Hello everybody!

It's definitely been a while since I've updated this fic, but I'm glad to finally be able to do so! Thanks to my friend, I was able to finish writing this chapter, so I hope you all find it worth the wait, especially after how the last chapter ended.

As you can probably tell by the title, we're about to meet a very special character this chapter, so I hope you all enjoy!

Chat With the Rat

Roberto POV:

I was cleaning the restaurant after it had closed, scrubbing down the last of the tables. It was a quiet night, and I was anxious to be done with work so I could go to bed.

BRRING!

The light trill of the front door opening made me look up from my work. A large figure in a trench coat and wide-brimmed hat stood there. I couldn't see his face.

"I'm sorry, sir," I said, wondering who had forgotten to lock the door. "We're closed for the night."

"But Ah didn't get my food," the stranger drawled, slowly walking towards me.

I sighed, tired and wanting nothing more than to get some sleep. "Sir, I don't work in the kitchen. You can come back tomorrow morning and-"

"Ah'm headin' back ta Florida tomorrow." The man was now towering over me, but I still couldn't see his face for some reason. "Ah'm just lookin' for a snack for the road."

"Well, I'm not good at cooking," I said, wondering who this guy was. "So I don't... think I... can help..."

I happened to look down at the stranger's feet, noticing that he wasn't wearing any shoes. His feet were large, scaly, and green, and now I could see a large tail behind him. How come I hadn't noticed it before?

I slowly looked back up, suddenly finding it hard to breathe. The rag I had been cleaning tables with slipped from my hand, landing on the floor with a splat. For some reason, the floor was now covered with a few inches of sewer water.

"Dem Turtles can't save ya now, Errand Boy," the mutant said, tilting his hat up to reveal yellow, reptilian eyes. "Dem other mutants can't neither! But since I's feelin' generous, I'll leave a finger for 'em to find!"

Leatherhead mouth opened, teeth flashing, and-

[]

I woke up in a cold sweat, gasping for breath.

I could still feel Leatherhead's claws digging into my face, and it took me a few seconds to realize I was in my bedroom, my older brother snoring from his side of the room. My clock said it was around three in the morning. My hands shaking, I covered my eyes, taking a few more shuddering breaths.

It had been three weeks since Leatherhead had kidnapped me, and I hadn't talked to Rocksteady, Bebop, or the Turtles since. After nearly being killed, I wanted a break from mutants and all the chaos that came with them, so I let my friends know that I needed some space to myself for a while. They had been sad, but understood where I was coming from. All but Bebop, who had left the sewers before everyone else. Rocksteady said he would pass on the message.

The ride back to April's for medicine and then to my neighborhood was a blur. Upon arriving home, I was surprised to find my block buzzing with cops. It turns out that the Purple Dragons planned a coordinated attack on several businesses, starting a couple of fires and attacking some locals. Our restaurant was thankfully spared, but in all the chaos, my family had forgotten all about me (which was both a relief and a concern), meaning I was able to slip back inside without anyone noticing I had been missing.

Since that night, I had been doing my best to live my life as normally as possible. School had started a couple weeks ago, and I already hated it. I had never been the brightest student, and while I was glad to be out of the restaurant, spending most of my time in class was anything but fun. And outside of class, I was back to being a delivery boy for my family's restaurant.

But it wasn't easy. Every time someone came up behind me, I couldn't help but flinch and whirl around, expecting to find Leatherhead standing there. When making deliveries, I kept a wide berth of any alleyways, and I went back to carrying some pepper spray for protection. Any flicker in the shadows made my anxiety jump, and, of course, I was having nightmares every other night. Ever since that night, I felt like there was this uncomfortable feeling in my chest that only seemed to grow heavier each day.

As my eyes adjusted to the dark of my room, I grabbed my phone from my bedside table, checking my messages. I then grabbed my Shell Cell from my hiding spot under my headboard and checked that too. Realizing what I was doing, I switched the screen off, sighing a little.

While I had told my friends that I needed some space, I still found myself checking for messages from them. It was strange; I didn't want to deal with any more mutant craziness, but I still wanted to talk to my mutant friends. I had no one at home or at school to talk to, particularly about what had happened with Leatherhead. Part of me was even hoping for a text asking if I was going okay, but I had gotten nothing.

It's not gonna happen, I thought, picking up my Shell Cell again and checking my empty inbox. I'll have to reach out to them first, I bet. Just click on a name and give them a call.

BEEP!

I don't know how it happened, but my thumb seemed to move on its own, pressing Mikey's name on the screen. Before I could even react, the screen changed.

