Chapter 22: Finding a Fit

Things with the brothers aren't as hard as I thought it would be. I had a moment of panic when I first woke up and had no idea where I was but then it all sank back in.

Breakfast had been good, easy, normal. I'm surprised how at home I already feel and how they all treated me. It was more than just friendliness, Mikey acted like he already knew me. At breakfast the orange banded turtle had placed a plate of pancakes, hashbrowns and eggs down in front of me; beaming like he was positive it was my favorite. Raph and Donnie aren't like Mikey so I'm still trying to figure out exactly what to expect.

The way Donnie hovers and looks at me I can tell he would do anything to fix my memory, though I worry what will happen if he can't. Raph, although he looks all big and tough, the gentle way he acts around me; as though he is afraid I'll shatter, speaks volume of protection and concern. I feel like I've been seamlessly woven into this family though I'm not sure when this happened. Last night I was meeting them for the first time and this morning I can shake the feeling like I've spent years here.


"And one more cross-connection here and we're all set. This will help me better determine what was used in the Reverse Retromutagen so I can determine how to reverse some of its effects" I listen to Donnie, my eyes wandering over the invention in front of me, impressed not only by his obvious genius but how resourceful he is. I'm sure supplies are limited and if the brothers keep me around long enough I might need to look into getting Donnie some better equipment.

"Now all I need is a blood sample" looking up to meet brown eyes I realize he's waiting expectantly for me to roll up my sleeve.

I know he needs a sample to study the mutagen, it's the only way I have even half a shot at getting my memory back. Plus I know he wants to run a blood test, though doing so would be more for his benefit than mine, I already have all the proof I need.

With a nod I start to roll up my sleeve but I just can't. I can't really explain it but I just can't. It takes a lot of trust before I let people see the full side of me: to see my scars and burns. I've already shown a lot of vulnerability in the short time I've known them and I'm not really ready to take any more risks. I'm half afraid that they'll change their minds. Because why would they want a lost human boy with amnesia as their brother anyway.

Tensing, I pull my sleeve back down, focusing instead on the elbow button on my flannel. Located about halfway up the sleeve right near the elbow joint. The button is either there for decoration or to help roll up the sleeve on warm days but right now I use it so I don't have to roll up my sleeve. Unbuttoning the section, I twist the material around so that the underside of my elbow is open while the rest of my arm is still covered.

"Okay so this will only hurt for a second.." Turning back around with a syringe Donnie blinks his eyes drifting to my arm.

I keep my face blank, grateful when he doesn't comment as he takes his needed sample.

I listen as he explains the science behind the blood test and about how my DNA from Yoshi should still be prominent as it's probably the factor the mutagen focused on to turn me human. Donnie explained how we all have some of Hamato Yoshi's DNA in our blood from the first mutation. I listened avidly, thankful that living with Baxter this last year had given me the knowledge base to follow Donnie's explanations.

"..we should have the results in a few days I just wanted to explain how the system works as to convince you that the results would be legit"

"I believe you" Mentally I frowned, unsure why Donnie would think I wouldn't believe him. I had total faith in his abilities and intentions.

"You're really smart Donetello, you seem years beyond most scientists. What you've managed to do it's..really something. I appreciate what you're doing..helping me." I rubbed my arm unsure. Looking up Donnie's brown watery eyes I have a feeling there's a 75% chance that I would be encompassed in a hug in the next fifteen seconds.

"I uh..I should go, you probably have things to do and I don't want to be in your way"

Closing the door behind me I barely made out the quiet whisper.

"Your never in the way, Leo"

Those words knocked the wind out of me in a way that I couldn't describe and refused to show.

"Hey Leo" Mikey bounded up to me. "Donnie finally let you go?" Mikey asked rocking on the heels of his feet "Man he can just talk on and on about his science stuff none of us really understand what he's saying most of the time"

Blinking, I wonder why they didn't just buy a scientific dictionary. Baxter had made me get one. I often helped him with his projects and because he liked to use me as his guinea pig for most of his lessons, it was helpful to understand what he was talking about.

"Raph's in the dojo working out some steam, do you want to play mario cart with me?"

They had a dojo? The thought sent tendrils of excitement through me. Part of me just wanted to get lost in dance that was so deeply ingrained within me, but at the same time I wasn't sure how much to tell them yet and letting them know I might have any form of skill in that area should probably be something I keep to myself, for now.

"Sure, I'll play mario cart with you Mikey"

The smile the answer received could brighten up any cloudy day. Before I knew it Mikey was pulling me by the arm toward the couch and going over all the tricks of the trade.

It kept surprising me how Mikey seemed to just know how to put me at ease. I only intended to play a round or two but that quietly turned into three or four and then five or six and before I knew it we were inventing our own game within the race with absolutely absurd rules.

