A/N:
Aha! I did it! I managed to scrap up chapter 7 by the 31st!
Granted, I didn't have time to send this to my editor, AND I just finished this right now so parts are really rushed. Honestly, I feel like part of this chapter are awful, but that could just be because I wrote it.
With that said, I hope this chapter is still enjoyable and intriguing!
Another thing to mention is that I don't know when chapters 8-10 will be finished. School has been crazy this semester. The latest I would say could be after New Year's, but I really hope it's sooner. Thank you for your patience.
(The song lyrics in this chapter were written by my sister, so credit to her!)
XXX
Chapter 7: Spooky Suspicions
Cinnamon candles and chocolate coalesced with the cool air, casted autumn leaves resting composedly on the fire escape. Silver clouds these past few months had been common, but today they hung lower than usual, creating a slight fog. Which set the perfect mood for this day.
He bundled against his fluffy sweatshirt for warmth.
As The Nightmare Before Christmas played in the background, Michelangelo sat at the table, twisting a miniature pumpkin by the stem.
Ever since September twelfth, Mikey had been haunted by the scary kidnapping of his friend Peter. Ever since that kidnapping, he had been so bewitched with wanting to protect people from the demons of the night. Ever since that dedication, he had been so consumed with training behind his brothers' backs, a monster of a lie that kept growing bigger and bigger.
Ever since September twelfth. Now it was October thirty-first.
"This is Halloween, this is Halloween, pumpkins scream in the dead of night."
Orange captivated his eyes. This night was supposed to be the most spine-chilling night of the year, but it seemed like his insomniac nights prior to today were the ones that really left him cold.
Peter has been missing for more than a month—would one night of not worrying really change anything? Mikey blew a raspberry.
It was Halloween—he had been working hard. He could let go of Pigeon Pete and Purple Dragons for one night, right? He could go to Shinigami's party without those concerns burrowing deep into his brain.
Raising his head from his dead thoughts,Mikey caught sight of Raph and Leo loitering in the kitchen and spoke aloud, "Hey, would it be cool if the squad and I went to the party at the same time as Anarchist?"
Careening against the counter, Leo crinkled his nose. "Anarchist?"
Raph flung the fridge door shut and rolled his eyes, "Casey's most recent terrible suggestion for a band name, but it is not official whatsoever."
"I think it's a good name," Mikey said to him.
Raph gave him a look, "Really? Anarchist?"
"Ok, no, you're right, it's terrible."
Positioning his posture and balancing his beanie, Mikey returned his gaze to Leo for an answer.
"I don't know Mikey," the oldest crossed his arms, "You've been getting Ds in school, your room is a mess, and I don't even know if this party will be...at your level."
With all the training, thoughts hadn't crawled into those other aspects of his life.
But Raph paced past Leo, hitting him on the shoulder. "C'mon Leo, don't be so uptight. It's Halloween, let the runt go. I'll be there, and so will Case and Mona."
Mikey's face lit up like a jack-o-lantern. "Yeah, what Raph said!"
Leo arched an eyebrow. "What about Donnie, is he going?"
"Going where?"
Donnie emerged out of his bedroom at the precise moment in the conversation. Amethyst colored his sweater, the handle of a mug hooked by crooked fingers as Donatello made a beeline for the coffeemaker.
Mikey then raised his arms to emphasize his enthusiasm, and in hopes to reel back in Donnie's wandering attention. "To Shinigami's Halloween party!"
Squinting his eyes in quandary, Donnie placed his hand behind his neck."I don't know, I have things to do."
His token excuse. Mikey let out a whine. "But Donnie, it's Halloween! We always used to do something, it's tradition. Even April is going to be there."
As soon as the name was pushed off his tongue, Donnie seemed to loosen up. Or perhaps, maybe wilt. Decompose.
Mikey, Raph, and Leo all watched for a response from Donnie, his dialogue delayed due to creating his creamer concoction for his coffee.
"Right," Donnie eventually said, "Well, I'll think about it."
"Oh, also, Renet's parents are more likely to say yes if you come with us," Mikey tagged at the end.
This causes Donnie to pinch the bridge of his nose and sigh in defeat, as well as annoyance.
"Ok, ok, but don't expect me to stay long."
"Yes!"
That left one last brother to ask if he would go. Mikey pulled the pumpkin closer.
Leo and him hadn't been on the right foot since September twelfth. There was an indisputable distance between them, every argument having push them further apart. A giant wedge blocked their connection, but Mikey was certain he could get over his hurt feelings and bridge it together again for at least one night.
"Leo? What about you?" he said, full of rosiness.
But Michelangelo, he picked up on Leonardo's tells. Not for when he was lying, but for when he was about to deny a request.
He watched as his brother sighed and ran a hand through messy hair.
"With all that's been happening, I think it's best if I just enjoy the night in."
He's had nights in, what he needs is a night out.
Clasping his hands together, Mikey dilated his puppy dog eyes to counteract the rejection. "Pretty please?" he begged, but to no avail.
Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket, stopping Mikey from pressing the subject further. Pulling it out, he noticed a text notification from "Mondo".
He smiled with childlike frivolity.
"Got a text from Jason, gotta go get our costumes touched up. I'll see you guys later!" Mikey got up quickly, tugging at his scarf and pulling the hood over his beanie to brace the for the brumal weather.
Before opening the front door, he grabbed a handful of candies from the bowl on the counter and shoved them in his mouth.
"Hey, don't eat yourself sick," he heard Leo scold from over his shoulder.
"Relax Leo," a few pieces fell out of his full mouth, "I only eat this bad once a year."
Once Mikey made sure the door closed behind him, he ran down the hallway and went on his way.
XXX
There was a certain type of darkness that only decorated his body during times of distress and true mourning. One the hung in the very back of his closet, hidden from the light of day.
