Like it has done countless other times, night began to settle over the city. The eerie glow of dusk began to settle into the deep velvet black, punctured with tiny white dots of starlight. The city never slowed down in this transition from day to night. The busy bustle of the streets never slowed and wouldn't anytime soon. Also not a first here for this city never seemed to settle down. The streets were filled with noisy, honking vehicles as the impatient drivers in them wanted to get to their destinations and the sidewalks were filled with walkers as they made their way much slower to their destinations. Or faster depending on how bad the traffic was stuck.
On a lower level the subway still ran on it's set schedule, the trains rumbling along their tracks and setting tremors into motion that scared the more timid rats that infested these lower travel ways back into their holes. Only when the loud behemoths passed them and continued on did they come back out on their search for food, their noses twitching as they tried to sniff out dangers, and something yummy to eat.
And in the sewers the water still ran along the bottom of the tunnels. Following a path unchanged since these tunnels had been built and put into use. Trash and debris, most of it discared carelessly in the streets above before it was washed down here, still floated idly down these subterranean waterways as the caretakers of these tunnels still made their routine rounds to make sure these filthy rivers still worked the way they were supposed to.
But in the city that never changes, there was a change that no one really noticed. Except for the underworld. But the fear of a possible return to the norm kept them in check, for now. It's silent guardians that had watched over this city for many years were not to be found, and not because they were hiding in the shadows. It had been months now since they left their underground home.
No more did the alarms go off in the lair, Donnie had turned them off. No more did they rush out the door at odd hours to deal with the latest crisis. No more did they spend hours several nights a week patrolling the rooftops.
That part really didn't bother Leo as he sat in the living area, attempting to read a book. He had read quite a few of them since he and his brothers retired and settled down. He had thought that he would enjoy being able to sit down and read them now that he had the time to do so. The book was closed with a sigh before he placed it onto the coffee table. Leo just couldn't give it his full attention.
Truth be told, it was too still for him to read. There was no loud music blaring in his ears. The video games hadn't been pulled out much lately, because most of the ones who played them weren't here to compete with each other over the high scores. The tv itself was now set to a tolerable volume level, and wasn't playing one of those actioned packed explosive movies. There were no spats, squabbles or arguments over who got to play or watch what. No impromptu training sessions caused by one tackling the other, sending both hunter and hunted rolling across the floor. No youthful bodies hopping and flipping over the furniture when they could have just walked around. No piles of empty pizza boxes, precarious balanced towers of dirty dishes and half empty chip bags lying in wait under a couch cushion for an unsuspecting Leo to sit on and crunch. No popcorn being thrown at each other during movie night, not that they were watching the movie anyway over the horseplay. In short, there were no children.
They were living their own life now, and living it away from home. They had found a place to stay that accepts them, and even ones who love them. Leo should be thrilled that their life took such a turn, but he could not get used to this empty nest feeling. He couldn't even enjoy time with Dennis and Amy because they had been called to their grandparents in Louisiana to help with some chores that their Pawpaw couldn't do on his own anymore. And Leo had no clue really when they would be coming back. None of the children he raised were home, and it was bothering him very much.
Vicky walked into the living area, her brown eyes looking thoughtful at the turtle who shared her life before she walked over and sat down next to him on the couch. "You've been awfully quiet lately."
His blue eyes traveled the now so empty lair. "I miss them." He said simply. "I just can't get used to how quiet it is now with them gone."
"And here I was thinking you would enjoy the peace and quiet."
"I enjoy the presence of my children more." Leo let out a quiet sigh as he leaned into the couch and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I'm not so sure I like this change." At least he still had her in his life. That in itself was a blessing he would never take for granted again. Not after the last fiasco that had forced them into retirement.
Mikey came running by, his eyes wide with fright. "Leo! Heeeeelp!"
The reason for his terrified expression came running by right behind him. "You little pain in my ass!" Raph bellowed. "I'll teach you to put tacks in my bed!"
And barely a moment later Cris joined in the chase, her hanbo already out and ready to use. "Come here you shithead! How about I drop your ass on them!"
Leo and Vicky just quietly watched them all run by, one after the other.
"Then again..." Vicky shook her head. "There are some things that never change..."
