A/N: Posting this early before I leave for the weekend!

Duckie and Sciencegal, I enjoy writing Nia and Soap hanging out. It needs to happen more often. Give it time, right? As for Bishop...that would make an interesting story. Centered on an assassin that keeps trying to kill Bishop and just fails so often, he says SCREW IT. XD

Wolf, the real question should be "IS that really Jade...? Hum." ;) The show HEROES has nothing to do with this story, actually, so it makes no difference. "A Tale of Heroes" is a title I picked because this story focuses so heavily on heroic sacrifices and struggles. :)

Feather! Moving sucks. I'm sorry. Meanwhile, Mighty Cop Force. Love it. Don't think I've ever given them a name, that I can recall. We could always call them Cop Force Four. ROFL. Donna needs to bring up this topic at some point now. Thanks for the inspiration. And keep looking forward to more questions. Mwahaha!

BTW, Sophia has a tarantula, a giant ass spider. Not a turtle. Bet Raph will look forward to meeting it. ROFL

Chapter 13: Lacio Circus

Kaiya Williams had been excited. Now? She felt downright frustrated.

Daddy had taken her to Lacio Circus, just like she'd wanted since seeing the clowns talk on TV. After school, he picked her up for the special night, and Uncle Hugh came as well! But something was wrong.

The grown-ups were acting weird. No matter what cool elephant or tiger Kaiya pointed out, how much cotton candy she was allowed, or how close they sat to the ring inside the Big Tent, they never smiled like they meant it. Their voices were strained. Sometimes, they would ignore her. And she had caught a few mean stares between them whenever she turned around.

'Am I in trouble after all?' the little blonde thought, seated in a big crowd. The flexible man and woman playing on swings below spotlights hardly held her attention, so she glanced sideways.

The grown-ups were whispering again. Daddy leaned close to Uncle Hugh in his plastic seat, arms crossed like he was (as Mommy often called it) 'stewing'.

"Can we drop this already, Hugh?" Maybe Daddy thought she couldn't hear his harsh tone, yet she could over the soft music of the act. "This was supposed to be a nice date with my daughter."

"I know, and I'm sorry," Uncle Hugh replied, even harsher. "But it's important now more than ever to consider."

"The threat was for the adults."

"Because of what we know."

"No, because of what you know, Hugh."

Daddy turned his head sharply when he raised his voice, so Kaiya looked away before he noticed her. The girl couldn't explain why her stomach hurt so much, but it continued to curl as the blonde grown-up returned to her dark-skinned uncle.

"I fucking swear if Bishop does anything to her—"

"Her abilities have been ignored, haven't they?" Uncle Hugh cut off Daddy rudely, and the following pause tightened Kaiya's jaw.

"We talked about that when you returned from visiting Michelangelo."

"She didn't hurt herself."

"No, but wouldn't it be best not to show off her…her…"

"Say it, Blaine. Powers."

Must Daddy scoff? He always did that when Uncle Hugh or Mommy mentioned what she could do. It would get really scary at times, like when she wanted to show off her speed to Megan. What was so wrong with it?

"That's a ridiculous term," Daddy finally said.

"It's accurate."

Daddy scoffed again.

"Blaine"—Uncle Hugh sounded calm, yet his voice made the girl wring her tiny hands—"I know you're stressed. Despite that, you must consider my suggestion."

"I never asked for any of this," Daddy snapped. He sounded like he did while speaking of a bad guy after a long work day, so when he glanced towards Kaiya again, her heart sped up.

"That can be said for a lot of folks," Uncle Hugh countered. "You've already admitted that the Hamatos influence would be good for her."

"That came before the death threat of a psychopath."

"Convincing her she's run-of-the-mill doesn't help. If anything, it's a bigger risk. Take today, for instance. She was called into the office for breaking school property, wasn't she?"

Biting the inside of her cheek, Kaiya dreaded her Daddy's answer.

"I was going to address that on the way home."

'I knew it! He wants to yell at me. Tell me I shouldn't do those things…But he doesn't get it. I can't stop…'

"If you let her visit Michelangelo more often, maybe he could find a means to train her."

