Archive of Our Own ^beta

Karai

• The best way I can fully articulate Karai and Tigerclaw’s relationship is that of a constantly bickering stepfather and daughter. Tigerclaw showed up and immediately stole Karai’s position in the foot clan, and any positive attention from Shredder, and to boot he helped assist Shredder in her brainwashing. She’s not his biggest fan. Still, she can respect him as a leader and warrior and finds some comfort when she does right by him. A part of her idolizes how he’s built a name for himself. Karai will never admit to these emotions and believes this to be a side effect of being brainwashed, and maybe she’s right. Karai also finds it incredibly frustrating as she feels like in their little truce she’s the one reaching out and trying to find common ground, despite the fact she’s a kid.

• Bradford’s been present in Karai’s life since she was a toddler, and she finds him grating on a good day. I like to think of their relationship (at least leading up to season 1, pre-mutations) as like cousins, or siblings with a big age gap. Chris would come into Karai’s life, usually to babysit her for a week or two while her dad was away, or stay for several weeks to months (UGH) for training and he’d get on her nerves and she’d get on his. She doesn’t know how to feel about him now. There’s still that want/need for normalcy, to compete for Shredder’s attention, but there’s no point, is there? It’s also really jarring to see a guy she’s known the majority of her life not only be mutated twice but help to track her down for months and brainwash her. Karai feels betrayed, in a way, but she’s also never expected Chris to ever deny Shredder’s orders. He’s loyal to a fault, and she recognizes that, and she believes it's pointless to ask him to change. However, it is still enjoyable for her to get on his nerves.

• Karai used to think Xever was soooo cool when she was younger, but she’d rather die than EVER admit it now. Shredder hired him roughly 2-3 years before … everything, and Karai did NOT trust him. Then she saw that he got to do all the *dangerous* jobs, and THAT was cool. It was cool that he got to beat the shit out of people, he got to “clean up” loose ends, he was in charge of the gangs they controlled. Outwardly she found it dishonorable and crude, but deep down Karai totally envied his position. Now that Karai has known him for 5-ish years she finds that he’s really just a self-centered asshole, and she once again doesn’t trust him (for obvious reasons). However, she did find working with him again fun (again, fully convinced that this opinion is a side effect of the brain worm), and living with him hasn’t been *that* bad. It is nice to have her old gossip buddy back, even if he tends to get on her nerves.

• Zeck is the only henchman Karai hadn’t met pre-mutation, and not knowing much about him makes her apprehensive. She’d briefly heard about him before, sure. Karai remembered being in her cell back in New York and hearing Chris and Xever complain about a “master thief” who stole the Kuro Kabuto - which is an insane feat, and she applauds him for it. Then they’d finally meet when Zeck and his boyfriend kidnapped her. Twice. She really should be mad at them, but honestly, Karai feels bad for Zeck and Steranko - they just wanted to leave New York City alive and unmutated. She’d also do anything to keep herself safe and could see herself put in a very similar position, so she’s giving them some slack. Karai also knows from Xever that Zeck tends to stick his nose in other people’s business, but he’s given her space so far, and she appreciates that. If she wasn’t so hesitant about being buddy-buddy with anyone on the crew, Karai would talk to Zeck more.

• Karai met Steranko several times before in a professional setting. She often just thought of him as an old business partner of Shredder’s, and never put too much stock into his presence. Now, they live together, and Karai’s pretty sure he doesn’t like her. That’s fine, she doesn’t need some old Russian rhino’s approval. Again, she feels a little bad about the guy getting mutated (it wasn’t her fault, but it sucks it happened), but she finds his boyfriend more tolerable and easier to talk to.  

• Karai thinks Baxter is a spineless little coward, before he was even mutated she held a low view of him. She did recognize he was a genius, but at what cost? Sucks he got mutated, but any sympathy she’s felt towards him is SUPER overshadowed by the fact he genetically modified worms to mind control her and it’s not like he did it reluctantly, she was in that fucking lab for MONTHS - she heard all his excited little ramblings and theories about the project. He was excited. Karai hates Baxter, she doesn’t trust him, and frankly being in the same room as him makes her uncomfortable. A lot of this I think comes from the fact Karai doesn’t know Baxter like she does the others. He, pre-mutation, was very closed off and she did straight up trap him into working for The Foot Clan and it’s hard to see things from his point of view. Plus, Baxter’s just kind of fucked up.

