Mari sighed in annoyance.

She was trying to watch TV but Mikey and Cat were sitting on either side of her talking to each other, instead of sitting together. So Mari was in the middle of that and it was pissing her off big time.

"Can you guys shut up?" Mari asked with a slight growl that reminded Mikey and Cat of Raph.

"Why so grumpy, Mari?" Cat asked sadly.

"Yeah, lighten up, sis," Mikey said with a good natured grin that Mari wanted to punch off of him.

They continued talking to each other about complete nonsense.

Mari stood up and stormed off to her room. She was not in the mood to deal with her younger siblings.

As Mari was passing Donnie's lab, an explosion went off, knocking Mari backwards. Why did her room have to be on the way from Donnie's lab? Donnie popped his his head out to see Mari scowling.

"Oops, sorry, Mari—"

"Whatever," Mari said, standing up and making it to her room.

She lied down on her bed and closed her eyes, attempting to sleep, only to suddenly hear a bunch of arguing coming from her big brothers—Raph and Leo.

Mari sat up and gritted her teeth in annoyance. "Are you serious?" she muttered to herself and stood up. She cannot handle her siblings. They were all so annoying, and Mari just had to have some her time. She's always with them, whether it's in the lair or on the surface.

Mari knew that if she mentioned that she wanted to go to the surface alone, Leo wouldn't allow it, especially after the whole Chris Bradford thing, and he's leader so Mari would have to listen to him. Stupid protective brother, Mari thought bitterly. She can probably fend for herself a lot better than Leo could. So Mari just won't tell him—or any of her siblings, for that matter. They're all so fiercely protective of each other, that it'll be best to not say anything. Tonight, the turtles aren't planning to go on patrol, so tonight was the perfect time for Mari to go by herself.

And Mari can finally have one night without her siblings.

That night, Mari went to the surface.

She didn't have much to worry about. Everyone—even Raph—knew better than to enter her room. Besides, if they did find out Mari was gone, what could any of them do? Ground her? Nah. At least it's not Cat. She wouldn't make it alone. Mikey barely did, befriending someone he shouldn't have. Mari is a lot smarter than those two.

Mari jumped from building to building, feeling the breeze on her. She stopped and looked down, grinning. It was a beautiful view. And it was even better because she was by herself. None of Mikey's endless chatter, no Cat's squeaking and screaming, no Raph's temper, none of Donnie's big words, and none of Leo's bossiness.

She continued watching below her when she saw a guy—a guy around her age, walking behind a dumpster smoking... a cigarette? Mari watched him, feeling something. Curiosity, maybe? He had brown skin and curly black hair. He looked... cute? Mari shook her head. What was going on through her mind? A human, cute? Mari was not going to be like Donnie, simping for a human that would never like a mutant back.

The human boy glanced up and Mari could have sworn that he saw her. They made eye contact. Mari's eyes widened and quickly ducked back, to get out of his line of sight.

"Hello?" the boy called up. "Are you still there?"

Fuck.

His voice... it sounded... good? No.,. That was an understatement... Could you be attracted to voices? Because if so, Mari definitely was. She stayed silent, and she thought the boy would go away. Because it was night time, the boy probably didn't notice that Mari was a giant turtle. But if she were closer...

"You don't need to be afraid," the boy called up again. "It's okay!"

Would he still say that if he saw Mari up close?

Mari peeked back over, against her better judgment. "You'll be the one afraid if I got too close," she told him.

"How about we test that theory, huh?"

Mari gulped. She really wanted to. But she didn't want to be like Mikey, trusting a random human that gave him the time of day. Or like Donnie who has a crush on one.

"I don't know if that's such a great idea," Mari called back down.

He was silent for a few moments.

"Why do you say that?" he says.

"I can't say..."

"Come on," the boy said.

The boy was cute...

"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you."

Mari jumped down, right in front of the human boy. He flinched back, his eyes wide. Mari prepared for him to run away screaming, but he just stood there. Maybe he was paralyzed with fear?

"What are you?" the boy asked after a few moments passed.

"A mutant... turtle," Mari said. She paused. "I'm a ninja."

Boys like ninjas, right?

The boy blinked. "I didn't expect this..."

Mari flushed, embarrassment filling her. This was a bad idea. What would Leo or Raph say? Donnie? How about Mikey or Cat, the two idiots? When everyone finds out that Mari is the newest idiot...

"I-I should go—" Mari said, turning.

"No wait!" the boy said, grabbing her wrist. Then retracted, probably not expecting the texture. "I'm sorry. You—you seem nice. I was just surprised."

Mari took a closer look at him. In one hand, he still carried the cigarette. And his clothes were of a gothic style. And was he wearing black eye liner? It looked good on him.

"Oh," Mari said, her voice uncharacteristically small. "Are you disgusted?"

She was afraid of the answer.

He shook his head. "No, just surprised, honest," he said. "You're not planning to eat me, are you?"

Mari shook her head quickly. "No—my diet consists of mainly pizza—"

The boy chuckled. "Interesting. I've never met a mutant before... didn't know they existed to be honest," he said. "What's your name?"

"Mari."

"That's a pretty name. I'm Jackson. Would you like to hang out? I'll buy pizza."

Mari grinned. Hanging out with someone that wasn't her family? This was going better than she thought it would.

"Yeah, sure."

"Where the heck is Mari?!" Leo wondered, searching around. He had knocked on her door and then perked inside—she was gone. Leo couldn't find her anywhere. He hasn't heard from her in awhile so he went to go check on her.

