A/N Sorry for the slow update! I had some other stories that I had to get out of my brain first!
A special thanks to SleepingSeeker, Krikanalo, & Justme for the reviews & support.
A special SPECIAL thanks to my beta/writing buddy Katya44
"Oh my god… It's True…
Everyone looked up from their breakfast and directly at Mizu, who was standing in front of the coffee station Mikey had set up for the morning.
"This coffee is made out of the tears of baby unicorns & mana. I must know your secret, archmage!"
"That's privileged information dudette. Need to know basis only" He said with a grin.
"So, that's how it is? I guess I'll just have to torture the info out of you. How do you feel about being strapped down and forced to watch the stink fest that is 1990's Navy SEALs, ON REPEAT?!"
Mikey's eyes widened in in horror and he held up his arms in a defensive position "No… You.. you wouldn't dare?!"
"Oh, I would totally dare, now spill! Or you'll have to answer to my friend Mr. Sheen" Her face contorted into an evil grin.
"NEVAAAAAAR! Do your worst, woman." Mizu and Mikey began half-heartedly chasing each other around the kitchen island giggling and throwing pieces of breakfast sausage at each other. Mikey got a little too enthusiastic about the food fight and a sausage patty whizzed over Mizu and headed for the livingroom until Master Splinter, with his back turned, snatched it out of the air like an errant fly, sighing before taking a bite. Elric happily volunteered to pick up the other pieces.
"It's the French press." Leo grumbled.
"Jeez bro, way to spoil the fun, dude."
"Just making sure you and your new partner in crime don't get out of hand." He lowered his head and stared into his mug of tea, looking a little green around the gills.
Mizu looked around the lair and realized just about all in attendance were hung over. Splinter had even postponed the training session for the day, suggesting he too had imbibed a bit too much. Normally, he wasn't so easy on his sons when they were so afflicted. She felt like an ass for making so much noise.
"Sorry Leo. We'll keep it down." She wished Donnie would finish up with his shower. She didn't handle awkward moments like this well.
"Good. See that ya twerps do just dat." Raph spat earning an appreciative glance from April. He and Casey shuffled their way toward the pile of waffles on the counter, looking for seconds, as well as the bottle of Tylenol. Casey poured coffee into his, April's and Raph's mugs before he quipped something at Raph about him liking his coffee like he liked his men. Mizu & Mikey looked at each other and snorted back the laughter, especially after the polyamorous accusation from last night. She thought she saw Leo crack a smile too but she couldn't be sure.
Mikey and Mizu took a seat at the kitchen island and discussed video game strategy for the rest of the morning.
A few hours & several DVR'd soap opera episodes later, hangovers subsided and Splinter suggested a round of training.
"Miss Edwards, Casey and April will also be sparring with us. You and Elric are welcome to observe, and if you like you can participate after the more complicated drills."
"Thank you Sir, but I think I'll clean up the kitchen first while you all do what you have to and then join you?"
"That is a wonderful offer, but you're our guest…"
"It's the least I can do. You've been awesome and welcoming, and I won't take no for an answer."
"If you insist. Donatello, show Mizu where we keep the cleaning supplies, then join us in the dojo."
"Also, I think Elric should probably hang out out here while you guys practice. He tends to get a bit over-enthusiastic when people are jumping around, and I don't know how he would handle sparring. He might think you're fighting for real and get upset."
Splinter paused at the thought of a 140lb dog disrupting his training session and nodded in agreement. "I think you are perhaps right." He turned to the dog and gave him a scratch under his chin "We can snuggle later inu-chan, yes, you like scratches." Elric yawned in approval and Splinter waved everyone on up the small set of stairs to the dojo & slid the screens closed once everyone was inside.
Mizu had already made her way over to the disaster area that was the kitchen and was picking at the bowl of fruit salad. "Melon is higly underrated."
Donatello nodded in agreement as he pulled Mizu close and ran his hands up her back "I think my dad likes your dog." He said in between kissing her neck.
"Oh really? What was your first clue? And knock that off, I'm too grown up for hickeys… Ok, seriously, stop. I already pissed off your brother this morning with the impromptu food fight, the last thing I need is for someone to catch us making out in the wide open" She popped a piece of pineapple into Donatello's mouth to keep him occupied.
He chewed the fruit and swallowed "Leo & my dad have them in their clutches. Nobody gets out of that room once practice starts." He fed her a red grape
"Nobody? You're sure?" She said with a smirk, popping another piece of fruit in his mouth.
"Nope. Nobody."
"Well then, where were we?" She tugged on the tails of his mask he had put on for practice and brought her mouth to his for a kiss. Their lips overlapped and Donnie nipped playfully at her lower lip as he leaned against the counter and pulled her hips towards him, making her lean into him. She let out an appreciative hum as she pulled away from the kiss and opened her eyes, still leaning against Donatello.
"Yum. Pineapple-y. I'd love to continue this but you have brothers to beat up and I have things to clean. Where do you keep the dishwasher soap?"
"Under the sink. And I can beat them up any time. I'd rather stay out here and help you clean." He furrowed his brow and stuck his bottom lip out in a fake pout. Mizu snapped her teeth at his lip pretending to try to bite it.
"If by 'help me clean' you mean 'get in my pants' that will just have to wait sir, go, before your brother gets mad at me again" She began to playfully shove him towards the dojo, and he pretended to stumble toward it.
"Ok, ok. I just forgot one thing"
"What?"
"This!" He swung around faster than Mizu could register and slung her over his shoulder and carried her into the living room while she tried to stifle her laughter. He flopped her down on the couch and practically belly flopped on top of her. The mild danger of the situation had them both laughing wildly. Before she knew it his mouth was on hers again and his hand had found its way up her shirt. Somehow, someway, she found the willpower to put a stop to it.
"OHMYGOD You're SO EVIL! And if you don't get in that gym right now I'm telling on you."
"Alright" He kissed her cheek quickly as they both stood. Mizu was adjusting her clothing but had bumped into Donatello who had stopped dead in his tracks. April was standing just outside of the door to the gym. Thankfully she had closed the door, but she had seen enough. Mizu stood there wide eyed like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
April & Donnie blurted out at the same time "Um, uh… Hey April. I was just heading in." / "I need to use the bathroom." April hastily walked toward the staircase, up to the larger bathroom. Donatello's eyes followed her and then fell to Mizu, who was panicking.
"Fuck. Mizzy, I have to get in there…"
"You can't leave me out here with her!" Mizu hissed "SHE SAW US!"
"So?"
"So? SO?! So she's your oldest friend AND A GIRL! And nobody in your family knows we've gone past just friends!"
"It's just April… Look… we can talk about this in a couple of hours, but I really have to go." He gave her an apologetic smile and jogged up the stairs to the gym, and was gone. A few seconds later Mizu heard footsteps on the stairs and she ran / dove for cover behind the kitchen island. Elric thought it was a game and trounced over to her, wagging his tail, going into play bows and making play noises.
"Shhhhhhhh, stop it. Down boy. Down. Jerk dog! I'm trying to hide." Eventually she worked up the nerve to peer over the top of the kitchen island. April was sitting on a stool on the opposite side, picking at the leftover fruit salad.
"Hi."
"oh… hey."
"When you're done hiding and you start picking up I'd appreciate if you could set some of this fruit salad aside for me."
"Ok, sure."
"And we're definitely going to have a little chat later." She added coolly as she hopped off the stool and headed back into the gym.
Mizu looked at Elric, pat him on the head and said "Well handsome, it was nice knowing you. Now, help mommy and eat that piece of sausage you missed earlier."