Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Thank you all so much for being patient with me. I was too focused on completing projects for a class that I didn't really have the time I needed to work on this. If I ever take a little longer than a month to update the story then please don't worry about me not finishing it because I can promise you that I will. I'm already too invested in this story to stop, and I'm hoping to get a picture of Noelle uploaded onto Deviantart soon. Thanks guys!
Chapter 11: My World
"Tomorrow will be the field trip for the Metropolitan Museum. If you haven't already turned in your permission slips, then you may still do so at the meeting location. Feel free to either take the bus from in front of the school, or arrive at the museum on your own. Either way, we will all be meeting there around nine, and the bus takes off from here at eight-thirty. You will be allowed to bring one guest, and the total cost is twenty dollars." Ms. Miller took her place at the front of the room with a thin pile of white sheets in her hands and banged the edges of them on her desk to straighten them out. "Now, who still needs the slip?
Noelle felt excited over the club trip, as she hadn't recently been given the opportunity to visit the museum. The last time she'd went had to have been about three or four years ago with her grandma, and ever since then she had been captivated by the building that contained a wondrous world of imagination. She had spent so much time analyzing each painting and sculpture that the museum had closed before she could fully see everything. It had been a real treat, and to go back again would be amazing.
She bashfully raised her hand, embarrassed that she seemed to be the only one who still needed the paper. She could only assume that everybody else had received theirs during Wednesday's meeting when she'd been absent.
Miller's thin heels audibly clicked across the floor as she sauntered over to her reserved student, rather surprised over the slight smile the blonde donned. Noelle seemed much happier than she'd been on Monday, or within the past few weeks even, and although the aged teacher was a bit curious over the sudden mood change, she was pleased as well. Truthfully, she'd been worried about her star pupil and what could possibly be going on in her life, but to see Noelle so elated over the field trip was a relief.
The young artist gratefully took the ivory sheet and beamed up at her teacher. "Thank you. I will hopefully see you tomorrow."
"Glad to hear it. Will you be bringing somebody with you?"
At this, the blonde's face fell a little, and Ms. Miller felt a twinge of guilt for bringing an apparent sore subject up. "I'm not sure. I will have to see."
"It doesn't matter if you do or don't," the instructor reassured. "All that matters is that you enjoy yourself, and I know you will."
"Thank you." Noelle watched her teacher walk away to resume speaking before she turned her attention back to the permission slip, contemplating on what she could do. Of course, she could always suggest the idea to her new friends when she visited the lair later, but she doubted any of them would want to go, and by them she meant April or Casey. Splinter and the turtles wouldn't be able to just step into the public light without being harassed unless some serious disguising took place, and even then she figured the only one who would actually show interest would be Splinter. She wondered if April would be willing to join her, as she couldn't see the vigilante hockey player being remotely excited by paintings or carved marble.
With a sigh, she tucked the sheet away and decided to just focus on whatever task Ms. Miller was assigning the group. The idea of walking through the museum alone might have once appealed to her as a way to study the past masters and get a feel for whatever was on display, but after suddenly gaining the friendship of seven amazing people, the thought seemed really lonely somehow.
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Raph was the one who escorted Noelle that day, claiming that Mikey had to attend extra training because he'd been goofing around too much during their morning exercises. "I just don't get him sometimes," the red-masked terrapin grumbled. "He's really skilled when it comes to fighting, but he doesn't take things as seriously as he should."
Noelle hummed in thought as they strolled through the murky tunnels. "I think that perhaps he just wants to have fun in life." Upon noticing Raph's raised brow, she timidly turned her attention to the soiled ground beneath her feet. "I-I just mean that he sees things differently, and in a way I do too. He's just a positive person who enjoys laughing and making others smile, and I can respect that."
"You learned all that just from knowing him a few days?" The brawny turtle genuinely sounded impressed, causing the blonde to blush and bashfully glance at him. "I've gotta say, my little brother was right about you."
That definitely caught her attention. "O-oh? What do you mean?"
"He told me you were the nicest person he knew, and I've gotta agree with him. You're okay in my book, Noelle." He gently punched her in the arm, catching her off guard.
She rubbed her limb, wondering if this was just something the boys with each other. Even though she didn't really consider herself to be the "nicest"person, it felt good to be thought of in such a way, especially by somebody she'd grown really fond of.
