Hello once more, everyone! Hope everyone is having a great day or week or month. I don't really have an upload schedule for this one, but I do plan on having at least one chapter up a week.
Also, this is how I'm picturing everyone. They have the height from the 2012, Mikey being the shortest and the leanest (think like 5'2-5'3ish), Leo being the second shortest with more muscle (5'9ish), Raph being the 3rd shortest, and the bulkiest of the four with the most muscle (5'11ish), and Donnie being the tallest and a little leaner than Leo (6'1ish). They, alongside April and Casey, have the look from the 2007 movie while Master Splinter looks more like the 2012 version of himself. Rahzar and Fishface obviously look like they did in the 2012 version, but Hun and any mention of the Shredder are from the 2003 (Mainly because I think they both looked very cool in that version and that Shredder makes me shiver far more than the 2012 version does). Leatherhead would be more of his 2003 self but still part of the 2012 Mutanimals squad with Slash.
And to everyone who has reviewed so far:
THANK YOU! It really helps to know that people are enjoying this!
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Stupid. This idea was STUPID. I huff again as I shove another book away from me. I've been at April's store for nearly 3 hours now and I have yet to turn up anything that would explain that strange-armored creature and that weird orb thingy. Even the internet had nothing to say about it, for the limited amount of time April let me use her laptop for before needing it to obtain a new artifact in a bidding war.
Now, what am I supposed to do? I think, slumping in my seat in the breakroom of the antique shop. It's not like I can just go to the local library and be like 'Hey, my dude, do you got anything in here about strange statue creatures and glowy orbs that like to absorbed by people? No? Okay.' I snort. Yeah, 'cause that would go over well when I look like THIS. People just can't contain themselves when they see just the wonderful beauty I am. I'd have to use every inch of my ninja skill to fend them off. And, while I'm obviously great, fans can be crazy. And even more determined than Shred-Head ever was. I shudder and lay my head on the desk, scrubbing at my eyes and debating on whether or not to just tug my mask down to give my face a rest.
Sighing, I glance toward the door where I can hear April quietly cursing to herself. I'd go out and join her but it's barely past 1 in the afternoon. There are far too many people wandering around on the streets right now, enjoying the nice weather New York is finally giving us after many weekends of heavy rain. And I did tell Leo I would be here for most of the afternoon. So if I go home now he'll ask questions and I really don't want Leo asking questions. I can lie my shell off to the Foot, the Purple Dragons, and even the U.S government, but to my own brothers? Who've lived with me for years and who I've pranked time and time again? That's nearly impossible. Emphasis on NEARLY. I mean, I have them pretty convinced that I'm a complete airhead and that their comments about my intelligence and the head slaps don't bother me, but that's more to keep them from feeling bad about themselves than it is for my pride on anything.
THIS, however, is about my pride and being able to go topside without one of my brothers there to supervise me. I'm not a child. I may be the youngest, something that Donnie confirmed a year before Leo took off for his little 'Jungle-Fun', but that doesn't mean I can't take care of myself. I've been training just as long as they have and even started going topside alongside them, so, if anything, they should know that I don't need to be coddled.
It's not like Donnie gets coddled anymore than Raph and Leo used to! And he's the second youngest! Shouldn't he be getting some of the coddlings? I mean, there has to be a limit on just how much coddling Raph and Leo are willing to do. Well, okay, Leo does WAY more coddling than Raph ever does, especially right now, having a whole year to make up for. But I swear, ever since their fight, Raph has gotten into the habit of being…GENTLER with us. I mean, he still smacks me upside the head or tackles me after a prank, but I can't even remember the last prank I pulled on him. So, a turtle would think that Raph would want to spend most of his time coddling his 'less-annoying' little brother, ya know?
"AH-HA! EAT IT, YOU WHELPS! THAT PENDANT IS MINE!"
I nearly jump out of my shell when April's loud cheer rings through the door. A large grin splits my face.
It's not often that April uses that kind of language, at least, not when she knows that one of us can hear her. Something about us being like little brothers to her, which she tells us constantly when any of us are hurt and she comes down to the lair, angrier than Raphie on a bad day. But when April starts the swearing and name-calling in triumph, letting herself be more relaxed and less uptight, boy does it feel good. It means she's letting loose and super excited. And who doesn't enjoy it when their sibling is super excited? Well, I mean, my brothers usually aren't when I'M excited about something, but that's different. April is their only sister. When she's excited about something, we all are.
