This whole thing with the girls was a mess. Mikey’s hormones were on overdrive and Michelle was confusing. There were times when she flirted openly with Mikey. Then, when Mikey moved in a little closer, Michelle would pull away. It was like she was okay with verbal flirts but she didn’t want to be touched.
Michelangelo wasn’t the only one who was having a hard time. He could see that Leonardo was also upset. He had been for a few days now and had mostly kept to himself. He was tense, like he was expecting something horrible to happen. But, did Mikey dare to ask what was bothering his brother? Did he really want to know?
Mikey was going to leave well enough alone, but Leo was keeping him awake with all of his tossing and turning. It seemed that he didn’t have a choice but to get involved. Groaning, Mikey looked over at his older brother. “What is it?”
“What is what?” Leo mumbled back, shifting once again.
“You’re upset about something,” Mikey said. “Neither of us is going to get much sleep until you get it out of your system.”
Leo heaved a sigh and turned to look at Mikey. “I caught Raph and Rachael sitting, alone, at the top of the stairs the other day.”
Confused, Mikey sat up and looked down at Leo. “I thought Raph said he had no interest in her. What were they doing?”
“They were drinking beer and talking.” Leo was looking up at the ceiling. “They were so comfortable with each other.”
“Do you think he’s moving in on her?” Mikey asked.
“He insisted that he had no interest in her,” Leo answered, shaking his head. “But who knows. Maybe he’s keeping his options open.” Frustrated, he rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hands. “But that’s not the worst part.”
Mikey waited a moment but soon realized that Leo wasn’t about to say anything more any time soon. “So then, are you going to tell me what the worst part is?”
It was dark but Mikey was sure that Leo was flustered. His jaw was clenched and he kept letting out exasperated sighs. “I became aroused,” Leo finally said through his teeth. “I had trouble controlling myself when Raph left me alone with Rachael. I wanted to pin her up against that wall and take her there. It took all of my control to turn around and walk away. I can’t believe that I let her get to me like that.”
Mikey took a minute to let that sink in. Leo, the master of control, was having a hard time controlling his urges. But that most likely wasn’t what was bothering him. Mikey had a good idea what it could have been. “Do you think she noticed?”
Leo closed his eyes. “I was so aroused that my tail was dripping.”
“Dude,” Mikey couldn’t help but chuckle a little bit in disbelief. “Even I haven’t had it that bad.”
Leo’s hand shot up and swatted Mikey’s arm. “It’s not funny.” Leo’s voice was raw with his mixed emotions. “I’m just waiting for her to crack a joke about it. Use it against me in some way. I can hear her and her sisters laughing at me now.”
Mikey shrugged. “Maybe she won’t.” A smile crept across his beak and he bit his bottom lip. “Maybe she likes the idea that you were aroused around her.”
Leo covered his face with both hands. “Why is this happening? I can’t get her out of my head.”
“You’re the alpha,” Mikey offered. “You have an instinctual need to reproduce. She is a strong female who can provide you with strong children. You have an overwhelming desire to claim her as yours before anyone else does.” He looked down to see that Leo was looking up at him, through parted hands, in disbelief. “What?” Mikey rubbed the back of his head and shrugged. “I watch a lot of Animal Planet.”
“I’m only nineteen,” Leo stated, dropping his hands to his sides. “I don’t need children right now. I would like them one day. But that can wait.”
Mikey lay back down and tucked his arm behind his head. “Reason says that you don’t need children right now but your hormones wanna screw, to dominate. I mean, given the chance, I would totally do Michelle but I don’t want any kids. Like, ever. I almost envy the fact that Raph can’t have any.”
Mikey placed a comforting hand on Leo’s arm. “If she hasn’t said anything by now, she’s not going to say anything at all. Maybe she didn’t notice and you’re worrying over nothing.”
“I hope so,” Leo said. “I don’t need any more stress.”
Mikey couldn’t help but smile as he said, “When you finally do hook up with her, it will be the best stress relief you’ve ever had.”
Leo groaned and rolled over. “Don’t put that image in my mind or I’m going to need the room to myself for a while.”
“That seems to be happening a lot.” Mikey chuckled and closed his eyes.
Leo let out yet another exasperated sigh but managed to settle down enough for them to sleep. They slept soundly for most of the night. There was only one instance where Leo’s dreams caused him to wake up in a cold sweat.
Like every night, Mikey was able to calm Leo by gently rubbing his carapace and reassuring him that everything was okay. As he did, he couldn’t help but wonder if Rachael was going to be able to handle this side of Leo. Would she be willing to? If they did end up together, Mikey was going to have to warn her about Leo’s nightmares.
