TMNT Bitter Sweet Honey Ch.36
Leo POV
The female turtle wallowing in her depression sat there, surrounded by her new room, which didn't smell familiar or homey to the home sick turtle.
Leo was overwhelmed by her handicap and didn't dare to tread out of this room.
This building foreign and too new to her and with this disability to be unable to see its layout in her head, she knew wandering around in her state would wind her up flat on the floor or walking into some wall.
That fear alone had proven true as she did just that within the first few hours of finding herself blind and useless.
She couldn't grasp a cup of tea without missing it on her first couple tries or spilling it before its rim touched her lips.
In frustration, she locked herself up, unwilling to venture out or willing to accept any assistance from her family, including from her own mate.
"Mikey?" Leo called out suddenly hearing the door slowly creaking open, in the distance, shattering her confined silence.
"Sorry Leo, it's me," Donnie's voice answered back, as the sister shut the door behind her.
"Oh... Where is Mikey? I... I haven't heard from him for hours," Leo's voice dropped in disappointment that it was only Donnie, why hasn't Mikey come to see her of late?
"He is on a mission that I order him to take part, considering he needed the change of atmosphere," Donnie said direct, there was even a hint of coldness to the last words.
"MISSION!" Leo roared suddenly stumbling to her feet wanting no more then to have her eyes sight in order for her to be able to glare down her sister over this idiocy, "Are you mad Donnie, have you forgotten that April did unspeakable things to him. Things we have no idea what it may be?! Nevertheless, you send him on a mission. I never thought you would be so irresponsible!"
Donnie huffing at her sister's rising anger, only crossed her arms, trying her best not to let her own hormones get the best of her, "No Leo I have not forgotten. Though you have! I told you Leatherhead, and I aren't entirely sure what has been done to him. Without acquiring the original experiments that were performed on him, we are walking into this blind."
Realizing she said blind Donnie paused smelling the distaste from Leo for using that metaphor in front of her, clearing her throat Donnie continued before Leo could comment on it, "As far as we can tell, he is healthy, grounding him will not do him any good. You know very well what kind of turtle he is… He isn't the type to sit around leashed up; he needs his exercise and distractions, so he doesn't resort to other means to quench his easily inflicted boredom in order to amuse himself."
"Grounding him, leashed up?! I swear…rrrr… Donnie are you not concerned over his overall health, that could very well deteriorate if he isn't being under constant supervision? It has only been six days since we rescued him from April, I believe that it is too early to give him a clean bill of health!"
"I think it does Leo," Donnie responded snapping her beak back, afterwards rubbed her belly that was getting upset from all this arguing, "Besides at the moment, you have stepped down as the leader, making me the one in command again, so if I think he is fit, then he is."
"Donnie right now, I might not be fit to lead; I still have some common sense to know that was a bad idea!"
"Common sense... is that what you call it?" Donnie marched up to her sister placing her hand on her shoulder to indicate how close she was and let the eldest to get a good whiff of her scent to understand what mood Donnie was in. "Do you know how Mikey has been feeling of late? Have you not taken a moment to get off your petty train and see he has been suffering too? You idiot, Leo! He sees you like this and blames himself; he has it in his head, he is the reason Raph is gone and how that is eating Casey up! It was bubbling up inside him to the point L-E-O, that I swear he is going to explode and fall apart!"
"I know he has been upset..." Leo admitted, yet didn't know it was that bad; Donnie was right; she has been occupied by her own issues that she never considered his feelings.
"If you did notice, then why did you push him away, making him feel helpless! He wanted to help you Leo for he loves you and couldn't bear witness you struggle like this. I know you have always been the type of person that wanted to do things on your own to prove you can do it... Even when we were kids you were like that, it was the reason you became so independent looking after us... But he wanted to do what you would have done for him. He just wanted you to realize you can depend on him... Yet you refused it, breaking him in half," Donnie slowly pointed out, letting her pent up anger to simmer down near the end.
Her stomach was in knots by now, and she wanted to avoid going into labor prematurely. She figured she still had a month and a half to go basing on Leo's term, which was earlier than Donnie suspected her to be.
Falling into silence too, Leo tilted her head away from her sister in shame.
