Chapter Text
The soft pat-pat-pat of feet right outside her room clued Venus in on what was about to happen in the next few seconds.
Frankly, she overheard this particular plan only a week ago from her youngest brother who had been under the impression that she was too engrossed in her new novel to pay any mind to the world around her. Unfortunately for him, though, Venus had the hidden ability to multitask. So, here she was, sitting in the darkness of her room as she picked up the nervous but excited whispers beyond the ragged shower curtains that blocked her from view.
Venus hid a chuckle. Honestly, they still had a lot to learn when it came to teenage rebellion. Especially when they're living with a sister who happened to also be well-trained in ninjutsu.
"Bros, what about Vivi? Should we let her in on this?"
"What? No, she's sleepin', ya goofball. Besides, this'll be a quick run topside anyway. Out and in. Ain't that right, Fearless?"
"Exactly. It'll only be for an hour or two before Sensei and Vee wake up to start our training."
"We should hurry; you know their body clocks sync up at this time of year. We don't want a double scolding, do we?"
Venus pouted slightly upon hearing the hushed conversation. So, they were really leaving her out on the adventure? Bummer. And here she was with her original plan of taking her brothers topside anyway, with her father's permission, no less. Ah well, teens will be teens. Then, Venus had an idea.
As silently and swiftly as the wind, she crossed her room until she left through the other opening that led to the main area of their home, out of her brothers' range of sight. Knowing they were taking the time to hype themselves up for their first trip above ground on their own (well, technically third trip but who was counting?), Venus carefully approached on light footsteps, still sticking close to the sharp shadows cast by the lamp affixed to the ceiling. They haven't noticed her yet, a point she filed away for future use.
It had been a while since she messed with her brothers like this so she was gonna milk this opportunity for all it's worth. Keeping the excitement and mischief toned down to help conceal her presence, Venus soundlessly propped herself against the wall on one shoulder, crossing her arms and one leg behind the other for more effect. This was gonna be great.
"Alright, you guys ready to go?"
"Go where, exactly?"
The sudden silence was hilarious as it was glorious. That's what they get for thinking they could sneak out on her. In sync, all four of her brilliant, talented, incredible, and adorable little brothers stiffly turned around to where she was half-hidden in the dark, their expressions ranging from every other emotion on the spectrum in different intensities. She had no idea what they were thinking right now but what she did know was that this was officially one of her best moments which she would look back on fondly.
Venus quirked her head, a wordless prompt for them to say something that could save their shells from a "potential scolding" even though that department was solely her father's. But history proved that when it really mattered, her scoldings were surprisingly effective. Mostly.
Leonardo, this time, was the first to break. "Uh, hey, Vee. Um... How's it going?"
Venus made a show of raising an eye ridge, unimpressed. Behind Leonardo were Michelangelo and Donatello, undoubtedly lily-livered and ready for the floor to absorb them. Though, Michael was a bit more obvious in his worries than Donatello, as he kept shooting nervous glances between his three brothers and Venus. "Yeah, uh, what brings you out here, sis? Thought you were, y'know, having a good night's sleep and stuff, heh." His smile was more awkward than it was charming and she fought back a laugh with all her might.
"Oh, you know," she started, still feigning casualness as she pretended to fix her wrist wrappings. "Woke up with a feeling." Watching the panic of getting caught gradually dawn in their eyes nearly forced her to break character but Venus stayed strong, waiting for the perfect time to drop the display of an older sister taking her sweet time in doling out the sermons.
"A...feeling?" Donatello meekly asked. She shrugged.
"Yeah. Then wouldn't you know, I see you four about to do what I know you're going to do."
Raphael had been a trooper keeping his mouth shut and looking at anywhere else but Venus until he not-so-subtly elbowed Leonardo to do something, say something, Fearless, or we're dead grounded!
She spent the next minute and a half watching her brothers exchange a wordless conversation with their eyes, eye ridges raising and dropping now and then. Probably morse code that only sneaky little brothers could decipher. She got the general sense of what they were discussing, though; who was gonna be the lucky turtle to start talking their way out of a lecture and a visit to the Hashi? Venus endeavored to maintain herself despite how much she laughed on the inside. This was too good.
Shoved none too lightly by Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello, Leonardo stood before her as the sacrificial lamb of tonight, and he didn't look too pleased by the betrayal, glaring petulantly at his unrepentant brothers. Despite that, he squared his shoulders and Venus decided last minute to push herself off the wall to stand face to face with her brother if just to sell the "secretly pissed and ten seconds away from snitching to Sensei" act. Behind Leonardo, their brothers didn't move a muscle, quieter than they'd ever been, as though waiting for the other shoe to plummet and cause a nuclear reaction. (In this case, it was just a soft ripple from a water drop but her brothers wouldn't know that yet until the right moment.)
