Chapter Text
Leo was perched on top of a rooftop, looking down below to the busy streets of New York. It was cold, the night air giving him goosebumps. He ignored it though, he was on an important mission after all. There was no time to relax.
He sighs. If only the target would walk out the building faster he could go home. Back to the hidden city to a house where he's cared less for but at least it's warm. He missed his bed mostly.
As his thoughts drift he loses sight of the target he was supposed to be hunting down. When he comes to and notices the figure heading down the street.
"Great." He groaned to himself, there was no one else to listen to his grumbles anyways.
He stands up on the ledge, grabbing a sword from his back and slicing it in the air to create a portal. He steps through, and it teleports him to an alleyway below. He waits for his moment to strike, the dark of the alleyway providing cover. Just as the target steps in front Leo strikes. Dragging them down and into the dark like an animal dragging their prey away to devour.
Leo was silent, he may hate it but he was good at it. He hides the body in a nearby dumpster, he wipes his hands on his pants before grabbing a small round object from his pocket. He drags the object up the wall next to him to write a symbol. As the symbol is completed a portal doorway opens up to the Hidden City. Leo steps through as it closes behind him.
The Hidden City was always bright and colorful no matter day or night, it was like it operated in a different universe, one that also didn't care when someone showed up with blood on their clothes or scars covering their body. Leo hated any attention from fellow yokai regardless, plus he didn't want to risk getting arrested so he pulled his cloak up to hide his face.
As he walks through the busy streets, he listens for any interesting conversations that might give him information on..anything really. He wasn't one to turn down gossip
By the time he arrived to the tall building on the outskirts of the city he had learned the following:
Someone's grandmother was sick with a cold.
Someone's dog thing ran away.
Today's game sucked.
And the Battle Nexus champion was on a 10 win streak.
Leo smiles, he loved going to the Battle Nexus to watch the fights. It was something he looked forward to. Sure he wasn't allowed to go but he always found a way.
He takes a deep breath to calm his nerves then makes his way inside.
Inside was quiet...too quiet for Leo's liking. He walks into the kitchen, flicking on the lights. Was he the only one home? He preferred it to be that way but he never liked coming home to no one there. He moves to make himself some coffee. It was way too late into the night and he knew he wouldn't be sleeping tonight anyways.
He grabs his warm mug, the smell of coffee grounds him as he makes his way to the stairs so he can hide away in his room for the rest of the night. He flicks off the kitchen light and leaves the room.
The light flicks on again. He freezes and his blood runs cold.
"I see you have made it back alive." Says a deep voice.
Leo turns around, Barron Draxum stands in the kitchen wearing a bathrobe and slippers. The usual night time get up for him but it didn't make this event any less terrifying to the turtle. Leo was still wearing his mission attire splattered with blood as he hadn't had time to change yet.
"Yes I have father." He carefully responds.
"I assume the mission was a success then?" His father asks, his bright eyes starting into his own. He swallows hard.
"Yes..the target assigned has been eliminated father."
Draxum gives a satisfied nod. Leo releases a breath he seemed to be holding in.
"Good job Blue, you may go now until you are called again." He makes a shooing motion with his hand.
Leo doesn't have to be asked twice to leave, by the time Draxum turns around again the turtle is gone.
As he slowly climbs the stairs up to the second floor he sips some of his coffee. It tasted weird, maybe the machine was finally busted for good. It has been years since they’ve had it. He shrugs and continues upwards. Once he reaches his bedroom door he opens it to head inside.
His room was nothing special, it was small so there wasn’t much he could put in it anyways. A small bed was pushed up against the wall with some old blankets piled on it. Some comic books he found in the trash before on the floor and a box of personal items somewhat sticking out from under the bed. He nudges the box further under it and sets his mug down on the small window ledge. The window looked out towards the lively city. It was a beautiful view.
He quietly changes his dirty clothes. He’ll wash them later when he doesn’t feel so worn out. He picks up some pants off the floor to put on instead. He sits down on the edge of his bed, turning to look out the window and he wonders if there was more than this…
Meanwhile on the other side of the city another rises as the sun comes out…
April yawns, she hated waking up so early but college waits for no one. She slowly slips out of bed and walks into the small kitchen of her family’s apartment. She grabs some bread to put into the toaster. Another yawn escapes her as she leans against the counter to wait.
