A week later, the stitches came out and the wounds were closed, and more scars added to Randall's body.
He had stayed at the lair all week and hung out with the turtles. But now that the stitches were out, he wanted to go back to April's. He was ready to get back to work in the shop.
Living with April and at least paying her rent was about the only thing that nearly felt like a normal life of paying a bill for something he was rightfully earning in a job and for a place to live.
At the end of the month, the family showed Randall what Thanksgiving was all about. This time it was just the family of mutants, April and Casey, Randall, and Leatherhead. There was more room in the lair than at April's for everyone.
There was turkey, mashed potatoes, chips, ham, fruit salad, homemade chocolate chip cookies and brownies. And more. It was a well thought out dinner. And all the friends enjoyed eating it.
Conversations went on about what had happened that year and in the past. Randall could only listen with intent when the stories were on other subjects not related to him.
Each one of them did say what they were grateful for. Mostly it was all for the family and friends that they had, and how they looked out for each other.
Randall was the most grateful that he had finally found a family that cared about him and to let him stay. Though, as much as he did enjoy staying here, he did begin to wonder about trying to go back to the monster world again too.
But he figured the price would be too high for going back and he didn't want to go to jail, that is, if he was told that he was officially mixed up in the scandal with the scream extractor.
Thanksgiving was great, but there was a coldness settling in from the winter weather starting to settle in. Randall wasn't too comfortable with that. He was glad he was staying at April's. It was warmer there.
The turtles were planning to wait until after Christmas before heading up to the farmhouse. Don would keep the lair warm with heaters as best he could. Randall would even come down to help him work on them. Don showed him how they worked.
Patrols were put on hold a lot more as it got colder outside, but on nights when it was mild, like in the 40's, they would go out at times, but Randall had put a halt on all patrols for him. Cold air just didn't work well with him. He got sick easily in the cold times of year. At least now, he could live indoors and not like an outdoor animal like he had down in the south. But it had been warmer there.
Randall almost couldn't help but wonder what the humans were thinking about what had happened to him down there. He wasn't raiding their things and lives anymore. He was sure they were happy for that. So was he. Those southerners acted like they didn't know much about how to care about other living beings at all. But then, he had met some evil ones up here in New York too.
…
Over the next few weeks, Randall didn't go to the lair as much since it was colder down there, but April got him a coat and a scarf. Of course it was only good for two of his arms to go into.
It was a purple coat and for one of the thinnest people. It fit pretty good. The sleeves were a little baggier though. But it would work if it kept him warmer when he had to go outside. If he would go to the lair, he preferred entering from above ground at the time being. And more so, being driven, because his coat would never allow him to get away from enemies. He could only do that with his invisibility and no clothes on.
Since Randall wasn't in the lair so much, everyone began planning what they were going to do, buy, or make for their family and friends for Christmas.
The turtles had gone to a Battle Nexus last fall and had helped get the Daimyo's son back that spring shortly before Randall had come along. They were planning on a few of those dimensional friends coming too.
One day, while in the shop with Randall, April asked Randall something.
He was unloading a box of delicate china. "Hey there." April said.
"Hi." He said, still minding his own business.
"So, did you monsters celebrate Christmas too?" She asked.
It made him jump for a moment and he accidentally dropped a plate and broke it.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you with the question." April said.
"No, it's fine. My bad. It slipped out of my hand." Randall said. He put the others down and went to go get the broom and scooper.
"But did you?"
"Yes. I know you've told me what it really represents, but we just never saw it like that.
But it was a special holiday for them to exchange gifts and all that. The dinners. I never got to have such lavishing dinners with a family. Just in foster care. I was just always given food or hand-me-down things. There was nothing special for me as a child. I just didn't get anything special. I always had to get myself things if I wanted them." Randall explained. "But my old job did have gift exchange on Christmas too."
"That sounds like fun."
"It would be if you were a liked person. And I wasn't liked very well."
"When you go around being a grump all the time, it's bound to rub off that way. I would think that what you told me from how your fraternity treated you first, as a young adult, if you had stayed away from them, you might have been the young gentleman that you were then before they started you down a darker side of yourself. You may not have had parents, but the foster care system did raise you well enough to have nice manners." April said.
"Yeah. They made sure we all did. If we didn't, we got in trouble. Even if it meant going to bed without dinner. We would be forced to clean the whole house by ourselves and it was like a dawn to dusk job for one little monster to do." Randall said. "I witnessed it more often from the other kids doing it, as I was the one that was often picked on, but I too did it a few times. And it wasn't fun."
"I can imagine not. But anyway, what I originally wanted to talk about to you was, have you considered doing anything for your new family for Christmas? I can help you out if you need me."
Up until now, it hadn't crossed his mind.
"I hadn't thought about it, but I can." He said.
"You know, they all might be planning things for you. Just wait until it gets here." April said.
"Is it just going to be us on Christmas?"
"No. On Christmas, we tend to invite a few more guests than on Thanksgiving."
"Like who?"
"The turtles' friends from the junkyard, some friends from another dimension, Angel, the Silver Sentry. Just to name a few. So yes, it will be bigger than at Thanksgiving." April said.
"Leatherhead too?"
"Yes, him too."
"But who are these others from another dimension?" Randall asked, as it had struck his curiosity.
"Some friends that the turtles made at the Battle Nexus. Mikey turned out to be the champion. Leo didn't get a fair share because he was shot and poisoned. One of those friends saved his life. And the other is the leader of that dimension. He's the king of that place. His son was lost to them for some weird magical reason. But his son was also the cause for Leo getting shot and poisoned." April explained.
"Sounds like one big loser. Just as I know I once was."
"I got to meet him once, the first time he met us and challenged Leo to a dual. He nearly finished him then too."
"Why was there a dual in the first place?"
"He wanted to fight the Shredder first, but as how Leo beat him in combat, he wanted to fight Leo instead. He would go to any length to try to beat Leo or kill him."
"And he was lost to them you said?"
"He and a dragon got sucked into a portal to who knows where. But he did come back into the picture and he was magically turned into a little boy again."
"Oh."
This was one tale he hadn't heard yet, entirely. The turtles seemed to be silent around him about this.
"The guys are always complaining about Mikey being the Battle Nexus Champion because he rubs the win in their faces every chance he gets."
"Not around me, he doesn't."
"Maybe when you're around, he straightens up more. Mikey calls you his best friend. You must do something for him that makes him wise up."
"Hang out with him so he's not always annoying his brothers. I just need a best friend myself. Catching up on some missed childhood opportunities I guess. I'm an adult, but I don't mind some goofing off."
"Everyone deserves some fun in their life, no matter how old they are."
"Yep." Randall said.
They finished their conversation and got back to work. At least now Randall would also have an opportunity to meet some other new people. But this other dimension thing had his attention. But as did trying to figure out what he could do for his new family. He knew he couldn't go shopping.
Days later, Randall just said that he wasn't much for getting people things.
"April, how about I just cook a meal for them for Christmas? It's the best I can offer."
"That's fine."
"But on that day, it will just be me cooking for them. No help, provided I have all the ingredients I need."
"I can make sure to get you what you need. Casey too if needed."
"Thanks." Randall said, having his special gift in mind for his new family.