Fingertips felt the forsaken fabric, the black suit dangerously fresh and warm.
Every time this attire adorned him, Leonardo would hope for it to be the last time. But death, he knew, was an inevitable part of life, something that no one could escape.
There were three major times he had had to wear this type of black, and those three times certainly left a scar and carved him into a new shape. First mom, then dad, and most recently, a friend.
Jack Kurtzman's wake wasn't too long or torturous. It was a quiet, peaceful ceremony. But the simple act of having to dress in that dastardly suit and watch his friend's corpse be buried six feet under, it was enough to strike a powerful chord.
He knew there was a murderer on the loose. A merciless one with a ribcage that had no heart to occupy, and a decaying mind.
Leonardo closed the closet door when he heard a knock from the front one.
Exiting his bedroom, he scratched his head. It was only four, no way could trick-or-treaters already be here.
Maybe it was because of the curfew.
With feet made of lead, Leo lumbered over to the front door, grabbing the bowl of miscellaneous candies.
He opened the door and immediately scrunched his face with confusion. "Usagi?"
There his friend stood, out of uniform and with a lighthearted smile that made the corners of his eyes crinkle.
"Hello, Leonardo," he said causally, no hint of questioning himself as he took some of the candy from his bowl, "I just decided to stop by and check on the Hamato clan. Are the others home by any chance?"
Setting the bowl back onto the counter, Leo paced into his empty living room.
"You just missed them, they all went to get ready for some Halloween party down at the Oroku mansion."
"Oroku mansion?" Leo heard Usagi step inside, "As in Oroku Karai?"
Leo tensed. He bit the inside of his cheek. "Yeah."
"I see...Did you not wish to go with them?"
Surrendering, Leo faced Usagi with a deep sigh. "With everything that's been going on, I think a party is the last thing I'm up for. Besides, there's some chores to do around here."
Usagi leaned against the counter, a look of dissatisfaction appearing after hearing his answer. "Right."
Lethal lull lingered between the two of them in the living room, the choking silence causing Leo to feel claustrophobic. He looked over at Usagi. The awkwardness kept Leo's mouth sewn shut, and left his unused tongue to collect dust.
Usagi was strong enough to break through the iciness, relaxing his muscles.
"Here," he eventually said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a king-sized Hershey bar, "Can you please give this to Michelangelo for me?"
Something about hearing his littlest brother's name made Leo zap back into his unforgiving reality. He snatched it from his friend's hand with impulsivity.
"Usagi, you know Mikey shouldn't be eating shit like this," he scolded with the sharpness of a sword.
Usagi rolled his eyes playfully, "It is a holiday, one will not kill him."
"Yes, it can."
His voice had crackled like thunder—he hadn't intended to sound so harsh and cruel.
But another deathly silence fell on the boys, and it didn't take long for the guilt to creep and crawl.
Leo sunk, going and holding onto the counter for any kind of support.
"I'm sorry."
And at first, Usagi said nothing. Vexation quickly developed, fear that he had actually hurt his friend making him frown.
But Usagi exhaled, going and putting a gentle hand on his shoulder as he often did.
"I know a lot has happened in these past weeks, and that you have had to take them very seriously. You have been working very hard, and we are all proud," he said to him, much so in a fatherly way, "But you are not in uniform today. I used to be similar to you. I always believed I was being focused and on task, responsible. But I came to realize that I was not living my life as efficient as I thought, because I was not happy. There is time for work, and time for play. A human being needs both to maintain a healthy and fulfilling life. Please make your life as joyful as possible. We both know how valuable and temporary life really is."
Leo placed his hand over Usagi's, removing it from his shoulder.
"Yeah...you're right," he said pathetically.
"You should spend time with your family. They probably miss you."
Leo watched in stunned quiet as his friend walked over to the door.
He thought about what Usagi said, and he thought about his brothers. Had they really missed him?
Mikey had attempted to convince him. Even after all that's been happening between the two of them, did Mikey really want him?
Of course he did.
That was just how Mikey was.
Before leaving, Usagi gave Leonardo one last look, "Tell the boys I wish them a happy Halloween."
XXX
There were only two things that could make Raphael sweat with anxiety—bugs, and planning to ask out pretty girls.
April had asked him if he had maybe gotten carsick from having to ride with eight other people in her father's crowded van. Raph definitely hooked onto that scapegoat, but the only thing that was truly teeming was his rehearsed outline on how to ask Mona out on a date.
Admittedly, he had never had to deal with this type of situation, and really had no experience or advice beforehand. Maybe that contributed to the swarming bats in his empty stomach.
Everyone had piled into Mr. O'Neil's Party Wagon to the Oroku mansion—Casey and April, Donnie, Mikey and his friends, and of course, Mona.
And now that they had arrived, the whole impression of performing suddenly rushed in his blood, electricity crackling and zapping it to life.
Raph shivered from a crooked breeze.
The Oroku mansion was, for a fact, the most lavish place Raphael had ever set foot in—outstretched, crystalline windows made up a portion of the building's walls, flat roofs sheltered it, and it had a striking white exterior—recognizable, modern Japanese architecture.
But all of them were lead to the back for Shinigami's party, though the backyard was just as impressive.
Violet lights illuminated all whites and neons, the ground concealed in a thick, nebulous fog that was lit up with hues of orange.
And the stage, that was sure a sight. Cloaked in cobwebs, it was the centerpiece of the yard, a large noose dangling from the center of it and swaying sinisterly.
Approximately a hundred people were in the yard of the Oroku mansion, the music speakers beating with a heart of its own.
With a pointed crescent moon above them all, everything was intimidating, and could easily be blamed for if someone were to question his clamminess.
"Dude, this party is gonna be so lit!"
"Don't ever say that," Raph pinched the bridge of his nose in embarrassment.
