A/N: Hello again! As always I really hope you are all enjoying this as much as I am writing it. Thank you for the following and favoriting and reviews. I see you!
…
CHAPTER 10- True View
…
The drowsy teenager, rolls out of bed and onto her hardwood floor with a thud. Is someone really tapping at her window? She sits up and sees the silhouette of someone outside of her three-story house. They keep tapping and whispering, "Irma... Irma, please open up."
Irma stands slowly, still half asleep. She rubs her eyes and goes to the window without putting on her glasses. Could it be April? But why? April has never come to her house. Perhaps she is in trouble.
Irma stares out the window, not yet opening it. She's not that loopy that she'd let in a total stranger. "Who are you?" She mumbles.
"It's me, Mona."
"...I don't know a Mona."
"You know, Lisa Kingsley from school, now staying with the Turtles... Mona!"
Irma didn't catch all of what she says. "...Lisa from school?" Irma perks up and squints at her through the glass. "What are you doing here? And why are you all covered up?"
"I had to get out of there. And I didn't have anywhere else to go. AND I couldn't very well walk around in my 'condition', you know. Would it be OK to stay here awhile, until the storm blows over?"
Alert enough to recognize Lisa's voice, Irma lifts open her window and backs away, allowing the odd visitor to climb in. Irma sits on the side of her bed, and Mona closes the window, looks around and sits on the floor. "Ah! Thanks, Irma. It's nice and warm in here, and not damp at all." Mona turns her back to Irma, pulls off her backpack, and starts to untie her large boots.
"So... Why are you here again?" Irma asks.
Mona sighs, finally getting the other boot off. She spins around and looks at Irma. "I should have known you didn't care that much when you hadn't come to visit me. Please accept my apology for being such a jerk to you before." She pulls off her hood and looks Irma in the eye. "This is the first time you're seeing me like this. So, what do you think? Not much different than the others, I guess." She removes the heavy clothes, leaving only her pink hoodie around her.
Irma blinks her beady eyes at her. She runs a hand through her short, dark hair, wondering why, under all of those clothes, Lisa had on a green jumpsuit. "I... why? You are confusing me." Irma stretches out her hands, as if she's looking for something in the folds of her sheets. "Why would you come all the way here?"
"I know it seems drastic. Maybe it would help if I started at the beginning."
"You do that." Irma kneels on her bed and swipes her hands all over. "Don't mind me. I'm just looking for something. I'm still listening."
"Well, I tried not to be a freeloader, tried to do my part and be grateful for what I have, but I mess up without even trying. Sometimes, I still miss my old life. At least then, I was alone so I only disappointed myself. Our school was so much easier to deal with."
Irma rolls her eyes and reaches behind her bed, still looking for her glasses. "So, you just up and ran all the way here because it's hard to start your popularity all over again?"
"I said I was sorry about how I acted back then! Gosh, can't I get a break anywhere?"
Irma finally feels the slim metal frames of her glasses, but they slip, just out of reach, down to the floor. She hops off of her bed and crawls underneath the mattress. "So, why did you really leave? You realize you weren't the cutest one in the room anymore? Having guy troubles? Or was there a more pressing matter?"
Mona hides her hands in the pockets of her hoodie. She had hoped Irma wouldn't have been so callous. Perhaps it was wrong to come here. Maybe the reason Irma hasn't come to the Lair has less to do with Mona and more to do with the fact that she doesn't like mutants. Maybe that's why April and Casey don't even mention Irma when they come visit Mona and the Turtles. Is Irma prejudice?
"I..." Mona starts. "I can go, if it's too much of a problem for me to be here."
"So, it IS a guy problem!" Irma says, halfway under her bed. "You have got to be the craziest girl I know!"
"I'm not the crazy one, Raphael is."
"Raphael?" Irma asks incredulously. She was just teasing Lisa. There was no way she would leave an elite school in a whole other country because of a boy.
"Yeah, big surprise huh? I don't know why he's so mean to me. I tried, I really did, but there's no getting through to him. He's so touchy. It seems like anything can set him off. Do you have that problem with Casey?"
