People with normal vision often assume that blindness just leaves a person seeing black. A dark, empty void that goes on forever. They couldn't possibly be more wrong.

What I see is... Complex. It's bright, colourful, ever-changing, and often-distracting light.

How do I even describe it? Let me give it a try... Once, I had a dark green background, with a turquoise luminescence front and center. Then it changed to brown, then bright-blue with flecks of pink, and then some orange.

The rest of my "sight" is taken up by squashed geometric shapes, squiggles, and clouds I couldn't even begin to describe. They'd all change, anyway. Give it an hour, and it'd all be completely different.

Once, long ago when I was young (around four or five), I could see. Barely, only blurs and shapes and colors that I could make out if I focused hard enough to give myself a headache, but it was enough that I could learn colors, see what people and animals were supposed to look like, and be able to have visual dreams. Blurry dreams, brightly-colored and mostly audial, but still dreams where I could pretend that I could see.

In those dreams, I could imagine what people I had met looked like. Uncle Nick described himself, my teachers, and April from a photo well enough that I could "see" them.

When I met the Hamatos, I created images as if they were human. They had to change when I learned the truth, and luckily, Master Splinter was able to help me.

Meeting them made me wish for sight in my waking moments all the more, but I knew it was impossible.

I would never see any of my friends, never see what they saw or experience what most people took for granted. I'd never read the inked words from a book or watch something on a TV.

I had to memorize the areas on a keyboard on my phone and computer so I could type and what actions would allow me to do what. Everything was set up carefully, set to make life easier.

But I still had to depend on other people. I would never be able to drive a car, and my uncle would have to help me whenever I wanted to "watch" something on TV or my phone.

Being blind sucked, plain and simple. But I had accepted it as a fact of my life. I had to, didn't I?

/\/\/\/\

I was alerted by someone shaking my shoulder. I sat up, my vision a mix of dark purple and blue.

"Who-?"

"It is I." Master Splinter's voice stated. "I had a thought... You claim that you may navigate your home and school by memory?" I nodded. "I was wondering if I could teach you how to navigate my home and a tunnel to and from your residence, Addison."

"That would make life a little easier." I admitted. Master Splinter helped me to my feet, and I told him my address.

/\

We spent the rest of the night going about the lair, Splinter giving me time to memorize every detail of his home and the tunnel.

Every step, every door, every turn, every stair, every table, every chair, every appliance, every piece of decoration, every place I'd have to step over in the abandoned subway tunnel, every rung on the ladder to the surface, how to get into my building, and more.

Finally, I was confident in my knowledge of navigating the sewer, and just to be sure, Splinter etched little markings in Braille on the bricks that made up the walls. If I was ever lost, I could reach up to the bricks at eye-lever and feel around for a marking so I could figure out where I was. He also suggested mapping a different route for me when I was alone, and I could follow a string or wire suspended at the same height as the markings to the Lair's entrance, saying he'd get right on it the next time the Turtles left him alone in the lair.

It was amazing, how considerate the old rat-man was. He even promised to keep my condition a secret until I wanted to share it.

If I wanted to share it.

/\/\/\/\

I got a total of about two hours of sleep. I woke up that morning (my vision turquoise and pink), thanking God that it was Saturday, and smiled as I recalled the details of the lair.

There was no need to fear for the safety of my secret, anymore.

I brushed my hair and stood up, my toes brushing on the stairs, and I called up the notes I had made in my mind.

Twelve steps to the kitchen.

I walked over, my arm brushing on the table. I had survived getting that far, hadn't I?

Six steps to the fridge.

I walked over and opened it, feeling around and grabbing a bottle of water, smiling at my accomplishment.

I went over and sat down at the table, opening the bottle and taking a sip. Master Splinter told me that Mikey usually made breakfast, and I didn't want to hurt the little Turtle's feelings.

Turtles. Rat. I wasn't entirely sure why I wasn't scared or disgusted. Maybe I just didn't care that my friends and their father were mutants.

Maybe I was just that kind of person. A girl who couldn't even see herself couldn't judge them, anyway.

What I was having a harder time believing was the fact that they were ninjas who fought aliens, other mutants, and other ninjas. That was pretty crazy. You can't make that stuff up...

Not that I wouldn't have called the nearest psycho-ward and ran straight for the hills if it had been April who tried to tell me the truth. I'd probably have been like: Sorry, pal. You're a danger to others and yourself. Stay away from sharp objects and pet-stores.

Sorry. That sounded mean. But hey, what would you have done? Believed her? If you say yes, you're kidding yourself. You'd have ran away, trust me.

"Hey, Addie!" A voice greeted. I smiled brightly, recognizing it to be the youngest of the... Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I guess?

"Good morning, Mikey!"

"How'd you sleep?"

"Pretty good. You?"

"Yep! ... Still not weirded out?"

"Nope!"

