I have always been fascinated by big cities. Their vastness, their diversity; the immense potential they carry in their buildings, the endless possibilities flowing through their streets. New York City especially has a unique penchant for adventure. Here, you can be anyone, no matter how weird, strange, or off-putting. Here, the freaks come out to play.
The city that never sleeps likes to save its biggest adventures for the cover of night, and this night was no exception. The cool air signaled a change in the seasons— summer was waning, just like the crescent moon that hung low in the sky. People finished their days and shifted to nighttime routines; business closed its doors while leisure opened its own; everything in a state of flux. The world was switching, shifting, changing hands, churning the waters of potential; anything was possible.
This night, like any night, was full of potential players— strangers, weirdos, misfits, freaks. Some walked the streets, bustling to and fro. Some danced the night away in clubs and parties. Some spent quiet, intimate moments with each other. Some were alone. All had the potential for greatness.
And our heroes were no exception.
Because our heroes had already experienced change. Years ago, they had changed from four very ordinary turtles into four extraordinary creatures— children. And those four children had grown into four even more extraordinary teenagers, and had spent their entire extraordinary lives leading up to this very moment, here, when the potential for something immensely, impossibly extraordinary was so great it was practically bursting at the seams.
And here they were, together, just like they always were.
Because this night, this extraordinary night, started like any other. On a rooftop.
Here on the rooftop, they sat relaxing together after a long run. Soft, steady beats pumped out from an old boombox. Steam rose from an already half-eaten pizza. A basketball fell effortlessly through a makeshift hoop.
Here sat Leonardo, solemn guardian of the bunch. He was big and strong, born of the sea, built to withstand her tumultuous mood swings. His currents were calm now, coming down off the high of his latest exercise. His brothers were near. He had pizza. He was happy.
"… It's not a turd."
"It looks like a turd."
Ah, the twins. More alike than either would care to admit, but not without their differences. Donatello stood tall and lean; Raphael more stout and muscular. Donatello liked strategy and order; Raphael preferred quick thinking and fast action. Donatello made machines that look like turds; Raphael did not.
"Well, it's not about the aesthetics," explained Donatello, "it's about the program. If it works, it'll be able to detect tremors as far as half a mile. We can stick it outside the lair to detect intruders and stuff—"
In an instant, Raphael swiped the small device right out from Donatello's hand, and he was off.
"Hey! Give it back, Raph!"
"Come get it, Einstein!"
"Yo, anybody gonna finish this game with me or what?"
"I'm comin', Mike.” As the twins chased after each other, Leonardo sauntered over to the basketball court. Michelangelo— small, fast and nimble— was bouncing about and giving a dramatic display of skill with the ball.
"They said it couldn't be done. A half court shot over the best player in the game, Michelangelo, underdog of Hoops City, will attempt—"
"Anytime, Mikey."
"C'mon, Leo, it's about the flair, the drama! Live a little, dude."
Leo rolled his eyes, but didn't complain. Mikey geared up for the shot.
"He aims, he shoots, and he—"
But Leo simply stretched an arm overhead, and caught the ball in one hand.
"Aw, it's not fair man, you're like eight feet tall," Mikey whined. Leonardo chuckled at that.
Listening to them chatter, one can't help but think, surely they're not extraordinary at all? They're just boys. Silly, rambunctious, teenage boys. And the answer is: of course they are. What else could they be?
But we're not here to get philosophical right now. So let's get this show on the road, shall we?
Somewhere down below, an alarm began to sound. All heads turned.
"Uh oh."
The boys peeked over the edge of the rooftop, searching for the source. Just across the street was a small storefront with a thoroughly disrupted window display. Glass littered the sidewalk, and the alarm continued to blare loudly from within.
"Man, you gotta be pretty desperate to rob a convenience store after hours," Donnie remarked.
"Or pretty stupid," Raph retorted.
As the brothers looked on, Donatello put on what looked like an old style motorcycle helmet and pushed a small button on the side. Instantly the visor lit up, flipping through a number of displays, until an infrared lens revealed two large figures moving about through the store.
"Looks like just two guys," he said.
"And I'm sure the police can handle them," said Leo, "C'mon, we oughta get outta here before we're seen."
But Raphael stopped him, "Hold on. I wanna see this."
The two figures exited the store, carrying their bounty in their arms. They immediately appeared inhuman— one had the head of a rhinoceros, the other bearing a striking resemblance to a warthog.
Donatello zoomed in with his visor. "They've got a bunch of pharmaceuticals and cleaning supplies."
"What would they want with all that?" Leo asked.
"Better question: what's with the crazy carnival masks?" Asked Mikey.
"Why don't we go ask 'em?" Raph said, already halfway over the wall.
"Woah woah woah!" The voice of reason, Leonardo, came in to crash the party, "What do you think you're doing? Dad specifically told us not to go messing around on the surface anymore! If we get into a fight—"
"Leo, it's two goons robbing a convenience store. It's not gonna be much of a fight."
