Take Me There
By WittyKins
Chapter One
"I feel you, Johanna, I feel you…"
Dramatic cinematic music swept through the stillness of the damp air as four sets of eyes stared eagerly at the flickering television screen. Shadows, lights, sounds, and the savory scent of buttery movie theater popcorn eloquently danced their way down the concrete walls of the subterranean home filling the normally empty tunnels with life as four young turtles sat entranced by the gentle crescendo of the music.
"I was half-convinced I'd waken
Satisfied enough to dream you…"
It was a Thursday night and that meant it was time for the traditional weekly family movie. After a week filled with trainings, chores, lessons, and patrols, this relaxing event was equally appreciated by the four brothers.
"Happily I was mistaken, Johanna…"
Every Thursday the brothers rotated who got to choose the night's movie. This week was the purple clad turtle's turn and Donatello, despite protest from his brothers, eagerly chose the musical Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He believed, as he stated time and time again, that the movie contained the perfect combination of genres to satisfy their various tastes. There was action, drama, horror, comedy, and of course romance. To him, this decision was a no brainer.
Contrary to his brother's beliefs, Donnie didn't mind the snickers and groans that erupted from the small audience. Personally, the young turtle felt that they could benefit a bit from the finer things in life.
"I'll steal you, Johanna, I'll steal you…"
A mixture of expressions had begun etching their way upon the faces of the young teens as the iconic scene featuring Anthony played its way across the screen. Anthony, a young teenage boy, was standing outside of Johanna's bedroom window where she sat daydreaming. Fragile features ornamented the beautiful youthful face while a thick curtain of golden locks softly fell upon her shoulders.
It was, as Donatello mouthed to the television screen, young love at its finest.
"Do they think that walls can hide you?
Even now I'm at your window..."
Leonardo, the oldest in blue, sat stoically taking in the scene. He didn't move much, typical of the oldest brother. He had so many questions leading up to this scene. He understood that certain events had to occur in a film to push cinematic elements, but he already spotted thirty-five, no, thirty-seven red flags including the most recent violation of Anthony trying to gather intel in broad daylight out in the open.
Who had trained this boy?
I am in the dark beside you
Buried sweetly in your yellow hair…"
Raphael, the second oldest in red, covered his face as laughter threatened to erupt from his shaking form. He absolutely hated musicals because they were not, in his opinion, realistic representations of life. Who busted out into song in the middle of the road? If someone were to do that in New York City, well, they would have a one-way ticket to the county loony bin.
He found this movie to be especially annoying and was playing his own personal game where he would guess when the next song would start.
He had been right thus far.
The movie wasn't a total bust though. In his opinion, Johanna was almost as hot as the woman on the evening news. He typically did not have a thing for blondes, but for Johanna, he'd make an exception. Raphael did appreciate all the film's gore and carnage and anticipating the next victim gave Raphael a thrill.
He also agreed with Sweeny Todd's perspective on life. Sweeny Todd, like him and his family, was constantly being crapped on just for the very nature of existing. What was even better was the fact that Sweeny Todd didn't just hide away in the shadows; he decided to do something about it. Raph had seen some of the darker sides of humanity and believed, like Todd, that a clear majority of people were filled with shit.
"I feel you, Johanna…"
Donatello, with tears welling up in his eyes silently sung along with the lyrics; his hands clenching the part of his plastron nearest his heart. He absolutely enjoyed the movie adaptation of Sweeny Todd, identifying strongly with the film's leading characters. Pushing aside revenge, corruption, murder, and love, the more obvious themes that saturated the story line, Donatello appreciated another more tragic theme, the feeling of desire.
Desire.
Yearning.
Longing.
Words that to Donatello seemed to sum up the anguishes and exultations of the heart, mind, and soul. The young turtle admired the beauty in some of life's more tragic occurrences. The sadness that comes with wanting something that is within arm's reach but unattainable was a familiar feeling to all. One's own solitary prison housing a fate, that to many, was worse than death's bitter embrace.
