Yanno, D, I love your reviews for your different perspective. I get so caught up in the way the characters direct things that I lose sight of how things can come across. I never thought of Casey's side as a blow to April; he just told me he doesn't believe someone should be strong-armed into something they disagree with, despite circumstances. Huh.
CHAPTER 04: US
A while had passed since Casey last came to Saisei—just once in the last two weeks, only because Coyolxauhqui had gone into labor. The repurposed treatment plant seemed as unwelcoming as then, too, and he released a vapor cloud into the chilly October air.
"Daddy!" a high voice whined. "Cow-d!"
Casey glanced down at Shadow as the blonde's mittens struggled to open the front door. "Easy, Shad," he said with a laugh. "If things were that easy, you're Uncle Donny would be out of a job."
Like a toddler cared; she ran off to jump through fallen leaves while her father performed the two-part security feature via a hidden hand-scanner and keypad. The moment it unlocked though, Shadow raced inside at full speed.
"It's our Shadow!" Michelangelo announced. Shad reveled in the attention, giggling at the dorky turtle who gathered her in his arms. "Here to play with Sel and Nyx?"
The blonde nodded. "Uh-huh!"
"Bad news, Kage: you can't."
"Why?" Casey asked. "Somethin' wrong wit—oh my God!"
The man backstepped when Raphael spun. The one-eyed turtle looked downright ghoulish, face drained of color and lined with insomnia. He cradled Nyx against his plastron, although his best friend doubted he'd be capable of doing so for much longer.
"Wh—what happened ta ya?" Casey added.
"They won't sleep at the same time," Raph rasped. He blinked then caught himself with a jerk when his eyelids began to close again.
"Dude," the man reached for the hothead's shoulder, "where's Ni?"
"Auntie Ni, Auntie Ni!" Shadow cheered.
"She's also having a bad day," Mikey said.
"Aww."
"I know, Kage. Makes me sad too."
Casey quirked his brow at Mikey. "Why ain't Raph wit' her then?"
"Let's see." The orange-masked turtle shifted Shadow, so she sat on his shoulders while his fingers listed reasons. "Nia and the twins can't sleep together because they've been sensing her pre-C-Sect anxiety. Then the twins began to wake each other up because one would cry when the other tried to sleep, and it kept up this whole cycle until they were both miserable. Turns out, Selene only stopped crying when Mia held her. And Nyx wants Daddy Pirate to hold her. But they don't necessarily sleep."
"Ah." The man faced his glossy-eyed friend. "Why ya gotta stand wit' her though?"
"She wants me ta sway," Raph answered. "Don't ya know what that's like? Ta get 'em ta sleep?"
Casey's frown turned into a half-smile. "Uh, no. Shad's always been an excellent sleeper."
The hothead twitched then reached up to pull the man down by his shirt. "Ya lucky son of a bitch," he hissed.
"An' ya got one more on the way." The grip tightened, twisting until Casey pried away Raph's hold. "She can't stay awake forever, Man. Guess that's why ya got Mike here?"
Mike bounced to earn another giggle from Shad. "I'm backup to catch the baby in case he tips over," he said. "Wanna help with that, Shadow? Or does Daddy have bigger plans for you?"
"That'd be great if ya could," Casey answered. He had a reason why and Michelangelo was perceptive enough not to question it.
"Sounds like a plan, eh, Kage?"
The toddler kicked her feet and Casey gave them a squeeze, saying, "Be bad for Uncle Mikey. Okay?"
"Oh-tay!"
"Oh, posh," Mikey added, "she's an angel for me. Ain't that right, kid? Eh? Eeh?"
The jokester shook his charge, who somehow found humor in her uncle's butchered accent, then skipped towards the living room toy arena. They joined Splinter at his recliner, dumping out a large box of building blocks as the rat dipped his snout in recognition. Casey waved in return and patted Raphael's shoulder, even if his best friend glowered.
"Chill, Raph; I haven't been havin' a party eiddah."
Raph rolled his eyed and when it found Casey again, he asked, "Ya really goin' down there?"
"Ya ain't takin' her side, are ya?"
"I ain't on any side. I just know Ape hasn't been the easiest ta talk ta lately."
Casey shook his head, but let the topic drop with a half-smirk. He hadn't come for Raph and clung to what little remained of his will just to walk downstairs. He made his way to the closed lab, where he hesitated to before knocking. A muffled sound answered and he opened the door regardless of whether or not it granted him permission.