"Hello? Roberto?"

I quickly sat up, looking over at my brother. He hadn't stirred, but I didn't want to risk waking him. I got out of bed, going over to the window and opening it as quietly as I could.

"Hello?" Mikey asked. "Roberto? You there, dude?"

"SHH!" I whispered, finally climbing out onto the fire escape, looking back at my brother. He was still sleeping. I lifted the Shell Cell to my ear, climbing up to the next level of the fire escape.

"Roberto?" the mutant asked. "Are you okay?"

"Sorry, man," I said, still keeping my voice low. "I called you by mistake."

"Oh... Okay." A pause, then- "It's pretty late, though. What're you doing up?"

"I, uh, couldn't sleep," I replied, yawning a little. "Sorry to bother you."

"No problem, dude," Mikey replied. "I'm just on patrol with Raph, and believe me, I'd rather talk to ANYONE else than him!" There was the sound of a smack, followed by, "OW!"

I couldn't help but snicker. "Understandable! Anyway, sorry for calling you. I'll just go and-"

"Wait," the mutant turtle said, his tone becoming more serious. "Are... you doing okay, dude? I mean... after the whole thing with Leatherhead-"

"I'm fine," I said quickly, surprised at how easily the lie slipped out. "I... I'm doing okay."

Mikey didn't reply right away, which seemed uncharacteristic of him. After a while, I considered hanging up, but then he spoke again.

"Roberto... are you sure you're doing okay?" he asked. "If you ever wanna talk or anything... my bros and I are here for you."

"Why would I wanna talk about it?" I asked, starting to grow angry. "I said I'm fine!"

"I hear you, I hear you." Another pause, and then- "But... if you DID wanna talk, but not to us... would you maybe wanna talk to Master Splinter?"

I blinked with surprise. "Your dad?"

"Mikey, what're ya doin'?" Raph's voice was speaking in the background.

"Give me a sec, bro," Mikey replied. "Yeah, Roberto. I mean, whenever any of us need help with something, we always go to him for a talk. He's a really good listener, and he's got great advice. Plus, he makes the BEST chai tea!"

"I..." I looked out at the city, not believing what I was hearing. Already, I was being drawn back into some mutant craziness. Talking to the mutant rat dad of four teenaged mutant turtles? Not exactly normal. But at the same time, the thought of talking to someone, ANYONE, looked pretty good to me. Though for some reason, I still hesitated.

"I dunno," I said. "I mean... How would we even talk? I'm supposed to work in the evenings. And on weekends, I'm either working or with my family."

"Hmm... That's gonna be tricky," the mutant turtle agreed. "Wait. Weren't you saying a month ago that you were going to have a free period at school this year?"

"Yeah. It's-" I realized what he was getting at. "You want me to talk to Splinter during my free period? How will that even work?"

"We just need a good spot to meet; our lair's too far away from your school for us to get you there and then back to your family's place in time for your shift. But Donnie oughta be able to find someplace with his special GPS-whatever app. Wait, what's it called, Raph?"

"Heck if I know," his brother replied. "Do I look like Donnie? Ask him yourself!"

"Why don't you? I'm busy talking to Roberto!"

"It's your idea!"

As the two turtles started to argue, I debated whether or not I should talk to Master Splinter. Even though I was feeling miserable, was it a good idea to talk to a stranger about it, and a mutant to boot? I mean, if I wanted to talk to someone older and wiser, I could always talk to Abue. But if I were to tell her that I'd been lying for months to hang out with mutants, two of which were former criminals, it might give her a heart attack. I didn't want to make her condition worse.

Why am I scared to talk about my feelings, I thought. I mean, sure, I've never talked about my feelings with anyone besides Abue and Mom, when she was alive. But I've gotta talk to SOMEONE about this; I feel like I'm gonna explode if I don't!

"Guys?" I said, trying to get the Turtles' attention. "Guys?"

"Huh?" Mikey came back on the line. "What's up, Roberto?"

"I..." I swallowed a lump in my throat. "Do you... Do you think your da- Master Splinter... would... wanna talk to me?"

"Of COURSE he will," the turtle said happily, and I had to slap a hand over the Shell Cell for fear that his loud voice would carry. "I'll ask him when we get back from patrol! I'll text you later, and we can set up a time for you two to talk!"

"O-Okay," I replied. "Uh... Thanks, I guess."

"Nothing to it!"

"Can ya hang up already?" Raph hissed. "Donnie says he and Leo spotted some guys robbin' a convenience store."