• Karai can tell that Honeycutt thinks the best of her, and it simultaneously makes Karai happy and nervous. She’s convinced herself that he wants to compare her to the stories about her brothers, and how she should live up to them, and that’s scary. But, it’s nice to have someone think the best of you on a ship of people who you have a less-than-stellar history with.

Tigerclaw

• Tigerclaw doesn’t like to think about how he feels about Karai. He sees the parallels of his own life with that of Shredder’s, and in his eyes, both he and Saki had to make difficult decisions to protect those they loved, and in turn, were met with violence and retaliation. He tends to subconsciously take his unsolved sister issues out on the girl. Tigerclaw sees a lot of Alopex in Karai, which makes him uncomfortable and upset, and he not only lashes out but then isolates himself. He doesn’t need to get attached, as they’ll be back to killing one another once this is all done, and emotions just complicate everything. However, her drive and independence make him want to see the best in her. She’s an incredibly skilled fighter and is smart when she actually thinks a plan through. Maybe she isn’t just a spoiled brat, as he’s believed up until this point.

• Tigerclaw sees Bradford as an equal when it comes to fighting, however, he does feel the dog’s short temper gets in the way when it comes to missions. A drive for revenge is admirable, but you gotta know when to use it. He also finds him a bit cruel at times, but Tigerclaw finds that comes with losing your humanity as he has. He also finds Bradford to be a suck-up, a trait he and Xever share. Tigerclaw is more lenient with Chris’s ass-kissing since he’s seemed to learn how to Shut the Fuck Up when needed, and he finds him the easiest on the crew to talk to.

• Xever is an insufferable little man to Tigerclaw. He doesn’t stop talking, he’s an unapologetic ass-kisser and his loyalty is entirely situational. However, despite the fact Baxter has *never* upgraded his legs, Tigerclaw finds that he is a skilled fighter. He also finds that Xever, surprisingly, has a better grip on his temper than Bradford, and is incredibly resourceful. Tigerclaw does find some entertainment in the fish as well, as he did set up betting rings back in New York. He’s also, unfortunately, very funny. Tigerclaw, also, still wants to eat him deep down but is aware that it is fucked up to do so in polite society.

• Anton Zeck and Ivan Steranko are a strain on Tigerclaw’s mental health. They occupy a shared area of TC’s brain, he can’t separate the two. He had the displeasure of largely working with and training the two mutants after their mutations, and the speed at which they’re able to get on his nerves is truly remarkable. One won’t shut up and the other doesn’t think, truly they’re a match made in heaven. In rare occasions they can be useful, especially when it comes to missions that require technological know-how and brute force, but outside of that Tigerclaw is burdened with their presence.
• Tigerclaw can respect Stockman for his genius and way with DNA splicing, but he finds the fly to be unpleasant to be around. He’s spineless, and frankly, a bit weird.
• Honeycutt wants the best for them, and Tigerclaw recoginzes this, but he can’t help but butt heads with the android as their adventure progresses. The fugitoid is associated with the Utroms, who TC is on bad terms with, so naturally the tiger can’t bring himself to fully trust the professor.