Raph, who was on the couch looked up. "Mari? In her bedroom, I guess—"

"No, she's not," Leo said, annoyed. "I looked."

Raph became more aware. He stood up, gritting his teeth. "So she's not here. At all?"

Leo shook his head. "She's not."

"That little bitch—"

"Language!"

Raph rolled his eyes. "Mikey and Cat ain't here to hear." That was true. They actually were in their room. Well, Mikey's room. Probably scheming or something.

"Still," Leo said and then sighed. "Do you think Mari went to the surface?"

"If she's not here, where else would she be?"

"Do you think she'll be with April?" Leo questioned. If she's with April, okay. Though Leo would still be mad that Mari didn't say anything to him so now he feels like a worrying mother hen.

"Leo... you do know that Mari hates April, right?"

"What?! Since when!"

Raph stared at him. "Really?"

Leo genuinely didn't know. But he decided that it didn't matter at the moment. "We should go look for Mari, before she gets into any trouble."

Raph sighed. "Yep, she's a dumbass. Let's please not take the others, especially Mikey and Cat."

Mari sat on top of a building, looking over the view, with Jackson, as they ate pizza.

Mari couldn't help but notice Jackson Kept staring at her. She wondered why. Maybe he was attracted to her, like she was to him. (That was not the case, of course). He was mainly curious about Mari.

"Why are you so nice?" Mari blurted out, and then covered her mouth. Why did she ask that? God, she's a dumbass.

Jackson laughed. "Is someone being nice to you weird?"

Mari shrugged. She wasn't sure if she should tell him she only knows her siblings and dad, all mutants, and one human who she doesn't really like because she's destined to break her little brother's heart.

"You don't have a lot of friends, do you?"

Fuck, Mari didn't have to tell Jackson—he already figured it out. How he did that, Mari wasn't sure.

Should she lie?

But Jackson didn't seem like the mean type, so she just shook her head. "I don't get out much and it's not like I can go to school." She thought the truth would be a little too long of an explanation.

"True," Jackson agreed. "It's okay, though. School sucks ass."

That was an interesting phrase. Mari hadn't heard that one before. Maybe she'll use it sometime. Her language is pretty vulgar. She has the biggest potty mouth amongst her siblings, even more so than Raph. He at least tries not to cuss in front of Mikey and Cat. Mari doesn't give a fuck.

"Do you have any friends?" Mari asked.

"Yeah, some," Jackson said.

"Cool."

Cool? Really? That was so lame...

Jackson stared at Mari. A lot. It was weird but Mari kind of liked it. He got closer to her face, and she blushed. Was he going to kiss her.

"Why do you wear a mask?" Jackson asked, their noses practically touching.

"It's cuz of the whole ninja thing."

"Ah."

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY SISTER!"

Mari jumped back in alarm as Raph and Leo jumped down right in front of her, causing Jackson to jump away from her. Raph was narrowing his eyes at Jackson, holding his sai, as if he wanted to stab him, while Leo glared at him, his weapons not being out, though.

"I thought you said you were the only mutant, Mari," Jackson said.

Mari smiled sheepishly.

Leo pulled Mari up, holding her by the wrist. "You have a lot of explaining to do," Leo hissed at her, and she groaned in annoyance. Brothers ruin everything.

Raph growled. Yes, growled, even though he's a turtle and not a dog. His eyes were still on Jackson, who then stood up. If Jackson was uncomfortable by Raph's gaze, he didn't show it.

"I'll catch you later, Mari."

"No, you won't!" Raph yelled as Jackson left. Then he turned to Mari with fire in his eyes. "Who the hell was that?!"

"My new friend, fuck off."

"He was awfully close to you," Leo said.

Mari turned her head. She didn't want Raph or Leo to see that she was embarrassed. "Yes, and your point is?"

"He's not blind, right?" Raph said, agitated. "He knows you're an ugly mutant, right?"

"Bro, I'm not Cat, don't fucking insult me like I am."

"Than don't act like Cat!" Raph growled. He needs to stop growling.

Leo sighed in annoyance. "Mari, you were acting stupid. First, leaning without telling anyone of your whereabouts. And then showing yourself to a human. Not to mention, getting a crush on him—"

"Oh my god, it wasn't like that!" Now Mari was really embarrassed. She crossed her arms. "Can we just go?"

Raph grabbed her by the shoulders. "Fine, dumbass, but you're not fucking seeing him again, ya hear?! He could be like Chris Bradford."

"Or like April," Mari counted.

"He's a boy, so still no!"

"What?!"

"You heard me."

"You're insufferable."

"You're annoying."

"You're stupid!"

"No you!"

"Shut up!"

"Fucking dumbass."

"Cunt."

"Bitch."

"Dick."

"How about both of you shut up?" Leo said. "Goddamn. Watch your language. Oh my god—"

"Yes dad," Mari and Raph both said and then scowled at each other.

"Don't call me dad," Leo said. "Now let's go bs j to the lair before Donnie, Mikey or Cat gets too curious and then we'll have another sibling to hunt down."

Mari huffed. "You guys know that I was fine up here, right? I was fine without you—"

Raph smacked her upside her head. "Listen to Lamonardo—he's the leader—"

Leo gave him an annoyed look. "Thanks, Raph," he said sarcastically.

"No problem."

"Whatever," Mari muttered. "Let's just go and never talk about this again."

"No promises," Leo and Raph both said.

Mari groaned.