"W-what? What are you talking about?" Irma pulls herself out from under her bed, unable to reach her glasses. She looks back at Lisa's muddy figure. "I don't have any problems with him. And what does Casey have to do with your Raphael?"
"My Raphael? Oh Irma!" Mona cries and pulls on her ponytail. "All I wanted was for him to like me, for him to think I was useful and strong, but it all backfired! I got in the way and he yelled at me, said such mean things. I just got so upset I just wanted to leave… so I did. I was going to talk to Leo but I didn't want to add more troubles to his plate. He has to find a way to take down the Foot and get through to Karai. And I can't ask Mikey to beat him up, after he got hurt because of me... And Donnie's busting his brain trying to make the retro-mutagen for me, so… I guess I am a burden."
Irma places her hands on her hips and looks at Lisa as if she'd grown a tail. "Are you... what are you talking about?"
"I just..." Mona's lips begin to quiver. She folds her arms about herself and kicks her boot across the room. "Raphael is the stupidest mutant ninja turtle in the world! I don't ever want to go back to the underground Lair!"
Irma is now completely befuddled. "You are never going back to the underground Lair."
"Well, maybe I am being a little dramatic. I just need sometime to clear my head. Oh, and I'd rather April not know where I am just yet. I don't want her to worry, but I don't want her showing up here with Casey and them dragging me back to the Turtle's Lair. But, maybe tomorrow you can call her and we can have a slumber party or something. That would make me feel better!"
"Stop! Just Stop!" Irma stands up and squints at Lisa. "You aren't making any sense!" She walks over to her dresser and opens a small box. "You come all the way from your snobby new school on the other side of the world, wearing a green leotard and mask, and knock on MY window at six in the morning! You probably couldn't tell anyone you knew because your parents would kill you if they found out you came back to America!" Irma finds her old pair of glasses at the bottom of the box. "You go on about a guys named Raphael and Mikey and underground Lairs and Foot soldiers and mutant turtles... did someone drug you? Is this some kind of mean joke? Do you think I'm dumb enough to believe all this? And I'm the ONLY person you could turn to?" She rubs her glasses clean on her pajama top.
When Mona hears Irma's words, a heavy weight of dread washes over her. Irma wasn't angry at Mona, nor did she have something against going to the Lair... Irma never knew about what really happened to Lisa Kingsley. Casey and April never told Irma the truth, which means Irma knows NOTHING about the Turtles! "Um... Irma? What were you looking for all of this time?"
"My glasses, duh! I'm blind as a bat without them. Now, tell me, Lisa..." She puts on her specs and turns around. "Why are you really..." Irma's eyes, now clear and focused, sees her guest in crisp detail. Lisa is not wearing a green jumpsuit, and Irma is pretty sure she didn't just arrive on a plane.
"..." Mona puts her hands up in surrender. Her mind is a train wreck. What should she do? What should she say? What are April and the Turtles going to do once they find out she did the one thing she promised never to do?
"..." Irma's eyes are huge and her breathing is uncontrollably fast.
"... Irma? Please, let me explain before you scream your head off." Mona stands up and Irma breathes even harder.
Irma takes one more huge breath, her eyes roll back, and so does her head. She keels over hard onto her floor, out cold.
"Oh no..." Mona looks down at her, not sure if she should try to revive her or make a quick escape.
A knock at the door. "Irma? Are you OK in there, pudding?" A female voice announces.
When the voice gets no response, the knob turns and a slender woman walks in. She looks just like Irma, only about twenty years older. Her dark hair has a thick gray streak in the front. She too, is wearing glasses. She looks down and in the middle of the floor lay Irma. "Irma, did you fall out of bed again? I said no more reading weird books before you go to sleep." The woman bends down and helps Irma sit up.
"Mom?"
"Yes, are you alright? What wild dream did you have this time?"
"Dream?" Irma sets her glasses rightly on her face and looks around her room. "Mom! Mom! Is she still here?"
"Is who still here?"
"The big lizard! I let her in but I didn't know I let her in and when I put on my glasses, Lisa was a lizard!"
