*)O(*
It took longer than she thought it would for the swelling in her face to go down. She'd sighed as she called places back, asking them to change up her schedule again and again, taking up more time than she had the last time she'd had to make these calls. A week and a half had passed but she still felt like her face resembled that one girl from the original 'Charlie in the Chocolate Factory.' Blue and swollen, her face wasn't nearly as sore but she swore that she looked even worse now.
Sara and Donnie had tried to explain to her that it was because her body was repairing all the damage that had been caused, but Becca could care less over the reasons why. She just wanted the daily reminder gone for good. Still, they all thought that she was ready to start training.
Mikey's joking voice resounded in her head. "It's not like you can become and awesome ninja like me over night." He'd flexed and showed off. He was getting bulkier. It wasn't much, but she could tell. His green skin stretched finer over the muscles underneath than when she first met him. He was confusing. He'd joke and laugh all day but when it got closer to night time he'd beat the living crap out of the punching bags or lift weights with Raph.
No one was as confusing as Leo though. He'd come and apologized to her a few nights ago. As she spent more time around all of them she started to understand why he was the way he was. It couldn't be easy, and she knew he was only looking out for her too. A new addition into the already long list of things he was responsible for. She forgave him… mostly. She would still keep her secret weapon just in case, so if he pissed her off enough she'd just cry. The thought that such a large and imposing figure would be scared off by some eye water was ironic.
She'd almost settled into life down here. Like she'd told Mikey, not seeing the sun wasn't really bothering her. Night school had meant that she hadn't seen the sun for almost two years except right before school and right before she went to bed. A few months at most wouldn't make too much of a difference. Anyway, Sara had enough UV lamps down here to cause skin cancer. She'd have to remember to tease Sara about that sometime.
It was odd being below ground though. Luckily she didn't have claustrophobia or anything. Except for the complete lack of windows and the fact that the roof domed, the lair was like a house. Homier than anything she'd ever been in before, really. Plants and paintings covered any previously unoccupied space or surface. Random books or magazines lay around, telling small stories about the people that read them. Two 'small' weights, as Raph had called them, sat next to the couch. She remembered clearly that she'd almost called bullshit until she remembered that this dude could basically lift a car by himself. A tea kettle always sat on the stove. The dojo always smelled like incense. The bathmat seemed to be perpetually damp when you stepped out of the shower. Spots on the floor were worn a little, telling just how long the inhabitants had been there.
She sank into the her bed. Too much yet so little was happening everyday it was driving her crazy. The longer she spent with the Hamato clan the more she learned. The longer she knew them, the more she realized she didn't even know who they were. Sighing into her pillow she took a few quiet moments to center herself. Then something tickled in the back of her mind.
Sometimes she wished that she didn't have such a wonderful mind that would kick in and remind her of things. Was it too much to ask for a bit of calm, even inside of her own mind? Still, it was something she said that she would do. In reality, it was something she wanted to do. Mikey still hadn't let her read his book. She sat up, frowning and pushing at her hair.
Where was Mikey?
After training that morning he'd disappeared and she hadn't seen him. She got up and went to his room. The door was closed, like always. She'd never knocked on it before and she found herself hesitant to knock on it. This was the one place in the lair that was strictly his. It didn't feel right to barge in on him. Still, she really wanted to read his book. He was the author; he was sure to have an extra copy or two. Struggling with herself for a few more minutes she knocked.
Silence replied. She didn't hear a shuffle or anything behind the door. She was sure he would have heard her. All the guys seemed to have great senses, even when Mikey had in headphones he could still hear other people talking. She raised her hand to knock one more time.
The door flew open and scared her. A gigantic, almost cartoon turtle head stared back at her. She jumped away, scrambling and falling on her butt. Then the sound of Mikey's laugh came out of the thing. It had eaten Mikey! She was almost getting ready to scream for help when the head was removed. Mikey stood with the thing propped on his hip as he continued to laugh. Her heart pounded in her chest. Her hands shook and there he was, laughing. "What the hell Mikey?" She asked as she got up, brushing herself off.
"I knew this thing made some kids cry, but I didn't think it would work on you too." He tried to take a breath but couldn't because he kept laughing too hard. Try as she might, she couldn't stop herself from smiling at him.
"What is that, and why do you have it?"
"I'm Cowabunga Carl, baby." He flashed a huge smile, still chuckling as he struck a few poses.
"Who is Cowabunga Carl? A new addition to Chucky Cheese?" It was an honest question. To her, it was probably something close. There were plenty of knock offs in the city so it wouldn't be too surprising. Mikey, however, looked completely crushed. "I thought that you were Turtle Titian," she added.
Mikey seemed to cheer up a little bit. "That's my night job, this is my day job. I host kid's parties." He whipped out a pair of fake nunchucks and proceeded to give her a little demonstration. "They get a kick out of it."
"I'm sure they do… Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Could you pleeeeease do me a huge favor?" She gave him her best puppy dog eyes, batting her eye lashes.
"Anything," the confidence he radiated was blinding.
"Can I borrow your book."
"Sure, which one?"