Mikey was bubbling with excitement, pushing up his fake, round glasses as he lifted his feet above the fog in fascination. Him and his friends were all dressed in matching costumes from one of their favorite shows, Super Robo Mecha Force Five!. Against his wishes, Michelangelo was Dr. Blip, Raph having heard his complaints during the drive, as well as all his reasons why he should be Captain Dash Coolstar and not Jason.
Mikey, Jason, Napoleon, and Renet all seemed charmed and overwhelmed with their setting, their eyes shining with childlike wonder.
Unanticipatedly, someone nudged Raph's shoulder, causing him to look to his right and see Casey pointing towards the stage.
"Well, let's go!"
"Wait," Raph said, turning towards the rest of their group.
Directing his eyes to Mikey and his friends, April must've picked up the subtle hint.
She took a step forward, "Don't worry, Donnie and I will watch them."
Veiled in a shimmery gown, and with her long hair in light curls, her royal appearance added to her well-known responsible personality. Raph could trust that April wouldn't let Mikey and his friends do something completely idiotic.
"Thanks, April," he told her.
Now standing beside Donatello, she smiled widely, "No problem."
Jumping from all the sugar and overstimulation, Mikey went up to Raph and his band.
"Yeah, you guys are going to be amazing," he beamed with innocent encouragement.
Looking over, Raph took note of how Mona melted from Mikey's gesture. Bending down, she ruffled his little brother's hair, "Thank you."
Raph grinned to himself.
But now sick of indolently standing around with his guitar strapped on, he knew it was time to head back there.
Before they could get a move on, however, Raph was unfortunate enough to witness Casey locking lips with April O'Neil.
"That was for good luck," she whispered after they parted, softly tucking some of his hair behind his ear.
Raph rolled his eyes.
"C'mon Prince Charming," he went and grabbed the collar of Casey's costume and yanked it along.
"Nice tights, by the way," Raph smirked as the three began to head over to their stage with their equipment.
Casey gaped and blinked at him before crossing his arms.
"Hey, it's called being in a relationship and taking sacrifices! Something that you wouldn't know. Besides, this medieval costume is surprisingly comfortable."
Upon accessing backstage, Casey Jones's brown eyes caught fire from the galvanization.
"This is totally sick!" the teen parted the tarp to scan the crowd that would soon be their audience.
Removing his guitar and propping it up, Raphael tried to absorb it all. He stared at the black tarp, pulling it back to see what Casey saw.
"Can you believe this?" breathless words of awe came from Raph as he spoke to his band, "This all started out with Casey and I messing around in his father's garage, and now we're here, performing at the home of a millionaire."
Letting go, the tarp fell back into place. Raph turned around and faced his two friends that had warm smiles.
"Yes, the stars must've aligned perfectly in your favor," Mona said.
She was walking, breathing poetry, every word that elegantly traveled off her tongue plucking his heartstrings and opening him to realizations. His once monochromic world was now bursting with colors he had never even known. Beauty was now visible to his naked eye, Mona representing everything good on earth.
And on an earth that often found twisted fun in doing its worse to him, discovering such a wholesome good was a valued sentiment he cherished.
If only he could hold her in his arms.
His heart thumped in his hallow chest once more, as his terrifying thoughts and lustrous desires take over. He licked his lips.
"Hey Mona, I—"
"Oh great, you three are here."
Raph flinched, whipping around to see the party host herself, Shinigami.
She looked ten times more gothic than before, dressing like a witch, with hat and all.
Shifting her weight, she crossed her arms and nodded towards Mona.
"What are you supposed to be?"
Mona shrugged shyly. "Oh, well, I guess I'm some extraterrestrial of some sort. I was just playing around with makeup."
Colorful markings traveled from the base of her forehead and onward, her eyes bright yellow from contacts. Mona was creative like that, Raph thought.
"And you?" Shinigami then gestured to him, "You're not even dressed up—where's your holiday spirit?"
"Hey, sure I am. See?" Raph opened his mouth to reveal fangs, "I'm a vampire."
Casey stood up from assembling his drum set, "And you were roasting me? Twilight-loving ass."
Shini rolled her eyes playfully. "Anyway, I'd like to thank you again for agreeing to perform."
"No problem, Goth Girl," Casey told her, "I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed." He gave her a reassuring wink as a weak attempt to seal the deal.
She pursed her purple lips, unamused.
"Right. Well, you better hope you're right. You can start now if you want," she said as she walked away.
Raph's heart descended six feet underground.
"Wait-wait—now? Already?" he called out.
Casey pumped his fist, "Sweet!"
His friend didn't waste time, poking his head out another time before going back to assembling his drums with great speed.
Somehow, his fingers found their way to the tarp, separating it once more to reveal what lied beyond.
Stage lights were now blinding. Crowd now packed. Everything now overwhelming.
Heart drumming in his ears louder than Casey ever could, his fingers curled around the cloth.
Raph didn't need to look away to know that Mona had bent down beside him, looking out of the same portal. Her cool presence contrasted against the hear that was rising in his body.
His tongue glossed over his piercing. "Are you nervous?"
Raph's voice came out rigid and unsteady. He uncurled his fingers, the tarp falling back into place like it had before.
As soon as his mental state would allow it, he looked over to the girl on his left.
Just by translating her stance, he already knew the answer. Mona leaned against the stage, lips no good at keeping a straight line. She was relaxed, at ease. Confident.
"I used to sing in a church choir when I was younger," she spoke to him, "Performing in front of others is a fear I've already conquered."
Raph tore his eyes away as if it would actually lessen the embarrassment.
"I guess that explains why you sing like an angel."
The comment came so sudden, it took a second for him to register that he had said it out loud. Squeezing his eyes shut, he really wished he would stop talking.
"You know Raphael, the adrenaline you're feeling at the moment is beneficial," he heard her say.
"Really? Because to me, it's just making me nauseas."
