Chapter 29: Evolutionary adjustments

People are remarkable under pressure at times, and others are more remarkable when there is no pressure at all. Charlotte discovered quickly that she was someone who was far more talented when there was some level of pressure applied to her life, although one may argue being mutated by a crazy alien race and now living in the sewers of New York while training with a fellow mutated turtle man to be too much pressure. It had been around three days since Charlotte and Raphael had begun their secret meetings of combat. She couldn't help but be skeptical that the brute teen would write her off at her request, but sure enough the morning after the spontaneous training when she snuck off from the makeshift room in Donnie's lab she found him waiting for her by his weights.

The workout was more in depth than she initially thought it would have been, from doing bicep curls to running an area nearby the home. If it wasn't for her newfound speed and strength in her amphibious genes she surely would have had a harder time keeping up but to her surprise she had earned more approving nods and grunts from her teacher than annoyed scoffs and head shakes. Meeting multiple times in Raphael's schedule between his own training, eating and scouting above ground for April and other remains of this new foe, Charlotte was finding less and less time to recall the torment she had endured before and was finding far more time to understand her new 'features' as she so lovingly called them. The main area of struggle she found herself in was keeping it a secret from the other four residents in the home. While it wouldn't be the end of the world if someone caught wind of Raphael teaching the new mutant how to defend herself as she put it, Charlotte and Raph were sure there would be far more rules implemented by his Sensei as well as critique to certain moves and methods she was learning.

Walking out from the lab where Charlotte had spent the last few hours watching the password hacking device Donatello setup while the other residents took up their typical pre-breakfast training, she couldn't help but gravitate towards the screen doors of the dojo. She had peeked in a few times before the ninjutsu training, admittedly it was some of the most beautiful and inspiring movement she had ever seen. The strength and the way the young men commanded the space while performing their katas and sparring with one another, it made Charlotte want to attempt this level of power herself. Slinking away from the door as she had a few times before, returning to the side where the makeshift workout area remained for her. Working out by herself wasn't an issue, seeing as she was used to being by herself. From conducting all of her studies and extracurriculars by herself to even waking up early to make the hour commute on foot (and eventually bike) to her high school of choice, she was quite good at self motivating.

Setting the weight back down and looking over her toned arms. The green leathery skin, something she had grown accustomed to now but often missed her cinnamon brown complexion, now covered with a thin layer of mucus. But under that sat a toned bicep, something that the old Charlotte lacked besides carrying all her own reference material every day since sixth grade. Inspecting her arms came with the feeling of someone entering her personal space, her eyes catching a bright orange cloth in the corner of her eyes and from there she couldn't stop herself from locking on with those innocent baby blues which had become quite accustomed to her daily life. Michelangelo was certainly the most friendly out of the mutants she had met, from wanting to engage in conversations about her life back in Georgia to trying and understanding the most basic of hispanic phrases from daytime soap operas on channel 3. Unbeknownst to Charlotte however, would be how often this specific set of baby blue eyes seemed to seek for her in a room.

"Woah dude, you're lookin' like totally ripped now! I bet you could even take down a purple dragon if you tried!" Michelangelo beamed with his own praise at Charlotte, who could only pull her arm back in confusion, looking up to the blue masked leader walking up beside the two of them.

"I don't even know what a 'purple dragon' is but thank you?"

"Mikey, remember that thing we talked about? 'Personal Space' is a very important thing to some people…", Leonardo looked to Mikey as if he had stolen a cookie before dinner, turning his serious gaze over to herself.

"Master Splinter is asking to see you in the dojo, although I have an inkling as to what it is about, it's not my place to speculate." Leonardo gestured with his head towards the intimidating doors across the room from them now, Michelangelo walking part of the way with her to the room, anxiously playing with his wrist wraps.

"I'm sure it's nuffin' but uh..after that did you maybe want to have some breakfast? I was thinking of trying that 'Huevos Rancheros' thing we saw on channel 3 yesterday..uh no stress though if not.' Mikey looked up conspicuously, which Charlotte couldn't help but offer a soft chuckle too, something he responded to greatly. She couldn't place her finger on it but she did find part of herself warming up and relaxing when near the nun-chuck master.