"Good, because you're about to be treated to breakfast by Chef Mikey! Before you argue: Raph can't cook, Donnie can only make coffee, and Leo and the toaster have an old vendetta. You're stuck with me, Addie!"

"I'm sure you cook better than my Uncle Nick."

"You talk about him a lot."

"Yeah, well..." I shrugged. "It's a bit complicated, Mikey."

"Everything's complicated." Mikey agreed. "Especially with my family."

"Sometimes, complicated is a good thing." I gave a small smile, and a laugh. "You're all much more fun as mutants than you would be as little turtles swimming around in a plastic tank." I held up a fist, and I felt Mikey bump it.

"Amen, sister."

"Mornin', losers." A voice greeted. I rolled my eyes.

"The one and only Raph has once again decided to grace us with his presence." I smirked. "Good morning, Sunshine."

"Hey!" Raph growled. Mikey and I started laughing. "Not funny."

"I don't know." I shrugged. "It was pretty funny."

"Grr..."

"Easy, Raph." Donnie was now in the room, and he yawned. "I don't think it would be a good idea to get into a fight this early." I heard some clinks and a machine being turned on, and the smell of coffee filled the room. I heard footsteps coming from behind me.

"Good morning, guys!"

"Mornin', Apes." I smiled, then frowned. "I never took Leo as the kind of guy who sleeps in."

"He doesn't." Raph stated. "He and Master Splinter are training in the dojo." Mikey suddenly laughed, and I heard plates moving.

"Breakfast is served!" He announced happily. "Thanks to April doing some shopping for us a few days ago: we've got some toast, some microwaved-bacon, some scrambled eggs, and we've got some cold pizza for those of you who still don't trust me!"

"Eh, screw it." I shrugged, feeling like I didn't really have anything to lose. I heard a plate slide in front of me, and I felt like I was being watched. I raised an eyebrow, annoyed. "You're making sure that I don't die before you try it, aren't you?" Everyone quickly shouted/muttered their denials, and I rolled my eyes, sighing as I took a fork and luckily scooped up some of the eggs on the first try, briefly gesturing in everyone else's general direction with the egg-laden utensil. "If I die, you're all SO haunted." I stuffed the fork into my mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

"... You okay?" Donnie asked. I briefly bowed my head, hiding a devious smile and holding back what was probably a witch-like cackle. I had them all right where I wanted them.

"Well, it's actually pretty- AH!" I dramatically fell out of my chair and curled up on the floor, screaming my head off as I gripped my stomach. "GOD, IT HURTS!" I faked some sobs as everyone started to panic. "SOMEONE, KILL ME! KILL ME, BECAUSE-!" I sat up and laughed, pointing. "I can't believe that you were all stupid enough to fall for that!"

"Addie!" April scolded. I giggled deviously as I stood up, sitting back in my chair and taking another bite of the eggs. "You are the worst!"

"Yep!" I agreed. "But whatcha gonna do about it?" I was suddenly pushed out of my chair, and I glared as I sat up. "That was SO not cool!"

/\

After breakfast, the Turtles offered to escort April and I home, but Master Splinter claimed that he wanted to escort me so we could talk some more. He just wanted to make sure I got back okay, I guess.

"So, Addison." Master Splinter spoke up as we walked. "How would you feel about training under my guidance, becoming a true Kunoichi?"

"A Kunoichi?" I asked, surprised. "I'm not sure... You'd really want a blind girl for a Kunoichi?"

"I see only your strengths, not your weaknesses." Master Splinter stated. "You would do far better with my sons if you could trust your senses well enough to, say, leap across rooftops." I could feel the color draining from my face, and Splinter laughed. "I train my sons on weekday mornings, and April on weekend afternoons."

"What if I come on weekend mornings, except the second Saturday of every month?"

"Why that particular day?"

"... Long story." I admitted, then gave a small smile at the thought. "An old family tradition."

"Very well, then. Eight o'clock sharp, no need to bring weapons."

"You really aren't bothered by this?"

"You are a friend, to me and to my sons, and we have many enemies in this city and the world... It would make it easier for me to sleep at night, assured that you are safe from harm."

"I can take care of myself."

"In the face of the Shredder, you would likely fall."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"As would my sons." At that, I tensed up. I bowed my head, took a deep breath, then lifted it.

"Alright... I'm in."

/\

I walked into my uncle's apartment, almost-instantly getting crushed in a tight hug.

"Addie, you're back!" My uncle's voice spoke as he pulled away. "God, what's that smell?!"

"The pipes at April's aunt's place backed up." I admitted. "It's been a rough morning."

"And everything was... Okay?"

"Yeah." I smiled, thinking of the night I had with the guys and April. "Everything was great."

Well, Addison's slowly but surely growing accustomed to everything, and her secret will continue to be hidden for the time being. I only own my OCs! Please read, review, check out my other stories, etc. Thanks!