Make that three things that made him sweat with nerves—bugs, talking to pretty girls, and performing with his band for the first time. On top of that, he was talking to a pretty girl about performing; if a cockroach were to crawl out of somewhere, there was no doubt he'd hurl.
Why was he afraid of this? Why was he so afraid of something he had been dreaming of for years? It was so close now, in the palm of his sweaty hand, yet he was refraining. All his hard work was leading up to this, his ambitions just behind the tarp. Yet, here he was, now yearning to run the other way.
Familiar anger came coursing back, his fists tightening.
Stupid. This was all stupid. He was being so stupid.
"Raphael."
Soft hands gently cupped his face, guiding him back to stare at her.
"Fear is an inborn human emotion. It keeps us safe, but it can also push us to overcome situations, and become stronger than we previously were. It builds character. Now this is your moment—don't run from it," Mona delicately pushed the hair out of his face. "Embrace it."
Embrace it.
His fists became undone, despite his body temperature increasing from under her touch.
Feverishly, Raphael nodded, going and snatching his guitar by the neck.
Even though it was Halloween, he wasn't going to let fear possess him. Not today.
Mona returned his gesture and nodded, shooting a phantom of a smile as she lifted the tarp. Light shown all around her.
"C'mon," she said. "Let's have one of the most memorable nights of our lives."
Extending out her hand, he didn't refrain to grab ahold of it as he stepped onto the other side.
It was extremely bright, causing shadows to be casted over the hundreds of partygoers so that they were cloaked in darkness. For some reason, not being able to their faces made him more disturbed.
"What's up party people?!"
Raph shielded his eyes from the spotlights, cringing at how loud Casey was, and how much louder the cheering was in comparison.
He swallowed, fighting back the burning that was threatening him in the back of his throat.
Standing centerstage, there was no hint of apprehension in his best friend as he held the microphone close to his mouth.
"The name's Casey Jones—that's Raph and Mona—" he did so much as to point over to them without looking back, "And we're Anarchist."
Raph rushed forward, taking the mic from Casey and causing feedback to screech, "No, no we're not. Our name is still undecided."
Casey scrunched his face, covering the microphone with his hand. "What kind of name is Still Undecided?" he whispered before facing the guests again, "Anyway, we're gonna play for you our original song, Outer Space."
Throat clamping and stomach wrenching, Raph froze as Casey handed the microphone to Mona. Casey went to his drums, though Raph remained still.
There was a stranger of a sensation in his mind and body. It was as if there was zero gravity, head filled with helium, and yet there was pressure on his chest, like demonic hands compressing his lungs. Floating, but also helpless stuck.
It took Mona to ground him back, to keep him tied down to the reality to the situation. She smiled, and Raph read her lips, "Ready?".
This was happening, and it was happening now.
Licking his own lips, he backpedaled to where his amplifier was set up, managing to plus his guitar before seeing more stars. He stood forward.
Sticks collided.
"One, two, three, four!"
Drums.
Muscle memory proved to be intact, his fingers strumming on their own.
They were doing it. He was doing it.
"I have lived a thousand years
In the carnage of the past."
She was perfect. Her voice didn't crack or waver, the lyrics wrapped in grace.
He strummed harder as the panic started to fade.
"Time is nothing in your fears
Because these scars they last."
By now, his sight adjusted and began to identify faces. As soon as that realization was noted, he immediately took advantage, scouring the people in hopes of finding the ones he cared for.
It really wasn't challenging finding Mikey in a crowd. He was much too special to blend in.
His little brother waved his arms frantically, cheering at high volumes as he jumped with excitement. What a spazz.
Raph didn't bother fighting a smile.
Mikey was beside his friends and Donnie, and even Donnie would cup his hands and clap.
There were all there. April, Donnie, Mikey.
Well, not all.
"Once separated by an ocean now it is here in the wind and in the night and in the window shafts."
Just as when anxiety was threatening to surge again, he saw him.
Eyes never leaving, he couldn't believe when he saw Mikey turn and run away. For a split second, he grew concerned.
Leo came.
Mikey had ran to him, tackling him into a big hug before dragging him over with the others.
They were all here.
"Teach me to breathe, because I forgot how. Teach me to live in the here and now.
But perhaps I am afraid of finding outer space. So I'll wait."
Adrenaline was now at its peak, and even when the last syllable left Mona's tongue, Raphael felt as if he could play a hundred more.
As soon as the last note was struck, there was an explosion of noise, Raph's family probably the loudest source.
"Thank you, New York!" Casey shouted, throwing his hands up.
Mona turned around and gave Raph a thumbs up, in which he gladly offered one back.
It was then that her words from earlier echoed.
This is your moment.
The two took steps towards each other—
"We did it guys!" without foresight, Casey hooked both Mona and Raph, moving them to backstage.
"You were great!" Raph said to both, buT was looking at Mona.
"Thank you, you did great yourself."
"Now its time to party!" Casey ran in the blink of an eye.
Mona laughed, following after him.
"C'mon, let's continue to make this night memorable."
XXX
Thunderous applause eventually subsided, though crackles of enthusiasm still sparkled from April O'Neil's stormy eyes. Awestruck and pride and just bare happiness was such a scenic attribute to her presence at this moment in time.
Pearly white teeth shone from her sinless smile as the teenage girl continued to cheer even after the live music was put to rest. Long hair whipped around her when she turned to look at Donatello, her energy still glistening like fireflies.
"Weren't they great?" she tugged at his sleeve.
Oh how he wished he could simply mirror the same excitement, exude the same energy. The sad sentient that this searing, raw love was not emitted for him—such a selfish thing, he knew—prevented any genuine compliment to be constructed.
How long had her and Casey Jones been together? Five, six months? Holding onto this rope he had tied to April did nothing but burn him, and yet still hadn't found the willingness to let go.
"Yeah," was the measly response he offered, as well as a small smile to make the short comment seem more full.
