Epilogue

"Vlog date, 31st of December, 23:32 pm. Update: still alive, so to speak. So, that's… something… at least. It's been a little over a month now, since the Tatsu- incident, or as Mikey prefer to call it, the mega super not fun viooze-pocolypse of doom. We're still trying to talk him out of that... Vitals are still good, slight dizziness from time to time, but otherwise no long-lasting symptoms, at least, not that I know of. Still getting used to moving around, but a little morning exercise every day to train our durability should get us right back into shape before we know it! Well, that's the idea anyway… so far, we're coming up with more bruises than anything.

When news got out of the incident, lucky for us, Bishop was there to bring enough government officials to clean up the mess. Something about a gas leak taking out all the power and making everyone hallucinate weird creatures in the dead of night, though so far, no one really knows how it happened. Every victim of the mutagen describes the whole thing as a blur. Nothing but some weird hazy nightmare they couldn't make sense of. My guess is the shock of the transformation was probably enough to block it out, kinda like it did Leo. Apparently, local conspiracy nuts, along with a down on his luck journalist from downtown, claimed most of the stories surrounding it. I don't know what we'd do without Kurtzman. Old man really did us a solid- News is still going on about it to this day. It's all they ever talk about, and understandably so. There haven't been chaos like that since the invasion... I'm starting to wonder if they'll tire themselves out before Easter, but by the looks of things, probably not. Everyone involved would still rather believe that some secret terrorist group or construction failure was the course of it, instead of acknowledging the existence of mutants. Don't know if that's a good thing or not, but it's bought us plenty of time. Almost like things are turning back to normal again- key word being almost.

It's… weird. Being back again. Who would've thought getting used to having six fingers again instead of ten, would be so taxing? Not to mention having a shell, though the transformation sure did a number on all of us in that regard. It feels more like being strapped to a jetpack, than simply… readjusting.

Thanks to Karai and Shini we managed to get back to the lair in one piece. After scouting the foot's stronghold for weeks now, there's still no sign of Tatsu. And while the thought that the guy who nearly turned New York into his own playground was gone for good is tempting, if this whole thing has taught us anything, it's that believing something to be true just because you want it to be, wasn't a good idea on our part. But at least his forces won't be of much use, now that Shini gathered the Hamato clan's forces, new recruits to boot. For… better or worse.

It didn't take long before Purple Dragon members started disappearing from the streets, probably afraid that their old pals would return. Luckily, most of the scientists at the OLS remained unscathed, denying any involvement with the incident whatsoever, though ironically the whole scandal also seemed to bring the old facility into the spotlight all the same- even if the laboratory was as good as saw dust at this point. No sponsor in their right mind qilling to fund its recovery- though Dave surely tried, that's for sure. Keep dreaming, Dave.

When I heard about Gilgamesh's recovery, well…

… I decided to pay the old guy a little visit.

Mr. Gilgamesh was darting around the remains of his office. Now not a lot more than rubble and broken equipment scattered about. He'd been recharged around noon, a broken tooth and severe headache to show for it, thought he didn't seem to care much about that when he ran for the lab. It wasn't like no one hadn't told him beforehand, more so the deniability of seeing it for yourself. Not a soul left the now desecrated hallways, honestly the building was barely standing. Three scientists proclaimed dead at the incident and Gilgamesh still struggled to put the pieces back together- everything right after he went into the basement as good as gone. The hospital had told him that many patients had similar symptoms, a man his age probably just having it worse by circumstance.

Rubbish, he'd thought. Determined to get to the bottom of this. However, as he wandered the hallways of the broken facility, the sight of each lab or passage- lost inventions or even just the complete waste of cylinders now thrashed to pieces, he felt a heaviness in his gut. Not just from the fact that so many of his promising workers was now out of a job, but his dreams ambition, however fruitless, in the end it was all for naught. But then, just as he made his way back to what used to be his office, the broken desk blocking his hallway still standing somewhat solid, Gilgamesh noticed something.

A small, albeit barely noticeable envelope with his name on it, plastered on the surface, in a handwriting he seemed to recognize. Underneath it, a very large box taped together by all ends, the wonder of how the heck it'd even been dragged in here in the first place crossing his mind as he opened it.

'A compensation for the borrowed tools. And a little extra to help with the rebuild- this should do. And also, thanks for everything.

-D'

Stunned, a little sad perhaps and just a tiny bit skeptical, Gilgamesh opened the box. Almost immediately followed by the guy's eyeballs almost popping out of his skull- marveling at the invention residing beneath. He picked it up, weighed it in his hands before eagerly glancing around the room hoping to catch a glimpse of its sender. His sender, right now crouching down outside in the shadows of the secluded building, listening for his old boss' reaction, which quickly proved very effective. A part of Donnie sorely wishing he'd made another prototype, but relieved none the less that this might not be the end of OLS after all. He could make another Metalhead if he wanted to, the memory drive still attached to the underside of his computer. But at least now, Gilgamesh might actually invest in a competent research facility for once, unbeknownst to them, kickstarted by none other than the trash collector himself.

