Note: Some parts in this chapter refer to Tyroth Darkstorm's fic 'A Sister's Plight'
Chapter Twenty
My Reasons
A couple of hours later, Jake walked to the residential area to look for Callum.
He had been told by Amber that he and Tyroth had returned from flying practice and had gone into his allocated room.
He had also been told that Callum didn't take well to the fact that Jake had decided to remain in Mutopia and that made him worried.
After he and Mona had talked more, he had been told by the Chicago Knights that George had wished to speak with him in private and ask him about his decision to stay in Chicago and what options there were for him.
Flashback
Jake sat opposite George in the mess hall, it was empty save for Louie still in the kitchen humming as he prepared some food for later, and James the Chimpanzee was outside of his medical room for a change and sitting at a table reading a book on medical science whilst enjoying a cup of tea.
George had been told by the Chicago Knights about Jake's decision to stay in Mutopia and the old turtle wished to speak to Jake personally about his decision.
"Are you sure this is what you want Jake?" asked George as he looked at the young man's eyes through his glasses.
"Yes." Jake said "After the time I've spent here, even though it's been short, I feel more relaxed, and I feel safe, and I know Callum will be well looked after, but it's not just because of Callum, I can't face going home, back to the memories there, so much darkness, so much sadness, I feel being in a new environment will help me, and Callum, and seeing Mona alive and well, I don't want to leave her again."
George smiled.
"Since Mutopia was founded." George said "It's purpose has been about starting refresh, and starting again, and in a way, you wish to start again?"
Jake nodded.
"I don't wish to mutate myself sir." Jake said honestly "But I wish to remain here and be part of the team, if you'll let me, as well as watch over my brother until he accepts this is his new life."
George nodded sighed as he thought of Callum.
"I understand your brother is still finding it hard to accept that he is what he is now."
Jake nodded.
"He's still resentful." he said "He still doesn't get the fact that his life was saved, he could have died at the hands of the hands of the Shredder, and we didn't want to loose him, yet even now he still hates me and Mona for it."
"You can't force him to not feel how he feels son." George said "All you can do is just let him be, but remind him he will have to get used to it at some point, one of these days."
"This is his new home now." Jake said "Our new home, and I want to make sure he doesn't screw this new life up, like he did as a human! So many others have turned their lives around and I hope he follows their example!"
"Only time will tell." George said then he decided to change the subject.
"When it comes to you wishing to stay here." the old turtle began "You have many options, before Amber was mutated, she lived in the city above Mutopia and worked in a store as well as had a rented apartment, she was helped into finding a place to live and work through our friend Hugh, a police officer and one of the few humans who knows about us."
"I remember the Knights speaking about him." Jake said.
"He is a trusted friend, and he advises us on activity above so the Knights may intercept more than the police can, since we are outside of the law in a way, and the humans do not know we exist." George replied "But to get to the point, we can get in touch with him to help you find a home and a job, unless you wish to remain here with us as a human?"
Jake thought for a moment.
He was enjoying Mutopia and felt safe and relaxed as he had less demanding responsibility than when he was back in Wisconsin, yet he still wished to live as a normal human with a job and a place to live, and maybe even find love, since he had put most of what he wanted to do on hold to look after Callum.
"I haven't decided fully what I wish to do George." Jake said "But after a while, I plan to come to a decision."
"And take as much time as you need son." George smiled placing a hand on Jake's shoulder "We will help you get settled, wherever you decide to settle."
End Flashback
Arriving outside Callum's door, Jake knocked gently.
"Callum?" he called "Cal? You in there?"
He knocked again a little harder.
"What?!" came an irritated voice from inside making Jake's stomach tighten.
"Little brother?"
"Oh it's you!" Callum's voice was heard from inside "What do you want?"
"Just a word." Jake said "And to explain."
"Explain what?" Callum growled.
Jake sighed, he wasn't going to put up with Callum's attitude and he opened the door to see Callum sitting on the bed and staring at the wall.
"Callum." he said but the raven didn't look at him.
"What are you doing here?" Callum demanded keeping his eyes on the wall.
Jake looked at Callum then around the dark room, and he saw the ripped photos from earlier on the floor and he felt saddened, especially when he saw some photos of himself, Callum and Mona were ripped or torn asunder.
"I know what you wish to speak about." Callum spoke as he saw Jake walk over to the chair and sit down.
"What?" asked Jake even though he already knew the answer.
"You wish to talk about why you wish to stay here." Callum replied "Yet why do you wish to stay here?"
Jake shook his head.
"I guess you heard the news?" he asked.
"Well duh!" Callum retorted "Small fucking village, news travels fast, and Marine Iguana Girl told me and the Dragon."
"Her name is Amber." Jake corrected.