"That's not what I— hey!"
Before Leo could get another word in, Raph was already scaling down the building. Donnie and Mikey followed suit, leaving Leo to call out futilely after them.
"Raph! Guys, wait up!"
Of course Leo was gonna follow them. Bouncing effortlessly down from terrace to terrace, he hit the ground just as the rhino turned to see the boys in the alleyway.
"Hey Bebop, check it out! Turtles!" the rhino said rather excitedly. Down on the ground, he towered over the turtles, and yet he pointed at them like an excited little kid.
The warthog turned and peered over a pair of purple sunglasses, even though the sun had gone down hours ago. He did not appear nearly as excited to see their new guests.
"Yeah, I can see 'em, Rocksteady," he snorted, "And they can see us. You were supposed to keep watch, meathead!"
"Bebop and Rocksteady, huh? You guys come up with those names yourself?" Raph taunted as he spun his sai lazily in his hand.
"You sound like a failed eighties fusion band," Mikey joined in.
"Emphasis on failed," added Donnie.
Leo quickly pushed ahead of his bros to stand in front. It looked distinctly like he was holding them back rather than protecting them.
"Look, we don’t want a fight," Leo said, "Why don’t you just put those things back where you found them, and we’ll let you go."
Bebop smiled a big toothy (tusk-y?) grin at Leo, "Let us go? Wow, Rock did you hear that? These nice boys are offering to let us go."
"Aw, ain’t that sweet."
"I’m serious," Leo stood firm, a warning on his tongue, "Just put it back."
"Yeah well, thanks for the offer, cuz," Bebop said as he casually reached into his back pocket, and Leo instantly found himself face to face with a strange looking gun.
"I think we’ll pass."
The boys scattered as the warthog fired a shot. It landed on the opposite wall, leaving a large scorch mark. The boys landed and instinctively took position, weapons at the ready. Donnie landed just in front of the blackened wall, bō staff already out, and looked back and forth between the mark and the gun.
"These guys have lasers?" He said incredulously, darting away just as another shot was fired in his direction.
The fight commenced. Raph swung around behind Bebop to attack, but the warthog was faster than he looked. He caught Raph mid-strike, and the two tumbled backwards as Leo chased after them.
On the other side of the alleyway, Mikey and Donnie took on the rhino. While Donnie blocked his attacks, Mikey bounced around Rocksteady, trying to find an opening. He struck decisively with his nunchucks a couple times, but each shot bounced right off Rock’s tough exterior. Donnie attempted to go in low, but was immediately knocked back.
Mikey dodged another swing from one of Rock's meaty hands and landed effortlessly on his shoulders. He pulled hard at the large horn on Rock's muzzle, but it wouldn't give. Rock threw him off with a quick jerk and sent him flying into the wall.
Mikey lay upside down, reeling from the impact. "Hey uh, guys?" He called out, "I don't think these masks are masks, y'know?"
Raph tumbled back from another hard hit from Bebop. "Yeah, no kidding."
Leo rushed to pull Bebop off of his brother, "What? But that would make them—"
Suddenly face to face with the warthog, Leo realized.
"—mutants."
"What do we look like, coupl'a girl scouts?" Bebop saw Leo's hesitation, and took the opportunity to strike. A strong headbutt sent Leo crashing to the ground. He was free.
"C'mon, Rock, let's bounce!"
"Later shellbacks!" Rocksteady called as the two made their escape.
"Don't lose them!" Raph was already back on his feet and chasing after them. Leo sat on the ground, still dazed, as Mikey and Don ran past.
"Hurry up Leo, they're getting away!"
Snapping back to reality, Leo hopped up and joined the chase. They rounded the corner— a dead end— and the rhino and warthog were nowhere to be seen.
"What? Where’d they go?" Raph spun on his heels, searching.
"They just… disappeared?" Mikey scratched his head.
The boys searched the walls, the corners, but it was no use. They were gone. Donatello turned as the sounds of sirens grew faintly in the distance.
"Hey guys, maybe we should do the same."
Don, Raph, and Mike made their escape as the sirens began to blare. Leo, however, paused a moment longer, staring at the blank wall in front of him.
Mutants. Those guys were mutants.
Thoughts swirled, and currents churned as a new revelation began to take shape in his head:
We're not alone.
~~~
Thank you for reading! If you liked it, please reblog it and tell me what you thought in the tags!! Feedback is greatly appreciated 🙏
… Ok so I only missed Christmas by a few days, right??
I really wanted to finish this before the holidays, but then I got super sick for like a week so, yknow 🙃 life had other plans
But the boys and I wanted to wish everyone a good holiday season! I hope you’re all having a good break, and if not I hope my silly turtles can give you a moment of joy ❤️💙💜🧡 love you all
P.S.— now that I have a break, I’m actually able to get some writing work done for this au… maybe in the new year?? 👀