"Right," Mikey replied. "Talk to you later, Roberto! Get some sleep!"

And he hung up.

"... Okay," I muttered to myself, pocketing the green communicator and taking a deep breath. "That just happened."

But as I made my way back to bed, I noticed that my chest didn't feel as heavy anymore. As if a weight had been lifted off of it. Sure, I still had my worries and doubts and fears, but somehow, I didn't feel so miserable anymore.

Maybe because I knew that I wouldn't be going through this alone for much longer.

[]

The following Tuesday, I sat in my fifth period History class, watching the clock hands slowly tick towards 1:05 PM. Each class period was 50 minutes long, and with five minutes between each period, I would have one hour of free time until my seventh period History class began.

Calm down, I told myself, noticing that my foot was bouncing a little. It'll be fine... You're just gonna talk to a mutant rat about your near-death experience.

The bell rang, and I was one of the first people out the door, dropping off my backpack in my locker before heading down the hallway towards the front exit. Most of the students who left during free period made their way to a nearby bodega to get some snacks, but I made my way up the street, heading away from the school.

After walking a couple blocks away, I stopped in front of an abandoned corner store. It used to be a thrift store or something, but now the windows were boarded up, with various graffiti decorating the outside. I made my way around the corner towards the back of the store, stopping just outside the back alleyway. There, I stopped and took out my Shell Cell, sending Mikey a text. Ten seconds later, he appeared out of the shadows, nearly making me jump out of my skin.

"Glad you found the place," the turtle said, leading me down the alleyway. "We gotta climb up the back fire escape; there's an open window we can go through."

I followed the mutant teenager up the fire escape and into the building, which was dark and covered in a fine layer of dusk, save for one spot of light at the far end of the room. Mikey led me towards it, and as I got closer, I got my first look at my friend's dad.

Even though I knew that Master Splinter was a giant rat, it was still shocking, seeing him for the first time. New York City was crawling with vermin, and in my family, the only good rat was a dead rat. So seeing a human-sized one in maroon robes filled me with a strange sense of revulsion, but I tried not to show it.

Splinter was slightly shorter that Mikey, and his whiskers were gray at the ends. His fur was light brown, and the scruff under his chin made me think he had the beginnings of a beard. A wooden walking stick sat across his lap, and he had a thermos and two cups sitting in front of him. He was standing on a swept area of the floor, on which a battery-powered lamp, a pair of cushions, a thermos, and two cups sat.

"Master Splinter," Mikey said, bowing to the rat. "This is-"

"Roberto," the rat said. He smiled, holding out a hand for me to shake. "It is nice to finally meet you. Michelangelo and his brothers have told me much about you, and what you have done for Bebop and Rocksteady."

I realized what it was about his voice that stuck out to me. He had the same wise, 'heard-it-all-before' tone of voice that my Abue used whenever we talked. It was a tone that I found calming, and I had the feeling that I could trust him.

"Nice to meet you," I said, smiling a little as I shook his hand after a moment of hesitation. He had a surprisingly strong grip for someone his age. I looked down at my feet. "Thank... Thanks for talking to me, Master Splinter. I hope I'm not wasting your time or anything..."

"Nonsense," the older mutant replied. "I am happy to help a good friend of my sons, and it has been a while since I have last been topside, so I am thankful for the opportunity to do so. And you may call me 'Splinter.'"

I nodded. "G-Got it."

Splinter sat down on one of the cushions, motioning for me to sit on the other. I awkwardly sat down, crossing my legs like the mutant was. I saw his long tail trailing behind him, and I shuddered a little.

"You may leave us, Michelangelo," the mutant rat said.

"Yes, Master Splinter," Mikey replied, bowing once more to his dad. He gave me a reassuring nod, and then quickly made his way outside, going through the window we came in.

"Would you care for some tea?" Master Splinter asked, grabbing the thermos and opening it. "I have often found that black tea can be an especially good pairing with conversation."

"Sure," I said, watching as the mutant poured the tea into the two cups, accepting the one he handed me. "Thanks."

I took a small sip of the tea, the malty, rich taste warming me up. I had never tried tea before, but I think I might become a fan after today. The mutant rat also drank his tea, closing his eyes and savoring the taste for a few moments.

"I made this tea myself," Master Splinter said, sniffing his drink and smiling a little. "One of my hobbies, you see. Now, I know you have limited free time before having to return to school, so..."