They finally made it to the lair, which was empty save for Leo once again glued to the television as he attentively watched Space Heroes. April and Casey wouldn't be arriving until a little later, as Irma's nagging had finally gotten to them and they decided to indulge her in going out to eat at some new gluten free restaurant. Noelle could only assume that Donnie was once again in his lab, and that Mikey was probably still training in the dojo.
"We're back Fearless," Raph dully announced before seating himself on the bench and picking up a nearby magazine that had been laid open. He licked his thumb and casually flipped a page.
"Noelle!" Mikey suddenly burst out of the dojo upon their return, bounding straight over to the blonde with an elated expression. "Dude, I didn't know you got a weapon! I wanna see!"
On that note, Leo immediately turned his attention away from the TV, and even Raph put down his magazine as they joined Mikey to get a better look. "That's awesome! Can you show it to us?"
Noelle pulled the Jitte out of her gym bag and lifted the handle out so they could view the blade at a better angle. She wondered if Splinter had mentioned it to the boys earlier, and she once more felt a flutter of pride in her chest at being able to show it off. She figured the brothers wouldn't be impressed due to having already had weapons for a while, but she was still ecstatic over having received such a beautiful gift.
"A Jitte huh? Nice choice!" Leo complimented as he examined the blade and handle. "It suits you."
"Why do you think that?" she curiously asked.
"The weight and length are just right, and it'll do considerable damage during a fight," Raph explained, agreeing with his brother for once.
Mikey leaned closer and poked the blade, grinning as he did so. "It's like a giant pencil or something, which totally works for you since you're into art stuff."
"Boys, please give Noelle some space. She has just arrived and perhaps would like to go change for her lesson." Splinter descended down the dojo's steps, smiling compassionately at his newest pupil.
She was just about to head over to the restroom when she suddenly remembered the permission slip. "Sensei, I have a field trip tomorrow to the Metropolitan Museum that starts around nine. I'm not sure what time morning training is, but I was wondering if perhaps I could stop by in the evening for my lesson, if it's not too much trouble, that is."
"No trouble at all. In fact, you may enjoy a day off tomorrow and resume training again on Sunday, if you would like."
Noelle was tempted to accept his offer, but she knew she couldn't really take a break if she wanted to save her mom. She knew from the moment she started that she'd be training hard, and she would keep true to that decision. "Thank you, but I think I would still like to have my lesson."
Splinter nodded. "I admire your dedication, young one. Now, will you be attending this trip alone?"
Noelle tried not to feel embarrassed by the question, as she didn't want to inform them that she'd probably be going by herself since five of her friends wouldn't be able to go to the surface, and the other two more than likely wouldn't have an interest. "Well, I-I am allowed to bring one guest-"
"Me! Me! Ooh me!" Mikey wildly waved his hand around like a child in class wanting to be called on. "I'll go!"
"Michelangelo, you cannot. Others would judge you and trouble could ensue. You know this."
Noelle watched her friend's face fall in disappointment, and she herself couldn't help feeling a bit discouraged over him not going with her, even though she had already known he probably wouldn't have been able to in the first place. She looked at her skin color, and then his before a crazy idea suddenly popped up in her head. "I could paint him."
The turtles and Splinter merely blinked at her in disbelief. "What are you implying?" the fatherly rat inquired as he stroked his beard.
She tried not to feel disconcerted under their stares. "Well, Halloween is coming up this month, so there is already face makeup available at several stores. I know I'm not a makeup artist, but I think I could still make his skin look like mine, and maybe even give him some gloves so he has five fingers instead of three. There is also clay available to I could easily put on his face to give him more humanly features."
"Sensei! I wanna go! Please!" Mikey stared up at his father with enormous blue eyes and his lower lip trembling. He had such an effective puppy-dog face that not even Splinter could ignore it. The rat considered what Noelle was suggesting carefully before he sighed..
"Very well, but you must behave," Splinter warned, his words practically drowned out by Mikey's squealing. "And don't touch anything."
"Booyakasha! This is gonna be so awesome!"
Noelle's heart jubilantly fluttered at the thought of actually having a friend with her in a place that she considered to be special. She was so thrilled that she didn't even feel unsettled when Mikey hopped over to her and pulled her into a side hug, prompting them both to jubilantly laugh. Leo observed the whole scene with interest, rather envious that his brother would be able to venture to the surface during the day. At the same time, he couldn't help simpering over how happy his little brother was, and the fact that Noelle was in high spirits instead of distraught like she'd been only a few days ago. He shared a knowing glance with Raph, who nodded to confirm that he share the same thoughts.