The past three days every time Mikey tried to help her, she snapped at him, telling him she was fully capable in handling herself and didn't need his assistance.
The truth is, she did want it and needed it, but her pride prevented her once again to ask.
Sadly, she did this so many times before to Mikey in the past that she wondered why she kept on making the same mistake.
Was it her fear that Mikey would think of her weak, for she lost her sight, and she wasn't sure how to manage? Or was it, she was terrified that if she can't prove that she can do this, even simple things with this handicap, she would also fail on other important tasks, like raising two new turtles when they hatch?
Sighing Leo slumped down into her chair, "I'm sorry Donnie, I didn't mean to make him feel like that, I just... It's difficult for me to explain."
"Then let's talk about it then, you know you have my ear when needed. I do comprehend that you are unwilling to tell Mikey everything, especially if it involves him and need someone to help you organize your troubles and issues." Donnie calmly insisted, finding a nice comfy spot on Leo's new bed.
Nodding Leo smiled weakly towards Donnie, which was a start, something she was incapable of performing for some time now, "Donnie thank you. I think I will talk when I'm ready, but first may I ask what form of mission did you sent Mikey on? Please say you didn't make him perform it alone; April is still out there."
Annoyed by the fact once again, Leo had no confidence in her leading; the frustrated turtle rolled her eyes, trying her hardest not to snap at Leo, "I'm not stupid Leo... As for what mission, one that I think will help him as much as it will help Casey too."
Gulping on the thought that Mikey and Casey working together, Leo turned white, "Do you want to retract that 'not stupid' remark?"
Donnie becoming frazzled narrowed her eyes, breathing heavily through her nostrils, "FYI Leo I did send Alex with them for starters!"
Trying not to chuckle on the odd group paring, Leo shook her head, placing her hand on her forehead, "That doesn't make me feel any better..."
"It should. Mikey is to keep Casey at bay, and Alex is to keep them both out of trouble!"
Losing it Leo let out a laugh, shaking the room with the foreign noise that even caught Donnie by surprise, "How, prey tell do you think that kid can manage that?"
Donnie about to comment back, stop for a second, realizing why Leo found this so funny, as she came to the same conclusion, "I have no idea..."
Mikey POV
Hanging there upside down using some pipes to aid him to hover above the white shell turtle; it has been ages that he felt like his old self as Casey ignored the playfulness from the orange clad turtle, too eager on moving forward.
"Soo Alex how do you like your first time back in the city?" Mikey flipped off the pipe, landing before Alex that tilted his head over the question.
"Oh yes, the sewers have been my number one vacation destination; I have been dying to see when I came back to the big apple. Thank you for this very interesting, educational tour that has been my lifetime dream," Alex mocked avoiding stepping into something he wasn't sure if it was dead or... something he really shouldn't consider in thinking too much on.
"Ah, I knew you would love it! You think this is awesome dude, you should see our famous dump that Donnie has so gratefully ordered us to visit," Mikey grinned, placing an arm around Alex's shoulder, then with his free hand swept it forward, continuing, "There is garbage as far as one could see, it is the jewel of our fair city, the diamond in the ruff!"
Tightening his lip, Alex tried his hardest to keep the laughter at bay, which was a feat on its own, especially the priceless expression on Mikey's face. Mikey though the sarcasm was easy to spot, the turtle had a talent to make it appear every word he said was true to heart, which could fool some people.
Going to make a smart aleck remark back, which Alex was intrigued to have someone to joke around like this, not that he didn't mind doing so with Donnie, yet the female turtle took it too seriously at times and her mood was nasty in most results, Alex was interrupted by Casey grabbing both turtles shell's forcefully.
"Come on you two clowns; I want to get to the dump site tonight not tomorrow." Casey growled putting both back on track to follow the path before them.
"Okay Casey no need to get all hulk on us, we are just having some fun, not sure about you; I need a good laugh," Mikey pointed out, seeing Casey sighing rubbing his arm.
"Sorry Mikey... I know and I don't blame you, it's just that the faster we get this task done for Donnie the sooner she can get her equipment up, to help figure out where Raph might be."