Here it comes, I thought, regretting saying yes to this talk. My nerves were starting to return, and sitting in a large, mostly-darkened room with lots of shadows wasn't helping. I knew Leatherhead wasn't even in the state, but I couldn't help but expect the mutant to jump out and attack me. And having to talk about that night again was going to be difficult too.

"Let's get right to it, then," the rat continued. "How is your schooling going?"

"I-" I blinked at the old mutant, not expecting him to ask that question. "You... You're asking me about school?"

"Yes," Splinter replied, taking another sip of his tea. "You are a Sophomore, correct? My sons mentioned that you had started a few weeks ago. Are you enjoying your classes?"

I gaped at him for a few moments, wondering why he wanted to talk about school. I thought we were going to talk about Leatherhead kidnapping me. But since school was easier to talk about than nearly getting killed, I was glad to go along with it.

"It's... It's okay," I replied, taking another sip of tea. "I don't really like school that much, but a lot kids think like that too." I sighed. "At least it's better than working at the restaurant all day."

"Ah, yes," the mutant rat said. "My sons mentioned that your family owns and runs a restaurant specializing in Puerto Rican food. They've told me it is quite good."

"Yeah, they really seem to like it. Mikey especially."

"It's pretty great," Mikey called out from outside the window, making me jump.

"MICHAELANGEO!" Master Splinter snapped in a loud voice, a hard expression on his face. The sudden switch to stern and angry made me flinch, and I heard Mikey yelp.

"Sorry, Master Splinter," the mutant turtle called out. "I won't listen in, I promise!" There was a scuffling noise from the fire escape outside, and then silence.

The aged rat sighed, his expression softening.

"Forgive me," he said. "Michelangelo has always been... eager to help. He means well, but I asked him to not listen in on our conversation, as I wanted you to feel comfortable talking about anything you wished to get off your chest."

"Uh... Th-Thanks," I said, still a little taken aback by his sudden shout.

"My sons have all expressed their concerns for your wellbeing," the mutant rat continued, taking another sip of tea. "Even with their training and history fighting various foes, they are not immune to the physical and mental toll that being in a life-or-death situation can press on an individual. I had my suspicions that, if you hadn't reached out a few nights ago, they would've broken their promise and come to check in on you."

I nodded, taking in this information. It was a strange feeling, hearing that other people had been worried about me. I wasn't used to anyone in my family besides Abue caring about me, unless I was doing something wrong. It was part of the reason why I never went to them with my problems; they probably wouldn't care anyway, and Abue couldn't help me from her bed. But hearing that these mutant turtles I had only known for a few months were worried about me... I couldn't describe how that made me feel. I felt better, for sure, but I still felt like I was carrying a weight in my chest.

"Yeah... Well, I've been doing okay since then," I lied, looking down as I drank more of my tea. "And I didn't mean to call Mikey that night; it was an accident."

I kept my eyes down, unable to look at Master Splinter. I had the strange feeling that, if I looked him in the eye, he would call me out for lying. I don't know why I still felt some apprehension about talking about how rotten I'd been feeling these past few weeks, after going through all the trouble of meeting Splinter and Mikey during my free period. The weight in my chest seemed to grow heavier, and my hand trembled a little.

"You are having nightmares, aren't you?"

The cup nearly slipped from my hands, but I managed to keep a hold on it. My eyes darted up to the rat's, and I found that I couldn't look away. His face was so full of understanding and kindness, one that made me think of 'fatherly affection.' It was in that moment that I realized why the Turtles always spoke so highly of Master Splinter; he seemed genuine, caring, and willing to listen. Everything my own dad wasn't.

And for some reason, that made me angry.

"No," I snapped, taking another sip of tea so I had an excuse to look away. "Why would you think that?"

"I didn't mean to upset you," the aged mutant said. "I was only-"

"And who says I'm upset, anyway," I interjected, setting my cup down with some force. "I'm doing fine! I'm FINE! Besides, it's not like I died or anything! The worst that happened was that I nearly drowned and got my face clawed by a mutant alligator that wanted to..."

I swallowed a lump that suddenly formed in my throat, the scars on my face prickling uncomfortably.

"That... w-wanted to... wa-want-"

I went to grab my cup of tea so I could distract myself with a sip, but I ended up accidentally knocking it over. My hand was shaking as I went to pick it up, and my vision became blurry. I wiped at my eyes.

"S-Sorry," I muttered.

"It's alright," Master Splinter said, reaching out and picking up the cup. As he did so, his hand accidentally grazed mine, and I yanked it back with so much force that I fell onto my back. I quickly scrambled to my feet.

