"Ok! Time for subs!" I brought the four turtles, who were lounging in the table area, a tray of four subs. "A pizza slice on white bread for Michelangelo." "Awesome! Thanks bae!" "Salami on whole wheat with extra cheese for Donatello." "Hey thanks, Baby." "Five meat sub with extra meat for Raphael." "Thanks." "And last but not least, chicken breast on rye for Leonardo." "Thank you, Baby." "Enjoy!" I spun to get my own sub from the counter across the room. But by the time I got back, their subs had already disappeared, with Michelangelo burping and Donatello licking his big, green fingers. Ugh, not again!
"Guys, dinner is supposed to be bonding time, but how can we eat together if you always scarf down your food as fast as possible?" "Hey! It's not our fault we were hungry," Raphael replied, only adding to my irritation. "But don't worry," he then sent me a playful smirk. "We'll wait while you eat." I sighed, rolling my eyes. How gallant of them.
Leonardo wiped his hands with a napkin and flashed me a kind smile. "How was your first day of school, Baby?" "Good! Aside from getting Mr. Carpson and Ratburn in the same semester," my eyes scrolled off to the side. "When's April getting here?" Donatello asked. "Soon. She had to pop by home to get some books. We have a ton of homework to do tonight." The turtles looked at each other and broke out laughing. "Oh man, homework on the first day of school; sucks to be you," Raphael pointed at me. "They shouldn't be allowed to do that," Leonardo said, still chuckling slightly. "I agree, but here we are." "Wait, if you have a bunch of homework, then April also has a lot of homework. They can't do that to my April! And on the first day of school too," Donatello's arms followed. "You didn't seem to have a problem when I got piled with homework," I shot him a glare. "That's different." "Oh really? How?" "Because it's funny when it happens to you," Raphael noted, smirking in my direction. Gallant indeed.
"Hey baby niece, is April here yet?" Uncle came out from the back room with his inventory clipboard in hand. "Not yet, uncle." "You two just gonna do homework tonight?" "Well can you please close up before you start? Me and Cactus Jake got yoga in fifteen minutes." "Cactus Jake?" Donatello raised an eyebrow. "You mean that "cowboy" we met in Brussels? He was an actor for Paris Disneyland!" "That's how all great cowboys get their start! Anyways, he's in the city and I thought we'd spend some time together." "Poor Cactus Jake," Raphael crossed his arms."
Uncle set the clipboard down on the counter and pulled out a typed paper. "Baby niece, remember that special delivery mail the mailman brought the other day?" "No." "Well, turns out that I accidently lost it in the cheese box while doing inventory. Who knew provolone was so good for hiding things? It's a bill from the Lancaster Hospital where your uncle is having his reconstructive tongue surgery. Did you call Skunk to make sure it got paid?" "Uhhhhhh…"
"Hi Skunk, I'm just calling to see how uncle's doing." "Oh, much better, love. Aside from his crippling fear of dentists, the doctors say he'll make a full recovery." "That's good," I sighed. "How about you? Have you been staying at the hospital with him?" "Of course! You know I'd never leave Rock's side. Been living in the tour van right outside the emergency ward." "Uh, is it safe to live in the tour van long term?" "Sure it is! I've already taken out the engine to make room for a jacuzzi." This was followed by a few loud crashes and bangs. "Ah, gotta go, love. Your uncle is trying to sing while they're operating on his tongue again. Rock! That's a surgical knife, not a guitar pick!"
"I think he's on it." "Why are all the guys in your family insane?" "Raph means eccentric!" Leonardo quickly added. Before I could answer, uncle shuddered behind the counter. "I'll tell you why. It's because when we were little, our father made us listen to (gasp!) cello music!" "Uncle…." "You don't know, you guys!" His eyes shifted from side to side as both hands grabbed onto the side of his head. "Cello music changes people." "Why is cello music dangerous?" Michelangelo blinked in confusion. "I have a better question. How did you turn out seemingly normal being related to that?" Raphael's thumb stuck out at uncle.
"Hey! You don't see me put on a mask and be an unasked-for vigilante patrolling after dark like Batman!... Hey, baby niece; do you think that if bought some black fabric and made a mask….." "No! You're not becoming a vigilante!" "Fine!" Uncle went upstairs to fetch his coat and yoga mat, muttering to himself the entire way. "Dream-crushing niece… won't let me be the Sandwich Savior… Cactus Jake says I look good in black…." "Speaking of patrol, we should get going to," Leonardo checked the wall clock. "Come on, you guys; it's getting late. Let's go." "Alrightio!" Michelangelo hopped to his feet and the three brothers followed suit.
I went behind the counter, pulling out a bag of four more subs. "Here's something for later," I handed it to Leonardo, who smiled at me. "Thanks, Baby." "Yeah, thanks for the grub, bae! You're my favorite person!" "Mikey!" "T-tell April I said hi," Donatello told me. "I will," I walked them to the front door. It was a pretty quiet street, so it was safe for them to come and go through the front of the shop. Both Leonardo and Raphael paused to face me at the threshold of the door. "Remember to lock the door behind us," Leonardo said. "And no answering it for anyone," Raphael added in a firm voice. "And keep the lights on, even if you're not downstairs." "Don't hesitate to call us if you need anything."
Gees, talk about overprotective much. "What is this?" Still, I cracked a smile. They weren't trying to be controlling or anything; I knew they were just trying to protect me…. albeit maybe a bit excessively. "Am I in the witness protection program?" I joked. "Yes," all four answered in earnest. Uh….. ok then. I wasn't expecting them to be so serious about it; even Michelangelo and Donatello. But I tried to laugh it off. "Boy, I let in one Purple Dragon once and now you guys are constantly checking in on me." "Cause we don't want to come recuse you unnecessarily," Raphael shot me a glare. "The door stays locked, got it?" "Alright, alright; aside from April, I won't open it for anyone." "Good," they said in unison. The youngest three then exited the shop with the eldest pausing for a minute. He gazed back over his shoulder to look at me.
It wasn't a possessive or manipulative expression; just a soft, almost pleading look. I noticed the rims around his mouth soften slightly. "Please….." This was the only thing Leonardo said to me, catching me off guard. But I didn't have to ask what he meant; I knew. Aside from Raphael, he worried about me the most. Since that night Hoogie attacked me….. "Really? Leonardo? I can understand Michelangelo but Leo?" Yeah? Why does that surprise you?" Huh, I guess when I thought about it, it didn't surprise me. Not at all….
Leonardo and I gazed at each other, not saying anything else. Instead of verbally replying, my head just gave a light nod. This seemed to satisfy the blue masked turtle who rejoined his brothers in the dark of night. The whole sense was roughly thirty seconds long but it was long enough…. I stared off into the black where my dear friends disappeared into before sighing softly, shutting the door, and locking it promptly.