punkish furball – Hello, all! It's been a while, huh? Thank you to all who took the time to favorite, follow, review, and comment! Please enjoy!

Chapter 2: Compulsory Bets

A shrill alarm blared without pause, breaking the stillness of early morning. Slash grumbled, scrunching up his face to keep from opening his eyes. It was far too early to be awake, and the cold air made him feel sluggish. Before the noise could continue, the tiny human silenced it as she stood and began milling about in the dim light. Just as he started to doze off again, Slash heard Kagome's voice coming from his left.

"Hey, Slash," she whispered. "Slash!"

He cracked open a single eye and rasped, annoyed, "What do ya, want, pipsqueak?"

"I'm leaving for a few hours and should be back some time this afternoon," she answered.

"So what? Want me to walk ya to the bus stop?"

"Just make sure you and Newtralizer don't take off while I'm gone. I have no way of finding you again if you do."

Slash waved her off and adjusted his position to get more comfortable. He wasn't sure what Newtralizer had planned, but he was staying put until the heat died down.

"Watch your back while you're out there," he warned. "The last thing we need is for you to get caught and blow our cover."

"Don't worry! I won't let my guard down," Kagome assured. "I'm pretty good at sensing danger."

Slash snorted without giving a reply. Kagome waited several seconds before she huffed. "Anyway, I'll see you later."

For a moment, there was the light caress of her fingers brushing against the hand resting in his lap. It happened so quickly Slash almost thought he imagined it.

"Get some rest. I'll be back as soon as I can!"

Slash listened as Kagome left the warehouse, her footfalls fading into silence. When he heard the door close, he rolled over and relaxed, intending to sleep much longer. There would be plenty of time to make a game plan when he woke up.

-O0o0O-

The sound of Newtralizer rummaging around their temporary hideout woke Slash for the second time that day. He rolled away from the wall and groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The whole space appeared completely different than it did the night before. It seemed much warmer illuminated by the mid-February sunlight filtering through the windows without the constant buzzing of the sterile fluorescent lighting. The testudine mutant stood and stretched before he approached Newtrailzer as he worked in the rear of the room. It looked like he was messing with a tangle of wires connected to equipment Slash couldn't immediately identify.

"Bout time," the alien muttered without looking up from his task.

Slash shrugged. "What I miss?"

"I ran scans of the outer perimeter, and, while the Kraang have come close, they haven't discovered us."

"Do you think it's safe for us to stay here?"

Newtralizer grunted. "It will do for the time being, but, if this is to be our stronghold, we'll have to make certain accommodations." He paused and returned his attention to his work.

"It appears this location was previously equipped with an extensive security system. The technology is primitive but usable. It can be refurbished with additional components."

"I know some places we can look for spare parts. We just need to wait until dark."

Donatello had several hot spots in the city he frequented to salvage discarded electronics, and he could go on and on for hours about his exceptional finds. Slash never thought learning the egghead's scavenging habits could be useful one day.

Newtralizer nodded, pleased with plan.

"And what of the human?" he asked.

"She went out before the sun was up," Slash explained as he tilted his head toward the entrance.

"My ears are burning! You better not be talking about me."

Kagome hummed as she stepped into the warehouse, balancing several plastic bags draped over both arms and her yellow backpack on her shoulders.

"I could use a little help, please!"

Slash approached and begrudgingly took her backpack leaving Kagome to carry the other bags on her own. She didn't complain and followed Slash to the spot were most of her belongings remained.

"Looks like you two are busy," Kagome remarked, glancing ahead at Newtralizer.

"Mostly him. He's trying to fix the building's security system," Slash explained. "We plan on scavenging for any missing parts tonight."

Kagome and Slash placed her bags on the floor before she grabbed her sleeping bag. Kagome unzipped it and laid it out on the floor as a large blanket. She took a seat and began to takeout containers from the bags, motioning for Slash to join her. His mouth watered at the smell of the food as he took a set across from the tiny human. He couldn't remember the last time he had a decent meal.