In the end, he'd say he was pretty satisfied with the outcome. A little stunned himself to make a surprising discovery on his way outside. A small frame of Gilgamesh standing side by side with non-other than a certain scientist, oddly resembling that of one Baxter Stockman.

… yeah! I couldn't believe it either. Turns out crazy labs attracts crazy scientists too.

As for the others? Well, Leo's still recovering from his head injury, unsurprisingly, and while telling him that simply meditating was probably not going to fix the gap in his cranium is proving to be rather difficult, at least he's not freaking out anymore. Honestly, I keep telling him to let me study him for a higher chance of rehabilitation, and not to mention, comprehension of how his brain is reacting to the reconstructed set of atoms- and I- I'm getting off track. Anyway, the thing is, he seems to be remembering more and more, specially now, whether it be during training, patrols or just crying over the fact that Mikey spilled spray paint on his precious Space Heroes collection again- I told him to paint it outside the lair- either way, he's adjusting. Better than any of us expected actually- or better than I expected. Of COURSE, the jerk's gotta be a prodigy even in medical science! It's almost freaky but, who knows? In a few months or so, I wouldn't be surprised if our fearless leader were to fully regain his senses. But even if he doesn't, I think we're gonna be okay.

Then there's Mikey. Where do I even begin? After the transformation, he was practically ready to jump through the roof, until of course he realized that maybe overexerting your new set of muscles and limbs was probably not the smartest idea. I'm honestly impressed. Out of everyone I was sure he'd take the change the hardest but… no. Probably just glad we were still alive, he didn't waste any second making sure we'd all recover and fast. He'd still have that gloomy look on his face though, especially during breakfast. It wasn't really hard to tell something was bothering him. But it wasn't until a few weeks after he left the lair, saying there was something he had to do…

… but, not alone though.

"Are you sure? Maybe she's not home"

Mikey was already one foot over the balcony, ready to jump it if he had to, but Tyler remained resolute. He knew he was right, the big chumpy lump in his throat still making the act of actually going through with it all the more terrifying. Regretting his decision, the moment he saw her fumbling with the newspaper inside by the kitchen in fact.

"Is it hot out here or is it just me? Maybe we should go, she'd probably busy- woah!" Tyler pulled him back by the back of his shell, unphased. Mikey let out a sigh relenting, "I know dude, I know! You're right…"

Tyler shrugged, pulling out a card from his bag before promptly scribbling something over it with a marker and holding it up for Mikey to read.

'Ready?'

He gazed inside again, biting his lip. It'd been a solid two weeks since they'd last seen each other, let alone talked to each other. What was she going to think? She'd probably yell at him first for assuming him dead, that's for sure. Probably yell a little bit more at him for leaving the house in the first place. Ban all his games, throw all his stuff out, yell even more…

Mikey really needed all the strength he possessed for this next bit, ignoring the nagging of his yet to be healed arm, as he prayed the ability to creep into his shield with a cast on, was still available to him if necessary.

"Let's do this" he muttered, before following Tyler through the window.

The next thing that happened…? You could take a wild gander.

It was like that scene in Princess and the Frog, napkins and books and pillows flying everywhere as Mrs. Robertson was pulled out of her evening clean up as her gaze landed on the big green mutant in her living room. Tyler right next to it, stone face and ready to calm his mom down to the best of his ability. Mikey gulped, seeing the panic on her face as every color left in her cheeks immediately turned white, pupils dilated as her lips twisted into what started out as a silent shriek.

"S-sup…?"

And then the first sets of utensils went flying.

"Argh! No no no no no! I'm friendly! I'm a friendly green mutant! I swear! Mrs. Robertson-

But Mrs. Robertson was a little too preoccupied throwing utensils, cleaning sponges and buckets to really hear him out and listen. But then, just as she was about to slack him over the head with a duster, she noticed the orange mask wrapped around his green freckles.

"It's ME! It's me! I swear!" he yelled; right hand held up in surrender as if to say he was not a warrior trained in the art of ninjitsu since the age of three.

She held up the duster, paused midmovement, jaw agape as even the sound of his voice started to click. "Wait… but that's not- I…" she muttered, blinking rapidly as if to wake herself up from a really weird freaky dream she was having. But then she straightened her back, stepped closer analyzing him from top to toe for a second of pure speculation, before fully letting her weapon fall to the floor not believing her eyes.