She starts to doze off waiting for the toaster to go off. Her head starts to hang and just before she's truly asleep the toast pops up. April gasps and jumps at the sudden noise. Relaxing it's the toast however she sighs and shakes her head.
She moves to put on some coffee and check the time.
"5:45.." She says to herself, squinting at the clock on the microwave. She was so blind without her glasses.
Around 6 am is when April could hear noises from the other bedroom. Mikey must be awake now. She sips the last of her coffee.
"APRIL!!" Comes a frantic voice and more rustling.
"What is it Mikey??" She calls out from the kitchen. It didn't take her long to get ready for the day but she was taking her time this morning.
The door opens and out comes a distressed looking Mikey. He was still in his natural form, a turtle in fact, and wearing his classic orange and white pj's. She figures what the problem is way before he even opens his mouth.
"I can't find my broach! I looked all over my room!" He whines and complains about his missing cloaking broach.
"Checked your desk?" She asks.
"First place I looked!" He throws his hands up in the air.
"What about your closet? You were wearing a jacket yesterday."
Mikey gasps. "My jacket!!" He runs off back to his room and it isn't long before a loud-
"AH HAH!" Is heard from the bedroom.
Mikey steps back out in his human disguise. He moves some beaded locks to the side and out of his face only for them to clack back in front. He sighs and easily gives up.
"So I was correct?" April grins. She stands to clear her dishes by putting them in the sink.
Mikey huffs, he hated when April was right.
"Yeah it was in the closet. That's besides the point because shouldn't you be getting ready?" He taps his watch.
April looks at the microwave again. 6:15.
She gasps and runs off, leaving Mikey laughing.
The turtle calms down from his small fiasco and decides he should find something quick to eat so he's not late for the city bus. It was Wednesday after all! Wednesdays meant art class at the local community college and he just couldn't be late for that! However upon closer inspection in the fridge there isn't much to eat for a quick breakfast.
No matter! He thinks. He makes his way over to where his bag hung up on a hook near the door. He opens the flap of the messenger bag covered in patches and pins and pulls out an old wallet. He opens it to count his cash.
April comes speeding by, pulling on her jacket quickly.
"Hey don't forget it's your turn for dinner tonight! Mom said there's plenty of pasta that needs to be used up!" She grabs her phone off the table and then her back by the couch.
"Sounds good I won't forget! Have fun today!" He responds just in time as she's out the door.
Mikey puts his wallet back in his bag. He pulls on his coat that hangs next to his bag. It was too cold in his opinion but glad it wasn't snowing just yet.
Once out of the apartment he heads down to the public transit bus stop. He sits down on the too cold metal bench and sighs. He made it!
Next to him sat an older woman of around 70. She always smelled like old books and wore a magenta sweater with a bird print on it.
"Good morning Mr. O'Neil." She greets joyfully.
"Morning Mrs. Turdy! Off to bingo this early?" She seemed to always be waiting for the bus
"Oh no dear not today! My granddaughter has a ballet recital!" She smiles, making the wrinkles on her face scrunch up.
"That's wonderful!" Mikey smiles back, he can't help it.
The two of them make casual small talk just as the large city bus pulls up to the stop. It's loud, Mikey had never enjoyed how loud the bus was. He stands up and waits to board.
He climbs on, finding an empty seat near the middle and by the window. As more get on the bus he pulls out his earbuds to listen to music. It was his routine to do so, talk with Mrs. Turdy, get on, ride for an hour. It was peaceful sitting by himself and listening to music.
The bus lurches forward, driving down to the next stop. Mikey makes sure to pay attention to each stop so he can get off at the right one.
Approximately an hour passes before Mikey pushes the button to let the driver know to stop. He makes his way off the bus finally and onto campus grounds. It was always full of life at the campus. Students rushing around to make it to classes or casually mingling in the large courtyard out front. Even in the cold morning air it seemed like everyone was outside.
Mikey was a sociable person, his highschool days spent making friends with every group in school. Well almost every group, there was always one kid who acted like he didn't need friends. He was determined to prove him wrong but no matter what he tried he never got through.