"DON'T TOUCH ME," I yelled at the mutant. "DON'T TOUCH ME, YOU-"

I wasn't even sure what I was yelling, and I could barely see a thing in front of me. But I knew that Leatherhead was there, lurking nearby, watching and waiting to strike. All I could feel was rage, just pure anger... but also fear. The pain in my chest became bigger, and heavier, and more suffocating, until finally, it popped.

I stopped yelling, and something warm trickled down my cheeks. I wiped at my eyes, but more tears came. My legs suddenly felt weak, but when I went to sit down, I landed on my knees instead. My vision became more blurry, and the anger I had felt for the past minute suddenly gave way to despair. I covered my face in face in my hands to keep myself from crying, but it didn't work.

As I sobbed, some part of me thought that I must be a pathetic sight. This was the second time in a month that I had broken down, crying uncontrollably. I know for sure that if my dad were here, he'd probably snap at me to leave the room and get a hold of myself. And I now wondered how Master Splinter would react; given how he yelled at his own kid for interrupting our conversation, I could only imagine how harshly he'd react to getting screamed at by a guest, especially someone he had just met.

Eventually, I started to calm down, my crying dialing back to sniffling as I wiped my eyes and nose. I took a few shaky breaths, looking down at the floor. I couldn't even look at the mutant rat, my cheeks not just red from crying, but also from embarrassment. I had to get out of there.

"I'm s-sorry," I muttered, still sniffling as I looked around for my backpack. "I sh-shouldn't have come. I'll just head back t-to school and-"

"You don't need to leave now, Roberto," Splinter said gently.

I finally looked at him and I saw that he wasn't angry or upset by my outburst, but instead had the same kind and understanding look in his eyes.

"From what just happened," he continued, "I can tell that this is the first time you have voiced to anyone what had happened to you. Am I correct?"

"Uh... y-yes," I stammered, wiping more tears from my face. I was embarrassed over what had just happened, but I was relieved that Splinter wasn't mad at me.

"Then you have taken the first step towards healing," he told me with a gentle smile. "And the first step is always the hardest."

I paused for a few moments, mulling over the rat's words. I wasn't angry anymore... just confused.

"So... what's next," I asked, genuinely curious to know.

"You do what we have been doing," Master Splinter said, picking up my cup and filling it with fresh tea before offering it to me. "You talk with someone about what you've been going through, and from there, you heal. It's not fast and it's often not easy, but it's always the best way." He smiled. "The tea is optional, but I find that it helps."

I couldn't help but smile too, and I sat back down across from the old mutant, accepting the tea.

And then we talked.

I told him about everything I had experienced in the past few weeks: the nightmares, the fear when I was out on deliveries, the obliviousness of my family to what had happened. I also told him about my friendship with Bebop and Rocksteady, as well as the challenges that came with it. I even told him about my relationships with my various family members, namely with Abue, Arturo, and my dad.

Master Splinter was a good listener, sitting there patiently with a calm, kind expression on his face. He didn't interrupt me or cut me off, and even asked the occasional clarifying question. I had no idea how long I was talking, but I finally took a breath, feeling like I had just given a long speech for my English class.

"Thank you for telling me all of this, Roberto," Splinter said, nodding at me. "I understand that some of this has no doubt been difficult to say." He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face as he took another sip of tea. "If I may give you some of my thoughts?"

"Sure," I replied, drinking some tea as well, which really soothed my dry throat.

"What you went through was clearly a traumatic experience," the mutant rat began. "It is something many people have been through, including myself and my sons, and like you, we have all struggled with the after-effects of those experiences. What I think was the best thing for you to have done was reach out to Michelangelo, and speak with me. If you keep these negative thoughts and fears to yourself, they will eat you from the inside, and you will only end up in a worse place. Plus, it is always good to have a support group of friends and family by your side, to help you through any difficult situations and troubling times."

I nodded, taking in Master Splinter's words. Besides being a good listener, he was a good talker too, explaining everything in a way that was clear and easy to understand. I was once again reminded of Abue, and given that the rat was also on the older side, I wondered if the two of them would be good friends, were they to somehow meet.

"Before I say this next thing, please know that I do not mean to make you feel bad or accuse you of anything," Splinter continued. "I wonder... needing time to yourself away from your friends, as well as your reaction to Michelangelo's interruption during our talk; and most significantly, your reaction when I reached out towards you while you spoke of what Leatherhead did. I don't know if this is an accurate statement, but I have a feeling that you might have developed an... aversion, towards mutants."

