Tales of a Pizza Owner
Chapter 1: We Meet Again
A/N: So this is a story that spawned in my head, and I couldn't let it go no matter how hard I tried. This story will take place after the show has ended. Tony now owns Antonio's and things have changed in his life that he never thought would happen. It's kind of an experiment of what would happen to Tony in his adult years and if things would change. I wanted to do this story so that I have something else to write in this universe especially when there's a hiatus from the show. So I hope you enjoy this and stick around for the ride.
Additional Note: Due to the events of "Requiem" I am now editing this story since Splinter is no longer alive in the show. At the time that I wrote this, I had no idea this was going to happen, but now that it has, I feel the need to change this story to fit with the show itself. I think this is a lesson learned to not write a story that takes place after the show ends until after the show actually ends. Hope you still like it.
Disclaimer: TMNT and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon. I only own the plot and nothing more.
Summary: Tony is now the owner of Antonio's and he's discovering that it's not as easy as he thought it would be. Follow Tony Salini as he embarks on new adventures in his new life. Spin-off to Tales of a Pizza Delivery Boy.
I sighed in relief when I saw the clock indicate it was closing time. Being the owner of Antonio's wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, but I was determined to do all I could to live up to my potential. I told my workers it was time to close, and they began finishing up their chores and getting ready to close the shop. I said goodbye to all of them and wished them a good night. Then I began to close up and counted the money in the cash register.
Suddenly, a figure approached the door of the shop. I figured it was a customer who didn't realize we were closed as I hadn't put up the sign yet. I watched as the figure mad their way into the shop with a purpose.
"I'm sorry, but we're closed," I said. "You'll have to come back tomorrow."
The figure didn't answer and pulled out a gun, pointing it straight at me. "Just put the money in the bag," he commanded.
I was frightened and cursed myself for leaving my butterfly swords at home. Still, I felt that if I had the upper hand, I could take this man down. I was skilled enough in ninjutsu that I figured it wouldn't take me long to finish him off. I got ready to make a move but hesitated, knowing that he still had a gun. Was it right for me to risk my life like this? Would I be quick enough to wrestle the gun from his hands before he used it on me?
Before I could make a move, a figured dropped down behind the man and pointed a sword at his neck.
"Drop the gun!" the figure commanded.
Startled, the man did as he was told and turned his head, but the figure pressed the sword closer to the man's throat.
"Don't move, or I'll cut your throat," the figure threatened. He reached into his belt with his other hand and came up with a rope which he tied around the man. Once the man was bound, the figure set the man on the floor then turned to me.
"Call the cops," he said. "I'll be on the roof until they leave. Then I'll escort you home."
Before I could answer, the figure left the way he'd come. I picked up the phone and called 911 to report the attempted robbery. The police came and arrested the man while I told them that someone had rescued me but I hadn't seen them or talked to them. The policeman took my statement and then left. I closed the shop and gasped as I saw the same figure from before appear out of nowhere. He stepped out of the shadows, and my eyes widened.
"Leo!" I gasped.
"Hey, Tony," he said. "Long time, no see."
"Yeah, tell me about it," I replied. "How have you been?"
"As good as can be expected when you're dealing with crazy ninja clans who want to kill you," Leo answered. "What about you? How are you holding up?"
"I'm good for the most part," I told him. "It's not easy being the owner, but I'm doing the best I can. Gia helps me out when she can get a spare moment even though she's so busy with her dance students."
"That's good," Leo said.
"So what brings you here anyway?"
"I was on a training run when I saw that guy come in here. I knew he was up to no good, so I decided to help out."
"Well, thanks for that," I said. "How's everyone else doing?"
"Donnie's been working at his tech support job nonstop, Raph's been busting heads with Casey, Lucindra, and Angel, and Mikey's working at birthday parties as Cowabunga Carl. Karai's trying to open a dojo."
"And what have you been doing?"
"I got back from Japan along with Karai," answered Leo. "We went there to do more extensive training and because Karai wanted to visit the birthplace of her mother. We were there for a year and were set to come home after that. Then we got ambushed by a clan of ninjas, and I was seriously injured. Karai nursed me to health and then we made our way home. The others weren't so happy to see me because they thought I was deliberately staying away and that I didn't want to come home even though I explained to them many times that I had been wounded. Actually, it was only Raph who was mad at me. Mikey seemed to accept it as did Donnie."
"Wow. That sounds intense, Leo. So do the others miss me?"
"Mikey does and so does Donnie. Raph's still mad at you though."
I shook my head. "Why am I not surprised? That guy is notorious for holding grudges."
"Yeah, he is."
"Were you mad at me for leaving?"
Leo shook his head. "Not at all. I knew you had to leave because it was your duty to take over the shop in your uncle's place. I don't blame you for anything or hold it against you. I've wanted to talk to you for a long time, but you were always so busy, and I never wanted to intrude on that."
"I'm glad you're not mad at me," I said. It wasn't like I could help it. After Uncle Gino died, I had to take up the mantle that had been passed down to me which left me no time for hanging out with the guys. I remember the day I told them I'd have to stop seeing them and concentrate on other responsibilities.