Irma's mother purses her lips, stands and heads towards the door. "Irma Lynn, no more horror stories after nine pm… and clean up your room. There are clothes everywhere." She goes to the door and before leaving she says. "I'm gong to the morning market without you and then I'm off to visit you Aunt Clara. I think you need a few more hours of sleep. Bye!" And the door closes.
Irma stands and scans her room. She goes to the window and checks it. She knows it wasn't a dream; the bulky clothes the lizard arrived in are still all over the floor. Irma backs out of her room and before she opens the door to escape, Mona whispers.
"Please, Irma, don't be afraid."
Irma gasps. She is totally freaking out, hearing the creature, but not seeing it. She licks her lips and says, "W-who are you?"
"I told you, I'm… Lisa Kingsley, but I go by Mona now."
"Mona… Where are you? What happened to you?"
Mona sighs and reappears against the grey wall next to Irma's closet. "I'm sorry for coming here. I thought you knew what happened to me, but just didn't want to be around me."
Irma's eyes widen at the sight of the lizard girl. Unbelievable, but there she is. Irma slides over to her bed and sits. "Why… would I have known about what h-happened to you?"
Mona bites her lip. There's nothing she can do now. She can't imagine things getting any worse. "The day this happened to me… the day I was mutated into this…" She holds up her green, scaly hands. "April was the one who found me and helped me get to a safe place after my parents threw me out and made up that crap story about me going to a school in a different country." Mona looks over at Irma. "April took me to live with her friends, the Turtles, who are also mutants. I've been living there ever since. They saved me and promised to help change me back into a human but… I made a big mistake and one of them, Raphael…" She smiles sadly. "I think he hates me… so I ran away." She places her face in her hands. "There really is no place for something like me."
Irma places a hand over her mouth. She is thinking so many things right now. What exactly is being mutated? Who or what are the Turtles, actual turtles? The most troubling thing: if April and Casey are my friends, why did they never trust me enough to share this secret with me? "So, that's why those two were always running off without me… I thought they just wanted to be alone to kiss or something. I should be a little relieved but…" Irma, her face turning red, looks over at Mona. "I'm sorry! I was lost in my own thoughts!" She smiles. "But, it seems that you have the bigger problem."
Irma reaches for the box of tissue on her nightstand and walks over to Mona. She kneels beside her. Mona looks up and takes the tissue. Irma stares in her eyes. "You really are Lisa…" Mona blows her nose and Irma smiles. "Mona is you name now? It's an old name, but old stuff is cool nowadays… I like it… so, are you tired? Hungry? Need a shower or something?"
Mona looks up at her. "All of thee above."
Mona follows Irma to her bathroom. While Mona is in the shower, Irma makes some egg-white omelets, whole-grain toast and veggie sausage. She comes back to the room with the plates and sets them on her dresser. She then goes through her drawers and finds an old t-shirt and sweat pants.
Mona, wrapped in a towel, walks into Irma's bedroom, finding Irma cutting out the backside of the sweatpants with some massive, fabric scissors. "Hey, Irma. Something smells good."
Mona fits into the clothes given her quite nicely. She and Irma go through most of their meal in silence. Irma is in constant fascination, looking at her strange visitor. She has to ask. "How does it feel?" Irma asks.
Mona holds out her hand. "You tell me."
Irma touches the smooth, pebbly skin with awe. It's just like a real lizard. "No, I meant, what did it feel like changing into this? Do you still feel like yourself?"
"Hmm." Mona munches down her last s'nausage. "It hurt like the dickens. Can you imagine the agony of having to grow a tail?" She laughs. "But, the pain stopped as soon as the transformation was complete. I do feel like myself for the most part. Any reptilian urges I've had have been subtle enough to suppress."
"Like what?"
"Like… wanting to lie on my back and soak up the warm sunlight, but there's zero sun in the Lair, so I would hover around the stove when something's baking or sit next to the water tank in the lab while I study. I've found that before I fall asleep I want to curl up into a ball and wrap my tail around me. Once, I spent almost the entire day up in the tree in the dojo, just enjoying the view. And, I need to stop spacing out whenever a fly is nearby."
