Alright, here we go!

Disclaimer:

News reporter: VestqueX, I have heard than you have been arrested for assault charges. What do you have to say about that?

VestqueX: I TOLD you! I thought the police officer was a prostitute! leans back, and crosses her arms while nodding smugly and dismissively

News reporter:…

(Lol, Almost a Direct quote from the show 'The Simpsons'! Quite funny!)

…(Oh, and I don't own them either!) 0..o

Lol!

Chapter Seven

Mikey beamed as he grinned from ear to ear.

"Of course! I know a great place! Man Owen, it's a good thing you came to me, cause you're gonna be seriously stylish when I'm through with you! It's gonna be sweet!!"

Meanwhile, Owen and Don exchanged glances.

'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea…'

On the outside, though, both vampires just watched Michelangelo wearily as he grinned; his eyes (as well as his body) dancing at the thought of going topside. However, it was not until the happy turtle actually grabbed his coat did anyone say anything.

"Whoa, we're going now?" The perplexed tone in Owen's voice even suspired himself as both turtles turned to him. There was a moment of confusion before Mike finally blinked in understanding, slowly putting the coat down as he did.

It was still daylight out.

And daylight was bad for vampires…Well, at least human vampires.

Owen watched as both turtles seemed to nod in understanding.

He knew what they thought. They thought that he would not survive in the sunlight, which was somewhat true. The bright light of the sun just made him uncomfortable, it being so bright.

It made him feel uncovered, out in the open, exposed…

However, that wasn't the main problem. He could live with the feeling of being exposed along with the discomfort the sun usually gave his skin.

It was just…he didn't have his sports jacket, and if he wore his normal jacket up there, he probably would just get mistaken for some punker, which was just as undesirable. Therefore, going out after sunset would be the best for both reasons. At night, people tended not to pay that much attention to the people around them, which was good in his case. Plus, there usually were less people out at night anyways.

Though, he knew the turtles didn't know this.

They just thought that as a typical vampire he would vanish at any sign of sunlight. It was true that typical vampires did die with the overexposure of sunlight, but they had been wrong in their other assumption.

He wasn't a typical vampire…

"Ok, then, well…" Mike shifted from one foot to the other, not really knowing what else to say or do. Meanwhile, during their entire "conversation," Don spent the time thinking about what Owen had wanted, what Mike had inquired and Mike excitement in going topside.

It was weird.

No matter how old Mike got, he still got excited over going topside, which in itself wasn't the problem. The problem came when that "excitement" caused for another "in home accident," as he like to call them.

And Donny really didn't feel like fixing another game consol…or microwave…or coffee table.

"You know Mike," Don rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "If you started now and took the long way, you probably would be able to reach the shopping district by sunset."

Mike threw him a look. Leave it up to Don to make those kinds of calculations.

"Thanks for the tip, Mr. Science!" He rolled his eyes. Meanwhile, Don ignored his younger brother as his gaze went from him to his wrist watch.

He had to get back to work.

"I'm going back to the lab, if you guys don't mind going by yourselves." He didn't wait for an answer as he turned away; making is way back to the hallway and to his precious lab/haven. Unlike his younger brother, he'd rather spend his free time in the lab with his inventions rather than topside…unless it was in search of more lab equipment…

As Don walked away, Mike stared after him, the slow realization of what his statement meant rolling over him like pizza dough. His eyes widened.

If Don left...it would just be him…and Owen…

"But, don't you want to go topside?!" His voice reflected that of anxiousness and slight panic as he called after his bother. Don did catch it, but chose to ignore it as he kept walking.

"No." Don waved a hand in dismissal. "You guys go ahead. Have fun! Knock yourselves out!" And with that Mike found himself suddenly alone.

Well, not alone.

He turned, throwing an unsure look to the vampire behind him.

"Well…we had better get started then, shouldn't we?…" Mike's voice was nothing like before as it went quiet, unsure. Very opposite to what Owen had heard earlier. Nevertheless, Owen watched this turtle thoughtfully before nodding and heading for the door.

"Yes, we should."

Owen sighed as they strode through the dark and dank tunnels. Water rushed from nearly beyond their hearing, but that was the only sound that occupied the air.

Well, that plus an over active turtle.

Michelangelo talked nonstop; his voice a little too cheery and a slight bit rushed, but it wouldn't have mattered anyways.

Owen wasn't listening.

Well, he did try! But, after a while, all of the words just ran one into another as Owen's surprisingly long attention span just 'spanned' to an end. Although his ears tuned out completely, he did stay relatively alert, his eyes searching the twisting tunnels before him before finally growing bored with that as well.

