The Six Mutant Ninja Turtles

by Skylarminthe5112

In which Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey have two sisters, Mari and Cat, with their own roles on the team. TMNT 2012 with sisters.

32. Only Human

The lair was buzzing with energy—Mikey was blasting music while practicing his "ultimate skateboard trick," Raph was half-watching while doing push-ups, Donnie was hunched over his latest project, and Cat was perched beside him, kicking her legs idly.

"I'm just saying," she huffed, twirling her tessen absentmindedly, "if you can build a mutagen tracker, a flying drone, and a coffee machine that also shoots shuriken, you can totally make waterproof mascara for me."

Donnie sighed, adjusting his goggles. "Cat, for the last time, I build things for combat, not for your weird makeup obsession."

She pouted. "Well, excuse me for wanting to slay in battle and in fashion."

Mari, leaning against the wall, snorted. "You are an ugly turtle mutant. What's the point of wearing makeup?"

Cat stuck her tongue out but was cut off when Donnie let out a triumphant "Aha!" He pushed his chair back, revealing a sleek-looking ray gun on the worktable.

Raph raised an eyebrow. "And what does this do?"

Donnie smirked. "Glad you asked." He adjusted a dial and held it up. "This is a genetic stabilizer. I designed it to counteract sudden mutations—so theoretically, if something or someone were exposed to mutagen and experienced instability, this ray could help revert the effects temporarily."

Mikey blinked. "Sooo... basically, it's a de-mutater?"

"In a way," Donnie confirmed. "But it only works if the mutation is recent. It can't undo full transformations or species-level mutations."

Cat frowned. "So... it'd work on someone who got mutated last week, but not, y'know... us?"

"Exactly." Donnie adjusted his goggles. "This is just phase one, though. With more testing, I might be able to expand its range."

Leo, who had just walked in, immediately stiffened. "Wait. More testing?"

Donnie hesitated. "Well... yeah. I mean, theoretically, it shouldn't affect us, but I haven't tested it on living subjects yet."

Leo crossed his arms. "Donnie, no testing it on us."

Donnie rolled his eyes. "I wasn't going to! I need to fine-tune the—"

He didn't get to finish.

Cat, leaning too close in curiosity, accidentally knocked her tessen off the table. As she reached for it, her elbow bumped the trigger.

A bright pulse of energy shot forward—

Directly into her.

The room froze.

Cat stood stock-still, eyes wide, her entire body outlined in a strange, shimmering glow. Then, just as quickly, the glow faded, and she stumbled backward, gripping the edge of the table.

Mari shot to her feet. "Cat?! What the hell did you—"

But then she stopped.

They all did.

Because something was... different.

Cat blinked, shaking her head. "Ugh... what just hap—"

And then she saw her hands.

Her human hands.

Pale, soft skin. No scales, no claws. Five delicate fingers instead of her usual thick, mutant ones. Her breath hitched as she slowly brought her hands to her face—feeling smooth skin, a human nose, rounded ears, hair.

The realization hit her like a freight train.

She was human.

Her stomach flipped, her heart racing with something between exhilaration and absolute terror.

Mikey's jaw dropped. "DUDE! You're—you're—HOLY PIZZA SAUCE!"

Donnie went rigid. "Oh, shell."

Leo stared, his grip tightening on his swords. "What did you do?"

Cat looked at them, panic flashing in her now normal brown eyes. "I—I didn't mean to! I just—" She turned to Donnie, voice pitching. "How long does this last?!"

Donnie frantically checked his notes. "I—I don't know! It wasn't supposed to do that!"

Mari's eyes darted between them before she groaned loudly. "Oh my god—this is why we don't touch Donnie's stuff!"

Cat barely heard her. She was too busy staring at her reflection in the metallic surface of the table.

She looked... normal.

No shell. No green skin. No mutant features.

Just a girl.

For the first time in her life, she looked human.

And she had no idea how to feel about it.

The lair was dead silent.

Cat's fingers trembled as she touched her face again, barely registering the way the others were staring at her like she'd grown a second head.

Or rather, like she'd lost one.

Raph was the first to break the silence. "Nope. Nope, nope, nope. This is freaky. I don't like it."

Mikey, on the other hand, was ecstatic. He practically vibrated as he skated up to her, circling her like she was a brand-new action figure. "Duuuuuude! You're, like—like—Super Cat 2.0! But with, like, real skin and no shell and—oh man, this is WILD!"

Cat gave a weak laugh, still dazed. "Y-Yeah, wild..."

Leo, however, was not amused. His shoulders were stiff, his expression unreadable. "Donnie. Fix it."

Donnie held up his hands, flipping through his notes frantically. "I—I can't yet! The ray was an accident! It wasn't meant to affect us in the first place!"

Mari crossed her arms. "Great. So she's just... stuck like this?"

Donnie frowned, thinking hard. "No, the effects should wear off on their own... eventually."

"Eventually?" Cat's stomach dropped.

Donnie hesitated. "Could be a few hours... could be a few days?"

"Days?!"

Her voice cracked, rising in panic, but before anyone could react, Mikey grabbed her wrist and spun her around.

"We have GOT to test this out!" he declared, grinning like a kid in a candy store. "We gotta see what human Cat can do!"

Cat blinked. "Wait, wha—?"

But before she could protest, Mikey was already dragging her toward the exit.

"FIELD TRIP!" he whooped. "Come on, we're going to the surface!"

"Wait—WHAT?!"

Leo immediately stepped forward. "Absolutely not."

Mikey skidded to a stop, still holding onto Cat's wrist. "Why not?! She finally looks human! She could totally blend in!"

Leo's jaw clenched. "That's exactly the problem."

Cat looked between them, suddenly torn.

Mikey was right—she could blend in. For once in her life, she wouldn't have to hide in the shadows. No more disguises, no more sneaking around, no more panicked nights wondering if they'd be seen.