The next morning, after practice, they received a call from April, informing them that she was on her way with some items for them. Since the items were in large packages she drove her van through the underground tunnels and entered the lair through the garage. Mikey, Leo, and Donny were there to meet her as she pulled in.
It wasn’t uncommon for April to bring them random items. She sometimes managed to find treasure troves in abandoned storage closets or estate sales. If she couldn’t sell them in her store, she would give the items to the guys.
Mikey and his brothers helped her with the boxes, making sure that she didn’t carry anything that was too heavy. Whatever was in the boxes was big.
The others were on the platform waiting for them. Raph pulled the box Mikey had up on the platform and then helped Mikey up.
Once they were all up on the platform, April pulled out a pocket knife and started to carefully open one of the boxes. “They’re items from Japan,” she stated. “I don’t know if anyone from around here would want to buy them and I hate trying to sell things on the internet so I figured you guys would want them. Though I think the girls might like them more.”
She opened one of the larger boxes to reveal the kato inside. Pointing to a box of equal size she said, “There is another one in here. The two smaller boxes have those Japanese flutes…, don’t ask me to pronounce it. And, that box over there has some kimono and hair accessories inside it. The shopping bags have some essential grooming items in them. Those I bought specifically for the girls and Sliver.”
“Really?” Leah reached down and picked up one of the smaller boxes. Pulling a small dagger out of her belt, she opened the box and pulled out the shakuhachi. She let the box drop to the floor as she looked at the flute in disbelief. “It’s beautiful.” She then put it to her lips to test the sound. “Thank you,” she said to April as her eyes filled with tears.
“This is great!” Michelle said as she knelt down to look at the kato. “I never thought I would be so happy to see this stupid instrument.”
“This is very generous of you, Mrs. O’Neil,” Splinter stated.
Rachael and Donna eagerly went and collected the other two instruments from their boxes while Sliver approached April. “It is and I cannot thank you enough.”
April shrugged it off. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing,” Donny stated, looking at the instruments. “I looked up what it would cost to get quality instruments like this. These aren’t cheap.” He looked April in the eyes. “Where did you get them again?”
Blowing a raspberry, April tried to wave Donny off. “You know…. I come across things sometimes.”
“It seems somewhat suspicious that you happened to get the exact things that the girls had lost,” Leo stated, crossing his arms over his chest. He then looked at Mikey. “Did you bug April in to finding these?”
Mikey snorted. “No! Where would I get the money to pay for them? Besides, you know I would own this if I was behind it.”
Leo rolled his eyes and then looked at April, crossing his arms over his plastron. “April?” His tone made it very clear that he wanted answers.
“Why are you grilling me?” April sighed. “I brought you things. I always bring you things.”
“Yes, but these are specific and expensive things, in perfect condition,” Leo argued. “April, you’ve got a baby on the way. I know you feel bad for the girls but you can’t spend that kind of money on things like this.”
“It wasn’t my money,” April said in frustration then her face showed that she didn’t mean to say it that way. “I mean I didn’t….” She groaned and stomped her foot. “Knock it off okay. It wasn’t a big deal. Just let it go.”
Mikey could see the moment Leo realized what was going on. Narrowing his eyes the leader looked over at Raph. “It was you.”
With his arms crossed over his plastron, Raph glanced at Leo but was unable to keep eye contact with Leo’s piercing glare. “Let it go, Leo,” Raph huffed.
“You’re the only one with a private savings,” Leo stated.
Raph dropped his arms to his sides and growled in frustration. “Fine. I gave the money to April, told her what to get, and asked her not to tell anyone.” He wasn’t quite yelling but he was definitely on the loud side. “Ya, happy now?”
“Why?” Michelle asked. “Why didn’t you want us to know that they were from you?”
“Because,” Raph glanced at Donna but then quickly turned his eyes to the wall, “I didn’t want the four of you to think that there was an ulterior motive or that I was trying to win you over. I just wanted you to have something that would help…. I figured it would be easier accepting it if it came from April. I didn’t know my brothers were going to lay into her like that.”
“You’ve really made that much, selling dolls?” Donny asked and then shook his head. “You give me over half of everything you make. That doesn’t add up. You should have a few hundred at best. This would have cost thousands.”
“I melted down a necklace,” Raph admitted. “April sold the stones and gold for the money.”
Mikey couldn’t believe it. Raph with his jewels was like a dragon with his hoard. Nothing and no one could part them. Raph got to keep them because they would be too dangerous to try to sell. There would be too many questions.
