Chapter 23: Surprise! He can cook.
"And that's a picture of Chompsky's first birthday" Mikey pointed to a picture in the album of a small baby turtle with a red party hat blowing fire onto the birthday candles. I couldn't help but smirk at how small the little guy was then, I couldn't help but wonder how big the alien turtle was going to grow.
"Oh oh and he's a picture of Raph and Donnie epic go-kart race through the sewers" I smiled leaning back against the couch as Mikey continued to document the last few years for me. I was honestly surprised at my own reactions, as unusual as Mikey's stories were they all just seemed..right. Each picture, each story, each memory resonated inside of me. When Mikey showed me pictures of their, of my father, part of me was surprised he was of all things a rat, but a much bigger part of me felt an overflow of emotions at the picture at the name, as though a lost piece of me was found.
"Ugg give it a rest will ya" Raph jumped down to sit on my other side, throwing an arm around my shoulders causally. "You two have been at this for like two hours"
I let out a chuckle, "I don't mind" I was thrilled to learn anything and everything I could about the family.
"Plus you're the one who left him alone with Mikey and the picture album" Donnie interjected as the genius finally left his lab for a caffeine refill.
"I just went out to patrol the sewers," Raph argued, throwing his arms out dramatically. "I needed to make sure Dexter Stickman doesn't have any robots or anything scotting for Le..Peter out there or anything."
I stiffened at the thought. I knew Baxter had been considering updating the M.O.U.S.E.R.S though I'm not sure the genius would stoop to such levels..wait yes, he would.
"I didn't think I'd return to find Mikey, filling L..Peter in with every single little detail from the last three years!"
"Just be glad he hasn't found the album containing our baby pictures" Donnie mused.
"Oh yeah, where is that by the way?" Mikey turned hopeful eyes on the genius.
Donnie just gave Mikey a dull stare while Raph ran a hand over his face. Despite their actions, I knew the two were as anxious as Mikey was that one of these pictures would trigger a memory of some kind.
"Yo, turtles you home?" I turned at the sound of Bebop's voice as the mutant pig jumped over the turnstiles.
"Hey Bebop" I greeted walking over to meet the mutant. "How's Rocksteady? Is he settling in okay?" I couldn't help the twinge of sadness washed over me as I thought of the rhino locked behind bars, his past and history erased, possibly forever, from his mind.
"He's doing okay" Bebop shrugged, turning to nod a greeting as Raph, Mikey and Donnie approached. "Well as well as can be expected I guess. The humans are treating him okay though, and he ain't being mistreated or anything, got a good enclosure I guess" he let out a snort. "But it's still a cage, gilded or not"
I nodded, holding the same feeling about the situation.
Shaking his head, Bebop turned to me, placing a hand on my shoulder as he learned by looking at me closely with a look of shock and amusement on his face. "Dude, I can't believe your Leo, Dog! Ain't this so wild?! Fate is such a funny thing."
"Yeah, hilarious" I shrugged off the hand, crossing my arms uncomfortably.
"What brings you down here, Bebop?" Donnie asked, changing the subject. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, checked in on Mr. Steranko, he's doing alright but I don't know, I just didn't feel right not doing anything about this..whole situation" He shrugged, santering deeper into the lair. "So I thought to myself, why not go check in on the turtles. Least I could do is check that Pete made it here alright" He shook his head, a grin on his face at his own thoughts. "It's a funny thought, but did you know he actually asked if he could come with me to meet you guys, you know before all this.." he waved his hands around. "And i was thinking wouldn't it have been funny that instead of just saying no I would have just wandered down here with your long lost brother, not even knowing" he let out a laugh at the irony of his imagined scenario. I found the situation complex enough without thinking about how things could have worked out.
"Have you seen any sign of Baxter?" I asked, glad to change the awkward subject.
"No, it's been fairly quiet," Bebop noted, "though I think we should be getting a hold of the other mutants out there. Let them know that a crazy scientist guy with this ooze is on the loose"
"I agree, Don." I turned to the genius "do you have any way of contacting the other mutants mentioned on Baxter's Map?"
"..uh no"
I blinked, before turning to Bebop. "How about you? Are you in contact with any of them?"
Bebop shrugged, "actually I think I might have some numbers still from my time with the Shredder, forgot about it, been on a different path for what feels like so long now" he pulled out his phone.
"Send a brief message about the reverse-retro-mutagen and Stockman but don't mention the turtles" I thought about it for a second. "And if you don't mind? Let Donnie prove read it before you send it."
