Outside Chance

by WhyIsThisHappeningToMe

(set post s4 of TMNT 2012) Leo has to make a lifechanging decision when the rebel-foot clan destroys their home. In a desperate attempt to escape, the turtles use the strange substance 'purple ooze' to temporarily become human as a means to an end. But when the brothers are sepperated during the seige, how will they be able to find each other again before their enemies does?

9. If we only had the time (Part II)

Donnie had been starring at the envelope for a solid thirty minutes now.

He stood in what used to be the old archive hall at the OLS, now turned into a chemical storage room. Mr. Gilgamesh had been unusually worried when Donnie returned, and thankfully instead of having replaced him on the spot or fired him, decided to give him a second chance to prove his worth. Same thing couldn't be said for the scientists however, not particularily happy with his absence, as shown by them shoving past him in the hallway now with an added glare of death to boot, but Donnie didn't pay them any mind. After successfully sneaking away from cleaning the second-floor bathroom as punishment, he managed to find his way into the labs again during most of lunchbreak, making sure no one was there.

While he most likely had to explain to his boss sooner or later that he'd have to quit his job, for particularly world ending reasons, he still needed to figure out how to get the right security drives to track down the foot. And the only way to do that, was through the craters upon craters of mutation lying around somewhere hidden in the city. Finding that would be crucial to finding their leader, he reasoned, since researching last seen Oni-masks on the internet wasn't exactly the most efficient way to get to the bottom of things. Right now, the main objective was to find a way to break the anti-foot's hold over the lair, granting them access to the various trackers Donnie had placed around the city, and in return homing in on the energy the mutagen gave off with the alien tech still remaining. But Donnie wasn't only just thinking about the logistical aspect of their mission at the moment. More important le he reminded himself that time was running out, and Donnie wondered what good finding their enemies would be, if none of them would be breathing to stop them by then. Should I just… tell them? Donnie bit his lip, the little alarm clock in the room seemingly growing louder and louder, reminding him that November 18th was only five days away. He had to make a decision and soon… but what if they won't understand? Donnie didn't know if he could bare that, all too used to strangers resenting him in subtle ways, but his family resenting him? He didn't want to even think about that.

Which led him to the envelope.

It just lied there, tattered, but unscathed. He was thankful Davies or whatever his name was hadn't decided to tarnish it too, but he still couldn't get himself to open it. As if that simple yes or no inside would provide him with the answer he so desperately needed. He remembered Gilgamesh inviting him into his office once, and Donnie had been understandably very confused when the elf-looking man gave him, decided to give him a heart to heart about growing up. Lowering the authorian walls between them in some way, because despite the fact that Donnie wasjust an ordinary kid seeking a pay-check to him, for a brief moment, there had been another adult telling him that he could do more. He could take charge, live his full potential. Become the person that he wanted to be, instead of wasting his time scrubbing floors all day. It was just about there in the conversation Donnie had been convinced that he was going to get fired, making sneaking in and out of the building with useful supplies a whole lot more difficult if that was the case. But then he held out the envelope, the one Donnie hadn't told anyone he'd even send in the first place, like it had always been there, but did it with that sorta look in someone's eyes where you just know that they're genuinely happy for you.

It's been two weeks since then, and still Donnie's hands were trembling with the thought of what was written inside. Because depending on the answer, for once Donnie had to do something he'd almost rarely thought he was even allowed to think about… what was best for him. What he wanted… what he should do, his responsibilities always chained to the same old life his father left them. And while it was a life that he was more than proud of living, more than a little grateful to have build with his family- because they shared a bond people their age rarely did, truth be told, so how could he give that up? It just… wasn't a choice. It didn't seem right. But even so, wasn't he still allowed to move on if the opportunity came…? Why should he feel guilty about wanting more? After everything he'd done… why should he be held responsible for every little thing that went wrong? Why should he be the one responsible for cleaning it up?

With this in mind, Donnie reached out for the envelope. He bit the corner of it off, gently pulling apart the glue and ripping it open in a perfect line that didn't ruin the contents. He held up the corner, slowly pulling it out, bting his lip, just as-

"Danly! There you are! What the heck are you doing here?! Actually- never mind I don't care. Get out before the guide gets here- anyone sees you doing anything but cleaning the floor, you'll have to answer to me, understand?"

Donnie sighed, letting the moment pass and folded the paper back in the envelope. "It's actually Donatello, Mr. Gilgamesh, and yes sir, right away I- Wait, guide? What guide?"

"The school guide from Roosevelt. Didn't you get the memo? They're getting a free tour to help sponsor our division. Come on, get out, they'll be here soon"

Memo? There was no memo- no one certainly bothered to tell me! What interest would Roosevelt have with a low budget science facility? Donnie quickly gathered his stuff, managing somehow to smuggle three cylinders of fluid into his suit. When he got out into the hallway, the sound of a professor already going into lecturing about the different employees was present just further ahead. When he rounded the corner, he could see them going into the tech-department where of cause, Dave stood proud behind his desk showing the progress of his, what was it again? The automated fluid-sweep? What it really was, was a robotic, battery powered arm that swiped the desk of its surface automatically. Donnie let out a sigh. He'd singlehandedly designed and programmed probably one of the world's most effective combat-ai in recent years and yet this was Dave's proudest achievement? Amateur. He continued down the corner, down towards his now only slightly trashed sleeping space, wondering in silence if he should call up Mikey on the transmitter to see if he'd spotted anything during his patrol when-

He then and there lost all his human ability to breathe.

In the hallway, just a few feet ahead of him, stood no other than April O'Neil, talking to a scientist in the doorway. April… his heart skipped a beat, every single fragment in the room freezing into one single frame. He felt his knuckles tighten around his staff, mouth agape and in his poor handled panic, he turned around too quick to pay attention to his surroundings- and slammed his forehead directly into the wall, making everyone who witnessed it turn their heads. "Ouch! Uh…" His face went red, Donnie didn't know what to do. She doesn't know its me, should I tell her? Its safe to tell her now, right?! What do I have to hide? There's already an army of ninjas after me, so what do I have to lose? What should I say? Should I complement her hair? One liner, something like what's up? No that's stupid- you're taller than her you idiot! She's turning around, oh god, she's beautiful, oh god, I gotta move- wheredoIgowheredoIgowheredoIgo… think! JUST DO SOMETHING!

He made for the corner, ran around it as fast as he could until he stood once again, alone with no one to stare. Smooth, he thought, feeling like he just made the biggest mistake of his life and tried to control his breathing. I can't go back now! She probably already thinks I'm a freak! Raph was right… I have to tell her… or…

And it was one of these moments, where genuinely Donnie knew exactly when he just got a really bad, awful not-good idea. One that he was going to give a go, because at this point what else could go horribly wrong? So, Donnie as a result, found himself, simply waiting. By himself, stick in hand, mild panic attack. He stood in the corner, cleaned the same spot on the floor for five minutes are so, waiting for her to come around so he could apologize- wait, no what do I have to apologize for? For leaving? But we were protecting her, right? She must be so mad at us… at me… what if she hates me? Resents us for disappearing like that? I would be. God this relly is an awful idea. I should leave- no- yes. Oh dear…

"Hey, are you okay?"

"GaARGH!" Donnie nearly jumped into the ceiling. She was there, looking like herself- well maybe despite her short cuthair, but ultimately… there she was. After weeks and weeks of being gone, suddenly it was like all of that time didn't mean anything. Donnie was suddenly very aware of everything at once. But at the same time, he was if not completely convinced that he had also just become twenty IQ dumber than normally. "Oh, I-the-g-just-well-hu-g-s-ssup…?"

She looked non-understanding. Donnie was already mentally slapping himself.

"Yeah, so… I was just wondering if you could point me towards the nearest bathroom?"

"B-b-bathroom? Oh… yeah, of cause. Up the stairs, second floor to your right. I-I uh, can take you there? I mean only if you want to, I won't bother you if you'd rather go alone but you might get lost and well, that wouldn't bode too well for me either" he managed to stutter out, looking everywhere except at her face. But if he were to look, he would probably be able to see her staggering back confused. "Thanks, uh… "she leaned in, trying to read Donnie's name tag before his instincts thankfully kicked in just in time, and he managed to hide it behind his hand, panicking because that's when he finally looked at her face. Her slightly offended face, telling him that she hated him without a doubt, and he had to force himself to try to come up with something. The time ticked, tension arose, Donnie's lips trembled, when-

"Danly! What did I tell you! Take your stuff with you after you're done! Place is filthy enough as it is!" Tom like a saving grace, sauntered by angry and disgruntled. He nearly tossed a bucket's worth of mud onto Donnie's suit, if the former warrior didn't manage to catch it just in time. April was still there. Probably amused by his ridicule. Oh god, why is she still there. You blew it. You idiot. Why are you still trying?! She waited, arms folded behind her back patiently for him to introduce himself.