"M… Mikey?"

A nervous chuckle escaped the very nervous mutant's mouth as he tried to lift the mood.

"Missed me?" he muttered, as Mrs. Robertson seemed to be going through a little more than the average existential crisis, not being able to look away even as Mikey, still cautious, moved towards her, "Okay, okay, I can explain! Just listen, okay? Stop throwing things please"

And as he said this, the always prepared Tyler, led his mother to the kitchen chair, preparing a can of tea as the overexcited mutant started to dart around the room, struggling to stand still.

"Okay, okay, so it all started, with this gooey stuff and it totally spilled over- wait no, actually it all started with this martial artist, this super cool ninja master named Hamato Yoshi who…-

-… From what he describes, she took it pretty well! (all things considered). At least well enough to let him into their house again. But just maybe not in the way she expected. I can't even imagine how Mr. Robertson took that conversation. Not well, if I had to guess.

"Okay, what else, what else…? Well, good news! Turns out, we weren't the only ones who thought it'd be a good idea to-

"-not talk to yourself all day and help me with these?"

Donnie turned around, nearly dropping the recorder as Raph appeared in the doorway, carrying two boxes. Raph, severely bruised, bandaged up in nearly every place but the right side of his almost healed face- and not to mention very much, completely and utterly, a mutant, once again. Just, a few more markings and cracks on his shell, but otherwise, the same. Even down to his expression, watching his brother clumsily get back onto his feet, as he loaded one of the boxes into his arms.

"You couldn't bother to knock?!"

"Nope" he smiled, marching down the hallway and towards the tunnel. With no one seemingly left in the lair, Donnie had to assume Leo and Mikey had already gone on ahead. Raph halted a bit, still getting used to, well walking so to speak, but carrying himself like he always would none the less. He'd refused the aid of Sensei's old cane to balance himself with, Donnie having almost given up since then on reminding his brother that walking around on a broken ancle was probably not going to help him heal up any faster despite his stubbornness telling him otherwise.

"How are you holding up?" he asked, hands drumming over the box's side precariously.

"Well, putting the now butchered recording I just spend three hours working on aside, I guess I'm doing alright. And before you ask, yes, it's important to keep those up, if anyone were to find more of the you know what just lying around, don't you think they'd probably want to know how it works before they start experimenting on the stuff- not to mention the repercussions of sparring our knowledge would probably lead to disaster if not for-

"OKAY! OKAY! I get IT!" he exclaimed, Donnie not hiding the smirk creeping over his face.

"At least your vocal cords are not damaged"

"You would like that wouldn't you?" he muttered, before pretty abruptly catching himself in a coughing fit, leaning against the wall as the box started tipping slightly from his grip, "Argh-

"Let me get that-

"No, I'm fine. Seriously, I got it"

Donnie sighed, not really sure if he should be annoyed or relieved that despite their circumstances, at least that hadn't changed. "You should take it easy you know. You've only been up for a few days, and straining yourself like this will only make it harder for you to recover-

"Ahhhhh, don't give me that again! I can carry a stupid box, Don-" Raph protested, not having much say in it however, as his brother then tapped him on the shoulder with his bo- almost immediately causing him to drop the box if Donnie hadn't picked it up last second.

"Case in point" he muttered, Raph accepting defeat as they continued down the sector leading them further central.

"Any word from Casey?"

"Only the one" Raph muttered, grinning at the thought. Hadn't even been a day or so before the idiot decided to break into the hospital again, only difference, now he actually looked to belong there as well. "You think it's best to keep him pent up too?"

Now Donnie grinned as well shrugging, "It's not like we haven't tried…"

"… Something tells me that's not gonna do a whole lot though"

They'd placed him on the last floor of the building, to Raph's dismay, Casey stumbling confused and severely dazed down fifth avenue following the cure's transmission around town. Escaping, if not miraculously through the broken concrete of the station by a cluster of other victims breaking the impact. He carried a wide scar on the left side of his chin, probably another missing tooth if Raph had to guess, and the half of his arm now covered in bandages. He'd seen his friend messed up before, but this was like seeing the aftermath of what would happen if you stuffed yourself into a meat grinder. But hey, at least Casey took it pretty well. Lighting up the moment he saw the green figure sitting in the windowsill of his room, in fact.

"And here I thought you couldn't get any uglier"

"You're one to talk, freak of nature"

Lizzie peaked up from the bedside too, hesitant for a moment before looking back to her brother who gave her a reassuring nod. After all the stories she'd heard about the mutants, Raph could imagine that seeing one in person, let alone the same one she'd spoken to just a few weeks ago, was probably a lot to take in. Though, she certainly didn't let that shake her, as he wandered over to his friend, somehow convincing the staff to allow him to wear his fingerless gloves over the bandages. Yep, it's him alright.