"Vee."
"Lee."
Leonardo fidgeted ever so slightly at her little nickname for him while she remained stoic and calm. Years of meditation and near-heart attacks from her little brothers' shenanigans have been leading up to this moment.
"So, uh," he started and she knew immediately what he was gonna say next. "I can explain—"
"Explain why you four, despite Sensei's warnings, were about to head out and explore New York City in the middle of the night."
Venus phrased it more as a statement rather than a question, an effective method used by Master Splinter plenty of times whenever the boys did something bad and were trying to lie their way out of it. She was a good enough strategist to conclude that it was time for the big reveal now that she had set up everything pretty well. As much as she enjoyed watching her goofball siblings panic on the inside (and outside, in Michelangelo's case) over getting caught red-handed, she wanted to experience exploring the world above the sewers with her little brothers through a fresher perspective.
So she let the other shoe finally drop.
"You're gonna do that..." The four of them audibly swallowed whatever words they planned to say as she leaned forward and gave the sneakiest smile she could physically muster.
"And leave me out on all the fun?"
Just like that, her brothers' built-up panic left their shells and they were smiling brightly enough to light up even the darkest corners of New York. Heck, they were lighting up the entirety of the sewers already.
"You're coming with us, Vivi?" Mikey bounced on his toes eagerly at the idea and Venus reflected his grin.
"Yes. I mean, you didn't think I was going to leave you boys to see the world unsupervised, did you?"
They didn't need much supervising, she was smart enough to accept that fact ever since they'd gotten their masks upgraded and their skills refined, but call it second nature to make sure her brothers went unscathed when venturing into the unknown. After all, she was their big sister and, much more recently, their team leader. Wherever they go, she goes, and vice versa. Particular habits die last and all that.
Raphael chuckled as he, Donatello, and Michelangelo approached. "We're fifteen, Vee, we can explore the world a little unsupervised."
"I'd believe that," she said as a certain event in their lives that made Master Splinter nearly lose his marbles with worry and her seesawing between coddling them or noogie-ing their heads until they got the message came to mind, "but I remember that time when you were kids that you went out of the lair without Sensei or me knowing about it. And for a toy you found, no less."
Raphael averted his eyes, abashed. "That was one time..."
"But hey!" Michelangelo shoved past his brothers and had an arm around her shoulders. "You're here with us now, right? That means Sensei won't blow a gasket if he ever finds out since you'll be watching our shells the entire time!"
Venus didn't doubt that considering how less tense Master Splinter got when she was there to watch the boys while he was gone for a scavenging trip. But she suspected that even with her looking over them, their father wouldn't be too happy discovering they left without him in the know. Which was why Venus wanted to ask him for permission. She was older, a little wiser, and the first to earn her new mask, crafted from a childhood scarf that kept her warm during the winter. She liked to believe she earned Sensei's trust in keeping her brothers - his sons - out of harm's way now that she was a proper kunoichi. But who even had an idea as to what his answer would be regardless?
She told the boys of her initial plans and their reactions were what she expected; a short evolution from surprise to understanding to sheepishness because they probably just remembered her "superpower" of being the eldest child and, therefore, the most responsible in looking after the family right after Master Splinter. Although even she had her scruples about testing the deeper waters of that authority and going behind her father's back about his number one rule.
But then again, this was important for the boys, and she was gonna do everything in her power to make sure they had the best fun they could have now that they'd grown much older than five and more skilled than Venus used to be at nine. They were gonna be okay.
"No time dwelling on that now," Venus said with finality, approaching the ladder to the manhole awaiting their ascent. Good thing she packed her tessen and tanto with her. Just in case. "If Sensei finds out and gets mad when we get back, I'll explain everything to him."
Leonardo didn't seem glad about that idea. "But we don't want you to get in trouble for us, Vee. I mean, this was our plan, and you didn't know about it until you woke up and found us."
She squashed his worries with an assuring smile. Oh, Leonardo, ever her thoughtful little brother. "Don't worry about that, Leonardo, it's fine. Besides, this will be a quick run up top; like sightseeing. We won't stick our noses into any trouble. I'll make sure of that."
She aimed a pointed glance in Raphael's direction, hoping he got the message, which he did when he grumpily frowned and folded his arms but nodded. What a dork.
"Well? What're we waiting for? Let's get a move on." She started climbing, and one by one, her brothers followed.
New York City was the same as she remembered it all those years ago when she had been just a regular turtle and the years that trickled after that when she and Sensei went to pick up wayward turtle tots. The night sky didn't have a lot of stars but the moon shone brilliantly, making it easier for Venus to scope the alley for any humans under the heavy iron protection of the manhole cover.