"Danly. Yeah, that's me" he gulped, never in a million years expecting the countless mispronounciations of his name to come in handy.

"April" she said, holding out her hand. Her hand. He took it slowly, for the first time feeling his human hand in hers, and it was like… fireworks went off inside his head. Losing all the tension build up in his knees, because he was shaking April O'Neil's hand in his, normal ten fingered and everything, and she was smiling like this was the first time they'd met.

"Nice to meet you"

"L-Likewise" Donnie muttered, feeling the air finally return to his lungs. The tour was still going on behind them but, neither really paid them any attention. Not even noticing the pin on the "fluid-sweeper" catching fire in the middle of Dave's presentation or the screams that followed as he frantically ran around for the fire extinguisher. "So… what brings you to OLS?"

"Nostalgia, I think. I'm leaving the city soon, but someone told me I should maybe stick around for a bit, so I guess, here I am!" she muttered, her arms going vertical in the air, and making Donnie flinch for a moment, thinking she'd use her powers on him or something. Her smile faded, eyes travelling to the different floorboards. "This is where my parents met, you know"

"Really? Kirby?"

Donnie didn't think before the words left his tongue, nearly biting it following the slip up.

"You're familiar with my dad?" she just asked, eyes glowing up in her face and Donnie could see himself stare back through her crystal blue eyes.

"O-o-only to some extent, I mean I've read some of his work, in the past. Can't remember, all a blur"

She nodded, her smile faltering a bit, "My mom was an intern, and my dad was testing out his neuro translator- thingy, I don't really remember the name, when it went awry and caught fire. My dad ran out into the hallway when they bumped into each other, and she tried to get it off, you know? It was love at first sight, or, at least, that's what my dad says"

Donnie was surprised… April had never shared anything like that with the turtles. Least of all with him. She mostly kept to herself, focusing solely on the present and what really mattered, not letting her personal history get in the way of anything. Staying true to her objective and always shoving her own emotions aside when it was the hardest thing to do. It was always something Donnie had admired immensely about April, though he rarely had the courage to admit it and flat out tell her. But yet here she was, opening herself up to Danly… a stranger. So, why couldn't she do the same with Donnie?

"Huh. I guess this place is more romantic than I thought. Who would've guessed" he mumbled, thinking back to the mild fire hazerd going on in Dave's lab. It was scary how easy it was, imagining Kirby running around with a burning neuro-amplifier on his head. Though he guessed that was to be expected from a disaster lab like this one. Didn't exactly pick it based on the efficiency it provided, as much as the subtlety… perhaps a little bit too, because Donnie remembered Kirby mentioning it shortly before the invasion.

"This is going to sound really weird but, you sound a little bit like someone I know- or, knew. Its weird, like I said, I feel like I keep running into strangers who remind me of my friends these days" April said, and at this Donnie instantly turned around, red in the face. Maybe she does know… maybe she can tell. Is she just waiting for me to actully say it?

"Yeah, I get that a lot hehe"

They stopped, reaching the stairs and for a moment they both seemed to forget where they were even going but alas, she continued; "I don't really see them anymore, guess that's why I'm reminiscing. Sorry"

"Don't be! You got nothing to apologize for" he burst out, voice squeaking and possibly a little too louder than he meant it to be. He subconsciously started scratching the back of his head, eyes darting down at his dirty shoes as every single cell in his body tried to stop him from what he was about to ask next, "So, uh… have you… ever had a… boyfriend?"

April responded almost immediately, nervous chuckling and her brows producing a slight wrinkle in between as she tried to catch her breath, "No, no, I mean… yeah I guess there was one guy, but he's long gone. And he wasn't really my boyfriend, more of a… helper-guy. Yeah. We just, wasn't made for each other. And honestly, I think I'm better off too- me with him? What kind of future would that be?"

Glass…

that's, probably the best way to describe the feeling digging itself into Donnie's chest at the bottom of that staircase, clutching the mop as if he held on for dear life. Like the room just darkened for forty-five minutes, leaving Donnie confused aback, trying to find his footing. Helper-guy, she said… That word it just seemed to stay in his subconcious long after she said it. He couldn't quite make it go away… but instead of lingering, Donnie tried instead to move his thoughts aside in favor of that softer feeling he felt just seconds ago. Maybe… maybe she was talking about someone else, he tried reassuring himself with, but a part, the more raitonal part of him still knew that the problem was, chance of that being the case only came from wishful thinking.

"Where's this guy now, do you think?" he asked, voice like a wobbly unstable line, but he was curious all the same.

April shrugged. "No idea. Far away as possible, I'd imagen. I think I stopped going after people like that a long time ago. "

This hurt more than Donnie thought the human heart was capable of hurting.

"I'm sorry…"
"For what? I'm fine! Really, some people you just gotta let go. Best way to move on, wouldn't you agree?"

And then a thought circulated in his mind, one he couldn't believe he hadn't even considered before this moment, "…d-did you even look?"

"Huh?"

He blinked, as if trying to wake from a bad dream until he reminded himself that he wasn't supposed to know her. That he wasn't Donnie right now, he was just a janitor helping a student find her way in the lab. Nothing else. Nothing that happened before or after mattered right now. He couldn't let his fears get the better of him. Not in front of her.

"I mean… for the bathroom. I mean, there's lots around here. I'm surprised you hadn't found one… already" he said, by sheer miracle managing a smile.

"What can I say- big building"

"Ye-yeah…"

"Well, thanks for the help, Darnly. I'll make sure not to get lost on the way back, this place is a labyrinth"

And with that, she vanished behind the corner. Out of the room, probably out of his life.

As for Donnie, following the most likely ten minutes of not having moved an inch, he rushed back to the storage room with a speed probably near that of a lightning rod. Shoving the equipment aside, locking the door and clearing the table, Donnie knew what he had to do now. Sparring the clock one more look before he scraped up the remaining pieces of his heart, burrying them, before he did what he did best.

He got to work.

---

"Oh, I'm never doing that again"

Raph stood leaned against the wall, head beneath his shoulders and feeling the green return to his face.
"You know, for a fearless ninja warrior who's defeated the shredder himself, you're surprisingly fragile" Casey taunted, putting the bike away and waiting patiently for his friend to finish gagging. Maybe he hasn't changed, smug prick...

"Whatever. What did you want to show me?" Raph asked, looking around the area.

They found themselves on a street where the most notable thing was that the buildings were close to crumpling. Planks were up in front of several windows and the people walking by were usually not in a hurry and few in between, unlike in central. Raph couldn't remember having been here before, which was odd because it seemed exactly like the sort of neighborhood he could get by, not having to adjust to the crowd in the same way a more populated area demanded. Casey led them down by the road, through a couple of alleys until finally they found themselves by the more smaller parts of the area. One house in particular stood out, from all the others, in the way that it was probably the only one with a warning sign in front, daring intruders to "come get me if you try cowards" followed by a poorly doodled skull in the corner. Gee, wonder who wrote that.

As they neared the front door it dawned on Raph that he was about to see where Casey Jones lived. Now he understood why he'd never been here before. Actually, why haven't I been here before? With Casey coming in and out of their home all the freaking time, it was strange that none of them would've visited at least once. Of cause not in person, granted, but at least gaining some idea of where their friend held residence. But no. Casey had kept it as quiet as. well… everything else going on in his life. Not that he refused to talk about it, necessarily, more that no one ever really asked, and Casey wasn't the most considered person in the world. It had just become this mutual agreement between the two. That if it wasn't important, it didn't need to be brought on the table. Well, his own ego aside...

Casey knocked once, before he realized that the door wasn't locked and so he went inside anyway. Raph felt… odd. He was a guest now. He'd never been a guest. How did he know how to behave? Would he have to meet Casey's parents? Finally seeing where this nutjob came from? What gives?