"How are you feeling?"

He looked down for a moment, as if forgetting what exactly his injuries were, before shrugging nonchalantly, "A few ribs broken, here or there, but Casey Jones can handle it"

"Line"

And sure enough, as Raph looked down, he was amazed to have not noticed the thick yellow line taped around the bed sooner. Taking a solid step backwards as she pointed downwards, eyes tense.
"It's alright, Lizzie. Just your friendly neighborhood sai-chopathic turtle. It's totally cool." Casey assured her, Raph using the opportunity to quite literally step over the line despite the piercing eyes on the other side of the bed daring him not to.

"I'm glad you're alright too"

"Thanks to you" Casey said and genuinely meaning it, though it took the mutant a second to realize he was actually being serious. "Thanks, Raph. Really, dude... You saved my sister"

"Liar." Lizzie said, shaking her head solemnly, "The old man saved me"

"Yeah, but I did kinda save you first" Raph tried, though she was quick to dismiss them both.

"No, that would be the blue one"
"There's just no pleasing you is there?"

Casey sent his sister, what Raph could only assume was the so-called sibling death stare. Almost identical to the one Leo usually send them whenever he assumed the role as the voice of reason.
"Lizzie"

"Arnold…"

"LIZZIE…!"

"ARNOLD…" There was a pause, Lizzie gazing hesitantly from her brother to Raph and back- Casey determined to keep starring at his sister for all eternity if that's what it took. Finally, after a long-held pause, resulting in Lizzie turning back to the mutant, pokerfaced, voice one straight line of words, "Thank you for not letting me perish in the fiery depths of the authoritarian high rise, Raph"

Raph couldn't stop himself from smiling- not realizing how much he'd missed their bickering until now. The relief that they were both okay and alive washing over him all at once.

"Any time"

Casey folded his hands around his head, satisfied. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"It's still your turn to do the dishes when we get home-

"WHa- I'M IN THE HOSPITAL! I ALMOST DIED, WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO B-

"Yeah, I think they're doing alright" Donnie muttered, trying to imagine how in the heck Raph still had a functioning arm after his little trip to probably the most dangerous highly secured facility left in the city- eyes glued to his stitches expecting for any one of them to pop at the rate he was going.

"They still don't trust that cop though" Raph reminded him, and Donnie realized none of them had actually bothered to tell the vigilante that he'd be there too. I knew I'd forgotten something…!
"Well, he did kind of try to shoot us in the face"
"Good point" they both agreed, Raph pausing as Donnie loaded the crates onto the metro cart before rather sorely leaning himself against the wheels, "And Leo? I haven't seen him in a while"

Which was surprisingly a good thing.

"He's working things out his own way. Last night, he even remembered who Kurtzman is, so I mean... I'd say he's making progress"

"Well, that goes for both of you at least" he muttered, something weighing on him a bit as Donnie kickstarted the engine. With a little luck they should be able to make it in five minutes tops, plenty of time to take a breather for a little while. That was his thought process at least, until he noticed the white paper corner sticking out from the control panel. Realizing he must've dropped it in here on his way back from April's. Before Raph noticed, Don quickly grabbed it, not even caring that the corners were basically chopped, before stuffing it down his bag and out of sight- totally not wondering what was inside like his life depended on it.

"Hey, Don?"

"Hm?"

Raph looked at Donnie for a moment, arms crossed, kinda chewing on the question before he actually said it. Surprising even Donnie who didn't know what to say.

"Why'd ya do it?"

Another pause filled the space, Donnie finding himself frozen, one step inside the cart before he turned back towards his brother, pretending not to understand, "Do what?"

Raph wasn't having it though, letting his arms fall down to each side.

"You had the cure. You could've… I dunno, tried your luck or something, hell that's what I would've done... So, why didn't you?"

That was the million-dollar question, wasn't it? Truth was, not even Donnie was entirely sure what drove him to take it that day. Maybe it was the look of Raph on the ground unconscious, maybe just the time pressure causing him to think irrationally, or simply just the heat of the moment. Donnie didn't know if he'd made the right decision or not, still getting that familiar knot in his chest every time he really thought about it- causing him to just plain ignore the subject all together. The thought that if there was the slightest chance that maybe, just maybe he could've done it over he'd do it, scaring him beyond measure.

What he did know, however, was that whatever vision of a human existence he'd imagined in his head, it wouldn't even come close to the one he already had. Because no matter how you looked at it, if the others weren't there as well, what was even the point? Donnie had resided himself to put his family first above all else, though the thought of what could have been still plagued him from time to time. Grateful for the time he'd had as a human of course, but still slightly melancholy to the notion that despite everything that had happened, at the end of the day, he was still just him. But of cause Raph wasn't going to see it that way, which is why Donnie figured the best way to approach the question was his impeccable (yet not very convincing let's be honest) ability to look completely unbothered.