"Oh, to make sure the technical gargin is correct?"
"...yes"
That, taken care of. "Donnie, how's it coming ? Were you able to make any sense out of Baxter's notes?" I hope so with how much time he's spent pouring over them.
"Yes and no" Donnie rubbed his forehead. "Baxter's notes are so ..cryptic it's hard to make sense of the crazy way he thinks! Honestly his notes have 'crazy psychopath' written all over them". I bit my lip, to keep silent. Yes, Baxter has issues, but psychopath is one word that does not fit him. He's not blood thirsty like the shredder, his intent is not to hurt people. Yes he's an idiot, yes he can be selfish and easily manipulated but he is not a psychopath.
I let out a sigh pushing down my anger and odd defense over Baxter.
"I'm still working on sorting out the direct formula Baxter used to create the reverse-retromutagen, and I'm still trying to understand the amnestic effects but I am making progress"
"Good," I nodded. "Uh thanks"
"Though I would like to get a blood sample from Rocksteady for a cross reference"
"It's night out" I noted, as ninjas it would make sense to travel in the dark. "Do you guys want to head over to the zoo now? It's closed we can check the perimeter make sure Rocksteady is safe and Donnie can get a blood sample"
A small smile played across my face at the consensus of nods.
"Okay, so Donnie, do you have a car or are we traveling by rooftop?"
"Wow, hold your horses" Raph stepped in front of me, hands held up defensively. "Ugh Le..I mean Peter, you have to stay here."
"Why?!" I was surprised and slightly offended. I mean yeah, I may have overstepped my bounds, but that was no need to completely sideline me. I guess I just kinda slipped into a leading role there a second ago, but that's probably just because I'm used to taking action. Leading just always came natural when I worked on the police force.
"Le..Peter, Stockman is still out there." Donnie's voice was calm yet pleading "the mutagen that runs through your veins is vital to his plan. He'll stop at nothing to get you."
"Please bro, we'll be quick, just stay here..where it's safe."
I let out a breath, understanding their reasoning. "Fine"
"Don't worry bro" Mikey's hand settled on my shoulder. "We'll be back as soon as we can"
There was a quick exchange of hugs, goodbuys, and before I knew it Donnie grabbed his supply bag and like the wind they were gone.
Now what? I thought absently, rubbing my arm as I looked around unsure of what to do. Since coming here I haven't been left alone for more than a few minutes. I wasn't exactly sure what to do. Not that I needed to be babysat. I scoffed at the thought. No, it was more like I felt like I was intruding somehow. After all, this was their home not mine.
Wandering around the lair I made the way over to the kitchen, opening the cupboard door my grin widened as I saw the ingredients for pizza. They hadn't had dinner after all.
Trodding through the sewers, the turtles were nonetheless quiet as they hurriedly made their way toward home.
It had been so odd for all of them to see Rocksteady, their former adversary and now ally, changed from the once powerful mutant to the caged rhino. Raph felt a shiver run down his spine. The reverse retromutagen was one of the worst weapons they had ever faced and unless Donnie could find an antidote..
Raph shook his head, cutting off that train of thought.
They had their oldest brother home, where he was safe and that was all that mattered. Raph was as sure as shell not going to let anything happen to his brother, ever. He had no doubt that his two younger brothers felt the same way. Having the returned eldest home, after nearly a year of thinking he was..gone, it was a dream come true.
Raph let out a breath, he'd almost panicked when Peter had wanted to go with them. If Peter had fought him on it he would have tackled him to the ground, locked him up; anything to keep him in the lair, where he was safe. Where Bonehead Stockman would never get to him again, ever. Taking another deep breath, he couldn't deny the twinge of guilt he'd felt seeing the dejected look in his brother's blue eyes. When Peter took control there, started giving orders, it was as if a switch had been hit. He'd gone from the reserved, hurt kid they were growing to know to the fearless take charge leader he remembered.
"Did you get everything you need Don?" Raph asked, turning to face the purple banded genius who was busy texting Bebop about what to keep an eye out for at the zoo.
"I would like to check up on Rocksteady in a few days, see if there are any changes, and re-secure the perimeter but for now, yes, I have everything I need."
Raph nodded.
"I feel kinda bad" Mikey's voice was soft. "Leaving Leo at home".