I wonder what kind of pendant she won, I think as I return my gaze back to the abandoned pile of books April helped me carry in here. Hopefully a cool one! Maybe one that has some sort of secret power that allows anyone who wears it to have superpowers! Or maybe it can open gateways to different dimensions like April's uncle's thing-a-mahjig did that sent us to that crazy large bug-infested world.
I shudder as memories of the Queen standing over me flashes in my mind. I mean, we've fought crazier things since then, but shell, I really don't ever want to face off with a huge bug like that ever again. I may not be as afraid of them as Raph is, but who wouldn't be a little intimidated by a huge killer bug with a stinger that has enough poison to drop an over 5-foot-tall turtle like moi?
Grant it, now Donnie is now just over 6 feet tall with Raph and Leo close behind, I'm the only one still around 5'3, (5'3 and a half, thank you very much) which has not helped my confidence in training. But, like, we all used to be the same height! I can't believe Mother Nature would do something as cruel as to allow ME, the baby of the family, to be the smallest! How dare she make the second youngest the tallest! At least give me some of that height and let me be the second tallest instead of Raph. He is constantly gloating about how he's not only able to bench more than any of us, he can also reach more stuff than me or Leo can.
Groaning, I slip out of my chair and head toward the door, hand rubbing my chest as I shoot the books a forlorn look.
Why is researching so hard? Donnie makes it look so easy. I sigh and kneel down next to the door. The breakroom is directly behind the counter in the shop, so as long as I stay close to the floor, I can stay hidden from view just in case any customers end up coming in. Pressing my head close to the door, I listen for any indication that there might be someone other than April in the shop right now.
When typing is the only thing that reaches my ears, I nod and open the door a crack.
"April," I whisper as loudly as I dare.
Instantly, the typing stops and a chair creaks. Footsteps move across the wooden floor and within seconds, April is kneeling down next to me, concern shining in her green eyes as she pushes red bangs from her face.
"Mikey? What's wrong?"
Sighing, I shift myself into a sitting position on the floor.
"It doesn't seem like any of these books have what I'm looking for," I state, heaving another heavy sigh and press my shoulder into the doorframe. I run a hand down my face. "I'm just not cut out for this research stuff."
A warm hand lands on my arm and I glance up at April. She smiles softly, her eyes a little sad but warm.
"Mikey," April says quietly. "When you put your mind to something, you're just as capable as any of your brothers. I just might not have the right books for what you're looking for." Her smile slips into a scowl. "If you and Casey would just tell me what you were LOOKING for, I might be of more help."
Guilt twists at my gut. Part of me really wishes that Casey and I didn't agree to keep this entire mess a secret but I just know that if April were to find out, she will be just as angry as my brothers if and when they find out about this.
I just know that Leo knows something's up. Just like our whole late-night tea fiasco, nothing really ever gets by my big brother. And since coming back from South America, those instincts have been fine-tuned even more. April did say that Leo was practically at home in the jungle as if one with everything around him. It makes me both mad and sad all at the same time. Mad because part of me doesn't understand what the jungle provided him that we, his family, couldn't. But another part of me, the sad part, kind of understands and feels very guilty because WE were the reason he had to leave a place that he truly loved and enjoyed and felt connected with. I hope Leo doesn't feel too homesick about missing the jungle, but every once in a while, I catch him gazing up at the sky with this deep longing and I just know that he wants to go back. That he wants to venture through the trees once more. But, instead, he remains here, in a city that barely knows that he exists and provides nothing but fear and terror for his well-being and our well-being. A city that shows absolutely no love back to the very ones who fight so hard to keep it safe and sound. A city where Leo has to, once again, hide underground and in the shadows.
I mean, sure, he had to use the shadows too, back in the jungle. He told us about the poachers and the military officials he dealt with, but the main difference is, the people that Leo protected down in South America respected him, idolized him. Something far different than what the people here in New York do. If one's not careful, the person you're trying to save might just turn around and try to stab you in the back.
"Mikey?"
Jumping, I glance back up at April. The redhead's face is drawn in concern, her lips pursing as green eyes flicker over my face.
