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April O’Neil was used to weird things.
April herself could be classified as a weird thing, but compared to most of the stuff she had seen, a teenager with psychic powers was kind of low in the scale.
So, when Mikey, one of her turtle friends who could also be classified as a weird being-she wanted to think ninja mutated turtles were at least two levels above her in the scale-asked her to attend a club meeting one of his alternates was hosting she honestly thought that had been the most normal request she had heard in, well, months.
She should have known better.
A little turtle in an brown sweater and round glasses stayed at the front of the circle made with chairs, the occupants being her and some other unknown turtles of another dimension–the orange turtle’s brothers she presumed, at her sides. Their expressions ranged from shy, disinterested and scolding with a pout and crossed arms (this coming from an Alternate version of Donnie and she would be laughing if she wasn’t in a similar state).
“Welcome everyone to the first ever reunion of the Genetically Modified Teenage Weapons club.” He said, lifting both of his hands while a big sign slid down from the wall and confetti rained down on them. “Where, as the name indicates, us fellas that were created for nefarious purposes get to share their feelings and thoughts with others of similar experiences.”
“It’s only us and Red April here.” The turtle in blue said with boredom.
“Red April?” She asked.
“It was that or just Whi-”
“It doesn't matter how many members are here Leo, just that we are able to talk and create a healthy environment where everyone can process their emotions.”
The rest of them remained in silence, though it seemed Big Raph–she was going to need time to get used to that–wanted to speak but was too nervous to do so.
Alternate Mikey signed and took his glasses off. “Guys, the reason I made this was because we never really got time to process the revelation of the reason we were created.“
The blue turtle draped over two chairs lazily lifted his face from his phone. “There was nothing to process, Barry was trying to play God to destroy the human race but failed, that’s it.”
“I know you are deflecting, you lying bitch, but we will go back to you later,” he said in a surprisingly menacing tone before going back to his previous demeanor in seconds. “The second reason was to get used to our new friend April and her situation.”
All four brothers turned to look at her, they tried to hide it but she could see the light glint of apprehension on their faces. She suddenly remembered what Mikey had told her about these turtles and how they had a really bad experience with their Kraang.
“Ok, since everyone is feeling shy, why don’t I go first?” Alternate Mikey sat on a chair and smiled widely. “Shello~ The name is Mikey and I’m a Genetically Modified Teenage Weapon.” Once he said that, he made a pause.
The turtles groaned but followed with a “Hi, Mikey.”
“Hi, everyone." The little turtle said with delight. "And the way I found out was when we were fighting with our now reformed other Dad-”
“–who threw me off a roof!”
“And he told my dear brother Leo that he created us with the purpose of being part of a mutant army to destroy humanity and protect the yokai.”
Well, that was new. Thought April.
He went back to his therapist persona and asked himself a question.
“Thanks for sharing that with us Mikey, now, how does that make you feel?”
Getting rid of the glasses and going back to being just Mikey he answered without missing a beat. “Weird.” And refused to elaborate. “Anyway, would anyone else like to share?”
“What’s the point? We all have the same origin story.” Leo noted with annoyance.
“Then, would you like to go next April?”
April felt herself move into her chair trying to seem smaller or disappear (She was really, really hoping she did have that power, but until now. No luck) “Do I have to?”
“Well, is that or hear the same story another three times.”
“Fine,” she exhaled heavily. “I was helping the turtles deal with our own Kraang and we found this journalist guy that was following us, he told us the kraang were looking for me and that apparently they experimented with my mother before I was born.” She took a moment. It was still weird to admit it out loud. “Turns out my DNA was the key for them to terraform the earth.”
She kept her gaze firm in her lap, unsure if she wanted to face their reactions.
“Damn.”
“Leo,” hissed Big Raph in a very Leo-like tone.
But honestly, that had made the tension on her shoulders disappear.
“And," Alternate Mikey followed softly, "how did that make you feel?”