Pressing up onto her toes, she peered out into the crowd, no doubt searching for Casey. But Donnie caught notice of a negligible detail—she had yet to release her grip on his arm.
He couldn't help but surrender to the irrefutable fact that he admired her. Her rose-colored, shimmery dress, how her hair fell into loose curls—admirations he couldn't keep closed and buried in a coffin.
"You know," he said, making her temporarily stop her search to look at him, "You look really beautiful."
The way she crinkled her freckled nose, the subtle demure that took over her demeanor, Donnie could tell she was somehow caught off guard.
"Thank you."
Against thepulsating music, her voice ran as soft as silk, her excitement simmering to a true sense of appreciation.
She let go of his sleeve.
A lonely, wisp of wind made the hairs on the back of his neck stiff.
The blue Donnie was once staring into were suddenly masked, strange hands slithering like tentacles over April's face.
"Guess who?" said the voice that made Donnie internally seethe, but one that made April smirk.
"My super cool rockstar, that's who."
Gently grabbing Casey's arms, she pulled them so that she could lift herself up and have their lips could touch.
Donnie's insides crumbled. He swallowed, attempting to shove down the lump that had knotted in his throat. "Yeah, great show."
When those enemy eyes reopened, Casey looked over at him.
"Thanks D," he said, and for once, with no obvious malice.
Malice wasn't heard, but Donnie could still taste a hint of bitterness—something like dark chocolate. Sweet, but layered with a resentful aftertaste.
Eyeing him up and down, Donatello then folded his arms as his lips curled. "It was almost as great as your costume."
Bristling, April's boyfriend then stood tall and proud. "Uh, we're Romeo and Juliet," he explained, putting an arm over her shoulder as if to protect her. Or claim her. Lava coursed through his veins.
Donnie raised an eyebrow. "You do know they killed themselves right?"
Casey squinted as if to hide his confusion and bury it under intimidation.
April cleared her throat, alerting Donnie that he had made some type of mistake. It was insecurity. Insecurity is what fueled him to make that slight snide remark. Perhaps Casey had genuinely meant his words, and that the bitter he licked up was all in his head. Luckily, April changed the subject he unwittingly poisoned.
"It's too bad Irma's Dad wouldn't let her go," she said to the both of them, "We could've all had fun together."
"Well—"
"Don't worry Red, I'll still show you a good time," Casey reeled her in close, caressing her cheek flirtatiously.
"Will you now?" she simpered.
Urgent to save the conversation before it's premature death, Donatello decided to open up.
"I've seen Irma around at TCRI—I accepted the offer there, actually. I'm glad you pushed me to go for it. There's multiple scientific studies orchestrated there, and Dr. Rockwell is a great mentor—"
Laughter. Innocent, joyous laughter. He lifted his head up from his rambling thoughts to see her laughing with delight in the arms of another man.
Six months, he reminded himself. Rope burns.
Fanning away the source of her laughter, she returned her eyes to him.
"Sorry, what were you saying?" Her face had yet to wear off the previous fun.
Donnie rubbed the back of his neck.
"About TCRI. I, uh, accepted the internship."
"Good for you, Donnie," she said to him. Not in a sarcastic way, but not in an excited way. Not like how talking to Casey made her sound.
It didn't take long for Casey to come hook back his girl.
"C'mere Red," he tugged her arm, the two becoming like magnets as she gravitated towards his chest for a dance.
"Jones!" She laughed once more.
Sharp and tantalizing, it was as if a knife had sliced between them, and Donnie could sense his connection being scabrously severed. Strings were cut as he now became untethered, floating like a phantom in an environment where he couldn't stay grounded.
Why did he even agree to come to this party? Definitely not to be the third wheel.
Donatello looked around, and soon remembered why. Mikey and his friends all stood near a snack table towards the back. Smiling. And man, did it feel good to see Mikey smiling like that.
That was the reason for his presence. He was here for that.
If only he could benefit from his decision himself. He leaned back against the empty table behind him.
But it didn't take long for his impatience to be stretched so thin, and for his introverted tendencies to consume. Maybe now since Leo decided to show up, his absence wouldn't matter. Donnie wallowed in these thoughts, but wasn't decisive enough to miss hearing his favorite voice once more.
"Hey!"
Lifting his head up, he gazed at April, "Hey."
He was getting worked up for nothing, Donnie reasoned with himself. Of course she still wanted to spend time with him. They were best friends.
April wasn't reluctant to pull out a chair and sit at the table, Donnie following her lead.
"Casey went to find the bathroom, so nows a good time as any," she explained, folding her arms on the flat surface before looking across at him with excitement, "So? Have you figured anything else out? Found anymore possible explanations?"
He couldn't help but let his face fall.
"What?"
"You know. About my vision? My psychic abilities?" April gestured.
Is she still going on about that?
Donnie coughed lightly.
"Oh, no, I've kind of had my plate a bit full lately."
The truth was perhaps even more bitter than that. Between school and the internship, April's dubious theories were no where near his priorities at this point, or even a remote interest. Logically, there was no way to prove that April O'Neil was a psychic. It was preposterous.
But April leaned in, face turning to stone and voice becoming callous. "You said you'd help me get to the bottom of it. You're still willing to help me, right?"
Blinking at her, he sat there, stunned. Something about her sudden, humorless drift caught Donatello off guard. How her softness had quickly turned stoic in a matter of seconds—was this really that big of a deal to her?
Donnie shook his head out of his thoughts.
"Yeah, April. I am."
A flash of a somber smile. Eyes fell to her folded hands after tucking a loose curl behind her ear.
Donnie knew April. He could tell that there was something on the tip of her tongue, and that she was dying to say more. Glancing to her left, she then straightened, standing up.
"Casey's back," she said, pushing her chair in, "But we'll talk about this later. Tomorrow?"
