Hide Myself

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I don't own the turtles, or Splinter or anyone else created by Mirage.

Jerking up, my head hit against the door. I looked around dazed, and realized I must have fallen asleep against the door. I could hear some one pounding on it behind me.

"Hey, kid, you okay in there? Donny said yer not suppose to fall asleep…somethin' 'bout a concussion."

Grumbling, I tried to stand up on sleep filled legs.

"Ahhhh!"

"Kid? Kid?" The pounding increased, and I felt the door shudder under the weight of the smashes, until it finally broke open on me sprawled on the floor.

"Uh…I can't stand up, my legs are asleep…AH! Pins and needles! Pins and needles!" I pounded my fists against my legs.

The one above me, who had broken the door in, stared down at me before rolling his eyes in annoyance. He grabbed my one arm and slung it over his shoulder, his other arm wrapping around my waist and I sucked in a breath as my ribs screamed out in protest.

"What is it?"

"Nothing…just how long do I have to stay here?" I asked as we moved toward a suddenly very inviting sofa.

"Depends, ya got anyone waitin' fer ya topside?"

"Why?" I asked suspiciously. "Wondering if I have anyone that will notice my kidnapping?"

That earned me a rough shove onto the sofa and a disgruntled growl.

"Fine! Next time ya get jumped, remind me ta leave ya up there ta get pummelled ta death!"

"Raphael, please be more kind to our guest. He is understandably confused."

The one named Raphael muttered something and walked off; I could tell it wasn't appreciated by the narrowed eyes of the rat and resigned sigh. Raphael calls me kid, but he acts like a self absorbed thirteen year old. Yea, real mature turtle people.

"Please forgive my son, he is more in tune with his blunter emotions."

"Son? I can see the family resemblance." I muttered to myself.

The rat cleared his throat. Whoops, seems I might have offended dear ol' daddy. Memo to me, don't offend the rat king.

"If you feel up to it, I would like to take the time to explain how we came to be. But first, may I ask your name? It would make a more comfortable atmosphere, if we knew each other. I am Splinter; you've met my sons Raphael and Donatello. Their leader is Leonardo and my youngest is Michelangelo." I watched him point to the other two seated on the couch in turn.

They looked at me expectantly, and I felt suddenly like I was in a movie. You know the ones, bad cop, good cop. I could feel the intensity of that spotlight blinding me.

'What's your name? Who do you work for? Where were you five summers ago on the evening of July 8th 2002?'

'Ashley Doucette. Cashier. Most likely sleeping. I did a lot of that during high school… much to my boyfriend's annoyance.' I couldn't help but chuckle at thoughts of Richard.

"My name? My names Tobias."

Splinter nodded, accepting my lie. It was something I had become very adept at doing in the last few years of my life. He settled himself further into his reclining chair as I sat down more comfortably into the sofa beside the two turtles. I noticed Donatello had emerged from where ever he had been, as well as the other one that had yelled at me. Raphael, I think he was called.

I stayed quiet as I listened to the tale of how the rat before me came to be, from a humble ninja student in Japan, had found himself living here in New York, dishonoured and penniless. How the turtles and he found the mutagen, and this home. How they received their names, and why the crime waves in New York have slowly petered off with the death of an old enemy named Shredder.

I kept all my tiny quips to myself, feeling that it would indeed be much too rude to interrupt him. While it was all very far fetched, I couldn't help but accept the information I was given as the truth. I mean, what else did I have to counter it with?

"Okay," I nodded, looking all wise beyond my years, when all I really wanted was to curl up in a bed and go to sleep and wake up in someplace that wasn't here.

"It takes time to understand; perhaps April may be able to make you feel more at home when she stops by for a visit."

"April? You guys have a girl version around here?"

The one in orange called Michelangelo laughed, and shook his head.

"Dude? April as a turtle is a funny image! Nah, she's human friend of ours that lives topside."

"Yea, n' don't go gettin' any ideas either. She's got herself a husband too." Came Raphael's heated order.

I held up my hands and chuckled. "Whoa, getting ahead of yourself there, I'm not…into ..uh…" I realized where I was going with that and stopped. I had no idea their view on homosexuality.

"You aren't into women, is what you were going to say, wasn't it?"

I looked at Donatello and nodded, eyes lowering. I knew I shouldn't be ashamed of it, but I felt like I should be. Which shamed me even more when I thought about those so open and willing to take the verbal abuse just to be free.

"It's alright, we don't mind… besides, it's not our place to judge."