"Eh, being human's overrated anyway. My janitor days were over the moment OLS turned into rubble. And hey, it's not like we didn't have fun while it lasted. Like a nice… murder-esce vacation, or something- yeah! Yeah, I think that's one way to put it"

"I know you don't mean that"

Donnie sighed, a crooked smile creeping over his face as he reminded himself of the fact that against all odds, they were still alive. That, they were okay, or- they were going to be, and why wouldn't they be? Donnie had fought alien warships, deadly venom, an army of mutants, the OLS pipelines and not to mention, the same guy who used to be right hand to Shredder himself. This? This was nothing, compared to all that. And Donnie knew this, as he turned back from the cart.

"Hey, we started all this together. I don't see any reason why we shouldn't finish it too" he said, Raph returning his gaze before rubbing his hand behind his head where a massive abomination of hair used to be. Most likely a habit he'd picked up along the way.
"I'm sorry for what I said… about father. I think I got so caught up in keeping us together, that I forgot about what it was to you. But, I know you were only trying to do the right thing... I just want you to know that, I... I understand why you did it now. And, I don't blame you"

Donnie shrugged, not remembering the last time he'd heard Raph actually apologizing to him, directly to his face. Not to mention, without yelling it at the top of his lungs.

"Yeah well… good thing it didn't blow us up" he muttered, R chuckling slightly in the back.

"Don't feel too bad about it. There's always next time" he said, leaning back as they made their way to the surface.

"I mean I do still have a sample left should the occasion arise"

"You WHAT?!"

His dad was still glued to the screen inside the living room, as the remaining Landry's scattered around the apartment, drinking, and laughing as they waited impatiently for the New Year to arrive. Simon on the other hand, had decided to retreat into his own quarters, a solid book in his hands and a cup of tea to take his mind off of the thick cast wrapping his left leg. The dent on the side still the size of a meteor crater as far as he was concerned.

When he first got out of the hospital, he'd told the doctors, including his dad, that he barely remembered much of what happened. They told him it was a gas leak; some weird toxins causing people in big areas of the city to hallucinate and see things that wasn't real. To hurt themselves without knowing it. He wanted to tell them that they were wrong, that the thing that just a little over a month ago nearly turned the entirety of New York into a monster army, wasn't just a conspiracy. Just another crazy story he'd read about in his books, something only children could conjure with enough imagination.

But then he saw it again. The images of those nights. The thick glass separating him from the dark hallways underground. Could feel his fingers convulse and his nails dig into themselves as cuts in his throat started morphing painfully into spikes. Screams reverberating loudly in his mind, and every time he did, he just wanted it to stop. But telling your doctor about those kinds of episodes, rarely went the way you'd expect- especially for someone Simon's age. Too happy to see his dad finally stop worrying to try to explain himself. And would instead comfort himself with Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde to take his mind off things. To remind himself that he was still him. The tingling in his neck from the needle that stabbed it, wasn't real. The veins in his arm weren't boiling-he was fine. Everything was going to be okay.

That's what his dad kept telling him, and that's what Simon choose to believe in as well.

After all, New Years was just around the corner. If anything, Simon would at least get a chance to clear his head for once. Get a few weeks off of school, regrettably, but managing his thoughts in a way he knew how to at least.

He leaned back, awaited the last ten minutes where he'd promised his great aunt Petunia to join the others in the living room for the countdown. But as he did, suddenly, and almost to the point of making him jump straight out of his seat in surprise, something thumped lightly outside. Cautiously he put down the book, grabbed his crutches and steered towards the outside balcony, thinking that maybe a cat or something wanted to get in.

The outside was cold. Like, freezing cold. Enough to make Simon already wanna get inside again faster than his leg would ever allow him. The snow was still soaring down past the high rises of the city in droves, painting the horizon in a thick greyish cloud of white, only illuminated by the many firecrackers and explosions roaming around the area. People nearby laughing manically and celebrating as the cloudy dark atmosphere flickered with fireworks from everywhere at once. Sure, his area was usually of the quieter sort, the ghost town of his neighborhood somehow still managing to keep it cool, as the rest of the big Apple yelled its lungs out with cheer.

Realizing that whatever he'd heard was probably gone now, Simon turned around to go back inside when, again, the same sound halted him in his tracks.

"Is someone…" he muttered, ready to use the crutches as a weapon if he had to. After waiting around for a moment starring out into nothingness, he turned back again, ready to go inside. But then, and just as he was about to slam the next thing he saw right in the face- he turned his head towards the balcony one more time.

