(A/N: Terribly sorry for the long pause in posting! Due to the covid issue I was working double shifts during the whole thing so there for a sec life got a little stressful and hectic! Hopefully 2 chapter updates will make up for it for now! :) )
Evangeline sighed heavily, collapsing on the couch. Finally the last of the dishes were done! It had taken the majority of the morning just to rinse out what had been soaking overnight and put away what had already been washed. All of the boys had since had a cup of coffee or tea before heading home, leaving Evangeline with the leftover chores.
Zeus at that very moment hoisted himself to lay on his owner's torso, relishing the scratches she gave his neck scales. It was time for his lunch, but he would settle with this for now. The iguana had just let his eyes drift shut when a hard knocking startled both of them to attention, followed by her phone ringing.
"Hello?" Evangeline rasped after picking up, really wishing for a nap.
"Woman, are you going to open this door or do I have to find an open window somewhere?" Brandon's voice chided through the mic with his usual level of sass. Eva gave a chuckle, lifting Zeus, who squirmed with extreme displeasure, to place on the floor.
"I'm comin', don't get your panties in a twist"
"I prefer briefs thank you very much. Now hurry up! My ass is freezing out here! I can't lose my best asset!"He whined back, the sound of his voice shivering. Eva rolled her eyes, jogging down the stairs until she hit the main storefront where she quickly unlocked the door.
"What's up? You don't usually stop by until later in the day" Evangeline said, shutting the door behind her companion who quickly went to stand directly over the heater.
"Maybe I wanted to see your sexy self" he teased, earning a deep eye roll from Evangeline.
"If I'm sexy you're Rumpelstiltskin"
"Am I getting wrinkles already?" Brandon dramatically gasped, rubbing his hand over his face, the sarcasm in his voice so thick it was practically leaking from his pores. If Eva kept rolling her eyes like this they would surely fall out of their sockets.
"Seriously though, usually you're working"
"Technically I'm on lunch. I came down here to see if you wanted to go out tomorrow night"
Eva's eyebrow rose.
"You realize today is Black Friday and it'll be worse tomorrow?" she questioned, crossing her arms.
"Of course! I know where we can find the best deals" Brandon chimed, however a wise grin suddenly spread across his lips, "We can find something to impress that man meat of yours"
Evangeline felt her face heat up, mouth trying to work into words.
"He-he's not-!" she stuttered, having to pause to gather herself, "Brandon, I don't think-"
"Nope! No isn't accepted. Be ready at six or I'll pick out your outfit myself" he stated, smiling and fixing his coat before seeing himself out. Evangeline sighed, turning to gently bang her head on a glass terrarium. She refused to think about what her friend would potentially shove her into.
Slowly, Eva trudged up to her apartment, pondering the possibilities of what to wear. The sound of her game system pricked her attention just as the young woman approached the apartment door.
"Mikey?" she questioned, head cocking slightly at the orange-masked turtle who, for a change, was playing a casual game of Minecraft.
"Oh, hey Eva" he replied with a chill smile.
Ok, now she was a little worried. No hyper, cheery jokes? No dudette? Evangeline strode over to plop down next to the youngest brother.
"You ok? Do you still have a hangover?"
"No, but I wanted to talk to you about something if its cool" Michelangelo almost hesitantly said, his fingers fidgeting with the controller toggles.
"Of course. You know you can always talk to me" Evangeline assured, giving him a supportive smile, despite the growing pit of worry in her gut. What could possibly be weighing on his mind that he would act like this? The only thing she could do was do her best to help.
"Well you see..." Mikey started, wavering for a moment to get his words in order, "Last night when you and April were talking...I sort of.. accidentally... overheard you tell April how you felt about Leo"
Eva suddenly felt the blood in her body rush to her head, her cheeks burning like embers. The worms in the pit of her stomach turned to serpents and her lungs forgot how to breathe. Mikey had heard? It was likely the rest of the family assumed she may have feelings for the leader, but now someone had actually confirmed the truth.
"Eva?" Mikey asked worriedly, waving a hand in front of her face, "Anyone home? Earth to Eva!"
"Did you tell anyone…?" Evangeline asked hesitantly drawing a deep breath.
"What? No!" Michelangelo exclaimed, pausing his game to wave his hands in the air, "That's why I wanted to talk to you about it"
Eva could hardly control her heart rate. Breath! Just breathe!
"Ok.."
"So, is it true?" Mikey asked, averting his gaze to the game controller. Evangeline followed his line of sight, not seeming to know what to do with her hands.
"I do.." she uttered softly, leaning back on the couch, "I realized a short time ago that I had feelings for Leo"
The young woman nervously watched the youngest sibling, not knowing how he would react. Would he think she was only playing with them? Evangeline didn't know what she would do if the brothers weren't a part of her life!
"So..are you going to tell him?"
Evangeline blinked, slightly taken aback by the question.
"Wait, what?"
"Are you gonna tell him how you feel?"
Evangeline, for a moment, studied the expression on Mikey's face. For the first time since Eva met Mikey, his face was completely serious with no hint of his usual smile anywhere to be found.
"I really doubt he would take it seriously Mikey. The last thing I want to do is drive Leonardo away because he thinks I'm playing with his feelings" she replied softly, finding the hem of a cushion to play with.
"I can see your point but I really doubt it would happen like that. My big bro really cares about you. I think you should tell'em" Michelangelo reassured, a small smile crossing his features. Evangeline felt a new sense of courage light itself. Maybe he was right! There was only one way to find out how things would go!
"If you really think so, I'll try. Thank you Mikey" Eva said, smiling just slightly back at the youngest of the brothers.
"Always glad to help a dudette in need,"Mikey replied, regaining his usual visual cheeriness, "there was also one other thing I wanted to talk to you about"
Evangeline's head tilted slightly out of curiosity.
"What's that?"
"Um..well, I was wondering if you would mind meeting a couple friends of mine? I already know Leo would freak the hell out so I was hoping if you could maybe meet them and see what your judgment is?" the younger turtle asked sheepishly, once again fidgeting with the controller.
"So you want my approval so you can have some backup convincing Leo when the time comes?" Eva inquired further with a raised eyebrow. She could hardly blame the youngest considering Leonardo's history, so this didn't seem like a bad deal.
"Yea...see they haven't really had a good rap sheet but they've really turned things around and decided to go clean. The truth is I've been hanging out with them for a while now and they aren't so bad" Mikey explained, putting the controller on the coffee table to be able to speak with Eva more directly.
"If you think their ok, I'll give them a chance. I trust your judgment Mikey." Eva agreed, watching Michelangelo's face light up like a Christmas tree. The next thing she knew, the turtle had wrapped her in an iron- grip bear hug.
"Thanks Eva! This means a lot, I mean it!" he exclaimed, letting go of the female before she could run out of air.
"No problem Mikey. I can meet them tonight if you want"
"That sounds great! I'll give them a call right now!" Mikey replied, vaulting over the back of the couch and running toward the unlocked window in the next room.