And boy, did he know a thing or two about desire.
"Isn't it beautiful," the genius turtle stated to no one.
"And one day, I'll steal you
'Til I'm with you then I'm with you there
Sweetly buried in your yellow hair…"
Michelangelo, the youngest turtle in orange was not interested in this movie and he had no problem letting his other brothers know. Every so often he would let out a loud groan or sigh and dramatically adjust his position on the couch. He really wanted to watch a movie with superheroes, not one with super sappy music and mushy gooey stalker love.
"Guys, c'mon!"
Love: it was such a weird word that always made him feel icky. Seeing people kiss on television or even worse, in person, was embarrassing. He had made up his mind. He would never fall in love, ever.
Love was for weirdos and humans. Two things he most definitely was not.
"Dudes, this boy is so creepy!" the young turtle shouted as the song reached its final chord. "Does this Jeffery Dahmer in training not realize what he is saying? – He is talking about stealing her and burying himself in her hair!"
"Her hair!" he shouted while flailing his arms frantically to prove his point.
"Shush!"
"Aww, don't tell me to be quiet, Don," Mikey shouted while crossing his arms across his plastron. "It's your fault for picking this dumb movie."
"Hey, shut it, I'm trying to watch a movie here!"
"Raph," the turtle whined, "don't tell me that you're actually enjoying this movie?"
"Mikey!"
"Leo, can we please watch another movie, you know, one with a little less…everything?"
Turning their heads to face their youngest brother, the three turtles did not hide their frustration. They each had something to gain from the movie and they were not going to let their night become soured by their whiny little brother.
"Mikey, be quiet!"
Silence filled the air as the youngest turtle stared at his three brothers, eyes wide with shock. He couldn't believe that they were into this movie. From the very start, he hated it. The music was eerie, the town was depressing, Mr. Todd was too pale, and the blood raining down from the night sky during the opening credits was disgusting. The worst offense, at least according to the young turtle, was the fact that there was a love story in this backwards town.
Love could never exist in such a dark place.
"Well then," Mikey protested, "if that's how ya feel."
He was met by silence, his three brothers completely intertwined in the film's plot.
Sighing, Michelangelo slowly peeled himself off the couch and trudged towards his skateboard. He no longer wanted to be part of this film or its "culture" as Donatello had put it.
Culture, what the heck does that even mean? Don was always throwing those words around. What was so "culture" about creepy people, love, and murder?
If that was culture, his brothers could have it.
Picking up the worn board, he decided that a solo night ride was just what the doctor ordered. Perhaps he would even go topside. It was late enough so the threat of being seen was practically nonexistent. There was the dumpster not too far from their home. He could always find some treasure hidden amongst the piles of garbage. There was also a huge park a bit from the lair and he had been itching to explore it for a while. The trees and various features strewn throughout the park made it a perfect ninja jungle gym. He could have fun while being stealthy. Best of all, at the heart of the park there was a large hill and the green teen knew that he and his skateboard would have no problem conquering that concrete mountain.
Tiptoeing past his father's room, Mikey practically held his breath. His father had a sixth sense when it came to each of them, and he was half expecting him to appear out of nowhere, halting his late-night excursion. When he successfully made it to the exit tunnel, he smiled and broke into a dead sprint.
When he was a good distance away from the lair, he hopped on his board, shouting with excitement.
He loved skateboarding.
He loved the freedom it gave him. The ability to go as fast as his heart desired was indescribable. Tears collected in the corner of his eyes as he rapidly cut through the air. He kept pushing himself to go faster, and faster, and faster till he imagined himself looking like a green blur against the aged brick. He did not keep track of where he was going, he didn't need to. Life had a funny way of working itself out. In fact, wherever he ended up would be better than staying at home.
He giggled as he imagined his older brothers still glued to their spots on the couch watching that sappy movie. Perhaps next week's movie will be better, the orange ninja thought to himself.
He didn't count on it though…
Leo was up next in the rotation.