Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the property of Viacom, Nickelodeon, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird and all organizations associated with said names. This is non-profit.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Exile
by BrownEyedBirdie
Author's Note: Okay, so the pizza cheese sandwich my guest asked for is simple. I found it here and I love it ( /pizza-grilled-cheese-recipe/). Second, I'm hearing "more Apritello" in some reviews and don't worry, it will be there, but I have 26 chapters total written that have 3 other characters to focus on, as well as Leo, even though he's not a feature. I'm trying to make this a story that will satisfy every fan, including the Capril shippers. But my goal is to write like, well, like someone on the TMNT staff over at Nick; don't worry, all you fans will be happy in the end, I think. Now then, speaking of Capril fans, this story is for you. Weiterlesen!
Chapter 7 – Flicks
After a couple of days, they had a break in the cold weather. But the Turtles, Casey and April only had about a day and a half to get more firewood, collect eggs and make another store run before the temperatures dropped to well below freezing.
"It's not going to matter how much heat we create," Donnie told everyone that first afternoon, "The three of us will instinctively want to burrow someplace to keep warm."
"Not even if we found heat lamps like in the labs at school?" April asked. She looked at all the Turtles. Mikey's eyes were already blinking sleepily at her and kept nodding off. Raph, although looking exhausted as well, poked to keep his brother awake and toyed with his fingers. Only Donnie seemed wide and alert, but the constant rolling of his shoulders signaled that he, too, was growing tired.
"The temperature would be constant at your school," Donnie said, "There's no way we could mimic a constant temperature here."
"Being cold-blooded is useless," Raph said.
"How'd you deal with it in New York?" Casey asked.
"We lived in the sewers," Raph said impatiently, "That steam that comes up through the manholes isn't from Mikey cooking."
"Yeah," Mikey said, "I mean, hey!"
"What Raphael means is that the city's central steam heating is in the sewers," Donnie explained, "Like in most cities, it connects all the buildings and runs underground."
"Everyday felt like being at a spa," Mikey said sleepily. He began to drift off again and Raph poked him.
"But patrols," April asked, "How did you manage the cold above ground?"
"We're mutants," Donnie said simply, "I think with our half-human DNA, it made us less susceptible. But we were only ever on patrol in the cold for 4 to 5 hours at night. We've been exposed to this for a little more than three weeks and only this extreme for 48 hours."
"So we stay in here then," Raph said. A loud snore erupted and Raph realized his poking was useless now.
"So what should we do?" April asked, "Will you guys be okay?"
"Sure," Donnie said, "When it gets warmer, we'll wake up. In the meantime, you guys can relax, I guess."
"Yeah, we'll be fine," Raph said, "Just keep an eye on Leo. He's still going to be a risk being so weak and beat up."
"Okay, I guess Casey and I can manage a couple of days," April said.
"Oh yeah," Casey said. He glanced over at Donnie to smirk, but met with Raph's angry glare.
"You try and pull anything, Jones," Raph said, "And that stick will have a new holder."
"Hey, whoa," Casey said cheerfully, "Since when are you on April guard?"
"I'm trying to protect you, Jones," Raph smirked.
"Who from? Donnie?"
"No, me," April said, her cheerful voice only accenting the threat.
"Okay, Red," Casey said, hiding his sudden wave of unease, "I'll behave."
By that night, all the Turtles were fast asleep. April panicked at first when she saw them so still, but the faint pulse reassured April that this was hibernation. April did her best to make the kitchen warm and block off as many drafts she could. She brought down more blankets and, by the end of it all, April was sweating.
"Hey April," Casey said, "Relax. The weather report says the weather will be back in the upper 30s by the end of the weekend. So the guys will be fine."
"I just want to make sure they're comfortable," April said, piling another blanket over Donnie.
"Quit mother-henning them," Casey said, "Come on, there's a movie marathon playing in a few minutes. Planet Masters trilogy."
"Is it the original or the remakes?" April asked.
"The new ones, of course," Casey answered.
"Forget it," she said, "The original were classics."
"You like watching a bunch of guys running around dressed up like it's Halloween?" Casey asked incredulously.
"You've got no room to talk there, Jones," April smirked, "It's easy to draw a picture with a computer and make it move. But to get a real feel for the character, it needs to have a soul."
"What difference does it make?" Casey said.
"Come on," April said, "You can have all the special effects in the book, but if the story isn't good and the characters are real, it's not going to look convincing."
"I disagree," Casey said.
"Okay, think of some of the original movies before all that technology," April said, "The only way to make the audience believe was to have the human characters make you feel like they were really in the scene. Now it just looks like their standing in front of a popup book."
They glared at each other. Finally Casey grinned at her.
"Okay, April," Casey said, "Why don't you pick then?"
April smiled and went out the family room while Casey popped the popcorn. When he came back, April had put on some foreign film.
"Better not be dubbed," Casey said. April's face fell a little.
"Oh, it is," April said, "Is that a problem?"
"No, I just prefer subtitles," Casey said.
"Well, maybe I can find it online," April said, "Donnie showed me how to hook the computer up to this TV, but I can't remember how."
"Hey, it's not a big deal," Casey said, "I'm not much in the mood for foreign movies today."
"Oh, okay," April said, "Let's see. I've got an account on Flicks4Free. Maybe we can find something on there."
"You know," Casey said suddenly, "This is the first time we've had a movie night all to ourselves."
"It is?" April said.
"Yeah, we always have the guys with us," Casey said, "Or Irma."
April blinked sadly.
"Oops, sorry," Casey said, "I didn't mean to bring up a sore subject."
"No, don't worry about it," April said.
They browsed for about twenty minutes, unable to decide on a movie.