This time, meeting a half surprised half horrified orange mask hanging upside down from the support beam. Eyes wide, shivering.

"Mikey…?"

The mutant started chuckling nervously, swinging himself almost effortlessly down- squatting onto the edge of the railing with ease, despite his arm still being confided to a sling and cast.

"Sorry, hehe… I didn't mean to scare you"

"You didn't. I just uh… didn't expect you, here, I guess" Simon assured him, trying not to stare. It wasn't so much that Mikey- his best friend- also known as the crazy new kid claiming to be friends with mutants and fighting evil on the daily, when he wasn't toying with bullies struggling to lay a scratch on him - was standing in front of him as a mutant turtle. But more so the fact that his best friend, whom Simon hadn't seen or heard from ever since he was cured, was now standing in front of him. Same freckles, same goofy smile, and same very much human eyes staring back at him. Even the same habit of jumping up and down, if ever so slightly, and yet still not loosing his balance.

"Oh, well, I- I mean," he began, eyes spiraling in every other direction than Simon's face, until finally landing on his crutches- slight guilt showing on his now green freckled face, "How's your leg doing?"

"Healing. Doctor says with some luck, I'll be able to walk within a month or so"

Mikey let out a sigh of relief, shoulders un-tensing, "Awesome… oh I'm so glad to hear that" he said, voice doing that thing it did where it squeaked at the very end of a sentence, and Simon was glad to hear that despite the very unique circumstances of their situation, he was happy to know that it really was still him in there. Crazy, bonkers, and absolutely out of his mind, Mikey, still there. Not a dangerous mutant version of his friend to replace him. Just… Mikey. Shell or not. Suddenly everything made sense. Even if actually seeing it in person, was a little different than having it explained by an officer.

Simon looked down, struggling for air all of a sudden as the winter air made the hairs on his arms rise, "And you? How's your… arm?" he muttered, eyes lingering a little longer on the now three fingered hands instead of his usual human ones fiddling- though Mikey didn't seem to mind.

"Oh, it's fine! All cool, totally, Don' says that because I'm cool-blooded it should heal faster, so I'll be back to my nin-tastic ninja mastery ways before you know it!" he exclaimed, before dying down into what quickly turned into a rather awkward silence between the two.

"So, uh…-

"Oh, right! I almost forgot..." Mikey started fumbling into his belt, a neat little strap surrounding his mutant shell, and now equipped with what appeared to be a brand-new set of nunchucks too. When he finally found it, he folded it into Simon's hands- Simon who'd almost forgot about the thing entirely if he wasn't holding it in his hands.

"I meant to give this back to you. Guess I must've forgotten in the whole, saving the world deal and stuff, but it should be fine! I mean… it's still warm, hehe"

Simon looked at the blue winter glove for a moment, thinking back to the night he'd given it to him like it was a million years ago. But then he thought about something, something that might've if not a little bit to do with the fact that the glove's partner was still in his coat.

"You know what? Keep it"

"What?"

"I'm serious. It's the least I can do"

Mikey retook the glove hesitantly, receiving it like he was half-expecting it to explode at any moment now but still accepted it nonetheless, "So… you're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?"

Mikey gulped, arm hugging the other nervously, "Because… because of the whole, you know… and stuff?" he said, for a moment trying to imitate what Simon figured was supposed to be a mutant sparkly monster of his own making, though it more than anything just seemed like he was trying to become a werewolf or something.

"I do remember…" Simon muttered, momentarily thinking back to a time when all he could think about was violence and staying in the dark, "But I also remember you, kneeing a ninja in the face to save me. Patching me up… You tend to forgive a little easier with that picture in mind"

Mikey tried to force a smile- one that quickly faltered however as his guilt seemed to rush right back the moment, he remembered the giant fracture in Simon's leg. The thing's he's seen… because of him. All this time, all those rambles and stories and who would've thought they were actually true? If anything, Simon felt guilty about not believing him sooner.

"I'm sorry I lied to you"

"Wha…? About this? It's not like I blame you… this-… it's a big thing" Simon reassured him, no need to put it into words- though Mikey kept going.

"I meant to tell you, I swear I did, but I just didn't know how to- and then there was the whole we're not supposed to talk to stranger's situation kinda deal, and then before I knew it I just couldn't- I mean, I wanted to just- but then I couldn't- and then oh and THEN you should've seen the other guy-

"MIKEY!" Simon yelled, quickly regretting this action as both his lungs nearly sent him tumbling into a coughing fit from the exertion. Mikey looked at his friend, heart in his throat as Simon calmed him down, "I'm okay. Really. I'm fine. So are you. I mean sure, it's… a lot to process, I'll admit but… no matter how you look at it, I owe you, my life. Dude. Hehe. Nothing's going to change that"

There was another pause, the wheels turning in Mikey's head as he struggled to come to the realization that Simon wasn't running away screaming. Probably also because of his leg, of course, but still. This was a lot to process for him too.