"Not 'a' book. Your book."
Suddenly nervous, Mikey looked between her and his room. For a moment she thought he might run away. With a heavy sigh he opened up his door, motioning her inside. The room was cluttered and a little stinky. Bright posters hung on the walls. A desk that slopped upwards was covered in papers. Some had drawings, others had large printed words. A small shelf, that looked freshly hung, sat above the desk. On top were a few piles of books. Some she could tell from a glance were children's books. A few others looked thicker, maybe young adult. Then one stack held nothing but comic books.
Over stepping a pile of CDs that had fallen over at some point she took a look around. A lamp sat on top of the desk. Besides the clutter there were a few piles of CDs that were still stacked up, a row of cassettes and some DVDs. His bed was covered haphazardly with an orange comforter. One of his pillows was on the floor. His closet door was open, showing even more items inside, all of them in disarray.
To be honest, it wasn't nearly as bad as her brother had kept his room when they were younger. Careful not to knock anything else over, she looked over the books on the top shelf. There on top was the book she was looking for. She reached for it, coming up a few centimeters short. Mikey chuckled and grabbed it for her. "Thanks," she murmured then made her way to his bed. She jumped on it, then situated herself against the wall, book open.
Mikey stood nervously. She eyed him over the top of the book as she started to read. The overall tone of the book was mostly sad until the last few pages. The artwork was soft, almost dull. Then a pop of orange on a page turned everything around. The young mutant finding friends and finally being happy. She'd half expected it to be about him, another version of Turtle Titian or something along those lines. Maybe it was deep down, but the level of individuality in the character was on point.
Becca closed the book, finally giving Mikey her attention. "That was really cute. You did great." Mikey blushed, "Thank you."
"You illustrated it too, didn't you?"
"Yeah," the color his face turned when he blushed was interesting. She couldn't name it but it suited him. "You're really talented. I can't even draw a stick man right, I'm jealous." She patted the bed, hoping to draw him into a conversation.
"I've got to go," he lifted up the fake turtle head. "But, if you want, you can read some of my other books… uh, you can come in here anytime to get one." He was cute when he was flustered. Becca stopped herself. Then she took a quick short breath. "All right, what do you recommend I read next?"
"Um, all the ones on that shelf are ones that I've done, but the ones on the book case there are good too."
"Alright, I'll see you later then." He turned to leave. Becca bit her lip. She could do it. She could open herself up again, just one more time. "Hey!" She called, stopping him before he left the door way. She sprung from the bed and took three quick step towards him. Her heart raced. She mentally stopped herself from biting her lip. "Good luck," she whispered as she threw her arms around his shoulders.
*)O(*
"I'm walking on sunshine, whoa oh, I'm walking on sunshine, whoa oh, and don't it feel good!" Mikey jammed to the song as he drove to the party. Becca had wished him luck and he'd be damned if anything was going to bring him down. Her small arms around his shoulders, her chest pressed against his plastron, the smell of her hair as she tilted her head closer to him, and finally the feel of her hips under his hands as he carefully hugged her back… yep he was in heaven.
The party was small, thankfully. But the hour and a half dragged by, yet they had flown away without him noticing. He wanted to get back to Becca. She filled his mind and if he hadn't been doing this for a while, he probably would have messed something up. Instead he found his body mulling through the process and he could tell that he didn't give his performance his all. The stream of kids wanting him to pick them up never seemed to end. The questions from the parents and teenagers were ceaseless. Then Becca would come to his mind. He'd forget his annoyance with the people and focus on just being happy for a moment in his memories.
At last, his part in the festivities ended and he packed everything up. He forced himself to do the speed limit as he went home. There was no need to have to shake the cops today and it would only delay him in going back. He'd never been so excited to get back to the lair. He'd kept it pressed down but now the thought of Becca laying in his bed started to bubble back up. He could picture her, going through each stack of books… Mikey's heart dropped.
Over the top of 'Happy' Mikey uttered, "Fuck the police." Flooring the accelerator just two blocks away from the garage entrance. Hitting the remote button like it was the winning combo to the hardest video game ever, he barely managed not to take the door off as he drifted the van into safety. The agonizing slowness of the lift nearly killed him. Not stopping to say anything to any one he peeled into his bedroom.
There was Becca. On his bed. Her hand hovering over the stack of comic books. The only one in the whole pile that was flipped backwards was under the one she had started to grab. "Becca!" He nearly screamed. He'd startled her when he'd banged the door open but she jumped again. This time she pulled her hand back like she'd been caught trying to eat the last piece of pizza.
"I-I… um, I'm back!" He smiled, trying to laugh without sounding nervous. She looked at him like he'd lost his mind, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. Piles of finished comic books sat away from each other, proof that she'd read each one. He would be surprised if it wasn't for the sheer terror running through him. What ever happened, she couldn't see the next book. He'd rather die than let her see it.
Like he was in some sick version of a horror movie, he watched as her hand descended upon the stack once more. He might not be a genius like Donnie, but living in the sewers your whole life teaches you one thing. A light switch can be a powerful weapon. In this case, it was the only one he would need. He reached out blindly, felt his fingers connect with the switch. Blessedly fast, the light to the room cut out and they were plunged into near darkness.