"I know Mikey, I do too," Donnie added with a sigh "but we all know that things have changed now. Peter is no ninja, and with Stockman after the mutagen in his blood, it's best he remains in the safety of the lair." Donnie let out a sigh. "We all have to face the facts Mikey. Peter is human now, he can't do the things he used to do. It's our turn to protect our big brother now."
Mikey and Raph nodded in unison, their faces a shared determination.
"Leo we're home!" Mikey called in a sing-song voice as the brothers stepped out of the tunnels.
"I should text Casey and ask him to bring down some pizza," Raph mumbled, pulling out his t-phone.
"We should ask Peter what his pizza preferences are first" Donnie suggested.
"You think it's changed?" Raph asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Never know," Donnie shrugged.
The three turtles' footsteps slowed as the aroma of fresh baked bread wafted through the lair, hitting their noses as they passed through the turnstiles.
Donnie and Raph exchanged a glance, both wondering the same thing. Peter wouldn't think to go in the kitchen would he? All the brothers knew what a disaster their oldest brother was in the kitchen. They had house rules just to keep the oldest away from the appliances.
Years of experience showed that their oldest brother, (a) should not be allowed near the toaster or other kitchen appliances for that matter, and (b) should not be allowed to cook for reasons directly relating to reason (a).
Mikey's train of thought caught up with his two older brothers and exchanging a panicked look the three sprinted toward the kitchen expecting to find the room in caos with screaming alarms, the floor covered in flour with the toaster lying in smithereens on the floor.
Instead they found Peter sitting at the table, a notebook and pencil out in front of him. "Hey Guys." Peter answered cheerfully, looking up from his book.
Looking around the kitchen looked intact, the toaster didn't appear to be broken, the fire alarm wasn't going off.
Beep..
Weapons pulled out in front of them, standing at high alert. Peter let out an annoyed huff as three very tense and overprotective brothers practically pounced, pushing him behind them defensively.
"Relax it's just the oven" Peter sooshed pushing past the three ninjas to get into the kitchen.
"WHAT?!" Raph looked ready to jump out of his skin.
"You used the oven?!" Mikey yelled, sounding scandalized.
"Uh Leo..I mean Peter, are you sure that's safe?" Donnie asked, worriedly.
Peter just blinked, unsure how to respond to this excessive worry over..cooking?
"Don't worry, I promise I didn't use any weird ingredients or anything like that" he reassured. "Unless you don't like Pepperoni, that is" he added with a smirk.
Raph, Donnie and Mikey stood staring with their mouths hanging open in utter bewilderment as Peter pulled out a large, delicious smelling pizza from the oven.
Ignoring the flabbergasted faces of the three stunted turtles, Peter went about cutting the pie before bringing the steaming pizza over to the table, where he already had plates set out.
"I hope you like Pizza" he added nervously as he grabbed his own slice. "I didn't know what kind you guys like, so I just made a combo"
Prompted by the smell of pizza Mikey recovered from his shock. Turning the energetic and now extremely excited turtle ran over to squeeze the living life out of his older brother. "Dude! You made PIZZA!"
"Yeah" Peter wheezed, "do you like Pizza?"
"I love Pizza!" Mikey practically squealed before diving in to try his brother's creation. "This is amazing!" Mikey hummed in contentment as he chewed.
An all so familiar, small pleased smile spread over Peter's face at the praise.
Recovering from the shock, Donnie grabbed his own slice and slid down into a chair next to the returned eldest. Taking a tentative bite, because (a) this is his older brother's cooking and (b) Mikey will eat just about anything. Brown eyes widened at the flavor. Pleasantly surprised, the genius took another happy bite.
"Wow, Peter this is really good"
"Thank you Donnie," Peter smiled bashfully.
"You cook?" Raph asked, flabbergasted, the redbanded turtle still reeling from the shocking revelation.
"Yeah" Peter rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "You see not that many people want to hire someone with no memory who has no clue if he has any work experience." he let out a light awkward chuckle "except for Ms. Tribony who by the way besides her amazing pizza recipes has abundant patience with the new employee who can't stop breaking the toaster."
The hothead let out his own chuckle as he took a bite of the admitally delicious pizza, though he couldn't deny the twinge of pain he felt hearing about his brother's other life.
"Wait!" Mikey's hands flew out as he braced himself against the table, turning big blue eyes to the returned eldest. "You worked at a pizza place?!"
"Uh..yeah"
"Wow, Fait is really a funny thing, huhg?" Mikey mused taking another bite of pizza.
"It sure is Mikey" Raph agreed, side eyeing his now human brother "It sure is"
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