Note: Bad language because Raph. Also, this cuisine is the hardest for me XD
Mikey woke up by the welcoming ambience of his room. He is not in his apartment but on a hotel. The next restaurant is pretty far, considering that it will take him five hours of journey going there from his house. He planned to stay at a trusted hotel the owners and him usually stay.
In this method, it's only a fifteen minute walk to the next restaurant. After a satisfying shower, he wore a different outfit to match the theme of the resto. Taking a hat and the list of the dinner tonight, he walked off.
As he went to the back door, he touched the door knob as he heard voices.
Way too familiar voices.
He took a glance to the glass window. His brothers. His brothers are in the executive kitchen, talking to April and Casey.
The moment he glanced, he turned, leaning on the brick wall. He can hear the footsteps going near. He started to panic as they get closer… And closer.
The three brothers went out of the door.
"It's kind of a bad idea to cook something for them." Raph said. "I mean, we suck at cooking."
("Ha! Not so easy is it!")
"It's the least we can do to show appreciation about the dinners and accommodations we had this week." Leo said.
"We really hope they loved it though. Leo almost burned the whole kitchen last night and had to pull an all nighter to cook them." Donnie said. This made Mikey trying not to laugh. Burning kitchen really means Leonardo. The two brothers started to laugh at the not amused leader.
"Knock it off! We just hoped the crew likes it… Especially the executive chef…" Leo shuddered.
Mikey is surprised as 1. He is the executive chef in this restaurant and 2. Leo is never called Fearless Leader for nothing. He is afraid of what he will say to his cooking? Mikey is the one who should be afraid!
"Fearless is afraid of what this executive chef will say?" Raph said with a smug look.
("Exactly!")
"May I remind you that chef is a renowned chef and is the same person who cooked our meals two nights in a row? Like Mikey said before, 'like a ninja but for food'." Leo said as they jumped to the next rooftop. Mikey smiled at Leo's reference about himself.
Knowing that the coast is clear, he went inside. "You could've just told me they visited here!" Mikey said.
"Oh! Good morning, Mikey." April said. "And sorry, we can't text you because it's a surprised visit. They brought muffins."
"So, where did you hide?" Casey asked while smirking.
"I was fast enough to hide in the other side." Mikey grunted.
"Cover is intact once more!" The former vigilante chuckled.
April pointed at the two baskets on the counter. Mikey went as he absent mindedly put the paper on the table. "Dinner for tonight." He opened the cloth covering it. It smelled good and it is not burnt.
"Did you eat this already?" Mikey asked with concern. He had phobia to Leo's cooking.
"It's good." April said with a smile. "I never knew the Hamato family had cooking in their blood."
Mikey chuckled. "Believe me, I was the only one who got that blood…" Then, it got quiet as they knew.
Mikey is not a Hamato anymore. He took a bite in the muffin. It is his favorite flavor, chocolate chip. It surprised it didn't taste bad. It isn't bad at all. He can tell the amount of effort they did to make this.
"I wondered who buy the ingredients since Casey didn't go outside last night. I can tell this didn't come from a pre mix-"
"It's Raph." Mikey interrupted as he holds the muffin. "He might've suggested it, too. He must've put his Nightwatcher armor on to go outside and buy." He sighed, memories haunting him once again.
"Go ahead, Mikey."April said. "Bring the basket."
At the rooftop, he kept eating the chocolate chip muffins they made. His hot tears are falling to the basket.
He missed baking muffins for Raph.
Raph is always the delivery boy of the ingredients. But ever since the whole cooking dream happened, Leo is the one who gave the exact ingredients he needed to cook. He felt being a prisoner there.
"Mikey, this has to stop." Raph said.
"What? I thought you're going to defend me!" Mikey shouted.
"This is for your own good, Mikey! I agree on Leo in this one. You can't make the same mistake as I did!"
"You tricked me!" The youngest shouted. "So those muffins you requested is just a scheme after all! For Leo to see if I followed the rules or not! You traitor!"
Raph was his best friend; despite he annoyed him a lot. Their bond was strong. It hurt that even his best friend is not defending him.
Somehow, his emotion towards him is different from Donnie. He is both angry and not angry at him. He sighed deeply.
He noticed he ate all of the muffins. He chuckled as he felt better and went back inside.
Night came.
"This is more like it! No fancy shit!" Raph exclaimed as he puffed up his collar of his leather jacket.
"Well, we made this restaurant a little diner style but this is still a "star" restaurant." April said.
The theme is like a rock and roll style bar, like a restaurant for bikers.
"I gotta say that you do MY restaurant very well." He grinned.
Casey just grinned back. Mikey and him picked out the decorations personally. The chef smiled as his brother is bragging and pleased with the place. As usual, he is looking through the kitchen door.
The guests are seated. He noticed all of them are wearing leather jackets. He chuckled as Mikey stared at his kitchen clothes. It's the same chef clothes but it is black with streaks of red. Earlier design of the crew clothes was the modified and comfortable version of the Nightwatcher suit. Sadly, April threw the idea out of the window but the prototype is still with him.
He admired Nightwatcher. He was his hero. Raph was his hero.
The first dish was served.
"Wow, it's been a long time since we ate this." Leo said as he grabbed a small piece of cornbread and ate it.
"Well, shall we continue to the next chapter of the story?" April said as she opened the journal as the guests nodded.
The owners proposed a third restaurant. I thought this would be easy, since I cooked this cuisine everyday in my whole life. But it isn't. One of the owners is a biker so he proposed a diner theme but a home style food. And so, my journey in this big country started with my mentor, Matthew.
Ahh… It's been one of his plans before, to travel the whole country. It was a nice, long journey. His mentor Matthew brought him to a native tribe. He learned traditional cooking there that expanded his knowledge. It took a while to get their trust as he is an outsider.