So far, the coast was clear. Dumpsters, some cardboard boxes, and other city junk in the alley provided relatively good shielding from the main street right ahead, so Venus carefully slid the cover away and left the safety of the sewers with her brothers at her heels.
"Woah, the air up here is way different from the sewers. Smells like gas and greasy food!" Michelangelo noted after an exaggerated sniff, turning around in a complete three-sixty just to drink in the sight of the upside world much more clearly. Well, a pocket of it. The city was a huge place, after all. And the best way to view it was from above, where no one would think to look unless they wanted to stargaze.
She prompted her brothers to climb one side of a building by its escape ladder, retaining their ninja stealth until they reached the flat rooftop. The city looked so vast with its ocean of towers, stores, bridges, and skyscrapers, yet so small from a distance. Venus took it all in, not minding the cool breeze passing by and making the braided tail of her mask flutter.
"So, this is New York in all its glory," Donatello observed with fascination.
"It's huge!" Michelangelo said excitedly, jumping on his spot. "Hey, d'you think we could nab some pizza while we're out here?"
Then he got bopped on the head by Raphael, as usual. "Ow- hey!"
"So what now, chief?" Raphael ignored his younger brother's annoyance in favor of paying attention to what Venus's next course of action would be now that they were far enough away from unwanted eyes.
Venus scanned the area again. Admittedly, though she and Master Splinter memorized the sewer system routes throughout the years, she was unfamiliar with the terrain above them. As expected, considering she never ventured out here unless it was to bring back curious little siblings from wandering too far and too deep into the city.
But hey, there was always a first time for everything. Knowing is half the battle, she recalled her father saying. And what better way to have fun whilst scouting this maze of a new environment than a good old-fashioned game she and the boys used to play when they were little?
Hopping onto the parapet, she turned to her awaiting brothers and announced, "Why don't we start this off with a game of ninja tag race?"
Running over roofs had a different feeling from sprinting around the twists and turns of the sewers. It was freer, more open and unfamiliar, and the sky truly was the limit. Venus held back from cheering loudly, mostly for self-preservation's sake, but the thrill of leaping and jumping across the sleepless city energized her.
She chuckled when she saw Michael perform an eccentric front flip to the next building over Raphael, earning him a slightly distressed, "Careful, Mikey!" from Leonardo in the process. It was Michelangelo's turn as the tagger and, due to his faster reflexes and agility, he got his siblings. Well, all except Venus, hence her running like her life and dignity depended on it. She wasn't gonna lose tonight.
The destination they had chosen for this game was the water tower just a few blocks ahead. No prize had been decided outright yet but Venus planned for it to be pizza. They deserved a good snack for their first exploration outside.
"He's on your shell, Vee!"
"Don't let 'im tag ya or we'll never hear the end of it!"
"Don't look back, Vee!"
Venus's smile never left, even as Michelangelo complained to their brothers and their bias over who would win the game. She made it to the water tower first, landing noiselessly on the roof it stood on, and the others came seconds after. "I win."
Michelangelo, now sprawled on the ground like a turtle-shaped starfish, huffed with no real frustration, "No fair, Vivi, you had a head start!"
"Nah, it's 'cuz you were too slow," Raphael snickered and Venus saw the moment the youngest brother caught onto the opportunity to be a little menace.
"Says the turtle who got tagged first!"
And another chase began but this time it was between a ticked-off Raphael and a cackling Michael, both running around in circles, and Venus laughed softly. Whether it was from exertion or amusement at her brothers' antics, she didn't particularly care. They should do this more often.
Hm. Maybe they could; Venus had no doubt in her mind that she and the boys were skilled enough that they could take on enemies in a fight. Master Splinter saw to it that they were ready for the real world. So it stood to reason, if they were gonna go back to this side of New York, where the bad guys exist (where the monsters breathed and killed), Sensei should also be aware. She wouldn't want to put him through unnecessary worry and pain should one of them - or, heaven forbid, all of them - get seriously hurt and not return home.
(Both Sensei and Venus went through that kind of pain once before. Once. No more, they promised long ago, when Venus hated the thought of being separated from her father for long periods. Never again.)
Maybe once they were back in the lair, she'll ask him and make their case.
"Man, we should've done this ages ago!" Michelangelo said, now spared from the headlock-noogie Raphael had trapped him in. "I get to show off my awesome gymnastics!"
"And I get to finally use my bo staff like those Olympic vaulters on TV!" Donatello contributed as he held up his bo with a satisfied grin. Venus saw him do exactly as he said, vaulting over huge gaps between apartments like a seasoned pro, and it brought a sense of pride and joy in her for her genius brother.