"So, we are staying here, huh? In that case, we'll need more than security to make this place habitable for all of us," Kagome said. "Lucky for us, it seems like the weather's warming up. We must have spent the worst of the winter with the Kraang." The tiny human snorted an amused laugh.

Slash didn't say anything, his mind blanking in confusion. Not only did Kagome plan on remaining in New York, she expected to actually stay with him and Newtralizer in this warehouse.

Kagome continued, "We can discuss more details while we eat."

The petite human stood and skipped over to the Newtralizer, startling the large alien.

"Hey, wanna take a break? I bought us some lunch," she announced, her tone cheerful.

"Leave me be, human," Newtralizer growled.

"Come on. You need to eat something."

Newtralizer continued to resist, towering over her with his shoulders squared. Kagome remained unfazed and stood firm. It took several, uninterrupted seconds before the large newt relented and stepped away from his work. Kagome grinned as she followed behind him. Newtralizer sat on Slash's right while Kagome plopped down in front of them. She began to divvy up the food—a vegetarian dish for Slash, mostly meat for Newtralizer, and a mix for her—and placed several bottles of water between the three of them.

"I hope you guys like it," Kagome said. "I wasn't sure what you guys would like, so I went with my best guess!"

Slash and Newtralizer began to eat, ravenously and devouring most of their meal with their hands. Kagome scrunched up her nose and ate at a much slower pace. When they were nearly finished, Kagome spoke again.

"So, what's our plan going forward? We're obviously staying here, so what do we need?"

Kagome waited for either Newtralizer or Slash to speak but was met with silence. She sighed as she placed her emptied container beside her.

"Look. I get it. I'm human. You're not. And, because I'm human, you don't trust me," she began. "All that aside, we each have a common enemy that we can't fight on our own. Teaming up against the Kraang is the best option for all of us, but you need to treat me like an equal member of this team not a burden. Answer my questions, and don't shut me out."

"Is that so, human?" Newtralizer asked with a snort. "Are you abandoning your own kind to remain on the run and hidden in the shadows? How do we know you won't betray us to leave this all behind for an easier life?"

"I already told you I will not leave until the Kraang are gone for good! You don't need to worry about me abandoning you," Kagome said with a grin. "This morning, I met with the board of directors for Léman Manhattan Prep, the school I was supposed to attend this term. Apparently, the representative they sent to pick me up at the airport assumed I was a no-show when he couldn't find me."

"What does that have to do with us?" Slash asked.

"My absence was never documented and reported to the program officials, my family, or even the local police. According to their paperwork, I arrived in the US as scheduled. I guess they decided news of a runaway international student before the semester started would be bad for their reputation. I convinced them having that same student show up when they failed to investigate her disappearance is much worse. Especially if it got leaked outside the school."

"And, with dirt like that, they gotta let you stay."

"That's right. It was a long shot, but it all worked out!"

"So, what now?"

"All the classes and campus housing are full for the spring, so I had to make certain arrangements to remain on the roster. All I need to do is take assessment exams at the end of the semester to be placed in classes for the fall in exchange for keeping my mouth shut. Now I can stay here without risking my visa and having to balance schoolwork on top of everything else."

"You really thought this through," Slash remarked, glancing at Newtralizer who hasn't said a word.

Kagome nodded. "I also called my family to let them know I'm safe but can't contact them for now."

"They don't want you to go home?" Slash asked, incredulous. He couldn't help but sympathize with her. He was also cut off from the only family he'd ever known but for very different reasons.

"No, but I convinced them that I need to handle the situation here before I even considered it going back. I might be paranoid, but the Kraang had access to all my information while I was captive. I won't put it past them to use whatever they can to find me especially my family," she answered with a dejected sigh. "It's best that I cut contact for now. We can't be too careful."

Slash silently agreed. The alien race had no honor and would do everything in their power to get their way, even involving the innocent.

