Chapter Text
--Kimiko's POV--
It had been about two months since we defeated the Shredder. The usual amount of crime that tends to happen here in the Big Apple really seems to have dwindled down some. Just as Raph said it would. But still...I have to wonder what the Foot Clan has been up to, they’ve been quiet and that’s something that concerns me a bit...
I was currently putting some repairs to my Kuro Katana armor at my hideout, it had damaged pretty badly...Leonardo actually did manage to leave a pretty good dent in it that night. I’ve haven’t really been to the Foot Headquarters because...well, Shredder is gone, simply put. He was the main reason I stayed there and now that he’s out of the way, I don’t ever have to go back there..at least I hope.
Although...one thing I am a little worried about are those Guardian guys that showed up during the battle. They seemed like they were good people, but after one of them spoke with Leo, they completely disappeared. It leaves me wondering if they’re really what they seem. It was clear that they disliked the Shredder, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a friendly faction either.
You know now that I think about it, I never did find out who Oroku Saki’s main enemy was. It could be the Guardian dudes but what if it isn’t and it happens to be something worse?
I groan loudly and slam my face on my desk, “Why is New York so complicated!?” As if on cue, Avril Lavigne’s latest hit song, ‘Complicated’, came on the radio. “Really now?” I let out a sigh as I wrap up my work for the time being, “I guess I’ll just have to deal with things as they come...” I press a button under the desk to bring the elevator up, “The boys should be back from patrol by now.”
--Third Person--
After Kimiko left the elevator and entered her and Star’s room, she closed off the passage. The turtle was thankful that Star, nor anyone else was there at the moment. They still had no knowledge of Kim’s secret escape, though she contemplated on whether to reveal it or not. She shrugged at the thought after pushing her bookshelf back into place.‘I’ll have to show them eventually...I still have that other section to explore as well….I really should stop procrastinating and get to it...’ Kimiko shook her head and walked to the TV area where Star was. She powered on the GameCube and inserted a pink colored memory card into the system. The system was only connected to one TV so that others could watch or play their own games. Kimiko started to play Animal Crossing. It was a game that didn’t have much story and no actual ending, but was very peaceful and just all around a great game. (A/N – Totally not advertising it lol, still, Animal Crossing is awesome~)
Over at the TV Monolith, there was a news broadcast on channel six. Star was watching intently as a super hero was seen putting out a massive fire and saving many lives in the process. He was the famous Silver Sentry*, a man of very few weaknesses. The blonde had a big grin on her face, “He is awesome!” She glanced around the area to find her fellow comic geek missing, “Man...Mikey is missing out.” Star giggled to herself, “If he were here now, he’d be the one gushing over her favorite super hero.” She then checked her cell phone before hopping off the couch and putting on a navy blue hoodie. “Hey Kim! I’m heading to April’s place now!”
“Alright, just make sure to take the sewers, it’s faster and much safer.” The pink-masked turtle said as her villager on the game was running from angry bees after shaking the trees for money, “And if anyone tries to give you trouble, bash their faces in with your Nokia.”
Star snickered at Kim’s simple sounding words, “Got it!” Then left the lair, April had given her a job at her new antique shop called “The 2nd Time Around” and tonight she was going to learn the simple basics. As she walked through the sewer tunnels, her golden eyes beamed as she heard three familiar voices. From the other end, came the boys, “Hey you guys, how was patrol?”
“It was a little boring,” Leonardo started, shrugging before a grin made its way to his lips, “Until the very end.”
“It was Silver Sentry!” Raphael shouted happily, “Ya shoulda’ seem him, he was savin’ the day n’ everything. It was cool!”
The teenage human let out another laugh, “I know, I saw him on the news.” Then she grew silent as the goofball of the team passed them, a lot quieter than he normally was, “Mikey?” As she called his name, he didn’t respond. She stepped in front of the blue-green turtle and waved a hand in his face, “ Michelangelo, hey, yoohoo?”
Michelangelo snapped out of his current thoughts as he finally noticed Star, “Wha!?- Oh, Star, hi, I’m sorry, I was just thinking of an idea I had.” He rubbed the back of his head, “I’ll have to show you when you get back.” His brothers shook their heads as the continued into their home.
Star tilted her head as she watched them go, then turned her attention back to her friend, “Are you sure you’re okay there Mike? You’re usually the loud one of the bunch.”
The turtle waved a hand in the air with a soft smile, “Really, Star, I’m fine. You should get going now, don’t wanna be late to April’s.” Then Mikey had gone straight to his room instead of plopping on the couch to play his usual video games.
Star scratched her chin as she watched him, “Okay, something is definitely off about the guy...” She shook her head and started to walk down the tunnel again, “Hope he’s okay.”
-----
As the day in Animal Crossing began to end and all of the villagers were going to sleep, Kimiko saved the game before switching to Super Smash Bros Melee. She had gotten bored with nothing to really to on the game, so she erased her save data to start all over again. As usual, Kimiko was able to unlock the easiest character first, Jigglypuff from Pokemon. She grinned at the puffy, pink, big blue-eyed Pokemon, “Look at you, all innocent and cute..” Then she snickered with a smirk, “Until provoked.”
“Like you?” Came the calm voice of Leonardo who leaned over to watch her game. At that point, Jigglypuff had one-shot Bowser to oblivion with her Rest attack, “Well I can sort of see a resemblance.”
“The ol’ cute but deadly tactic.” Kimiko looked up to the fearless leader with a cheeky wink, “It’s my specialty.”
“Boy do I know that all too well…” Leo said with a light chuckle.
The younger turtle let out a satisfied snicker as she leaned forward and turned the game off. She stood up and started toward the orange mat that was just passed the couch, “Come on, it’s almost time for training.”
