A/N: Ooh, last chapter did very well with reviews. So here's a treat. ;)

D - Hope your mom got that Santa working. Or settled for a new one. LOL Not much ups from here on out, unfortunately...

Duckie - No cops were called! Wait...there were. But not for that reason! Heh. Least if one woman makes you sad, the other makes you laugh. Right? And you know my thoughts on my baby Hugh...

Zathura - The feels have just begun! ;D

Sciencegal - Hugh's months are about to get rougher. *whistles innocently*

WOLF - Well, Shell, thanks! LOL

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Chapter 29: Off Guard

A sudden weight over Melody's legs lured her gaze from an open medical textbook to an orange-masked mutant turtle, who balanced his carapace on the short bench she resided on. Obscured partially by shadows cast from the desk lamp, Michelangelo stared upwards, a pout across his wide mouth.

It hardly seemed justified; he was the one with his head in her lap.

"What are you doing?" the cyborg questioned flatly.

"I have a question," the male countered. He didn't bat an eye at the strange position. Then again, Mel didn't expect him to.

"I am studying."

"So? It's important."

"That is unfortunate."

"Come on, Mel. It's been a bad day with Splinter unconscious, Nia gone, and Hugh being arrested. Humor me."

Melody sighed—a long, begrudging action that left her almost depleted. "Why not ask one of the others?"

"Because," Mikey started in a grumble, "I—it's something only you and Raph would understand. And all he'd do is tease and scold me. Least with you, I know I'll get an honest, serious answer."

"You…want my advice?" Damn; the words weren't a growl like she wanted. The mutant was encroaching on her personal space and dwindling what little study time she could spare. Meaning she should kick him out. Yet something about his wide blue eyes left her paralyzed. That is, until he chuckled.

"Don's right; you make the cutest expressions when caught off guard."

Well, that killed the enchantment, so Melody wasted no time shoving the Chūnin away. He lost his precarious balance, rolled, then landed face-first on the concrete floor of her and Donatello's bedroom. He groaned, though the agony wasn't a concern.

"What do you want?" she asked, stern while ignoring the above-average heat in her face.

Mikey pushed himself up and rubbed his round nose tenderly. "Ow, I swear, you can be just as bad as Raph."

"Your point?"

"None, I guess." The mutant sniffled. "It's cool you can be relaxed with us now, don't you think?"

The cyborg was careful to keep any silly impulses at bay, like grinning. So, she returned Michelangelo's large smile with a huff then crossed her arms. "You have five minutes for an explanation."

A jump later, Mikey stood tall. "Just five?"

"Four minutes, fifty—"

"Okay! Okay! Sheesh, I don't need an internal cyborg countdown."

"Actually, I do not possess an internal clock."

"Really?" Quirking an eye ridge, the Chūnin leaned forward. "You're telling me, you can leap roof to roof and lift a Mac truck, but can't say what time it is?"

Melody sent him a simple blink. "Yes."

"…That seems like a waste."

"Michelangelo!"

"Alright, on it." Michelangelo took a seat beside Melody again, this time like a dejected child. The cyborg couldn't rationalize such a sudden twist in mood, but before she questioned it, the mutant continued without facing her. "You're used to keeping people at arm's length."

"I try," Mel retorted, unable to gauge the conversation's direction. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well"—Mikey inhaled—"I don't like doing that. E—even to outsiders. We can learn a lot from others. And maybe if we were more open, we'd fight a lot less."

"Or more often. Sometimes, the arm's length is a buffer, and ignoring it is what causes problems."

"Maybe. But I'm smart enough to know where the buffer's needed and not."

"Are you?"

Michelangelo chuckled at Melody's mild smirk, wringing his three-fingered hands. "I have a friend—someone I really, really like."

"Starberry Girl?" Really, the name felt strange on Mel's lips; it was ridiculous.

Yet the Chūnin smiled as if entranced by it. "Y—yeah. She's really amazing, and fun, and brave, and…no matter what I do, I can't get her to open up—not in the way I want."

"Sounds like a lot of work."

