Hola. This is Claire Ramirez. Due to my busy schedule, I'm not near mi telefono. Please leave your name, number, and reason for calling and I'll get back to you eventually. Adios.

And that's the end of her answering machine before the beep went off. I hung up the call. I was annoyed and confused to leave a message. Okay. Don't bite my head off. I can hear your thoughts loud and clear. "Merrill, why the fuck didn't you leave a message? Wasn't it the point in contacting your aunt to get started on that life-changing plan?" The answer is simple: I have. Or at least I did before. I called mi tia many times and all those times I was met with her answering machine and left the same message each time.

Which left me in the state I'm in now. I was on the rooftop just smoking when I ended the call. After returning from the mall, I put on a grey long-sleeved shirt with matching sweatpants. I couldn't fall asleep. I had too many questions and thoughts stirring in my mind including the call I made. It didn't make sense. Out of all the messages I left behind, Aunt Claire would've heard them. Her schedule was on her cell phone! Her schedule consisted of projects or online meetings discussing said projects. Even with a heavy schedule, Tia would've set a reminder in her phone for a break. At that time, she would've been able to see the missed calls and the messages. This didn't add up. Like a workaholic and on track with scheduling, Tia would've always had her cell phone by her side even on breaks. Either she's ignoring me or got a new phone...

Yeah... something in my gut was telling me there's something I'm missing... maybe another description I've overlooked.

I stuffed my cell in my pocket. Okay... let's take a step back and go to another problem. There's that little battle me and Leon went through. My shadows retrieved the ring, but it wasn't the artifact those thieves were after. Why go after a hand display? Then again... I've never seen a mannequin's hand made out of metal. Maybe it's a new generation form of masterpiece. It could happen. Somehow that doesn't explain my sudden dizzy spells occurring whenever... or rather whenever I'm near the object. Maybe it's not the ring that affected me... maybe it's the metal hand. Why would two thieves want it in the first place? It's no doubt the hand had some mystical properties. Of what kind I don't know.

Then there's the big guy... if it weren't for my dark powers kicking in, I wouldn't stand a chance. If Raph was there, he would've done a better job than me. It wasn't the fighting style. The big flame-headed guy was nothing but punches; giant, painful punches. What baffled me was he said how familiar I looked like someone he recognized. I've never met him or his partner before. That was our first encounter. A head lit on fire like him and his partner they're like a miniature bonfire. Dead giveaway. And what's the deal with those footprints on their faces? A symbol representing their cult? A secret club? Leon said he and his brothers met them while solving the Paper Thieves Case. They won, but Donnie mentioned all the stolen paper (plus bologna, blegh!) were soaked so there wasn't any point in taking them. The paper was used as a secondary weapon for the skinny guy. I saw how he folded a piece of paper into a tiny ninja and magically became life-sized. Presuming they upgraded to jewels, they went after one ring. They broke through the gate and stole one jewel! There was plenty of other jewelry they could easily grab and make a break for it. Yet they picked a ring with a large ruby on it... along with the mannequin's hand... the one that kept giving me a dizzy spell.

I inhaled a large sum of nicotine and exhaled half a minute later. Why did my thoughts fall onto the metal hand? Hold my nuts (not really)! It's not the first time I've acted weird and I'm not talking about the unique kind. I've had the same reaction to something else. What I'm wondering is the time and place. I just can't place a finger on it.

"All this overthinking is giving me a headache", I muttered watching the sunrise. "Maybe I'm not taking enough vitamins."

"Or maybe your smoking is finally getting to your head." I blinked. How come I didn't sense him? "You're so lost in thought that it gave me enough time to make you a cup of coffee. And yes, it's black like your soul. I also brought you some vitamin pills."

I turned around to look at my guest, but I quickly reversed back pinching my nose. "Fucking hell, Lee! Do you have to wear the maid uniform?!"

The slider chuckled at my flushed expression. The little shit knew what he was doing. "I'm sorry, but I'm not the one who kept it. Let's be honest, you wanted me to wear this thing again and to serve you again... Master." I spared a glance over at my turtle friend. He had the nerve to curtsy with poise and elegance. "Now you're just giving me too much credit", he cheekily said aloud.