"What, you scared of the interior or what?" Casey called, as Raph stood sceptic in the hallway. When he got inside, he realized that the inside was just as stand still as the outside. With dark wooden walls, and a low to the ground ceiling it was funny to see Casey having to crunch a little down to get through the opening. There wasn't a lot of decorating around, picture frames hanging crookedly of shapes and colors that the so-called artists called "expression", but Raph never understood what all the fuss was about, nor did he have any plans to. There was a dusty carpet on the floor, leading into a small kitchen mostly plagued by dishware that piled up in the sink. Lights were hung up in various places around the corners, as if someone desperately had tried to salvage the mess with something a little more friendly to the eye. Or maybe they just couldn't afford a proper lamp, given the only one Raph could find was the one hanging bulp-less in the ceiling over the nightstand, that he wondered if it was supposed to be their dinner table.

Not taking his shoes off, figuring this shouldn't take long, he followed Casey through the door, into the living room where-

"Stop"

Raph looked down, noticing the yellow line taped to the floor in front of him, separating the kitchen from the rest of the room. And right there, on the other side of it, stood a girl holding her hand up. She looked like she was about ten, only half the height of Casey, who already overstepped his boundaries apparently, going to the kitchen to rummage through the cabinets. Her hair was dark, matching that of his friend, pulled down over her shoulders in somewhat manageable order. Her eyes were blue, freckles on the side of her cheeks, and both hands covered in yellow washing gloves obviously too big for her, and an overgrown T-shirt and sweatpants. That's when Raph had a second realization of the day… Didn't Casey once mention something about a sister?

"You are now below the entering line. If you want to enter the safe zone, say the password and I might let you in or destroy you, stranger. It's not personal, just normal procedure" she said, matter of factly. Now all of a sudden Raph didn't feel like the alien anymore.

"Come on, Lizzie we're having guests over" Casey argued, coming out of the kitchen with a bag of chips under his arm.
"That goes for you too, Arnold"

Raph nearly snorted at this, "Arnold?"

"Shut your pie whole, Raph"

"Who's your friend?" she asked, face blank but perhaps a little bit intrigued all the same. Something told Raph that it was probably a rare occurrence for his friend to bring home visitors, at least going by how the girl starred blankly up at him. He clasped him on the shoulder, proudly placing himself in between the two hand on each, "Lizzie, meet Raph. Raph, Lizzie. My little sister" he said, to which Raph held out his hand. So far none of them had as much as smiled during this greeting, sharing the same strict glare meaning either tread lightly or I don't care you are or (the most likely one) both at once.

"I only shake hands with pacifists" she just said, shrugging before turning back to her dishes, and honestly Raph didn't know how to react. So far she seemed nothing like her brother and it made him think, were all kids like this?

"Where's dad?" Casey asked, eyeing an empty chair next to the TV.

"Out. I think he went for a smoke" Lizzie said, not turning around from the plate she was now viciously scrubbing with a soaked cloth. He noticed her left leg, dragging a bit as she walked, but choose not to ask.

"When?"

She paused, water still running in the tap. "Three hours ago…"

"Figures" Casey just said, and Raph could see the frown on his friend, shaking it off for a moment and gesturing for him to follow upstairs. "Be down in a second-

"Have you been drinking?"

Casey froze, seemingly forgetting the fact that he'd spilled beer all over his shirt, leaving it stained and very much not obvious to the blind eye. But you didn't need to see it, to smell it either, and all Raph could think at that moment was the fact that Casey just got busted by a ten year old.

"Whaaaaat? No! What would make you think that?"

Lizzie let out a gasp, turning around both hands on her side,

"Arnold Benrid Casey"

"Elizabeth Felicia Gerda"

Why am I here again…?

"You're a bad liar!" she yelled, as Casey dragged Raph through the door.

"I love you too!"
"You owe me a dollar!"

"I'll pay you back when you're legal!" he called out, closing the door behind them. He didn't say much, his expressions giving all the signs of not a word just with his eyes. Raph on the other hand, couldn't help but smile a bit, seeing this new side of him brought to life for the first time in the two years they'd known each other.

"Arnold Benrid?"

"Put a sock in it, Raph" he muttered, climbing over the bed and continuing on out the window. Raph spared the place a quick glance, though there wasn't much to spectacle. That is to say, not much he wouldn't have expected there to be in Casey Jones' bedroom. Posters of cheesy rock bands hanging badly placed on the walls, a broken plastic guitar in the corner, dark curtains, comic books stacked in the corner, and old cans lying everywhere that wasn't a table. The only thing missing, was an old hockey mask and hockey sticks, a pair of ice-skates and spray cans, but Raph figured Casey most likely hid them somewhere less conspicuous. After all, didn't seem like he'd went around telling his sister about his other activities without thinking twice, thinking if he did, she'd probably already know who he was. Or well, then again maybe not. Raph wouldn't put it passed his friend to tell stories about the group of mutants living underneath the sewers of New York City underground, but not the stranger disrespecting the "line".

They went outside, finding a small ladder wedged onto the side of the roof, and Casey reached out a hand for Raph to grab onto. When they made it onto the roof, the surprising thing was that the view reached even further beyond his backyard than most of the view down the docks could ever dream of. New York was almost even bigger from up there than when sprinting across the building tops, enemies at your heels.

"I can't believe I've never been here before"

Casey shrugged, offering him the bag, "Well, it's not much. I bet the sewers look pretty sweet to you right now, huh?"

"What are you kidding? And here I thought you lived in some scrapyeard, but this- this is great. " Raph muttered, really meaning it. This was not at all how he would've imagined his best friend's home to look like, and though it wasn't much, he still felt the change of pace from the lair. (Or maybe he was just thankful to no longer be on that monstrosity of a bike.)

"Not the word I'd use…" he muttered, a shadow over Casey's face.

"How old is she?" Raph tried to change the subject, aware of the fact that he probably had a lot of his mind too, getting used to his partner in crime now being a walking in-flesh person with extraordinary ease.
"Eleven. Easy to forget sometimes. She's smarter than both my dad and I put together" he said, and despite only having known of her existence for all but two minutes, Raph couldn't help but agree.
"Why did you bring me here?"

Casey took a deep breath, and there was that feeling in the air where you realized the jokes were over now, inviting Raph to listen up and pay attention. Pay attention to Casey Jones nonetheless.

"Three months ago, when I came looking for you, I wasn't alone. Those bug-faced freaks followed me when I got home that day, scared out of my mind. Dad was knocked out on the couch, but it was so dark I just assumed he was wasted and went into the living room, just minding my own business, you know? I go up to say goodnight to Lizzie, but she's not there. I hear something moving underneath her bed, I go to check, but when I do someone grabs me from behind and well, that's how it started…"

Raph felt his grib tighten around the ledge, gritting his teeth.

"Luckily, I was still in my hardcore battle gear, so I flick my mask over my face and start swinging...

I turn around, get about five seconds before this sharp burning pain comes from out of nowhere and hits me in the side. But I could handle it. Not at all nearly passed out or something…." he chuckled, hands twitchy. "Of cause, like the total badass I am, I manage to tackle the first guy to the ground and wouldn't you know it, it's a bug party because they're all wearing those freaky glowing bulbs with those freakishly big eye masks- whatever they are.

I thought I had them. You know for the guy who took down a giant tiger with an ice-blaster this should be no big deal right? Wrong. I only get one hit on this weird mask-wearing dude before they got me pinned. There I am, ugly bug-faced freaks in my home, my hockey stick as good as gone, and then I see Lizzie lying underneath the bed. She was wise enough to hold her breath tho, I don't think they even noticed she was there before the beating"

Raph's heart sank, "Beating?"

Casey, side, slowly pulling up his shirt, revealing what nearly made Raph dig his nails into his hand, a big purple wound, gauching into his skin. Lines were zigzagging around it, turning into red lines and a big cut scar badly sewn over the middle, not hiding the blue-ish purple-ish hue. Raph was unable to look away, until Casey aknowledging the grimness, finally pulled it down again and continued.

"I tried to call dad, but he's out cold. I don't think he even noticed anyone coming in- but it's a little hard taking his word for it these days. They start hitting on me, one after another. Broke my nose, my rib, nearly my leg too if it wasn't for Lizzie. They took off my mask, grabbed me by the hair, which would've probably been the most metal thing to ever happen to me, aside from surviving falling off a skyscraber… but that's when Lizzie came out of hiding. You notice her walking funny? "

A chill went down Raph's spine.

"Long story short, freak number one tells me to stay out of their 'business' or whatever or they'd come after us and finish the job..." he finished, regaining some of his usual aloof self, despite his story, and turning to look his friend in the eyes, now bagged and darker.

