Authors Note: For those of you wondering I did take the idea of a DDR dance off from Yu Gi Oh. I just wanted a way to introduce Xever and thought this was a fun way. Sorry this chapter is kind of short. I had to rewrite it a few time to get it right and I cut out a plot point that basically went nowhere. Hope you guys enjoy this.
When the weekend was over and the boys headed back to school. Leatherhead and Mikey had decided not to be out there. They weren't ready yet and they wanted to wait until they'd been dating for a while. They figured when the time was right they'd come out, but as of right now they weren't ready.
On Wednesday at school everyone was a buzz about a new student. Mikey had yet to see him, but he heard his tuition was being paid for Oroko Saki. Rumor had it the guy had show up at his dojo and beat all his students except for Saki's top two.
This had gotten his attention and he was now teaching the kid and paying for his schooling. Mikey didn't know exactly how much tuition for the school was he just knew that the only reason he, and his brothers didn't go to a public school was because Splinter wanted his sons to have the best education they could. A lot of the public school couldn't offer what a privet school could.
Mikey heard the kid was hanging around Chris which put the guy in the very thin book of people Mikey didn't like. That book was mostly filled with people from the foot clan dojo. Kari was someone who was constantly being taken out and being put back in the book. She seemed to have more honor than her fellow students, but she wasn't the greatest person, and seemed all too aware of how to use her looks.
Leo had a thing for her. He sort of respected her, but he knew he couldn't fully trust her. She seemed to like Leo back, but she also had tried to make him do some stuff that could have landed him in big trouble. Kari had a tendency to do things out of boredom, and they weren't always legal. Mikey also felt uneasy when she and Leo made eye contact. He trusted his brother to always do the right thing, but if anyone could make him stray from the path it was Kari.
At lunch Mikey expected his brothers to start in on the shovel talk, but they never got a chance. As Mikey was sitting down someone yelled: "YOU," out loud. Mikey looked around, and saw someone who Mikey thought he might know, but didn't recognize pointing at him was accusing eyes. The guy stalked over to the table and got right in Mikey's face.
"You're the cheater who refused rematch," the guy yelled in an accent that Mikey couldn't fully place.
Mikey was completely confused until he realized who the guy was. "You're the guy from the arcade," Mikey said realization clear in his voice. "Look I won fair and square. I'm sorry I didn't play you again, but I was out of tokens and had other things planned."
The guy's glare grew stronger and Mikey wondered if the guy was trying to kill him with his mind.
"Xever what's going on," a voice shouted. Mikey looked past the guy whose name was apparently Xever and, saw Chris. He realized that this must be the new guy.
"This punk owes me a rematch," he growled.
Chris looked surprised and smirked. "A rematch, at what" Chris asked his voice curious?
"He cheated at DDR, and when I demanded a rematch he walked away."
Chris smile grew into an evil grin. "Well than why not have a rematch? I'll even pay for it."
Mikey sighed. "Look I didn't cheat and I'm interested in a rematch. It was just for fun I wasn't even trying."
The last part made the Xever look as though he was going to strangle Mikey with his bare hands. He could see his brothers, Casey and Leatherhead all looking tense and ready to come to Mikey's aid.
"I was there with Michelangelo at the arcade he didn't cheat," Leatherhead stated calmly.
"No one asked you freak," Chris growled though he smirked when Leatherhead's hands curled into fist.
"Leatherhead it's okay I can handle this," Mikey said calmly.
Leatherhead blinked, and tried to look like he was fine, but Mikey could see he was upset. Freak didn't trigger leatherhead like Mutant or Kraang did, but it still got him angry and ready to fight. Mikey looked from Xever to Chris and his brother and sighed.
"Alright fine we'll have a rematch," Mikey said with resign in his voice.
Chris smiled. "Great, well do it today after school."
Mikey nodded. "Fine, but be sure to let everyone know. I'm sure you can do it. I've heard you're really good at getting the word out."
Chris growled. "We'll see how cocky you are once you lose." He glared on last time before walking away.
Leatherhead placed a hand on Mikey's shoulder. "Don't fret things will be okay. I have faith you can win this Michelangelo and if you don't, then you'll get him next time."
Mikey nodded and got a determined look on his face. "I'm going to win no matter what. I want to see the look on Chris, and that Xever kids face when I beat him again."
"You can do it. You had no problem beating him the first time," Leatherhead said.
The rest of the school day went fine. He saw people looking at him and some even pointed, but he didn't let it bug him. He was sure that the confrontation in the lunch room was now known by the whole school meaning the completion probably was as well. When School ended him, his brothers, and their friends headed to the arcade. Mikey found Chris who was looking pretty smug.
Mikey walked right behind him and to the DDR machine.
Mikey knew he needed to be on his toes and be ready for Xever to try and cheat. He took a few calming breaths and did his best to stay relaxed. Soon the whole school seemed to be packed into the arcade and Mikey and Xever were ready.