Bradford

• Bradford watched Karai grow up and was shouldered with babysitting her whenever Shredder had business to personally attend to in the States. She’s like a weird mix of “the boss’s bratty kid” and “annoying younger sister” in his head, or at least she was. Chris didn’t really let himself feel anything other than betrayal and anger when Karai defected and refused to pry too far into the details of why she left. He’d been convinced Splinter and the turtles manipulated her, and the accidental mutation and brain worm were completely justified because of it. He’d also been well aware that Karai’s always been rebellious and he just figured she’d come to her senses and eventually return. Now, he’s less sure that she’ll ever come back, but he does feel a sense of duty to protect her on Shredder’s behalf. If Karai dies and they get back to Earth and Shredder finds out? Shredder Will Actually Kill Him. and everyone else on the ship. But they’re less important.
• Bradford holds Tigerclaw in high regard as a warrior, leader, and coworker. ‘Friend’ is a strong word that neither of them would use to describe the other. He does get a little jealous of his higher position in the Foot Clan. However, Bradford has been a bit apprehensive since they started their little space expedition as he can tell Tigerclaw’s loyalty to Shredder is faltering. Despite this Bradford still puts his trust in Tigerclaw as a leader, for now. Author’s note Bradford is the only motherfucker on this ship who hasn’t caught on to the fact that Shredder and TC like absolutely had some toxic yaoi shit going on. Everyone except for him is FULLY aware of this.
• Xever and Bradford’s relationship is complicated. He found Montes grating and cocky, even before their mutation. They also had a few … personal encounters with one another when they were human, nothing they really dwelled on. The two are reluctantly friendly towards one another, purely because they don’t have anyone else. If one died or left, the other would be alone in all of this. Chris would rather have an annoying friend he loathes most days than be forced to walk this world alone. He’d never admit this to Montes, or anyone else. As far as anyone else is concerned, he dislikes Xever and will continue to do so until the day he dies.
• Fucking Anton Zeck. Chris still holds a grudge over being bested by Zeck when he stole the Kuro Kabuto. There’s something about getting a business card lodged into your forehead that makes you incredibly bitter and hostile. If it weren’t for Steranko constantly being at his side, Bradford would pick more fights with the warthog, but he’s well aware of the fact that Steranko would rock his shit if tested.
• Speaking of Steranko, the two go back. For roughly 10 years Chris has known Ivan Steranko and has occasionally conducted business with him on Shredder’s behalf. He found him a fine business partner, if anything a little steep on his pricing when it came to weaponry. The two would frequent the same underground bars and briefly catch up. Several times Steranko’s beat Chris at (friendly) arm wrestling competitions, and Bradford’s held on to this. Before kicking him into a vat of mutagen Bradford found Steranko to be a likeable enough guy, especially after a few drinks or when it was purely business. Post mutation, Bradford still tolerates him but finds Steranko to be a bit stupid. Also, Bradford would never admit this, but Steranko can be a bit scary when he wants to be. Unfortunately, Steranko is their heaviest hitter.
• Ah, Stinkman is what keeps Bradford sane, because who else is he going to torment on a daily basis? He hates that little bug and finds joy in bullying him. If not just for all the shit he’s put himself and Xever through, Bradford finds Baxter to be just a weird little freak and enjoys seeing him scared. It’s the little things that keep him going.
• Bradford isn’t sure how to feel about Honeycutt. He doesn’t trust him, but then again the dog rarely trusts anyone. If anything the little nerd can be annoying, but he’s useful.