She could be normal.

But Leo... Leo looked genuinely uneasy.

He exhaled through his nose. "We don't know how stable this mutation is. We don't know if it could backfire—or worse, get stuck. We don't know if it'll randomly wear off when she's in public. We. Don't. Know. Anything."

Mikey huffed. "Bro, it's Cat! She's not gonna do anything crazy!"

Raph let out a dry, deadpan laugh. "It's Cat."

Mikey hesitated. "...Okay, fair."

But then Cat pulled her hand free from Mikey's grip and stepped forward.

Her brown eyes locked onto Leo's. "I want to go."

Leo's frown deepened.

"I—I need to go," she admitted. "Just this once."

A beat of silence.

Leo was stiff, but something in his gaze softened just slightly.

Then, reluctantly, he sighed. "Fine. But only for an hour—and we stick together."

Mikey fist-pumped. "YES! HUMAN CAT ADVENTURE TIME!"

Mari groaned. "Ugh. You're gonna regret this, Leo."

Cat barely heard them.

Because as the lair door opened, she felt something stir in her chest—something wild and nervous and electric.

For the first time in her life...

She was about to walk through the city.

As a human.

The city buzzed around her, alive with lights, movement, and people—actual people.

Cat could hardly breathe.

She stood just outside the mouth of an alleyway, pressed into the shadows where her siblings were hidden. But she—she was standing at the very edge of the sidewalk, out in the open, where the streetlights touched her skin and the air smelled like exhaust and food vendors.

She was here.

Not sneaking, not hiding, not darting between rooftops.

Just here.

She turned back toward the alley where her siblings crouched in the dark. "Guys, I'm just—" Her voice wavered, her hands clenching at her sides. "I'm really standing here."

Leo, still half-concealed in the shadows, nodded. "Yeah. Just don't forget why we're here. One hour. Stay low, don't draw attention." His eyes sharpened. "And no splitting up."

Cat nodded quickly, but Mikey grinned from beside Leo. "You say that like she's not about to bolt."

"I'm not gonna bolt!" Cat said, already turning toward the street. "I'm just gonna—"

She took one step—

And immediately tripped over the curb.

"Human girl down," Mikey snorted.

"This was a mistake," Raph muttered from further back.

"I got it, I got it!" Cat scrambled upright, brushing herself off. "I just need to—do something normal, y'know? Like—like—" Her gaze snapped to the first thing she saw. "ICE CREAM! Humans love ice cream!"

"For the love of—" Mari groaned. "Fine. Just don't look suspicious."

"Oh, yeah," Raph drawled. "Because ice cream is definitely the most important thing happening tonight."

"You don't get it!" Cat whispered excitedly. "I've never done something like this before! Just—going up to a stand! Buying something!"

"Then don't blow it," Leo muttered. "Blend in."

"I am so blended in right now," Cat assured him. Then, just as the crosswalk light turned, she took a deep breath and stepped forward into the crowd.

Her siblings remained in the alley, keeping to the shadows, watching her closely.

Cat walked stiffly at first, like she didn't know how to move her arms, but after a few steps, she started to loosen up.

People walked past her.

No one stared.

No one whispered.

No one even noticed her.

It was... normal.

For the first time in her life, she was just another person in the crowd.

She belonged here.

She reached the ice cream stand, stepping up to the counter, still overwhelmed by the sheer normalcy of it all.

The vendor, a tired-looking woman, barely glanced at her. "What can I get for you?"

Cat stared at the menu board.

And froze.

There were so many choices.

"Uhhhhh..."

Back in the alley, Mari sighed. "Oh my God, she's gonna break."

"Uhhhhh—mint! Mint! I want mint!"

The vendor raised an eyebrow but handed her the cone after she fumbled out the cash. "

Cat turned and walked off with the cone, her excitement bubbling back up. "Guys. I just bought ice cream. I handed a person money and got something back. That was the most normal thing I've ever done!"

"Cool," Raph deadpanned. "Eat it and move."

Cat took her first, real, human bite of ice cream.

She paused.

"...Huh."

Mikey blinked. "Well?"

She frowned at the cone. "...It's cold."

From the alley, Mari smacked a hand against her forehead. "I swear to God—"

"We are never taking you outside again," Raph muttered.

Cat just laughed. "I love this."

Leo sighed. "Alright, fun's over. Keep moving."

The group trailed along the edges of the street, Cat leading the way while the others followed from the shadows.

Cat couldn't stop smiling.

She belonged here.

She took another lick of her ice cream, savoring the taste, her heart light. This was everything she had ever wanted—to be just another girl in a crowd. No stares, no whispers, just... normal.

From the shadows, her siblings moved parallel to her, silent but watchful.

"Alright," Leo muttered, scanning the streets. "You've had your moment. Let's start heading back before something goes wrong."

"What could go wrong?" Cat laughed, spinning as she walked. "I look normal, I feel normal, I—"

She slammed straight into someone.

"Oof—!"

Her ice cream flew from her hand, splattering onto the pavement.

"Oh, shell," Raph muttered under his breath from the alley, already tensing.

The man she'd collided with—a well-dressed guy, probably in his late twenties—steadied himself, glancing down at her with a smirk.

"Whoa, easy there, sweetheart," he said smoothly, catching her arms before she could stumble. "You alright?"

Cat's stomach twisted.

She'd never been this close to a stranger before.

"I—uh—I—"

From the shadows, Raph immediately pushed forward, only for Donnie to yank him back.

"Not yet," Donnie hissed. "Let her handle it."

"The hell do you mean 'let her handle it'?! He's touching her—"

"I know, I know," Donnie said through gritted teeth, "but she's a ninja—we have to trust she can handle it first."

Meanwhile, the man's smirk widened. "Did I knock the words out of you?"

