Author's Note: As usually, I own nothing but Marie and Jaclyn.

Chapter Two: Brighter

It wasn't the most glamorous trek. In fact, she usually wore her rain boots to make it, considering part of it involved sloshing through sewer water. Mikey had assured her that it wasn't that kind of sewer water, but…she kept the rubber boots just in case.

It had been months now, since they'd met, yet April felt like they'd been family for a lifetime. While wary at first (with the obvious exception of Michelangelo), after everything they'd gone through together, they'd bonded in a way that she couldn't quite explain…they'd been her only friends in her awkward childhood as tiny baby turtles in glass tanks, and now they were some of her only friends, aside from maybe Vernon. And now Marie and Jaclyn.

She turned an almost unseen corner down a tunnel that she knew would take her to the lair. The tunnel hadn't existed months ago; the entrance to the lair had been further down the larger passage, but that was now destroyed when the Foot attacked the home of the turtles and Splinter. It had been her fault…she hadn't known, of course, but her heart still felt a twist of guilt.

She stepped over the debris and into what used to be an extremely impressive lab, though the machinery and technology was mostly scattered in twisted piles of useless trash, torn apart further as Donatello's expert hands scavenged for pieces that were still usable. A small space on the desk remained intact, and it now housed a laptop and some scientific supplies she couldn't quite name. And a turtle.

"Hey, Donnie," she said. No answer.

Headphones. She sighed, picked up a small rock, and threw it at his shell. He instinctively stood, drawing his bo staff and giving it a swing behind him that would have knocked her head clean off her shoulders before realizing who it was.

"April!" he said, exhaling heavily. "Don't sneak up on me like that, I could have hurt you!"

"I know," she said. "Hence the rock."

He grinned and moved to her, wrapping her in a brotherly hug. "It's been a few days," he said. "Keeping busy?"

"Apartment hunting," she said. "When I'm not working, I'm scouring Craigslist."

Donnie's nose wrinkled. "Not the most reliable source of quality living situations."

April shrugged as they moved towards the main chamber. "I don't know," she said. "I think I've struck gold."

Donnie was about to reply, when another familiar voice rang through from the dojo.

"Are we in heaven?! Because I think I hear an angel!"

April grinned brightly as the other three turtles made their way into the room, Michelangelo running over to swoop her into a spinning hug.

"April!" he said, setting her down on her feet again. "How's the apartment? Raph says it's pretty sweet digs."

There was silence as April's blue eyes swung to Raphael as his face twisted in the way it did when he knew he'd been caught.

"Oh?" she said in a light tone, though it was clear that she was slightly irritated. "That's funny, I don't remember having guests yet?"

"Just wanted to make sure it was legit," he said gruffly. Leonardo nodded.

"Can't be too careful, April," he said. "Even without the Foot being a threat, there's weirdos out there."

"Weirder than us, even," Donnie joked.

"Fine," she said. "But next time you want to be protective and mildly creepy, tell me first?" She eyed Raphael expectantly. He scowled a bit, but nodded.

"So?" Michelangelo prodded. "Apartment?"

She sighed, then smiled. "It's amazing," she said. "Huge loft above this old antique store. We should be paying thousands for it, but inheritance worked in Marie's favor—"

"We?" Michelangelo repeated. "Marie?"

"Roommates," she replied. "Marie and Jaclyn."

"Hot roommates?"

April faltered. "Well, I don't tend to notice whether other women are hot, but…yeah, sure. They're cute."

"So you're introducing us when?"

Raphael gave Michelangelo a knock to the top of the head, causing the younger turtle to wince. April sighed.

"Maybe someday," she said. "They seem…less easily spooked than my last roommate."

"No offense, April," Leonardo said. "I'm sure they're great, but I think it best if we limit our circle of human friends to two."

April gave a little smile a nodded. The turtles had risked enough in letting she and Vernon into their world; they didn't need more humans knowing of their existence before they were ready.

"Is Splinter around?" she asked. Leo nodded toward the dojo.

"Thanks," she said, giving his arm a friendly pat and moving past the four brothers toward the dojo.

The great sensei was there, on his knees, eyes closed in a haze of incense smoke. She walked toward him, knowing that he would know she was there. She stopped a few feet in front of him, bowed, and knelt, facing him, closing her eyes as well.

"You seem…peaceful, my child," he said after a comfortable silence.

"I found a place to live," she said. "I like it. I feel safe and happy."

The rat smiled a little. "That is good," he said. "I do not like to see my family distressed."

She smiled. She liked when he included her as family. She'd been very….alone, since her parents had both passed away young.

"Splinter," she said in a venturing tone. "I wanted to ask you something?"

"Yes, April, what is it?"

"I was wondering…I mean, I fully trust that the guys can protect me and all that, but…I'd like to be able to protect myself to, you know?"

Splinter's eyes opened. "You wish to be trained in Ninjutsu?"

"Yeah," she said. She grew a bit hesitant. "Is that allowed? Or is it a boys' club sort of thing?"

"Traditionally, yes," he said. "Men have been the main students of Ninjutsu."

April's face fell a bit, and Splinter continued hastily.

"However, there were the kunoichi."

"Kunoichi?" she echoed.

"Women associated with those studying Ninjutsu," Splinter explained. "Not quite ninjas themselves, but highly skilled assassins, trained to be espionage agents in Japan. I assume you do not wish to assassinate, however…similar training could be to your advantage, I suppose."

"Would you be willing to teach me, Splinter?" she asked hopefully.

He was silent for a few moments, eyeing her in a way that made it clear that he would rather her be protected, than needing to protect herself. She braced herself for the no.

"I believe it is actually more appropriate to refer to me as sensei."

She let out a little squeak of excitement and grinned, nodding. "Can we start now?"