"Don't you dare throw that Banana at me!" Mikey threatened

I smiled mischievously as my car sped past Mikey's go-cart. With a cry Mikey sprang and side tackled me off the coach. Rolling around I managed to push him off me before springing my own attack. I let out a laugh as a pillow hit my face, before grabbing one of my own. Oh it was so on.


"We should probably clean up this mess" I breathed. I didn't really feel like moving, the floor was surprisingly comfortable or maybe it was the mess of pillows and blankets that lay scattered after our all out pillow fight. We had at some point collapsed and had just been lying here staring up at the ceiling.

With a sigh I pushed myself up and started cleaning up the mess. Mikey just continued to lie there watching me, occasionally directing me to where the trash can was or how to turn off the game counsel.

With a roll of my eyes. "Mikey this would go a lot faster with the both of us, two of us made the mess therefore two of us should clean it up" as soon as the words were out of my mouth I wondered if I had crossed a line. I was a guest here, I really shouldn't be bossing around Mikey. It just kind of slipped out.

"Finnee" came the drown-out, dramatic answer but the grin plastered on Mikey's face contradicted his tone.

"That was the most fun I've had in ages dude!" Mikey's smile was blinding as he bounced off the back of the couch, the living room back to its previous state of semi-cleanliness.

Shaking my head, I let out a chuckle of agreement following the orange clad turtle into the kitchen. "I have to admit that was pretty fun." Out of all the things I had anticipated when following my long lost turtle brother into the sewers last night, spending nearly the entire day playing mario-kart had been the farthest thing I expected.

It was getting close to the dinner hour and the least I could do was help Mikey out in the kitchen. Opening the freezer I looked for an easy to make Dinner.

"Meow!" my eyes widened at the smiling puddle of ice cream that of all things looked like a cat!

With another loud meow of delight the frozen feline leaned forward to lick my face leaving a trail of ice cream across my nose.

"Epp!" Startled, I nearly tripped over my own feet as I backpedaled away from the freezer not sure what other surprises were going to pop out at me.

"Hey! Ice cream kitty remembers you!" Mikey exclaimed, running over to grab the cat, swinging her around toward me.

"Isn't it great?! Leo's back!"

I just blinked at the cat who was waving her paws out toward me letting out a series of happy sweakes and mews. Hesitantly I reached forward and petted Mikey's pet. With a purr she leaned into my hand letting out a mew of approval. A smile spread over my face at the cat's acceptance.

"Nice to meet you too"

Mikey's eyes twinkled as he dove into another unbelievable story, something about Icecream Kitty leading a rock band? I half listened as I rummaged around for a knife to help Mikey cut the vegetables he was pulling out.

"..Raph says it was just a dream, but he also didn't believe me about Pizza Face who was totally real and...whoa" Stopping mid sentence Mikey snatched the cutting board from my grasp waiving a finger in front of my face.

"No way hozay. I know what a disaster you are in the kitchen. Why don't you go check on Raph or Donnie and leave the cuisine to moi"

Shooing me from the kitchen Mikey turned back to his work humming and singing with IceCream kitty as he started what I could only guess is going to be desert with the amount of sugar he poured into that mixing bowl along with..is that gummy worms and tomato sauce?

Shaking my head I turned toward the predicament at hand. I had spent the whole day with at least one of the brothers and wasn't exactly sure what to do now.

Wandering around, I let my eyes take in all the details I had missed earlier. Both searching for any tidbit of familiarity but also wanting to learn and explore everything about these people who call me family. From the turnstile it wasn't hard to surmise that I was currently standing in what used to be an abandoned subway station that the brothers had lovingly turned into a home. Looking around I could see evidence of each of the brothers personalities from the stacks of motorcycle magazines and comics as well as the different gadgets and inventions at various stages of completion scattered around the lair. I took in a breath, taking in the strange collage of antiseptic, sewar, and whatever Mikey is cooking. Smiling, I listened to the sound of the brothers as they went about what I assumed was their daily routine. The door to Donnie's lab was firmly shut but I could still hear him tinkering inside, letting out a series of imaginative curse words every now and then. The sound of fists pounding into canvas echoed from the dojo, and Mikey's upbeat humming drifted from the kitchen.

Wandering back into the pit I let my eyes drift over the family's home trying to observe and learn about the three brothers while also searching for a place where I had once fit.

Narrowing my eyes I wandered over to a canvas covered lump in the corner of the pit. I earlier assumed it was a broken machine or an unfinished invention of Donny's. I know I shouldn't intrude but curiosity got the best of me. Pulling the canvas to the ground I stepped back, surprised to find a pinball machine. Confusion washed over me as I searched to figure out what was wrong with it, it didn't appear broken at all. Why was it covered?

Whipping away the dust, understanding hit as I read the Space Heroes Logo.

I'd been looking for a sign, anything to show that I had once fit here, that I could fit here again.

