Bayverse WIP Excerpt
Bayverse stuff because I realized I posted something for all the turtles save for Mikey. I feel bad.
Excerpt, Bayverse Mikey, bonding
She's so busy.
Four days into staying with them and he's barely seen her without someone around or doing something. She's always cooking, always working with Donnie, always training with either Raph or Leo. And while the others seem to be trying to make sure they don't ruffle her feathers, he's seeing exhaustion starting to line her body more and more as they leave for patrol, and he hates it. He absolutely loathes it.
"Pizza's fine for tonight."
And that's why, when she talks about dinner, he finally decides to butt in.
He doesn’t like seeing her upset. He doesn't like the fact that she goes quiet as they work on breakfast — cooking's a blast, he should do it more often. But he can see the shadows under her eyes and it's starting to bother him.
"By the way, I'm calling dibs on your afternoon."
"But –"
"Dibs."
So, for once in his life, he's going to take a little of what he's been seeing Leo do and try to apply it.
Won't stick, but at least it gets her out of the lair and away from his brothers for a bit, even if it means he's gotta anger Leo by grabbing her and taking off on his skateboard.
"Michelangelo!"
Along with upsetting her once he puts her down, flinching under the look.
"I called dibs."
"And I was talking to your brother about it! You know Leo!"
"Yeah, well. Mr. Fearless Leader is being overprotective, if you ask me," he says, spinning his skateboard under his hand.
"Mikey."
"Not to mention passive. I mean, how has he not noticed when he already did it twice?" he ignores her objection while grabbing his board to put it slide it onto his shell, deciding to continue when she doesn’t respond, "Not because I'm not around that I don't notice you being all over the place, you know. Other than when you pass out on the couch, have you taken a break?"
"I meditate."
He scowls, "Fat lot of good that's doing you. You looked more tired coming out of that session than going in."
"How would you know?"
Good old brittle defense, "Cooking sesh aren't just because I wanna help, you know?"
Which he hates seeing cave in, but he knows it to be necessary as she takes a slight step back, hands going behind her back in guilt.
"I didn't… I'm sorry, Michelangelo."
"It's fine. Just… someone's gotta do something and my brothers ain't doing it."
"Fair," she breathes before speaking up, "So, what did you have in mind?"
"You still owe me a movie, but I guess we can do that next time. Walk? I can show you what I found."
"Unless we plan a movie night, I don't think that'll happen, Mikey."
"There's one every month. Only thing is who gets to choose the movie."
"Every month?" she asks, making him nod.
"Yeah. Once a month we take a break from patrol and stay home. Family thing. I think this month's at the end of this week, actually."
"Who's choice?"
"Mine. But I can make it yours. Did you have an idea?"
"I think I might. What do you guys like watching?"
"Leo loves period stuff, Raph's big into action movies, Donnie likes documentaries, and Dad likes Eastern movies."
"What about you?"
"As long as it can capture my attention for more than five minutes, it's a winner."
She chuckles, "Something tells me that's not as simple as it sounds."
"Just from listening to my brothers' groans? Nah."
"I think I might have something, then. As long as you guys are alright with slight gore and weird visuals."
"Weird visuals?"
"It's animated, so some of the expressions are really exaggerated. But the story's interesting."
"… I don't think we've watched anything animated."
"You up for it, then?"
"Yeah. Yeah, sounds fun."
"I'll ask April to snag it from home, then. Do you guys have a DVD player?"
He snorts, "Wait until you see the setup, pretty girl. You won't wonder about that then."
She giggles, "Fair enough." Before coming to a stop along the tracks, "I'm sorry I worried you, Mikey."
And he tries waving it off, "Just remember to take a break every once in a while. It says something when Leo and Donnie catch more of a break than you do."
"You think so?"
"They get lunch and dinner. You don't."
"… Fair enough."
Before walking back to her, not liking the way she's holding onto her arm and not looking his way.
He might not know the full details, but he can tell she's got it rough. No one breaks their back to support another unless they know somebody else will, or they're looking for something. And from the way Stella reacts, she's in the latter camp.
"Hey Stella?"
"Hm?"
"I know the rest of my brothers are stingy about it, but... You're family, okay? You don't need to show us you're useful."
She smiles, "I know. Hamato-san said the same thing."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," she echoes, "Said something about Leo and I being fated to meet."
"Well, I don't know about fate, but I do know that I'm glad to have you around. I feel a bit more useful now thanks to all those cooking lessons, so much so that I was hoping to ask you if we could trade off. I cook some, you cook some. And, well, if nothing else, you're making us happy, and that's enough all on its own, I would think."
"… Is that the reason you took my afternoon?"
He waves his hand in a so-so motion, rubbing the back of his head, "Kind of. I really think you need a break, and the fact that I wanted to ask you if I could try cooking lunch on my own tomorrow was secondary."
"Tomorrow's lunch?"
"Yeah. I think I got a good idea on how to get everything done. If you want, though, you can stick around and give me advice."
"I was planning on using the pressure cooker for tomorrow's lunch, actually."
… Oh.
"Pressure cooker?"
"The tall pot that's right next to the slow cooker. The pork shoulder has already been thawing in the fridge for a day, now."
He brings his hands in front of himself in a stop motion, "Is that the only thing that's new?"
"Yes."
"Can you give me instructions on how to use it?"
"More than."
"Then you sit at the island and tell me what needs to be done and I'll do it. How's that sound?"
"If the fact that you've been able to keep up with me during the chicken stew is any indication, I think you'll be more than able to."
"Really?"
She nods with a smile, "Really. The only thing is the pressure cooker since it's something you don't know, but with how you get in the kitchen, you should be fine."
And joy bubbles up to the surface as he grabs her and twirls her around. There's a gasp before giggles come pouring out while he settles her on his shoulder, and he pulls out his skateboard while keeping a hand on her.
"Let me down, Mikey."
"Nah. I got something I want to show you."
"Wouldn't it be easier in a fireman's carry?"
"And have you missing the show? No way. You get the VIP seat, pretty girl," he replies as he rolls his shoulder, getting a giggle and something warm laying itself on his temple. He looks up and blinks as he catches sight of her smile. Of something soft in her eyes that makes him grin in turn.
"Thank you, Mikey." Before he chirps, almost embarrassing himself if not for the gentle chuckle she gives at it.
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