And April wandered off.
Now sitting at the lonesome table, Donnie couldn't help but begin to think. Overanalyze, maybe. But perhaps, where he stood in his relationship with April wasn't as certain as he once believed.
Dancing with Casey under moonlight, him being completely disregarded unless it was about her extrasensory perception conspiracy.
He always had told himself that he didn't mind who he was in her eyes, and that any sort of relation he had with her would be enough to satisfy, but he couldn't deny the burning, wrenching pain that constantly throbbed from watching her from afar. Donnie couldn't lie to himself anymore—of course her cared about how she felt about him. Of course he wanted to nurture their friendship in the hopes that it would blossom into something more. Of course he valued how his best friend thought of him.
But perhaps, she didn't.
Perhaps, he was nothing more than a submissive, genius that she knew was wrapped around her finger. Perhaps, his solid identity as her best friend wasn't intact anymore.
Perhaps, he wasn't a friend to her at all.
XXX
"I'm just saying, my personality is an exact match to Captain Dash Coolstar, and I am nothing like Dr. Blip whatsoever!"
"For the last time dude, you're shorter than me! It wouldn't look right if any of us were Dr. Blip," Jason exasperated, sick of having to answer to Mikey's complaint, but also seeming ready to counteract him again if he had to.
Crowing, costumes, chugging—the whole scene was more stimulating than he imagined. Not too intense, since there was a slight innocence to soften the edge, but enough to still make his heart palpitate invigoratingly. Denial would be for him to say that all this wasn't extremely intriguing. He had always been a party guy, after all. When he got older, he'd definitely dabble with the lifestyle.
Having Jason, Napoleon, and Renet with him, however, was what really excited Mikey. It was a reunion that was well needed. Family and friends, and no Purple Dragons.
Mikey crossed his arms over dramatically, looking over to Renet for any condolence.
Her face contorted as if to hold back laughter. "Sorry, Jason's right. You fit best. But don't worry, you look perfectly fine as Dr. Blip—those glasses make you look cute."
Mikey huffed, pushing up his fake glasses with a single finger. "I bet they do."
All of their costumes were matching, but with Renet's colored in pink, and a tiara crowning her head. Lucky her. She got a tiara, meanwhile he was stuck wearing round, fake glasses. Mikey had always loved tiaras.
"I'll give you one thing, Dr. Blip would never be able to hook anyone up like this—this party is crazy sick." Jason gawked with owlish eyes, twisting his head around to gaze at the decorations.
Napoleon then spoke up, scratching his head. "Yeah, I don't think I've ever been anywhere this fancy my entire life."
"I told you guys we'd have the best, most rad Halloween night ever!" Mikey said smugly, happy to impress his friends.
"Just don't have too much fun, now."
Mikey looked over his shoulder to see Leonardo.
It was comforting to see his oldest brother unwinding a bit, to see him almost relaxed.
Somehow Usagi had convinced him to come—either that or he was under a spell. Mikey wouldn't be surprised if Usagi had some sort of magic.
"Leo, I'm glad you're here, but don't be a party pooper dude."
Leo only rolled his eyes, but in a brotherly way.
"Well, if you guys need me, I'll be at the snack bar," Napoleon announced, heading over to the table with popcorn and gummy eyeballs.
Mikey turned back to Renet.
It had been a while since he hung out with Jason, Napoleon, and Renet, but he felt the most troubled when separated from her. Something was happening between them. There was something underneath the surface, something festering. But he didn't know what.
His best friend wasn't looking at him, at least not right away. Renet was observing everything around her at first, anything but him. Hand around her arm, she seemed closed off. Shy. But he didn't know why.
Her eyes eventually met his. A twitch in the lips.
Mikey slipped his hands into Renet's, swinging them as if to shake away her apparent nerves.
"So, Renet? Is this not the coolest party you've ever seen?" he asked with a playful, haughty flair.
Eyes moved away as if to stay grounded in her feelings, but Renet melted, unable to stop a smile from growing.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, it does seem pretty cool."
"See, you just need to trust me more like you used to."
Perhaps a wrong or insensitive choice of words.
She let go of his hands.
Her eyebrows slanted, the gravity in his words truly making her face fall.
"I trust you."
Her voice came out sounding pinched, as if she were offended.
Dumbfounded, Mikey couldn't find his own voice.
The remark caused an awkward quiet between the two. Pinks and purples casted on their misunderstood faces, neon colors unable to shed any light.
But Mikey was determined to not let this sudden, mysterious distance ruin their Halloween.
"It's too bad Timothy couldn't come, we could've all become friends," Mikey began to chip at the ice that was starting to give him frostbite.
Renet stared off. "Well then what would he have dressed up as?"
"Squeakums, obviously."
She snickered, making Mikey successful at breaking the icy tension, and making him warm with reassurance. She was happy. She was happy despite the vibes he was feeling from her lately.
DJ now changing songs, a new one began to blast from the speakers, bass beating and making the boy tap his foot. "This song is so lit—don't tell Raph I said that."
Mikey looked at Renet until his attention was snagged by someone else in the near distance.
"Do you wanna—"
"Dudes, look—it's Shinigami! And she isn't dancing with anyone yet," Mikey beamed.
Shinigami didn't look too different than how she normally looked, dressed in a body suit, but still in shades of black. The only striking details was her pointed witch hat and her fringed cape, and he found it fun that she loves to overindulge into Halloween.
But most importantly, to Mikey, Shini was currently available, dark lipstick staining her cup.
Jason and Napoleon had then come back with bags of popcorn and boyish smiles.
"Dude go in there!" Jason encouraged, patting him on the back rather too hard.
"This is probably like, the only opportunity you'll ever have to dance with her," Napoleon brought up.
Mikey withdrew a deep breath.
"Alright, I'm going in," he turned to his three friends, "Wish me luck!"