"I gotta say," Leonardo added. "This feels way different from training in the sewers."
"Yeah, you could actually stretch your legs out here. Plus it doesn't reek o' Mikey's garbage," Raphael said, jutting a thumb at the offended turtle in question.
"Hey!"
"Raphael, Michelangelo, play nice," Venus advised lightly before scouting the expanse of this part of the city. Car horns bleated in the distance, the gust of wind was fresh and cold, and no humans were around to gaze upon them in fear or dangerous interest. Behind her, her brothers played and messed with each other, happy and content. The moon continued to shine and life went on. Venus breathed. (No iron or electric ozone in the air.)
Yeah, they should definitely do this again.
Later, a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, lifting her slightly from the ground, and Michelangelo gave his signature hug; that is to say, a tight embrace that didn't feel suffocating. "Vivi, have I ever told you you're my favorite sister in the whole entire galaxy?"
"I'm your only sister, Michael."
"Which makes you my favorite!" Michelangelo laughed before setting her back down. "Especially because we didn't get our shells whooped to next Sunday by Master Splinter!"
"Oh yeah, that wouldn't'a ended well for us," Raphael exaggerated a shiver. "We'd be stuck doin' drills n' not watch TV for weeks. I think Vee just saved our lives."
Venus rolled her eyes but she continued to grin. "Maybe next time don't keep me out of your top-secret adventures. I am the team leader now, you know."
It was her first time mentioning that fact out loud. Suddenly, it felt a bit too real. Sure, she had figured that kind of responsibility would naturally befall the eldest (that was why Sensei didn't bat an eye when, after he brought it up, the boys immediately, unanimously turned to her) but it was a completely separate concept from the older sister title she was used to. Being a leader just had a particular weight to it that Venus knew she had to pull. And she'd hate to disappoint her family if she couldn't do it, couldn't live up to their expectations.
"And you're rocking the job pretty great so far!" Michelangelo gave her a thumbs-up to emphasize his point.
"But you shoulda seen Leo's face, Vee," Raphael snickered whilst nudging Leonardo with an elbow. "He looked like he wanted to volunteer but chickened out last minute."
Huh, well that was the first she heard of it. With his face flushed a darker shade of green, Leonardo batted away his brother's nudging. "I didn't chicken out, Raph, I just saw that Vee was a better choice as leader, that's all."
Donatello chuckled, "Right, and you totally didn't mention before that you—"
"Donnie, shush!"
Okay, now she was curious. "What is it?" She probed, watching amusedly at how Leonardo was trying to get his brothers to stop whatever they were about to say. But ultimately, he lost to the powerfully intent stares of his brothers, and he sagged his shoulders in defeat.
Then he spoke, rather shy in the beginning but resolute in the end, "I, y'know, noticed how much responsibility that is. Being leader. And I know you've got a lot on your plate already just looking after us with Sensei, and helping us train, and I just...wanted to help. Take some of the burdens off your shell too."
Venus stared, in awe at just how much her little brother grew up in front of her eyes. A gentle smile reached her face, now, at the idea of Leonardo stepping up and leading the family. He had the potential, she could see it. Master Splinter as well. While all her brothers are talented in their own right, Leonardo just had this quality to him that was fit for a leader. Perhaps one day, Venus would step down and let him take the mantle, while she acted as counsel.
But right now, she wanted Leonardo to still be a kid, to enjoy his youth while he had it. She wanted that for all of them.
"That's thoughtful of you, Leonardo, and I appreciate it." She smirked at him. "But it's gonna take a lot more to get me exhausted. I mean, I managed to help keep you boys alive for fifteen years; what's a couple more for me now as a leader?"
The smiles she received were worth a million things in life and more. Her brothers were fifteen, she remembered. Old enough to not be coddled so much but young enough to still need some guidance. Well, a sister's job is never done. But Venus, as she always did, found that she didn't mind it at all.
"Come on, we still have another hour before Master Splinter senses that we're not where we should be," she waved a hand in the direction of where she had a gut feeling their usual pizza place was. "And I think tonight calls for some celebratory pizza."
A chorus of cheers rang for their next activity on their impromptu itinerary and Venus instantly took off with a jump to the next building, laughing at the indignant squawks that came immediately after, most notably about her getting a head start again. The next race was on, and she couldn't wait to do this again tomorrow with her little brothers.
~
"Hey, Vivi, how did you know we were gonna leave tonight?" Michelangelo questioned later as they traveled their way home, a box of pizza in hand. How they were able to pay for it was between her, Donatello, and the greater forces up there that allowed it.
Venus simply shrugged but she had a tiny grin that held her secret. "A sister's intuition."