Cat forced herself to laugh, taking a step back, out of his grip. "Oh, uh, no! My bad! Totally my fault!"

"You sure?" The man tilted his head, gaze flicking over her. "Aren't you a little young to be out here alone?"

Cat froze.

"Oh, shell," Mikey whispered from the shadows.

"Cat, just walk away," Leo muttered, gripping his swords, his whole body tense.

"She's trying," Mari muttered. "But that guy's an asshole."

"Which is why we should go over there and make him regret existing," Raph growled.

Cat forced another smile. "I—uh—I'm not alone! My friends are waiting for me!"

"Oh, yeah?" The man stepped slightly closer, subtly blocking her path. "Then why don't I walk you over to them?"

Leo gripped his swords tighter. "That's it. I'm going in—"

"No, you're not," Mari grabbed his shoulder, voice sharp. "We jump in too early, and we're exposing all of us. Give her a chance to shake him."

"And if she can't?"

"Then we move."

Meanwhile, Cat's heart was pounding.

"Oh, that's okay! My house is, uh—right around the corner! So I'm good!"

The man chuckled. "At least let me buy you another ice cream," he offered, voice sickly sweet. "It's the least I can do after knocking yours down."

"No, really, it's fine!" Cat said quickly, trying to step past him.

He moved again, blocking her. "You sure? It's just ice cream."

Her stomach knotted.

From the alley, Raph had had enough.

"I'm not waiting anymore," he snarled, stepping forward.

"Raph—" Donnie tried to grab him, but Raph shrugged him off.

"We are seconds away from him grabbing her!"

And then—

"Dude. Seriously?"

A new voice cut in.

From seemingly nowhere, a tall, dark-haired teenager—maybe a little older than her—effortlessly slid between them.

"She said no."

Cat blinked in surprise, and from the shadows, so did the others.

"Where the hell did he come from?" Mikey whispered.

"Who cares? He's helping," Mari muttered.

The older man scoffed, crossing his arms. "Who the hell are you?"

"Her ride home," the teen deadpanned.

Cat stared.

What?

Before she could react, the teen casually slung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into an easy side-hug, like they were lifelong friends.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," he said, tone light, grip solid.

Cat's heart raced, but she stayed quiet.

"Who is this guy?" Donnie muttered.

"I don't know," Leo whispered back.

The older man narrowed his eyes.

Then, slowly, he sighed, putting his hands up. "Didn't mean to step on any toes. Just being polite."

"Totally," the teen said, tone mockingly agreeable. "Well, we gotta bounce. Later!"

Before the man could respond, he turned, steering Cat away.

The moment they were several blocks away, the teen dropped his arm, his entire demeanor shifting.

"You okay?" he asked, his easy-going attitude gone.

Cat, still rattled, nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah. Yeah, I—"

She exhaled sharply, rubbing her arms. "I didn't like that."

"No kidding." He frowned, glancing over his shoulder. "Guy was a creep."

"How did you even find me?" she asked, finally looking at him.

The teen shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Saw some poor girl about to get roped into something shady and figured I should step in."

From the shadows, the turtles exchanged looks.

Cat, meanwhile, stared at him.

He had no idea she was a mutant.

He just saw a random girl in trouble—and helped her anyway.

"Well," the teen sighed, stretching, "if you're good, I'll get outta your hair. But next time? Maybe don't wander around by yourself at night."

Cat laughed weakly. "Noted."

But he didn't leave.

Instead, he glanced around, frowning. "You sure you're okay to get home?"

Cat blinked. "Oh! Uh, yeah!"

He didn't look convinced. "I don't like the idea of you walking alone after that. Lemme walk you at least part of the way."

In the shadows, Raph's eye twitched.

Donnie groaned. "Oh, for shell's sake, now can we intervene?"

Leo sighed. "No. Just let him do his thing." But he was tensing.

Mari smirked. "Raph's gonna pop a vein."

Cat, unaware of her seething family in the alley, hesitated—but something about him felt safe.

"Okay," she said. "Thanks."

And as they walked off together, the turtles watched, torn between grudging respect and absolute indignation.

Cat should have been thinking about going home.

She should have been thinking about her brothers and sister, who were all definitely losing their minds in the shadows.

But instead, she was thinking about how weird it was to just... talk to a human.

And not in a terrified "don't scream" kind of way.

"So, Catherine," Elliot said the name that Cat gave him, smirking as he walked beside her, hands tucked into his jacket pockets. "What's a new girl in town doing wandering around alone at night?"

From the alleyway, six pairs of glowing eyes tracked them like vultures.

"Alright," Raph muttered, muscles coiled like springs. "That's enough. I'm going in."

Leo clamped a hand onto his shoulder. "Stand down."

"I AM STANDING—"

"No, you're NOT."

Meanwhile, Cat fumbled for an answer, forcing a laugh. "Oh, y'know! Just—taking in the sights!"

Elliot gave her a look. "At night?"

Cat hesitated. "...I like streetlights?"

From the shadows, Mari let out a quiet groan. "She's so bad at this."

"She's panicking," Donnie whispered.

"She should be!" Mikey hissed. "We don't know this guy!"

"Yeah," Raph growled. "And I don't like this guy."

Leo sighed sharply. "Nobody likes him, but we can't risk blowing her cover."

Out in the open, Elliot raised an eyebrow at Cat's answer but didn't push. "You from here?"

"Uhhh—nope!" she said quickly. "Small town girl! Totally new!"

Elliot hummed, studying her. "That explains a lot."

From the alley, Raph twitched. "What's THAT supposed to mean?"

"Stay down," Donnie whispered harshly, holding him back.

Elliot smirked. "Well, since you're sightseeing, you wanna keep walking? I know some cool spots."

Cat hesitated.

She should go back.

She should tell him she had somewhere to be.

But this was the first time she wasn't hiding.

This was the first time she was just another person on the street.