Regardless of the fact that the brothers hadn't known Noelle for even a week, she had unknowingly made her way into all their hearts, just like April.
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Noelle once more trained with the redhead that evening. The two girls repeated the exercises from the prior night, followed by stretches that left the blonde feeling more flexible than she thought possible. She was proud of herself for landing several hits against her partner and defending a majority of the returned blows, which Splinter heartily praised.
"You are both doing very well. Tomorrow night, we will be focusing on meditation. That is all." The girls bowed to their Sensei and prepared to leave the room, exhausted and reeking of perspiration. "Noelle, if your father approves, then you may stay the night. In fact, you are welcome to stay over anytime you wish, just like April."
Noelle beamed over his offer. She had enjoyed staying the night, and was flattered that the modest family already trusted her enough to allow her to sleep over whenever she wished. The idea was compelling, especially since both her and Mikey had to get up early the next day in order for her to have time to apply the paint and get him ready. First though, she needed to gather clean clothes, have her father sign the permission slip, and then purchase some supplies.
"Thank you Sensei. I really appreciate the offer. I'm going to stop home first and then get some materials, if that's okay."
"I'll go with you," April offered with a smile. "That is, if you're okay with it."
Noelle cheerfully nodded, welcoming the company.
"Be careful girls."
"We will Sensei!"
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The two female teens quickly showered before they left, and informed the boys of their plan. Mikey, of course, was beyond thrilled with his friends staying over. He'd vehemently declared that the "slumber party" was on, and rapidly bolted over to the kitchen to prepare snacks for later. The girls chuckled at his enthusiasm before venturing into the sewers and back up into the streets. Noelle led April to her dad's house and knocked on the front door, her cheeks darkening over the fact that they had to stand outside to be let in.
"I'm really sorry about this. I forgot to remind dad that I need a key still."
April shook her head, not appearing the least bit bothered. "I don't mind, but it is kinda strange you don't have one already."
"I'm not over enough to really need one," Noelle explained. Sensing that the topic was uncomfortable, the red head dropped it.
Felix finally opened the door, wearing baggy pajamas and appearing tired as usual. "Hey there- oh". He glanced down with surprise at the unfamiliar teenager with his daughter.
"I'm April and I go to school with Noelle. It's nice to meet you sir."
"Oh, uh, nice to meet you too," Felix returned the greeting and stepped to the side so both girls could enter. He wasn't used to having company, and to see his daughter with somebody was odd as well. He had never met any of her friends, so he could only assume that she didn't have many or simply wasn't interested in spending time with others. "Hey kiddo, I made your key."
Noelle paused in the middle of ascending up the stairs and quickly descended down the steps to accept it, pleased that she finally had her own for when he left. "Thanks dad. Oh, and April and I are spending the night at a friend's house tonight. Is that okay?"
Once again, he was taken aback by how unusually cheerful she was. In the past she'd always shown up with a forced smile and remained quiet most of the time, usually focusing on an art piece while she left him to his work. He had to admit that it was nice seeing her happy, even though he didn't completely understand what was going on.
"I don't see why not."
"Thank you! And also, would you mind signing this? I have money I can use." She pulled out the folded permission slip and handed it to him, feeling like she perhaps might be annoying for asking so many things of him at once. Luckily, he merely scanned over the sheet and nodded before he disappeared into his study, only to reappear moments later with the paper signed and money in his other hand.
"This should cover both the entrance fee and lunch. Have fun."
"Dad-"
"Hunny, please take it. Seriously. I make more than enough to take care of both of us."
Noelle sighed and took the forty bucks he held out to her, appreciating the kind gesture but rather uncomfortable with accepting it. "Thanks dad." She smiled so she didn't appear ungrateful, and was rewarded with a light pat on the head.
"No problem. Enjoy yourself kiddo." He disappeared back into his office, and the two girls proceeded back up the stairs.
"He seems nice," April encouraged, trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere.
"Oh, uh, he is. To be honest, I just don't like accepting money, especially from him since we barely see each other."
"You staying here now might actually be nice then, right? I mean, it could give you guys the chance you need to spend time together."
Noelle closed the door behind them as they entered her room and gently set her gym bag on the floor."It would, but he is leaving on Sunday and I'm not sure when he'll be back. He is always traveling around for his job since he's a well-known graphic designer."
