[IC] Runnin’ The 90s (TMNT): Kindred { Beetle & Angel }

[AngelBites15]

“Wait, if you are half-fish, then what are you?”, the purple one called ‘Donatello’ pointed at Jennifer. The Asian sat up, from where she was, next to Charlie. “Perhaps it’s best to show you”, she said, with a smile, shortly before she took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. Her face started to change, scales appearing around her eyes, which changed into a yellow reptilian color.

“Whoa!”, the orange one called Michelangelo exclaimed. “I got it! You’re half-reptile”, Donatello finalized, the second Jen’s eyes went back to normal, who smiled with a nod.

Raphael was picking his teeth with one of his said, leaning back on the couch, before he heard the voice of the girl nearby. “Yeah, that’s alright. I’ve been called worse”, he shrugged.

[Beetlejuice96]

"Hang on, if you guys are ninjas, what about the guys who jumped April? The black pajama ones as she called them." Charlie asked. "Obviously, they're bad guys, but they have to have a leader, right? Someone pulling the strings. A puppeteer."

[AngelBites15]

"Every clan has a master. For that, they have to have a leader", Jennifer thought aloud, shortly before she looked at April, then back at Charlie, realizing something. "You know what I think? I think that the guys, who attacked us, were 'the Foot'", the others looked at her.

"Think about it: April makes continuous reports about their work, they come out of hiding, and they attempted to shut her up", the Asian explained. "Don't forget that we were there, Charlie. They probably heard us negotiating with Miss O'Neil, attempting to expose them. We are very much a threat to them now".

"You can totally lay out here with us. No one knows where we live", Michelangelo suggested with a giggle. "I think you're cool".

[Beetlejuice96]

"He's right. If we stay down here, they can't find us. If we go back home we could be tracked down and interrogated. Maybe even asked to tell where April is." Charlie said. She blushed a little as Mikey admitted he thought they were cool. "You're pretty cool too, dude." She smiled.

She glanced around the place, thinking of how it could be home. It definitely needed a woman's touch here and there. She was even sure that she'd be able to get to the river to swim.

[AngelBites15]

"These guys just got their butts kicked. By us. A normal clan would act on the orders of their leader. I believe that order was to silent Miss O'Neil. We just got in the way of their plan. They won't follow, unless there were orders for them to do so", Jennifer continued her train of thought. "Do you think they'll try again?", the one called Leonardo asked, making the Asian turn back to him. "Possibly. They're more likely to act, after they get permission from the one in charge. They don't know what they're dealing with, so they'll be sitting on it for a while, until they attack again".

Donatello scratched his head, thinking through the ramble of words that Jen just said. "So, that means, as of right now, we're safe, but not for long?", Jennifer nodded. "Exactly", she answered, before looking at April, and asking. "Want us to help you get home?", April looked at them, all around her. "I'm not dreaming, am I?", she asked, slowly. "No, I'm afraid not", Splinter confirmed.

[Beetlejuice96]

"This is reality, especially for us." Charlie replied, looking away sadly. "It's not easy for me to hide if I don't have my bracelet. I'm basically useless without it." She said softly. She did feel useless; she couldn't really fight much having no training like them or Jennifer.

[AngelBites15]

“No prob!”, Mikey piped up, having to stand up from where he sat. “You won’t be useless, when you have us”, he said, with that childlike smile. “We can teach you...the basics”, Leonardo proposed, having to be sitting near them with his legs crossed.

Hearing this, Jennifer realized that she had left Charlie behind her the whole time, with no method of defending herself. It made her sadly look down.

[Beetlejuice96]

"You mean it?!" Charlie exclaimed, beaming widely. Upon seeing her friend's expression droop, she placed a hand on hers. "Hey, what's wrong?" She asked her, a little worried. She'd never seen her like this before.

[AngelBites15]

"If this clan plans to strike, I believe some learning from my sons will better prepare you, mentally and physically", Splinter added, having to keep his usually patient self, as he has already warm and sympathizing with the newcomers.

Jennifer felt the hand of her dearest friend, who was like a sister, and glanced up at the other female. "It just occurred to me, Charlie, that I've been keeping you behind me, ever since we've met. If only I had begun to teach you, all those months, you wouldn't have to feel this way", she confessed, feeling quite guilty.

[Beetlejuice96]

"Jen..." Charlie said softly before hugging her. "It's not your fault. With everything going on, how could you find time to teach me? We've been through a lot, so don't blame yourself. I know I don't." She said with a smile.

[AngelBites15]

Jennifer looked at her, having to smile sadly, shortly before reciprocating the hug that Charlie was willing to give her. The Asian teen didn't have any siblings growing up, having to be an only child, adopted into a household that practiced different traditions from her birth kin; a Chinese child, taken in and educated by a Japanese family. Really to keep them protected, Jennifer isolated herself from them; to prevent panic and concern for their daughter. At this point, they probably think she was dead.