"Hugh—"

"I swear, sometimes you act so damn stubborn!"

Uncle Hugh's yell was dwindled by the crowd's screaming. It took a blink for Kaiya to realize the man and woman were standing in the sand, bowing deeply. They smiled and waved towards her row, but she had no will to cheer or jump. Daddy rose with Uncle Hugh alongside the other grown-ups and kids, leaving her to stare up from her seat with a pang in her chest.

"This is about Kaiya's safety!" Uncle Hugh cried over the whooping people. "You think Bishop won't notice if we ignore her capabilities? Hell, what if he starts watching your family and sees what she can do because she hasn't practice using the skills?"

Kaiya didn't know what Uncle Hugh meant; she only caught the strain in his voice and expression. Their intensity filled her, rattled her, and she wanted Daddy to say something to make her feel better. He stayed silent.

"What if he takes interest regardless of what we do at work? He's into that kind of crap. He—he just might want her anyway. He could take her if he really wanted!"

'Take me? Take me where? To a place like the cage…or table?'

An image flashed through the blonde's mind: wide black eyes gazing at her before a bright light. The chilling sensation of metal and hunger then crept in, and she forced her hands over her ears to block the loud noise that left her dizzy.

'No…no, stop talking! I won't be taken again. I'm safe; Mister Leonardo said so.'

Kaiya froze when the mutant's kind smile replaced the eyes. But it quickly melted into his pained look from when that fat doctor stuck needles in his arms.

'I—I'm scared.' She could no longer hold back hot tears, and pushed harder against her ears. 'Mister Leonardo…I—I want him. I want Mister Leonardo! Why can't he be here instead?'

Whatever else the grown-ups had to say no longer mattered. The only way Kaiya knew she would be able to breathe again would be alone, so she stood from her seat and pushed through the crowd.

Michelangelo—seen to others as Turtle Titan—balanced expertly on the metal bridge of an enclosed pavilion, set right off the Big Tent of Lacio Circus. Beside him, Starberry Girl balanced just as easily in their shaded hiding spot, rocking on her combat boots with a serious look about her masked-face. She glanced his way while idle chatter sounded below them, but instead of turning away, he smiled broadly.

"What's with you?" she whispered.

The hunched mutant shrugged, which pushed his carapace against the heavy canvas behind him. "Just glad you came to help. I know it's not as exciting as busting gangsters, but…"

The green-haired heroine gave an easy shrug, gazing back down at the monotonous hum of performers preparing for their acts. Mikey leaned forward as she watched an acrobatic duo walk through the split partition that separated the 'backstage' from the Big Tent then smirked.

"Bet we could put on a cooler show than them," she jested.

The hero mirrored her impish smile, leaning back with his fingers curled around the bridge for support. "Well, we can be quite amazing. We might blind them with our awesomeness, though." To his amusement, Hoshi giggled into her hand, snorting.

'Please tell me she snorts every time she laughs!'

"Dammit, Rose, get back out there!" A snappy tone cut through Michelangelo's thoughts.

His attention shifted to an adolescent figure covered from head to toe in shaggy, brown hair. It wasn't until Rose turned that he realized she was human and did wear clothes. Only, they were colored to match her 'fur', as if to hide them.

"I—I don't want to, Ring Master," the hairy girl called back.

The adult behind her—a thin yet intimidating man in a curled mustache—stepped forward, his thick voice deepening. "I did not save you from India for a free ride to America."

'He's not a native. Would make sense of his Vampire accent. And this Rose girl…this is the girl Nia met.'

"If she's Indian, why is her name American?" Hoshi asked under her breath. There was no chance for contemplation, as Rose whirled suddenly, her covered arms raised outwards.

"What saving was there?" she cried. "I only switched my miserable village life for this one! People still look at me like—"

"What did you expect?" the Ring Master cut off in a high hiss. He tensed his narrow jaw, sharp, sunken features severe under the shadow of his hat. "This is a circus. People come to see the strange, the sublime…the scary. Such a task has grown harder in recent years, so play your part."

"I—I don't want to be scary," Rose grumbled.