"Why?"
"Because, I let it happen once, and it is something I never want to do again." Mona sticks out her tongue.
Irma giggles. "I mean, why do you feel the need to hold back these lizard instincts?"
"Because, Irma, I'm still human. And I hope to look human again very soon."
"Sounds like you're half human now. Why not act like what you are?"
Mona sighs. "I tried that, but I only cause trouble."
"It sounds amazing. That thing you did, when you turned the color of my wall. I couldn't see you! It's like you have super powers."
"You aren't the only one who thinks this. I've been keeping a journal and talking to Donnie about everything I've been going through in this lizard body… He's a nerd-o-holic."
"Donnie… you mentioned him before." Irma says as she stacks up the empty dishes and cups.
"Yeah, Donatello, the sweetest guy I know. He's a genius and the one making the concoction that will turn me back into a human. He helps April and I with schoolwork and has a super crush on her!"
"Really?" Irma gasps.
"Yup! And Michelangelo, he's so cute! He's fun and loud and a great dancer and an awesome cook, and he makes me smile. And Leonardo, he's the big brother, my big brother. He's strong and confident and just an all-star guy… And then there's Raphael." Mona gets off the floor and perches on the windowsill. She looks out and is so grateful to see the shining sun.
"Raphael… he's the mean one that hates you?" Irma asks.
Mona keeps staring out the window, sees a couple walking by with a box of deserts from the next-door bakery and wishes she had a brownie. "Yeah…"
Irma lifts the breakfast tray and heads to the door. "Why don't you get some rest? I have some things to do around the house. I'll check up on you later, OK?"
Mona turns and smiles at her. "Sure, thanks, Irma."
"Oh, and I think I should call April."
Mona groans a pulls on her ponytail; so much for trying to hide from the unavoidable. "OK…"
…
Not much later, Irma comes back to her room with a laundry basket. She sees Mona, curled up on the bed, with her tail in her arms. Irma places a blanket over her. She then picks up all the clothes and takes them to the laundry room. While the clothes churn in the machine, Irma takes out her cell and dials her so-called BFF.
…
Raphael sits alone on the couch, watching an infomercial about a vegetable slicer called the Super Shredder. He would have laughed at the ridiculous name, but his thoughts are elsewhere. It's not often that he allows himself to go into an 'I don't give a flying fudge' rant, but he laid Mona flat last night, didn't care at all while he was doing it. Not until she slapped him in the face did he comeback to himself. He doesn't want to care about it, but he can't help it. He couldn't sleep; he's never been up this early. Leonardo was just walking out of his room when Raphael immerged from his own. He swiftly avoided eye contact with his all-knowing brother and headed straight for the living area.
Raphael has to admit to himself; the GIRL named Mona TROUBLES him.
Raphael wants to nod off and fall asleep, but he can't, not while he knows Mona is in her room, hiding from him and hiding from the world. I am the absolute worst. Why would I say those things to the girl I… kinda think that's… not so bad and… sorta cute… crap.
He still can't admit it to himself. He stands up and starts to walk to the guestroom, mentally preparing his apologetic speech when…
"Hey, Raph!" April calls out. She swings over the turnstiles and runs over to him.
"I ain't do nothin'!" He shouts defensively.
"What?" April asks him.
"Yo, Raph! Sup?" Casey too, hops into the Lair. Both teens are carrying their bookbags.
"Uh, hey, guys. Why you here so early? Ain't it Saturday?" Raphael says in a cautious tone.
Casey grunts. "I know! But, Donnie thought it was a great time to have our tutor sessions with him."
"You gettin' serious about school, Case? That's good, I guess." Raphael smirks.
"I also bribed him." April unzips her bag and pulls out a blue plastic bag. The two boys follow her to the kitchen where she begins to stock the fridge with balls of dough, sticks of pepperoni, assorted blocks of cheese, and a bunch of vegetables. "I went to the grocery store. I thought later we could all have a pizza-making contest."