"It's eating you that we aren't searching for her right now isn't it..." Mikey said slowly, and then added, "It's bothering me too. That's why we are laughing and making jokes to make this easier to handle this messed up situation, in order to prevent us from going -" Mikey stopped for a second, looking at Alex knowing how he felt about Raph's disappearance too. He was doing the same thing as him, "insane with our personal guilt..."
"Yeah I know… Damn, if April isn't such a threat right now I would be out there."
"Agree… Who knows where the psycho is..." Mikey started to insult April then stopped quickly, looking to see how Casey would respond to the comment.
"No kidding, we can't let her find out about the new lair or the fact we are still in the city… Hell, us even going to the dump is risky..." Casey admitted, not bothering to show any emotions over how Mikey felt about April, since there wasn't any. All that was on his mind was one girl, his love of his life, and he had to find her.
"That is why Donnie is getting us to go to this privately own one on the other side of town. The security is low there and the watchdog actually liked me the last time I was there. We shouldn't have any issues, and besides, there is a manhole in the middle of the place, making it an easy slip in and out mission." Mikey pointed out then tugged at his hoodie and pants that he wasn't accustomed to wearing.
He was okay with the hoodie only, since he wears one when he goes running, but the pants were more than he could handle, not including the shoes that made his feet ache.
"Also is why we are wearing clothes…" Mikey whined a bit.
Smirking, both Alex and Casey chuckled, seeing how much the clothing was a discomfort for Mikey.
"Mikey we both normally wear clothes, so it doesn't bother us. Besides, it's nice to see you walk around not in your birthday suit!" Casey barked getting the stink eye from Mikey.
"I do not walk around naked! I do wear my bandana."
Sighing both turtles disagreed as they just didn't bother arguing with Mikey on that one.
(20 min later)
"Easy there girl…" Alex nervously whimpered putting his hands out.
Casey rolling his eyes, looked over the list Donnie gave him, letting the other two play with the watchdog.
Hands around the big fluffy mutt, Mikey beamed petting the cute animal as she wagged her tail for the turtle, "Alex relax, she isn't going to eat you. Are you cutie, do you want your belly rubbed?"
Panting the dog happily rolled over giving Mikey full access to her underside.
"See she is just a ball of fluff; her growl is worse than her so called bite," Mikey stated, smiling more as the dog wiggled against the ground, joyful for the affection from Mikey.
"Yeah right… that's why its keeps giving me the evil eye," Alex pointed out, freezing in his spot as the dog once again glared at him for speaking even, "See, see she is doing it again, summing me up, like she is debating how to devour me!"
A chuckle from Casey, Alex crossed his arms huffing under his breath, as Mikey placed his finger on the side of his face, showing he was entertaining the thought, "If you think about it, you really do look tasty." Bending down to scratch the dog's chin, a devilish smile flashed on Mikey's lips, "If you want to taste him girl, go for the shell you can chew on that for hours!"
"MIKEY!" Alex screeched backing away quickly, "Don't advertise that my shell can be used as a chew toy!"
"I don't know Alex," Casey started grabbing the top of Alex's shell near the shoulder, feeling the thickness of it, "I would think for a dog, it would be a great chew toy. It would last longer than any bone, and it does have that bluelish tinge as if it was shiny."
Shock that even Casey was getting into this, making fun of him though part of him wasn't surprised, Alex retreated from him too, "Come on now. You're both horrible…"
Letting a laugh out each, both turtles looked at each other then back to Alex, smirking more, enjoying the horrified expression on Alex's face.
Mikey finishing his playtime with the dog that started to follow him around, Mikey went up to Casey taking a good look at the list as well.
"So let's see… Why don't I take half of this Casey, and you take the other. Alex should help you out for the dog will probably follow me, and it is obvious she makes him nervous," Mikey stated, putting the joking aside realizing that Alex wasn't kidding about how he felt around the dog. He was actually scared of her; he wasn't playing around with that.
If Mikey knew Alex was truly afraid of dogs, which he should have picked up when he mentioned the dog before they got to the dump and seeing Alex cringe at the idea, he wouldn't continue the joking or let it go so far.
Scrambling through the piles of computer parts and junk, Mikey carefully analyzed every piece; he couldn't just pick something and go with it.
With all the years he joined Donnie's scavenger hunts at the dump; he had picked up a knack in finding exactly what Donnie was looking for.