"Oh, I see." April was beginning to put together the pieces as to why Noelle was so awkward around other people, and she assumed that a large part of that was because neither of her parents paid attention to her. It was sad, and made her thankful that her own dad had always showered her with affection. She sat on Noelle's bed and patiently waited for the girl to pack. Her eyes were suddenly drawn towards a particular painting on the wall, her heart melting at the hand prints and names. "Oh, that's so cute!"
Noelle tucked away her pajamas and followed the red head's trail of sight. She blushed upon realizing what the Kunoich was focusing on, and what it could possibly be implying. "Oh, w-well, I mean..."
April stood up and walked closer so she could inspect the canvas, her lips spreading into a smile. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about. You wouldn't believe how often Donnie and I are teased because of how much time we spend together."
"You do?"
"Yeah, and although it bugged me at first I grew to not care about it anymore because he's my best friend and there's nothing wrong with that."
Noelle heeded her friend's words carefully. She hadn't known Mikey too long, but he'd easily become her closest friend. He was enthusiastic, good-natured, fun, and brought the world into a new perspective for her. He was the first one to truly make her laugh, and she would never forget it. "I think Mikey might be my best friend too, but I'm not sure if he thinks of me the same way."
April snorted. "He totally does. Trust me, you guys definitely have the same bond as me and Donnie."
It was a relief to Noelle to know that her and the youngest turtle apparently had such a strong friendship that even April noticed. She lost her blush but felt lighthearted at the realization, hoping that maybe she would be able to learn more about the freckled terrapin as time went on. She wondered if Donnie and April did like each other, not just because of how close they were, but by the way they sometimes looked at each other, especially Donnie. He usually had an amorous expression on his face when he noticed April, and he always offered to walk her home. Of course, it could just be her imagination and she knew better than to just assume, but the thought was still very sweet.
The girls changed the subject to school, discussing upcoming projects and study dates before Noelle had finished packing for the night. Before leaving, Felix wished both girls a good night and promised his daughter he would see her the next night. Noelle thanked him once more for the money, promised to have her phone on in case, and then followed the other teenager back into the street so they could find all they needed to disguise Mikey. A nearby Halloween store had just opened up and offered a variety of paints in multiple colors. The girls picked the one they thought best, and also stopped at Noelle's favorite art store before returning to the lair. April had texted Casey earlier about borrowing clothes, and luckily he had some to spare. He informed them that he and Raph would be heading to his place real quick to get some stuff, and would meet them later.
"So you think it'll work?" April asked as she carried one of the plastic bags. "The whole disguise, I mean. It's a really clever idea, and I'm not doubting you. I'm just genuinely curious. If it doesn't, then I can go with you."
Part of Noelle felt guilty for dismissing the idea of inviting the red head so quickly. "I'm sorry for not asking you; I just thought you wouldn't be interested."
"Well, to be honest, I've never been into art museums. I mean, they have some cool stuff in there, but I'm not drawn to it like you. I'm honestly more of a science girl, so if I could somehow bring Donnie to one of the science museums with me I totally would."
"I understand." Noelle sighed in relief for not having hurt April's feelings. "I think there is a high chance that I could make Mikey pass as a human, but I've never done it before so I'm kind of nervous."
"Nah, you'll be fine. Trust me."
Although she doubted April knew for sure that everything would work out, it was still nice knowing that somebody believed in her so much.
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"So what movies do you guys wanna watch?" Mikey jovially inquired as he pursued the girls to their bedroom.
"Not horror!" Leo yelled out from his spot at the pinball machine. "He gets nightmares!"
"I do not!" the freckled reptile defended, only to receive a pat on the head from April.
"You actually do. Remember how we watched that movie about the girl who climbed out of the well and you wouldn't look at the TV for a week?"
His lime-green skin seemed to pale at the thought. "But she crawled out of the TV! That would scare anybody!"
"Okay, well what about the guy who was staying in a huge house and was investigating the murder of children while seeing a woman walking around in all black?"
"She was terrifying!"
April crossed her arms and smiled smugly. "Point made."
Noelle giggled at the teasing and unpacked her things, looking forward to actually watching movies with some friends. She wasn't a huge fan of the horror genre either, nor action movies, but she was a guest and would enjoy whatever film they picked.
"Oooh! Can we watch the one about a traveling hobbit and his dwarf friends?"
April seemed pleased by the idea. "Sure thing. Noelle?"
"I like that one," the blonde admitted, rather pleased with the choice. "I don't usually watch a lot of movies, but I've actually been wanting to watch this since it first came out."