"Why, you little—" The Ring Master paused with his arm posed for a strike across the girl's face. He breathed heavy as she flinched away, like the occurrence happened often enough to prepare for. Yet the man lowered his arm instead, sighing. "I have given you a place to belong, with others like you. Outcasts. A place like this is the only one where you will ever be accepted. So get back in that cage at the Sideshow, and be the Were Girl you are advertised as."

Rose didn't reply to the Ring Master, and since he was called by an announcer in the Big Tent, he had little chance to enforce his demand. When the partition fell into place, the Ring Master's accent ringing loud beyond it, Rose fell to her knees, trembling. Mikey sensed Hoshi stiffen beside him, and a glance later left him confusion.

'She looks…uncomfortable.'

"Rose, honey," someone new interjected.

Mikey reeled at the new figure that knelt by the hairy girl. It was a middle-aged woman. Well, women? Their belly dancer costumes clearly displayed the conjoined skin of their pale stomach, where their figures melded into one wide entity from there downwards. Above that split into two identical twins, their thin, blonde hair trailing over their three shoulders. They gave each other a sympathetic look before reaching towards Rose.

"Baby," the one on the right said. The middle arm matched the right arm's movement, which may've meant it belonged to the right twin. Then again, Mikey knew next to nothing about conjoined siblings.

"D—did I have to come back tonight, Ulla?" Rose remarked through a sniffle.

Ulla, the right twin, ran the hand from her middle arm down the girl's head like petting a shaggy puppy. "If you missed such a big show, restrictions would be worse."

"Besides," the left twin added, "you shouldn't give Ring Master Lacio any more reason to scrutinize. What have we told you?"

Slowly, Rose lifted her head. "Obey, and he won't give you a second thought."

"Exactly."

"But Unna!" Rose lifted to her knees so she could grip the twins' middle arm. "They were calling me a freak, some boys. Th—they were poking at me, wanting me to be…scary."

"I know it's hard," Unna replied, placing a hand on Rose's head.

"Do you think we want to be the Two-Headed Nightingale forever?" Ulla asked. She spoke with a smile, though grimness broke its brilliance.

"Trust Zebb," continued Unna. "He's made a promise. He won't forsake us, you, or Barry. So, please, be careful when you sneak out."

"Wait, you,"—Rose sat back—"you guys know about that?"

"Zebb worries," the twins answered in unison.

"Hey, Nightingale, your concert's about to start soon!"

"Coming!" the blondes cried over their shoulders. They spared Rose one final smile and a kiss then stood to exit the pavilions through another set of partitions.

Michelangelo's heart ached to talk to Rose. He considered it for the better part of a minute while she slowly stumbled to her feet. But then Splinter's voice entered his head, reminding him of the rat's plea to keep hidden. As much as he wanted to assure the girl she would be okay if she remained strong, he couldn't go against his sick father's will. If anything, he could give Splinter that respect.

"She went back," Starberry Girl noted in the new silence.

Mikey sent her a weak smile. "Guess this is something to report."

"Report? To who?"

"My sister."

Hoshi sent a pointed look. Sure, she wore a mask with tinted lenses—much like his—but he could sense the pensive Chi. "You recruited me to help your sister? Why would she need to know any of this?"

"It's for a report," Mikey spewed before he realized. "It's a, uh, paper on the social status of circus folks. Behind the scenes, so to speak."

"So…we're here for a school paper."

The heroine's blanch socked the hero in the gut. "Come on, you gotta admit it's intriguing. These guys could use some real help."

"That's beside the poi—"

"Hey, kid, what do you think you're doing here?" The male voice boomed like a bass, except nothing about it felt intimidating. Rather, it oozed parental concern, bringing Michelangelo's trained gaze between his large boots.

He could make out the top of a tall man's bald head, as well as several tribal-like tattoos over his bare, muscular body. But their misleading presence wasn't what shocked him; it was a little blonde's sniffle that did.

"I'm sorry," Kaiya replied brokenly.

"If someone else caught you back here, you'd be in a lot of trouble," the tattoo man added.

"I'm sorry…"

The man sighed. "What's your name?"

"K—Kaiya."

"And where are you parents, Kaiya?"

Head downturned, Kaiya glanced away.