Xever

• Xever fully views Karai as just his boss’s rebellious teenage daughter, but he appreciates her spirit and stubbornness, despite it negatively affecting his work life. He also is well aware that what has happened to her is messed up, and pities her (he will never admit this- not from any emotional stunting he’s just terrified she’ll beat the shit out of him for it). Xever’s also a little annoyed that she couldn’t have her whole “family crisis” thing after the Krang invasion because he spent Six Months searching for her In The Sewers. He’s in a similar boat to Bradford where he never pried too deep into what was true and what wasn’t with her family drama. As far as Montes is concerned, Shredder and Tigerclaw’s word on the matter is good enough, or at least it was when they were on Earth. Now that he’s more or less out of Shredder’s control and not looking to serve him again, maybe he’ll pry more. Maybe. He also missed talking with her, as she tends to keep tabs on everyone and is fun to gossip with.
• Xever Is Terrified of Tigerclaw. He is 90% sure that cat is going to eat him one day. Bradford has convinced him he’s insane for thinking this, but Xever isn’t Stupid. He’s a fucking cat and Xever’s a fish it’s not rocket science. This underlying anxiety does cause him to try and appease the cat by any means. Anyway, despite that he’s fairly confident in Tigerclaw’s skills as a leader but feels he’s a little emotionally constipated. Isn’t everyone on this ship, though?
• Xever views Bradford as an ex-fling who he Can’t Get Rid Of (truthfully he doesn’t try to get rid of the dog, but that’s the fish’s personal business). They’re friendly now, reluctantly, but Xever would sell Bradford out for One Corn Chip. Or so he tells him. It’s a lot of ‘I hate him, I despise him’, followed by ‘We’re permanently stuck in each other’s lives’. Xever still holds a lot of resentment towards Chris for mutating him, and it seeps into their relationship. He finds the dog self-centered and arrogant, but honestly the same could be said about himself. We love a messy divorced couple.
• Zeck can be fun to talk to. At first, Xever was annoyed by the pig’s presence; truly a curse thrust upon himself and Bradford for assisting in their mutation. Honestly, the warthog could not stop talking. Now (after a brief apology he made to simply smooth over any past grievances) he and Zeck like to convene and gossip over late-night coffees. Xever wouldn’t consider him a friend outside the foot clan, but Zeck is one of his favorite coworkers.
• Xever is cautious around Steranko, but they’re both a bit more friendly towards one another now that Xever and Zeck are buddy-buddy. He finds the rhino funny at times and appreciates his input if only for the comedy value. He also finds him useful as a living tank, especially if they need extra muscle for any missions. However, he does think Steranko’s a bit… dense.
• Baxter is… well he’s Baxter. A twitchy loser-turned-bug who Xever finds little value outside his scientific know-how. Plus, unfortunately, Baxter’s the only one who knows how to fix his legs and keep up maintenance on them. He still holds a grudge over that little freak for nearly killing himself and Bradford in that stupid trap. Maybe Xever will ask Anton or Honeycutt to make him replacement limbs, ugh but then he’d owe them.
• Xever isn’t sure how to interact with Honeycutt. He’s a pleasant enough android to talk to, but the fish finds him to be a bit of a nerd. The professor feels less like a friend helping them and more like a teacher who was reluctantly assigned to a rowdy classroom.

Zeck

• Zeck probably feels the most remorse about helping fuck up Karai. Like yeah, he’s still fully like “Better she got brainwashed and I stay alive than vice versa” but after working with her back when she was brainwashed, and living with her now, Zeck’s fully aware that she’s Just A Traumatized Kid. She’s Going Through It. She’s kind of an asshole but most teenagers are, plus she’s living with a bunch of dudes who she hates. He can be annoyed by her, but he can’t blame her for being cold. Zeck’s only gathered bits and pieces about her whole family drama with the turtles from Xever, but he doesn’t want to pry into her personal life. From what he’s heard, it’s pretty heavy stuff, and it’s not his place to ask her to open up. All in all Zeck finds her pretty tolerable for a 17-year-old, plus he thinks it’s HILARIOUS when she bullies Chris.
• Zeck has a healthy balance of respect and fear of Tigerclaw. That cat has beaten the shit out of him enough times that Zeck would be stupid not to be a little wary of him, however, he’s well aware of how smart and powerful TC is as a fighter. He’s fully convinced that if he can get this cat drunk they will become besties and/or have a better understanding of one another.
• Fucking Chris Bradford. Zeck didn’t even know that the zombie dog was that Chris Bradford until like a month into working for The Foot Clan (how was he supposed to know? Those stupid nicknames Michelangelo gave them messes him up), and he’s never felt less thrilled to be working with such a “big” star. Truthfully his movies were never really Zeck’s thing growing up, but Big S really likes them, so Anton has seen a lot of that man’s mug over the years. The dog has beef with him, and frankly, he’s kind of an asshole anyway, so Zeck has beef back.
• Xever’s chill. He can get on Zeck’s nerves, but Anton tends to get on his as well. Plus, the fish actually apologized for helping in their mutation (it was a weak apology, too), so Anton finds him a tolerable coworker. The two like to get together and talk shit when neither of them can sleep. He thinks Xever’s kind of a suck-up, but Zeck respects the fact you kind of have to be in order to survive in the foot clan. Hey, if Xever got to be a hire rank than him by kissing ass and killing people who is he to judge.
• Oh Steranko? Anton’s ride or die? Their relationship started off a little rocky- Zeck had been on Steranko’s radar for years before the invasion (although for a solid year there he was on Big S’s shit list for shooting out his eye) and their relationship was professional. With benefits. But since then, with the alien invasion and the mutation, they’d grown a lot closer. Really close. That’s his man, his best friend. He loves Ivan’s drive and confidence- when he wants something, he’ll do anything to get it. Zeck can relate. The rhino can also be a bit overprotective, it’s one of his charms. Zeck feels like the other henchmen think Steranko’s stupid ( to be fair he can be a little dumb, but so is everyone else ), but he’s really good at reading people. He just keeps it to himself… and Anton. The only thing that Steranko does that really irks Zeck (other than the fact he can’t seem to keep their shared living space clean) is he’s stubborn. That drive and confidence Zeck admires really makes the rhino hardheaded. Anyway, Anton loves him.
• Baxter Bughead gets on Zeck’s nerves. It’s really just Anton still being bitter over the whole mutation thing, but honestly, if he reached out to Baxter they’d actually get along fairly well. That being said, Anton will occasionally stand up for Baxter - only in very specific circumstances (like if Bradford’s the one bullying him). Zeck also fully believes his tech is better and more refined than Baxter’s and refuses to let the bug near anything he’s built.
• Zaton is really cool - like really, really cool. If Zeck asks about information on anything - piloting, space tech, alien biology, Honeycutt will tell him. Zeck asks a lot of questions and the professor never seems bothered by the intellectual onslaught