Mikey practically skipped out of the room. "Girl, you're gonna love it!"
Somehow, she didn't doubt she would.
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The lair echoed with snoring as the credits rolled. The only ones who remained awake were Leo, Mikey and Noelle. Everybody else had fallen asleep either halfway through the film or towards the end. Chunks of buttered popcorn were scattered in little clusters across the floor, along with empty pop cans and crinkled bags of chips. Donnie and April were slumped against each other on the bench while Casey was curled up on a beanbag with Raph laying face down on the bench adjacent to his brother and the red head. Noelle's bottom ached a bit from sitting on the floor the entire time, but Mikey had sat beside her and made all the scenes interesting with his delighted gasps and humorous commentary that had them both covering their mouths to conceal their laughter. Leo usually stayed up for all the films to make sure his brothers went back to their rooms, but he decided that allowing them to stay in the living room that night was fine.
Besides, it would be a hilarious picture to take in the morning.
"That was so awesome!" Mikey audibly whispered, his eyes sparkling in awe. "Man, I wanna be an elf so bad!"
"I actually liked the main hobbit and his swordsmanship. Probably one of the most epic movies I've ever seen," Leo added on, trying to keep his voice low even though he was bursting with excitement.
Noelle smiled at the teenage boys. She was glad that they seemed to enjoy fantasy as much as she did. "I love the music; it was very captivating."
The two hummed their agreement before Leo put the DVD away and switched the TV off. "Well, we better all go to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night."
"Goodnight," they murmured in unison before Mikey proceeded to escort Noelle to her room. The lair was exceedingly dark at night, and not having any windows to shine moonlight in didn't help. Luckily, the young turtle seemed adept at navigating his home in bleak obscurity, so they were able to arrive at the room in no time. She switched the light on inside, slightly wincing as the illumination assaulted her vision.
"Dude, I am totally stoked for tomorrow!" Mikey fell backwards onto her bed with his arms spread out and a grin across his lips. "It's gonna be fun!"
Noelle giggled at his display before she sat next to him and pulled her knees up to her chest. Luckily, she was already in her pajamas, so she didn't have to worry about asking him to leave just so she could change. "I'm glad, but may I ask why you want to go so badly? To the museum, I mean."
Mikey turned his head over so he could face her better. " 'Cause your world seems cool."
She was rather puzzled, and supposed that it had something to do with the fact that he couldn't really venture onto the surface. "Oh, because you want to see it during the day instead of just night?"
He shook his head and sprang into a cross-legged sitting position. "Nah. I want to see your world, ya know, like what you see when it comes to painting and stuff. You make it so pretty that I want to see what the rest of it looks like."
Noelle suddenly smiled in understanding as his complicated wording suddenly blended perfectly together: he wanted her to show him the beauty she found in art. "I'll do my best then. If you want to see it bad enough, then it'll appear."
"I totally want to see it! This is gonna be awesome!" She laughed before suggesting they turn in soon, as they both needed to get up early the next morning. He bounded out of her room like an excited puppy and waved enthusiastically. She returned the gesture and closed her door, simpering over what the next day could possibly hold in store.
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Her alarm went off around seven, disrupting the reticent atmosphere of the compartment. She groggily silenced the mechanism and switched the lamp on, revealing that she was still desolate in the room. Poor April had probably spent the entire night on the couch, but at least she was surrounded by the others.
Noelle had just finished getting dressed when she heard impatient knocking on the door. Before she could so much as yell "come in", it was forced open by a surprisingly alert Mikey. He grinned and burst right in, not even bothering to shut the door behind him.
"Morning! Are you ready?!"
"You clearly are," she mused, and gestured for him to follow her as she grabbed all the materials piled together on her dresser, including the pile of baggy clothes that Casey had snagged from his house. Once they were in the bathroom, she had him sit on the sink counter so she could set up the paint and gather some towels.
"I'm gonna look so awesome! This is great!" Mikey kicked his legs up and down like a hyper child who had eaten far too much sugar, but Noelle was just grateful that he was so interested in going somewhere with her. Once she had covered his upper plastron and carapace with towels, she began the process in an attentive manner.