"Whatever." Callum shot back.
Jake frowned.
"You're gonna have to get used to people's names here Cal, whether you like it or not!" he said "This is your home now, you've got nowhere else to go, this is your sanctuary! It's not safe for you in the outside world now, more so than before!"
"So it seems." Callum snarled "Because of you and Mona's doing!"
"We saved your life!" Jake said starting to feel slightly angry at Callum's attitude and at how ungrateful he was to even be alive as a mutant "When are you going to accept that?"
Callum said nothing and looked away from Jake.
Jake looked at his hands.
He was feeling so annoyed at Callum but he knew he couldn't cause an argument with him because he knew it would be like two bulls locking horns so he took a deep breath and pushed his anger down into the pit of his stomach.
"Listen Callum." he said "My reasons to stay here are more than just to make sure you settle in."
"Oh really?" Callum asked not believing his brother.
"Really!" Jake replied "Honestly, I've chosen to stay here because I no longer wish to return to Wisconsin, I don't want to go home."
"Oh and when did you decide that?" Callum queried rolling his eyes.
"After you were mutated." Jake said "I can't go home without you, and dad will want to know what's happened, I can't face him, I can't look him in the eye and tell him a lie!"
"Then what have you said to him then?" asked Callum "That is if you have told him anything."
"I sent him an email." Jake said "I haven't had a response yet, and I'm fucking dreading it, I couldn't tell him the truth, but I've only told him we're not returning to Wisconsin."
"There's only one good thing then!" Callum snarled "In this form I can never face dad again, nor his floozy!"
Jake grunted in annoyance but Callum carried on.
"I never wanted to be in dad's presence again after everything that happened! Him abandoning mum! Marrying another woman! Giving me a hard time!"
"You did that to yourself!" Jake argued "He never abandoned mum! He was honest about Pamela and the giving you a hard time! It was because you were fucking up your life! He never wanted you to get into trouble! You were better than that!"
Callum just glared, he was sick of hearing the same conversation over again, about his attitude since Mona's disappearance, their mum suffering depression then having cancer and dying, their parents divorce and dad re-marrying.
"You fucked up your human life Callum." Jake said "But you've been re-born! And being here, you may find a new purpose in life! You'll find yourself again! That's what I'm hoping! We can both turn over a new leaf!"
Callum said nothing and looked at his feet.
"Listen brother." Jake said with a sigh, still feeling angry and annoyed "This may be the best thing that's happened since our lives were turned upside down! We have another chance! And I'm staying here and I'm going to make the most of it! And whether you like it or not I'm staying here, and you're just going to have to get used to it!"
Jake stood up and walked to the door yet he stopped and looked back at Callum.
"George wants to see us before dinnertime in the mess hall, he plans to announce us as new residents of Mutopia and you're expected to be there and at least show you're grateful to be taken in!"
Callum clenched his beak as he listened to how Jake was speaking to him almost like a child.
"I'll leave you to think for a while." Jake continued "But if all you're gonna do is sulk and have that resentful attitude, then be that way! But it ain't gonna change things!"
He then walked out the door.
"See you before supper." he said before disappearing out of the room.
Callum watched him go and growled before returning to stare at the wall.
"My home?" he thought "My sanctuary? More like a prison!"
He thought about what Jake said and he clenched his talons again.
"Why should I be grateful? Why should I? I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask for this form! This mutation! Why should I stand before the rest of the Mutopians, Mona and the Turtles and say thank you, that I am grateful for this monstrosity and this life?"
He stood up and walked over to the mirror and studied his features.
"I'm not human!" he said "But rather a mutant...with wings, and black feathers..." he narrowed his eyes.
"The world above is dangerous for mutants, yet my sister and her turtle friends still walk in it, as do these residents, yet they choose to stay hidden from the humans and protect them from danger? And what do they get in return? Nothing!"
The more Callum stared at his reflection, he started to think a little bit.
"I might not be a human any more, and I might be be able to walk amongst the humans above, but I have become something more." he studied his features and opened his wings.
"I have sharp talons, I have wings...and I am the colour of night...can this be used to my advantage?"
A smirk began to curl at the corner of his lips and he began to think a little more clearly and he remembered Jake's words.
You've been re-born! ….you may find a new purpose in life! …..You'll find yourself again!
"I might not have asked for this..." Callum thought "But maybe...just maybe...I may be able to do something with it...consider it a blessing in disguise..." and his smirk got wider as he looked in the mirror.
So George has spoken with Jake about his options about being in Chicago, whether to live up in the city or in Mutopia, and Jake has spoken with Callum again, more like a lecture really!
But it looks like something's awakening in Callum, a new light? Or darkness? Is it something we should be worried about, well keep checking back to find out!