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Casey being followed.
Not by Purple Dragon – thankfully – but by some rookie. It’s possible that it was the kid he bought the pizza for a couple of weeks ago. Either way, Casey have been keeping his routes simple to see if he can catch who’s following him. There’s about four of them – sometimes in a group, other times it’s just one of them. Always the same set of colours; purple, orange, blue, and red.
That’s the only thing he managed to catch sight of; not faces, bodies, or anything actually useful. Just a flash of colour. Blue appears the most with Purple a close second while Red and Orange are only seen with one of the others or when they are in a group of four. Now, when that happens, Casey makes sure to give them the run around.
Does it make him late for work sometimes? Totally but he hates this site and his boss so he doesn’t care all that much. Frankly, his boss is kinda weird – roundabout sentences, no blinking, and sometimes the sound of metal gears clicking – but Casey have bigger things to worry about than his weird boss and the people they meet. Like his strange stalkers.
They only come out at night and disappear before sunrise. Sometimes he can hear them whispering at stoplights but nothing that can give him insight into who they are. April thinks that he’s going insane, and should deal with them quickly before they get hurt, while Marie wants him to lure them out, always the adventurous one.
Tonight, Casey had gone to the site after hours where a pizza boy is already waiting. It’s the same one from two weeks ago – a pizza place that doesn’t ask questions and the cheapest one around – which he gives twenty bucks and takes the boxes with ease before heading deeper into the site. He can hear mumble whispering from around him but he focuses on going to the lunch area and sets up the boxes; each one a different type since he doesn’t know what these kids like.
“I just want to talk,” Casey states.
The site goes silent; only the rustling of the wind and the distant sounds from the city center.
“I paid twenty bucks for these and don’t want them to go to waste.” Casey grabs a slice and takes his normal seat at the table; even if his stalkers leave, he can enjoy the pizza that he bought. Is he going a little stir crazy since splitting up with his family? Probably. “There’s a pineapple one, BBQ, and oh! The works, one of my favourites.” The fourth box is a plain cheese, just in case.
He jumps to his feet when a loud bang went off next to him; a sword with a blue handle lay on the ground and the harsh whispers had suddenly springs up around him. The only thing Casey is glad for is the fact that he didn’t drop his pizza. Until he turns back to the pizza to see a giant turtle attempting to grab one of the works.
The turtle jumps away after being hit in the face with his pizza while holding their own slice.
After getting over his shock, Casey grabs some napkins and attempts to hand it to the turtle. They watch him for a long moment – long after the pizza end up on the ground – before taking the napkins. The other voices have jump down shortly afterwards. Blue is quick to come to Orange’s side; scolding and acting much like Casey did when Marie was younger.
Red and Purple keep their distance; clearly ready to defend if needs be.
“You kids want pizza?”
They stole the two of the pizza boxes before disappearing; leaving Casey out twenty bucks and zero answers. Because giant mutant turtles? Casey had heard rumors of animals being mutated but he thought it was made up mumbo jumbo, guess there’s some truth to it now. Giant mutant turtles that continued to follow him but they don’t even try to hide themselves anymore.
…
His bike has been acting off since his last run in with a Purple Dragon scout – luckily, the kids weren’t following him that night – and now he gets to spend his day off fixing it. There doesn’t seem to be much wrong with it but he couldn’t quite…see. Casey blinks a few times at the random light shining before looking over his shoulder to see Blue crouching there with a flashlight.
This is the first time Casey got a good look at one of the turtles; Blue has a coat overtop of some band t-shirt while his hands are wrap in dark blue sports tape. It also gives him the chance to see where Blue’s name came from; it’s a bright blue mask attach at his hip. He can’t quite tell what kind of design but it reminds him of his old hockey mask that he used to wear all the time.
“Blue, what are you doing here?”
“Was on patrol and thought you could use the help,” Blue said with a shrug.
Casey pulls his toolbox closer to him while also pulling Blue over to bring the light closer to the bike. “You better hold that light steady, Blue.” There’s a second of silence where Blue attempts to do so and gives a nod once the light is in place. “Alright, good enough.” A laugh slips out which got Blue to ease up and the two fall into an easy conversation while Casey fix his bike.