And for just a little longer... she wanted to stay that way.

"Yeah," she said before she could stop herself. "Let's do it."

From the shadows, absolute chaos erupted.

"NOPE," Leo hissed. "Not happening!"

"SHE CAN'T GO OFF ALONE WITH HIM—" Raph snarled, jerking forward.

Mari grabbed the back of his bandana, yanking him back. "Dude, STOP!"

"Someone stop HER," Mikey whisper-yelled.

"I'M ON IT!" Donnie lunged, grabbing Mari's wrist just as she started to move.

She twisted in his grip. "Donnie, LET—ME—GO—"

Leo yanked Donnie back before he could lose his grip, practically wrestling him into a chokehold.

"EVERYBODY SHUT UP—"

Meanwhile, Cat walked off with Elliot, completely unaware that her siblings were on the verge of ripping each other apart in a silent war just ten feet away.

Leo sucked in a slow breath, gripping Raph's arm with everything he had. "Nobody. Moves."

Mikey twitched. "B-But—"

Leo's jaw clenched. "We tail her. That's it."

Raph growled low in his throat, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked.

Mari exhaled sharply, shoulders tight with frustration.

Mikey whimpered.

Cat?

She just smiled, completely oblivious.

Cat walked beside Elliot, her heart hammering from the sheer normalcy of it all.

This was the dream.

No hiding. No sneaking. No worrying about someone spotting her and freaking out.

Just... walking.

Talking.

Existing.

"So, new girl," Elliot said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "You got a favorite part of the city yet?"

Cat blinked. "Huh?"

He smirked. "You did say you're new, right?"

"Oh! Uh—yeah!" She scrambled for an answer. "I mean, I haven't seen much yet, but I love—" Her brain stalled. "Uh. The... ice cream?"

Elliot snorted. "Solid answer."

From the rooftops, her siblings followed silently, watching like a pack of predators.

Leo crouched low, keeping pace with them as he spoke in a clipped whisper. "Nobody makes a move unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Yeah?" Raph hissed. "Define necessary."

"Like if he grabs her," Donnie muttered, eyes sharp behind his goggles.

Mari scoffed. "We should've grabbed her ten minutes ago."

"She's handling it," Leo insisted.

Mikey, still visibly distressed, wrung his hands. "What if she stops handling it?!"

Raph growled under his breath. "Then we handle him."

Meanwhile, Cat tried to play it cool. "So, uh—what about you?" she asked.

Elliot glanced at her. "What about me?"

She hesitated. "...You from here?"

"Born and raised," he said easily. "I know this city like the back of my hand."

From the rooftops, Mikey twitched.

Leo tensed. "Mikey—"

"I hate this," Mikey whimpered.

"Shut up," Mari whispered.

Cat smiled nervously. "That's cool! I, uh... I haven't really figured my way around yet."

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "And you're just walking around alone?"

Cat stiffened. "Oh, uh—"

Elliot let out a short laugh. "You're kinda lucky I showed up when I did. This city eats people alive."

Cat swallowed. "Y-Yeah. Good thing."

He smirked. "That why you let me stick around?"

Cat's heart stopped.

From the rooftops, Donnie froze. "What?"

Mikey choked. "WHAT?!"

Leo had to physically slam a hand over Mikey's mouth. "Be. Quiet."

Cat let out a nervous laugh. "Uh, well—"

Elliot chuckled. "Relax, new girl. I'm messing with you."

From the rooftop, Mari twitched. "I hate him."

Raph's grip on his sai tightened. "Can I hit him now?"

Leo shot him a glare. "No."

Cat forced a laugh, trying to shake off her nerves. "You're funny."

Elliot grinned. "I try."

The city stretched out in front of them, the streets humming with late-night life.

And in the shadows above, six overprotective turtles were barely holding it together.

"You're acting weird," Elliot said after a bit.

Cat flinched. "I am not acting weird!"

"You definitely hesitated before answering that," Elliot smirked.

From a nearby fire escape, Mikey gripped the railing hard enough to dent it. "WHY is he analyzing her?!"

Mari exhaled through her nose. "If he keeps analyzing her, I'm throwing a rock at his head."

Raph cracked his knuckles. "Forget the rock."

Leo shot them both a glare. "We are watching. That's it."

"For now," Raph muttered.

Elliot, still completely unaware of the execution squad tailing him, gave Cat a once-over. "I mean, not to be rude, but... do you even know where you're going?"

Cat let out a nervous laugh. "Obviously! I totally, uh... planned all of this?"

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "That's a question, not an answer."

Cat panicked. "Food! I should eat—uh—human food!"

Elliot blinked. "...I mean, yeah? What else would you eat?"

From the alley, Raph seethed. "SHE NEEDS TO STOP TALKING."

Leo clenched his jaw. "I swear if you move one inch, Raph—"

Elliot, still staring at Cat, chuckled. "Alright, weirdo. Let's get you some 'human food.'"

Cat nodded quickly, heart pounding, but excitement creeping in again. She was really doing this.

Cat followed Elliot down the street, still giddy with excitement despite her growing anxiety. This was so cool—walking with a human, talking like she belonged, and no one suspected a thing.

Well... except Elliot, who was side-eyeing her like she'd just crash-landed from another planet.

"So, uh..." he started, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Not to sound completely rude, but—where exactly are you from?"

Cat stiffened. "Oh! Y'know. Places."

Elliot gave her a flat look. "Super specific."

"Uh-huh!" She nodded quickly. "I move around a lot—I've kinda never been in one place for too long, so, y'know, I'm just, um..."

"...Bad at talking?"

"YES. I mean—no! I just—"

From the shadows, all of her siblings collectively facepalmed.

"Oh my God," Mari groaned, rubbing her temples. "She's gonna expose herself through sheer stupidity."

Leo pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just be normal, Cat..."

