What a cunning way to condescend
Once my lover, and now my friend”
Shadowboxer by Fiona Apple
“So…” Donatello started, trying to sound casual, “How do you like Hidden City so far?”
“It-... it’s amazing,” Rosa answered, “I never knew there’s such a place for non-humans!” She looked around in wonder. ”Thank you for bringing me here, Don.”
He never thought Rosa could get any cuter until she mutated, watching her adjust the pink bandana Mikey made her. And her scent on top of everything has been inexplicably driving him mad with lust. “I-I’m sorry the others couldn't make it all of a sudden,” the turtle mutant in purple blushed. “I’m sure I’m the last person you’d want to be stuck with,” unable to look her in the eye, he instead reread the messages in the Hamato group chat:
Don: Where are you guys? I’ve already brought Rosa inside the Hidden City.
Raph: Sorry Donnie something came up.
Don: What thing??
Leo: Something! Whatever. Just go with it. Have fun!
April: You two will be fine! Trust me.
Mikey: Take it as a chance to mend your friendship. That’s Dr. Feelings’ recommendation!
He wanted to strangle his family right at that moment.
Rosa’s soft laugh broke him out of his fratricidal reveries, “I’d say pretty much the same thing. Wasn’t I the one who slapped you?”
The male turtle looked straight ahead as they walked apace, “Based on observations of my past actions, or should I say, inaction, I’d conclude that I deserved it.” He turned his eyes to her, stopping, “I’m sorry, Rosa, for hurting you.”
Rosa blushed at his lingering gaze, “I… I forgive you,” she stopped walking as well, “Thank you for helping me... despite everything we went through.”
“Well obviously, you mutated into a turtle because of us, right?” he pressed his hands against his chest, “It’s the least we can do!” He inhaled deeply, her scent has been absolutely enticing ever since the first time she showed them her turtle form.
“Why do I need to move to the lair, though?” she wiggled her fingers, feeling awkward, “I’m sorry for imposing on you all,” remembering how the Hamatos transported her things in the cover of night.
“Tut-tut-tut! Draxum and I are conducting our own research to help you with your condition,” waving off her concerns dismissively, “My genius combined with the oozequitoes’ inventor himself would make much better progress than any human dum-dums who think they know the first thing about mutants,” referring to River with a roll of his eyes.
“But is it ok for me to stay in your… room?” the pink bellied turtle asked, flustered.
“Rosaaa,” He cajoled, “It’s for observation, purely scientific!” Giving in to her scent’s effects, he cheerfully rested his arm on her shoulders, pressing her against his side, “Besides, It would be so weird if you stay in Draxum’s, duh!” feeling giddy, “And,” he purred, “We’ve already seen each other naked,” pulling her near until their snouts almost touch,” So what’s to be embarrassed about?”
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It was Ice who caught the scent first, eyes widening with shock and worry, "Rosa?!"
At this River stopped mid-conversation, puzzled at his companion's random outburst. The look on the polar bear's face was hardly reassuring.
His ursine mind was racing. She was either in turtle form or nearby. Either way it didn't make sense. Here in the Hidden City?? Fearing the worst, Ice broke off into a run, She could be in trouble!
Used to polar bears having a much greater sense of smell, the turtle easily ran along with him.
The two best friends skidded to a halt when they found her. She’s in her turtle form, and seemed to be okay from what they can see from her back. She was talking with that turtle in purple, who was smiling with his arm resting on top of her shell as he pulled her close.
Much too close.
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“There are more turtle mutants??” Ice asked River with an accusatory glare.
“W-what? No!” the turtle yokai sputtered. “That’s… that’s a halloween costume,” he retorted, unsure.
Rosa raised her head when she smelled familiar scents, heard familiar voices. The look of recognition was clear as she turned and stared at the turtle and polarbear yokais.
Donnie followed her gaze to find her staring at two yokais. His eyes widened when he realized the yellow turtle smelled just like that human River from April's halloween dance.
Yellow turtle gaped at the purple turtle, finally realizing it wasn't a turtle alien costume all along.
“...R-River? Ice??” hurt clear in her voice for hiding the truth from her, she ran off.
River tried to chase after her but Donatello grabbed him, eyes livid once he recognized his scent, “I thought you smelled like a turtle. I should have known...!”
River interrupted him with a punch, the impact forcing the shorter turtle to let go. “I need to go after Rosa,” he growled through gritted teeth as Donatello whipped out his tech bo to level at the taller turtle’s throat.
“Leave her alone!” Don angrily snarled back, “She made it clear she wants to be away from you,” the mutant spat out the last word: “...Yokai.” His battle shell then lifted off his back and glowed as thrusters powered up, levitating the purple genius up in the air to speed off after her.
Donatello spotted her easily in the crowd through his goggles, quickly landing in front of her to make her stop, “It’s ok Rosa, it’s me!” he reassured as he pulled her into his arms.
“He... “ she sobbed, “They…” her crying made talking hard, “They never told me they’re mutants, too.”
“They’re not,” he corrected her, “They’re yokais.” The reactions of the two when he spouted the word at them confirmed it.
“Y-... yokais?”
“The natives here in Hidden City. They never mutated, they’re born that way.”
“How… how can they be human when…?” her eyes fell on her bracelet.
The cloaker.
Don nodded when she met his eyes as it dawned on her, “They could have told you all this time,” his expression dark, “Yet they chose not to.”
They both started when her phone rang. Rosa brought it out, screen showing River’s caller ID.
“You don’t need to deal with these liars,” He grabbed the device, “Who knows what else they’re hiding from you?” with her phone behind him, he rejected the call, planning to block Mr. Lying Yokai Boyfriend in all of her apps and devices before handing it back to her. “Draxum and I will see you exclusively. You are never going to them ever again! It’s much safer this way.”
“What about River’s antidote?”
“I’ll reverse engineer his formula,” he declared, already fired up, “And I’ll find a better cure!” He grabbed her hand and ran for home with a huge smile in his face, eager to get started with his newest scientific challenge.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Jupiter Jim theme woke River up from his nap, sitting in the fire escape outside Rosa’s apartment window with his back against the brick wall. He fumbled to grab his phone, then slumped when he saw it wasn’t Rosa. He answered.
“How’d it go?”
“She… she never came home.”
“You tellin’ me ya been sittin’ there on yer ass waitin’ fer 8 hours?? ”
“I… I gotta go find her.”
“Rosa’s prolly stayin’ with ‘em. Lemme check...”
“No! No hacking...”
“Too late.” Ice quipped, “Yep, she’s with ‘em.”
River rested his face on his palm, “I don’t even want to know how you…” he sighed, resigned.
“She’s safe.“ Ice’s no-nonsense voice broke into his melancholy. ”That all ya wanna know?”
“...Yeah,” He exhaled as he stood up off the metal grill floor of the fire escape, “Yeah. Thanks, Ice.”
“I’ll see ya at home,” and the call ended.
The Japanese teen put away his gold iPhone in one of the hidden pockets of his yellow shoulder straps. Pulling an envelope from a bigger pocket, he slipped it beneath the closed window, pausing at a flash of memory of the kiss they shared on that sill, where he watched the white rectangle of paper land to rest. Finding no replies for all his frantic messages to her online and via sms, he resolved to wait until she contacts him first.