Other than him, Raph too was decent at this. Leo, on the other hand, believe it or not, never had the patience and was lousy with seeing something that was in front of her beak.
Only on missions she was observant of her surroundings, Mikey guess Leo wasn't very good at this sort of thing; she also sucked at 'Where is Waldo', the eldest was always the last one to find him or many cases never finding him at all.
Picking up a CPU chip Mikey observed it from all sides, squinting at it to make sure there was no visible damage.
It appeared to be in good shape, which was only half the issue.
Such things like this might appear to be in fine shape at first glance, that is until Donnie uses it finding it useless or broken after all.
So in result this came down to one simple solution, when in doubt, don't just pick up what Donnie asks, always double the order.
"So girl do you think Donnie will like this one?" Mikey presented the dog with the chip that only gave it one sniffed before sneezing, wandering off to find something that was more interesting for her attention.
Flipping the chip this way and that, Mikey shrugged, "I guess I should find a couple more then, just the question is… Will there be any in a condition to bother with?"
Mikey starting to dive into another pile froze as Alex frightened wheezing voice called to him, "Mikey... Casey... he... he is..."
Dropping what he was doing, Mikey rushed towards Alex placing his hand on the white shell turtle's shoulders, "Casey is what? ... Alex, calm down, breathe through your nostrils, then exhale through your mouth... Good now tell me what is wrong?"
Nodding Alex did what he was instructed, slowly catching his breath, "Casey and I were looking for items on the list when over the wooden fence, some guys were talking about some brawl. At first, Casey seemed interested only, stopping his search to listen in… However, it wasn't until one of the guys said the main fighter is some green chick. Out of nowhere he lost it, tearing over the fence, I tried to stop him..."
"Green chick? Oh god Raph!" Mikey's eyes widen over the thought, could it be?
Not letting Alex to say another word, Mikey ran towards the direction, he saw both Casey and Alex were going to search around.
The guys on the other side of the fence couldn't be referring about Raph right? A fighter in some brawl, what kind of brawl? Yet how many green chicks are there in New York? Alex did say some green chick not some chick in green…
The closer Mikey got to the area, he last saw Casey heading, the sound of fighting echo through the night air.
Alarming him, Casey was losing his cool and was not taking mercy on his victims, coming to that conclusion over the blood curdling screams.
Mikey seeing the wall before him, knowing Casey was on the other side; Mikey used some old stack up tires to help him to get over, landing directing in front of Casey, who was in a middle of a punch stopping his fist before it came into contact with Mikey's face.
"SHIT MIKEY get out of my way!" Casey roared with eyes a blazing.
Placing his hand out quickly, Mikey stood his ground, noting the one guy laying on the ground moaning a storm, holding his stomach as the other two were behind him quivering in terror.
Their scent was potent and Mikey could tell they were no fighters, hell, they probably wouldn't be able to fight their selves out of a paper bag.
"Chill Casey what's with the berserk mode?" Mikey asked coolly, taking deep breaths to make sure his own scent didn't irritate the turtle more.
"They were talking about RAPH!" Casey barked wildly.
Tilting his head sideways to look over his shoulder, yet still keeping a good eye on Casey, so he didn't pull him a fast one, Mikey made his eyes stern with a hint of kindness for good measure. Two raging mad man, probably would be over the top.
"Is what he said true? Where you talking about some green woman fighting?" Mikey slowly asked, seeing Casey about to answer, then stop when Mikey glared at him for interfering.
Nervously the man gulp shaking as he stood up, while the strong stench of urine hovered in the air, making Mikey pity this guy now more than ever, "We... we..."
Sighing Mikey pointed to the light post, next tilted his head towards Casey, "Casey stand over there you're not helping."
"Fuck that Mikey, I will get answers from him," Casey answered back, slamming his fist in his hand showing how frustrated he was.
Casey was inches away from losing himself in his instincts again, and there was no Leo to put him in his place.
"Casey do you not want to find the truth? Scaring the shit out of them more than you have, isn't going to get you the correct answers, you know that! So get your shell over to that pole NOW!" Mikey growled hoping it was enough to snap Casey back to reality.