Mikey gave a thumbs up before heading over to the senior girl.
"That's my boy!" he heard Jason from a distance as he continued to approach Shinigami.
Grass soft under his shoes and ears burning, he fidgeted with the pompom that dangled from his beanie. Normally, Mikey was never socially nervous. But it was safe to say that everyone found Shinigami quite intimidating.
Estimating where his voice would be in earshot of her, he cleared his throat and his jitters.
"Uh, h-hey! My name's Hamato Michelangelo, we go to the same school," he mustered out, unable to outwardly express how stupid he thought he sounded.
Maybe she didn't hear me. Maybe I can just turn back ar—
"Oh."
Mikey nearly gasped, keeping himself together enough to look her in the eyes. Which didn't help much. She had beautiful eyes.
Shinigami shifted her weight, an amused look on her face.
"Are you that genius kid?"
Mikey blinked.
"Uh, no, that's my brother, Donnie. I'm the cute one."
She raised a curious eyebrow. "Oh, well you kind of look like a fifth grader, so I assumed you skipped around."
Old insecurities were resurrected. Straightening to appear taller, he ignored them.
"No, no, I'm a high schooler," he assured.
"So, Michelangelo," she set her cup down, "What are you supposed to be anyway?"
Somehow, he had captured her undivided attention. His ears began to burn even more.
"Oh, right, well you see, my friends and I are all matching, we're these cool characters from this cool show called Super Robo Mecha Force Five!, or SRMFF for short. My friends made me be the lamest character though, I promise I'm not actually this nerdy. The glasses are even fake, see?" Mikey pulled the glasses off, catching his breath after losing it from his rambling.
But she still laughed sweetly. "I do."
How did she not get annoyed by him? How has she been able to put up with him for this long? He never expected to get this far.
He gulped, ready to ask the question of the night, despite what the probable answer would be.
"Um, anyway, I was thinking—maybe—would you like to dance? With me, I mean."
Bracing himself, the words to follow were even more unexpected.
"Eh, why the hell not?"
Michelangelo didn't care that his eyes probably looked about ready to fall out of his head. Shinigami—the Shinigami—just agreed to dance with him.
"Wait, really?" he asked in case he heard wrong, but the teenage girl had already begun to initiate the activity.
And Mikey couldn't help but grin from ear to ear, knowing that some luck, some good, was finally bestowed upon him.
XXX
The art of dance is always thought to be an aphrodisiac or elegant ritual—one where body language spoke louder than human speech. One that was uniform to all corners of the earth. Reciprocated movements, swaying reactions.
However, elegance was not the appropriate description for Michelangelo's dancing.
Leonardo leaned against a column, smirk twisted on his face as he watched Mikey dancing with Shinigami from afar.
His little brother obviously didn't know what he was doing, or even how to dance with a girl. But with the light in his eyes and the genuine smile, Leo could see the purity in his dancing, and he still made it look like an art form.
That was a favorable quality in Mikey—he didn't care if he looked like a fool. As long as he was having fun, he didn't care. Something admirable about the young boy.
Leo had never been to such a vivacious and populous party—or to any kind of party, to be honest. Diligence drove him away from all these types of distractions as a teenager. Usagi was right about never indulging, but now standing under these strung lights, he wondered just how long ago it really was since he'd ever luxuriated.
He exhaled through his nostrils.
"My, my...Hamato Leonardo? Is that really you?"
A feminine voice—one familiar, yet foreign all the same.
His neck twisted towards the source of the sound, only for confusion to creep in.
Sleek brunette hair coursed down to her waist, golden eyes shimmering behind glasses. From her clean-cut bangs to the heather gray pantsuit, the professionalism she expressed was quite clear.
That feature, that realization, was what helped all the pieces come together on what her identity was.
"Karai?"
Karai Oroku—his tongue hadn't felt that name in many years. Not since he was a child, but a name that wearily journeyed across his mind constantly.
Leo smiled.
For a split moment, he didn't know which response would be appropriate, but suddenly she outstretched her arm, leaving an open hand to shake.
Right.
Leonardo took Karai's hand and shook it.
"How have you been? How long have you been back here in New York?" he asked with real curiosity.
She took her hand back, it returning to the glass she held.
"I came back from Japan a little over six months ago," she answered, also taking a look at Shinigami and Michelangelo's time together.
Leo removed his back from the column. "You know, I didn't know for sure where you went when I was a kid. Plenty of people said you were sent to Japan, but I couldn't ever be sure. There was a lot of rumors."
"That's what happens when you're the daughter of a millionaire, huh?" Bringing the glass to her lips and taking a short sip, lipstick stained the rim. She didn't pull her eyes away.
"After my mother died, my father decided it was best to do my studies at a boarding school in Japan."
Knots raveled and pulled in his stomach. He stared at Oroku. She stood tall, her eyes not wavering and her chest rising and falling at a steady pace. Like she was unfazed by the bitter truth of her past. Or that she was trying so hard for it to seem that way.
"I'm sorry."
Leo looked at the party lights above him.
"My father also died while you were gone."
Bass from the speakers thrummed through his body, the music reverberating in the emptiness between the two hardened souls. Electricity prevented flatlined silence.
"I met Shinigami while in Japan," Karai spoke up, making Leo look back at the dancing, "She's like a little sister to me. I would never host such an animalistic party if it wasn't for her."
"So is that an obvious no to dressing up as well?" Leo asked playfully.
Karai finally gave Leo some of her eye contact, a smirk on her face. "Dressing up isn't really my thing," she told him before taking another drink.
Leo turned himself towards her, making his body language more open and inviting. "You've really changed since I last saw you. The Karai I remember would never disregard Halloween."
She smiled, spreading warmth in Leo's body.
"I can't say the same to you. The only difference I notice is that your voice is deeper and that you're finally taller than me."
