Chapter 36: Cat Girl Maid Squad! Assemble!

It's been two days since our Gumbus hunt. Merrill hadn't contact me. I was getting worried. I kept deciding whether I should call him just to check, but I didn't want to bother him. I was in my room laying on my bed and staring at my phone screen. I frowned at my reflection hating my friend for not contacting me and hating myself for not doing anything! I sighed heavily. I recalled his emotions that night. He was… depressed and guilty for hurting me. I knew he didn't mean to. I knew he had no control. If he were here, I would tell him that I don't blame him. I couldn't be mad at him for something he had no control over.

I wish that idiot would talk to me.

My phone's screen started flashing and caller ID showed GOTH BOY with a skull with crossbones as the caller pic. I jumped along with my phone. I tried to grab it before it fell. I grabbed it but I fell off my bed landing face first with a heavy thud. I straightened myself yet my bandana tails were in my face.

My back leaned against the bed with my arm laying on the sheets as I answered the call as casual as possible. "Merrill! My friend! Pal! Amigo! Compadre! How's it hangin?" Wearing it thin, Leon. I blew away the tails with a side blow. I'm happy our mind link doesn't interact through call.

"Hey, Lee", Merrill's voice sounded tired, "can you portal me to your place? I'm ready to fulfill my deed." I hate how he sounded. It breaks my heart.

"Sure… I can do that…" I could feel myself say. I hugged my legs. Come on… say it! Talk it out!" "You good?" Ugh! Not how I want to start it!

"Yeah… I'm good. I'm alive, aren't I?" I winced at his raw attitude.

"Yup! That's great!" I steadied my breathing and calmed my voice.

My friend sighed on his end. "Sorry. I didn't mean to sound like an ass. I just… had a lot on my mind… I shouldn't take it out on you…"

I felt a smile growing. "I get it. You still owe me a movie date. Lou Jitsu marathon. I don't care if it takes a whole week."

His chuckles rang in my ear. "Whatever you want."

"Merry Bear, is Leeny Beany picking us up?" Alex's voice was heard from Merrill's end. Alex was at Merrill's place?

"You're bringing Alex?" I asked.

"Yeah… they're not the only one coming… I'll explain as soon as we get there", Merrill said. We ended our call. He's bringing Alex? Wait… who else is he bringing? Was he also bringing Katie and Lydia, too? I frantically started pacing. I haven't told the fam about this!

Raph just met my new friends. He wasn't that ecstatic with them at first but then he like them…at least I hope so… maybe this could be a good thing! Donnie and Mike would love them (not to mention, Alex would be over the moon seeing my other brothers to create more fashion). Oh no, Dad is going to meet them! My pops already hate Merrill! What if he hates them, too?

Back up, Leon. It's going to be fine. Katie, Lydia, and Alex are good people… at least Lydia is. I gulped. Oh, I'm getting queasy.

My phone pinged. I looked at the message.

Alex:

Hurry up, Leeny Beany!

I need to see my DADDY!

Ew.

Me:

Try to hold back ur urges.

I dont want my dad to have any reason to h8 u guys like Merrill

Alex:

Tru

Warm up to daddykins 1st and then ask him to date ur brotha

I like my odds!

I facepalmed. I can see how Merrill can't stand them sometimes. Without any more time wasted, I opened a portal to Merrill's place from my room. I was about to cross over only for Merrill to jump out carrying a brown paper bag. Followed by Alex, Lydia, and Katie whom all have the same bags (candid Alex had two).

"The sluts have arrived!" Alex announced, holding his bags high.

"Real talk", Katie said, "Me and Lyds aren't even showing much skin. They insist on callin' us sluts."

"At this point, I block it out", Lydia said. She looked around my room. "Oh… you're a Jupiter Jim fan?"

"Sadly, yes", Merrill replied, "He's such a sci-fi nerd."

I placed my hands on my hips. "Says the emo with the Jack Skeleton memorial bedroom."

"I said this once and I'll say it for as long as it takes, Jack is my Bone Daddy."

"If Jack's Merrill's Daddy, then Sally is my Doll Mommy", Katie smirked.