The next serving came. The aroma of the meat and spiced went to their noses. It is intoxicating. A large bowl of grilled vegetables and a pot of mashed potatoes were in the middle of the table. Savory barbecue and a delicious turkey are present.
"Wow, what a feast." Leo chuckled.
"Well, it is a feast. The chef used N.C. barbecue style today." April acknowledged.
"You sure knew my food." Raphael exclaimed. "It reminded me when Mikey used to barbecue for us."
"It reminded me of Thanksgiving." Donnie said as the others nodded. "Usually, Mikey is the excited one and the one who cooks for us. These past years… We only had bacon and barbecue… As we are bad cooks."
Mikey knew one of Raph's favorite holidays is Thanksgiving.
"Mikey usually makes muffins that day." Leo said as Raph just remained quiet. "He always wanted Mikey to cook muffins for him."
Raph is very close to cry but he didn't. Mikey, in the other hand, is crying.
We went to many states. It made me happy, enjoyed, moving on places with amazing food. When we visited the tribe, a shaman quickly noticed my troubles. She only said I should trust my brother again. She said it is haunting my dreams. It's all true. Then, she gave me berries after to cheer myself up. It reminded me of my brother.
Mikey saw Raphael just sulk down in guilt. All about the Shaman is true, ever since that night of betrayal, he started to be cautious whenever Raphael was there. Now that he noticed, he enjoyed Raphael eating his cooking.
During my travel, we celebrated Thanksgiving. Now that I realize, they celebrated it as a family despite the issues and broken bonds happened. It reminded me of my family that I left behind. I remember the family I used to cook for. I feel so alone. This holiday is my last day in traveling as I had to go back and converse with the owners.
The dessert arrived. What they liked the most is the trademark smell. They really craved for this dessert for so long.
An apple pie.
It was warmth and joyous dinner but it will never be the same as their baby Mikester, who keeps the tradition alive and memorable, was not here. As so they thought.
He missed it, really missed it. It's been years since that last Thanksgiving. The time where Master Splinter was still there. They were the most unlikely but happiest family despite the burdens because of their forms. They are a family and it's all that matters. He remembered that Shaman told him at Thanksgiving that his brothers have drifted apart, more than they will realize. She said this family of his had a deep bond to each other. The most important she said is… "I'm seeing this temperamental brother of yours… Who regretted what he did… And hope he can taste those delicious muffins you make again." The Shaman left with a chuckle, as his mouth gaped.
"That was a splendid meal. Thank you." Leo said as the two younger brothers just nodded.
"It seemed that the executive chef liked the muffins we made." Donnie said.
"Oh, yes, he loved it very much." April said. Casey brought out a big basket of muffins inside. "He wanted to make some for you as exchange." April continued.
"Oh, wow! Thanks!" Raph said. Well, he knew this is delicious already but he wondered what the flavor is. He took a bite as April continued to read.
By returning home, I told the owners I want to put muffins in the menu. Strawberry muffins, just like my brother loves it. He is a tough guy who loves desserts. He is a guy who loves bikes and rock and roll. He is my hero. This is why I named the restaurant Raphael."
Silent tears fell on Raph's cheeks as he turned around to wipe them. They can tell Raph can't take all the emotions inside him hidden for all these years. He rubbed his tired eyes with his calloused hands. No one dared to speak a word or even comfort him as Raph doesn't like weakness. He tried not to be vulnerable.
But it's been ten years since he last tasted them. It exactly how Mikey makes them. He missed his little cook very much.
The said cook is packing his things, being emotional as well. He smiled when he heard his big tough brother's voice.
"Best muffins ever."
"Well, I want to say thanks to the guy. What does he like?" Raph asked which startled the couple.
"We'll do our best in creating them." Donnie added.
The couple looked at each other and the vigilante just grinned.
"Well, we knew he admired the Nightwatcher." He said. Mikey's eyes widened.
"Really?" Raph chuckled and surprised as well. "If he wanted that, a phone call is needed." He said.
Mikey just gasped when his phone rang. What will he do?! What will he do?! He ran outside as the phone is blaring loud. He is panicking and his heart is pounding. Not long, he pressed the Accept button.
"Hey! Nightwatcher here. Your boss here, Casey, just shared some muffins when I visited this resto. Yes, your boss knows me. It's up to you if you believed me or not. Just wanted to say thanks for the muffins. I really liked it. Reminded me of my little bro who ran away."
Mikey is unable to answer back. Tears are threatening to fall again.
"He's my best cook. He always makes these for me. You're correct in the flavor you used." Raph or the Nightwatcher chuckled. "Well, thanks… Hello? Hello?"
Mikey is unable to reply, he covered his hand to silence himself.
"I think he's too star struck." Raph grinned as he gave the phone back to Casey.
"Well, I think this is the time to end this nice dinner." Leo said as they stood up.
"Thank you very much." Donnie said.
"Thanks, guys, really." Raph said as both went to the rooftop latch. April smiled while Casey grinned when Raphael is holding the basket.
Mikey is starting to walk with his disguise on as he saw the three brothers hopping on the rooftop with the direction away from his. He smiled as he fades to the dark when he saw one of them is carrying a basket.
("Nightwatcher loves strawberry muffins.")
The restaurant Raphael - American
Food: Chocolate chip muffins, strawberry muffins (I know there are two versions of muffins but I put it here because I'm craving for them okay XD), cornbread, grilled vegetables, mashed potato, N.C. style barbecue (Lexington), roasted turkey, apple pie
My hands are so tired in typing this, freaking 7 pages XD And yes, what Mikey wore in the cover is the prototype version of the supposed to be crew clothes. For some reason, I cried in this chapter while writing it, maybe because crying Raph-