"Look,"—tattoo man's voice softened despite its urgency—"you can't stay back here. You need to find your parents. I'd help you do that, but—"

"Zebb!"

"I know Rocko; I'll be right there!"

The disembodied voice scoffed as Zebb sent Kaiya a smile. He opened his mouth, maybe to explain where she could go for safety, but Mikey couldn't take waiting any longer. He landed beside the duo then leaned backwards when Zebb whipped a powerful arm sideways in response.

"Woah, Dude!" the hero cried. "I'm here to help."

"What help can come from the"—Zebb paused for a quick glance up with his deep set eyes—"the—were you spying on us?"

"That is another matter entirely," answered Mikey, cheeky.

"Uncle Mi—"

Forcing a laugh, the mutant clamped a hand over Kaiya's mouth before she could finish his name, saying, "I'll help her get back to her parents."

Zebb quirked a thick brow. "This coming from the guy who dropped from the ceiling."

"I'm trust-worthy. Honest, I'm a hero!"

The tattooed man clearly wanted to refute Michelangelo's insistence. However, another call had him turning his head with a soft curse. He glanced first at Kaiya (who Mikey still kept quiet) and then the mutant, staring intently. Mikey was experienced enough to know a silent threat when given one, so he nodded, hoping his honesty shined. With a begrudged step back, Zebb sighed then turned without another word.

When the man stepped out of sight, Mikey leaned towards Kaiya, ensuring his carapace blocked his whisper from Hoshi's view. "Call me Turtle Titan, Kaiya. I have someone here who doesn't know my identity."

Thankfully, Kaiya's love of comics meant she already held a deep-root respect for a hero's biggest secret, so the blonde nodded in an instant, despite her cocked head.

"Good," Mikey said, louder while straightening up. "Now, Kaiya was it?"

The blonde nodded again.

"Where was the last time you saw your parents?" It was really hard not to hug the girl when her expression dropped. The moment of relief she showed with a smile lasted a second, and it was buried further once Starberry Girl landed beside them.

"How are we supposed to help if you won't tell us?" she questioned.

"Easy, Hoshi," Mikey said towards her huff. She backed off with a little pout, though the mutant sensed the uneasiness he noticed while Rose was crying. "Hey, Kaiya, why would you run from your Mommy and Daddy?"

"He doesn't like me being different." To Hoshi, the girl's cryptic message seemed vague, which is probably why she shifted in confusion at Mikey's side. The nunchaku master knew the blonde was only eight, so he let it pass that she specified her father instead of both her parents.

"It's great being different."

"He doesn't think so. He thinks I'll be taken again."

Michelangelo froze. 'She must've had a really bad fight with Blaine. I want to ask more, but…' He sent the green-haired heroine a sidelong glance. 'This isn't the right company or the place. I'll just call Blaine later.'

"Well, in case you didn't hear,"—Mikey started in a playful manner—"there are heroes in this city who would never allow you to be taken. Ever. Understand?" He waited for her to grip the hand he placed on her shoulder, and when her lower lip trembled, he braced himself for the hug that followed.

"I wish Mister Leonardo were here," she grumbled into his covered plastron.

He wanted nothing more than to join her shuddering breath. Yet he couldn't. He needed to remain professional, so the pit in his stomach went ignored as he spoke softly. "Come on; let's find a place where we can call your parents."

Reluctantly, Kaiya pulled away. Her puffy, amber eyes glossed over him then fell to the dirt ground as she rounded his figure. She would wait outside, he knew. But he hesitated before following because her emotion hurt. Thinking about Leo hurt…

"You're really good with kids, aren't ya, Figo?" Hoshi asked.

He met her casual stare with a lopsided smile then turned towards the exit. "W—well, I guess. Kinda."

"Women find that attractive, ya know?" she remarked just as casual.

Good thing the heroine took the lead out the door; Mikey's blush heated his face fiercely. And it wouldn't leave until he slapped himself a few times.

A/N: Next on A Tale of Heroes, "Jump"! Hugh deals with mounting stress in his work and personal life. Meanwhile, Splinter and Melody have a little chat over the rat's deteriorating health.