Steranko

• Steranko’s a dick and feels no remorse for helping Shredder brainwash Karai, better her than him yadda yadda. However, he doesn’t agree with what happened to her and is in full support of her getting revenge/going off to live with her real family. It’s none of his business what she does with her life, he just didn’t want him or his boyfriend to die while stuck in NYC during an alien invasion, or at the hands of Shredder. Steranko’s also an old man, and Karai is the youngest of the group, so he on principle finds her a bit grating
• Tigerclaw is a decent enough leader, though Steranko finds him to be more hesitant and flippant in his decisions nowadays. He can tell that Tigerclaw is starting to question Shredder, and is secretly hoping the cat decides to defect. It’d be nice if he and Anton didn’t have to deal with him when they’re back on Earth and out of Shredder’s control.
• Bradford is fun to drink with, and that’s about it. The two had a decent relationship in the decade or so they worked together through Shredder, and they’d run into each other at the same bars in NYC. Post-mutation Steranko finds him a bit grating - especially when the dog tries to start fights with Zeck. The two still get along fine, but they aren’t as friendly to one another as they once were.
• Xever and Steranko don’t interact much. He finds the fish funny, but outside of his interactions with Zeck, Steranko finds little need to talk to Montes.
• Anton Zeck has Steranko’s heart. He’s always been attracted to Zeck, and found his skills incredibly useful when it came to stealing items for his collection/weapons to sell. He always liked their time together, but his pride and rage got the best of him when Zeck shot out his eye and he didn’t talk to the thief for a solid year (also may have put… a small… bounty on him. It’s fine they’ve talked about it it’s behind them). Now, after everything they’ve been through, Steranko can’t help but admire the warthog. He’s (usually) smart, and funny, and he likes to go on and on about whatever technology he finds interesting that day or a video game he’s playing. Steranko likes listening to Anton talk, he likes his voice. They can butt heads, especially when one or the other actions impulsively and messes up a mission, but he can’t stay mad at his boyfriend very long.
• Truthfully, Steranko has nothing against Stocksman. He seems to be the only one who understands that the bug is under Shredder’s control (or was) like the rest of the henchmen. However, it does piss him off that he and Zeck are treated as his errand boys - and his demands are outrageous!
• Steranko finds Professor Honeycutt to be a silly little robot. He’s very smart, and Steranko worries that he’s very breakable.