"Melody." Blue eyes flashed like hot lightening beneath an orange mask, pointed as they met the cyborg's cool gaze. "I gotta know: what changed your mind about Donny? What made you finally believe he was someone worth trusting?"

My, what a question. Dare she share it? 'Do I even remember? It's been years since that time…'

"Uh, Mel?"

Melody inhaled then blinked for focus. "I do not recall when I realized," she answered smoothly. His stern expression fell in the seconds it took her hand to find her marriage bracelet, yet she added over his groan, "Right now, it feels as if I have always trusted him, though I know I did not. No matter how hard I pushed, he was always there with an open hand. It was annoying at first. Seemed like he was stalking me."

"Which he kind'a was."

The cyborg didn't fight her smirk, just an urge to chuckle. "Everyone else in my life had given up on me. Hell, my parent or parents before Gray left me in a dumpster, and every employer I knew wrongly accused me of theft."

"Wait"—Michelangelo's voice cracked—"y—your real parents threw you away? Like, literally?"

"Save the sympathy," Melody spat. "It was what it was, even if were related by blood. I don't care why they did it."

"Something tells me you do…"

The half-blonde shook her head, running robotic fingers through the chin-length hairs she no longer felt. "I had only myself to rely on. There's something comforting about being the only one who can let you down. But then that Damn Mechanic had to insist. He wouldn't give up, said things like 'There's good in you; I've seen it.' Thought he was insane."

"Between you and me, Don's a special kind of crazy," Mikey remarked with a sly grin. He bumped Mel's shoulder then sobered when his chuckle died. "So, him not giving up—that's what changed your mind?"

"Yes. I figured if he held on for three years, there was no stopping him. He stayed honest and did not flatter or suck up."

"Flattering isn't Don's style."

"I know…now. To think, he had nothing to gain from me, yet persisted on friendship. I still find it weird."

"He was himself," Mikey mused under his breath. Melody cocked her head when he knitted his thick eye ridges together, and watched carefully as a light ignited behind his gaze, brightening it like his sudden smile. "That's all. He was just…Don. Well, I can be honest too, and I know that's what Hoshi needs."

"Figured it out?"

"You bet! Next time I see her, I'm not holding anything back."

"Sounds dangerous." Melody's remark went either ignored or unheard. By the time she turned on the bench, Michelangelo had leaped from his seat then dashed for the bedroom door. He twisted its brass handle in haste, yet paused before exiting.

"Thanks for the answer," he said in a tone that overturned the female's stomach. She could barely nod under the genuine appreciation, let alone act nonchalant. He sensed as much too. "You're wrong, by the way. Everyone gains from knowing you, in ways you don't realize. You care as much as I do about others, just in a different way. That's inspiring. So don't sell yourself short; you're very tall, Sis."

What a weak joke. The orange-masked mutant laughed before leaving, although Melody found it far from funny—especially given the end address. She returned to her books once the door clicked shut, their text jumbled in her spinning mind as she fought for control over some strange feeling. The overwhelming nature was unnerving, jittery, and she pressed a metallic palm against her heated forehead like a brace.

It did little good; the moment her first tear plopped against the open page below her, others quickly followed. And she couldn't help but smile like an idiot.

Michelangelo never could handle the silent treatment. It made him antsy and persistent. Maybe that's why he kept glancing towards Starberry Girl on Columbus Park's monkey bars.

"You called me here, Figo," the green-haired heroine snapped.

"Finally, she talks," Mikey countered, flicking his cape's end.

"I'm not in the mood to play."

"Usually you are. Is this because of last night?"

Hoshi sighed then banged her boot's heel against the bars she balanced on. "Zebb struck a deal; the whole family's off to…God knows where. Why would I be bothered?"

"I never said Zebb was what bothered you, did I?" Quirking his lip, the hero rounded the parallel bars until he could see his companion's face. Well, most of it from below. "It's not Zebb, is it?"

"Yeah, so what if he laid my ass out? With my own weapon, at that? If Madam V were here, she'd have my hide for being caught off guard."

"Being off guard doesn't have to be a bad thing."