22222
My heart felt heavy as I headed to the Lair. My uncle's funeral had just taken place, and I wasn't in a good mood anyway. It hurt to have to sever ties from the guys, but it was the only thing I could do at the moment. I went through the turnstiles and saw them all there together.
Mikey came over and gave me a hug. "I'm so sorry, dude," he whispered.
"Thanks," I whispered back.
The others came and offered their condolences as well, which I was grateful for.
"Would you like to stay the night, Tony?" Leo asked me.
"No thank you, Leo," I replied. "There's something I have to tell you."
"Is everything okay?" Don asked me.
"Well, since Uncle Gino died, I'm the next in line to take over Antonio's since Vinnie's gone," I explained. "That means that I can't come down here anymore and hang out with you as much as I have been. I also can't continue practicing because I'm going to be so busy."
Raph's green eyes flashed in anger. "So you're ditchin' us?" he snarled.
"It's not like that!" I protested. "I just won't be able to hang out with you as much as we used to because I have other responsibilities now."
"So you think you're too good for us now that you've become some big shot owner!" Raph retorted. "You don't wanna hang with the freaks because that's too bad for your reputation, right?"
"Raph, stop!" Leo commanded. "Hear him out."
"It has nothing to do with any of that. I'm just going to be very busy. I'll do my best to try and hang out with you if I get a chance, but I don't know when that will be."
"Aren't you going back to school?" April asked.
I shook my head. "I can't now. I have to manage the store." It was a bummer because I had looked forward to graduating college, but that was no longer in the cards.
"No offense, Tony, but you don't know a lot about being an owner," Casey said. "How are you gonna do it?"
"I'll just have to learn," I answered. "There's no one else to take over. It has to be me."
"Well, we'll miss you, Tony, but you have to do what is expected of you," Leo said. "I wish you the best in your future and hope that you won't forget us"
"I could never forget you guys," I said.
Mikey came up to me and threw his arms around me. "I'm gonna miss you, T!" he sobbed. "It won't be the same without you!"
"You can always visit me at night if you want, Mikey," I said. "My door will always be open."
Everyone else hugged me and wished me well also, except for Raph. He just glared at me and left the room. As he left, I heard him mutter, "Traitor! Splinter would hate you for this!" It hurt to hear him say that, but there was nothing I could do. I looked back at everyone one last time and left to take on my own responsibilities. My heart was heavy, but it had to be done.
22222
I snapped out of my thoughts and studied Leo. He definitely looked different from what he'd been before, and I could tell there was a hardness to him.
"Are you ready to go home?" he asked me.
"Yeah, I better close up," I answered. I finished doing that and let Leo lead me away from the store. We didn't talk as we headed to my apartment, but it was nice having Leo back again. I'd missed him. When we reached my apartment, I expected him to turn around and go back, but he hesitated a bit.
"What's up, Leo?" I asked.
"Do you mind if I hang out with you for a little bit?" he asked me. "I really don't want to go home right now."
"Are things that bad?"
"No, I've just missed hanging out with you," Leo told me.
That made me feel good and I let him in and gave him a Coke to drink and some pizza that I had to warm up. We sat down on the couch as Leo eyed my new apartment.
"This is a nice place, Tony," he commented. "You keep it up nice."
"Thanks," I said. "There's not much more I can do really. Someone else rented Dad's place, and Gia has Uncle Gino's apartment to herself, so I got my own place."
"That's good. It must be nice to have a place to call your own."
"In some ways, it is nice, but it can get lonely. But now that you're here, I feel better about things. Maybe you could come over more often and the others can, too."
"I don't know if they would, but I could always get them to try." Then his eyes lit up. "I've got a great idea! Maybe we could go to the farmhouse for a little while just to relax. April's got some vacation time coming up, and I'm sure Casey could get some time off as well. It would give everyone a chance to reconnect."
"That sounds awesome," I said. "I could probably take some time off, too. But do you think the others would go for it?"
"Mikey and Donnie definitely would," Leo replied. "Raph may be harder to persuade, but he'll come around. We can get Gia, April, Casey, and maybe even Abby to come, too. I know she's not in college right now, and I think she could use the break."
"Then let's go for it," I said giving him a fist bump.
"Awesome," he said. "I think I'll just present the idea and not tell them you're coming. If they know, Raph won't want to go at all, so I think it's best if we surprise them with you coming."
"Good idea," I conceded. I knew Leo hated lying, but he was determined to get everyone on board with this as soon as possible.
"I'd better go," Leo said. "I'll call you and let you know what's going on. It was good seeing you, Tony."
"Good seeing you too, Leo," I said.
He waved to me and disappeared out the window. My spirits were higher knowing that Leo had forgiven me for what happened and that he was willing to take me back as a friend. I only hoped the others would be just as quick to forgive as he had been. I missed having them as friends, and I didn't want them to hate me forever over things I couldn't control.
After I got the weather forecast, I headed to bed, hoping that the next few days would be good and that we could all get back to where we were before.
A/N: And that's the end of the first chapter. As you can see, things have changed for everyone, and now the question is whether things will ever be the same again. This is still based on the Nickelodeon series, though I did add some elements from the 2007 movie such as Don's tech support job and Mikey's party job. Feel free to leave a review and have a shelltastic day.