She started with paint that was about a shade darker than her skin color and proceeded to cover his face with it, adding in darker shades to add depth to his cheeks and chin. He removed his mask, but she was so focused that she didn't bother to examine how he looked without the familiar fabric. She was able to construct a fake nose with polymer clay, adding highlights and little clumps for the nostrils and bridge. Finally she combined pink, brown, and white paint for his lips so it didn't seem like he was wearing lipstick. Mikey carefully put on the pants Casey brought over, which Noelle could only assume belonged to his dad, as the vigilante was quite slim and didn't seem to wear clothes that Mikey's bulky legs could fit into. Old shoes were stretched out with the bottoms cut out in order to fit on his feet, and then the hoodie was carefully slipped over his head.
Trying to keep him from turning around to face the mirror was a challenge in itself. She wanted Mikey to be able to see her progress, but at the same time wished to keep it a surprise so he could take in his new transformation at once. The only other thing she needed to do was slip a hat over his head and position his hands into the gloves to give the illusion that he had five fingers. She painted those as well, along with some nails, knuckles, and even hints of veins to give off the full effect. She stepped back and admired her work.
"Can I see now?!"
"Yes."
He wasted no time in spinning around, and when he did so he nearly fell on the floor. He warily took some steps towards the mirror and touched the glass, his eyes widening in disbelief at the stranger staring back at him. He slowly lifted his new hands up and touched his face, his thumbs sliding across his nose.
"Woahhh...is that me?"
"It is."
"I. Look. Awesome!" He was suddenly bouncing off the walls in total glee at his transformation. "This is the best thing ever! Wait until I tell my bros!" Before he ran out of the room he pulled Noelle into a tight hug, prompting her to bashfully smile at his gratitude. "You're the best!" He grinned and then sprinted out of the restroom as he boisterously laughed in delight. The blonde felt an unbelievable sense of pride at how happy her work had made him. She glanced in the mirror and sighed when she noticed how crimson her face had become. She wondered if there would ever be a day when she didn't blush from physical contact.
All who had fallen asleep in the living room the night before were wide-awake and transfixed on Mikey's complete transformation. Donnie was thoroughly examining his little brother, verbally noting how impressed he was while Casey found amusement in poking the freckled turtle's temporary nose.
"Dude, you look wicked!"
Even Raph couldn't help but walk around his brother in disbelief. "I've gotta say, she did a good job."
"Noelle, he looks fantastic!"
Upon hearing April's exclamation, the group turned to face the young artist, immediately congratulating her on such a successful job. Her cheeks grew heated as she beamed over the compliments. "Thank you."
Splinter announced that breakfast was ready, and everybody gathered together in the dining room. He didn't usually cook, not because he was bad at it, but because Mikey had just taken over the duty one day. However, due to his youngest son's current state, he had taken initiative and done the task himself. It was a simple breakfast of pancakes and bacon, but it was enough to satisfy the group of teenagers.
During the meal, Leo leaned over to Noelle and Mikey and showed them his T-Phone, which had a picture of the snoozing group in the den. Mikey laughed obnoxiously loud, capturing the attention of the others. Noelle didn't laugh, but instead smiled over how close her friends were, like an odd and happy family.
When breakfast was finished, the blonde and freckled terrapin waved bye to the others before vanishing into the rancid tunnels, unaware of how Splinter watched them from behind. A part of him was still nervous over his son being discovered, but he had to trust that the newest addition to their clan would help him out if he needed it.
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The sewers echoed with the familiar drips of water as they briskly walked through the dim corridors in companionable silence, both extremely eager for their day at the museum.
Of course, with Mikey around,a quiet atmosphere didn't last very long.
"So what's the museum like? Is is busy? Are there lots of people there? Is there food?"
She thought back to her last visit. "It's usually pretty busy, and I know there is at least one food court there. As for what it's like-" she smiled fondly, "-you'll experience that when we get there."
"Aww, not even one hint?" He slyly grinned at her.
"Not even one."
She giggled at his mock pout, their stroll ending beneath a rustic iron ladder. Mikey was about to climb up when he was ceased from all movement by a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"It might be a good idea to take the gloves off so they don't get ruined."
Mikey chuckled sheepishly. "Oh, uh, yeah. I guess so. I kinda don't wanna take them off because of how neat they are though. I mean, I've got five fingers! Check out my hands!" He wiggled the false fingers around, causing Noelle to laugh and gently pull them off his hands.
"I promise you can wear them after."
"Girl, you've got yo' self a deal!" He winked and bounded up the ladder, where he lifted the manhole cover and peeked around to make sure nobody was nearby. "Alright, coast is clear!"