“Speaking of which,” April said as she pulled some money from her pocket. “Here’s what’s left. I was going to give it to you in private but seeing that everyone knows now….”
“Thanks.” Raph accepted the money and tucked it into his belt.
“You had April sell them?” Leo’s voice was a mix of shock and anger. “We’ve talked about this. That’s too dangerous. What if the one you gave April had been reported as stolen? Do you know the danger you put her in?”
“That’s why I melted down one of the ones I found a long time ago,” Raph argued.
“If melting them down makes them safe to sell then why don’t we melt them all down,” Mikey suggested. “We would have so much money if we did.”
“No!” Raph snapped at him. He was practically fuming. Like a dragon with his hoard. “Why don’t we sell your comics?”
“Enough,” Leo hissed, defusing the situation before it got out of hand.
Slowly Michelle turned away from the argument to look up at Sliver. “I know this whole situation looks tense and all but… please let us keep these. They went to a lot of trouble to get them for us. Don’t make April take them back. Please. I won’t complain about having to practice ever again.”
Splinter let out a soft chuckle. “The deed has already been done and no harm has come from it. Since no serious sacrifices were made, perhaps it would be best to simply accept the gifts.”
Sliver looked from Splinter, to each of her daughters and then sighed. “You can keep them” They each looked relieved at their mother’s decision.
Michelle jumped up and ran over to Raph. “I know you didn’t want the credit but, thank you.” She touched his arm and smiled up at him.
Mikey’s vision tunneled as a surge of anger took over. The next thing he knew he was charging towards Raph, fists clenched. He managed to land a blow across the left side of Raph’s face, flooring him.
“What the hell?” Leo yelled, pulling Mikey back. “Have you lost your mind?”
As quickly as the anger overcame him, it was gone. “I’m sorry.” Mikey couldn’t believe what he had done. And, by the looks on everyone’s faces, neither could they. Regret washed over him as he fell to his knees. “I don’t know what came over me. I’m so sorry.”
Raph’s hand covered the spot where Mikey had hit him as he slowly got up from the floor. “This is why I didn’t want anyone to know.” He turned his head to glare at Mikey. “I don’t want Michelle.” His voice was stern but there was still a slight tremble to it.
“Let me look at it,” Tello offered, slowly reaching for Raph.
Flinching, Raph pulled away, shaking his head. “I’m fine.” He made his way to the edge of the platform and jumped off. “I’ll be in my work room.”
“I’m sorry,” Mikey whispered again, unable to think of anything else to say.
His eyes were fixed on the ground. He couldn’t bring himself to look up at the others, to see their disappointment in him. He had struck Raph, hard, in the same place that Hun had repeatedly struck him. He felt like the scum of the Earth.
Michelle knelt down in front of him and placed her hand on his shoulder but it didn’t stay there for long. “You don’t need to be jealous of your bothers. I want to be with you too.”
Knuckling the tears from his eyes, Mikey looked up at her kindly face. “You’re not mad?”
Michelle shook her head and shrugged. “I watch enough Animal Planet to understand what you’re going through. I’m sure it’s a very confusing time for you all. I’m surprised there haven’t been more fights.”
“But, if you want me too, why do you keep pulling away from me?” Mikey desperately wanted to know.
“Oh that.” Michelle titled her head to the side. “I really want to be with you but, right now, I’m just… too miserable.”
“Because you’ve lost everything?” Mikey ventured to guess. “You need time to get over that?”
Michelle shook her head and pointed to her stomach. “It’s the clutch of eggs that’s making me feel this way. I feel so full and weighed down. I have a hard time bending over or breathing and I need to pee all the time. Intimacy is the furthest thing from my mind.”
Mikey felt his mouth drop. “Eggs?”
“We lay eggs every year,” Donna softly explained. “It’s a natural cycle.”
“We don’t like being touched,” Lea added.
“And we’re irritable,” Rachael stated flatly.
“A few days after they’re out I will totally be open to getting closer,” Michelle said. Then she looked back at her mother and added, “Within reason. Nothing too fast.” She then turned back to Mikey. “It’s just, ‘til then,” she waved her hand in a shewing motion, “don’t touch me.”
Mikey heaved a sigh of relief. “Knowing that helps,” he admitted. “I thought you were still weighing you options.” Looking her in the eyes, he smiled. “I think, once we’re established, I won’t… be seeing red… whenever you talk or touch one of my brothers.”
Michelle smiled and her blue eyes sparkled. “It’s good that we could work all of that out.”