"It's not like I didn't try to look for you, Raph. I did. For weeks I did. I checked TCRI, I checked every corner of every tunnel in the underground, I even checked up with April, who wouldn't return my texts, but everyone was just… gone. So, I get that you've been through a lot. And I'm here for, whatever I can do to help you guys out, but as much as I'd love to give those suckers what's comin' to them, I'm not gonna risk my little sister getting hurt again. You understand that right?"

Raph didn't know what to say… for the first time in his life, Casey for the first time making him lost for words. All this time he'd spend feeling sorry for himself under a bridge while this was going on… he felt terrible. Worse than terrible, he should've done something. His father should've done something, how could a parent be that irresponsible? How could he not have known… hell this wasn't exactly something you'd keep behind closed doors. Casey even told him about his family during the invasion, though it was only now that he felt the same feeling he'd felt after nearly loosing Leo. And he'd done nothing to stop it. None of them had, leaving Casey alone by himself, how could they've been so naïve to think their enemies wouldn't still go after them? If anything, their little scheme had invited the bastards directly into Casey's home, courtecy of their little plan, proving oncem ore to have been a terrible idea.

There was a silence, one of those silences between friends where, you don't really need to say anything to understand. Raph patted him on the back, trying to figure out the words, avoiding anything but a sentimental I'm sorry to let his friend know that he meant it. Until finally he came up with the annual, "Well, what do you know, guess the legendary Casey Jones really do have a heart. Or should I say, Arnold Jones? "

Succesfully breaking the tension as his friend returned the favor, "Coming from the guy who can't even ride a bike"

"Who needs a bike when you got a battle cruiser, genius?" and as he said this, Raph remembered how much he missed the Shellraizer, wondering if the AF had napped that too from right under their noses. He certainly wouldn't put it passed them.

Suddenly, Lizzie's head snuck out from the open window, "Arnold! Dad's home!"

They both sighed, Raph hoisting himself to his feet and narrowly balancing himself to the other side of the roof, "Welp, looks like it's go time" he muttered, before promptly vanishing out of sight.

---

Mikey wasn't a very… inconspicuous person, to say the least. Whether it be running around in a trench coat, or take his nun chucks to school, there was no doubt that Mikey rarely thought things through when it came to it. He always just kinda, went for it. He went for it when he asked Mrs. Robertson if he could stay at her place in August. He 'went' for it when he figured out that it was possible to go to the zoo in broad day light, or when he was told that taking samples at the local shopping mall wasn't considered "stealing".

But then came the end of the school day.

He just got off the bus and started pacing down towards the empty park, as Mikey made his way jumping each hollow distance between the various buildings in his path. It was rainy these days, so Mikey just had to follow the hollow umbrella below in the crowd of several, trying not to lose track or maybe hoping that he eventually did. He'd been on patrol for the past few days, trying to keep track of any AF activity surrounding the area closest to the lair, but with not much to show for it.
Mikey was bored. He knew getting abducted by bad guys with Halloween masks on and electrified, probably wasn't most people's definition of "boredom", but he just couldn't help it. He missed school, he missed the bullies, the faulty water fountains, the getting shoved into lockers, even detention was a thrill to Mikey, and he relished every minute of it, because he'd spend it with Simon. He missed his fights with Miss Robertson, the silent conversations with Tyler, (totally not one-sided). Sure, he was ECSTATIC to be his old butt kicking ninja self again for sure, at least to some extent, well he was still human after all. So, why not enjoy it for as long as it lasted, he figured? Until they'd eventually fight the bad guys off and save the day like they always did, these moments being all he'd probably have left as human. And it… terrified him, to be honest. Being isolated again, being a mutant again, someone people had a harder time realizing how amazing he could really be. Because make no mistake, Mikey knew he was awesome, it was just the rest of the world that begged to differ. Sometimes his brother's as well, which, coincidentally became yet another reason he feared what they'd say if he screwed this one up. Sure, Mikey missed the regular life just as much as he missed the wacky, totally bonkers upside-down world that he'd passioned himself in living to the max, but… what if he was just not good at it anymore? And even worse… would it be too late to tell Simon the truth?

So, all in all, Mikey wasn't super at the top of his game today. He hadn't been for long and he wasn't exactly sure today would be the day his confidence could safe him either- contrary to all the other days where well… he didn't have any. Every noon that came by, he continually tried and failed to forget about that one particular street corner where his friend would always step off after school. He'd forget to not forget that he had to forget about him, and leave him out of his problems, but… this was the day, Mikey told himself… the day he gets to know the real me. The truth. He'd been avoiding it for so long, but if the others found out, he would never not hear the end of it. He didn't just feel like he owed Simon the truth after everything they'd been through, but he needed for him to realize, that once he chanced back, he'd still be the same Mikey he'd always been. How else to make him see that, if it didn't come from him first?

Mikey took a breath, playing to his spontaneousness as Simon went around the corner towards the park. He followed, tip-toing down to the concrete, where he felt every nerve in his body begin to tighten as if the purple mutagen in his veins simply refused to do this. Calm down, purp pals blood cell- something's whatever Donnie called you… Ninja senses don't fail me now. He won't be mad. He won't be mad… right? Mikey gulped, as Simon passed the central park and continued down the pathway that would lead him to one of the benches where he opened a small book he carried, though Mikey didn't know what it was about. He hid himself behind one of the decorative trees lined up on the pathway where people passed through on the regular, just a few feet away from possibly ruining everything. He wished he could ask Leo what to do. He'd probably know, giving Mikey that old fashioned leader spiel about how to talk to people. Or maybe he'd just go full-blown captain Ryan on him, leaving Mikey to do the usual, uh-huh, yeah, go on, while actually not listening in truth. He missed those two. The lair most of all. It was funny to him how him going back there, had indirectly led to him reuniting with his brothers again, while also pulling him away from Simon. But this was his mess to clean up, and he wasn't going to give up on them that easily.

He took one step, then two back, then two more forward, going through all the possible scenarios in his head, in the end causing him to go back to the tree, hands on his head coming up with any possible excuse not to go through with this. But he was right there! It was now or never! But what if… what if he won't understand? What if he'll never want to see me again? He probably won't believe me either, Leo didn't. If I can't even convince him, how am I supposed to get through to Simon? He'll never want to see me again when I'm myself again, that's for sure… maybe it was best to leave it for now. Wait, despite the pit in his stomach. Wait for when the danger was passed and then he could apologize properly, instead of first having to explain why Mikey had decided to basically pull a Donnie on him,every day since last week by following him around instead of simply just talking to him… What was I thinking? It's late too… I should probably get back before-

SQUEEK

"Argh! Not the face!" Mikey yelled out, almost immediately going into combat mode. Then he looked down and saw that, well, he'd stepped on a chew toy. Left by a black furred dog about twenty times smaller than himself. Ups, false alarm. He let out a sigh of relief, packing away his nunchucks, when he turned his head and saw Simon starring back at him eyes wide. He dropped his book, took off his glasses for a moment and let out a shivery breath culminating in

"M-Mikey?"

Mikey let out a growl, pointed his finger directly at the dog's snout, "This is all your fault Sparky" he whispered, vowing revenge one day, as the old lady offendedly pulled at the leash.

Well, guess it's too late now.

"Surprise! " he held out his hands and shook 'em too long to fill the awkward pause. Simon was still comprehending. "Just fyi, I was not stalking you! No! Just doing some-w-wood work, yeah, that's my new hobby now, checking on the trees, yeah nature! LOVE it. My pals, yeah, yeah, very normal. For the record might I say that's a mighty fine jacket you got there, hehehe…he… also, THANKS A LOT DOG! TRYING TO HAVE A MOMENT HERE THANK YOU VERY MUCH! JUST HAD TO RUIN IT, DIDN'T YOU!? Man… some people these days. Just doesn't know how to keep their stuff together. And I don't trust that lady either-woa-

Simon threw his arms around Mikey, hugging him tightly. Mikey in response, unable to move his arms, patted his friend on the back, the half-fake laughter in his throat slowly driveling out, "Hi, Simon…"

He let go, for a second making it seem like he was going in for another when, when instead, he grabbed the cover of his book and promptly smacked it over his head, Mikey not dodging the blow. "Where in the heck have you been?! Have you any idea how worried I've been!? You've been gone all week! What happened to you?!" he yelled, too many emotions running over his face for one person to count, but the most prominent at the moment being hot fueled anger. Though not the one Mikey had pictured in his head. This one was, admittedly deserved.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave like that. Wasn't a cool thing to do"

"You think?!" he yelled, pacing around blistering for a moment until he could manage a solid breath, collecting himself, "Jesus Mikey… you look… actually pretty well"

"Yeah, it's a choice"

Mikey figured that if he just pretended like nothing happened, maybe he could get back on Simon's good side. He should've figured that his friend wouldn't relent so easily.