A laugh naturally found its way for Leo, something he hadn't done in a while. Moving just the slightest bit closer, he leaned against the column with his arms crossed.
"You know, I had like, the biggest crush on you in first grade," a smirk of his own appeared.
Karai turned to face him, her long hair swaying as she did.
"Did you now?" she teased, making Leo struggle to hide a smile.
Finishing off her cup, Karai lifted the empty glass. "Do you want something to drink? Red wine, perhaps?"
"I'm going to have to pass this time. I'm going to be taking the kids home."
"Respectable."
There were so many things Leo wished he could say to her, so many years he wanted to get back. Karai had always been such an interesting part in his life, something good, and now that she was back he couldn't help but feel greedy for her.
But there was nothing he could bring himself up to say. At this point, she was a complete mystery, and he had no way of knowing how to test her waters.
Out of the crowds of people, Leo suddenly caught eye of Raphael heading his way.
Straightening, he opened his arms and enveloped Raph as soon as he was in range.
"You did a great job tonight," Leo told his younger brother as they hugged, "I'm very proud of you."
Raph quickly let go—he wasn't a hugger. But he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Thanks," was all he managed to say, but Leo knew the value in that small word.
Leo glanced at Karai, who was smiling fondly at his bonding moment. Clearing his throat, he said, "Raphael, this is Karai. Karai, this is one of my brothers, Raphael."
As soon as Raph heard the name, Leo instantly saw a change in his brother's demeanor, his eyebrow raising and a taunting look in his eye. Leo grit his teeth to keep from blushing.
But Raphael shook the young woman's hand anyway, with the most politeness Raph would probably ever use.
"Hey," Raph said, "Have you guys seen Mona anywhere? I kinda need to talk to her."
"No," Leo answered and Karai shook her head.
Without ever hearing a real explanation, Raph left as quickly as he came in search of Mona.
As Leo saw Raph get swallowed by the crowd, he wondered if the time was going by just as fast.
Rolling up his sleeve, he checked his wrist watch—9:26—which exceeded the curfew. But like Usagi said, he wasn't in uniform, so there was new use in enforcing the rules.
But still, Mikey's friends parents' might be getting worried, especially Renet's.
"Hey, I should be dropping the kids home, but it was nice—"
Leonardo looked up, only to find that Karai Oroku had already left.
XXX
She was standing alone when he found her. Not in icy isolation, and not in somber silence. More as if she was admiring her surroundings. Like she was absorbing every detail, letting her environment become a permanent memory. Seeing her standing by herself, she didn't seem lonely, but rather that she was alright being with only herself.
As she should be, Raph thought to himself.
He felt those fluttering bats in his stomach like he had earlier, rambunctious at just the glimpse of Mona—an innocent giddiness that he could never recall that he experienced prior.
Fingers dug into his palms as he curled tight fists of nervousness.
He wasn't going to walk away from this—he would never let it go.
So he put one foot in front of the other. And so on and so forth.
But then her eyes saw his. Party lights reflected in her irises, flickered like flames that made him paralyzed.
And if that weren't enough, she smiled. She smiled at him, those shining eyes crinkling from how wide it was. It loosened him up just to travel a few more steps, but fortunately Mona met him halfway. God knew he wouldn't be able to carry himself for all that distance.
White noise hummed in the background, time beginning to stretch to the ends of the earth as he admired the woman that now occupied his own world.
"Hey, Mona," the words automatically flowed as if he wasn't the one to say them.
"Hey."
He rubbed the back of his neck, though he was unable to break away from her mesmerizing face.
"You did great—I know I already told you that, but I wanted to say it a bit more...personally."
"Personally?" Mona quirked an eyebrow, making his heart pick up the pace.
"Y-yeah!" Raph cleared his throat, trying his best to not let his blush distract him, "You're really great! You're—you're wonderful! Like, not just your singing, your everything."
No words. Only a smirk.
He swallowed. "I-I know we haven't known each other for long—God I'm making this worse—but you're just—and I just—"
A soft finger suddenly pressed against his lips.
The two inched closer, soft lips making contact for the first time. Two souls sparking for the first time.
As soon as Mona kissed him, he felt his heart race slow. It was something so natural that it was comforting—like it was meant to be this way. Like it was home.
Once she leaned away, she wore a youthful smile.
"Yes, I would love to go out with you, Raphael."
XXX
All Mikey could think was of how perfect this Halloween was going, and how easy it was to dance with someone as wonderful as Shinigami. It almost seemed surreal—a dream sweeter than any candy.
But the song was lulling to an end, it inching to its resolution. He didn't want this to end. He didn't want to have to leave this paradise escapism and wander back to such a tricky reality. Mikey wished he could dance under moonlight for an eternity.
With a twist, Mikey caught a quick, sudden glimpse. He saw his brother Donatello, and his best friend Renet standing next to each other. And the sad vibes they exerted were strong and obvious.
Guilt creeped, making Mikey bite the inside of his cheek. He swiftly looked away, not wanting to have to bear that pain just yet. Just not yet.
Instead, he found his sights returning to Shinigami. Her light eyes were very bewitching, making Mikey's face glow pink.
Bass blaring, the song wrapped itself up.
Mikey caught his breath, a broad smile on his face as the two were finishing their dance.
But before the boy could thank the girl, Shinigami grabbed a hold of Mikey's wrist and jerked him forward.
Wide-eyed, he gulped as she leaned in, getting so close he could feel the heat of her breath.
Lips almost tracing his ear, Mikey tensed.
She whispered into his ear.
It was something in Japanese.
He opened his mouth to respond, but without even the chance to, she twirled him, spinning him away. Mikey turned sharply in hopes of an explanation, but Shinigami had been swallowed by the crowd.
He stared out, completely chilled as he recalled what she said to him.
Be careful. Watch your back.
XXX
EXMMV EXIILTBBK!