"An aversion?" I asked, frowning a little. "Like... I now hate mutants or something?"

"Not hate," the rat explained. "Think of it like a child that dislikes vegetables. He will do whatever it takes to avoid eating vegetables. You don't hate mutants, but because of what you went through, you have started to associate mutants with something bad. Which explains why you put some distance between yourself and your friends; you wanted to go back to a part of your life you found familiar and safe, and the reason you were initially nervous about our talk is because it is the first time since that night you've been around mutants."

I blinked with surprise, but thinking it over, it made a lot of sense. An evil mutant nearly kills me, and I then distance myself from my mutant friends. And all those times today Mikey had popped out of nowhere, how I had jumped with fear. Not to mention the bit with Splinter's hand (which I was still a bit embarrassed about). And, of course, Rocksteady and Bebop...

"I... I've barely thought about them," I said out loud. "Rocksteady and Bebop, I mean." I looked down at my lap. "That night was their first day of work, and Bebop said they left to rescue me... They probably got fired because of me, and I never even thanked them for saving my life."

"I am sure they understand," Splinter replied. "And the fact that they chose to leave work to rescue you only shows the deep bond you three have as friends, and how much of an impact you've made in their lives."

I looked up at the mutant rat, who smiled at me.

"And they still have the job," he added. "According to my sons, they've taken their job as bouncers seriously, and a lot of customers are fans of their 'costumes.'"

"They still have the job?" I asked, surprised by the news. "They didn't get fired because of me?"

The old mutant shook his head. "No, they did not. Ms. O'Neil has been in contact with their employer, and according to her, they have been model employees."

Someone loudly cleared their throat, and I turned to find Mikey climbing through the window.

"Sorry, Master Splinter," the turtle teen said, bowing to the mutant rat. "You asked me to come in whenever it was time for Roberto to leave."

My mood instantly dropped, realizing that I had to go back to school, and later to work. I didn't want to leave now; I feel like I was just starting to feel better after everything that had happened, and I wanted to listen to more of what Master Splinter had to say.

"I could miss History," I spoke up, turning back to Splinter. "I mean, it's just a bunch of boring dates and stuff."

The rat shook his head, chuckling a little.

"No, your studies are still important," he said. "If my own sons were able to, they would be in school every day. You are fortunate to be able to go."

I sighed, knowing he was right. I got to me feet, grabbing my nearby backpack before holding out a hand to Splinter.

"Thanks," I told him. "Thanks for everything. I... I mean it."

"It was a pleasure to finally meet you," Master Splinter replied, smiling and shaking my hand, then giving me a small bow. "If you ever wish to talk again, just let my sons know; I would be happy to continue our conversation."

"Definitely," I agreed.

Saying goodbye to Splinter, I followed my friend out the window and down the fire escape, stopping in the alleyway.

"Hey, Mikey," I said as the turtle turned to leave. "I... I'm sorry for pushing you and the others away. And... thanks for suggesting I talk to your dad. It really helped."

A huge grin came over the mutant's face.

"That's really great, man," he said. "And don't sweat the whole 'pushing us away!' We understand you've been going through some things! We're your friends; we're here for you!" He checked his wristwatch. "Though you gotta get goin'; you'll be late for class!"

"Thanks," I said, fist-bumping the mutant teenager before making my way towards the street. "Talk to you later?"

"For sure, dude!"

I turned to leave, but stopped, realizing something.

"Hey, Mikey?"

"Yeah?" The turtle had already leaped up onto the fire escape, but he stopped to look at me.

"Could you and your brothers help me with something tonight?

[]

Bebop POV:

Before turning on the van, I sat in the driver's seat for a few moments, letting out a tired sigh.

"Are we goin' or what?" Rocksteady asked, yawning as he buckled his seatbelt.

"Yeah, yeah," I replied, lightly slapping my face a few times before turning on the van. I wasn't too tired to drive, but I was looking forward to crashing on the couch when we got home.

We had just finished another shift at the night club, and Rocky and I were beat. My head was still pounding with loud music, and my pants had a stain on them where some chick had accidentally spilled her drink. At least there weren't any fights or trouble; the worst was some tough guy trying to get drinks without paying, and Rocky had to escort him out.

Working at the night club had its ups and downs. By now, a lot of people knew about the bouncers in the weird animal suits, and while we still got some questions about how we use the restroom or requests for a selfie, most people just left us alone. We were the big, scary-looking guys who were there to keep the peace, and people knew not to mess with us unless they needed help.