"There's been police around your house, you know. They thought you- that you… died. I nearly damn believed them too! Been scarred out of their mind, calling everyone. My parents have been phoned, Mrs. Robertson's a mess and now you're just… okay?"

Mikey sighed, eyes darting to the ground as rain started pouring, "…no. Not really. I mean- a lot of good's happened for sure! And I wanna tell you bout it, trust me- it's just hard to explain"

"Try me. Mikey I nearly thought you were gone for good there for a moment"

"Please! It's me! Ninja fighting warrior, remember? There's nothing that can stop me, you know that, Si! Come on" he argued, but it only served to make him feel more fragile. Mikey saw the pain on Simon's face and once again felt that before-spoken pit growing to double the size, his eyes alone, almost enough to make him wish he'd never ran away in the first place.

"So, you weren't kidnapped? No one hurt you? You didn't get lost somewhere, something like that?"

"Well… not exactly like that but-

"Mikey!"

"What?! I said I'm fine, and I am. Anyway, it's over now, so I have to tell you something-

"We weren't the only ones looking for you either." Simon said, and for a moment Mikey feared the worst had happened, and yet, that wasn't what he was referring to. "Your brothers came by too."

Mikey couldn't believe what he was hearing. Well, he could it was rather more like he didn't know how that was even possible. "They… they did? You sure?"

He nodded slowly, clearly not having made the greatest impression, Mikey figured, and ready to demand some answers when he got back to the bridge. Why wouldn't they tell him they'd talked to Simon? What had they talked about? Did they talk about me? What did he say? Oh god, its juts like in my comic…

"Yeah, nearly pulled Nick Mosby's hair out too. They're too scared to talk about it, figures… They're still jackasses, but they don't pick on me anyone. I'm guessing that's thanks to them"

"Yeah, Raph's like that hehe… " Mikey chuckled, not having a hard time imagining his big brother throwing those jerks halfway across the schoolyard. Awesome. The thought lingered if only for a moment however, as attention was turned back to the fact that it had been a solid two minutes now and Mikey still hadn't explained himself.

"How long have you known about them?" Simon asked as Mikey felt the heaviness of trying to be honest with his friend gulp in his throat.

"It's complicated…"

"Complicated how?! I'm just worried about you. Ever since we went to see 'Wasteland Warriors' you've been acting like someone's after you or something. Is that why…?"

As you could imagine, it took Mikey a moment to figure what he'd meant, panicking once he realized, though in the grand scheme of things it wasn't very hard to figure why he'd think that. The brothers hadn't exactly been know to be very discreet about their lifestyle. Half the population of New York who'd even seen them probably thought they were lunatics by now.
"No! No, no, no it's not like that!"

"Then what is it? What, are you scared to go back to Mrs. Robertson or something…? Wait a minute- " Simon's eyes suddenly lit up in realization. "What are we standing around here for? Let's go to her! Right now, come on-

Simon grabbed Mikey's wrist and started dragging, but not surprisingly, he managed to free himself with relative ease. "I can't! You don't understand it's dangerous for me to be around you, okay?" he said, Simon not understanding.

The last thing Mikey wanted was to see the Robertson's- especially after what he'd said to Mrs. Robertson before he ran away… even if he could go back, who was to say they'd even take him? They weren't his family, not like his true one, who'd risked their neck tracking him down. What place did he have in their home now?

"Mikey, this is serious"
"I am being serious! Why doesn't anyone else take me seriously these days, I'm just trying to tell you the truth!"

Simon sighed, and Mikey realized he might've gotten a little carried away, instantly regretting raising his voice.
"Okay, you're right. I'm sorry, I've just… I was worried"

"Yeah, me too" he muttered, and genuinely meaning it. It's now or never, he thought clinging to the handle of his weapons as if they'd somehow shield him from whatever consequences would spur from what he was about to do next. "Simon, the truth is… "

"Yeah?"

Now or never.

"The thing about me and my brothers is…"

"What?" he asked, taking a step closer. Mikey's breathing accelerated.

Now… or never…

"We… "

Now… or… Mikey gulped. Simon was no longer mad at him, heck he'd even sparred him enough of his patience to stick around. The way he looked at him… he didn't want Simon to look at him any differently. And maybe… maybe he wouldn't have to."… we… we're nerds."

"Wait- What?"

Mikey nodded, assuring though at the same time it felt like he'd just send a bomb into the center of his mind and left it to go off without blinking. "Like… major nerds. Gets a little too intense sometime, so that's when I forget how to be honest with you. About real life stuff, normal people things and you know… And the truth is that soon, I won't be around anymore… I have to transfer with my brothers to another school, so I was too afraid that if I stayed, I might've not been able to tell you why I was leaving. And that's why I ran away, I guess because… I don't want to lose you, Si"

"Wait, you don't wanna lose you? Or did you mean-

-I just meant that I don't wanna lose you, as in-

"Me, ah yeah that's what I thought just wanted to…

"Clarify?" Simon laughed. He always finished Mikey's sentences when he'd forgotten the right words. At least that hadn't changed.

"Yeah" he muttered, and they both laughed. In the rain, just the two of them most likely about to get a major fever incoming from standing outside so long arguing. I'm such a dirtklod… But, while Mikey hated himself for holding back the truth, once again, failing to be honest and risking the safety of the people he cared about, Mikey was too happy to have his friend back that he didn't pay it any mind. He scratched the back of his hair, feeling it as 'nervous habit number twenty-five' made him pull apart the strands and null them over each other awkwardly.

"I'm sorry I lied to you"

"I'm sorry for hitting you over the head with Jane Austin."

"Eh, I'm used to it" he shrugged, as Simon lifted his umbrella over Mikey's head rain drumming over them. He smiled, that usual self-assured smile of his and gestured back towards the city. "So, you're gonna tell me what's going on, on the way or…?" he asked, to which Mikey excitedly felt the adrenaline kick back into his system. Or maybe that was just the snicker bar he'd stuffed in his jacket on the way there."Yeah, it's a funny story actually-

"If it's the one with the crocodile in the sewer, then I think I'll pass"
"It's an alligator, and no not that one. This one was way more awesomnastic" he said, emphasis on the awesome.
"Sure buddy, whatever you say." Simon chuckled.

Good to have you back, Mikey…"

---

"You want me to what?!"

The call came at 3 pm, an hour after the detective was supposed to come home, granted Leo had gotten all too used to being left alone these last couple of days to find it out of the ordinary. It was pouring outside, the rain drumming away at the sidewalk and Leo had made sure to keep all curtains rolled up, so that the officer in the black police car down by the sidewalk would have a good view.

This was the routine now, Leo starting to feel more and more like a damsel in distress, but fact remained that he didn't want to share a prison cell more than he wanted to get outside. So, when his phone rang, it wasn't so much that he was surprised that the cop would be late again or just, not bothering to leave his office at all for another week. Moreover, that this time Leo got a call in the first place, detailing why- making him slightly sceptic to pick up the phone at all. Eleven people had been killed so far or vanished in total, all over New York City, the police doing everything they could to cover it up. And as time went on, the more Leo couldn't help but wonder if any of it had anything to do with Karai as well. What if something had happened to her, and that's why she hadn't come back? Was she in danger? If so, what could Leo do? Other than sitting around twiddling his thumbs, anxiously waiting for news all day that never came. But then, the phone rang, Hopkins' voice sounding on the other end- And this is where it got tricky.

"I thought you'd be thrilled. You've practically mastered the art of defying my orders already. What? If I tell you to stay inside, would you do it then?"

Leo was starring at the set of katanas tossed onto the table, phone in hand and still not quite comprehending what the detective was asking of him.