"My mom also sent me some money for the next couple months. We can use that to buy some supplies, and I can probably get a part-time job during the day to supplement it."

Newtralizer hummed, carefully evaluating everything he just heard. This girl was proving increasingly more useful. He never considered the need for human comforts or currency while pursing the Kraang. The idea had its merits. Not all materials could be salvaged, and excessive theft would draw unnecessary attention. Plus, this planet's food was decent if not a bit overcooked for his tastes.

"Very well," he finally said. "What supplies do you deem necessary?"

Kagome visibly relaxed, the hard lines fading from her face. Newtralizer was difficult to read, but it was abundantly clear he did not want her staying with the two nonhumans. Slash didn't like her either, but he was more tolerant of her presence. Their opinions won't change overnight, but she was hopeful they could make the arrangement work.

"Food and medical supplies would be a good start then we can get any parts or wiring you can't salvage to fix the security system you're working on. From there, we can pick up anything else we need along the way. This place is going to be both our base of operations and our home for as long as we need it. It might as well be comfortable."

Slash nodded. The girl made good sense.

"Alright. Make us a list, and we'll lookout for anything we can salvage when we go out tonight."

"And I will get them in working condition," Newtralizer added, surprising both of his companions.

"Great!" Kagome explained. She abruptly stood and began gathering the trash in one of the discarded bags. "If you don't need me, I'm going to start cleaning up."

Slash snorted a laugh as he watched Kagome walk to the other end of the warehouse picking up rubbish as she went. Kagome genuinely did not care that he and Newtralizer weren't human, that they outclassed her in brute strength and size. He'd almost say she treated them like her equals.

"That girl is something else," he remarked.

"Indeed. All that fire seems wasted on a human," Newtralizer stated.

Without warning, Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs, falling flat on her bottom as Slash and Newtralizer jumped to their feet. They rushed to her side ready to attack.

"What's wrong?" Slash asked as he stood over her trembling form with her hands fearfully clasped over her mouth.

Kagome pointed straight ahead and shrieked, "It's a rat!"

Slash relaxed, unsure if he should be amused or annoyed. How could someone who stood up to two mutants be frightened of a creature so much smaller than she was? When rodent peeked its furry head from the debris, Kagome scooted backward on the floor until she collided with Slash's legs.

"Relax," he said. "This is New York, kid. Get used to them."

"Just get rid of it!" she pleaded.

Newtralizer smirked and stepped closer to grab the creature by the tail. Kagome stood and fled behind Slash's shell, averting her eyes as Newtralizer dangled the flailing rat above his open maw. Slash cringed when he dropped the rat into his mouth and swallowed it whole.

"Cease your wailing," he said, pausing to slurp the tail into his mouth. "The pest is gone."

"Disgusting!" Kagome cried, and Slash couldn't help but agree.

"Do call when you find another," Newtralizer said as he sauntered away. "I'm quite voracious."

"I'll keep that in mind," Kagome muttered as she stepped away from Slash, still queasy. "He didn't have to kill the poor thing! Traps are definitely going on the list."

"How bout I give you a hand?" Slash suggested before Kagome returned to her work.

"Really?"

"I'm not much for working with tech, so I'll help you with the heavy lifting," he said with a quick shrug. "Or you can work with Newtralizer if you want while I take care of this." It would be tedious work, but it would certainly pass the time.

"Pfft! No way! I'm not good with that stuff either. Besides, I doubt he'd actually trust me do anything."

For several hours, Kagome and Slash explored the warehouse while Newtralizer worked on the security system. There weren't many rooms only a small office with a wide window overlooking the emptied space, the former control room with stacks of dusty plugs and wires, a janitor's closet, and a restroom with three stalls. Kagome eagerly stepped inside and turned on the taps, grimacing at the murky water it produced.

As they moved throughout the space, Kagome gathered more trash while Slash carried off the larger debris to a row of dumpsters outside. Anything that could be used, such as tools, shelving, wiring, tables, and chairs, was placed in the center of the room. Any vermin they found were safely pushed out of the back door at Kagome's insistence. She may not have liked them, but she didn't want another rodent to end up being one of Newtralizer's snacks.