"How about a TV show?" April suggested, "They've got past seasons for "Rook" and "Eternal" online."
"Girl stuff," Casey said.
"Smart girl stuff," April said, "The stories are complex and funny, plus lots of action and mystery."
"You want to talk about action, play "Puzzle of Crowns," Casey said.
"Now that's too complex," April said, "I watched one episode and had no idea what was going on."
"There's "Long Long Ago," Casey said, "I like that show."
"Me too," April said. But the series was not available.
"How about we just sit and talk?" Casey said at last. April looked at him curiously.
"Okay," April said and she closed the laptop. Casey panicked for a moment. He'd been fishing for ideas but this was not what he expected. Hockey he could handle, fighting he could handle, as well as the occasional discussion related to one or the other. But having a regular conversation was not his specialty. He looked anxiously at April and saw her waiting expectantly.
"Oh, um," Casey stuttered, "Well, I don't think I ever said how sorry I was about your dad."
"Thanks," April said sadly, "How are you doing? You haven't said much about your father or sister since we left the city."
"Not much to say," Casey said, "There wasn't any sign of them. But they might have escaped."
"Well, hopefully they're safe all the same," April said, trying to be consoling.
"Yeah," Casey said. They were both silent for a moment.
"What do you suppose we'll do when we start getting warmer days?" Casey asked.
"I guess we'll start training again for one thing," April replied, "Donnie left that to Raph. And I think we'll probably start making plans. But we can't do much until Leo's better."
"Yeah, things aren't the same without Leo right now," Casey said, "I think it's hardest on Raph. He's the big brother all alone."
"I think Donnie's having a hard time too," April said, "He's just so distant."
"Maybe he's just changing his focus," Casey suggested, "We all went through a lot in New York."
"I think he went through much more," April said, "You didn't hear Leo and him arguing."
"But I have heard them argue before," Casey said simply, "Guys argue, that's how we show we care."
"Yeah, I've noticed," April said, "But Donnie's isn't about just fighting."
"He's a thinker," Casey said, "A behind the scenes kind of guy. I get that. That's why I think he's better off letting things just float until Leo's better. I mean, out here, what could happen?"
"We still need someone to take us in a direction," April said, "Just because you haven't seen Donnie in action is no reason to just brush him off like that."
"No offense, Red," Casey said, "I don't think less of Donnie. I'm just saying that a leader should be between Raph and Donnie; that's Leo."
"Let's watch a movie," April said, ending the conversation. She opened the computer back up and began to search.
"Way to go, Jones," Casey thought. His one chance to sit and have time to himself with April was blown in an instant. He thought back to when April had been mad at the Turtles and not speaking to them. He'd had plenty of time with April then. And even when she'd made up with them, he'd still been able to see her at school, although that was often including Irma. But now, there was something that was blocking April. And Casey was determined to find out.
"We could watch something older," Casey said, "Cartoons, maybe?"
"Ew, not like that Super Mecha Force thing?" April groaned.
"No, I was thinking about the shows we watched," Casey said, "I liked a show called "Cartoon Play Palace."
"Never watched it," April said, "I liked watching older cartoons and then old movies."
"Wait, you mean like the black-and-white ones?" Casey said, half trying to appease April after his foolish remarks and half excited for watching an old favorite "Those were cool. I liked staying up late on Saturday nights to watch the old sci-fi B movies."
"Let's see if there are any on
"Hey, we could watch this one," April said, pointing to an old black-and-white movie.
"Sweet," Casey said, "I love this movie."
"Me too," April said.
April hit play and they both were soon swept up in the story. They spent the rest of the night lost in different movies; action, horror and drama. April even managed to convince Casey to watch a few comedy musicals and both fell asleep in front of a silent movie.
Mikey opened bleary eyes and looked around the kitchen. He could feel warm air creeping through and he stretched. Outside, he could hear a steady drip of melting ice from the room and the distant crunch of snow falling from branches.
"Donnie," Mikey whispered, shaking his older brother, "Is it spring?"
Donnie opened one eye and promptly shut it again.
"Not even close," he said, "Just a brief thaw. But enough for us to get moving again."
He sat up and stretched, looking around the kitchen.
"Oh, guys, you're awake," April said, "I was just coming to check on you. Feeling hungry?
"Oh yeah," Mikey said, "Chow time!"
"I hope you and Casey weren't too bored without us," Donnie said. April shrugged and started brewing some coffee. Raph opened his eyes and yawned, then went to check on Leo on the cot.
"Casey better have behaved himself," he said gruffly.
"We did okay," she said, "Speaking of which."
She looked around as Casey came into the kitchen.
"We got any more energy drinks?" he yawned.
"Not this trip," April said, "Add it to the list. There's coffee in the mean time." She handed Donnie a cup.
"I don't feel much like working," Raph said, "How about we watch a movie?"
"NO!" April and Casey said together. They looked at each other and began to laugh, which got everyone staring at them in confusion.
*()()()*
Thanks for reading. This story is based on conversations I have with my best friend. We're both nostalgic nuts and love to watch anything from our childhood.
Since Casey and April had a moment to themselves without the Turtles, Irma or anything crazy happening, I wanted to write a story where they actually interacted with each other. I hope I haven't got any Capril fans out for my blood; I did try very hard to make this believable and fun at the same time. It just occurred to me that Casey and April never had a whole lot of private time. When they first met, April was his tutor and still angry about the Turtles. Then, when she'd made up, Irma was always going along with them on their "dates." I just think that having a time to themselves without anyone else would be a novelty for them. If you feel I did a weak job on this, then I'll accept it; Casey's a tough one for me to write too.