"But I don't understand, you said they were fake! Isn't that why you didn't take them to the station? What made you change your mind?"
"Somethin' tells me you're not honestly that slow, Leo. The blades are real, alright- I know that now. Question is: where the heck did they come from and from who? That's where you come in"

Leo grabbed one end of the blades, unsheathing them from the holster and running his hands over the metal carefully, to the point whereas he did, it slowly started to make him wonder how- if Hopkins turned out to be right, he could've been so oblivious to them all this time. Housing a clue as essential as these for so long without bothering to even use them. It wasn't his style, like… at all. No, Hopkins had chosen to keep them to himself. He must've. Of cause if he, (like Leo had), initially just thought them to be nothing but toys, an excuse that the more he thought about it, started to sound like his mind had simply refused to acknowledge them to belong to him in the first place, then it didn't make sense why Hopkins would hide them. Not even Leo had believed them to be real at all, if it weren't for every nerve in his body telling him otherwise. If it weren't for that odd little sensation that struck him every time he held them in his hands, telling him that's exactly where they belonged… And then Leo had another thought, clinging to the comfort of speaking over the phone and not face to face where the detective's death-stare would most likely render him done for;

"Wait a minute… is that why you didn't bring them to the station? It is, isn't it? To be one step ahead in the investigation. They don't even know you have them, do they?"

"You've gotta be kidding me- People are being killed out there! This isn't about saving my job… anymore. Look- I was wrong to keep you in the dark, okay? But I'm really onto something here, and that's why in case I don't come back, I need you to fill in the blanks. And you can't do that from an apartment window. I- oh I'm definitely going to regret this- but… I need your help"

Leo couldn't believe that those words just came out of Hopkins' mouth, making him pull up into an unapologetic smirk.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard that? Can you say that again? You need my what?"

"Leo"

"Okay, okay…" he muttered, walking over to the window where he placed himself to stand just out of sight, getting a good look at the streets below. It was a miracle Hopkins hadn't noticed the broken window yet, or the disabled security cameras, though in comparison to the rest of the apartment, he supposed it made sense why that would be a miniscule thing around here.

"Where do I need to go?"

"There's a guy, somewhere down near Chinatown. Murakami, something? I already left you the address on the fridge-

Leo was already in the kitchen, picking out the yellow sticky-note sketched out over the calendar. He held it up into the light just to make sure it was the right one, but sure enough there it was. "24/7", Satoru Murakami-san.

"Got it."

"Okay, now you see that guy down in the black Ford? Names Bill- he used to work in my division, not very bright. They probably only gave him the job because he was too busy flirting with his boss when the others weren't looking. Should be easy enough to get passed him"

"You're actually ordering me to break out of here to go scope out some clues? Won't your superiors notice?" Leo asked, sneaking a peak down at the blonde officer, looking to be somewhere in his twenties. Of course, they'd put one of their rookies on babysitting duty…
"It's my job to worry about them, it's your job to do what I tell you."

Leo was still struggling to comprehend what the stoic detective was asking of him, and with good reason of course. Always off in his obvious way of avoiding Leo at all costs, hiding information even now, but there was something off. He wasn't sure what the detective wasn't telling him, since that was really just his usual way of being him, but this time it felt important. Why else would he ask Leo for help all of sudden? Especially when so much evidence pointed against Hopkins having been right all along about him. If anything, shouldn't he be more than happy to leave the young newbie down in the ford, right now in middle of scratching his elbow in his custody? Why risk his job all of a sudden? His badge? Everything he's worked for?

"Did something happen? Why can't you just go?"

"Well as much as I'd love to take you up on that offer myself, I've got my hands full already, and besides, you don't have anything better to do right? You wanted to help solve this case: here's your chance"

Leo paused, well aware that he probably wouldn't get much out of asking him, though that didn't exactly stop him from trying.

"There's something you're not telling me"

The detective's voice softened, as if caught in a momentary lapse of emotional detachment.

"It's like I told you, Leo. I got your back. And I'm planning to keep my word on that, but you gotta just- can't you just trust me on this one? I'm getting closer here- I can feel it. But you and I both know we need all the help we can get here"

Leo sighed, clutching the note in his hands, more than a little tempted to simply rip the thing in half and hang up the phone. Go back to convincing himself that whatever was going on out there, wasn't worth getting shot at because Hopkins was lagging in efficiency. Because that was an option too, he reminded himself. He could stay… could keep waiting for people to give him the answers instead of bringing anyone else in danger like last time, to get out of his own head for once and be responsible. Because Leo was not an idiot- well, some might argue, but that's not what's important. He knew that sooner or later the NYCPD would most likely come for him anyway to take him into custody, and by then it would probably be too late to do anything worthwhile. He recognized that every murder began the moment anyone mentioned the name Hamato Yoshi. And that there had to be a very good explanation as to why he was carrying samurai weapons on him, why he could do things that made no sense whatsoever, almost like he didn't even have to think about it. That the same features that always seemed so unrecognizable on Leo in the mirror, was somehow linked to those three kids and a legacy that all signs pointed towards him belonging to.

He was a part of this. Long before, he met the detective. Long before he'd even woken up in the hospital. And while he'd always wished that he was not unlike any other confused teenager, with friends and a family somewhere waiting for him, it was slowly starting to dawn on him that that reality was far from the truth. Well, maybe not too far…. He once again, was reminded of the PD fighting lunatics breaking into the apartment, and it made him start to think… reconsider…

"Okay. Fine. I'll go…"

"You know what to do-"

"Hopkins! " Leo began, for a second thinking he'd already hung up on him.

"What is it?"

I must be losing my mind here… Leo held up the katana one more time, feeling the weight of it in his hands while he looked over at the open file still on the table and making him wonder,

"Did… did Hamato Yoshi have any sons?" he asked, carefully reevaluating his sanity as he heard the words escape his mouth.

"Why the hell are you asking that all of a sudden?"
"Just a thought…" he muttered, tying his shoes and strapping the blades over his back. The detective seemed to have to think on it for a moment before replying back.
"Well, sorry to disappoint ya, but according to records, he only had a daughter."

Then, without warning, something in Leo's mind clicked.

"Karai"

Leo slapped his hand over his mouth so quickly that the reflex alone could potentially start a fire, as if that would somehow erase what he just said out loud. Luckily, it didn't seem like the answer the detective was looking for. Unfortunately, neither was it what Leo was hoping to hear…

"What? No. Her name was Hamato Miwa. "

Okay, so not the same person… but they look so much alike! And even the age matches the time of the fire. It had to be her… right?

"And there wasn't anyone else? No, I dunno, distant relatives? Cousins? Anyone else?"

"It's like the file I showed you already. None made it out alive in that fire. Well, at least that's what Saki told locals, so that's all we really have to go on"

Suddenly, it was like a needle just pierced through the side of Leo's brain. A flash of white filled his vision for a couple of seconds, in his head as real as the air he breathed, quickly followed by something moving behind him. Dark, lurking… dangerous. He turned around, the sound of blades slicing across his back almost making him scream without screaming as lightning nearly made him tumble over, a scenery of snow and enemies surrounding him, until all of a sudden…

he was back in the apartment. Completely unscathed. Like it was all in his head. Like a memory of some sort… and not a very pleasant one at that. Leo leaned over the dinner table, the phone somehow having ended up on the other side. Saki… Oroku Saki… why do I know that name?

"Leo? Leo, you good?"

Remembering Hopkins still on the call, Leo fumbled to quickly pick up the phone again, almost panting, but ultimately okay.

"Yeah, yeah sorry" he muttered, as Hopkins collected himself eager to get going.

"We'll talk about this when I get back, alright?"

"Got it."

"And eh… be careful"

Leo couldn't help but chuckle at this, given his track record this past week had been anything but careful. Hearing the geezer's genuine concern however, he held back from stating the obvious.

"As always"

---

Three months ago, Donnie found himself alone, waiting… the only roof over his head being an almost done-for water tower and blankets.

But he wasn't lonely pr. say… not really and if you really think about it- perhaps that's where it all went downhill.

One could say that this was because Donnie, at this point, already held the firm belief that he'd undoubtably find his family before the week was over, but Donnie had always been good at adapting, at least he'd certainly thought so. He prided himself on it in fact, managing his emotions and being able to let himself get lost in his research. He didn't let it phase him that it had been two nights since the transformation, three days of scouting the underground, the buildings, every single sewer cover he could find, waiting for anyone with a red, blue or orange mask to show. Waiting for any foot soldier scouting the area, coming in or out, any irregular activity, but though so far his brothers had been thrown to all the winds, Donnie refused to let this get him down. By combatting these fears, he'd instead dedicated himself to the mutation-situation project, as he'd christened it himself.

"Okay, let's see, first, limbs"

The process of getting used to the DNA reconstruction was… a long one. Donnie had originally begun by running up and down the stairs of an abandoned office building, normally an easy feat, if it wasn't for the fact that his muscles already became exhausted after three rounds. He used the bo to balance himself upright, mildly annoyed that his legs still weren't responding well. Hmmm… guess the mutagen must've neglected my metabolism as well. Years of ninjitsu training, out the window… Well, we'll see about that.