"Sounds fun." Raph helps her put the cans of tomato sauce away.
"Come on, Red. The sooner we get done with this boring study session, the sooner I can start enjoying my weekend." Casey says to April.
"See ya later, Raph." April says as she and Casey head towards the lab. "Oh, and, Raph, can you go wake up Mona? I'm sure she's still asleep."
Raphael inwardly groans. He can't avoid it now. He walks down the infinitely long hallway and stands at the door. He knocks. "Mona? You up?" He knocks again. "Mona… listen… I know you probably don't believe me but… I didn't… those things I said… well, I'd rather tell you to your face so, could ya open up?"
He waits a few moments more with no response. He opens the door. It's dark inside. "Mona?" He turns on the lamp and finds the bedroom empty. But maybe, she's hiding. He looks through the blankets and even pokes at the wall, thinking she may be in camouflage, but no. Maybe she's somewhere else, the dojo? He turns to leave when he notices her bookbag is gone, along with some of her other belongings. He slams the door and heads to the bathroom, finding that her toothbrush and blow-dryer are also missing. "She wouldn't have… but where would she?"
Raphael looks around, totally at a loss. What should he do? Should he go out and try to find her? Should he ask his brothers to help? No way. This is all his fault, along with every possible bad thing that could happen to her while she's out there alone! He shakes his head, not allowing himself to fear the worst and dashes to the lab.
"April! Donnie! Mona is…!"
April turns a pail face to Raphael as he bursts through the door, her hand holding her cell to her ear. "Mona is with Irma…"
"What?" Donnie exclaims. "But, why would she go there? Irma doesn't know about us."
"She does now." April gets up and goes to the other side of the lab to finish her conversation with Irma.
"This is bonkers!" Casey says.
"Didn't you or April tell Mona that Irma doesn't know about us?" Donnie says a bit perturbed.
Casey puts his hands up in defense. "Hey! I thought it was obvious! Irma never came down here before!"
April stick her phone in her back pocket and walks over to the guys. She stares at Raphael. "What happened last night?"
"Uh…" Raphael says.
"We went on patrol last night." Donnie says. "Somehow, Mona snuck into the T-Copter and went with us. She sort of made things a little difficult when the Foot attacked. Karai escaped with the canister of mutagen and Mona felt guilty about it."
"She felt guilty or you guys MADE her feel guilty?" April is still looking at Raphael.
"No!" Donnie says. "She was upset, but we assured her that we weren't angry with her and that everything would be all right. She was smiling when we all headed to bed, unless…" Donnie turns his attention to his worrisome-looking brother. "Raph, DID something happen last night after we got home?"
Raphael looks back and forth between his brother and friends, trying to find, as quickly as possible, the words to make him seem not so much at fault.
"You might as well fess up." April crosses her arms, staring Raphael down.
"Fess up to what?" Raphael squeaks.
"When I asked Irma what Mona said was her reason for running away, she said one thing… It's Raphael's fault."
…
Mona must be having a wonderful dream. The sweet smells of warm fudge fills her nostrils, making her mouth water. She reaches out wanting to grab a delectable morsel.
"Mona…"
Just a few inches closer and she'll have Heaven's desert!
"Mona…"
Mona grumbles and opens her eyes. She looks up and sees April and Casey standing over her, holding a white bakery box.
"April? Casey!" Mona sits up. She rubs her eyes and sees the two, and Irma by the door, smiling at her.
"Good morning, Mona." April says. "I'm glad to see that you're OK. We bought you some treats to help you feel better." April hands Mona the box.
Mona happily opens it, finding cookies and cupcakes, and a huge brownie. "Thank you. But, what are you doing here?"
"I told April that you were safe. And as cool as I was with a mutant lizard sleeping in my bed, April thought it best to come check up on you... speaking of checking up on friends, April, can I have a word with you downstairs?" Irma asks.
April bites down on her teeth and shrugs her shoulders. She knows she's about to get a lecture. "OK, Irma."
The two girls go, leaving Casey to witness Mona practically inhale the brownie.