My head snapped up, "You're not going to go all preachy on me are you? About how I'll burn in hell and that I'm some sort of sin are you?" Images of younger years filled with fights and battles flooded my head. Images of people I was suppose to be able to trust, to go to in times of need. To find support from, only to be locked out, figuratively and literally.

"Hold up, we don't believe in the Christian Dogma, or anything really… we believe in tolerance." Came Leonardo's soothing voice.

I could feel my fear leaving in a large gushing wave; I ignored the concerned look that passed between them as I slumped against the couch. I really, really wanted a nice hot bath, then a bed. Maybe some food, yea, food would be nice.

"Hey, why don't we get you set up in the spare room for tonight, and Mikey can bring you in some warm soup to eat?"

On top of being turtles, it appeared that they were mind readers too. But this mind reading I could deal with, especially if they delivered.

"Alright," I stood up and retrieved my multi purpose knapsack. I had two spare outfits as well as a pair of PJ's and a few toiletries. I was led to the room by Leonardo, who apologised if it was a tad dusty, as it wasn't used very often. But I thanked, mentioning that it was a heckuva lot cleaner than most places I crashed.

"Tobias…I hate to pry, but do you live on the streets?"

I had my back to him, dumping out my sacks contents, I didn't turn around.

"If you hate to do it, then why do it?" But when I turned around I shrugged, my baggy t-shirt feeling itchy on my skin. "Yes. I do. But it's not as bad as it sounds, there's actually a lot of abandoned places to squat in for a night or two here."

He nodded, and thankfully left me to my privacy. I shut the door immediately and peeled my shirt off, noticing a few deep bruises on my stomach and arms. I winced and carefully prodded my chest. There was duck tape pressing tightly against my chest and the cloth beneath it. I reached down to grab my night shirt when I heard the door opening behind me.

"Chef Mikey here with steaming chicken noodle soup!" Came a happy announcement that died as his bright blue eyes landed on the small buds I could never fully flatten on my chest.

"Dude! You're a girl!" He called out, and I clutched the large night shirt to my chest with fear, attempting to cover my femininity from him.

"Shut the door, please shut the door!" I felt tears well up in my eyes as he complied, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind him.

I pulled the shirt over my head, and pulled on it a couple times out of nervousness. Michelangelo set the soup down on a near by night stand and just gaped at me.

"Dude…I mean, brah, why're you pretendin' to be a guy?"

I sat down on the bed, curling up against the corner it was situated against, and I realized faintly that I had a habit of finding a corner whenever I wanted to cry. I hugged a pillow against my chest.

"You hate me…don't you. Well, I don't like you either."

"Dudette, why would I hate you?"

I chanced a look over at him, and slowed my breathing. Hyperventilating, never a good thing.

"Cause…'cause I pretend to be a guy."

He shrugged. "So? We didn't care that ya liked dudes." His eyes were so innocent looking, I couldn't help but believe he meant no harm.

"I guess I dress like this because, because well I feel more comfortable as a guy. Have you ever felt like you were born in the wrong gender or whatnot?"

"Whatnot? No way Brah, Why would I give up this shell? I think it makes me look hot. Don't you?" He twisted around to give me a better look and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Gender? Nah, I like bein' a guy. I think bein' a girl turtle might be weird…boobs n' all that."

I nodded, "See, that's how I feel right now, like, these." I waved a hand at my chest. "Are weird, like, I wasn't born the right way."

He nodded. "I think I get ya… but maan, doesn't it hurt to wrap 'em like that?"

I shrugged, "Kinda… it hurt at first, but I'm getting use to it. Kinda like, a corset, only for the breasts. I had to learn to breath right and everything." I shifted a little. "I was actually about to try and un-tape it when you came in."

"Uh, did you want … help or something?"

I shook my head. "No, I should be alright. But could you do me a favour and not tell the others?"

"Promise on one condition." He gave me a solemn look.

"What's that?"

"You gotta eat every last drop of this delicious soup that I made from half scratch half package."

I blinked and moved over to get a better look at the soup. It had noodles in it, some vegetables and big chunks of chicken with smaller cubes floating about.

"How can it be half and half?"

"Instant Chicken noodle soup, I added more chicken and veggies…viola! Better soup!"

I breathed it in, it smelled so good, and it had been a really long time since I'd had something hot to eat.

"Agreed."

"Awesome!" He gave me a large smile, full of exuberance.

After he had left, and my whole body was fully free to relax, I savoured the hot chicken in my mouth and thought maybe this place wouldn't be so bad to stay for a while after all.

tbc