“Honestly, besides feeling like all my world and everything I knew was getting shaked up," She took a moment to quickly watch their faces, debating if this was really the moment to voice out loud that little secret she has been saving for a while.
Well, here goes nothing.
"I felt a bit of relief.”
“How so?” Surprisingly it was Big Raph the one asking this time.
“Like, all my life I felt like I was…different somehow. People could feel it too I guess, like sometimes I would go on too long without blinking or I could feel things others did not. So when I had an explanation for why I was different it just…”
“Made sense?”
“Yeah.”
Raph looked at his hands and after a pause he decided to talk “I thought of that too. But I did not feel relieved.” Another pause but everyone remained silent. “Raph had always known he was big and scary looking, I don’t mind,” he said once he saw his brothers ready to protest. “I like being big and able to protect you guys. But Raph knows how he looks. I always said to myself that it didn't matter because I wanted to be a hero like Lou Jitsu. But then when we discovered Draxum created us, and why he created us I thought, yes, this is what I would think a…monster would look.”
“We are not monsters." Said Leo stubbornly. "What Draxum meant for us doesn't matter anymore.”
“It doesn't?” Followed Donnie this time. “Have you ever wondered how much he messed with us? Was it only our bodies or maybe was he involved in our roles, our fighting style, our personalities?" His tone was neutral but his body language told another story. It seemed that he had thought about this before and it clearly bothered him. "What was programmed and what is actually ours? And who says we are not going to trigger the original programming and…”
There was an uncomfortable silence settling.
She knew what he ment. Like an itch under your skin knowing someone…something messed with who you are in levels you never imagined and they did it for one reason.
Most kids made their way out in the world full of hope and excitement to discover why they were here, and find their purpose. April was like that once.
Then she discovered she did have a purpose, one that she hoped she never gets to fulfill. That was her choice. That was her decision and it was the only one that matters.
And these turtles may be strangers for her but it was a natural April O’Neil instinct to try and comfort her friends.
“One of my abilities is being able to sense intentions." She started with the most soothing tone she could find. "I can sense if someone means harm or has ill will against others.”
“So like an evil detector?" Alternate Leo asked.
“You could say that,” April smiled slightly and reached out to Big Raph's massive hand. “And since I have been here, I have never felt scared or threatened by you guys. Maybe we were created for bad reasons, but we are already so far from what we were meant to be that I think it's fair to say we make our own choices now. And we can choose to be good."
Big Raph gave her a soft smile in return.
"That was cheesy," said Leo but she could see the gratitude in his eyes. The same could be said of his brothers.
She knew something like this would not be solved with just a pep talk, that itch would return and may never really be gone. But they could learn to live with it, she had started to do so. And maybe she just wanted to say to these younger turtles what she wished someone had told her at the beginning.
Maybe she was also saying this to herself.
The silence returned, lighter this time and maybe it was the openness and vulnerability that comes from sharing experiences with some others who understand but she couldn't help but blurt.
"I used to hiss when I was a kid."
And for a moment she was fearful of ruining a perfectly beautiful bonding moment until the sound of Alternate Mikey excited gasp proved her wrong.
"Ohmegosh! You too?"
"We used to do that all the time as tots." Big Raph admitted while scratching the back of his head.
Alternate Leo looked smugly at his side. "Donnie still does it."
"It's a perfectly effective intimidation tactic."
"It is!" Mikey agreed. "But dad said it was impolite, so we mostly stopped."
Funnily, she was told the same thing.
Outside of the room a tall turtle in purple bandana was leaning on the door, trying to hear and look discrete. Needless to say he was failing.
"What are you doing?"
He let out a very manly scream and turned to see the other dimension's April behind him. She looked a bit amused by his reaction but he will let it slide.
"N-nothing." Donnie said, trying to casually lean his back on the door. "Just…passing by."
"You are spying on the guys and Red April. Aren't you?"
"NOoOoouuu…" Donnie started but one look at Other April's face and he folded. "Ok, but just a little."