"That was soooo good!" Mona sings.
Casey just smiles and looks around Irma's room. The gray walls, skull posters, black area rug, red-painted furniture, he likes it. "Cool room, huh?"
Mona rolls her eyes. "Sure, if you like this sort of thing, which you obviously do… So, CJ, how is Raphael?"
"CJ?" Casey raises a brow to the odd nickname. Only his little sister calls him that.
"I bet he's super glad I'm out of his precious Liar."
"Well, actually…" Casey had never seen Raphael look so nervous. Once Mikey, and Leo found out what happened and where Mona was, Raph was in a ton of trouble. He wasn't allowed go with April and Casey to ask Mona to come back. Splinter summoned him into his room. Who knows what will happen to him. "Raph is probably regrettin' whatever he did right now."
"Hmph, I hope so." Mona looks at Casey as he's studying a sculpture of a clay cat with bat wings on Irma's dresser. "I have a question, CJ." Mona asks.
"What's that?" Casey says.
"How long have you and Irma been dating?"
Casey's jaw almost hits the floor. He also makes a nauseous gurgling sound in his throat. "Are you… are you serious? Irma and I have not, are not, and will not date ever!"
"Oh, I'm sorry… but don't worry, I'm sure someone will like you someday. Don't be too upset that Irma turned you down."
"What are you… Irma never turned me down!"
"You poor thing, denial doesn't look good on you. But it's OK."
"Did Irma tell you that?"
"She didn't have to tell me anything. I see the way you two look at each other."
"You're senseless."
"I guess everyone can't end up like Donnie and April, huh?"
"Hey, HEY!" Casey raises his arms and his voice. "Chill! What are you talking about?"
Mona shrugs. "I thought it was obvious. Sure, they're not dating yet, but that bubble is going to burst and when it does, it is going to be thee cutest thing! And if you keep trying, maybe Irma will come around to your charms, and then you guys could go on a double date!" Mona squeals.
"Don't go jumping to conclusions! April and Donnie; not going to happen. Irma and me; NEVER gonna happen!"
"Oh, don't give up, CJ." Mona pouts at him.
"That's just it! I ain't giving up! I'll show that big nerd!" Casey roars.
"Who's the big nerd? Show him what?" Mona smiles excitedly.
"I'll just have to do something he can't do… I'll… I'll ask her to the spring dance! He can't top that!"
"The spring dance?" Mona asks. That's right. She supposes that the school's dance will go on with or without her. "Yes, I guess that's a good idea. But you'll have to outshine this 'big nerd' guy. What type of flowers does Irma like?"
Casey looks at Mona like she's crazy. "April!"
"Hey, that's a great idea! April is Irma's best friend! Ask April to help you pick out a nice corsage. I'm sure Irma won't be able to resist!"
Casey pleads with Mona silently for a moment, and then gives up. "Your head's full of cotton candy."
"If that's your way of saying thank you, then you're welcome. I'd rather be full of brownies though. Could you be a dear and go back to the bakery and grab me a few more?"
"What?"
"Well, I can't go like this can I?" She looks at him with big doey eyes.
Casey rolls his eyes. "Nuts."
…
This is the fifth time this year Hamato Raphael has been 'Splintered'. Michelangelo coined the term. Getting Splintered happens when one of them gets into so much trouble that they have to go to Splinter's room and sit through an hours' long lecture about how wrong they were. Not only that, but the convicted teen has to stand on a stool with one foot and hold two pails of water. It's a mild kind of torture. The Turtles hate it; fear it. Even April was Splintered once, when she got so frustrated during training, she threw an egg bomb which exploded right in Splinter's face. The Turtles sat silently waiting for her 'lecture' to be over. Donatello was beside himself with worry.
At the end of being Splintered, the teen would exit their sensei's room, sore, shaken, and repentant. No one gets teased after being Splintered. Although Leonardo Michelangelo and Donatello are very angry at how Raphael treated Mona, Leonardo being the most, leading to yet another human knowing about them, he still feels a little bad for his hotheaded brother. Getting Splintered is harsh, but hopefully it's effective this time.