"She can be my queen any day", Lydia grinned.

"Question. Who would you bang? Jack or Sally?"

"Oooo, tough question."

"I can't choose… but you know what I wouldn't mind…" Merrill turned to Alex who have the same smirk as the emo.

"SPOOK FEST THREESOME!" the two cheered as they dabbed each other.

"You guys are gross… and I regret asking it."

"To be fair", I said, "you did bring it up, Katie."

"Anyway, I know who I wanna bang…" Alex widely grinned, "where's my thick daddy – I mean Raphael?"

I rolled my eyes. "Please behave. I haven't told my family about the uninvited guests."

"Welcome to my world", Merrill sarcastically mumbled. Alex was already leaving my room.

"THICC DADDY – I mean Raphael! The love of your life is here!"

Lydia turned to me. "Should we stop them?"

"Definitely. I'm afraid of what they'll do if Alex finds my other brothers and my father." We ran after the transexual. We were already on the main floor seeing them cuddling against Raph's arm. Their bags were on the floor. My older brother looked at them with wide eyes and a heavy blush. I quirked an eye ridge. Did he… enjoy that?

"I spy a dry humper", Katie quipped.

"Alex, please don't do anything inhumane", Lydia pleaded, "I don't want to be hated."

"Mostly it would be Alex who Red blacklisted", Merrill told the girls.

Alex continued to cuddle. "Ladies, ladies, I'm as gentle as a breeze. And Raphael hasn't stop me."

"Unless he's too shock to reject you."

Raph shook himself out. "Alex? What are you doing here?" he looked at the rest of my friends. "What are all of you doing here?" he looked at me. "Leo, did you bring them over? It would've been nice if we discussed this first before planning without us."

I opened my mouth to explain but Merrill was already speaking. "I brought them over. It was a last-minute change. I didn't mean to bring them over without consent. I came over to fulfill my punishment." Once again, Merrill came in and saved me from trouble. I guess I don't mind it this time, but it was getting a little annoying. I felt Merrill's gaze on me for a second before refocusing on my brother.

"Punishment? What punishment?"

Mikey came running in with Donnie behind him. "Omigosh, omigosh! Merrill's here to be our maid!" my little brother was bouncing all over us not bothering to ask about the extra heads.

"Wait… is that why we're here? To be maids?" Lydia asked, but the question was to Alex.

Alex released their grip to grab the bags. "Of course, darling!"

"Merrill! I didn't sign up for this shit!" Katie growled at my emo friend.

"In my defense, I wasn't expecting Alex to drag ya'll along."

"Who are you?" Donnie finally asked. The fashion designer was in front of Dee's face. They circled around him like a lion preparing to pounce.

Then, they held my smart brother's face. "Have anyone told you you have such angular features?" Donnie slapped their hands. "My goodness! You are well sculpted like a Greek statue."

"I don't mean to brag, but I do work out", Dee stretched and posed as Alex was caressing his muscles.

"Yes, yes. Inspiration is coming to me with extra semen!"

"Ew." We all said.

"And you are…?" Donnie asked.

"Pardon me, mon amie. My name is Alex. Alexander for male and Alexandria for female. Overall, my pronoun is they/them." They shook hands. "Over there are the sluts and you already know the Goth Prince himself, Merry Berry."

"Alex, stop calling us sluts", Lydia said, "My name is Lydia."

"And I'm her girlfriend, Katie", the punk rocker added.

"And what did I tell ya about the nickname, cabron?" Merrill huffed.

"What?" Alex shrugged, "Would you prefer Merriweather?"

"Nah, I prefer Goth Boy", Raph cut in, "It's easier to remember."

"Seriously, real talk. Do I look like a fucking goth?!"

"Yes." We all answered, including me.

"Ya'll dead to me, especially you, Lee."

I dramatically gasped. "My heart! How will I move on from this rejection?"

Katie came next to me. "Don't worry, Lee. I got a tub of ice cream with your name on it…"

"We'll watch terrible romantic comedies…" Lydia said.