"Great, because I wanted to do the same."
Quickly she pushed him aside and glued her ear to the door.
"What? Weren't you the one insisting the other about respecting the privacy of the session." Donnie accused remembering the small meeting she, his brothers and the Caseys had about this.
"I just want to make sure they are ok." She still had the decency to look guilty. "O'Neil is cool, but the boys may react badly to the whole Kraang situation and I want to be there if anything happens."
Donnie's gaze softened and he was looking for the best and least awkward thing to say before she suddenly jumped as if the door was burning.
"Woah! That's not what I was expecting."
"What? What's going on?" Donnie quickly got closer to the door, discretion be damned.
"See? Just like that." He heard his alternate self say with pride.
"That was terrifying, Donnie."
"Thank you."
"I don't know guys. It's been years since I did it."
"Then you can use it to surprise the enemy. You said your Karai does it a lot." Blue pointed out.
"I don't even remember how to do it!"
"Just open your mouth, hold it and let it all out!"
"Don't forget to focus on the muscles on your throat."
"Well…I remember it was kind of fun. Karai seems to enjoy it "
"That's the spirit. Come on Red April!"
"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!"
And then he heard it. A sharp sound coming from behind the door, starting subtle before increasing the volume and completely invading Donnie's senses. A chill ran down his spine and once he could focus again the other room was full of excited chatter.
"That's what we are talking about!"
"Absolutely chilling."
"You will get any baddie pissing their pants."
"Aw, thank you guys."
Donnie turned to look at Alternate April, who now looked amused.
"I think they are doing fine."
It was time for the designated break and little Mikey excitedly pushed them to the table full of simple but tasty looking snacks.
"Made them myself," the turtle said with a lifted chin. "Enjoy and welcome."
The turtle immediately attacked the food, hoarding as much as they could with hungry looks.
April had a bit of apprehension taking a bite of the food–her own Mikey, bless his heart, really gave his all but he had the unfortunate habit to mix things that should not mix in a blender–but the way the others devoured the food told her if she didn't try now, she may not have the chance later.
"Mikey, this is amazing!"
"Well, thank you, Red April. It's always a pleasure to share."
She quickly put her eye on a little tea sandwich at the other end of the table and used her powers to make it float to her hand.
"So cool," Whispered Mikey. "I'm still trying to get the gist on making things float."
"You will get it in no time," April smiled before taking a new bite and enjoying the flavor unleashing. "I heard you guys can also do cool stuff with your powers."
"What other things are you able to do with your psychic abilities?" Donnie, overly curious no matter the dimension, asked.
Torn apart someone to mere atoms. Although, could she still do that?
April decided she should save that for a future sesion.
"I can talk to people with my mind." April mentioned casually while taking another pizza roll.
"You too?"
"Wait, what do you mean too?" But she was promptly ignored by the gushing brothers.
"Can we add her to the group chat?" Mikey asked Leo with a giddy grin.
"I'm not sure, let me try."
In a moment Leo squeezed his eyes in deep concentration, April was utterly confused until she heard it.
It sounded like a text notification.
In her mind.
What?
The brothers stayed silent but sported bright grins on their faces, immediately a bunch of voices were welcoming her to the "Brain Discord". And she couldn't remember the last time she was as confused and excited as she was now.
She also found, she couldn't wait for their next meeting.
Donnie stayed outside waiting, sitting on the floor with his back against the door of the room and sharing a bag of chips Other April brought with her.
"You think they are ok?" He asked before taking another fistful of crispy goodness.
"I don't hear any screams of terror, so I think they are clear." Alternate April gave a sigh of relief and let herself relax against the door.
"Still, they have been really quiet for a while." Donnie put an ear against the frame again.
"Yeah, now that you mention it–." Before she could finish the girl in glasses flinched on the spot. Her eyes turning bright red for a second. "Never mind, they added her to the group chat." She brightly informed him, pointing to her head as if that explained anything.
"The what?!"