…
His apartment is dark when Casey got home after a long, and most likely illegal, shift at the site. The building that they have been created is boring but also very odd. Rooms that don’t make sense, long hallways that doesn’t go anywhere, and fire escapes that they had to force in there. Casey wants to question it but knows that he can’t without losing out work and moving again.
He just got his boots off when a bang went off, causing him to rush to the opening of the kitchen and almost face-planting. Red freeze at the sight of him while holding a butter knife in one hand and a sandwich in the other. Casey places a hand over his heart and takes a seat at the table which Red does join him a second later with another sandwich.
“What are you doing here, Red?” Casey asks.
“Dad was getting on my case,” Red states; glaring out the window. “Which isn’t fair! It’s not my fault that things went sideways but he blames me all the same because of my anger! I hate him! I wish he wasn’t my dad…”
“He’s not doing that great at the whole dad thing, huh Red?” Casey waits until Red is focus on him before continuing; the anger not fading but at least Red seems more willing to listen than before. “Everyone says that he’s doing fine but how should he know?” He reaches out and places a hand on Red’s shoulder; feeling how rough the red scarf is and wonder how Red doesn’t find it itchy. “He shouldn’t have blame you and he most likely regret it.”
“I hope he does,” Red said; shrugging Casey’s hand off.
Red sticks around long enough to finish his sandwich before making his way out of the window and disappearing down the first escape. And leaving Casey to clean up the kitchen; something he doesn’t miss when Marie still lived with him.
…
Turns out he was working with aliens because of course he was. First Purple Dragons and now aliens making humans build their stupid, nonsensical hideout. Casey have been hurting down any information he could get his hands on which leads him to learn that those robot bodies that the aliens use can’t handle electricity.
Which is why he decided to deck out his old hockey stick…or he would if he can figure out how. He has a plan put into place, a blueprint of what he wants, but not the skill to complete it. Until he came home after visiting his neighbour to find Purple working on said plans; he moves so fast when Purple end up shocking himself.
Casey couldn’t help scolding Purple while grabbing the first aid kit from under the coffee table and patching up the turtle. He can tell that most of his words are going in one ear and out the other. Once finish, Casey puts everything away and grabs a snack from the kitchen while Purple went back working on the plans; quietly going over what works and what wouldn’t plus upgrades that can be made in the first.
“Alright, I guess you’re a scientist then.” Casey set down a bowl of strawberries – learning quickly that it’s the boys’ favourite – before taking a seat on the ground. “How about I be your assistant and we can solve this together.” Purple could only watch as Casey grabs a marker and a fresh piece of paper.
“Okay!” Purple said; brightening up before suddenly going dim again. “Sorry.”
Casey wants to push but decided he doesn’t want Purple running away like Red did. The last time he had overstepped Red had blown up on him, only to come apologized a few hours later. It’s clear that something bad had happened to these boys – and probably their father from the sounds of things.
“Maybe, I should get you one of those certificates to show off to your brothers,” Casey said instead of what he wanted to ask; watching Purple brighten up again.
“That would be awesome!”
Casey listens to every word that Purple said while they work on upgrading his hockey stick. He doesn’t mention once about the real reason why he wants this upgrade, no matter how much Purple pushes. They didn’t get to finish by the time Purple’s alarm went off but Casey promises to leave it alone until he comes back.
“Not bad, Purple.”
The turtle stumbles out of the window at the words causing him to stare wide-eyed before running down the fire escape.
…
“What’s up with the kid, Jones?”
Casey takes a second to turn the machine off and pulls the noise-cancelling headphones off before giving the supervisor his attention. Franklin nods towards where Orange is talking rapidly with some of the guys that are on break; he also meant to be on break but needed to finish up since he wants to be able to find some more information on the aliens behind this building.
“Just a stray I had taken in.” It’s not the first time Casey had opened his door for a person in need, like Angel, but none of them follow him around like the boys do. “He won’t be any trouble, promise.”
“He better not, Jones.”