At his signal, Noelle carefully climbed up and grabbed his outstretched hand. He pulled her up to the clamorous world before he lowered the lid back down and slipped his gloves back on. The two exchanged smiles before they proceeded to weave in and out around the throngs of people that crowded the sidewalk. Walking to the museum took a little longer than she'd anticipated due to him stopping every five seconds and waving to random strangers, but she didn't mind in the least. He finally had a chance to walk among people without being treated like an outcast, and she wouldn't take that from him.
They eventually arrived at a broad set of stone steps that led up to a colossal building with four sets propped up in front of the exterior walls. Mikey's face split into a toothy grin as he stared up at the towering architecture. He walked up the stairs with Noelle, nearly tripping over his feet as his widened eyes experienced the building's increase in size with every step he took.
They entered into the populous lobby, which also impressed the young turtle."Oh, there's my teacher," the blonde explained to him when the older woman approached, snapping him out of his trance. "Good morning, Ms. Miller." Noelle handed over the money and signed slip, which the art professor took with an approving nod.
"Good morning." Miller peered down the bridge of her nose at the unfamiliar boy who looked like he'd downed a whole pot of coffee judging by the way he couldn't seem to stand still or stop looking around. "I see you've brought a friend today."
"Yes. This is-"
"Michelangelo! Call me Mikey!" The disguised turtle winked. "Just a regular human like you!"
It took all of Noelle's willpower not to cringe.
"That's,um, interesting?" Miller raised a brow and shot Noelle a puzzled look. "...Enjoy your time here." She walked away from the odd pair, wishing she had more caffeine in her system for the day up ahead. She just didn't understand teens nowadays.
Before Noelle could even utter a word she was dragged forward by her eager friend. His fake fingers flopped around as his real digits clasped around her wrist, making it seem like his palm was somehow pulling her. "Sweet! Where do we go first?!"
The blonde managed to mildly yank back a little so Mikey slowed down, an impatient pout on his face. "We go upstairs. There are three floors above us, and each floor has multiple galleries. You shouldn't run around though, or the security might kick us out." She kindly smiled and pointed to the closest set of stairs. "Lets go."
Mikey grinned, and together they made their way through the early stream of museum-goers. They ascended up the marble steps carefully before finally reaching the next floor. The freckled teen came to a stop when he stepped onto the floor, his eyes enlarging in disbelief.
"Woah..."
[Once Upon a Time-Jiminy Cricket]
Truthfully, Mikey hadn't really known what to expect of the museum. The closest he'd ever gotten to seeing what one actually looked like were through drawings in his comic books, and it had seemed really boring in that aspect. The way Noelle's face lit up whenever she talked about art had made him curious, so he asked her to take him so he could experience the excitement as well.
And boy was he surprised.
The walls were positively covered with paintings of all sizes, and in the middle of the room were multiple statues that captured his attention. There was just so much to see that he wasn't sure where to look first, and in a way it was overwhelming. As if in a trance, he stepped forward and gradually inched his way over to the nearest wall to get a better look at one of the paintings.
Noelle positively beamed at his reaction, pleased that he didn't seem at all bored like she thought he might be. She walked over to stand by his side, smiling and staring up at the work with him. It was a picture of a woman wearing a black dress and distantly staring off towards her left side while her right hand gently gripped the edge of a circular wooden table. Brunette hair was pinned to the top of her head, and her ivory skin seemed to practically glow against the auburn background.
"Portrait of Madame X," Noelle read aloud from the description plate. "It was created by John Singer Sargent in 1885 with oil paints."
"She looks real," he breathed out in complete awe. "Is she really just a painting? Can you paint like this?"
"I wish I could. I've improved a lot since when I first started, but I still have a long ways to go."
"I bet you could, though."
She looked at him, beyond flattered that he thought her to be so skilled, and blushed at the compliment. "I would like to." Her eyes traveled up the canvas, and she remembered that he had requested that she show him "her world". What better time than now?
"Can you see the strokes of paint?"
Mikey's face scrunched up in concentration as he closely focused on the piece. He grinned in triumph when he discovered a brown one along the table's rim, and proudly gestured upwards towards the spot. "There's one!"
Noelle nodded and began pointing out other ones while Mikey watched with fascination. "You can literally see how the paintbrush touched the canvas. We're looking at something through the eyes of the artist, and in a way it helps us understand how he was feeling, what could have possibly been going through his mind at the time."
The terrapin's false brows raised up. "Woahhh. So it's like we're looking into his brain?"