I shook my head. Of all things. This is what I found. Space Heroes. I was often teased by Baxter at how much of a dork I am for liking the scifi, but no nevertheless it was still my favorite show, lame or not. It seems I had been a fan of the show longer than I had thought. Looking down at the canvas it hits me, like it really hits me. They had been in grieving, still are in grieving. They had covered up the machine not because it was broken but because it was a reminder.

Closing my eyes, I couldn't help but wonder for the uptimth time what I thought I was doing. The last thing I want to do is hurt this family. Yet here I am.

Feeling a presence behind me I turned around to find Raph.

Walking forward hesitantly, he nudged the tarp out of the way with a foot as he came to stand beside me.

"I didn't want to beat your high score." The answer took me by surprise. Looking down I saw the score board lit up in fluorescent light, a smile curving onto my face.

"You really think you could?" I ask teasingly, earring a competitive grin in response.

"Is that a challenge ?"

I smiled as I saw his hesitant demeanor shift. Stepping aside I gestured for him to go first, glad when he took the challenge.

It only took ten minutes for me to discover where my own competitive side stems from. Grinning wide I watched as the scoreboard changed, putting me in the lead once again, Raph off to my side, his green eyes sparkling in friendly competitiveness.

"Step aside dork, I'll show you how a real champ works"

Shaking my head I couldn't hide a smile.

This was easy, this flet natural. I much preferred this Rapheal to the hesitant one who acted like I could break at any moment and I was growing bound and determined to see this side of the red banded turtle more often.

"Dinner!" Mikey's voice called from the kitchen.

Beside me Raph groaned.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Mikey adds weird ingredients" Raph answered my silent question as we headed toward the kitchen.

"He seems to think that we have iron stomachs like he does. Most of what Mikey finds delicious is usually repulsive"

My appetite starts fading at each word. It can't be much worse than when I started cooking? I reminded myself. Why Baxter always made me cook, I will never know.

"Glad I didn't have to drag you from your Lab this time" Raph greets Donnie.

Donnie just massaged his temples with a nod in response. Taking a seat I make a mental note to find a way to get Donnie to take a break from his work, before he becomes obsessive. I had pulled Baxter away from his lab more times than I can count, seriously there were times I think I'm the only reason he remembered to eat or sleep. Shaking my head I pushed Baxter from my thoughts. It didn't help that the only memories I have were of him but I did NOT need to think about my not-brother right now.

My thoughts were pulled back into the conversation as Mikey plopped a steaming pot in front of us. "Bon Appetit"

Peering in I couldn't really tell what the brown mass below was. It smelled sweet and I could see a mixture of carrots, apple slices, and gummy worms mixed into the..stew? Was it stew? Also why was it moving, it looks like it's moving.

"Um um um" Mikey smiled filling up each of our bowls. "Vegetable, fruit and candy stew"

Raph and Donnie sat in stunned silence looking at Mikey with betrayed looks as though he'd broken some unspoken understanding.

Hesitantly I poked a carrot with my spoon.

I reminded myself that looks can be deceiving. Plus it did smell alright.

Breakfast had been really good, and Mikey had cooked that.

Looking up at Mikey's big hopeful blue eyes, that seemed completely oblivious to his other two brother's inner turmoil, I made a decision. One bite. One bite to be polite. One bite wouldn't kill me. Oh dear God don't let this kill me.

With a good degree of apprehension I picked up the spoon making sure to get minimal broth and only the all-right-looking carrot in the bite.

I expected I don't know grimmy, uneatable, gross, I wasn't prepared for sweet.

Like extreme level sweet. Like whoever has this type of sugar tolerance needs to see a dentist sweet!

Stifling a cough I managed to swallow the sugary carrot and broth without choking.

Turning I found a mixture of surprise and amusement painted across Raph and Donnie's faces.

"You actually ate it?!" Raph exclaimed.

"I'm not sure if I should be impressed or concerned," Donnie added. "I mean we've eaten Mikey food before but we're mutants"

I felt my cheeks heat up with embarrassment.

"Hey" Mikey sounded offended. "My cooking is not that bad!"

"I thought we agreed to eatable foods Mikey" Raph pointed a finger at him "no weird ingredients"

"I thought that deal was only about breakfast! Also gummy worms is not weird"

I had to disagree there.

"Mikey, not that I don't.. appreciate your..creativity, what I think your brothers are trying to say is that usually a cook tries to make food that those who are eating it will like, not necessary what they would eat" I was half tempted to throw in a 'the customer is always right'.

Shaking his head Mikey let out a sigh "so I'm guessing you guys don't want dessert then. I made pizza ice cream sandwiches"

My hair flopped back and forth as I shook my head. Laughing along with the brothers sitting in the kitchen at the end of a good day; I couldn't help but hope because I was finding where I fit.