"I literally can't watch this," Raph muttered, gripping his sai. "Just let me take him out, one quick hit—"

"RAPH, NO." Donnie had to physically hold him back.

Meanwhile, Elliot was still watching Cat with amusement. "Y'know, you're probably the weirdest girl I've ever met."

Cat's heart skipped a beat. "Uh—compliment or insult?"

Elliot smirked. "Haven't decided yet."

From the rooftops, Mikey grabbed Leo's shoulder, shaking him. "LEO, I CAN'T. HE'S FLIRTING. HE'S FLIRTING WITH HER."

"I KNOW, MIKEY," Leo gritted out, muscles tensed.

Mari huffed. "This dude's entire existence is annoying me."

Back on the street, Cat scrambled for literally anything normal to say. "W-Well, uh—you're pretty weird too!"

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah! I mean, like, what normal person jumps in to rescue random girls from creepy strangers?"

Elliot snorted. "Uh, I dunno, a decent person?"

Cat blinked. "...Oh."

That actually... made a lot of sense.

Before she could respond, Elliot nodded toward a nearby diner. "C'mon. I'm starving."

Cat perked up. "FOOD! I love food!"

From the alley, Raph tensed like he was about to explode.

"Okay, that's IT, I'm—"

Leo grabbed his arm. "NO, YOU'RE NOT."

"HE CAN'T TAKE HER INSIDE THAT DINER!"

Mari was already gripping her tanto. "We have to get her out of there before she says something even dumber."

"Agreed," Donnie muttered. "If she hasn't already."

The group collectively seethed as they watched Elliot hold open the diner door for Cat.

Mikey collapsed dramatically against Leo. "WE'RE LETTING HER GO INSIDE WITH HIM, LEO, WE'RE LETTING IT HAPPEN."

Leo exhaled sharply. "We watch. We wait."

"...And if she screws up?"

"...Then we intervene."

Mikey covered his face. "She's definitely gonna screw up."

As the door swung shut behind Cat and Elliot, the remaining five turtles stayed hidden—stalking, fuming, and barely holding it together.

The moment the diner door swung shut behind Cat and Elliot, the remaining five turtles lost their minds.

"WE CAN'T SEE HER ANYMORE." Mikey grabbed Leo's shoulders, shaking him violently. "SHE'S IN THERE, LEO. ALONE. WITH HIM."

Leo pried Mikey's hands off him, his own expression unreadable. "I know."

Raph let out a growl, already pacing. "This is stupid. We should be in there with her!"

"Yeah, because six giant mutant turtles waltzing into a human diner wouldn't be suspicious at all," Donnie muttered sarcastically.

"Then we get her out!" Raph snapped.

"We can't," Mari said through clenched teeth. "Not unless we want her cover blown."

Raph crossed his arms, jaw tight. "This is a bad idea."

Leo frowned, gripping his earpiece. "We'll have to talk to her through comms."

From inside the diner, Cat slid into a booth across from Elliot, completely unaware of the storm happening just outside.

Elliot leaned back against the seat, smirking. "So, tell me, what's your deal?"

Cat blinked. "My deal?"

"Yeah. You act like you've never been in a city before."

Cat stiffened. "W-What? Pshhh, nah, I—I totally have!"

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "Right. And I'm the mayor."

Before Cat could stammer out another awful excuse, a sharp buzz sounded in her ear.

"Cat, do not mess this up," Leo's voice crackled over her earpiece.

Cat jolted. "AH—!"

Elliot gave her a look. "You good?"

She forced a smile. "YEP. TOTALLY. Perfectly normal response to nothing happening at all."

Elliot narrowed his eyes, but before he could question it—

"For the love of God, Cat, act like a functioning person," Mari's voice deadpanned in her ear.

Cat subtly scratched at the earpiece. "Ow, could you guys not yell?!" she hissed under her breath.

Elliot blinked. "Huh?"

Cat froze. "NOT YOU. I mean—I meant that in my head! Just thinking about—stuff! Yep!"

"...You're so weird."

Cat groaned. "I know."

Meanwhile, back in the alley—

"SHE'S ALREADY SCREWING UP," Raph hissed. "SHE'S TALKING TO HERSELF."

Mikey clutched his head. "She's gonna blow this SO HARD."

Donnie sighed. "We should keep communication minimal before she accidentally responds out loud again."

Inside the diner, Elliot tilted his head. "Alright, so since you clearly suck at answering questions, let me make it easy."

Cat straightened. "Uh, okay?"

He rested his chin in his hand, smirking slightly. "Tell me one normal thing about you."

Cat panicked. "Uh—um—uh—I like—shiny things?"

Elliot snorted. "Okay, magpie."

"WAIT, WHAT?" Raph's voice blared in her ear.

Cat jolted so hard she nearly fell out of her seat.

Elliot definitely noticed that.

"...You sure you're okay?"

Cat forced a too-wide smile. "Hahaha what is normalcy, am I right?"

From outside, Leo pinched the bridge of his nose. "We're so screwed."

Cat couldn't stop staring at her hands.

They were so... normal.

No green skin. No three fingers. No claws. Just soft, human hands that didn't immediately mark her as different.

As wrong.

For the first time in her life, she wasn't a mutant. She wasn't a turtle. She wasn't the weirdest thing in the room.

She was just a girl in a diner, talking to another normal person, eating normal food.

And it felt amazing.

She didn't realize how lost in thought she was until Elliot waved a hand in front of her face.

"Yo, Earth to Magpie?"

She blinked. "Huh?"

Elliot smirked. "You just completely checked out. Thought I broke you for a second."

"Oh! No, no, I just—" She hesitated, unsure how to even explain it. "I'm just... happy."

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "Because of waffles?"

She looked down at her plate, where she'd been absentmindedly poking at the golden, syrup-covered waffle in front of her.

She let out a small laugh. "I mean... kinda."