"I think I can find the time to enjoy that with you, but I should knock this out first." And with that, she charged the rest of the way back to the screen doors, already being met with the silhouette of the great master.

XXXXXX

Inside the dojo was something Charlotte had never had the honor of experiencing in her week and a bit staying within the lair, only catching glimpses from beyond the door, however her awe was short lived when she locked eyes with her training coach sitting in a submissive and upset position, waiting for her to join him. Peeking to her right to see Master Splinter waiting for her to follow suit, tabling her time to inspect the crimson carpeted room for another time and scuttling along besides Raphel.

The moments it took the rat master to close the door, cross the floor and situate himself in his typical position beneath the tree and grate skylight felt like hours, each moment making her head hang a little lower in dread of what may come. Flashing a glance to her scolding partner, watching Raphael battling his own demons in this situation, his eyes glued to the head seat where Master Splinter sat but his nostrils flared, attempting to gain control of himself. The silence cracked into pieces when Master Splinter finally spoke, looking directly at Charlotte which made her feel small.

"So…Ms. Castillo…are you settling in?" The way his eyes almost seemed to look through her, as if searching for something, it almost caused her to forget to reply.

"A-uh, yes thank you…I really do appreciate you allowing me to stay while we figure all this out…I am not totally sure what I would do without this place…". The honesty in her voice was pure, not liking to think what may have become of her without the mutant's kindness, although the likelihood that she wouldn't have made it very far was glaringly obvious.

"I would not let a fellow friend of Miss. O'Neil out on the streets given the situation at hand…" the long methodic stroking of the master's whisker seemed to keep her entranced, which admittedly was her own downfall. "However I must inquire what you intend to do with your newfound strength. Raphael may teach you what he knows but without proper dedication, you only put yourself at a drawback."

The jig was up. The shame on Raphael's face spread to Charlotte's own as she held her head to the floor in hopes of some kind of redemption before her makeshift teacher could even try to move. If they went down for what she had asked him to do, she intended to take it all on her own.

"I'm so sorry sir, I-I didn't mean to overstep I just…I-", a gentile hand rested on her shoulder which made her raise her head. The look on Splinter's face was not one of disappointment but far more understanding than she had come to understand from her elders. While he looked as though he wanted to say something, he simply gestured at her to continue her thought.

"I…I feel extremely indebted to you all already which has me feelin' all kinds of ways as is.I just thought if I could defend myself, maybe even contribute to the place as a whole…". Saying it all outloud made her feel extremely insecure, bearing her true feelings to the room. Fighting the tears in her eyes she just barely choked out the last of her words.

"I..I just wanted to help. I'm so sorry if I overstepped and got anyone in trouble…"

The following silence was damning to her for sure, the way both Master Splinter and Raphael seemed to have their own silent battle watching one another. When the silence was broken, it was Raphael who opted to bring forward his own admittance. While his true opinion of her didn't win him any points, it was exactly that, the truth.

"Sensei…I can't say at this point I ain't tried to teach her, but I didn't think she would be serious. I thought she was just gonna throw a few hits, get tired and give in. But she has a lot more effort she is willin' to give this than I thought…I know you're gonna say it was reckless-"

"Because it was and is reckless, my son. The art of Ninjutsu is not one to be taken lightly. We have had this discussion before and I must say that I am disappointed." The two looked to one another before once again bowing their heads in hopes of forgiveness.

"However, beyond my disappointment is my curiosity. Charlotte, the way of the ninja and kunoichi is one of dedication and hard work, these are both things that you have already been displaying to everyone here in the search for April and answers. So I must ask you honestly and truly…" The young woman looked up at the teacher, his eyes harsh but open and awaiting her reply.

"Do you want to learn the way of the ninja, to defend and protect yourself from the harsh realities of the world? I can not guarantee your success, I can not promise you that you will be perfect but the first step of choosing is up to you."

The path to her own future was being laid out before her, not the path her family or her status in society deemed of her, a path that she could truly manipulate and hone to her own will. Gripping her shirt tight and looking right into her master's eyes, she called out with all of her might, which seemed to make both individuals in the room infected with her same excitement.

"HAI SENSEI!"

"Hmhmhm, then we have much work to do."