Having a job after years of being a criminal wasn't easy by any means. After spending most of my life fighting to survive, beating up anyone that looked at me funny, and acing crazy, the change to straight-laced employee was jarring. I had to ignore the basic instinct to attack whenever someone bumped into me, and I bit my tongue whenever some drunk idiot asked if I had a house built out of straw or wood.

Putting it simple, I was constantly pissed.

I hated working. I never wanted a regular job in the first place, but only did it so some whiny kid would feel better about himself, and because he had roped my best friend into doing it. But Rocksteady and I hadn't seen Roberto in about a month, after that mutant gator attack, so I was starting to wonder why we were still bothering with this job.

We could've made twice what we've made already in one night, I thought, tapping a finger against the steering wheel. Just a quick break-in, kidnap the right hostage, maybe smuggle some stuff...

As the light turned green, I made up my mind to tell Rocky that we should quit the night club and go back to our old lives. Sure, Roberto and the Turtles would be mad once they found out, but the only friends we needed were each other. Besides, the Turtles had been our enemies before, so it wouldn't be hard to pick up where we'd left off.

"Rocky?" I said as I hit a button to open the garage door. "There's somethin' I gotta say."

"Can't it wait until tomorrow?" Rocky yawned as the door slid open. "I'm tir-"

His mouth dropped open with shock, his eyes going wide. Turning back around, I saw what had caught his attention, and my own mouth dropped open with shock.

The lights were on, revealing brightly-colored streamers that were strewn from the ceiling. There was also a large, handmade sign that read, "CONGRATS ON ONE MONTH AT THE JOB!" stretched across the garage opening, with balloons atatched to the corners. Beneath it was some folding tables covered in pizza boxes, wings, and soda bottles. On either side stood the Turtles, grinning at us.

"SURPRISE!" the four mutant teenagers yelled.

Without turning off the car, I unbuckled the seatbelt and stepped out of the van, with Rocksteady doing the same. Both of us stared at the scene with shock, not expecting anything like this after a long night at work.

"What's goin' on?" my friend asked, looking up a the sign. "It's... It's a surprise party? For us?"

"Sure is, big guy!" Orange said happily, walking over to the rhino mutant. "We figured you guys deserved a party after all the hard work you've been doing at the club!"

"So... ya broke into our place to do all this?" I asked, somewhat annoyed; I just wanted to get some sleep, but now I had these annoying brats to deal with.

"Nah, we didn't break in," Red spoke up. "We ain't crooks, after all."

"Raph," Blue snapped.

"I let them in," a new voice said, and a fifth figure stepped out of the shadows, looking nervously at Rocksteady and I.

It was Roberto.

The kid looked the same as he had the last time we'd seen him, save for the dark circles under his eyes. He had scars on his face where Leatherhead had grabbed him, and his eyes shifted nervously as he rocked back and forward on his feet.

"You guys gave me a key, remember?" the boy continued, taking a key to the side door out of his pocket. "I ordered all the food; the Turtles helped with the decorations." He looked down at his feet, looking embarrassed. "I... know it's been a while, but-"

"ROBERTO!" Rocksteady quickly walked forward and grabbed the teen in a bone-crushing hug, lifting him off his feet. "We ain't seen ya in forevah!"

"Y-Yeah," the teenager gasped, patting the mutant on the arm. "It's m-me... B-But you're gonna br-break my back if you don't-"

"Oh, sorry!" The mutant rhino dropped him, and the boy grabbed his chest, taking a few deep breaths. "My bad, Roberto. I just wasn't expectin' ya ta be here! I thought ya hated us!"

"I'm sorry for not coming sooner," Roberto replied, scratching the back of his head. "I was just... going through a lot of things after what happened with... with Leatherhead." His hands trembled a little. "But... I haven't been a good friend to you guys, so I figured I'd make it up to you with a party."

He turned to me. "I'm also sorry for getting mad at you guys for rescuing me; I shouldn't have done that, given that you guys were nearly killed that night... Thanks for saving my life. And I'm sorry for not coming by sooner, or checking up on you about your jobs. I hope you're liking it so far."

I don't know how I kept my face straight. It was like a bad movie where some crazy situation shows up to throw a wrench in the main character's plan. How were Rocky and I supposed to quit the club now with Roberto and the Turtles back in our lives? And given how happy Rocky had been to see his friend, it was clear that he wouldn't be too keen on upsetting him by turning back to a life of crime.

My hands clenched and unclenched. After a long night of work, I was tired, hungry, and the last thing I wanted to deal with were five teenagers insisting on having a pizza party. But it looked like, once again, I wouldn't get a say in what happened.