Elliot snorted. "Wow. High standards, huh?"

She grinned, lifting a forkful of waffle to her mouth. "You have no idea."

Meanwhile, back in the alley—

"Okay, but she's actually kinda killing it now," Mikey whispered, peeking through the window.

"She seems way too happy," Raph grumbled, arms crossed.

"Yeah," Leo muttered, frowning. "A little too happy."

Donnie sighed, adjusting his earpiece. "Guys, we knew this would happen. She's finally experiencing the one thing she's always wanted—being human."

Mari leaned against the wall, watching Cat through the window, her expression unreadable. "...Yeah. And that's exactly what I'm worried about."

Inside, Cat was practically glowing.

No one stared at her. No one whispered behind her back.

She wasn't a freak here.

She was just a girl having a late-night meal with a friend.

Her smile faltered slightly at that thought. Was Elliot her friend?

She barely knew him, but he'd stepped in when she needed help. He was cool. Funny. He didn't look at her weird or make her feel out of place.

And most importantly—

He had no idea who she really was.

Cat set her fork down, suddenly feeling lighter than she ever had before.

"I could get used to this," she murmured under her breath.

From the earpiece, Mari's voice cut in, sharp and quiet.

"Don't get too comfortable, Cat."

Cat stiffened.

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "You okay?"

She forced a smile. "Yeah! Just... uh, zoning out again."

Elliot smirked. "You do that a lot."

She let out a small laugh, but Mari's words lingered.

Because deep down, Cat knew.

This wasn't real.

It couldn't last.

And she hated that.

The diner door swung open, spilling warm light onto the dimly lit sidewalk as Cat and Elliot stepped out into the cool night air.

Elliot stretched with a satisfied sigh. "Man, I needed that. Good food, decent company—solid night."

Cat rolled her eyes, stuffing her hands into her hoodie pocket. "Gee, thanks."

Elliot smirked. "You know what I mean. So, what now? Do I walk you home, or do you just vanish into the night like some kinda cryptid?"

From the shadows of a nearby alley, Leo whispered through Cat's earpiece. "Tell him you can get home on your own."

Mari scoffed. "No, tell him to back off before I break his knees."

Raph grumbled, "Or before I do."

Cat clenched her jaw, trying to ignore them. "Uh—nah, I'm good! I know my way back."

Elliot gave her a skeptical look. "You sure? 'Cause no offense, but you don't seem like you've spent a lot of time out here."

Cat's stomach twisted. He wasn't wrong. But it still stung.

"I—I'm just bad with directions," she lied quickly, forcing a smile.

Elliot didn't look convinced.

"Abort, abort," Mikey whispered. "He's onto you, bro."

"She's fine," Donnie said. "Just play it cool, Cat."

Cat forced out a laugh, waving Elliot off. "Really, I got it! Besides, it's not like the city's that big."

Elliot snorted. "Right. Just a couple million people, endless streets, and a totally-not-dangerous crime rate."

She winced. "Okay, maybe slightly big."

Elliot sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Alright, alright. I won't push. But at least let me walk you to the next block. I'd feel like an ass if I just left you here."

Cat hesitated.

From the alley, her siblings tensed.

Leo's voice was sharp. "Cat, no."

Raph's hands curled into fists. "I swear, if she says yes—"

"Guys, chill," Donnie muttered. "She's got this."

Cat exhaled slowly before turning to Elliot with a small grin. "Alright. One block."

Elliot smirked. "That's all I ask."

As they walked, Cat felt a strange mix of excitement and guilt settle in her chest. She wasn't used to this—walking beside someone, being treated like she belonged here.

And the worst part?

She liked it.

Maybe a little too much.

From the alley, her siblings followed silently, watching.

And for the first time since this whole thing started, Leo had a bad feeling.

Something was changing.

And he wasn't sure if he liked it.

The city lights shimmered across the pavement, their glow casting soft halos around the bustling crowd. Cat walked beside Elliot, her heart still thrumming with disbelief.

She wasn't hiding. She wasn't lurking in the shadows. She was just... walking.

A normal girl on a normal night.

And she loved it.

Elliot shoved his hands in his pockets, glancing at her. "So, tell me something about you."

Cat blinked. "Uh. Like what?"

He smirked. "I dunno. Hobbies? What do you do for fun?"

From the alley, Mari's voice crackled in her earpiece. "Be cool, Cat. Normal hobbies. NORMAL."

Cat wracked her brain. "Oh, y'know, the usual—uh... sports! I... run."

Leo, watching from the shadows, frowned. "Cat, you do NOT run."

Elliot raised a brow. "Yeah? You on a team or something?"

"Oh, no! It's, um... personal training."

Donnie audibly groaned over the earpiece. "Personal training?! What does that even—"

Elliot nodded. "Huh. What kinda stuff?"

Cat panicked. "Oh, uh—parkour!"

Silence.

Mikey, from the alley: "YOU IDIOT."

Elliot blinked. "...Parkour?"

"Yeah! Y'know, jumping and flipping and... climbing stuff." She let out an awkward laugh. "I, uh, love rooftops."

Raph's grip tightened on his sai. "I'm gonna go over there and drag her back myself."

Elliot studied her for a second. "That's... kinda cool, actually."

Cat's stomach unknotted slightly. "Yeah?"

He smirked. "Yeah. Never met a girl who casually does parkour."

Leo muttered, "Because she's a ninja, you moron."

Cat grinned. She was doing it. She was blending in.

Elliot tilted his head. "So, what about your family?"

Her smile faltered.

Her actual family was currently losing their collective minds in the alley.

She swallowed hard. "Oh, uh... it's just me. Only child."

The earpiece exploded.

"WHAT?!" Mikey practically screamed.

Leo clapped a hand over his mouth.

Elliot raised a brow. "Huh. Must be kinda nice, not having annoying siblings all up in your business."