He continued like this for weeks on end, building up a routine that genuinely involved himself, a stick and street food he'd collected like a rat through the city. He felt like a new-born, restarting his training every day, forcing himself to build up momentum, so that his fighting abilities wouldn't get lost on him. He looked at the clock, ticking away as the constant reminder of what his goal was and he kept looking. Asking around local folks, trying (and learning the hard way) that simply borrowing a functional computer to further his research wasn't ideal for humans without money. Instead, he tried going to the local library, a place that needless to say, blew him away in all possible ways.

Donnie had dreamed about going to one ever since he was a kid, tired of re-reading the same books about astrophysics and quantum mechanics over and over again when he was smaller, and scavenging was a lot harder. He'd spend the entire day there, researching ways to safely rebuild muscles, to learn about all the different places in New York prone to irregular activity, he even found an old news report from Kurtsman about extraterrestrial life and so much more. All that knowledge, and here it was, handed to him on a platter.

And that was only a glimpse of it.

The following days, after his workout, he'd test the different moves he was still able to perform, only 2 out of 3 still somewhat effective. Though the practice dummy he'd build out of garbage and metal certainly wasn't the most useful way to test his flexibility, he'd admit. He looked at the clock again, days counting down and as Donnie walked through the streets of New York for the first time without fear for being exposed, he came by a flyer plastered on a board. "The Mind of a Generation" pamphlet, free off charge. It was a seminar, he discovered, talking about the young minds hiding beyond the 'weight' of societies expectations or whatever it was. Telling him that people like him were needed. That he could make a difference, somewhere beyond New York. Somewhere he could live up to his full potential, not hauled down by the unfair hand of cards the universe had given him. Hating the fact that if things were different, that might've been him up there already.

He didn't know why he went, truly, thinking that after two weeks had passed of still not being able to figure out where his brothers were, but the doubt started to grow and… Donnie was losing faith.

This whole escapade only began because Donnie wanted his family to have a second chance in life, somewhere outside of the sewers. He was curious, selfish even, and when it came to it, desperate. I'm going to fix this, he told himself, every single day after noting down his condition for every snippet of data he could collect. He'd decided to be patient in the pursuit of his family, and the more time went on, the more it seemed the foot clan had finally died down. No irregular activity as far as he was concerned. Like they'd gone completely silent. As if another force had brought them to justice in the Hamato's absence, and would that really be so far-fetched?

The young scientist shuddered. "Don't even think about it. You're being selfish… so just let it go, okay? They need you" Donnie thought, fiddling with the vials of mutagen safely collected from the siege. The only viable substance he could use. More than enough to make a cure. The cure he'd avoided making for a while now, but successfully managed to brew together after little more than four days of stealing lab equipment and mixing the formular he'd already practiced several times- only real question was whether or not it was going to work. He made four containers, at the moment twiddling the third one in his fingers, seconds away from 'dropping' it.

I could do more… Donnie thought, imagining what would happen after they'd finished the mission. Raph would no doubt take the cure immediately, Leo too supporting family more than anything else. Then Mikey would follow, doing almost anything their older brothers would do. But what about Donnie? What would he choose? Thinking about it now, he… honestly had no idea. He liked being human. No- he relished being human. He relished being able to go outside. He relished not having to hide all the time, he relished not having to risk his life anymore, to go to libraries and seminars. To go to the park and sit in the sun, to get asked from the professors why in the hell they hadn't received a student as talented as him.

He wasn't lonely- Donnie was flourishing. He deserved this, didn't he? After everything he'd accomplished, maybe he could safe the world in a different way. In his way. Maybe April would finally notice him, maybe after everything they'd been through, deathly thread one after the other it was finally time to be the person, he always wanted to be… the person who-

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock-

-he deserved to be. He just… didn't know how. He'd taught himself to live in the space between his thoughts and only ever think about what was best for the team- best for him. His future, now that he could have one.

But then, on a night when Donnie after two weeks, had made his way back to base with absolutely nothing to show for it. No one by his brother's names- no AF's to be wary of, no April at home practicing her powers, and certainly no Casey Jones causing mayhem in the streets. Even the Purple Dragons seemed to have gone on a semi-vacation, leaving no innocent civilians to be saved. New York was quiet. Calm. And Donnie was stirring inside, hungry for food that he was too tired to steal. But then, somewhere in the distance, his eyes caught the silhouette of a boy, stepping out of the movie theater.

Just a little on ahead, the opposite of the street yelling in the distance so loud that his voice rang for several blocks afterwards:

"COME AND GET SOME! BOOYAKASH-ARGH"

Donnie recognized that voice immediately, his heart beating faster and faster, once it hit him why that was. He ran to the other side, head shooting from side to side, until he noticed more voices echoing in the alley behind the movie theater. After having re-trained his body, climbing the fire escape was easy. Only a tad bit weaker than his old mutant self. He swung himself up on the edge, steadying his grip and dipping down to see the commotion.

Guess I spoke too soon.

There were four guys, perhaps not much older than twenty something, cornering a kid much younger. His hair was curly, messy and standing almost every way, his round face covered in freckles and colored little patches. He stood back against the wall, shielding his eyes with something Donnie couldn't quite tell what was at first. But then the men, having completely obliterated the kid's popcorn bag mind you, started attacking. The kid immediately jumped to the side out of the way and flipped over so smoothly that it was almost like watching a dancer on stage. The kid let out various sounds in the process, swinging around the goons smiling, even when he got hit, using the chains around his weapons to parkour on overhangs, childishly calling out from above as he threw them in the dirt.

"If my brothers were here you'd be toast right now sucka!"

That's when Donnie realized… he didn't need to look twice, it was him. Orange mask and all, in hand he'd found him. Right down there, in the alley below fighting gangsters, screaming booyakashaa and what not, even down to the way he was fighting.

Donnie recognized all of it. But even so… he didn't move. Well, he did at first, but not entirely.

Heart beating even louder in his chest, hands clinging to the edge of the building, trembling, every single cell shook, once the young boy realized that he wasn't going to reveal himself. Not even when the guys got the upper hand, punching Mikey square in the face, nearly knocking him out in the process, and Donnie winced nearly yelling out after him, if he didn't manage to put a hand to his mouth drowning his wail. He wanted to help, but logic argued against this, making it so that he still couldn't move… no, he choose not to. All this time of searching, all this time of panicking at the thought of what the mutagen might've done to his family…

But if he went down there, Donnie knew, that he wouldn't be able to get a second chance. This was what he wanted, right? After years and years of dreaming about it, he'd finally got it. He earned this. And he knew perfectly well, that if he went down there, right now and exposed himself, then he might as well kiss that life goodbye. He knew that despite everything inside him screaming that he was making a mistake, that there was still a chance… a tiny-microscopic, albeit slim chance, that maybe they'd be better off in the long run...

Donnie had already made it this far on his own, after all. He'd made the cure, he'd found the equipment, he'd made it so that the AF could no longer come after them. Who's to say he couldn't be the one to take them down as well? With his genius, his process… who's to say he couldn't do it? And once he did, he could save his family too. Let them make the choice- and let Donnie stand by his. I could leave, he thought. I could… go as far away as I can and not come back, and I'd never have to go back. I could build a life. What Sensei always wanted for us…

I can fix this. I can-

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock...

…

"I did it"

Donnie whispered, removing his googles and starring intently at the little vial filled with serum. "I actually… maybe did it… haha! YES!" He'd spend the entire day leaned over the table, making sure the door was locked as he got to work. He went to the medicine cabinet, fiddled after every single piece until finally he came across a syringe, that he carefully poured the purplish liquid into. He held it up in a gloved hand, stained with different chemicals and took a shaky breath. The alarm was still ticking so loudly that Donnie had to get up from his chair, toss the clock out the window, before he could continue the procedure. He was breathless, heart beating loudly, and second-guessing himself in a moment of hesitation. Don't worry, D. You got this.

He grabbed the pen and started scribbling down next to the formular, determined to go through with it. For everyone's sake.

"Vial 1, data collected so far: none. Test subject," he wrote, slowly leading the needle-point to his vein, closing his eyes as the act of simply looking at it, was enough for Donnie to nearly puke on the spot.

"… Me." he whispered, biting his lip, counting to three...

... and injecting the serum.