"Tell that to my tingling limbs."

"So you were beat. It happens. You're human, after all…aren't you?"

Hoshi snorted; not quite the reaction Mikey desired, but at least the tenseness in her crossed arms eased some. "I'm all human. Every last particle."

"So why would your maestro punish you for being such?"

"It's 'maestra'. And she wouldn't call it torture, per say. More like extensive training."

"Sounds terrible." The mutant flashed a sheepish smile under the heroine's pointed stare. "Do you feel like you've let your teacher down? Is that why you're acting like this?"

"Like what?"

"This!" Mikey's arms stretched forward as if referring to her, except she wasn't on ground level like him.

"If anything, you're the one acting weird, Figo," Hoshi countered with a stomp from her boot.

"I'm just trying to make sense of your attitude."

"It'll pass if you leave it alone. Come back in a few days. It'll be like nothing ever happened."

"There you go again, wanting things to be so-called 'normal'. What is normal to you anyhow?"

Starberry turned away with a scoff then glanced everywhere, save the mutant's frown. "Us tag-teaming," she said, soft. "Taking down thugs and investigating the EPF. It's been nice having someone with the same mission as me."

"Mission? So you think we've been spending time together for the sake of a mission?"

"Why else?" The heroine shrugged with an ease that punctured Mikey's optimism. "It makes sense. If people are on the same side, they should team up."

"Being a team is more than a mission. It's a brotherhood."

"Not the way Madam V taught me."

"Hoshi." Mikey collected himself by planting his boots on the asphalt and thumping the monkey bars for the human's attention. "We can't be a real duo without honesty. Wh—why didn't you tell me that you knew I was a mutant?"

"Why didn't you tell me your sister was Sarah Brown? It makes sense now, when I think about it. That whole term paper excuse was lame."

"Hey, you didn't suspect anything and—wait." Eye ridges furrowed, the mutant used the parallel bars to meet Starberry on the monkey bars. "How'd you know her name was Sarah?"

Hoshi backed away until she ran out of room. "Lucky guess?"

"No. You're the volunteer she's been talking about. You're Sonya Fisher!"

"Sort've?" the heroine muttered. She brushed a hand through her pale green ponytail, groaning as Mikey came another bar closer to her.

"This is crazy. You're the pizza delivery girl."

"What a joy it is to know what I'm referred to as in your circle, Figo."

"You were a small topic. I liked you, okay?"

"You"—Hoshi paused—"did?"

"Yeah. That hasn't changed. And don't think I've forgotten my question either. Since when did you know I was a mutant?"

Licking her lips, the heroine said, "Since we kissed."

"Really?"

"You think I wouldn't be able to tell that texture was real? The color I could excuse as paint, not that. Come on, Figo, give me some credit."

"And you said…nothing about it."

"You didn't want me to know. Wearing a mask means I shouldn't. So why go that extra mile?"

"Why? The question left Mikey's lips heavy and weighed on his body like a rock load. "Firstly, because it's common courtesy. Secondly, because…"

Hoshi shifted on the monkey bars. "Because?"

"Because you—you just should've told me, alright? Why does it bother you that I know you know?"

"You don't know anything."

"That's my point! Can't we change that?"

"Why do you want to change things so badly?"

"Maybe because I wanna be your friend, a real friend. Not two people on a mission."

"Bad things happen to my friends."

Mikey paused after venturing forward another monkey bar, so close he could almost touch the drear heroine. "You're scared I'll leave and you won't have my company anymore? Should I be flattered or—"

"Neither. Look—"Hoshi raised a glove to wave it—"people die or more on. It's life. So I've learned to enjoy the company I have and then do likewise."

"You can't say you haven't had one constant relationship. At least one."

"I've had a few; they didn't end well."

"Not all of them are like that."

"I know; I still have Mum."

"See?"

"That doesn't guarantee you'll be staying."

Though Starberry glanced away, Mikey could detect subtle color below her mask's rim and grinned. "You are worried I'll leave."

"I never said that, Figo," Hoshi said through clenched teeth.

"But it's what you meant."

