Authors note: This chapter has a reference to a 2003TMNT character. If you find them, YEAH you get an internet cookie. If you haven't watched the 2003 version I recommenced it. It follows the comics more than the 2012 show and It's very different, but it's good. Everyone is still themselves though Donatello isn't the medic of the family, and April and Casey are adults. So just go in with an open mind.

By Monday Mikey wasn't as nervous as he'd been on Friday, but he still worried. That morning he thought of playing sick, but knew Splinter would see right through him.

When they got to school Mikey could see the people looking at him and whispering. He sighed and ignored it. Starting something would only make things worse. By lunch Mikey was sure everyone knew and the looks and whispers were getting on his nerves. At lunch when he sat down it was Casey who brought up the rumor.

"So is it true?"

Mikey looked at him than at April, and finally his brothers. He looked around to make sure no one could hear and nodded. "Yeah, but keep it down. I don't actually need it being confirmed."

"Why not," April asked confused?

Mikey sighed, and explained how he didn't want to confirm the rumors though he wouldn't deny them either. He just wanted things to take their course, and depending on what happened they'd go from there.

April nodded slowly in understanding. Mikey was glad that Casey didn't seem to care he was gay. Casey was a lot like Raph, and like his hot tempered older brother a bit of a wild card.

After lunch it seemed the rumor had mutated from Mikey being gay, to Mikey being gay and a cross dresser on the weekends. Mikey was unsure how that part of the rumor got added, but he knew that by the end of the day the rumor would mutate again, and Mikey knew it would to do so for weeks or even months until it died down completely.

When school was done Mikey hesitantly made his way to the library. He found Leatherhead in the same corner as last time. Mikey sat down as Leatherhead gave him a warm smile.

"Wow you were right I can't tell you were in a fight."

Mikey smiled, and relaxed slightly. "Yeah well that's because the worst of it is hidden under my clothes.

Leatherhead frowned at this. "You're still okay though right?"

Mikey nodded. "Yeah yeah not even sore anymore."

Leatherhead nodded. "Good." He went quiet, and Mikey sighed knowing what the taller teen was thinking.

"Yeah the rumors are true, or at least the one about me being gay and not the one about cross-dressing and singing at night clubs."

"How are your brothers taking the news," Leatherhead asked?

Mikey decided that Leatherhead could be trusted to hear the whole story. The guy was nice and didn't seem the type to talk about other people's business. So he told him about how he'd come out to his family. Leatherhead seemed concerned until he heard that his brothers and father accepted him. He even explained about how Chris had cornered him in the park though he left out what exactly he'd gone there to think about. This seemed to bother Leatherhead, but Mikey assured him that he really was fine and he'd technically won the fight.

"That's good it sucks when there's an adjustment period. Everything gets awkward and you feel like you're walking across a floor covered with shattered glass."

Mikey looked confused. "Did someone in the gay straight alliance club have that happen?"

Leatherhead opened his mouth and then paused. "Kind of, it's what I'm currently going through."

Mikey's eyes widened in surprise. "You're gay," He asked a little too loud, but luckily no one was around.

Leatherhead blushed and nodded. "Yeah came out a few months ago and things are still on shaky grounds at home. My dad is surprisingly progressing faster than my mom. They didn't yell or threatened to disown me or anything they were just kind of a shocked. Last week my dad went to a PFLAG meeting, and he's going to try, and get my mom to go with him. I think she's hoping this is a phase. That it's just a way for me to rebel, and once I meet the right girl I'll forget all about being gay."

Mikey frowned. "That sounds like it sucks. I mean I told you how it upset Raph, but it was just because it was a shock, and he was upset that I hid it."

Leatherhead shrugged. "It's hard, but it's getting better. They do love me it's just taking them time to adjust."

Leatherhead gave a reassuring smile and pulled out a notebook. "Okay, we can talk more later on. Now that we've shared our coming out stories it's time to get to work."

Mikey let out an over exaggerated groan, but got out the supplies he needed.

"I already wrote down a few questions. So let's go through them."

Mikey nodded and got to work.

After an hour Leatherhead began to pack up, but paused. "Hey Michelangelo I was wondering if you would want to hang out sometime this week?"