Of course, that promise only last until the set closed down for the night and they had sneaked back onto. Casey wanted Orange to remain behind but that kid is bad as Red with his sneaking abilities. Luckily, there’s no cameras or any real alarms since the aliens didn’t spring for the premium package.
Most of the papers look uncomplete or written in scribbles – not surprising since, you know, aliens – but nothing that even gives an inch about what they want or why they are building a base here in New York. His hands still when the sight of a very familiar logo overwhelms him. The Purple Dragons. It appears that they are back in New York and planning on making roots here again with the dragons that had remain here.
It seems that his boss – or could be an alien but he doesn’t have any proof yet – is already being threaten over protection money.
Not only for this site but also his apartment building.
“Purple Dragons?”
Casey jumps; not expecting Orange to suddenly be by his side. “Nothing that you need to worry about, kid.” He gently pushes the kid away while putting all the papers back the way that he found it, or as close as he can get. “Hopefully, they aren’t stupid enough to upset the aliens paying for this place.” He can see the worry on Orange’s face but chose to ignore it instead. “Let’s just go for now.”
…
“Don’t salt it to much,” Casey said while taking the salt shaker from Orange before the food starts tasting like the sea. He quickly sorts through his seasonings – something he never found time before in between takeout and accepting meals from his neighbour – before grabbing a few different ones and handing them over. “Here, try this.”
“Give that back!” Blue voices carry from the living room causing Casey to abandon what he’s doing to break up the fight before his neighbours comes knocking again. “It doesn’t belong to you!”
“Yeah, well it doesn’t belong to you either, shell for brains!”
“Alright, alright that’s enough.” Casey had to grab the kids by the back of their shells and moves them away from one another, despite it being a bit awkward. He did grab the blue mask from Red – taking note that each of the kids guard them quite closely. It’s rough, most likely made out of wood but this isn’t the time to figure that out. “Red, don’t take your brother’s stuff.” He hands the mask back to Blue, who only glares harder at Red. “And Blue please don’t yell. I don’t want my neighbours thinking I kidnapped some kids.”
Red huffs while flopping down at the beanbag that Casey had pulled out of storage; “he shouldn’t be a baby over it.”
“And you shouldn’t touch what isn’t yours.”
Casey grabs Blue by the shoulder and drags the kid into the kitchen, forcing him to sit at the table where Purple has been tinkering with the toaster. Which he really hopes the kid puts back together since he really wants toast in the morning.
“So, what’s up with the masks anyways?” Casey asks; figuring one of the kids will answer him.
However, they all went tight lipped. Even Orange is silent despite being the talkative one of the group. His eyes land on Blue’s mask which is now still enough for him to notice the similarity with his own hockey mask. He had to get a new one when he moved here due to leaving behind his old one at the farm house…it was in Marie’s old room if he remembers correctly.
“Secret identities,” Orange said quickly. “You know, the whole ninja thing?”
“Right…”
…
A groan slips through and a wicked headache pounds against his skull. His eyes burn every time he even attempts to open them until something suddenly blocks his view. An orange mask – with speckles of spray paint littering all over – ease his worries a bit at seeing one of the boys…which only cause him to worry again.
He forces himself to sit up; noticing the abandoned station that he found himself in.
Orange stumbles away and Casey grab the kid by the arm so he doesn’t crash into the table behind him; “wasn’t expecting you to wake up that fast.”
Casey was about to apologize when the sounds of voices can be heard. Orange had duck down and almost using Casey as a shield when Blue comes storming out of a room following behind a giant rat…a strangely familiar rat.
“Splinter?”
That cause the whole place to go quiet – he didn’t even notice Red and Purple hiding out in what looks like the kitchen not far from him. The rat – Splinter – had frozen before slowly looking into his direction; searching for something. Casey attempts to get up off the couch but Orange’s hold kept him from going very far.
“It is you,” Casey said; noticing the far to intelligent eyes for a rat. “But how?”
“It is a long story; however, we don’t have time for that at the moment.” A conversation for another time without little ears eavesdropping the whole time. “For now, our focus should be on who had attacked you.”
Casey thought about ignoring his problems to find out how his daughter’s pet rat and turtles became like this but they didn’t have the time when Purple got an alert that the Purple Dragons are at their door.