So much has happened with the Nick TMNT plotline that I won't even going to try to keep up. As my Apriltelloverse was always adjacent to the Nick show, I'm not too bothered that my fic isn't canon per say. I hope you're not either, Sweet Readers, and that you enjoy this latest chaptah! And thanks so much for the encouragement to keep writing! The love this story's received is duly noted, inspiring to me, and oh-so-greatly appreciated!
Chapter 4 - Consternation
"Not bad for a nobody"
April, "Karai's Vendetta"
.
"I WARN YOU, IMPUDENT REPROBATE: I AM NOT TO BE TRIFLED WITH."
"Sir, if you want to board your domestic flight then you'll need to comply with TSA regulations and remove all metal objects before passing through the scanner."
"Your request is reprehensible. Do you have ANY idea who I. AM?"
"Hmm, let's see: you're a very tall passenger who's late for his flight to… [checks boarding pass] …the-middle-of-nowhere seated in Economy Class and dangerously close to receiving a TSA-regulation rectal probe. Now, I'm going ask you this one last time, sir: please remove your metal paraphernalia, including your, um, Viking hat(?), empty your pockets of all loose change, and place everything in the bins provided. Including your cape."
"It's NOT a Cape. It's a CLOAK"
"Father, you are being supremely embarrassing! Just do what the degenerate airport security person says. We will avenge ourselves later."
A little kid from the line shouts, "Geddowtoftheway, Cheese Grater Man, Imma visit my Gammie!"
"DAUGHTER, I will not be dictated to by a PEON of the GOVERNMENT!"
"Sir, please come with me to this small inspection room where no one can hear you squeal…."
A few years ago scientists reported that revenge fantasies helped lower blood pressure and cortisol levels, thus soothing the body and mind. Since April's run-in with Karai, when she'd managed to escape by knocking The Shredder's kunoichi daughter off-balance mentally and physically, April had concocted a stream of Foot Clan Revenge Vignettes so steady and varied that she was tempted to start a blog.
Shredder and Karai going through an airport security nightmare was one of those vignettes. Another fave was the two of them, destitute, and forced to start up a hedge-trimming business. They had the blades for it. Then there was the one where, instead of tunafish, Karai ate a Kraang alien by mistake…
Tonight, however, nothing was helping April fall asleep.
Other self-soothing tactics just fed the fire in her mind, and her hips.
The insomniac teen replayed the hours since she'd left Donatello's underground sanctuary-née-love-nest…
The walk back to April's apartment felt surprisingly short. Judging from the noise beyond her window, her neighbourhood was still ablaze with an annual street festival, attended by packs of happy people eating, friends drinking, couples holding hands…
It was cute to watch, yet so far from April's life that she had to shake her head at what "normal" had become to her.
She knew that she was missing out on a lot of the usual stuff that most teens did. But she was also living every fanboy/fangirl fantasy of adventure, intrigue, super-powers: and now, romance.
Nonetheless, other girls would be well within their rights to long for a traditional boyfriend – [April interrupted to ask herself: 'And what would "traditional" be, O'Neil? Human?'] – The teen had to laugh at herself. She remembered that night long ago when Donnie had fought to stop the Kraang from kidnapping her and her Dad, how she'd shrieked with fright when she'd first set eyes on Donatello.
Well. Looks could be deceiving.
April was used to being assumed less capable because she was female. And here she was: a computer-hacking kunoichi, somehow important enough to be hunted by aliens and criminals, who chilled with ninja for kicks.
'Not bad for a girl, O'Neil', she mused. 'Actually: not bad for anybody at all'.
The simple thing of it was that April consistently held her own and kept it together. Perhaps the influence of her scientist father had armed her with powers of logic, lateral thinking and improvisation. Maybe the trauma of losing her mom as a young girl had built her resolve and resilience.
Through all the upheaval, pain and danger of the past year and more, April had survived. Not because of what she was; but because of who she was.
That was what April was most proud of about herself. She was nothing if not a tough cookie: she bent, she didn't break. Except for chocolate.
And now, for Donatello.
April was still astounded that she knew such a spectacular creature, let alone loved him. She replayed in her mind for the umpteenth time her lovemaking with Don and all its gorgeous peculiarities.
She'd been not a little shocked to discover that it turned her on to play her fingers around, and then inside the soft, moist opening housing him. Once released, he'd been black as plum and just as delectable-looking.
She guessed that all four Turtles looked like that, but it was kind of like knowing human anatomy – it was the same for everyone, but each person was distinct.
Unable to deny Donatello's allure, and totally stoked, April had been compelled to stroke him; slowly at first, then more assertively, until it became clear that: she had to taste him. Then that wasn't enough: she had to feel him beneath her as she slid herself across his length, suede-over-steel slicked with her body's desire…
Oh, f*ck, she was lathered up again. Her inner, muscular walls contracted involuntarily; the insistent little heartbeat between her thighs demanded attention.