"And talk about how unsexy his ass is", Alex came along, "Spoiler alert: he has no cake to show off."

"Ya'll are trippin'. My ass is like two ripe apples."

The four of us looked at each other and answered, "Nope."

"What! Oh hell, no! Tortugas! I have a nice ass, right?" Merrill asked my brothers.

Mikey tilted his head. "What ass?" we covered our mouths from bursting out with laughter seeing Merrill slumped in defeat.

"Again… ya'll dead to me."

"Well, I'm Raph short for Raphael, but you guys already met me", my big brother introduced, "The turtle in purple is Donatello – or Donnie – he's our brains of the crew and Michaelangelo – or Mikey and Mike – he's the artist. With Leo here, together we're… THE MAD DOGS!" my friends stared at Raph in silent.

"… but you're not dogs…" Lydia stated.

"We're not, miss, that's why we changed it to Los Tortuga Locas! Dedicated by our Goth friend here", Dee said as Mikey cheered and Raph slumped.

"Sounds like something Merrill would say…" Katie said.

Merrill held his hands up. "In my defense, I was being sarcastic. I didn't think they like it."

Mike jumped in. "Raph was muted!"

"Mutiny, Angelo. It's mutiny", Dee told him.

"That's what I said!"

Dee sighed and looked at my friends. "I get Merrill's here to be our maid; THAT I get. What I don't comprehend is why you brought strangers into our home."

"I believe that was my doing", Alex stepped in. They shoved the spare bag in my hands. "This is yours, Leeny Beany. Where was I? Oh yes! Merry Berry contacted me and said he wanted a custom-made maid uniform with cat ears. To see Merrill in such an attire I was all for it! Then inspiration slapped me with their dick!"

"Is that how inspiration works? Getting slap in the face with a dick?" Mikey tilted his head again, yet Raph covered his ears.

"Can you please get to the point!" my big brother snapped.

"Oh sorry, Big Daddy. I was inspired to create a fashion line for not one but for all five of us!" Alex gleefully announced pulling out their clothes from the paper bag. It was a red maid uniform. "Each of us are color coordinated. Together we'll be The Cat Girl Maid Squad!" they posed a superhero pose staring out of nowhere.

My friends and I stared at the fashion designer. "Um… Merrill and I are guys…"

"But Leeny Beany! You wore women clothing before and I made sure your skirt isn't as short as the pleated skirt you wore at school."

"Wait, you went to school?!" Donnie said.

"You wore women's clothes?!" Mikey beamed.

"When did this happened?" Raph asked.

"Anyway, I do want to see Leo in a maid uniform", my twin gave me an evil smirk. That douche.

"Back up! I won the bet! Why am I getting humiliated?" I exclaimed.

"Lee, I'm just speak for everyone: If one of us suffers, we all suffer", Lydia said with a sick, sweet smile that made me shiver. How can someone as sweet as Lyds be terrifying?

"Could've said it better myself", Katie beamed with pride.

Raph picked me up. "You heard the girl, Leo. Time to dress up!"

"THIS ISN'T FAIR!"

A few minutes lates, I was dressed in my maid uniform with the cat ears hiding in the bathroom. I stared at my reflection. How did this get out of hand?

"Cat Girl Maid Squad! Assemble!" I stayed in the bathroom. "Leeny Beany, that's your cue!" Nope! I would rather die!

"Yeah, Leeny Beany, you don't want to keep your fans waiting", Donnie's taunting voice was annoying me. Alright. It's no big deal. I wore a wedding kimono and a maid uniform. This is nothing! With my head held high, I stepped out my hiding spot wearing my short light blue maid outfit with white stockings and blue ankle boots. They were right. The skirt reached passed my knees. The white apron was small, but the bow was big in the backside. I wore a long-haired white wig with parted bangs and white cat ears.

"Nya-nya!" I said, posing a cat-like pose with curled fists into paws. I even added a wink for dramatic effect. I wanted to die. My brothers laughed at my action. This was embarrassing!