Stockman

• Karai kidnaps him, forces him to work for Shredder, and then treats him like dirt - Baxter isn’t a fan. Sure, he’s the one who made the mutagen to mutate her (and spilled his prototype retromutagen into the mix… on accident. Just a little. It shouldn’t have any negative effects. Maybe), and SURE, yeah, he modified those brain worms, but it’s HER fault, not his. She made him work for the foot clan, he had to do what Shredder expected of him. Baxter is playing nice for now, but he’s hiding his time
• Tigerclaw terrifies the bug. He’s an aggressive and bossy mutant who rides on a high horse because he’s in Shredder’s “””good graces”””. However, Baxter is appreciative of Tigerclaw leaving him to his own devices as of late.
• Bradford is a brutish piece of shit. He’s a bully, a suck up, AND his acting is mid at best. Eugh. He’s also scary, because Baxter knows the dog just needs one semi-reasonable excuse to tear him limb from limb. He’s acts like the bug WANTS to be stuck here doing Shredder’s bidding , or he’s PURPOSELY not working on a retro mutagen formula (… well he is avoiding it but Bradford doesn’t know that). Baxter regrets not killing him with his Maze of Doom. Honestly, he’s surprised the mutt hasn’t keeled over already from his unstable mutation.
• Xever is just as much a bully as Bradford, but Baxter has the upper hand on him. Hes been slowly making Xever’s legs less and less optimal with every “maintenance check” he runs on them. Xever makes any move towards him and Baxter makes the relay time in his prosthetics a little slower, barely enough for him to catch on but enough that it effects his fighting. So for that small amount of joy and revenge, Baxter appreciates the fish.
• Baxter finds Anton Zeck to be a decent coworker. It’s rare to find someone with engineering know-how that nearly compares to his own. Truly Baxter’s scared that Zeck’s smarter than him, but he’ll never let the warthog know that. He can’t understand why Zeck hates him, maybe it’s the whole mutation thing.
• Steranko is terrifying. Hes stupid and is roughly the size and weight of a small SUV. That rhino could break Baxter with one punch, so, the bug keeps his distance and watches his tongue
• Honeycutt has been nothing but kind to Baxter since the beginning of their adventure. While Baxter is aware that in the past he’s been less than pleasant to his coworkers, Honeycutt truly appreciates his scientific genius and Baxter wants to stay on the professor’s good side. He likes talking to Honeycutt, and spending time in his lab. Hopefully his coworkers don’t blab about any of his past misdeeds and put his standing with the professor in jeopardy

Honeycutt

• Honeycutt wants nothing more than to make this “adventure” as easy on Karai as possible. He’s gathered some of what she’s been through from both conversations with her and the other crewmates, and his little android heart breaks at the thought of anyone going through what she has. He finds her attitude hard to work with at times, but she is by far one of the more pleasant crewmates to talk to. He’s also very worried about her health, both mental and physical, and is trying to gently ease her into taking care of herself.
• Tigerclaw is an incredibly frustrating mutant to work with, at least for Fugitoid. Zaton has an outline of how this expedition is supposed to go, but Tigerclaw refuses to abide by the professor’s itinerary. He’s cagey when it comes to the Utroms, yet will happily stop by planets filled with rogues and mercenaries. Honeycutt is growing more and more worried that the mutant’s past will interfere with their mission, however, the foot clan views him as a leader so the fugitoid will continue to work with him the best he can.
• Zaton never learned the rude dog's name and is too embarrassed to ask at this point. He also finds him a bit unpleasant to be around.
• Honeycutt hasn’t interacted much with Xever, outside of helping him adjust his sleeping arrangements. He finds that Xever keeps to himself, or at least doesn’t speak much with the android, but Zaton hardly notices as he has other matters to attend to.
• Zeck is a fascinating individual whose quest for knowledge Zaton greatly appreciates! It seems like the mutant is always asking him questions about the ship, how time travel works, and how to fly The Ulixes. He grants Zeck access to his lab and supplies alongside Baxter. Surely all of this information that Honeycutt provides Anton will be used wisely!
• Steranko is another individual that Honeycutt hasn’t interacted with as much as he expected to, though the cyborg does hear a great deal about him from Zeck. It seems wherever the warthog is, the rhino is close by.
• Honeycutt believes Baxter Stockman is an incredibly promising young man who simply needs a mentor to guide his hand in inventing. Stockman does go off about his … strange past experiments and tends to have a fuzzy memory at the best of times, but Zaton sees the best in him. However, the Fugitoid is curious as to why all the other crewmates seem to dislike him.