"Shut up", I said, but it held no threat with my fingers pinching my nose. A handkerchief was held up to my vision. I snatched it and held it below my nostril in case someone decided to make a quick escape.

"I haven't seen that expression in a while", Leon said with another chuckle. "I thought you might've gone over it since Alex had us dress up as catmaids." He stood next to me, basking in the morning hue.

"I was in character", I said. "I take my title as the Cosplay King seriously."

"Right... how about the time we were trapped in "The Beauty and The Beast"? I was wearing a skirt the whole time."

"In my defense, I've overlooked that part. I was too focused on where the hell were we and how the hell we got there."

"True..." We went about a comfortable silence. I snuffed out my cigarette so it wouldn't bother my guest in exchange for the cup of coffee Leon made. All we did was drink coffee and watch the sun float up slower as time went by.

I finished up my drink as I laid the empty cup on the floor. I sighed. "Alright. You didn't come to visit me just to drink coffee and sungazing. What do you want to talk about?" I glanced at Leo who in turn hadn't looked my way. He kept looking at the sun with a thoughtful gaze. "You're thinking about the fight we had with those foot guys." I didn't bother stating it as a question. I felt it through our minds.

"Yeah..." he answered. "It didn't make sense. Those guys were stealing paper before; which made the city go through a major shortage. Then they went on to be jewel thieves only to steal a single ring, which to Donnie's speculation was just a normal piece of jewelry. I thought the ring was the one with the mystic powers, but it wasn't. We were focused on getting it, we didn't know if the metal hand was mystical or not. Why would they want it? What's their purpose? It's like you said: we won a fight, but in a way, we lost." He caressed his cup as he ranted his thoughts.

"How long have you been hearing my mental rant?" I asked with narrowed eyes. If the slider had enough time to brew coffee, then...

Leon nonchalantly shrugged. "Pretty much all of it... especially you trying to call your aunt. It was sort of entertaining like hearing a mystery podcast." Great. He heard all of it. "Don't get me wrong. I like seeing this side of you. If a musician doesn't work out, you can always study to be a detective."

"With my track record with authorities, I highly doubt that. There's something else, too. What was it?" Lee finally set his cup down and looked at me.

"You owe me an explanation. You promised", he said.

I let out a heavy sigh. I was hoping I wouldn't talk about it. I guess now it's better than later. I looked over at the horizon. "I never thought I would see that memory again", I muttered, but loud enough for my friend to hear it.

"Memory? So, it did happen. For someone who enjoyed darkness, you never pegged me as someone afraid of it." Hah! Pegged... "Can you not be a pervert for five minutes?"

"Force of habit", I said before continuing where I left off. "It wasn't that I was afraid of the dark. It's more like the monsters within it."

"Monsters? You meant the voices you heard?"

"Yeah... as a kid, I thought they were imaginary friends. Some of them weren't threatening; it's the darker tones scared me the most. My mom didn't believe me; kept saying I was imagining things. I can't believe I was able to hear shadows at a young age. Am I awesome or what?" I let out a hollow laugh.

"...did your mother lock you in a closet?" I became silent. I forgot he snuck inside a deep memory. I didn't know you could manifest your consciousness through a mind link. I felt his stare burning when I didn't reply. "I can't believe it... your mother... I even heard she threw you off the roof... that's gotta be child abuse, right?"

I tightly clenched my jaw. "She's training me to be strong..."

"That's bullshit and you know it!" Leo exclaimed. I'll admit they're a bit extreme - "Extreme?! Merrill, your mother tossed you off a building when you were a kid. And for what? Training? There are better training methods than yeetin' your kid off a rooftop, let alone a building."

I wanted to argue back; to back up my mother's teachings. I mean at least she didn't let me watch Lou Jitsu movies as a tutorial. No. He's right. I know my mom's strict, but there were times when I questioned if she even cared about me or her family.