Mikey like the last time was on the right. Chris had a random student pick the song and difficulty level to make things seem fair. It was a tough level, but the song was one Mikey knew pretty well. As the music started the two teens started dancing.
Mikey didn't miss a step, but neither did Xever. As the song continued Mikey could see Xever had to concentrate more and more while Mikey just let himself move. Xever was the first one to make a mistake and that seemed to throw him off a little. At one point Mikey registered something coming towards him and, he ducked though it made him miss a step.
Mikey realized someone had thrown something. Again something came towards him and he dodged it this time incorporating it into the dance and managing to make it look like he was doing a trick while hitting the correct pads. The third time something came his way Mikey caught it and did a quick check to find a bb pellet in his hand. It wouldn't hurt if it hit him, but Mikey was use to dodging anything that was thrown at him. If you could doge it you did otherwise you'd end up with a bruise. The bb's were also small enough that Mikey seemed to be the only one registering them. The crowd especially those in the back wouldn't be able to see them.
Mikey felt even more determined to win, but instead of focusing more he focused less. He let the music and the rhythm carry him. Mikey soon began to duck and weave while still hitting every pad. Xever missed another step, and Mikey heard him growl in frustration. Soon several pellets were being thrown and he found himself having to do some quick maneuvering to doge them and keep hitting the right pad.
Mikey ended up missing a few, but he noticed that Xever was continuing to mess up. Mikey did his best to block everything out while going with the flow which was as hard as it sounded. Still he kept going and soon the song was done.
For a split second everyone was quiet and then the game announced Mikey as the winner. Some people cheered while other booed. Mikey turned and could see a few people exchanging money.
He walked right over to Chris ignoring the swearing Xever and smirked. He walked away and towards his brother who along with April and Casey were cheering loudly. Leatherhead was just smiling widely. They headed home and Mikey decided not to tell anyone about the cheating. It would only get them mad, and Mikey was sick of confrontations with Chris Bradford. As they made their way home Leatherhead took Mikey's hand.
As they walked April and Casey headed to their own homes, but Leatherhead stayed.
When the four brothers reached their apartment Leatherhead gave Mikey a quick kiss on the cheek. "Call me tonight."
Mikey nodded and watched as Leatherhead walked off. He turned to see his brothers all smiling like the cat that got the canary. Mikey blushed and headed inside.
"Awww Mikey why are you so embarrassed it's just a kiss." Mikey opened his mouth to try and explain himself, but for once he was lost for words.
"I think it's how he does it," Mikey said trying to explain "Every time we kiss it's all sweet and stuff. Like he's afraid if he gets to passionate he'll scare me off. I like it that way though. For now it's all hand holding and sweetness. When we kiss it's like were alone and it kind of… feels like magic."
He counted to five and wasn't surprise when Raph and Leo burst out laughing. "Oh my god I wish I recorded you saying that." Raph gasped.
"OW" his older brothers shouted as Donnie hit them both. "Knock it off guys."
He looked at Mikey and smile. "Don't worry Mikey these two are just ignorant. I know exactly how you feel."
Mikey felt himself relax though he was still blushing. He made a note to go to Donnie if he ever needed relationship advice. He sometimes forgot that he and April had been dating for so long. Donnie and April weren't too fond of PDA. Sure he'd seen his brother and friend kiss, but he'd never seen them make out or anything. Mikey was sure that was because they did all the making out at April's house. Being an only child with a single parent that worked long hours was probably really nice when you wanted to be alone.
Mikey smiled. "Thanks Don," Mikey said and headed to his room.
As he walked away he heard Donnie lecturing Raph and Lei on being more sensitive. He worked on the drawing he started the other night and after a little while called Leatherhead.
"Hey," the deep voice of the tall teen said.
"Hey," Mikey said back.
"Sorry we couldn't study today," Mikey said.
"It's not a problem. We'll meet another day."
Mikey smiled. "Okay I'm free tomorrow," Mikey said.
"Sounds good to me Leatherhead said."
Mikey hesitated. "So Splinter is giving us Saturday off from training for doing so well at the exhibition. We could do something then or something after Sunday practice."
"Saturday sounds good. I heard the old movie theater on Western is going to be showing a bunch of classic monster movies."
"That sound amazing" Mikey said and they made plans of when to meet up. They talked for a little bit longer before Mikey had to start dinner.
At the table when Splinter asked how their day was they mentioned Xever being new and being a part of the foot clan dojo, but not about the rematch at the arcade. Mikey made the excuse that Leatherhead had to head home early so they'd have their lesson tomorrow.
After dinner Mikey did his homework and again worked on the drawing. He talked to Leatherhead for a while before going to bed. He was excited to see Leatherhead tomorrow, but he couldn't wait for the weekend.