly to better let the light catch his features and grinned even more evilly. The mobette backed off and when Mikey took a step forward the unfortunate man decided he'd had enough for one night and pushed his way back through the crowd. The mob, confronted with this new development, turned quickly back into a milling mass of confused, scared people. The leader didn't notice. Idiot.

"You're going to teach me a lesson?" asked Mikey, innocently. "You and…whose army?" looking pointedly behind the man. Who spun around and gaped at the space behind him. He was alone with a freaky animal…thing! He ran, and Mikey shook his head, disgusted at these people. Gotta love the friendly neighbourhood vigilantes.

He turned to walk out when a gunshot echoed past his ear. He swung around and ducked at the same time as another shot whined over his head. He was suddenly back into ninja mode. He hated guns. He could see the owner of the weapon, glancing into the shadows. There was something…professional about him. Mob-rule and psychology wouldn't scare this guy off. He stayed still, becoming almost part of the wall as his training had taught him. The man paused, having lost his quarry and for a second was silhouetted against the dim light of the alley entrance. Mikey leaped silently and landed behind the man before he could react. His nunchucks had found their way into his hands as he jumped and he rapped the man on the head and confiscated the gun. There. That could have gone worse. He looked at the piece of machinery in his hand. Ah well, Donatello was always interested in a new piece of machinery. He turned and trudged home.

Two months later

Leo and their Sensai were leaving today. Donatello had left a month before. He was working as a engineer/scientist/inventor-genius person in a Government funded project and generally wowing people it seemed. And having a great time. Leo and Splinter were going to Japan where Leo was to finish his training. That left himself and Raphael.

"We'll come back every so often. And we'll stay in contact by our shell-cells" assured Leo, looking worried and a bit guilty for leaving his two younger brothers. He glanced at Splinter who nodded to him.

"We'll miss ya, Leo" said Mikey awkwardly, trying not to show just how upset he was at the break-up of their family.

"It's not for long, Mikey…" replied the eldest turtle, his voice a bit shaky as well.

There was a pause.

"Well, good luck. And stay outta trouble, ya hear?" said Raph gruffly. He hated goodbyes.

"It is hard, my son. But you must have a chance to find who you want to be as well as letting them do the same." said Splinter gently to Leo as they journeyed to Splinters homeland. Leo didn't reply but wiped a green hand across his eyes.

"How did it break up so quickly?" asked Mikey suddenly to his brother. He shrugged crossly before glancing over at his younger brother.

"Ah, it's not forever." he assured him. "It's just until…I don't know. Give us all some time to take a break, figure out what we really want to do with our lives. Would ya really want to be a Mutant Ninja Turtle for the rest of your life?"

"I wouldn't mind." Mikey whispered after a pause. Raph looked down at the floor of the Lair.

"Yeah, I know."

Yeah, still working on the other one, but I've had a temporary brainfry with it so... hope this one makes up for it.

R&R please?