Raphael silently watched the interaction between the two teenaged girls.
Jennifer's hug was firm; one that told Charlie that she was in safe hands. "With them, I'll teach you, if you let me".

[Beetlejuice96]

"Of course, Jen. You'll be the best teacher with 'em." Charlie said with a giant grin. She looked over at Raph once letting go of the hug. "When can we start?" She asked

[AngelBites15]

Sometime later, the three females were being led throughout the underground by the four brothers, who had to rely on smell and memory to figure out where April's apartment would be, at the surface. "Are you guys sure you know where you're going?", April asked them, as she and the two girls followed them across sewage water.

"11th and Bleecker? Nope. This is only 9th street. Get it?", Michelangelo piped, after smelling the air. "Yuck", April flinched, making Jennifer shake her head with a chuckle.
"To save your conscience, Miss O'Neil, you don't want to know", she said, before giving Charlie a hand to cross a river of water.

[Beetlejuice96]

Charlie chuckled softly at Mikey's comment before taking Jen's hand to cross. She followed them through the sewers before they arrived at the right place, helping April up before sending Jen and Charlie up after her. "Thanks, you guys. I'd offer you to come inside, but all I got is frozen pizza." April said.

Mikey sprung up out of the manhole like a jack in the box. "Let's go for it!" He exclaimed.

"You guys eat pizza?" April asked in disbelief.

"Doesn't everybody?" Mikey and Donnie replied in unison.

"Did she say pizza?!" Leo asked, his voice echoing in the sewer.

"Yep!" Donnie confirmed.

[AngelBites15]

Right after helping April up through the manhole, Jennifer let Charlie exit next, before she followed, with the help of their new "gifted" allies. "Apparently, when you said that magical word, every New Yorker would react", Jennifer pointed out to April, with a smile, just as the guys reacted positively at the woman's offer.

"So, you live in an antique store?", Mikey asked, just as his brothers were still climbing out from under the road. "Above actually", she affirmed. Jennifer looked at the building, having to find some things inside that would entice wonder and curiosity. "You work here too?", she asked, while looking through the window. "In my free time, yes", Miss O'Neil led them to the entrance of the store, gesturing to take careful and quiet steps into the building.

"So, what do you guys like on your pizza?", she asked.
"Just the regular stuff. Flies, stink bugs...it was a joke", Mikey chuckled sheepishly, after the human woman gave him a face.

[Beetlejuice96]

"I bet there's a lot of cool things in there." Charlie said as they headed over before hearing what Mikey liked on their pizza. "Gross!" She exclaimed with a laugh, knowing he was joking.

After a while, they were all laughing as Mikey did his voice impersonations. Charlie had to admit he was pretty good at them. "Uh, maybe I'll fight Apollo, maybe I won't. ADRIAN!" Mikey said, impersonating Sylvester Stallone.

[AngelBites15]

They were all indeed laughing at the efforts of Michalangelo's ability to bring comedy into the evening. Jennifer remembered the 'Rocky' movies all too well, and the humor that Mikey brought onto Sylvester Stallone's line added character behind the impression. Here she was, laughing with Charlie, April, and the four brothers. It was as if the family was getting bigger, after only a few hours of chatter. "Hey, I got another one! This is totally cool!"

Raphael wasn't paying a lot of attention to the gathering, as he was gazing into the fish tank nearby, gliding his fingers along the watery surface. "Oh, no, not Cagney", he muttered, before shaking his head, and finally stepping away from the tank.

"You dirty rat. You killed my brother. You dirty rat. Woo-hoo!", Mikey laughed.

"That must be Splinter's favorite", April laughed, only having to receive a look from the four turtles. Jennifer cleared her throat, and April dropped her grin. "It was a joke", she quickly added, correcting herself. Thankfully, instead of contempt, they only laughed.

[Beetlejuice96]

Charlie laughed with the others, impressed with Mikey's impressions. He was pretty good at them and clearly the goofball of the brothers. She smiled, finally feeling like part of a family again. She blinked as April spoke, a little surprised and confused by it. It wasn't until she said it was a joke that she laughed again with the brothers.

She noticed Raph was standing off a little ways before walking over to him. "Hey."

[AngelBites15]

Jennifer continued to laugh at the fun that these four individuals were able to bring into her and Charlie's seemingly-boring yet private lives. It was like coming home to family, after all this time. They finally found solace just from this one encounter, and the Asian never felt so open about her insecurities, regarding her mutation. It made her realize that they were a "special" yet "gifted" bunch.

Raphael was standing by one of the big windows, looking out over the city lights, before hearing a female voice. "Huh?", he said, out of surprise but relaxed, seeing it was only Charlie. "Oh, hey".

[Beetlejuice96]

"Beautiful view, huh? You probably don't get to see it much in daylight." Charlie said with a little grin. "Maybe you'd be able to if you had a disguise or something like that. The sunrise and sunsets are beautiful."