When their training started, each of the turtles sat cross-legged at one edge of the mat, facing away from each other. Splinter had turned the lights of the lair off and the only lighting they had came from some candles. The mutant rat began with a small lecture,“The two greatest weapons at the ninja’s disposal are- Placement and Surprise. Tonight, we perfect a move that utilizes both.” He turned to his eldest son, “Leonardo, Invisible Flying Dragon!”
Leonardo stood up and did a quick bow before leaping over Splinter while performing a kick mid air. He then landed on the opposite side of the mat before bowing once more. The other turtles did the exact same thing when Splinter called upon them, until he got to Michelangelo. The orange-masked turtle was so busy scribbling something down in a book, he didn’t even hear Splinter call his name.
“Michelangelo!” Mikey was rewarded with a good whack on the shoulder. “What are you doing, my son?”
The turtle quickly stood up, revealing a sketch book in his hand. He quickly hid it behind his back, “Um..nothing!”
“Oh yeah?” Raphael snickered as he swiped the book from his younger brother, “Then what’s this?”
“Hey! Give it back!” Mikey whined as his brothers played Keep Away with the book.
Leonardo caught the book and flipped through it, “Hey check it out,” He snorted in laughter as he viewed Mikey’s drawings. There were four turtles in super hero costumes, each were easily identified by their weapons.
Rapheal snickered again as he, Kimiko, and Donatello looked over Leo’s shoulder, “What is that? The Ninjustice League?”
“More like the Shelltastic Four!” Don joked, adding to the flames.
“The Legion of Sewer Heroes!” After that, the they, minus Kim, burst in laughter.
The youngest grunted in annoyance before snatching the book, “Guys! That’s not cool-”She froze as she was staring at a poorly drawn but clear picture of Kuro Katana, “Mikey, why is that there?”
“Well you know, you’re kind of like a super hero with that awesome costume you had.” Mikey said while taking his book back.
Kim sighed, “ Michelangelo…..I am sorry to get your hopes up, but I’m anything but a super hero and Kuro Katana doesn’t even exist anymore.”
“….But you’re still here aren’t you?” The orange-masked questioned.
“That’s not my point..”
“Mikey, you aren’t serious about this super hero thing, are you?” Leonardo said as he calmed himself down.
The blue-green turtle nodded, “Why not, super heroes never have to hold anything back or hide in the shadows where no one can see them. I mean, wouldn’t it be a little nice to get the credit we deserve for all the good we do?”
“Your intentions are noble Michelangelo.” Splinter began giving his daily wisdom, “ But you must never forget who you are. You are ninja, you operate in the shadows.”
Michelangelo held his arms out as he tried to express his opinion, “But can’t we accomplish so much more out in the open?”
“There are many paths, my son. You must choose the one that is true to yourself.” Then the rat paced back to the training mat, “Now let us return to your training.”
As Mikey watched his father walk away, he looked at his book before shaking his head and darting for the elevator. “Sorry Sensei, but I need to get out an clear my head for a bit...”
----
Over at April’s store, Star was adjusting quickly to her new job. She found working the cash register to be pretty fun. As she and April finished up for the night, the back door opened and a wild Michelangelo came inside. Although from the looks of it, he wasn’t really having the best day.
“Mikey,” April greeted him warmly with a light smile, “What brings you here?”
“I am in need of a super cool costume.” He rubbed a reddening cheek as he spoke, “I wanna get the super hero appeal so that I can stop crime without having to keep hiding in the shadows….and so that crazy ladies can stop smacking me upside the head with their purses every time I try to help them..” Mikey handed his sketch book to April, “So basically, if you want to act like a super hero, you gotta look like a super hero.”
There was a moment of silence as April and Star flipped through the pages of the few designs Mikey had drawn up. The turtle himself was beginning to feel discouraged, “It’s pretty lame isn’t it?”
“No not at all!” April responded, she looked up from the book, “I think you should follow your dream.”
Mikey’s second of doubt turned to a positive feeling,“Really? You think so?”
“She’s right,” Star added examining his figure as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, “We just have to find the right look for you.”
April pointed him to a few boxes of costumes which he tried on, one was a clunky set of knight’s armor, another made him look more like a mugger that a hero. “You need to find something that’s more...well, ‘you’, Mike.” Star suggested as Michelangelo was digging through another box behind a screen.
“I know, I know, but- Wait a minute! I think I got it!” He shouted, a massive grin present on his face. A moment later, he came out from behind the screen with a red, hooded cape, a shield in the shape of a turtle's shell, a single brown glove, and a matching pair of boots. On his chest, was a black, circular symbol with two red T’s. “Introducing, Turtle Titan!!”
“See? That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” Star cheered happily, “Now you have the look of a super hero!” ‘Although, now that I think about it, he’s always had it...’ She thought to herself, a light fuzzy feeling forming in her.
She was snapped out of her trance as the front door chimed, “See ya! I’m off on my first official patrol!!” Mikey shouted, running out of the store.
After Michelangelo left, April snickered toward the younger female, “I saw that.”
“S-saw what??” Star stuttered as she felt her cheeks warm up. She whipped herself around, facing away from April, “It was nothing, I swear!”
This caused the redhead to chuckle, “Whatever you say.” Then handed a white envelope filled with some money to her friend, “This is for you, Star. You did great today.”
Star took the envelope and slipped it into her pocket, “Thanks April.” She checked the clock before speaking again, “ I’m hitting the grocery store while I can before I get home...those four boys sure know how to go through food..”
“I can only imagine.” April rolled her eyes as she scoffed, “Anyway, you be careful getting home now.”
“I will!” Star waved before leaving the store.
*Silver Sentry is pretty much a reference to Superman and the Justice Force is also a reference the the Justice League in TMNT 2003. I also think there are some Marvel references in there as well.