"Was that a 'come in' or 'go away'?" he asked.
April glanced over her shoulder. It was obvious which she meant, so Melody replied, "No worries about Coyo being decent. She had us move the bed into the operating room."
"Any particular reason why?"
"She says she likes the sound of the pool water."
Casey lingered on the door at the lab's back wall before scanning the area, "Where's Don?"
"Working," April said. "Did you miss that?"
Casey chose not to answer. He didn't recall any lights drawing attention to the niche behind the stairs where Don had set up his workstation. Then again, he hadn't been paying much attention to anything other than his tight chest and unreasonable dread.
"Casey."
The man jumped at the cold weight on his shoulder. "Damn, Melody. What?"
"Help April." The cyborg excluded an explanation for why and with what, but a chorus of whines clarified matters.
"If you don't want Leo filleting your ass because Yoshi fell off the changing table, I suggest you get over here."
Casey did as April suggested just in time to catch a pint-sized hybrid. His weight surprised the man; it had nearly doubled since last held him.
'They weren't kiddin' 'bout these guys growin' like weeds. Wiggly little weeds.'
Casey smiled, thumbs running along Yoshi's pop-belly. He had once wondered how the triplets would be told apart, right up until Melody's suspicion proved true. The boys were fraternal siblings, distinct from their number of scutes and fingers down to different blood types. Hell, even their budding personalities set them apart from what Mike had mentioned on their phone calls. Only things they seemed to share in common were parents, dark peach-fuzz on their heads, and leaf-green skin tones.
'Wonder what color their eyes will be...'
"Casey!"
The man met April's stare. "Yeah?"
"You can change his diaper any day now. I already got Dai settled."
"Oh, right." Casey shook his head then laid Yoshi on the changing table to perform the familiar switch.
"Made sure it's snug," the redhead added. "I know it seems like you're squishing them, but—"
"This ain't the first diaper I've changed, ya know?"
"It's the first boy one." On that account, April was right, so Casey let her continue. "When you put it on make sure you pull the front part out, up, then gently push down, so they pee into the diaper, not out."
The man snorted yet managed to fight laughter, saying, "Out, up, down. Got it." An uncomfortable lull settled between them while they worked, not even lifted by the triplets' cooes. Casey sideglanced and cleared his throat. "So...How's Coyo?"
"Still a wreck," April answered. "I just pray this delivery and recovery will be the hardest we ever have."
"Includin' Nia's upcomin' D-Day?"
"Especially."
"Coyo pushed through it, though, didn't she? Natural birth."
April paused a beat. "While the gravitational relief the pool provided helped with stress, her choice still cost her. She had post-birth bleeding and passed out for days after delivery."
"I remember."
"Well. She's still on an IV drip. Melody hasn't let her leave the lab since."
"But she made it," Casey pressed. It was what mattered in the end, despite what April's grimace suggested. She returned to silence, fighting Zolin's legs into his onesie. With the boys re-dressed, nothing else remained as a distraction, and Casey played with their hands while he consideredconsidered the purpose of his visit. "Shadow misses ya."
"I gotta help with the triplets."
"Ya closed the store for that, but...it ain't why ya haven't been home."
April heaved a sigh as she ran a finger along Dai's fat cheek.
"I ain't mad anymore," Casey added.
"Mad? Who could tell you were mad? Didn't seem like you felt anything at all."
"I did."
The redhead scoffed.
"What? Ya wanted me ta scream? Kick the stool?"
"Least it would've showed you cared."
"Believe it or not, I do get tired 'a arguin'."
"But even after what I said? That didn't...?" April sighed again.
"I wanted ta yell. If that makes any difference."
"You didn't."
"Like I said, I was tired."
"You've argued while tired before."
"Woman, do ya wanna fight that bad?"
"Maybe. No? I'm sorry. I got so many things mixed up in my head."
"I get that."
"I need more time."
More time? Hadn't she had enough? 'Then again, that's not my call.'
"Listen, Ape," the man said gently, "I know Shad ain't yers. I know it ain't right or fair ta make her yers, either. An' she doesn't have ta be, not like that. Still, you're all we got. The three 'a us. I get yer point, just..."
"I'll figure out something soon, Arnold. Promise."
'Good.' Casey smiled at the tiny fingers that wrapped around his hand. 'Cuz I know what I want...'