Mikey was never really an aggressive individual, but when it called for it, he was up to the task, feeling the butterflies in his stomach in doing so.
Huffing in response, Casey marched over towards the lamp post slamming his shell into it.
Putting his attention back to the two guys Mikey crossed his arms, "Please tell me about this fight and this green woman."
"There...," one of the guys started, then gulp seeing Casey glaring at him.
"He will not do anything unless you don't start talking."
"Right... There is a fight; my friend on the ground got us tickets for..."
Flashing a look at the guy on the ground and then back to the one he was talking to, Mikey put his hand out for the tickets, "What kind of fight? If you mind, let me see these tickets."
Nodding again the guy pulled out an envelope handing it to Mikey as his hand shook wildly, "We don't know anything about a girl name Raph, I mean it! Weee. we were just talking about this fight that will be going on tonight and the tickets my friend purchase online... Man, if we thought it would end us getting our ass handed by some psychopath we never would have bothered going!"
Casey giving another huff being called a psychopath, Mikey ignored it, glancing over one of the tickets feeling his blood turn cold, "You said you purchased these online... And it is about a fight between some green woman and who?"
Shrugging the guy shook his head, "Don't know that's all the site said and the tickets... I know they don't say that, but that is the truth."
Mikey wetted his lips, swallowed hard, before looking back to the guy, "Was there anything about the site, like symbols or names?"
"Well, the site was black with white text with a transparent dragon in the background… I think it was purple... Why?"
"Casey, let's go," Mikey ordered, ignoring the 'what the hell for' look from the still pissed off turtle.
Going to say something Casey stopped seeing something odd with Mikey's eyes, there was something the orange clad turtle knew that he did not.
"Hey buddy, our tickets!" the guy got the balls to yell at Mikey, while the small turtle leaped over the fence.
"Trust me dude, you are better off going home. That place isn't where you want to end up at... Unless you want to be on the main course," Mikey answered disappearing being followed by Casey.
Once in the safety of the sewers, fearing the teens would call the police; Casey and Alex were quietly waiting for Mikey to finally reveal what he knew.
Far enough from the garbage dump Mikey took a breath contemplating the best course of action.
"What I am going to say, both of you have to take my lead and not question me... or run off to play the hero," Mikey told the other two waiting for a response.
Both turtles nodding Mikey eased up, "For starters, do either of you know anything about the art gallery near here?"
"Mikey they were talking about a fight and Raph not some stupid art!" Casey snapped getting a ticket shoved into his face.
"Then why were they holding these tickets?" Mikey question as the ticket the guy had on him was for the gallery, for a special exhibit that was for that night.
"They screwed with you?" Casey lowered Mikey's hand annoyed; he knew he should have punched the little punk more until he spill the beans.
Rolling his eyes, Mikey shook his head, "The gallery only has regular shows during the day, never at night. The tickets say special and use back door."
"It's a cover up?" Alex said suddenly.
"Yes unauthorized fights in town are illegal. Casey should know more than anyone about that, considering he and Raph always busted them and who was behind them Casey?"
"What!" Casey yelled, finally getting with the program; it helped that his state of mind wasn't clouded with his rage, "Mikey, are you saying Hun could be behind Raph's disappearance!"
Nodding Mikey bit his lip, "I wouldn't be surprised, for Hun did have some deep pockets with the police in the past. I thought it became smaller when the foot started to disband in New York after the death of the Shredder... I guess we were wrong."
"DAMN IT!" Casey slammed his fist into the wall, "This whole time we thought who took you, must have taken Raph too. We never consider looking into the police... Hun has her... Jeez, where is this fight Mikey, I have to save her!"
"We will save her Casey, but we have to play this smart. So you have to do what I tell you got it! Or you will put Raph in danger otherwise."
Thinking about it, Casey closed his eyes finally giving Mikey an answer, "Fine, but I swear Mikey if Hun hurt her in anyway, I will kill the fucker!"
"Take a number," Mikey smirked leading the way through the sewers towards the street where the art gallery he only knew about because a while ago, he was looking up for places, he might want to take Leo in the cover of night, for it held some cool looking art.
He knew a lot about the art gallery for it did peak his interests… Of course the one place he takes an interest in has to be some cover up for the Purple Dragon's activities...