The female turned around completely, so the only proof of her blush was a memory.

"I'm not a leaver, in case you want to know. Or a…dier?"

"That isn't a word. Not sure leaver is, either—not in that sense."

"Whatever. Point is, I'm still here, and I have plenty of long-term relationships."

"What kind?" It was cute how a tinge of jealousy sharpened her edge.

"Family, mostly. Actually, all family."

"No friends?"

"Cut the teasing. My friends turn into family. I'm not one to invest in dead ends."

"So why are you still here?" Hoshi shrugged one arm, like the thought wasn't a bother, but her tone had already betrayed her.

"I don't see you as a dead end, Starberry," Michelangelo said softly.

He risked reaching for her wrist. He captured it with no retaliation and turned the petite figure until she faced him again. Smiling, the mutant then pulled off his cowl, leaving nothing to obscure his sincere gaze when he peered into her mask.

"I want to know you," he started. "This past month has been one of the greatest in my life. And that's saying something, considering what's happening at home. With you, I feel a little lighter. I like that. But if you don't feel the same way, we should cut ties here."

"Thought you said you weren't a leaver," Hoshi countered in a whisper.

The mutant shook his head. "If you choose not to trust in me, that's your choice. That makes you the leaver."

"You must really like me, Figo."

"Does that mean you're staying?"

The human tried acting nonchalant. She failed. Her shrug looked more like a nervous tick and it unbalanced her, forcing Mikey to seize her arms. Instinct pulled her back a little too roughly, which made them both stumble for footing on the monkey bars—using each other as braces.

"I—I'm fine, Figo!" Starberry scolded. Still, she hesitated to release his biceps. "So, like, what do we do now? I'm not used to sharing and shit."

"We could start by exchanging names," the mutant added with a lopsided grin. "I'm Hamato, Michelangelo. Instead of Titan or Figo, you're free to call me Mikey."

"I like Figo better. It fits."

"What does it even mean?"

"Essentially? Cool guy."

"But in a mocking way."

"Depends on how I use it."

"Okay. Now what about you? Will you introduce yourself?"

Hoshi's budding smirk died, as if pained by the notion. She heaved a long sigh then reached for her black eye mask. She unbound it from her ears, slow in raising her face again, and Michelangelo was stunned by the eyes that met him.

They were rounder than he imagined, close-set for a doll-like feel. Their color wasn't cold or dark. The moon let him clearly see they were a medley of earthly greens with a ring of brown around the center. And they captured him, dangerously so.

'Oh, I can feel it. I'm going to say or do something stupid.'

"Your eyes are really blue."

"W—what?" Mikey blinked then drew back from Starberry. When had he gotten so close anyway?

"Nothing," the heroine retorted, her freckled cheeks stained red. "Anyways, this is my face. And it belongs to Sophia Moretti."

Mikey raised an eye ridge. "Thought you said you were Sonya."

"I said sort've. We can get into that later. For now…I really need to go lay down."

"Okay, I understand; this"—the mutant gestured towards his covered plastron—"is a lot to handle. You need time to recoup."

Hoshi snorted, planting a boot on the monkey bar's end as she placed her mask back on. "As if, Figo. You aren't that great."

"I'm great enough to get your name."

"Don't overdo it, or I might not meet you next time you call."

"Oh, you'll meet me," Mikey said, matching her impish grin. "We have too many fun adventures in store for us."

The young woman didn't reply, but she did laugh—not chuckle or snicker, but laugh. It was a relieving sound, comforting, and it roused a smile when the mutant watched Starberry Girl's slender form flip off the monkey bars.

A/N: Don't often mention it, but I enjoyed writing Mel's scene with Mikey. She's slowly integrating into the clan and doesn't know what to do with herself when others show acceptance. It's foreign for her. *smiles* Now, Hoshi? Heh. She's also making progress.

"Secrets" is next, which is much heavier than this chapter. First, we're tossed into Gavin's mind. (We all know how much we love that.) Then we jump to Raph, who has a talk with Tabi and Sven. Lastly, we're teased by Bishop...and see Hugh again. Review and enjoy! :D