Oops. I guess I've taken too long to answer her. And remained too quiet for her liking as well. Hey. I can be quiet when I want to be, I just happen to prefer the idle noises I make too much. Silence leads to thoughts and there are just some thoughts a turtle shouldn't have to think about, not when there are other, nicer and more important things to think about: like pizza or comic books or how long until Raph figures out that I keep shifting the small piles of weapons in his room inch by inch at night and that I've started to do so with his hammock as well.
Shaking my head, I shoot April an apologetic look and open my mouth to respond when the jingle of the bells above the shop doors cuts me off. Instantly, April is on her feet and I slid a little more to my left to be completely hidden by the breakroom wall.
"Hey dere, Ap!" Casey's voice booms. "How's it goin'?"
"Hi, Casey," April greets back and though she sounds aspirated, I just know that she has that tender smile on her face that she only reserves for Casey.
A sigh of relief escapes me and I peek my head out.
"Geez, Casey, give a turtle a heart attack why don't you?"
Casey's head appears over the counter and he blinks down at me.
"Mike? What are ya doin' down dere for?"
I quirk my eyebrow ridge up.
"Oh, you know, just gettin' my daily squats in for the day. Gotta get my summer bod ready, ya know?"
April snorts and shakes her head as she glances back at me.
"'Summer bod', Mikey? Really?"
I turn my nose up and cross my arms.
"What? It takes a lot of work to stay looking this beautiful." Shrugging, a playful smirk appears on my face. "But, then again, we all know that even without work I'd still be the pretty one. I mean, who can resist this face?" I widen my eyes and pout a little as I stare at both April and Casey, clasping my hands under my chin.
I inwardly smirk as a flush crosses the two humans' faces to the point that Casey turns away, grumbling about 'younger siblings, man' and rubbing the back of his neck. April, on the other hand, coos and drops to her knees and pulls me into a hug. I allow myself to full-on beam. Nobody can resist the 'Puppy-Dog eyes' nobody. Well, maybe Sensei, but he raised us from babies where ALL of us could do the 'Puppy-Dog eyes'. So, I think it's safe to say that he's pretty immune now. Not fully, mind you, but immune enough to not give in right away like my brothers do.
Which is why I know that if cake is involved, I'll almost instantly get what I want, I think, smirking before plastering on an innocent look when Casey finally looks back at me and April.
April gives me one last squeeze, pulling back to pinch my cheeks with a grin and standing back up. I remain where I am as she turns back to Casey, shooting a sad look back at the piles of books. Maybe I can try sneaking into one of the public libraries and seeing what they have.
My nose scrunches.
Yeah, right. With all the security those places have nowadays, I'd be lucky to even be able to slip in without a least some help from my brothers. Sure, Leo would totally be able to slip in unannounced, completely off the grid, Donnie would know where all the cameras are and where the control room is and be able to hack into the mainframe within seconds all Mission Impossible-style, and Raph… Well, Raph probably won't even step foot in the library and much rather track down either that creature or a Foot soldier and force the ninja to tell him why they were after that creature and what that creature was. Either way, I'm pretty sure my brothers wouldn't be as stuck as I am right now.
"Hey, Mikey?"
Flinching, I wince as my ribs protest the movement and my back tells me that I've been in one place for too long. Lifting my head, I glance over at the speaker, April, as she walks back over to her laptop, snapping it shut. I frown as she looks at me over her shoulder, her concern from earlier slowly creeping back in. Quickly, I switch my frown to a smile.
"Yeah?"
The counter creaks as Casey leans against it, quirking an eyebrow at me when we make eye contact.
"Didn't cha hear a word I said, knucklehead?"
Heat flushes across my face but I merely shrug.
"Sorry, Case-Man, got a lot of thoughts swirling around in this noggin of mine. You know how it is," I say, winking as I shift to my knees. "Short attention span, ya know?"
Casey rolls his eyes, lips quirking.
"I would also like ta add 'selective listenin' ta that list."
I stick my tongue out as April snorts and shoves her laptop inside her bag. April smiles at me.
"Casey said that Leo called him when he couldn't get a hold of you and that he wants to talk to all of us."
My eyes widen and my hand flies to my belt. Only to find a shell-shaped emptiness in my belt. A nervous laugh slips out of me.
"O-Oh, looks like I forgot my Shell Cell." I wince and rub my arms sheepishly. "Oops?"
Casey groans while April shakes her head fondly.