He tuned back into the turtle's ramblings in for a moment, not at all surprised to find that Mike was still talking.

"Well, Owen, when you asked me if I knew any places, I was like, 'Whoa, dude! I sure do!' Now, my first thoughts, you know, when you asked me where to go, was to, like, take you to some place like "Bloomingdale's" or something…" Owen tuned out again, but this time, he settled for just watching the wonder next to him instead.

This Michelangelo, this 'Cooking' Michelangelo, had been one of the first ones out of all of the turtles to grab his attention in the beginning. However, back then, it had been for the wrong reasons.

He remembered shaking Mike's hand that first night of lessons, him being the first out of all of the turtles to 'shadow' their brother. To say that Mike was different back then would have been an understatement...

He remembered looking into the turtle's eyes at that moment, and seeing…pain.

Pain and sorrow.

It left the turtle's brown orbs dark and listless. It was a pain that Owen recognized, though. A pain that could only occur with the death of a loved one.

And if anyone knew about the death of loved ones, it was Owen.

However, just like in his own case, time was truly the healer of all wounds.

Now the turtle talked openly as they walked, a skip in his step, a song in his heart. A complete opposite to the turtle he had been. Nevertheless, Owen liked to think that this was the true Michelangelo, not that dreary sullen turtle he had first seen in Michelangelo.

But he couldn't help but wonder…what caused Mike's relapse in the first place? He knew it wasn't Donatello turning, that wasn't big enough for such a change in personality.

Yes, it had to have been something bigger…like the death of a father…

"Yup, your definitely gonna like this place, I'm almost sure of it!" Mike looked over to his companion, not at all surprised to find that the guy wasn't listening.

Yeah, he sometimes had that effect…Besides, even he was barely paying attention. His mouth moved, yes, but his mind was definitely elsewhere.

He was nervous, very nervous.

It would just be him and Owen.

Half of his anxiety came from the fact that he had no idea what to expect. It didn't seem like this guy had a lot of money, his old and ragged coat being enough proof of that. So, when Owen had mentioned going clothes shopping, part of him was even suspired that he could even afford to go shopping.

Meanwhile, the other half was just ecstatic about going topside.

Nevertheless, he was still excited about getting the vampire a new wardrobe. He looked over at guy now, the black on his body contrasting greatly to the paleness of his skin and hair…

It kind of reminded him of…

His thoughts got cut short as he grinned. Without warning, he grabbed the vampire by the arm and turned him in the other direction as he quickly picked up the pace.

"Whoa, wha-!"

Mike suddenly led him down a completely different tunnel as he broke out into a trot, dragging Owen along with him. When Owen finally found his footing, which didn't take too long, he pulled away from the turtle's grasp as he watched him for answers. Which also didn't take too long.

"I know the perfect place! It's this way!" Mike beamed. Bloomingdale's probably wasn't Owen's style.

But he knew what was…

Owen looked up at the store front in total distaste. The lights of the store's name flashed brightly in the dark of the night.

"'Punk 'n Goth!' But…I'm not punk!" He turned to the grinning turtle for some answers, but his only response was a raise of an eye ridge.

'Well, ya could have fooled me…'

Mike stepped up the store as he took the initiative. He opened the door, but soon found that Owen had neglected to join him. He turned in search of the vampire only to find him plastered to the same spot, his gaze up and on the store's front once again. His face reflected that of uncertainty.

Mike smiled. With years of practice and experience, he knew just what to do.

But would it work with Owen?…

"What's the matter?" Mike asked, his eye ridge wiggling at the question, "Ya, scared you might like it?" At that Owen stiffened, just as Mike hoped he would.

"No." He stated defiantly. He hated being challenged like that. Meanwhile, at Owen's assertion, Mike only shrugged. However, on the inside, he grinned. It was working…

"Well then, what's the problem?" Mike smiled as he saw the defiance and pride build in the guy before Owen walked up the store, joining him at the door. Mike opened the door wider and with an arm, motioned for Owen to go in first. And with no more than a look in the disguised turtle's direction, he did.

"There's no problem. No problem at all." He stated simply as he stepped inside.

Mike grinned.

That trick usually only worked with his brothers, but now he was glad to see that it worked with the newest addition to their home as well.

Being the youngest, it was only expected that he knew how to get his way.

"You sure showed me." He stated as his grin widened before walking inside himself.

To bad he perfected that talent a long time ago.

-

Lol, Punk! Lol! Well, anywho, the 'just life's' soon will be winding to a close, so enjoy it while you can, because after that, it's gonna just gonna be action action action!