"That's the spirit, Leeny Beany!" Alex pounced on me. Their outfit was like mine, except theirs was red. Their blonde hair tied to a ponytail. "I'm getting nostalgic!" I guess this wasn't as bad as I thought if I'm not the only one doing it. "Let's pose together!" with a wide grin we posed side-by-side.

"You guys are such dorks", we turned over to see Katie and Lydia coming over with their uniforms. Katie was pink with pink cat ears. Lydia was yellow with brown cat ears.

"Katie's jealous that we're not in it."

"Lyds, please, I ain't jealous. I call 'em as I see 'em."

"Sure you do, sweetie."

"Haters be hatin'!" Alex hollered. "Now we just need our black cat, and our squad will be complete."

"Ask and he will come", we saw Merrill, but it's not Merrill. He was a she. She beautiful. Her sleek black hair was pulled to ponytail with black cat ears. Her maid uniform was a black dress with black heeled boots. She wore a black ribbon choker with a small golden belle. Her red eyes landed on me. My heartbeat quickened. My breath stuck in my throat. Even with a full-blown makeover, I could tell she was my Merrill.

'Your Merrill?'

I looked away hiding my flushed face. Shut up.

"Merrill, is that you?" Mikey gaped.

Merrill bent for a perfect curtsied. "Charmed. I am at your service." Holy shit! His voice was different, too! He was too into the role!

"Damn, Goth Boy, you clean up good", Katie gaped, "ever thought of going full time female?"

Merrill smirked, and replied in his female voice, "Depends on the circumstance, love. Do you choose me or your bird?"

"You're a dick", her response made his smirk widened.

My dad walked in. His eyes trailed on the newcomers. "When did we hire maids?"

Alex immediately stepped up. "Hello, kind sir. We were hired to serve you for eight hours."

"Bitch! You never said anything about serving!" Katie proclaimed.

"You said we were meeting Lee's family", Lydia said.

My rat dad was skeptical. "I don't know…"

"We work for free", Merrill added.

"By all means, get to work! I will call for a full body massage. I will be in the living room if you need me." Pops went off probably to watch his shows.

Donnie went up to me. "You heard Papa", he said, smirking, "chop, chop. Things need to be done."

"I don't get how I won, but still suffer the consequences", I stated.

Mikey was next to me. "Look on the bright side. You get to work with a black cat", he insinuated with his eyelids doing a little dance. I shoved him aside.

Alex clung to Raph's arm. "I call dibs on being Raphael's maid!" before my big brother could say anything, Alex pulled on his arm.

"Wait, we get our own maid?", Dee asked, "Sigh. I suppose I prefer the pink one."

"It's Katie, dick", the punk girl scowled, "but I prefer me than you pick on my girl." They left.

Lydia went to my little brother. "Mikey, right? Do you want to hang out?"

"Sure!" Mikey said, gleefully. They scurried off, leaving with us two alone.

I glanced at Merrill. he was looking my way. I quickly looked away. "You look good", he complemented. "You pulled off the white hair good."

"You too", I said back, "I barely recognized you. I can't believe you got the gang here."

"In my defense, I wanted Alex to make me a customized maid uniform, but they insisted on making all of us one. Not to mention, Katie, Lyds, and Alex, all miss you." He took a deep breath. "So, what to do?"

"How about I give you a full tour? In case you might lose your way."

"Lead the way." And I did.

My phone pinged again. It was a message from April.

April:

Hey, can you portal me to your place?

I'm bringing Mrs. Cuddles to see Raph

A grin crawled on my face.

This was going to be good.

"What's with the smirk?" Merrill asked.

"I'll tell you on the way. It involves pranking my big bro."

The black cat smirked. "You had me at prank, Maid Blanc."

"Nicknames, huh? Then you'll be Maid Noir."

"Aye, Dios mio. I think we became the Avengers."

"It would be cool to fight side-by-side. I would prefer it without the maid costume though." I led us to the kitchen to start us off. We chatted throughout the way. So far, everything's pretty chill. My bros and friends are getting along; Pops didn't ask about the houseguests; and they weren't kicked out. It's been an okay day.

Why am I thinking something's about to happen?