The light from the hallway was all that lit the room. For Becca it was like being instantly blind. To him it was no different from running the rooftops. He jumped across the room. With his left hand he pushed the top comic book away. His right snatched the next one. With the force of his jump he shoved his little secret into the wedge between his bed and the wall. Becca squealed.
Some reason, some excuse, he needed to think of one fast! Panicking, he grabbed Becca around her waist. Instantly she let out a strangled giggle and Mikey breathed once in relief. Then a pillow hit him in the face. "Stop it," Becca laughed, hitting him again. He laughed and squeezed her sides again. Becca gave up on the pillow and tried to pry his hands away. They knocked over all the comics and somehow Mikey found himself laying on his bed holding Becca up in the air as she fruitlessly tried to free herself.
He laughed hard, the sides of his shell starting to hurt. Somehow she managed to cross her arms and pout down at him. Her feet barely touched his shell as she let them dangle. Her hair fell like a halo around her face. She was still bruised but some of her color had returned and the swelling had went down quiet a bit. Still, her features from that first night were burned into his mind. Not to mention she had some photos that she'd brought from her house.
"Alright, alright, you win this round," she huffed. "Let me go," she demanded. To his amusement he could feel her try to stomp her foot on his shell. "Let you go?"
"Yes!" Mikey flashed her a wicked grin. Realization spread over her face as Becca understood what he had meant and what she had said. Before she could panic Mikey dropped her. The scream she let loose was close to one Sara would give when pissed off. Not willing to risk her getting hurt, he caught her, slowing her fall to his plastron.
Jell-O had more constancy to it than her body when he laid her on his plastron. She panted, clutching his shell, shaking in his arms. Before he could begin to savor the feeling Becca sat up and grabbed the pillow again. This time she tried to smother him. "Don't ever do that again!" She hissed before lifting the pillow and slapping him in the face with it.
She had straddled his plastron. Her arms held up the pillow as if it posed some real threat. She glared at him, watching him for any movement. It was almost funny. Him, move, now? As if, hell, he wasn't even chancing breathing. The sight, smells and feeling of her like this were making his head swim. Noticing her position she nearly jumped off his bed. Uncoordinated, she didn't clear her foot and her face started to plummet to the floor. Ninja reflexes kicked in. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her back onto his bed and to safety.
Her eyes wide and mouth open she was just starting to put her hand up to catch herself when her back touched the wall. Trying to play it cool, Mikey smiled. "The first step's a dozy." He'd twisted himself to lay on his side. Becca blinked, looking at him. She put a hand over her heart, panting. She chuckled nervously. "Now you tell me." She got up slowly this time, jumping over him and the edge of the bed with ease.
Light blinded him. The flood came from the bulb above his bed, lighting him starkly. Becca started to laugh. Squinting, he tried to find what was so funny. "Oh my God, that's priceless!" She pointed at him. He looked down at himself. He was laying in a pile of comics, some of the pages opened. His bed was a disaster, everything askew. He laughed as well. He was sure the sight was, as she said, was priceless.
She came back over to the bed, starting to pick up the books. He helped her, the stack neat and orderly when they were done. "Thanks."
"No problem." Becca said, distracted. She lifted up the comforter and sheet. Moved the pillow's he'd put back on the bed, looking for something. "Did you lose something?"
"I can't find the other one." She huffed. She got up and even looked under the bed. Sweat started to bead on his forehead. "What other one? We have them all stacked." The lie was bitter. Then Becca searched the space between the bed and the wall.
In her hands was the only near porno magazine that he had... That he had made. "See, told you there was another one." On the front page was his classic hero, Turtle Titian, embracing a small blond. The woman was looking at him with bright blue eyes, closing in to kiss the hero. Inside, he knew what the comic book held. Becca seemed unfazed, tossing the comic into the neat stack. Then she stood on top of the chair in front of the desk and returned the pile to the shelf. Mikey remained silent. There was no way that she'd read every single comic book in that stack. There was no way that she was just going to dismiss the near porn that he'd written.
Sure, he'd published it. Sure, a few hundred thousand people had read it by now. Sure, he hadn't included actual sex in it. But everything was vivid and he'd left no secrets within the pages. "You're a really good writer, by the way." Becca smiled. She was grabbing one of the short stories. "And your art is even better." She jumped from the chair. Mikey held his breath. "I really liked issue 23, by the way." With that she nearly ran out of his room.
Mikey sat blushing. Issue 23, the one where Turtle Titian gave into his animalistic side for one night with someone he'd saved. The person looking almost exactly like Becca. Blond, bouncy hair, clear blue eyes, a wide smile, a wicked sense of humor… It was like he'd drawn her out before he'd ever met her. Groaning, Mikey flopped backwards onto his bed. Then sat right back up.
She'd liked it.
*)O(*
A/N: Alright guys, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, really I am. This is probably the worst chapter I've written, but I couldn't get it to come out right and I needed it to keep this going the way I wanted it to. The next one will be better… I hope.