She knew he wasn't trying to be silly, that this was all new for him, and that he actually seemed a little fascinated in what she was trying to show him. "In a way. That's the beauty of art; you can use your imagination to see what you want in somebody else's work, or bring whatever you're feeling or seeing to life."
"That's totally deep." He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then looked at her with so much incitement she couldn't help smiling. "Show me more!"
[+]
The rest of the museum was a giant blur.
Literally.
Mikey had pulled Noelle around, which left little time for her to actually stop and examine any of the paintings or sculptures. He wanted to make sure they were able to see everything in time before the museum closed, which they would easily be able to do at the rate they were going. When they briefly stopped in front of a painting, Mikey would quickly scour the paint for the strokes, happily pointing several out before he declared how the artist must have felt, and then would anxiously wait for Noelle to give her answer. Instead of being disappointed by the lack of time she was able to spend with each object, she found herself enjoying the little game he'd created. It allowed her to actually view the works in a different and unique way, which was rather fun and provided her with a new perspective on the artist's mind.
They eventually stopped at the cafeteria for lunch around noon. Noelle bought Mikey his lunch, which was unsurprisingly pizza. She was amused by the fact that he loved the greasy food so much that he would completely ignore the chance at being able to try something new. She picked out chicken fingers with fries, and together they sat towards the back of the dining room at a small crammed against the wall.
"Man, this place is awesome! I don't get why there's so much naked people though." The reptile slipped his gloves off and proceeded to happily chomp on the cheesy meal. The thought had been on his mind all morning, and was it was starting to really bother him. It was almost awkward for him, but he wasn't disgusted, just curious.
"I felt the same way when I was younger." Noelle bit into a fry before she offered him one, which he jovially accepted. "It was only after some studying that I realized just how beautiful the human body really can be. There is a whole system beneath a layer of skin, and the muscles and bones that bulge out are fascinating. I love the curves and shadows, and how so many bodies are different. Back then, it wasn't uncommon for people to not wear as many clothes, especially among the peasants and commoners."
"All I can say is that I'm glad people don't walk around naked anymore. The last thing I need to see is Casey's butt."
Noelle nearly choked on her chicken.
[][][]
The day at the museum was nearly over except for one wing that Noelle insisted they visit last. Mikey didn't really get why, but he listened to her anyways and avoided the room like it was a trap. When they finally entered, her eyes glazed over with an emotion that the orange-banded turtle couldn't really come up with, nor did he understand why.
"Mikey, I want to show you something." Her voice came out in a whisper, but Mikey walked over to her, wondering what she wanted him to see. She had stopped in front of a painting of what appeared to be an old man floating above a valley while being attacked by demons. In a way it was gruesome to view, but hypnotizing at the same time.
[Buffy the Vampire Slayer-Kissed to Life]
"You are named after the man who created this."
Mikey's breath caught in his throat as he wordlessly gaped up at the painting, wondering how somebody he was named after could create something so terrifying. When he looked at Noelle, he saw her staring at the picture like it was the most beautiful thing in the world, and he suddenly realized that the look she had in her eyes was passion, and a deep respect for somebody she looked up to. He might not fully understand art, but he did understand what having respect for somebody was like. He really looked up to his brothers and Sensei, so he kinda got how she felt.
"This was his first painting," she continued as her gaze shifted over to him. "I know it seems like a disturbing picture, but I've learned to mostly focus on the elements that are a part of it. I have so much admiration for him and his work." She took a deep breath and beamed up at the image. "I don't think I could ever paint like him, nor do I want to, but I would like to have enough potential to bring my mind to life just like him. I think it would be neat if somebody admired my work one day the way his is by millions of people."
Mikey suddenly felt a strong sense of pride for being named after somebody she respected this much. Michelangelo had always just been a name to him, but now he realized it was more than that; it was like an honor.
"I'll be one of those people." His words were sincere and lacking their usual teasing tone. Noelle didn't look at him, but her whole face lit up, and her eyes sparkled. "I know it will happen. You're too awesome for it not to happen to you."
Her heart pounded as a wave of happiness washed over her, filling her with an indescribable feeling that she'd never felt before. His words gave her confidence in a way nobody else had, and so she said the only thing she could think of.
"Thank you Mikey. I hope so."
[+]
Side note: The painting is not at the museum all year; in fact, the last time it made its way to New York was in 2009, but I felt it was important to include as a stepping stone in Mikey and Noelle's relationship.