Leo just rolled his eyes at that as he got up off of the couch and went to go save his little brother from his current predicament.
The commotion this fiasco caused actually caught Donnie's attention enough to where he appeared out of his lab with Marina. He watched what was going on with raised eyeridges a moment before he spoke. "I know you said it would be good for us to retire and all Leo...but I think the forced inactivity is getting to some of us."
Marina crossed her arms, her head shaking at yet another Mikey caused disturbance. Which have been getting progressively worse. "You think? Cait can't even keep him out of trouble anymore."
Leo didn't answer, he was to busy tossing Cris to the couch where she landed into a sitting position on the cushion. She bounced a few times as Leo turned to try and wrestle Raph off of a squealing Mikey. He finally had to resort to grabbing the larger turtles shell and pulled back very hard, causing his red masked brother to go rolling backwards along the floor. At least his grip was finally off of Mikey, but it had taken Leo more effort that usual to separate the two.
Vicky rubbing her forehead, also clearly frustrated. "I think it's time we all got out of the lair for a bit. We've hardly done anything since we got home."
"And what exactly did you plan on us doing?" Leo almost snapped, a combination of unhappiness over the empty lair and his own frustration eating at him. "I told you we need to lay low. We've caused enough of a stir having to go dragon in public."
"Oh come on... I didn't say go out and and kick thugs up and down the street. Just a little rooftop run. Donnie is right, some of us are starting to go stir crazy down here." She looked pointedly at Raph, Mikey and Cris. "And it won't be too much longer before the furniture starts to suffer for it. It has a bad habit of flying around and crashing into walls when this family gets pissed enough."
Leo looked over his family. He hated to admit it, but they were right. For years they had gone out on a regular basis and had never gone this long without going topside for patrol. It was then he realized that he wasn't the only one having a hard time adjusting to the forced inactivity and quiet home. It was getting to all of them which was causing tempers, and mischievousness in Mikey, to flare up. This wasn't exactly what he wanted their life to be like either. He gave in with a deep sigh. "Fine... But I want it clearly understood that we are not going out to look for trouble. A short run, that's it."
He was immediately rewarded with excited, almost childlike grins on the faces of his family members.
"Can Cait come too?" Mikey asked. "It just doesn't seem right to leave her behind. There really isn't a reason for her to stay and she'd be here all by herself."
"Yes Mikey, she can come if she wants."
His little brother let out an excited whoop and ran off to go find his wife, then came back just a few moments later dragging her by the arm. She was looking at him with her own look of exasperation and somehow Leo knew that even her unlimited patience was wearing thin with the prankster. Apparently Mikey didn't tell her why he was dragging her around the lair like a ragdoll.
The blue masked leader of this rambunctious group decided to take pity on the poor woman before Mikey pulled her arm out of her socket. "We are going topside Caitlin. And you are more than welcome to come join us if you wish."
Even she lost her grumpy face and a smile took it's place. "If it's not too much trouble. I know I'm not as good as that rooftop hopping as the rest of you." She laughed a little. "Heck, even Amy is better at it than I am."
Leo gave her an encouraging smile. "It's fine Cait. We'll help you along. Mikey does have a point, there is no need to leave you here all by yourself."
"Then I would love to come!" Her green eyes were now sparkling with excitement.
"Go get ready. All of you." Those few words sent his family scurrying in all kinds of directions. The women to go get changed and the turtles gearing up, out of habit. Even on a short fun run they knew better than to go out unprepared.
It took them all less than half an hour to meet back up by the door, and the grumpy, tense mood that had hung in the lair like a cloud of doom was already lifting as the bickering had turned into playful banter.
"Can we go see April and Casey?" Mikey asked hopefully. "We swapped movies and I'd like to bring back the ones I borrowed."
"Yes Mikey." Leo began to walk to the door.
"Id like to swing by the junk yard if it's not too much trouble." Donnie said. "It's been awhile since I've been able to scavenge for decent parts. Still have a few repairs left to do on the van."
"Of course." Leo opened the door and his family began to file out.
"There is that new blade shop that opened up a couple streets over from the junk yard." Raph mused. "I'd like to scope it out if we have time."
"I'm sure we can fit it in." Leo followed his family out and firmly closed the door behind him and the echo of it sounded out into a now very quiet lair.