"Of course we forgive ya," Rocksteady said happily, clapping a hand on Roberto's shoulder, nearly knocking him to the floor. "And ya got us wings too?" He licked his lips. "Let's eat already; I'm starvin'!"

"We got your favorite soda," Roberto said, walking over to the table with the mutant rhino. "Turns out it's Raph's favorite too."

"'Big Red Crush?'" Rocky asked incredulously.

Red shrugged, a smirk on his face. "What can I say? Makes me feel like I wanna go break stuff."

"I feel the same way!"

"Mikey, don't take a whole pizza for yourself," Purple called after Orange, who was trying to take the topmost box off the pile.

As everyone else started to dig into the food, I went ahead and got back in the van, making to drive around to the back entrance since that table was in the way. Besides, I needed a break from all that talking before I punched a wall. But as I reached over to close Rocky's door, Blue appeared at the passenger's side.

"Hey, Bebop," the turtle teen said, giving me a strange look I couldn't understand. "I... I know you weren't expecting all of this right after your shift, and I'm sorry if we're bothering you. Roberto was just so excited about surprising you and Rocksteady that he-"

"It's fine," I snapped, surprised at how easy the lie slipped out. "Would've been better if this wasn't at two in the mornin', but it ain't like I'm tired or nuthin'."

Blue sighed a little. "I get that you're tired. If you wanna get some sleep, we can move the food up to the roof."

"Ya know I can't do that," I said irritably, jerking my head towards the others. Rocky and Roberto were sitting on one of the couches, talking animatedly with each other. "I'm supposed ta be a 'good guy' now, remember? Can't be the asshole that ruins everyone's good time, 'specially when it's my best friend."

"I know what you mean," Blue said.

I snorted. "Bullshit."

"You don't think it's hard for me, being the leader of my brothers? Having to be in charge all the time, making the tough decisions even when it's unpopular? We're all teenagers, but we don't get to have pizza parties every night; we have training, patrols, and bad guys to stop." The young mutant frowned at me. "You and I aren't so different; we're both leaders who want what's best for those we care about. And whether we like it or not, we always have to push our feelings aside so that others can be happy."

"Is this supposed ta cheer me up?" I asked.

The teenager shrugged. "That depends on you. Master Splinter always says that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink it." His expression softened. "But I know that it can be hard sometimes, having to deal with things you don't have the patience for. If you ever wanna talk about it, or want some advice or help... just let me know. I think it helps, knowing that you're not the only one going through something."

Smiling a little, Blue closed Rocksteady's door, heading back towards the others. I sat in the van watching as he put on a wide smile, taking some pizza as he talked with Purple. I was still tired and pissed, but less so. I had always thought Blue was the Golden Boy of the Turtles, always saying and doing what was right. But he was doing things he didn't want to do either, having to pretend that he wasn't annoyed with how things were going...

Is he tryin' to insult me? I thought, pulling the van around towards the back entrance to the warehouse. Show off how good he is at not losin' his temper, while I'm doin' everythin' I can to not kick those teens to the curb?

I realized how tightly I was gripping the steering wheel, and relaxed my hands. I looked at my reflection in the rearview mirror, sighing tiredly. This night wasn't going how I wanted it, but I think I was starting to accept that I'd probably never get my way again. Part of me felt like I was giving up on doing what I wanted, but at that point, I was too tired to try and fight back.

Plus, those wings did look good. And free food was free food, especially since it wasn't two-day old Chinese from the fridge.

So, after parking the van, I went and joined Rocksteady and Roberto, pushing my anger down with some food and soda.

Okay! A lot happened in this chapter!

Roberto obviously went through a traumatic experience with Leatherhead's attack, and Master Splinter was able to help him through it! It was fun, coming up with this version of Splinter for my story, drawing inspiration from the 2003 and 1987 versions! Now, once I introduce Casey Jones, Roberto will have met all of the main hero characters from TMNT!

But as we see from Bebop's POV, he's not too happy with how things are going. He's been doing his own thing with Rocksteady for years, and finding himself no longer being in control is definitely a point of contention for him. But he hasn't said anything about it to his friend yet, and time will only tell what will happen if he lets these feeling fester...

Again, I do apologize for the long wait for this chapter! Hopefully the next one will not take so long to come out, depending on if I get hit by writer's block or some other reason. Thankfully, I already have something of another chapter written, so that should definitley help!

But until then, thank you all for reading my story, and have a great day!

-aggiefrogger