Cat forced a laugh. "Oh, yeah. No annoying siblings. No one overbearing. No one constantly watching my every move, telling me what to do, what not to do..."

From the alley, Raph twitched. "I'm gonna kill her."

They reached the end of the block, and Elliot slowed.

"Alright," he said. "This is where I turn off."

Cat hesitated. She didn't want this to be over. She liked this. The city. The feeling of being just another person.

But then—

A familiar tingling sensation crawled up her arms.

Her stomach twisted.

No.

Not now.

Not yet.

She glanced down. Her fingers—her skin—were shifting, darkening into green.

Her breath hitched.

No, no, no, no—

Panic surged through her veins.

"Uh—" She forced a shaky laugh, stepping backward.

Elliot frowned. "You okay?"

She was not okay.

Her fingers twitched. The change was spreading too fast.

"I—uh—BYE!"

Before Elliot could react, Cat bolted, disappearing into the nearest alleyway.

Elliot blinked.

"What the hell?"

Behind him, the street bustled on like nothing had happened.

But Cat was gone.

Cat ran.

Her breath came in short, panicked gasps as she darted through the alleyways, her legs barely keeping up with her racing heart. She could feel the shift happening—her fingers tingling, her skin crawling as her body slowly lost its human form.

Not yet, not yet, not yet—

She ducked into the nearest hidden corner, pressing herself against the cold brick wall, willing herself to stop changing.

But it was too late.

Her hands darkened, her nails sharpened, her face stretched back into something inhuman.

In just seconds, the illusion of normalcy was gone.

The human girl Elliot had met was gone.

And she was a mutant again.

Footsteps landed behind her.

Leo, Mari, Raph, Donnie, and Mikey dropped into the alley, their eyes sharp and angry.

Cat barely had time to catch her breath before—

"Only child?!" Mikey burst out. "Are you kidding me?!"

Cat winced. "Okay—listen—"

"No, you listen!" Mari snapped, shoving her hands on her hips. "We were watching the whole time! And you had the nerve to act like we don't exist?!"

"I didn't mean it like that!" Cat insisted.

"Oh, really?" Raph scoffed. "Because when he asked, you sure as hell didn't hesitate!"

Leo exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "What were you thinking?"

Cat's throat tightened. "I wasn't! I just—I got caught up in the moment, and—"

"And what?" Mari demanded. "And forgot about us?"

"No!" Cat clenched her fists. "I just—"

She swallowed hard. "I liked being human."

Silence.

Cat's voice wavered. "No one looked at me weird. No one stared. I was just another girl in the crowd."

Her hands shook. "And for once... I belonged there."

No one spoke.

Raph's jaw clenched. "So what? You're saying you don't belong here?"

Cat flinched. "I—"

"You think we don't get it?" Raph's voice sharpened. "You think we haven't all wished we could be human, even for a second?"

"I know that!" Cat snapped. "But it's different for me! I'm not strong like you guys, I don't fight like you, and everyone treats me like I'm weak and unimportant—I'm a mutant like you but—"

Leo sighed. "Look. We get it. But you can't just run off and ditch us. You think that guy would've been your friend if he knew the truth?"

Cat hesitated. "...I don't know."

"Exactly." Leo motioned for the others to move. "We're going home. Now."

Cat didn't argue.

The walk back to the lair was tense. No one spoke.

The moment they entered, Cat immediately turned to Donnie.

"Where's the ray?" she asked.

Donnie stiffened.

"...Cat," he started carefully.

"I just need to see it," she said quickly. "Just—just one more time—"

But before Donnie could respond—

CRASH.

The device shattered.

Everyone froze.

Raph stood over the broken remains, his fist still clenched.

Cat's stomach dropped.

Her voice barely came out. "...What did you do?"

Raph didn't flinch. "I ended this."

Cat's breath hitched. "I—I wasn't—"

"You weren't what?" Raph snapped. "You weren't gonna use it? Don't lie to me."

Cat's fists trembled. "I just wanted to see—"

"You wanted an out." Mari's voice was sharp. "That's what you wanted."

Cat's throat closed.

"You're one of us," Leo said firmly. "And you're staying one of us."

Cat's hands curled into fists.

Her lips parted.

But she said nothing.

Mikey hesitated, watching her. "Cat—"

She turned on her heel and stormed to her room.

No one stopped her.

No one said anything.

The broken pieces of the ray lay scattered on the ground.

And for the first time—

Cat wasn't sure if she hated them for it.

Or if she hated herself for wanting to use it.

The lair felt wrong.

Even as the usual sounds filled the space—the hum of Donnie's tech, the distant clang of Raph working out, the occasional chatter—there was something missing.

Something off.

And it was Cat.

Mikey, arms draped over the couch, frowned at her closed door. "Is she still in there?"

Mari, sitting beside him, scoffed. "You see that door open?"

Mikey's frown deepened.

"Dude, she's been in there all day," he muttered. "We should—"

"No," Raph said, barely looking up from where he was sharpening his sai.

Mikey sighed. "You could've at least let her see it one more time."

"No," Raph repeated, firmer.

Mikey's expression twisted. "You didn't have to break it."

"Yes, I did."

"Why?!"

Raph's grip tightened on his weapon.

"Because she would've used it," he said, his voice low.

The room went silent.

Mari exhaled sharply. "She was gonna use it."

Mikey's face twisted. "You don't know that."

"Yes," Raph snapped. "I do."

Leo, who had been quietly listening from across the room, finally spoke.

"She was choosing a lie," he said. "Over us."

Mikey crossed his arms, shoulders tense. "Maybe you guys are forgetting, but she's never felt like she belonged down here. This isn't just about the ray." He looked toward her door again. "She's been struggling with this for a long time."

No one responded.

Then, quietly—

"...Maybe I should talk to her," Donnie said.