Mikey felt his heartbeat speed up and was about to say yes when he remembered something. He groaned. "Sorry dude I'd love to, but I'm grounded for a few weeks. Master splinter was not super happy about me skipping out tutoring session. It would have been longer if the fighting wasn't due to self-defense."

Leatherhead frowned. "Your sensei can ground you?"

Mikey frowned than realized that when he'd been talking about his families reaction to him coming out he'd only referred to master splinter as his dad. He wondered how many other people thought master splinter, and his father were two different people.

"No Master Splinter is my dad. We call that him because in his fighting days he had the nickname splinter. We kind of just kept calling him that and it stuck."

Leatherhead looked confused. "He's okay with you calling him that?"

Mikey nodded. "Yeah I mean he'll always be dad, but… I guess Master Splinter is something only we can and people close to him get away with calling him. It's either Yoshi or Mr. Hamato unless he's teaching than it's always sensei. It's just something we've done for so long that it's a habit."

Leatherhead had been listening carefully the whole time and nodded with understanding. Then he seemed to hesitate before asked. "Do you wish you knew your parents?"

Mikey sighed since he got this question a lot and shrugged. "I guess it depends. If they found me and wanted to get to know me maybe, but I'm not gonna go looking for them either."

"Donnie was the one who wished he knew his parents. His parents died in a car crash and didn't have any surviving family members to take Donnie in. He's got photos of them, but if he starts looking at them a lot it's a major red flag that something's wrong.

April was actually the one who really helped him. She's lost her mom around the same age as Donnie so she knows what it's like to only barley remember someone who was so important. I think it was one of the things that made Donnie fall in love with her.

We all have had times where we wonder what life would be like if we were with our birth parents, but we don't dwell on it too long."

Mikey was quiet. "Splinter had always said if we wanted to know about them he'd tell us what he knew, but, for the most part we don't think of them.

Leo once made the argument that fate brought us together since we were all named after masters of the renaissance period. We joke around that its part of our back story."

Leatherhead laughed at that. "What back story?"

Mikey smiled and laughed. "When were younger and first learning ninjuistue it made us feel like superheroes. So we made up a story of how we were adopted by Master Splinter after being in an accident that covered us in ooze and we got super strong and fast because of it. Master Splinter trained us in the art of ninjitsue to help us control our powers."

"When we got older, and kids saw that we could fight a rumor started that we were vigilantes that fought crime at night. It still comes up every once in a while. You'll hear about some big crime boss being taken down, and kids we'll notice that one of use had a bruise or cut, and everyone will be talking about how we must have used our training to do it.

It's one of the curses of coming from a big family with all of us being so close in age. Were rarely seen apart for too long so people's minds start coming up with why were so close. Trust me the vigilante rumor was one of the saner and less creepy ones that have been started."

Mikey frowned. "You don't pay attention to school gossip much do you?"

Leatherhead shrugged. "I don't really have any friends to keep me in the loop, and what I do hear I mostly ignore."

Mikey nodded. "Good strategy, trust me I know." Mikey then got an idea. "Hey how about you sit at lunch with us tomorrow?"

Leatherhead looked unsure. "Will your brothers be okay with that?"

Mikey nodded. "Totally, but… can I give them a warning about…. you know the whole 'M' and 'K' words?"

Leatherhead frowned, but nodded. "As long as they can keep it to themselves."

Mikey nodded. "Yeah of course, trust me they can keep a secret."

Leatherhead nodded. "Okay than I'll join you."

Mikey let out a whoop and pumped his fist. "Awesome I'll see you at lunch." He finished packing up and made his way out of the school to head home. He couldn't wait until tomorrow.

At dinner that night Mikey told his brother how he invited Leatherhead to sit with them at lunch. His brothers seemed hesitant, but didn't fight it. They knew Mikey would just sit with Leatherhead, and while that wouldn't be a bad thing they enjoyed having Mikey with them.

"I have something about Leatherhead, but I'll do it at lunch so Casey and April can hear it" Mikey explained.

His brothers raised an eyebrow at that, but decided not to say anything. Mikey needed more friends outside of the family. Casey and April were awesome, but while Mikey got along with them he wasn't as connected to them as he was with his brothers.