So affective, that as soon as Raphael walks into Splinter's room with his pails of water and shuts the door, he immediately rips off his red bandana, hops on the stool, levels his buckets in each hand, and waits for his master to lay upon him his deserved punishment.
Splinter sits calmly on his large floor pillow, staring at his son. It's true that Splinter was disappointed after hearing the news at Mona's fleeing. He was relieved to find out that she was OK, but a little ticked that she went and exposed herself and his family to a human. Splinter shakes his head, sips down the last of his tea, stands and walks towards Raphael.
Raphael knows he's wrong and that he was too late to fix anything before it came to this. All of this commotion stems back to him and his insatiable temper. Raphael is so sure this is his issue, which is why he is so quick to bring on the torture. He'll hold these buckets as long as he's ordered to. He'll admit to every sin, if asked, without a rebuttal.
Splinter stands before him and regards his student's downtrodden state. Splinter raises his hands and takes hold of the water pails. "Give these to me."
Raphael looks up at him, shocked. "But, I…"
Splinter takes the buckets and puts them on the floor. "Step down from the stool and sit with me."
Splinter and Raphael kneel in front of each other, Splinter looking at him kindly and Raphael not looking at all.
"Raphael, tell me about Mona."
Raphael flinches at the sound of her name. "She's… not here, because of me."
"I've figured as much… What was she like before she left?"
Raphael finally looks over at him. "Whadaya mean? She was OK, I guess."
"Was she funny, shy, pushy?"
Raphael is very confused by these questions. He shrugs. "She was… OK. I don't know what you want me to say."
"She must have been more than OK, for you to interact with her in the ways that you did. What is it about her that sets your heart afire?"
"My what!?"
Splinter makes a scrunchy sound in his snout and then begins to chuckle. He then laughs so hard that he almost doubles over, slapping his knee. "Raphael, I am sorry but this is so funny!"
"M-master?" Raphael looks away and looks back, knowing that he must be missing the joke.
Splinter calms down and wipes a tear from his eye. Splinter is actually happy. His children are so young and so different from the rest of the world. It is refreshing that they get to have normal teenager problems now and then. "Raphael, I am not angry with you. I just want to know why you never came and talked to me about what you were feeling? Remember that I offered this to you."
Raphael lets out a sigh of relief. "I don't know why. I thought she was just annoying but now…" He looks away, his cheeks starts to flush. "I thought it was dumb of her to sneak on the T-Copter. It was dumb that she called attention to herself, and it was dumb everyone was so quick to forgive how dumb she was, even after Mikey got hurt. I wanted her to know how angry I was but… I never told her how scared I was… that she might have gotten hurt."
Splinter grins. "And why do you feel this way?"
"I feel this way because I like her." Raphael's eyes pop open. He shakes his head and waves his hands. "Don't get me wrong! I don't LIKE LIKE her! Not in the way goofy Casey thinks I do! I just think she's cool, a lotta of fun, almost like a friend! And I don't like it when my friends get hurt so… yeah."
"Hmm." Splinter smiles. "Why is she 'almost' a friend and not a true friend?"
Raphael frowns and thumps his fingers on the floor. "Because… I'm sorry, Master. I just can't say right now. Is it OK that I think about it? At least until after we get the retro-mutagen and she changes back into a human?"
Splinter raises a brow at his strange request. But Splinter is a wise rat. He sees the hesitancy in Raphael. His son is not so easy to trust someone. It's an admiral trait in a ninja, but detrimental when trying to build relationships. Splinter sees that Raphael doesn't want to hurt Mona's feelings, but can't help but to play it safe. Raphael is guarding his own feelings, just in case his would-be friend turns around and leaves after she gets what she wants. Somehow, Splinter had hoped his son would think more of Mona than that. Then again, Splinter is no longer a hormonal teenager, and was never a mutant one. He nods his head. "I understand. A young man needs time to think and make the right decision. I will respect your request. However, once Mona returns I will no longer tolerate such brutish behavior to our guests or to your brothers. You must begin to understand others' point of view in order to live in peace. Mona needs us, and as long as she is with us you will treat her with kindness. I know you have it in you, Raphael."