April capitulated to both insomnia and hormones. With Donnie's muscular and svelte physique in her mind's eye, she artfully trailed a soft hand between her breasts, down towards her aching hips, which hitched rhythmically in time with the urgent tapping at her window…the wait, WHAT?!
"APRIL! PSSSSST! AAAAAAPRIIIIILLLL! ARE YOU IN THERE!?"
Michelangelo found himself knocking on April's window to ask if she knew where to find Donnie. This was a sensitive and potentially lethal mission that only he could complete. At least, that's what Leo and Raph had assured him of.
April panic-hid under her bed sheets.
"Aaaaapril! AAAAAAApriiiiiiiiiil! This is really important! Someone's hiding under your bed sheets!
"Aw, MAN! ^*(&%#!", April cursed to herself. There was no getting out of this. The fastest way to get Mikey to leave was to let him in.
She gathered herself together as best she could, thanked Reason that she'd showered off Donatello's scent. April slipped from her bed to the window; which she unlocked and opened to let in the steamy summer's night air – and Michelangelo's pizza breath.
"Hey Mikey. S'up?" asked April in her most butter-wouldn't-melt tone.
"April" Mikey's big baby blues bore into April's soul. "Donnie's gone. We can't find him ANYWHERE!"
April faked confusion, knitting her brows appropriately in perplexitude. Mikey went on:
"Leo and Raph, they think he's in trouble with the Kraang or the Foot. But me and Sensei, well…APRIL, I gotta ask you something really important. I'm really-really sorry if this is prying but: Did you and Donnie…um, you know…Go out for pizza without us? Like: by yourselves?"
For a second, April wasn't sure if she'd heard Mikey properly. Did she – go out for pizza alone with Donnie? Oh, this was perfect. If she could keep from bursting out laughing, she could pull this off.
April fixed Mikey's eyes with her own, now drowned with intense concern and seriousness. She took one of his robust hands in hers.
"Michelangelo. We…we didn't want to say anything. We didn't want you or the others to feel hurt or left out. I hope that can you understand and forgive me: Yes. Donnie and I. We had pizza together. For the first time."
Mikey's eyes widened in shock, and then narrowed, bringing his freckles to the fore and showing the strain of his thought processes.
"WHOOOOAAAA. I don't know what to say. You totally did it. You had pizza with Donnie. Alone. Together. April, if I wasn't so happy for the two of you, I'd be totally mad."
Knowing that he couldn't let April think she could just get away with such an affront untarnished, Mikey squinted at her in what he hoped was an appropriately unsettling way and cautioned:
"Just be thankful you guys didn't go for pizza gyoza without us. Cos I don't know if I could get over that kind of betrayal, y' know?"
April couldn't help it. With an impish smile she replied, "I can't promise that Mikey. I kinda hope that Donnie and me will enjoy pizza gyoza by ourselves at some future time. But if that day comes then, my treat, I'll totally hook you up with Mr. Murakami. ("Oh, that came out way wrong!", April quickly thought to herself.)
Mikey considered this for a few moments, his neurons ablaze creating visions of wing-tipped, halo-capped, free pizza gyozas.
Daydream fading away, he spoke. "Yeah, well, sometimes I guess you just have to be with someone inna a certain way, right? Like, different people mean different things, like pieces in a puzzle, but they're all important to the big picture of who you are."
Unseated by Mikey's lucidity, April could only stutter, "Um, yeah, actually. That pretty much covers it. You certainly know how peoples' hearts tick, Mikey."
"It's a gift. Like when I filled Raph's pillowcase with peanut butter. Look, I don't wanna keep you, April. You're on your way to sleep and all –
Mikey looked over to April's bed and side-barred, "Hey! Where'd that other person go?"
Turning back to April he finished his thought:
"– but, um, we're pretty worried about Donnie – we still can't find him – and we sent you some texts which you clearly didn't get because you didn't bring back pizza for us like I asked. If you see Don, can you please tell him to come straight –
Donnie's text bleeped its arrival on Mikey's T-phone, which he quickly snapped from its holder to check.
"Oooooh. Looks like D's OK – and heading back to the Lair! This'll be so ehh-piiiiiic: Splinter's gonna shuck him like a clam. I don't wanna miss this! Gotta split, April, see you around!"
Like the ninja he was, Mikey was gone in a flash – and a poof of purple vapour as he detonated another of Donnie's hard-earned smoke bombs.
April sighed, rubbed her forehead and closed her window again. She'd follow up with Donnie in the morning. Taxed by her rapid-fire visit with the frenetic yet endearing Turtle, April fell onto her bed and into the deep sleep that only exhaustion can gift.
.
Thank you for reading! Also, I'd be remiss without a shout-out to Novus Ordo Seclorum, who rightly extolled the virtues of a "Bridge Chapter" and whose TMNT/Apriltello fics kick-ass in the most eloquent and sensual of ways and are absolutely worth reading.