Chapter Text
“DAD!” April screamed, chasing after the van as best she could. She heard Casey scream her name behind her but she didn’t turn around. If she ran fast enough, then maybe, just maybe, she could get her dad out of that van. The longer she ran, the harder her feet hit the pavement, sweat dripping off the strands of hair that covered her face and onto her clothes.
She cursed at herself, if she didn’t insist on hanging out with Casey then her dad wouldn’t have insisted on tagging along and they wouldn’t be in this stupid mess in the first place! She panted hard and it became apparent the more she ran that she would never be able to catch up. The van turned the corner, her father still inside, and she lost them. She slowed to a stop with her eyes glossy and shimmering under the streetlamp light. Casey was by her side almost immediately as tears started rolling down her cheeks, leaving wet streaks on her face that just kept getting damper.
Why? Why her of all people? She brought her hands to her face, wiping away her tears as best she could. Casey brought her into a tight hug. “It’s okay, April. Actually, scratch that, it’s not ok, but the amazing Casey Jones will get your dad back. I promise.” She didn’t respond, just hugged him tighter, gripping his shirt like a little child that had woken up from a nightmare, like a child that needed comfort. And boy did she want comfort right now.
She sobbed into his chest, loud, ugly sobs. How does a simple walk turn into this? Her dad was all she had. She can’t lose him. She won’t lose him.
A minute or so later, she heard the jingle of metal against metal and assumed that the strange turtle-human-things they met earlier were behind them. She quietened her sobs until they eventually stopped. She pulled away from Casey and wiped her eyes with the palms of her hands. She was sure they were all red and puffy.
The turtle with the purple mask stepped forward, fidgeting with his fingers when he spoke, “I’m… We’re sorry we couldn’t save your dad.” He kept his gaze downcast, counting every rock and crack the concrete road had. “We’ll find a way to get him back, we promise.”
“We will?” She heard the turtle with the red mask mutter under his breath, soon followed by a soft ‘ow’ as the blue banded turtle hit him lightly in the side.
“Yes, we will.” He assured. He was the first person to make eye contact with April but he, too, looked away after a second. “We’ll walk you guys home, in case they try again.”
Casey moved in front of April and put his arm out in front of her, shielding her. He had his hockey stick pointed at them, making sure they knew not to try anything. “What even are you guys? The monsters under the bed or somethin’?” Casey said, not trying to conceal the rude tone of his voice. He was cautious, you never know who someone could turn out to be.
“We’re mutants, brah. Mu-tants.” The orange masked turtle stepped up, he pronounced every syllable clearly to emphasize his point. He was moving from leg to leg, bouncing and giddy like he had so much energy to expel but no outlet. “The names Michaelangelo, but you can call me Mikey.” He smiled friendly.
He started pointing at each of the turtles, introducing them one by one, “These are my brothers! This is Leo,” —blue mask— “that’s Raph,” —red mask— “and that’s Donnie.” —purple mask.
April gave a wave and moved Casey’s arm so it was no longer blocking her. She sniffed before replying, “I’m April and this is Casey. We’re humans, if that isn’t already obvious.”
“It’s nice to meet you guys and all, but unless we want to draw more attention to ourselves, we better start heading in whatever direction your house is.” The red masked turtle —Raph, was it?— stated, getting closer to the humans.
“Watch your tone, dude. And we can walk home ourselves. C’mon April.” He grabbed her hand and held it tightly. He pushed past the turtles and lead the both of them in the direction of April’s house, which was closer.
Donnie watched them walk past, an analyzing look on his face, his eyes were trained on their intertwined hands. His fidgeting increased, picking at his fingernails and the skin around his cuticles. “It would be advisable if we assist you both home. Or, at the very least, make sure you get home safely.”
Casey paused his walking and turned his head in the direction of the turtle. April studied his face. He was hesitant to accept their offer, and she could understand why. They met not even 30 minutes ago and they weren’t even human. It amazed her that her initial reaction was confusion rather than fear or disgust (no offense).
She took a deep breath to steady herself and faced the turtles once more. “You can walk us home if you’d like. Maybe tell us more about yourselves on the way?”
Surprisingly, they looked shocked that she had accepted their offer. They made eye contact with each other, having a conversation that neither her nor Casey were privy to. Maybe that was how it was like having siblings.
“That’ll be awesome! Thanks.” Mikey finally said after a few seconds of awkward silence.
Throughout the trek home, the turtles kept their distance and stayed walking on the rooftops. Every once in a while, she’d catch them doing cool tricks and flips while they darted from roof to roof, looking like ninjas especially with their cool weapons and impressive fighting abilities. She was amazed at their agility. Who are they?
It was only once they stopped in front of April’s house that they jumped down from the roofs, landing silently next to them despite the height they had jumped from.
“Well, this is our stop.” She attempted to make eye contact with any one of the turtles and found her gaze drifting towards Mikey. “Do you guys have a place to go home to?”
“Yep, it’s right below your feet, dudes.” Mikey exclaimed, pointing towards the pavement a doing a little hop. His voice was a tad too loud for how late it probably was.
The two humans gave each other confused looks. “In the dirt?” Casey asked, incredulous.
Donnie glared at the back of Mikey’s head and made a cutting motion right in front of his neck.
Mikey didn’t seem to notice. He kept going, “Psh, no. We’re not worms, we’re turtles. We live in the se-“ a calloused hand clamped around his mouth right as he was about to reveal where they lived.
“You idiot, you can’t just say that out in the open.” Raph spat out. Mikey retaliated by licking the palm of his hand. He snickered when a disgusted sound left Raph’s mouth as he desperately tried to wipe away the saliva.
“Is it okay with you guys if we met up again tomorrow?” Leo stepped up, promptly ignoring his brother’s antics.
“What for? Didn’t you guys already save us and all that shit?” Casey still had his doubts, April could see that, but did he really need to be that rude?
“What he means is” —she pushed him back behind her, trying to keep distance between him and their acquaintances— “Why do we need to meet up again?”
“Well, we do need more information about your dad if we’re going to find him.” Donnie raised a pointed finger into the air and gestured as he talked. His arms moved almost mechanically, every action looked practiced, like he had had to have this conversation with countless people, which didn’t seem like the case. “How would you guys feel about meeting up in the same alley at 4pm tomorrow?”
“I-I think we’re free after school, yeah.”
“Then we’ll see you then.” Leo said. They all stepped back a few steps and bowed graciously before them, a full 90 degree bow, their bodies bending in ways they don’t think turtles can bend. Then again they’re not fully turtle and oh boy, was this confusing.
Before April could question the bowing, the turtles had already started climbing the fire escape and had made their way back onto the rooftops, running and leaping away, gone with the wind.
Casey let out a confused sound, “I’m not the only one who thinks that was weird as fuck, right?”
“Casey, this entire day has been weird; my dad got kidnapped and we met giant mutant turtles that bowed to us like we created the world.”
“Touché.”