Even more reasons for me to leave my family and live a better life.

Leon laid his hand over mine. He tightened his grip. "We'll think of something... There's no way you're leaving without saying goodbye."

I chuckled, but it was more lighthearted. "I like how demanding you are. It's adorable." I watched him roll his eyes. "Don't worry. I'm not leaving yet. Even if I were, I would leave you with some kind of note telling you or whatever. Not to mention, you'll be bawling your eyes out wondering what happened to you truly."

"I swear you say something nice and then you follow it up with you being a total ass."

"Takes one to know one, Blue." We stared into each other's eyes. The sun was shining up with the autumn breeze kicking in. The scent of water reached my nostrils. "Alright. It's my turn to ask." Lee tilted his head, curiously. "Do you love me?" His eyes widened as his grip slacked, but I held on with determination even pulling his body close in case he decided to run. "It's a simple yes or no question. You told me you love me at our wedding reception. After we got back you said you don't. Despite our mind link, I don't understand your hot-or-cold signals. I just want an honest answer."

The slider clenched his jaw as he desperately tried to release my grip and push me off. His eyes darted to the side still trying to escape my hold. "Like I said before it was the only way for us to get out of the storybook-"

I gritted my teeth. I pushed him against the railing trapping him between my arms. I got close to his face. His eyes widened more with an added flush to his cheeks. "You're lying", I proclaimed. "I gave you an answer. I think it's only fair." He turned his head away with his eyes shut. "Leo... yes or no... do you love me?"

'...what does it matter?' what? 'It won't matter. It's never gonna work out. We're better off as friends.' I felt my heart sink like the Titanic, but I think it was mostly from Leon's sad heart.

I cupped his cheek and gently shifted his head. His eyes were focused on mine. "Leon... what do you want?" I asked.

With damped eyes, the slider leaped onto me clutching my back for his dear life. "I don't want to lose you", he replied in a shy whisper. His reply did make my heart break.

I hugged him, laying my chin on his head. "I don't want to lose you, either." And I meant it. Leo's my best friend; my soulmate; my better half. I would do anything for him. I would go through hell for him. "I promise – if God forbids – if I do disappear without a trace, I'll find a way to come back to you. Even if I lose my limbs and lose my ability to see, I will never stop."

Leon released a choked chuckle. "That's a tall order. If you do disappear, I'll hunt you down myself and drag you by your hair."

"That's hot."

"Shut up."

"A promise is a promise. Change of subject, wanna go on a date?"

I was immediately shoved off. His eyes were exaggeratedly large. "Seriously, Merrill?!"

I gave him an innocent shrug. "Why not? We like each other and we're married. We should use this opportunity to get to fully know each other. I don't see the problem."

"I can think of the top three."

"Look. I don't know when mi tia is going to return my calls or when I disappear, but what I do know is that I want to be happy before it happens. Experience things like I never have before. And I want you to be part of it."

"By dating a mutant?"

"Correction. A hot mutant."

"How is it that you have more rizz than me?"

"It's a blessing and a curse. So what do you say? Wanna go out with an emo?"

Leo hesitated. I don't blame him. I went up and asked him out of the blue. If he says no, I'll understand. We've known each other for two months and already we're pushing for a steady relationship. If he says yes -"

"...okay..." I blinked. What? "Okay", he repeated with confidence. "We'll have one date." I frowned. One date? "Look. Think of this as a tryout. If the date's successful, then, sure we can keep going. If not, well, it proves that it's never going to happen, and we should remain friends." He tried to be logical, but he knew that I knew he was stalling. I felt like Leo's something else, but I decided not to push him. I was too excited to plan out our night. "Nothing crazy, Merrill."

"O ye of little faith", I reassured my friend. "I plan the perfect first date. I'll text you the time and place. All you have to do is bring yourself over with a wagging tail."

"I mean it. Nothing expensive."

"Too late! I know the perfect place."

Yeah. We're going on our first date. Why not? What's wrong with a boy and a turtle going on their first date?

Yeah. Why not?