Raph raised a brow. "Why you?"

Donnie shot him a look. "Because you'd just yell at her again."

Raph huffed but didn't argue.

Mikey sat up. "You're gonna tell her she does belong, right?"

Donnie didn't answer.

Instead, he stood and walked toward Cat's room.

Donnie knocked lightly. "Cat?"

No response.

He sighed. "I know you're not asleep."

Silence.

He hesitated—then opened the door.

Cat was curled up on her bed, back facing him, staring blankly at the far wall.

Donnie sighed, stepping inside. "...Hey."

She didn't look at him.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Then—

"...Was I wrong?"

Donnie blinked.

Her voice was quiet.

"If I had the choice," she murmured, her hands clenching against her blanket, "I would've taken it."

She turned slightly, her eyes glossy. "Does that make me a bad person?"

Donnie frowned. "No."

Cat swallowed. "Then why does it feel like I am?"

Donnie sighed, sitting beside her. "Because you're not proud of wanting it."

Cat exhaled shakily. "I just—I felt normal, Donnie. No hiding, no running, no worrying if people would be scared of me—" Her voice caught. "But I was hiding, wasn't I?"

Donnie didn't answer immediately.

"...Maybe," he admitted. "But I think that's why it felt good."

Cat blinked.

Donnie offered a small shrug. "You didn't really want to be human. You just wanted to stop feeling like a freak."

Cat inhaled sharply.

"Being a mutant doesn't make you less." Donnie's voice was calm, steady. "It's you."

Cat clenched her jaw. "Then why do I feel like I'll never be good enough?"

Donnie was quiet for a long time.

Then, with a sigh—

"...Because you don't see yourself the way we do."

Cat's breath hitched.

Donnie shook his head. "We don't pity you, Cat. We love you. We trust you." He met her gaze. "But until you start believing in yourself—you're never gonna believe us when we say that."

Cat's vision blurred.

Donnie stood up. "No one's mad at you, you know."

Cat swallowed, gripping her blanket. "...Mari and Raph are."

"They're not," Donnie assured. "They just don't know how to say they're scared of losing you."

Cat's chest ached.

Donnie turned to leave.

But before he stepped out, he glanced back.

"...I know this sucked," he admitted. "But one day? You're gonna look back at this and be glad you didn't stay human."

Cat blinked. "How do you know?"

Donnie smiled faintly.

"Because you'd be losing way more than you'd be gaining."

With that, he walked out.

Cat sat there, staring at the door.

Her heart was heavy.

Her mind was exhausted.

But for the first time since turning human—

She didn't regret turning back.

Not completely.

Most of her siblings had scattered to their usual spots—Mikey on the couch, Mari leaning against the wall, Raph sharpening his sai, Leo sitting near the dojo entrance. Donnie had gone back to his lab, probably giving her space.

Cat stood in the hallway, heart hammering in her chest.

She had to do this.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.

Everyone noticed her at once.

Mikey perked up first. "Cat!" He smiled, sitting up. "Feelin' better?"

Cat hesitated. "...Kind of."

The room fell into an expectant silence.

She swallowed, looking at each of them. "I, um..." She clenched her fists, forcing herself to continue. "I just... wanted to say I'm sorry."

No one interrupted.

She exhaled shakily. "I—I know I hurt you guys." Her voice wavered. "And I know I almost—" She stopped, biting her lip. "I just... I really wanted to be normal. I thought... I thought it would fix everything."

Raph scoffed, but there was no bite behind it. "Yeah, well, normal's overrated."

Cat managed a weak smile before looking at Leo. "I didn't mean to say I was an only child."

Leo nodded slowly. "We know."

Her stomach twisted. "I just—I didn't want Elliot to ask questions I couldn't answer."

"Yeah," Mari muttered. "And you picked that answer?"

Cat winced.

Leo shook his head. "It wasn't what you said, Cat. It was why you said it."

Cat swallowed. "I was gonna come back," she admitted. "But a part of me thought... maybe if I stayed human, I wouldn't have to feel like this anymore."

Silence.

Then—

"...And do you?"

Cat turned.

Mikey was watching her carefully.

Her chest tightened.

"...No."

Mikey's face softened.

"I thought I would," Cat continued, voice quiet. "But I didn't."

She looked at her hands—her real hands, green and clawed, not soft, human ones.

Her fingers curled.

"I felt like a person, but... I wasn't me."

No one spoke for a long time.

Then—

"...Good," Raph muttered, leaning back against the wall. "Hate to break it to you, Princess, but you are a freak. And so are we." He shot her a look. "And we kinda need you down here in the freak club."

Cat blinked.

Then, slowly, a small, wobbly smile crossed her face.

Mari snorted. "Wow. The most sentimental thing Raph has ever said."

"Shut up," Raph grumbled.

Cat let out a quiet laugh—small, but real.

Mikey grinned. "So you're back for good?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

Mikey cheered. "Yes! I was this close to sneaking into your room and dragging you out!"

"You tried twice," Mari deadpanned.

Mikey gasped. "YOU KNEW?!"

Mari smirked.

Leo, watching Cat carefully, finally nodded. "We're glad you're back."

Cat's heart swelled.

"Me too," she whispered.

She turned to Raph.

"...Even if you broke the ray."

Raph huffed. "Yeah, yeah. You'll thank me later."

Cat hesitated—then surprised everyone by stepping forward and hugging him.

Raph stiffened. "What—what are you—?"

"Thank you," she murmured.

Raph sighed, rolling his eyes—but after a moment, he awkwardly patted her shell. "Yeah, yeah. You're welcome."

Cat turned to the others.

Before she could say anything, Mari ruffled her head. "Welcome back, shortstack."

"Stop—"

Mikey launched himself at her next. "GROUP HUG!"

Leo chuckled, shaking his head. "I guess that means we're officially moving on."