"Looks like we have access to running water…sorta," Kagome remarked. "Definitely adding a water filter to the list."

"I saw a hose out back by the dumpsters."

Kagome nodded, sighing. "It'll have to do until we get the bathroom up and running. I'm gonna get started on the list then run by the store to pick up some more stuff. Need me to pick up anything for you?"

"I'm good," Slash said, rolling his neck as he walked away from the human girl. "I'll leave you to it then."

-O0o0O-

By the time night fell, Kagome was already gone leaving her list behind with Slash. Newtralizer scoffed and pressed the piece of paper into Slash's chest, telling him system components took priority over whatever the little human wanted. They arrived at the abandoned lot and pillaged whatever Newtralizer demeaned useful. When they returned to the base, their arms were ladened with their pilfered goods.

"That was an exceptional location, brother," Newtralizer remarked. "The security system should be operational by morning and will suffice until I can get more advanced technology."

"Sounds good." Slash paused, looking ahead. "I wonder what the kid got up to while we were gone."

"Nothing of merit, I'm sure."

Newtralizer pushed open the door with his foot—Slash made a mental note to tell Kagome to keep the door locked when she was alone—and ducked down to step inside. He paused, cautiously sniffing the air. Slash stepped inside behind him, surprised at the state of the warehouse floor and its singular occupant. Kagome looked up at the sound of their arrival, wiping her forehead as she placed her broom against the closest wall.

"Welcome back!" Kagome called out. "Find everything okay?"

"Yeah," Slash uttered, "I see you've been busy."

All the trash was cleared out and the floors were cleaned excluding a few stubborn marks staining the concrete. The items Kagome and Slash found earlier that day were arranged against the far-right wall and out of the way. Kagome left sleeping bag remained on the floor with other blankets creating a cozy little nook with the addition of a medium-sized cooler and two space heaters creating a pleasant warmth as Slash and Newtralizer grew closer.

"It's not much, but it's a lot warmer than before," she remarked. "I was absolutely freezing last night! It'll probably be more bearable if we sleep closer together."

She didn't wait for them to answer and opened the cooler, pulling out a container of sandwiches and bottled water.

"I made these before I started cleaning," she explained. "I already ate so have as many as you want."

Kagome left the two mutants to eat as she went back to sweeping and scrubbing. The smell of chemicals made Slash's nostrils burn. He ignored it and began to eat seated on top of Kagome's sleeping bag. Beside him, Newtralizer grabbed fistfuls bread and meat and scarfed them down as he walked back to his work area, barking at Slash to bring him the scrap they acquired once he finished. The mutant tortoise rolled his eyes and focused his attention on his meal. Again, Kagome provided him a vegetarian option, neatly arranged sandwiches of microgreens, spinach, and tomatoes. Before he noticed, he already ate four.

"I'm glad you like them," Kagome remarked, catching Slash off guard. "I wasn't sure what turtles ate, let alone a mutant one. I figured sticking with veggies would be best."

Slash nodded once. That was all he ate before and after his mutation. He never developed a taste for pizza like the others.

"Thanks. They're good."

The silence that settled between them seemed awkward and heavy to him, but Kagome was unbothered.

"Do you—umm, need anything?" Slash asked, unsure of what else to say.

She shook her head. "I'm almost done. You should probably help Newtralizer before he gets too impatient."

"Right."

Slash stood and stretched, preparing himself to aid the boorish alien. He almost wanted to stay with Kagome to avoid his demanding demeanor. It reminded him of Leonardo mixed with Donnie's tech savvy. Slash paused to look back at the tiny human who began to hum, her voice squeaking when she tried to hit a higher note.

Almost.

-O0oO-

punkish furball – That's a wrap! Meant to get this out earlier, but life be lifin'. I'll try to update sooner. Until next time, TCB! X3

(edited 8.21.23)