---

NYCPD or not, Hopkins wasn't going to let that stop him from getting to the bottom of things. He starred at the file rereading it to make sure he'd found the right place, patiently aware that this might be just another trap. And it was for this reason, that he'd decided to bring a recorder just in case, laying down everything important in case he wouldn't get out of this unscathed. Exiting his car, Hopkins moved quietly and effectively to the other side of the road, where he starred up at a gigantic church-like building, abandoned by time and the city itself. It was crammed in between two other buildings, now collecting dust, and he could tell as soon as he entered, hand by the holster in his belt. The door wasn't locked, slinging aside and he looked behind his shoulder, checking for any civilians but the street was completely empty.
When he got inside, everything was dark. He grabbed his gun and held it tight to his body, feeling the walls around him, guide him further inside. But as he did, the stillness that ebbed from the structure seemed familiar to him. Something he'd encountered in the field a little too often, and it dawned on him that it was too quiet. Almost superficially so. He proceeded, hitting the play on his recorder and cursing Layton for having robbed off on him too.

Layton if you can hear me, curse you in hell if I die because of this…

And then- the smell of chlorine reached his nose. Like he was standing inside a religious swimming bassinet of some sort, sound of water too, leading him inside a door. This one, heavier to pull. He had to use his entire body to slam it open, jamming his shoulder in the process but ignoring the pain through his stubbornness.

That's when the lights flashed on, suddenly, anticipatingly, so bright that the detective had to shield his eyes from being blinded for a moment, before a voice could be heard calling in the other end of the room.

"Pretty bold for an old geezer like you to come here alone. Didn't take you guys for the gambling type"

Hopkins blinked impatiently, until his vision became normal again, and there she was. Sitting on a throne in a stone like structure in the other end, armored from the neck down in metal like plates. He folded up the picture in comparison and smiled, knowing he'd come to the right place after all. Knowing that he was right, when he said that the Hamato's hadn't perished yet. And right up there was all the proof he needed.

"Okay, sweetie, we can do this the easy way, or the fun way. You're coming with me"

"What makes you think I'll do that?" she asked, voice not unlike that of a teenager. So many damn kids these days, what has the world come to? Hopkins stepped forward, glass shards clinking under his heel, and he realized it came from one of the broken glass panels- ripped to crisps by a force not even Hopkins had seen before. Karai sat patiently and observed, as the geezer approached her, left hand still on the trigger.

"Karai I take it… Or should I say, Miwa Hamato?"

At this her smile dropped, Hopkins excited to discover he'd struck a chord in his suspect.
"You have no right to say that name"

"Scuse me then" he chuckled, casually reaching into the inner pocket of his jacket, and pulling out one set of handcuffs he'd saved for this very moment. "Miss I'm here on behalf of the NYCPD. Hamato Karai, you are hereby under arrest for the suspected murder of Marvin Layton. You have the right to remain silent, though something tells me, you're not in the mood"

Amused, Karai, ascended from the throne, hand under her chin elegantly like she was actually considering the 'offer'.
"I don't know. I'll have to check my schedule" she said, and with that, pulled out what looked to be a blade, slowly from her belt. So there really are ninja's running around New York… I don't get paid enough for this.

The cop held up his hands in surrender, though his eyes were still playfully arrogant, "Okay, okay, you got me. I'm here on behalf of a friend"

"Funny, so am I. But since your friend isn't here, I suppose you came here for nothing. So, I'll give you one final warning. Go."
"Oh I don't think so"

"No? Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you"

Hopkins barely managed to blink, before the girl was at the bottom of the stairs, blade still in hand, but this time actually holding it like she was planning on using it. The detective didn't move, "I'll take my chances"

-or it didn't seem that way at first. His hand was so quick in the holster, that even Karai seemed appropriately shocked. Shocked, and angry now. She yelled out, charging her blade, and managing to instead of cutting the old man's throat, to use the momentum to toss him into the wall with óne kick.

Hopkins felt the pain in his ribs only worsen as the adrenaline made him eager to continue. He pulled himself on his feet, air clawing back into his bruised lung. "I see your training's no joke"

"An expert on the subject I take it?" she put her shoe on his shoulder, turning him around forcefully. "Now, tell me where Leo is!"

"The kid?" Hopkins paused, not sure if he heard correctly but a hundred procent certain that this girl was a gold mine for information. He grabbed onto her blade, in her confusion managing to kick her off and get back on his feet, albeit not very elegantly, gun at the ready.

He started laughing again, circling Karai as she, like the warrior she was, regulated her movements, eyes confidently sharp. Hopkins though, slouched over, hands in his pockets where he without letting her see, checked the holster one more time. Three bullets, just in case, "It's funny. I used to love ninjas when I was a kid. While the others were into, sci-fi-books, starships and all that crap, I used to go round the backyard punching a tree by myself every Sunday with a stick. Nearly broke my wrist thrice a day"

She didn't follow, getting ready to charge him again, "Cry me a river"

"But you see it taught me something too" he continued, dodging her blade.

"That you seriously need a new hobby?"

She charged again, this time however, not noticing the smoke bomb planted right beneath her feet. It imploded the room in a cloud of smoke, leading Karai into a heavy coughing fit as Hopkins used the surprise to his advantage.

"Persistence gives results"

He grabbed his gun, pointing it at her head and pinning her down to the floor, where he managed to kick the blade out of her hand and slide it away. She quickly stopped struggling, though Hopkins couldn't figure out why, a twitch of fear in her eyes feeding into his enjoyment of finally having caught his main suspect. And yet, she still kept calm, controlling her voice, though letting her anger at this shine through to him all the same. "What is it exactly you hope to get out of this if you don't mind me asking? Kidnapping Leo? Brainwashing him?! What do you want? "

Thinking of Layton, the detective decided to take his time, however tempted he was to pull that trigger, staying true to his inner morals. " What do I want? now let me see... Same thing most folks 'round here do. Warm bed, food on the table, maybe even a nice vacation every now and then. But since I can't have that, I'll take the next best thing"

"Lemme guess, revenge on the wrong person?"

You little- he pressed the gun deeper to her temple. "You have a lot of nerve, you know that. Being in league with those… killers, and you're acting like it's all some big joke to you. He had a family you know. Friends, people who cared."

She was silent for a moment, confused. He could tell by the way her eyes flared in every direction at once before landing on a single spot somewhere in the room- almost like she just had a revelation. An excellent actress. Another one of the Hamato clan's little tricks? Charming.

"Who told you about me… well?! Who was it?" she yelled, the irony of the situation making the cop hold back a snicker as he cuffed her hands together.

"What's the matter? Thought your little clan-pals were tight? Well, I guess we have that in common. Such a shame when your colleges turn their back on you, huh?"
"It's not like that! Listen to me, you're making a mistake here. I'm not with them. And you're after the wrong guy-

"I don't want to hear another word out of you, understand?" he bit, this time right next to her ear. She complied, and Hopkins figured that meant she did know what was best for her in this situation. Calling in her own defeat. He reached for the recorder in his pocket, turned it over and started signaling a transmitter back to the station.

"Call in RB31D, I have a suspect in custody ready for questioning, so tell Mr. Kowlinski that we-

The transmitter was knocked out of his hand before the cop had any time to blink. He heard the faint sound of the cuffs falling to the floor, clanking against the marble stone and in the blink of an eye- it came at him. Hopkins let out a scream, cursing, yelling, nearly biting his damn tongue over, while trying to comprehend the stings that shot at him from every direction. He opened his eyes, the first thing coming to mind being his gun, and he managed to fire two shots, hearing Karai yell out in pain, and he finally found her-

No… he found the creature resembling the girl he just two seconds ago was in the middle of arresting. Now something… he did not understand. "What the hell… what the hell is this?!" His voice was broken, as the darkened silhouette of a snake approached him in the dark, turning into two, the venomous green eyes coming closer. Hopkins backed away, feeling his entire body go numb as whatever the thing in front of him, clutched the side of their shoulder heavily. It was- but no- he didn't understand… I-I it was her, but it wasn't her, it was… some sort of… monster.

"Wha-what the hell are you…?" Hopkins stammered, as darkness closed in, the cuts all around his chest and neck bleeding through his clothes, turning into a mild fire that made him dizzy. He tried to reach for his gun, panicky searching with his eyes in the dark, eyelids growing heavy and the pain being too much… The last thing he heard before collapsing, was the silent pray to whoever was listening that he'd somehow "forgive her when this was over."

Panic, the last thing he saw was the snake-like monster turning back into the girl, reaching out for him, telling him, that she was sorry...

then it was like,

something,

without Hopkins being able to fight it,

pulled him down,

and everything...

went

black...