Casey was closest to Raph though he and Donnie had their own special bond. April was closest with Donnie of course, and Leo had an online friend from Japan who he seemed to really connect with.

Mikey needed someone who was just his friend. Someone he could bond with on a special level. If that level went somewhere romantic the brothers wouldn't resist though they'd also keep a close eye on things to make sure Mikey didn't end up hurt.

Since Raph, Leo, and Donnie were juniors they worried about how Mikey would fair when they left. They hoped that Mikey would make friends with someone in his grade so that Mikey's senior year wouldn't be spent alone.

Maybe by making friends with Leatherhead Mikey would be more open about making friends outside of his family. The thought of their outgoing brother sitting alone at lunch was something they all hated to think about.

Splinter also worried about his younger son being a little too isolated. He thought of having his son help teach the younger kids. Raph and Leo already had plans to help teach classes over the summer so maybe he could get Michelangelo to help as well. He had seen how Michelangelo was good with kids. He was sure with a little instruction, and supervision he could keep the classes fun and keep the kids wanting to learn.

Splinter knew his training methods were old fashion and not ideal for children. His son had done well under his training, but it was not for everyone.

He was proud of how well his sons were doing, but he knew that not all of them wanted to follow his path of competing. He could see Donatello pulling away a bit, but for now his high achieving son was happy training. While he could see his two oldest following his own career path he was sure that Donatello would not. He didn't know what path his youngest son would take, but they'd cross that bridge when the time came.

At school the next day the rumor mill was still hard at work, but Mikey didn't let it get to him. He ignored it, and went on with his day.

At lunch he made sure to get to the table early. When everyone was there he told Casey and April that Leatherhead would be joining them. Casey and April were surprised, but didn't protest.

"There is one really important thing. Don't say the words Krang and mutant under any circumstances."

Everyone at the table gave Mikey an odd look, but agreed. When Leatherhead arrived he sat down next to Mikey.

"Hey April how have you been," he asked politely?

April smiled. "I'm doing well. How about you?"

Leatherhead shrugged. "Can't complain too much, except I think my mom is planning to set me up on a blind date."

Mikey frowned and as did April. "You said your dad was working on your mom," Mikey said confused.

Leatherhead shrugged. "He is. But my mom kept talking about this girl, and how nice she is and what a good family she comes from blah blah blah. My dad actually pointed out that he was sure there were plenty of guys who came from nice families, but she wouldn't drop the subject.'

"Wait you're gay," Casey asked?

Leatherhead nodded. "April knew, and Mikey found out yesterday figured the rest of you should know as well. Mikey said you're good at keeping things on the down low."

Mikey's brothers looked at him with wicked grins, and Raph winked at him. Leatherhead noticed the looks and was about to ask what it was all about when Mikey changed the subject

"So Leatherhead, are we doing more math after school today?"

Leatherhead nodded. "Sure although maybe we'll only do half an hour. Sound good?"

Mikey nodded. "Yeah I think my brain is still a little fried from yesterday."

Donnie frowned. "Are you having a lot of trouble?"

Mikey shook his head. "No it's just a lot of focus on something I'm not good at. I am understanding class a little better though so it's working."

Donnie relaxed and everyone had smiles on their faces glad that the tutoring was working. They wanted Mikey to succeed in school even though it was so hard for him. Anything or anyone who helped make it easier was always something good.

Leo who was sitting across from Mikey frowned as his brother's face got a look of annoyance on it. He followed where he was looking and saw his staring at the table Chris Bradford was sitting at. He looked incredibly smug and it seemed that the other people at his table were worshiping the ground he walked on.

Leo wondered if Mikey felt he was looking in a mirror from his junior high days. "Just ignore him Mikey," Leo said gently.

Mikey sighed. "I know it's just... I hate how he can have so many followers when he's such a bully. I feel sometimes like were in the karate kid and Chris is Cobra Kai. We've even got the whole enemy dojo thing going on."

Leatherhead frowned. "What does them being students of another dojo have anything to do with being enemies? I mean their already jerks how does where they train change things?"

"Dude you really are out of the loop," Mikey said though it was in a playful way. The footclan dojo is run by Oroku Saki aka Shredder aka Master Splinters lifetime rival. Well not really lifetime since they use to be good friends, but then something happened and Shredder started holding a grudge against Splinter.