"And dis is why Leo never lets ya go out on yer own, Mike," Casey states as April starts closing up the shop and tugging cages and curtains down over the windows so that I can finally stand up in the middle of the shop. Standing fully, I cross my arms, pouting at Casey as April finally locks the door.
"It's not my fault! I put it on the charger 'cause it died last night and I just forgot to grab it after I talked to April." Glancing off to my right, I add quietly. "I was kinda in a hurry."
Which was true. The moment I finished showering, which luck have it, I got to be the first one in the shower before Leo, I rushed to my room and called April to see if I could come up and do some research. The moment she agreed, I was so happy that I just flung my phone down and practically flew out the door. Leo was still in the shower, Donnie had disappeared into his lab, and Raphie was in the kitchen making himself a snack after our training. Sensei was still in his room, meditating after our practice, so all I had to do was holler out that I was going to April's and I would be back soon. While excited, I mainly was afraid that someone would try to stop me.
Certainly not afraid about running into a certain brother in blue who hasn't let me leave the lair by myself in weeks, I think with an internal sigh. Refocusing on April, I shoot one last look back at the break room.
"Are you sure we can't take like five minutes to put your books back, April?" I'm not stalling, you're stalling. I'm totally not trying to drag this out because I know that I'm going to be lectured from here to Kingdom Come by my beloved older brother who has nothing but my best interests in mind.
Much to my disappointment (which is rare, because you know, this turtle really ain't the cleanest), April just waves a dismissive hand.
"Don't worry about it, Mikey. They all came from the same shelf, so when I get back, I can just put them all back. It's really no problem."
My shoulders sag just as Casey's eyes widen almost comically. His mouth falls open as he glances between me and the break room.
"Mikey? Mikey was READING? And not a comic book?" Casey rounds on me and points a finger in my face, forcing me to tilt my head back just to keep eye contact with the crazy blackette. "Who are ya? And what have ya done with Mikey?"
Rolling my eyes, I shove the taller male's finger out of my face.
"Har har har. You do know that I CAN read more than just comics, right? I just choose not to."
Casey squints at me causing me to sigh.
"I was, uh, looking into something that we saw last night," I mutter quietly, shooting a look in April's direction. "Ya know, that…weird statue-thingy we saw before grabbing the pizzas?"
There is a brief moment of confusion on Casey's face and my heartbeat speeds up for a millisecond and I can't help but fear that Casey is going to blurt everything out in his confusion. But I spot the moment when Casey understands what I'm trying to say and it's like a light bulb flashes above his head. Slowly, Casey nods and takes a step back, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Uh, right, I almost forgot about dat thing." Casey eyes me. "Did, uh, did ya find anythin' useful?"
My pout returns full force.
"No, there wasn't anything in April's books that match that…statue's description." I sag. "And I'm starting to doubt if I ever will."
April walks over and wraps an arm around my shoulders. She squeezes me gently until I glance up at her with a slight smile.
"There's the Mikey we know and love." April kisses the top of my head and releases me. "Don't worry about it too much, Mikey, I'm sure you'll be able to figure something out. You just have to use ALL of your resources. I'm sure if you asked, Donnie would let you borrow his laptop. Or, maybe, if you told me what this statue-thing looked like, I could help you out by checking out some books at the library." April peeks at me slyly from the corner of her eye. A soft chuckle escapes me.
Nice try, April, but no dice.
"I'm sure the public libraries won't have anything either," I state, waving my hand as we head for the door leading to the alleyway. "But it's a nice thought. I'm sure it's just someone's crazy project that they left outside and forgot about, ya know?" If only it was that.
April hums, her eyes narrowing as she opens the door and ushers Casey and me outside before locking the door behind us.
"If you say so, Mikey. Just know that I'm willing to help."
Casey and I exchange a look and I can see the guilt riding the currents in Casey's icy blue eyes. Not knowing what to say, I merely shrug and head for the nearest manhole cover. Lifting the metal cover, I gesture for April and Casey to enter first before hopping in behind them.
It's not that I don't trust you, April, I just need to do this myself, that's all. Because I CAN do this and I CAN fix whatever it is that I did when I accidentally touched and absorbed that orb. I just need to know what it is that I touched.
Reaching up, I slide the manhole cover back into place, a new sense of determination surging through me as I drop down to the sewers below.