"So… we're good?

Simon nodded, "Yeah. I mean, you still owe me for that Wasteland Warriors marathon. Don't see how we'll sneak into the movie theater like this though, that's going to be a challenge… eh, I'm sure we'll figure something out"

And finally, Mikey seemed to believe it too, smiling in a big wide grin as the fireworks from outside started to erupt around them like crazy. He held up his hand, his non-broken hand that Simon accepted with caution but clarity.

"It's a deal then"

And as the city prepared itself for the final countdown, so did Simon and Mikey simultaneously realize that maybe, just maybe, now was a good a time as any to start over.

"It's a deal"

The entire square was filled with people, from here to Manhattan and beyond. Watching as the big ball in the sky got ready to drop any moment now, snow raining down over the confetti covered streets. But then, just a little on the other side, perhaps too high to really be noticed by a lot of people, surrounded by a high rise of metal beams and unfinished construction, hiding its unexpected visitors now situated on the very top looking out at New York. The view stretching from the square and all the way towards the horizon.

Leo sat on the top of it, legs dangling out over the edge as he excitedly scouted the area with a pair of binoculars. Almost, but not quite, too distracted by the dazzling lights and banners to really focus. When he looked down, he almost missed Kurtzman and Hopkins waiting in the crowd doing the very same thing, though as Leo noticed, looking a lot more relaxed than he'd seen either in forever. Joining the crowd as Kurtzman bit down on an apple stick, before ushering along the square- Hopkins' following him close.

Apparently after the whole fiasco at the station, or just the decline of his grasp on reality, the old Geezer had decided to quit all together. Gun close to hand, but with an added relaxation that showed by his decline of caffeine in the last few weeks. Instead focusing his attention on aiding Kurtzman with his research until another position would come up. He'd sworn he'd keep their secret safe, whatever it took, always prepared to offer them his services if they asked for it, though Raph was a little less forgiving. Mikey and Donnie on the other hand had, much like Leo, seen this as a safety net they'd probably need from now on. Now he was just grateful that the old man found some peace along the way. Or… the closest thing to it, he supposed. Even apologizing to Karai for his trouble.

"Five minutes guys! You ready?" she called, Shini helping with blankets as Mikey (now dawning the ever-festive party-hat over his much more comfortable winter cap) excitedly threw confetti into the air, hollering out to a crowd that most likely couldn't hear him.

"YEAH SON!" he bellowed, as Casey and Karai gathered snacks on the other side, a nice little tent of theirs to help contain the little warmth available. Leo watched as Mikey's eyes skeptically analysis the food, reading his mind before he even opened his mouth, "I think we're missing something"

"Mikey, we talked about this-

"AY TRENCH COAT MAN! MIND SHARING A PIECE?!"

Mikey, of course, didn't listen however, instead nearly throwing himself over the building in order to catch Hopkins' attention down on the ground, Leo frantically dragging him back to the ground out of fear that anyone would somehow catch a glimpse of them.

"MIKEY!"

"What?! No one saw me!"

"No one, except maybe half THE POPULATION OF NEW YORK!" Raph yelled out, joining in their shared outburst. But then, the sound of a whizzle from behind them, turned their heads. Shini holding up a whole bag full of glazed apples, pizza boxes sand not to mention even more glitter, to which Mikey lit up like a Christmas tree-

"Ha! Who's the stupid one now? Ouch! Not cool!"

-both Raph and Leo sharing the 'what did we even expect' look, as Leo made sure the binoculars weren't broken. Not long now, he thought, watching the scene unfold around him almost ready to believe he was dreaming again.

Leo hadn't had any headaches since their 'transformation'. Or well… since the cure. When he first came to, he didn't expect to feel so… okay. You'd think waking up as an entirely different entity would be more terrifying than anything, but to Leo? It felt more like he was just coming into his own again, but this time it would actually stick. He thought a lot about what Karai had said, no longer reaching out to the false hope that if he could just make everything go back to the way they were- if he could just become himself again, then that would be it. But looking around now at the people closest to him, even as a mutant none the less, he felt like he'd accepted it, somewhere down along the line. Sure, he was still remembering, as Donnie had told him, gradually. A little more of the past returning to him every day, but that didn't mean that he had to live by it anymore.

He wasn't Sensei. He wasn't the one with all the answers either. He was just… him. And like the others, Leo knew that he would've wanted for them to move on, one way or the other. To not be chained down by the expectations of someone who was no longer there to even guide them through it. To just… be, whatever existence, in whatever form, it didn't matter- not to Leo, not anymore. He wanted to do right by his family. To himself.