"Yes, sensei." Raphael bows and sits back up. " Um… does this mean I don't have to get Splintered?"
"What does that mean?" Splinter cocks a curious eye at him.
"Nothing, nothing. But…" Raphael looks over at the door, rubbing a hand over his mouth. "Would it be alright if I stay in here a while more, so, ya know, the fella's think I'm still holdin' those terrible buckets?"
Splinter looses his smile. His son, always trying to save face. "Very well, Raphael. We will spend the rest of our time in meditation, dwelling on what was said here today, and molding our minds and bodies into a more balanced state."
Raphael nods and quickly gets into position, feeling a little begrudged, wondering if he should have left and told his brother of Splinter's forgiveness, or if the buckets would have been the better deal. Either way, he sits quietly and concentrates on his breathing, letting go of his anger, accepting his guilt, reacquainting himself with gentleness, and thinking of Mona.
…
Down in Irma's kitchen, April couldn't look more apologetic. After Irma called her a fake friend, liar, and untrustworthy tyrant, April had to try to defend herself. "But Irma, try to understand. This type of secret wasn't mine to tell. If the wrong people found out, it could be life threatening. And it's not that I don't trust you… it's that the more people know, the more chance it is that the enemy could take advantage of you. I don't want to put any of my friends in danger, and you're my friend, Irma… aren't you?"
Irma taps her foot and crosses her arms. 'I don't know. I always thought you and Casey couldn't wait to get rid of me, always running off on your secret dates."
"No way, Irma! There were never any secret dates with Casey."
"Really?" Irma softens.
April sees the hopeful question in Irma's eyes and smiles. "You were afraid Casey and I were a couple?"
"No! Not afraid but…" Irma fumbles.
April can't believe what she's seeing and hearing. She is absolutely sure that Irma would have never shared her feelings or tried anything shiesty if April and Casey were dating. Irma is a morally good person and would have held her peace. But now that she knows that Casey is available… April decides not to tease Irma about it now and makes a mental note. "Honest, we were just going to meet our teenage mutant ninja turtle friends."
"That sounds ridiculous… but I'm glad you're finally telling me the truth."
"How can I make it up to you?" April asks.
Irma smirks. "I can think of one thing…"
April blinks. "Oh… Irma, I don't think I can."
"Why not? I already know the turtles exist! Mona practically told me everything anyway."
"But…"
"You could ask. There's no harm in asking if I can come to this secret Lair."
"OK… I wonder what Master Splinter will say…"
"Master Splinter?" Irma asks.
April grins. "He's the Turtles' father and sensei. He's the kindest and wisest RAT you'd ever want to meet."
"R-rat?"
"Yup." April pulls out her cell. "You'll have to meet him and get his approval yourself… Are you sure you want to talk to a six-foot mutant rat?"
Irma knows April is trying to deter her. She stiffens her lip and nods. "Of course. I… I'm not afraid."
"Fine, we'll leave once it gets dark." April taps a quick text in her cell to Donatello. 'Hey, Donnie! All is fine here. Mona is Mona, LOL. Irma KNOWS. Can she come back with us to Lair 2nite? Crazy request, I know. Please don't be angry."
Casey trots down the stairs looking somewhat annoyed.
"How's Mona?" April asks him.
"Fine, she wants more brownies so…"
"Oh, how sweet!" Irma teases him. "Would you pick me up a bear claw?"
"And a blueberry muffin for me?" April taunts.
"Very funny… uh, April, why don't you come with me? I need to talk to you about something."
"OK." April follows him out. "We'll be right back, Irma." She and Casey leave out the side door and down the sidewalk. The two walk and talk quietly, totally unaware that Irma's yellow house has been monitored from the shadows ever since a certain mutant lizard crawled out of the sewers early this morning.
…
A/N: Oh, snap! If you haven't already guessed, let me assure you that things are about to get crazy. What do you think? I'm eager to know! Thanks a lot for reading! Happy weekend!