Things got worse when Master Splinter became more famous than Shredder. When he found out Splinter was opening a dojo he opened one himself."

Leatherhead smiled knowingly. "Let me guess that makes Shredder, and all his students your arch nemesis?"

"Mikey broke out in a million watt smile,"Now you're getting it."

Leo sighed. "Is he still doing the origin story thing?"

Leatherhead smirked. "Do you expect anything less from you brother."

Leo opened his mouth than paused and sighed. "No. No I do not."

The whole table broke out into laughter and the rest of lunch was spent talking and getting to know each other.

The rest of the day was great and tutoring with Leatherhead went well. As they were packing up Leatherhead asked a question.

"Can I walk home with you Michelangelo?"

Mikey looked up in surprised, and then down to hide his blush. He nodded though and looked back up with a smile. "Sure sounds great."

As they walked home they talked and found they had a lot in common. They both liked comics specifically marvel though Leatherhead hadn't read or watched any of the X men movies due to the word mutant being commonly used. They liked a few of the same video games and liked the same online sites. It was a nice talk, and Mikey was a little sad when they got to his apartment.

"See ya," Michelangelo" he said smiling as he walked away.

"See ya," Mikey called before heading inside.

Mikey couldn't stop smiling. When Raph had asked what had him so happy at dinner Mikey simply replied that he, and Leatherhead were becoming good friends. Raph might have had started in on the teasing if Master Splinter hadn't brought up the fact that after dinner he had a list of competitions the four brothers were eligible to enter.

This caused a stir of excitement around the table, but Mikey noticed Donnie was pretty quiet. "Donnie is something wrong," he asked with confusion."

Donnie looked apprehensive before taking a deep breath. "I've been thinking that after maybe I'll only compete for three or four years."

Everyone was shocked and started talking at once.

"Are you crazy," Raph asked sounding confused and angry?

"Why don't you want to compete," Leo asked also sounding confused and somewhat hurt?

"Yame," Master splinter shouted causing everyone to become quiet just like the word always made them.

"Donatello why do you feel you will not want to compete in a few years?"

Donnie sighed. "It's just I was talking to Mr. Rockwell a few days ago, and it turns out that if I do well after graduation I'll have a chance to become a junior intern to a scientist called Professor Honeycutt. He's working with how the mind works, but also with robotics. School would of course come first, but with trying to keep my grades up, and the internship I won't have the time to put in the serious training needed for competition." Donnie looked down at his plate "I still want to do exhibitions, but probably not as many as I normally do."

Master Splinter placed a hand on Donnie's shoulder. "That is fine Donatello. This sounds like a great opportunity that you shouldn't pass up."

Donnie looked up with a worried look on his face. "You're not disappointed?"

Splinter shook his head. "Of course not my son. Your heart is in science and I understand that. I did not think you would follow the path I choose to take or the path your brothers might choose to take. If this internship is as important as it sounds you shouldn't turn it down. I would rather have you follow your heart than do something that makes you think will make me happy."

Donnie looked up at his brothers hesitantly. "What about you guys?"

"Don I agree with Master Splinter. You shouldn't pass the opportunity up. Besides we'll still have two years of competing together," Leo said.

"Yeah Donnie this sounds like a dream come true you can't let it go," Mikey agreed.

The all looked at Raph and he seemed the most upset. "I thought we were a team," he finally said.

"Raphael you are more than a team you are brothers. You will not be fighting side by side anyway. I know you probably imagined you, and your brothers all competing together, and you will be able to for a while. Donatello needs to follow his own path, and it does not lead him down the same road as yours dose," Master Splinter explained.

Raph was quiet than let out a sigh. "I guess I always knew you'd leave us just not so soon."

Donnie frowned. "I'm not leaving you Raph. I'll always be here, but I'm just not going to be competing after graduation. I promise I'll still be there to cheer you guys on."

Raph seemed to feel better after that. "I guess it will be nice for you to talk to another egg head other than April."

Donnie rolled his eyes, but smiled glad that his second oldest brother seemed to understand.

After dinner Master Splinter went over the competition list with them, and they chose which ones to enter with the help of their experienced master.