He shakes his head to clear his thoughts, he hasn't even seen that guy for a whole year! Why was he thinking about that now? He didn't know. He heads over to the small building that held the art department.
The inside smelled like musty paint and sawdust, he loved it. He enjoyed art ever since he was small.
Art helped him regulate his busy thoughts and feels and sometimes it made those feelings worse. He loved how messy paint was or charcoal. How the brush glides or how the pain sprays on different surfaces. He felt like it was truly his element. One no one could take away even if they tried.
He steps into the classroom, tables set up in a semicircle facing the front of the room where the teacher taught. He picks the seat in the middle. Setting his bag down as he sits.
"Good morning O'Neil." The teacher Mr. Plunk greets.
"Morning Mr. Plunk, what's on the agenda today?" Mikey asks, excited to find out what project might be assigned.
"I'll tell you once everyone arrives." He smiles. Mr. Plunk always liked leaving the lessons as surprises.
It wasn't long until the rest of the class came and the lesson began.
As early afternoon rolls around Mikey gets a call, he walks around downtown after class to see what he could possibly have for lunch. He looks at the caller id. It's April. He answers
"What's going on April?"
"Mikey! Thank goodness you picked up! I looked at the news and saw that someone was found dead this morning! In the downtown area!" She sounds panicked, and for good reason.
Mikey makes a horrified face as April fills him in. "I'll start heading home then, why haven't I seen anything about this until now?"
"No idea, the whole thing was so..odd."
"Odd?" He's speed walking to the nearest stop.
"Yeah this has Yokai activity all over it!" She exclaims.
Mikey stops. This wasn't the first time a crime was committed by Yokai from the Hidden City but it unnerved him nonetheless. Maybe it was for a good reason, maybe it was for the worst. He didn't know and didn't want to find out.
He knew about the Hidden City of course. His parents found out about it and thought their mutant child would find more belonging there.
It was amazing! The lights, the colors, the many Yokai that wander the underground streets! But Mikey felt so small and alone there, April hardly came along with him with her being human and all. Sometimes he wished he was human, a wish that always goes unnoticed. He sighs.
April was still talking on the phone.
"I'm heading home now." He says.
"Stay safe."
"Bye." He hangs up just as the next bus comes. He dashes over to board.
Art helped him regulate his busy thoughts and feels and sometimes it made those feelings worse. He loved how messy paint was or charcoal. How the brush glides or how the pain sprays on different surfaces. He felt like it was truly his element. One no one could take away even if they tried.
He steps into the classroom, tables set up in a semicircle facing the front of the room where the teacher taught. He picks the seat in the middle. Setting his bag down as he sits.
"Good morning O'Neil." The teacher Mr. Plunk greets.
"Morning Mr. Plunk, what's on the agenda today?" Mikey asks, excited to find out what project might be assigned.
"I'll tell you once everyone arrives." He smiles. Mr. Plunk always liked leaving the lessons as surprises.
It wasn't long until the rest of the class came and the lesson began.
As early afternoon rolls around Mikey gets a call, he walks around downtown after class to see what he could possibly have for lunch. He looks at the caller id. It's April. He answers
"What's going on April?"
"Mikey! Thank goodness you picked up! I looked at the news and saw that someone was found dead this morning! In the downtown area!" She sounds panicked, and for good reason.
Mikey makes a horrified face as April fills him in. "I'll start heading home then, why haven't I seen anything about this until now?"
"No idea, the whole thing was so..odd."
"Odd?" He's speed walking to the nearest stop.
"Yeah this has Yokai activity all over it!" She exclaims.
Mikey stops. This wasn't the first time a crime was committed by Yokai from the Hidden City but it unnerved him nonetheless. Maybe it was for a good reason, maybe it was for the worst. He didn't know and didn't want to find out.
He knew about the Hidden City of course. His parents found out about it and thought their mutant child would find more belonging there.
It was amazing! The lights, the colors, the many Yokai that wander the underground streets! But Mikey felt so small and alone there, April hardly came along with him with her being human and all. Sometimes he wished he was human, a wish that always goes unnoticed. He sighs.
April was still talking on the phone.
"I'm heading home now." He says.
"Stay safe."
"Bye." He hangs up just as the next bus comes. He dashes over to board.