And so… that is exactly what he was going to do.

He glanced around, pulling his jacket tight to his shell until he noticed Donnie sitting on the edge of the building, right on the other end, something in his hands. That thing, as he wandered over there, proving to the small envelope he'd carried around. Still unopened, a little ripped perhaps, but otherwise intact.

"Are you gonna open it?"

Donnie sighed, hands just barely over the rim.

"I don't know…" he muttered, Leo sitting down beside him. He'd noticed the thing before, back in the lair a few times, just like this- Donnie just starring at without opening it. And now that he was… well, a mutant again, it wasn't hard to see what was holding him back from opening it now. But either way, that didn't mean Leo couldn't try to cheer his brother up- probably knowing better than anyone that the specter of their origin shouldn't hold them back from doing what they wanted. Not then, not now.

"You know, if anyone's going to make it in there, it's you" he tried, dashing him gently on the shoulder.

"Yeah, for a human maybe"

Donnie sighed, Leo putting his hand on his shoulder reassuringly, "You know any school in the world would be lucky to have you in it"

"Of course, of course, it's just…"

"Just, what?"

Donnie bit his lip, eyes glancing down to his belt. A small but very apparent shimmer shining through from underneath.

"What if I could've…"

He picked it up, Leo not really knowing how to react as the last remaining vial of purple ooze was held up in the light. But he wasn't exactly going to tell him not to go through with it either- deciding to close his fingers around the glass, looking his brother square in the eye,

"Whatever you decide, it's like you said. We'll always have each other. But it's your call, D. Only yours. And… whatever that is, you know we've got your back"

A smile crept over Don's face, his gap tooth showing. "Thanks, Leo" he said, putting it back down as they instead enjoyed the last moments' 'peace' before in a few minutes it would probably be bombarded by fireworks and explosions.

"You still following up on your new year's resolution?"

Leo nodded, arms crossed- though it was really just an act to try and hide the fact that he was freezing up there more than anything, "Yep. So far, we're all set. I just hope you guys can manage without me for a while"

"What could possibly go wrong? It went so swimmingly last time!"

Suddenly, hands shot out from behind the two, Raph appearing between them, another Party hat (probably Mikey's doing) strapped to his head, "I mean if you're really going to Japan, at least try not to get knocked over your head again"

"You're just mad I'm not bringing you a souvenir"

"Hey- no souvenir, no First Edition cassette tapes. House rules" Raph bit back, arms crossed as Karai called out to them.

"Guys one minute!"

Raph clasped his hands together, not even phased by the blizzard that seemed determined to turn his bandana into a permanent accessory on his increasingly blue head.

"Come on! Let's do this for real"

And as Raph and Leo hurried over to the others, Donnie hung back. Taking one last look at the envelope in his hands before making his way to the edge of the building, as people in the crowd was already counting down, one minute to midnight. And as he did, almost without catching it the first time, he nearly tumbled forward as the sight of someone waving at him from down on the street opposite to the building, made him reach for the binoculars.

Didn't know what to say as who else but April O'neil waved at him on the pavement, suitcase in hand, before she pulled up her hood. Sparing one more glance before finally disappearing through the exited crowd, a man with flaming red hair joining her soon- and Donnie couldn't help but smile... Relieved to know she took his avice to heart. He turned back, Mikey already dragging him into an embrace as they all turned to the square, watching from above, waiting. Karai next to Shini, Lizzie hung over Casey's shoulders, a firecracker in hand, while Donnie stood beside his brothers, taking one last look at the envelope…

…before promptly tearing it in half- letting it joing the endless parade of confetti caught in the wind.

Mikey sent him a smile, arms around Donnie's shoulder. Followed then by Raph promptly deciding to dash the pair over the shoulders, arms crossed before he let out a chuckle- only to be immediately halted by Leo's death stare piercing his shell.

Donnie closed his eyes, the little clock nearing twelve as people started counting. He let the sounds just wash over him, time standing still as he shut everything else out.

"Three"

Took a deep breath,

"Two"

Until finally, and perhaps unsurprisingly,

"ONE!"

... he felt at home.

Wow... I actually did it. I finished... I actually finished it. Kinda... huh. Who would've thought?

WELP!

Thanks for reading this weird little thing I made! I hope you liked it, I certainly enjoyed writing it;)

Can't believe anyone would make it this far, but if you did... damn. Thanks for sticking around that means so much, you got no idea (ha, get it be-because it's- it's a stick? Heh..? You know? because he's got the... with the- ANYWAY-

And also thanks to this weird, insane, wtf is this, bonkers as hell show for making my childhood awesome;)