Chapter 2

A little while later, all of the patrols had met up and promptly returned to Mutopia, and for all that time, Michelangelo managed to keep the gift to Kate hidden from her.

Sort of.

He simply held it behind his back, promising Kate that she'd get a surprise once they got back home, and she was more than happy to wait and promised in turn that she wouldn't peek until then.

Once they had returned home, and given some quick reports about their respective patrols, Michelangelo couldn't wait any longer and presented the heart-shaped chocolate box to Kate.

"Aw, babe, you shouldn't have." the viper cooed as she accepted the box. "You really are the sweetest, you know that, right."

"Aw shucks. It's nothing special, really." Michelangelo blushed. "Just something Percy and I picked up."

"Right… you and… Percy…" Kate glared at the grasshopper as she remembered that the two of them were paired up.

"What's that look for?" Percy asked as he noticed it.

"If you're involved in this, I'm honestly not sure if I trust the chocolates." Kate said frowning.

"Oi! Distrust me all you like, but at least trust Mikey on this." Percy objected. "He almost got caught getting those chocolates, and I haven't done anything with them."

"It's true, Kate." Michelangelo chimed in. "Percy hasn't even touched the box."

"Look, I know I've done... a lot of things before, but I'll even volunteer to eat some of them if it will make you feel safe." Percy added. "I wouldn't do that if I tampered with them, now would I?"

Looking first at Percy and then at the box, Kate saw the logic behind the grasshopper's words, she also trusted her boyfriend, but her long history of being the go-to target for Percy's pranks still made her very cautious.

Opening the box, she grabbed a piece at random and tossed it to the grasshopper, who nimbly caught it.

"Worst case scenario, I've lost one chocolate." she said. "Better safe than sorry."

"I'm not complaining." Percy shrugged, and gladly popped the candy in his mouth and chewed it long and well.

But he spoke too soon.

There was a slow but steadily growing burn forming in his mouth, and he could not keep that fact hidden as he began to yell and cough and wheeze.

"What the shell?" Michelangelo wondered, looking at the bottom of the box and checking the declaration. "Super spicy chilli-filled chocolates. For a really Hot Valentines. Warning: Very hot."

"You don't say?!" Percy said, waving his hands at his mouth, trying desperately to cool it off, and sadly to no avail. His face turned redder for each passing moment, tears formed in his eyes and he began sweating like crazy.

It didn't take too long before Percy had to accept the fact that he just couldn't endure the heat, and so he just jumped in the canal, hoping to use the water to cool his burning mouth.

The others couldn't help but laugh at the spectacle, and laughing heartiest of them all was none other than Kate.

"So worth that piece of chocolate!" she said with tears in her eyes.

"Guess I grabbed the wrong box in all the commotion." Michelangelo said sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Katie."

"It's okay, hun." Kate comforted, placing her hand on Michelangelo's shoulder. "This show was a great Valentine's gift. Maybe not a traditional one, but great all the same." She then gave the turtle a kiss on his cheek, making him blush.

"If you say so. I just still wish we had some chocolates to share though."

"Maybe we can help with that." said Sephie, who held out a square box of chocolates. "How about we make a trade? Your chilli-filled ones for these normal ones."

"Really? Are you sure about that?" Michelangelo asked. "I mean, these things are seriously hot stuff. I know Big T can eat them, but what about you?"

"Don't worry about that, Mikey." said Tyroth. "My parents already gave us a box of Valentine chocolates, so we got one to spare. Besides, I think Freya and Loki will enjoy those spicy ones."

"Well, they did inherit you taste for burning food, and your ability to eat them as well." Sephie said, giving her mate a slight nudge in the side with her elbow. "But he's right, I'm sure the twins would love some candy."

"Well if you guys are fine with it, then I am too." said Kate. "What about it, Mikey?"

"Hey, no complaints from me. All is well that ends well, right?" He glanced at the mostly submerged grasshopper. "Well, most of it, at least."

A short time later, Michelangelo and Kate joined the others who were on their way to Sarah's movie night. Sitting down together in a large beanbag, the couple got comfortable with the box of chocolates by their side as the cheetah started the first of the movies.

As the movie began, Michelangelo looked around at the others that were there, which included Raphael and Monalisa, who shared a mattress on the floor next to them.

Michelangelo thought back on the time when those two had just become a couple, and how they had acted all lovey-dovey. At the time, Michelangelo had thought it annoying, almost sickening at times even, and while it had gotten a bit less frequent over the years, it still happened from time to time.

However, now that Michelangelo had a girlfriend of his own, he could kinda see the appeal of spoiling one's mate, and he wouldn't mind doing that for Kate, especially not since the mishap with the chocolates. Only problem was that he didn't really know exactly what to do.

While he and Kate had only been a couple for a few months, they sadly hadn't had the time to visit each other as much as they had wanted, with Chicago and New York being quite far apart. Now, however, he had the chance to properly take care of her, and he didn't want to waste that opportunity.

Wracking his brain for a while, and glancing at his brother and adoptive sister for inspiration, he soon got an idea.

While it might be a bit cliché, a classical move was to yawn or stretch and while stretching one's arms, innocently place one around the shoulders of the person next to you. If nothing else, it was worth a try, so Michelangelo did just that.

Needing a good stretch anyway, he leaned backwards just a little as he stretch out his arms, and then slowly began lowering the one closest to Kate.

However, the viper noticed this, catching the movement in the corner of her eye, and when she figured out what her boyfriend was doing, she smiled and rolled her eyes at him, quickly reaching up with her hand and grabbing Michelangelo's wrist, causing him to utter a low squeak.

But rather than pushing him away, which Michelangelo feared, she instead pulled down his arm around her should, while snuggling up against his chest, letting her hand rest softly on his arm.

A bit surprised, but still pleasantly so, Michelangelo shrugged mentally and enjoyed Kate's closeness, all while trying to think of something more he could do for her.

Then he got an idea, he would feed her some of the chocolates, just like he had seen Raphael feed Monalisa with chocolate-dipped strawberries and other sweets over the years.

Thinking back on how Kate had taken command just a little earlier, he tried to be a bit more confident in his actions this time. Taking a chocolate in his hand, he brought it to Kate's mouth, only to catch her off guard and almost crush the chocolate against her lips.

"Whoops! Sorry, babe!" he whispered nervously.

Again, Kate just rolled her eyes and smile, quickly licking her lips clean, followed by Michelangelo's fingers, eating what remained of the chocolate.

"A little warning next time, hun." she playfully scolded him in a low voice. Michelangelo chuckled sheepishly and resumed feeding Kate candy, though at a slower pace this time, while also taking a piece himself every now and then.

Over on the mattress, Raphael looked at his youngest brother and smirked. Nudging his mate to get her attention, he nodded towards the turtle and viper.

Seeing how they acted, Monalisa couldn't help but giggle, feeling a bubbling sense of pride not only over her adoptive little brother having gotten a girlfriend, but also over how he was trying his best for her.

Sure, he was a little clumsy at it, but Kate was patient with him, gently guiding him when needed.

Back when the two of them first met, no-one would even have thought that they would make a good couple, but time proved otherwise, and it warmed Monalisa's heart to see just how much the love and affection between them had grown.

Looking back up at her own mate, their eyes met and they both knew that they were thinking the same thing. They were both certain that Michelangelo and Kate would keep growing ever closer.

Things didn't quite work out as planned, but Kate sure didn't complain. Percy surely would, but given all he's done, I'd say he's earned this.

Say what you want about Mikey, but he keeps trying his best, even if he's not always sure. Heart of gold that one.